← The Bobby Bones Show
The Bobby Bones Show
MOVIE MIKE: Robert Englund Reveals His Secret To Playing Freddy Kreuger + Movie Review: The Smashing Machine…Why did It Bomb? + Trailer Park: Zootopia 2
00:40:26
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- [00:00]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:04]
Movie Mike
Johnny Knoxville here. Check out Crimeless Hillbilly Heist, my new true crime podcast from Smartless Media, Campside media and big money players. It's the true story of the almost perfect crime and the nimrods who almost pulled it off. It was kind of like the perfect.
- [00:20]
Robert Englund
Storm in a sewer.
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Movie Mike
That was dumb.
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Jack Sholder
Do not follow my example.
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Movie Mike
Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you your podcast.
- [00:35]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
Two rich young Americans move to the Costa Rican jungle to start over, but one of them will end up dead and the other tried for murder three times. It starts with a dream, a nature reserve and a spectacular new home. But little by little, they lose it.
- [00:51]
Robert Englund
They actually lose it.
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iHeart Podcast Announcer
They sort of went nuts until one night, everything spins out of control. Listen to Hell in Heaven on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:09]
Movie Mike
You know what your customers are doing right this second? The exact same thing. You are listening to me. Which, let's be honest, is kind of flattering. But my point is, ads on iHeartRadio actually get heard. In the car, at the gym, on the couch while people are walking their dogs. Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? You're a good boy.
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Jack Sholder
That's right.
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Eva Longoria
You're a good.
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Movie Mike
So why not make the next ad about you? Get started today. Call 844-844-IHEART or go to iheartadvertising.com that's 844-844-iheart or iheartadvertising.com what's up, everybody? It's snacks from the Trap nerds. All October long, we're bringing you the horror. Boogity, boogity, boogity. We kicking off this month with some of my best horror games to keep you terrified.
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Jack Sholder
Then we'll be talking about our favorite.
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Movie Mike
Horror and Halloween movies and figuring out why black people always die first. And it's the return of Tony's horror show Side Quest, written and narrated by yours truly. We'll also be doing a full episode reading with commentary. And we'll cap it off with a horror movie battle Royale. Open your free Aha. Radio Trapped Nurse podcast and listen now.
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Eva Longoria
I'm Eva Longoria. And I'm Maite Gomez Rejun. And this week on our podcast, Hungry for History, we talk oysters. Plus, the Miami Chief stops by.
- [02:19]
Robert Englund
If you are not an oyster lover.
- [02:21]
Movie Mike
Don'T even talk to me.
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Eva Longoria
Ancient Athenians used to scratch names onto oyster shells to vote politicians into exile. So our word ostracize is related to the word oyster. No way. Bring back the Osterkong. Listen to Hungry for history on the iHeartRadio Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Movie Mike
Hello and welcome back to Movie Mike's Movie Podcast. I am your host, Movie Mike. Big episode for you today. Robert England, AKA Freddy Krueger is back on the podcast. We are celebrating the seven film collection which is out now. And I want to know his secret to playing Freddy Krueger. How did he get into character? I'll also talk to a couple of directors from the franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, Freddy's Revenge and the director of Freddy's Dead, the Final Nightmare and get all the behind the scenes, some of the things that went wrong and some of the things that went oh so right in the franchise. In the movie review, I'll finally talk about the Smashing Machine and why I believe it failed and something out of pocket for me. I am actually going to defend the Rock. I know, I know I got to defend him because I almost feel bad for him. And in the trailer park, we'll talk about Zootopia 2. I also want to revisit Zootopia 1 a little bit and how much of an emotional punch that that movie packed. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being subscribed. Shout out to the Monday morning Movie Crew, those who listen on release day. And now let's talk movies from the Nashville Podcast Network. This is Movie Mike's Movie Podcast. A Nightmare on Elm street is one of the greatest horror franchises of all time. It's October now. It is a great time to revisit the franchise if you haven't in a while. Whenever I revisit these movies, I love to start with number one and then go with them movie by movie to see how much Freddy Krueger changed from film to film. Because whenever Robert Englund first got hired to play Freddy Krueger, he wasn't really supposed to be the guy. But now when you look around at all the horror movie franchises from your Halloween, your child's plays, Your Friday the 13th, Robert Englund is the one actor who is irreplaceable in those situations. Without him, these movies would not work. His portrayal of Freddie has become iconic not only from how frightening he looks on screen once he gets that makeup on, but from his delivery of his witty wines, how much of a frightening presence he is every time he is on screen. Robert Englund is a legend and he is somebody who I enjoy talking to so Much because how much appreciation he has for this role that I feel like some people could get jaded by this point and. But I got to talk to Robert England for the first time last year, and he is so enthusiastic and so generous with this time that he's become one of my favorite people to interview. So any opportunity I get with him to talk about A Nightmare on Elm Street, I'm going to take that opportunity. The seven film collection of A Nightmare on Elm street is available now on 4K UHD. And I'm looking at my copy right now, and it just feels so good to have such an iconic franchise in your hands because this way, streaming services can't take it away from you. If you own this collection. Anytime October rolls around or it doesn't even have to be spooky season, sometimes I just get an itch to want to dive back into these movies. That is the great thing about having physical media. So that is available now. So first up, let's talk to the man himself, Robert Englund, and how he gets into character to play Freddy Krueger.
- [05:46]
Robert Englund
Hi, Mike.
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Movie Mike
So the Freddy makeup took about four hours each day. I wonder, what did you listen to while you were sitting in the chair? Did you get, like music going to hype? Did you do well?
- [05:57]
Robert Englund
You know, when we began the series, I wasn't the star of the series yet. I was just the guy under pounds of foam, latex and colostomy bag glue. So I had to surrender to my makeup men. And so that was David Miller in the, in the early years, and then Kevin Yeager, the great Kevin Yeager, and then the KNB crew, who now, of course have done, you know, have Oscars for Chronicles of Narnia and created Walking Dead, many other things. So I was sort of. I had to suffer a lot of heavy metal in those early days. Those guys were all headbangers. So there was a lot of heavy metal in the makeup trailer.
