Hit Man

[00:00:02] What you want, when you want it, where you want it. This is the MESH. Footcandle Films, Film News and Reviews from two guys who really like movies. This episode is brought to you by the Footcandle Film Society.

[00:00:22] For a schedule of upcoming screenings and membership information, visit the Society's website at www.footcandle.org Hello and welcome to Footcandle Films here on the MESH.TV podcast network. My name is Alan Jackson, as always is with me Chris Fry. Chris, how you doing?

[00:00:45] I'm doing well. I'm enjoying the summer so far. So, yes, same here, same here at a little birthday weekend, get away out to the Tennessee Mountains for the weekend. So, how to good time with that?

[00:01:00] Did not see any movies during the trip, which is quite a lot for me to go on a 4-day trip, 4-day vacation and not see a single movie during my time. Did you see any SaaSquatches?

[00:01:12] No SaaSquatches. I thought it was a lot more aware of them after our review of the last film that we discussed. Lots of bears though. They're pretty much the same. They're quite a bit of bears but no SaaSquatch. SaaSquatch, I SaaSquatches. Right.

[00:01:27] We are determined to blur the plural of SaaSquatches as well. We're sticking with that. Okay, so anyway, today's episode has nothing to do with SaaSquatch. Thank God because I think we had enough of that last episode. Today's episode of Effect Cognitive Films will be discussing the film Hitman,

[00:01:46] the latest from Richard Link later, director and starring Glen Powell and Adriana Arjuna. And then we'll also be going into some news items that we have to share. I know nothing about these news items, because we'll be bringing them up to us.

[00:01:59] So I'm going to let him surprise me with whatever news items he wants to share. And we'll let Chris also do another patented Chris Fry recommendation of a film. We thank you all to check out if you're so inclined. So Chris, that is what we have on tap.

[00:02:14] That's what we're going to do. Are you ready to get into our review of Hitman? Let's do it. Alright, here we go. The film is Hitman. No. No, I don't mind what? You're not a Hitman. You can't be.

[00:02:31] I tried looking you up with nothing. It's like you don't even exist. I guess I'm just a fantasy. So it's the biggest difference between the real you. You're occupation. By the way, my name is Gary Johnson and I'm a fake Hitman. In director Richard Linklater's latest film, Hitman,

[00:02:59] Glenn Powell plays Gary Johnson, a mild manner professor who moonlights as a, you guessed it, Hitman of sorts for his city police department. Things start to go sideways when he finds himself attracted to Madison, played by Adrienne Arzana, who enlists his services.

[00:03:17] Gary, who often meets his clients to be in diners, has a refrain heard at least twice in the film. All pie is goodbye. Alan, would you say that Hitman serves as proof that all link later is good link later? Yes. No, no, yes. I'll say yes.

[00:03:39] I'm trying to think about this in terms of other link later films. This is a very different film. I feel like from a Richard Linklater standpoint. It's got obviously elements that I think you can associate with other films.

[00:03:51] But this one just felt a little different, but I did ultimately like it quite a bit. Actually, I did have a good time with this. I do have some fairly glaring issues with the film that I think kept it from being nice. Glaring issues.

[00:04:10] I kept it from being a great film. Okay. But I did like what it was doing. I liked where it was going. Well, and I'm trying to do this without spoiling too much. I think overall there's an overall premise to this film that I thought was really interesting.

[00:04:31] You know, the premise is kind of rolled out in the first few minutes of the film. That plays with the title of the film. Plays with the expectation of what you think this film is going to be about. And turns out it's kind of not kind of stored.

[00:04:45] Again, I felt like I'm dancing in the spoilery territory. But I liked this overall concept of this film. What I didn't say in my setup, which is important to go ahead and say this film, which they say at the very beginning, is based on a true story.

[00:05:02] So this was somebody Gary Johnson was a real person. Apparently according to the credits he has passed away now. But he was a real person who worked as a fake hitman. So he was not a real hitman, but he worked with the police department.

[00:05:18] To basically get people who were trying to hire a real hitman and let the police know, hey, this guy's not good. You need to kind of watch after this person and they would arrest them and stuff. So that's kind of the premise for this movie.

[00:05:31] And I guess Richard thinks right or thought, hey, this is kind of an interesting idea. This is not the first time that he has taken something from reality and made a movie of it.

[00:05:42] Actually, I don't know if we discussed it or I just recommended it or it show long time ago. But Bernie, I actually really think we reviewed it because I said that. Okay, so I really liked it that started Jack Bach.

[00:05:55] So Bernie was probably the closest in kind of style and storytelling to this film of other movie films. Right, right. And he used Jack Bach in that film, which he had in a comedy straight up comedy school of rock.

[00:06:09] I think kind of what I was alluding to with this set up and the fact that reference to line in the movie, which I actually really did like the All-Pies Kid Padline. Richard Link later is fromography. Does kind of go kind of all over the place.

[00:06:23] And I kind of admire the his way of filmmaking now. Do I appreciate all of his films? Well, maybe not to the extent that I do, for example, this one.

[00:06:34] And the more I think about this film, the more I like it and I think I like it because it's a hallmark of a link later film. And that he's going to make the kind of film he wants to make.

[00:06:45] And you know there's been a lot of hubbub that this film is a Netflix film. It came out in theaters briefly and then went to Netflix. And a lot of people critics specifically were questioning like, oh, you know, of course, because they like link later.

[00:07:02] And they're like, oh, you know, it should have had a theatrical run much longer. Like they could have made money. But I will say I can see why it's a little different. And I admire that it's a little different.

[00:07:13] Yeah, I wish it could have had a longer theatrical run. But I can see why film distributors and things were a little nervous about it because of where it kind of goes in the final third act.

[00:07:25] But ultimately now that I've had time to sit with the film a little bit, I actually think it's kind of a hallmark of a link later film that doesn't comfortably fit into one specific time. It does them because they admire them for that.

[00:07:38] I mean, they marketed as comedy, you know, crime, yeah, or even a romance which yes it is as well. So I mean there's a lot of elements thrown in here. There's a lot to it.

[00:07:50] I'm actually fine with this being a Netflix film because I mean, like I always want to see a movie in a movie theater. Sure. If I'm going to see have to see a movie directed TV, direct to Netflix.

[00:08:01] This one actually works. I mean it's not a visual film. It is not a film that I think has to be a spectacle on a big screen. I think this one works. It's a little definitely more intimate film from a character level.

[00:08:15] Here's my thing with this Chris. We got to start talking about Glenn Powell. Because we should. I wrote the film. I wrote the film, I produced a film. He has worked with Link later in smaller ports pieces and other films. I think he was on everybody once.

[00:08:31] He was. I think he actually even has small part getting started in fast food nation many, many years. Oh wow. Any plate of voice or is there a baby? And then the film that was the one about the link later growing up in the whole space program. Yeah.

[00:08:47] He was a character voice in that film as well. Glenn Powell has been interesting. I mean, I've seen him in things. I think he's charismatic. I think he's definitely got the leading man status. But I was really impressed with him in this film.

[00:09:03] I thought he was really good. What did you think? I mean, I he surprised me because when I heard he was going to be doing like costumes and characters and kind of all this, I'm like, oh boy, this is not going to be.

[00:09:13] I don't think this is going to be good. He actually pulled it off in my mind. I thought he was really good in this film. So, yeah, this for me, a new link later film.

[00:09:23] I guess this is a, I did a polyten and a half come to theaters as well and then get a Netflix. I don't think so. He did kind of just have a picture. Okay. So hearing that a link later film was coming to Netflix, I wasn't like,

[00:09:35] Spurs was like, okay. Glenn Powell being the star. I was like, okay. I know this dude, like probably most people do from him being in top gun Maverick being Lieutenant Jake Hangman, Serenze and you know everyone knows

[00:09:49] if you don't you can go back and listen to the episode of Talk Gun Maverick. How I feel about that film. But for me this is the film where I was like, okay. Glenn Powell's not just another pretty face. Yeah.

[00:10:01] He, he like we mentioned he helped write it. I was not aware because I haven't seen, he's been in some other films but not one's that I think I've seen. I mean, I did see it by want some but he wasn't a major player in that.

[00:10:14] He's got great comedic timing but he has the skills to do some dramatic scenes as well when he needs to and so that's what I want you know. So I was like, okay yeah this guy, this guy is not just pretty, you know,

[00:10:28] pretty face or a honk that you can put on screen for a top gun Maverick. Much more than that. So I was really, I was really impressed with him. So I was impressed with Glenn Powell. I liked him.

[00:10:39] I thought, I found myself, you find yourself drawn to him in the film and that you really kind of enjoy your time with him on film.

[00:10:46] And even when it got a little, you're him doing the different characters which I will back up to my issue in a little bit. But I want to talk about some of the characters. Okay, all right.

[00:10:56] But when it kind of did some montages of him doing different characters and all that. It was generally fun and good. And there were a few characters on like, oh wow. Glenn Powell really is acting here so that was really good.

[00:11:09] Yeah and so okay and I could see how somebody could dismiss it as he's basically doing like a Jim Carrey riff. Like all the different characters that were like a to a lesser and not as good film.

[00:11:22] Although I do like what's his face Dana Carvey, Master of Disguise. Oh, so yeah. Okay, so to I could see how that could be a critique. But for me, there were two characters. I was like okay, this is, this is another level.

[00:11:38] Oh, I have one of them is American Psycho Patrick Bateman was definitely they are. And I'm assuming he was channeling that because his mannerisms were Christian bail and it wasn't just doing Patrick Bateman from no. It was doing Christian bail doing Patrick.

[00:11:53] Like it was, it was very like it was amazing. Like that could have been a Saturday and I would skip just that. It was really, really good. And then there was this other one which I'm trying to think exactly what he was going for.

[00:12:07] But maybe it's just some, I can't think of it but it was the one where he portrayed this very odd looking maybe slightly a feminine serial killer. But it was a hired killer type of red headed. Yeah.

[00:12:22] It was like okay, what and I what but it was just very, you're like something you'd see not that this was in seven but something like that. It was just very kind of bizarre and you're like okay, I admire you for doing that because I wasn't there.

[00:12:34] And there probably is a touchdown that I just can't think of that he was directly trying to nail down. But it was just very, it was very interesting and I thought really well. I liked his ski shooting good old boy. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[00:12:48] There's well just because it was, yes. It was pretty spot on. I mean he was pretty good with it. So I think all of that was really entertaining. I think the plot of the film at its core nature is entertaining. Okay.

[00:13:02] I like the premise of okay, kind of back up a little bit from even the Chris, the summary Chris gave. I mean, yeah, this guy is a teacher, college instructor. Yes. I'm just thinking along this sociology and kind of this idea of how philosophy and how relate

[00:13:22] and find your place in the world.

[00:13:24] Right, kind of the Ed versus the ego and super ego and kind of in a lot of the, you know, they use the classroom scenes to kind of help try to give a little bit inside us to what's going on even with him as a character as to film progresses and the role sees playing.

[00:13:38] Well, I think he doesn't know who he is either. Well, okay. Yes. And do the course of the film, well, definitely by the end. That's, that's not only hang up Chris with the film and the only thing I think kept this from being a great film, okay.

[00:13:55] First off we have to go with a very, I felt like set up, very, very contrived, very convenient set up to begin with. I mean, within the first five minutes it's like, hey, somebody is not available. We need you to do this, go do this.

[00:14:10] It's like, oh my god. Like that's really just what they just did to set this whole film and motion. Now, maybe that really did happen in real life. Maybe it really was that ridiculously convenient and kind of haphazard.

