68: 'Pig': The Best Movie of 2021 (So Far!)
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the new Nicolas Cage movie, Pig. Why do all three concur that it’s probably the best movie they’ve seen in theaters this year? Plus, Netflix is getting into gaming! What does that mean for the movie streaming service and its customers? Make sure to check out our special...
40m Jul 28, 2021
40m
67: Anthony Bourdain Documentary 'Roadrunner' Controversy
Plus: Loki, reviewed. Is the future of the MCU 'Rick and Morty'?
44m Jul 21, 2021
44m
66: 'Black Widow'
This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) assembled for a rare in-person show to discuss the biggest movie of the year (so far!), Black Widow. Is it fine? Okay? Acceptable? Perfectly competent? Listen to find out! Plus, the gang discusses the ethics of using personal histories of non-famous people in response to revelations that par...
43m Jul 14, 2021
43m
65: 'The Tomorrow War'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the great Richard Donner, who died on Monday at the age of 91. They also discuss the new Prime Video offering The Tomorrow War. Is it a modern sci-fi masterpiece or a bit of a mess? Listen to find out! And make sure to check out our bonus members-only episode on the gre...
35m Jul 08, 2021
35m
64: 'F9' Review
This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) tackle the first big blockbuster of the post-COVID era: F9: The Fast Saga. Noted fun-hater Sonny did not care for it. But did Alyssa and Peter? You’ll have to listen to find out. And in controversies and nontroversies, we take a look at a growing problem for Hollywood: China’s increasing inf...
40m Jun 30, 2021
40m
63: 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard's' Podcast
On this week’s episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss whether or not Focus Features is correct in their effort to silence outspoken writer-director and social media gadfly Paul Schrader. Plus, they review the remarkably bad The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. And make sure to check out our special bonu...
35m Jun 23, 2021
35m
62: In the Heights
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark) takes a back set to let Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) review the new Lin-Manuel Miranda musical, In the Heights. Did it make our panel’s toes tap with joy? Or did it make them check their watches? (Spoiler: the answer is yes.) And in controversies and nontroversies, we discuss a new documentary about the film Kids making waves on the fe...
38m Jun 16, 2021
38m
61: 'The Woman in the Window' Review
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) discuss Netflix’s The Woman in the Window, a fantastic mess of a movie. But is it more fantastic, or more mess? And we wonder about AMC’s decision to play nice with the memesters who are driving up AMC’s share prices by offering them free popcorn for investing. Will this all end in...
36m Jun 10, 2021
36m
60: 'Cruella': Cruelty to Critics
Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (the Washington Post) and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) were all underwhelmed by Cruella, Disney’s latest IP-mining cash grab. Plus, they debated about the end of mask mandates in theaters for the fully vaccinated and what it means for our shifting social norms. And if you want to comment or listen to our special members-only episode on long movies...
39m Jun 03, 2021
39m
59: 'Army of the Dead'; MGM & Amazon
This week on the show, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed Netflix’s long-awaited Zack Snyder zombie heist opus, Army of the Dead. Meanwhile, in cons and nons, the gang discussed the MGM/Amazon deal and if it’s a break from the past—or a continuation of it. Meanwhile, on the special bonus episode (http://atma.thebulwark.com/p/...
43m May 26, 2021
43m
58: 'Those Who Wish Me Dead' Review
This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review Taylor Sheridan’s new fire jumping flick, Those Who Wish Me Dead. Is this ’90s throwback a hit or a miss? Or just kind of generic and lumpy? Plus, we ask whether or not the once-canceled, now-revived biography of Philip Roth by Blake Bailey should see the light of day, given sexual as...
39m May 19, 2021
39m
57: 'Wrath of Man' Escapes ATMA's Wrath
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) discuss NBC’s decision to pull the plug on next year’s Golden Globes following a series of controversies surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. And the gang debates the merits of the new Guy Ritchie/Jason Statham action heist thriller, Wrath of Man. Make sure to check...
42m May 12, 2021
42m
56: 'Without Remorse' Inspires Viewer Remorse
Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman are all experiencing buyer’s remorse this week after sitting through the not-quite mediocre Without Remorse. Plus, the gang talks about the Rosenberg-edited op-ed by Lucy Liu in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/29/lucy-liu-asian-stereotypes-hollywood/) about what it means to...
35m May 05, 2021
35m
55: Is 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' As Interesting as It Thinks It Is?
