Mostly Film

🎬 Mostly Film: Trailers, Taskmasters & Chicken Man?

This week on Mostly Film, we’re diving into a mountain of fresh trailers in our LIST IT or NIX IT segment—will Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Return to Silent Hill, or Dust Bunny make the cut, or get tossed aside?

Then it’s time for What We’ve Been Watching, and Jonathan’s been on a roll: from action sequels like Nobody 2 and She Rides Shotgun, to the hilarity of The Naked Gun, to the colorful chaos of K-Pop Demon Hunters. He even squeezed in Light of the World, Together, Eanie Meanie, Highest 2 Lowest, and more—plus TV time with Dexter: Resurrection and Task. (JP promises to catch up soon.)

And of course, we’ve got the movie news roundup:

• Dwayne Johnson playing “Chicken Man” in Benny Safdie’s Lizard Music 🐓

• Cillian Murphy says he has “ROMO” about missing Nolan’s The Odyssey

• Spielberg almost directed a Call of Duty movie 🎮

• Jeremy Allen White circling Airman with Ben Stiller

• A Magic remake in the works from Sam Raimi

• Will Smith inks a first-look deal with Paramount

• And Jordan Peele’s mystery project is suddenly off Universal’s calendar 👀

It’s a jam-packed episode full of wild casting, bold remakes, and our questionable trailer hot takes.

🎥 Cruise vs. DiCaprio: Edge of Tomorrow & The Revenant

This week on Mostly Film, we’re putting two powerhouse performances under the microscope: Tom Cruise’s action-heavy, time-looping Edge of Tomorrow (2014) and Leonardo DiCaprio’s brutal, Oscar-winning The Revenant (2015).

We dig into how Cruise flipped his usual hero persona on its head—starting out as a cowardly PR officer before evolving into a battle-hardened soldier—and why his chemistry with Emily Blunt made this one of his most entertaining roles in years.

Then we trek into the icy wilderness with DiCaprio, exploring how he endured bone-chilling conditions, ate raw bison liver, and gave a raw, nearly wordless performance that finally brought him his first Academy Award.

It’s a head-to-head between two very different kinds of survival stories: one fueled by sci-fi spectacle and do-overs, the other by grit, pain, and sheer willpower.

🎬 Cruise vs. DiCaprio: Risky Business & Don’t Look Up

This week on Mostly Film, we’re diving into two very different eras of movie stardom—Tom Cruise in Risky Business (1983) and Leonardo DiCaprio in Don’t Look Up (2021).

First up: Cruise in Risky Business. We unpack how a not-so-obvious choice for the role of Joel Goodson became a career-defining performance. From that legendary underwear dance (which wasn’t even scripted) to his transformation from nervous teen to confident star, we explore how this film launched Cruise into Hollywood superstardom.

Then: DiCaprio in Don’t Look Up. We talk about how Leo brought his passion for climate activism into Adam McKay’s satirical disaster comedy, why his nervous, nerdy scientist was such a refreshing change of pace, and how his improvised TV rant became one of the movie’s standout moments.

It’s a showdown between two icons at pivotal moments in their careers—one breaking out, the other breaking type.

Mostly Film

This week on Mostly Film, we’re back with another packed episode.

First up: LIST IT or NIX IT—we’re running through the latest trailers (Good Boy, Keeper, Jimmy & Stiggs, Rabbit Trap, STEVE, Marty Supreme, Plainclothes, Elenor the Great) and deciding on the spot if they’re worth adding to our Letterboxd watchlists… or tossing in the bin.

Then in What We’ve Been Watching, Jonathan and JP share their thoughts on The Bad Guys 2, The Bad Guys, and a couple of TV favorites like Dexter: Resurrection and Countdown. Expect quick takes on what stuck with us, without getting lost in the weeds of plot summaries.

Finally, we wrap up with Movie News, hitting the latest updates from Hollywood and beyond.

Trailers, reviews, and the week’s movie buzz—all in one episode.

Episode Title: Cruise vs. DiCaprio – Days of Thunder & The Beach

This week, we’re putting two movie icons head-to-head as we dive into Tom Cruise’s high-octane turn in Days of Thunder (1990) and Leonardo DiCaprio’s island odyssey in The Beach (2000).

We’ll unpack the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories—from Cruise’s real NASCAR training and on-set romance with Nicole Kidman, to DiCaprio’s risky post-Titanic career move, environmental controversies in Thailand, and jellyfish encounters that almost derailed the shoot.

You’ll hear about the inspirations, production challenges, and career-defining choices that shaped both films—plus our takes on how each star handled their roles, what critics said then vs. now, and why these movies still spark debate decades later.

Fast cars. Hidden islands. Two megastars at pivotal moments in their careers. Buckle up—this is going to be a ride.

🎬 Mostly Film

This week on Mostly Film, we’re diving headfirst into another round of LIST IT or NIX IT, where the trailers are wild, the opinions are strong, and the titles alone deserve awards. From the toe-tappingly strange If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You to the chilling Cold Storage and the mysterious Bad Man, we decide what’s worth adding to the Letterboxd watchlist — and what’s going straight to the cinematic recycle bin.

Then, in What We’ve Been Watching, Jonathan wrangles dinosaurs in Jurassic World: Rebirth, wrestles with Dangerous Animals, and relives childhood nostalgia with The Wild Thornberrys Movie. JP gets suburban and suspicious with SubUrbia and The Talented Mr. Ripley, while also revisiting the spy-thriller Black Bag.

Finally, in The News, we break down the latest Hollywood shake-ups, box office buzz, and casting curveballs — because if there’s one thing the movie industry guarantees, it’s that the drama never stays on screen.

🎬 Cruise vs. DiCaprio: Interview with the Vampire & Shutter Island

This week on Mostly Film, we’re sinking our teeth into two unforgettable performances — Tom Cruise’s bloodthirsty Lestat in Interview with the Vampire and Leonardo DiCaprio’s mind-bending Teddy Daniels in Shutter Island. It's a showdown of two Hollywood heavyweights stepping far outside their comfort zones — with fangs, flashbacks, and full-on psychological meltdowns.

We dive into the behind-the-scenes casting drama, including Anne Rice’s famous freakout over Cruise, Leo’s emotional marathon to bring Shutter Island to life, and all the ways these roles helped reshape their careers. Plus, we explore the themes of immortality, identity, trauma, and the thin line between sanity and spectacle.

Is Cruise’s Lestat the perfect predator? Did DiCaprio break our brains (in the best way)? Come for the facts, stay for the hot takes — and find out who comes out on top in this spooky, cerebral face-off.

🎙️ Mostly Film:

This week on Mostly Film, we’re back with a full slate of movie talk — from upcoming trailers to billion-dollar blockbusters to what we’ve actually been watching (yes, Countdown keeps coming up).

📝 LIST IT or NIX IT
We’re judging movie trailers like our watchlist depends on it. Should we List or Nix these upcoming releases? We’re talking Ella McCay, Zootopia 2, Blue Moon, GOAT, and more. Spoiler: not everything makes the cut.

🎬 What We’ve Been Watching
All eyes (and hearts) are on The Life of Chuck — we dig into the emotional, layered storytelling of this early 2025 release. With Mike Flanagan at the helm and a surprising tonal shift from his horror roots, we talk performances, themes, and whether it sticks the landing. Plus, some quick hits on Countdown and a few other recent rewatches.

🗞️ Movie News Roundup
From Lilo & Stitch smashing the box office to Adam Sandler breaking Netflix (again) with Happy Gilmore 2, and the Fantastic Four reboot actually being... good?! Plus, Disney's AI face-doubling experiment gets shut down — we dig into all of it.

Come for the hot takes, stay for the Letterboxd chaos. It’s another packed episode of Mostly Film!

🎙️ Mostly Film Presents: Cruise vs DiCaprio — Top Gun & Romeo + Juliet

This week on Mostly Film, we’re putting two iconic movie star performances head-to-head: Tom Cruise in Top Gun (1986) and Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet (1996). From casting surprises to pop culture impact, we’re breaking down what made each role a defining moment for its star.

✈️ Cruise Takes Flight
We dive into how Top Gun launched Tom Cruise into superstardom — despite him not being the studio’s first pick. From puking in a real F-14 to transforming into Maverick, Cruise’s blend of charisma and cocky charm helped birth the “Cruise persona” and reshape the action-hero mold.

💔 DiCaprio’s Shakespearean Glow-Up
Then it’s on to Leonardo DiCaprio’s romantic, reckless Romeo. Hand-picked by Baz Luhrmann and instrumental in getting the film greenlit, Leo's performance brought Shakespeare to a whole new generation. We talk chemistry with Claire Danes, the MTV visuals, and how this role set the stage for Titanic-era DiCaprio mania.

🧠 Critics Weigh In
We pull quotes and insights from reviewers of the time — what worked, what didn’t, and why both performances became culturally iconic in completely different ways.

It’s jet engines vs poetry, leather jackets vs angel wings, and two of Hollywood’s most enduring stars at pivotal moments in their careers. Let’s go.

🎬 Mostly Film:

This week on Mostly Film, we're diving headfirst into what's new, what's coming, and what's just plain wild in the world of movies and TV.

🎞️ LIST IT or NIX IT
We go rapid-fire through the latest movie trailers — and make the call: is it going on the Letterboxd watchlist or getting nixed? From Avatar: Fire and Ash to Spinal Tap 2, and even Five Nights at Freddy's 2, we’re not holding back.

👀 What We’ve Been Watching
Jonathan checks in on Fantastic Four and the Dexter: Resurrection revival, while JP talks Happy Gilmore 2, The Player, and some surprisingly gripping TV from Mobland.

🗞️ The News

• Eddie Murphy as Inspector Clouseau? Yup, it's happening.

• Chris Rock directs and stars in a new A24 film with Adam Driver and Anna Kendrick.

• Superman flies past Man of Steel at the box office.

• Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps is actually… good?

• And Warner Bros is going back to being Warner Bros (no Discovery tag attached).

It’s a packed episode full of takes, hot trailers, and big news — join us for a fun ride through all things film.