Today’s movie premiered at Cannes 2022 and was the Cambodian entry for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars (though it didn’t make it off the shortlist). It follows newcomer’s Park Ji-Min’s Freddie as she returns to Korea for the first time since her adoption as a baby by French parents. Our guest is comedian Josh Johnson, whose new special Up Here Killing Myself is on Peacock. After unpacking this new movie, everyone tries their best at a brand-new (and extremely trivial) movie trivia game about movie time jumps.

What’s Good
Alonso - Marry Me a Little by Roy Kirby
Drea - Jimmy Carter
Josh - NHL ‘95 for Sega Genesis
Ify - Pine Street Biscuits

ITIDIC
a).  Women of Color See (Minor) Gains in Top-Grossing Movie Roles
b). RRR’s Telugu Twitter Drama
c). Tina Fey and Tim Meadows to Reprise Their Mean Girls Roles

Staff Picks
Drea - Somewhere Between
Alonso - True Stories
Josh - Rise of the Young Wolf
Ify - Orphan

More Josh Johnson:
Up Here Killing Myself
The Josh Johnson Show
Head to Head

Our sponsor this week is MasterClass
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With:
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Ify Nwadiwe
Josh Johnson

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Kenya Barris's new movie (co-written with co-star Jonah Hill) hit Netflix a few weeks back, and comedian Kenice Mobley joins the crew to talk about the film and give her take on which generations of Americans should consider watching it. X? Y? Z? All/none of the above? Listen and find out. Then you can listen to Kenice's new comedy album, Follow Up Question.

Later on, Ify tries on a slightly different accent and we take a hotline letter about wasted potential.

What's Good?
Alonso - Sleuth on a secret streaming service
Drea - Rubbing elbows with celebs
Kenice - create-your-own Under the Tuscan Sun adventure
Ify - The Obscure Distillery

ITIDIC
Paddington Director Paul King’s Next Project will be a Fred Astaire Biopic..but not the only one
Warner Brothers Was Slow to Release Magic Mike’s Last Dance Box Office Last Weekend, even though It was #1
New Fast X Trailer Dropped

Staff Picks
Alonso - Missing
Drea - Emily
Ify - The Bad News Bears
Kenice - M3GAN

Leave us a Hotline message at maximumfun.org/hotline

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Kenice Mobley

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Comic actor, Christmas Special Haver, and half of the Las Culturistas dynasty, Matt Rogers is our guest as we catch up on an Oscar nominee we didn't get to when it was initially released: TÁR. 

Then, the crew tells us what movie characters they want interviewed the way Adam Gopnik interviewed Lydia Tar.

What’s Good
Alonso - The Last of Us has Melanie Lynskey now
Drea - Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon red carpet photos
Matt - return of RHONJ
Ify - Mschf's Astro Boy boots

ITIDIC

a).  James Cameron does new tests to answer the TITANIC question: Was there room for both Jack and Rose on that door?
b). Viola Davis is now an EGOT after winning a Grammy
c). AMC is Revamping Their Pricing Model, Will Charge Based on Which Seats You Want

Staff Picks

Alonso - Oscar and Lucinda
Drea - Hilary and Jackie
Matt - Pamela, A Love Story
Ify - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Leave us a Hotline message at maximumfun.org/hotline

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Matt Rogers

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart

Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Since winning the Grand Jury prize at the Venice Film festival, SAINT OMER, a movie based on the real life experience of its French-Senegalese director Alice Diop, has appeared on many critics’ lists, and is now becoming available to see in the US. Ellie Foumbi, director of Spirit Award nominee Our Father, The Devil (which also screened in Venice!) is our guest.

Then, we hear Hall of Excellence results and take a Hotline call about critically acclaimed movies that are hard to see in much of the country.  

New Hotline Website!

What’s Good
Alonso - Everything’s coming up Company
Drea - Willow TV Series
Ellie - Norman Malone: For the Left Hand
Ify - snowboarding and dad stories

ITIDIC

1. Winners Have Been Announced at the Sundance Film Festival
2. The Academy Reviewing Its “Campaign Procedures”
3. Regal Cinemas to Screen all Best Picture Nominees

Staff Picks
Alonso - Atlantics
Drea - The Inspection
Ellie - An Elephant Sitting Still
Ify - The Menu

Our sponsor this week is Star of Magnolia

Support independent filmmakers on their quest to make their first feature film, KING TARA. Visit www.gofundme.com/kingtarafilm

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark 
Alonso Duralde
Ellie Foumbi

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

“A nice guy and his playboy buddy host an ill-advised mega-party.” That vague logline is what the original HOUSE PARTY (1990) starring Kid N' Play has in common with the new HOUSE PARTY, starring Jacob Lattimore and Tosin Cole. Well, that and the title. For today’s episode, the core gang digs into a whole comparative analysis of these two movies. 

Then, there’s a new round of nominees for the Hall of Excellence. 