[00:14:24] Unfortunately what the film did for me at that point is it made me never really quite get a feel for this guy. And you could argue that maybe the film doesn't want you to really know who this guy is.

[00:14:38] I feel like it hurts a little bit and that it doesn't make the progression as interesting as it could have been if we had a better sense for who this guy really was. Because they paint a really, really kind of almost caricature of the guy at the beginning.

[00:14:55] You know, he's eating breakfast alone with his cats, you know, he's very, very meekish. Yeah, and then it's like, just cats and I'm seeing him. And then it's almost like, well, they push him down a path. And it just the progression happens really, really quick with him.

[00:15:14] And it just had, it just gave me a real sense of disconnect from him, which I feel like kind of impaired my enjoyability of the film just a little bit. I still enjoy the overall story. I still enjoyed everything.

[00:15:27] I still enjoyed the performances. I still enjoyed everything I was seeing. But it kept me at a distance the whole time because I just don't feel like they ever quite grabbed how to get the audience to connect with this character.

[00:15:39] To really know like, if he really is evolving, if he's, what is going on in his head as he's learning about these other characters he's now inhabiting other than what we hear.

[00:15:54] I'm saying, in front of the lecture in the school. I feel like the lecture drum is like more of a, okay, but we got to drop some character development in here.

[00:16:02] So let's do it through just having him talking for the class which I thought was a little bit of a, a little bit of a cop out to that. I don't fault the performances for that. I don't, in overall, I still really, really like this film.

[00:16:15] I'm just saying that's the element of it. I felt like just kept me at a distance to some degree. And I'm to think that's the one element that could have made this a really great film. As I just felt like we needed a little more.

[00:16:26] Not a clarity of who this character, John is your Gary Johnson is because again, that, that's part of the whole story is that we don't really know who he is meant to be, who he is as a real person.

[00:16:38] But I needed to know a little bit more about what he's going through as this whole story is unfolding. Because he seemed to go with it extremely easily. And I felt like, I don't feel like that was quite what we were set up on the beginning to believe.

[00:16:53] So anyway, that's my only issue with it. It's more of a storytelling just the way they decide to roll this character out to us throughout the film. But overall, I still am not going to let that dampen my enthusiasm to say I really like this film.

[00:17:09] And what you're describing to me is actually not a bug but a feature. That actually, some of the letting you not know all these details in there.

[00:17:22] For me was a feature as a poster of a bug and I'll say something what I alluded to towards the last third of the film. And we mentioned the relationship, which we need to talk about a Madison played by Adriana. I really, really, really liked her.

[00:17:38] And was unfamiliar with her work prior to this really. And so I think that was a good thing too, to have her basically for me be a relative unknown. And it has to do with kind of the development of the relationship between those two.

[00:17:57] And it was interesting odd and I thought like, and I felt like she, I didn't really know who she was, too. And he's trying to find out who she is and she. And I don't ultimately, I don't really feel like I know who she is.

[00:18:12] And I don't really feel like I know who she is either because they alluded to. He's had, he's been married previously. He still keeps up with his x, y. They seem to have a decent relationship.

[00:18:24] And she kind of makes comments to him like, yeah, you're kind of an odd person and you need to talk to a therapist and you need to figure out who you are. And like, Madison, I feel like Adriana does a good job of showing how.

[00:18:40] Yeah, she's not just going to be your pretty face. She's not just your. Better to housewife. There's something. There's something more. And ultimately I think link later is just kind of presenting it.

[00:18:55] And the way things resolved, that was unsure about, but the more I think about it, like I said, it kind of worked for me and it just was kind of a hallmark of link later, not making a typical Hollywood film. And I'll say, I was not.

[00:19:10] The film does get violent or something. Not violent, but I guess there's some implied violence.

[00:19:16] And some implied violence things like that. And that was kind of a tone that kind of took it took a kind of a serious bent towards the third portion that would kind of surprise me a little bit.

[00:19:27] But then ultimately where it lands and that I don't want to spoil anything. But I did some research after watching the film. Actually, my wife did because she was immediately like because I was like, when it was ending, I was like, well, I liked it.

[00:19:41] But this one aspect of some of the dark nature, I guess let's say with those one things that it kind of took in that third day.

[00:19:49] It bothered me a little bit because of the comedic tone that he had had earlier on. She did a quick Google search and was like, oh.

[00:19:57] And then kind of put my mind to these and I was like, okay, I admire him for deciding that's how he was going to end it. But yet, the facts that like basically bore themselves out by doing like the real Gary Johnson made me feel better.

[00:20:13] So I guess ultimately that helped me. Well, they even. Because it was like he threw a curveball and he admits in the credits that film like, okay, this person, you know, he kind of,

[00:20:23] he puts pictures up at the real guy. I was going to say he kind of puts an air and he's like, by the way, this one thing that we alluded to this one thing never happened.

[00:20:31] And so you know, if you're going to make a film that's based on your love and he just wanted to make a good movie.

[00:20:37] I guess that's what every director sets out to do. Of course, I felt like he succeeded. It was just odd and quirky and I've been like, okay, so it ultimately,

[00:20:46] it really worked for me. And I saw that the differences are the things that may, I guess the people have often used, we may have used this reference or this kind of characteristic of his films in the past. Shaggy. Yeah.

[00:21:01] They're not, you know, clean crisp like a Michael Man film or something like that. Very tightly controlled like a Stanley Kubrick film or a Christopher Nolan film. That's not what he does.

[00:21:14] And I think he does what he does really well now to their degrees of success, depending on my personal taste. But I admire him for sticking to his, I guess, form your own. Sure. Yeah, no, I, yes, I agree with everything you say. I just did personally.

[00:21:33] I still feel like there was some storytelling issues. That, yes, maybe they are that Shaggyness that Lain played or brings to the film. But unfortunately, for me, it just did keep some elements of the film a little bit more in the distance that I wish it hadn't.

