Why Streamers Want to Keep Their Data Secret
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the sticking points between the AMPTP and the WGA, and why the stickiest may wind up being data divulging. Streamers don’t want to give it up; the union doesn’t want to give up a golden opportunity to force success-based residuals. What might a compromise look like? The...
41m Aug 29, 2023
41m
Fraud at the Box Office! Plus: 'Strays' Reviewed.
On this week’s show, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss fraud at the Korean box office (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/korea-box-office-manipulation-scandal-open-secret-1235571136/) and why rumors of studios and distributors inflating receipts are regular fodder for the conspiratorially minded. Then they re...
32m Aug 22, 2023
32m
Disney: Canary in the Showbiz Coal Mine
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) look at Disney’s shaky economic and creative output and discuss how it serves as a sort of canary in the entertainment industry’s coal mine. Then they review Full Circle, the entertaining-but-convoluted new show on Max (formerly, HBO Max) from Steven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon. Make sure to ...
37m Aug 15, 2023
37m
Are Digital Extras the Future of Movies? Plus: 'They Cloned Tyrone.'
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the controversial (or nontroversial?) practice of digitizing extras (https://www.npr.org/2023/08/02/1190605685/movie-extras-worry-theyll-be-replaced-by-ai-hollywood-is-already-doing-body-scan) . Setting aside issues of informed consent: Is this an existential threat to the Screen Ac...
38m Aug 08, 2023
38m
We're All 'Barbie' Girls, It's a 'Barbie' World
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if you’re ready for the nascent Mattel Cinematic Universe (as chronicled by the New Yorker here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/07/10/after-barbie-mattel-is-raiding-its-entire-toybox) ) currently being developed by Hollywood. If you enjoyed Barbie, you’re gonna lov...
39m Aug 01, 2023
39m
'Oppenheimer' Is Transcendent Cinema.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if movie theaters could wind up being the biggest casualty of the ongoing actor’s strike despite this weekend’s huge box office returns for Barbenheimmer. Then they review Oppenheimer, which is a clear frontrunner for best picture of the year. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+...
46m Jul 25, 2023
46m
The Actors Strike! What Do They Want?
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to figure out why the studios and the actors are so far apart in their negotiations. Spoiler: It’s not entirely about the money. (Though it is, in a larger sense, always about the money.) Then they review Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One, the latest entry in Tom Cruise’s d...
38m Jul 18, 2023
38m
The Subtle Pleasures of 'Past Lives'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask why WB keeps stepping on rakes by doing things like demanding GQ rewrite pieces about David Zaslav and messing with critics by scheduling Barbie screenings on the same day as Oppenheimer screenings. (Late-brekaing update here: the studio seems to be adding screening dates f...
36m Jul 11, 2023
36m
'Destiny' Comes for Indiana Jones
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if the apparent dismantling of Turner Classic Movies is a controversy or a nontroversy, before musing over what the channel should look like in a streaming-first world. Then they review Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Can James Mangold replace Steven Spielberg? Is it...
36m Jul 04, 2023
36m
The Perplexing Confection of 'Asteroid City'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to figure out how this Vulture feature (https://www.vulture.com/2023/06/spider-verse-animation-four-artists-on-making-the-sequel.html) on the work that went into making Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse depicts an abusive workplace. Then they review Wes Anderson’s new fil...
38m Jun 27, 2023
38m
The Summer of Flops!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about the summer of nine-figure bombs. With movies like Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Elemental, and The Flash all slated to lose more than $100 million at the box office—and movies like The Little Mermaid and Fast Xunlikely to break even—is it time for Hollywood to st...
42m Jun 20, 2023
42m
Was the Censorship of 'The French Connection' Inevitable?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss whether or not the digital censorship of The French Connection is the inevitable result of our puritanical desire to protect present audiences from past prejudices. Then they discuss Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Sure, it’s a little boring, but at least it’s more co...
36m Jun 13, 2023
36m
'Across the Spiderverse' Is the Best-Looking Movie of the Year (So Far!)
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask what the future of indie theatrical films looks like if festival purchases continue to crater (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-06-04/indie-films-are-the-latest-casualty-of-the-streaming-wars) . Then they talked about one of the best films of the year (so far...
39m Jun 06, 2023
39m
What Went Wrong with 'The Little Mermaid'?
On this week’s show, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) argue over whether or not “kink” is the right word to use (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/24/movies/little-mermaid-review-halle-bailey.html) when discussing a movie about a teenage mermaid. Then they discuss just went wrong with Disney’s latest live-action adaptation of The Littl...
