Sitting Around Talking Movies

Summer is pretty much here and so is the season of reconstructing Will Smith's reputation. That's why our first movie is "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" in wwhich Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back with their iconic mix of edge-of-your seat action and outrageous comedy but this time with a twist: Miami's finest are now on the run. Does somebody get slapped? Why yes. Then we looked at the new Max doucmentary "Moviepass, Moviecrash" which explores the company founding and the implosion of the business by outside investors who took over the company, left it bankrupt and under investigation. There's also the second season of "Tokyo Vice" in which a Western journalist working for a publication in Tokyo takes on one of the city's most powerful crime bosses.For those of you looking for an inspirational family film we've got "Young Woman and the Sea" which is the story of competitive swimmer Trudy Ederle, who, in 1926, was the first woman to ever swim across the English Channel.And we look at a filmed version of Chaz Pa

So this is the summer movie season, huh? Okay, it seems last year's strikes cut back on how many big "tentpole" (somebody explain that term to me, please) movies or big summer blockbusters. But Hollywood is still putting out some movies they hope will slack our summer movie thirst. First up is "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga." And you probably know that it's the origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max.Does it live up to the hype? Will it break the Memorial Day weekend box-office record? Bill McCuddy and Bill Bregoli will let you know what they thought of it. There's also "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" which is the latest epic from the storied franchise. If you're into little movies without explosions or special effects there's "Ezra" which stars Bobby Cannavale as comedian Max, who co-parents autistic son Ezra with ex-wife Jenna, played by the ever lovely Rose Byrne. And then there's "Thelma" which stars June Squib as 93-year-old Thelma Post, who gets duped by a pho

The calender tells us it's still Spring" but in Hollywood Summer is just getting started. That's why our first film is the big budget action film "The Fall Guy" starring Ryan Gosling as a down-and-out stuntman whi must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend's blockbuster film. Is it too much too soon, or is it not enough? We'll let you know. Then there's Jerry Seinfeld's directorial debut "Unfrosted" which tells how in 1963 Michigan, business rivals Kellogg's and Post competed to create a cake that could change breakfast forever. And for you romance fans there's "The Idea of You" on Amazon. It stars Anne Hathaway as a 40-year-old single mom, who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. Yup, Anne Hathaway is playing moms now. And there's also the controversial "Baby Reindeer" which follows follows writer and performer Richard Gadd's warped relationship with a female stalker and the impact it has on him as he is ultimat

The good weather is finally here - almost anyway. And that means you won't be didging raindrops on your way to the local cinema. Or, if you're more of a homebody, that you'll have something to watch once you've finished your daily errands. And we've got plenty of options. First there's the very controversial action movie "Civil" War." It stars Kirsten Dunst and it talkes place in dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House. We've also got "Monkey Man" which is the directorial debut of Dev Patel. He also plays an anonymous young man who unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless. We've also got "the Long Game." Which takes place in 1955 as five young Mexican-American caddies, out of the love for the game, were determined to learn how to play, so they created their own golf course in the m

Spring is getting off to a fast start entertainment wise. First we've got "Steve! (Martin): A Documentary In Two Pieces" and if you thought that title was long wait until you watch this Apple TV+ documentary which follows the life and career of actor Steve Martin. And if this whets your appetite for documentaries about comedians we've also got "Remembering Gene Wilder" which does exactly that. If your into fiction there's the Woody Allen film you probably haven't heard about called "Coup de Chance" in which wo young people's bond leads to marital infidelity and ultimately crime.Want something more mainstream? There's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" and the remake of "Road House" starring Jake Gyllenhaal. We'l also tell you about Michael Keaton's directorial debut titled "Knox Goes Away" in which he plays a contract killer with dementia. Really. Then there's the lesbian noir thriller starring Kristen Stewart "Love Lies Bleeding" and the lewd but funny British comedy "Wicked Little Letters" starring Oscar winner

Spring has sprung and by now you should be over your seasonal affective disorder and developing allergies instead. And the cure for that is staying indoors and watching stuff. Luckily we've checked out the most recent crop of movies and streaming shows for you. We start with "Arthur the King" which stars Mark Wahlberg as an adventure racer who adopts a stray dog named Arthur to join him in an epic endurance race.Obiviously it's not blockbuster season yet. Then we've got the Netflix fantasy adventure film "Damsel" starring Millie Bobbie Brown as a dutiful damsel whi agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. Oh, and there's a dragon. Then there's the Amazon comedy  "Nicky Stanicky" which stars Zac Efron and John Cena and is director by Peter Farrelly. For you streamer fans there's "The Gentlemen"which is the first series created by Guy Ritchie now on Netflix. And in case you're starting to forget it already, we give you our perspe

Are you suddenly aware of how time is passing? Of course you are! The Oscars are less than a week away and so is Daylight Savings Time. And "Dune Part 2," which was supposed to come out last summer is finally in theaters. Bill McCuddy and Bill Bregoli both saw it and they'll tell you if it's worth spending 2 hours and 46 minutes of your precious time on. Then we've got "Drive-Away Dolls" directed by one of the Coen brothers and "Ordinary Angels" which stars Hilary Swank. Neil tells us about 2 plays he saw and we also remember comedian and actor Richard Lewis who passed away last week. And then there's our Oscar Predictions to help you fill out your office pool. Time continues to pass by so we'll end this so you can listen in.

