The Returners

Triangle of Sadness - A surprising mood changer

Jesse and I were in a gloomy place when we walked in to to see the "Triangle of Sadness" by Ruben Östlund. We were ready to walk out at any second but this turned out to be the best possible film to see, our moods completely changed. One of the best films of the year.  Things discussed: * The trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHJ39WKbXp8] is deceiving.  * Characters we liked and why we do.  * Capitalism vs Socialism - the absurdity of that argument.  * The film indulges in watching the rich suffer.  * Switching gender roles was enlightening to Ajit.  * The invisible help.  * The amazing sound design.  * The modern argument.  * Watch it in a group setting and in a theater, if possible.

Pearl (2022) with Amory & Carlos; Reacting to the prequel before the original

Ajit returns to the theater with Amory and Carlos to watch Pearl, the prequel/sequel to the film X [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awg3cWuHfoc].  After the screening, we talk to another moviegoer about the film who had watched the original and thus had a completely different experience from us.  Other notes: * Told in the style of Wizard of Oz [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1939_film)] * Spanish Flu of 1918 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu] * Gone Girl [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_Girl_(film)] * Carlos' favorite moments in theater: The Matrix [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix], American Pie [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pie_(film)] * Amory's favorite moments in theater: Titanic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic_(1997_film)], Bridesmaids [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridesmaids_(2011_film)]

Caraway Drive-In-Theater comes to an end, conversation with Randi Emerman and watching Thor at a Drive-In

This is a packed episode. First, we talk to Randi Emerman, the founder of the Film Fest 919 [https://filmfest919.com/] and the now defunct Caraway Drive-In-Theater. The conversation covers a lot of topics: * The origins of the Caraway drive-in-theater and why it was ultimately closed. * Starting up the Film Fest 919 and the impact it has had and will have on Chapel Hill and the Triangle. * The theater business vs the festival business. * The benefits of watching films in theaters. * Lumina theater [https://www.thelumina.com/] opens up again.  Then Jesse and a couple of his family members attend the last screening at the Caraway theater. The film is Thor: Love & Thunder. The conversation is less about the movie and more about experiencing movies including the drive-in experience which can be an experience in itself.

Watching TOP GUN: MAVERICK with a Air Force Veteran

The new Top Gun is out, 38 years after the original blockbuster in 1986. Chris, an Air Force vet, joins Ajit to discuss the film and to share his insights into the world of the Top Gun.  Show notes:  * Plane in the original Top Gun: F-14 Topcat [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat] * Plane in the new film: F-18 Super Hornet [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet] * Plane porn: P-15 Mustang [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang] * Bike porn: Kawasaki GPz900R [https://www.hotcars.com/top-gun-maverick-motorcycle-tom-cruise-kawasaki-ninja-h2/] * What is g-LOC [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-LOC#:~:text=g%2Dforce%20induced%20loss%20of,the%20brain%20causing%20cerebral%20hypoxia.]? * What does a Combat systems officer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_systems_officer] (Wizzo) do? * Video that shows 633 Squadron influence on Star Wars [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNdb03Hw18M] and Top Gun: Maverick

Everything Everywhere All At Once (Guest - Erin Upson Cuevas)

Erin Upson Cuevas, a collaborator with Ridley & Tony Scott,  joins Ajit to discuss one of the most adventurous films that have come out in a long time.  Things discussed: * The Daniels [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniels_(directors)] (the directors), Rolling Stone article [https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/twerking-time-warps-daniels-interview-1316996/] about them.  * Charlie Kaufman's films that kinda compare: Being John Malkovich [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Being_John_Malkovich], Synecdoche, New York [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche,_New_York].  * Wong Kar-wai's In The Mood Of Love [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Mood_for_Love]. * Ke Huy Quan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ke_Huy_Quan]'s performance is amazing.