Maximum Film!

From Sundance 2023 to an arthouse screen near you, MUTT is the first feature from director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz. Starring Lío Mehiel as Feña, it tells the story of a young trans guy who is having a pretty stressful day navigating surprises from his ex, his little sister, his father, and the city at large.

We discuss the film, and the nominate Best One-Day Movies to the Hall of Excellence

(Vote on our Facebook page)

What’s Good
Alonso - Billy Bragg, Rich Men Earning North of a Million
Drea - Family vacation and family photos 
Ify - Basement survived the hurriquake

ITIDIC

1. WGA Antitrust Report Calls Disney, Amazon, Netflix “The New Gatekeepers”
2. Cherokee Nation Launches “Cherokee Film” banner
3. National Cinema Day is Returning This Year (but the cost is going up)

Staff Picks
Drea - The Quiet Girl
Alonso - Casa Susanna
Ify - Blue Beetle

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

This week, we’re talking about a very special book-to-film adaptation: Red, White & Royal Blue. Our guest is the charming Traci Thomas of The Stacks podcast! 

*Just a quick disclaimer to our listeners, we had some audio troubles during this week’s episode. 

What’s Good
Alonso -  Keith Haring: Art is For Everybody at The Broad 
Traci - Trader Joe’s Root Beer Float Bars 
Ify - Public Libraries 

ITIDIC

1. Two LGBTQ films were slapped with R and NC-17 ratings. Critics say queer sex scenes are treated differently.  
2. Tyrese Gibson Is Suing The Home Depot For Alleged ‘Humiliating and Demeaning’ Incident
3. Latino Organizations Unite in Support for ‘Blue Beetle’ During Hollywood Strikes

Staff Picks 
Alonso - Blue Beetle (out in theaters on August 18th) 
Traci - The Deepest Breath
Ify - The First Slam Dunk (also available at select theaters now) 

Check out the latest episode of Traci’s podcast The Stacks: 

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

It’s also available to stream on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast and Stitcher

The Stacks is also on tour! You can catch tickets here: http://liveinthestackstour.showit.site/

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

We’re finally completing our Barbenheimer review experience by talking about Oppenheimer with the lovely Tom Lum of Let’s Learn Everything! 

What’s Good

Alonso -  Only Murders In The Building (Season 3)
Drea - Midwest Vacay 
Tom - Carly Rae Jepsen 
Ify - Dr. Pepper Strawberries and Cream Strawberry Soda 

ITIDIC

1. An AI Program Imagined Barbies From Around the World and Wouldn’t You Know It, They Turned Out Super Racist
2. SAG-AFTRA, WGA Strikes Are Trying To Topple A Broken Industry
3. Hollywood Food Insecurity Spikes Amid Strikes

Staff Picks

Alonso - Grave of the Fireflies
Drea - Aporia
Tom - Barefoot Gen
Ify - Sicario

Check out the latest episode of Tom’s podcast Let’s Learn Everything!: Episode 44: Katie Goldin & Alex Schmidt, Space Birds, and the Bison Emoji 🦬

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Tom Lum

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Produced by Bryanna Paz
Sr. Producer  Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

What’s Good
Alonso - Heartstoppers S2
Dave - Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators
Ify - Diablo 4: Season of the Malignant

ITIDIC

1. Remembering Paul Reubens
2. Bradley Cooper is Skipping the Venice Premiere of MAESTRO in SAG-AFTRA Solidarity
3. Stunt Performers and Actors Working to End “Paintdowns” and “Wiggings” Post-Strike

Staff Picks
Dave - Fresh (1994)
Alonso - I Am Somebody
Ify - Nimona

Video Dave’s new album ArticulatedTexTiles

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Alonso Duralde
Video Dave

Produced by  Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer  Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

We've been on BARBIE-watch for what seems like forever. Now we've literally watched Barbie and our lives may never be the same. We've got Margot Robbie's countrywoman (and our good pal) Maria Lewis here, so...let's go party!

What’s Good
Alonso - Sydney’s omelet
Drea - Who shat on the floor at my wedding?
Maria - Oppenheimer and the Barbenheimer vibes
Ify - pool

ITIDIC

1. Barbie Sets Record Best Opening for a Female Director
2. Some Independent Films Were Given the Go-Ahead by SAG-AFTRA

Staff Picks
Alonso - The Wobblies
Drea - Lakota Nation vs. United States
Maria - Killers of the Flower Moon (the audiobook – the movie isn’t out yet!)
Ify - War Games

Maria’s latest books: 
Mockingbird Strike Out
The Graveyard Shift  (out Sept ‘23)

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

First, we tell you all about the SAG-AFTRA strike; then, it's the theater godmothers vs. the film critics as we look at the new comedy THEATER CAMP. Finally, the gang aces a quiz about made-up movie musicals (which has been edited to include audio clips for listeners at home; in the recording, all guesses were made without audio clues, other than about 3 notes from NY/LA). And staff picks! What a show!

