Sitting Around Talking Movies

You know those mixed nuts people serve at parties? There are several varieties in there and although you may think the hosts aren't being very original you appreciate that there's something else to eat other than devilled eggs. And the nuts go very well with whatever you're drinking. Well this week's movies and shows are also a very wide variety and there's something for everyone. And much like the nuts, we can be very salty at times. First we've got "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant" It stars Jake Gyllenhaal and takes place during the war in Afghanistan, when a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of grueling terrain.Then we have the horror/comedy "Renfield." It stars Nicholas Hoult as Dracula's henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum for decades who longs for a life away from the Count, his various demands, and all of the bloodshed that comes with them.And Nicolas Cage plays Dracula - c'mon! There's also the historical drama "Chevalier" which is based on the true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, who rises to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair. For you streaming show fans we look at the second seasons of "Barry," "Single Drunk Female" as well as "Obsession." And for history buffs we've got "War Sailor." There's a lot to feast on, so listen in!

Documentary fans will have plenty to shout about with this wee's episode. We start with "Little Richard: I Am Everything" which is a revealing look at a kind rock 'n' roll icon who shaped the world of music.Then We've got "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields" which follows actor, model, and icon Brooke Shields as she becomes a woman who discovers her power after being a sexualized young girl. And there's there's "Imagaining the Indian" which explores the exploitation of Native American culture in sports. And for you "based on a true story but with actors" fans we've got "Air" which stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and follows the history of shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan. And we've also got "Tetris" which is the story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe. Plus we look at "Paint" which stars Owen Wilson as Carl Nargle, Vermont's #1 public television painter, who is convinced he has it all: a signature perm, custom van, and fans hanging on his every stroke - until a younger, better artist steals everything (and everyone) Carl loves. And of course, Neil Rosen has an exclusive look at the final season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." So turn your earphones up to 11 and listen in!

Spring is upon us. The flowers are blooming, the lawn needs cutting and your allergies are depriving you of oxygen. That's why we took a look at the season's entertainment options so you'll have something to watch while you stay indoors away from the pollen. First we've got the fantasy adventure "Dungeons and Dragon: Honor Among Thieves" which stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant. It's based on the role-playing game, but is it fun? We'll let you know. Then there's "Moving On" starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as two old friends who reconnect at a funeral and decide to get revenge on the widower who messed with them decades before. And for real film buffs there's the documentary "Kubrick by Kubrick" which features a treasure trove of unearthed interview recordings from the master himself. Plus there's "Spinning Gold" which is a musical journey of Neil Bogart and how his Casablanca Records created the greatest soundtrack of our lives. For Streaming buffs we have "The Night Agent" which is a new Netflix series about low-level FBI agent, Peter Sutherland, who works in the basement of the White House manning a phone that never rings--until the night it does--propelling him into a conspiracy that leads all the way to the Oval Office. And we've got "The Lost King" which is based on the true story about an amateur historian who defied the stodgy academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III's remains, which were lost for over 500 years. And there's even more, so take another dose of Benadryl and listen in!

That big awards show that cast a long shadow over the whole movie business has come and finally gone. And yes, we'll talk about the Oscar telecast. We watched it. You might not have. Maybe you did. But now there are finally some new movies to talk about. Neil Rosen starts us off with "Wildflower." It's a coming-of-age film that follows Bea Johnson from birth to graduation as she navigates life with an intellectually disabled parent and an extended family who can't quite agree on the best way to help. That segues nicely into "Campions" in which a former minor-league basketball coach (Woody Harrelson) is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities.Bill Bregoli has something completely different - "65"which stars Adam Driver as an astronaut who crash lands on a mysterious planet only to discover he's not alone. And Bill McCuddy fills us in on "The Ritual Killer" which stars Morgan Freeman and its about a detective on the verge of retirement who teams with a professor of African Studies to track down a serial killer who is performing the ancient black magic practice of Muti. We've also got "The Quiet Girl." It's an Irish film about a quiet,neglected girl who is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. And we also look at Th New York Times Presents: Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano." It's a two-part series on Hollywood's dirtiest P.I. Anthony Pellicano who is out of prison--and he's talking. Previously unseen evidence raises questions about why so few Hollywood stars faced consequences when Pellicano was exposed. It's time to forget about all those movies and shows you've been hearing about for the past 6 months and find something new. So listen in.

