16 thoughts on “Movie Podcast Weekly Ep. 205: Morgan (2016) and Krisha (2016) and In Order of Disappearance (2016) and Skiptrace (2016) and A Monster With a Thousand Heads (2016)”

1. Hi guys,

   The funniest part of the podcast was when Jason said “Ryan, do you like crime films”? and Ryan said “I love crime films”. You love crime films but you don’t like the greatest TV show ever made, The Wire, which just happens to be about crime? WTF Ryan?

   Is it just me or is anyone else starting to worry about Ryan? He is shooting dogs and burying horses. Don’t serial killers usually start with animals? I’m just saying.

   I heard Andy admit that it was his chair making all the squeaking (there was a lot on this episode), so that mystery is solved.

   My top five movies that make me want to choke puppies are:
   1. Avatar (I have to agree with Ryan on this one)
   2. All the Harry Potter movies
   3. Anything with Emma Stone
   4. Love Actually
   5. The Village

   In all seriousness though, I love your podcast guys. I feel like I have gotten to know you and made four new friends (I know that sounds stupid). I wish I could come to the meet up, but I don’t think I could justify the expense of a plane ticket from Australia to America, just so I could hang out and watch a movie with you to my wife.

   P.S. I would buy a Horse Corpse album

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2. Hear, hear Andrew!
   Speaking of Ryan… Today is his birthday! Happy birthday to Ryan, soon-to-be serial killer… so glad I’m staying at his house this weekend…
   J

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   • P.S. to Andrew:
     You ARE our friend, but I feel like your “choke puppies” list is really testing the limits of that friendship… : ) ha ha (Except for your Harry Potter and Emma Stone picks. Right on the money.)

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   • Happy Birthday Ryan! Jay, just check that there are no fresh “trenches” that have been dug before you go to sleep.

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3. Andrew, I think you might have gotten a slightly stronger reaction if your #3 was “anything with Rachel McAdams.” (Just kidding, Jay.)
   I’m not a very good compiler of lists because, well, I just can’t settle on any form of hierarchy. How does one bit of criteria out rank another? But I’ve been thinking that if I were to compile a list it would look something like this:

   -Independence Day: In fact, file this under anything by Roland Emmerich… except maybe Stargate and The Patriot.

   -Twilight saga: Oh, just pick one.

   -There Will Be Blood: Also anything by Paul Thomas Anderson but I specifically remember NOT hating Magnolia. What was with the raining frogs in that thing though?

   -Home Alone: A cartoony adolescent fantasy after a string of era defining teen movies (and Planes Trains & Automobiles). THIS is the John Hughes for the 90s? He went on to write Beethoven… So yeah, it is.

   -Batman v Superman (not so much the movie just the incessant bashing. It wasn’t THAT bad, folks. Now, Batman & Robin, THAT was bad.)

   Honorable mentions:
   Ghostbusters 2016: Again, not really the movie as much as the hoopla around it. If you didn’t like the movie you’re a misogynist, if you did It was only because you were just afraid of being LABELLED a misogynist. Poo. I myself found it neither unwatchable nor praiseworthy, a completely watchable mess of wasted potential. Just my two cents.

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4. Rocking out soon at a county fest near you…HORPSE!!!!

   When HORPSE!!! comes to town, they trot out death\speedmetal versions of your favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein classics!!!!! Just pony up $49 for tickets and you can be a good neigh-bor and saddle-up to git on down to the fair and catch their hardcore renditions of timeless musical classics that really stirrup the emotions in ya!!

   🙂

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5. I almost forgot. With the deluge of content lately (of which I’m not complaining) there was discussion of Kong Skull Island on one of those podcasts. If this has already been covered I apologize because I can’t remember which episode it was on. First off I have to say that since I was a little boy I have loved Kong from the first time I saw him fall off the World Trade Center and break Jessica Lange’s heart in the 1976 version. And I agree with Jay, I especially love Peter Jackson’s (admittedly overlong) version and I DO appreciate the 1933 original. I love the concept of the thinking, feeling “Monster- King” displaced from his world and exploited unto death by man’s interference and greed. So with that in mind let me say I am cautiously optimistic in regards to Kong Skull Island. But this new version is going to take place in the 1970s and is in no way connected to PJ’s version. The reasoning behind Kong’s new size is because (and this is the cause of my concern) Legendary is planning on pitting him against Gareth Edward’s version of Godzilla in a crossover down the line. A roughly 20 foot gorrilla would be no match for an upright 350 foot fire-breathing iguana. In fact, Toho had the address the same size issues when they pitted the icons against each other in 1962. I’m a little apprehensive because the exploitation of Kong seems to bleeding into real life and greed could kill him all over again if the crossover fails to find an audience. But that’s a later movie and, for the time being, only a potential issue. I’m optimistic because this upcoming movie LOOKS good. Adventure in steamy jungles of mystery and everything! It has a really good cast, it’s KING KONG and if I hate the eventual sequel I can always ignore it like I do Alien Resurrection (I know, low hanging fruit. I’m sorry, Jay, but it was right there!)

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6. Just days away, now. I’m excited!

   I’ll be driving in Friday evening. Is there anything planned for that night?

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   • Hi Dino,
     I’ve sent you an e-mail. If anyone else is attending the meetup, feel free to e-mail me directly at MoviePodcastWeekly@gmail.com. : )
     Thanks!
     J

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7. I am eager for the new Horpse Podcast Weekly Show. When you start to think about the possibilities, there are some truly great horpse movies to discuss. The first show could be about “True Grit” (2010), in which several horses die from gunshots, and one carries two riders (and takes a knife to the flank) until it drops from exhaustion and is then shot. In Episode 2 of HPW, the main discussion could be about “The Godfather,” which probably features the most memorable horpse footage in the history of cinema. For Episode 3, the show could explore “The Empire Strikes Back,” in which one two-legged space horse is killed by a wampa attack, and a second one dies from exposure, whereupon Han Solo uses Luke’s lightsaber to slice open the fresh space horpse and then stuffs Luke inside it. This is going to be an epic show, fellas. Bravo!

   Episodes 203 and 204 were also great fun. I especially enjoyed Karl and Jay’s review of “Hell or High Water” and Ryan’s glowing report of “Kubo and the Two Strings.” I haven’t been able to make it happen quite yet, but come hell or high water, I am bound and determined to see those two movies. I was already interested in both films, but the passion and energy of those reviews sealed the deal. Thank you, MPW Crew, for continuing to inspire wise film-watching decisions. (See how much I trust you? I haven’t seen either movie yet, but I remain totally confident that I will eventually feel it was a wise decision to see each of them. And if it turns out that one or both of them sucks, then I will take my lumps and keep my big mouth shut. I won’t be a giant man-baby like Vance and send you a supposedly congratulatory e-mail in which I whine about how many times you made me watch dumb movies and get all puffed up about how I am actually much smarter than you idiots.)

   Also of note from recent episodes, Jay, you’ll be pleased to know that I was properly castigated from hearing about the purchase of the Daily Herald by Ogden Newspapers, Inc., of Wheeling, West Virginia. It’s true, I didn’t buy you out, you bought me out. It’s almost as though you whipped me in the face with your purple belt. I am chastened, humbled, brought low. You win. I lose. My only solace will be found in moments like the one in Ep. 203 where you pretended not to know what I am talking about in shining a light on your occasional perhaps too-frank enjoyment of feminine pulchritude in the cinema. I chortled within when, later on in that very same episode, you stopped short in discussing the involvement of Rachel McAdams in “About Time.” What were the words? “Cody Clark, don’t push me right now.” I don’t even have to push, brother. I made a couple of well-placed observations, and now you police yourself. Just like you did in the abortive discussion of “The Shallows” right here in Ep. 205. I’m in your head, Jay. Who wins now, sucka? 🙂

   You guys should definitely check out “Hamilton,” if only to properly appreciate the spot-on brilliance of Eric Herman’s “Huddleston.” Jay, I know you hate the cinema, and I can only suppose that your animus toward musicals is part and parcel of that larger hatred. (Side note, and I’m genuinely curious here: Do you include in your hatred what many people consider to be the greatest movie musical ever made, “The Sound of Music”? I’m not a huge fan of movie musicals myself [I tend to enjoy musicals much more as live theater, speaking of other things you hate], but that one transcends the form for me.) “Hamilton” is no ordinary musical, however, and is well worth a listen. The singing is subtle (the overall style leans heavily toward hip-hop and rap) and the lyrics are brilliant. It’s a sung-through production, so when you listen to the “soundtrack,” you’re hearing the entire show. I agree wholeheartedly with Andy’s profane pal One-N Jenifer, it’s a blast.

   Also, Ryan and Andy need to get on the stick and watch some movies. For all the crap that Karl took in this episode, it’s a rare week when he hasn’t seen a movie in theaters for the show, and he quite often sees more than one. This week’s show included five feature reviews from Jay, and zero from his cohosts, with the semi-exception of a few passed-along notes from Karl about “Morgan.” I do appreciate that Andy and Ry contributed some mini-reviews, and I always enjoy hearing them talk about whatever, but come on fellas. Except for “Captain America: Civil War” and “The Secret Life of Pets,” Jay might as well have been talking to himself during the Summer 2016 Recap segment. Step it up. (Although I do have to give props to Andy and Ry for astounding Jay by guessing all of the top-grossing movies of the summer. Well played, gentlemen. Fine work.)

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8. This doesn’t have to do with anything in the most recent podcast, but I saw the movie trailer for “Snowden” and that flick looks AWFUL. Had Snowden been portrayed by a female I could totally see this as a commercial for an upcoming Lifetime movie. I hope I’m wrong, because I think there is a good story to tell there, but my guess is Mr. Stone directs this one poorly, with a script that doesn’t do the issue measurable or thoughtful justice. We’ll see…

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   • Worst thing in the trailer is Evil Rhys Ifans as Shadowy Puppetmaster Who Threatens Fast Eddie. Sorry, Evil Rhys. I’ll never be able to unsee you flexing in your tighty-whities as Hugh Grant’s wacky roomie in “Notting Hill,” and hence cannot possibly take you seriously as a sinister overlord. #typecasting #alwaysplayshimself

     I was also hoping for better. The trailer makes everything too boilerplate thriller-of-the-week-y. Given Andy’s recently dormant passion for all things J. Gordon (he was sort of Andy’s Emma Stone before Emma Stone became his Emma Stone), I’m intrigued to hear the MPW crew weigh in.

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9. Check it, y’all! I’m on a roll!

   https://moviepodcastweekly.com/movie-podcast-weekly-ep-206-sully-2016-and-imperium-2016-and-downriver-2016/

   On-time release! See you this weekend!
   J

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10. The first thing that came to mind as something that makes me want to choke puppies is Making a Murderer. I know, technically not a movie, but I’m still counting it.

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11. Well done Jay, it sounded like you had to work extremely hard on here tonight, good job mate

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12. I finally got caught up on this episode and wanted to say to J that I appreciated your comments about musicals. And I am someone who loves them, who has written and produced one, performed in several, has listened to Hamilton and Phantom and Fiddler and others hundreds of times, etc. To me, musicals are taking moments from life and heightening them with song, in a way that elevates the art form of both storytelling and music (when done well). But I get what your beef is about the “breaking into song thing” and I don’t aim to dissuade you from that.

    I would like to recommend a couple of musicals, though, that I think might work for you. Chicago is a really great musical with a terrific film adaptation (Best Picture of 2002), and not only is it a gritty crime story, but the songs are, for the most part, not instances where people just start singing out of the blue. They are more like separate vignettes that are like asides or commentaries to what is happening in the main narrative. And the songs are very witty and clever.

    And if you haven’t seen Sweeney Todd yet, you really gotta. It is a bonafide horror musical, and not in any kind of cartoonish way, like say Little Shop of Horrors. It is dark and disturbing and truly horrific. The Johnny Depp/Tim Burton film adaptation is okaaaay, but I would recommend seeing the filmed stage version with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou. I have it on DVD if you want to borrow it. It does have the usual musical “singing the moment” thing, but I think as a horror fan, you could still appreciate it a lot.

    Also, I haven’t seen it in many years, so I don’t remember how much I liked it, but I know that Cabaret is another musical where the songs are part of the setting, and not an instance of characters just starting to sing.

    Question: Do you like movies that are not “musicals,” but where a musical number breaks out? I’m thinking of things like the Muppet Movie or Wizard of Oz, where there are a few musical numbers, but mostly they are spread out among the rest of the comedy/drama.

    ——————-

    Speaking of musicals, you mentioned liking Once, and that reminded me that I hadn’t seen that yet, or that writer/director’s second film, Begin Again. Like Karl, I’m a huge fan of Sing Street (my BMOTY so far this year), so I thought I should catch up on John Carney’s other work and watched them both yesterday.

    I really liked Once. It doesn’t have much of a story, but it has this raw energy and emotion and sweetness to it, and the songs are great. Begin Again was okay, but not as good. The songs weren’t as memorable and it seemed to be trying to bring some of the magic from Once into an American setting. But it felt a bit contrived and didn’t ring as true for me as a musician.

    I really think Carney has culminated his work up to now into Sing Street, though. There are the same types of themes of longing, dissatisfaction, and finding your voice, and a hint of a possible romance, but with a more realized story and more confidence in his voice as a filmmaker. J, please don’t pick your faves for this year without having at least seen Sing Street to consider. I think you’ll love it. And like Once, it’s not really a musical, though there are songs. But the songs are part of the band’s performances and video shoots, not deriving from out of nowhere. And they’re quite fun and engaging.

    Once: 8.5
    Begin Again: 7
    Sing Street: 10

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