Max Covill and Evan Crean discuss the latest news in the world of film.
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Boston film critics Evan Crean, Megan Kearns, and David Riedel help you decide what to watch by sharing spoiler-filled reviews of the latest blockbusters and independent films, across genres, including films by women, nonbinary, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC filmmakers. Opening music: "My Life as a God" by Augean Stables. Closing music: "Pants Party" by Oilhead. Show edited by Otto Klammer. Logo design by Rita Csizmadia.
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Episode 553: "Rounding" and "The Gorge"
1:05:46
1:05:46
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1:05:46This week Megan, Evan, and Dave discuss ROUNDING (1:59), about an ambitious medical resident who relocates to a rural hospital after an elderly patient dies in his care. He soon becomes obsessed with saving a young asthma patient while suffering from horrific visions brought on by sleep deprivation and his previous trauma. Then we talk about THE GO…
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Episode 552: "Heart Eyes" and "Love Hurts"
49:42
49:42
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49:42This week Dave spoils director Josh Ruben’s latest, the horror comedy HEART EYES (2:11), about a serial killer who targets couples on and around Valentine’s Day. Then Evan and Megan join him to discuss LOVE HURTS (18:09), which stars Ke Huy Quan in his first leading role. Over on Patreon, we talk about Billy Wilder’s SUNSET BOULEVARD in honor of it…
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187: The Films of David Lynch with Matthew Jackson
1:28:08
1:28:08
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1:28:08Max and guest Matthew Jackson discuss the films of David Lynch. First, they discuss some of the Oscar nominations and drama. Then, they talk about the piracy happening with Sundance. Finally, they talk about their experiences with David Lynch, some favorite films, and where to get started with your watch. Website: https://itsthepictures.libsyn.com/…
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Evan and Dave are a duo this week. Dave took his children to see the ridiculous animated movie DOG MAN, which he - surprisingly? - liked. And both Evan and Dave took in LOVE ME, a romantic drama in which Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun play a buoy and a satellite falling in love long after every lifeform on Earth has gone extinct. Over on Patreon, …
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This week we watch two films, the indie comedy-drama ROCKY’S (2:26), about five friends in their mid-20s who come together for a funeral, but first regroup in the parking lot of the 24-hour deli they loitered around in high school. Then it’s INHERITANCE (23:11), a spy thriller with Phoebe Dynevor and Rhys Ifans as an estranged daughter and father c…
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186: Our Most Anticipated Movies of 2025
1:33:55
1:33:55
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1:33:55Max and Evan discuss their most anticiapted movies of 2025. First, they discuss the passing of director David Lynch and the horrible L.A. wildfires. Then they jump into some of their anticipated films of 2025 including Superman, Wake Up Dead Man, Mickey 17, The Running Man, and more. Stay tuned afterward for a discussion on Better Man and Severence…
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Episode 549: "Wolf Man," "Night Call," and "Back in Action"
1:08:57
1:08:57
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1:08:57This week Megan saw WOLF MAN (2:20), director and co-writer Leigh Whannell’s latest trip down the horror highway, starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner. Megan likes this new take on Universal’s legendary Wolf Man…until she doesn’t. A good start, a meh finish. Then Evan and Dave join in when the conversation turns to NIGHT CALL (16:17), Michi…
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Episode 548: "Get Away" and "Red Rooms"
1:03:20
1:03:20
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1:03:20This week Evan, Megan, and Dave take in the new Nick Frost-written-and-starring horror comedy GET AWAY (2:50), about a family that goes to a remote Swedish island for a holiday weekend, only to be trapped as a killer is on the loose. Zoinks! Blood and guts ensue! But do the laughs follow? DO THEY?!! Two-thirds of us felt one way, and one-third of u…
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Max and Evan discuss their favorite movies of 2024. First, they discuss the holiday box office with Mufasa and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Then, they talk about the Boston Online Film Critics Association results including a big win for The Brutalist. Finally, they share some of their favorites of the year and when you'll be able to watch them. Stay tuned…
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Episode 547: "I Saw the TV Glow" and "The Seed of the Sacred Fig"
56:54
56:54
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56:54Welcome to 2025! Evan is off this week, but Megan and Dave are here to talk about I SAW THE TV GLOW (2:26), writer-director Jane Schoenbrun’s horror-fantasy about Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine), two teens obsessed with a TV show called “The Pink Opaque,” with airs on Saturday nights past Owen’s bedtime. This was Megan’s top m…
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Episode 546: Our Top 10 Movies of the Year (All Three of Us)
1:15:53
1:15:53
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1:15:53It's the end of the year, and that means it's time for our top 10 lists. As members of the Boston Online Film Critics Association, we vote for what we consider the best films of the year (ya know, like critics do). Megan (4:28) goes first, followed by Dave (28:45), and finally Evan (51:51). We have some overlap, but not much! And we have a good tim…
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Episode 545: "The Brutalist" and "Nosferatu"
1:06:17
1:06:17
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1:06:17Ladies and gentleman, pray forgive Dave in his capacity as host this week: His rhythm was off, as he was interrupted during the Patreon segment by a restless 9-year-old. (Speaking of Patreon, we cover the Shane Black-written, Geena Davis-starring THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT. It's a fun conversation!) This week we all watched THE BRUTALIST (3:44), Brady…
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Episode 544: "Chasing Chasing Amy," "Conclave," and "Nickel Boys"
1:09:53
1:09:53
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1:09:53We start with CHASING CHASING AMY (1:44), trans filmmaker Sav Rodgers’ documentary about his relationship with Kevin Smith’s CHASING AMY, and an exploration of Rodgers’ reverence for Kevin Smith’s at-the-time groundbreaking but now much-more-questioned-about-its-narrative-ideas lesbian-falls-for-a-straight-man rom-com. Over the course of six years,…
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184: The Performances of Nicole Kidman
1:24:41
1:24:41
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1:24:41Max and Evan discuss Nicole Kidman's career as one of cinema's great actresses. Before jumping in, they talk about the latest award and how Anora seems to be leading the pack. Finally, they talk about some movies they've watched lately, like Wicked, Moana 2, Flow, and Strange Darling. This is the last episode before the holiday break, so I wish you…
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Episode 543: "Queer," "Flow," and "Nightbitch"
1:08:45
1:08:45
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1:08:45This week Megan and Dave talk about director Luca Guadagnino’s QUEER (2:28), an adaptation of William S. Burroughs 1985 novel (with a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes). Starring Daniel Craig as William Lee (a Burroughs stand-in), this movie left both Megan and Dave a little bewildered, as there were things they liked (the shooting-up scene, the color…
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Episode 542: "Know Your Place" and "The Black Sea"
58:59
58:59
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58:59Evan is off this week (doubtless watching PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES), so Megan and Dave take on KNOW YOUR PLACE (2:19) and THE BLACK SEA (35:29) as a duo. And as with many weeks, the movies we choose are linked thematically (often accidentally). In this case, both films tackle characters with feelings of being outsiders. In KNOW YOUR PLACE, R…
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Max and Evan are discussing their selections for the gift-giving season. For whatever holiday you celebrate, they have movie-themed gifts for you. There's also a discussion on the box office returns of Wicked and Gladiator 2. And finally a what we've been watching segment with discussions on Juror #2, Love Lies Bleeding, and Gladiator 2. (Note: Sor…
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Episode 541: "Wicked," "Gladiator II," and "Blitz"
1:02:06
1:02:06
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1:02:06This week, we start things off at Shiz University, as Megan saw WICKED (2:22), the film adaptation of the stage musical, which is an adaptation of the novel by Gregory Maguire. Does Jon M. Chu's film hold up under scrutiny? And how are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as, respectively, Elphaba and Glinda? Next, Dave joins Megan to talk about GLADIAT…
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Episode 540: "Blink Twice" and "My Old Ass"
1:01:20
1:01:20
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1:01:20This week, we took a gander at two films in current release: Megan and Evan watched BLINK TWICE (2:32), Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut starring Naomi Ackie as a woman who goes to a private island with a tech-bro (Channing Tatum) and parties with his friends, but things aren't what they seem to be. We were divided on this thriller. Then Dave joined…
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Max and Evan are discussing Noirvember. The term Noirvember was coined by writer Marya E. Gates in 2010 to designate the month of November as a time for spotlighting film noir. Max and Evan share some of their favorites from the 40s and 50s era of Noir, a review of the neo-noir 'The Devil in the Blue Dress', and reviews of more recent TV shows and …
