Criticism Is Dead

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Film Reviews
**Criticism Is Dead**

A weekly podcast about the film, TV, and culture we’re consuming and what it all means (if it means anything at all). Hosted by producer and writer Pelin Keskin-Liu and culture writer and critic Jenny G. Zhang.

Latest Episodes:

SUCCESSION SENDOFF episode 4: "Honeymoon States" Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season.

In episode 4 “Honeymoon States,” the Coronation Demolition Derby kicks off, garbed in black.

...

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and recs for what to watch can go to criticismisdead@gmail.com.

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Perry Mason, The Big Door Prize, and Love Is Blind s4 Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

We discuss Perry Mason and The Big Door Prize, two shows about people reluctantly grappling with their life potential.

03:22 Perry Mason, streaming on HBO Max, returns for a second season that is vibe-ier and better crafted than the first.

18:56 The Big Door Prize, streaming on Apple TV+, is the right blend of lighthearted quirk, existential questions, and plain intrigue.

34:04 Plus, a little chat about the jaw-dropping mess (complimentary) that is Love Is Blind season 4.

...

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

SUCCESSION SENDOFF episode 3: "Connor's Wedding" Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season.

In episode 3 “Connor’s Wedding,” the unthinkable — and the inevitable — happens.

...

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Return to Seoul, Rye Lane, and the trial of Gwyneth Paltrow Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

We discuss Return to Seoul and Rye Lane, two films with a strong sense of place.

02:22 At times discomfiting, at times revelatory, the film Return to Seoul — playing in select theaters — is a distinctive spin on the journey of an adoptee.

26:19 The pleasant rom-com Rye Lane, streaming on Hulu, does a better job highlighting the charm of a city than any chemistry between its leads.

39:29 Plus, culture notes about how Gwyneth Paltrow litigated her way into stans’ hearts.

...

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

SUCCESSION SENDOFF episode 2: "Rehearsal" Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season.

In episode 2 “Rehearsal,” business and personal issues became entangled (again).

...

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Top Chef, Next in Fashion, and the latest nepo baby Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

We discuss Top Chef and Next in Fashion, two reality competition shows that demonstrate the importance of skill.

04:06 We have a soft spot for Top Chef because we love to witness CRAFT, and season 20 — streaming on Hulu, Peacock, etc. — is no exception.

23:26 Netflix revived its promising fashion design competition reality show Next in Fashion only to completely butcher season 2.

37:23 Plus, new Coppola just dropped.

ALSO, don't forget to check out our bonus SUCCESSION SENDOFF episode 1 in the feed!

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

SUCCESSION SENDOFF episode 1: "The Munsters" Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our new weekly special following along Succession’s fourth and final season!

Featuring a review of what happened in episode 1, our thoughts, and three new recurring segments: Daddy’s Best Boy, The Disgusting Boy, and Death Watch.

...

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

The best movies of all time (in our opinion) Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

We have a very special one for you this week. In honor of our 100th episode — yes, that’s right, this is the big 1-0-0! — we’re doing our own highly personal version of the AFI greatest films list. Presenting: our top seven films, respectively.

(Obligatory disclaimers: We haven’t watched everything, these are not really in any particular order, these are just our opinions, etc.)

05:39 After Life (Hirokazu Kore-eda, 1998)

07:54 Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001)

10:36 Close-Up (Abbas Kiarostami, 1990)

13:09 Little Miss Sunshine (dir. Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, writ. Michael Arndt, 2006)

15:12 Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2013)

17:33 Call Me By Your Name (dir. Luca Guadagnino, writ. James Ivory, 2017)

20:27 The Matrix (Lana and Lilly Wachowski, 1999)

23:49 Wolf Children (dir. Mamoru Hosoda, writ. Satoko Okudera and Mamoru Hosoda, 2012)

26:20 Michael Clayton (Tony Gilroy, 2007)

28:50 Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho, writ. Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won, 2019)

33:01 Persona (Ingmar Bergman, 1966)

35:35 Nomadland (Chloé Zhao, 2020)

39:53 Fish Tank (Andrea Arnold, 2009)

42:08 Princess Mononoke (Hayao Miyazaki, 1997)

...

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Top Gun: Maverick, The Reluctant Traveler, and Oscar predictions Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

We discuss Top Gun: Maverick and The Reluctant Traveler, a film and a series about older men discovering that they have plenty left to live for.

02:41 Don’t overthink Top Gun: Maverick — the film, streaming on Paramount+ and MGM+, is the epitome of “turn your brain off and rock on.”

21:59 The Reluctant Traveler, streaming on Apple TV+, is a sometimes relatable, sometimes frustrating, always gorgeous travel show.

36:42 Plus, 2023 Oscar predictions: what we want to win versus what we think will win.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

The Last of Us, Hello Tomorrow!, and Succession countdown Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

We discuss The Last of Us and Hello Tomorrow!, two vastly different visions of the past, present, and future.

03:00 The Last of Us, streaming on HBO Max, is faithful yet fresh enough to appeal to both pre-existing fans and new viewers.

27:00 Hello Tomorrow!, streaming on Apple TV+, is a gorgeous but underbaked series about a grifter salesman in a retrofuturistic world.

40:58 Plus, culture notes about the upcoming fourth and final season of Succession (and Jeremy Strong being babygirl).

...

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

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