[00:21:46] Because honestly, I, I draw up this film on paper and I have, I have, I have to describe it to anybody. I love this film. I mean, everything, the plot, the story, the characters, the, the, the, the, the way it ends,

[00:21:59] everything is great. It's just, you know, as I, as you're watching it, I just still feel like they didn't quite know how to get the audience. For me, an audience to connect with that main character in any meaningful way.

[00:22:15] And it did hurt me a little bit on that. But I get what they were going for is they want him to be just as much as a negma, as some of the other characters we meet.

[00:22:25] And I agree, that could be a feature for some people. For me, it was a bit of a, it was still a bit of a bug. I really do, I agree with you on a, Adriana.

[00:22:35] Thanks to you as wonderful, very, very good. The two of them have some great, great chemistry and great interplay. I'd have to point out probably one of my favorite scenes I've seen in a movie in a while.

[00:22:49] And a good while towards the end, you probably know what I'm talking about, the, the notes app scene. I'll just say or whatever on the phone. Okay. Using text on the phone. I'm drawing a blank. Really? Yeah.

[00:23:04] The whole, the two of them at the end doing some faking and encounter conversation using a phone. That was really good scene. It was very, very good scene. Just. I mean, I guess, yeah, that was a really good scene.

[00:23:22] And I can think of other scenes that I liked as well. So it was hard, but yes, now I know what you're saying. I mean, I just think, as a call out, I was for one journey.

[00:23:30] It was so enjoyable. I think that summed up the film overall experience for me. It was watching these two characters that I think both acting at a really good level and having some great chemistry with one another.

[00:23:42] You have a scene that as it can be both played as funny, but also kind of tense and kind of thrilling at the same time and done in an innovative way. It's just, it was a fun scene. So I'm all for that.

[00:23:54] So let me call out something else that we haven't spoken about this person yet, but you talking about that scene reminds me of something.

[00:24:02] And I like that scene, but I actually like really well how it ended after the scene is over and he goes and talks to his fellow coworkers. Yeah, please. There's a guy who, I'm familiar with him as well.

[00:24:17] His name is Austin Amelia and he plays Jasper who at the beginning of the film, he's not being able to perform the duty of being a fake hitman is what gets Gary Johnson to come in and have to kind of take over.

[00:24:29] He basically Jasper gets put only with absence. Jasper comes back from his leave of absence and there's some tension there. And the way Jasper was used, I think that was what I can say is the link later, link later like quirk but yet it works.

[00:24:45] But then you're unsure about how to feel about him because basically he kind of sees because one of the things that Jasper knows is that Gary Johnson has begun to have feelings with Madison, which is basically a no-no because Madison originally tried to hire a guy.

[00:25:02] To kill somebody. So that is a no-no. Jasper ends up finding this out and then after that encounter with like you're talking about the messaging app, Jasper's like, Oh, and then like the way his characters continue to be used.

[00:25:16] I feel like it's pretty clever from a screenwriting stamp. Yeah, that's great too. No, I liked his character. I thought he did a good job of being a good guy. He was kind of a mainstay in the walking dead series for many years. And he was really good.

[00:25:34] I liked his character as you, I like the fact that they kept him at a leash on a leash where you never quite knew where his intentions were.

[00:25:44] And never quite knew what he was actually aware of or knowing until key times and I think that played really well. The way it was used with his relationship with Gary Johnson obviously, Glen Powell, you're kind of like him. He's a likable guy, like a little actor.

[00:26:00] His Gary Johnson even though you're saying there's something you don't know about him. Obviously you're supposed to feel one way about him and Jasper you're supposed to feel like, okay this is Mr. evil Mr. Bad guy.

[00:26:11] Yet some of the stuff he's saying it's like well it's kind of fair because he's basically saying you're not supposed to be doing this. So it's like him calling him on the carpeer like, oh man but then you're like, well Jasper's kind of right.

[00:26:23] So it was an interesting balance that I thought of the screenplay, link later and go and power walked really well. Yeah agreed. I think overall cast was really really good. Top to bottom. Enjoyed all elements of that.

[00:26:37] I think I could brow off other things about the film that really worked well. I mean overall pacing was great in the film. I think it was the right length of time.

[00:26:47] I think it had just enough kind of turns and some moments where the tone shift was appropriate in made sense. But you also had some great comedic moments or at least some lighter moments, especially with the various characters.

[00:27:03] I kind of wish we got to see a little bit more or some other other characters because we spend the most time with what's the one that's kind of the becomes the main character later on the film.

[00:27:14] This is name. Ron is it Ron. Yeah. Ron becomes kind of a character we spend the most time on one of the personas that is adopted. And it's kind of mentioned in passing about because this is persona that he met. He met us a mad as well with.

[00:27:30] Yeah and he has mentioned at one point in kind of in passing, which is a little bit of the the storytelling issue I was talking about why he's choosing these different characters to go and interact with these people that he's meeting with us.

[00:27:43] I'm also from a sociology background. It is and again, I think that's there's a little bit of implication on that a little bit of like passing mention of that but that's the stuff I found interesting and I felt like the film could have done more like I was commenting on about his character in general.

[00:28:02] I think you really could have leaned in a little bit more on this whole fact that he is a sociology professor. He is teaching students about this idea of the real persona.

[00:28:11] What is he himself going through realizing that now he likes himself better as these other personas or as one of these in particular. What is it doing for him in general as a person?

[00:28:22] I think there are some opportunities that might have gotten in my opinion will missed that could have elevated this film even more so but as it is, it's a good entertaining film that does what it needs to do and gives a great showcase performance for a couple of the actors.

[00:28:40] How did it time with it? It says like I may have liked a little more than you but a little bit. I mean again, I'm not trying to damper my enjoyment every film I see there's opportunities where something could have been better.

[00:28:52] So it's not a better that makes the film bad at all. It just isn't game which is perfect. It's just perfect.

[00:28:58] Even says in can if you really put my feet to the fire, I could point out a couple things of like, kind of wish it would have been this or done a little better.

[00:29:05] But again, that doesn't make a film not a great film or good film. This is a good film and I had a really good time with it and definitely recommending a film. It is turning you off of reviewing movies like Sasquatch and said no, no, no, no.

[00:29:18] If in fact this might have been a little bit of redemption because I found myself kind of a little weary going into watch the film.

[00:29:23] I'm like okay, I got to watch and review a film now and about 20 minutes in. I'm like, okay, I'm digging this. I'm having a good time. This is fine.

[00:29:31] So Sasquatch sunset may have done some damage, but hitman luckily has brought me back. So thank you Richard link later. Thank you Colin Glenn Powell. Thank you Adrian. Arjuna. Good stuff. Cool.

[00:29:47] All right. Well that is hitman and it is like Chris said in the setup. It is on Netflix. So again, I'm not even sure did it have it theatrical run. I guess it did. I've been making the last week or so in May and then it hit June 7.

[00:30:02] Okay, but it is on Netflix and we are both recommending that yes this is a good one to check out and it's available to you now for the low low price of whatever Netflix is running this month.

[00:30:13] I don't know. I don't remember if the cost of anything anymore. So all right Chris, let's take a quick little break when we come back.

[00:30:20] You have a couple of news items and a recommendation of a film for us to check out. So stay tuned. You're listening to Focando films and we'll be right back in a moment.

[00:30:30] This podcast is sponsored by Jackson Creative, a custom communication agency located in downtown Hickory, North Carolina specializing in online content creation to learn more visit the Jackson Creative dot com Jackson Creative. Welcome back to Focando films here on the mesh dot TV podcast network.

[00:30:52] We had a review positive review of the film hitman earlier from Rachel Linklater and now we're going to move on to some news that I am not aware of. Normally, I try to bring as much news because Chris does the recommendations kind of help things balance.

[00:31:08] But Chris, you actually, I was on vacation. Didn't really have a lot of time to go through and look up for a lot of news items.

[00:31:14] Try to actually stay away from news as much as I could for at least a few days. So I'm going to leave it to you. What do you have for us to share with us on some movie news this week?

[00:31:23] So just recently announced probably maybe this week, I think. His been announced wake up dead man has begun filming actually actually started June 10. So that's the day before because we're recording on the 11th.

[00:31:40] But Ryan Johnson's next knives out murder mystery starring Daniel Craig once again is Benel Blunk this time, the picture they've shown from like I guess the set his long hair, which is causing a buzz all around the internet.

[00:31:57] Yes, a change. Instead of like the buzz character, it's long hair. So it's a huge deal. Additions to the cast this time. Glenn Clos, Josh Brolin, Joshua Connor, my la Kueness, Jeremy Render and Scott, Kerry Washington, Kaylee Spainy and Thomas Hayden Church.

[00:32:15] So basically nobody, they have a very far. Nobody's never seen before. Just like the first two. Yeah. So I don't know your anticipation level with this film, Alan. I know we've had two knives out films.

[00:32:31] Yes. The first one I remember you being kind of lukewarm on or you just wanted it to be more of a tighter mystery. And then I guess with the second one, I don't remember how you felt about glass hunting. We reviewed it on the show.

[00:32:44] Yeah, maybe you liked it. I liked it. I liked it. Probably a little better than the first knives out. And again, I'm still just grappling with my feelings on the knives out franchise.

[00:32:57] Okay. Because I love the concept of trying to reintroduce a mystery series with a core detective. I mean, you know, her cure, I mean, I grew up reading those books. Love the Agatha Christie novels. Who's the female detective to? Maple? Oh, um, miss maple. Is it miss maple?

[00:33:19] Um, marble? Oh, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, I'm sorry. Yeah. All of those books. I mean, I love that. I love the whole who done it. Give me a cast of characters.

[00:33:29] Give me clues. Let me try to figure out the thing that bothered me with knives out the first one. is that my endurance was not interested in doing a straight traditional mystery. Basically,

[00:33:42] he kind of gave away the big mystery pretty early on and then twisted it to have it have a different take to it. That, and again, it was fine. I just was hoping for a little, I wanted

[00:33:56] a little more. I did like glass ending a little better only because I think I liked some of the characters a little bit more interesting too. I thought Kate Hudson, day-potista, yes keep going. I got to play the actual building in the air at Norton. I thought

[00:34:16] Ed Norton was really good and actually that's okay. Sorry, that was my little final thing there. No, look, I'm excited because again compared to a lot of the movies we have that come out

[00:34:26] right now these days and have come out traditionally. I'm always for one of these rolling out because it's going to be fun. It's going to be a little interesting. Hopefully the mystery is good.

[00:34:37] Like it has been in general the first two so yeah, what you're thoughts? I know you're your fan of these these films. I am. I liked both of them. I like Ryan Johnson as a director. I'm assuming

[00:34:48] since it's starting filming in June we're probably not going to see this till maybe summer of next year. I assume but I don't know. My only, I guess my only sadness and I'm looking forward to it.

[00:35:02] The cast sounds great. I like Ryan Johnson. I think it'll be interesting. My only sadness is that I hate the fact that we're not getting nothing this is unique. I mean he's writing. It is an original

[00:35:14] story that he's going to write. That's cool. But that it's not. I really like Ryan Johnson's science section. He did Luper. He did the last Jedi. I like both of those. So I just,

[00:35:28] I wish he would do something different. I hope he's not just going to, I mean, but I know he's going on record. He loves, like you. He grew up reading. I guess, I can see Chris. He loves

[00:35:40] the mystery stuff. He's been putting his little kind of spin on it. But I think he may be content with just making knives out sequels for the rest of his career, which would make me a little sad.

[00:35:51] But if it's what he wants to do, awesome. And he's getting to work. I guess because of the nature, the type thing. He brings in these huge casts every time and they're all new people because

[00:36:01] you kind of have to get away from the suspects from the pressure. Same ideas an old traditional to take right? Right. So I appreciate all that and I think it's all awesome.

[00:36:11] I do look forward to this film. I just, I don't know, I wish I could see him do something that wasn't a sequel. I guess. And then we probably will at some point. But so what are we to make with the titles

[00:36:25] of his films? Well, all I can hear when I hear Wake Up Deadman is the YouTube song that's on pop the pop out my fingers. Well, that's my question. Is that okay? So knives out. I mean, if you really

[00:36:35] want to get down to it, knives out of the radio head song. It is a radio head song and it was also there was a chair that a bunch of people. Yeah, but I mean as far as the title goes, knives out is a

[00:36:42] radio head song. Glass onion is a beetle song Wake Up Deadman is a YouTube song. That is true. I'm just saying I wonder if there's something there. Luckily it's three bands. I like all three

[00:36:55] of those and I like all three songs. So well, and in the film, like you said, the first one had a chair that a bunch of knives. The second one, the building that Ed Norton had was counter glass onion.

[00:37:05] Yeah, he called it the glass onion. Yeah, and then that he sang Blackbird when he came down a bit to greet um Kate Hudson. So yeah, I wonder oh man, I hope there's some type of bonfire like

[00:37:17] I don't know. I mean I think that is I see I didn't even put that together but with the title Wake Up Deadman, that is very interesting. And a lot of people, I mean it's a murder. We assume we know

[00:37:28] it's going to be a mystery. Yeah. I assume it's going to be a murder Wake Up Deadman kind of kind of funny. Yeah, but yeah, I hope it is a reference. I hadn't even put, I mean I had joked about it

[00:37:40] but maybe it is like a reference to that song. That's funny. Yeah, I don't know. As soon as I heard the title, I'm like okay, yeah we've got a radio head beetles and YouTube. So basically my

[00:37:53] personal playlist you're basically playing and making titles off of the movies for. I'm like there's got to be something else to it. I'm sure. I just gotta be something to it. Yeah,

[00:38:02] and we'll definitely see okay so we don't know a date yet on this. Yeah, I mean they just started fell to be 20 25. I think. Okay good deal. What have you got for us as a second? So next up

[00:38:14] we're going to watch and you will listen to a little bit of a trailer. I speak by piece. It is a Farrow Williams Biopic and you say Chris. I don't imagine you as being somebody interested in A

[00:38:29] for our Williams which I am aware of some of his music but a biopic by him. I'm like, you know what listener you're right? A Farrow Williams Biopic that wouldn't really peek my

[00:38:40] interest so why did I bring it? Well, yes Chris, why did you bring it? It is being done in the milieu of a Lego movie. So it is a Lego Farrow Williams Biopic they've put out a trailer.

[00:38:54] I have not seen it yet. Oh, let's go watch it for the first time with you Alan and then well come on it. Great. Well here we go. Let's play the trailer for piece by piece. The Farrow Williams Lego story. Go ahead on this set.

[00:39:09] Hey Farrow. Hey are you doing man? You know be cool as if we told my story with Lego pieces. Seriously? Yes Lego to be open. When I was a kid I knew I was different and people would say oh that's an odd child

[00:39:30] and that crushed my spirit. But I loved music it was mesmerizing to me. I was see beautiful cues of light cascading. I just thought this was all blackheads did it stared into the speaker.

[00:39:45] Wow. All right Chris that was the trailer for piece by piece. The Farrow Williams story told in Lego form. Your thoughts after seeing it for the first time and let's not I think it was pretty I

[00:39:58] wasn't aware there's still I watched the trailer directed by Morgan Neville. Yeah 20 feet from startup. Yes so okay it was directed by I thought was narrated with the directed. Okay all right cool. I mean you can do a quick little Google search there to make sure but

[00:40:14] I think it's a directed. Oh yeah you're right directed by my mom. Sorry. So yeah I like I kind of teased. I saw this come across the Twitter Twitter stream and I was like okay what kind of

[00:40:28] the trailer looks like okay you've got me you've got my interest because what I want to see if I mean yes they have it play in the trailer. The happy song yes I'm aware that you made that song

[00:40:40] it was in the difficult maybe it's yet. I got it but I wouldn't think I need to see a documentary about this dude but done in this format and the trailer is perfect it teases things why apparently

[00:40:54] for Rale wanted to do it this way. I'm like okay I'm I'm sold and from seemingly it kind of teases a little bit of themes about creativity and I'm like yeah that's the part about it. That's the

[00:41:08] part of it that got me interested. I mean if it's just gonna be a straight biography type of thing just told with Lego that's it's not enough of a conceit to like say elevated to a good film

[00:41:21] I think the fact that it seems to have a much broader message in there at least again from the trailer. I mean we're telling it from a two and a half minute piece of the film. Seems to be playing

[00:41:30] up a much more of a the art of creativity and kind of the individualness of art and you know what makes I mean I like the fact is kind of owning up saying he's different he's kind of grew up being seen

[00:41:43] as different and how does that translate to his career? If those are the kind of messages that they're able to convey and share and give us in a very creative way which obviously

[00:41:53] doing it in Lego is a creative way of doing it. Give you a lot of freedom and how you ship what you show on the screen. It's gonna be visually interesting. I'm all for it. That actually looks

[00:42:03] great. It makes me even more excited about it which like I said I just learned Morgan Neville I like his documentary is I think he which we did not end up reviewing on the show. No we did. I can't

[00:42:15] remember Steve did we we did it as a recommendation? No we did. Do you do you do the recommendation? You'd see as well so you talked a little bit about it. I believe

[00:42:25] he did Steve the documentary in two pieces. I think he did that but I can't swear on it. It's going to continue. Yeah but I will fill you in. So the fact that

[00:42:38] it's a Lego maybe has me interested but the fact that you have a documentary filmmaker actually involved in directing. It's like okay so it's going to be hopefully a documentary but yet it is

[00:42:50] going to be done like that just to be as fascinating the documentary filmmaker is stepping outside of their medium to basically make like an animated movie you know but it's that's that's fascinating. I got confused when you mentioned Steve because I was thinking about and much older

[00:43:07] documentary called Steve James. Yeah and that's Steve James that's right I got confused. You're talking about the Steve Martin documentary that just came out we talked about like a few weeks ago.

[00:43:16] Yes he directed that he directed uh Bano in the edge is sort of homecoming with Dave Letterman which I think is great I don't know if you've seen that it's not one. It's really good that's a good

[00:43:27] short documentary but uh if follows David Letterman as he goes to Ireland meets with Bano in the edge and they have a talk airy. So you two have two shout outs in this episode. Yeah that's right

[00:43:41] I have no problem with that love him. He also did the won't you be my neighbor the the Mr. Rogers documentary he did one on Keith Richards 20 feet from start obviously there is some music

[00:43:57] he's got some music draw to you know the music industry and music and performers he likes to and to make films on so I guess what you like it was like a Lego biopic fair okay yeah I'm

[00:44:07] gonna go see it I'm interested but the fact that they actually have a documentary filmmaker doing I'm like okay so it's like stepping outside what you'd normally sit so I'm I'm extremely

[00:44:19] actually I wonder if it'll end up being it's coming out in October apparently I think October 11th if it will be like one of the highest grossing documentaries of all time and then think about this

[00:44:33] come the Oscars is it gonna be animated film like the Lego documentary film or documentary film alright so I'm just I'm just gotta pull back the Chris Fry over I think he has a little more

[00:44:47] alright because we're already talking to Oscars now so I just got it okay and it's only June we'll see I think it's got a potential to be good so we'll see just interesting note while we're talking

[00:44:56] uh so Morgan Neville the next film he's doing another one he's got in production it's there in early stages build becoming out uh later I assume after this one it's called man on the run

[00:45:09] documentary do you want to take a guess who is about man on the run mm-hmm that's Paul McCartney oh but it's Paul McCartney as he forms wings right after the Beatles break up so it's a

[00:45:22] documentary about his post beetles I'm fascinated by that yes exactly because I know I know wings are like a lot of their songs but I do not know anything really about that time period yeah

[00:45:33] everybody knows about the Beatles but I don't know anything about uh man on the run which is one of them which has yeah band on the run is yeah mm-hmm so uh interesting yeah I think uh

[00:45:43] he's definitely leaning in on the docks about musicians and the music industry and I think they have a good spot there although I guess entertainers in general because again the Steve Martin was

[00:45:53] also really good so you know what I'll be curious about um I know Paul McCartney specifically but I think the Beatles is a whole they had a really tight and controlling with their material

[00:46:07] and I remember it was such a big deal when Cirque du Soleil was able to get license to do the show out in Vegas because it was like the Beatles their thing is we don't want people just

[00:46:16] endlessly covering Beatles on that's not interesting we want you to take it and do something different and presented in a new way which is why they you know ended up doing Cirque du Soleil and

[00:46:25] I got to see it recently and it was awesome so I'm wondering if Paul McCartney is challenging Morgan Neville to kind of say yeah don't just tell about Paul McCartney

[00:46:37] and wait that's board like you know people can find out what are you going to do that's going to make this interesting I wonder if and Morgan Neville because he came off a Lego thing will be like

[00:46:48] hey I got an idea so I'm extremely curious about that as well that's awesome yeah the storyline mean just looking at a little bit more about this man on the run yeah it is all about life

[00:46:58] after the break of the Beatles and how the love he shared with Linda McCartney became his bedrock and influence the journey that would lead to the formation of wings in a second decades musical

[00:47:08] catalog of time with classics yeah it's like let's focus in on this time period and see the one that not as many people talk about you know it doesn't get quite at the attention

[00:47:17] um yeah no I'm I'm interested I'm interested in all of it bring it all on I want to see it all sounds great yeah cool okay so that was our news items Chris thank you for sharing those with us

[00:47:28] and I'm gonna kick it right back over to you again because we have our world famous uh known around the world Chris Fry film recommendations for you Chris we get phone calls and emails constantly throughout the week people asking is there gonna be a recommendation on this episode

[00:47:48] they want to know because they a lot of people don't even listen to the show let's say no recommendations coming at the end so we're happy to say that yes you have one to share with us today

[00:47:56] what what is your film recommendation something you've checked out you think is worth us all checking out as well so this film I'll give it a kind of build it up a little bit but not too much

[00:48:08] uh this film came out in 2008 when we were just starting our film society so it was before we started this podcast which we started in 2011 wow we've been doing this for quite some time that 13 years

[00:48:22] so I I revisited this film because my wife for let's see I guess it was my birthday maybe no I think maybe it was I don't know if Valentine's Christmas something like that some recent holiday

[00:48:33] she gave me a poster that was 100 films kind of like a bucket list of 100 films and when you watch it you scratch off the little it's like a scratch off poster see scratch off like a little image and they

[00:48:45] custom did all these little images for all these different movies so I've caught up with a rewatched pulp fiction for this list I watched the green mile for the first time I'd never seen it

[00:48:54] so you know those are some that I've called up with but I've made myself promise that I can't just even though I've seen a lot of them on here I can't just scratch it off I have to actually rewatch it

[00:49:04] before I scratch it off so that's a long way of saying it made me revisit 2008's Wally okay and it's films 16 years old now I feel like I kind of forget you know when you you think