The past year's movies have all built up to this - the 95th Annual Academy Awards. And believe it or not there's a lot riding on this glitzy and overlong ceremony. Hundreds of actors, publicists, filmmakers and moguls are hoping their efforts will be recognized this year. Of course, we have our opinions of which nominees will win and which should win. Neil Rosen tells you who the nominees are and then he and Bill McCuddy parse the chances of everyone involved. And when Bill Bregoli is allowed to speak he manages to make some interesting points. It's all in good fun. We also discuss Chris Rock's recent Netflix special which, if you got through it all, also mentioned what happened at last year's Oscars. Uh, yeah; Well, anyway, this year is bound to be different. So listen in!

The weather's been weird and the new has been even weirder. We're all a little crazy so it's time to settle down to a movie or show. Luckily, we've been able to check out which ones you should spend your time on. We start with "Creed III." It's the latest in the "Rock / Creed" franchise and it's the directorial debut of star Michael B Jordan. Then we'll tell you about a movie you no doubt have heard of - "Cocaine Bear." With a title like that how can you not be curious. Plus we've got the faith-based movie "Jesus revolution" which stars Kelsey Grammer. And for you streaming fans there's "Dom" which follows Victor, a police officer who dedicated his life to fight the narcotraffic war and to help his son Pedro, a drug addict who became one of the most wanted criminals in Brazil. And there's the new season of "Picard" plus the ripped from the heads documentary "The Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal." It's enough to take your mind off of things, so listen in!

Hollywood would have you believe everyone in the world was 18 to 35 years old. You know that's not true and we've got some rare movies that prove it. There's "Your Place or Mine" which stars the no longer all that young Reese Withserspoon and Ashton Kutcher as a pair of 40-soemthings who change each other's lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son. Then there's "80 for Brady" which stars Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno and Lily Tomlin as a group of friends made it their life-long mission to go to the Super Bowl and meet NFL superstar Tom Brady. Then we've got "Alice, Darling which stars Anna Kendrick as a woman trapped in an abusive relationship who becomes the unwitting participant in an intervention staged by her two closest friends. Grown up stuff. For true crime fans we've got the documentary series "Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence" which tells how a group of Sarah Lawrence College students fell under the influence of a friend's father, Larry Ray.And yes, we tell which of all those Super Bowl commericals we liked. There's lots more so before you get any older - listen in!

We're in the middle of winter and it seems like a good time to snuggle up with a movie. We've sampled some of the season's offerings and we start with "Knock at the Cabin" starrring Dave Bautista. It's about a girl and her parents who are taken hostage by armed strangers who demand that the family make a choice to avert the apocalypse. And it's directed by M Night Shyamalan who has a fondness for twists in his movies. Bill Bregoli saw it and he'll tell you what he can without spoling anything. Neil Rosen tells us about "You People" starring Jonah Hill and Lauren London as an interracial couple whose parents just can't get along. And Bill McCuddy fills us in on "The Snow Girl" which is a Netflix series about, you guessed it, a missing girl. We also discuss "to Leslie" which is about aWest Texas single mother who wins the lottery and squanders it just as fast, leaving behind a world of heartbreak. It's star, Andrea Riseborough got herself a controversial Oscar nomination for her work in it. There's more, so grab a hot toddy and listen in!

First it was Peak Flu Season and now it's Peak Awards Season. And there's no shot you can take to make you immune from all the hype. The Academy Award nominations came out and you're going to keep hearing about the nominated films and people from now until late March so you may as well hear about it now from us and block out everyone else. Neil Rosen and Bill McCuddy discuss the snubs and surprises and things get a little heated. Bill Bregoli gets a word or two in edgewise but he went out and saw a new movie - "Infinity Pool" which is a horror movie directed by Brandon Cronenberg staring Alexander Skarsgard and Mia Goth and oh boy is it weird. Just hide the little ones when Bill describes the plot. We also talk about the new post apocalyptic series "The Last of Us" which is already a big hit for HBO. And Neil tells us about what's going on over at "The Daily Show" as it seraches for a new host. It's a dose of fun, so listen in!

If you were channel surfing last Sunday night instead of watching foootball, you may have come across the Critic's Choice Awards on the CW. You know, the network that got sold and canceled all its good shows. All three of us are voting members of the Critic's Choice Association which puts on the shindig every year. We even pay dues. So we talk about how this year it actually had a pretty good host as well as who won what. Then we talk about some new movies. Bill Bregoli saw "M3gan" (just say "Megan"). It stars nepobaby Allison Williams as a robotics engineer at a toy company who builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own.Bill McCuddy tells us about "The Pale Blue Eye. It stars Christian Bale as a world-weary detective who is hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet.Oh, and then Edgar Allen Poe shows up. Really! And Neil Rosen has "A Man Called Otto" which stars Tom Hanks as a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all.But it's Tom Hanks for crying out loud so you know it's going end nicely. So if you want to hear about which old movies are winning awards or which new movies you should actually go see, listen in!

