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To talk about Dune is to dissect the complex layers of Frank Herbert’s worldbuilding and storytelling, famously considered difficult to adapt for film simply because of its grand scope. Fortunately, Denis Villeneuve’s take on the first half of the story is an immersive cinematic experience that just washes over you like a sandstorm. We were enamored by the theatricality of it all, from the extravagant costumes to the scale of the action set pieces, particularly in IMAX format. We had plenty to discuss in terms of book lore and we obtain clarity on some details, but we don’t spoil any key moments the first movie doesn’t get to. It’s a highly political story that has plenty to say about imperialism, and we had many questions ahead in regards to how Villeneuve will adapt core themes within part two, particularly those of Paul, the prophesy, and the Bene Gesserit. We’re also joined by a familiar voice for longtime listeners, our friend Will from the great beyond. All of this is to say that Dune asks you to seek one significant, unknowable truth: Who up playing with they worm? Subscribe to our Substack! It's free and you get our new newsletter, plus email alerts for new episodes. Visit motionpicturepals.substack.com. Join us next time for The Matrix (1999). Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Twitter, get our newsletter, and more at MotionPicturePals.com.

No Time To Die features Rami Malek as a classical Bond villain out to destroy the world, but it’s merely the set dressing. At its core, the final entry in Daniel Craig’s Bond’s arc is a dramatic story about the passage of time and the inescapable nature of James Bond’s work. He’s no longer 007. His grueling career has taken a heavy toll on him. But one final time, he’s pulled back into spy work to protect his loved ones. The stakes have never been higher in a Bond movie, and director Cary Fukunaga really maximized the finale of the five film arc, while also paying tribute to the franchise’s long history. On this episode we condemn poor science lab safety practices and refer to James Bond as a "$400M soap opera." Subscribe to our Substack! It's free and you get our new newsletter, plus email alerts for new episodes. Visit motionpicturepals.substack.com. Join us next time for Dune (2021). Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Twitter, get our newsletter, and more at MotionPicturePals.com.

We’re nostalgic for Spider-Man 2 for a multitude of reasons: Sam  Raimi’s signature camp-infused humor, wild action with a splash of  horror, and a poignant emotional core all make the second Spider-film a  timeless classic. The vertical fight choreography! The crazy camera  angles! The large Italian man on the train!! For a 17 year old film, it  sure feels like Raimi set a gold standard for superhero films that has  yet to be topped. With the MCU teasing the return of Alfred Molina’s Doc  Ock (and potentially more), it’s not a bad idea to break out the pizza  for a nostalgic viewing of the film that started it all. What’s next week’s film? The Matrix (1999) Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Nicholas Cage’s pig has been kidnapped, and it’s up to him and a fail-son entrepreneur to team up and get her back. But this isn’t just another revenge film. It’s not really a revenge film at all, in fact we’re not really sure what it is. One thing we could all agree on was that Pig is a confusing watch, but not necessarily a bad one. If you’re going into Pig blind, do so with an open mind and add some extra flexibility to your expectations. In the end it’s a matter of taste, in more ways than one. What’s next week’s film? Spider-Man 2 (2004) Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: http://motionpicturepals.substack.com

We’re back to the movie house, which means you have to strategize your piss timing or suffer in silence. It’s a new A24 film, baby! It’s directed by podcast favorite A Ghost Story’s David Lowery! Is it any good? Much like Dev Patel’s Sir Gawain, you won’t know until you dive into the episode like a big, red lake. But what’s in it for you? Well, The Green Knight is a weird one, a modern twist on the fantasy genre, where nothing plays out the way you think it will. Unless you’ve seen The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and you know when Barry Keoghan shows up it’s bad news. You’d be right about that. What’s next week’s film? Pig (2021) Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

