Here’s the elevator pitch: It’s “Left, Right, and Center” meets “Siskel and Ebert.” Three friends from different ideological perspectives discuss the movies and controversies (or nontroversies!) swirling around them. You’ll have to sign up for the Substack to get bonus episodes and you can do that at movieaisle.substack.com.
Is 'Drive-Away Dolls' an Instant Cult Film?
Feb 27, 2024
Show notes
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Ted Gioia’s breakdown of how the culture has moved from art to entertainment, into a world of distraction, and is now veering toward addiction. (Or, how we moved from Kubrick and Coppola to TikTok and IG Stories in several easy steps.) Then they reviewed Drive-Away Dolls, the new lesbian neo-noir from Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke. Is it an instant cult classic or something less impressive? Make sure to swing by Friday for our bonus episode on the Criterion Channel’s Razzies program. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
Why 'True Detective: Night Country' Was Doomed to Fail
Feb 20, 2024
Show notes
On this week’s episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) debated the emergence of AI video and whether it would be a net positive or a net negative for society. Then they reviewed True Detective: Night Country, which just wrapped its season up this weekend. Is it a worthy successor to season one, or something lesser? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on Madame Web. (I know, I know: comic book movies, ugh. But you’re really going to enjoy this episode, I think.) And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
'The Zone of Interest's' Immersive Horror
Feb 13, 2024
Show notes
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked Super Bowl trailers (which you can watch here). Then they turned to The Zone of Interest, the last of the best picture nominees they have to review. (If you want to hear their take on every best picture nominee, here’s the lineup in the order we reviewed them, from most recently to least recently: Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers, American Fiction,Maestro, Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Past Lives.) Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our discussion of the state of film criticism. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
'Argylle' and the Unreality of Streaming Blockbusters
Feb 06, 2024
Show notes
This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) asked whether Nikki Haley should be persona non grata from Saturday Night Live. Then they reviewed Argylle, which is a strange combination of distressingly empty and absurdly overstuffed. Make sure to swing by Friday for our bonus episode, in which we will offer up some suggestions of stuff to see since the multiplex is letting us all down. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!
Was 'Barbie' Snubbed in the Oscar Nominations?
Jan 30, 2024
Show notes
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) asked the most pressing question in the history of awards season: Was Barbie snubbed? Or was this, in fact, one of the best crops of nominees in decades? Then they reviewed one of the best picture nominees, Anatomy of a Fall. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for our bonus episode about the biggest move Netflix has made in years. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
'The Holdovers,' a Very Nice Movie!
Jan 23, 2024
Show notesA programming note: We tape on Monday afternoons, which means you will have to wait until next week for our Oscar hot takes. I know, you are quivering with anticipation! Quiver a moment or two longer.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the decline of Pitchfork, which was gutted by Conde Nast and moved under the GQ banner. What happened to the once-storied indie-rock website? Then they review The Holdovers, one of the nicest movies of the year. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on Friday about the Oscar-nominated Paul Giamatti. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!
Does 'The Beekeper' Have Audiences Buzzing? (Correct Episode This Time!)
Jan 16, 2024
Show notesApologies, got sent the wrong file this morning, which necessitated me, Sonny, doing an emergency edit to get this to you ASAP. So when you listen to this and you hear how much worse it sounds, know that’s the difference between getting a professional Jonathan Siri edit and a quick-and-dirty Sonny Bunch edit. Sorry for the mixup!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about the NFL’s decision to give the Peacock streaming service exclusive rights to a single playoff game for the low-low price of more than $100 million. Then they review The Beekeeper, the delightful new Jason Statham action film from director David Ayer. Is it a cathartic action-revenge romp, or something less than that? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on the joys of Jason Statham. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
The Tricky Lessons of 'American Fiction'
Jan 09, 2024
Show notes
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (the Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked about the TikTok-ification of The Sopranos. Clever marketing, or grotesque desecration? Then they reviewed American Fiction, which is going wide this week after a relatively limited run. Does it effectively skewer its targets in the publishing-industrial complex? Or is it simply a satisfying comedy? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on directorial debuts. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
ATMA's Top Ten of 2023!
Jan 03, 2024
Show notes
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Peter Suderman (Reason), and Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) discussed their ten (or so!) favorite movies of the year. You may have already seen Sonny’s list, but who knows how much things have changed in the weeks between its publication and the taping of this episode. One thing that’s definitely true: there’s more divergence this year than in years past. Many different movies get a shoutout and only a few share positions. If you want to win an argument against the friends you talk movies with, by sharing your favorite ATMA host’s list, please forward this to a friend!
A Flattened 'Maestro'
Dec 26, 2023
Show notes
Merry Christmas! Peter, Alyssa, and I hope everyone out there is having a happy holidays. As you try to figure out what to watch with the family in this down week, we took a look at Netflix’s awards season favorite, Maestro. Before that, we dove into Marvel’s Jonathan Majors mess and asked if they made the right call in dropping him following his criminal convictions. Swing back by Bulwark+ on Friday for our bonus episode about what we’re looking forward to at the multiplex in 2024. Our annual best-of episode is coming next week, though it may be a day late owing to New Year’s travel schedules. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend! We had a great 2023, hope you did the same.
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