How 'Alien: Romulus' Resurrected the Franchise
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed a strange casting choice in the cons and nons segment before reviewing Alien: Romulus. We also teased this week’s bonus episode about the Alien franchise and its shift from a series about Ellen Ripley’s efforts to survive to a series more explicitly about the Weyland-...
43m Aug 20, 2024
43m
'The Instigators,' a Perfect Streaming Picture
Before we get started: we have a Bulwark Live event in Dallas on September 5 (https://attpac.org/event/an-evening-with-the-bulwark) featuring Sarah, Tim, Bill, and special guest Adam Kinzinger (as well as myself), and then a bunch of us will be down in Austin on September 6 and 7 (https://festival.texastribune.org/event/651560b0-5404-4ea0-b75e-8725c648826d/summary?RefId=MediaPartner_Bulwark) as...
43m Aug 13, 2024
43m
'Deadpool & Wolverine' Pulls Audiences Back In
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review Deadpool & Wolverine, the first $200 million opening movie in two-and-a-half years. It’s definitely a movie! Then they discuss Homicide: Life on the Street, a beloved show that’s finally hitting streaming. But there’s one small problem. Make sure to swing by Friday for o...
40m Jul 30, 2024
40m
Is 'Twisters' the Summer's Popcorn Hit?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if Hollywood is to blame for the rise of J.D. Vance thanks to Netflix’s Oscar-bait biopic, Hillbilly Elegy. Then they review Twisters, the first real popcorn hit of the summer. Make sure to swing by Friday for a bonus episode about Hollywood’s role in propping up, and then ...
36m Jul 23, 2024
36m
Best of 2024 (So Far!)
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the best movies and TV shows from the first half of 2024. It’s been an interesting year so far; what’s on the top of our lists? Then we review Fly Me to the Moon, a movie that asks what if we had to fake the moon landing to sell the moon landing? Is it worth checking ou...
41m Jul 16, 2024
41m
A Cop's Return to 'Beverly Hills'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the merger of Skydance and Paramount and David Ellison’s place in the Hollywood firmament. Then we review Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, a legacyquel of the highest caliber! (It’s fine.) Make sure to swing by Friday for our bonus episode on Jon Landau and a tribute to produ...
37m Jul 09, 2024
37m
Kevin Costner Goes to the 'Horizon'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) have questions about the Microsoft AI head’s understanding of Fair Use, as it relates to copyright. Then they review Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter One. Does Kevin Costner still have that old western magic? Or is this simply too sprawling and unfocused to work? Make sure t...
45m Jul 02, 2024
45m
'Inside Out 2' and 'The Bikeriders'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss two new movies this week. First up is Inside Out 2, which is smashing box office records for an animated film. But is it any good? And then they discuss The Bikeriders, Jeff Nichols’s new picture that might be described as “Midwestern Motorcycle Club Goodfellas.” On thi...
39m Jun 25, 2024
39m
Is 'Hit Man' a Deeper Romcom?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Sony Pictures Entertainment’s purchase of the Alamo Drafthouse. Then they review Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, the new film starring (and cowritten by) Glen Powell. Is it a frothy romcom filled with sexy, silly fun? Or is there something a bit deeper? Make sure to swing ...
39m Jun 18, 2024
39m
Riding with the 'Bad Boys'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the shuttering of a franchised chain of Alamo Drafthouses. What does this mean for the theatrical industry writ large? Then they reviewed Bad Boys: Ride or Die, a movie that will appeal greatly to anyone who likes boys who are bad. Make sure to swing by Friday for an in...
34m Jun 11, 2024
34m
'The Last Stop in Yuma County's' Nasty Surprises
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask how we wound up in a future in which people pull out their cell phone cameras to tape Chipotle’s burrito artisans in order to get a little extra rice and beans. Is the burrito panopticon the future we signed up for? And then they review The Last Stop in Yuma County, Francis...
34m Jun 04, 2024
34m
AI and the Wasteland
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) debate OpenAI’s use of a voice that sounds suspiciously like Scarlett Johansson. Then they head into the Wasteland to review Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Make sure to swing by Friday for an apocalyptic bonus episode. And if you liked this episode, please share it with a friend!