The Twilight movies are up on Netflix, so let’s revisit the infamous franchise that defined a genre, spawned numerous memes, and sent ripples of change through the film industry that remain felt today. Made for a mere $37M, Twilight earned a box office total of over $400M, emphasizing the idea that adapting something already popular was a more reliable strategy than taking a chance on an original idea. In this episode we look at the history of this objectively bad film and discuss how it succeeded despite its numerous, hilarious flaws. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Two guys become awkward roommates in this buddy comedy about a lighthouse keeper and his new lighthouse keeper assistant. But then spooky stuff starts happening, and now we must ask ourselves: is this shit real, or is it a dream? One of these guys is insane, right? But which one? What is Lovecraftian horror? What is Gothic horror? What is a dream? What is a nightmare? What was this about? How did they get a big glass lens to the top of a lighthouse back in the day? Why do we analyze film? Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Nomadland wants to make one thing very clear: capitalism destroys people’s lives. We enjoyed Nomadland for its masterful visual storytelling but mostly for its poignant message and relevancy. Though the adapted story is one of the year 2011, its topics of wealth inequality and America’s homelessness crisis remain sadly relevant. We’re still grappling with the Coronavirus pandemic and an economic catastrophe. With eviction moratoriums set to expire while the government shows little compassion for its people, those left in poverty during a pandemic are now faced with homelessness. Nomadland feels increasingly not like an alternative lifestyle, but an imminent future for many Americans robbed of their dignity by capitalism. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Sound of Metal is a brutal depiction of grief endured by a metal drummer, played by Riz Ahmed, who suddenly loses his hearing. Ruben moves into a shelter for deaf, recovering addicts, and sells his RV to raise the money needed for pay for a cochlear implants operation. This ultimately puts him at odds with Joe, who runs the shelter and believes deafness is not a handicap that does not need to be fixed. We found Sound of Metal to be a thoughtful depiction of its subject material, and explored the praises and criticisms members of the deaf community had regarding the film. We also played Cam’s new game, “Is it a metal subgenre or did I just make some shit up?” Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Concrete Cowboy is a coming of age story about Black cowboys, not in the wild west but in north Philadelphia. 15-year-old Cole is taken to live with his estranged father Harp, and introduced to his close-knit urban horse riding community. Cole searches for acceptance and splits time between his distant father and his childhood friend Smush, who aspires to buy a ranch out west, but goes down a dangerous path to fund his dream. Concrete Cowboy is a great introduction for the uninitiated to the Fletcher Street cowboys - the real group of Philadelphia based horse riders fictionalized in this film - some of whom even appear in this film playing themselves. While the performances are a high point, the film’s predictable trajectory left us wanting, and a somewhat confusing ending muddies an otherwise meaningful story about the terror of gentrification. Netflix picked this film up following its 2020 premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s also based on the novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri. Motion Picture Palsis hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is an anomaly in many ways, and the story of how this once fabled director’s cut came about is worthy of a movie itself. But how does the film itself stack up? It depends on your level of interest and knowledge of the comic book worlds it’s citing. Snyder’s take on superheroes has been divisive since Man of Steel, alienating those who just came out to have a good time and were uninterested in the internal struggles of Superman, and the politics of a world in which he exists. It’s those thematic deep dives, coupled with a real page-to-screen visual flair, and an often crippling reliance on external comic book lore, that sets the “Snyderverse” films apart from the typical superhero flick. For better or worse, this restored cut of Justice League feels uncompromised and singular, as though the man could finally just make his damn movie without interference. Only one thing’s for certain: if you’ve never heard of Martian Manhunter, you’re in for a weird one. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Ohoho what’s this? A new release? You better believe it, buster. We’ve tightened up our supply chains and we’ve vertically integrated in order to deliver our takes from the Hollow Earth directly into your earholes in 5-7 business days or your money back, guaranteed. That said, you might be wondering “Hey, what’s your take on Godzilla vs. Kong?” Well, I’m so glad you asked. Some of us liked it and some of us didn’t. We have all sorts of reasons for this, but we all agreed that it wasn’t very good in spite of however much we happened to enjoy watching it. The plot is a huge mess, the human characters are really hit-or-miss (and there are way too many of them), and worst of all, you couldn’t see the guys in some of the fights. I mean what the heck is that, I’m sitting here trying to watch two kaiju (Japanese for big ol’ guys) kick each other’s asses and you’re telling me you chose an aspect ratio that prevents me from seeing the guys? Give me a freakin’ break! At the end of the day, there’s enough positive in Godzilla vs. Kong that it’s probably worth a shot if you have HBO Max, but it didn’t quite live up to our expectations. Especially in a franchise where Kong: Skull Island already showed how much fun these movies can be, Godzilla vs Kong felt far too much like King of the Monsters. We hope to see more Big Guy movies, maybe with some Space Guys or some Robot Guys, and get into a discussion of how the Monsterverse can make that happen. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

