Movie Go Round

New to Two, and possibly all of our listeners, was 2019's Captive State. A mid-budget sci-fi movie set ten years after a successful alien invasion, this story of resistance that includes two Black brothers trying to free the city of Chicago from an oppressive rule was one that may have deserved a wider audience. It's pretty messy in the edit, with some underdeveloped characters and not enough budget for its ambition, but Nicole thought it had saving graces. How did co-hosts David and Brett feel about it? How will you? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a Netflix Roulette pick, Equilibrium.

You did this to us... again. We had to watch a film that nearly topples over from the weight of its own bad science, The Happening! Listen as Brett, David, and Nicole tear their hair out over the impossible-to-swallow premise, illogical behavior of the characters, horrible dialogue, and waste of an "R" rating. Join us for one of our most spirited episodes! (It's better than watching The Happening...) Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a New to Two pick from Nicole, Captive State.

For this Around the World, it was an occasion to highlight a nominee for Best Animated Feature at this past year's Academy Awards: I Lost My Body. A severed hand escapes a lab in Paris. As it makes its way across the city, we see memories of its former life, and a young man trying to cope with old losses and find new dreams. Nicole, Brett, and David really dug in to the story, the animation style, and what this film is trying to say. Come join us! Also, here is the I Lost My Body interview Computer Graphics World ran in December that Brett referenced.  Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a You Did This to Us pick, The Happening.

In this Future Classics, David put forward Alex Garland's Ex Machina. This 2014 exploration of the ethics of creating an AI that can pass for human features three stellar lead performances and one great supporting turn. David, Brett, and Nicole discussed what happens when an arrogant "bro" designs his dream robot, what the implications are of gathering its behavioral data from stolen search engine patterns, and if it's fair to bias your Turing tester. Tune in to check out these points, plus find out how to entertain yourself in a Norwegian lab in a way that isn't a waste of time. Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media!

In this Netflix Roulette, we drew a milestone work of the 90s, Chasing Amy. We dove deep into LGBTQIA* themes as we talked about how ignorance could flourish before fast internet, how open and direct communication is vital in relationships, and how even the gay community had a habit of pigeonholing people into categories. Join us as Nicole, David, and Brett compare sexual injury stories here on Movie-Go-Round! (Okay, not really that last thing. Sorry.) Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, David's pick for Future Classics, Ex Machina.

In this New to Two, Brett  brought us Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas. This slow-paced showcase for Harry Dean Stanton is about a man named Travis, and his journey to reconnect with his son, with himself, and with his estranged wife. Music by Ry Cooder adds that “lonesome West” vibe. We pondered questions like: Why does his brother leave him alone? Who spoiled this kid so much he doesn’t want to use his own feet? Does Travis ever find redemption? And what did David and Nicole think of it all? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a Netflix Roulette spin, Chasing Amy. The new theme we experimented with for the closing of the show is Living Voyage by Kevin MacLeod, Creative Commons License 4.0.

In this You Did This to Us, our 100th episode, the audience made us watch Twilight. This 2008 mega-sensation took our youth by storm when it brought Stephanie Meyer's books to the silver screen. 12 years later, how does this film stand the test of time? Does Meyer understand how baseball is played? What's the point of endlessly going to high school every four years and what about this toxic relationship speaks to fans? Also, did we break David? Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a New to Two pick from Brett, Paris, Texas. Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! The new theme we experimented with for the closing of the show is Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod, Creative Commons License 4.0.

In this Around the World, Brett brought the panel's first Akira Kurosawa film to the table, 1957's Throne of Blood. This iconic chapter in the long history of Shakespeare adaptations in film brought the story of Macbeth to feudal Japan. How well do the themes translate, and is there anything lost or gained by not using Shakespeare's original dialogue? Why is this film so widely regarded as one of Kurosawa's crowning achievements? David, Nicole, and Brett discuss all of this, all while marveling at the enduring creepiness of Isuzu Yamada as Lady Macbeth. Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a You Did This to Us pick, Twilight. It's time to get sparkly for episode 100!

In this Future Classics, Nicole nominated 2012's The Master. Joaquin Phoenix plays a broken man (he must enjoy that sort of thing) who falls in with a self-improvement movement (cult) that is totally not Scientology; Phillip Seymour Hoffman plays the charismatic leader who is totally not based on L. Ron Hubbard. Brett, David, and Nicole discuss the performances, the score, the strengths and weaknesses of the writing, and that infamous scene at the sink. Come join us -- don't you want to reach your full potential? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, an Around the World pick from Brett, 1957's Throne of Blood.

This Netflix Roulette comes with a bonus discussion of the 1975 film, Dolemite! This Netflix movie is a biopic of Rudy Ray Moore and the making of Dolemite. Moore, played with flair by Eddie Murphy, was a singer/record store clerk/comedian who was tired of hustling for the the career he was confident he could carry off. Inspired by the poetic riffing of the local homeless population, Moore came up with a hook and a look that finally brought him fame. How well was his story told? And what did we think of the most (in)famous product of his hard work? Tune in to hear our discussion of Dolemite Is My Name! Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a Future Classics pick from Nicole, 2012's The Master.

