Episode #423: 'Play Dirty' with Danielle Radford

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

W. Kamau Bell is a noted comedian, author, filmmaker, and activist. He’s also the former co-host of the podcast DENZEL WASHINGTON IS THE GREATEST ACTOR OF ALL TIME PERIOD, along with our very own Kevin Avery. Now, we've gotten the former co-hosts (and former roommates!) back together. It’s a big deal, but does Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s big reunion rise to the occasion? Find out as we discuss HIGHEST 2 LOWEST, and stay to hear some fantasy pitches for other classic movies that we’d like to see get Denzel-ified.What’s Good?Alonso - Petit Grain (and supporting your local bakery…and eating your feelings)Drea - being on festival juriesKamau - pizza; daughter fetching an umbrella for dadKevin - killing a wasp in a beekeeping suitITIDICUnfinished Orson Welles Movie Being Completed By AI…Meanwhile, WB Sues MidjourneyAfter The Smashing Machine, Benny Safdie and The Rock Are Pairing Up AgainStaff PicksAlonso - The BaltimoronsDrea - Preparation for the Next Life (?)Kevin - Love, BrooklynKamau - The Unforgivable Sin of Ms. RachelSubscribe to Kamau’s Newsletter, Who’s With Me?Akira Kurosawa's HIGH AND LOW on Criterion Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

This week we’re talking WEAPONS, Zach Cregger’s follow up to BARBARIAN, with freelance writer and host of Chasing Amy Adams, Louis Peitzman. Plus, in honor of a spooky movie with a lot of kids at the center of its plot, we honor some of our favorite creepy kids from cinema.What’s Good?Drea - llama costumes at the MN State FairLouis - giant beaver/fall scented candlesKevin -  AMC A-List bingeITIDIC- The Toxic Avenger Pledges to Commit Profits to Help With Medical Debts- Fall Film Festival Season Is Underway: Venice and Telluride- Another Live Action Remake Scrapped at Disney: Questlove’s AristocatsStaff PicksDrea - Twinless & A Little PrayerLouis - The 4th Man (De Vierde Man)Kevin - Longlegs Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Writer Meghan Fitzmartin joins us to debate: does a movie have to be "good," or is it enough to just be fun? Then, we'll discuss our favorite Hollywood power couples, both on and off the screen.What’s Good?Alonso - The Dean Martin Association YouTube channelDrea - State Fairs, MN State Fair, Cropseed Art (Crop Art & Scarecrow)Meghan - Clay pipes (mudlarking on the foreshore)Kevin - Studio 54 themed birthday partyITIDICK-Pop Demon Hunters Hits Big Screens and Leads Box OfficeM:I Final Reckoning Fakes-Out Fans Re: Free Release on YouTubeStaff PicksDrea - Griffin in SummerAlonso - SplitsvilleMeghan - Life SizeKevin - The Shakiest Gun in the WestMary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin is out October 8 Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Director Kate Beecroft made her debut feature after meeting and living with a singular family, and then building a script and feature film around their lives – with them as the stars. The resulting film, EAST OF WALL won the Audience Award at the (ahem) Sundance Film Festival. Collider’s Taylor Gates joins us to discuss the movie, and to daydream about what kind of movie we’d set at some of our personal favorite real-world locations.What’s GoodAlonso - Pumpkin Spice Season Creep/Laughing Cow Pumpkin Spice Cheese Wedges (in principle)Drea - Chris Ware USPS StampsTaylor - Renee Rapp’s Bite MeKevin - Tracy Bonham live w/Chris and Adrienne Woods; Silver Lake sightingsAirplane Jive scene (watch at your own risk!) Physical Media merch!ITIDICDisney’s Marvel Pulling Out of GeorgiaAnna Faris and Regina Hall Return for Wayans’ Scary Movie RebootStaff PicksDrea - RelayAlonso - Souleymane’s StoryTaylor - Private LifeKevin - F1 The MovieLinoleum Knife Presents CLUE on August 24Taylor on Collider and Fanversation Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

**We have new PHYSICAL MEDIA merch! Check it out at maxfunstore.com**Everything old is freaky again, and vice verse, with this late-breaking sequel to the 2003 version of Freaky Friday. Prolific actor/comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub is our prestigious guest to take a look at Lindsay, Jamie Lee, and a whole cast of new and returning folks game to get Freakier. Then we have fun talking about best and worst sequel titles.What’s GoodAlonso - personalized coupons from RalphsDrea - first female umpire in the MLBMary Lynn - a day at Mt. FujiKevin - satisfaction from household item restockITIDICCharlie Kaufman’s New Movie Will Go Directly to KanopyWB Sets Wiig/Hill Comedy CUT OFF to Debut Against Nolan’s THE ODYSSEYHamilton Will Screen in Cinemas Next MonthStaff PicksAlonso - The High NoteDrea - SketchMary Lynn - All of Us StrangersKevin - Weapons Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher