Episode #455: 'Is God Is' with Sherin Nicole

It’s neither a bird, nor a plane, nor Superman. It’s Supergirl, the newest film from James Gunn’s DC that has some folks talking, but probably not as many as Warner Bros. would like. We’ve got LA Times film critic, Unspooled co-host, and friend of the show Amy Nicholson along to talk about the stellar highs and dank cave lows, plus we name some of our favorite superhero movie acting performances. What’s Good Alonso - binging THE BOYS Drea - watching an accidentally funny moment on repeat in the film Jefferson in Paris for the Supporting Actresses podcast Amy - watching The World Cup (and YouTube videos of dog agility competitions) Kevin - digging through original Backrooms videos, and other short films (Alone Time, The Hole) ITIDIC'Michael’ Becomes the Highest-Grossing Biopic EverNetflix Announces Weird Willy Wonka Project Staff Picks Drea - True Grit Alonso - Minions & Monsters Amy - Buffet Infinity Kevin - Aline Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

LEVITICUS is the new Australian horror movie that turns (already quite frightening) gay conversion rituals into something even more haunting. And with us to unpack it is our friend Justin Kirkland, who just happens to have a new podcast exploring (with good humor!) how the Bible has been yielded as a weapon. Then we imagine some classic romances with a devilish twist. What's Good? Alonso - UDM14.com Drea - Bentonville Film Festival 2026! Justin - Launch of This is Not a Weapon podcast Kevin -  life-changing coasters ITIDICAmazonMGM Bails on Guadagnino’s Almost-Complete Sam Altman MovieMadonna Says Her Biopic was Scrapped at Universal Over Budget Staff Picks Alonso - The Boys in the Band (1970) (in new 4K UHD!) Drea - Color Book and Maddie's Secret Justin - The Birdcage Kevin - Invaders from Mars (1953)   Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Steven Spielberg's new film may be about conspiracies, coverups, and car chases, but it all hinges around the concept of journalism you can trust...so who better to join us than our favorite trusted journalist (and movie podcaster, with UNCLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER), NYT columnist Jamelle Bouie! We put DISCLOSURE DAY under the microscope, then talk about some directors whose filmographies reveal hidden secrets. What's Good? Alonso - chicken soup Drea - Lawrence, KS welcoming Algeria for the World Cup Jamelle - making your own stock Kevin - Guy Branum's My Life as a Goddess ITIDICAMC Postpones Concert Simulcast Plan to Make More Room for…MoviesSean Penn Directing a Jan 6 Movie Starring Bradley Cooper (maybe?)SUPERGIRL’s Cape Uses Fabric from Original Reeve Superman Cape Staff Picks Drea - The Furious Alonso - Jewel's Catch One Jamelle - George Wallace (1997) Kevin - September 5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

A dreamy two-piece love story about two men, one a soldier and the other a country boy. Or is three men? Or four? Also there's a tiger. We watch 2004's Tropical Malady from Apichatpong Weerasethakul, director of the 2010 Palme d'Or winner, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. He goes by Joe in the Western world which is too bad. What’s Good Drea - The exact day to plant tomatoes so perfect, you can eat them like the fruits they are Alonso- The releases of wonderful queer films Leviticus, Maddie's Secret, She's the He, Girls Like Girls, all unfortunately dropping on the same day Kevin - No more wasps or bees! Harry - The Spiritual Journey of Alexander Jodorowsky book Silas - Qween Jean wins (a Tony), Spencer Pratt loses (the LA mayoral race)   ITIDICThe Academy is creating the "Academy Marquee Theater List", an annual list of the 25 best US and 25 best international cinemasBad Bunny will voice "Pizza with Sunglasses" in Toy Story 5 Staff Picks Alonso - I Shot Andy Warhol Drea - Mulholland Drive Kevin - Reservoir Dogs Harry - Stalker (1979), Jubilee (1978) Silas - I Saw the TV Glow Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Just a well-intentioned bounty hunter and his magic green baby, zooming through the galaxy: you guessed it, we're talking THE MANDALORIAN & GROGU. We've got Danielle Radford (of MaxFun's TIGHTS & FIGHTS, Dropout, and more) along with us this episode to talk about the newest thing from the Star Wars universe, and whether being deeply invested in the lore is a benefit or a drawback to enjoying the film. Then we'll take a hotline question about Dad Movies! What’s Good Drea - Lake of the Isles Pencil Sharpening Party Danielle - get a hobby (like DIY press-on nails) Kevin - inside scoop on the La La Land/Moonlight Oscars snafu (as told in Oscar Wars) ITIDICPaddington 4 Will be Written by Armando IannucciMark Duplass and Other Big Names Defend BACKROOMS’s Young Director Staff Picks Drea - Carolina Caroline Danielle - Drumline (and the Waterworld Stunt Show at Universal Studios) Kevin - Backrooms Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

It’s been 8 long years since Boots Riley’s directorial debut (Sorry to Bother You) surprised and delighted moviegoers. Does his follow-up deliver on color, comedy, and chaos? We’ve got Black People Love Paramore’s Ryann Graham with us to discuss I Love Boosters. Then, we talk about how some of the sci-fi tech from this film might be deployed in other movies! What’s Good Alonso - Getting things “Christmas” (both red and green chile) in Albuquerque Drea - Baked Ruffles Ryann - El Pollo Loco Kevin - mystery sauce saga ITIDIC Team Behind “Americana at Brand Memes” Writing Heist Comedy 2 Previously Unseeable Documentaries Are Getting a Chance to Be Seen: Spacewoman and Boorman & the Devil Staff Picks Drea - Dead Pigs Alonso - Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (Upcoming Cinematographe release) Ryann - Obsession Kevin - Legally Blonde This episode edited by Gabe Mara Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Part revenge thriller, part Greek tragedy, and fully its own thing, Aleshea Harris’s directorial debut is an adaptation of her own award-winning Off-Broadway show. We have Geek Girl Riot’s Sherin Nicole with us to talk about all the twists, turns, and treacheries. Then we have a fun quiz about “twin” movies. What’s Good? Alonso - Farmers markets (even for non-chefs) Drea - Richard Osman’s House of Games Sherin - nephew’s elementary school graduation Kevin - the gasman came by… ITIDICSweeney/Seyfried Thriller The Housemaid Is Headed to the StageDiscourse Around American Accents in Nolan’s The Odyssey Trailer Staff Picks Alonso - The Addiction of Hope Drea - Mile End Kicks Sherin - Nine Days Kevin - Obsession Listen to Sherin’s show Geek Girl Riot Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

If you didn’t have “Hugh Jackman/CGI Talking sheep murder mystery” down as a lock to be both a critical hit and a box office success, you’d be forgiven. Does it help or hurt to know that it’s director did all the MINIONS movies and it’s screenwriter did both THE HANGOVER and HBO’s CHERNOBYL? We get into all of that, plus our favorite moments in talking animal moviedom! What’s Good Alonso - Tacolate at Salt and Straw Drea - roasted edamame Kevin - cleaning up the office for real this time ITIDIC AMC Reports Box Office Recovery?!? Cannes 2026 Begins Staff Picks Drea - now available to rent: Project Hail Mary, You, Me, & Tuscany, The Christophers Alonso - Blue Film Kevin - Theater Camp Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

What’s RUNWAY like in 2026? THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 takes that question pretty seriously. We’ve got film critic (and former 2000s-era abused NYC assistant) Katie Walsh with us to talk about the fashion, the journalism, the nostalgia, and the cerulean of it all. What’s Good Alonso - Family Movie Night Menus by Leonard and Jessie Maltin  Drea - mom volunteering with for movie causes  Katie - Hudson Williams (and Connor Storrie) at the Met Gala Kevin - The Traitors UK (and The Celebrity Traitors UK S2 casting) ITIDIC The Academy Has Banned AI from Winning Oscars for Acting/Writing Netflix Sets Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Film for Wide Release, Long Theatrical Window Staff Picks Alonso - Into the Woods Drea - Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come Katie - Tuner Kevin - All About Eve This episode was edited by Gabe Mara. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

MaxFunDrive is almost over! Don’t wait – ensure the future of this show at MaximumFun.org/joinmaxfilm Jaafar Jackson (son of Jermaine) dances his slouch-socked feet off in Antoine Fuqua’s new Michael Jackson biopic. And we have no less a personage than Tre’vell Anderson here to help us figure out how to feel about what was left in and what was left out. Then we’ll talk about some biopics that really work for us. What’s Good Alonso - Hitchcockian Thrillers by Stephen Rebello Drea - costumed bar crawl Tre’vell - grand opening of Maroon in Las Vegas Kevin - Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears by Michael Schulman ITIDIC 20% of Netflix Watch Hours are Book Adaptations…and the Bump Goes Both Ways VHS Has Made a Comeback, and LA is the Epicenter Staff Picks Drea - All That Jazz Alonso - Hokum Tre’vell - Hidden Figures Kevin - Apollo 13 This episode was edited by Gabe Mara. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher