Across the Movie Aisle

Latest Episodes:

132: Why Does Kanye Want Parler? Plus: 'Catherine, Called Birdy' reviewed! Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask why one of the world’s most popular musicians wants to buy one of the world’s worst social media apps, Parler, and also delve into the dangers of Elon Musk’s effort to buy Twitter. After that, they review Catherine, Called Birdy, Lena Dunham’s adaptation of a YA novel set during medieval times. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for the bonus episode on Friday; we’re reviewing the critically acclaimed Netflix original, Athena. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

131: Is 'Amsterdam' the Flop of the Fall? Plus: RIP, Nikki Finke. Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), bid farewell to Nikki Finke, the notoriously nasty maven of Hollywood gossip who revolutionized the trade magazine business at Deadline Hollywood Daily. Then they review Amsterdam, David O. Russell’s big-budget, star-heavy flop. What went wrong with this farce about fascism? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on Friday, when we’re going to talk about the further entanglement of Disney and fantasy gambling site DraftKings. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

130: Should Billy Eichner Blame Homophobes for 'Bros' Bombing? Plus: Is 'Blonde' worth your time? Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if it’s a controversy or a nontroversy that Billy Eichner blamed the straights for Bros bombing at the box office. Warning: there is journalist math in this section.
And then we review Blonde, a tremendously depressing movie that goes on at great length. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for a special bonus episode on the tricky partnerships between news organizations and movie studios. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

129: Should You See 'Don't Worry Darling'? Plus: The controversy (or nontroversy!) of 'Jihad Rehab.' Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if all the drama swirling about Jihad Rehab—the Sundance-selected documentary that some say never should have been made because the director is white while others say skirted questions of consent—is a controversy or a nontroversy. Then they review Don’t Worry Darling, a movie that dares to suggest that the dreamy life of the suburbs is actually, gasp, a stultifying nightmare. Make sure to swing back by Bulwark+ on Friday for their bonus episode on Avatar-mania. And if you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend!

128: Is 'The Rings of Power' Worth Your Time, Precious? Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Woody Allen’s not-quite-retirement announcement. Or “announcement.” What are we to do with his body of work? And then we discuss the hit series Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Is Middle Earth worth revisiting? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for a special bonus episode comparing and contrasting The Rings of Power with another fantasy prequel: House of the Dragon. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend! Our most loyal listeners are our best evangelists.

127: 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' Versus The Discourse Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the ways in which movie stars benefit from Netflix (huge paychecks!) and also how they’re ill-served by The Service (minimal promotion, which removes stars from the public eye). Is Netflix a boon or a secret curse for Hollywood’s biggest earners?
Then the gang reviews Bodies Bodies Bodies, a social thriller that inverts the usual politics of such pictures. Bodies Bodies Bodies is the latest from A24, the indie distributor celebrating ten years of existence this year, and we’ll have more to say about that on our special members-only bonus episode this Friday. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

126: So, How Was Your Summer? Plus: 'Three Thousand Years of Longing,' reviewed! Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss how the movie business fared this summer. It wasn’t terrible … and it could’ve been worse … but it certainly wasn’t great, either. And then the gang reviews Three Thousand Years of Longing, George Miller’s long-awaited follow-up to Mad Max: Fury Road. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for the bonus episode on Friday, when we’re going to be talking about Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

125: Olivia Wilde's 'Don't Worry Darling' Worries. Plus: 'Samaritan' reviewed! Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss some old-fashioned Hollywood gossip. Why is so much drama swirling about Olivia Wilde and her new movie, Don’t Worry Darling? And is it, weirdly or not-so-weirdly, helping the movie increase awareness and sell tickets to viewers? Is it tawdry prattle or classic Hollywood gossip-mongering? Why not both! (For a quick primer on all the ins and outs and what-have-yous of this scandal, check this story out or sign up for Puck and read this one by Matthew Belloni.)
After all that, we cleanse our palates with some actual movie talk: Samaritan, the new Sly Stallone film that dropped on Prime Video this week. Is it a must-watch or an easy skip? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for our special members-only bonus episode on the divergence between critics and audiences. If you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend!

124: 'She-Hulk' vs. 'House of the Dragon.' Plus: Lena Wilson of the NYT vs. Amandla Stenberg of 'Bodies Bodies Bodies.' Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s show, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) break down the remarkably silly fight between NYT film critic Lena Wilson and Bodies Bodies Bodies star Amandla Stenberg, a tiff that feels like it could’ve been ripped from the movie Stenberg starred in and Wilson panned. And then the gang lets you know which new show is worth your time: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law or House of the Dragon. There are nigh-on infinite viewing options and just 24 hours in the day to view them, so we’re here to help you make the tough calls about what to watch and what to skip. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for more Game of Thrones talk in our members-only bonus episode. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

123: Is 'Prey' a Good 'Predator' Movie? Plus: Salman Rushdie and the West's Shame Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the shameful stance too many in the west took toward free expression and the ability of artists to do their work free of persecution or threat of violence from thuggish leaders like the Ayatollah of Iran. And then they review Prey, the latest entry in the Predator series now streaming on Hulu. Is it a good movie? Perhaps more importantly: is it a good Predator movie? Make sure to swing back by Bulwark+ on Friday for our bonus episode. And if you enjoyed this, share it with a friend!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected