The Hollywood Read

Since this is the last episode of The Hollywood Read, we revisit our 2020 predictions and update them for a post-pandemic world, including the future of streaming, blockbusters, and a potential contraction of the entire film industry. It's a super depressing note to end our show on as we (mostly Sarah) completely abandon optimism. We thank you for listening, sharing, commenting, and recommending. See you at the movies...someday. Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

We continue our (belated) 2020 wrap-up by discussing the best television of 2020. From final episodes of Bojack Horseman and Schitt's Creek, to new shows like The Queen's Gambit and Bridgerton, we break down the shows that got us through the hell year known as 2020. We also get into how streaming and the Emmys might evolve over the next decade. Join us! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

This week we're taking advantage of the extended awards season to do our best of 2020 two weeks late. We discuss our favorite movies of the year, including Promising Young Woman, Nomadland, Minari, and Wolfwalkers, and we continue to be mystified by the support for Mank. We also talk about how these films are faring in the strange Oscars sweepstakes of 2020, and what late-breaking films might upset the protacted Oscar race. Join us! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

We're kicking off 2021 by discussing the last big pop culture moments of 2020: Wonder Woman 1984 and Bridgerton. We break down WW84's dual release with pandemic box office and unverified streaming numbers, and then we dig into Bridgerton, Netflix's lavish romance novel adaptation. One of these things had a rather mixed reception, and the other was everyone's post-holiday binge. Join us as we discuss what went wrong with WW84 and what went right for Bridgerton. Find us on Twitter:...

For our last episode of 2020, we're breaking down the overwhelming number of new shows and movies Disney announced during their annual investor presentation, which Marvel basically treated like their Hall H trip this year. We also discuss the fall out of the Warner Brothers/HBO Max announcement from last week, which is proving to be a huge headache for Warners. Join us for one more episode before we quit this hell year! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

This week we dive into the incredible news that Warner Brothers will be releasing their entire 2021 slate of films day-and-date in theaters and on HBO Max. We discuss what it means for Warner Brothers going forward, why AT&T even wanted to own a movie studio in the first place, and what this could mean for the future of movies and movie theaters. Join us! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

As we approach the end of the year, we do the normal thing and discuss the state of the 2020 Oscar race. Yes, that's right, despite all of 2020's shenanigans, there WILL be a 2020 Academy Awards ceremony...eventually. We take a look at the prospective field of nominees and all the historic possibilities this year, including women dominating the Best Director field and the odds of a Chadwick Boseman double-nomination in both acting categories. Join us! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann &...

Wonder Woman 1984 is the latest and final blockbuster of 2020 to bail on movie theaters and drop directly on streaming. We start by discussing the ramifications of such a big blockbuster going to streaming, and how Tenet might have killed movie theaters. Then, we dive into season four of The Crown, which is reinvigorated by the arrival of Princess Diana, and we debate the efficacy of Gillian Anderson's performance as Margaret Thatcher. Join us! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

On the heels of announcing a four-year deal with Netflix, David Fincher lobbed some truth bombs at his peers and the current state of the film industry, which always makes for a fun time within the film community. But first, we discuss Mads Mikkelsen taking over for Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3, and then we get into Fincher and his many incendiary comments about other filmmakers. Join us! Read David Fincher's many hot takes. Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

Johnny Depp officially lost his libel case in the UK, which means he is now a huge liability for the studios who hired him. Which is why, unsurprisingly, he was asked to leave the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We discuss Depp's legal woes, the unbelievable personal mistake that was taking on the UK libel court, and what went wrong with the Fantastic Beasts franchise, and why it can't be saved, no matter who plays Grindelwald. Join us! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

This week we're talking true crime, and the shift over the last few years of true crime from undercover interest to mainstream obsession. We discuss how Netflix has contributed to the mainstreaming of true crime, the ethics of commodifying murder and mayhem as entertainment, and the programs and documentaries that have defined the recent trend in true crime. Then we share our top three true crime stories and those stories we can't stand to think about. Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann &...

Just in time for Halloween, the scariest news of all comes as Jared Leto's widely disliked version of the Joker will be returning in the Snyder Cut. We break down Leto's return, as well as the current state of the Snyder Cut and it s mysteriously ballooning budget. Then, we discuss Kayleigh's favorite thing ever, which is the inevitable death of Quibi and the contraction of the streaming space. Join us! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

2020 is a trash fire cesspit, but it has now given us a classic celebrity scandal with the Dominic West-Lily James affair. We're not here to judge the personal decisions of consenting adults, but we ARE here to dissect a bonkers celebrity scandal that includes castles and beautifully hand-written notes. Join us as we discuss the public relations reality of celebrity scandals, and commiserate with the poor James-West publicists. Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

This week, we start discussing Soul's shift to Disney+, but we get sidetracked by Jeffrey Dahmer and our fears about Ryan Murphy making a series about Dahmer's killing spree. We then get back on track and discuss Alyssa Rosenberg's op-ed about cancelling the Oscars and the challenges faced by the COVID Oscars and what it could mean for the film industry as a whole. Join us! Alyssa Rosenberg on the COVID Oscars:...

After another round of pandemic updates about what movies are or are not coming out in 2020, we dive into how COVID-19 is impacting television. It isn't garnering the same headlines as film, but TV is feeling a COVID pinch, too, cancelling shows left and right, even shows that were previously renewed. Join us as we review how the pandemic is quietly changing television while everyone is worried about movies. Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

We're back with a recap of the virtual Toronto Film Festival, which was a very strange experience, like everything else in 2020. But first, we update the Tenet box office and speculate on the mystery of whether or not Mulan was successful. Then we grit our teeth and talk about Cuties and the unjust controversy that was blown way out of proportion by bad-faith actors over the last few weeks. Join us for this super fun and totally normal conversation! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann &...

A lot is happening this week, from the continuing roll out of Tenet, to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announcing a major Netflix development deal, to John Boyega calling out the crap development for his character in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Join us as we dive into the issues around increasing representation beyond the entry-level approach of just casting more people of color without considering how to tell compelling stories with them. Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

Following the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, we're celebrating his life and legacy, recalling his great performances and unique ability to give life and humanity to larger-than-life icons. Join us as we say goodbye to a tremendous artist who left to soon. Places you can contribute to the fight against colorectal cancer: https://coloncancercoalition.org/donate/ https://impact.ccalliance.org/give/266249/#!/donation/checkout https://www.aacr.org/ways-to-give/

This week we talk about Finding Freedom, the largely anti-climactic tell-all about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. We break down how the book portrays the divisions and competition within the royal family, why driving out Harry and Meghan was probably a fatal error for the British monarchy, and how ongoing scandals could impact the royal family. Join us as we low key call for revolution! Find us on Twitter: @Ceilidhann & @Cinesnark

It's been a big week for the film industry, from Disney's shocking announcement regarding the digital release of Mulan, to the repeal of the Paramount Decree, to long-gestating rumors about Ellen DeGeneres's toxic work place exploding in the mainstream. Join us as we break it all down, from what success could look like for Mulan on streaming, to what it means to lose the Paramount Decree, and how Ellen's faux-kindness front has concealed years of workplace toxicity. Kayleigh on Ellen's...