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Movie Mike
Did that help you at all to get into character during that process? Like the heavy metal going, Is that when you kind of start to like, okay, I'm sinking into this character now, and then you're immediately able to film right after that, or there's some other process to psyching yourself up?
- [06:52]
Robert Englund
No, you know, I, I think that the aggravation of the cold, the cold glue in the morning on my face and the time, you know, spent in the makeup chair and getting poked with those old makeup brushes that had become kind of crusty over the weeks, you know, of use, those guys were cheap skates. You know, they would brushes, yet I, like, pull a tooth to get a new brush. So everyone, when they touched me up, they. I was getting poked a lot. And, you know, you kind of feel that, especially around the eyes. So I wasn't in the best of mood. And so that would make me slightly profane. And I would tease those guys or threaten to spit in their coffee, things like that. And I could see myself all the time in the mirror because we were using a big makeup mirror. And I would see myself in the mirror, and sometimes I would slip into a voice that I would eventually settle on as Freddy's voice, you know. You know, like, damn it, Kevin or David, get that brush out of my face. And it just worked. And I knew that I could live in that voice. You have to remember, back in those days and on all the films, I didn't have a lot of dialogue every day, maybe one or two lines a day until later on, you know, Freddie got more verbose as the. As the franchise went on. And I did some narration in parts in Freddie vs Jason, but that's sort of how I found Freddie in the makeup chair, you know. And that began back with David Miller at his studio out in the San Fernando Valley. On the original one, you know, I really sort of found the voice there. In those hours of experimenting with David Miller and creating the makeup, looking back.
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Movie Mike
On the movies, I realized how physical the role of Freddie was. Was that kind of surprising to you, how physical it actually was to become Freddy Krueger?
- [08:47]
Robert Englund
Well, you know, I was an athlete. You know, I surfed all my. I surfed it well into my 60s. And I'd been a gymnast in middle school, and I'd been on the swimming team, you know, in high school, and lettered. And so I was an athletic actor, and I'd used a lot of those skills in the theater as well. But with Freddy, what was fun was when I had that makeup on, it sort of made me more or less inhibited, and I was able to kind of dance him a little more and move. Move him differently than I would move as Robert England without makeup. I wasn't afraid to explore the physicality of the character, the stunts. I just did as many of them as I could. That's just sort of a, you know, a misguided actor's macho that we all succumb to on the set, you know, where we try to do as much as we can. And, you know, when. When I. When there were big fire stunts, that's not me. I did some fire stunts. But the big ones isn't me. And when you see Freddy flying through the air on fire and things like that, that's not me. But, you know, you know, I did a lot of my stuff. You know, I, you know, I did, you know, everything from fire stunts to underwater stuff. So it was fun, you know, to have a little bit legacy that I can bring up, you know, and during happy hour somewhere for bragging rights.
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Movie Mike
Well, thank you so much for the time, Robert. This is awesome.
- [10:23]
Robert Englund
All right, thank you. Thank you. Bye. Bye, Mike.
- [10:26]
Movie Mike
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, Freddy's Revenge is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Came out back in 1985 and was directed by Jack Shoulder. Jack Shoulder has a background in music. He actually studied to be a trumpet player. He's known for his work in the horror genre, including movies like the Hidden or Alone in the Dark and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2. He had an interesting dilemma going into the filming of Part two because New Line at first considered replacing Robert England due to a salary dispute. So I want to get the story behind that. Let's talk to director Jack Shoulder. It is wild to me to think that Freddy was almost not played by Robert England and he actually had a stunt double, like, the first two weeks of filming. Did you notice immediately that just his.
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Jack Sholder
He wasn't a stunt double.
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Movie Mike
Oh, he wasn't an extra.
- [11:12]
Jack Sholder
Somebody grabbed off the street who fit the costume, and they thought his face, they could make it up to look like Freddy. He wasn't a stuntman would have been a lot better. I mean, this guy had no idea what the fuck he was doing.
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Movie Mike
So it was just a random person.
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Jack Sholder
Yeah, I keep expecting that somebody's going to come out and say, I was Freddy in Nightmare 2 for one scene.
- [11:31]
Movie Mike
If that was me, I would be screaming that every day. Like, that was me in the movie.
- [11:36]
Jack Sholder
Yeah, you would think so.
- [11:37]
Movie Mike
So how did that go? Like, what did you do as a director? Like, this is not working.
- [11:44]
Jack Sholder
Yeah, well, he. He was walking like. Like Frankenstein. And I had to say, walk like a man, you know, don't walk like a monster. You know, he was, like, lurching from side to side. He just walks, you know. So after, like, about half a dozen takes, I finally got him to do something that. That resembled a human being. Then, you know, the following week, Robert comes on and, you know, when he walks across the room, you could feel the room shake, you know, Given that.
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Movie Mike
The movie was filmed in a pretty quick time, what was one of the biggest obstacles when it just came to using the practical effects?
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Robert Englund
Everything.
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Jack Sholder
Well, I had this huge list. I don't know, there were like 100 special effects or something or more. I had no idea how to do any of them. It scared the hell out of me. And they said, don't worry, we've got this great guy. And he was the, he had been the head of special effects at 20th century for like, you know, 20 years. And I met him, he was a real old timer. And I said, so of all the things that you've worked on, what, what are you the most proud of? And he thought, and then he said, I think the work I did with the Three Stooges, that was. And, but he, he kind of like, he was really old fashioned. A lot of monofilament. And they have like this stuff called ab smoke that you could probably buy it like a magic store where you put the A on one thing and then you put the B on the other. When you touch it, this phony smoke comes out. There are all things. And you know, I, I just sort of said, okay, you know, you're the expert here. You know, you do it and I'll, I'll, I'll film it. So, so, you know, we, we got through it. You know, a lot of, you know, some of the effects are a little hokey, but it's kind of part of, you know, if we were doing it now, a lot of these things would be done digitally or enhanced digitally. But part of the beauty of the film, I think, is that it's, it's kind of handmade. You can kind of see it wasn't like made out of a factory mold, you know, or some, some, you know, geniuses in a, you know, a special effects studio digitizing everything, you know, with perfection. You know, it's very imperfect, but I think maybe, you know, for viewers that's part of the charm of, you know, the 80s horror films.
