Maximum Film!

CW: discussion of domestic abuse

We get into the good the bad and the ugly of the new boxing biopic CHRISTY, which tells the story of pioneering boxer Christy Martin and her dark power struggles both in and outside the ring. Then we have a movie quiz about bio pics with first-name titles. 

What’s Good
Alonso - successful Parker House rolls trial run
Drea - remembering a detail of Arrival
Daresha - screening her new film to big crowd at a Black church in Cambridge, MA
Kevin - was in a play!

ITIDIC

1. Kristen Stewart declares "state of emergency" over gender inequality in film
2. Warners Making ‘Gremlins 3’ With Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus Returning

Staff Picks
Drea - Rebuilding
Alonso - Little Amelie or The Character of Rain
Daresha - Natchez 
Kevin - Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

Love, Joy, & Power at DOC NYC

Alonso’s book, Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Yorgos Lanthimos can be counted on for a weird, wild time, and this time around he’s back with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, plus newcomer Aidan Delbis, comedian Stavros Halkias, and even a bit of Alicia Silverstone. Former producer Casey O’Brien (co-host of Dear Movies, I Love You) joins us to take an up-close look at movie loaded with close-ups. Then we name some of our favorite actor-director frequent pairings.

What’s Good
Drea - Toners in spray bottles
Casey - BuzzBallz
Kevin - Costco cashews

ITIDIC

1. A Hello Kitty Movie is Coming in 2028
2. Taylor Sheridan Broke Up with Paramount, But He’s Back In for ‘Call of Duty’

Staff Picks
Drea - Sentimental Value
Casey - The Hidden
Kevin - The Menu

Physical Media merch at maxfunstore.com

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Just us chickens here this week to talk about the wild party we just witnessed...in Nia DaCosta's HEDDA, a modernized (but not modern-day) adaptation of the classic Ibsen play, HEDDA GABLER. Then we get into what works and doesn't work for us in stage-to-screen adaptations.

What’s Good
Alonso - Christmas creep!
Drea - “...There she is.”
Kevin - A weekend of artistic experiences

ITIDIC

1. A Memo Reveals that the Pentagon is Mad About ‘House of Dynamite’
2. LA Times: Horror May Have Its Moment at the Oscars
3. ‘Kidz Bop Live: The Concert Movie’ Set to Premiere in Theaters

Staff Picks
Drea - Nouvelle Vague
Alonso - It Was Just an Accident
Kevin - Good Fortune

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Josh O’Connor stars in a heist movie to end all heist movies – or at least end our illusions that the person pulling the heist is pretty cool and awesome. Comedian and friend Myq Kaplan is along to watch things unfold, and unravel, in THE MASTERMIND. Then we take a Hotline question about what film school courses we’d like to teach.

What’s Good
Alonso - Programme 4   
Drea - First women to cross the Atlantic unsupported (in their girthy canoe)
Myq - Communing with friends [Rini (and Rini), John Fugelsang appearance, Separation of Church and Hate, tea with Abby Wambaugh] 
Kevin - new mic cable and arm; guesting on How to Survive

Bernie & Phyl’s ad 

ITIDIC

• Penske Reportedly Offers Golden Globe Bribe Opportunity to Right-Wing Podcasters
• BUGONIA Offering Free Screening for Bald Audience

Staff Picks
Drea - La Chimera
Alonso - A House of Dynamite
Myq - The Life of Chuck
Kevin - Roofman

10/25: American Cinema Editors Short Film Showcase – The First Day of Your Last Period

11/2: Myq at Dynasty Typewriter

Alonso's book: Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

A little gritty political drama, a little technicolor musical, a little revolutionary politics, a little ahead-of-its-time queer representation…Kiss of the Spider Woman has been a novel, a play, an Oscar-winning movie, a Tony-winning Broadway musical, and now a Bill Condon movie musical starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and relative newcomer Tonatiuh. LA-based film critic Carlos Aguilar joins us to get into the enduring allure of Spider Woman, and to name some bleak movies that could be jazzed up with a little old-timey movie-musical interlude.

What’s Good
Alonso - Bulgarian State Woman Choir on Johnny Carson in 1990
Drea - Bed Bands (wholesome)
Carlos - New episode of Storage Wars
Kevin - The Craft at Cinespia

ITIDIC

1. Apple TV Streaming Drops “+” From its Name
2. The TiVo Era Has Ended, Officially Now
3. Annie Hall Returning to Cinemas in Honor of Diane Keaton

Staff Picks
Alonso - Orwell: 2+2=5
Drea - Blue Moon
Carlos - It Was Just an Accident
Kevin - Battle Royale

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

If you’ve got Amazon Prime, you can put PLAY DIRTY (starring Mark Wahlberg, Rosa Salazar, LaKeith Stanfield, Tony Shaloub, and many more) right now. But should you? That’s where we come in, careening into your remote-wielding hand like a car chase onto a horse racing track in the first few minutes of PLAY DIRTY.

