Looking California and Feeling Minnesota

Two working film industry professionals talk the ins and outs of movies and the best and worst of cinema.

Episode 126: The Substance

On this episode, Barry and Mike dive head first into the fountain of youth to discuss the intriguing satirical body horror movie The Substance, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Topics discussed include the clever premise of the film and it's quality execution, third act issues, and the stellar work of Moore and Qualley.

11-22
56:40

Episode 125: Megalopolis

In this episode, Barry and Mike head to New Rome to discuss all things Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola's newest film. Topics discussed include egregious casting errors, abysmal acting, incoherent script and subpar craftsmanship. But besides that how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?

11-20
01:19:29

Episode 124: Trap

On this episode, Barry and Mike head out to a Lady Raven concert in Philly only to discover they've unknowingly walked into an M. Night Shyamalan Trap, starring Josh Hartnett. Topics discussed on this pod include M. Night Shyamalan's very odd career arc, and the greatness of his early work contrasted with his disappointing later period films - which most definitely includes Trap.

11-19
49:07

Episode 123: Joker: Folie à Deux

On this episode, Barry and Mike don their comic greasepaint, clown nose and big shoes and belt out some American Standards as they debate the merits of Joker: Folie a Deux, the critically and commercially panned follow up to the Oscar nominated 2019 smash hit Joker. Topics discussed include the negative response to the film, the blessing of seeing through the fog of it all, and director Todd Phillips as prophet of doom.

10-14
59:25

Episode 122: Deadpool & Wolverine

On this episode, Barry and Mike don their superhero tights and talk all things Deadpool and Wolverine. Topics discussed include the value of Ryan Reynold's shtick and a multitude of multi-verse cameos, as well as the tenuous future of the MCU.

08-23
57:01

Episode 121: The Bikeriders

On this episode, Barry and Mike hop aboard their Harleys and discuss The Bikeriders, the biker gang movie starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy. Topics discussed include Barry's undying love for Austin Butler, the unsexing of Jodie Comer and the yearning for decent, mid-budget adult dramas.

07-16
50:39

Episode 120: Civil War

On this episode, Barry and Mike charge headlong to the front lines of Alex Garland's dystopian film Civil War. Topics discussed include missed opportunities, spitting out the lukewarm, and the albatross of poorly developed characters.

04-21
01:17:41

Episode 119: Dune Part 2

On this episode, Barry and Mike don their stillsuits and head to Arrakis to discuss Denis Villeneuve's new film, Dune Part Two, starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. Topics discussed include the dismal state of modern cinemas, the weak acting of Li'l Timmy and Zendaya, and the future of sci-fi movies.

03-19
01:15:34

Episode 118: Poor Things

On this episode, Barry and Mike head to Victorian England to discuss Yorgos Lanthimos' crazy Frankenstein-fueled, feminist sex-romp Poor Things, starring Academy Award winning Best Actress Emma Stone. Topics discussed include the astonishing brilliance of Emma Stone, the misery of miscast Mark Ruffalo, and the originality, skill and talent of Lanthimos and cinematographer Robbie Ryan.

03-17
01:00:26

Episode 117: Anatomy of a Fall

On this episode, Barry and Mike head to court in France to debate the merits of one of the best films of the year, writer/director Justine Triet's French legal/family drama Anatomy of a Fall. Topics discussed include the astonishing performance of Sandra Huller, Triet's masterful direction and script, and the glory of exquisitely well-crafted cinema.

02-08
01:14:55

Episode 115: Killers of the Flower Moon

On this episode, Barry and Mike have a powwow over Martin Scorsese's Best Picture nominee Killers of the Flower Moon. Topics discussed include late career Scorsese films, DiCaprio's miscasting, and Robert DeNiro's rough last two decades.

02-02
01:14:03

Episode 116: Barbie

On this episode, Barry and Mike don pink beach outfits and chat about Barbie, the biggest movie of the year and and a Best Picture Oscar nominee. Topics discussed include Greta Gerwig's career path, the snub of Margot Robbie, and the sneaky brilliance of Elf.

02-01
01:04:28

Episode 114: Oscar Nomination Reactions

On this episode Barry and Mike talk snubs and surprises and everything else regarding the Academy Award nominations. Topics discussed include Greta and the Angry Barbies...is Emma Stone's victory set in stone? And is Oppenheimer inevitable?

01-24
01:26:01

Episode 113: Saltburn

On this episode, Barry and Mike pour themselves some bathwater cocktails and dance around their mansion in the nude as they discuss Emerald Fennell's new controversial film Saltburn. Topics discussed include the weirdness of Barry Keoghan, Emerald Fennell's major third act issues, and the cinematic skill of Linus Sandgren.

01-03
01:18:58

Episode 112: Rebel Moon Part 1

On this episode, Barry and Mike enter the Star Wars adjacent Snyder-verse of the new Netflix science-fiction movie Rebel Moon directed by Zack Snyder...and want to escape that hellhole as quickly as possible. Topics discussed include the plague of unoriginal thinking, how truly dreadful everything about this movie is, and cinematic guilty pleasures.

01-02
01:14:39

Episode 111: Godzilla Minus One

On this rip-roaring episode, Barry and Mike don kimonos and talk all things Godzilla Minus One, the fantastic new Godzilla movie from Toho Studios. Topics discussed include Godzilla Minus One as companion piece to Oppenheimer, Jaws and other influences, and the skill and craftsmanship evident in the film that is sorely lacking in Hollywood. Bonus content - Barry and Mike have a hilarious discussion about the worst Christmas specials they've ever endured.

12-22
01:09:40

Episode 110: Cocaine Bear

On this combustible episode, Barry and Mike ingest heroic amounts of cocaine and then yell at each other about the comedy/horror movie Cocaine Bear. Topics discussed include guilty pleasures, bad taste and the perils of living with bears.

11-30
59:44

Episode 109: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

On this episode, Barry and Mike navigate the maze that is Apple TV+ in order to review the first two episodes of the Godzilla-adjacent tv series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Topics discussed include Mike's bizarre obsession with all things Godzilla, how spending money doesn't always translate into quality filmmaking, and if a Godzilla shrieks on a podcast but the mic doesn't pick up...did it really happen?

11-20
01:14:26

Episode 108: Wes Anderson's Four Short Films - The Roald Dahl Collection

On this episode Barry and Mike talk all things Wes Anderson and critique the four short films he recently made for Netflix based on the Roald Dahl short stories The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Ratcatcher, and Poison. Topics discussed include the joy of short films, the challenging style of Wes Anderson and the awful marketing of Netflix. As a special bonus - watch Barry and Mike's own classic short film "...With No Hands".

10-20
52:46

Episode 107: No One Will Save You

On this episode, Barry and Mike talk about No One Will Save You, the new sci-fi/horror movie on Hulu. Topics discussed include UFOs, the uncomfortable accuracy of the film's title, the excitement of an ambitious and well-made movie, and the exquisite performance of actress Kaitlyn Devers.

09-27
01:08:21

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