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Episode 539: "Heretic," "Black Cab," and "Small Things Like These"
58:07
58:07
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58:07This week Megan talks about the psychological horror thriller HERETIC (2:18), starring a possibly career-best Hugh Grant. Then Evan, Megan, and Dave discuss the Nick Frost-starring horror flick BLACK CAB (11:34), and the excellent SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (28:56), with Cillian Murphy as an empathetic man slowly uncovering the ugly secrets of a local…
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181: Film Festivals IFF Boston and Boston Jewish Film Festival 2024
1:09:56
1:09:56
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1:09:56Max and Evan are discussing the upcoming IFF Boston 2024 and the Boston Jewish Film Festival 2024. They discuss some of the movies playing during the two festivals, what you need to put on your radar, and how to watch some of the movies from your couch. Stay tuned afterwards for a discussion on The Substance and Carrie. Website: https://itsthepictu…
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Episode 538: "Here," "High Tide," and "Music by John Williams"
1:00:29
1:00:29
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1:00:29This week, Dave gets boomerific yapping about the new Robert Zemeckis film HERE (3:14), starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, and a bunch of other actors who should have known better, as they tackle Zemeckis’ latest blundered technology cry-fest. Gah. Then Megan and Evan talk about HIGH TIDE (13:54), Marco Calvani’s queer love story, set in Province…
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Episode 537: "The Line" and "Magpie"
1:01:44
1:01:44
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1:01:44This week we watched THE LINE (2:41), a drama (sometimes called a thriller, but eh) about a fraternity brother who gets mixed up in his frat’s shady pledge shenanigans. Does it result in someone’s death? Does the Pope shit in the woods? Then we watched MAGPIE (27:12), an atmospheric thriller starring Daisy Ridley (from an idea she had) about a woma…
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Episode #536: "Woman of the Hour," "MadS," and "Smile 2"
1:08:06
1:08:06
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1:08:06This week, Megan reviews SMILE 2 (2:06), Parker Finn's grisly sequel to his great horror film SMILE, about a pop star (Naomi Scott) contending with addiction recovery and a new tour amidst sinister occurrences. The sequel is much more nerve-wracking and gory! Then, we all (Dave, Evan, and Megan) talk about MADS (16:09), David Moreau's unique and in…
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180: The Master of Horror John Carpenter
1:17:46
1:17:46
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1:17:46Max and Evan are discussing director John Carpenter and his killer filmography including movies Halloween, The Thing, Starman, Christine, Big Trouble in Little China, and more. Website: itsthepictures.substack.com Download the episode today and tweet at Max and Evan (@itsthepicpod). Like the show? Review us on iTunes! We are also available on Stitc…
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Episode 535: "Last of the Sea Women" and "The Outrun"
50:09
50:09
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50:09This week Evan and Dave kick things off with THE LAST OF THE SEA WOMEN (3:07) (after Dave forgets to do his own intro at the top; whoops), a documentary about the haenyeo, a declining and aging community of women in Jeju, South Korea, who dive for seafood as a job - or, as Evan more accurately describes it, a calling - while dealing with climate ch…
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Hey, gang! There were some delivery problems this week, so we only have one new movie on the docket: MONKEY MAN! (Just kidding. That's on Patreon. Patrons can listen to that episode here.) No, this week we cover the new Dust Bowl psychological drama/horror flick HOLD YOUR BREATH (2:22), starring Sarah Paulson as a woman living through the Dust Bowl…
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179: Time for Scares with Horror for Weenies Author Emily Hughes
1:04:00
1:04:00
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1:04:00Join Max and Evan as they welcome guest Emily Hughes (@emilyhughes.bsky.social) to the show, diving into her new novel Horror for Weenies. Emily shares her insights on horror, how she came to love the genre, and some neat facts about her novel. Stick around after the interview for an in-depth review of Megalopolis and plenty more surprises! *Note: …
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Episode 533: "Will & Harper" and "Megalopolis"
1:03:12
1:03:12
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1:03:12With Megan on vacation this week, Evan and Dave take on WILL & HARPER (2:42), the documentary about the friendship between Will Ferrell and writer Harper Steele post-Harper's transition. This funny and tender (and occasionally sad) documentary about long friendships (Ferrell and Steele met at "Saturday Night Live") and the ways they change is the a…
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