Spoilerpiece Theatre
Boston film critics Evan Crean, Megan Kearns, and David Riedel help you decide what to watch by sharing spoiler-filled reviews of the latest blockbusters and independent films, across genres, including films by women, nonbinary, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC filmmakers. Opening music: "My Life as a God" by Augean Stables. Closing music: "Pants Party" by Oilhead. Show edited by Otto Klammer. Logo design by Rita Csizmadia.
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Episode 546: Our Top 10 Movies of the Year (All Three of Us)
12/27/2024
Episode 546: Our Top 10 Movies of the Year (All Three of Us)
It's the end of the year, and that means it's time for our top 10 lists. As members of the Boston Online Film Critics Association, we vote for what we consider the best films of the year (ya know, like critics do). Megan (4:28) goes first, followed by Dave (28:45), and finally Evan (51:51). We have some overlap, but not much! And we have a good time breaking down our reasons for liking the films we do. There are some curveballs, too, which is always fun. Over on Patreon, the results of our Hitchcock for the Holidays poll is a discussion of the 1943 thriller . It you're a patron, .
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Episode 545: "The Brutalist" and "Nosferatu"
12/20/2024
Episode 545: "The Brutalist" and "Nosferatu"
Ladies and gentleman, pray forgive Dave in his capacity as host this week: His rhythm was off, as he was interrupted during the Patreon segment by a restless 9-year-old. (Speaking of Patreon, , Geena Davis-starring THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT. It's a fun conversation!) This week we all watched (3:44), Brady Corbet's post-WWII epic featuring Adrien Brody as a talented architect trying to thrive in the United States while dealing with rampant antisemitism (he's a Hungarian Jew), the process of getting his wife and niece to the United States (they're stuck in Budapest), and designing and building a giant multiuse project for garbage human Guy Pearce (his character, not Guy Pearce the person, whom we've heard is lovely). We have lots to say about this complex, multilayered, truly epic film, including whether it's the best picture of the year, like many critics contend. Then we move onto Robert Eggers' latest: His version of (40:14), inspired by F.W. Murnau's 1922 classic (which was lifted from Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula"). It looks good. Its actors are committed. Lily-Rose Depp is fantastic. But is the horror movie worth watching? Does Dave want to throw Nicholas Hoult into a windowless room and toss away the key? We had three very different opinions.
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Episode 544: "Chasing Chasing Amy," "Conclave," and "Nickel Boys"
12/13/2024
Episode 544: "Chasing Chasing Amy," "Conclave," and "Nickel Boys"
We start with (1:44), trans filmmaker Sav Rodgers’ documentary about his relationship with Kevin Smith’s , and an exploration of Rodgers’ reverence for Kevin Smith’s at-the-time groundbreaking but now much-more-questioned-about-its-narrative-ideas lesbian-falls-for-a-straight-man rom-com. Over the course of six years, Rodgers’ feelings change as he transitions, and interviews Smith, queer filmmakers and critics, academics, his own fiancée Riley (whom we all love), and Joey Lauren Adams, CHASING AMY’s star, who has *very* different feelings about it than writer-director Smith. It’s a fascinating watch. Next, there’s (25:31), director Edward Berger’s film about a papal conclave, run by Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), choosing a new pontiff, and the political and religious machinations that go along with it. Dave had resisted seeing this, but finally relented. And…did he like it the way Evan and Megan do? Finally, there’s (45:41), director and co-writer RaMell Ross’ adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. We have differing opinions about it, in particular the style in which it’s filmed, but we all found things we like about it, Megan in particular. , we talk about Clint Eastwood’s final film (we’re told) as director, the courtroom drama .
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Episode 543: "Queer," "Flow," and "Nightbitch"
12/06/2024
Episode 543: "Queer," "Flow," and "Nightbitch"
This week Megan and Dave talk about director Luca Guadagnino’s (2:28), an adaptation of William S. Burroughs 1985 novel (with a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes). Starring Daniel Craig as William Lee (a Burroughs stand-in), this movie left both Megan and Dave a little bewildered, as there were things they liked (the shooting-up scene, the color palette), and things they didn’t like (Drew Starkey’s performance as Lee’s love interest). Then Evan joins in for (22:38) an excellent animated film featuring a very cat-like cat and other animals as they survive a catastrophic flood. Finally there’s (39:53). Amy Adams becomes a dog (though there’s more to it than that) and Scoot McNairy becomes a dope (he’s played this part before). What did we think of writer-director Marielle Heller’s adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s novel? , we talk about the Christmas horror flick .
