Seeing and Believing

This week, Seeing & Believing kicks off a new series on film noir! Our "Summer of Darkness" begins in a slightly unconventional place with the Humphrey Bogart-starring In a Lonely Place, about a hotheaded screenwriter whose romance with a neighbor hits a rough patch when the police accuse him of murder. The thing is, maybe he is guilty? The guys also spend time with another dark story, the Dave Franco-directed thriller The Rental, about a group of friends who become the targets of a psychopath during a weekend at a seaside AirBnB.

Music interlude by Kat, "Peak." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

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Whether your tastes run toward the blockbuster or the literary, there's a review for you this week. Wade and Kevin sit down with Netflix's superhero-adjacent action flick The Old Guard, starring Charlize Theron as the leader of a band of immortal, Wolverine-like warriors. They also take some time for Flannery a documentary chronicling the life and work of one of the foremost Christian fiction writers of the 20th century.

Music interlude by SPELLWRKS, "Sirius." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

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Kelly Reichardt's latest film has finally made its way to a home release, and the guys are ready for it! First Cow, a period piece about two friends trying to eke out a living in the hardscrabble Oregon Territory by milking a rich man's cow on the sly, has a lot to say about our present moment. Listen to find out why Wade and Kevin think it's one of the best films of the year! Listen to find out why Wade and Kevin also like Palm Springs, the Hulu original film starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. Listen to find out why Wade and Kevin enjoy the film's riff on the Groundhog Day premise. Listen to find out why Wade and Kevin are having a strange sense of deja vu all of a sudden. Listen to find out why Wade and Kevin are really committing to this bit. Listen to find out!

Music interlude by the Grumbles, "Hard Drive Hero." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

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In any other summer, a Tom Hanks-starring, Tom Hanks-written movie about World War II would be the biggest movie of the weekend. This is not a typical summer, but Wade and Kevin are still interested to see what Hanks serves up with Greyhound, a thriller about a naval captain braving the high seas of the Atlantic while fending off a swarm of German U-Boats. The guys then turn their attention to another period piece, Andrew Patterson's 1950s-set sci-fi flick The Vast of Night, about a sleepy New Mexico town that receives some unexpected visitors.

Music interlude by Knos, "Daydream." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

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Whether you're in the mood for a quiet family drama or a silly over-the-top comedy, Seeing & Believing has you covered for the Independence Day weekend. First up is The Truth, Hirokazu Kore-eda's follow-up to his Palme d'Or-winning Shoplifters and his first non-Japanese-language project. With a star-studded cast that includes Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawke, and cinema legend Catherine Deneuve, Kore-eda continues to examine the familial bonds that people forge or are born into. On the sillier side of things is the Will Ferrell comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, about a hapless Icelandic duo that dreams of representing their country at Europe's most famous (and most flamboyant) song-and-dance event.

Music interlude by Pacific Beach Vinyl, "Tambalan." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

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Seeing & Believing has a seasonal special for you this week! With the presidential election looming on the horizon, Wade and Kevin take a look at the latest cinematic political satire, this time from the mind of former Daily Show host Jon Stewart. The guys also celebrate the 45th birthday of Jaws with a retro review. In case you needed another reason to avoid going to the beach, Steven Spielberg's killer-shark classic just might do the trick.

Music interlude by Kalle King Kong, "Victor." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

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Spike Lee’s latest film for Netflix has been causing a sensation, and this week Wade and Kevin check it out. Da 5 Bloods, a sprawling look at the legacy of the Vietnam War for black Americans, is Lee’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning BlacKkKlansman. The guys do a deep dive on Da 5 Bloods‘ themes and startling spiritual vision. On the more low-key side of things, Judd Apatow’s The King of Staten Island just hit on-demand streaming. Does it make SNL’s Pete Davidson a movie star? Listen to find out!

Music interlude by cShri, “from my heart.” Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner from YouTube Audio Library

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Buckle up for terrible space puns, because they're in plentiful supply in today's episode. Wade and Kevin tackle Space Force, the new comedy series from Netflix, Greg Daniels, and Steve Carell. With Carell taking on the clenched jaw and jingoism of the first commander of America's fledgling outer-space military program, this series takes a stab at transplanting the workplace antics of The Office into a top-secret military installation. The guys also go on a voyage into the mind of famed writer Shirley Jackson with Josephine Decker's unconventional biopic about her, starring Elisabeth Moss.

Music interlude by David Crickett, "Vegetarian." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

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Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, two favorite filmmakers of Seeing & Believing, have a new film out, so of course, the guys are on the case! Wade and Kevin take a close look at the Dardennes' story of a young teenager who is attracted to Islamic fundamentalism, and they discuss its spiritual underpinnings, its compassionate perspective, and where it falls in the Dardennes' body of work. The guys then turn their attention to Kitty Green's #MeToo drama, The Assistant, a riveting look at the struggles and compromises of a young woman who works for an unscrupulous executive.

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Many people are still homebound these days, which means it's a perfect time for an escapist movie about two friends traveling to picturesque locations and eating at incredible restaurants. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are back for a fourth go-round with the Trip to... series, this time retracing Odysseus's steps through the Mediterranean paradise of Greece as they crack jokes, verbally spar with each other, and confront the specter of aging. The guys pair this rich meal with the modest indie drama Driveways, featuring one of the final film performances of the late, great Brian Dennehy.

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