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Josh O’Connor stars in a heist movie to end all heist movies – or at least end our illusions that the person pulling the heist is pretty cool and awesome. Comedian and friend Myq Kaplan is along to watch things unfold, and unravel, in THE MASTERMIND. Then we take a Hotline question about what film school courses we’d like to teach. What’s Good Alonso - Programme 4 Drea - First women to cross the Atlantic unsupported (in their girthy canoe) Myq - Communing with friends [Rini (and Rini), John Fugelsang appearance, Separation of Church and Hate, tea with Abby Wambaugh] Kevin - new mic cable and arm; guesting on How to Survive Bernie & Phyl’s ad ITIDIC Penske Reportedly Offers Golden Globe Bribe Opportunity to Right-Wing PodcastersBUGONIA Offering Free Screening for Bald AudienceStaff Picks Drea - La Chimera Alonso - A House of Dynamite Myq - The Life of Chuck Kevin - Roofman 10/25: American Cinema Editors Short Film Showcase – The First Day of Your Last Period 11/2: Myq at Dynasty Typewriter Alonso's book: Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

A little gritty political drama, a little technicolor musical, a little revolutionary politics, a little ahead-of-its-time queer representation…Kiss of the Spider Woman has been a novel, a play, an Oscar-winning movie, a Tony-winning Broadway musical, and now a Bill Condon movie musical starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and relative newcomer Tonatiuh. LA-based film critic Carlos Aguilar joins us to get into the enduring allure of Spider Woman, and to name some bleak movies that could be jazzed up with a little old-timey movie-musical interlude. What’s Good Alonso - Bulgarian State Woman Choir on Johnny Carson in 1990 Drea - Bed Bands (wholesome) Carlos - New episode of Storage Wars Kevin - The Craft at Cinespia ITIDIC Apple TV Streaming Drops “+” From its NameThe TiVo Era Has Ended, Officially NowAnnie Hall Returning to Cinemas in Honor of Diane KeatonStaff Picks Alonso - Orwell: 2+2=5 Drea - Blue Moon Carlos - It Was Just an Accident Kevin - Battle Royale Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

If you’ve got Amazon Prime, you can put PLAY DIRTY (starring Mark Wahlberg, Rosa Salazar, LaKeith Stanfield, Tony Shaloub, and many more) right now. But should you? That’s where we come in, careening into your remote-wielding hand like a car chase onto a horse racing track in the first few minutes of PLAY DIRTY. Speaking of which, we’re also nominating Hall of Excellence candidates in the category Best Car Chase. All with Danielle Radford riding shotgun! What’s Good Alonso - Zach Bryan Drea - mom's girls trip to Portland (and a drag show) Danielle - Hello Kitty Island Adventure (and no IMdB-ruiner encounters) Kevin - Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Cinespia (starring Barry Bostwick, FYI) ITIDIC Amazon Disarmed a James Bond Poster, then Undid it when folks noticedTarantino’s ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ Sets Theatrical ReleaseHall of Excellence Noms Terminator 2 What’s Up Doc? Mad Max Fury Road The Matrix Reloaded Staff Picks Drea - If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Alonso - Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror Danielle - Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master Kevin - Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film has car chases, explosions, secret societies, and and confused ex-revolutionaries...but did it make Drea cry? Find out the answer, plus our favorite underground cabals from film history, on this episode with special guest, noted critic Michael Phillips. What’s Good Alonso - Brian Earl’s Of Christmases Long, Long Ago Drea - COVID booster/Worm Charming Championship Michael - being with us (and Gov. Pritzker) Kevin - The Big Show at The Earl ITIDIC The Tilly Norwood situation LA Times Editorial: Oscars International Feature Category Is Broken; No Easy Fix Staff Picks Alonso - Smashing Time Drea - Fairyland Michael - Spartacus Kevin - Apollo 13 Check out Michael's appearances on Filmspotting and his piece on Ebert.com Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

An impossible, dystopian "sporting event" is the subject of this week's film, leading to a seemingly impossible feat of storytelling, production, and adaptation. It's THE LONG WALK, with YA Novelist and podcasting impresario Lauren Shippen as our special guest. Then, we talk about films that don't pass the Bechdel Test, but still pass muster. What’s Good Alonso - Hallmark Holiday movie lineup unveiled Drea - duck stamp painting controversy Lauren - second largest zucchini Kevin - worlds colliding, Great British Baking Show ITIDIC Disney+ announces streaming price hikes at this of all moments Marlon Wayans Takes Career of Bad Critical Reviews in Stride Staff Picks Drea - Secret Mall Apartment Alonso - Happyend Lauren - Edge of Tomorrow Kevin - On the Right Track Listen to Lauren’s new show, Two Thousand and Late Alonso at Vroman’s Pasadena for Stephen Rebello’s Criss-Cross Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Director/star James Sweeney’s sophomore follow-up to Straight Up made a spalsh at Sundance this January, winning the Audience Award and a lot of buzz about Dylan O’Brien’s dual roles as twins Roman and Rocky. Director and writer Bryan Fuller, whose feature debut DUST BUNNY recently premiered at TIFF, joins us to see what all the fuss is about. Then we share some of our favorite dark comedies. What’s Good Alonso - Hobnobs (and Hobnob Fever!) Drea - Competitive nonsense (windowdressing, bedmaking, etc) Bryan - a murder of yard crows Kevin - no more wasps ITIDIC TIFF Wraps Up, Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet Wins Audience Award Paramount Wants to Buy Warner Bros Remembering Robert Redford Staff Picks Drea - Predators (2025) (and Love and Monsters) Alonso - Chain Reactions Bryan - The Last Viking Kevin - Alien Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

W. Kamau Bell is a noted comedian, author, filmmaker, and activist. He’s also the former co-host of the podcast DENZEL WASHINGTON IS THE GREATEST ACTOR OF ALL TIME PERIOD, along with our very own Kevin Avery. Now, we've gotten the former co-hosts (and former roommates!) back together. It’s a big deal, but does Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s big reunion rise to the occasion? Find out as we discuss HIGHEST 2 LOWEST, and stay to hear some fantasy pitches for other classic movies that we’d like to see get Denzel-ified. What’s Good? Alonso - Petit Grain (and supporting your local bakery…and eating your feelings) Drea - being on festival juries Kamau - pizza; daughter fetching an umbrella for dad Kevin - killing a wasp in a beekeeping suit ITIDIC Unfinished Orson Welles Movie Being Completed By AI …Meanwhile, WB Sues Midjourney After The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie and The Rock Are Pairing Up Again Staff Picks Alonso - The Baltimorons Drea - Preparation for the Next Life (?) Kevin - Love, Brooklyn Kamau - The Unforgivable Sin of Ms. Rachel Subscribe to Kamau’s Newsletter, Who’s With Me? Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW on Criterion Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

This week we’re talking WEAPONS, Zach Cregger’s follow up to BARBARIAN, with freelance writer and host of Chasing Amy Adams, Louis Peitzman. Plus, in honor of a spooky movie with a lot of kids at the center of its plot, we honor some of our favorite creepy kids from cinema. What’s Good? Drea - llama costumes at the MN State Fair Louis - giant beaver/fall scented candles Kevin - AMC A-List binge ITIDIC - The Toxic Avenger Pledges to Commit Profits to Help With Medical Debts - Fall Film Festival Season Is Underway: Venice and Telluride - Another Live Action Remake Scrapped at Disney: Questlove’s Aristocats Staff Picks Drea - Twinless & A Little Prayer Louis - The 4th Man (De Vierde Man) Kevin - Longlegs Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Writer Meghan Fitzmartin joins us to debate: does a movie have to be "good," or is it enough to just be fun? Then, we'll discuss our favorite Hollywood power couples, both on and off the screen. What’s Good? Alonso - The Dean Martin Association YouTube channel Drea - State Fairs, MN State Fair, Cropseed Art (Crop Art & Scarecrow) Meghan - Clay pipes (mudlarking on the foreshore) Kevin - Studio 54 themed birthday party ITIDIC K-Pop Demon Hunters Hits Big Screens and Leads Box OfficeM:I Final Reckoning Fakes-Out Fans Re: Free Release on YouTubeStaff Picks Drea - Griffin in Summer Alonso - Splitsville Meghan - Life Size Kevin - The Shakiest Gun in the West Mary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin is out October 8 Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Director Kate Beecroft made her debut feature after meeting and living with a singular family, and then building a script and feature film around their lives – with them as the stars. The resulting film, EAST OF WALL won the Audience Award at the (ahem) Sundance Film Festival. Collider’s Taylor Gates joins us to discuss the movie, and to daydream about what kind of movie we’d set at some of our personal favorite real-world locations. What’s Good Alonso - Pumpkin Spice Season Creep/Laughing Cow Pumpkin Spice Cheese Wedges (in principle) Drea - Chris Ware USPS Stamps Taylor - Renee Rapp’s Bite Me Kevin - Tracy Bonham live w/Chris and Adrienne Woods; Silver Lake sightings Airplane Jive scene (watch at your own risk!) Physical Media merch! ITIDIC Disney’s Marvel Pulling Out of GeorgiaAnna Faris and Regina Hall Return for Wayans’ Scary Movie RebootStaff Picks Drea - Relay Alonso - Souleymane’s Story Taylor - Private Life Kevin - F1 The Movie Linoleum Knife Presents CLUE on August 24 Taylor on Collider and Fanversation Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

