The Cinematic Schematic

In this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we are diving into Alex Garland's envisioning of the fall of American democracy with a review of Civil War. Given the subject matter, we break the ice with an in-depth discussion covering what a film about deep divisions in America could mean and how listeners can become more involved in their communities related to policy and relationship building.

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Meet the Reviewers

In this review conversation, hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman are joined by two of Oklahoma City's most qualified experts on the subject matter of the current political climate, OKC city councilperson and Oklahoma City University film studies professor, James Cooper, and the founder and CEO of the nonpartisan civic engagement nonprofit, Let's Fix This.

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What Releasing A Movie Titled "Civil War" in 2024 Could Mean

Time Stamp: 2:30

Because Civil War is about a very charged subject matter, we brought two of the most qualified people in Oklahoma City to talk with us about what the release of Civil War means for our broader culture, especially heading into an election season.

Unfortunately, due to tight scheduling constraints, Andy has seen the movie. Given his passion for this film and position as the CEO of Let’s Fix This, he has agreed to talk with us about the film alongside our other highly qualified guest, James Cooper.

In this topic-focused ice-breaker discussion, we discuss:

- The connection between media violence and real-world impacts

-  What are the cultural risks of telling a story of a fictional Civil War in a politically charged environment?

 - The implications of a non-American telling the story of a fictional US Civil War

 - How listeners can become more engaged and involved in civil engagement

Review: Does Alex Garland Deliver a Compelling Reflection on an American Civil War?

Time Stamp: 1:01:28

In our spoiler-free review, we discuss:

- Our overall thoughts on Civil War

-  How it compares to other films from writer/director Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men)

-  Letter grade verdicts

-  Our alternate media recommendations (other movies, TV series, video games, novels, etc.)

Spoiler Discussion: A Clinical Dramatization of War or a Critique of War Efforts?

Time Stamp: 1:33:45

After determining whether or not the movie delivers on a story worthy of the weight of its title, we dive into the details by looking at:

What the movie has to say about violence and the notion of a Civil War in near future America

- Garland's perspective on the role of war journalists

- How filmgoers and listeners should lead the conversation with their friends after the credits roll

Has Alex Garland delivered a thought-provoking story for the contentious times we are living in, or is Civil War a vapid war film with nothing new to say?

Tune in for our verdicts!

It's on like Donkey Kong in today's episode of The Cinematic Schematic. We're trekking back to Hollow Earth for another battle of the Titans in our review of the latest entry in the Legendary MonsterVerse, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Assembling the Newest Monarch Crew

To explore the secrets of Kong's underground home hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman have recruited RedSix podcast host / Soonercon Director of IT and Development Caleb Haldane and Chad Parizman from Ader Communications

Breaking the Ice: Future Franchise X-overs

Time Stamp: 4:40

To start our discussion, we asked, "What franchise crossover should be brought to the big screen next?" There's no shortage of possibilities in a theatrical world of IP extravaganzas, but are any of them good?

Review: Is Godzilla x Kong anything more than an expensive cartoon?

Time Stamp: 27:45

In our spoiler-free review discussion, we cover:

- Our overall thoughts on the film

- The meaning of the subtitle, "The New Empire."

- How this movie ranks in the Legendary MonsterVerse

 - Letter grade verdicts

 - Alternate media recommendations

Spoilers Discussion: What makes blockbusters more than just a spectacle?

Time Stamp: 1:09:10

After providing a verdict, we jump deep into Skar's den to break down:

- The versatility of Godzilla and King Kong across genres

 - Whether the movie walks the line between Saturday morning cartoon fun and weightless CGI fights

 - Where the MonsterVerse can go next

Are there still fun and exciting ideas to explore in the MonsterVerse, or is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire evidence of a franchise spinning out of control? Check out our review conversation to get our final verdict.

It's time to grab a cold one by the beach after pumping the iron because, in this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we're reviewing director Doug Liman's reimagining of the 1989 classic, Road House, starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Be Nice With the Road House Review Guests Hosts

Joining hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman for the beachside property fun, are Critics Choice Association and Oklahoma Film Critic Circle members Jason Black (KJYO-FM, iHeartRadio) Craig "The Movie Guy" Sanger (KOKH-TV Fox 25, WWLS-FM, KYIS-FM, and KATT-FM).

It's time to grab a cold one by the beach after pumping the iron because, in this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we're reviewing director Doug Liman's reimagining of the 1989 classic, Road House, starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Be Nice With the Road House Review Guests Hosts

Joining hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman for the beachside property fun, are Critics Choice Association and Oklahoma Film Critic Circle members Jason Black (KJYO-FM, iHeartRadio) Craig "The Movie Guy" Sanger (KOKH-TV Fox 25, WWLS-FM, KYIS-FM, and KATT-FM).

Email questions, comments and feedback to [email protected] and leave the podcast and a review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred app.

In this special SXSW 2024 recap edition, The Cinematic Schematic host Caleb Masters sits down with several members of the deadCenter programming team including the director of programming, Sunrise Tippeconnie, a shorts programmer, Camila Chaves Rojas, and the head of pride programming (and co-host of this podcast), Laron Chapman, to discuss their highlights from the South By Southwest (SXSW) 2024 film festival.

How was their festival experience in 2024 and what are some of the most notable films the team caught during their trip to Austin, Texas?

Check out this SXSW 2024 recap to learn what films to watch for later this year.

It's time to curl your hair and bust out your leg warmers, synth score, and cigarettes because, in this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we're reviewing director Rose Glass's sophomore outing, Love Lies Bleeding, starring Kristen Stewart.

