FX’s Fargo threw audiences a supernatural, out of nowhere curve ball this week in “Who Rules the Land of Denial” and A.Ron…. loved it? The man who hates a fishnado, the man who revolts at the first sign of UFO, is all down for purgatory overseen by a Wandering Jew? Okay, then. We discuss Jewish mysticism, Gloria Burgle’s arc, who is tormenting Emmitt, and how Varga’s move against Sy could be a fatal mistake.
Premium
This week we’re catching up on questions from the audience, which includes stuff like time traveling for good or evil, speculation about which badass action star is the friendliest and favorite condiments.
Jim and A.Ron checked out the summer action/horror/Tom Cruise vehicle, The Mummy. A.Ron thinks it’s dumb, but fun, and draws comparisons to Stargate, American Werewolf in London, Hellboy, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Jim thinks it has the kind of fun, swashbuckling, scoundrel flavor found in the Uncharted video game series. So is it a successful start to Universal’s ambitious interconnected monster saga, Dark Universe? We’ll have to see how much money it makes. Please enjoy our spoiler free review of the film, as well as discussion of upcoming summer movies such as Atomic Blonde, Baby Driver, and American Assassin. But if you want to hear our spoiler filled review, you’ll have to be a Club Bald Move member!
Premium
This is a podcast where Jim and I, using tools created for the purpose, randomly generate a title for a fictional TV show. We then pitch ideas to each other based on what that show would be like if it were real. We like to call it, “Quit Yer Pitchin’!”
Jim and A.Ron discuss the latest episode of AMC’s Better Call Saul, “Slip”. We note, rather ominously, the next episode title is “Fall”. Gulp. We discuss better strategies for pill swapping, the probably bowel patterns of an elderly man who’s diet consists entirely of Mexican food and espresso, and give a full-throated cheer for Kim serving some cold justice to one Howard Hamlin.
Premium
Watch us record the podcast, including all the sound checks, flubs, and riveting research breaks that you’ve always wished you could see… Hey, at least you can hear the podcast before anyone else.
Jim, A.Ron, and hundreds of listeners grapple with their feelings about the series finale of HBO’s The Leftovers, “The Book of Nora”. Was it good just because it was a work of art that was brilliantly written, expertly acted and shot, and in it’s rigid adherence to ambiguity the most Leftovers Leftovers of all? Was it bad because it answered nothing, or everything, or betrayed characters we cared about or gave short shrift to, or invalidated what we felt about past episodes? The answer, more than usual, rests with the viewer, and everybody’s got thoughts. We try to capture as many as we can. But we also promise to return next week for more! One final podcast before we say goodbye to The Leftovers, forever. If that’s not worth of a Max Richter soundtrack, what the hell is?
Watch us record the podcast, including all the sound checks, flubs, and riveting research breaks that you’ve always wished you could see… Hey, at least you can hear the podcast before anyone else.
Special thanks to DrKen (previous commissioner of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) for commissioning this great thriller from the 90’s, The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford as brilliant doctor wrongfully accused of the murder of his wife evading the dogged pursuit of Tommy Lee Jones as U.S. Marshal. This is one of the tightest films you’ll ever see, effortlessly moving from one set piece to another, drawing strength and vitality from the charisma and presence of it’s two brightest stars, achieving the rare balance where you want the protagonist and antagonist to find a way to both win. We have fond memories of this film from our youth, and we found it held up like Ford’s Finger ‘O Doom. Thanks again, DrKen! If you ever have to evade justice, we got a couple of bucks and a bed in the basement for you!
Jim and I discuss who won the week! A short week, as Better Call Saul took it’s ball and went home for Memorial Day, but Fargo and The Leftovers really came strong. Will Fargo have enough stuff to overcome the excitement of The Leftovers’ penultimate episode? Then we talk about Silicon Valley (00:05:12 ) and T.J. Miller’s career prospects for a bit before signing off.