Episode #406: 'The Life of Chuck' with William Bibbiani

Film critic Katie Walsh joins us to take a close look at the various desirable qualities of MATERIALISTS, the sophomore feature from director Celine Song. Then, we talk about movies that didn’t quite match what their trailers were selling.What’s GoodAlonso - Sick and Dirty by Michael KoreskyKatie - Love Island “I’m a mommy” memeKevin - full-on astrology chartITIDIC48 Films Awarded Tax Credits To Shoot in CaliforniaMegalopolis is Going on a RoadshowRobert Eggers Developing ‘A Christmas Carol’ Adaptation at WBStaff PicksAlonso - Sorry, BabyKatie - Christiane FKevin - The Hunt for Red OctoberDetails for Alonso's screening of Ma Vie en Rose on June 28 Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

In honor of Pride Month, we’re taking a look back at an important title from queer cinema history. Our guest, Caden Mark Gardner, is the co-author (with Willow Maclay) of Corpses, Fools and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema – he picked this Vincente Minnelli classic for us to watch! Then, we choose which flawed movies we’d edit (and how we’d amend them) to make them work for us.You can stream Tea and Sympathy across lots of platforms, or check your local library. What’s GoodAlonso - Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2 (sort of)Drea - Katya in the Criterion ClosetCaden - dog ownership (and traveling to LA for event)Kevin - first hot dog in a while, best everITIDICSummer of 1956 will be a big movie season (Erskine Johnson)“Robert Rich” (secret alias of a blacklisted Dalton Trumbo) is Nominated for Best Screenwriter for The Brave OneStaff PicksAlonso - The CobwebDrea - The Power of the DogCaden - VulcanizadorKevin - Blazing SaddlesLA Folks, Check out Alonso and Caden’s series “Taking Pride” with American Cinematheque! See and learn about some great films, and get your books signed.   Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Film critic and podcast bon vivant (and Stephen King movie buff) William Bibbiani (Critically Acclaimed Network) joins us to take a look at the latest King adaptation, a movie told in three parts, backwards (and in heels). Then we get Hall of Excellence results and draw inspiration from a listener’s unexpected movie tattoo.What’s GoodAlonso - anti-ICE protests in “Red” statesDrea - Bentonville Film Festival (screening Heightened Scrutiny)Bibbs - Maximum Film! hostsKevin - Cinespia seasonITIDICPedro Almodovar’s Next Film will be a Christmas MovieWarner Bros. Discovery to Split into Two CompaniesVariety Editorial: No One in the Movies Stays Dead AnymoreStaff PicksAlonso - Cobra Woman (see him screen it in person on June 14, 2025!)Drea - DropBibbs - River (don’t watch it on Amazon, the subtitles get out of sync)Kevin - Silver Streak Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Wes Anderson’s latest film has no shortage of charts and plans. Our guest, Matt Zoller Seitz, helps guide us through THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, and warns us about emotional land mines (which, in fact, we might actually want to step on? It’ll make sense in context.) Then we nominate our favorite filmed father/daughter dynamics to the Hall of Excellence.What’s GoodAlonso - bitching about the new season of AND JUST LIKE THAT…Drea - your friends meetingMatt - The Life of ChuckKevin - The Traitors AustraliaITIDICDisney delaying next two Avengers filmsParamount Plans Celebrations for 30th Anniversary of ‘Clueless’2025’s Domestic Box Office ChatStaff PicksAlonso - MountainheadMatt - Deaf President Now & Sharp CornerDrea - Holy Cow (Vingt Dieux)Kevin - Mazes & MonstersVisit the arts bookstore at  Mzs.press Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

