Medium Literate

LET'S GET READY TO RECKON. This week we're talking about The Social Reckoning, the long awaited follow-up to 2010's The Social Network. This time it's Oops All Aaron Sorkin, and the results... aren't great. Emily and Monika talk about their tech takes, the silicon valley movie and miniseries industrial complex, the surprise cameo from January 6th, the insane score, and why this movie just doesn't work in our current landscape, or possibly any landscape at any point.Join the conversation with us below:Email us [email protected]://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliteratehttps://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiteratehttps://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterateMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-streetLicense code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

Against all odds, we are here to defend Verity.This week, Monika and Emily dip their toes into the CoHo waters to talk about Michael Showalter’s star-studded adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s extremely popular/horny/violent thriller starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, a movie we can only describe (lovingly) as prestige Lifetime schlock.We get into why Dakota Johnson’s particular brand of deadpan coolness is absolutely perfect for Lowen Ashleigh (perfect name), Anne Hathaway playing evil, Josh Hartnett’s ongoing second career as "Hot Dad Who May Be Dangerous...or not?" and why this movie understands exactly how seriously to take its beach-read source material.***Major spoilers for Verity throughout!!!Join the conversation with us below:Email us [email protected]://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliteratehttps://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiteratehttps://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterateMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-streetLicense code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

This week we’re talking about Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger, starring Tom Cruise as an oil tycoon at the center of an apocalyptic climate disaster (and also some other stuff)We discuss whether a movie can be intentionally unpleasant and still simply not work for you, Iñárritu’s keen eye for bringing together incredibly skilled film crafts-people, and the exciting return of Tom Cruise doing something other than jumping out of airplanes.***Major spoilers for Digger throughout the entire conversation.Join the conversation with us below:Email us [email protected]://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliteratehttps://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiteratehttps://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterateMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-streetLicense code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

Lance Oppenheim's 'Primetime' has been one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year, and Monika and Emily are both here to say that in their opinions, it did not disappoint. This episode covers a lot of ground, both within the movie itself: the electrifying performances from basically everyone, theorizing about what the movie makes of Chris Hansen as a man and as a cultural figure, the humor, the darkness, the visuals, AND outside the movie: The 2025 documentary 'Predators', the show 'Undercover Underage', Lance Oppenheim's previous work, Chris Hansen's current career, and the whole sub-genre of media that he ultimately spawned. 'Primetime' is a provocative movie about a tonally fascinating juggernaut of a show about the darkest parts of humanity, and that's a recipe for a very long, very wide-ranging conversation to try to make a little bit of sense out of a lot of things. Join the conversation with us below:Email us [email protected]://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliteratehttps://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiteratehttps://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterateMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-streetLicense code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

Fire up those PlayStations, we’re headed to Raccoon City baby!!This week, we’re talking about Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil. Neither of us has ever played a Resident Evil game, which puts us in an interesting position: How well does a video game adaptation work when you have absolutely no attachment to the source material?We get into the movie’s pretty darn effective attempt to recreate the feeling of actually playing a game, from its camera movements and real-time pacing and constant stream of increasingly disgusting obstacles. Some other important discussion topics include: Austin Abrams carrying an entire movie, impossible task of balancing horror and comedy, our favorite infected monsters, and whether a movie really needs to be “about” anything if it’s this much fun.Before all that, Monika talks about her very unexpected experience seeing Skweezy Jibbs Makes a Movie in Chicago.Join the conversation with us below:Email us [email protected]://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliteratehttps://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiteratehttps://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterateMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-streetLicense code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT00:00 Welcome & Spoiler warning04:48 Skweezy Jibbs Makes a Movie15:32 Resident Evil