What the Flick?! Podcast 10/4/18
We’re off the deep end, watch as we dive in, we’ll never meet the ground. This week, Alonso, Matt and I dig into Bradley Cooper’s swoony remake of “A Star Is Born,” the wildly uneven comic book movie “Venom” and “The Hate U Give,” a powerful, Young Adult take on police shootings. Alonso and I also sing the praises of a couple of great documentaries: “Free Solo” and “Studio 54.” We’re far from the shallow now, so thanks for sticking with us. Listen and enjoy.
Christy, thank you for keeping WTF alive, even if it is, much like Venom, in another bodily form. I’ve enjoyed you all for years.
Ha! Which one of us is the alien monster? And thanks.
Sorry if you’ve already done so, but have you reviewed “On Chesil Beach”? Thank you for your work.
Hi Karen. You know, I thought we did, but I just went back and looked for a review and couldn’t find one so I guess we didn’t. It’s all a blur. I recall being mixed on it. It felt a little too tasteful and restrained, but Saoirse Ronan is always great. And I loved the clothes. What did you think?
I haven’t seen it yet, but may do so. The book was not the greatest, and so I’m on the fence a bit.
Christy:
I have heard you say here and elsewhere many times that you should see this or that film on the biggest screen you can with good sound. I was wondering if you had ever considered investing in a home theater? You can setup a theater in your home for surprisingly little money that provides you with really big, high-quality images and really good sound, better than the vast majority of commercial theaters. I sort of work in the business and would be happy to offer some recommendations if this is something that at all interests you.
Anyway, great show this week. It is always better when you have good movies to review.
Yay things! Work on the things!
Thank you for another great week. Welcome back Matt!
Thanks for listening, Jo!
Love the podcast and your reviews as usual!!!
Thanks so much, Janet!
Hi. I just wanna say, Thanks for keeping What The Flick going. I was so gutted when I found out the show was cancelled. I really enjoy the reviews you guys do, especially when you go in depth on a TV Series. This is probably gonna sound really silly, but it was like sitting with old friends. I really hope you guys find a way to do some videos soon as well. Good Luck.
Thanks, Sheraz. We are your old friends!
Been listening to you guys for years now- and so happy you made this podcast! Please keep it going, love to hear the back-and-forth banter between you guys.
Also, Alonso’s comments during the Venom review were hilarious!
Best wishes from New Delhi, India
Hello, New Dehli! Thanks for the kind words.
Thanks for keeping this up! You guys are seriously missed on YouTube but I’m glad to see that What the Flick is still alive. Maybe Ben can show up for one of these?
Thank you Christy, for keeping WTF alive. I really hope you guys get back on a video platform. I miss Matt’s Hawaiian shirts, Alonso’s expressions, Ben’s humour and your unusual water pitchers.
I’ve learned a lot about filmmaking from y’all. Also helped me a lot with depression so please don’t stop doing what you do!
Thank you, Pranav! Nice to see you out there.
1. Really excited to hear that Matt’s excited about his new gig! And that’s back for a second apperance, I was slightly concerned that this might just melt down into the Christy and Matt show. I mean these are of course the only two real critics in the bunch, the only ones who compose arresting sentences on a consistent basis, but it’s still nice to hear from the others, especially jovial Matt who is so quintessentially warm-hearted that his very presense is almost always a treat. His comments on the business-slash-corporate end of movies is often especially trenchant and insightful, so it’ll be great if he can make it in for the podcast regularly.
2. The problem with Lady Gaga (or a character she is playing) being told that she doesn’t have the looks to be a singer is such a laughable misunderstanding on the screenwriter’s part. She’s really pretty when she wants to be, which through her entire professional career as Gaga, is virtually never. I can only surmise that after she was raped, she no longer had any interest in being attractive, she wanted to go the other way with it and start wearing dresses made out of sirloin tips. She was no longer interesting in being a piece of meat, just wearing meat in order to make a point about male entitlement and the consequences of not keeping your damn libido in check. “If you’re gonna rape me, well I’m gonna rape your eyes once I get onto the biggest stage I can”.
Also Christy feel free to copyedit those two errors out, I haven’t had my coffee yet. If that’s within your power as site administrator.
ugh, three errors.
