It’s a weird assortment of movies this week, with Pete’s Dragon, Florence Foster Jenkins, and Sausage Party. We go in order from most kid-friendly to adult and tell you where you can find us at Salt Lake Comic Con Sept 1-3.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Lots of movies this week! We didn’t see Ice Age: Collision Course (sorry), but we have horror thriller Lights Out, BritCom Absolutely Fabulous, and of course Star Trek Beyond!
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Lights Out is a cool concept but the director telegraphs every move and scare. Not good. 1/10
Absolutely Fabulous might be for fans of the series only, but it is uproariously good for those fans. Sweetie Darling. 7.5/10 and a more full review here.
Star Trek Beyond is part heady sci-fi that deconstructs the essence of the franchise, and part big dumb action movie thanks to director Justin Lin. All kinds of fans will find different things to like here. 7.5/10 and a more full review here.
Andy and Adam have major disagreements on Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, and we review The Nice Guys and Angry Birds. Then we talk about the controversy around Ghostbusters. . . and “ethics in film journalism.”
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Worst to first means we start with Angry Birds. We don’t need this much backstory. Bright, colorful, and definitely Angry Birds, but that doesn’t make it a great movie. Andy gives it 3/10 and has a more full review here.
We drastically disagree on Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Andy thinks it’s a bit been-there, done-that for the main storyline, but it adds a layer of social commentary and a nice heart that is excellent. Adam says this movie is everything that is wrong with America. It’s basically Donald Trump in movie form. We have dueling reviews here (Andy’s positive one- 7/10) and here (Adam’s negative one- 1/10).
What we both agree you should go see is The Nice Guys. It’s very Shane Black-y. Gosling and Crowe are both having a blast here. It’s the little details in the script that really make this work. Both of us give this a 9/10 and Andy has a more full review here.
Ghostbusters. Choosing which movies we see and review. Is the Angry Video Game Nerd a film critic? No. But he has 2,000,000 Youtube subscribers! “Well, actually…”
(Andy would like to apologize to Kim Kardashian for a factual misstatement on the podcast for underestimating her age. With a birthdate of October 21, 1980, she will turn 35 a whopping 18 days before Election Day, November 8, making her 2 1/2 weeks being Constitutionally eligible to be our president. You go, girl? I guess.)
Aristotle and Batman. Rhymes with “sexism.”
This week we’re down a castmember (we miss you Brooke!) but Andy and Adam review the catastrophe that is Mother’s Day and the spectacular Green Room and Sing Street. Also, Keanu came out this week, but if you want to hear about that, listen to our previous episode when Andy saw it at SXSW, when he gave it a 9/10.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Mother’s Day is awful. Don’t let your mother or any other human close to it. 2/10 because the actors are all very charming and talented and deserve better material. Andy’s more full review here.
Green Room is amazing. A story of punk rockers vs. neo-nazis with murder and evil Patrick Stewart. It follows a sort of horror movie pattern, but it’s incredibly inventive and fun. Adam is in love with this. It’s a 10/10.
Sing Street is another film by John Carney (Once, Begin Again) and if you liked those you will love this too. Set in Dublin in the 80’s its soundtrack is full of classic 80s songs. Boy meets girl, boy starts band to impress girl, relationships between friends and lovers develop. Great story, great soundtrack. Andy’s favorite song and sequence from the movie:
It has a few problems (the ending is a little off) but it’s generally great. Andy’s more full review here and he gives it a 9/10.
Who are some of our favorite movie moms? NO! WIRE! HANGERS!
Get away from her, YOU BITCH!!!
I’M LIKE THE CRYPTKEEPER!!
This week Andy and Adam are again joined by Brooke to help review How to Be Single, Where to Invade Next, and Zoolander 2.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
How to Be Single – kinda all over the place, but its cast is charming enough to make up for it. A story of self-discovery masquerading as a screwball comedy. Adam still doesn’t like Dakota Johnson. This comes from the same writers as He’s Just Not That Into You and previously worked on Sex and the City and New Girl. It’s similar to those, but Andy compares this to Fast Times at Ridgemont High but with all the gender roles swapped. Andy has a more full review here and gives it a 6.5, Adam gives it a 5.
Where to Invade Next – if Michael Moore hadn’t directed this, we’d be celebrating it for how great it was. But it’s not as impressive compared to Moore’s other work. His presence is also the worst thing about the film, which otherwise might be really enjoyable and poignant. Still, worth watching. Andy has a more full review here and gives it a 7.
Zoolander 2 – Did we really need a sequel, even to a movie we love so much? The first 20 minutes is great, then it becomes a slog in the middle, then picks up again when Will Ferrell finally shows up. The movie doesn’t know if it’s making fun of things, or if it’s making fun of people who make fun of them. It feels a little more mean-spirited and less funny. It’s all about those cameos, though. Adam gave it a 7 and has a review here, Andy is also at a 7. Brooke was at a 5, but that opening scene with Bieber pushes her to a 6.
This week we review Carol, Joy, The Big Short, and The Hateful Eight. Then we discuss our five least favorite movies of the year. We’re doing something different with the soundtrack this week: in celebration of The Beatles discography now being available streaming, Andy just threw on a bunch of his favorite Beatles tunes.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Carol – Not sure how this got so many Golden Globe nominations as Andy almost fell asleep in the theater. This film should’ve been more interesting. More full review here, Andy gives it 4/10.
Joy – The somewhat true story of Joy Mangano, the inventor of the Wonder Mop and pioneer of home shopping TV. We wanted the second half to be the happy part. Adam gives it a 5/10.
The Big Short – How do you make a movie about the financial collapse not depressing and boring? Get the guy who made Anchorman to write and direct it. All the actors are great. It’s good, not subtle. Andy gives it 8.5/10 and there’s a more full review here.