On this New to Two, David introduced Brett and Nicole to a Christmas-themed anime film from 2003, Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers. The emotional journey of three homeless people on Christmas in pursuit of an abandoned baby's family spurred discussion of the genre of anime, context that gets lost in translation when films are subtitled, a bizarre subplot with the Yakuza, and so much more. How did Brett and Nicole enjoy this nontraditional Christmastime tale? Tune in now and find out! Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a Netflix Roulette pick, Dolemite Is My Name. There's more! We'll also be watching the original film that inspired it, Dolemite.

On this You Did This to Us, we were stuck watching Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man rave about uncooperative suspects, burned dolls, paganism, and bees (NOT THE BEES). You guys know there's much, much, much better 1973 version, right? Go check that out, watch the last 25 minutes of this movie on YouTube, and come back to check out Brett, David, and Nicole discussing this hopeless honeyed mess. Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, an Around the World pick from David, Tokyo Godfathers.

On this Around the World, we watched one of our most colorful films to date; David brought us Zhang Yimou's Hero. Jet Li and Donnie Yen battle epically, Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung love tumultuously. Is this movie more poetry than plot? Is it a stealth argument for Chinese imperialism? How did the crew feel about the wuxia style? Join us in our flowing, single-color robes as we discuss this Chinese classic. Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching our next film, a You Did This to Us pick, The Wicker Man. (The Nic Cage version.)

Brett's latest nominee for the Future Classics category is also the latest in the epic Star Wars franchise... for a few more weeks, anyway. Audiences in 2017 were deeply divided about Rian Johnson's story, the new characters he introduced, and his treatment of the beloved icons from the original trilogy. Is this the most cynical entry of the series? How good of a job are the actors doing? Is the casino sequence really that bad? Is it possible to have a civil debate about this film on its own merits? And what did David and Nicole think of The Last Jedi? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching next week's film, an Around the World pick from David: 2002's Hero.

On this episode, we got the mixed bag that David, Brett, and Nicole have come to expect from the whims of Netflix Roulette. Moonwalkers plays with the idea: What if the U.S. hired Kubrick to fake the moon landing, but accidentally hired the wrong guy? A promising idea gets torpedoed by the addition of PTSD and over-the-top violence for laughs.  Can the teaming of Ron Weasley and Hellboy save this movie? Can we put up with the lead singer character? And can any of us stand to hear White Rabbit even ONE more time? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching next week's film, a Future Classics pick from Brett, 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Nicole decided to give this round's New to Two as a gift to musician and producer Brett, and a stress-free watch for David. The Commitments, based on a novella by Roddy Doyle, is the story of the beginnings of an Irish soul band, whose members learn how to expect more and pursue more in life. Is it at all realistic in how bands are formed? Does it have anything of substance to say when there isn't music playing? Is it normal for a director to make this many references to his own movies? And did David and Brett enjoy it? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching next week's film, a Netflix Roulette pick, 2015's Moonwalkers.

On this You Did This to Us, the gang had the 2009 Megan Fox horror vehicle Jennifer's Body thrust upon them. Has this film aged gracefully, propelling into new relevance as a cult classic? Or does it remain as shallow as its lead character? Did Brett watch this film way too many times in his youth? (Yes.) Brett, Nicole, and David explore all of that and so much more in an episode that begs yet another question: Who on earth put this on You Did This to Us and why? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Follow along with the show by watching next week's film, a New to Two pick from Nicole: 1991's The Commitments.

On this Around the World, Movie-GHOUL-Round continues! Nicole dug into the black-and-white archives to reveal Les Yeux Sans Visage - Eyes Without a Face. Shockingly gory for its time, the blood is tame by today's standards. The unsettling imagery and atmosphere, however, are another story. What did David and Brett think? How is the "mad scientist" different here? Why are the police so oblivious? And what will it take to get those dogs to shut up? Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Did you enjoy Movie-GHOUL-Round this year? Let us know! We welcome any feedback and ideas for 2020. Follow along with the show by watching next week's You Did This to Us pick. The audience voted for Jennifer's Body.

On this Future Classics, David brought The Invitation to the table during Movie-GHOUL-Round. This thriller about the most tense dinner party of all time has been elevated to a particularly high status in the horror community in 4 years since its release. Is Logan Marshall-Green finally ready to step out from the Tom Hardy-sized shadow he's surely lived under his entire adult life? Is the bombshell ending of this film satisfying? The panel explores all of this and more on the fourth Movie-GHOUL-Round entry of 2019! Join us later this evening for our finale, Eyes Without a Face. Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Tonight is the fifth and final entry in the Movie-Ghoul-Round marathon, and again, it's an Around the World pick from Nicole: Eyes Without a Face.

On this Netflix Roulette, the trio continue the 2019 Movie-GHOUL-Round marathon with Errementari, a Netflix film based on Basque folklore in Spain. A reclusive blacksmith makes a pact with a demon from hell before caging him to avoid holding up his end of the bargain. Is this a spooky tale worthy of your Halloween viewing slate, or does it fall short of being memorable? Also, what on earth does "get into the pumpkin and out of the square" mean? David, Nicole, and Brett dive into this bizarre film to try to find out. Remember: Movie-GHOUL-Round concludes with two episodes on Halloween! Email the show at hi@mgrpodcast.com. Find us online by heading over to social.mgrpodcast.com. Remember, you can vote on You Did This to Us every 5 weeks if you're following us on social media! Tomorrow morning is the fourth entry in the Movie-Ghoul-Round marathon, and it's a Future Classics pick from David: The Invitation.