Cinema Clash

It’s the Cinema Clash – Pandemic edition! We’re talkin’ random stuff, including #TheBanker #Vivarium #BlowTheManDown #TheMandalorian #TigerKing (how could we not?) and more. Stay inside, and tune in.

On this pre-apocalyptic episode of the Cinema Clash: THE HUNT puts the humor in the horror of human sport; I STILL BELIEVE aims for the heartstrings of the faith-based crowd; and FIRST COW transports indie fans to the 1820s Northwest. Plus, the status of cinema in the age of Corona.

On this jam-packed edition of the Cinema Clash: Ben Affleck bares his alcoholic soul in the solid sports drama THE WAY BACK; Pixar conjures up some family-friendly magic in the animated film ONWARD; the world of retail fashion gets a dressing down in the satirical indie GREED; a troubled ex-con seeks salvation while impersonating a priest in the Polish drama CORPUS CHRISTI; Daniel Radcliff stars in the South African prison break thriller ESCAPE FROM PRETORIA; Mark Wahlberg revives a fictional Boston private eye in the Netflix movie SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL; and Ireland floats into the mix with the oddball supernatural romantic dramedy adventure EXTRA ORDINARY.

The Invisible Man remains unseen for this episode. We set our sights instead on the latest adaptation of the chick-lit classic EMMA, the indie romance PREMATURE, the German thriller BALLOON and the music documentary ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND. Cue up Nena and Die Band, it’s earworm time on the Clash. Tune in for the connection.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: It’s go small or go home. We tackle the indie cancer drama ORDINARY LOVE, the distressing Russian arthouse drama BEANPOLE, and the documentary-style meet-cute OLYMPIC DREAMS; Plus, we reveal our top five most anticipated films of 2020.

With awards season over, it’s back to the grind! On this edition of the Cinema Clash: a brief debrief on the Oscars; DOWNHILL triggers a verbal avalanche about American remakes of foreign films; the French drama PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE smolders for the arthouse crowd; THE PHOTOGRAPH tackles modern-day romance with minimal drama; INCITEMENT offers a glimpse into the mind of an Israeli extremist turned assassin; and the documentary WHAT SHE SAID: THE ART OF PAULINE KAEL spotlights the words and influence of a legendary film critic.

On this special edition of the Cinema Clash, Charlie and Hannah share their #Oscars 2020 predictions on what should win, what will win, and what may win. So download a printable ballot from Oscars.com and play along! (Disclaimer: If you don’t win the office pool, it’s not entirely our fault. Blame the Academy.)

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: Blake Lively fails to liven up THE RHYTHM SECTION; Plus, the mini-bonanza of topical, inspirational, sweet, sad, and maddening films nominated in the OSCAR SHORTS categories – animated, live action and documentary.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: Guy Ritchie returns to his roots with the stylish crime caper THE GENTLEMEN; an inspiring true story about a fallen hero falls a bit flat in THE LAST FULL MEASURE; the biggest surprise out of the SAG Awards doesn’t involve Brad and Jen; plus, weighing in on the DOLITTLE dud and catching up on the Oscar-nominated documentary HONEYLAND.    

On this edition of The Cinema Clash: The BAD BOYS are back for one last ride – yeah right; DOLITTLE does little, but the kids will like it; TROOP ZERO salutes a misfit girl hero; and LES MISÉRABLES lays bare an impoverished Paris suburb spinning out of control. Plus, the Academy Award nominations and what they might portend for Oscar night.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: the murky sci-fi/horror film UNDERWATER; competing death penalty dramas JUST MERCY and CLEMENCY; a look back at the GOLDEN GLOBES and what it all means – if anything – for the ACADEMY AWARDS. Plus, a final toast to the ‘pope of Beaujolais.’

On this special edition of the Cinema Clash, we reveal our Top 10 movies of 2019 – to each other and to you! Find out if your favorites made the cut!

On this expanded edition of the Cinema Clash: spoiler-free thoughts on STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER; the conundrum that is CATS; a visceral difference of opinion on Terrence Malick’s A HIDDEN LIFE; less explosive debate on BOMBSHELL; and a rather atypical ESPN short documentary SUBJECT TO REVIEW; Plus, quick takes on Christmas-Day releases 1917, LITTLE WOMEN and UNCUT GEMS. Pass the wine...

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: the JUMANJI franchise takes its blockbuster game to THE NEXT LEVEL; Clint Eastwood fuels controversy with his telling of the RICHARD JEWELL saga; DC-area film critics reveal their top picks as awards season kicks into high gear; and the National Film Registry adds 25 titles to be preserved for all eternity, prompting us to ask, WTF?

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: THE AERONAUTS drift when you want them to soar; THE TWO POPES captivate with clerical conversation; and LITTLE JOE sprouts a cautionary tale about genetically-modified plants. Plus, obscure facts about popes, flowers and balloons, and what it’s like to prep for the Washington Area Film Critics Awards.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: a pre-Thanksgiving podcast stuffed with a veritable smorgasbord of options including the animated return of Anna and Elsa in FROZEN II, the kindness-inducing drama A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, the heart-wrenching emotional family drama WAVES, the sharp and witty whodunnit KNIVES OUT, and an outlaws on-the-run story channels contemporary social outrage in QUEEN & SLIM. Plus: a celebration of Boujolais Nouveau Day, and a quick game of ‘two degrees of cinematic separation’.

On this special ‘bonus edition’ of The Cinema Clash: a brief sit-down with the director and two stars of the emotional family drama WAVES - Trey Edward Shults, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Taylor Russell. We couldn’t talk plot (that would spoil the movie-going experience), so we chatted about some innovative choices in the filmmaking process. Tune in!

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: the latest not quite a reboot, not quite a sequel version of the female-centric action adventure franchise CHARLIE’S ANGELS; Oscar-winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale fuel the testosterone-driven friendship movie FORD V FERRARI; Adam Driver pulls double-duty in the gut-wrenching relationship drama MARRIAGE STORY and the based-on-a-true-story political thriller THE REPORT; Plus, a sad but true documentary about the rise of checkbook journalism, SCANDALOUS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: WWII action drama MIDWAY seeks victory at the box office; LAST CHRISTMAS hopes to be first with the rom-com crowd; PLAYING WITH FIRE is just for kids; and the documentary FOR SAMA proves tough to watch, but worth it. Plus, we wade (briefly) into the debate over Scorcese’s fightin’ words against Marvel.

On this edition of the Cinema Clash: the sequel that is and isn’t TERMINATOR: DARK FATE; Edward Norton’s film noir passion project MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN; 15th Century shenanigans on Netflix with THE KING; the drama-less family drama FRANKIE; a promise to eventually see HARRIET. Plus, tracking our early picks for award season.