Word is that there's a big football game this weekend. In fact, Hollywood is so afraid no one will go to the movies this weekend that they're not putting many new ones in theaters. "Lisa Frankenstein" is sort of a sacrifical lamb. It's directed by Zelda Williams and written by Diablo Cody and it's about about a teenager and her crush, who happens to be a corpse. Bill Bregoli doesn't watch football anyway, so he checked it out. Neil Rosen and Bill McCuddy saw a french film called "Driving Madeleine" and they were both surprised by how much they liked it. We've also got "Argylle" which is about a reclusive author who writes espionage novels about a secret agent and a global spy syndicate and realizes the plot of the new book she's writing starts to mirror real-world events, in real time.It didn't make a lot of money when it opened last weeekend and Bill Bregoli explains why. Bill McCuddy tells us about "Feud: Capote vs the Swans" which is an anthology series centering on famous feuds, including Bette Davis and

To quote someone who got canceled - "baby, it's cold outside." Luckily we've been able to sample the latest movies and streaming shows to keep you warm. First there's "Origin" directed by Ava DuVernay. It tells the story of a real life journalist who investigated the unspoken system that has shaped America and chronicles how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. If it sound heavy - it is. Niel Rosen caught up with the documentary "It Ain't Over" which chronicles the illustrious life and career of the baseball great, Yogi Berra. I'm told he played for the Yankees. For you streaming fans Bill McCuddy fills us in on "Fool Me Once" in which widowed mum Maya is disturbed by an image of her late husband captured on her toddler's nanny cam. It's based on a novel by Harlan Coben. Also streaming is the third season of "True Detective which stars Jodi Fosterand takes place in freezing Alaska.Then we've got "Lift" which is the latest Netflix action movie starring Kevin Hart. And Bill Bregoli tells u

It's a strange time of year. People have taken down their holiday decorations and tossed their Christmas trees out to the curb. But there are some new movies, and there are some kind of old movies that are getting awards. Let's start with "Mean Girls." It was a new movie 20 years ago but this time they've added some songs and made it into a movie musical. Bill Bregoli was the only one of us brave enough to go see it and he'll tell what he thought. Then there's "Society of the Snow" based on the true story of what happened in 1972 when an airplane carrying a rugby team crashed on a glacier in the Andes. The few passengers who survive the crash find themselves in one of the world's toughest environments to survive."Wait a second," you're saying, "Wasn't there a movie about that same subject years ago. The one where they ate their dead." Yes, there were two in fact, but this new one is much different. Then Bill McCuddy and Neil Rosen tell you what they thought of the Golden Globe Awards last weekend and the rece

nIt's that time of year when we look back and figure out if we actually liked any of the movies and shows we saw. Turns out there were a few. Hint: None of them invoved superheroes. But first, we've got some new movies and shows to tell you about and we start with "The Color Purple." First it was a book, then a movie, then it was a Broadway musical and now there's a movie musical. Bill Bregoli saw it and (eventually) he'll tell you what he thought of it. Bill McCuddy fills us in on "The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" which is now streaming. And Neal watched a streaming series called "Jury Duty" which follows the workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of Ronald Gladden, a juror who is unaware the entire case is fake. Everyone except him is an actor, and everything that happens is carefully planned. And no, it's not the movie of the same name starring Paully Shore. Then there's "Dream Scenario" which stars Nicolas Cage as a hapless family man who finds his life turned upside down whe

It's that time of year. You're busy shopping and you haven't had much time to sit down and enjoy a movie or TV show. Plus Hollywood's flood gates are about to open right around Christmas and there will be even more choices to make. Luckily we've got some films worth checking out before they get lost in the Christmas shuffle. First there's "Eileen" which stars Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie. It's what happens when a woman's friendship with a new co-worker at the prison facility where she works takes a sinister turn.Then there's "The Zone of Interest" which is getting all sorts of critical praise. It depicts how the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.And for those who like family dramas there's "Th Iron Claw." It's the true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.There's even a Julia Roberts move -

One encounters all sorts of things during the holiday season. Office parties, strange food, strange people. And your entertainment options are just as varied. Luckily we managed to put down our cocktails and watched some stuff to help you figure out just how to spend your precious time. We start with "Poor Things" which starsEmma Stone as Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter. It's one of the stragest movies to ever grace the silver screen. So do listen to what we have to say about it. Then there's "Maestro" which chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.He's played by Bradley Cooper and she's played by Carey Mulligan and it'll soon be on Netflix. we'll also tell you about "American Fiction." It stars Jeffrey Wright as a novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him to the h