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Episode 542: "Know Your Place" and "The Black Sea"
11/29/2024
Episode 542: "Know Your Place" and "The Black Sea"
Evan is off this week (doubtless watching PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES), so Megan and Dave take on (2:19) and (35:29) as a duo. And as with many weeks, the movies we choose are linked thematically (often accidentally). In this case, both films tackle characters with feelings of being outsiders. In KNOW YOUR PLACE, Robel (Joseph Smith) balances being a typical American teenager with the familial demands of being the child of Eritrean immigrants, and he navigates the emotional and physical fallout that comes with feeling stuck between two competing sets of demands. And in THE BLACK SEA, Khalid (co-director Derrick B. Harden) travels to Bulgaria from Brooklyn and finds himself completely out of place - until he discovers he makes the locals happy by opening a cafe that serves Matcha tea. (It’s more dramatic - and comedic - than that, and we cover all the ins and outs in our conversation.) , we watched , a classic noir film from 1951, to celebrate Noirvember.
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Episode 541: "Wicked," "Gladiator II," and "Blitz"
11/22/2024
Episode 541: "Wicked," "Gladiator II," and "Blitz"
This week, we start things off at Shiz University, as Megan saw (2:22), the film adaptation of the stage musical, which is an adaptation of the novel by Gregory Maguire. Does Jon M. Chu's film hold up under scrutiny? And how are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as, respectively, Elphaba and Glinda? Next, Dave joins Megan to talk about (6:18), Ridley Scott's sequel to Ridley Scott's (ha) , starring Paul Mescal. Megan and Dave's opinions diverge, but they agree on one thing: Denzel Washington's performance is absolutely unreal (in the best way). Then Evan joins in for a lively discussion of Steve McQueen's (28:01), starring Saoirse Ronan as a single mother who puts her son on a train to safety during the early days of the German Blitz campaign over England. But her son (Elliott Heffernan) has other ideas that lead to peril, again and again and again. There's a compelling racial element to the story, but otherwise all three of us had different views of the film's success or failure. , we talk about the zany 1987 Japanese comedy .
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Episode 540: "Blink Twice" and "My Old Ass"
11/15/2024
Episode 540: "Blink Twice" and "My Old Ass"
This week, we took a gander at two films in current release: Megan and Evan watched (2:32), Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut starring Naomi Ackie as a woman who goes to a private island with a tech-bro (Channing Tatum) and parties with his friends, but things aren't what they seem to be. We were divided on this thriller. Then Dave joined them for (24:35), which is NOT about an aged donkey. It’s writer-director Megan Park’s sweet and charming coming-of-age tale of Elliot (Maisy Stella), a woman preparing to leave her small town for college in the big city, taking some mushrooms and meeting her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). There's more to it than that, but here's the real question: Which Spoilerpiece members cried during this one? Place your bets! Over on Patreon, we talk about the 1946 noir classic , starring Rita Hayworth.
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Episode 539: "Heretic," "Black Cab," and "Small Things Like These"
11/08/2024
Episode 539: "Heretic," "Black Cab," and "Small Things Like These"
This week Megan talks about the psychological horror thriller (2:18), starring a possibly career-best Hugh Grant. Then Evan, Megan, and Dave discuss the Nick Frost-starring horror flick (11:34), and the excellent (28:56), with Cillian Murphy as an empathetic man slowly uncovering the ugly secrets of a local convent. , we talk about in honor of its tenth anniversary.
