More Than a Hot Take

The Wheel spoke last week... and it said we must watch Mad Max: Fury Road. From George Miller, the revolutionary mind behind Babe, Babe 2: Pig in the City and the Happy Feet Duology, comes the mad cap fever dream of an apocalyptic wasteland and those who are (un)lucky enough to have to fight for survival in it. It's a high-octane thrill ride that handles the complexities of men's and women's dynamics in a story and method that most people wouldn't have expected. MMFR also swept up at the 2015 Oscars, much to many people's chagrin. It's a wild ride, it's all gas no brakes from start to finish. Enjoy.

This week we had another viewer-recommended film, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. We are thankful to have another esteemed guest with us, Mr. Ryan Roach, the "Flower Bro" himself joins us to convince us that Interstellar is the greatest film of all time. He is aided by the film's breathtaking visuals, space as you've never imagined, and a score that will knock your socks off and melt your heart. The acting is top-notch and incredibly ambitious in scope; It's a creative muscle flexing and due to the nature of its ending.... quite divisive... we'll let the viewer decide. Enjoy.

It's the scariest time of year, that's right - tax season. To celebrate the Wheel of Movies chose the original Halloween. John Carpenter's iconic slasher film inspired dozens of horror movies and film franchises... even though in retrospect not all of its parts hold up as well as others. However, the jumpscares are effective, and the tension that the slow-walking murderman builds still does better than many knockoffs to this day. It's a horror classic but maybe wait til Spooky season to watch it for the full Halloween experience. Enjoy.

This week The Wheel of Movies selected a viewer-recommended beloved classic, Casablanca. Heralded as one of the greatest movies of all time, Casablanca is an excellent clinic in acting, cinematography, and well... everything else. If you haven't seen it before you've seen shadows of it in so many movies and tv shows, so many complicated characters like Rick Blaine, so many conflicted women like Ingrid Bergman, an atmosphere full of conflict and hope as so many use Rick's cafe as a station before heading to America with hopes of starting over as the Great War part II rages on in Europe. Joining Mikey and Jon this week is the man who recommended this classic film, our esteemed guest Joseph Bulsa. All of the hype aside, will Young Mikey, who has never seen it before watching it for this episode be convinced of its greatness? Do Joseph and I succeed? Guess you'll have to find out. Enjoy.

Mikey and Jon listened to another listener request (thanks to the new Wheel of Movies), the delightful character study, Good Will Hunting. If you enjoy Boston Southie geniuses, Pretentious ivy league professors, and romance between a high-class girl and a working-class boy, this is the movie for you. A film with witty writing performed by actors who may have peaked with their performances *cough* Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams *cough*, Good Will Hunting is an emotionally affecting film that reminds all of the 20-somethings of the world that despite our haughty assumptions we have, thankfully, not figured this life out. Enjoy.

Its almost spring, and you know what that means... a horror movie. Mikey and Jon watched the 2017 horror remake, IT, thanks to the new Movie Wheel. IT is an actually good adaptation of a Stephen King novel about dealing with trauma, loss, and innocence while trying to survive a murderous clown in a creepy town. It's a serviceable movie with much bigger and better themes than many genuinely scary moments. The scariest moments come from interpersonal relationships and the way evil causes apathy to avoid fear. IT is a pretty good spook. Enjoy

This week we watched a feature that made Jon all teary-eyed and reminds us that hope is one of the most powerful forces in human life, Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. A tense war film that will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting for the rescue of the troops in the face of defeat by the nazis. While lacking in large and complicated character arcs, this movie keeps you rooting for the often names soldiers by virtue of their need for salvation in the face of evil. It's a swell watch, it will make you thankful for the brave sacrifices of those who fought for your freedoms. Enjoy.

We finally did it... we started reviewing the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We started, as one should, with the beginning, The Fellowship of the Ring. What can we say that hasn't already been said? It's apparently perfect narratively and a model for movies on storytelling and a beautiful cinematic display. Every time we watch this movie we always want to go back and watch the other two right after. We love this movie, we hope you do too. Enjoy.

February keeps the romantic movie coming with this cultural touchstone of romance movies: The Notebook. This movie may be singlehandedly responsible for the worst, most unrealistic romance movies since it was released, not to mention the wildly unrealistic expectations it set for love for both men and women. But... the culmination of the summer fling romance in the dedicated and self-sacrificial romance of the older Noah and Allie warms the heart and wets the eyes. For all it's worth, this is a romance that's worth the watch... and a much better love story than Twilight. Enjoy, and dont forget your tissues.