The Hateful Eight – Tarantino made an amazing western! If this sounds appealing to you, try to see the 70 mm version. This might be the best movie of the year for Adam. Andy has a few issues with it, but he feels bad nitpicking a film he loves so much. Adam gives it 10/10, Andy gives it 8.5/10.
Our bottom 5 for the year:
Adam:
5- Jupiter Ascending
4- Fifty Shades of Grey
3- Pixels
2- Fantastic Four
1- Love the Coopers
Andy:
5- American Sniper
4- Unfinished Business
3- Home
2- Jupiter Ascending
1- Pixels (special shout out to Ridiculous Six, The Cobbler because they are also awful)
This week we review Krampus, Trumbo, and continue our countdown to The Force Awakens with The Empire Strikes Back.
WARNING: This episode, while still def in the PG-13 range, contains a bit more language and discussions of some subjects that may not be appropriate for your kids. Sorry, bitches.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Krampus – If the idea is appealing to you of an evil cloven-hoofed Santa demon punishing a family of sociopaths who are like The Griswolds^10, then you might like this movie. Andy gives it 5/10.
Trumbo – Hollywood’s best writer gets blacklisted, starts writing under other names. The Blacklist and why it was so terrible. The actors in this. Louis CK. Joan Allen. John Goodman. Helen Mirren, Alan Tudyk. ALL amazing. And Bryan Cranston is beyond phenomenal. Andy gives this a 9/10.
The Empire Strikes Back – Andy thinks this is the greatest movie of all time. Adam thinks it’s up there, and it’s the best Star Wars movie. An even weirder movie than Star Wars– it plays backwards. John Williams. Boba Fett. A strange birdwalk about Ewan Macgregor and Michael Fassbender and their. . . ahhem. . . Han Solo and the Princess. That Carbon Freeze sequence tho. Willrow Hood!!! Oh, and Lando, I guess.
We review Jem and the Holograms, Rock the Casbah, and Steve Jobs, then Andy presents his favorite Disney Halloween scary movie and Adam presents his favorite funny horror movie.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Jem and the Holograms – Who is this movie for? Not Jem fans. Not the rising generation. Not a bad film, just not a very good one. And not really a Jem movie. And why did it turn into The DaVinci Code and a heist movie for 30 minutes? Andy gives it 5/10
Rock the Casbah – This movie doesn’t know what it is or where it’s going. Pick a theme and go with it. Bill Murray tries to do some schtick and it’s somewhat entertaining, but not enough to carry the movie — only one or two legitimately funny moments. Adam gives it 4/10, Andy 5.5/10.
Steve Jobs – It’s a Shakespearean Drama in 3 acts– and it’s just like Julius Caesar isn’t the history of Caesar’s death. So very Sorkin-y. Fassbender disappears into the role of Steve Jobs. And Seth Rogan can act! Who knew?!? Adam gives it 9/10, Andy 7.5/10- great movie but maybe not for all audiences.
Andy’s recommendation: Disney!! The Black Hole!!! Scary scientist! Cute robots! SUPER Scary robot! Trippy ending.
Adam’s recommendation: Horror Comedy!! Tucker and Dale vs. Evil! Hillbillies get mistaken for ax murderers, college kids keep accidentally falling into wood chippers, etc. Super gory and also just really funny.
PS– sorry for the lateness of this week’s episode. We both had hell for work.
We review M. Night Shayamalan’s The Visit and indie offensive rom-com Sleeping With Other People, including an interview with director/writer Leslye Headland at the end of the episode. Also, our favorite “politically incorrect” movies.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
The Visit had potential, and even has some good parts in it, but it’s clunky and has a trite ending. What happened to M. Knight Shayamalan? Adam gives it 4/10 – you can read his full review here.
Sleeping With Other People is When Harry Met Sally for a-holes. Moustrap. Best use of David Bowie ever. We generally hate Jason Sudeikis, but he is awesome here. Andy loves Allison Brie. Adam gives it a 8.5, and Andy gives it a 9.
Political correctness. What’s the deal? Why you can’t have sacred cows. Context matters more than content. Here’s two incredibly offensive movies that we love:
Adam’s pick: Team America: World Police skewers all sides of the political spectrum. With puppets! That soundtrack.
Andy’s pick: Undercover Brother turns race relations on its head. There is an actual The Man and he’s keeping black people down, so here comes Undercover Brother and The Brotherhood, now with white intern Lance because of affirmative action! So many offensive jokes.
Happy Birthday, Zoolander!
Adam is on some panels at Comic Con. Don’t miss them!
Andy’s interview with Leslye Headland. It’s awesome.
We review indie comedy Fort Tilden, Guy Ritchie’s spy drama The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton.
Bored as Hell Podcast - This week's episode
Fort Tilden won the Grand Jury prize at SXSW and there’s a reason for that. It’s hilarious and a great commentary on the whole hipster/bohemian/millenial thing. Two girls living in Brooklyn try to take a trip to the beach at Fort Tilden. And hijinks ensue. Watch the trailer. Available on Video on Demand and in theaters in limited cities. Andy gives it 7/10.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is Guy Ritchie’s take on the 1960’s spy tv show of the same name. He nails the period piece aspect and the stars have amazing chemistry with each other. Andy wishes it was more Guy Ritchie-y, gives it 7.5/10. Adam liked it even more: 9/10.
Straight Outta Compton is awesome, but falls prey to a lot of the same problems of the biopic genre. The “Big 3” playing Dre, Cube, and Easy-E are amazing. Why does he look so much like Ice Cube? Play another type of character, Paul Giamatti! Both Andy and Adam give this 8/10.
Stick around to the end to hear Andy rap. And then some dude named Jiminy Glick interviewed Ice Cube.