Just wanted to support the podcast and wish this becomes the new What the Flick on Youtube… I miss all your gorgeous faces!!! Keep this up!
Thank you, Martine! So nice of you.
I’ve had to watch The Hate U Give trailer before too many films this year. I just hope the scene the kid disobeys the cop’s commands and actually picks up a hair brush makes more sense in the context of the film.
Did this kid just not get ‘the talk’ or (more likely) he’s not thinking about how his movement could be misconstrued. Hmm…..
Please, please, please give us our ‘Better Call Saul’ reviews. We’re almost at the season end. Would love to hear your takes.
I’m not sure if Christy even watches TV other than sports and news; I’ve certainly never seen her do criticism on anything other that feature length films. Alonso does but he’d need someone else to talk shop with to make it lively and interesting. And I guess he already does that on his own podcast, what’s it called, Linoleum Knife? I wonder if Meredith Placko ever shows up there, I should look into that. They had some real strong discussions over the last year on shows like The Assassination of Gianni Versace, and The Handmaid’s Tale season two. On What The Flick?! of course.
Heck you know what. You guys should start a Patreon account and rent out your old studio from Cenk to keep the show going. I’d totally pay some coin for each creation, each month, to help pay for all the personnel involved, the electrical bill, the video editor, the makeup girl, the lighting technician, the cameraman, the rent, etc. I mean my yearly income is laughably low, about $500-1000 but could swing about $25 a year to help keep things going. Get a thousand other people willing to make a similar commitment and all of a sudden you’ve got $25000 per annum to keep capitalist Cenk satisfied, a little token that people really do appreciate the platform. And I’d imagine there’s a lot more than a thousand people on the globe who’d be game, willing to chip in to bring back What the Flick to its proper format. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was closer to five thousand, but it’s hard to know really.
I must confess some things really do not change. Ms. Lemire, seems so effortlessly dismissive about the actual reality of many if not all African American parents all across this country who actually have “the talk” with their children. It was very subtle, hey I could be mistaken, but given the intimacy of this podcast on non neutral ground; Alonso be on the look out for a bright red MAGA cap displayed prominently for those of us without eyes in the “studio”. She is certainly entitled to her own perspectives and opinions. Just definitely raised my “spidey-sense” that’s for sure.
Gary, you are quite mistaken. Not dismissive at all, and certainly no MAGA hat. If you truly do follow us — or at least my Twitter feed — you know where I stand on pretty much every issue. I’m actually really taken aback by this supposed Spidey-sense of yours.
Christy Lemire, I would like to whole heartedly apologize for being so quick to judge and post (for that matter) such an unsubstantiated criticism of what I assumed was your intent. I am really sorry. I was wrong to interpret what was more than likely your calm cool and collected Californian demeanor as indifference. My mistake. If you could please delete or remove my prior comment, I would greatly appreciate it. If not that is kosher too. I will continue to enjoy your content as I did in the WTF days. Thank you!
Gary
PS looking forward to videos resurfacing in the the not to distant future? You three are so skilled, mature and knowledgable and insightful in your respective specialties, I find it hard not to return, even in podcast form only.
Thanks for the kind words, Gary. We’re good. 🙂
It would be helpful if you were a little more specific as to what you’re getting at, exactly. I should probably listen to the rest of the podcast as well so that I have all the data.
Christy: “I wanna mention real fast I like Jenny Slate in this…”
Alonso [interrupting]: “She’s terrrrible!
Christy: “No! she’s so cute! no you have some unexpected casting here, people who don’t usually do the big superhero movies like Michelle Williams, like Riz Ahmed, like Jenny Slate — she’s adorable!”
Alonso: “But she’s bad, Riz Ahmed is bad… and I love both of them, like I said in my review this may be their first bad performance.”
_______
I’d like to hear Alonso unpack exactly what he means by ‘bad’. Annoying? Not what you were expecting? I feel like we respond this way when we are feeling very uptight and have very particular needs that we want to be gratified, but then an actor goes in a direction that you just can’t handle for some reason, and you don’t know why or how explain, the only thing you know is that you did not like it, it grated on your nerves, so all you can say is that it was ‘bad’. I’m gonna have to go there and say that this is bad, histrionic reviewing. Needs a little more composure and chill to really articulate our beef, you know. And I think this flusters Alonso all the more because he know he’s capable of so much better.