How many reckonings will Ethan Hunt face? More importantly, how many planes can he fly at once? None of these questions are answered in today’s discussion, but many more are raised and addressed as we consider Tom Cruise & Co.’s most Impossible Mission yet. We’re joined by special guest Billy Ray Brewton, whose new documentary Coroner to the Stars is cleaning up at festivals as we speak. Then we pitch some new (?) ideas for blockbuster franchise reboots based on old TV shows.What’s GoodDrea - Meat RaffleBilly Ray - Audience Award at Mammoth Lakes Film FestivalKevin - Trader Joe’s has cheap wine, you guys!ITIDICRichard Linklater’s Ode to Godard Sells at Cannes…To NetflixGoogle Financing Short Films to Make AI Seem Less “Doomsday”Staff PicksDrea - SinnersBilly Ray - Pee-Wee as HimselfKevin - Mission: Impossible 3 Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Final Destination Bloodlines might be your sixth FD or your first (or maybe, like Kevin and Drea, you aren't confident about which ones you've seen or not). For our guest writer, filmmaker, and genre-film expert BJ Colangelo, Final Destination is THE horror franchise, making her the perfect lead for our metaphorical dance with Death. After we discuss the film, we honor the late Tony Todd by talking about our favorite "horror oracles."What’s Good?Alonso - Étoile (the new show from Amy Sherman-Paladino & Daniel Paladino, on Prime)Drea - Mission Impossible franchise rewatchBJ - Cash’s high school graduationKevin - Kara Morgan’s one woman show, Inner VoicesITIDICMax is HBO Max AgainClarksdale, MS, Setting for SINNERS, Petitions for Special ScreeningTubi Has a New Category Filled With Classic Movies From the Criterion CollectionHere’s the teaser trailer for Final Destination Bloodlines (as Alonso mentioned)Staff PicksDrea - Jane Austen Wrecked My LifeAlonso - Caught by the TidesBJ - The Ugly StepsisterKevin - Open WaterSleep Away Camp book, written by BJ and Harmony ColangeloThis Ends at Prom podcast Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Tim Robinson (of I Think You Should Leave fame) hits the big screen in Andrew DeYoung’s feature debut. He’s becoming buds with Paul Rudd, but don’t call it a bromance – call it ‘Friendship.’ We’ve got a friend of our own joining us: comedian Michelle Biloon. After the movie chat, we’ll discuss some memorable drug trip/fever dream movie sequences. What’s GoodAlonso - Season 2 of Poker FaceDrea - Bentonville Film Festival Lineup AnnouncedMichelle - free airplane gin secondsKevin - Jill Sobule’s musicITIDICCatholic Cardinals Reportedly Consulted ‘Conclave’ Film Ahead of Vote for Next PopeCinecittà on Track to Build the Biggest One-Stop-Shop in EuropeMilestone Films Will Be Given AwayStaff PicksAlonso - I Love You ManDrea - Queen of the RingMichelle - Nice Girls Don’t ExplodeKevin - Avengers: EndgameAvengers: Engame audience reaction videoMichelle’s albums are:Permanent HatYou Can Be an Asshole Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

It’s episode 401 and we’ve reassembled, now with Kevin Avery at the helm. Back in the guest chair is the familiar voice of Jordan Morris, Maximum Fun superstar and writer of TV and comics. And the movie is Thunderbolts* , the MCU’s little gang of misfits film that just might have what it takes to make you feel again.** Then we’ll have a movie quiz to test our memories of MCU Phases past.What’s GoodAlonso - “my first dump salad”Drea - WhatsApp + voicenotes = “friendship podcast”Jordan - The River Has Roots by Amal El-MohtarKevin -  Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John MandelITIDICSpike Lee’s New Film, Which Reunites Him With Denzel, To Premiere at CannesOscar Voters Have to Watch the Movies NowStaff PicksDrea - SacramentoAlonso - Godard’s King Lear (Wiki)Kevin - Magic Mike XXLJordan - Black Bag*yes we’re still calling it that**about Marvel movies specifically. General depression reduction not guaranteed. But hey, worth a shot! Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

It’s been a long time…and a sizeable chunk of this podcast! We’re preparing a hell of a party this week, as we hit 400, Ify cruises into the sunset as host, and we finally cover the original supernatural drama that film nerd dreams are made of, Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS. We’ve got past guest and IRL Ify bud Cody Ziglar riding shotgun this week to boot! And we dream up what some serious films might be like if we threw some vampires into the mix.What’s GoodAlonso - Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (especially Nancy Silverton’s)Drea - “How long does it actually take” TikToksZig - Tom Cruise coconut cake from Doan’s Bakery (+Ify mentions King’s rainbow cake)Ify - NeotropolisIfy’s Staff Picks on LetterboxdRyan Coogler Aspect ratio videoStaff PicksAlonso - Red RoomsDrea - Let the Right One In (and Green Room)Zig - Assault on Precinct 13 and From Dusk Till DawnIfy - From Dusk Till DawnThanks to our sponsor, Good Story Guild! Listen to In Media Res wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

We’ve got the fabulous Parvesh Cheena here, once again on the gaysian movie beat! This time around, it’s Andrew Ahn’s THE WEDDING BANQUET, which reimagines and modernizes the core story of a nearly unseeable 1993 Ang Lee film (maybe try your local library?). It’s a complicated relationship comedy between two queer couples, and two of their matriarchs.  Plus, we choose which classic films we’d like to see get a queer remake (besides all of them).What’s GoodAlonso - TCM FestivalDrea - Drag Race finale, TV as a group activityParvesh - More Drag RaceIfy - Temptation Island (see also: Montoya Por Favor)ITIDICSINNERS is the first horror movie to receive an ‘A’ Cinema ScoreWicked’s VOD “Bonus Features” Are Getting Tons of PlaysStaff PicksDrea - The Half of ItAlonso - Art for EverybodyParv - A Nice Indian BoyIfy - Crouching Tiger Hidden DragonSee Parvesh in Trauma Play at IAMA Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher