This week on FoF we are reviewing Disclosure Day, the new blockbuster movie from Steven Spielberg about government extra-terrestrial cover ups. We discuss comparisons to his own movies Close Encounters and War of the Worlds (and…Crystal Skull), as well as Arrival from Denis Villeneuve. I go through what works, what doesn’t work, and whether Spielberg did enough Spielberging to make this worth a trip to the cinema.

This review is SPOILER FREE, meaning anything that is shown in the trailer is fair game.

We also find time to have a good impassioned rant about Scorsese joining forces with an AI company.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro, No Spoilers etc

(01:13) My Stance on Spielberg (Recent Work, Sci-Fi)

(03:03) My Stance on Aliens

(04:25) My Review Anxieties

(07:16) The Review starts, Approach to Aliens vs Arrival & Close Encounters

(12:44) Failure to Explore Themes

(14:08) Road Movie, comparison to War of the Worlds

(15:26) Performances

(17:49) Spielberg knows what he’s doing

(20:36) General Story Logic

(22:07) General thoughts, anxieties and confusion

(23:55) Summary, Letterboxd Rating & FoF Disclaimer https://boxd.it/eIQZ4P

———

(25:42) Scorsese Joins AI Storyboarding Company

(37:05) NEXT WEEK!

Today on FoF we discuss 2 Dad movies of differing quality. In the case of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE I have not had a more baffling, disorientating cinema experience in quite some time, so we have a nice big giggle about that in my first EVER non-Review Movie Review.

Moving onto POWER BALLAD (via a little OBSESSION update) I talk about how it tapped into my new Dad perspective, made me realise Nick Jonas has talent and earnt my forgiveness for its frailties.

Both these reviews are SPOILER FREE, meaning anything that is shown in the trailer is fair game.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

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(00:23) MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Review (Spoiler-Free)

(00:57) I have no idea what is happening

(01:50) A message to He-Man fans

(02:42) How has this passed me by

(04:24) The whole premiere experience

(05:58) Movie started

(06:49) I can’t even dog on this movie

(07:27) I feel asleep

(08:40) I walked out

(10:30) Not giving it a Letterboxd rating https://boxd.it/eyqcmN

(11:18) What happened to Idris Elba’s American accent?

(11:50) The FoF Disclaimer

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(12:10) OBSESSION Box Office - we were there at the start

(14:15) Cinema Air Con Reviews

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(14:40) POWER BALLAD Review (Spoiler-Free)

(15:10) Synopsis

(15:59) Funny angry comedy and references

(16:30) Paul Rudd in his element

(17:09) It’s funny! And interesting!

(17:40) Rudd & Jonas chemistry & talent

(18:08) Great depiction of the Creative Process

(19:33) Lip Syncing was offputting

(19:56) Cheap visuals and scale

(21:09) But it works overall

(22:00) My First Dad Movie Experience

(23:14) This could be a Family Favourite

(24:16) Summary & Letterboxd Rating https://boxd.it/eyqmop

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(24:55) Next Week!

Today on FoF we enter the BACKROOMS, a new horror(?) movie directed by Kane Parsons off the back of a very successful YouTube mini-series of the same name. I review it's visual and tonal strengths, whilst discussing why I think it is lacking in the scares department. This review is SPOILER FREE, but in this case that means providing context on what you may already know from the general YouTube mini-series premise, as well as what is shown in the trailer (which isn't much).

I also find time to have a quick rant about how long the Bond casting is taking, before letting you in on a little secret about my new baby's Letterboxd account!!!!

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(00:59) Origin / Context about Backrooms (Important)

(03:33) Synopsis & Set Up

(04:21) The Therapisation of Horror

(05:28) Strong foundational premise

(06:24) Strong visuals & initial tone

(07:50) Not scary enough

(09:35) Found footage sequences

(10:30) Over explanation diluting the horror

(12:25) The evil presence was not revealed effectively

(14:11) Something’s been lost from the original image/series

(18:10) Visual strengths

(18:52) The performances are strong

(19:43) Which audience will this work for?

(20:23) Summary & Letterboxd Rating https://boxd.it/ewY8Qz

(21:07) The FoF Disclaimer

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(21:21) Bond Casting RANT

(23:31) Mini Darling’s Letterboxd!!?

(26:28) Next week…

Today we return to a galaxy far, far away to review (SPOILER-FREE) The Mandalorian & Grogu, the new anxiously anticipated big screen spin-off of the previous Disney+ streaming spin-off. So we’re spinning off the spin-off. I walk you through my snap reaction to the film (because they have barely given us any time to gather our thoughts) before descending into an impassioned rant to Star Wars fanatics and casual fans alike. We talk about the marketing, the love (or lack thereof), the action, the warms, and the fuzzies.