44m May 29, 2024
44m
Why 'The Idea of You' Doesn't Really Work
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the rise of YouTube (https://www.wsj.com/business/media/youtube-viewership-cable-25bf3589) as a serious vector for televisual consumption. Then they review The Idea of You, a movie that doesn’t really work on any level yet has put up bonkers numbers for Prime Video (htt...
43m May 21, 2024
43m
'Apes' Together, Strong?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Apple’s disastrous new iPad ad. But did people overreact to the image of creative tools being turned into a wafer-thin iPad? And then they reviewed Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, a movie with lots of ideas, though one that also doesn’t dive into them deeply enough. ...
38m May 14, 2024
38m
The Perfectly Pleasant 'Fall Guy'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed whether or not steamy movie scenes are back (per the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/28/business/media/hollywood-movies-sex-challengers.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email) ) or on their way to extinction (per the Economist (https://www.economist...
40m May 07, 2024
40m
'Challengers' Ignites Audience Desires
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) asked if Jerry Seinfeld was right about the state of comedy. (You can read his full interview with David Remnick here (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/the-scholar-of-comedy) .) Then they review Challengers, an erotically charged relationship movie set...
44m Apr 30, 2024
44m
The Chilling, Frustrating 'Civil War'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed whether or not the stars of The Blair Witch Project should get back-residuals for services already rendered. (You can read the full story here (https://variety.com/2024/film/news/blair-witch-project-cast-lionsgate-heather-donahue-joshua-leonard-michael-williams-123597...
53m Apr 23, 2024
53m
Across the Movie Aisle Live!
Very special episode this week, as Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Denis Villeneuve’s 2016 film, Arrival, live from the Alamo Drafthouse in Washington, D.C. This was a very fun episode to tape and I hope everyone who showed up had a good time; we certainly had a great time meeting everyone. No bonus episode this week, as Aly...
45m Apr 16, 2024
45m
Bringing 'Monkey Man' to the Big Screen
Before we get started: a handful of tickets are left for Across the Movie Aisle live tonight. If you’ve never seen (or, almost as importantly, heard) Arrival on the big screen, you’re not going to want to miss tonight’s screening on the Dolby Atmos Big Show screen at the Bryant Street Drafthouse in DC (https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/event/special-event-arrival-presented-by-across-the-movi...
41m Apr 09, 2024
41m
How Dumb Is 'Godzilla x Kong'?
Before we get started: you’re running out of time to pick up tickets to the live show at the Bryant Street Alamo Drafthouse in DC. Tuesday, April 9. We’re talking Arrival. It’s gonna be great! Tickets are just seven bucks (https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/event/special-event-arrival-presented-by-across-the-movie-aisle) , you really have no excuse not to be there. Yes, Godzilla x Kong: The ...
36m Apr 02, 2024
36m
'Road House' Blues
Before we get started: make sure to pick up your tickets for Arrival (https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/event/special-event-arrival-presented-by-across-the-movie-aisle) at the DC Bryant Street Drafthouse on Tuesday, April 9. We’re doing a live taping after the movie, so it’s a great chance to come and say hi. Tickets are only $7! For a screening on the Alamo’s Big Show! It’s going to be fun,...
46m Mar 26, 2024
46m
Adam Sandler Goes Into Space, Man
Tickets to our screening of Arrival and live-taping of an episode (https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/event/special-event-arrival-presented-by-across-the-movie-aisle) of the show are going fast! It’s Tuesday, April 9, at 7PM in Washington, D.C., at the Alamo Drafthouse’s Bryant Street location on their Big Show screen. Tickets are just seven bucks! Pick them up now before they’re gone for goo...
35m Mar 19, 2024
35m
Best. Oscars. Ever.
Before we get started, some fun news: Peter, Alyssa, and Sonny are going to be at the DC Bryant Street Drafthouse on Tuesday, April 9 for a screening of Arrival and a live show. Should be a fun time; make sure to get your tickets now (https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/event/special-event-arrival-presented-by-across-the-movie-aisle) , as we sold out the last one of these we did in Crystal Cit...
38m Mar 12, 2024
38m
'Dune: Part Two,' a Desert Epic for the Ages
On this week’s episode Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Ian Bogost’s essay at The Atlantic suggesting the 4K revolution is a bit of a scam (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/02/4k-tv-resolution-lie/677586/) . Then they review Dune: Part Two, the second half of Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s...
