The Suicide Squad

We’re back! After an unexpected hiatus, Greg and Susan return to talk about “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”   Greg, a massive Ghostbusters fan, had Susan watch the 2021 addition to the franchise.   The film follows a financially strapped family who inherits a run-down farm only to find that they are related to one of the original Ghostbusters.   Starring Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard and Paul Rudd. Ghostbusters: Afterlife also features a few recognizable faces from the original film.    Greg and Susan discuss the tonal differences between the franchise's first installment and this one, point out Easter eggs throughout, and share tidbits of trivia -- along with our basic standards of “I Have Questions,” box office and their top three moments of the movie.

Warning: we are spoiling the Hell out of this movie and also using "adult" language, so please don't listen with your kids. We're looking at this from an adult perspective.   You can't escape Encanto! It's all over social media. So Susan decided that we needed to lean in and watch it.   Susan and Greg explore Encanto, the latest feature from Disney Animation Studios. Encanto stars Stephanie Beatriz, Maria Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Wilmer Valderrama, and a host of others and features a soundtrack full of catchy little earworms by Lin-Manuel Miranda.    Susan discusses Encanto's themes of generational trauma and family dynamics, and both hosts discuss their takes on the film from the story, the design, the soundtrack, and more. They explore plot holes and posit theories in "I Have Questions" and share their top three moments of the movie.     Sources referenced in this episode: 'Encanto': Disney's portrayal of generational trauma and toxic families, 2022 https://culturacolectiva.com/movies/encanto-disney-generational-trauma-analysis   We Don't Talk About Bruno without Instrumental: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbC0m2Oz_F0   “How We Don’t Talk about Bruno Works & Why It’s Amazing” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O28uSZxyEw     "Encanto Theory: Why Abuela Didn't Respect Luisa" https://youtu.be/S5vNBB52zK0   "Disney's Encanto | We don't talk about Bruno Dance Reference"   https://youtu.be/ugVjZtS0M2w

Stick 'em up! Because this episode covers 1976's "Bonnie & Clyde." Susan has Greg watch director William Penn's take on the story of Bonnie and Clyde and the Barrow Gang. The film stars Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in the titular roles and features stellar performances from Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons, Michael J. Pollard, Denver Pyle, and Gene Wilder. Your hosts discuss why Bonnie and Clyde was such a groundbreaking and influential film, explore the differences between the story of Beatty and Dunaway's characters versus the real-life criminal couple (SPOILERS ABOUND) and talk about how this film almost didn't get made. Greg and Susan always talk about Bonnie & Clyde's reception, awards, box office, and more.

t's a very, very, very late Halloween entry (just in time for Thanksgiving. Scratch that. Christmas). Susan makes Greg watch 2000's "Ginger Snaps:" the story of two outcast sisters, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins), one who is becoming a werewolf and the other who is trying to save her.     The two discuss the film's themes of the horrors of adolescence and "becoming a woman." They also talk about the films that influenced "Ginger Snaps" and the films that Ginger Snaps influenced.    They explore the elements that broke the suspension of disbelief in "I Have Questions" and ranked their favorite parts of the movie.   Resources referenced in this episode:   https://morbidlybeautiful.com/ginger-snaps-feminist-horror/ https://medium.com/@wewillbethestars/together-forever-sisterhood-and-femininity-in-ginger-snaps-women-in-horror-series-64adcbfeda7dGinger Snaps

Greg and Susan discuss Greg's pick, 2009's "Let the Right One In."  This Swedish film explores the story of a bullied young boy who develops a friendship with a mysterious young girl who (spoilers) turns out be a vampire.The two hosts explore the film's themes of bullying, toxic and dependent love, disconnection, and isolation; discuss the different components of vampire lore portrayed in this film as they compare to others, and compare the book the film and compare the film to the U.S. version.  They also try to determine who are the real monsters in "Let the Right One In."

In this episode, Susan introduces Greg to 2014's Creep. The horror/suspense film stars its creators Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice, and is directed by Brice and produced by Jason Blum.    An interesting take on found footage films, Creep tells the story of Aaron(Brice), an unemployed man who answers an online ad to film a stranger at his remote cabin for a day. The man, Josef(Duplass), says he's dying from cancer and wants to make a movie for his unborn child, but his requests become more bizarre as the day goes along. When Aaron decides he needs to escape the arrangement, it only makes matters worse.    Greg and Susan discuss their impressions of this film, Duplass and Brice's creative choices, and how the film evolved from a relationship study to a much darker story. They also discuss the limitations of the found footage genre in horror and what works in Creep and what doesn't.   Susan also explains how Mark Duplass - who is often credited as one of the innovators of the "mumblecore" style - is an enormous supporter of independent filmmakers and strongly believes filmmakers should always create using what they have to share their vision with the world.   References cited:     SXSW Film Festival: Blum and Duplass on 'creep'. YouTube. (2014, March 9). Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://youtu.be/yl-tNLkZzoU.   Molloy, B. T. (2020, August 26). Mark Duplass says the cavalry isn't coming for indie film. what now? MovieMaker Magazine. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://www.moviemaker.com/the-cavalry-isnt-coming-for-indie-film-so-what-do-you-do/#:~:text=Indie%20film%20icon%20Mark%20Duplass,dollars%20to%20make%20your%20movie.   Creep (2014 film). (2014, March 8). Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://yamm.finance/wiki/Creep_(2014_film).html.

In this episode, Susan and Greg discuss Greg's pick, 2021's The Suicide Squad. This will be a spoiler-filled conversation in which we compare this version to 2016's Suicide Squad. The couple also discusses the best and worst of DC films and compares James Gunn's and David Ayer's directing.   Susan also busts out her poetry slam skills, which we'll share here:   Amanda Waller is at it again Sending women, creatures, and men Into dangerous situations Under the guise of protecting our nation.   Blood Sport, Harley, Rick and Gang Hit Corto Maltese to see if they could hang.   Some of them have less of a good time Infiltrating a fortress called Jötunheim. Things get dicey executing Waller's wish, Which is to destroy all traces of Project Starfish.   They have explosive chips in their necks, so they don't ask why. And spoiler alert, a lot of people die.   The Suicide Squad stars Margo Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Viola Davis,  Sylvester Stallone, Joel Kinnaman, David Dastmaichian and Daniela Melchior. The movie also features Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Michael Rooker, Alice Braga, Pete Davidson, Joaqin Cosio, Juan Diego Botto, Storm Reid, and Nathan Fillion.     Resources referenced in this episode:   Screen Crush, The SUICIDE SQUADs: The One Scene That Shows Why One Worked and the Other Didn't | SCENE FIGHTS!, Youtu.be. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 19 September 2021].   Filmento, Why The Suicide Squad Worked Whiled the Garbage Squad Failed, Youtube.com. 2021. [online] Available at:     ScreenRant. 2021. Dave Bautista Compares James Gunn and Zack Snyder’s Directing Style. [online] Available at: [Accessed 19 September 2021].   Variety.com. 2021. JameThe 

Hold on for this episode; it's going to be a real tit flapper!  Susan made Greg watch "Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar," and they're here to talk about it. This wacky comedy features Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo as the titular characters, Barb and Star. The film also stars Jamie Dornan and Damon Wayans, Jr and features Reyn Doi. Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar is about middle-aged friendship, taking chances, and is also oddly a spy satire.  Your host discusses everything from the ridiculously sublime to the ridiculously ridiculous about this movie.  What did they think?  Listen and find out

Greg and Susan watch and discuss what Roger Ebert calls  a "Buddy Movie, Fish Out of Water Movie, Road Movie, Mistaken Identity Movie and Corporate Espionage Movie": 1997s "Nothing to Lose." Starring Tim Robbins and Martin Lawerence, this comedy was one of the underrated comedies of the 90s. "Nothing to Lose" features the interesting pairing of Robins and Lawrence but also a cast that includes Kelly Preston, John C. McGinley, Giancarlo Esposito, and Michael McKean. Your hosts discuss some of the highlights of the film and cast performances, have some interesting observations for "I Have Questions," and - as always - share their three favorite moments of the film.      

This episode is mayhem! Oh, wait. This episode is about the 2017s "Mayhem" starring Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving.   "Mayhem" also represents Joe Lynch's return to the directorial chair after a brief hiatus and a stint in the 9 to 5 workaday world.  Susan picked this movie for Greg, which she describes as "Office Space" meets "Battle Royale" meets "Die Hard" meets "Office Party." There's so much that is bat guano crazy about this film.  You'll have to listen to find just how much.  As always, we're dropping spoilers.  So if you don't want to be spoiled, watch "Mayhem" first, then listen. Mayhem