Stick around to find out Mark Kermode’s favourite seat in the BFI IMAX, as well as the behaviour of the guy sat next to me.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(00:41) My Star Wars Credentials

(02:00) Rob - our Star Wars fanatic correspondent

(02:52) Plot Synopsis/Set Up

(03:49) Marketing & Anticipation

(05:03) Is it a Cinematic Experience?

(07:42) Disney have messed us around with this IP

(12:15) This is strategy first not passion first

(13:00) Sigourney Weaver’s weird performance, and Pedro

(14:22) No Warm & Fuzzies, No Star Wars

(16:15) Picking out some positives

(18:13) Not coming from a place of love

(20:07) Star Wars fans deserve better than this.

(23:40) I take no joy in saying I was bored.

(25:36) Summary & Letterboxd rating https://boxd.it/eqqxsF

(26:30) The FoF Disclaimer

(26:40) A brief ranking of Mando & Grogu

(27:05) SeatyMapper - Mark Kermodes Favourite BFI IMAX Seat

(28:03) Forrest Grump - Mando & Grogu Cinema etiquette RANT

(30:08) Next week!

This week on FoF we indulge in 2 types of movies Hollywood does not make anymore…except they just did! Finding Emily (which is a British Rom Com tbf and not Hollywood), and Tuner (a cool Crime-Caper) both pleased me on different levels and for different reasons which we will go into in full FoF depth, with laughs along the way.

We discuss the return of the Rom-Com and why being a "Sunday Afternoon" movie is no bad thing.

I finish with another RANT about people talking in cinemas ARRGHHHH

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00 Intro

(01:00) Finding Emily Review (Out 22nd May) https://boxd.it/elLvJV

(18:26) Tuner Review (Limited Release 22nd May, Wide 29th May) https://boxd.it/el3oFJ

(27:38) Movie Etiquette Forrest Grump

(29:37) Mando & Grogu NEXT WEEK!

This week on FoF I CRACKED NOLAN’S ODYSSEY CIPHER BEFORE ANYONE ELSE ON EARTH and discovered a secret Discord group chat. We then go baaaaa-rmy for The Sheep Detectives, but maybe not in a good way, maybe in a baaad way.

Speaking of which, I address the reaction to my bad review of Hokum last week as well as my glowing review of Obsession, what it shows about movie discourse and how I determine my star ratings.

We then find time to discuss secret screenings, Project Hail Mary Oscar buzz, boiling hot cinemas and also review Ian McKellen’s wonderful performance in The Christophers.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(00:25) The Odyssey Code CRACKED https://discord.com/invite/odysseymovie

(05:52) Hokum Reactions & Ratings Backlash RANT

(08:25) Obsession HYPE, Preview Screenings & My 5 Star Rating Ethos (another RANT)

(12:31) Inde Navarette (Obsession) Awards contender?

(13:50) Project Hail Mary Oscar Buzz & Discourse

(17:00) The Sheep Detectives https://boxd.it/e82dZp

(27:14) Forrest Grump Parent Baby Screenings having better etiquette

(29:12) Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard And Soft Live In 3D Review

(29:39) Are Secret Screenings Fun or Annoying?

(30:58) The Christophers Review https://boxd.it/egCMHz

(38:01) Forrest Grump Air Con Rant

(39:56) NEXT WEEK!

This week on FoF a Horror Double-Bill, OBSESSION vs HOKUM, and ONE of them is an instant classic (which may or may not be getting a 5 star treatment). The other is, well, just ok (or maybe worse) - but I might be in the minority on that, so I explain why I think that is. Have a listen to find out which is which! (Spoiler Free reviews for both btw).

We also revisit the discussion around 25+ Year Old screenings raised on a previous episode, with another great contrasting point from a fellow listener.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(00:54) OBSESSION Review - Spoiler Free (Letterboxd - https://boxd.it/e8Zg7N)

(14:52) HOKUM Review - Spoiler Free (Letterboxd - https://boxd.it/e9OxBH)

(27:55) Over 25+ Year Old Screenings FOLLOW UP - Interesting Listener Email!

(31:34) NEXT WEEK

This week on FoF it's Anne Hathaway's comeback, Anne she does Hathaway of coming up with 2 movies in 1 week, doesn't she! We review "The Devil Wears Prada 2" which you will be all too aware of, and also her art-house outing in David Lowery's "Mother Mary". Both are fraying at the seams for different reasons.

We also find time for a giggle as we pitch other 90s and 00s Rom Coms to be given a present day Legacy Sequel (in honour of Prada 2).

As always we finish with Forrest Grump, SeatyMapper (a moment of reflection haha), and a new relevant extract from my 15 year old movie journals.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) I INTERVIEWED STANLEY TUCCI! https://youtu.be/qOXTZ0CFJiI

(01:57) I'm a Dad now. This is a whole new perspective.

(02:45) The Devil Wears Prada 2 Review https://boxd.it/e825jF

(24:00) Pitching 90s/00s Legacy Sequels

(27:35) Mother Mary Review https://boxd.it/e81N0l

(38:03) Forrest Grump at a Press Screening

(39:13) A bit of SeatyMapper perspective haha

(41:01) 150yo Fred reviews "27 Dresses"

(42:34) Check out my Tucci Interview!!!! https://youtu.be/qOXTZ0CFJiI

This week on FoF we round up all the important news from CinemaCon 2026, the annual movie tradeshow. We delight at the incoming Tom Cruise Oscar campaign, throw some anxious shade on the Hunt for Gollum and get jealous of people with Dune: Part 3 tickets.

We also touch on Ben Stiller's new Focker movie, Bradley Cooper's Oceans prequel, why Dwayne Johnson is moving mad with Jumanji 3, and MORE, before debating whether anyone is actually hungry for Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping.

We finish off with a special correspondents take on Lee Cronin's The Mummy - a movie I was NFI'd to - and a special edition of Forrest Grump with TWO, yes TWO listener emails that I found very entertaining, one of which asks: SHOULD we have Over 25yo Only Screenings?

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(01:15) Tom Cruise starts Oscar campaign

(03:23) LOTR Hunt For Gollum doubts

(06:52) Dune 3 Ticket RANT

(11:10) Focker-in-Law (with Ariana Grande!)

(13:35) One Night Only: The Purge of Rom Coms

(16:54) Resident Evil & Zach Cregger's slate

(19:06) Michael B Jordon's Thomas Crown Affair

(20:17) I haven't read The Odyssey btw

(21:52) Bradley Cooper's Oceans 11 Prequel

(23:27) Warner Bros to compete with A24

(24:55) The Rock thinks Jumanji 3 is Jumanji 4

(26:51) The Boroughs is Stranger Things v.2

(28:09) Is ANYONE hungry for more Hunger Games?

(32:44) Special Correspondent reviews Lee Cronin's The Mummy for us

(36:06) Forrest Grump & SeatyMapper (LISTENER EMAILS!) - plus an important call to arms

(41:51) NEXT WEEK IS BIG!

This week on FoF we honour the release of James McAvoy's directorial debut CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN' by ranking The Best Movies Directed by Actors. Largely a subjective list of 19, but with some input from you guys from the group chat. Expect mentions of Favreau, Stiller, Gerwig, Wilde and more. Oh, and of course Clint.

I then review CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN' and discuss how it's themes of northern aspiration resonate with me.

We also find time to discuss the potential long-term cultural impact of THE DRAMA (review on last week's show) before rounding off with praise for the cast of SNL UK.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

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(00:18) The Top 19 Movies Directed By Actors

(Group Chat)

(List on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/TV2a8)

(03:45) Citizen Kane (Orson Welles)

(04:32) Wuthering Heights (Emerald Fennel)

(05:20) The Town (Ben Affleck)

(07:10) Mid90s (Jonah Hill)

(08:03) The Brutalist (Brady Corbet)

(08:46) Woman of the Hour (Anna Kendrick)

(09:52) BlackBerry (Matt Johnson) - doesn’t count

(10:41) Eighth Grade (Bo Burnham)

(12:21) Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller)

(14:39) A Quiet Place (Jon Krasinski)

(15:57) Iron Man (Jon Favreau)

(17:49) Little Women (Greta Gerwig)

(20:01) Apocalypto (Mel Gibson)

(21:31) A Star Is Born (Bradley Cooper)

(22:53) Booksmart (Olivia Wilde)

(23:58) Nope (Jordan Peele)

(25:06) Sully (Clint Eastwood)

(26:54) Submarine (Richard Ayoade)

(28:20) Monty Python’s Life of Brian (Terry Jones)

(30:18) When Harry Met Sally (Rob Reiner)

Full list on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/TV2a8

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(32:15) The Drama Box Office & Future

(34:15) CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN' Review (Letterboxd)

(45:52) SNL UK

(48:05) Coming Up