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Episode 538: "Here," "High Tide," and "Music by John Williams"
11/01/2024
Episode 538: "Here," "High Tide," and "Music by John Williams"
This week, Dave gets boomerific yapping about the new Robert Zemeckis film (3:14), starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, and a bunch of other actors who should have known better, as they tackle Zemeckis’ latest blundered technology cry-fest. Gah. Then Megan and Evan talk about (13:54), Marco Calvani’s queer love story, set in Provincetown, Mass., between a heartbroken undocumented Brazilian immigrant and a man leaving the country in a week. Finally, Dave and Megan discuss (34:36), which is a documentary about the storming of the Bastille. Weird that a documentary about the Bastille would be called MUSIC BY JOHN WILLIAMS, right? (Just kidding, it’s a documentary about legendary film composer and jazz pianist John Williams. Dave has been sacked. - ed.) , we loooooved the 1995 Denzel Washington-starring, Carl Franklin-directed .
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Episode 537: "The Line" and "Magpie"
10/25/2024
Episode 537: "The Line" and "Magpie"
This week we watched (2:41), a drama (sometimes called a thriller, but eh) about a fraternity brother who gets mixed up in his frat’s shady pledge shenanigans. Does it result in someone’s death? Does the Pope shit in the woods? Then we watched (27:12), an atmospheric thriller starring Daisy Ridley (from an idea she had) about a woman dealing with her absolutely reprehensible husband's emotional affair. But is he really having an emotional affair? Are things even what they seem? As Evan says, does it all add up? And over on Patreon, we watched , the winner of our October poll.
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Episode #536: "Woman of the Hour," "MadS," and "Smile 2"
10/18/2024
Episode #536: "Woman of the Hour," "MadS," and "Smile 2"
This week, Megan reviews (2:06), Parker Finn's grisly sequel to his great horror film SMILE, about a pop star (Naomi Scott) contending with addiction recovery and a new tour amidst sinister occurrences. The sequel is much more nerve-wracking and gory! Then, we all (Dave, Evan, and Megan) talk about (16:09), David Moreau's unique and intense French horror film about a trio of teens dealing with a potentially bad drug trip and gnarly bodily issues. Lastly, we discuss (40:39), Anna Kendrick's sharp, tense, and compelling directorial debut about the true-crime story of an aspiring actress (Anna Kendrick also stars) in 1970s Los Angeles on the TV show "The Dating Game," where one of the bachelor contestants is a serial killer. And on our , we dive into the 2024 horror film , directed by Michael Mohan and starring Sydney Sweeney!
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Episode 535: "Last of the Sea Women" and "The Outrun"
10/11/2024
Episode 535: "Last of the Sea Women" and "The Outrun"
This week Evan and Dave kick things off with (3:07) (after Dave forgets to do his own intro at the top; whoops), a documentary about the haenyeo, a declining and aging community of women in Jeju, South Korea, who dive for seafood as a job - or, as Evan more accurately describes it, a calling - while dealing with climate change, over-fishing, and crucially, wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Then Megan joins Evan and Dave for (17:17), director Nora Fingscheidt’s adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s memoir (with a screenplay by Liptrot, the director, and Daisy Lewis). Saoirse Ronan stars as Nora, an alcoholic whose struggle to stay sober takes her from rehab, to an outpatient facility, to her family farm, to one of the most remote isles in Scotland’s Orkney Islands. We were all fascinated by it, but how much did we all like it? , we talk about the prequel .
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Episode 534: "Hold Your Breath"
10/04/2024
Episode 534: "Hold Your Breath"
Hey, gang! There were some delivery problems this week, so we only have one new movie on the docket: ! (Just kidding. That's on Patreon. Patrons can listen to that episode .) No, this week we cover the new Dust Bowl psychological drama/horror flick (2:22), starring Sarah Paulson as a woman living through the Dust Bowl (natch) and kind of losing her mind because of some maybe-it's-real-maybe-not-tee-hee specter called The Grey Man who lives in the dust. Sound like a concept ripe for horror? No? Ya ain't wrong! We're not going to lie: We didn't like this one and we go off the rails talking about it because why not? Also making an appearance this week: The Bikini Inspector! (We weren't kidding about going off the rails, or as the Monkey Man whould say, going bananas.) Enjoy! We did!
