Episode 198: Black Bag, Sister Midnight, with the Russo Brothers

This week, Amon chats to some of the THUNDERBOLTS* (or should we be calling them by their new name now?): Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen and David Harbour (08:53). Meanwhile, we review THE WEDDING BANQUET, Andrew Ahn’s updated take on Ang Lee’s 1993 romcom (24:08), and Fleur Fortuné’s debut feature THE ASSESSMENT, starring Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, and Himesh Patel (41:48). Plus, in our HOT TAKE (58:23), to celebrate the release of THE EXTRAORDINARY MISS FLOWER, we talk about visual albums, music documentaries, and the differences between them. If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, Amon chats with Paul Feig about ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOUR (07:25), we review the film (22:26), plus Marvel's latest big-screen offering THUNDERBOLTS* (34:40).Plus, in our HOT TAKE (54:13), we discuss the recent calls, including by actor Pedro Pascal, to boycott HBO’s new Harry Potter series. If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, Clarisse chats to Gareth Evans about his new, Tom Hardy-fronted action movie, HAVOC (05:00). Meanwhile, Ben Affleck is back as autistic assassin Christian Wolff in THE ACCOUNTANT 2 (21:05), while Christopher Abbott and Mackenzie Davis star as a couple whose fragile marriage is threatened by the arrival of Ariane Labed in SWIMMING HOME (40:46). Plus, in our HOT TAKE (56:17), with SINNERS raking it in at the box office, we look at the unusual deal Ryan Coogler made with Warner Bros and ask: what does this mean for the future of Hollywood?If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, Amon sits down with Ryan Coogler (04:56) as they get their teeth into his new vampire flick, SINNERS. We’ll also review the film (22:06), alongside THE PENGUIN LESSONS (38:47), in which Steve Coogan befriends a flightless bird while living under the US-backed military dictatorship in Argentina. Plus, in our HOT TAKE (47:51), with WARFARE out this week and ANDOR season two out next week, we’re asking: can stories set against the backdrop of war ever be neutral? If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!(Forgive any audio issues -- we had issues with a microphone this week!)

This week, we get vengeance with the Rami Malek-fronted thriller THE AMATEUR (06:42), make sail for Ithaca with THE RETURN, a new take on The Odyssey (23:53), and lock into DROP, Christopher Landon’s new AirDrop-themed horror (36:30). Plus, in our HOT TAKE (49:47), with Viola Davis the latest to take the presidential oath for her Prime Video actioner G20, we share some of our favourite onscreen American presidents. If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, we witness the DEATH OF A UNICORN in A24’s latest “eat the rich” horror (04:34), go for a LAST SWIM with Sasha Nathwani’s London-set debut (18:35), and stay RESTLESS with Jed Hart’s psychological comedy drama (28:57). Plus, in our HOT TAKE (39:29), as the furore around the cast of the new Beatles biopics grows, we ask: do biopics need stars? Or should they be seeking out a complete unknown?  If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, I sit down with Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch to talk about their two-part documentary NUMBER ONE ON THE CALL SHEET (13:16) plus we review Joshua Oppenheimer's post-apocalyptic musical THE END (32:32) and the Neurocultures Collective's experimental film THE STIMMING POOL (46:19). Plus, in our HOT TAKE (01:00:01), in the wake of a Variety hit piece that lays the blame for Snow White’s box office flopping on Rachel Zegler, we ask: Why does the internet hate the young star?If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, we go with the FLOW (07:57) as we review the winner of the Best Animated Film at this year’s Oscars; get double the de Niro in Barry Levinson’s mob drama THE ALTO KNIGHTS (18:50); and follow a rookie female officer’s eye-opening induction in Sandhya Suri’s SANTOSH (35:55).Plus, in our HOT TAKE (48:37), Cate Blanchett makes the case that award shows should no longer be televised… is she right?If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, Amon speaks to the Russo Brothers about The Electric State (07:07). Then we review Steven Soderbergh's spy thriller BLACK BAG (22:04) and Karan Kandhari's punk rock debut SISTER MIDNIGHT (36:18).Plus, in our HOT TAKE (50:39), we discuss the prevalence of celebrity/influencer interviewers and whether they are up to the journalistic job.If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!

This week, Hanna has a natter with Laura Carreira about her directorial debut ON FALLING (06:57); we have ONE OF THEM DAYS (27:50) with the Keke Palmer and SZA-led comedy; and we say welcome back to the great Bong Joon-Ho, as he finally returns to cinemas for his follow-up to the Oscar-winning Parasite, MICKEY 17 (42:51) (And no, you don’t have to have seen the previous 16 movies in this franchise).Plus, in our HOT TAKE (1:01:09), 7 years after the original run on Netflix was cancelled, Daredevil has been Born Again on Disney+, and we give our thoughts on the two episode premiere that debuted earlier this week.If you would like to donate directly towards humanitarian aid in Gaza please visithttps://www.map.org.uk/https://www.safebowgazanaid.com/take-action-nowJoin the conversation or suggest a Hot Take for the gang to discuss tweet us at @FadeToBlackPodFollow us: @amonwarmann, @clarisselou, @hannainesflintMusic by ⁠The Last Skeptik⁠If you like the show do subscribe, leave a review and rate us too!