Reel Phonies

If you like shows that make you feel stressed out, boy, have we got the thing for you. This week we're talking the first two seasons of The Bear, the critically acclaimed, half-hour drama that makes running a restaurant feel like diffusing bombs. 

Paul Atreides returns in Part 2 of Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic Dune. Most of our favorite cast return (RIP Leto Atreides) and welcome new additions Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Walken. But how does this sequel hold up compared to its beloved predecessor?

You know that one Spider-Man character that isn't Spider-Man or Venom or MJ or Green Goblin or Gwen Stacy or Doc Ock or J. Jonah Jameson or Spider-Woman or Carnage or Kingpin or Aunt May or Black Cat or Mysterio or Sandman or.....(you get the idea)? Anyway, this is a whole movie about Madame Web for some reason. 

As the most watched television program each year, many studios save their best material for the biggest audience. This year we got trailers for a 90s classic, a beloved musical adaptation, some Ryan Reynolds/Hugh Jackman passion project.

The year is 2008: Marvel is taking a big swing by opening their own movie studio, Chris Nolan's Dark Knight makes a billion dollars, and Eli Manning and the Giants spoil the Patriot's perfect season. But not everything made the front page. We're here to dig up some hidden gems from this year including an overlooked Will Ferrell classic, a star-studded crime drama, and the Wachoski's divisive follow-up to the Matrix.

The success of Emerald Fennell's latest film, Saltburn, proves eating the rich never goes out of style. Starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, this occasionally gross, deeply unsubtle movie skewers the upper crust and probably anyone that's ever been to Oxford.

We're catching up on some December/January news including an announced casting for Abby in the second season of Last of Us, a director/writer reunion for a 28 Days Later sequel, updates on how Tom Cruise is moving the Hollywood machine, and a Jon Favreau directed movie starring helmet-head and baby Yoda.

We didn't think some audio issues should stop you from enjoying our favorites of the last year and the movies we're most excited about in 2024.

Fight Club lovers rejoice! David Fincher is going back to the edgy, cynical well in his newest action thriller, The Killer. Featuring Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, and a considerable amount of The Smith's discography, is this flick pandering to angsty, misanthropic fantasy or does it poke a little fun at its protagonist (and maybe its prospective audience)?

Scott Pilgrim takes it back to 2D in this reinterpretation of the original graphic novel that fleshes out more of its star-studded cast. Featuring tremendously stylish animation and a killer soundtrack, how does this TV series stack up to the highly esteemed Edgar Wright film?