Across the Movie Aisle

Latest Episodes:

112: Is 'Top Gun: Maverick' The Summer's Best Movie? Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review the biggest hit of the summer (so far!), Top Gun: Maverick. Meanwhile, the gang discusses the pluses and minuses of “militainment,” entertainment in bed with the military-industrial complex. Make sure to head back to Bulwark+ on Friday for our discussion of what makes a great summer blockbuster.

111: Did Frank Langella Deserve to Be Fired? Plus: 'Men' reviewed! May 24, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask whether or not the firing of Frank Langella (background here and here) was a controversy … or a nontroversy. Then they review Men, the new folk-horror flick from Alex Garland. What’s the matter with men—and Men? Make sure to come back for Friday’s bonus episode, in which we’ll discuss whether Tom Cruise is the last movie star or something a little weirder. And share this episode with a friend if you enjoyed it!

110: Should Netflix Have Stood Up to Its Employees? Plus: 'Moon Knight,' reviewed! May 17, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to figure out why Netflix had to clarify to their employees that hosting a breadth of content may mean working on something they disagree with ideologically. Doesn’t everyone work at a journal of ideas that tolerates dissenting viewpoints? And then they discuss Moon Knight, the Disney+ MCU series that is only mildly distinguishable from the other Disney+ MCU series despite dealing with gods and stuff. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on the renewed plague of advertisements. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

109: Should 'Doctor Strange 2' Have Been Rated R? May 10, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) consider the bubbling controversy (or nontroversy?) surrounding the PG-13 rating for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Then the gang reviews the new Sam Raimi-directed feature. Is this a bog-standard MCU movie or something more? Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ Friday for our bonus episode on the wonderful world of mainstream cultist Sam Raimi. And share this episode with a friend if you enjoyed it! Your recommendation is the best advertising money can buy.

108: Wes Anderson: Fascist? May 03, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), discuss the dumbest cons and nons of all time. Then they review The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, the new meta-movie from Nicolas Cage. Make sure to check out the bonus episode at Bulwark+ on great movies about movies. And if you liked this episode, share it with a friend!

107: Is Netflix Doomed? Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), look at Netflix’s disastrous quarter and ask how they can right the ship. And they review The Northman, director Robert Eggers’s vision quest to the gates of Valhalla. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for our bonus episode on historical epics! And share this episode with a friend if you enjoyed it!

106: Gone Fishin' Apr 19, 2022

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Hey folks, just dropping in a quick episode to say we're off this week. But we'll be back next week!

105: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once': Good ... or Great? Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about the best movie of the year (so far!): Everything Everywhere All at Once, the trippy new sci-fi action-comedy family-drama multiversal epic from the directing duo known as Daniels. Meanwhile, in cons and nons, the gang revisits “The Slap” for, hopefully, the last time. Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ on Friday for a special bonus episode on Michael Bay’s Ambulance and the state of original action movies. And a programming note: we’ll be off next week thanks to a confluence of traveling and vacation schedules.

104: Is Cancel Culture Canceled? Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the near-simultaneous Grammy win by Louis C.K. and delays of Will Smith movies following his attack on Chris Rock at the Oscars. Is cancel culture canceled? Or are these perfectly reasonable actions? Then the gang discusses Apollo 10 1/2, which just showed up on Netflix out of nowhere and is the best movie Oscar-nominated director Richard Linklater has ever made on the subject of boyhood. Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on the new kinda-hit movie Morbius, which is a disaster on every level. If you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend!

103: 'The Slap': Controversy or Nontroversy? Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed the most controversial moment at the Oscars, and no, I’m not referring to Zack Snyder’s sweep of the fan favorite categories. We break down Will Smith’s attack on Chris Rock, using Smith’s recent memoir and his efforts to be less people-pleasing and more true to himself as a jumping-off point. Then they reviewed The Lost City, Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s delightful action romcom. Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ on Friday for the bonus episode about Sean Combs’s … odd interpretation of The Godfather, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

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