Essential Viewing

Originally slated for release on July 10th, 2020, director Daniel Espinosa's film Morbius, starring Jared Leto, has finally released nearly 3 years later. The EV crew have been mounting up for Morbius since 2020 and are extremely excited to finally share their thoughts on the film. So, sink your teeth into this latest episode as we discuss whether Morbius was blood pumping good time, or if the all the hard work that went into this movie was in vein.

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on:https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

Take a magical trip back in time with us (and special guest Claire Kostohryz!) to 1950's New York as we settle in for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. This film is a reimagining of the classic 1961 film of the same name, and stars Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, and Mike Faist. Were we brought together through the power of song and dance, or did this viewing lead to a go-old-fashioned rumble? Tune in to find out!

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

In this episode, the gang heads to rural Texas to discuss X, the new film from director Ti West, starring Mia Goth, Scott Mescudi, and Owen Campbell. Was this really "one f***ed up horror picture" or just a bad movie? Tune in and find out!

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

Strip down to your tighty whiteys, pull up your tube socks, and start blasting Old Time Rock & Roll because in this episode of Essential Viewing the gang is gathering to discuss the classic 1983 comedy-drama Risky Business. The film stars Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay, was written and directed by Paul Brickman, and features a score by Tangerine Dream.

Will the gang's praises for the film be heard in the air tonight? Or did their opinions of this film sink faster than a Porsche 928 in Lake Michigan? Tune in to find out!

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

Don the cowl, lace up your boots, and hop in the batcopter for this week's wild episode on THE BATMAN, the highly anticipated super hero film written and directed by Matt Reeves, starring Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, and a whole rogue's gallery of other actors in iconic Batman roles. 

Was this film a tire-squealing, flame-throwing joy-ride in the batmobile, or were the guys trying to sky hook out of the theater for a quick getaway? Tune in to find out! 

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole "Two-Face" Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian "Killer Croc" Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce "The Joker" Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

In this week's episode, the EV gang reunites for some Super Snark Times as we discuss the 2017 film with a coincidentally similar title, Super Dark Times. This film is directed by Kevin Phillips and stars Owen Campbell and Charlie Tahan. Did the EV crew have a Super Lark Time watching this one, or was the film even more unbearable than our wordplay? Find out on this week's episode.

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

This just in! Hot off the presses! The EV crew are discussing what is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, Orson Welles's 1941 classic Citizen Kane. Will Chris and Cole hold themselves to their Declarations of Principles, allowing Bryce to get on the board? Or has there been fraud at the polls? Listen in to find out!

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

Join the EV gang along with special guest Leon Dinh as they discuss Paul Schrader's 1985 biopic Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters on this episode. Was Cole able to harness the harmony of pen and sword and get the guys to do the required readings, or were they reaching for their tantō to get out of the film early? Listen in to find out!

Background on the novels mentioned in this episode:

The Sea of Fertility

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Kyoko's House

Confessions of a Mask

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

In this week's episode, the EV gang discusses Perfect Blue, the 1997 psychological horror anime, directed by Satoshi Kon. Was the film a "Perfect" 5/5? Or will the EV boys be having hyper-realistic nightmares about this one? Find out on this week's episode.

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing

This week the EV crew headed to gorgeous Naples, Italy to watch The Hand of God, the 2021 semi-autobiographical film written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino. The film chronicles Sorrentino's coming of age in 1980s Naples and stars Filippo Scotti, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo, and Luisa Ranieri.

Did the guys decide to return for mass next Sunday? Or will their First Communion also be their last? Listen in to find out!

Follow us on Instagram @essential_viewing

Leave us a voice message! https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing/message

Meet the Essential Viewing Staff and follow us on LetterBoxd!

Cole Bielen - thatcbkid

Christian Cuevas - ChristianCuevas

Bryce Kramer - brycekramer42

Visit our Anchor page to find all the platforms the podcast is available on: https://anchor.fm/essential-viewing