36m May 30, 2023
36m
'Fast X'? More Like Fast Eccchhhs. Plus: Why 'wokeness' doesn't explain Disney's problems.
On this week’s episode Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman explain why the phrase “go woke, go broke” obscures more than it illuminates in the case of Disney and its various business dealings/struggles. Then the gang reviews Fast X, a bad movie with a very interesting (although also possibly bad) performance at the heart of it. Make sure to swin...
37m May 23, 2023
37m
Can Spoilers Make Movies Better?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if people should stop fighting the war on spoilers once and for all (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/08/opinion/spoilers-succession-science.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20230515&instance_id=92595&nl=opinion-today&regi_id=79941997&segment_id=132979&te=1&user_id=3ad8ea7ecf...
33m May 16, 2023
33m
Can the Guardians of the Galaxy save the MCU? Plus: Strike Talk!
Only four tickets are left for Across the Movie Aisle live (https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/event/special-event-wargames-presented-by-across-the-movie-aisle) , on Tuesday, May 16 at 7:30 PM at the Crystal City Alamo Drafthouse. (They’re marked as handicapped but there are actual chairs there and the rest of the tickets are sold out, so they’re fair game.) We’re showing WarGames and then ta...
34m May 09, 2023
34m
WGA Goes on Strike. What's at Stake? Plus: Guy Ritchie's 'The Covenant,' reviewed!
Before we get started, wanted to share a cool little thing I learned literally yesterday. Typically at a movie theater—or, at least, the movie theaters I’ve been to—the handicapped seats are just empty spots where you can fit a wheelchair. At the Crystal City Alamo Drafthouse, they’re actual chairs that can be taken out to provide a space for wheelchairs. There’s a cool little animation on the ...
38m May 02, 2023
38m
'Evil Dead' to 'Super Mario': Options for Everyone. Plus: RIP, Netflix DVD. (And don't forget about ATMA live!)
Just a quick reminder to pick up tickets for Across the Movie Aisle live at the Alamo Drafthouse in Crystal City on Tuesday, May 16 (https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area/event/special-event-wargames-presented-by-across-the-movie-aisle) , where we’re presenting the Matthew Broderick classic WarGames. There are only 20 tickets or so left, but I’ve got good news: they’re the best seats in the hous...
39m Apr 25, 2023
39m
Why Is 'Murder Mystery 2' So Popular? Plus: ATMA Live Show!
Before we get to today’s episode, a piece of exciting news: Across the Movie Aisle is teaming up with the Alamo Drafthouse in Crystal City for a special screening of the Matthew Broderick classic Wargames (1983) on Tuesday, May 16, at 7:30 PM. Alyssa, Peter, and Sonny will all be there, and they’re going to be taping a bonus episode of the show in addition to hanging out and enjoying a draft or...
33m Apr 18, 2023
33m
The Entertaining Agitprop of 'Tetris'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss a rumor that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences want to broaden the theatrical exhibition requirement. Would this benefit theaters or just serve as a way for entrenched streaming powerhouses like Netflix to shut out mid-level distributors? Then the gang di...
35m Apr 04, 2023
35m
Are the 'John Wick' Movies Deeper Than They Appear? Plus: What's the matter with Marvel?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark) and Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) ask if the well-oiled machine that is Marvel studios is about to see the wheels come flying off. (Peter is out this week, but have no fear: He should be back next week.) And then they discuss John Wick: Chapter 4, a movie that is not only immensely fun to watch but also, possibly, sneaky-deep? Make sure...
34m Mar 28, 2023
34m
Is 'The Last of Us' the First Great Video Game Adaptation?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about departing NYT film critic A.O. Scott’s thoughts on fandom and its effect on the way we talk about movies. Then they review HBO’s hit show The Last of Us and ask a very important question: Was Joel right? Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ this weekend for a bonus episode...
45m Mar 21, 2023
45m
Did the Oscars Get It Right? Plus: '65' Reviewed!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked about the Oscars. Sonny is shockingly happy. Peter is down on the whole thing. Alyssa, meanwhile, wonders how we’ll look back on this show’s snub of Tár in years to come. Then the gang reviews 65, the movie about Adam Driver fighting dinosaurs that has too little hot Dri...
35m Mar 14, 2023
35m
Is 'Creed III' a Knockout? Plus: a rant about the state of movie theater exhibition!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about Vulture’s exposé (https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/movie-theater-projector-amc-regal.html) on the state of theatrical exhibition. Does it actually matter to audiences? And then the gang reviews a movie that seems to have won audiences over regardless of projection qua...