Speaking of which, we’re also nominating Hall of Excellence candidates in the category Best Car Chase. All with Danielle Radford riding shotgun!

What’s Good
Alonso - Zach Bryan
Drea - mom's girls trip to Portland (and a drag show)
Danielle - Hello Kitty Island Adventure (and no IMdB-ruiner encounters)
Kevin - Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Cinespia (starring Barry Bostwick, FYI)

ITIDIC

• Amazon Disarmed a James Bond Poster, then Undid it when folks noticed
• Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ Sets Theatrical Release

Hall of Excellence Noms
Terminator 2
What’s Up Doc?
Mad Max Fury Road
The Matrix Reloaded

Staff Picks
Drea - If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Alonso - Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
Danielle - Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
Kevin - Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film has car chases, explosions, secret societies, and and confused ex-revolutionaries...but did it make Drea cry? Find out the answer, plus our favorite underground cabals from film history, on this episode with special guest, noted critic Michael Phillips.

What’s Good
Alonso - Brian Earl’s Of Christmases Long, Long Ago
Drea - COVID booster/Worm Charming Championship
Michael - being with us (and Gov. Pritzker)
Kevin - The Big Show at The Earl

ITIDIC
The Tilly Norwood situation
LA Times Editorial: Oscars International Feature Category Is Broken; No Easy Fix

Staff Picks
Alonso - Smashing Time
Drea - Fairyland
Michael - Spartacus
Kevin - Apollo 13

Check out Michael's appearances on Filmspotting and his piece on Ebert.com

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

An impossible, dystopian "sporting event" is the subject of this week's film, leading to a seemingly impossible feat of storytelling, production, and adaptation. It's THE LONG WALK, with YA Novelist and podcasting impresario Lauren Shippen as our special guest. Then, we talk about films that don't pass the Bechdel Test, but still pass muster.

What’s Good
Alonso - Hallmark Holiday movie lineup unveiled
Drea - duck stamp painting controversy
Lauren - second largest zucchini
Kevin - worlds colliding, Great British Baking Show

ITIDIC
Disney+ announces streaming price hikes at this of all moments
Marlon Wayans Takes Career of Bad Critical Reviews in Stride

Staff Picks
Drea - Secret Mall Apartment
Alonso - Happyend
Lauren - Edge of Tomorrow
Kevin - On the Right Track

Listen to Lauren’s new show, Two Thousand and Late

Alonso at Vroman’s Pasadena for Stephen Rebello’s Criss-Cross

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Director/star James Sweeney’s sophomore follow-up to Straight Up made a spalsh at Sundance this January, winning the Audience Award and a lot of buzz about Dylan O’Brien’s dual roles as twins Roman and Rocky. Director and writer Bryan Fuller, whose feature debut DUST BUNNY recently premiered at TIFF, joins us to see what all the fuss is about. Then we share some of our favorite dark comedies.

What’s Good
Alonso - Hobnobs (and Hobnob Fever!)
Drea - Competitive nonsense (windowdressing, bedmaking, etc)
Bryan - a murder of yard crows
Kevin - no more wasps

ITIDIC
TIFF Wraps Up, Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet Wins Audience Award
Paramount Wants to Buy Warner Bros
Remembering Robert Redford

Staff Picks
Drea - Predators (2025) (and Love and Monsters)
Alonso - Chain Reactions
Bryan -  The Last Viking
Kevin - Alien

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With
Kevin Avery
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

W. Kamau Bell is a noted comedian, author, filmmaker, and activist. He’s also the former co-host of the podcast DENZEL WASHINGTON IS THE GREATEST ACTOR OF ALL TIME PERIOD, along with our very own Kevin Avery. Now, we've gotten the former co-hosts (and former roommates!) back together. It’s a big deal, but does Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s big reunion rise to the occasion? Find out as we discuss HIGHEST 2 LOWEST, and stay to hear some fantasy pitches for other classic movies that we’d like to see get Denzel-ified.

What’s Good?
Alonso - Petit Grain (and supporting your local bakery…and eating your feelings)
Drea - being on festival juries
Kamau - pizza; daughter fetching an umbrella for dad
Kevin - killing a wasp in a beekeeping suit

ITIDIC
Unfinished Orson Welles Movie Being Completed By AI
…Meanwhile, WB Sues Midjourney
After The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie and The Rock Are Pairing Up Again

Staff Picks
Alonso - The Baltimorons
Drea - Preparation for the Next Life (?)
Kevin - Love, Brooklyn
Kamau - The Unforgivable Sin of Ms. Rachel

Subscribe to Kamau’s Newsletter, Who’s With Me?

Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW on Criterion

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