What’s Good?
Alonso - Big-ass Box of Bacon
Drea - Duolingo streak
Ify - SF Sketchfest 

ITIDIC

• Regal Cinemas Closing 39 Theaters in Cineworld Bankruptcy Aftermath
• Zoe Saldaña Becomes the First Actor to Star in Four Films That Have Crossed the Two Billion Dollar Mark
• The Oscar Nominations Came Out this Week

Staff Picks
Drea - Lovers Rock
Alonso - Happy As Lazzaro
Ify - Class Act

Our sponsor this week is Star of Magnolia
Support independent filmmakers on their quest to make their first feature film, KING TARA. Visit www.gofundme.com/kingtarafilm

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

Talk about a two-hand spectacular! We’ve got Nikole Beckwith, the director of one phenomenal indie two-hander (Together Together, starring Ed Helms and Patti Harrison) talking about the two-hander debut from director Charlotte Wells (in which the two “hands” are Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio). And only two of our usual hosts are here (which was totally planned, look how nice it all lines up, no holes in this story!). Then there’s a quiz about – what else – Two-Handers! 

(A two-hander is a movie that mainly focuses on on two leads, in case that wasn’t clear from context.)

What’s Good
Drea- Birthday float tank visit
Nikole - fresh snow
Alonso - Liza Minnelli’s album w/ Pet Shop Boys

ITIDIC

1. This past holiday weekend was the strongest at the box office in a while
2. Netflix is planning a lot of Korean programming for 2023
3. Sundance 2023 Has Begun!

Staff Picks
Drea - Saint Omer
Nikole - The Cathedral
Alonso - Slither (1973)

We’re sponsored this week by MasterClass.

Get unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a Maximum Film listener, you get 15% off an annual membership! Go to MasterClass.com/MAXFILM.

With:
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Nikole Beckwith
Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

The co-host of Good Christian Fun joins us to talk about a movie that is quite good, pretty Christian, and not a ton of fun. But it's also not, as Caroline points out, a "stone cold bummer." It's the latest film from Sarah Polley, based on a book by Miriam Toews, and is fascinating both on a literal and a metaphorical level. We get serious between goofs, and then lighten the mood with a Hotline letter about movie scores.

What’s Good
Alonso - Pointer Sisters’ Sesame Street Song
Drea - Yung Gravy gives bras to charity
Caroline - Jessica Simpson’s Open Book
Ify - TikTok refrigerator hack

ITIDIC

1. The Golden Globes Were on TV Again…
2. Dave Bautista Says He’s Ready to Leave Drax and the MCU Behind
3.  AFI Study Documents Women’s Contributions to Early Cinema

Staff Picks
Alonso - Petite Maman
Drea - My Year of Dicks
Caroline - M3GAN
Ify - also M3GAN

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Caroline Ely

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Long before THE WHALE was released, Drea texted our friend (comedian, movie star, and Mr. Prune) Guy Branum and asked him to join us for this episode whenever it happened. So today, we answer the question: What happens when a provocative filmmaker puts an excellent, straight actor in an elaborate fat suit and then films a stage play about it? 

Plus, everyone shares some 2023 New Movie Year Resolutions, and tells us who else they'd like to have a big-screen comeback.

What's Good
Alonso - Dot’s Cheese Curls
Drea - The Seven  (1/2) Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle  by Stuart Turton
Guy - Wet Leg, Chaise Longue
Ify - Szechuan Noodles from H-Mart (the ones in the beige package)

Staff Picks
Drea - Women Talking
Alonso - Bros
Guy - Born Yesterday
Ify - Driveways

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Guy Branum
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

It’s the final episode of 2022! We start out with our annual MAXI AWARDS, and then move on to top 10 lists from each host. No matter what the haters say, it was a year of great movies — there’s only one film that appears on all three lists, and only three repeats in all. That’s a lot of best movies! Plus, we’ll close things out by looking forward to some of next year’s titles. 

What’s Good

Alonso - But Have You Read the Book? by Kristen Lopez
Drea - Screen Drafts: (Worst) Spielbergs 
Ify - AMC A-List?!

Top 10s
Ify
10. WAKANDA FOREVER
9. BULLET TRAIN
8. FIRE ISLAND
7. PREY
6. UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT
5. AFTER YANG
4. NOPE
3. SHE SAID
2. HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL.
1. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Drea
AFTERSUN
AFTER YANG
BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
CORSAGE
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO
A LOVE SONG
ON THE COUNT OF THREE
TÁR
WOMEN TALKING

Alonso
10. BENEDICTION
9. BROS
8. ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED
7. WOMEN TALKING
6. APOLLO 10½ : A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD
5. EO
4. NO BEARS
3. HIT THE ROAD
2. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
1. RRR

***

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

Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd

With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Christmas-averse city boy Sam meets holiday-loving smalltown Jason…who can guess what might happen next? it’s a Hallmark Channel holiday movie first, and we’re here to dissect it in all its sweet, slapstick-y, romantic glory, with film and culture writer Justin Kirkland in (mistle)tow.

Then, a double dose of Holiday Hotline calls , and the last Christmas Movie Minute of 2022!

What’s Good
Alonso - Monastery of Angels Pumpkin Bread 
Drea - the outer limits of vanity
Justin - first latke
Ify - Modjeska time!

ITIDIC

1. Henry Cavill’s Getting a Warhammer Movie
2. Donald Glover is Producing/Starring in a New Spider-Man Movie
3. The First Barbie Teaser Trailer Has Been Released

Staff Picks
Alonso - All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Drea - Wildcat 
Justin - Women Talking 
Ify - Die Hard

We're sponsored by MasterClass
This holiday, give the perfect gift of an annual MasterClass membership and get one free! Go to MasterClass.com/MAXFILM today.

Justin’s podcast, John Dutton Must Die

Alonso’s Books
I'll Be Home for Christmas Movies     
Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas

***

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Justin Kirkland

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