Molly Movie Club

Today’s movie is Eraserhead by David Lynch. We were not ready for Eraserhead. This film feels like a surreal nightmare plucked straight out of David Lynch’s mind. Deeply disturbing and completely original, Eraserhead is an unforgettable experience (in a sort of traumatizing way). Thanks for joining us for another episode of Molly Movie Club! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is John Wick directed by Chad Stahelski. We both enjoyed John Wick well enough, although it’s not really our type of movie. It’s a well made film that has a distinct style and strong action directing, but at the end of the day we just get pretty bored of it all after the first hour or so. We’ll probably end up checking out the sequels at some point, though - we hear people like them even more than the first film. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Molly Movie Club! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is The Thing directed by John Carpenter. Once again, John Carpenter proves himself to be a skilled and versatile director, cursed with being too far ahead of his time. The Thing, like Halloween, feels genre-defining. As with Carpenter’s other films, The Thing isn’t perfect - like we’ve mentioned in previous podcasts, we feel like his films lack an emotional connection to the characters. But overall, The Thing is an immersive, creative film that is a whole lot of fun to watch. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Molly Movie Club! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Big Trouble in Little China directed by John Carpenter. This movie is so delightful. Carpenter’s creativity is on full display. Kurt Russell is also fantastic, and he pulls off his character’s ineptitude so well. Carpenter takes a character who is really just the sidekick, but treats him as if he is the main character. The result is a movie that is extremely funny, and constantly surprising and imaginative. It’s not a perfect movie, but it is so fun to watch that its problems just don’t feel like a very big deal. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Molly Movie Club! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Hello everyone! We have an update to share about Molly Movie Club, and how it will change going forward. We’re heading into a really busy time here at Molly Rocket. It has gotten harder for us to make time to record and edit a new episode of the Movie Club every week. We’ve decided that we’re no longer going to post weekly podcasts. We will still post episodes, but they’ll be on a more random and inconsistent schedule. Because of this, we will be turning off paid subscriptions. Those with monthly subscriptions will no longer be charged, and those who paid for a yearly subscription will receive a refund from Substack. To those who have been members of Molly Movie Club, we really appreciate your support! We will open up comments to everyone, so continue posting your thoughts on the movies we watch in the future! And also feel free to keep suggesting movies! We won’t be doing themed months anymore, but we still want to hear your movie recommendations. Thanks for listening to Molly Movie Club! -Casey & Anna This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Shaun of the Dead directed by Edgar Wright. While this movie has a few memorable moments, it just isn’t that fun to watch. Edgar Wright’s signature directorial style is very distinctive and there are a few really well shot scenes, but for the most part his flashy style doesn’t really serve any purpose. The story feels aimless and frankly, it’s boring. For us, Shaun of the Dead ends up feeling pretty dull. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Molly Movie Club! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is What We Do in the Shadows directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. What We Do in the Shadows is really funny, and the premise is pretty brilliant. We have a few minor quibbles, but the movie is excellent and well worth a watch - especially if you’re a fan of Flight of the Conchords style humor and mockumentaries. Thanks for joining us for another episode! We’ll be back next week with Shaun of the Dead. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is The Cabin in the Woods directed by Drew Goddard. There’s a lot to like about The Cabin in the Woods. The Whedon style of writing usually works really well for individual scenes, and the conversations between characters are enjoyable to listen to. But as Casey says in the podcast, this movie has good tactical writing, but bad strategic writing. It feels as though this movie is pulling in two different directions, and it can never manage to pull together into a plot that works. As a result, the ending feels as thought it doesn’t quite work (even though parts of it are really fun to watch). Thanks for joining us for another episode! We’ll be back next week with What We Do in the Shadows. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Gremlins directed by Joe Dante. Gremlins is a mess. Nothing that gets introduced in the early part of the movie ever amounts to anything, and many plot elements and characters get completely dropped as though scenes were cut (maybe they were?). The only reason anyone remembers this movie at all is because of the gremlins themselves; the puppets and animatronics are incredibly well done. Thanks for listening to this free episode of Molly Movie Club! Our schedule for the rest of October is: October 13th - Cabin in the Woods October 20th - What We Do in the Shadows October 27th - Shaun of the Dead This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is John Carpenter’s Escape from New York. The set up for Escape from New York is fantastic. The premise is over the top and exciting, and the character of Snake is so great that he was copied for the Metal Gear Solid games. The problem with this movie is that the premise is all it has. Once we drop into New York, things get boring. John Carpenter shows us that he is great at creating a believable-feeling world with a small budget, but when it comes to telling an interesting story in that world, Escape from New York falls short. Thanks for joining us for Bleak Future month! Next month we switch gears to Horror Comedies! Our schedule is: October 6th (free episode) - Gremlins October 13th - Cabin in the Woods October 20th - What We Do in the Shadows October 27th - Shaun of the Dead This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Children of Men directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Children of Men is probably the most chilling of all the Bleak Future movies this month because it feels the closest to our reality. Incredible production design and an immersive filmmaking style make this world feel frighteningly believable. Cuarón uses long oners and a hand-held camera to make the viewer feel as though they are physically in the world of the film. (Casey recommends not watching Children of Men on a big screen if you get motion sickness…) We’ll be back next week for the final movie in Bleak Future month, and it is a Casey and Anna pick! We’ve chosen Escape from New York directed by John Carpenter. We hope to see you then! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s episode is Metropolis directed by Fritz Lang. Neither of us had ever seen this film before, and we went in a little bit nervous. A two and a half hour silent film from 1927? We assumed it would be significant in the context of its time, but pretty unwatchable by today’s standards. Oh boy, were we wrong. Metropolis is a work of genius that was far ahead of its time. The film doesn’t just hold up - it stands out as one of the most visually imaginative movies ever made. Next week we watch Children of Men. We hope to see you there! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Akira directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Akira is one of the most visually impressive films ever made. The sheer effort required to complete this movie is hard to overstate. Every scene contains so much detail, and the shot framing and cinematography are also consistently excellent. Even though Akira features an interesting story that unfortunately falls short towards the end, the film is absolutely a masterpiece. Thanks for listening! We’ll see you back here next week for Metropolis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s episode is Mad Max: Fury Road directed by George Miller. When this movie came out nearly ten years ago it was a creative breath of fresh air in a world saturated with derivative Marvel movies. Miller created a lush, strange world that feels truly original. On top of that, Fury Road features some of the best action filmmaking in recent years. Thanks for listening to this free episode of Molly Movie Club! If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider subscribing for access to all of our episodes. Our schedule for the rest of September is: September 8th - Akira September 15th - Metropolis September 22nd - Children of Men September 29th - Casey & Anna pick, TBD This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s episode is Spotlight directed by Tom McCarthy. Spotlight is one of those rare films where everything comes together so flawlessly that there’s basically nothing that could have been done better. This is the fourth time we’ve seen Spotlight, and it’s just as riveting as it was on the first viewing. It’s the perfect movie to close out our month of ensemble casts. We’ll be back next month with… TBD! The poll is closing soon and our schedule will be posted Monday. If you haven’t voted yet, you still have a few more days to pick next month’s movie theme! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Magnolia directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Magnolia has a tendency to wander into the kind of melodrama that can feel like it’s trying a bit too hard. Compared to PTA’s later work, the movie feels messy and unfocused, and there’s a confidence that he finds in his later films that feels like it’s missing from Magnolia. The other big problem with this film is that many of the scenes are just not interesting, which is especially noticeable after watching Pulp Fiction. Thanks for joining us for another episode! Next week is the final week in our Ensemble Cast movie month, and we’ll be watching Spotlight. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s episode is 12 Angry Men directed by Sidney Lumet. 12 Angry Men is the antithesis of so many modern films - there is no spectacle, but none of that matters due to its rich and engrossing script. That’s not to say the filmmaking is bland or uninteresting; in fact, all of the detail and movement in the scenes is part of what makes this movie so watchable. That’s why 12 Angry Men is one of our favorites, and a movie that we come back to again and again. Thanks for joining us for another episode! Our next movie is Magnolia. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Pulp Fiction directed by Quentin Tarantino. Pulp Fiction is such a bold, creative film. We both think it is a standout in Quentin Tarantino’s filmography. The tone is so unique and has been imitated so many times since that it’s easy to forget just how original Pulp Fiction is. Thanks for listening to this month’s free episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing for access to all of our episodes. Our schedule for the rest of August is: August 11th - 12 Angry Men August 18th - Magnolia August 25th - Spotlight This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is Oppenheimer directed by Christopher Nolan. We’ve talked about Christopher Nolan quite a few times now in the Movie Club. One of the things we often say is that we think that Nolan is capable of making a truly great film, but there are a few things holding him back - most notably, his scripts and his action editing. So when we saw the trailer for Oppenheimer, we wondered if this might finally be Christopher Nolan’s Great Film. And the answer… is no. We’ll be back next week for the start of a new month: Movies with an Ensemble Cast. Our schedule is: August 4th (free episode) - Pulp Fiction August 11th - 12 Angry Men August 18th - Magnolia August 25th - Spotlight As always, thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com

Today’s movie is The Fabelmans directed by Steven Spielberg. There’s a lot to like about The Fabelmans, even though it feels like the screenplay is trying to bring the movie down. Spielberg’s reflections on his life as a filmmaker and artist are filled with remarkable self-awareness and a lot of wisdom, and if you can manage to ignore about half of the dialogue this is a pretty great movie. We’ll be back next week for the final movie of the month, Oppenheimer! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mollymovieclub.com