SPOILERS!! This week I give you insight into my attendance at the WICKED: FOR GOOD Premiere, before diving into a full, frank and honest review on the movie.

Please note, this review has MAJOR SPOILERS of the plot of this movie, so if you've never seen the musical I advise you listen after your screening. 

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS
Wicked PREMIERE Review
(00:55) The Biggest Most Chaotic Premiere Yet
(05:18) Premieres are not conducive for content creation
(07:05) Weird popcorn and a weird vibe
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WICKED: FOR GOOD Review - SPOILERS!!!!
(08:20) My relationship to the first movie and the musical
(09:45) There’s a BUT coming…
(10:24) I came into this screening with the absolute best intentions
(11:04) If I didn’t know better I’d think this story was made up a few months ago - BIG SPOILERS
(15:04) Where are the bangers?
(16:25) I accept if you’ve seen the musical you’d be more ready for this
(17:13) But I was in a room of Wicked superfans…
(19:25) Midway toilet trip with my Darling Wife
(19:55) I understand what Wicked fans may say to this criticism
(20:52) There is no clear story arc here like the first half
(22:08) Where is the FUN?
(23:06) I understand these criticisms are largely the faults of the Musical
(24:25) A message to the superfans
(25:20) The 5 Star Reviews will come, and then go
(25:37) LETTERBOXD RATING 
(27:30) What do YOU think?
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(28:06) Coming up next week
(29:05) When should I review Knives Out 3?

This week on FoF I give the full rundown of my Traitors Castle experience with Tiktok (and why I was a terrible Traitor). I also then explain why Nick was such a terrible Celebrity Faithful, as well as discuss why Squid Game The Challenge S2 isn't working for me. 

We then rundown the Best Pre-Christmas Movies to watch in November and get in the spirit, before finishing off with reviews of "Anemone" and "Predator: Badlands".

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS

(01:52) Was I a Good Traitor? My Traitors Castle Experience!
(06:15) My Biggest Irritation with the Celebrity Traitors Finale
(10:34) Celebrity Gameshow Prize Pot Culture Is Icky
(13:15) Best Suggestion for a Future Faithful
(13:49) "Squid Game: The Challenge" S2 Isn’t As Good – Here’s Why
(15:46) I Am Boycotting the MJ Movie
(17:25) The Best Pre-Christmas Movies (and Ones That Don’t Count)
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(21:05) "Anemone" Review (Daniel Day-Lewis Comeback)
(22:33) Premise
(23:55) Northern Accents & Northern Stories in Film
(23:28) A Slow Mood Piece
(24:08) Why Daniel Day-Lewis Is the Greatest of His Generation
(27:59) A Brilliant Film School Movie
(28:56) Summary & Letterboxd Rating
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(29:55) "Predator: Badlands" Review
(31:15) Surprisingly Well-Versed in Predator Lore
(32:45) A Valid Move for the IP
(34:27) Great Opening
(35:30) Technically Strong and Made with Love
(36:11) BUT… a Fundamental Issue
(38:22) Losing the Grounding of the Original (and "Prey")
(39:35) Star Wars Meets Shrek?
(40:52) A Step Too Far for the Franchise
(42:25) From a Predator/AVP Apologist
(42:55) Summary & Letterboxd Rating
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(43:15) Ranking the Predator Movies
(45:55) Alien vs Predator Franchise

This week on FoF I’m telling you why Squid Game: The Challenge is better than it's parent series, and "Titanic" is the greatest major movie accomplishment of our lifetime. But not before revealing 2 HUGE invites I got this week for FoF related events you will be hearing far more about. I'm also reviewing the new Jennifer Lawrence movie "Die My Love", which is a Stealth Horror movie let me tell you (no spoilers for that one), including a new addition into the list of annoying things someone can do in a cinema near you. 

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro ft. Pxssy Palace
(01:13) Squid Game: The Challenge is BACK. Here’s why it’s better than the full series.
(04:11) I was also nearly ON the first Challenge series. ANNOYING
(06:44) I’m going to The Traitors Castle with TikTok!!!!!!
(09:52) I’ve been invited to the Wicked: For Good PREMIERE!!!!
(15:05) Rewatched Titanic and it's SO GOOD (LETTERBOXD)
(18:27) One (of many) reasons why Titanic is so good
(22:24) Why I’m missing Bruce Springsteen, Black Phone 2 and Now You 3 Me.
(25:43) Predator: Badlands review coming next week
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(26:42) Die My Love REVIEW - no spoilers
(28:55) Synopsis / Set up
(30:15) 4:3 Square Format doesn’t feel as much of a CHOICE anymore
(31:17) Striking imagery and style from Lynne Ramsey
(33:33) This is Jennifer Lawrence at FULL J-Law
(34:53) The movie needs a trigger warning
(36:50) Most annoying guy in my cinema
(37:53) MILD SPOILERS - The premise wears thin towards the end
(39:05) Summary & LETTERBOXD RATING 
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(39:33) Next week is a big one!!!!!