- [14:01]
Movie Mike
I think it definitely adds to the charm. What scene for you was the one where you filmed it and as soon as you hit cut that you were just like, okay, we got it there. And that is the one you're the most proud of.
- [14:13]
Jack Sholder
I think the, the ending of the film in the, in the steel mill, when. Well, actually, I mean, I could, I could sort of say the transformation scene, but, you know, part of that was shot by second unit. Anything that, that did not involve the actors themselves. So, like the close up of the claws coming out of the hand, you know, those kinds of things. Those were. There's a. Also the shower seat, the shower scene, I thought it went really Great. I was really happy with that. When Marshall Bell is sort of tied up and the showers go boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. You know, they all, they all come on. And actually that was one of the things where I was able to enhance it that I wanted each time that another shower head went on to almost be like a gun impact. Boom, boom, boom, and build up, you know, and, you know, so those are kind of, you know, some of the little things that I was able to, to do. So, you know, it's like it's the same movie but it's better and it's exactly the way we wanted it to be. Which you've never seen it exactly the way we wanted it to be until now.
- [15:19]
Movie Mike
Rachel Tallalay directed Freddy's Dead, the Final Nightmare back in 1991 was a great year because not only was this movie released, I was also released into the world. Her career spans four decades. Not only did she direct the Final Nightmare, but she also directed eight episodes of Doctor who, as well as the BBC series Sherlock. Multiple episodes of TV shows like American Gods, Marvel's Iron Fist, DC's Doom Patrol, Quantum Leap, Riverdale, Sabrina, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow and the Flash. Did other movies like Tank Girl, Ghost in the Machine and Wind in the Willows. She was also a pioneer for female directors in the 90s. Want to talk to her about that and what she remembers about Freddy Krueger's actual funeral, which was a promotional stunt that they did for this movie. But now let's talk to Rachel Talalay.
- [16:07]
Rachel Talalay
Hi, Mike, nice to meet you. Happy rocktober. Nice pokeball.
- [16:10]
Movie Mike
Thank you. Rachel, you were one of the few female directors in the horror genre in the early 90s. How did directing a franchise as big as Nightmare on Elm street impact your career? And whether it was giving you confidence or be able to push projects later on, like how did it affect your career?
- [16:26]
Rachel Talalay
That's. This is a much more than a five minute conversation. I was incredibly lucky with New Line that they let me produce. They let me grow up on Nightmare on Elm street so that I started as an accountant and then I became a producer on the series and then I got to direct Freddy's Dead. And then when I went out into the bigger world outside of New Line, being a woman was a big obstruction. So while everything I know about making effects and stuff, which helped me hugely in the future, I learned on Nightmare on Elm street, it was not enough to overcome my chromosomes.
- [16:58]
Movie Mike
I know that there was a lot of just differences in what New Line wanted in your vision. How do you handle a studio note when you get something back, like, oh, we kind of want to change this, like, as a director, how do you take that?
- [17:10]
Rachel Talalay
Well, I didn't have a lot of issues with New Line on Freddy's dad, except when they. Except afterwards when they cut it for the video without telling me. I mean, I think there was a lot of trust in me on Freddy's dad because I'd made the other ones and because I was listening to. It was written by Michael DeLuca and it was. Robert Shea and I had a good relationship. Bob and I. And I had a good relationship with Robert England. But on other projects, let's not go there.
- [17:40]
Movie Mike
How does that help with you saying you had a great relationship with. With Robert England during the process? Like, are you able to push him a little harder? Is he just able to trust you more throughout?
- [17:49]
Rachel Talalay
I think it's a trust factor, but I think that also. I mean, the trust factor goes my way, which is this man has created this. I mean, he's not a man in a hockey mask. He's full. He's a brilliant actor. And it's a hundred percent him, even though he's got makeup on. And therefore you have to have. But it allows for the dialogue. How far do we want to push this? How scary should this scene be versus how funny should this scene be? Letting him, giving him a lot of freedom. But I often. I always work with actors that way anyway, in terms of trying to have the maximum dialogue about so that it's a collaboration.
- [18:24]
Movie Mike
I remember them having a funeral for Freddy whenever the movie came out, the promotional thing. Did you attend that funeral? And if so, like, what went down?
- [18:33]
Rachel Talalay
So it was Freddy Krueger Day, which is in Los Angeles, which is insane when you think about it, that Tom. They are. Tom Bradley made that Freddy Krueger. We had a coffin. I have a picture of me with Ray Bans on looking sad over the coffin. And there was an event that I don't remember particularly well, but the concept of this being like this promo funeral thing was. It was so crazy. Like, that was, you know, L. A in the crazy, crazy times. Hilarious, I've got to say.
- [19:07]
Movie Mike
Oh, yeah.
- [19:08]
Jack Sholder
Just.
- [19:08]
Movie Mike
Just picturing everybody around kind of mourning him and then being such a big part of that.
- [19:13]
Rachel Talalay
You know, Freddie colors and. Yeah, it was amazing.
- [19:16]
Movie Mike
How do you feel about that process of when you finish a movie now, you have to sell it. How do you feel about that as a director?
- [19:23]
Rachel Talalay
Well, most of the time you're for. I mean, you have to be very powerful director to have any say in the marketing or be with a very collaborative studio. So most of the time you're frustrated because you wonder what they're. There's a lot of, why are they doing this? With Freddie, it was because I worked with the company. I mean, it worked at New Line as well. I was much more engaged, but they had a very strong. I knew how to sell Freddie. So it was a very positive thing. And when they come back to you and say, oh, we marketed Freddy Krueger Day, and you're like, okay, go, let's do.