41m Mar 07, 2023
41m
How 'Poker Face' Recaptures that 70s Spirit. Plus: Scott Adams self-immolates.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Scott Adams’s decision to commit reputational suicide by Twitter Cops. Then they heap praise upon Poker Face, the show worth subscribing to Peacock for. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for a deeper discussion of movie and TV detectives. And if you enjoyed this ...
36m Feb 28, 2023
36m
150: Against Rewriting Roald Dahl's Books
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if the decision to rewrite Roald Dahl to bring him more in line with the perspective of sensitivity readers is a controversy or a nontroversy. (The title of this podcast is a hint! For more on this insane story, make sure to check out Charlie’s newsletter (https://morningsh...
41m Feb 21, 2023
41m
149: Was 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' Mesmerizing?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if all the famous faces at the Super Bowl mean it’s time to make selling out a dirty word again. Then they review Magic Mike’s Last Dance, a movie that doesn’t seem quite sure as to why it exists. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for an episode on Channing Tatum, on...
40m Feb 14, 2023
40m
148: Will Netflix's Effort to Cut Off Password-Sharing Backfire? Plus: Is 'Women Talking' worth listening to?
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark) and Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post)* discussed Netflix’s plan to crack down on password sharing. It’s a fun story because there are lots of tiny violins to break out: not only for the people who think they should get something for nothing but also Netflix itself, for allowing/encouraging this behavior for so long. Then Alyssa and Sonny discuss Women T...
33m Feb 07, 2023
33m
147: 'All Quiet on the Western Front' Hints that War Is Bad
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) highlight the dumbest Oscar controversy of all time—did Andrea Riseborough’s friends send too many emails on her behalf in helping her secure a best actress nomination?—and try to explain the broader culture war reasons this has blown up into A Whole Thing. Then they review All...
36m Jan 31, 2023
36m
146: 'Pale Blue Eye': Worth a Laundry-Folding Watch?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), ask what it means that Chinese theaters are apparently open again for Hollywood business. Then they discuss Netflix’s new murder mystery, The Pale Blue Eye: Is it a cut above Netflix’s standard hashtag-content, or something to watch while folding laundry on a Wednesday night? ...
35m Jan 24, 2023
35m
145: Is 'M3GAN' a Killer Good Time? Plus: will the VFX shops unionize?
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the growing push for unionization (https://www.vulture.com/2023/01/inside-the-vfx-union-brewing-in-hollywood.html) in the visual FX industry. What will it mean for the industry—and for movie lovers—if special effects artists are treated like actual, you know, people. Then they discu...
36m Jan 17, 2023
36m
144: 'Babylon': Big, Messy, and Kinda Fun. Plus: Sports are King in the media landscape.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if they’ve all been focused on the wrong thing when it comes to the future of streaming. Movies, TV shows: none of these things really matter compared to … sports. At least, financially. And then they discuss Babylon, Damien Chazelle’s woozy and wicked ode to/condemnation o...
37m Jan 10, 2023
37m
143: The Best Films of 2022
Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ring in 2023 by looking back at 2022. What were their 10 (or so!) favorite films of last year?
32m Jan 03, 2023
32m
142: Is 'Glass Onion' a Satisfying Murder Mystery?
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review the first of Rian Johnson’s two Knives Out sequels for Netflix, Glass Onion. Is it a mystery worthy of Benoit Blanc or something a little lesser? Before that, the gang discusses the biggest business stories of the year: streamers, sports, theaters, China, and more all get a mention. ...
33m Dec 27, 2022
33m
141: Does 'Avatar: The Way of Water' Justify a Trip to Theaters?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) return to Pandora for James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water. Is the sequel 13 years in the making worth the wait? And then they discuss the oncoming streaming crunch. What does it mean that fewer shows will be made in the coming quarters? Make sure to swing back by Bulwark+ ...
36m Dec 20, 2022
36m
140: Are Awards Season Movies Doomed at Theaters? Plus: 'Emancipation' reviewed!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if awards season fare has a place at the multiplex any longer. Are prestige pictures doomed to a streaming-only existence in the near future? Or will audiences come back? And then we review the streaming service Apple TV+’s award season venture Emancipation. Does it have a ...
34m Dec 13, 2022
34m
139: A New 'Greatest Movie of All Time.' Plus: Plus, Steven Spielberg interrogates his life and his art in 'The Fabelmans.'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about the Sight and Sound’s decennial 100 Greatest Films of All Time list, which crowned a new champ … but not without controversy. Then we reviewed The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical movie about his childhood and how the art of film shapes his relatio...
42m Dec 06, 2022
42m
138: Why We Said You Can Skip 'She Said.' Plus: Where does Junot Diaz go to get his reputation back?