This week on FoF I’m under two blankets, spiralling into a myriad of rants, and reviewing two brand new films: the tense, lo-fi "Bugonia" (no spoilers) and the sweaty, twitchy "Ballad of a Small Player" (spoilers!).

Elsewhere: I talk Celebrity Traitors, why I pulled down a reel, and how Stranger Things has somehow invented cinema! WOW! I also make a public plea for an "Aftermath" poster at Stratford station.

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) TikTok/Insta @fredasquithonfilm - THANKS FOR 15k!
(00:05) I started, then regretted, advertising on other podcasts 
(01:28) I WANT THE AFTERMATH POSTER AT STRATFORD 
(03:26) Spotify listeners 
(04:58) I am obsessed with Mark from Celebrity Traitors 
(05:40) I took my Traitors Reel down 
(06:44) Potential future guests on Celebrity Traitors 
(08:49) Stranger Things Invents Movies! OMG! 
(14:52) I’m under two blankets right now 
– 
(15:54) "BUGONIA" REVIEW – no spoilers 
(16:58) Plot line 
(17:20) The lo-fi premise really works and reminded me of my favourite book 
(19:04) An Accessible Yorgos Lanthimos movie 
(22:01) No redeemable / appealing characters but that’s ok, unlike "Eddington" 
(22:49) Rating + Letterboxd Review 
– 
(23:59) "BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER" REVIEW – spoilers!!! 
(25:20) There’s a lot of tension and sweating 
(26:03) Colin Farrell’s bad accent was forgivable 
(26:50) Gambling Addiction depictions 
(27:56) It’s a lean and fun story 
(28:36) Questioning my Letterboxd Rating…  
(29:24) It feels a bit inconsequential  
–  
(30:27) Coming soon!  
(31:17) "Wicked: For Good" INCOMING  

This week on FoF: we discuss more of your suggestions for Imperfect but 10/10 movies, I also run through the 6 times in my life I've felt genuinely scared by a movie or scene, starting with my first sleepless night at 6 years old. We have a run through of my recent TV viewing including a protracted RANT about why I'm disappointed by the Celebrity Traitors series. I also review the new Kathryn Bigelow political thriller "A House of Dynamite" starring Rebecca Ferguson, coming soon to Netflix.

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) TikTok/Insta @fredasquithonfilm - THANKS FOR 15k!
(01:37) More of your Imperfect 10/10s!
(08:40) The ULTIMATE Imperfect 10/10 to shut down the whole discussion
(10:15) Let’s think of the next discussion! - DM me @fredasquithonfilm on Instagram!
(10:31) Why I don’t really engage with Halloween
(11:30) Unfortunately I won’t catch Black Phone 2 in cinemas
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(12:31) The 6 Times I’ve Been Most Scared By A Movie
(13:40) The Witches 1990
(15:48) Martyrs 2008
(17:43) The Blair Witch Project - spoilers!
(18:57) The Sixth Sense
(19:41) Silence of the Lambs inc. Buffalo Bill impressions
(20:58) Suspiria 2018
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(25:02) TV Update starting with John Candy: I Like Me (on Prime)
(26:40) Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV)
(28:14) Celebrity Traitors RANT (BBC)
(34:13) The Perfect Neighbour (Netflix) was amazingly candid
-
(37:26) "A House of Dynamite" review - SPOILERS!
(37:58) Has Rebecca Ferguson market-corrected Jessica Chastain?
(38:48) The Premise
(40:06) I have to review this with SPOILERS
(40:30) The first 30 minutes of control room thriller GOT ME
(41:37) But then…
(45:39) Idris Elba’s US accent is nowhere near as good as everyone claims
(47:35) So much potential
(48:25) Summary & LETTERBOXD RATING
-
(49:15) Send me the next discussion question!
(49:36) Coming up next week…

This week on FoF: a play-by-play of how I was invited, denied and then finally admitted onto the BFI London Film Festival Red Carpet. PLUS, I tell a hilarious anecdote about Chloe Zhao leading me and Steven Spielberg in some group meditation, I also review "Frankenstein" and "After The Hunt", which are wildly related movie titles now I think about it. Also - a shoutout for more of YOUR Imperfect 10/10s - DM me @fredasquithonfilm on Instagram!

