379 – Amsterdam

2022’s Amsterdam was a high profile box office dud from disgraced director David O. Russell with timely themes, a big budget, and a ton of stars. The film tells a (partly true) story about fascist maneuverings in America, with Christian Bale, John David Washington, and Margot as a friendship trio who sets out to thwart them after being reunited post-WWII. Though the film earned some fans like critic Richard Brody, it received a somewhat indifferent release by 20th Century Studios and was quickly out of theatres.

This episode, we talk about the film’s scattered look at timely themes and it’s very quiet release. We also discuss Robbie’s high wire performance in Babylon in the same year, Taylor Swift’s brief (and much memed) role, and Robert De Niro joins our Six Timers Club.

Topics also include Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Emmanuel Lubezki’s light resume after winning 3 Oscars, and Drunk History.

313 – The Menu

Keeping things horror adjacent for your October viewing schedule, this week we are discussing 2022’s The Menu. Originally announced as a collaboration for director Alexander Payne with Emma Stone, The Menu centers on a psycho chef and his high end clientele, who all take part in a super exclusive dining experience from Hell. The film ultimately lost that twosome but inherited Succession‘s Mark Mylod and the in-demand Anya Taylor-Joy, with Ralph Fiennes staying on as the chef. The film was a minor hit with audiences and received critical praise for its ensemble, but distributor Searchlight didn’t get it into Oscar’s good graces.

This episode, we talk about the film’s flimsy “eat the rich” satire and Taylor-Joy’s sudden ascent to stardom. We also talk about Hong Chau’s perfect line readings, other recent successful films satirizing class, and Mylod’s work on Succession.

Topics also include Fiennes in villain mode, fan culture as represented by Nicholas Hoult, and our current Halloween viewing.

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