Thanks for keeping this going. I really look forward to you and anyone that can show up, because I value all your opinions. It’s cool to not agree but understand after i see a recommended movie, and gage by that. On that note, I miss Ben. I LOVE that y’all can discuss for a longer time too. Also, Alonso on Eric Rohmer (filmstruck) was awesome and eloquent. Those movies are great. Anyway, you should do that too! Keep it going as long as you can! I’d pay too as suggested by a previous commentator. Thank you.
Great Podcast as always! Thank you very much for keeping me entertained. Maybe someday you might have the ability to review the Netflix film Hold The Dark starring Jeffery Wright. I would be interested in your take on the film.
Yes! Found you guys! Gutted that wtf is gone from tyt, been enjoying your reviews there forever! Delighted the band is still together and look forward to great reviews to come!
💜💜💜
Thanks so much, Catherine! I’m glad you found us, too.
We really need you back at the WTF Youtube. Oh please return. 🙁
I’ve been trying to assess support for a Patreon system. How much would you be cool spending per year to keep What the Flick?! going Alex?
I saw A Star is Born over the weekend and then went back to see it again today. A 10 out of 10 for me.
I’m really hoping for an extended version on Blu-ray. I feel like there’s a lot on the cutting room floor that would help flesh things out even more (especially involving her rise and transformation to pop star). Kind of like what the “Untitled” bootleg cut did for an already amazing Almost Famous.
Sorry about the show, but happy you guys are still reviewing.
Christy, you folks are WAY better in podcast form! Please keep it up.
Hey Christie
Thanks for keeping this alive? Do we have an ETA for rss feed?
Like the others here I was sad/angry when the YouTube show ended, but I have got to say I am loving the podcast format, and please keep ’em coming. I’ve been saving each episode for Sunday to listen to while I watch the muted football games. Who knew Christy Lemire & Khalil Mack would be the perfect combo? Go What the Flick!!! Go Bears!!!
Ever thought about podcasting some of the Tv shows you were doing? would love to get your thoughts on the rest of Better call saul season 4
Thanks for the reviews. I’ve watched What the Flick for years and am a big fan of your smart, insightful, unbiased movie reviews. Good luck with whatever format you decide on going forward.
Hey guys just found out what happen ….I truly love wtf thanks for the podcast when will u guys be on YouTube again …..thanks
Great to see the show still continues!!
HEY!!! You guys!! How nice to find you all still WhatTheFlicking. Thank you for hosting on your platform, Christy.
Before you shut down the other platform I enjoyed the expansion into television referrals. And especially Alonso’s suggestions for rentals. He led me to several truly enjoyable obscure finds. Hope you all go back to those factions once you’ve landed on a permanent home base.
Tell Matt I miss checking out his Aloha shirts. They’re so beautifully tailored. Impressive. Congratulations to him on his new MovieFone job. Knock ’em out of the ball park, Matt.
A Star Is Born. Saw it twice. Enjoyed it equally both times, which is unusual. Yes, Gaga is phenomenal. And Cooper . . . he’s always exceptional. You’re right, not enuf of Dave Chappell or Sam Elliott, but at 2hrs15min, more screen time for additional characters would have ruined the film just because it would be too long . . . like the Judy Garland version. Saw it last weekend and it was 3 hrs. Thank goodness for the FastForward feature. The characters they could have cut from 2018 version were her best friend and her father/company.
Matt gave the fairest rating – 8/10 stars. Reason . . . though I enjoyed the romance, and the explanation of why Maine down spiraled (so plausible), there wasn’t one song I left the theater singing. Unlike when I saw Crazy Rich Asians (which I adore and saw opening night 6/15), I’ve been singing “Wise men say only fools rush in . . . but I can’t help falling in love with you . . . ”
See you next time.
I look forward to this every week. You guys as awesome and I’m so glad you’re continuing to work together! I hope you can get on iTunes at some point! Thank you again, so so much!
Here’s the MP3 audiofile:
http://christylemire.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/WTF-Podcast-10418.mp3