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) TikTok/Insta @fredasquithonfilm - THANKS FOR 10k!
(01:10) Imperfect 10/10s - your initial submissions!
(06:03) Some thoughts on Diane Keaton’s passing
(07:30) More Imperfect 10/10s
(09:50) I watched loads of movies in my teens that I couldn’t digest
(12:06) The London Film Festival has been a bit exhausting?!?! Haha
(15:40) A hopefully humorous LFF anecdote
(17:36) Spielberg, Zhao, and the weird LFF Hamnet introduction
(22:44) My LFF Red Carpet experience!!!!! inc. getting denied by security hahahaha
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(32:10) After The Hunt REVIEW - spoilers throughout!!!
(33:44) Synopsis & Themes discussed
(34:53) I am a Luca Guadagnino lover, possibly more than most
(38:09) Great moments of allegory
(39:25) Progressive in its exploration, but not it’s conclusion
(41:59) It’s got a Fincher / Social Network aesthetic
(43:09) Summary & LETTERBOXD RATING
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(43:57) Frankenstein REVIEW - spoilers throughout!!!
(45:00) In the shadow of Nosferatu
(46:55) Guillermo didn’t strike his Pan’s Labyrinth balance here
(49:01) The length, structure and pacing is an issue
(52:05) Summary & LETTERBOXD RATING
-
(52:45) Next week...

This week on FoF: a thank you to everyone I met at the Pulp Kitchen event. Plus, my theory on the excellent pacing of “One Battle After Another”, the longeivity of Alan Partridge as a character, and a rundown of the London Film Festival so far including the earliest screening ever of a very special upcoming movie. And MORE!

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) TikTok/Insta @fredasquithonfilm - THANKS FOR 10k!
(00:50) Mailbag/Questions from you guys
(01:28) Pulp Kitchen 200 - congrats!
(02:15) I met loads of you there and that was lovely
(02:49) What will I do for 200 eps??
(04:48) It’s weird to meet listeners in person in a good way
(06:40) IMPERFECT 10/10 movies - send in your suggestions!
(09:34) “One Battle After Another” Box Office thoughts
(11:25) Theory on One Battle/PTA’s perfect pacing - SPOILERS!
(18:54) One Battle’s PTA ranking confirmed
(19:49) You might be listening to the Creator of the Year
(20:21) Running through some recent TV/Streaming watches
(21:09) Why Alan Partridge as a character in the new series still works
(24:00) Other TV including “Celebrity Traitors”
(25:30) Quick thoughts on “Monster” starring Charlize Theron
(26:50) Not keen on the new “Monster: Ed Gein” series on Netflix 
(29:45) My London Film Festival Press Screenings!
(31:05) Quick thoughts on “Wake Up Dead Man” (Knives Out 3)
(34:25) Coming up NEXT WEEK

This week on FoF: my new home cinema setup refuses to woof, and hope for the 5-star masterpiece "One Battle After Another". PLUE I review "The Lost Bus" and "The Smashing Machine" - both true stories. One is a claustrophobic thriller and the other stars The Rock. And yes, I do decide if he’s winning the Oscar. And MORE!

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) TikTok/Insta @fredasquithonfilm - THANKS FOR 10k!
(01:14) My new Dolby Atmos subwoofer isn’t allowed to woof
(02:15) One Battle After Another response / box office
(06:40) Sip of my juice merch
(07:35) Mandalorian & Grogu Trailer, why
(11:14) Avatar 2 re-release, don’t bother
(12:40) Sip of my juice merch
–
THE LOST BUS REVIEW
(13:35) Synopsis / Intro
(15:36) Paul Greengrass qualities with escalating real-time chaos
(17:25) He pioneered the “shaky cam” dialogue/action style
(18:19) The intimacy of The Lost Bus suits him, but…
(18:49) …fewer practical effects
(20:03) I could sense the budget constraints and cutting around the seams
(23:30) The nature of the story itself possibly too claustrophobic
(25:10) Good performances, cliché dialogue and themes
(25:55) The “shaky cam” feels dated
(28:18) Summary and LETTERBOXD RATING. See that rating HERE.
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THE SMASHING MACHINE REVIEW – SPOILERS!
(28:40) Synopsis / Intro – SPOILERS
(29:21) Spoilers incoming!
(29:45) I’m not sure what the core driver of this movie is.
(34:45) My biggest ick with sporting movies
(35:45) Is the real life story good enough to adapt?
(38:04) There were positives, such as this allegory for addiction
(39:49) I felt like I was immersed in the era
(40:49) Some transcendent moments
(42:35) Will The Rock win the Oscar? It’s now or never
(44:13) The fighting scenes lacked punch – pun intended
(46:16) Summary and LETTERBOXD RATING. See that rating HERE. 
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(46:48) Coming up!!!

