Tentpole Trauma

By Tentpole TraumaTV & Film Film History

Tentpole Trauma episodes

December 13, 2023 Blue Beetle
The first superhero film to emphasize Latino representation, Angel Manuel Soto's Blue Beetle was so well received by Warner Brothers executives that it was spared a straight-to streaming fate and awarded a theatrical release. But despite the presence of Cobra Kai's Xolo Mariduena, Latino comedian Geoge Lopez and Susan Sarandon in the villain role, the movie could not escape the DCEU death knell and fared poorly at the box office. Join Sebastian and Blue Beetle superfan Matt Anderson as they dive deep into the lore of this semi-obscure character, debate the quality and quantity of comic book movie tropes and wonder
if James Gunn will honor his promise to keep the character around for the DCU reboot. Plus, what the heck is a space scarab anyway?

2 hr 1 min
November 21, 2023 Wyatt Earp
Despite being released a mere six months after the hit western Tombstone, Kevin Costner was confident that his telling of the Wyatt Earp story, with director Lawrence Kasdan in tow, would be the definitive take on the legendary lawman. But the film’s epic length and self-serious tone met with tepid critical reception despite strong performances, and roped in a disastrously small take at the box office, resulting in the first in a string of Costner-fronted mega bombs. Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they mosey down to the OK Corral and rustle up some reconsideration for this messy but ambitious biopic.
57 min
October 24, 2023 Halloween Resurrection
Trick or treat motherf**ker! After the triumphant return of Jamie Lee Curtis and the cathartic killing of Michael Myers in 1998’s H20, there was nowhere to go but down. Unfortunately, Rick Rosenthal’s 2002 follow-up failed to meet even the lowest of fan expectations with an ignominious death for Laurie Stride, a terrible Blair Witch inspired premise and a karate kicking Bustah Rhymes. Join Sebastian and the Mighty Peculiar podcast’s Matt Anderson as they investigate this rotten pumpkin of a sequel.

1 hr 48 min
October 17, 2023 The Mist
Though not a hit upon release, Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption was a beloved classic by the mid aughts, so hopes were high that the director’s post Green Mile return to King territory with 2007’s The Mist would deliver. And though critics were kind to the bleak, apocalyptic creature-fest, audience reaction and box office numbers were decidedly lukewarm. Join Troy and Sebastian as they gaze into a whole new dimension in terror and celebrate the sweet despair of this yet-to-be minted classic.
1 hr 35 min
September 05, 2023 The Legend of Bagger Vance
Sports movies enjoyed a renaissance in the 90s, so it was all but inevitable that by the year 2000 rising superstar Will Smith would get his shot at starring in one. Unfortunately, The Legend of Bagger Vance, directed by Robert Redford and co-starring Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, weathered criticism for its liberal use of problematic racial tropes and failed to generate boffo box office or the awards season heat it was clearly swinging for. Join Sebastian, Jennifer and Greatest Games Never Played co-host Andrew Te as they take to the green to discuss this magically sub-par sports drama.

1 hr 34 min
August 08, 2023 The Flash
Hopes were high for bringing DC comics’ preeminent scarlet speedster to the big screen, and the addition of Michael Keaton — returning to the role of Batman — only added fuel to the pre-release hype. But a deeply troubled leading man and countless delays decelerated the excitement, resulting in one of the biggest box office flops of the 2023 blockbuster season. Join Sebastian and DC superfan Matt Anderson as they reckon with the the failure of the DCEU, the toxic effect of Ezra Miller’s legacy and consider better realities for Andy Muschetti’s otherwise enjoyable The Flash.
2 hr 41 min
August 01, 2023 The Suicide Squad
Before landing the job of running the revamped DC cinematic universe, auteur James Gunn jumped ship from Marvel to direct The Suicide Squad, a sequel to the 2016 film of (almost) the same name. Bringing with him his unique blend of twisted heart and humor, as well as a penchant for D-list comic book characters, Gunn’s film landed well with fans but suffered serious casualties at the box office. Join Sebastian and Jennifer on a mission to celebrate all things Gunn, consider why the film fumbled financially, and prognosticate on the future of the DC cinematic universe.

1 hr 25 min
July 11, 2023 Speed 2: Cruise Control
The original Speed was a huge hit that cemented Keanu Reeves as an
action hero and made a star of Sandra Bullock, so naturally the studio
and director Jan de Bont were eager to get the band back together for
the sequel. But Keanu didn’t return, leaving Sandy to shoulder Speed 2:
Cruise Control with replacement Jason Patric, new villain Willem Dafoe
and a questionable terrorist plot involving a not very fast moving
cruise ship, resulting in one of the 90s’ biggest blockbuster bombs.
Join Sebastian and Jennifer as they head for the tropics on the ship
that sunk a once promising action franchise.

1 hr 3 min
July 04, 2023 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Despite the fact that the door seemed to be closed on the Indiana Jones
series, creators George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, along with star
Harrison Ford, decided to don the iconic hat and whip for a fourth entry
with 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. And
while the film was financially successful, fans roundly rejected its
central saucermen conceit, the addition of Shia LaBeouf as Indy’s son
Mutt, and the overuse of questionable CG. With a fifth film in theaters
and the franchise in the doldrums under Disney, Sebastian, Chris and
Rodney join Indy on one last globetrotting archeological adventure to
discuss this much maligned entry in one of cinema’s most beloved intellectual properties.
2 hr 1 min
June 13, 2023 The Wicker Man (2006)
Horror remakes were all the rage by the mid 2000s, so a remake of the seminal folk horror classic The Wicker Man was all but inevitable. Armed with a crazy Nic Cage performance and seasoned indie director Neil LaBute at the helm, the 2006 reimagining was set to catch fire at the box office but fizzled instead, failing to justify its hefty 40 million dollar budget. Join Sebastian, Jennifer and Troy as they travel to Summer’s Isle to reevaluate this much maligned effort and sacrifice
their sanity in worship of the modern era’s most bizarre and fascinating remakes.

1 hr 26 min

About Tentpole Trauma

From the publisher's feed

A podcast where we look at movies that came with hype and high hopes, but left with crushing disappointment, either critically, at the box office, or both.