42m Mar 05, 2024
42m
Is 'Drive-Away Dolls' an Instant Cult Film?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Ted Gioia’s breakdown (https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-state-of-the-culture-2024) of how the culture has moved from art to entertainment, into a world of distraction, and is now veering toward addiction. (Or, how we moved from Kubrick and Coppola to TikTok and IG St...
42m Feb 27, 2024
42m
Why 'True Detective: Night Country' Was Doomed to Fail
On this week’s episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) debated the emergence of AI video and whether it would be a net positive or a net negative for society. Then they reviewed True Detective: Night Country, which just wrapped its season up this weekend. Is it a worthy successor to season one, or somethin...
45m Feb 20, 2024
45m
'The Zone of Interest's' Immersive Horror
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked Super Bowl trailers (which you can watch here (https://ew.com/2024-super-bowl-movie-trailers-8572428) ). Then they turned to The Zone of Interest, the last of the best picture nominees they have to review. (If you want to hear their take on every best picture nominee, he...
41m Feb 13, 2024
41m
'Argylle' and the Unreality of Streaming Blockbusters
This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) asked whether Nikki Haley should be persona non grata from Saturday Night Live. Then they reviewed Argylle, which is a strange combination of distressingly empty and absurdly overstuffed. Make sure to swing by Friday for our bonus episode, in which we will offer up some suggestions of stuff ...
41m Feb 06, 2024
41m
Was 'Barbie' Snubbed in the Oscar Nominations?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) asked the most pressing question in the history of awards season: Was Barbie snubbed? Or was this, in fact, one of the best crops of nominees in decades? Then they reviewed one of the best picture nominees, Anatomy of a Fall. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ (https://plus.thebulw...
36m Jan 30, 2024
36m
'The Holdovers,' a Very Nice Movie!
A programming note: We tape on Monday afternoons, which means you will have to wait until next week for our Oscar hot takes. I know, you are quivering with anticipation! Quiver a moment or two longer. On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the decline of Pitchfork, which was gutted by Conde Nast and moved u...
49m Jan 23, 2024
49m
Does 'The Beekeper' Have Audiences Buzzing? (Correct Episode This Time!)
Apologies, got sent the wrong file this morning, which necessitated me, Sonny, doing an emergency edit to get this to you ASAP. So when you listen to this and you hear how much worse it sounds, know that’s the difference between getting a professional Jonathan Siri edit and a quick-and-dirty Sonny Bunch edit. Sorry for the mixup! On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenb...
39m Jan 16, 2024
39m
The Tricky Lessons of 'American Fiction'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (the Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked about the TikTok-ification of The Sopranos. Clever marketing, or grotesque desecration? Then they reviewed American Fiction, which is going wide this week after a relatively limited run. Does it effectively skewer its targets in the publishing-industrial complex? Or is i...
40m Jan 09, 2024
40m
ATMA's Top Ten of 2023!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Peter Suderman (Reason), and Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) discussed their ten (or so!) favorite movies of the year. You may have already seen Sonny’s list (https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/the-ten-best-films-of-2023) , but who knows how much things have changed in the weeks between its publication and the taping of this episode. One thin...
44m Jan 03, 2024
44m
A Flattened 'Maestro'
Merry Christmas! Peter, Alyssa, and I hope everyone out there is having a happy holidays. As you try to figure out what to watch with the family in this down week, we took a look at Netflix’s awards season favorite, Maestro. Before that, we dove into Marvel’s Jonathan Majors mess and asked if they made the right call in dropping him following his criminal convictions. Swing back by Bulwark+ on ...
42m Dec 26, 2023
42m
Is 'Poor Things' Rich with Meaning?
On this week’s show, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked about Netflix’s big data release (https://www.wired.com/story/netflix-viewership-data-foretells-bland-streaming-future/) . What plays? What doesn’t? What are they trying to signal to talent? Then they reviewed Poor Things, the latest confection from Yorgos Lanthimos. Does t...
41m Dec 19, 2023
41m
Miyazaki's Swan Song: 'The Boy and the Heron'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the Golden Globes and the odd fact that the same company owns not only the Globes but also the three biggest trade publications in Hollywood, meaning that studios will feel pressured to pay the press that covers them hefty For Your Consideration spots in exchange for aw...
37m Dec 12, 2023
37m
A 'May December' to Remember?