This week on FoF: lashings of praise for "One Battle After Another", the new movie from Paul Thomas Anderson starring the one and only Leo. Maybe PTA's funniest, most accessible and emotional movie yet. I walk through my spoiler-free thoughts, unpack why PTA remains in a league of his own, and then rank ALL of his films from worst to best (including One Battle). PLUS - I’ve finally got a home cinema system set up (and reveal my first Blu Rays), discuss a movie that won’t be released until 2115, why I’ll never tell someone not to see a film, and how I felt when my sister asked to go see "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey". Shudder. 

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) TikTok/Insta @fredasquithonfilm - THANKS FOR 10k!
(01:17) My New Home Cinema System
(02:16) My first Blu Ray purchases (slightly embarassing)
(03:54) My sister wanted to see "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey"
(06:11) Never let your opinion get in the way of someone potentially having a good time
(08:10) A movie has been made for release in 2115
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"One Battle After Another" REVIEW!
(11:18) NO SPOILERS, but maybe go see the film first?
(13:22) I was nervous about not liking this movie, here’s why
(16:29) Turns out…
(17:20) Truly exceptional character-led comedy
(20:35) No one is better than Leo at panic-manic comedy
(21:35) Every character is tangible, fully drawn and with true depth
(24:15) Explorative, meandering plots that feel tight and intentional
(25:57) One interesting trope of PTA’s narrative set-ups
(27:55) I FELT THINGS
(28:25) PTA has a distinct style that feels forever future-facing
(31:30) The most accessible, commercially viable PTA movie by FAR
(32:42) He’s the best of the best and yet never afraid to be silly
(34:20) He doesn’t seem to have passed his peak
(36:29) MY LETTERBOXD RATING (review HERE)
–
PTA MOVIE RANKING (on Letterboxd HERE)
(38:00) At number 9
(39:10) At number 8
(39:42) At number 7
(40:23) At number 6
(42:03) At number 5
(42:35) At number 4
(43:29) At number 3
(44:25) At number 2
(46:46) At number 1
(48:10) WHERE DOES "One Battle After Another" GO IN THE RANKING?
–
(50:47) I will never go over an hour
(51:10) COMING UP NEXT WEEK

Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the FoF podcast feed. To celebrate, I went on my biggest FoF rant to date (yes, even bigger than Happy Gilmore 2). But which film broke me? In this episode, I review "Spinal Tap II", "The Long Walk", and "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey". (We also touch on the Emmys, the new Mitchell & Webb sketch show, and the Charlie Sheen documentary.) 

Explore the FoF socials/YT via my creepy website HERE.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 My 1 Year Podcasting Anniversary!!!
03:55 Emmy’s - congrats to Owen Cooper
04:21 New Mitchell & Webb Sketch Show
07:55 A call from Darling
08:37 Binged the Charlie Sheen Netflix documentary
12:39 3 Reviews coming up, here’s your due warning of the vibes

-
-SPINAL TAP SPOILERS- (for what it’s worth)
13:24 “SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES” REVIEW!
15:20 Slight “Happy Gilmore 2” syndrome
16:44 The core 3 still give enough
17:35 But it feels a bit thin
18:17 It doesn’t destroy the legacy of the 1st movie
19:27 Letterboxd Rating

-
-THE LONG WALK SPOILERS-
19:40 “THE LONG WALK” REVIEW!
21:09 My journey to see this movie was genuinely cursed
27:20 To me, it’s a tacky premise
29:20 Nothing takes me out of a movie more than THIS
31:40 Cliche characters and cliche dialoge
35:07 No visual flair
37:06 I probably would’ve loved this as a teenager, so there’s that
38:00 Letterboxd Rating

-
-A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL SPOILERS-
39:12 “A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY” REVIEW!
41:13 The Rant Begins.
41:45 They would never wait that long to kiss
42:20 I’m not saying attractive people can’t be sad, but…
43:35 The lead performances aren’t working for me
45:10 So annoying so boring
46:06 It’s not meaningful, it’s not emotional
47:00 I couldn’t believe when this happened
47:32 Zero chemistry. HOW????
49:05 My steak digestion was more interesting
49:46 This SHOULD be my thing
50:05 Letterboxd Rating

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50:34 TikTok/Insta @fredasquithonfilm - THANKS FOR 10k!