We close out the month with the conclusion to our Cruise / Spielberg double feature, War of the Worlds. It’s a decidedly post 9/11 film featuring a classic Spielbergian family with a divorced dad, rage fueled adolescent son, and an increasingly traumatized young daughter. Spielberg portrays the scope and damage of a global alien invasion with a seamless blend of CGI tripods and practical destruction that still looks great 16 years later. The US military is aggressively present in this film, with Tom Cruise’s son Robbie hell bent on joining the troops despite their inability to put up much of a fight. It’s a commentary on warfare and military occupation that often feels less than self aware about what it’s trying to say, but still worth a watch for anyone in need of a good disaster / alien flick, or a small window into the liberal Hollywood politics of 2005. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Minority Report contains multitudes. On one hand, it depicts a dystopian, Cyberpunk-Esque future America with an even more powerful police state. On the other hand, there are slapstick scenes that would be at home in an episode of The Three Stooges, of people puking on one another’s faces and women walking around folded up in weird yoga poses. The real beauty of the film is that it manages to strike a balance between these elements and provide a fun and engaging watch through the length of its formidable two-and-a-half-hour runtime. There’s plenty to love in this movie for the most dedicated sci-fi fans, but its genius lies in its accessibility to average folks: at the end of the day, it’s a lot of fun despite its broodier themes. Minority Report may be one of Spielberg’s best (especially if you’re like Travis and you don’t think Indiana Jones is very good), so give it a go if it’s been a while. Just try not to commit any precrimes until then. Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Kong: Skull Island slipped under the radar for a lot of folks, this podcast included. Whether people were feeling disappointed by the “Monsterverse’s” inaugural Godzilla (2014), or simply uninterested in another movie about big monkee, it’s a real shame because Kong: Skull Island is a real gem of an action movie. In many ways it’s the opposite of 2014’s Godzilla - funny, self-aware, fast-paced, and full of the actual monsters, presumably what you’re here for in the first place. Even the human element, a frequent point of criticism in the Godzilla films, is a delight this time around, with incredible performances, especially by John C. Reilly and Samuel L. Jackson, and character motivations that are simple and logical. That Skull Island’s every frame is a stylized, video game inspired visual delight just goes to show that yes, gamers should be allowed to make more movies. Even if you’ve no interest in the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong, do yourself a favor and watch Kong: Skull Island if you haven’t yet. It’s a real hoot. We’re joined once again by guest Caleb Warwick. Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

The dead whisper through time and space. They speak to a rodent, driven by pure ambition, rejecting its assignment as a bottom feeder of humanity’s filth. Rather, it will infiltrate their world. It assimilates into a culture of fine dining and western cuisine, a parasite in the body of the naïve. Like itself, the man desires to thrive. But the rat seizes his being, a coup d’état of the body, control wrested from less fortunate to least fortunate, and the rat ascends. Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Cucks, large adult sons, parasitic super-organisms: Vivarium has it all! Lorcan Finnegan’s surreal take on modern horror was one that we liked overall, even if some of us were underwhelmed by the ending. Trying to solve the mystery of The Boy/Martin was a definite highlight, especially unpacking the ways in which the story incorporates Irish folklore and real-world biology. The story wraps up like an old episode of the Twilight Zone, which could be good or bad depending on which of us you ask. The art direction and set design also stood out, as did the performances and imaginative use of CGI. We determine in this episode that horror for a young audience is essentially just real life, and when it comes to life there’s only one rule: good vibes only. Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

White God opens on an eerie, apocalyptic scene. The streets of Budapest are empty, and a lone girl bikes through the city. Suddenly, dogs. In perhaps the only film to feature 250 real (not CGI) dogs on screen at once, director Kornel Mundruczo weaves together a coming of age story about the strained relationship between a girl and her father with a dark version of Homeward Bound, featuring a live action dog performance as moving as it is realistic. White God might not be everyone’s bowl of dog chow, but we were captured by its surreal ending and its use of dogs vs. humans as a heavy handed allegory for human rights and labor issues. Interview with director Kornél Mundruczó Interview with dog handler Teresa Ann Miller Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Our final episode of 2020 revisits the classic teen pregnancy film Juno (2007), starring Elliot Page, who recently came out as trans. With this in mind, we explore the gender dynamics of a film about pregnancy, in which the pregnant character is played by a man. This film came out when we were teens and sparks memories about our music taste and wanting to be hip like Juno. Now on the other side of high school, this viewing illuminated new perspectives and complexities we didn’t fully understand before. If you take nothing else away from this episode, just know that you too can be a track and field dork and still get laid. Gag take Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/

Ridley Scott takes us on yet another journey into the distant future (2019) with all the neon and yellow peril we’ve come to expect from the 1980s. In the future, people are governed by megacorporations, cops have exclusive access to advanced technology, and advertising is downright invasive; it’s a good thing we managed to avoid all that. In this episode, we are joined once again by Caleb Warwick where we discuss the moral and philosophical themes in what is perhaps the seminal film in the cyberpunk genre. We share stories about targeted advertising and get in our feelings about humanity, true love, capitalist alienation, and the most important question of all: did J. F. Sebastian’s creepy toy people steal Deckard’s window? Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Joel Aleman, and producer Travis Lien. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Other- https://anchor.fm/s/bc3f6e4/podcast/rss Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the discussion: Discord - http://bit.ly/motionpicturepals Read and subscribe to updates: https://motionpicturepals.substack.com/