Motion Picture Pals

To talk about Dune is to dissect the complex layers of Frank Herbert’s worldbuilding and storytelling, famously considered difficult to adapt for film simply because of its grand scope. Fortunately, Denis Villeneuve’s take on the first half of the story is an immersive cinematic experience that just washes over you like a sandstorm. We were enamored by the theatricality of it all, from the extravagant costumes to the scale of the action set pieces, particularly in IMAX format. We had plenty to discuss in terms of book lore and we obtain clarity on some details, but we don’t spoil any key moments the first movie doesn’t get to. It’s a highly political story that has plenty to say about imperialism, and we had many questions ahead in regards to how Villeneuve will adapt core themes within part two, particularly those of Paul, the prophesy, and the Bene Gesserit. We’re also joined by a familiar voice for longtime listeners, our friend Will from the great beyond. All of this is to say that Dune asks you to seek one significant, unknowable truth: Who up playing with they worm? Subscribe to our Substack! It's free and you get our new newsletter, plus email alerts for new episodes. Visit motionpicturepals.substack.com. Join us next time for The Matrix (1999). Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Twitter, get our newsletter, and more at MotionPicturePals.com.

No Time To Die features Rami Malek as a classical Bond villain out to destroy the world, but it’s merely the set dressing. At its core, the final entry in Daniel Craig’s Bond’s arc is a dramatic story about the passage of time and the inescapable nature of James Bond’s work. He’s no longer 007. His grueling career has taken a heavy toll on him. But one final time, he’s pulled back into spy work to protect his loved ones. The stakes have never been higher in a Bond movie, and director Cary Fukunaga really maximized the finale of the five film arc, while also paying tribute to the franchise’s long history. On this episode we condemn poor science lab safety practices and refer to James Bond as a "$400M soap opera." Subscribe to our Substack! It's free and you get our new newsletter, plus email alerts for new episodes. Visit motionpicturepals.substack.com. Join us next time for Dune (2021). Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Twitter, get our newsletter, and more at MotionPicturePals.com.

We’re nostalgic for Spider-Man 2 for a multitude of reasons: Sam  Raimi’s signature camp-infused humor, wild action with a splash of  horror, and a poignant emotional core all make the second Spider-film a  timeless classic. The vertical fight choreography! The crazy camera  angles! The large Italian man on the train!! For a 17 year old film, it  sure feels like Raimi set a gold standard for superhero films that has  yet to be topped. With the MCU teasing the return of Alfred Molina’s Doc  Ock (and potentially more), it’s not a bad idea to break out the pizza  for a nostalgic viewing of the film that started it all. What’s next week’s film? The Matrix (1999) Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Nicholas Cage’s pig has been kidnapped, and it’s up to him and a fail-son entrepreneur to team up and get her back. But this isn’t just another revenge film. It’s not really a revenge film at all, in fact we’re not really sure what it is. One thing we could all agree on was that Pig is a confusing watch, but not necessarily a bad one. If you’re going into Pig blind, do so with an open mind and add some extra flexibility to your expectations. In the end it’s a matter of taste, in more ways than one. What’s next week’s film? Spider-Man 2 (2004) Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: http://motionpicturepals.substack.com

We’re back to the movie house, which means you have to strategize your piss timing or suffer in silence. It’s a new A24 film, baby! It’s directed by podcast favorite A Ghost Story’s David Lowery! Is it any good? Much like Dev Patel’s Sir Gawain, you won’t know until you dive into the episode like a big, red lake. But what’s in it for you? Well, The Green Knight is a weird one, a modern twist on the fantasy genre, where nothing plays out the way you think it will. Unless you’ve seen The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and you know when Barry Keoghan shows up it’s bad news. You’d be right about that. What’s next week’s film? Pig (2021) Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

The Twilight movies are up on Netflix, so let’s revisit the infamous franchise that defined a genre, spawned numerous memes, and sent ripples of change through the film industry that remain felt today. Made for a mere $37M, Twilight earned a box office total of over $400M, emphasizing the idea that adapting something already popular was a more reliable strategy than taking a chance on an original idea. In this episode we look at the history of this objectively bad film and discuss how it succeeded despite its numerous, hilarious flaws. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Two guys become awkward roommates in this buddy comedy about a lighthouse keeper and his new lighthouse keeper assistant. But then spooky stuff starts happening, and now we must ask ourselves: is this shit real, or is it a dream? One of these guys is insane, right? But which one? What is Lovecraftian horror? What is Gothic horror? What is a dream? What is a nightmare? What was this about? How did they get a big glass lens to the top of a lighthouse back in the day? Why do we analyze film? Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Nomadland wants to make one thing very clear: capitalism destroys people’s lives. We enjoyed Nomadland for its masterful visual storytelling but mostly for its poignant message and relevancy. Though the adapted story is one of the year 2011, its topics of wealth inequality and America’s homelessness crisis remain sadly relevant. We’re still grappling with the Coronavirus pandemic and an economic catastrophe. With eviction moratoriums set to expire while the government shows little compassion for its people, those left in poverty during a pandemic are now faced with homelessness. Nomadland feels increasingly not like an alternative lifestyle, but an imminent future for many Americans robbed of their dignity by capitalism. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Sound of Metal is a brutal depiction of grief endured by a metal drummer, played by Riz Ahmed, who suddenly loses his hearing. Ruben moves into a shelter for deaf, recovering addicts, and sells his RV to raise the money needed for pay for a cochlear implants operation. This ultimately puts him at odds with Joe, who runs the shelter and believes deafness is not a handicap that does not need to be fixed. We found Sound of Metal to be a thoughtful depiction of its subject material, and explored the praises and criticisms members of the deaf community had regarding the film. We also played Cam’s new game, “Is it a metal subgenre or did I just make some shit up?” Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Concrete Cowboy is a coming of age story about Black cowboys, not in the wild west but in north Philadelphia. 15-year-old Cole is taken to live with his estranged father Harp, and introduced to his close-knit urban horse riding community. Cole searches for acceptance and splits time between his distant father and his childhood friend Smush, who aspires to buy a ranch out west, but goes down a dangerous path to fund his dream. Concrete Cowboy is a great introduction for the uninitiated to the Fletcher Street cowboys - the real group of Philadelphia based horse riders fictionalized in this film - some of whom even appear in this film playing themselves. While the performances are a high point, the film’s predictable trajectory left us wanting, and a somewhat confusing ending muddies an otherwise meaningful story about the terror of gentrification. Netflix picked this film up following its 2020 premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s also based on the novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri. Motion Picture Palsis hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/