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Justin Richmond
This is Justin Richmond from Broken Record. Are you the kind of person who sets standards for themselves? Like personally, I told myself if the Lakers lose their do or die game five, I wouldn't let it impact my mood at home with family. The standard Lexus has set for themselves is to experience amazing. Lexus measures success by the feelings and emotions evoked in a driver, like exhilaration and joy. Amazing can only be achieved by knowing people on a deeper level. The standard of amazing results in machines that make you feel more human, because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing experience. Amazing at your Lexus dealer.
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This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone let's face it in therapy. By talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most Insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE80. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.
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Kristen Davis
Hi, I'm Kristen Davis, host of the podcast Are youe a Charlotte? Sarah Jessica Parker is here and she is sharing stories from the very beginning, like the time she forgot we filmed the pilot episode. I remember some things about shooting the pilot, right? I have some memories I can fill in and that you're going to fill me in. Yes, but then you forgot about it in the very long time they took about it. Listen to Are youe a Charlotte? On the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
Movie Mike
Hello and welcome back to Movie Mike's Movie Podcast. I am your host, Movie Mike. Awesome interview coming up with Robert Schwarzman. He has a new documentary about the band the Zombies. We're gonna talk Princess Diaries. We're gonna talk about his uncle Francis Ford Coppola, his famous brother, his famous cousins. In the movie review, we'll be talking about Thunderbolts, AKA the New Avengers and and where it ranks in Phase five for me. I'm also going to predict Phase six of the mcu even though none of those movies have come out yet. And in the trailer park, the question is, will the Rock get an Oscar nomination for the Smashing Machine? That is the question. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being subscribed. Shout out to the Monday Morning Movie Crew. And now let's talk movies from the Nashville Podcast Network. This is Movie Mike's Movie Podcast. Back to get into my interview with Robert Schwartzman. He is the director of Hung up on a Dream, the Zombies doctor documentary, which is in theaters now. You can get tickets and find the link in the episode notes of this podcast. Even if you're unfamiliar with the band, you will know two of their biggest songs, Time of the Season and She's Not There. It's a story of how they blew up. How they were the first band after the Beatles to have a number one song in the US that was self written. How after years of touring and a lot of missteps in the 60s, they kind of got screwed over but eventually got their flowers when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame back in 2018. Robert Schwarzman grew up in in the movie industry his uncle is Francis Ford Coppola, who directed legendary movies like the Godfather. His cousin is Sophia Coppola who directed the Virgin Suicide. She also did the Priscilla movie which he starred in the Virgin Suicides. His other famous cousin is Nicholas Cage. And not only that, but Robert's brother is Jason Schwartzman. So a long line of famous people in Hollywood. So he's a musician in the band Rooney. He is from a famous family. He was also an actor and you might remember him as Michael in the Princess Diaries where he starred alongside Anne Hathaway. Excited to get into this interview, let's talk to Robert Schwarzman. I am fascinated with this documentary. Also fascinating with the parallels of the Zombies in your career. Talking about music for a second, who gave you your first guitar?
Podcast Announcer
I grew up in a musical family. My grandfather, Carmine Coppola was a. He played flute for orchestras, big orchestras. He was a composer and a conductor. He came from a long line of Italian musicians who were all a part of big orchestras, played different instruments. My mom was a big fan of musical theater and operas and classical music. So I was around more classical musicians. And rock and roll was seen as somewhat rebellious a little bit in my household. Even though my mom grew up like in the 60s. She also was like, you know, very much a big fan of orchestral music. But she loved, you know, obviously great songwriters. She loved, you know, anything with a melody that has a sense of beauty, I think is like, people tend to gravitate towards. So there wasn't like a guitar in my house. There was a piano in my house. So I played piano around my house. And then I studied guitar and eventually got an electric guitar and guitar and started learning to play guitar. But really, my brother Jason is the entry point for me and real understanding of rock and roll. And my brother Matthew turned me on to a lot of great bands. And Jason was a very like, musicologist, kind of a guy who, like, listened to tons and tons of music and turned me on to really good stuff. And he started a band. He was a drummer in a band called Phantom Planet. Yeah, like, it was just. I feel fortunate to grow up around great musicians, sensitivity to music, melody arrangements.
Movie Mike
Was it true that you played piano in your audition for the Princess Diaries? And at that time, were you trying to be a musician or were you really trying to pursue acting?
Podcast Announcer
When I auditioned for the Princess Diaries, I. I was doing my band Rooney and I was playing shows regularly in la and I was going to high school and I really wanted to, like, I was loving music. I had done a movie called the Virgin Suicides and I didn't really know if I was an actor or anything. I didn't really feel like I'm going to throw myself into this kind of business. I wanted to go to college, I wanted to direct movies. I had my band. I was kind of like, you know, the way you're supposed to be when you're 17, right? You're supposed to be all over the place, kind of. But I didn't play the piano. I don't know if I played the piano. No. Garry Marshall directed it. He's an iconic director. He liked me in the Virgin Suicides. He wanted me to read. I worked on my scenes, I gave it my all and he liked what I did and had me come back a few times and finally I read. We did a chemistry reading with Anne Hathaway and she didn't have a say in who played my character, but I think she, you know, Gary saw something in, in that performance that worked for him. But I, he knew I was a musician, so I think he liked that angle and liked that I had a band and I, I, we played like Blue side in the movie, my first single from Rooney, you know, so it was real. I mean, like in the second one they said I wasn't going to be in it. Like, I don't know what happened on that, but they were like, they had, they had other plans for the movie. It was set in another, like, location. But I was on tour with Rooney and they, I think in the movie they said he's on tour with his band. So weirdly, I was living the life of this character in my real life. But I don't know how much life imitates art. Art imitates life kind of a thing. But I think Gary liked that I was like, truly a musician and it was relevant to the character.
Movie Mike
So you have this musical foundation. Where does filmmaking come in? When do you get your first camera and start to be curious about the filmmaking process?
Podcast Announcer
I grew up wanting to make movies. We would shoot short films as a family. My brothers and I would shoot movies. We'd write scripts, we'd borrow wardrobe, we'd shoot stuff on our. But we, we recreated like a Robin Hood, like a short film of like. We would make re recreations of movies like that were big, you know, in the 80s and 90s. But I went to film school. I studied editing. I shot some fun kind of homemade music videos. When I started in music, I was totally unexpected. I did not intend to, like, I, I wasn't like, oh, I'm going to start a band and become a musician full time. That sort of came out of nowhere for me. My ambition was always to direct movies. That was like where I wanted to be. Of course, it's like very nice and natural. When you get to be a musician who's directing a music movie, it's very close to home for me. So the fact that I get to tell stories from a band that I love or I'd love to make more music documentaries in the future or even do a film even, that's where music is really central part of it.
Movie Mike
So.
Podcast Announcer
But yeah, I started off really wanting to direct films. It wasn't about scripted movies or documentaries. It was just like, I want to tell stories. And I think music for me was storytelling. Music was getting to write songs that were like short stories really. Songs are stories. They have a beginning, middle and an end. And they. And they hope you. They leave you with a thought and an emotion. Films are kind of the same way. So. So they feel. So for me, it feels very close to home music and filmmaking. Getting to edit a movie is just like making an album. Like you're stuck in a room in the dark all day, staring at a computer screen, you know what I mean? So it's the same thing for me. You develop a certain kind of attention span that can like, slow down your mind and just focus on what you're doing. And that's sort of like making a movie really.
Movie Mike
When did you realize how cool your uncle was?
Podcast Announcer
I think every day I'm learning how cool he is. I mean, like, I just was with him. He gave this great speech with a bunch of film students and it was like very moving. The whole crowd erupted and stood up. It was all these young filmmakers. He's cool. I mean, there's a different time, like filmmakers had a different way of making. There was a different experience to package a film. And the risk he paid for, he took crazy risks as a filmmaker. I mean, when you put your money where your mouth is, as they say, like, that's what he did. And I think there's something really beautiful about that because he made some incredible films that are going to be part of our lives for a long time. It's a lesson in taking those chances.
Movie Mike
Did you learn anything from him that you applied to this documentary?
Podcast Announcer
I'm always learning something new and I don't even think it. It matter, you know, whether it's from someone close to you, who's in your family, who also works in. In the same profession, or there's always Something really exciting to learn. I. I think I'm always. I think my uncle. One of the biggest takeaways is. Oh, it's always the idea of just doing the things you love or telling the stories that feel important to you, you know, because I think that makes it more personal. If it's something that really feels personal to you, the more personal you can make it, the better, because it's really. Then it's yours, you know, but, you know, I'm telling a story about the zombies with this film, Hung up on a Dream. It's different. It's a documentary. It's a totally different kind of format. But. But regardless, it's still a film, and you still want to give the audience something that really brings them in. You're still telling a story, right? So that's the biggest thing, is just telling. Telling stories that feel like, you know, comfortable, something that means something to you, you know?
Movie Mike
So the few things that blew my mind about the documentary, I think the biggest thing I took away from it was them not realizing that they were successful until. Until they were in their 70s. Because they're like, man, we didn't know until we didn't know that we were famous in our 20s until we were in our 70s. Finally getting to see them get their flowers at the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. And they're often labeled as, like, this underdog band. How did that underdog narrative influence how you structured the film, by the way?
Podcast Announcer
That is, you know, in talking about Hung up on a Dream, now that it's coming out, you as a filmmaker, you. Because you make a movie in phases, and it gets hot, it gets cold, right? There's peaks and valleys to this process, but you fall in love with it all over again when it's coming out, because you're talking about it so much, and you're also getting the opinion of other people that are seeing it. So you're kind of learning new things about your own movie, you know, around this time, which is really, I find, really exciting. But you're absolutely right. That moment, Chris White said that you found success later in your career, like, is such an amazing part of that story. And that's what I think I love so much about this film, is that how humble they are, how lovable they are. Like such genuine, lovable, humble, good people who made such timeless, iconic music. Like, sometimes you think you have to be a tortured artist or you have to hate, like, you know, have a total nightmare experience to, like, do anything sometimes worthwhile. But here you have these guys that really never gave up. And some of their big, biggest successful moments, they weren't even abandoned anymore. And then they got to revisit themselves and find success into their 80s. Right? Like Colin's turning 80 and he's still out there on the road. So I don't know. There's something so magical and so unusual about that. And I think people are learning so much about this band whose music they've known for so long, but they never really knew what happened to them. All these pieces of the story that they find so influential, inspiring.
Movie Mike
I think what you said there was they felt like just regular guys kind of figuring it out. At one point in the documentary, Colin talks about how he was selling insurance at the time Time of the season went number one. What kind of blew your mind, like the biggest surprise you had while doing this documentary about the band?
Podcast Announcer
Well, first of all, I love the Zombies so much. I started a band called Rooney because of listening to bands like the Zombies. They started much more like way earlier than I got into the world of music. But that's the beauty of music is you can keep music exists in the world. We live in a time where you can access music really from anywhere. So it's really our job to keep passing things on to the next generation. I fell in love with the Zombies and. And other bands of the British Invasion movement through older, you know, people around me sharing that music with me. So with this film I get to pass it on. But so just being sitting there with Rod and Colin for the first time, interviewing them, and we built a set in New York City on a stage where we created the She's Not There music video set up, which is where I did a lot of the interviews, which is that white room with all those props that was sort of built to look like the She's Not There set. If you picked up on that. But people. It's a little Easter egg that people start to like, realize. But yeah, that. That was the big pinch me moment.
Movie Mike
You mentioned your band Rooney. And that was another parallel I saw between the Zombies and your life where they were kind of had their first pop. Whenever George Harrison was on that TV show and the clip of their song was played and then went on to be a huge hit. I remember before Tik Tok, whenever a song got played on the OC that was like, oh, everybody knows that song now. And when Rooney was featured on that. That's kind of the parallel I also found in this documentary. How did that spot for you on the OC kind of change Your band's trajectory. Yeah.
Podcast Announcer
That's interesting. There were so many things that were so, like. It was kind of scary at times how there were things that just felt so familiar to me. Making this movie about the Zombies. I was, you know, we got signed. I started my band as a teenager. I started with my schoolmates. We just love going to shows, listening to rock and roll music. We, we. We sort of won the audience over by performing around L. A and building up a fan base that got us a record deal. We went through a lot of ups and downs with managers and label stuff and drama. And it was just like, you get to a point where you're like, well, I haven't really. I'm like 22 and I haven't even. I don't even really know. I haven't even seen anything else in this business. Like, I need to try new things. So that's what I think they were going through is just like, they were young, they've had number one hits out of nowhere. And they're like. They didn't really even know themselves in some ways, musically because they'd only worked together. Argent talks about how he had never written songs for anyone else's voice in mind. So, yeah, that was very. It was very similar, but I just. I relate to it. Cause I know I felt the feeling of going out there, putting yourself out there and really, you know, doing everything you can to get noticed and try to cut through the noise and get people to care about what you're doing. Jukebox jury George Harrison says she's not there is going to be a hit. Rooney was invited onto a successful TV show called the O.C. at the time, and they wrote an episode that. That had the cast coming to one of our shows. So, yeah, I mean, it's true. Like, there are these moments in your life or your career that could be like a defining moment. And I can relate to how you're a hungry young band trying to find those moments. And it's something the universe, you know, I don't know how spiritual, you know, people get when they think about these things, but sometimes things just work in mysterious ways. The world we're in and things just happen and find themselves. For Time of the Season to go into number one, two years after its release, after the band had broken up, is a very unusual thing to have happen to them. So things just work in mysterious ways. And I think that's the beauty, really, of music is if something's good, the hope is someone will find it eventually. You know, you could have something that becomes a hit like 30 years later, or a movie that, like, didn't work in its day but becomes like a sleeper cult hit. Why does that happen? Like, it's so bizarre, right? It's crazy, but sometimes you can't write it any other way. It's like you're just grateful that people care.
Movie Mike
Talking about being able not to write things any other way. Were there ever moments of this documentary where you thought, man, this feels like somebody is pulling strings here as far as, like, how could. How do I make this believable of the crazy things that have happened to them, like getting screwed over by them playing these massive shows and not getting any money for it.
Podcast Announcer
I mean, I can't even. I think it's just the time, like, we live in a different time right now where you can. I mean, there would never be a fake Zombies today. Like, you could never fake to be a band. We all. We have phones. You can Google the name of an artist and see what they look like. Back then, you barely. You just knew songs. You didn't even know what the band looked like, probably, right? Unless you got like a mag. Unless they got like, featured in a magazine. But maybe like three months later that magazine was out, not being sold at a store and those fans didn't see it and they didn't know and someone could take advantage of it. I think people get taken advantage of all the time. The idea of. Of being of. Of. Of like the price of what they were paid being different from what they understood it to be, and a manager taking money and all these things. You hear it from. If you, if you watch the who documentary, the Beatles documentary, the Brian Wilson's dad sold his publishing from under him. There's always like a story like this, which is unfortunate, but I think it's the nature of. Artists aren't always watching everything, nor should they be like you. You're there to make. You're there to create and throw yourself into your craft. And I think it was totally bizarre that these guys showed up in the Philippines to an arena show, sold out over many days and paid. And they each made like £10 or something. Ridiculous. But they were young. Maybe they weren't. Maybe there were other things that were really exciting for them that they weren't thinking about every dollar, you know, until it really settled in. It's crazy. But again, like, they kept going and something beautiful like, happened, you know.
Movie Mike
So I have two final questions for you, which another funny thing that you included in the documentary was you searching Zombies and the Disney movie coming up before you could even find anything about the band. I thought that was funny. But is the hardest thing about making an independent movie, letting people and getting people to know that it exists?
Podcast Announcer
Yeah, of course. Getting anything out there is hard, even if you have a gazillion dollars or whatever. Like, there's also just consumer behavior today that we're up against, right? Like, are people even watching movies? Right? Like, forget a doc, forget an indie doc. Just the movie format keeping you engaged for 90 plus minutes an hour, over an hour straight. Are people wanting that? We've got a lot of things we've got to figure out as an industry, but I'm a big believer in the indie world. I love the indie world. I started a company called Utopia. It's built to indie films. Like, that's why we created it. We distribute really cool indie films. We are starting to produce really cool indie films. The more places we can get, the more outlets we have to create an opportunity to make films and release films, the better it is, I think, for the industry as a whole. And you're going to have a lot of sides to this business. You're going to have big studio films that serve a certain purpose. You're going to have indie studios that are going to serve a certain purpose. So I think we're all here to do the same thing, which is bring an experience to people, bring something moving to people. And I hope that's the goal that I hope we're trying to hope we are achieving so far. But we need people, you know, takes a village, right? It takes word of mouth. You need. Usually when movies snowball, it's because everyone's talking about them. It's like whether it's big or small, they. They somehow capture everybody's attention and everyone's kind of whispering about, did you see blah, blah, blah. I mean, we had a movie called Shiva Baby that we released that I thought had that great word of mouth. Naturally. The movie Rad we've released every year the 1986 BMX bike movie, cult classic. It's got great word of mouth. Kept the movie out there for a long time and now it's really back and radder than ever. No pun intended or pun intended. But yeah, doing our part. We've got a long way to go as a world, culturally. I need people to realize that everybody counts. Every time you click on a movie, it means something. Every time you rent it, it means every time you buy a ticket to the theater. If a movie's in theaters, go watch it in Theaters. If you like the cinematic experience in theaters, the theatrical, leave your house and buy a ticket and see the movie. Like, the price of like shrimp lo mein is more than a movie ticket. Even when I go on tour with Rooney and we try to decide how much tickets are going to be, my. Our tickets to see my band sometimes is less than like ordering dinner for one. Just literally like a bowl of shrimp lo mein is more than a ticket to see a band play sometimes.
Movie Mike
And the experience will last much longer than the shrimp.
Podcast Announcer
I know. If you can like, order that, certainly you can go see a band, see a movie. Like, there's no excuses really. So.
Movie Mike
Well, I'm all about it. Supporting independent films, supporting every film. Well, Robert, this has been great to get to talk to you. I hope everybody goes to watch this movie. Skip. Skip the shrimp and go pay tickets. Paid for a ticket to watch the movie.
Podcast Announcer
Yes, you're right. Let's get out there and support and be a part of the experience. Let's be engaged, let's support films, let's support music. It's like, it's part of it. Like, we do our part as an audience to show that we're grateful for the creations of people that are out there. And if we just sign up for a service and just expect everything for free, it doesn't quite always pencil out for the people making the stuff in the first place. So we all can do. We all are like, we get it. People get it. Like, if it's like nine bucks a month or five bucks a month for unlimited whatever you can watch, I mean, how does it really ultimately going to work out? Right? So clearly, when you rent a movie for 699 or 799, or you buy a T shirt at a show, you see a band play or you buy a movie ticket, clearly that's more meaningful than just being sort of like a data point for a subscription company, which are great. Thank you for being out there, all these companies, because you're helping keep the lights on in some ways. But let's not lose sight of the experience of making a film. I mean, when you mix and color grade a movie, you're doing it in a theater. That's no surprise. I'm not doing it for my iPhone or my TV. I'm doing it for a theater. So we're making these films for the theaters for a reason. We should be watching them in that environment because that's how they were intended to be viewed. And then downstream, watch them on your tv. Watch them. I don't that part doesn't matter. But if you have a short window to see it in a theater, it's a great experience. So Hung up on a Dream the Zombies movie opens up in theaters. So I hope you see if you go to hung up.official.film, you could see all the theaters the movie's going to play in. That's hung up.official.film and you can see all the theaters we're in.
Movie Mike
I'll also put it in the episode notes of this podcast. And I think you've also convinced everybody listening right now to buy not one but two tickets.
Podcast Announcer
I love that. Yeah, definitely. Bring a friend. Spread the love. The Zombies are the best. Man, I hope people really fall in love with their music all over again.
Movie Mike
Thanks so much Robert.
Podcast Announcer
Thank you guys. Take care.
T-Mobile Advertiser
Like your Must watch list Our network is all over the place because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card left 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service report in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required card is no cash access and expires in six months.
Justin Richmond
This is Justin Richmond from Broken Record. Are you the kind of person who sets standards for themselves? Like, personally, I told myself if the Lakers lose their do or die game five, I wouldn't let it impact my mood at home with family. The standard Lexus has set for themselves is to experience amazing. Lexus measures success by the feelings and emotions evoked in a driver, like exhilaration and joy. Amazing can only be achieved by knowing people on a deeper level. The standard of amazing results in machines that make you feel more human. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing Experience. Amazing at your Lexus dealer this podcast.
Talkspace Advertiser
Is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits or an another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most Insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE80 to match with a licensed therapist. Today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.
Lowe's Advertiser
Kick off summer with Memorial Day savings at Lowe's. Right now get five Scott's Naturescapes one and a half cubic foot mulch bags for just $10. Plus get up to 40% off select major appliances and save an extra $50 on every five $500 you spend on select major appliances. $396 or more Lowe's we help you save valid through 528 mulch offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii. Selection varies by location while supplies last. See lowe's.com for more details.
Chelsea Handler
This week on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler. Ed Helms is here. I of course was drawn to the LSD story. In the 1950s, a CIA scientist secretly bought the entire world supply of LSD, embarking on a horrific attempt to discover the secrets to mind control.
Podcast Guest
This is so insane. This was all under like official government activity. They built a apartment in San Francisco that had a glass mirror where he could sit there and watch. And then they would drug these customers and he was just sort of taking notes and God knows what else behind this double mirror. And this was all in the name of science.
Chelsea Handler
This just sounds like a guy off behind a wall.
Podcast Guest
It does.
Chelsea Handler
I would just like to say if you don't have to take LSD like this, LSD can be microdosed. It's like an upper of energy. Enthusiasm makes you less nervous. If I'm going heli skiing, if it.
Podcast Guest
Allows me to go hella skiing, then yeah, I'm hella on board.
Chelsea Handler
Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Movie Mike
Let's get into it now. A spoiler free movie review of Thunderbolts AKA the New Avengers. That is why I waited to do this review, because I knew it was coming. I knew when I saw that asterisk next to Thunderbolts that that name was going to change. Just knowing about the comics where Marvel is going I knew that eventually they were going to rebuild the Avengers. I didn't think it was going to be the Young Avengers. So I saw this coming, went to see with Kelsey's family. Nobody there knew. But after opening weekend, Monday morning, Marvel starts rolling out on socials. Sebastian Stan goes out onto the streets changing the posters. And that is how quickly they spoiled their own movie. I have a theory now. I think Marvel is trying to capitalize on those opening weekend ticket sales and make their movies an event again. So much so that if you don't go watch their movies now on opening weekend, you're gonna have it spoiled. And them doing that so fast, I think they're saying, hey, we used to give you a week, two weeks before they would turn off comments. Now when you have all the actors posting about it on the official accounts, they changed it. And that was a turning point in the movie. But now everybody knows. So I think what they're trying to say by doing that is, hey, you have to go see this opening weekend if you don't want it spoiled. That contributes to their opening weekend numbers. They get a big pop. It starts to become like a sporting event. And I love it. I'm all here for it. And the reason I even do this podcast now is because how much I love superhero movies, how invested I am in the mcu, even when everybody was jumping ships saying, the MCU is dead, it was over. After End Game, I stuck around. Has it all been great? No. I think for the majority, the movies have still been good. TV shows are a different thing, but I try not to focus on too much of that. But I think that is what they are trying to say now that Phase five is completely closed out. But I think that's why they did that, and that's why I waited to do this, because I feel like I could have expressed all my things without them putting that out there. Although I'm still surprised that they did. But I also think that by doing that, they create more of a conversation. Because I think the whole thing going into Thunderbolts is nobody really knew these characters. People were kind of confused by it. Oh, it's just another Marvel movie. But now by calling it the New Avengers, people know what the Avengers are. They love the Avengers. It's going to pique more people's curiosity and want to go see the movie. Especially with it getting great reviews and me going into Thunderbolts. I thought it was going to be average. I didn't really love the trailers leading into it. I love Florence Pugh. Her character was. I just think overall the Black Widow storyline hasn't been my favorite in the mcu, but up until this point we haven't had that well rounded of a Black Widow. So I think going into the 36th movie in the MCU there is that fatigue for the general audience. I don't really think I had fatigue. I would take a new Marvel movie every single week if you could give it to me. But what Thunderbolts did essentially was recreating what the Avengers did back in 2012. You take your B team and you build your new franchise. And I think that is what sometimes people forget when it comes to the MCU is back in the 90s and early 2000s, Marvel was selling off all their characters. They were almost bankrupt. And the reason the MCU is successful is because they didn't have their big characters. Thor, Iron Man, Captain America were not their top selling comic book characters. It was the ones they sold off. It was X Men, Spider Man, Fantastic Four. So they built the Avengers with characters people really didn't know and did such a good job at it that now those are the household names. But now they're back doing it again with Thunderbolts. But what the Thunderbolts are is a group of anti heroes. They've been hired by Julia Louis Dreyfus's character who sends them on covert missions, doing a lot of shady things for her, killing people, blowing things up, all under the radar. All of them have done bad things in the past and for the most part you won't recognize many of them. Except Sebastian Stan, who has been in the Avengers movies, who has been in the Captain America movies playing Bucky Barnes. We have Florence Pugh. We first saw her in Black Widow as Scarlett Johansson, AKA Black Widow's sister. We have Wyatt Russell, who plays John Walker, who debuted in the Captain America Disney plus show. We have Ghost, who first appeared in the second Ant man movie, Ant man and the Wasp, a couple of characters from the Black Widow movie Taskmaster, and also David Harbour's character, the Red Guardian. New character introduced is played by Lewis Pullman, who plays a named Bob, who I feel is the new breakout star in this movie. And he also happens to be Bill Pullman's son. So they all get sent on a mission. She's trying to cover a track. She's about to go to prison if they start finding all this evidence. And all of the Thunderbolts are loose ends. So she sends them all to this very remote location in this vault where she's keeping all of her paraphernalia and all the things that could incriminate her. And they are the human things that really could incriminate her. And she gives them the task of killing another person in the group. So one person arrives, then the next person arrives to kill them, then another person arrives to kill them. And pretty much they're just realizing that, oh, we were all sent here to kill each other. We got to go back and fight against Julia Louis Dreyfus because she's evil. So then it all backfires on her, because now she sent this group of mercenaries to go kill each other, and now they're all coming for her. My favorite thing about Thunderbolts is we are back to having great action. My biggest problem with the last MCU movie, Captain America, Brave New World, is the action felt so stale, because when you remember back to those Captain America movies and what made those great, they had great choreography, they had great pacing. The fights actually meant something. And in Brave New World, it was just kind of filler. Not the case with Thunderbolts, which brings back that energy of, oh, there are some fights going down where there's actually something on the line. They're choreographed well, they use their powers well, and it just doesn't feel like, oh, we're just gonna throw this fight scene in here to fill time. Each one is actually important. And I think all the characters in the Thunderbolts all have unique abilities that distinguish themselves from one another, which is important when you're trying to build a new team. You have to have clear roles. You have to have clear ways that people fight and things that make each of these characters unique to really make them stand out. And I think the action was overall top tier in this movie and really sucked me in. Within the first hour, I was fully invested. And a lot of times when I go watch a movie, especially a Marvel movie, I'm really dialed in. I'm thinking of it analytically. I'm thinking of it in regards to how I'm going to do this podcast. For the first hour of the Thunderbolts, I didn't think that way at all. It just flew by because I was so engaged and interested in this story, which I wouldn't say reinvented the MCU formula, but it definitely gave me something to root for again. It also didn't lean too much into the comedy, which sometimes the MCU gets a little bit cornball with the superhero humor. There are some moments of that. I think David Harbour is probably the biggest piece of comic relief. But aside from that, the movie didn't take itself too seriously, but it took itself seriously enough to create a tone of this doesn't feel like your typical Marvel movie, which I think for some of the films, they started playing to a younger audience, dumbing it down just a little bit. But I think the best MCU movies are ones that they can say, okay, we're gonna make a movie that doesn't talk down to maybe the kids we are trying to inspire, trying to build a new fan base in new MCU fans. Because you already have the older people like me in their 30s, who are heavily invested and are probably going to be so critical of an MCU movie at this point, but they're still gonna go watch it, they're still gonna talk about it. You're still gonna get their money. But in order to keep a franchise like this alive, you got to put new blood into the fan base. And how do you do that? You give them something that doesn't talk down to them, same way you did back in 2012 with the Avengers. This is what it is. Some of it's going to be a little bit more gritty. Even with the language, they're more generous with their S bombs and they're. I don't think there was an F bomb in this that I remember, but they are just talking more like these characters would in real life and not really cleaning it up for the sake of thinking you're gonna alienate the young fans. Because at this point, what's a curse word? And when it comes down to it, we just got back to great storytelling and also having a lead that can carry a movie. Florence Pugh is that. And I think that is why some of the other Marvel movies have struggled a little bit, is because we're focused a little bit too much on the characters as far as how they play into the entire story. And thinking, okay, it makes sense for this character to carry on this line of the story. But when you think about it as a movie, you also have to pick somebody who is gonna get the butts in the seats and going to be able to handle it. And Florence Pugh is. That she is in Phase five, is probably overall the best actor who could do a role tomorrow and get an Oscar nomination, but also come to the MCU and really bring another tier of acting here. And there were so many parallels between this movie and Avengers 1. There's even one scene where they're all fighting, and it very much mirrored Avengers 1. Whenever you have them fighting in New York, it has that revolving camera swoop around them when they're all back to back, forming the circle. We had that again here in the Thunderbolts. I don't know. And I wouldn't really compare Florence Pugh to a Robert Downey Jr. With her being pretty much the leader of this group. I think a lot of people are comparing her performance as the new Black Widow to Scarlett Johansson's, which I think is kind of unfair because unfortunately, Scarlett Johansson got her movie too late. And when they introduced her character, she was very one dimensional. In the Iron man movies, when she was introduced, it was essentially, oh, here's this sexy character. Oh, she can fight. Oh, wow. And you kind of learn about her past all through these little details that leak out about her having blood on her hands and all the awful things that she's done. You get to know a little bit more about her. They try to humanize her a little bit in Age of Ultron with a relationship with Bruce Banner that never really panned out. That whole thing is kind of interesting, kind of one of the weirdest plot lines in the mcu. But we never really got her story until it was too late in Black Widow. And really that was more her setting up Florence Pugh to have the career she is having now in the mcu. I really think they're trying to recapture that energy of the early 2010s. Even now with the directors, they're picking focusing people who maybe it's their first or second feature film. Jake Schreier, I think, did an amazing job with this, but this is his biggest credit to date. And I think Marvel always bringing in those who are a little bit unproven, but knowing they can give them these parameters, which is probably hard as a director in the mcu because you want to put your spin on it. You want to put your trademarks and creativity into an MCU film. But there are guidelines. It is much like if you work in animation, you can't go too far off of the character model because all the scenes have to look the same. You can't draw Homer Simpson differently because you want to add your own unique artistic abilities to it, because Homer Simpson has to look the same in every single episode, season to season. That is exactly how it is directing movies in the MCU where you can put things in that make it your film, but it also has to line up with the structure and flow and look of what is coming after it. But I think Jake did a fantastic job with Thunderbolts and really gave us something to root for. And the moment this movie had that I've been looking For. For a very long time in all the MCU movies is that moment of triumph to have a villain that is beating down your characters to the point of you saying, I don't know if they're gonna make it through this. I won't say what happens to these characters. But it has that. Oh, yeah, that satisfaction factor of these characters actually go through something. They have struggles. They have things that look like they're not gonna pan out for them. And you have to watch the entire movie to really find out how it's gonna end. You're not predicting it by Act 1. And that is really inspiring to me at this point in the MCU. For the Thunderbolts, I give it 4.5 out of 5 boxes of Wheaties. But we're not going away just yet. Thunderbolts wraps up phase five of the MCU. So let's rank all six movies. At number six, I have the Marvels, which I gave a 2.5 out of five, and I think that is generous. The Marvels had great characters. I love Captain Marvel. I don't love the story. Anything with the scrolls, Anything that has anything to remind me of Secret Invasion, just take it away. It's like if you burned a pizza in the oven, you're like, I can salvage this thing. I can eat around it. I can pick out the parts that aren't that burnt. You're not saving that thing. That is a burnt pizza. Don't take any piece from that and try to build out some new creation. That is what I felt, what they did with the Marvels. I have that one. Bottom of the barrel. At number six. I won't even re watch that one. At number five, I have Captain America, Brave New World. I do not like the direction that they are going in with Sam Wilson, and he just doesn't feel like a hero to me. He's still over here. Like, I'll never be Steve Rogers. I'm not Captain America, dude. Just do you. You've already been battling this since the TV show on Disney plus just be you. And that final fight scene with Red Hulk is probably one of the worst final boss fights in a third act in the mcu. That was pretty bad. I gave it a three out of five. At number four, Ant man and the Wasp, Quantumania, which I gave a 3.5 out of 5. I don't think this movie and the entire Ant man series deserves all the hate that it gets. My biggest problem with Quantumania is now that it feels like it's going nowhere with the whole Kang Storyline being scrapped, everything that movie set up. Although I do feel like the entire third act and final battle in that movie was kind of a slap in the face to Kang to begin with. So in one sense, I am kind of happy that they're not carrying on with that. Because if what happened to him in Quantumania was a sign of things to come, I don't think he was ever going to be that Thanos level threat that we're looking for now. So Quantum Mania is at number four. At number three, Deadpool and Wolverine, which I gave a 4.5 out of five. This movie was a lot of fun, maybe a little bit too fun at times, because I don't know how much rewatchability is gonna come from Deadpool and Wolverine. Now that you know all the gags, now that you know all the cameos, that was a big part of the excitement leading into this movie. So maybe that is a little bit burned at this point. But it was a big moment for the mcu. We got Channing Tatum back as Cyclops, hopefully not the last we see of him. And overall really brought that okay, MCU is not dead energy back in 2024. And even though right now I'm kind of cashed out on Ryan Reynolds, I would still take another dead pulling Wolverine at number two. That's where I'm putting thunderbolts. We're rebuilding the team, rebuilding the mcu. Great action, great acting, great directing. Just a really solid and fun movie. That's inspiring. But at number one, I have Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, which I gave a rare five out of five back in 2023. This movie almost doesn't even fit into the MCU. Guardians 1 through 3 is not only one of the best trilogies in the mcu, it is one of the best trilogies in all of film. What James Gunn did with the evolution of all these characters from 1 to 3 was so inspiring. I have never thought in my life that I would cry over a raccoon, but I shed tears during Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. It was so heart wrenching and powerful and colorful and vibrant and really closed the chapter perfectly on the Guardians. The only bad thing about Guardians 3 is that was James Gunn saying goodbye to the MCU and now he's jumped for the other guys in DC. So no more Guardians movies. So that is my ranking of Phase five in the mcu. We also have Ironheart coming out in June, but now I want to predict phase six because we have four movies announced so far, Fantastic Four, which is coming out on July 25th. Avengers Doom Day, which is coming out on May 1st, 2026. Then we have Spider Man, Brand New Day coming out on July 31, 2026. And Avengers Secret wars coming out on May 7, 2027. I got to keep myself alive until 2027. MCU has really kept me living because I can't leave this earth without seeing Secret War. So four movies in Phase six. None of them have come out yet, but these are my predictions of what is going to be the best in the mcu. At number four, I'm going with Fantastic Four. First steps. I love the fact that this movie is set in the 1960s because so far there hasn't been a great Fantastic Four movie. Don't come at me with the 2000s Fantastic Four. You're just nostalgic for those movies. They're not great movies. Fun for the time, but they're nowhere near on the level of what Marvel was putting out at the time. It's not X Men. It's not Spider Man. Chill out. Fantastic Four just doesn't have their defining cast yet and I think this cast could be it. At number three, I'm gonna say Avengers Doomsday. I think it's gonna be great, but I don't think the Russo brothers are gonna put all the chips on the table in Doomsday. I think this is going to be a big building movie. We are getting Robert Downey Jr. As Dr. Doom in this movie. That is going to be the main focal point. But as far as what is going to be building, I think that is coming later. So I think Fantastic Four is going to set up a lot of big things and we're going to get some of those in Doomsday. But what we really want, what's going to blow our minds, is coming later. So I have Doomsday at number three and number two, I have Spider Man. Brand new day. Tom Holland will become the first actor in to get a fourth Spider man movie. And I have major bias. Of course. I have Spider man tattooed on my arm, for crying out loud. But I didn't put it at number one. Mainly because I'm not ready to say goodbye to Tom Holland as Spider man and this movie. It just has to be what is going to close out his character. Because I'm surprised that we're even getting to a fourth film. No Way Home ended with me getting my heart broken. So I can only imagine what is going to happen with this character in Brand New Day. And I'm hoping that all those post credit scenes With Tom Hardy, we are gonna get Venom in the mcu. If not, I'm rioting. But Spider man, brand new day at number two. At number one, I have Avengers Secret Wars. I think this is where all the good stuff is gonna be. I think they're gonna bring back old Avengers because we saw some things teased in Deadpool and Wolverine. What was Thor crying at? If you have read the Secret wars comics, what happens is all the superheroes disappear from Earth, they get sent to this planet and essentially are all pitted against each other. So you have the X Men fighting the Fantastic Four fighting a version of the Avengers. And I think that is what we are building up to. It is my favorite run in comics history. I have Secret wars number eight on this wall for that reason. Yeah, the first appearance of the symbiote Spider man in that issue. They have to work that into this movie. I mean you have Hulk, Captain America, Cyclops, Wolverine, Galactus. All the characters are in secret war wars. So that is what they are building up to. So for me, Secret wars is gonna have that end game level hype and hopefully on that same quality. So that is my ranking of movies that haven't even come out yet. And number four, Fantastic Four. Three, Doomsday, two, Spider man, brand new day. And at one, Avengers Secret War. Everybody listening. I hope you're all alive with me on May 7, 2027 so we can see this thing through.