What’s Good
Alonso: Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme Plus Table Fan
Drea: TooGoodToGo
Kyle: National Critics Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Ify: Ralphs (Kroger) summer seltzer flavors

ITIDIC
Actors Have Joined Writers in Industry Strike

1. Re: Oppenheimer walkout
2. Re: Residuals checks
3. Re: Comic-Con Cancellations

The 70mm Print of Oppenheimer Is So Big, They Had to Expand the Projection Booth

Staff Picks
Drea: Paper Heart (2009)
Alonso: Camp (2003)
Kyle: Blue Jean
Ify: Bring It On

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Kyle Turner

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

In Adele Lim's boisterous directorial debut, JOY RIDE, four American friends get up to some major hijinks while in China. But there's more than laughs on offer in this comedy, which the gang discusses with comedian Jenny Yang. Then, we send some groups of friends on vacations of our own design.

What’s Good
Alonso - The Bear Ep. 206
Drea - The cookies of 2023
Jenny - Being back
Ify - RTX, BBQ

ITIDIC

1. GQ Editor Who Axed an Anti-Zaslav Story Is Producing Movie for Warner Bros.
2. The Coen Brothers are Getting Back Together
3. Barbie Banned In Vietnam Over Interpretation of Map Details

Staff Picks
Drea - The Lesson
Alonso - Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Jenny - Better Luck Tomorrow
Ify - Crazy Rich Asians

More Jenny Yang at JennyYang.tv

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Jenny Yang

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Ahh 1997...a time when comedy movie presidents did Bill Clinton impressions, apes were the toast of Hollywood, and NASA launched the first manned mission to Mars. That's what's happening in this year's Listener Pick, chosen by our supporter, Robin. It's Disney's RocketMan, a live-action, slapstick farce starring Harland Williams as the smartest, dumbest astronaut  around.

What’s Good
Alonso - BlueSky
Drea - King Size Comforter for a Queen (of the Midwest) Bed
Hal - Ordering groceries online
Ify - Gorges

ITIDIC:

• SAG Negotiations Extended Until July 12
• Mattel Exec Says that Upcoming Barney Movie Will Be “For Adults”
• Goodburger 2 Update: Lil Rey Howery and Jillian Bell Added to Cast

Staff Picks
Alonso - Electric Dreams
Drea -  Earth Mama
Hal - Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Ify - The Pest

@lunalnewport’s tweet

We're sponsored by Hello Fresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/maxfilm50 and use code maxfilm50 for 50% off plus free shipping! 

Interested in becoming a MaxFun member? MaximumFun.org/join

Call the Hotline! MaximumFun.org/Hotlinehttp://www.maximumfun.org/hotline

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Hal Lublin

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

The debut feature from writer/director Celine Song premiered at a certain film festival you may have heard about. Now, it's in theaters, and we've invited friend of the show Inkoo Kang along to talk about it.

Then, we think about outdated tech we love to see on screen.

What’s Good
Drea - Heritage Store Rose Water and Glycerin Spray
Inkoo - Literary scammers
Alonso - Jeni’s x Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts, Jeni’s Brown Butter Almond Brittle

ITIDIC

1. What’s Happening with Turner Classic Movies?
2. Some Paddington 3 Casting Has Been Announced
3. Everybody’s talking about the French BARBIE movie poster

Here’s a Zip Drive

The connection between John Early and Clockwatchers

Staff Picks
Drea - Nimona
Inkoo - John Early: Now More Than Ever
Alonso - Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy

With:
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Inkoo Kang

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Framing devices, whip pans, Hollywood homages...oh my, it's a new Wes Anderson movie! See how this one stacks up, for the WA-superfans, the newly initiated, and those who are somewhere in between. Plus, a hotline question about memorable angles and camerawork in film.

To leave a message for the hotline, email [email protected] or visit maximumfun.org/hotline !

What’s Good
Alonso - Lingvano ASL course
Drea - Strawberries
Darren - Fake Rick Dalton Coverage on The Video Archives
Ify - Juneteenth Mini Fest

ITIDIC

1. Pixar’s ELEMENTAL Set a Box Office Record…
2. Guillermo del Toro Wants to Focus on Animation
3. Jon Hamm Was Supposed to Star in Gone Girl

Staff Picks
Alonso - The Blackening
Drea - A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
Darren - The Naked Spur
Ify - The Truman Show

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Darren Franich

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher