MTR Network Main Feed

The Gentleman Leans On It's Ensemble

Mickey Pearson made his name selling weed to the London masses. His empire is vast yet completely under the radar. He's ready for something different and believes he's found a buyer for his empire in American billionaire Matthew (Jeremy Strong). What starts out as a simple deal turns into a journey we travel with what has to be the thirstiest most unreliable narrator Fletcher (Hugh Grant),  a private investigator looking to cash in all the information about Mickey and his deal with the highest bidder. Fletcher breaks into Mickey's number two man, Ray (Charlie Hunnam and pitches his deal as though selling a movie.

Matthew McConaughey leads an all-star cast but he's not really the center of this story. More importantly the film's best moments come courtesy of Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell and his crew of misfit fighters (who really need their own series), and Henry Goulding. Rosalind Pearson as portrayed by Michelle Dockery is low-key yet compelling and deceptively integral. 

This story happens with all the cards face up on the table. 

Don't Miss The Context Clues 

A shallow read on The Gentlemen would see it labeled: dated, tone-deaf and racist. That is until one remembers 1) this is a Guy Ritchie crime flick and 2) the narrations in the hands of by a scheming man trying to convince a criminal to give him millions of dollars. Fletcher is the living embodiment of problematic. He's here to sell a story and get a payday. So, it's natural to assume the ridiculously stereotypical embellishments are meant to be outlandish. The Gentlemen pokes fun at (and holes in) all the caricatures of typical gangsters and their bag men. Context is everything in this simple story and now's not the time to lose your sense of humor; unless you just want to have a problem with this film. Ritchie's shoving your trash-ass behavior in our faces this time around with flair. 

This is a simple story intended to take you on a outlandish journey along with a crew that despite its best efforts never manages to resolve an issue without violence. I know, it's hard being the only grown up in the room. The Gentleman's stylish, irreverent, nostalgic, and intentionally problematic. Ritchie's signature moves take on new life, at a slightly slower pace, and thrives on chemistry and the haphazardness of all it's moving parts. 

Guy Ritchie is back doing what he does best and the only bad thing about is he's created a few characters you'll wish got far more screen time. 

Listen to Kriss and Ro's spoiler-free (it was hard y'all) review about The Gentleman; they had plenty of opinions. And, once you've seen this one for yourself, come back and hit up premium to hear what kept them invested in this ridiculous-ass hot mess of a business deal even.

*UPDATE*

Kriss & Ro's spoiler review is now up for Premium members below

This is MTR Premium Network content. If you are already a subscriber please log in to view/download episode. If you aren't currently a subscriber, you can sign up here.

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

We're starting 2020 off with the beginning of the end for the Insanity Check. Kriss will be doing one Insanity Check a month leading up to December being the last regularly scheduled Insanity Check. It's been a fun ride but all good things must come to an end. But that end isn't here just yet. We kick things off once again with Justin from ThreeFifsPodcast to talk all the things that have happened over the last month. From Tyler Perry's ridiculous claim of "work ethic" to the idiocy that is the newly formed "Space Force". We even throw in Michael Bloomberg telling us Blacks that "Stop & Frisk" was meant to HELP us, not harm. Oh joy. Tune in and give it a listen.

Topics:

* Tyler Perry and the flaw of "Hustlenomics"

* Perry has a history of being anti-union

* Woman's life "nearly destroyed" after she was an asshole and tried to destroy someone else's life

* Space Force is officially a thing

* Warren vs Sanders: Funny how its never Bernie's fault

* Bill Cosby's former lawyer suspended for misusing client funds

* Great Moments in White Privilege

* Bloomberg claims Stop & Frisk was meant to HELP Black people

*  

Guest: Justin

* ThreeFifsPodcast.com

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

 

Follow us on Twitter:

@InsanityReport

@TheMTRNetwork

Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Check out our Sponsors!

TweakedAudio.com using the code ‘reviews’ to get 33% off & free shipping.

Shop at our Amazon Store to support the site

 

Relive LSU's dominant win over Clemson and everything that's happened since. Marvel at the bare necesitties finally being afforded the WNBA players. Stare unblinking at the lack of self awareness of Kyrie Irving and even more as Nata returns to talk all things sports.

Guest: Nata - @NataTheScribe

 

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

 

 

Follow us on Twitter:

@Dpalm66

@UDPod

@TheMTRNetwork

Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Check out our Sponsors!

TweakedAudio.com using the code ‘reviews’ to get 33% off & free shipping.

Shop at our Amazon Store to support the site

 

The Super Tuesday Recap crew is back to wrap up the Arrowverse crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths. This episode we cover the Arrow part of the crossover and the Legends of Tomorrow part. But more importantly, we're here with the Black Lightning slander you need. Seriously though, they did treat Black Lightning like the forgotten superhero. How you merge all the earths together and still no one really knows Black Lightning?

We also talk about THAT guest appearance. Yes, that one. The one that reminded us there's really only one live action Flash to care about (Because whatever Ezra Miller is doing is NOT the Flash and NOT Barry Allen). But we don't let that sour our enjoyment of this crossover. It was a great sendoff for Stephen Amell and Green Arrow. It's fitting that this universe all started with Oliver Queen and then in his final moments, he brings all the universes together. This is probably the most impactful crossover the Arrowverse has ever done. We can't wait to see the fallout on all the shows now. 

Kriss and Dpalm record the Mailbag at the end of every month. If you want to send in your own questions and thoughts, email us: [email protected]

 

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

 

Follow us on Twitter:

@Dpalm66

@InsanityReport

@TheMTRNetwork

Our shirts are now on TeePublic:  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network

Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Bad Boys For Life is Surprisingly Solid

We admit it. Not a single one of the MTR critics believed that the return of Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Bennett (Martin Lawrence) would be anything more than a nostalgic money-grab with at best a few jokes and ridiculous wannabe explosions. Like most fans of the first film and this particular brand of action-comedy, even that fear wasn't enough to pull the movie off our watch-list. So, it's with great relief (and a touch of chagrin for the pre-roasting at the end of our Underwater review) that we are here to inform you that Bad Boys For Life is a damn good time.  

They're Not Quite Too Old For This Shit

Mile Lowery and Marcus Bennett are old school detectives in a shifting new-school world. Lowery's still braggadocious and reckless. Bennett still the one reaching for reason (and the seat belt). He's also ready step down and enjoy his life. Things change when unexpected foes - whose introductions are viciously on point - show up intent on wrecking havoc. It's soon clear no one will walk away unscathed. Old school tactics meet new school policing after Lowery gets sidelined, violently, and Bennett decides it's time to ride the bench. And what, at first, feels like just open season on members of Miami's criminal justice system - swiftly turns out to be very, very personal. Bad Boys For Life is wild y'all. We were absolutely entertained. 

What's the Deal With Mike Lowery?

The third installment in the Bad Boy franchise peels back the layers on Miami's "Bulletproof" Detective, Michael Lowery. Every wondered why he seems to be a combination of swagger, seething anger, and commitment issues? Want to know why he's so comfortable dipping his toe over the line onto the dark side? Well, wait no longer. Bad Boys For Life unpacks all his baggage...and then sets it on fire. Literally.

WILL SMITH stars as Mike Lowrey in Columbia Pictures’ BAD BOYS FOR LIFE.

 

The film's almost entirely about show rather than tell. Thankfully, it's got a straight-forward plot with a healthy helping of emotional growth to keep things interesting. In terms of backstory, reveals, and karma, to paraphrase Phenom, this is the film Gemini Man should've been.

Directing duo Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi waste no time proving Bad Boys wasn't been passed into the wrong hands. 

Opening with the just the right tone to throw you back into the city of Miami and the world of this crime fighting duo, Bad Boys For Life is a funny, flashy and refreshing action-packed return of a crowd-pleasing comedic franchise. The unraveling mystery's riddled with dialogue that thrives on the kind of slander only long-time friends can get away with. While the film's steady-building pace stays wrapped up in intrigue, excellent choreographed shoot-outs and car chases, ridiculousness, humor, and violence.

Just when you think the action-comedy can't hang, Smith and Lawrence are here to remind you why they're some of the best in the game. They've got more than enough chemistry and camaraderie to carry the day. Which just makes it even better that the pair made room for plenty of new faces and new energy to be mixed in. The supporting cast is interesting, essential, talented, and fine as hell. 

Mike Lowrey (WILL SMITH), Rita (PAOLA NUNEZ), Marcus Burnett (MARTIN LAWRENCE), Dorn (ALEXANDER LUDWIG), Rafe (CHARLES MELTON), Kelly (VANESSA HUDGENS are prepping with new non-lethal weapons in Columbia Pictures’ BAD BOYS FOR LIFE.

 

There's plenty of one-liners, face-offs, gags and mayhem to make for an action-packed fun-as-hell good time.

We're kicking off 2020 by covering the Emerald Archer himself, Oliver Queen. With Arrow on CW coming to a close soon, we thought it would be a great time to talk about Oliver Queen.

Green Arrow is another character from DC Comics that has his origins all the way back to the Golden Age. First appearing in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941 along side his sidekick Speedy (Roy Harper).If you remember back to our history of comics episode, it was comics like Action Comics or Detective comics or in the case of Green Arrow, More Fun Comics, that hosted the first appearances and origins of some of the characters we know. More Fun Comics also had the notable first appearances and origins of:

* Doctor Fate

* Green Arrow & Speedy

* Superboy

* Aquaman

Golden Age Green Arrow was nothing more than an archer version of Batman. Interesting enough though the character survived relatively in tact with the transition to the Silver Age. Whereas Golden Age Green Lantern (Alan Scott) and Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick) were replaced with new Silver Age characters (Hal Jordan and Barry Allen respectively), Oliver Queen transitioned from Golden to Silver much like Superman and Batman. The Silver Age  is where we get the more modern idea of Green Arrow/Oliver Queen thanks to Neal Adam's art and Denny O'Neil's writing. The liberal leanings of Oliver Queen not only become central to the character but it's also where the real separation between Bruce Wayne/ Batman and Oliver Queen/Green Arrow become clearly defined. We wrap up this first part of our deep dive with Mike Grell's excellent run followed by the last 20 issues of Oliver's second solo series leading up to his death in Green Arrow 101.

We have a lot to discuss so give the episode a listen and stay tune for Part 2 where we pick up with Kevin Smith's run all the way through Benjamin Percy's Rebirth run.

Issues:

* Golden Age

* More Fun Comics #73 - First Appearance of Green Arrow & Speedy (Oliver Queen & Roy Harper)

* More Fun Comics #89 - First origin told

* Silver Age

* Justice League #4

* Brave and the Bold #85

* Justice League #85

* Green Lantern/Green Arrow - Hard Traveling Heroes

* Bronze Age

* Green Arrow 4 Issue Mini-Series by Mike Barr (First Green Arrow solo book)

* Mike Grell Run

* Green Arrow The Longbow Hunters

* Green Arrow The Wonder Year

* Green Arrow Vol 1: Hunters Moon

* Green Arrow Vol 2: Here There Be Dragons

* Green Arrow Vol 3: The Trial of Oliver Queen

* Green Arrow Vol 4: Blood of the Dragon

* Green Arrow Vol 5: Black Arrow

* Green Arrow Vol 6: Last Action Hero

* Green Arrow Vol 7: Homecoming

* Green Arrow Vol 8: The Hunt for the Red Dragon

* Zero Hour

* Green Arrow #100 & #101 - The Death of Oliver Queen

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

 

Did you think that the Saints would cement their legacy as noted choke artists without me mocking them on the show? What're you, new? Of course I tap dance on the New Orleans' graves, but Rich is here to make sure we talk about other things as well. Tessa Blanchard, KD's twitter fingers and the wild SEC West. Oh, and we wade into the Rooney Rule waters and how the NFL has failed the rule so badly that maybe it's time for another lawsuit.

Guest: Rich Fann - @Rich_Fann

 

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

 

 

Follow us on Twitter:

@Dpalm66

@UDPod

@TheMTRNetwork

Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

Check out our Sponsors!

TweakedAudio.com using the code ‘reviews’ to get 33% off & free shipping.

Shop at our Amazon Store to support the site

 

Team T.A.R.D.I.S. is back with a two part adventure taking a page from the James Bond movies.  When a mysterious force targets spies from across the globe, our gang investigates, only to be met by an old foe-The Master (Sacha Dawan, Iron Fist), who reveals that not only have they destroyed Gallifrey, the reasons are a mystery that The Doctor will need to work to solve this season.

 

Follow us on Twitter:

@TheMTRNetwork

@TheDrIsIn2015

 

Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

It’s that time again! Dump month. Where studios dump films they inexplicably made knowing they weren’t gonna be very good or make much money. Now that doesn’t mean every film that drops in January/February is a “dump film”. Notably early in the year has been good for Marvel with billion dollar films like Black Panther and Captain Marvel (and if you throw in Fox, then Deadpool). And next month DC throws their hat in the ring with Birds of Prey. but for everyone else, its that time to drop that really terrible Liam Neeson film that no one really sees but looks like all his other films

 

Underwater is a throwback dump month film. It’s a film with a good concept and could have succeeded, but instead of making a close-quarters, underwater horror film, it tries for big budget scenes and effects without the big budget.

 

There are things that work here. But not enough. Kristen Stewart also needs a better agent. Because this ain't it. 

 

Listen as Ro, Kriss and Brandon break down this early 2020 disappointment. 

 

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

Follow us on Twitter:

@Phenomblak

@InsanityReport

@TheMTRNetwork

 

Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network

 

Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!

 

Brandon reviews/roasts 'Like a Boss' while Kriss and Ro listen on. Also we talk about Tyler Perry's "writer's room" or lack thereof and why he's not the inspiration people claim he is.

 

Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

Follow us on Twitter:

@Phenomblak

@InsanityReport

@TheMTRNetwork

 

Our shirts are now on TeePublic.  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network

 

Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!