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Bob Iger’s decision to slam Disney’s “messaging” in recent movies. Does he really think the company is going broke because it went woke? Or is he simply trying to distract from the structural problems Disney has made for itself with its streaming service? Then the gang discusses May...
44m Dec 05, 2023
44m
Is 'Napoleon' an Epic Wonder or Blunder?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the removal of Melissa Barrera from the forthcoming Scream sequel in the wake of comments deemed antisemitic by the film’s producers. Then they review Ridley Scott’s epic, comic take on Napoleon, aptly titled Napoleon. Make sure to swing by Friday for our bonus episode ...
39m Nov 28, 2023
39m
How True to History Does Historical Fiction Need to Be?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked about Ridley Scott’s riotous press tour and his disdain for historical nitpicking while also reckoning with the responsibility, if any, popular fiction has to represent the reality of the world. Then they reviewed The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the...
43m Nov 21, 2023
43m
Why 'The Marvels' Crashed and Burned
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Warner Bros.’s plan to indefinitely shelve Coyote vs. Acme for tax purposes and what that says about the streaming business writ large. Then they review The Marvels, which recently had the worst opening ever for a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and continues the studio...
42m Nov 14, 2023
42m
'Priscilla' and Sofia Coppola's Gilded Cages
On this Tuesday’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) have a fine time highlighting Marvel’s myriad problems (https://variety.com/2023/film/features/marvel-jonathan-majors-problem-the-marvels-reshoots-kang-1235774940/) , from the serious (a star facing criminal charges) to the hilarious (a version of the character Blade in whic...
38m Nov 07, 2023
38m
'Five Nights at Freddy's': The Fall's Surprise Hit
Plus: David Fincher's 'The Killer' is in theaters for a minute. Catch him while you can.
45m Oct 31, 2023
45m
Have Scorsese, DiCaprio, and De Niro Done It Again?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the cancellation of Jon Stewart’s show by Apple. Was it driven by fear of criticizing China, or, possibly, something far more prosaic? Then we set our sights on Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese’s new film starring Martin Scorsese and his two most frequent ons...
42m Oct 24, 2023
42m
The Taylor Swift Concert Movie Spectacular
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the state of the AMPTP/SAG-AFTRA talks and why this strike might drag out longer than anyone expected. Then they review the much-anticipated Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which is definitely a 165-or-so-minute movie that recreates most of a Taylor Swift concert! But is i...
48m Oct 17, 2023
48m
Wes Anderson's Experimental Netflix Shorts
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) break down the business sense of Universal paying $400 million for the rights to a movie trilogy that just saw its first entry open to $27 million. (The streaming wars are wild, you guys.) Then they review the initial fruits of another big rights purchase: Wes Anderson’s four s...
39m Oct 10, 2023
39m
The AI Toys Coming for Your Kids
On this week’s episode, award-winning (https://twitter.com/AlyssaRosenberg/status/1691503555444613120) Washington Post writer Alyssa Rosenberg reports live from New York City on Toy Fair and all the hot AI trends coming to kids’ toys. And then Alyssa, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the AI-loving sci-fi original, The Creator. Spoiler alert: we talk about the thing...
49m Oct 03, 2023
49m
Is 'Dumb Money' a Smart Movie?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) celebrate the end of the writers strike and ask a very important question: what the heck took so long for the studio execs to sit down and work out a deal with the writers? Then they review Dumb Money, Craig Gillespie’s look at the pandemic-era bubble surrounding meme stock AMC...
45m Sep 26, 2023
45m
A ‘Haunting’ Murder Mystery
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Drew Barrymore’s aborted decision to bring her show back sans writers before the WGA strike ends and how social media pressure is helping enforce solidarity. Then they review A Haunting in Venice, the latest adventure of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot directed by and starring Kenn...
32m Sep 19, 2023
32m
Did the Streaming Game Just Change?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) look at the last-minute deal that brought ESPN back to Spectrum cable customers just in time for Monday Night Football. Is this deal a game-changer, or simply a delay of the inevitable diminishment of cable TV? Then the gang reviews You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, the...
33m Sep 12, 2023
33m
Why Taylor Swift and AMC Bypassed the Studios
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if Taylor Swift and AMC got the better of the studios by agreeing to a direct distribution deal for her forthcoming Eras Tour movie concert. Given the way studios are messing with the release calendar in response to the ongoing strikes, was this a smart short-term play to fill a revenue...
44m Sep 05, 2023
44m