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Chelsea Handler
This week on Dear Chelsea with me. Chelsea Handler. Ed Helms is here. I of course was drawn to the LSD story. In the 1950s, a CIA scientist secretly bought the entire world science supply of LSD, embarking on a horrific attempt to discover the secrets to mind control.
Podcast Guest
This is so insane. This was all under like official government activity. They built a apartment in San Francisco that had a glass mirror where he could sit there and watch. And then they would drug these customers and he was just sort of taking notes and God knows what else behind this double mirror. And this was all in the name of science.
Chelsea Handler
This just sounds like a guy off behind a wall.
Podcast Guest
It does.
Chelsea Handler
I would just also like to say if you don't have to take LSD like this. LSD can be microdosed it's like an upper of energy. Enthusiasm makes you less nervous. If I'm going heli skiing, if it.
Podcast Guest
Allows me to go hella skiing, then yeah, I'm hella on board.
Chelsea Handler
Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast casts.
Movie Mike
It's time to head down to Movie Mike's Trailer Park. We finally have a movie where the Rock is not playing the Rock. Sometimes you think, man, do actors see what people write about them online all the time. Because he gets pounded anytime a new rock movie comes out and everybody's like, oh, just the Rock playing the Rock again. And I'll admit, I kind of turned on the Rock growing up. He was my favorite wrestler. I loved the Rock. But when it comes to his movies, it always just feels that anytime he's in a movie, it's just a Rock showing up on set. Dude is busy, has a lot of business ventures. For some reason, he has a line of hair products even though he has no hair. Although in this movie, it looks like at the beginning of the movie he does have hair. So I just feel like when you get to a level of being so famous, having so many Instagram followers, just constantly feeding that Instagram algorithm, you get to a point where the things you do start to become a little bit of an afterthought when you become this big brand, this big entity with a huge, probably roster of people that he supports. But I think the Rock wants to leave a legacy behind. And even somebody at his level still reads the comments that we all read. I read them here on a very small level, just looking at YouTube, Instagram and tick Tock. Now that I have that back, by the way, somebody hacked that. If you missed that. I still can't change my full username. But even somebody at his level, I believe, still reads comments and thinks, man, people are making fun of me. People are saying I play the same character in every single movie. Maybe I should do something different. And whenever this first was announced, I thought, okay, at least he's working with somebody that he hasn't worked with before. In this case, we have director Ben Safdie, who it's his directorial debut as a solo director. He is most known for directing movies with his brother, the Safdie Brothers. Movies like Uncut Gems, Good Time with Robert Pattinson. They have a really raw and gritty approach to making movies, and I was very excited about that. And it's also a huge deal for a 24, which is still a smaller studio but responsible for Movies like Take Everything Everywhere all at once. Which one of them? A lot of Oscars. They have one of the most fantastic libraries of original movies. And I would say it was last year where they really made stride to have a big box office impact with Civil War, even this year with A24s warfare, but now with having the Rock in an A24 movie, that is huge for this studio. So what this movie is about. The Rock transforms into UFC fighter Mark Kerr. This is in the early days of ufc, where it's nowhere near what it is today, and he is one of the best of all time. The movie also stars Emily Blunt as his wife. It's the first time they've teamed up since Jungle Cruise. And I gotta say, this looks much better and way different than Jungle Cruise. The movie is coming out this fall on October 3rd. Before I get into more about the Smashing Machine, here's just a little bit of the trailer. Probably looking at my eyes.
Podcast Announcer
How did that happen?
Movie Mike
Well, have you ever heard of the Ultimate Fighting Championship? The ufc? That's the bloody thing they're trying to ban.
Talkspace Advertiser
This guy is the best he has ever seen.
Movie Mike
Do you hate each other when you fight?
Podcast Announcer
Absolutely not.
Movie Mike
Winning is the best feeling there is.
Podcast Guest
It's 40,000 people and they're cheering you on.
Movie Mike
There's no other high like it in the world. So the movie will focus on Mark Kerr's rise to fame in ufc, also his struggles with with addiction and injuries that we get a glimpse of here in the trailer where he's going to the doctor, he's down for the count. It looks like at one point he starts the trailer with hair and he ends the trailer without hair. It'll also dive into his personal relationship with his wife dawn, played by Emily Blunt. And we'll also touch on the brutal and unforgiving side of MMA, which was also the subject of a 2002 documentary also called the Smashing Machine. First of all, I am blown away by the transformation of the Rock in this. Not only physically, which he looks a lot different. It looks like they have some prosthetics to give his face a different structure. Aside from the physical attributes, it's also the fact that he's actually acting in this trailer. When is the last time we saw the Rock act actually have emotions, actually have flaws in a movie that just doesn't feel like he was cramming it into his jam packed day in between workout sessions? This looks like something he actually put his heart and soul into. And I can't wait to see it the other Thing that really catches my eye about this trailer is have you ever seen that clip of Harry Styles talking about Don't Worry Darling? And he's like, my favorite part about the movie is it really feels like a movie.
Podcast Announcer
You know, my favorite thing about the movie is like it feels like a, like a movie. It feels like a real like you know, go to the theater film movie.