**We have new PHYSICAL MEDIA merch! Check it out at maxfunstore.com** Everything old is freaky again, and vice verse, with this late-breaking sequel to the 2003 version of Freaky Friday. Prolific actor/comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub is our prestigious guest to take a look at Lindsay, Jamie Lee, and a whole cast of new and returning folks game to get Freakier. Then we have fun talking about best and worst sequel titles. What’s Good Alonso - personalized coupons from Ralphs Drea - first female umpire in the MLB Mary Lynn - a day at Mt. Fuji Kevin - satisfaction from household item restock ITIDIC Charlie Kaufman’s New Movie Will Go Directly to KanopyWB Sets Wiig/Hill Comedy CUT OFF to Debut Against Nolan’s THE ODYSSEYHamilton Will Screen in Cinemas Next MonthStaff Picks Alonso - The High Note Drea - Sketch Mary Lynn - All of Us Strangers Kevin - Weapons Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

THE FLOP HOUSE's Dan McCoy joins us to consider the power of taking stupidity very seriously. Then, a dishy movie quiz about on-set meetings that led to off-set romances. What’s Good Alonso- Mark Rappaport, Book of Dreams Drea - Midwest trip, “Schumers,” and great chip flavors Dan - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Collected Screenplays 1 Kevin - Trip to Lake Arrowhead ITIDIC MARRIAGE STORY Fight Scene Being Used to Scare Off WolvesLas Vegas Sphere’s Manipulation of The Wizard of Oz Raises QuestionsOriginal Star Wars Will Return to Cinemas for Its 50th Anniversary in 2027On-Screen/Off Screen Romances Letterboxd list Pamela Anderson in the Criterion Closet Staff Picks Alonso - Billy Joel: And So It Goes Drea - Sorry, Baby Dan - Together Kevin - The Incredible Mr Limpet Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Is the fourth time the charm when it comes to Fantastic Four movies? We’ve assembled our own fearsome foursome – including graphic novelist and comics writer/artist Sina Grace – to debate all the charms of the modem MCU’s First Steps into Earth 828. Then we’ll celebrate some of our favorite character actors and promote them to center stage What's Good Alonso - Voluspa candles (Drea references this SNL song) Drea - Mom’s “4” punchline Sina - Lady Gaga Kevin - Meeting Adam Stein (and seeing Ify!) at Comic-Con ITIDIC Coyote vs. Acme Gets a Theatrical Release DateAir Bud Returns in 2026Fortnite announces tie-in with upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson’s FilmStaff Picks Drea - Memoir of a Snail Alonso - Diciannove Sina - The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking Kevin - Avengers: Endgame Leave us a message at MaximumFun.org/hotline Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood For Love (which some are calling the fifth best movie ever made, or at least the fourth best this century?) was released 25 years ago, and anniversary screenings of a new 4k restoration have been happening all over. We've got critic John Powers (Fresh Air, Vogue), author of WKW: The Cinema of Wong Kar-Wai with us to help us take an inside look at a movie that continues to enchant and haunt audiences through the decades. What’s Good Alonso - Boorman and the Devil to premiere at Venice (and Selena Gomez Oreos) Drea - pomodoro method (for Spirit Awards spreadsheet mode) John - Chris Marker: Immemory Gutenberg Version Kevin - ComiCon 2025 ITIDIC Christopher Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ Sells Out in IMAX a Year Ahead of ReleaseNeon Promoting ‘Together’ With a “Free Vegas Wedding” ContestPee-Wee’s Red Bike Acquired by the AlamoStaff Picks Alonso - We All Loved Each Other So Much Drea - Familiar Touch John - Cloud Kevin - Dancer in the Dark Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Actor and comedian Michael Hartney -- a Superman guy to his core - joins us to discuss James Gunn's much-anticipated, highly-speculated upon take on the world's most famous superhero. Then, in honor of Krypto (the Superdog, of course) we nominated best (goodest?) movie dogs to the Hall of Excellence. What’s Good Alonso - Dark Chocolate Oreos Drea - gift article links on Bluesky Michael - Superman discourse Kevin - finding his Tracy Bonham album (Sky Too Wide) ITIDIC Final Sundance in Park City Will Honor Its History in Utah and Founder Redford Alamo Founder Launches Private Movie Experience in New York City The Devil Wears Prada Sequel Set for Next Spring HoE Nominees Alonso - Asta (The Thin Man) Drea - Dug (Up) Michael - Old Yeller Kevin - E. Buzz (Poltergeist) Staff Picks Drea - Life After Alonso - The Damned (2024) Michael - Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Kevin - Hero at Large Michael's Characters Welcome Patreon Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