- [19:59]
Movie Mike
Let's go. Appreciate it, Rachel. This has been awesome.
- [20:01]
Rachel Talalay
Nice. Very nice to meet you.
- [20:03]
Movie Mike
Thank you.
- [20:07]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
Run a business and not thinking about radio, Think again. Cause more people are listening to the radio on iHeart today than they were 20 years ago. And only iHeart broadcast radio connects with more Americans than TV, digital, social, any other media, even twice as many teens than TikTok. And that reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for your business. Radio's here now more than ever. And iheart's leading the way. Think radio can help your business. Think iheart. Streaming, podcasting, and radio where the reach is real. Let us show you@iheartadvertising.com that's iheartadvertising.com or call 844-844. Iheart one more time. Just call 844-844-Iheart and get radio working for you.
- [21:08]
Eva Longoria
Sami Gente. It's Ana Ortiz.
- [21:10]
Movie Mike
And I'm Mark and Delicato.
- [21:12]
Eva Longoria
You might know us as Hilda and.
- [21:14]
Movie Mike
Justin from Ugly Betty.
- [21:17]
Eva Longoria
We played mother and son on the show, but in real life, we're best friends.
- [21:20]
Movie Mike
And I'm all grown up now.
- [21:22]
Eva Longoria
Welcome to our new podcast, Viva Betty. Can you believe it has been almost 20 years? That's not even possible. Well, you're the only one that looks that much different. I look exactly the same. We're rewatching the series from start to finish and getting into all the fashions, the drama, and the behind the scenes.
- [21:41]
Movie Mike
Moments that you've never heard before. You're gonna hear from guests like America Ferreira, Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie, Becky Newton, Tony Plana, and so many, many more icons.
- [21:52]
Eva Longoria
Each and every one, all of a sudden, like, someone, like, comes running up.
- [21:55]
Movie Mike
To me and it's Salma Hayek.
- [21:57]
Eva Longoria
And she's like, you are my Ugly Betty. And I was like, what is she even talking about? Listen to Viva Betty. As part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, guys, it's Stephanie, Beatriz and Melissa Fumero, and this is More Better. We are jumping right in and ready to hear your thoughts, your questions, your feelings about socks with sandals. And we're ready to share some possibly questionable advice and hot takes. God, that sucks so hard, though. I'm so sorry. Can you out petty them? Can you match their pettiness for funsies? Yeah, we had so much fun last season. Laughing, crying, talking to some new and old friends.
- [22:42]
Movie Mike
Remember when we were in that scene.
- [22:44]
Eva Longoria
Where you guys were just supposed to hug and I was standing?
- [22:46]
Movie Mike
Oh, yeah.
- [22:48]
Rachel Talalay
And I was like, can I also hug them?
- [22:53]
Movie Mike
I'm.
- [22:54]
Eva Longoria
This has no friends. This time around, we are. Say it, Melissa. Should I Getting a little more better.
- [23:03]
Movie Mike
Oh, finally.
- [23:04]
Eva Longoria
It's all the dressing room talk you loved in season one. All the things. Because aren't we all trying to get a little more better? Listen to More better on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:15]
Movie Mike
Talking about guns with others might not always feel comfortable, but it could save a life. Here's a way to start a conversation. Your family is going over to your neighbor's home for dinner for the first time. How would you ask if there are any unlocked guns in the home?
- [23:28]
Eva Longoria
Hey.
- [23:29]
Movie Mike
Hey. We're so excited for tonight. Before we come over, though, may I ask if there are any unlocked guns in your home? Our guns are stored securely locked in.
- [23:37]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
A safe that the kids can't access.
- [23:40]
Movie Mike
Awesome. Learn how to have the conversation@ agreeto agree.org, brought to you by the Ad Council.
- [23:45]
Eva Longoria
I'm Eva Longoria. And I'm Maite Gomez Rejoan. And on our podcast, Hungry for History, we mix two of our favorite things. Food and history. Ancient Athenians used to scratch names onto oyster shells and they called these ostracon to vote politicians into exile. So our word ostracize is related to the word oyster. No way. Bring back the ostracon. And because we've got a very mi casa es su casa kind of vibe on our show, friends always stop by.
- [24:17]
Movie Mike
Pretty much every entry into this side of the planet was through the El Golfo de Mexico. No, the America.
- [24:24]
Eva Longoria
No, the America.
- [24:25]
Movie Mike
El Golfo de Mexico Continu laciendo a si.
- [24:28]
Robert Englund
Forever and ever.
- [24:30]
Eva Longoria
It blows me away how progressive Mexico was in this moment. They had land reform, they had labor rights, they had education rights. Mustard seeds were so valuable to the ancient Egyptians that they used to place them in their tombs for the afterlife. Listen to Hungry for History as part of the My Cultura Podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [24:55]
Movie Mike
Let's get into it now. A spoiler Free movie review of the Smashing Machine starring Dwayne the Rock Johnson as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, also stars Emily Blunt. Ryan Batter, who is an MMA fighter making his acting debut and making his solo directorial debut. The movie is written and directed by Ben Safdie. The movie is about Mark's career who got his start in the late 90s and early 2000s, back when UFC isn't what it is today. It was more violent, it was more brutal. People wanted to see it banned because of that. So part of this movie takes place with his career here in the United States, but also going overseas to Japan to fight over there. Mark is a very complex, gentle giant where there are moments where he is so soft and comforting and will take the time to talk to a kid in the waiting room at his doctor's office and where he is speaking to a kid and breaking down why he fights, what goes through his mind when he's trying to beat his opponent, how the two people don't hate each other, it is just a business. But in Mark's head he only knows one thing and that one thing is to win. But you see him throughout the movie just be this really soft spoken, normal guy that is so lovable. And then he has these moments of rage because of all the things he is battling with addiction, with pain, where he turns into this completely different person that goes on to be dubbed as the Smashing Machine. And not only do you see him flip that switch in the ring, but you also see him flip that switch in his personal life with his girlfriend Emily Blunt, where he does things to show her how much he loves her, but he's also dealing with all these feelings that he doesn't know where to put his emotions. He doesn't know how to express it. He is literally in pain every single day, so that frustration comes out with him kind of lashing out towards her. So in this story you see Mark fight a lot of people. He fights other people in the ring. In the most literal sense, he fights himself because a lot of his issues have to do with his own personal struggles. He fights with his girlfriend and him taking his career and his fighting more seriously than he does their relationship. And with all these struggles that Mark had going on in his life, I found the movie jumped around a lot and I think where the movie struggled was to really paint you a picture of who Mark Kerr is. Before the Smashing Machine, I had no idea who Mark Kerr is. I wasn't going into this because I'm a huge fan of him and wanted to see a biopic about him. But if you're gonna make a movie about somebody that most people don't know who they are, you have to make their story so compelling that that doesn't matter. And I don't think the Smashing Machine succeeded in that. The movie was a slow burn and it didn't really feel like it reached its climax at any point in the film. While there was some moments where the cast shine, particularly Emily Blunt, I think had probably the most powerful scene out of the entire movie from any character. And there were moments that you felt for Mark Kerr and the Rock really tried to squeeze out that Oscar worthy performance. But those moments were few and far between that the movie felt a little bit too cozy for comfort for a character that really needed to be developed in a story that really needed to hit a home run. I never really felt that moment where I was fully right there with Mark Kerr because even when Mark reached his lowest of lows in the film, I didn't really feel it wholeheartedly. And I don't know if that was Ben Safdie' direction and vision or the Rock's performance, but I had a really hard time developing an emotional attachment to Mark, who I think is a really unique and interesting person. And this is the most three dimensional character that the Rock has played in years. And I find myself in a weird position now that I feel the need to defend the Rock. If you told me last year after I went on a huge rant about how Red won his Christmas action movie was the downfall of Hollywood. If you told me back when I was on that rant in 2024 that I would be here now defending the Rock because of how much this movie has tanked. And it's Instagram post saying you can't predict the box office and you can't control that, I feel the need to come to his rescue. Because the Smashing machine opened to $6 million, it came in third overall opening weekend behind Taylor Swift. Left behind a second week of one battle after another. The movie costs $50 million to make. And as soon as that happens, people start to jump ship on the movie a little bit. Where a big driving force going into that opening weekend was all of that Oscar buzz. And maybe that was just something that we all built up inside our heads because of the trailer, because of when this movie was coming out, because of the director attached to it. And maybe we unfairly put those standards on it. I'm also a huge fan of Texas football. Maybe it has the Arch Manning effect, where we all thought he was going to be amazing and it was all just media hype. And then you go watch the actual thing, you're like, well, that's not really what I was expecting. And I'm not saying this is a bad movie. I enjoyed the Smashing Machine from beginning to end, even though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, even though it didn't really drive home that emotional moment. But I was expecting it to be Best Picture worthy. I was not only expecting the Rock to have an easy nomination for Best Actor, but be in contention to actually win his first trophy. After watching this, I think even a nomination would be a stretch because I didn't really feel his performance was at that level. It's also just wild to me, and I can't get over that 6 million number. The Rock has almost 400 million followers on Instagram alone. The movie only made $6 million. How small of a fraction of his followers actually went to see this movie? And I think after last year, I unfollowed the Rock just because his promotion was a little bit too much. But this almost feels like the most popular kid in school has a birthday party and nobody shows up. And the reason I feel I need to defend him is because I commend the Rock for taking this role, for wanting to show people a different side of him, because he sees the criticism and, you know, it. I think this movie is a direct response to people saying he plays the same character over and over, that you could take one still from any Rock movie and you couldn't really tell the difference between. I think even somebody in an interview for the Smashing Machine called him out on that, and he was actually able to do it. But he sees all that noise. And you think celebrities aren't reading all the dms, aren't seeing all the reviews. I feel like the Rock, maybe to his own detriment, is too consumed with that. And much like Mark Kerr, the Rock is somebody who does not like losing. And those were the parallels I saw between these two characters. Mark Kerr only knows one thing. He only knows to win. If you even put the idea of losing in his head, he can't comprehend that that word does not enter his mind. I think that is exactly how the Rock is, where any movie that comes out if it is not number one at the box office, he sees it as a failure. He will immediately go to X or go to Twitter and try to find the win in that. He did it with Black Adam, he did it with Red One. He'll do it with every single movie. And this was the first time I really saw him come across as defeated in his Instagram post, saying that he believes in this film even though the box office numbers don't represent that. He didn't try to say, well, the audience score is so good because it does have a good audience and a good Rotten Tomatoes score, even though I don't mention that site on this podcast for different reasons. But the reason I am defending him is that I hope that this doesn't stop him from being more adventurous in the roles that he chooses. He talked about it even before the movie came out, saying he has people in his life that he listens to, that he respects their opinion, he needs them in his life in order to tell him when he's doing something that maybe isn't the best. But ultimately it is going to be his decision. Because the people around him don't like change. They want him to still make the movies that are making him and in turn making them money. And the minute you start to shake that up a little bit and certain people aren't getting the percentages that they want, they're suddenly bringing you all these other scripts for like Jumanji 6, 7 and 8. Here's another Kevin Hart project. Here you go. Make us some money. Because the Rock is now a brand. He is a corporation. He is an entity. He is more than just an actor on his journey trying to find the best role. He is a brand. And that is why historically, he has a no lose clause in some of his contracts, which all originated from the Fast and the Furious movies. That no lose clause says that he can't lose a fight in a movie. And that is what I struggled with the most. Because if you can't lose a fight in a movie, that really limits your character. Because if you can't see a character at their worst, you're not going to enjoy them at their best. If you don't see them beat down and bloody and where it looks like they're never going to win another fight in their life, that they're done. If you can't see them come back from that, you're never really going to root for that character. And in the Fast franchise, him and Vin Diesel both had that in their contracts, down to the amount of punches and damage that each of their characters could take on. It really hasn't been proven that he has that clause in all of his movies, but if you watch Black Adam, it kind of feels like he has that. And I think it probably comes from his background in wrestling where you can control the narrative. You know who is going to win, who is going to lose, you know the arc of your character. And it all comes down to him protecting that brand because there is so much money attached to it. Of him being a tough guy, of him being a hero. And this was the first time where I feel like that wasn't a part of his contract. Aside from the performances in this movie, I really enjoyed the way this movie looked. I believe they shot a majority of this film on a really small 16 millimeter film camera. I think it was called like a Aura Flex where it was handheld which to me helped capture that raw, authentic feel. There were moments of the Smashing Machine that almost felt like home video style footage. They had this grainy and blown out look that I really enjoyed. And then they also filmed some other scenes with some really big IMAX cameras, but still at times were hand holding those IMAX cameras. I think it has the only ever handheld zoom shot where they actually held this big camera and walked with it in their hands. So the way this movie was filmed really gave it that sense of urgency, that shakiness, that rawness that you feel from the world of fighting, which the fight scenes were probably the best part out of this entire movie. Again, because of the Rock's background in wrestling. Those all felt really authentic. But I only wish that there was more of that because like I was mentioning earlier, the entire story was just scattered around. Here's some fighting scenes. Here's just him and his girlfriend. Here's just him with his struggles and addiction and his pain. And then here's him in Japan. It's a little bit all over the place for the two hour run time that by the end of it, in that third act, I was just left feeling a little bit unsatisfied. It goes out on kind of a whimper and really erases the impact of the story by the end of it. Still found the movie enjoyable. I still think it is one of the more noteworthy movies of the year and can't wait to see where it shakes out in the Oscar race for the Smashing Machine. I give it four out of five blows to the head.
- [36:34]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
Run a business and not thinking about podcasting? Think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ads, supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcast, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers are into, true crime, sports, comedy, culture, they'll hear your message. Plus, only iHeart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. And all this reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing formula. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for you. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Let us show you at iHeartadvertising.com that's iHeartadvertising.com or call 844-844 iHeart. One more time, call 844-844-IHEART and get podcasting working for you.
- [37:35]
Eva Longoria
Damie Gente, It's Ana Ortiz and I'm Mark and Delicato. You might know us as Hilda and.
- [37:41]
Movie Mike
Justin from Ugly Betty.
- [37:44]
Eva Longoria
We played mother and son on the show, but in real life we're best friends.
- [37:47]
Movie Mike
And I'm all grown up now.
- [37:48]
Eva Longoria
Welcome to our new podcast, Viva Betty. Can you believe it has been almost 20 years? That's not even possible. You're the only one that looks that much different. I look exactly the same. We're re watching the series from start to finish and getting into all the fashions, the drama and the behind the.
- [38:07]
Movie Mike
Scenes moments that you that you've never heard before. You're going to hear from guests like America Ferreira, Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie, Becky Newton, Tony Plana, and so many more icons.
- [38:18]
Eva Longoria
Each and every one.
- [38:19]
Movie Mike
All of a sudden like someone like.
- [38:21]
Eva Longoria
Comes running up to me and it's Salma Hayek. And she's like, you are my Ugly Betty. And I was like, what is she even talking about? Listen to Viva Betty. As part of the My Cultura podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, it's Stephanie, Beatriz and Melissa Fumero. And this is more better. We are jumping right in and ready to hear from you, your thoughts, your questions, your feelings about socks with sandals. And we're ready to share some possibly questionable advice. And hot takes. God, that sucks so hard though. I'm so sorry. Can you out petty them? Can you match their pettiness for funsies? Yeah, we had so much fun last season. Laughing, crying, talking to some new and old friends.
- [39:09]
Movie Mike
Remember when we were in that scene.
- [39:10]
Eva Longoria
Where you guys were just supposed to hug and I was standing?
- [39:13]
Movie Mike
Oh yeah.
- [39:14]
Rachel Talalay
And I was like, can I also hug them?
- [39:20]
Eva Longoria
I'm like this has no friends. This time around, we are. Say it, Melissa. Should I say it? Getting a little more better.
- [39:30]
Movie Mike
Oh, finally.
- [39:31]
Eva Longoria
It's all the dressing room talk you loved in season one. All the things. Because aren't we all trying to get a little more better? Listen to more better on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [39:42]
Movie Mike
Talking about guns with others might not always feel comfortable, but it could save a life. Here's a way to start a conversation. Your family is going over to your neighbor's home for dinner for the first time. How would you ask if there are any unlocked guns in the home?
- [39:55]
Eva Longoria
Hey.
- [39:55]
Movie Mike
Hey. We're so excited for tonight. Before we come over, though, may I ask if there are any unlocked guns in your home? Our guns are stored securely locked in.
- [40:03]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
A safe that the kids can't access.
- [40:06]
Movie Mike
Awesome. Learn how to have the conversation@ agreetoagree.org, brought to you by the Ad Council.
- [40:12]
Eva Longoria
I'm Eva Longoria. And I'm Maite Gomez Jejun. And on our podcast Hungry for History, we mix two of our favorite things, food and history. Ancient Athenians used to scratch names onto oyster shells and they called these ostrakon to vote politicians into exile. So our word ostracize is related to the word oyster. No way. Bring back the ostracon. And because we've got a very mi casa es su casa kind of vibe on our show, friends always stop by.
- [40:44]
Movie Mike
Pretty much every entry into this side of the planet was through the El Golf of Mexico.
- [40:55]
Robert Englund
Forever and ever.
- [40:57]
Eva Longoria
It blows me away how progressive Mexico was in this moment. They had land reform, they had labor rights, they had education rights. Mustard seeds were so valuable to the ancient Egyptians that they used to place them in their tombs for the afterlife. Listen to Hungry for History as part of the My Kultura Podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [41:22]
Movie Mike
It's time to head down to Movie Mike's Trailer Park. Zootopia is Low key. A top three Disney movie from the 2010s. I remember the way this movie packs such an emotional punch. And rarely does a Disney movie do this now, but back in 2016, this was still happening. I have a visceral reaction to a specific scene in Zootopia, one that has stayed with me. I really feel like this was a movie I actually learned a lesson from, and I think we could all learn a lesson from. And I think that is what Disney movies are supposed to do. At the core of what makes a good Disney story. It is what they did from the beginning of time. They were stories with a moral often rooted in fairy tales. And fairy tales always have a story of good and evil. And there's always a moral that lies within that story. Zootopia in 2016 was so progressive in telling a story in an unlikely friendship and work relationship between a sly fox and a dumb bunny. It took a family friendly comedy with a bunch of cute animals. And made a story that spoke on prejudice and systemic bias. Fear, being used as a political tool, breaking stereotypes, being self aware diversity and inclusion and using your differences as a strength. And it did it in a way that wasn't preaching to the viewer. That was just teaching kids about some things that get embedded to us without us really realizing it. And it did it in a way that me watching this movie in 2016 at 25 years old was a lesson I didn't know I needed to learn. And maybe simplify in such a way of a bunny working with a fox that are in nature mortal enemies. The fox is always going to want to kill and eat that bunny. But here they are trying to work together. And seeing them achieve this level of friendship where it is greatly rooted in trust that one of them is not going to flip out on the other. And seeing that trust broken. It was this one scene, specifically in the third act that I'll play for you now. Whenever Jason Bateman's character, the fox, Nick, realizes that Judy Hopps might still be afraid of him. What do you mean? Clearly there's a biological component. These predators may be reverting back to their primitive, savage way. Ways? Are you serious?
- [43:56]
Eva Longoria
I just stated the facts of the case. I mean, it's not like a bunny could go savage, right?
- [44:01]
Movie Mike
But a fox could, huh?
- [44:03]
Eva Longoria
Stop it. You're not like them.
- [44:05]
Movie Mike
Oh, there's a them now, Judy, Just with that line, you're not like them. That line said so much to me. Because Judy was fearful of being seen as a dumb bunny. So she wanted to do her job so well that it was undeniable that she got things right. And she looked at the facts. And with her being obsessed to what this situation looked like on paper. She forgot about her friend. And then the moment that followed after that.
- [44:34]
Eva Longoria
You're not that kind of predator.
- [44:36]
Movie Mike
The kind that needs to be muzzled.
- [44:37]
Robert Englund
The kind that makes you think you.
- [44:39]
Movie Mike
Need to carry around fox repellent. Let me ask you a question. Are you afraid of me? Do you think I might go nuts? You think I might go savage? You think I Might try to eat you. I knew it. Just when I thought somebody actually believed in me.
- [44:54]
Rachel Talalay
Huh?
- [44:54]
Movie Mike
Probably best if you don't have a predator as a partner. It was the reach. She said so much in that reach. Going for her weapon. In this case, some spray. But that was such a powerful scene. Jason Bateman's character has so much trauma over what happened to him as a kid. Him referring to the muzzle there. So I only hope going from Zootopia 1 to Zootopia 2 that we maintain that level of having a sophisticated, family friendly animated movie. And I think they can do that. And judging by the plot of this next movie, I think we are going to explore that even more. Because what happens in Zootopia 2? They are investigating the mystery of a venomous pit viper. Which snakes are not supposed to be a part of their community. Why? Because they've been told their entire life that snakes are bad. So as they go to capture him, they realize there actually might be more to the snake. And maybe they have been wrong. But with them protecting and defending this snake, trying to get the real story, obviously other people are not going to want to agree with them because they don't want to hear any logic. They just know. Snake bad. We get rid of snake. But by trying to unravel the mystery behind this snake, they are also putting their own reputation on the line and also become an enemy and protecting the enemy. But this movie will also dive into the lives of some of the other animals in Zootopia that have been pushed out to the outskirts, that are underappreciated because of who they are and where they come from. So I feel good right now going from Zootopia 1 to Zootopia 2. But before we get into more, here's just a little bit of the trailer. No snake has set foot in Zootopia in forever. There's a snake. Stop in the name of the law. Snakes aren't the bad guys.
- [46:42]
Eva Longoria
I have to set things right.
- [46:44]
Movie Mike
And when I do, my family will finally be able to come home.
- [46:51]
Jack Sholder
Hops and Wilds Dream Team.
- [46:53]
Eva Longoria
Oh, and the grind. Help me save him.
- [46:55]
Movie Mike
I would like to call a partner meeting.
- [46:59]
Robert Englund
I want the fox and that rabbit. Do you know how many mayors they've already destroyed?