Sonny (The Bulwark), Alyssa (The Washington Post), and Peter (Reason) have a lot of thoughts about the Oscars, both the show and the winners. And we have a lot of thoughts about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a TV show that thinks it has a lot of thoughts, but none of them really go anywhere. Leaving that aside, though: was it any good and is it worth six hours of your time! All that and mo...
42m Apr 28, 2021
42m
54: Should the Oscars Ditch Political Speeches?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark) asks Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) if a recent report in the New York Times proves once and for all that celebs should ditch the politics if they want the Oscars to be watchable. (Spoiler: It’s complicated!) And the gang makes their Oscar picks. Who SHOULD win? Who WILL win? Plus, on our special bonu...
46m Apr 21, 2021
46m
53: Is Will Smith Right to Bail on Georgia? Plus: 'The Father,' Reviewed!
Sonny (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) ask whether or not Will Smith and Antoine Fuqua were right to pull Emancipation out of Georgie over its voting rights law—or whether Georgia should be the go-to spot for film production at all. And then the gang reviews The Father, a devastating portrait of dementia that maybe, just maybe, is the best ...
40m Apr 14, 2021
40m
52: 'Godzilla vs. Kong' vs. ATMA
What did Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) think of Godzilla vs. Kong? And in cons-and-nons, the gang discusses the fact that basically nobody has heard of the best picture nominees as this year’s Oscars. Note: That’s heard of, not seen. How will this impact the show’s appeal to the regular public? (Spoiler: negatively!) Make ...
43m Apr 07, 2021
43m
51: 'Nobody' Reviewed! Plus, Plus: Are depictions of Asian-Americans in media a controversy—or a nontroversy?
This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) review the new Bob Odenkirk action movie, Nobody. Does the Mr. Show with Bob and David and Better Call Saul actor have action chops to go with comedic range and a surprising dramatic depth? Plus, we discuss how Asian representation onscreen may or may not have contributed to the sho...
41m Mar 31, 2021
41m
50: The Snyder Cut, Reviewed
Finally, it’s here: Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a/k/a, “The Snyder Cut.” Is it everything they hoped it could be? At the very least: is it better than the abominable Whedon Cut? Plus: Why is Borat 2 winning awards for its screenplay? Isn’t it largely improvised? All that and more on this ...
42m Mar 24, 2021
42m
49: 'Raya and the Last Dragon' Reviewed!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) review the really-not-great Raya and the Last Dragon. Is it worth your $30 on Disney+’s premium tier? Maybe you should see it in a theater instead? But can you even do that? That’s the subject of controversies and nontroversies, which tackles D.C.’s slowness to reopen ...
41m Mar 17, 2021
41m
48: 'Coming 2 America' Reviewed! Plus: What's the Deal with the Royals?
On this week’s episode, Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) fills in Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark) and Peter Suderman (Reason) about the whole to-do over Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s and their interview with Oprah. And the gang reviews Coming 2 America! Is it an exciting new adventure or a stale old rehash? You’ll never guess just by looking at the image at the top of this post … or will you...
42m Mar 10, 2021
42m
47: The Golden Globes Stank. Plus: 'Minari' Reviewed!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked about the incredibly, spectacularly, dreadfully awful (and historically poorly watched) Golden Globes. The gang also reviewed awards-season darling Minari, a family drama about immigrants trying to achieve the American dream in the middle of Arkansas. And make sure to ch...
36m Mar 02, 2021
36m
46: 'Nomadland' Reviewed! Plus: Are the Golden Globes (and Critics More Generally) Corrupt?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the corruption at the Golden Globes—and the world of awards-season film criticism more generally. And the gang reviews Nomadland, a movie about the natural beauty of the American west that doesn’t beat viewers over the head with its implied message about the vicissitude...
42m Feb 23, 2021
42m
45: 'Judas and the Black Messiah' and Gina Carano
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman tackle a surprisingly tricky cons and nons: Gina Carano, who was canceled and un-canceled over the course of last week. And they review the new film on HBO Max and in theaters, Judas and the Black Messiah, about the life and death of Fred Hampton and the man who betrayed him, Bill O’Neal. And make s...
40m Feb 17, 2021
40m
44: Trump v. SAG: Who Ya Got? Plus: 'Malcolm & Marie,' Reviewed!
On this episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) get into the day’s two most pressing rivalries. No, not the Bucs versus Chiefs and hedge funds versus Reddit. First up: Donald Trump vs. the Screen Actors Guild. The president petulantly resigned from the actors union when word began circulating in the trades...