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Episode 533: "Will & Harper" and "Megalopolis"
09/27/2024
Episode 533: "Will & Harper" and "Megalopolis"
With Megan on vacation this week, Evan and Dave take on (2:42), the documentary about the friendship between Will Ferrell and writer Harper Steele post-Harper's transition. This funny and tender (and occasionally sad) documentary about long friendships (Ferrell and Steele met at "Saturday Night Live") and the ways they change is the anti- (22:56), writer-director Francis Ford Coppola's bizarro take on whatever-the-fuck-it-is, with each actor performing in a different movie, a production design from Hades, and a story - or many stories - that add up to absolutely fuck-all. (It's not entirely fair that Dave is doing the write-up this week, as he thought MEGALOPOLIS works in precisely zero ways, whereas Evan found a few things to like about it). In any event, take a listen before you watch. Spoilers in no way actually spoil something that has to be seen to be believed. Trust us. , we talk about Hitchcock's .
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Episode 532: "Rez Ball" and "In the Summers"
09/20/2024
Episode 532: "Rez Ball" and "In the Summers"
This week on the show Megan and Dave talk about (2:20), director Sydney Freedland’s drama about a Navajo high school basketball team. After a series of tragedies forces the coach and players to rethink the way they play ball, they adopt a technique they dub “rez ball,” which includes fast play and getting the ball to the hoop as quickly as possible - preferably within seven seconds of possession. Then Evan, Megan and Dave talk about writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio’s (22:29), which follows two sisters from adolescence to adulthood as they navigate their loving but volatile father during yearly summer visits to his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico. And , we talk about this month’s poll winner, the 1987 comedy , starring Diane Keaton.
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Episode 531: "Speak No Evil" and "Seeking Mavis Beacon"
09/13/2024
Episode 531: "Speak No Evil" and "Seeking Mavis Beacon"
On this week’s show, Megan and Dave watched (2:29), writer-director James Watkins’ remake of the Danish film from 2022. As with many non-American horror films remade for American audiences, the new SPEAK NO EVIL leaves the original’s first two-thirds relatively unchanged and then kicks the last third in the ass, replacing it with a watered down ending that, while not entirely stupid, ain’t exactly aces. (That being said, the Danish original is extreme. Take a listen to our reactions to it .) So while we weren’t enamored of this new version, we think leads Mackenzie Davis and James McAvoy (at 100 percent) do excellent work, and the changes do have a few good moments sprinkled in. (And Megan likes Aisling Franciosi’s performance, too.) Then we talk about , a documentary by director Jazmin Jones about her attempts, along with producer Olivia McKayla Ross, to find Renée L'Esperance, the Haitian (and original) model for the software program Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. We had varied reactions, with Dave being more forgiving (!!) than Megan and Evan, who feel the film is dragged down by its pacing and all the problems that can come with uneven editing. , we watched another movie that has a big twist: with Richard Gere, Laura Linney, and Edward Norton. It was a first-time watch for Evan, and we have fun talking about how the ending and wheether it holds up 28 years later.
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Episode 530: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," "His Three Daughters," and "Merchant Ivory"
09/06/2024
Episode 530: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," "His Three Daughters," and "Merchant Ivory"
It's a big week! Tim Burton's long-awaited (2:08) finally arrives after its thirty-six-year gestation — Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara reprise their roles, and Jenna Ortega co-stars — and does it live up to the praise being heaped upon it? Megan lets you know! Next, we all saw (18:42), Azazel Jacobs' family drama about three sisters (Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne) grappling with their father's imminent demise. This flick is getting raves, but not from us. Finally, Megan and Dave watched (39:31), Stephen Soucy's documentary about the legendary director-producer team of James Ivory, Ismail Merchant, partners in filmmaking and life, and all the people who moved in and out of Merchant/Ivory family in front of the camera (Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant, for two) and behind it (in particular, novelist and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala). We liked it, with reservations (some of them big). And , we Spoilerpiece a movie that needs a spoiler warning: The 1987 Kevin Costner thriller !
