Sinopsis
Three film critics - Kristofer Jenson of C-Ville Weekly, Evan Crean of The Independent, and David Riedel of the Salt Lake City Weekly - review movies, including current releases, notable stuff that fell through the cracks, and whatever else pops up. We take lots of tangents, gang. Opening music: "My Life as a God" by Augean Stables. Closing music: "Pants Party" by Oilhead.
Episodios
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Episode #445: "Sick" and "The Son"
20/01/2023 Duración: 01h31sWelcome to a wacky week on Spoilerpiece. You're gonna hear hotter takes than usual when we discuss SICK (2:42), a new horror-thriller from producer and co-writer Kevin Williamson. Is it like SCREAM? Is it something new? Who's to say what's new in Earth's bizarre new cinematic landscape? The second movie is THE SON (25:26), starring Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern. We can't say with certainty - because it's only January - but this film may have afforded a couple Spoilerpiecers their most visceral reactions of the year. But like we said, it's January. Hearts and minds can change! Don't forget to check out this week's Patreon exclusive: We talk about the 1973 film PAPER MOON, starring Ryan and Tatum O'Neal.
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Episode #444: "Skinamarink" and "Saint Omer"
13/01/2023 Duración: 59minThis week we start by reviewing Alice Diop's emotionally compelling French courtroom drama SAINT OMER (3:11), which is about the trial of a Senegalese immigrant accused of killing her infant daughter. Then we cover Kyle Edward Ball's hyper-stylized indie horror flick SKINAMARINK (24:31), which has nothing to do with Sharon, Lois, or Bram. It's a movie about two kids who wake up in the middle of the night to discover that their father is gone, and all the windows in their house have disappeared. And because it's turning 50 this year, in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about George Roy Hill's THE STING starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
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Episode #443: "M3GAN," "White Noise," and "The Pale Blue Eye"
06/01/2023 Duración: 59minEvan is off this week, so it's the Dave and Megan show. But before the Dave and Megan show, Megan goes solo, covering M3GAN (3:01), the wild killer robot sci-fi horror movie, directed by Gerard Johnstone and starring Allison Williams. And - perfect timing - one of Dave's children interrupts and scares the crap out of him as he and Megan discuss said killer robot movie. Yeesh! Next, Megan and Dave talk about Noah Baumbach's absurdist comedy adaptation of Don DeLillo's unfilmable (question mark?) novel WHITE NOISE (17:41), starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. They round things out with Scott Cooper's mystery thriller THE PALE BLUE EYE (36:02), starring Christian Bale and featuring Harry Melling as a young Edgar Allan Poe. Don't forget to check out this week's Patreon exclusive audio in which Megan and Dave talk about Nora Ephron's "Sleepless in Seattle."
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Episode #442: Our Top 10 Films of 2022
30/12/2022 Duración: 01h20minIt's our last episode of the year! So, as usual, we're revealing our BOFCA ballots as we discuss our respective Top 10 Films of 2022! Unfortunately, Dave couldn't make it this week, but we still share his top 10 before digging into each of our own. You can hear Dave's list starting at 2:55, Megan's at 14:36, and Evan's at 47:39. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we're talking about the winner of our NYE movie poll, Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron's 1989 rom-com, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY!
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Episode #441: "Women Talking" and "The Fabelmans"
23/12/2022 Duración: 01h01minWe start by reviewing Steven Spielberg's autobiographical film THE FABELMANS (2:14), which explores his love of filmmaking, his parents' marriage, and the antisemitism he experienced growing up. They're themes we've seen him tackle before in his movies, but we're split on whether there's enough unique value that makes this movie worth watching. Next, we delve into Sarah Polley's WOMEN TALKING (33:34), a compelling chamber piece drama about women from a religious community who have been abused by the men in it, debating whether they should forgive them, stay and fight, or leave. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we discuss a Patron's choice, the Hallmark movie HANUKKAH ON RYE! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #440: “Nelly & Nadine” and “The Apology”
16/12/2022 Duración: 54minEvan is off this week so Megan and Dave are a duo, and they're a doozy of a duo, because one movie they like, and one movie they really, really don't. They start things off with Nelly & Nadine (3:26), a documentary about an unlikely love story of two women falling in love on Christmas Eve, 1944, in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Then it's The Apology (27:47), a Christmas-set thriller about a missing child, her coming-to-terms-with-it mother, and the unannounced guest who shows up to pour sugar in everyone's figurative gas tanks. Bonus: Janeane Garofalo is in this one (along with stars Anna Gunn and Linus Roache)! Don't forget to check out this week's Patreon exclusive audio, where Megan and Dave talk about the holiday rom-com Last Holiday starring Queen Latifah.
