"Mother Mary" And Fictional Pop Stars in Film

"Backrooms" And The Internet Horror Boom (With Ryan Broderick)

This week we’re joined by the very liminal Ryan Broderick, proprietor of the great Garbage Day [https://www.garbageday.email/]newsletter and host of the podcast Panic World, [https://couriernewsroom.com/panic-world/] to discuss A24’s hit, Backrooms!  Based on a 4-Chan thread, creepypasta, and web series, the movie has captured young filmgoers and its young director, Kane Parsons, has captured Hollywood’s attention.  Compared to last week’s subject, Obsession, Backrooms is a much more ambitious blend of effects-driven horror: juggling mid-life ennui, childhood trauma, and corporate conspiracy against an endless fluorescent yellow backdrop. It turns out, men would rather go to the backrooms than engage with therapy.  We discuss what works about Backrooms, what doesn’t, and continue our conversation about YouTube directors making the jump to Hollywood. Finally, we discuss the feel-good story of so many new films finding footing in the industry, and what might be next for Parsons and other YouTube crossovers.  Next week, we’re getting shirtless and toyetic, with The Masters of the Universe!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

“Obsession” And Youtube Creators In Hollywood

This week, it’s springtime for sad boys, with “Obsession!” a horror flick from Blumhouse and director Curry Barker. The movie has exceeded all expectations and is currently doing better than its opening weekend, largely thanks to great word-of-mouth. The movie tells a monkey’s paw story about a one-sided, obsessive relationship that’s taken to horrific, supernatural heights. It’s both fun and genuinely upsetting, thanks to two excellent lead performances and confident direction that makes the most of a very low budget. We also explore the history of YouTubers who’ve made it big in Hollywood (where Barker started his career) and why directors seem to transition into Hollywood more easily than other youtube talent. Plus, we give a quick rundown of Alison and Richard’s Cannes experiences to give you a sneak peek of what we’ll be discussing later this year. And we have a special guest appearance from Critical Darling’s straight boy correspondent, Griffin Newman, who’ll share his thoughts on the movie in a Straight Boy Corner segment.  Next week, we’re all yellow, and exploring The Backrooms with a special guest, see you then.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Our Favorite Movies Of The Year So Far, And A Summer Blockbusters Preview

Coucou les cheris! As Cannes is underway on the Riviera, we take a break from our usual movie-of-the-week format to look back at the year so far, and look forward to this summer. We count down our top 5 favorite movies of the year (that haven’t been covered on the show), including big studio movies and European arthouse fare. We’ll also take a temperature check on the summer blockbuster slate, from The Mandalorian & Grogu, Disclosure Day, Spider-Man, The Odyssey, and more. Finally, we’ll hear a transmission from Alison and Richard, live from Cannes, to discuss the festival so far. Your wish has been granted! Next week, we’re talking about Obsession, from director Curry Barker and Blumhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

“The Sheep Detectives” And Amazon’s Box Office Bets (With Griffin Newman)

Wake up sheeple, it’s The Sheep Detectives! This week we’re joined by our very own executive sheepherder Griffin Newman to discuss the new cozy mystery for families. After the mysterious death of their shepherd, played by Hugh Jackman, his band of sheep team up to solve the mystery in a picturesque British countryside. Surprisingly, it’s very good! Knitting together themes of memory and grief, tied up in a wooly bow. We discuss the plot and characters, our histories with upsetting kid’s movies, the exceptional voice performance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and more. We get into Amazon and MGM’s current play for the box office, fall down a He-Man rabbit hole, and also talk about some other cozy mysteries. Next week, we look back at the year so far, and look forward with a Summer movie preview.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” And The Future Of Tastemakers (With Who? Weekly)

Description: “…You think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the podcast industry when, in fact, you're listening to a podcast that was selected for you by the people in the room…and Who? Weekly!” This week on the show, we’re joined by the hosts of ⁠Who? Weekly⁠ [https://www.whoweekly.us/], Lindsey Webber and Bobby Finger, to discuss The Devil Wears Prada 2, starring a list of all-star Thems: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. 20 years on, much has changed in the worlds of Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs; amidst the cratering value of traditional media, Miranda and Andy reconnect to save Runway Magazine from bad billionaires. Despite its depressing subject matter, the movie is still breezy, funny, and surprisingly well observed. As veterans in the NYC media wars, we get into our histories with the original, recount our encounters with billionaire magazine owners, do a Meryl performance review, discuss the film’s elegy for tastemakers like Anna Wintour, and why we all still want (and need) publications like Vogue and Runway. Next week we’re talking about sheep and cozy mysteries with The Sheep Detectives! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]