The Watch and Talk | Film & TV Podcast

This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) battle it out over GLADIATOR II.

Plus, we have a non-spoilery chat about WICKED.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Directed by: Ridley Scott Written by: David Scarpa Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger

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'Tis the season for dysfunctional families, and this week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk A REAL PAIN.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Mismatched cousins David and Benji tour Poland to ho:nor their grandmother. Their adventure becomes complicated as old tensions resurface while exploring their family history.

Directed and Written by: Jesse Eisenberg Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Jennifer Grey, Will Sharpe, Kurt Egyiawan

*Clip from A REAL PAIN courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

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Beware whose door you're knocking on! This week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk HERETIC.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.

Written and Directed by: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East

*Clip from HERETIC courtesy of A24.

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We're getting into the heart of Awards Season now as Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk ANORA.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

Directed and Written by: Sean Baker Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eidelstein, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Aleksei Serebryakov, Darya Ekamasova

*Clip from ANORA courtesy of Neon.

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Politics and religion go hand in hand this week when Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) sit down to talk CONCLAVE.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with one of the world's most secretive and ancient events -- participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Directed by: Edward Berger Written by: Peter Straughan, based on the novel by Robert Harris Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini, Lucian Msamati, Sergio Castellitto, Carlos Diehz

*Clip from CONCLAVE courtesy of Focus Features.

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We're back! After weeks away, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) are back to catch up on where they've been and all the movies and TV shows they've been watching all month long.

From classic horror movies to new dramas, there's a lot packed into this episode. Enjoy!

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Decades in the making, this week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk MEGALOPOLIS.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

A conflict between Cesar, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.

Directed and Written by: Francis Ford Coppola Starring: Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne, Shia Labeouf, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, Talia Shire, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, D.B. Sweeney

*Clip from MEGALOPOLIS courtesy of Lionsgate.

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This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) try to keep The Evil at bay when they sit down to talk NEVER LET GO.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

When an unspeakable evil takes over the world, the only protection for a mother and her twin sons is their house and strong bond. Needing to stay connected at all times -- even tethering themselves with ropes -- they must cling to one another and never let go. However, when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.

Directed by: Alexandre Aja Written by: Kevin Coughlin, Ryan Grassby Starring: Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins

*Clip from NEVER LET GO courtesy of Lionsgate.

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We're diving into a Blumhouse's latest this week when Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk SPEAK NO EVIL.

We also spend some time chatting about the 76th Emmy Awards.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

A dream holiday turns into a living nightmare when an American couple and their daughter spend the weekend at a British family's idyllic country estate.

Directed and Written by: James Watkins Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough

*Clip from SPEAK NO EVIL courtesy of Universal Pictures.

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More than 35 years after Tim Burton's wacky paranormal comedy became a box office hit, Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk all about the sequel, BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE.

As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice's name three times, the mischievous demon gleefully returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Directed by: Tim Burton Written by: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Seth Grahame-Smith Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe

*Promotional clip from BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE courtesy of Warner Bros.

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