44m Feb 09, 2021
44m
43: 'The Little Things,' Reviewed. Plus: 'Variety' Betrays Its Critic—and Its Audience
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review the new thriller The Little Things. Are three Oscar-winners (Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, and Rami Malek) enough to put this one over the top? In controversies and nontroversies, the gang tries to suss out why industry rag Variety threw one of its freelance critics und...
46m Feb 02, 2021
46m
42: 'Promising Young Woman' Reviewed! Plus: Seth Rogen v. Ted Cruz.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the provocative new movie Promising Young Woman. Meanwhile, in controversies and nontroversies, the gang weighs in on the Ted Cruz/Seth Rogen spat. And make sure to sign up for Bulwark+ so you can listen to a members-only bonus episode on Joe Biden’s watch and the aesth...
48m Jan 26, 2021
48m
41: 'Wandavision' Reviewed! Plus, Armie Hammer's Cannibalism Conundrum
This week on Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review the MCU’s big new release: Wandavision, now streaming on Disney+. Plus, in controversies and nontroversies: how much privacy Armie Hammer should be afforded after he felt forced to abandon a movie shoot following the release of damaging DMs and claims of con...
36m Jan 19, 2021
36m
40: QAnon and Conspiracy Media; Plus: 'Lovers Rock,' Reviewed!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the ways in which culture and technology helped influence the unchecked spread of QAnon-style conspiracy theories. (For more on the idea of QAnon as a game, make sure to read this piece by Alyssa from 2019.) And the gang reviews “Lovers Rock,” the much-ballyhooed instal...
39m Jan 12, 2021
39m
39: 'Soul' Reviewed, Plus: A Special Look at Bruce Willis's Filmography
On the latest episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the strange late-career filmography of Bruce Willis and the surge in stars cashing in on their personae for straight-to-DVD-and-VOD projects. And they review Pixar’s new piece of emotional terrorism, Soul. Is it good for kids and adults? Does it...
40m Jan 05, 2021
40m
38: 'WW84' Reviewed; Plus: Best Movies/Shows of 2020, Chosen!
On this special year-end episode of Across the Movie Aisle—and what a weird year it has been—Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) pick their top movies, shows, and games of the year. So much #content, such little time to discuss it all. And they review HBO Max’s hit new movie, Wonder Woman 1984. Is it as bad as the critics are suggesting...
38m Dec 29, 2020
38m
37: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Reviewed; Plus, Barack Obama's Best-Of List Analyzed
On this episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) break down Barack Obama’s list of the year’s best movies and TV shows and wonder why it is people cannot accept he loves the middlebrow features beloved by the hosts of Across the Movie Aisle. Then they review Netflix’s new feature, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom! Alyssa provides a deep div...
36m Dec 22, 2020
36m
36: Sound of Metal; Plus Directors vs. WB
This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) review the critically acclaimed new movie, Sound of Metal, streaming on Amazon now. And in controversies and nontroversies, they discuss whether or not directors are ingrates for being upset at Warner Bros. for dropping their whole 2021 slate on theaters and HBO Max simultaneously.
43m Dec 15, 2020
43m
35: 'Mank' Reviewed, Plus: WB Dumps Its Slate to HBO Max
On this week’s episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny, Alyssa, and Peter talk about the politics at the heart of David Fincher’s new Netflix movie Mank, a film that is nominally about the writing of Citizen Kane but is actually about something much deeper. And, in controversies and nontroversies, the trio take a look at the shocking decision by Warner Bros. to release their entire 2021 film s...
38m Dec 08, 2020
38m
34: 'Let Him Go' Reviewed, Plus: A Box Office Rebirth?
On the latest episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask in controversies and nontroversies why the box office had an unexpectedly “good” week. And the trio reviewed the newish Kevin Costner/Diane Lane joint, Let Him Go.
40m Dec 01, 2020
40m
33: Hillbilly Elegy
Across the Movie Aisle Returns! Many thanks to the good folks at The Bulwark for resurrecting the podcast, which can be pithily described as “Left, Right, and Center” meets “Siskel and Ebert.” This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if it’s a controversy or a nontroversy that WW84 is moving to HBO Max at no extra cost. And...
44m Nov 25, 2020
44m
32: Life After Trump, Netflix's Regrets, and Nolan's BO
Back, for one week only! (Unless your demand ensures the show gets picked up by The Bulwark, that is.) Sonny, Peter, and Alyssa talk about the world of movies and movie writing post-Trump. Is Christopher Nolan right that Hollywood studios should be looking to foreign box office dollars? Does Netflix have buyer's remorse about their mega-deals with super-producers? And now that The Trump Show is...