There have been worse years than 2022. Like, whenever the Black Plague happened. But it wasn't the year most of us had hoped for. That said, there were some pretty good movies and shows and we'll tell you you what our favorites were. But if you're wondering what's new out there we have that too. Bill Bregoli spent good money on "Avatar: The Way of Water" ($22.50 even with a senior discount) and he'll let you know what he thought of that. Neil Rosen didn't spend anythng to see "Armageddon Time" but he certainly has some thoughts on the film which stars Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong and Anthony Hopkins. And Bill McCuddy watched "The Nanny" which is about a woman caring for the child of an Upper East Side family. Could be scary. I mean, have you ever been to the Upper East Side? Plus we've got "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical" and the two Bills try to get Neil to watch "Slow Horses" There's lots of crazy stuff, so listen in!

Not only are the holidays here, so are the much talked about movies. And we've seen a lot of them. We start with "Babylon" which has some big stars and traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood. We definitely reacted to this one. Then we've got "Living" which stars Bill Nighy as a humorless civil servant in 1950s London who decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis. On the lighter side, we've got the animated "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish." There's also "White Noise" from filmmaker Noah Baumbach, based on a book by Don DeLillo. And for you costume epic fans there's "Corsage" which is a fictional account of one year in the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. And for you Broadway fans we have the new stage version of "Some Like It Hot." plus some other things as well. So listen in!

The very low box-office seems to indicate you're very busy shopping right now. But that doesn't mean there aren't movies and shows worth your attention. That's where we come in! We've been sampling the season's offerings to let you know what to make time for. We start with "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" which is the latest big screen version of Carlo Collidi's classic story about how a father's wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child. Bill Bregoli saw it and he'll let you know all about it. Neil Rosen, on the other had, went to a Broadway play called "Leopoldstadt" written by Tom Stoppard. Bill McCuddy let's us in on "RRR)\" which is a fictitious story about two legendary revolutionaries and their journey away from home before they started fighting for their country in the 1920s. If you fondly remember "A Christmas Story" you'll want to hear what we think of its sequel, "A Christmas Story Christmas." We also discuss Trevor Noah leaving "The Daily Show" as well as his new Netflix comedy special. And of course we weigh in on the second season finale of "The White Lotus." There are some spoiler alerts for that on, but listen in!

The buzz is starting. Can you feel it? It happens every Awards Season. And while not every "serious" film gets buzz, we've got a bunch you can watch right now! We start with "The Banshees of Inisherin." It stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson and it's about two lifelong friends who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them. It's definitely getting buzz and we'll tell you what we think of it. Then we've got "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" which mad a brief appearance in theaters but coming soon on Netflix. It's the much awaited sequel to "Knives Out" in which famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece for his latest case. Bill McCuddy tells us about "The Wonder" which stars buzz worthy actress Florence Pugh and he also has "The Swimmers" which is based on a true story. Neil Rosen fills us in on "Empire of Light" which is the latest from director Sam Mendes. And Bill Bregoli has the steamy Netflix adaptation of "Lady Chatterley's Lover." For you streaming fans we've got "Fleischman is in Trouble" which is a divorce dramedy staring Claire Danes and Jesse Eisenberg. And "Wednesday" which follows Wednesday Addams' years as a student, when she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents. So take a break from putting up the Christmas tree and give us a listen.

You've no doubt got plenty on your plate this Thanksgiving, and so do we. And our offerings don't have any calories. First we've got "Devotion." It's about a pair of U.S. Navy fighter pilots who risk their lives during the Korean War and become some of the Navy's most celebrated wingmen. It's based on a true story. We've also got several films which were nominated at the recent Critics Choice Documentary Awards - first there's "Goodnight Oppy" which follows Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rover affectionately dubbed Oppy by her creators and scientists at NASA. Then there's "The Automat" which centers on the vending machine popularized in the 20th century that offered fresh cooked meals in a commissary-style eatery. And finally, "Three Minutes: A Lengthening" in which snippet of 16mm film offers an emotionally charged, meditative glimpse into the lives of the unsuspecting Jewish citizens of a small Polish village at the precipice of World War II. For horror fans there's "Barbarian" which is about a woman staying at an Airbnb who discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems. If you're a drama fan there's "The Son" starring Hugh Jackman. And for you Disney musical sequel fans out there (you know who are are) we've got "Disenchanted" which stars Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. So put off that food coma and listen in!