On this week's episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), talk about the sad state of Junot Diaz. Semafor's Ben Smith interviewed the novelist (https://www.semafor.com/article/11/27/2022/junot-diaz-in-limbo) about his odd career limbo; why can't folks who were accused of misbehavior before being exonerated get their reputations back?...
40m Nov 29, 2022
40m
137: Why Did Bob (Iger) Push Out Bob (Chapek) at Disney? Plus: 'The Banshees of Inisherin,' reviewed.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the late-night drama in Burbank, where former Disney CEO Bob Iger replaced current Disney CEO Bob Chapek. From tumbling stock prices to unhappy talent to a messy reorg, things weren’t going well … but is Iger the guy to right the ship? And then the gang reviews Martin M...
38m Nov 22, 2022
38m
136: Should You See or Skip 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to figure out why Warner Brothers can’t get a handle on one of their most valuable intellectual properties, the Harry Potter franchise. Then they review Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the MCU’s effort to grapple with the untimely death of Chadwick Boseman. Is it something ...
42m Nov 15, 2022
42m
135: You Should Go See 'Tár.' Plus: lol, Elon.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review one of the best movies of the year that very few of you have gone to see: Tár. It’s a great movie about the ambiguities of our moment with an absolutely wonderful performance by Cate Blanchett at its heart. Go see it! Before that, we had some laughs at Elon’s expense as ...
42m Nov 08, 2022
42m
134: Is Hollywood in a Regressive Moment? Plus: 'Ticket to Paradise,' reviewed!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if the New York Times is right (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/24/business/media/hollywood-metoo.html) to wonder if a backlash against diversity and casting and the #MeToo movement is upon us. Then they review Ticket to Paradise, a replacement-level romcom that tries to ge...
38m Nov 01, 2022
38m
133: Is 'Black Adam' a Must-See or a Must-Skip? Plus: Why has Star Wars stagnated at movie theaters?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask how much longer Kathleen Kennedy can stall the Star Wars theatrical slate. Then they discuss Black Adam, aka Murder Superman, and the movie’s interestingly muddled politics. Make sure to tune in on Friday for a House of the Dragon wrap up. How did the first season go? Will ...
38m Oct 25, 2022
38m
132: Why Does Kanye Want Parler? Plus: 'Catherine, Called Birdy' reviewed!
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask why one of the world’s most popular musicians wants to buy one of the world’s worst social media apps, Parler, and also delve into the dangers of Elon Musk’s effort to buy Twitter. After that, they review Catherine, Called Birdy, Lena Dunham’s adaptation of a YA novel set d...
42m Oct 18, 2022
42m
131: Is 'Amsterdam' the Flop of the Fall? Plus: RIP, Nikki Finke.
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), bid farewell to Nikki Finke, the notoriously nasty maven of Hollywood gossip who revolutionized the trade magazine business at Deadline Hollywood Daily. Then they review Amsterdam, David O. Russell’s big-budget, star-heavy flop (https://deadline.com/2022/10/amsterdam-box-offic...
38m Oct 11, 2022
38m
130: Should Billy Eichner Blame Homophobes for 'Bros' Bombing? Plus: Is 'Blonde' worth your time?
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 Billy Eichner blamed the straights for Bros bombing at the box office. Warning: there is journalist math in this section. And then we review Blonde, a tremendously depressing movie that goes on at great length. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ ...
41m Oct 04, 2022
41m
129: Should You See 'Don't Worry Darling'? Plus: The controversy (or nontroversy!) of 'Jihad Rehab.'
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if all the drama swirling about Jihad Rehab—the Sundance-selected documentary that some say never should have been made because the director is white while others say skirted questions of consent—is a controversy or a nontroversy. Then they review Don’t Worry Darling, a mov...
33m Sep 27, 2022
33m
128: Is 'The Rings of Power' Worth Your Time, Precious?
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Woody Allen’s not-quite-retirement announcement (https://people.com/movies/woody-allen-plans-retire-from-filmmaking-following-next-movie/) . Or “announcement (https://www.indiewire.com/2022/09/woody-allen-not-retiring-la-despite-vanguardia-report-1234763982/) .” What ar...
37m Sep 20, 2022
37m
127: 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' Versus The Discourse
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the ways in which movie stars benefit from Netflix (huge paychecks!) and also how they’re ill-served by The Service (minimal promotion, which removes stars from the public eye). Is Netflix a boon or a secret curse for Hollywood’s biggest earners? Then the gang reviews ...
40m Sep 13, 2022
40m