The Cinematic Schematic

Happy New Year, listeners! The Cinematic Schematic is kicking off this rotation around the sun by playing things differently with a 2024 sneak peek at the most anticipated movies playing in theaters later this year.

We kick things off with a quick recap of the final films we watched in 2023. We then take a look back at the box office predictions we made in our first episode of last year before hedging our bets on what will be the biggest hit of 2024.

To raise the stakes of the conversation, we conclude the show with the inaugural edition of "New Year Sneak Peek Movie Trivia." Which host will emerge victorious with bragging rights?

Celebrating 2024 With Familiar Faces

Hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman pop the bottle of champagne for our first episode of 2024 with regular guest host and The Cinematropolis contributor, Daniel Bokemper.

Happy New Year, listeners! The Cinematic Schematic is kicking off this rotation around the sun by playing things differently with a 2024 sneak peek at the most anticipated movies playing in theaters later this year.

We kick things off with a quick recap of the final films we watched in 2023. We then take a look back at the box office predictions we made in our first episode of last year before hedging our bets on what will be the biggest hit of 2024.

To raise the stakes of the conversation, we conclude the show with the inaugural edition of "New Year Sneak Peek Movie Trivia." Which host will emerge victorious with bragging rights?

Celebrating 2024 With Familiar Faces

Hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman pop the bottle of champagne for our first episode of 2024 with regular guest host and The Cinematropolis contributor, Daniel Bokemper.

In this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we're swept into another Studio Ghibli fantasy so imaginative that it brought Japan’s Walt Disney, Hayao Miyazaki, out of retirement for at least the fourth time with our review of The Boy and the Heron.

Become Spirited Away With These Special Guest Reviewers for The Boy and the Heron

To help show Laron Chapman the way of the anime, host Caleb Masters is joined by first-time guest Soonercon Director of Marketing Amber Hanneken and returning guest Harold Storey from the TunesToons podcast.

What Is Our Favorite Studio Ghibli Film?

Studio Ghibli has long been the premiere studio for animation from Japan with classics like Princess Mononoke, Grave of Fireflies, Howl's Moving Castle, and My Neighbors the Yamadas released since its founding in 1985. We share our favorites from the esteemed studio to kick off the discussion.

Watching Anime Subtitled Vs Dubbed

One of the more hotly discussed topics among anime audiences is whether to watch the anime as recorded in Japan with English subtitles or watch the English dubs featuring Western voiceovers. The conversation gets even more complex when you look at Studio Ghibli's regularly casting some of the best working actors of our day in their dubbs. How did our panel watch the movie?

New Hayao Miyazaki-directed movies Are a Big Deal

Guillermo del Toro introduced The Boy and the Heron at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, its first screening outside of Japan, and said this.

“We are living in a time when Mozart is composing symphonies. Van Gogh is painting paintings. Because Miyazaki-san is a master of that stature," he continued. "He has made his films as full of problems and questions as he is. These are not easy films, but they are films that portray him so intimately that you feel that you are having a conversation with him. They are paradoxical because he understands that beauty cannot exist without horror and that delicacy cannot exist without brutality. He makes elegance of these things, and shows life on the screen in a beautiful way.”

While it's easy to poke fun at how often the Japanese auteur has come out of retirement, he's among the few directors to be near the peak of his game at over 80 years old. Whether or not the film is his best, he brings a unique voice and vision to animation and continues to have the clout to execute.

What Did We Think of The Boy and the Heron?

After discussing our preferences and history with the anime form/genre and Studio Ghibli, we dive into our spoiler-free review of The Boy and the Heron, where we discuss:

- Our overall thoughts on Miyazaki's latest and likely final film

- How does it compare to previous works from the famed director?

- What are its chances at the 2024 Oscars?

- Our letter-grade verdicts

- Alternate media recommendations for listeners interested in The Boy and the Heron

Saying Farewell to Miyazaki’s Kingdom of Madness

The spoilers discussion drills down into the original Japanese title, “How Do You Live?" to examine the core question the director is posing for the audience through Mahito’s journey through grief and self-discovery. We unpack the film in spoiler-filled detail when we discuss:

- How the film ponders and reflects on themes related to legacy

- The ways The Boy and the Heron pays homage to previous works from Hayao Miyazaki

- How the hand-drawn animation elevates the entire form

Has Miyazaki provided audiences with a fitting and memorable send-off, or is he just getting started?

Listen to this in-depth discussion to find out!

The Cinematic Schematic is back to crack open one of the most eccentric minds in popular cinema in our review of the new Yorgos Lanthimos movie, Poor Things, before its theatrical release this Friday. Could his reteaming with Emma Stone be a runaway at the 2024 Oscars?

