For Now We See

News this week is (surprise surprise) delays, with some upcoming releases.

Then, we review Wonder Woman 1984 , wondering if upbeat superhero movies have a place in a post-MCU world. We also discuss the film as a Trumpian parable, and return again to the idea of the "strong female character."

We also review Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix), Chadwick Boseman's final performance. We talk about racial injustice, the black church, and why the church needs to sing the blues.

Timestamps
00:00-09:28 - Intro and News
09:42-43:22 - Wonder Woman 1984
43:36-end - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

After some quick news chat about delays and rumours, we get into Season 2 of The Mandlorian (Disney+).

Picking up the threads from our episode on Season 1, we talk about fatherhood, whether or not Mando is a religious conservative, and why Star Wars just can't escape the perfect myth it told in the original trilogy.

Timestamps
00:00-12:08 - news
12:23-end - The Mandalorian (Season 2)

Happy New Year! We start by talking about what we watched over Christmas, before highlighting our best films of 2020 and a little bit of news.

Then we review Black Narcissus, the BBC's latest spooky Betwixtmas three-part drama. We talk about cliched nuns, and the tension between the individual and the community.

We also review Pixar's Soul  (Disney+), wondering why a secular age still tells afterlife stories, and whether life is just what you make it.

Shownotes
"The (Latest) Modern Prometheus: Intergenerational Breakdown in The Lighthouse"

Timestamps
00:00-24:15 - Intro, Christmas TV, Best of 2020, and News
24:47-57:47 - Black Narcissus
57:58-end - Soul

It's been a while, but we're BACK with a CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!

We review November's film news, which included the demises of Sean Connery, Johnny Depp's career, and possibly cinema as we know it as all Warner Bros movies will now be streamed at the same time they're in the cinema.

Then we review Noelle (Disney+, starring Anna Kendrick), talking about total depravity, gender roles, and tradition.

After, we review The Christmas Chronicles 2  (Netflix) in which Kurt Russell is the best film Santa ever, in part because he is the actual Bishop St. Nicholas. But then we get surprisingly angry about people trying to find transcendence whilst singing "O Christmas Tree", which is obviosuly no-one's favourite carol.

Timestamps
Intro and News - 00:00-15:46
Noelle - 16:01-33:14
The Christmas Chronicles 2  - 33:27-end

This week is a special multiverse mashup! We've crossed over with Popcorn Parenting (James Cary and Nate Morgan Locke) - another Christian podcast which talks about kids and family movies.

Kids films and crossovers mean we had to go back to 2018 to review Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. What do we do when heroes disappoint us? Do superhero movies turn kids into narcissists? Does the rise of multiverses tell us something about current attitudes to truth?

This week we open the mailbag and read some listener emails, before sharing our thoughts on Christians and Halloween movies.

We review Saint Maud  (in cinemas - go see it!) - a horror-cum-drama movie about a devout but troubled young nurse. We discuss how the film relates religion to mental health, loneliness, and even evangelism.

Then, it's The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix), directed by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network). Based on a true story, it got us talking about free speech, justice, and different groups uniting in a common cause.

Timestamps
00:00-22:00 - Intro, Mailbag, and Halloween Movies Discussion
22:19-46:18 - Saint Maud
46:32-end - The Trial of the Chicago 7

Shownotes
"Halloween: Its Creation and Recreation" by Steven Wedgeworth

This week, we discuss another Bond delay and the knock-on effect of cinema closures.

We review Say Your Prayers (buy/rent on Amazon, YouTube, AppleTV etc.), a quirky indie comedy about two hapless Christian hitmen sent to assassinate a prominent atheist. It gives us a chance to talk about how much things have changed since the days when Dawkins, Hitchens, and Harris roamed the earth.

Then, we review The Comey Rule (NowTV/Sky/Showcase), based on the memoir of former FBI Director James Comey (Jeff Daniels), who was fired by Donald Trump (Brendan Gleeson). We judge whether Brendan Gleeson gets Trump right, and how to be a good man in a bad time.

Timestamps
00:00-07:45 - Intro and News
07:56-28:15 - Say Your Prayers
28:30-end - The Comey Rule

Shownotes
- Glen Scrivener - "Reset" Interviews

This week, Hollywood is again announcing delays to its biggest pictures.

We review Netflix's The Devil All The Time (Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson), discussing its portrayal of Christianity and spiritual abuse.

Then, it's ITV mini-series Des (David Tennant), based on the true story of serial killer Dennis Nilsen. We discuss the banality of evil, and why we're all so interested in serial killers anyway.

Timestamps
Intro and News - 00:00-05:59
The Devil All The Time - 06:14-21:46
Des - 22:00-end

In this week's news, we discuss the debate surrounding Netflix movie Cuties. We give our thoughts on the film's controversial elements, as well the the #CancelNetflix backlash.

Then, we review Disney's live-action Mulan. We discuss the increasing influence of China in Hollywood, the "strong female protagonist", and why certain outlets reviewed it so well.

Afterwards, we give a spoiler-free pitch for Netflix's I'm Thinking of Ending Things. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but is a fascinating exploration of time and the stories we tell about ourselves. We eventually move into a spoilery section about what on earth actually happens in it!

Timestamps
Intro and News - 00:00-10:33
Mulan - 10:47-26:32
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (spoiler-free) - 26:46-35:16
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (spoilers!) - 35:31-end


Shownotes
"12 Question to Ask Before You Watch Game of Thrones" by John Piper. Question 8 is referenced in this episode.
"Why We Should Jettison the Strong Female Character" by Alastair Roberts

In the news, we take a moment to reflect on the career of Chadwick Boseman, after his tragic death from cancer aged 43.

Then, a long time coming, it's our bumper length Christopher Nolan special. What can Christians say about the work of the director tasked with saving post-lockdown cinema?

We work through Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and conclude with our review of the much delayed Tenet, picking up on his recurrent themes including obsession, time, self-made realities, and technology,

SPOILER WARNING for Tenet and most other films (though we leave Memento and The Prestige spoiler-free, in case you haven't seen their big twists!)

Timestamps
Intro and News - 00:00-09:40
Memento - 09:55-18:49
The Prestige - 19:04-30:43
The Dark Knight Trilogy - 30:54-48:21
Inception - 48:34-01:01:57
Interstellar - 01:02:12-01:15:56
Dunkirk - 01:16:11-01:26:04
Tenet - 01:26:18-end