Screen Thoughts - Movie & Tv Reviews

Wilder and Hollister welcome Tim Miller, film critic extraordinaire, for the annual "Best of" end of year podcast. Our discussion starts with the difficulty for the film industry in Covid-2020, and moves into some not-to-be-missed viewing from this past year. First Cow. Promising Young Woman. I May Destroy You. Collective. Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always (great name right?!). And others as well. What did we miss? Let us know and here's to 2021, with hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Hollister focuses on Meryl Streep’s Let Them All Talk on HBO while Wilder brings in Selena, the Series. Hollister is wondering if there really needed to be three renditions of the Selena story, and Wilder explains why there just might be a need. Selena, the Series is for the family to enjoy together—something for everyone—and Let Them All Talk for those women that have get togethers with friends from college decades later. And, of course, there is always discussion about Steven Soderbergh and his use of improvisation in his latest film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First time ever that Hollister reviews a thriller like Run, staring Sarah Paulson, and Kiera Allen, who the camera loves and we hope to see in more films in the future. Mother daughter issues that go beyond the pale, but because they are both so good at their craft, it is well done and worth the watch. Hollister quotes from Jeannette Catsoulis, and her review, which begins, “if it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.” Hollister and Wilder also present their holiday films for viewing year after year, although Hollister laments that her picks are so dark compared to what she is reading others chose. You decide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Howard’s, Hillbilly Elegy, has been panned and heralded in the reviewer’s corner. It has a paltry 25 rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Doesn’t get much worse than that. But Hollister thinks it is under appreciated and one of the finest films Ron Howard has directed. Wilder isn’t so sure. Don’t miss their critique, which is different from what most reviewers are pitching. And, Hollister tuned into Hulu’s Happiest Season because she was curious why Kristen Stewart would do what appeared to be a Hallmark holiday film. She found the answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister and Wilder touch on the feminist issue in The Crown around Thatcher and Queen Elisabeth. Women not playing well in the sandbox together? Then it’s The Undoing, HBO’s six part mini series with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. So much to discuss, cast to die for (yes there is a murder) and some consider a mirror version of Big Little Lies; there are lots of similarities in those that are involved with both. And, Wilder recommends Whose Line Is It Anyway on HBO, a rerun of the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Social Dilemma is discussed by Wilder & Hollister ... "When you don't pay for something like Facebook, you become the product." Techies from many of the platforms come together to discuss how the unsuspecting users are being 'used' and sold and ... don't miss it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Move over Bobby Fischer and Gary Kasparov—there is a new chess prodigy on the scene; Beth Harmon, chess player extraordinaire who redefines the Queen’s Gambit, which for those of you not on the chess circuit is an opening move that has a lot of history. Netflix’s #1 show, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as the fictional Beth Harmon, provides yet another vehicle for a strong woman’s plot. Merser and Bassin walk us through the many moves that make this one of the best series of 2020. And, bringing back The List of Six that was a Hollister O’Toole centerpiece, they give us all six movies or series episodes to watch before election results start pouring in on Tuesday. Don’t miss this week’s Screen Thoughts’ episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christine Merser (aka Hollister) invites fellow The West Wing lover, Elizabeth Bassin, herself in the film industry in Los Angeles to review The West Wing Reunion ... Everyone agrees that the much awaited reunion of the finest cast ever assembled for a series, comes together in order to support the 2020 election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are documentaries that need to be seen so you can educate yourself to injustice and this is one such documentary. Shame on Coca Cola. Shame on the United States of America, which is most likely not the first time we have been given reason through film to get angry at our country’s commercialism and what it has done to other countries around the globe. But the other reason to see this is for the beauty of the people, and the culture, and the art of Mexico. The opening five minutes at the death festival will calm your nerves around dying, which we all need right now and it will awake the senses around flowers and colors in such a lovely way. I was grateful to have seen the film. Ashamed of my country and Coke, and hopeful that it can be fixed moving forward. Hope you will have a listen, then watch the film and pass to a friend. - Hollister Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister bids a fond farewell to Claire Danes and Carrie Mathison after the finale. She recounts her discomfort with the character and the need to have her be flawed kick ass rather than just fabulous kick ass but also recognizes that all things come with time. What an ending. What a series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Miller, Movie Critic for the Cape Cod Times, joins Hollister on a walk through the last ten years of excellent film. You will hear about some films you never knew were available, as well as some old favorites. Don't miss this year end review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister interviews Sabrina Korber, who was at Fox News, around all things Bombshell, which they saw together. Long before the Me Too movement. A film for women to be sure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister meets up with Tim Miller, Film Critic of the Cape Cod Times to dish on all things around Little Women. They back stories are as interesting as the review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister, who grew up with a father who was likely one of the actors in the room at Ford Headquarters in the movie, brings in her high school girlfriends, whose fathers also worked at Ford, to review the movie and to shre anecdotes about being a teenage girl during that time of male dominance at Ford. And, do you know whether the FordGT40, the car in the movie, was a replica or the real thing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister & Lalu discuss The Morning Show, Apple T.V.'s cornerstone series for their new programming, Apple TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister introduces Lalu to podcasting as they both gush over the Netflix sensation, Unbelievable. Hollister has some comments about Harriet as well, including how twenty-five years ago, the suits in Hollywood wanted Julia Roberts to play Harriet. You won’t believe that story. And, lastly, Hollister walks us through the Preppy Murder from 1986 and how the press made the victim out to be in question, rather than the John Kennedy Jr. look alike. You can’t make it up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister and Lalu do not agree on The Morning Show review. Listen to learn why and information about Apple's commitment to their new programming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Hollister and Frances Pearson for a rousing review of Booksmart, the much talked about film about not so cool girls graduating from high school. But really it’s about friendship and no one does friendship on the screen, we decided, like our fabulous gender. Anyone agree with Hollister that Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Amy, is a mini me version of Jodi Coming from Killing Eve? In addition, Hollister saw a early viewing of Late Night, with Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson. She reviews it on this podcast as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister invites Shanette and Bryan to share their thoughts on what she considers the best series of 2017, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollister, Shanette and Bryan sing the praises of the new Juno, Love Simon, and introduce that The Americans’ final season has dropped. Then Hollister tries Roseanne for the first time ever. The stats alone around Roseanne will blow your mind. Then we close with the new NBC series, Rise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices