Film Fuzz

Christopher Nolan's epic three hour long movie about J Robert Oppenheimer's life and the consequences of his work is perhaps the most important movie this year. A stellar cast, a sweeping narrative, and I didn't get up to pee once! 

Life in Plastic, it's fantastic - Barbie is literally everywhere and the reviews have mostly been positive. But what is Greta's movie all about? This week we bring on special guest Ariel Kavoussi. She's an actor, director and all around talented performer so we ask-Is Barbie a feminist movie, is it lampooning American consumerism, or is it a cash grab. We disagree, but Onur has some insights that may have changed my befuddled old brain. 

We Anderson is a singular talent in Hollywood. Quirky, intellectual, and visually a master of his craft. But of late there's been something of a backlash. All style and no substance  is often the critique flung his way. But with a cast of stars and a 'play within a play,' format Anderson is more introspective than ever and we loved it!

The darling of independent film making Kelly Reichardt collaborates with Michelle Williams (again) for a portrait of a struggling artist. Andy absolutely detests this movie and Onur adores it.  To paraphrase Montgomery Burns -  Release The Hounds Smithers! If we'd have been in the same studio and not separated by a thousand miles of air space we may have come to blows. Oh and we finish the episode with a very special musical guest.  

One of the key components of the agreement between the Writers Guild and Hollywood is a provision that AI not replace or threaten writers' livelihoods. Artificial Intelligence is everywhere now, and only getting better. So what does it mean for film, artists and creatives?

The story of two NY Times journalists - played by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan - whose dogged work brought down a movie titan and ushered in the #metoo era. A deliberately slow but painstakingly accurate depiction of investigative journalism at its best.  

The story of how Nike managed to snatch Michael Jordan from their rivals and build a brand around an 18-year-old rookie is the stuff of sports legend. Affleck skillfully directs, Damon acts his pants off, and the rest of the cast more than holds their own. We think this may just be one of the finest sports movies ever made, but hey you decide. 

Joseph Bologne's (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr) was the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner. Despite all the obstacles he faced in Pre-Revolutionary France he was considered Europe's finest fencer, violinist, and composer.  His story is an important one and worth telling, but well. Is 'Chevalier' then a lost opportunity or an eye opener to an important historical figure.

Director Ari Aster describes 'Beau if Afraid' as being like a Jewish 'Lord of the Rings,' except Beau (Joaquin Pheonix) is going to see his mother. This one has audiences and critics entirely divided not to mention confused. BUT Onur has a stroke of genius this week with a  theory that makes sense - we think!

A. V. Rockwell writes and directs the story of a mother - Inez - who kidnaps her 6-year-old son from the foster care system. A break out performance from Teyana Taylor, but is it worthy of all the praise, and a Grand Jury Prize from the Sundance Film Festival?