[00:49:18] Pixar of course most people think of toy story that's the one you think of and then I guess you also think of your favorites things that have had sequels like finding Nemo and they made finding

[00:49:29] Dory yeah but things like there are the Incredibles and then they made you know so I feel like Wally kind of got lost or kind of gets lost a little bit it was really popular when it

[00:49:39] came out so that's where you didn't get any love when it came out but revisiting it I remember when I remember of the film is really liking the time on earth that he spends like

[00:49:50] doing trash compacting and then once it moves forward to the other thing about being up in space and finding the humans are so it was still good but I guess I felt like maybe it lost a little

[00:50:01] something while on this revisit I don't feel that way and I think what one of the reasons I appreciate it is it doesn't I guess there can be some pre-chidness I guess associated with Wally

[00:50:13] but considering where we are now in 2024 and how some things have or have not changed I think it's a good thing that to be reminded like hey yeah maybe it's a good thing to pick

[00:50:26] trash up hey maybe it's a good thing to recycle maybe it's a good thing to do what you did recently for your birthday kind of vacation thing where you went to the mountains and just said you know

[00:50:36] what I'm not going to look at any screens I'm not going to watch any movies I'm just going to get outside because one of the shortfall of these people is they kind of get sucked in to look

[00:50:44] and that was a thing back in 2008 you know they showed these humans up in space and all they do is float around in chairs and watch screens all day and like this was 2008 when he was

[00:50:55] making this day man here we are in 2024 and yeah admit I look at my phone and awful lot so it's just kind of good to be reminded of stuff like that so you can watch this Wally obviously

[00:51:08] widely available if you happen to subscribe the Disney Plus you can watch it on there but yeah Wally I think if you've seen it and you have a see it says then you might want to revisit

[00:51:18] and it's just it's all two or a lot times I recommend thumbs I can be kind of dark or brooding and don't often get to recommend children's phones and so Wally check it out and

[00:51:28] understand which you know some people may grow and I've liked them they are making a toy story five and he's slated as being the director so I am a little leery other but I liked four so

[00:51:39] well we'll see what he does yeah they I still feel like toy story they've made it work I mean they've made the whole franchise work and I think yeah they we just go ahead and agree

[00:51:49] there's not gonna be a final toy story maybe there's a wall beat even if they say this is it this is the last one no it's not you said that with three and then he said that with four and it's

[00:51:57] like a habit Wally it is kind of surprising well I guess not really that they didn't make a sequel to that I mean it was an I'm glad yeah I was gonna knock on that because I think it had such a

[00:52:08] singular message singular story to share it just if I think with that any efforts to do a sequel to follow up on it would just be pure commercialism just hey Hally Wally was really

[00:52:21] famous so let's do another one of those you're right it has kind of fallen out of the conversation of people when they reminisce on Pixar films because it doesn't have the

[00:52:30] sequels done have the other ones coming up the only thing I hear about it when people talk about it is referring to the state of society that Wally was kind of predicting about it and we're kind

[00:52:41] of getting closer every year so it still has that cultural impact I think right now for sure but as a piece of entertainment a piece of film yet it has gotten a little overlooked so

[00:52:51] and it's striking I mean not that I didn't notice at the first time because I did but there's also a real love of movies and cinema because Wally at the beginning he's dancing to the I guess it's

[00:53:01] hello dolly oh okay so he's doing that the mere fact that Sigourney Weaver plays a voice of a computer on the ship which is very interesting because it has similar motives to the computer

[00:53:15] and Android voice or Android that was in aliens there's there's some clever as always with Pixar stuff there's referential stuff but um there's plenty of that here too so yeah that's going to be

[00:53:27] that is Wally available on the Disney Plus app or you know you can rent it through other media services as well so all right Chris well I think that is all we've got on tap for today

[00:53:40] so we had our review of Richard Linglayer's hitman which we were both positive on giving strong recommendations for we had some news items that you shared with us one was the trailer for the

[00:53:51] Ferrell Williams Lego documentary movie which was just an odd thing to describe in general um that is going to be we didn't have a date on that either did we or no October October okay

[00:54:04] it's been a pretty simple one later so it's going to be in theaters going to be in theaters October 11 and it'll eventually stream somewhere but I guess you know only in theaters is interesting choice

[00:54:13] I don't I'll be curious the how that plays out okay and then also the new knives out film wake up dead man that'll be coming out sometime in 2026 or 2025 we're pretty pretty sure so

[00:54:25] we'll wait and see on that all right Chris well if anybody wants to get a hold of us talk to us about anything we shared on the on the show today or questions about our film festival which we do have

[00:54:35] coming up how can they get a hold of us or learn more you can send an email to info at foot channel.org you can follow us on twitter at foot channel film facebook foot channel film society

[00:54:45] or instagram threads we're on there as foot channel film allen i are also on letterbox we try to track what we're seeing in lead quick takes when we can do us a favor give us a star rating

[00:54:55] writer of your share of friends or whatever service you receive your favorite podcast on because it will help us reach new listeners we'd appreciate it as allen alluded to the foot channel film

[00:55:04] festival it's going to be September 20th through the 28th it's going to be our 10th year we're pretty excited about it we're getting close to us at this every episode but it's true as we get we'll be

[00:55:14] announcing like kind of like in July so as we continue putting out episodes we aren't getting closer to announcing our lineup so be on a lookout for us and if you're going to be in western North

[00:55:23] Carolina in September we'd love to have you join us absolutely that sounds great well listen thanks everybody for checking out the show today we'll look forward to talking to you by next time with more

[00:55:34] film reviews and film news and recommendations thanks everyone see you in the ticket mine my kind of home for once that were famous when brown world watch us out of the river and

[00:56:07] stop the heritage open or watch us there's a courtesy of the kids special thanks to Carple Taller for the show theme music for more about Carple Taller visit www.carpletaller.com just heard