Maximum Film!

An ode to a classic of French New Wave cinema – Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless (A Bout de Souffle) – Nouvelle Vague is more than a heady film nerd love fest. It’s a Linklater movie, which means it’s a hangout film; it’s just that the gang we’re hanging with happens to be reinventing modern cinema, whether they know it or not. We’ve got writer, actor, and teacher Tarik R. Davis (The Amber Ruffin Show) with us to talk about the petite charms of this Cannes premiere. Then we pitch our own making-of hangout movies!What’s GoodAlonso - “Trans Images on Film” on TCM (w/Caden Mark Gardner and Willow Catelyn Maclay)Drea - Library Tool CheckoutTarik - a really good rehearsalKevin - Conduct Your Own Orchestra (Golden Records)ITIDICFilmmakers Meet the Pope (text of the pope’s full address is here)D&D: Honor Among Thieves Team Working on new Star Trek MovieStaff PicksAlonso - Faces PlacesDrea - Rental FamilyTarik - Brother JohnKevin - For Your Consideration Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

CW: discussion of domestic abuseWe get into the good the bad and the ugly of the new boxing biopic CHRISTY, which tells the story of pioneering boxer Christy Martin and her dark power struggles both in and outside the ring. Then we have a movie quiz about bio pics with first-name titles. What’s GoodAlonso - successful Parker House rolls trial runDrea - remembering a detail of ArrivalDaresha - screening her new film to big crowd at a Black church in Cambridge, MAKevin - was in a play!ITIDICKristen Stewart declares "state of emergency" over gender inequality in filmWarners Making ‘Gremlins 3’ With Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus ReturningStaff PicksDrea - RebuildingAlonso - Little Amelie or The Character of RainDaresha - Natchez Kevin - Unknown Number: The High School CatfishLove, Joy, & Power at DOC NYCAlonso’s book, Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Yorgos Lanthimos can be counted on for a weird, wild time, and this time around he’s back with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, plus newcomer Aidan Delbis, comedian Stavros Halkias, and even a bit of Alicia Silverstone. Former producer Casey O’Brien (co-host of Dear Movies, I Love You) joins us to take an up-close look at movie loaded with close-ups. Then we name some of our favorite actor-director frequent pairings.What’s GoodDrea - Toners in spray bottlesCasey - BuzzBallzKevin - Costco cashewsITIDICA Hello Kitty Movie is Coming in 2028Taylor Sheridan Broke Up with Paramount, But He’s Back In for ‘Call of Duty’Staff PicksDrea - Sentimental ValueCasey - The HiddenKevin - The MenuPhysical Media merch at maxfunstore.com Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Just us chickens here this week to talk about the wild party we just witnessed...in Nia DaCosta's HEDDA, a modernized (but not modern-day) adaptation of the classic Ibsen play, HEDDA GABLER. Then we get into what works and doesn't work for us in stage-to-screen adaptations.What’s GoodAlonso - Christmas creep!Drea - “...There she is.”Kevin - A weekend of artistic experiencesITIDICA Memo Reveals that the Pentagon is Mad About ‘House of Dynamite’LA Times: Horror May Have Its Moment at the Oscars‘Kidz Bop Live: The Concert Movie’ Set to Premiere in TheatersStaff PicksDrea - Nouvelle VagueAlonso - It Was Just an AccidentKevin - Good Fortune Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Josh O’Connor stars in a heist movie to end all heist movies – or at least end our illusions that the person pulling the heist is pretty cool and awesome. Comedian and friend Myq Kaplan is along to watch things unfold, and unravel, in THE MASTERMIND. Then we take a Hotline question about what film school courses we’d like to teach.What’s GoodAlonso - Programme 4   Drea - First women to cross the Atlantic unsupported (in their girthy canoe)Myq - Communing with friends [Rini (and Rini), John Fugelsang appearance, Separation of Church and Hate, tea with Abby Wambaugh] Kevin - new mic cable and arm; guesting on How to SurviveBernie & Phyl’s ad ITIDICPenske Reportedly Offers Golden Globe Bribe Opportunity to Right-Wing PodcastersBUGONIA Offering Free Screening for Bald AudienceStaff PicksDrea - La ChimeraAlonso - A House of DynamiteMyq - The Life of ChuckKevin - Roofman10/25: American Cinema Editors Short Film Showcase – The First Day of Your Last Period11/2: Myq at Dynasty TypewriterAlonso's book: Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

