The Hollywood Read

This week we catch up with Harry and Meghan after the documentary about their recent royal tour aired, giving us more insight into their states of mind as they throw down with the British press. We also discuss Jared Leto's apparent hurt feelings over being pushed out as the Joker. And finally, because it is Halloween week, we share our recommendations for scary movies to watch on the spookiest night of the year.

Here's Kim Masters on Jared Leto's Joker upset: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/youve-got-stop-jared-leto-fumed-new-joker-movie-1247699

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark

From banning South Park to clashing with the NBA and e-sports and Quentin Tarantino, China has been in the news a lot recently. This week we discuss the increasing culture clash between Hollywood and China, which started the decade as a potential life raft for a stagnating film industry. But now things are complicated by intense public protests in Hong Kong, and South Park blatantly calling out Hollywood's hypocrisy in turning a blind eye to authoritarianism in favor of making money. Join us as we get banned in China!

This week we're revisiting British royal gossip as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take on the British tabloid press. We discuss the lawsuits, what they're really about (hint: racism), and how Harry and Meghan's headlines tie into Prince Andrew's royal Epstein mess. We also peer into the future and make predictions about how this might play out over the next decade or two, and whether or not monarchy can really make it in the twenty-first century. Join us for another round of royal gossip!

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark

It's Joker week, so we're talking Joker's record-breaking box office*, Todd Phillips shoving his foot down his mouth, Joaquin Phoenix's only somewhat hostile press tour, and the Oscar odds for the year's most divisive movie. We also get into Martin Scorsese's comments in re: Marvel movies and theme parks. Join us as we power through the final stage of The Discourse!

*The official box office tally ended up being $96 million.

Kayleigh's hot take on the best movie Joker: https://screenrant.com/joaquin-phoenix-best-joker-comparison-actors-leto-ledger/

Sarah on Todd Phillips and "woke culture": https://www.laineygossip.com/joker-director-todd-phillips-blames-wokeness-for-current-state-of-comedy/58680

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark

The Emmys happened, and despite some genuinely surprising and welcome wins, the show itself was dead boring. We discuss the winners, our favorite losers, the life expectancy of broadcast award shows, and what is Ozark, anyway? We also get into that whole Sony-Marvel make-up deal. Join us as we ponder how much longer broadcast networks will air the Emmys when they don't actually win any Emmys.

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark

We're back! We went to the Toronto International Film Festival, so we're talking everything we saw at TIFF, as well as discussing the official launch of Oscar season. Narratives are already emerging (Renee Zellweger is back! Christian Bale is himself! Joaquin Phoenix is thirsty!), and a couple of films are already dominating Oscar talk. Join us as we break down the first phase of award season: the festival phase.

We postponed our break just so we could talk about the Sony/Marvel Spider-Man divorce. From Disney's frightening dominance to Sony's reluctance to share credit, we break down the news that Sony and Marvel will no longer be co-producing Spider-Man movies. Also, The Matrix 4 is a real thing that is happening! Join us as we cover a wild week in film news.

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark

With the summer movie season winding down, we take a look back at the winners and losers of blockbuster season, which is mostly "Disney", and "everyone else". And we look ahead to TIFF, and the non-blockbusters that will, hopefully, garner SOME box office in the five seconds Disney doesn't have a movie coming out. We also dive into Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, and debate is effectiveness and that controversial ending. Spoilers ahoy! 

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark

This week, bad news abounds as we look into the rumored Annapurna bankruptcy and consider what it means for indie cinema. We also talk about Venom 2, Nate Parker's comeback via the Venice Film Festival, and Universal's decision to pull The Hunt from theaters to avoid a political shitstorm. We're living through a radical technological shift and also a bonkers political moment, and all of it is coming to bear at once. Join us as we stare into the abyss of cinema's future once again.

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark

This week we tackle the age old question: Nepotism, is it bad? LOL, of course it is. We take a look at the rising phenomenon of legacy actors who are increasingly dominating casting headlines and breakout roles in Hollywood, and wonder where it leaves us if our art comes from one rarified perspective. We also talk about Hobbs & Shaw and the totally cool and normal contractual demands of the Fast/Furious actors, who refuse to lose a fight. 

Wall Street Journal on the Fast/Furious fight contract:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/fast-furious-stars-complicated-demandi-never-want-to-lose-a-fight-11564673490

Kayleigh twitter: @Ceilidhann

Sarah twitter: @Cinesnark