Cinema Clash

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: a worthy sequel to a recent classic about an animated family of superheroes, INCREDIBLES 2; an adult comedy inspired by a true story about some friends’ decades-long game of TAG; a family drama centered around a Brooklyn couple whose four-year-old son is gender-questioning, A KID LIKE JAKE; a charming indie about a father and daughter bonding over a shared love of music, HEARTS BEAT LOUD; and an “experimental film” that intrigued Charlie and repulsed Hannah (during the 15 minutes she managed to watch), THE MISANDRISTS. Plus, a teaser of our coverage of the AFI DOCS festival in DC. Let the clash begin!

On this edition of the Cinema Clash – two heist movies, big and small split the critics - Hannah says Ocean's 8 shows promise while Charlie avows American Animals delivers the goods; a B-movie crime drama with an A-list cast in Hotel Artemis; and documentaries honoring the television icon, Fred Rogers; the human history with mountains; and an ill-fated football (aka soccer) team from Brazil in Nossa Chape.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: a romantic drama wrapped in a disaster movie based on a true story, ADRIFT; yet another documentary about a large figure in the fashion industry, though you may not know his name, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ANDRÉ; legendary director Stanley Kubrick’s unsung right-hand man finally gets his due in a documentary sure to appeal to cinephiles, FILMWORKER, and staff and celebrity guests of a classic New York hotel dish on what makes the place so special in the entertaining documentary ALWAYS AT THE CARLYLE.

On this Memorial Day weekend edition of the Cinema Clash: the far-far-away galaxy’s most iconic pilot gets his own movie in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY; a six-year-old orphan struggles to adapt to new surroundings in the Catalan-language drama SUMMER 1993; a young struggles getting back on his feet in the Baltimore-based indie SOLLERS POINT; and the world’s most famous (and obnoxious) internet troll makes no apologies in the VOD documentary TROLL INC.

The Cinema Clash returns with spirited discourse on: the witty and warped anti-superhero sequel DEADPOOL 2; the formulaic yet entertaining veteran female ensemble comedy BOOK CLUB; the dreadful canine version of ‘Miss Congenialty’, SHOW DOGS; a star-studded cinematic adaptation of the classic Anton Chekhov play, THE SEAGULL; and a foreign film that almost skews mainstream, the “post-war comedy with chutzpah,” BYE BYE GERMANY.

On this quick edition of the Cinema Clash: The team behind JUNO and YOUNG ADULT is back with TULLY, a dramedy about postpartum depression; Ruth Bader Ginsburg proves why she’s – justifiably - a cultural icon in the documentary RBG; and the first woman judge appointed to the West Bank’s religious courts gets profiled in THE JUDGE. Tune in!

On this special edition of the Cinema Clash: We go LIVE on Radiostpete.com to discuss and debate the biggest release of the week, AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, as well as some alternate options for those averse to epic superhero films, including: the haunting British indie GHOST STORIES; a music-centric gem called MODERN LIFE IS RUBBISH; and the Netflix original documentary series BOBBY KENNEDY FOR PRESIDENT. Tune in!

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: the Amy Schumer comedy I FEEL PRETTY delivers a positive message and a few good laughs; the festival circuit darling THE RIDER features a raw and authentic performance by a real cowboy playing a version of his injured self; mystery abounds in the unsettling yet captivating sci-fi thriller THE ENDLESS; Andie McDowall and Chris O’Dowd headline an observational drama about loss, grief and family dynamics in LOVE AFTER LOVE; and GODARD MON AMOUR dives into the enigma that is French New Wave filmmaking legend Jean-Luc Godard. Oui, Hannah skipped that one.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: The Rock makes ‘Rampage’ survivable; the political drama ‘Beirut’ is more spy filler than thriller; ‘Borg vs McEnroe’ serves up an unconventional sports biopic; Michelle Pfeiffer answers the question, ‘Where Is Kyra’?; and the question remains, how did Zachary Quinto, Jenny Slate and Jon Hamm end up in ‘Aardvark’?

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: a raunchy comedy flips the script on an age-old formula; an arty drama – both literally and figuratively; a stirring post-Holocaust story about a Hungarian town shrouded in guilt; a sports drama based on a volleyball true story; and a charming glimpse into the life of a world-renowned violinist. BLOCKERS, THE FINAL PORTRAIT, 1945, THE MIRACLE SEASON, ITZHAK

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: Steven Spielberg pays homage to the 80s in the action adventure sci-fi movie READY PLAYER ONE; stellar performances make the immersive World War One drama JOURNEY’S END a journey worth taking; THE CHINA HUSTLE documentary blows the lid off yet another failure of the financial market system; and PERFECT follows the ups and downs of Canada’s synchronized swimming team as it attempts to qualify for the Olympics.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: A quirky stop-motion animated film from Wes Anderson featuring talking dogs exiled to a trash island in Japan; a sappy romantic drama about a girl with a rare disease and the guy who loves her; a twisted dark comedy starring Zoey Deutch as a rebellious teen with major daddy issues; and a documentary about ramen noodles. #IsleOfDogs #MidnightSunMovie #FlowerTheMovie #RamenHeads

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: Alicia Vikander headlines a ‘just fine’ remake of TOMB RAIDER; Nick Robinson charms in the groundbreaking romantic comedy LOVE, SIMON; Wicked satire makes THE DEATH OF STALIN a must-see for political junkies; the Israeli drama FOXTROT packs a powerful punch – and stirs some controversy; and art lovers may choose to go LEANING INTO THE WIND for a documentary about British artist/environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: Ava DuVernay’s flawed adaptation of the classic children’s novel, A WRINKLE IN TIME; a solid cast elevates the mediocre dark-comedy crime drama, GRINGO; an aging couple takes a final, meandering roadtrip in THE LEISURE SEEKER; a lonely woman adopts an alter-ego while learning English in the American-Japanese drama, OH, LUCY!; and a manipulative student takes advantage of an obsessed teacher in the timely – or not so timely - SUBMISSION.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: the brutal mystery spy thriller RED SPARROW; the brutal action crime drama DEATH WISH; two documentaries that reveal secrets of Hollywood, BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMAR STORY and ACTORS OF SOUND: A FOLEY ART DOCUMENTARY; and a few quick predictions ahead of the ACADEMY AWARDS. Tune in!

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: Everyone’s fighting for survival – in the action comedy GAME NIGHT, the cerebral sci-fi thriller ANNIHILATION, and the small British indie THE PARTY. Let the games – and the clash begin!

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: An African superhero rocks the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the highly-anticipated BLACK PANTHER; a prehistoric soccer match kicks up some forgettable fluff in EARLY MAN; a trio of strong, compassionate women help shoot HEROIN(E) to the top of the list for best Documentary Short at the Oscars; and singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc hosts a cross-country roadtrip for music history buffs in the MAX 3D documentary AMERICA’S MUSICAL JOURNEY. 

On this copious edition of the Cinema Clash: two major releases about love and danger, FIFTY SHADES FREED and PETER RABBIT; two foreign-language films heavy on relationships and family dynamics, A FANTASTIC WOMAN and HAPPY END; two indies with musical overtones, BECKS and BASMATI BLUES; and the OSCAR-NOMINATED animated and live-action SHORTS. And a lusty red zinfandel.

On this ‘international’ edition of the Cinema Clash: the animated, ancient story of a Muslim hero named BILAL; the gripping German revenge drama IN THE FADE; Lebanon’s Oscar-nominated courtroom drama, THE INSULT; an alien horror movie from Japan with a psychological twist, BEFORE WE VANISH; and a small comedy drama that lit up Charlie’s world, DIM THE FLOURESCENTS.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: a semi-split over the ‘epic’ finale of a Young Adult dystopian franchise, MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE; major battle lines are drawn over the brutally violent western drama HOSTILES; and surprises, snubs, scandals and shoe-ins floating throughout the OSCAR NOMINATIONS.