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Episode #439: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" and "The Banshees of Inisherin"
09/12/2022 Duración: 54minWe start the show this week by reviewing Martin McDonagh's darkly comedic drama THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (1:52) about two lifelong friends (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who find themselves at odds when one of them abruptly ends their friendship. Next, we discuss GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO (28:12), a creepy, yet sweet stop-motion animated retelling of the Pinocchio tale. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Steve De Jarnatt's 1988 film MIRACLE MILE, starring Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham. Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #438: "Tár" and "Bros"
02/12/2022 Duración: 01h06minThis week we start by reviewing Nicholas Stoller and Billy Eichner's BROS (2:25), a funny, acerbic queer rom-com where two gay men from very different backgrounds (Eichner and Luke Macfarlane) unexpectedly find love in New York City. Next, we dig into Todd Field's TÁR (24:17), a complex portrait of a problematic character—a world-renowned conductor at the height of her career, Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), who has done awful things to those around her. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Steven Spielberg's directorial debut, the 1971 thriller DUEL starring Dennis Weaver! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #437: "Enola Holmes 2" and "The Good Nurse"
25/11/2022 Duración: 47minWe start this week by reviewing Tobias Lindholm's true crime drama THE GOOD NURSE (1:54), about an ER nurse (Jessica Chastain) who discovers that her charming colleague (Eddie Redmayne) is secretly murdering their patients. The film misses some areas it could dig deeper into this real-life tragedy, but it's really well-acted and has a strong ensemble. Next, we cover Harry Bradbeer's ENOLA HOLMES 2 (22:17), a plainly named sequel that provides another engaging adventure for Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown). It's a delightful romp that's still a lot of fun even if it's not quite as brisk as the first film. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the winner of our Noirvember poll, Jane Campion's 2003 film IN THE CUT, starring Meg Ryan and Mark Ruffalo! For anyone who celebrated, we hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #436: "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," "The Menu," and "The People We Hate at the Wedding"
18/11/2022 Duración: 01h06minWe start the show this week by reviewing Claire Scanlon's impressively unfunny comedy THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING (2:30), which is about dysfunctional siblings (Kristen Bell and Ben Platt) who reluctantly travel to the UK with their mom (Allison Janney) for their half-sister's wedding. Next, we delve into Mark Mylod's delicious social satire/horror film THE MENU (18:48), where a hyper-exclusive dining experience turns into a battle of wits between its mastermind chef (Ralph Fiennes) and an unexpected diner (Anya Taylor-Joy). Then we wrap up with Rian Johnson's wildly entertaining whodunnit GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (42:10), the much-anticipated sequel to Johnson's murder mystery hit KNIVES OUT. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about a Patron's choice, Griffin Dunne's 1998 film PRACTICAL MAGIC, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #435: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Something in the Dirt"
11/11/2022 Duración: 01h09minThis week we start by reviewing Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead's sci-fi, horror, buddy comedy mashup SOMETHING IN THE DIRT (3:46), which is about two friends (Benson and Moorhead) making a documentary about paranormal phenomenon in their apartment building. We wanted to like it so much more than we actually did, and we're pretty much on the same page about our issues with it. Next, we discuss Ryan Coogler's BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (25:15), the highly-anticipated sequel to 2018's BLACK PANTHER, which mourns and celebrates the late Chadwick Boseman, while attempting to advance with the franchise. We have some disagreement about how well it does that, but we have a spirited and spoiler-filled discussion. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Jonathan Lynn's 1992 legal comedy MY COUSIN VINNY, starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #434: "The Wonder" and "Run Sweetheart Run"
04/11/2022 Duración: 54minThis week we start by reviewing the surprising feminist horror film RUN SWEETHEART RUN (2:43), which involves much more than just a woman running for her life from a business dinner turned date that becomes violent. Then we cover Sebastián Lelio's eerie period thriller THE WONDER (25:27), which takes place in 1862, and stars Florence Pugh as an English nurse investigating an Irish girl who has supposedly survived for months without eating. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we honor the late Angela Lansbury by discussing John Frankenheimer's 1962 political thriller THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #433: "Decision to Leave" and "V/H/S/99"
28/10/2022 Duración: 01h03minThis week we have two movies for you. First, we review V/H/S/99 (1:56), the latest annoyingly mixed bag in the V/H/S horror anthology franchise. Somehow it's Shudder's most streamed movie of all-time?! Next, we delve into Park Chan-wook's intriguing, yet lengthy film noir-inspired romance and slow-burn thriller DECISION TO LEAVE (32:26). And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the winner of our zombie movie poll, Bruce McDonald's 2008 movie PONTYPOOL! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #432: "Halloween Ends" and "My Policeman"