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Episode 529: "The Deliverance" and "Mountains"
08/30/2024
Episode 529: "The Deliverance" and "Mountains"
It’s a 50-50 week on Spoilerpiece, as one of the movies we watch is crap, and one is a joy from start to finish. First, the crap, because we didn’t want to end on a sour note: Lee Daniels’ (2:12), a derivative dumpster fire of a possession story cribbed from better possession stories. What makes it so awful, though? Glad you asked! Every character but one in this movie is an asshole. Like, a serious asshole. Andra Day’s Ebony? Asshole. Glenn Close as her mother, Alberta? Asshole. Mo’Nique as the world’s meanest social worker? Total asshole. We at Spoilerpiece don’t usually need to root for a character, but when you’re watching a movie and hope the demon wins, something is amiss. But then there’s the salve: (26:10), director and co-writer Monica Sorelle’s drama about a Haitian immigrant demolition worker living in Miami (Atibon Nazaire), his wife (Sheila Anozier), and their very American son (Chris Renois). All the bad vibes from THE DELIVERANCE are instantly erased! Praise Jesus! (If you have the misfortune of seeing THE DELIVERANCE, you’ll understand.) And is , the non-Eon Bond film featuring Sean Connery’s return as 007.
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Episode 528: "Between the Temples," "Hell Hole," and Smoking Tigers"
08/23/2024
Episode 528: "Between the Temples," "Hell Hole," and Smoking Tigers"
This week, Evan talks about (2:14), Nathan Silver's Jewish comedy starring Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane about a man's grade-school music teacher who becomes his adult Bat Mitzvah student. Unfortunately, he wasn't a fan of the awkward humor. Then, we (Dave and Megan) review (13:24), John Adams and Toby Poser's (aka the Adams family) horror film about a fracking crew encountering an 1800s soldier, who's still alive with a parasite inside him. We had mixed reviews: One of us liked it, one hated it. Finally, we all discuss (34:19), So Young Shelly Yo's moving, sensitive, and insightful coming-of-age drama about a Korean-American teen (Ji-young Yoo) as she navigates attending an elite college prep school amidst her parents' separation. We loved it. And on our , we cover Jim Jarmusch's NIGHT ON EARTH, in honor of Gena Rowlands, who recently passed away and stars in one of the global anthology's segments.
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Episode 527: "Alien: Romulus," "Skincare," and "Close to You"
08/16/2024
Episode 527: "Alien: Romulus," "Skincare," and "Close to You"
This week, Megan fills Evan and Dave in on (1:31), starring Elliot Page (who also co-wrote the story) in Dominic Savage's tender and emotional indie drama as Sam, who journeys home for his father's birthday, his first trip to his hometown since his transition. We follow that up with (9:18), Austin Peters's thriller starring Elizabeth Banks as Hope, an esthetician with a line of products about to hit the marketplace. Unfortunately, another esthetician opens a location directly across from her, and wouldn’t you know? Someone steals Hope’s identity and messes with her in a way that could tank her product launch. We wish we could say we loved it. (We didn’t.) Finally, Megan and Dave talk about (32:23), the Fede Álvarez-directed sci-fi horror interquel starring Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson. It takes the ALIEN series in a different direction, sorta, if not for all the derivative plot conventions and it lifts from just about every other ALIEN film. It has its moments (and it’s better than Ridley Scott’s last two hack jobs), but it’s a mixed bag. , we talk about the 1989 teen satire , starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, in honor of co-star .
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Episode 526: "Duchess" and "The Instigators"
08/09/2024
Episode 526: "Duchess" and "The Instigators"
Because of some truly bizarre audio difficulties this week, Megan was unable to join us. Which is a bummer! Because she had things to say about both movies on the docket. First, Dave talks about DUCHESS (2:35), directed by Neil Marshall and written by Marshall and its star, Charlotte Kirk. And how is it? Well, it's dog shit! Like most of Marshall's movies! Ho ho! Then Evan and Dave talk THE INSTIGATORS (14:41), a Boston crime comedy that goes out of its way to be very Boston-crimey and Boston-funny, but doesn't quite do either well! Just how much charisma do Matt Damon and Casey Affleck have to exude in order to sell this farce? More than they do! More than they do, gang. (At least we get some good scenes with Hong Chau.) And because we had audio difficulties, the Patreon bonus episode didn't turn out (clicking, clacking, and buzzing; it was weird). But we'll figure out what's wrong with it so this kind of thing doesn't happen again. And we're so sorry! But please know we're taking care of it. Thanks for understanding, everyone!
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Episode 525: "Sing Sing, "Doctor Jekyll," and "Peak Season"
08/02/2024
Episode 525: "Sing Sing, "Doctor Jekyll," and "Peak Season"
Dave jokes that it’s Megan’s big week on Spoilerpiece: She saw all three movies on the docket! First, she fills Evan and Dave in on (2:27), Joe Stephenson's gothic horror film starring Eddie Izzard as Dr. Nina Jekyll (good) and Rachel Hyde (bad) in a contemporary update of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Then Megan talks about (14:14), Greg Kwedar's tender and incredibly moving drama starring Colman Domingo and based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison. Megan loved Colman Domingo’s and Paul Raci’s performances, and has heaps of praise for the movie. Finally, everyone saw (24:48) Steven Kantner and Henry Loevner's poignant comic drama about the bond a burned-out New Yorker (Claudia Restrepo) makes with her fishing guide (Derrick Joseph DeBlasis) on a trip to Wyoming. We all loved it. , Evan and Dave talk about Robert Altman’s , which stars Shelley Duvall, who left us in early July.
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Episode #524: "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Green Border"
07/26/2024
Episode #524: "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Green Border"
Dave is under the weather this week (feel better soon, Dave!), so Megan and Evan cover the week's movies together. First, Megan reviews Agnieszka Holland's vital, yet harrowing drama (3:33), which follows a family of refugees from Syria, a border guard, and a group of activists providing aid to refugees, who converge on the Polish-Belarusian border during a humanitarian crisis. Then Evan and Megan dig into Shawn Levy's much-anticipated superhero film (26:26), which features Ryan Reynolds/Deadpool teaming up with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine! Thankfully we do a show where spoilers are the name of the game because otherwise, this one would be tough to talk about folks. We delve into the action, the comedy, the cameos, and the MCU at large in the context of the TV shows and the multiverse. Plus, in this week's , we discuss the winner of our summer heatwave poll, Sidney Lumet's 1957 legal drama !
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Episode 523: "Twisters," "Widow Clicquot," and "Oddity"
07/19/2024
Episode 523: "Twisters," "Widow Clicquot," and "Oddity"
Evan is off this week, so Megan and Dave braved this week’s releases. Actually, Dave didn’t see (2:39) — Lee Isaac Chung's disaster movie legacy sequel starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos — so it’s up to Megan to tell you, dear listeners, that it’s kind of crap. She has some positive things say about it (Glen Powell, for example)…but not many. Both Megan and Dave saw (21:52), a period-piece biopic directed by Thomas Napper about Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot who took over her husband's champagne business after his death. French people, chateaus, business? Dave’s all about it (and all about Haley Bennett!). Megan liked it but didn’t love it. Finally, they both saw (39:07), Damian Mc Carthy’s eerie horror film about a psychic (Carolyn Bracken) investigating her twin sister's murder, and his follow-up to . And they loved it! No complaints! Four stars! This movie is one creepy bastard! , Megan and Dave talked about , Jan de Bont's 1996 film starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, because apparently the pain of TWISTERS wasn’t enough. (We actually enjoy it!)
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Episode 522: "Dandelion" and "The Blue Rose"
07/12/2024
Episode 522: "Dandelion" and "The Blue Rose"
Well. It is a BANNER week on Spoilerpiece, gang. Megan and Dave discuss writer-director Nicole Riegel’s (2:54), about a struggling singer-songwriter from Cincinnati (KiKi Layne) taking a shot at winning an opening slot at a biker gathering in South Dakota while also falling into an intense relationship with a semi-retired Scottish guitarist (Thomas Doherty). Then we get to (26:56). We’ll dispense with a description and leave it all in the audio, but please do buckle up. (And maybe get some popcorn and a burrito. Why the hell not?) , we talk about in honor of , who left us in late June.
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Episode 521: "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F," "Kill," and "MaXXXine"
07/05/2024
Episode 521: "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F," "Kill," and "MaXXXine"
We just marked a national holiday in the United States, so you know what that means: It’s cash grab season! Megan and Dave talk about said (possible) cash grab, (1:53). Eddie Murphy and cohorts return in the legacy sequel that continues the legacy of shittiness that unleashed on the world 30 years earlier. Ugh. Then Evan joins Megan and Dave to talk about (16:41), a terrifically bloody action film from India that features a commando on a train trying to save his fiancée from bandits. It’s got loads of good killin’, but it’s not for the faint of heart. (It makes look fuggin’ tame.) Finally, Dave and Megan talk (40:39), the third and possibly not-final chapter in the Ti West/Mia Goth saga that began with and continued with the X’s prequel, . , we talk about to commemorate , who died on June 20, 2024.
