This week we take a look at Ryan Coogler’s first feature film, Fruitvale Station, about the 2009 murder of Oscar Grant. It is competently directed by Coogler but the impeccable performances by recognizable names such as Octavia Spencer and Michael B. Jordan, as well as its tragically-evergreen relevance, are what really make the film a must-see.
After we announced last week that we’d be covering Fruitvale Station, Spike Lee went and dropped his latest joint, Da 5 Bloods, on Netflix, to rave reviews. So, we’ve decided to postpone Fruitvale Station for a week in favor of timely coverage of what’s sure to be a strong contender come Oscar season. Join us for the podcast to hear our what we thought.
The Talented Mr. Ripley is a name for a film that only appeals to grandmothers above a certain age. And more specifically, English ones. They also have boring taste in men. But don’t let the name fool you; the Talented Mr. Ripley is an excellent thriller and, unlike our podcast, it is decidedly not for boring English grandmothers.
After Westworld season 3 ended, I expected we’d be done discussing what it means to be alive and artificial intelligence. And then we started talking about Devs. And now we’re covering this. Join us for about an hour as we discuss Alex Garland’s ambitious Turing test, Ex Machina.
Bald Move Prestige is where the best of the best come to shine. In the Prestige podcast, we talk about serious dramas, excellence in filmmaking, and everything in between; on television or on the big screen. Prestige doesn’t cover sci-fi, but if that is your thing, you might be looking for Bald Move Pulp.
The Conversation (1974) is a film about a freelance surveillance specialist’s (Gene Hackman) struggle with guilt, shame, ethics, and paranoia. Released in the same year as The Godfather Part II, it is also written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The trademark style of Coppola is obvious, but is it any good? Join us on the podcast to find out what we thought.
Special thanks to Hatorian, who by right of conquest in the Bald Move Fantasy Football leagues has won his prize; a commissioned podcast of his choice. He has chosen wisely, selecting the classic 1994 prison/drama/inspirational The Shawshank Redemption. This is a nearly perfect piece of filmmaking, with a confidence in pacing and direction from Frank Darabont matched by the nuanced work of the film’s two leads, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. We had a lot of fun watching and discussing this one Hatorian. Hopefully, it won’t be the longest podcast of your life…
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A very special Live Watch this week as we take on the 1973 movie “Westworld”. Will it hold up 45 years later and how will it compare to what Nolan and Joy have been showing us in the television series? We find out now.
Special thanks to our buddy Jason Shankel hailing from the Nattercast for commissioning this podcast for the 1986 sci-fi action fantasy film Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert. Jason and his friends also did a deep dive on Highlander, so please check that out if you’re looking for a very affectionate and informed take from life-long fans of the franchise. As for us, we thought Highlander was cheesy fun. The film boasts an excellent soundtrack, exciting and varied sets for the extended sword fights, and some of the sturdiest and most interesting fantasy bones to hang a franchise on. We walk away wondering why hasn’t anyone rebooted this?
Special thanks to Stephen Moore, whose original commission of Home Alone we thoughtlessly trampled upon during our holiday revelries. For his make-good podcast, he has selected the classic 1973 horror film, The Exorcist. Directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller, it tells the harrowing tale of a mother who turns to Catholic priests as her last hope when her daughter gets possessed by an ancient evil spirit. I’ve got to be honest, I was skeptical that the film would hold up, but does it ever. Not only does it still manage to be genuinely disturbing, but it elevates the form of the horror flick into a generally excellent film in terms of art.