21/10/2022 Duración: 01h06sWe have two movies on the docket this week. First, we review Michael Grandage's disappointing queer drama MY POLICEMAN (3:26), a story told in flashback about a policeman (Harry Styles) who falls for an art curator (David Dawson) in the 1950s, but marries a woman (Emma Corrin) to conceal his sexuality. Next, we discuss HALLOWEEN ENDS (25:39) the frustrating final film in David Gordon Green's HALLOWEEN trilogy. Since none of us had seen the second film in the series, HALLOWEEN KILLS, we lead with a review it before delving into the final chapter. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Mike Flanagan's 2013 horror film OCULUS! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #431: "Stars at Noon" and "Do Revenge"
14/10/2022 Duración: 50minDave is under the weather this week, so Evan and Megan fly duo to review the movies. First up is Jennifer Kaytin Robinson's candy coated homage to 90s teen films, DO REVENGE (2:18), which is about two high schoolers (Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke) who team up to get revenge on the classmates who wronged them. Then we discuss Claire Denis's low octane thriller STARS AT NOON (20:33), which is about an American and Brit (Margaret Qualley and Joe Alwyn) in Nicaragua who fall for each other and must immediately flee from the authorities. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about a Patron's choice: Warren Beatty's 1990 comic book film DICK TRACY! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #430: "God's Creatures" and "Hellraiser" (2022)
07/10/2022 Duración: 01h03minHi Spoilerpeeps! Evan is off this week, so Megan and Dave cover the heavy Irish drama God's Creatures (with a superb Emily Watson) and the Hellraiser reboot as a duo. Guess which one of them was on board with both films and guess which one of them wasn't? In fact, there may be enough vitriol surrounding one of this week's movies to fuel the next two episodes. (Hee-ya!) And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the 2013 Daniel Radcliffe/Zoe Kazan rom-com What If! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #429: "Sissy" and "Vesper"
30/09/2022 Duración: 59minWe kick off the show this week by discussing Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper's VESPER (2:27), a slow, dense dystopian sci-fi film about a 13-year-old girl trying to survive in world where the Earth's ecosystem has collapsed. Next, we cover SISSY (27:47), Kane Senes and Hannah Barlow's problematic horror movie about a twentysomething who finds herself face-to-face with a childhood bully during a bachelorette weekend. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about the winner of our true crime poll: David Fincher's 2007 film ZODIAC! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #428: "Blonde" and "The Justice of Bunny King"
23/09/2022 Duración: 01h05minThis week we have two movies on the docket. We start with Gaysorn Thavat's THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING (3:53) a complex, emotionally challenging drama about a homeless mother (Essie Davis) struggling against New Zealand's social services system to win back custody of her children. Then we review Andrew Dominik's BLONDE (25:59) a disgusting, exploitative, and misogynist, fictionalized look at the life of Marilyn Monroe (Ana de Armas). We have A LOT to say about this infuriating film that wallows in trauma and insults Monroe's legacy—none of it is good. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Ron Clements and John Musker's 1989 Disney animated classic THE LITTLE MERMAID! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #427: "God's Country," "See How They Run," and "Pearl"
16/09/2022 Duración: 56minDave starts the show by reviewing Ti West's PEARL (2:09), a prequel to his horror film X. It also stars Mia Goth, but is surprisingly different, in a good way. Next, we all discuss Tom George's 1950s whodunnit SEE HOW THEY RUN (11:01), a disappointing meta send-up to Agatha Christie that at least has fun performances by its leads Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan. Then we cover the Julian Higgins slow-burn thriller GOD'S COUNTRY (23:28), a layered, emotionally complex film about a professor (Thandiwe Newton) caught in an escalating battle with hunters who trespass on her property. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Steven Spielberg's 1977 sci-fi film CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND! Join Our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch
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Episode #426: "Speak No Evil," "Don't Worry Darling," and "Saloum"
09/09/2022 Duración: 01h11minMegan kicks things off this week by going deep into spoiler territory for Olivia Wilde's much-discussed psychological thriller DON'T WORRY DARLING (2:33), which features Florence Pugh's superb performance and striking visuals, but falters in other areas. Next, we all discuss Jean Luc Herbulot's Senegalese horror film SALOUM (15:50), a genre mashup with great acting that's most effective when it leans into its Western elements. Then we cover Christian Tafdrup's Danish horror movie SPEAK NO EVIL (35:40), a disturbing tale about a Danish family and a Dutch family that we have varied reactions to. And in this week's Patreon exclusive audio, we talk about Alfred Hitchcock's 1941 psychological thriller SUSPICION, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine! Join our Patreon Buy Spoilerpiece Merch