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Episode 520 - "Kinds of Kindness," "Conversion," and "A Family Affair"
06/28/2024
Episode 520 - "Kinds of Kindness," "Conversion," and "A Family Affair"
This week Megan saw Yorgos Lanthimos’s (2:28), a whackadoo triptych fable starring Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, and Willem Dafoe. It’s getting all kinds of raves but also some drubbings — including Megan’s. Evan, Megan, and Dave watched (15:15), Zach Meiners's documentary about survivors — the film’s director, an ex-Mormon woman, and a famous drag queen — of so-called conversion therapy (programs designed to make queer kids straight, but in reality it’s trauma-inducing psychobabble). We had mixed reactions. Finally, everyone weighed in on (45:45), a rom-com directed by Richard LaGravenese and written by Carrie Solomon starring Joey King, Nicole Kidman, and Zac Efron as three garbage humans apparently more interested in ruining each others’ lives than anything else. Reactions were not mixed. But we had fun taking it apart! , our Pride Month poll winner is , a 1999 gay rom-com starring Christian Campbell, J.P. Pitoc, and — that’s right — Tori Spelling.
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Episode 519: "Chestnut" and "Fancy Dance"
06/21/2024
Episode 519: "Chestnut" and "Fancy Dance"
This week, Megan and Dave check out writer-director Jac Cron’s (2:19), a low-key (very low-key) queer drama about Annie (Natalia Dyer), who, after graduating college in Philadelphia, falls into a love triangle with Tyler (Rachel Keller) and her maybe-boyfriend Danny (Danny Ramirez). But is Tyler in love with Annie? Or Danny? And is Danny really into Annie? Or Tyler? We have an animated discussion about this one. Then Evan joins Megan and Dave to talk about (23:29), Erica Tremblay's Indigenous drama starring Lily Gladstone as Jax, a Seneca-Cayuga woman searching for her missing sister while caring for her niece, Roki (Isabel DeRoy-Olson). Throw into it Jax’s estranged father (Shea Whigham), an impromptu road trip to a powwow, and the missing-persons investigation for Jax’s sister and it’s an emotional 92 minutes. We all liked this one (one of us loved it). , we watched , Arkasha Stevenson's horror prequel starring Nell Tiger Free, so check it out!
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Episode 518: "Tuesday" and "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"
06/14/2024
Episode 518: "Tuesday" and "Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution"
This week Megan and Dave check out writer-director Daina O. Pusić’s (1:57), starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a mother reckoning with her daughter’s imminent demise when Death arrives - literally - in the form of a size-shifting, talking bird. We had mixed feelings about it, but one of us liked it more than the other. Then Evan joins Megan and Dave for (21:46), a Netflix documentary exploring the history of LGBTQ+ comedy and featuring some of its biggest names, including Lily Tomlin, Tig Notaro, Suzy Eddie Izzard, and Joel Kim Booster (and a lot more). , we talk about John Carpenter’s , because why the hell not?
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Episode 517: "This Closeness" and "Jim Henson Idea Man"
06/07/2024
Episode 517: "This Closeness" and "Jim Henson Idea Man"
Welcome the wacky world of Spoilerpiece! Why wacky? Because for our first film, Megan and Dave watched Kit Zauhar's (2:33), one of the most indie films to ever indie, and we’re not sure it’s a good movie…but it’s not bad, either? And the ending is…we’re not sure also? And every character in it is an assbag, but that’s OK? Good sound work, by the way... WTF is this movie, exactly? Hey, if you see it, you tell us. Then Evan, Megan, and Dave watched (23:21), Ron Howard’s Disney+ documentary that goes in-depth-ish on Henson, his early partnership with his wife, his early experimental films, and how that experimentation showed up in lots of projects throughout the rest of his career. Spike Lee’s , which turned 30 this year.
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