It’s week two of our inadvertent two-week celebration of the post-apocalypse on film. This time around, Danielle Deadwyler and Michael Greyeyes head up a family fighting to protect their land and their lives from murderously hungry intruders in 40 ACRES. NPR Pop-Culture Happy Hour’s co-host Aisha Harris joins us to discuss this feature debut from RT Thorne. What’s Good? Alonso - Making pignoli cookies Drea - Wedge Live Cat Tour Aisha - Finally falling for Love Island USA Kevin - Tinder Box by James Andrew Miller ITIDIC John M. Chu to direct Mattel’s Hot Wheels movieBehind-the-scenes creative meddling on Pixar’s ElioList of “Down on the Farm” Movie Quiz Movies Staff Picks Drea - Sovereign Alonso - Before We Forget Aisha - The Annihilation of Fish Kevin - The Girl with All the Gifts All of Aisha’s links can be found at AishaHarris.com Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

23 years later, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland bring the rage virus back to life with their sequel to 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later. Actor and director Graham Skipper guests this week to talk about the trilogy, Alpha prosthetics, and coming of age in a zombie UK. Then, we discuss the dream 23-years-later sequels we want to see. What’s Good Alonso - Chef Alison Roman Drea -"Hi Andrea!" and Drea's Close Personal Friend Lucy Liu Kevin - Trader Joe's Brazil Nut Body Scrub ITIDIC Denis Villeneuve to Direct Next BondNew York Times Names ‘Parasite’ the Best Film of 21 Century (So Far)Staff Picks Alonso - M3GAN 2.0 Drea- Ponyboi Kevin - Rammbock: Berlin Undead Follow Graham Skipper on Instagram @skipstagraham Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Film critic Katie Walsh joins us to take a close look at the various desirable qualities of MATERIALISTS, the sophomore feature from director Celine Song. Then, we talk about movies that didn’t quite match what their trailers were selling. What’s Good Alonso - Sick and Dirty by Michael Koresky Katie - Love Island “I’m a mommy” meme Kevin - full-on astrology chart ITIDIC 48 Films Awarded Tax Credits To Shoot in CaliforniaMegalopolis is Going on a RoadshowRobert Eggers Developing ‘A Christmas Carol’ Adaptation at WBStaff Picks Alonso - Sorry, Baby Katie - Christiane F Kevin - The Hunt for Red October Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

In honor of Pride Month, we’re taking a look back at an important title from queer cinema history. Our guest, Caden Mark Gardner, is the co-author (with Willow Maclay) of Corpses, Fools and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema – he picked this Vincente Minnelli classic for us to watch! Then, we choose which flawed movies we’d edit (and how we’d amend them) to make them work for us. You can stream Tea and Sympathy across lots of platforms, or check your local library. What’s Good Alonso - Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2 (sort of) Drea - Katya in the Criterion Closet Caden - dog ownership (and traveling to LA for event) Kevin - first hot dog in a while, best ever ITIDIC Summer of 1956 will be a big movie season“Robert Rich” (secret alias of a blacklisted Dalton Trumbo) is Nominated for Best Screenwriter for The Brave OneStaff Picks Alonso - The Cobweb Drea - The Power of the Dog Caden - Vulcanizador Kevin - Blazing Saddles LA Folks, Check out Alonso and Caden’s series “Taking Pride” with American Cinematheque! See and learn about some great films, and get your books signed. Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, or Instagram With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Film critic and podcast bon vivant (and Steven King movie buff) William Bibbiani (Critically Acclaimed Network) joins us to take a look at the latest King adaptation, a movie told in three parts, backwards (and in heels). Then we get Hall of Excellence results and draw inspiration from a listener’s unexpected movie tattoo. What’s Good Alonso - anti-ICE protests in “Red” states Drea - Bentonville Film Festival (screening Heightened Scrutiny) Bibbs - Maximum Film! hosts Kevin - Cinespia season ITIDIC Pedro Almodovar’s Next Film will be a Christmas MovieWarner Bros. Discovery to Split into Two CompaniesVariety Editorial: No One in the Movies Stays Dead AnymoreStaff Picks Alonso - Cobra Woman (see him screen it in person on June 14, 2025!) Drea - Drop Bibbs - River (don’t watch it on Amazon, the subtitles get out of sync) Kevin - Silver Streak Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, or Instagram With Kevin Avery Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher