Steffan and Gavia discuss Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, a dark comedy starring Benicio del Toro as a corrupt businessman who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Mia Threapleton). Among other topics, this episode covers Wes Anderson's trademark aesthetic, his relationship with absurdism, his casting choices, and this film's religious and historical themes.
Read MoreVampire fans Claire and Gavia discuss 2025's biggest horror movie, Sinners. Directed by Ryan Coogler, this historical blockbuster explores the roots of blues music in 1930s Mississippi, starring Michael B. Jordan as a pair of identical twins who open a juke joint in their home town. Among other topics, this episode covers the film's meticulously researched historical storytelling, its imaginative use of music, and its unique vampire mythos.
Read MoreSteffan and Gavia discuss Brady Corbet’s historical epic The Brutalist, which stars Adrien Brody as a Hungarian-Jewish architect who emigrates to America after surviving the Holocaust. Among other topics, this episode explores the film’s ambitious technical artistry, its morally complicated historical narrative, and its role as a successor to "American Dream" dramas like The Godfather and There Will Be Blood.
Read MoreClaire and Gavia delve into Oppenheimer, discussing the film's relationship with "great man" biopics, its divisive political narrative, its epic ensemble cast, its technical complexity, and Christopher Nolan's underappreciated levels of corniness.
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