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The biggest movie event of the year that was only announced a few weeks before its release has finally arrived. Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes documentary is as fascinating a project in execution as it is a log line, and we're very excited to talk about it this week. The movie's three hour runtime spans several years and several states as it digs into the truly strange people at its center. Emily and Monika disagree many times on what a situation really means, and that's the fun of it, because literally no one knows what's true, not even the filmmakers themselves. ***** SPOILERS FOR YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THROUGHOUT THIS EPISODE Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we’re talking about Whalefall, the surprisingly sincere survival drama starring Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin that takes a pretty ridiculous premise and turns it into a moving story about fathers, sons, grief and maybe most importantly: how much we should respect and fear the ocean. We get into why the father-son story actually worked for us, Austin Abrams’ continued reign as our nation’s foremost "talking-to-himself" actor, Josh Brolin’s natural gift for playing a salty sea dog, and the strange tenderness of watching a man slowly develop an emotional connection with the whale whose stomach he is currently trapped inside. Plus: Monika give her full 4DX report because she experienced it for the first time. What's it like to cry while your chair violently shakes and sprays water in your face? Monika can now answer that! Major spoilers for Whalefall throughout. Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It's not Mother's Day... it's Mommy Week at the Movies. Monika and Emily discuss two very different films: the Jessica Chastain-led horror Other Mommy, and the family drama/action thriller Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother starring Mahershala Ali. Monika has a shocking opinion on Other Mommy, and Emily lays out the differences between the movie and the book it's based on, Incidents Around the House. Then it's onto Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, a really clever, original version of a hitman-in-a-bad-situation story, with some really beautiful character dynamics. ***Major spoilers for both films*** 02:33 Other Mommy 43:27 Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

LET'S GET READY TO RECKON. This week we're talking about The Social Reckoning, the long awaited follow-up to 2010's The Social Network. This time it's Oops All Aaron Sorkin, and the results... aren't great. Emily and Monika talk about their tech takes, the silicon valley movie and miniseries industrial complex, the surprise cameo from January 6th, the insane score, and why this movie just doesn't work in our current landscape, or possibly any landscape at any point. Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Against all odds, we are here to defend Verity. This week, Monika and Emily dip their toes into the CoHo waters to talk about Michael Showalter’s star-studded adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s extremely popular/horny/violent thriller starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, a movie we can only describe (lovingly) as prestige Lifetime schlock. We get into why Dakota Johnson’s particular brand of deadpan coolness is absolutely perfect for Lowen Ashleigh (perfect name), Anne Hathaway playing evil, Josh Hartnett’s ongoing second career as "Hot Dad Who May Be Dangerous...or not?" and why this movie understands exactly how seriously to take its beach-read source material. ***Major spoilers for Verity throughout!!! Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we’re talking about Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger, starring Tom Cruise as an oil tycoon at the center of an apocalyptic climate disaster (and also some other stuff) We discuss whether a movie can be intentionally unpleasant and still simply not work for you, Iñárritu’s keen eye for bringing together incredibly skilled film crafts-people, and the exciting return of Tom Cruise doing something other than jumping out of airplanes. ***Major spoilers for Digger throughout the entire conversation. Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lance Oppenheim's 'Primetime' has been one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year, and Monika and Emily are both here to say that in their opinions, it did not disappoint. This episode covers a lot of ground, both within the movie itself: the electrifying performances from basically everyone, theorizing about what the movie makes of Chris Hansen as a man and as a cultural figure, the humor, the darkness, the visuals, AND outside the movie: The 2025 documentary 'Predators', the show 'Undercover Underage', Lance Oppenheim's previous work, Chris Hansen's current career, and the whole sub-genre of media that he ultimately spawned. 'Primetime' is a provocative movie about a tonally fascinating juggernaut of a show about the darkest parts of humanity, and that's a recipe for a very long, very wide-ranging conversation to try to make a little bit of sense out of a lot of things. Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Fire up those PlayStations, we’re headed to Raccoon City baby!! This week, we’re talking about Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil. Neither of us has ever played a Resident Evil game, which puts us in an interesting position: How well does a video game adaptation work when you have absolutely no attachment to the source material? We get into the movie’s pretty darn effective attempt to recreate the feeling of actually playing a game, from its camera movements and real-time pacing and constant stream of increasingly disgusting obstacles. Some other important discussion topics include: Austin Abrams carrying an entire movie, impossible task of balancing horror and comedy, our favorite infected monsters, and whether a movie really needs to be “about” anything if it’s this much fun. Before all that, Monika talks about her very unexpected experience seeing Skweezy Jibbs Makes a Movie in Chicago. Join the conversation with us below: Email us [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT 00:00 Welcome & Spoiler warning 04:48 Skweezy Jibbs Makes a Movie 15:32 Resident Evil Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Almost 30 years after the first movie, the Owens sisters are back... but also somehow it's only about 12 years or so since the events of the first movie, but also it's somehow present day. Look: time in Practical Magic 2 is very confusing, as is the story, as are the character choices. The only magic in this movie is the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, which is thankfully as strong as ever. Everything else is really a mess. Even Lee Pace can't save this movie, which is saying a lot. Monika and Emily discuss the casting, the issues with legacy sequels, the laziness of the writing, the unfortunately impossible to ignore plastic surgery, and, of course, the original Practical Magic. Also, a thorough discussion of the popcorn buckets and cups they put out for this movie. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

SURPRISE! WE ARE FINALLY IN PERSON FOR ONE OF THESE!! Monika and Emily wandered up to the Twin Cities to hang out, watch some youtube videos in an AirBnB, and of course check out the Minnesota State Fair! This week at the movies we cover Coyote vs. Acme, the Looney Tunes courtroom drama that almost never got released, and also Finding Emily, the rom-com that actually remebered to be both rom AND com for once. **SPOILER WARNING FOR COYOTE vs. ACME & FINDING EMILY** Plus: A recap of some of our time together in Minnesota, the 4H llama costume contest, butter princesses, Tweety Bird's gender, and a lot of tangents that spun out of us being giddy about recording in person for the first time. Chapters: 00:00 Minnesota State Fair Recap 11:24 Finding Emily 30:19 Coyote vs. Acme Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week is an Old Man vs. Baby smackdown when we talk about both 88 year old legend Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic The Dog Stars and Gen Z newcomer Alexander Ullom's existential horror It Ends. We both preferred one over the other by a lot, and it wasn't necessarily the one we would have expected. The post-apocalypse setting also leads to a discussion about movies' brother, TV, Particularly: Paradise on Hulu. Also, a fun announcement about next week's episode! Timestamps: 02:14 It Ends 28:06 The Dog Stars 01:00:11 TV Talk Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we're taking it back to the summer of 1975 in Provincetown, Massachusetts for Tony, the newest entry into the very-specific-moment-in-the-subject's-life genre of biopics. Emily and Monika are absolutely thrilled to have a reason to talk about Matt Johnson (but let's be honest, they'll always find a reason somehow), and get into the intertwined threads of beauty and the melancholy of this film, Anthony Bourdain as a cultural figure, and sad men. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Get your running shoes on, we're fleeing from dinosaurs in the suburbs of Michigan with the J.J. Abrams produced, David Robert Michell film The End of Oak Street. Anne Hathaway dares to steal our hearts for a 4th time this year in this thrill ride of a movie and Monika and Emily are beaming with the energy of the "we are so back" vibes around this blockbuster. Monika also takes the show on a 20 minute detour in the beginning of the episode to talk about the screening she went to of the upcoming documentary film Wild Inside, about Flaco the owl. Timestamps: 01:32 Wild Inside 22:24 End of Oak Street Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The high-concept rom-com that everyone's been referring to as "the sex Purge movie" for the better part of the past year is finally out, and this week we're doing a full dissection. One Night Only has an undeniably strange premise, and we talk all about its logistics, implications, and how it lands in this current climate. We also talk about where the movie succeeds and fails on a rom-com level, and delve into the leads' chemistry (or lack thereof), the abundance of cameos, and the film's confusing point of view. Also, Monika accidentally became a member of The Angel Guild via a mystery movie screening this week and we HAVE to rescue her. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gregg Araki's I Want Your Sex stars Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman in a joyful, messy, unpolished sex romp that felt like a breath of fresh air after some very serious movies. We got into the Gregg Araki's film history, discussed how UNSTOPPABLE Olivia Wilde is this year and how Cooper Hoffman is THE "it" boy that we all need to be buying stock in NOW. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy