Critique-Opolis

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This movie should have been titled "Titan: The Stockton Rush Disaster." We watched this Netflix account of the most narcissistic and self centered deep submersible pseudo diving professional the universe saw fit to create. Join us on this analysis of how entitlement and monstrous ego led to a half baked submersible company, years of corporate intimidation, a legacy of ignoring and persecuting subject matter experts, and ultimately the death of five people (spoiler alert: this egomaniacal square headed life ruiner also died, so that's good). 

Louisa never would have written that, but Jay absolutely detested this guy. Stockton fired people and prosecuted those whose job it was to safeguard other people's lives. If you learn anything from our show or this movie, greatness does not exist in a vacuum (pardon the pun). You need to learn to work well with other people and being a good leader requires listening to your peers. 

P.S. Jay actually had a recipe today. 

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In his latest summer tentpole for Apple, Brad Pitt plays race car driver Sonny Hayes, whose race car career is probably over, but then Sonny's friend Ruben Cervantes played by Javier Bardem, finds Sonny doing his laundry at a local laundromat and convinces Sonny to think about coming back to the APXGP team for their next race. Just when Ruben thinks that Sonny will be a no show, Sonny graces the Screen walking down the race track looking like an average guy, but ready to race! This is where the first argument happens, when not everybody believes that Sonny should be back in the racing world. 

Throughout this movie there are many arguments and disagreements. The above being the first one. Many battles ensue between almost every member on the APXGP team. Including one of romance between a lady engineer on the APXGP team and Sonny. 

The movie provides an excellent behind the scenes look into F1 racing and all that it entails. F1 was fun, fast paced and exciting from minute one to the last race of the movie. We recommend that you go see it. It's a good movie for the summer and for anytime, really. If you are looking for fun and exciting: Go see F1. Oh and if you are looking for Brad Pitt, Louisa says definitely go see F1!

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We're back! Today, we chat about a documentary - Pee Wee as Himself directed by Matt Wolf. Jay has been a big fan of Pee Wee since childhood. He has introduced Louisa to Pee Wee in recent years, including the viewing of Pee Wee's Big Adventure which Louisa enjoyed! : ) You should check it out if you have never seen it before. 

In this two part series we learn about Paul Reubens's early life, where his alter ego Pee Wee came from, Pee Wee's success as well as the sad and unexpected passing of Paul Reubens. 

I think it is safe to say that we both enjoyed watching "Pee Wee as Himself." I think that we learned a lot as well as memories were brought back for Jay. 

I really liked that Pee Wee "started" out slow and then became this very well known Character to a lot of People. I would even say Pee Wee was known to everyone. I liked that Pee Wee later had his own TV Show - Pee Wee's Playhouse which appealed to audiences of all ages. 

Unfortunately, the World met Paul Reubens because of some bad press. Pee Wee Herman was a well known Character by this time and the press was not kind to a famous actor with a well known career. Sadly, a couple of unfortunate events would lead to the end of Pee Wee Herman. He would make a small comeback, but things were never the same after the charges brought against Paul Reubens. 

We end our most recent episode with a yummy recipe (finally!) from Jay - Hot Honey Tacos. Who doesn't LOVE Tacos!?! 

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George Clooney heads another quality ensemble cast as Matt King, in this 2011 Oscar winner for Best Adapted Screenplay.  Matt is a real estate and trust attorney attorney in Hawaii charged with shepherding the sale of 25,000 acres of prime Hawaiian oceanfront property that has been in his family for centuries.  All while dealing with his wife who is slowly dying after a boating accident, managing the issues to 2 daughters trying to make sense of their situation, and coming to grips with infidelity. 

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The Cinetopia Film Festival has hit Ann Arbor and our Saturday pick was 'How To Build a Library'.  2025 Kenyan-American documentary film, directed and produced by Maia Lekow and Christopher King. It follows Shiro Koinange and Angela Wachuka, as they restore McMillan Memorial Library, Nairobi.  Kenyan publisher Angela Wachuka and writer Shiro (Wanjiku) Koinange quit their jobs to start a non-profit organisation named "Book Bunk" and, as their third project, to restore the famous, neo-classical McMillian Library. Along the way, they navigate local politics and confront Kenya's colonial past.

This led to a back and forth about the importance of finding a project in life that you can be passionate about and why it's important, especially as you age, to not let go of such a pursuit.  

P.S. 

Directed by Maia Lekow and Christopher King

P.P.S.

I totally ripped this synopsis from Wikipedia.  Sue me - I was pressed for time.

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This 1997 action/romance starring Val Kilmer and Elizabeth Shue is one of Jay's personal favorites!  This flic has it all!  Espionage, disguises, cool tech gear (for the 1990's), chases, and a love story that works between 2 characters who actually have palpable on-screen chemistry. With an absolutely kick-ass soundtrack that reflects the time it was made - heavy on the electronic rock, ambient, alternative flare.

Buckle up as Val takes on a thrill ride across countries from England to Russia where he becomes a multi-persona chameleon to steal technology, highjack a formula for cold fusion, evade the Russian mafia, topel a would-be oligarc, and fall in love, all under the guises of Catholic Saints. Get ready for 'The Saint'!

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Rami Melek and Lawrence Fishburn take on the espionage genre in this new spy thriller.  Here's the twist, Rami's just a big nerd who happens to work at the CIA.  But when his wife is killed, can he leverage his keyboard crypto-jockey talents into a cold-blooded, protein-eating, super assassin to avenge his wife?  Especially with  both the killers and Langley hot on his trail. Holt McCallany and Rachel Brosnahan support.

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Jobs for writers in L.A. for TV shows and original projects took a steep decline.  We get into it.  

Also, Jay has 'feelings' to say the least about the all-ladies Blue Origin trip.  Yes, it's been covered but not yet by the bald honey guy and he has a bit of a meltdown.  Worth a listen.

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Wes Anderson is back with his latest joint. Benicio del Toro takes center stage as an ailing arms dealer who has to navigate the transition of his empire to his only daughter who just happens to be a holy rolling woman of the cloth (that's a nun for the uninitiated). An all star cast rounds out this ensemble including Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson and Mia Threapleton (as Sister Liesl). All the things that you love about a Wes Anderson movie promise to take centerstage. Unlike prior episodes, we have not yet seen The Phoenician Scheme. We are just talking about it because we like Wes Anderson's movies and he does not disappoint. We are excited for this May release!

We take a closer look at Who is Benicio del Toro is. Jay has once again let you down and avoided giving you a honey based recipe. He is working on it. Keep the faith. He will get to it sooner or later. 

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A heartfelt goodbye to one of our favorite Hollywood heartthrobs, Val Kilmer with his recent passing we thought that we would take a moment to recap his illustrious career. From Real Genius to Willow to Top Gun to The Doors. Val was a consummate professional and an actor's actor who handled everything from humor to drama. He always left the audience wanting more and left the audience looking forward to his next role. 

We started using Notebook LM to give ourselves an edge with creating this show, so part of the episode is an improcess trial run. 

The rest is a myriad of Hollywood news and gossip.