Chances are you've got a lot on your plate (metaphorically speaking) this week and you don't have time to figure out what to watch after the big meal is over. Luckily we've predigested all sorts of entertainment options for you. We start with a big one - "Napoleon" Ridley Scott's epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.Joaquin Phoenix has the title role. All three of us saw it and we all kind of agreed on it. Then there's "May December" which takes place twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, as a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past. It''s got Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in it. Bill McCuddy tells us what he thought of David Fincher's Netflix movie "The Killer" which stars Michael fassbender as an assassin. Neil Rosen fills us in on the new mini

Okay folks. Here come the serious movies! Maybe you'd prefer another "Barbie" but now we've got the "buzz worthy" award-bait movies. It happens this time of year and there's no avoiding it. Still, if you listen to us at least you'll know which of these films are worth your time. We start with "Nyad" which is based on the true story of athlete Diana Nyad who, at the age of 60 and with the help of her best friend and coach, commits to achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida. It even stars Anette bening and Jodie Foster. It also happens to be one of the films shown recently at the Hamptons International Film Festival which Neil Rosen and Bill McCuddy attended. And they even got interviews from the filmmakers of films such as "Nyad," "The Zone of Interest," "Radical" and the documentary "In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon." But that's not all. We also cover "The Holdovers" in which Paul Giamatti plays a cranky history teacher at a remote prep school who is forced to

Now that everyone on the planet has seen "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" it's time to sample of of the new movies coming out. We've got quite a varied sample to tell you about. We start with "Flora & Son" starring Eve Hewson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and it follows Flora, a single mom who is at war with her son, Max. Trying to find a hobby for Max, she rescues a guitar from a dumpster and finds that one person's trash can be a family's salvation. Then there's "Dumb Money" which is based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (the video game store) into the world's hottest company.Then there's the hard-boiled detective story "Reptile" starring Benecio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake and Eric Bogosian. If you're a sci-fi fan there's "The Creator" which takes place against the backdrop of a war between humans and robots with artificial intelligence,as a former soldier finds the secret weapon, a robot in the form of a young child. But wait, the

Okay so it's been a little while. But here we are again, and boy have things gotten interesting. Writers and actors have gone on strike and now movie releases have been pushed back and most talk shows have been on hiatus until the writers come back and hosts can be funny again. Well sort of. Neil tells us about "Strike Force Five" which is a podcast put together by several late night talk show hosts in order to support their striking writers, Neil's also read a book about show writers called "End Credits" which he'll talk about. And there's also some scandals and mysteries surrounding Jimmy Fallon and Jamie Foxx which we'll get into.Bill McCuddy fills us in on the popular Netflix series "Who Is Erin Carter" as well as the Adam Sandler Netflix movie "You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah. And if you like to see movies in thears don't worry. Bill Bregoli has managed to see six of them: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3," "The Equalizer 3" (with Denzel Washington), the dirty talking dog comedy "Strays," the Liam Ne

It's too darn hot - but luckily seeing movies or watching shows can be a great way to cool down. Bill Bregoli, who actually goes to theaters, went and saw "Meg 2: The Trench." Bill's a big proponent of OPAC (Other Peoples' Air Conditioning). And he'll let you know what he thought of the movie. Neil Rosen, on the other hand, stayed indoors to binge both seasons of "The Bear" and he also read "The Church of Baseball" which is all about the making of "Bull Durham." Bill McCuddy also curled up with his air conditioner to re-watch "Tre Detective." He also checked out "The River Wild" on Netflix which follows a pair of siblings who love but distrust each other as they embark on a white-water rafting trip with a small group. One of their friends from childhood turns out to be more dangerous than he appears. Bill M also watched a French mystery called "The Night of the 12th." And for you streaming series fans we've got the thrid season of "Reservation Dogs," the fourth season of the "Harley Quinn" animated series and

History was made last weekend. Well, box-office history. Both "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" opened bigger than anyone expected. People got dressed up as their favorite physicist. Everyone wore pink. It was nuts. A run of the mill July weekend of movies got turned into an event. Bill Bregoli and Bill McCuddy saw both pictures and naturally Neil Rosen has questions. Lots of questions. Also, the past few weeks have seen writers, and now actors go out on strike. So we have some perspective on that mishegas. And in sympathy with the writers,your humble scribe is going to stop right here (lest he get picketed) and leave it to you to listen to the podcast.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4137244/advertisement

It's summer time and time to take part in that American tradition - go to a movie theater for the free air conditioning! It's also the time when the movie studios hedge their bets by releasing the latest versions of their old franchises. And we've seen two of the biggest. We start with "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One." It stars all your favorite (welll most of them) MI regulars including Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Furguson and Simon Pegg along with newcomer Hayley Atwell. There's a one line plot - "Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands." But then there are the stunts. Two hours and forty three minutes worth.of stunts. Is it fun? Bill Bregoli saw it and he'll let you know. Then there's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" starring that lovable curmudgeon Harrison Ford along with Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It too has a one line plot - "Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the