Talk Movies To Me

For a podcast that loved the last film written and directed by Alex Garland, Men was one of our most highly anticipated releases of the year. Unlike Annihilation, though, trying to make sense of Men feels like a losing battle. Still, that doesn't stop Luke and Rachel from devoting the majority of this episode to an analysis of that doozy of an ending (and why it felt so unsatisfying). We love horror movies that leave us thinking, but we can't help but feel like Men would have worked better if it didn't neglect its own story when transitioning to an art piece in the final 20 minutes.

Never has the act of watching two people eat a well-prepared meatball been so uncomfortable as it is in Hulu's Fresh. A solid horror-thriller that is best enjoyed without knowing the full premise beforehand, Fresh admittedly left Luke and Rachel wanting a little something extra by the time the credits rolled. That said, great lead performances, smart cultural commentary, and an intriguing spin on the genre make this movie well worth streaming (for those who can stomach it).

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent & Everything Everywhere All At Once have more in common than their equally wordy titles, although Luke and Rachel don't actually realize the similarities until midway through this episode. Regardless, it's another Talk Movies To Me double feature with two movies that include unhappy families, shifting genres, and ridiculous scenarios. You can probably guess which one does it better, but both films are more than fun enough to earn our recommendation.

Pixar's latest may have inspired a bizarre online controversy by telling a story that is specific and true to a certain upbringing, but Rachel and Luke believe that specificity is exactly what makes it so special. Yes, the film will be more relatable to those who were teenagers in the early 2000s, yet the universal themes of struggling with your own identity in the awkward transition between childhood and adulthood can be appreciated by anyone. By weaving authentic storytelling with common experiences, Turning Red stands out among its Disney/Pixar peers from recent years and is already one of our favorites.

The Lost City is a familiar story carried by fun performances and excellent chemistry between its leads (and also serves as a refreshingly light palate cleanser after The Batman's dark-as-can-be tone). It is not a challenging film nor an evolution of the action-romance genre, but entertaining characters and a regular supply of laughs create an undeniable good time nonetheless.

Try to stick with us through this one because, if you stop listening before the end, you may take Luke's many unfavorable comparisons to The Dark Knight and Rachel's general anti-Batman sentiment to mean that we did not enjoy The Batman, but we did! While an imperfect film, The Batman's new interpretation of the titular hero left your cohosts excited for a sequel, which is really saying something considering how many different Batman reboots have come and gone in the past few decades. But for now, there is still some justified criticism to get through amongst the praise. (Mild spoilers throughout, with a warning before major spoilers.)

Talk Movies To Me arrives at the tail end of February to discuss the only two new films Luke and Rachel watched over the past month: Jackass Forever and KIMI. The former needs no critique as you already know whether or not you will enjoy the latest lowbrow (yet surprisingly wholesome) series of comedy skits from the Jackass crew. KIMI is something completely different, an intimate thriller about a woman pushing against the system to help someone in need. Unfortunately, despite an excellent start, KIMI's last act disappoints, choosing to wrap up its story in a neat and simple bow instead of doing anything clever with it.

The music of Encanto is a smash hit on TikTok and traditional music charts, but for some reason none of the songs really resonated with Luke and Rachel. The same can be said about much of the rest of the movie, which your hosts found to be perfectly pleasant without doing anything particularly outstanding or groundbreaking. Nevertheless, its core message about the things that define us and make us feel valued is unique and important, elevating the film from being another nice Disney movie to an easy recommendation.

Talk Movies To Me kicks off the new year by returning to form with a horror film, albeit one that openly mocks our preferred subgenre of "elevated horror." Some may be put off by how often this requel pokes fun at its own history, but Luke and Rachel had a blast witnessing all of the ways Scream subverts expectations without sacrificing its core identity as a more-than-competent slasher flick.

Rachel's heavy work schedule and her stubborn cold almost forced Talk Movies To Me to take a month-long holiday break, but Luke convinced her at the last minute to have a relaxed conversation about the noteworthy movies and television shows your hosts watched over the past year that didn't make it into any dedicated podcast episodes. Enjoy these (mostly) spoiler-free ramblings about the things we loved in 2021 and we'll see you again in the new year!

TIMESTAMPS

5:59 - Dune

20:03 - Midnight Mass

30:29 - Wellington Paranormal

33:41 - Harley Quinn & Venom

39:06 - She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

41:27 - Shadow and Bone

42:17 - The Witcher

44:48 - Zack Snyder's Justice League

48:14 - Luke's MCU journey

48:59 - Bo Burnham's Inside

50:36 - Superstore

52:45 - We Are Lady Parts

53:16 - You

56:25 - Luke's favorite film of the year (The Green Knight)

1:02:09 - Rachel's favorite films of the year (The Night House & Last Night in Soho)

1:04:29 - 2021 movies we missed & our most-anticipated films releasing in 2022