Panelist Built To Review Love Lies Bleeding

Traveling back in time to the 80s alone can be dangerous. To combat the lack of weapons safety and ghastly haircuts, hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman are joined by some of the savviest genre experts in Oklahoma City. The Cinematropolis and Flick Attack contributor Christopher Shultz sits alongside exciting first-time guest and deadCenter Film Festival shorts programmer, Camila Chaves Rojas. Rounding out the crew is deadCenter Film Festival director of programming, Sunrise Tippeconnie, who watched the film at its Sundance Film Festival world premiere in January.

9:00 - Recapping the 2024 Oscars

39:50 - Review: Does Rose Glass Deliver the Goods in Love Lies Bleeding?

1:17:20 - Spoilers Discussion: How Does Love Lies Bleeding Reinvent the Crime Genre Using the Queer Romance Lens?

In October 2021, The Cinematic Schematic laid the tracks for a prophecy predicting the greatness of Dune Part Two in our review of the first film. Since then, a famine has overtaken Hollywood, due in large part to poor management from the Imperium (cough studio executives) who caused the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes of 2023.

Only one group of film critic podcasters possesses the unique ability to unite listeners.

To provide a proper verdict, we reunited our team of reviewers from the 2021 film including The Cinematropolis's Daniel Bokemper, No Film School's Jo Light, and GoodTrash Media's Dalton Stuart. Much like Dune: Part Two's new joiners Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Walken, Laron Chapman is here for this conversation, and host Caleb Masters claims his position as the prophet destined to deliver a review that will change the fate of the galaxy for generations.

Does Dune: Part Two deliver the out-of-this-world spectacle promised in the 2021 film, or has the hype been overblown? Listen today for our in-depth analysis.

Here are the nominees for Best Oscars Predictions Podcast

The Cinematic Schematic continues our tradition of anticipating the biggest night in movies of the year (at least for Hollywood) with our 2024 Oscars predictions. Brandy McDonnell, an award-winning arts and entertainment journalist from The Oklahoman and member of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, rejoins hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman for this discussion.

Who Will Win the Most Gold?

2023 was an exceptional year for cinema. Perhaps even one of the best years of the last two or so decades. High-quality blockbusters were firing on all cylinders with Oppenheimer, Barbie, Godzilla Minus One Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Smaller films from first-time directors like Past Lives, American Fiction, and Talk to Me were making waves. Even the most iconic auteurs were releasing new movies with Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, and Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers.

With so many great films to choose from, it’s made for a competitive year at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 10th. Who will take home the most awards? Barbie, or Oppenheimer? Is Killers of the Flower Moon destined to leave the big show empty-handed, or will Lily Gladstone walk away with a historic win?

Take a look at the list of 2024 Oscar nominees here. Need a ballot to complete your 2024 Oscar predictions? Take a look at Letterboxd’s digital version.

Which of our 2024 Oscars predictions should you put down on your card? Listen to our in-depth discussion breaking down our predictions for each category.

Sound the alarms because it's webbin' time! The Cinematic Schematic returns with an emergency review of the Sony Spider-Man spin-off, Madame Web, with guests Alexandra Bohannon and Chelsea Ratterman from Geek Girl Features.

The Winter of Web Is Upon Us

On April 1st, 2022, Sony released the iconically terrible spin-off of the Spider-Man villain Morbius, starring Jared Leto and Matt Smith. After flopping during its initial run, they later re-released the film in the summer and dubbed that season "The Summer of Morbius." Despite the memes tricking executives into thinking audiences wanted to see the movie for irony, it flopped again.

On Valentine's Day 2024, Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman aims to replicate the "winning" formula by kicking off "The Winter of Web," starring Dakota Johnson in Madame Web. After witnessing one spidey train crash, why not try again?

Could It Be So Bad It's Good?

To evaluate Johnson's turn as the clairvoyant Spider-psychic, hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman are joined by returning guests Bohannon and Ratterman. Is Madame Web a sign of the end times for the superhero genre? Or is there enough fun to justify Sony's indulgence in C-list side characters?

Check out the show to hear our verdicts!

The Cinematic Schematic podcast returns from its winter slumber with a "Dumpuary" 2024 movie review round-up featuring hosts Caleb Masters, Laron Chapman, and recurring guest, Daniel Bokemper. Has it been a memorable slow season, or have theaters delivered a series of duds?

The Gems of Dumpuary 2024

The new releases have not stopped coming over the first six weeks of 2024. In today's first episode of the 2024 season, we review several of the winter's most notable releases including Argyll, The Beekeeper, Origin, Society of the Snow, and Mean Girls (2024).

Icebreaker - What career would you choose as a retired spy?

If there's one theme that's been consistent over the first couple of months at the movies in 2024, it's that subpar spy films aren't dead. Between Argyll and The Beekeeper, the perils of being a retired spy was a theme. To break the ice in today's podcast, we beg the question--What alternate career would you take up as a retired assassin?

A Good Year For Quiet Times?

Despite lacking blockbuster releases this winter has had a wide variety of films to pick from. But are they any good?

Tune in to hear our verdicts on five of Dumpuary 2024's most notable movies.

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Podcast Discussion Timestamps

0:15 - Introductions

4:08 - Ice-Breaker Question - What career would you embrace as a retired assassin/

8:36 - Argylle Spoiler-Free Review

19:44 - The Beekeeper Spoiler-Free Review

33:10 - Origin Spoiler-Free Review

49:34 - Society of the Snow Spoiler-Free Review

1:01:36 - Mean Girls (2024) Spoiler-Free Review