It's not prestige movie season if we don't bring in the guests best equipped to decide whether Poor Things is wildly impressive genius or pretentious slop. Chelsea Ratterman from Geek Girl Features and The Cinematropolis and Flick Attack contributor Daniel Bokemper join hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman to dissect and discuss each of its most peculiar ideas and deadpan moments.

Before jumping into the review, the panel has an ice-breaker discussion by answering the questions--what is your favorite piece of steampunk fiction?

After providing listeners with a little more context on our preferences related to the genre, we provide our spoiler-free review and cover topics including:

- Our overall thoughts on Yorgos Lanthimos's past films

- How likely Emma Stone is to win an Oscar

-  Our letter-grade verdicts

 - Alternate media recommendations for listeners interested in Poor Things

The conversation gets more in-depth during the spoiler section when we dive into the film's subtext and broader themes like:

- Lanthimos's approach to the classic theme of nature vs nurturer

- Poor Things's examination of the connection between identity, gender, and sexual awakening

- Whether or not the film adequately connects its ideas related to polite society and the struggle of lower-class citizens.

Has Lanthimos made another cult hit like The Lobster (2015) or The Favourite (2018), or has Poor Things leaned too heavily into style to become an Oscar darling?

Listen to our review discussion to find out!

The turkey may be cold, and the Christmas lights may be going up, but it's not too late to take one last moment to think about what we are thankful for this season. Cinema! Cinema of every flavor. In this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman are re-joined by deadCenter Programmer Paris Burris to provide mini-reviews for the films released throughout November in our Thanksgiving leftovers 2023 movie special episode.

But First, the Breaking News You Are Screaming About

We indulge in the bountiful feast provided by Hollywood, but first, we stop to talk about the latest development in the beloved Scream franchise. Lead actress Melissa Barrera lost her contract for the next entry following social media posts Spyglass Entertainment deemed antisemitic. Following the departure of Radio Silence earlier this year, this news was shocking and devastating for fans. A Deadline story reported Jenny Ortega also plans to depart the project. Talk about adding insult to injury. The official word is that it's due to scheduling conflicts with the production of Wednesday season 2 for Netflix. Uh-huh. After doing a series retrospective and reviews for Scream (2022) and Scream VI earlier this year, it's safe to say we have concerns.

What Comes in The Cinematic Schematic Thanksgiving Leftovers 2023 Movie Special?

Movies across just about every genre played over the Thanksgiving holiday week. From smaller films from respected directors like Alexander Payne's The Holdovers or Emerald Fennell's Saltburn to big-budget epics like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes or Ridley Scott's Napoleon, there was no shortage of entrees to sample. Movie theaters had something for everyone. But were any of the options any good?

Listen today to catch our quick thoughts on each course of this Thanksgiving leftovers feast!

Timestamps

0:15 - Introductions

5:40 - Scream VII Update - Melissa Barerra and Jenny Ortega are Out

15:20 - Thanksgiving Review

33:21 - The Holdovers Review

49:49 - Saltburn Review

1:08:38 - The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Review

1:38:55 - Disney's Wish Review

1:49:12 - Napoleon Review

2:04:20 - Other Movie Leftovers

In this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we live life by a strict code in our review of David Fincher's latest movie for Netflix, The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender. We will also kick off our awards season speculation corner, discuss the latest updates in the SAG-AFTRA strike, and rank our top three David Fincher films.

Introducing Today's Special Guests to Review The Killer

Exploring the mind of David Fincher, the director famous for darker stories like Se7en, Zodiac, and Fight Club, requires a panel with a specific appreciation of the nihilist Fincher mindset. GoodTrash Media's most notable Fincher enthusiast, Dalton Stuart, and deadCenter shorts programmer, Paris Burris, join us to explore

The Strikes Are Over...For Now

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "After 118 days, the Hollywood actors' strike has officially concluded — and now we have a better idea of what the members of SAG-AFTRA have won in the union's new minimum contract agreement." At the top of our discussion, we will weigh in on what the expected of the strike means for movies in the future.

Let The Award Season Speculation Begin

In the last super-sized episode, we skipped Killers of the Flower Moon’s awards season prospects. With the holidays just around the corner, Laron, Caleb, and guests Paris and Dalton begin looking at the expectations for this year’s Golden Statues, especially for Killers of the Flower Moon.

What Is Our Take on The Killer?

Before jumping into our review, we rank our top three David Fincher movies to provide listeners with our personal Fincher favorites. We then jump into our spoiler-free section where we cover:

- Our overall thoughts on what worked and did not work in The Killer

 - How this movie compares to director David Fincher's past works

 - What the director brings to this material that makes him uniquely suited to tell this story

 - Our verdicts in the form of a letter grade

 - Alternate media (movies, TV, Books, Podcasts, Music, Video Games, etc.) we recommend alongside The Killer.

A Spoiler-Filled Scene of the Crime

In the second half of this episode, we discuss David Fincher's reputation(one he denies) as a perfectionist. The spoiler section of this episode includes:

- How Michael Fassbender's attention to detail as the titular killer reflects Fincher's obsession with "getting it right."

- What makes Fincher's return to a dark and pulpy movie about human nature after 2020's Mank so enjoyable

- The impacts the acclaimed director continues to have on our culture with films like Fight Club, The Social Network, and Gone Girl despite not winning any Oscars

Is The Killer David Fincher's return to form, or is this another new chapter for the director who has always seen himself as a man on the outside?

Listen to the conversation for our verdicts and analysis.

In today's episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we are reviewing one of the most anticipated movies of the year co-written and directed by the Marvel Cinematic Universe's arch-nemesis, Martin Scorsese, covering the largely untold story of the Osage Reign of Terror, Killers of the Flower Moon.

Welcome today's special guests

To wrap our heads around how well the story of the heinous acts against the Osage was adapted for the big screen, hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman are joined by an exciting panel including deadCenter's Sunrise Tippeconnie(Comanche), Brandy McDonnell, the arts and entertainment features writer for The Oklahoman, and first-time guest, Angela Startz(Inupiaq), the co-host and producer of the Reel Indigenous podcast.

We kick off the conversation by sharing our knowledge of the history along with our relationships to Scorsese's work as a filmmaker. In our spoiler-free section, we cover:

- Our general impressions of what worked and didn't work in Killers of the Flower Moon

- Lily Gladstone's impressive breakout performance as Mollie Burkhart alongside Leonardo Di Caprio and Robert De Niro

- How well or poorly the film presented the Osage nation and the state of Oklahoma for audiences

- Is the lengthy runtime warranted?

- What the IMAX presentation adds to the experience

- Our letter-grade verdict and alternate media recommendations

In the second half of the conversation, we go fully into spoilers and jump into the deep end by exploring the important question related to sad history--whose story is this to tell?

In the analysis-filled discussion, we take a look at:

- How the film's rewrites and switching of Leonardo DiCaprio's character from Tom White to Ernest Burkhart repositioned the overall story to be closer to the victim without fully embracing the Osage point of view.

- The notable drawbacks and key benefits of Scorsese's telling of this story

- Our reads on the film's final three scenes

Has Scorsese crafted another masterpiece, or does the film miss its ambitious mark with its telling of this dark chapter of American history?

Discussion Time Stamps

0:15 - Introductions

11:15 - What did you know about The Osage Reign of Terror before Killers of the Flower Moon?

21:39 - What is your relationship with Scorsese's filmography?

34:49 - Spoiler-Free Review

1:49:00 - Spoiler Section Begins

In this episode of The Cinematic Schematic, we return from the end-of-summer hiatus to kick off our spooky season 2023 with a review of The Exorcist: Believer. GoodTrash Media's Dustin Sells, Brock Lay, and Lit Reactor / The Cinematropolis contributor Christopher Shultz join hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman to provide in-depth thoughts on the latest David Gordon Green and Danny McBride horror collaboration.

The conversation starts with a quick update on the recent films we've all been watching on the break before we dive into our spoiler-free review of The Exorcist: Believer. We close the show with a spoiler-filled discussion focused on the film's different approach to the exorcism sequence.

This is the sixth entry on the 50-year-old franchise and the first in almost two decades. The film is a direct sequel to the original movie and brings the original movie's lead, Chris MacNeil(Ellen Burstyn), back into the fold to team up with Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) in a battle for the soul of his daughter and one of her close friends.

Has The Exorcist franchise successfully possessed filmgoers again, or would director William Friedkin turn his grave at the sight of another studio cash grab?

What are your thoughts on any of the films discussed in this episode of The Cinematic Schematic? Let us know by reaching out to The Cinematropolis on social media or by sending an email to [email protected].

The Cinematic Schematic returns to conclude one of the most robust summers we've had at the movies in recent memory by completing our assessment of the Barbenheimer double feature before an in-depth review discussion of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

GoodTrash Media's Arthur Gordon and What's Up, Fandom podcast host Josh Cain join hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman to end the great debate about whether turtles should wield nunchucks or pineapples belong on pizza.

The conversation kicks off with a quick Barbenheimer recap. Next, each host names their current top five films of the year. From there, we discuss our favorite versions of the turtles to date.

Have Seth Rogan and Co. brought something fresh to everyone's favorite pizza-eating reptiles? Listen to our verdicts before we jump deep into the movie's most notable spoilers. We discuss the film's approach to reimagining some of the series' most beloved characters. To close out the show, we discuss how the film continues the trend of innovative animation.