A little gritty political drama, a little technicolor musical, a little revolutionary politics, a little ahead-of-its-time queer representation…Kiss of the Spider Woman has been a novel, a play, an Oscar-winning movie, a Tony-winning Broadway musical, and now a Bill Condon movie musical starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and relative newcomer Tonatiuh. LA-based film critic Carlos Aguilar joins us to get into the enduring allure of Spider Woman, and to name some bleak movies that could be jazzed up with a little old-timey movie-musical interlude.What’s GoodAlonso - Bulgarian State Woman Choir on Johnny Carson in 1990Drea - Bed Bands (wholesome)Carlos - New episode of Storage WarsKevin - The Craft at CinespiaITIDICApple TV Streaming Drops “+” From its NameThe TiVo Era Has Ended, Officially NowAnnie Hall Returning to Cinemas in Honor of Diane KeatonStaff PicksAlonso - Orwell: 2+2=5Drea - Blue MoonCarlos - It Was Just an AccidentKevin - Battle Royale Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

If you’ve got Amazon Prime, you can put PLAY DIRTY (starring Mark Wahlberg, Rosa Salazar, LaKeith Stanfield, Tony Shaloub, and many more) right now. But should you? That’s where we come in, careening into your remote-wielding hand like a car chase onto a horse racing track in the first few minutes of PLAY DIRTY.Speaking of which, we’re also nominating Hall of Excellence candidates in the category Best Car Chase. All with Danielle Radford riding shotgun!What’s GoodAlonso - Zach BryanDrea - mom's girls trip to Portland (and a drag show)Danielle - Hello Kitty Island Adventure (and no IMdB-ruiner encounters)Kevin - Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Cinespia (starring Barry Bostwick, FYI)ITIDICAmazon Disarmed a James Bond Poster, then Undid it when folks noticedTarantino’s ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ Sets Theatrical ReleaseHall of Excellence NomsTerminator 2What’s Up Doc?Mad Max Fury RoadThe Matrix ReloadedStaff PicksDrea - If I Had Legs I’d Kick YouAlonso - Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky HorrorDanielle - Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream MasterKevin - Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film has car chases, explosions, secret societies, and and confused ex-revolutionaries...but did it make Drea cry? Find out the answer, plus our favorite underground cabals from film history, on this episode with special guest, noted critic Michael Phillips.What’s GoodAlonso - Brian Earl’s Of Christmases Long, Long AgoDrea - COVID booster/Worm Charming ChampionshipMichael - being with us (and Gov. Pritzker)Kevin - The Big Show at The EarlITIDICThe Tilly Norwood situationLA Times Editorial: Oscars International Feature Category Is Broken; No Easy FixStaff PicksAlonso - Smashing TimeDrea - FairylandMichael - SpartacusKevin - Apollo 13Check out Michael's appearances on Filmspotting and his piece on Ebert.com Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

An impossible, dystopian "sporting event" is the subject of this week's film, leading to a seemingly impossible feat of storytelling, production, and adaptation. It's THE LONG WALK, with YA Novelist and podcasting impresario Lauren Shippen as our special guest. Then, we talk about films that don't pass the Bechdel Test, but still pass muster.What’s GoodAlonso - Hallmark Holiday movie lineup unveiledDrea - duck stamp painting controversyLauren - second largest zucchiniKevin - worlds colliding, Great British Baking ShowITIDICDisney+ announces streaming price hikes at this of all momentsMarlon Wayans Takes Career of Bad Critical Reviews in StrideStaff PicksDrea - Secret Mall ApartmentAlonso - HappyendLauren - Edge of TomorrowKevin - On the Right TrackListen to Lauren’s new show, Two Thousand and LateAlonso at Vroman’s Pasadena for Stephen Rebello’s Criss-Cross Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Director/star James Sweeney’s sophomore follow-up to Straight Up made a spalsh at Sundance this January, winning the Audience Award and a lot of buzz about Dylan O’Brien’s dual roles as twins Roman and Rocky. Director and writer Bryan Fuller, whose feature debut DUST BUNNY recently premiered at TIFF, joins us to see what all the fuss is about. Then we share some of our favorite dark comedies.What’s GoodAlonso - Hobnobs (and Hobnob Fever!)Drea - Competitive nonsense (windowdressing, bedmaking, etc)Bryan - a murder of yard crowsKevin - no more waspsITIDICTIFF Wraps Up, Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet Wins Audience AwardParamount Wants to Buy Warner BrosRemembering Robert RedfordStaff PicksDrea - Predators (2025) (and Love and Monsters)Alonso - Chain ReactionsBryan -  The Last VikingKevin - Alien Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher