Posts in 2023
PODCAST: Episode 138 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 138th episode, two voyeuristic film critics, two myth-fearing dads, and two well-tested teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, both knocked out a long-held blindspot recently by giving an audience to Drew Goddard's 2011 breakout horror movie The Cabin in the Woods. Mostly remembered for early Chris Hemsworth flick, the guys talk about the big ideas of the movie that bit off more than they could chew.

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PODCAST: Episode 137 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 137th episode, two Smith-loving film critics, two calculated dads, and two methodical teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, have long circled the next David Fincher movie on the calendar, and it's finally here. The Killer starring Michael Fassbender is circulating on Netflix and making the rounds with awards season. We talk about the rock-solid film and the razor sharp people who made it.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Somewhere, originality died. Somewhere, someone in charge (disappointing if it’s James Wan with his perceived taste and clout) said “to hell with it” and “what do we have to lose.” By the time this movie ends with a global press conference of Jason Momoa aping Tony Stark with an “I am Aquaman” mic drop, the answer of what is lost is dignity. Go ahead and put a pile of “Road Closed” barricades all over the end of this road. 

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Vaping in Hollywood Movies: A Closer Look

The vaping trend has swept the world in recent years. In the context of this trend, it's only natural that Hollywood should decide to incorporate vaping into film. The silver screen has always been a mirror of contemporary society, and the addition of vaping to movies is by no means an exception. In this article, we further explore the depiction of vaping in Hollywood films and how it is relevant, along with Its effect on our perceptions.

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Navigating the Movie Maze: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Film for Tonight

Choosing a movie for a movie night can be a daunting task, given the vast array of options available across various streaming platforms. The seemingly endless choices can leave you scrolling endlessly, only to settle on something you've seen a dozen times before. To help you break free from the cycle of indecision, this article offers a guide on how to find the perfect movie for tonight.

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EDITORIAL: "The Audition" is Collaboration That You've Never Seen

Before Martin Scorsese joined creative forces with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in the stunning movie Killers of the Flower Moon, he decided to cast them in a completely different project. This project was called The Audition, and while it had a hefty budget of $70 million, it only took up 15 minutes of screen time. This short film was the perfect solution for those viewers who had little time or just wanted to enjoy a light and relaxed spectacle.

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Boys in the Boat

Nonetheless, that’s where The Boys in the Boat, the latest satiny period piece directed by George Clooney, hopes to rekindle old pride, honor, and excitement. Boosted by inspirational history and adapted from Daniel James Brown’s 2013 bestseller, Clooney’s film cannot push back the entire predominant stereotype described earlier, but it can offer a scrappy team of bourgeoisie to root for and showcase the dauntless fortitude to perform the marginalized sport itself.

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Iron Claw

Let’s just say it now upfront. Folks are going to walk up completely unprepared for The Iron Claw. They’re going to see the old school wrestling setting and the ripped bod of Zac Efron and swoon a little. They’re going to want, as one WWE superstar of this era so hilariously expressed once, “big meaty men slappin’ meat.” That’s cute, but The Iron Claw is not No Holds Barred or Nacho Libre. 

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MOVIE REVIEW: Poor Things

For better or worse, Poor Things is a movie of unsavory urges and scratched itches that pull the viewer down a pernicious drain of unconscionable behavior. There is a dark comedy buried in the muck of Poor Things that curdles to the surface in the final third as our strong female becomes the master of her own fate, body, heart, and business. Stone sells it at every turn. Still, at many points, one will wonder whether all of the absurdity will amount to something exotic or vapid.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Wonka

This lovely approachability in a fabulous package should come as no surprise for a film directed by Paul King of two cherished Paddington films and co-written by his series partner Simon Farnaby. With little motif tingles of the old signature “Pure Imagination” melody percolating in Talbot’s score before the Chalamet’s rendition of the full song closes the film, Wonka builds a respectful and winsome bridge from the future to the past.

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