Despite what the commercials on TV tell you, the holidays aren't quite here yet. Which means you have time to enjoy watching something without feeling guilty that you're not shopping or cooking. In fact you might even have time to learn something. Which is why we start with "The Fabelmans." It's Steven Spielberg's life story - sort of. It's got lots of buzz. We all saw it. And we'll let you know what we think of it. Then we've got "Till." It takes place in 1955, after Emmett Till is murdered in a brutal lynching. His mother vows to expose the racism behind the attack while working to have those involved brought to justice. It's got buzz too and Bill MCuddy will tell you all about it. Neil Rosen has the Ken Burns documentary "The U.s. and the Holocaust" which examines America's response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the twentieth century by delving deeply into the tragic human consequences of public indifference, bureaucratic red tape and restrictive quota laws. And to lighten things up Bill Bregoli has "Enola Holmes 2" which stars Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock's younger sister. It's based on some historical based events so there's something to learn there too. Oh, but that's not all. We've got wicked satires such as "The Menu" starring Anya Taylor-Joy and "Triangle of Sadness" and "Triangle of Sadness" in which a fashion model celebrity couple join an eventful cruise for the super-rich. Plus there's "She Said" which is based on the true and sad story of New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor who break one of the most important stories in a generation — a story that helped launch the #MeToo movement. And for streaming fans there's "Causeway" starring Jennifer Lawrence and "See How They Run" with Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan. There's all that and more. So listen in!

Daylight Savings Time is over and now you're trying to figure out what to do with what feels like a whole extra hour in your day. Luckily we've already figured out your entertainment options. Fist we've got "Tár," starring Cate Blanchett as one of the greatest living composer-conductors and first-ever female music director of a major German orchestra. But her life is not as melodious as it may seem. It's gotten Oscar buzz for Cate Blanchett but is it worth watching? Bill Bregoli saw it and he'll let you know. Then we've got "The Good Nurse" which stars Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain. It's based on the true story of an infamous caregiver who is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients. We've also got the newest version of the WWI epic "All Quiet on the Western Front." And for you fans of streaming series Neil Rosen will fill you in on the new season of "The White Lotus" and "The Handmaid's Tale." Plus Bill McCuddy caught up with "The Serpent Queen." Also there's the Stephen King story "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" and the drama "Raymond & Ray." And we've got "The Territory" and "Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities." We've got lots of ways to fill any free time you could possibly have - so listen in!

It suddenly became grownup season at your local theater. That's because, despite the usual horror and superhero movies there's actually a film for and about people who are older than teenagers. It's "Ticket to Paradise" which stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Two veteran actors who play divorced parents trying to stop their daughter's marriage. Then we've got the very grownup Netflix drama "Luckiest Girl Alive." It's stars Mila Kunis as a woman who seems to have things under control, but is faced with a trauma that makes her life unravel. Chills! And we've also got part two of our interviews conducted with filmmakers and stars at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Lots to ruminate on, so listen in!

This year's Hamptons International Film Festival was so chock-full of filmmakers and excitement that we've actually had to make our podcast about it into two episodes. ANd in this first one we've got interviews with people such as director Martin McDonagh, whose film "The Banshees of Inisherin" has earned some early Oscar buzz as well as acclaimed documentary director Rory Kennedy. Plus we talked to a director who made her film while in the nude. Oh, and we even got a brief word with Dick Cavett. And for those of you who want us to review a movie, we've got Lena Dunham's latest - "Catherine Called Birdy." We've squeezed a lot into this episode and there's even more next week. So start listening now!

The movie hype machine has shaken off the doldrums and is revving at full speed. The much hyped movies and shows are on their way and we've been checking them out for you. First we've got "Blonde." It's a fictionalized chronicle of the inner life of Marilyn Monroe starring Ana de Armas. It's on Netflix and you've probably heard about it. Well, all three of us have seen it and you should probably listen to what we think before you watch it. You'll thank us later. Then we've got "Don't Worry Darling" which also has gotten a ton of press. Bill Bregoli checked it out and he'll tell you all about it. Neil Rosen has "Titans: The Rise of Hollywood" which is available on a free streaming channel and Bill McCuddy has the documentary "McEnroe" in which John McEnroe as he finally tells his side of his storied career and performances on the court. But wait, there's more! We'll all tell you about the new comedy series "Reboot" which follows an early 2000s family sitcom that Hulu has rebooted and their dysfunctional cast. And there's the Netflix teen comedy "Do Revenge," the Netflix thriller "Lou" and a documentary on Joan Collins. It's all pretty cool, so listen in!