49m Nov 05, 2020
49m
31: The Vast of Night
This week on Across the Movie Aisle your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss Apple picking up the tab for Martin Scorsese’s latest, review the new-to-Prime indie flick, THE VAST OF NIGHT (21:40), and heatedly (but pleasantly!) discuss Christopher McQuarrie’s directorial debut, THE WAY OF THE GUN (36:42).
57m Jun 01, 2020
57m
30: The Lovebirds
This week on Across the Movie Aisle, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman celebrate the release of the Snyder Cut, ponder whether totally mediocre is the new above average while discussing THE LOVEBIRDS (15:58), and revisit Jean Luc Godard’s BAND OF OUTSIDERS in assigned viewing (30:50).
46m May 25, 2020
46m
29: Capone
This week on Across the Movie Aisle, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss Saudi Arabia’s investments in Live Nation and Carnival Cruises, pour dirt upon the grave of CAPONE (11:52), and revisit Miyazaki’s classic SPIRITED AWAY (29:59).
46m May 18, 2020
46m
28: Arkansas
This week on Across the Movie Aisle, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman ask whether or not Christopher Nolan can save movie theaters, discuss the Southern noirish blackly comic thriller ARKANSAS (17:46), and wrap things up with something far more uplifting: THE DEATH OF STALIN (30:42)!
45m May 11, 2020
45m
27: Extraction
This week on Across the Movie Aisle, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman wonder how moves by the Oscars and Universal will impact theatrical exhibition, discuss the Netflix Original EXTRACTION (16:58), and take a look back at BONNIE AND CLYDE (31:12). 
47m May 04, 2020
47m
26: Mrs. America
This week on Across the Movie Aisle, presented by cGMP Consulting, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss whether or not there’s any role for Congress to play in tamping down Hollywood’s love for China, talked about MRS. AMERICA, the Phylis Schlafly bio-show on Hulu (14:55), and looked back at Buster Keaton’s THE GENERAL (33:51). And make sure to check out REBELLER...
47m Apr 27, 2020
47m
25: Lost Girls
This week on Across the Movie Aisle, presented by cGMP Consulting, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss whether or not the WWE is an “essential” business, talk about the Netflix Original LOST GIRLS (17:06), and look back fondly at the bromance, but not the romance, of TOMBSTONE (31:04).
46m Apr 20, 2020
46m
24: Devs
This week, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss Louis CK’s surprise new special, discuss DEVS, the best show streaming now that you might not even know about (17:40), and break down UNBELIEVABLE in assigned viewing (34:28). If you like the show, consider signing up for two free months of REBELLER since, as I mention on each and every program, if you don’t sign up...
49m Apr 13, 2020
49m
23: Spenser Confidential
This week, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss the rise of streaming and the impending demise of theatrical exhibition, try to suss out just why SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL is so bland (15:25), and revisit the zombie apocalypse as presented in 28 DAYS LATER (34:23). If you like the show, consider signing up for two free months of REBELLER since, as I mention on each an...
48m Apr 06, 2020
48m
22: Contagion
This week, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss China’s re-shuttering of their movie theaters, break down why CONTAGION is timely and relevant while OUTBREAK feels stale (11:52), and analyze DEEPWATER HORIZON as a way to prepare for SPENCER CONFIDENTIAL (31:12). If you like the show, consider signing up for two free months of REBELLER since, as I mention on each ...
46m Mar 30, 2020
46m
21: The Hunt
This week, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss the movie theater apocalypse, figure out who got triggered while watching THE HUNT (15:02), and break down 90s viral blockbuster OUTBREAK (34:35) for reasons that have nothing to do with the news whatsoever. As mentioned on today’s episode, REBELLER is offering two free months at RebellerMedia.com (http://rebellerme...
45m Mar 23, 2020
45m
Week Off!
As we announced at the end of last week’s episode, Across the Movie Aisle is off this week. If you need your Sonny fix, make sure to check out RebellerMedia.com (http://rebellermedia.com/) , where he has an essay on THE HUNT up now. And if you prefer your content in podcast form, check out FANGORIA Frequencies, where REBELLER’s sister publication has interviews with THE HUNT director Craig Zobe...
1m Mar 16, 2020
1m
20: The Way Back
This week, your hosts Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman discuss the Coronavirus’s impact on the movie business, break down THE WAY BACK (17:05), and highlight HARD TARGET (32:50) the greatest movie ever made in which Jean Claude Van Damme punches a snake unconscious.
49m Mar 09, 2020
49m