- [47:05]
Movie Mike
1. I got up to 2. What stuck out to me, aside from the story in the trailer of Zootopia 2 is the movie looks so much better. The animation looks fantastic. It feels like this story is going to be bigger. Also still focusing on the themes of unity, diversity, inclusion and showing how understanding and collaboration is the Key to building a better future, which I think is something we can all probably learn from right now. I have always been a big fan of movies that can teach kids complex ideas and put them in a way that they can understand. Why do I love that so much is because when I was a kid, I learned so much from movies, ideas and things that my parents could not teach me. I learned about life, I learned about death. I learned about hate, I learned about love. I've learned about good and evil by watching a lot of Disney movies. In my childhood, the first time I ever had any experience with death was seeing Mufasa fall by the hands of Scar and me realizing that Mufasa was not going to wake up. Now, Disney traumatized this all with Simba trying to wake up his dad and bawling his eyes out and then immediately having to rush and be banished from Pride Rock, which is a wild thing to do. But looking back, I am so glad I experienced that sadness so early on, because that was very formative in me learning about life. And I think to make great art, to make movies that make an impact, you have to include things that sometimes might be a little bit uncomfortable. Which if you want to look at the great animated movies and the ones that just come out, you go see in theaters, you have some popcorn, you go watch it, and that's it. And the movies that really change your life and become a part of your DNA, you have to dive into some of these things. And I think that is the power of animation, just the power of filmmaking in general, of creating stories that resonate with you, that teach you something. Because I think sometimes when we think about the family film, we just want something like the Minions, which is fun, that has its place. Dumb, ridiculous humor that you don't have to think about. I think those movies are totally fine. I'm a fan of those. Not hating on the Minions here. I'm actually a big fan of the Minions and all the despicable meme movies. You have the Minions of the World, you have the Shreks of the Worlds. But then you have movies with a little bit more substance that can still be fun. Which Zootopia one still has a lot of fun moments. I think the Sloth character at the DMV is probably one of the funniest characters that they have created. Not only in the 2000 and tens themselves, but probably since. So I'm hoping they still have that fun, which I do get the sense of from this trailer. But I think what made Zootopia a noteworthy movie of the 2010s was the message that it had. And I believe it did it in a way that wasn't preaching to the audience. That wasn't too complex for kids to understand. It just boiled it down to showing you two characters who shouldn't be friends have to team up in a buddy cop style Disney movie and then learn so much about their differences. And if I was a kid now, this is the type of movie I would want to be exposed to and would be glad that they were making. And I think as a whole, as movie fans we are craving stories with substance. Those are the movies that are really setting themselves apart. I think that is the difference between a box office success and a box office flop. You need a story that you can really sink your teeth into. And of the Disney movies that have flopped so far so hard in the 2020s, it has been those movies that have had nothing to say that sink to the bottom. But I'm now so excited for this movie. Zootopia 2 comes out this year on November 26th. Even if I'm one of the only adults in the theater without kids. I'm gonna go see this movie. And that was this week's edition of.
- [51:15]
Jack Sholder
Movie Mike's Trailer park.
- [51:17]
Movie Mike
And that is gonna do it for another episode here of the podcast. Before I go, I gotta give my listeners shout out of the week. This week I'm going over to Tick Tock, one of the best usernames I've ever seen on Tick Tock. Do Turtles have Butt Cheeks Rights? Who commented on a video I posted of Kelsey and I talking about whether or not teachers were maybe a little bit hungover or just had a rough night the night before we all went into school and had an unexpected movie day. But do Turtles have Butt Cheeks? Wrote I saw more movies in high school than any other time. As an elder millennial, the movies we saw a lot were Twister and Ace Ventura. I love both of those movies, but I never watched those in high school. I guess when I was in high school was in the mid to late 2000s and here I thought I was an elder millennial. I associate all of the early 2000s Disney movies with being movie day movies. I would have loved to have seen Twister and Ace Ventura as movie day movies. But thank you do turtles have Butt Cheeks for that comment for watching over there on Tick Tock, which I did have to google. And by the way, I don't know why I had to go google this. I could have assumed, but they in fact do not have buttcheeks so what a bold username. Thank you for sharing that. Thank you right now for listening. And until next time, go out and watch good movies and I will talk to you later. Hello, America's sweetheart. Johnny Knoxville here. I want to tell you about my new true crime podcast, Crimeless Hillbilly Heist from Smartless Media, Campside Media and big money players. It's a wild tale about a gang of high functioning nitwits who somehow pulled off America's third largest cash heist.
- [53:05]
Jack Sholder
Kind of like Robin Hood, except for the part where he steals from the rich and gives to the poor.
- [53:11]
Movie Mike
I'm not that generous. It's a damn near inspiring true story for anyone out there who's ever shot for the moon, then just totally muffed up the landing. They've stuck $17 million and had not bought a ticket to help him escape. So we're sitting like, oh, God, what do we do?
- [53:28]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
What do we do?
- [53:29]
Movie Mike
That was dumb.
- [53:31]
Jack Sholder
People, do not follow my example.
- [53:34]
Movie Mike
Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [53:44]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
Two rich young Americans move to the Costa Rican jungle to start over. But one of them will end up dead and the other tried for murder three times. It starts with a dream, a nature reserve and a spectacular new home. But little by little, they lose it.
- [53:59]
Robert Englund
They actually lose it.
- [54:00]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
They sort of went nuts until one night, everything spins out of control. Listen to hell in Heaven on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [54:18]
Movie Mike
You know what your customers are doing right this second? The exact same thing. You are listening to me, which, let's be honest, is kind of flattering. But my point Is, ads on iHeartRadio actually get heard in the car, at the gym, on the couch, while people are walking their dogs. Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? You're a good boy.
- [54:37]
Robert Englund
That's right, dude.
- [54:37]
Eva Longoria
You're a good.
- [54:38]
Movie Mike
So why not make the next ad about you? Get started today. Call 844-844-IHEART or go to iheartadvertising.com that's 844-844-iheart or iheartadvertising.com Sami Gente.
- [54:50]
Eva Longoria
It's Ana Ortiz.
- [54:52]
Movie Mike
And I'm Markin Delicato.
- [54:53]
Eva Longoria
You might know us as Hilda and.
- [54:55]
Movie Mike
Justin from Ugly Betty.
- [54:58]
Eva Longoria
Welcome to our new podcast, Viva Betty.
- [55:01]
Movie Mike
Yay.
- [55:02]
Eva Longoria
We're re watching the series from start.
- [55:04]
Movie Mike
To finish and talking to iconic gaslight like Betty herself, America Ferreira.
- [55:09]
Eva Longoria
There was this moment when the glasses went on and it was like, this is our Betty.
- [55:14]
Movie Mike
Listen to Viva Betty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [55:22]
Eva Longoria
I'm Eva Longoria. And I'm Maite Gomez Rejun. And this week on our podcast, Hungry for History, we talk oysters. Plus, the Miami Chief stops by.
- [55:31]
Robert Englund
If you are not an oyster lover.
- [55:33]
Movie Mike
Don'T even talk to me.
- [55:34]
Eva Longoria
Ancient Athenians used to scratch names onto oyster shells to vote politicians into exile. So our word ostracize is related to the word oyster. No way. Bring back the ostracon. Listen to Hungry for history on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [55:54]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.