Movie Mike
I think I know what he was trying to say in that description of Don't Worry Darling. Even though it just sounded really weird, I think I felt that way watching the trailer for this, that it had a film like quality to it. And they actually shot this movie on 16 millimeter film where you can see that grain in some of these shots. And I can't remember the last time I saw the Rock in a movie that wasn't filmed digitally. And it adds a layer of authenticity to it and that also adds to showing us the Rock in a way we haven't seen before. It's almost like taking a picture of a really famous person on a Polaroid. The question I have to ask myself, is the Rock going for not only an Oscar nomination but an Oscar win? Think about the subject matter of this movie. Playing a guy who loves to fight, wants to win, will do anything in his ability to win, will take pain medication, will fight through all that. I feel like that runs parallels with A Rock because he does have the fame, he has the fortune, but he doesn't have the critical acclaim. I think that's the only thing that he is missing and probably why he took this role, why he worked with a smaller studio with a director who has that critical acclaim, didn't do it for the paycheck, probably was happy to take the pay cut like a lot of big actors are do to work with a 24 to get people talking about him in a way they haven't talked about him before. The movie is also coming out in the fall, in October, right around Oscar season. So it will be fresh in the memory of voters minds. Which by the way, that article that came out that a lot of Oscar voters don't even watch the movies that they are voting on, that story just boiled my blood that they are setting new rules that you actually have to watch the movie because a lot of people were just clicking on them and leaving them just running on a browser on their computer to count as their watch for that. And that just infuriates me as somebody who covers the Oscars heavily, watches all the best picture nominees, pays my own money to do it. Oh, that really just angers me. I feel like the Rock will probably have the hardest time convincing those voters that he is worthy of a nomination. And we've seen people be snubbed in this category playing a similar role. Zac Efron for the Iron Claw received no nominations. That is a travesty in itself. And Zac Efron gave his all to that role. Made me cry, made a lot of people cry. There was so much emotion in his performance. The fact that he didn't even get a nomination speaks volumes. So he set the bar pretty high. But I think the Rock could do some campaigning for this. He is a very likable person. So if the quality is there in his performance, which we do get glimpses of it here in this trailer showing a much different side of himself, I think he could get that nomination. I don't think he would get the win. And I know I'm saying this very prematurely as I've only seen the trailer, haven't watched the film, but I kind of know how these things work. I know the mechanics of putting out a movie at this time. I do think this is him flirting with getting a nomination. So again, I'm really excited for this movie. I don't remember the last time I've been excited for a movie starring the Rock star. After last year I drug Red One straight to hell. Maybe a little bit too hard on my part. This time I am all behind him and if he surprises me, really doing a good job, maybe my entire perception of the Rock when it comes to his movie roles. Because I think the last movie that just left that bad taste in my mouth that is so hard to get out is what he did with Black Adam. But again, the Smashing Machine is coming out on October 3rd and that was this week's edition of Movie Mike's Trailer park. And that is gonna do it for another episode here of the podcast. But before I go, I gotta give my listeners shout out of the week. This week I went over to my YouTube channel, which is YouTube.com mikedistro if you ever want to find that so you can go watch Full spoiler free reviews. They're all isolated. I put them up individually. I'll put up bonus clips there as well and interviews. So go subscribe to my YouTube channel. Hit that link in the description of this podcast. But this week's listener shout out goes to Rusty's Reality 1091 who commented on my review of the Accountant too and said I totally agree. I was overall disappointed with the movie. I thought it was just meh. Nothing really draws you in to keep your attention. Sad to say, I think the best part is when John Bernthal throws his brother sunscreen from the top of the Airstream. That was a good part of the movie, that entire conversation they had on the Airstream, which was really diving into their relationship as brothers and how one of them was hurt, the other one was like okay, I'll do better. And again, that kind of played into the story being more about two brothers trying to repair their relationship. Also in that senior talking about Rusty is them leaning more into the comedy, which I just wasn't a big fan of. That dancing still burns a hole in my head of why they even decided to include that and why they changed the character of Christian Wolf so much from part one to part two. So thanks for watching that review on YouTube. Thanks for commenting. Hopefully you're subscribed over there on the channel. Hopefully you right now listening are subscribed wherever you listen to podcast. I always appreciate that. Tag me in your Instagram story if you enjoyed this week's episode. We did have an interview, so I will be posting clips over on my social media. Like I mentioned earlier, my TikTok was hacked recently. I do have access back to it now, but I haven't been posting a whole lot over there because I haven't been able to able to fix my username yet. But this week's secret emoji is the zombie, so just comment with that. Send me a DM. You can also email me movie mike dmail.com and I'll pick someone who replies with that as next week's listener shout out. Which by the way, I will be sitting down with the directors of Not Just a Goof on Disney plus, which is the documentary about a Goofy movie. If you haven't seen that yet, highly recommend it. I did an episode maybe three or four weeks ago talking about that, talking about how much of an impact a Goofy movie made on me. So we'll be doing that next week. Really excited about that one. So thank you for being here, thank you for being subscribed and until next time, go out and watch good movies and I will talk to you later.
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Hi, I'm Kristen Davis, host of the podcast Are you a Charlotte? Sarah Jessica Parker is here and she is sharing stories from the very beginning, like the time she forgot we filmed the pilot episode. I remember some things about shooting the pilot, right? I have some memories I can fill in and that you're going to fill me in. Yes, but then you forgot about it in the very long time they took about it. Listen to Are you a Charlotte on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts?
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Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. On this week's episode of Math and Magic, I'm sitting down with the one and only Bobby Bones. We're exploring the power of audio. Yeah, I don't fit into one specific hole. I think that is what endeared me to listeners. That's why I'm here now, because I talk to people that grew up like me, have sensibilities like me, and have loyalties like me. Listen to math and magic stories from the frontiers of Marketing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
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The Bobby Bones Show - May 17, 2025 Episode: MOVIE MIKE: Robert Schwarzman on The Princess Diaries, his uncle Francis Ford Coppola and new ‘The Zombies’ Documentary + Movie Review: Thunderbolts aka The New Avengers + Trailer Park: Will The Rock Win An Oscar for ‘The Smashing Machine’?*
Host: Movie Mike
Guest: Robert Schwarzman, Director of Hung Up on a Dream
In this enlightening segment, Movie Mike sits down with Robert Schwarzman to delve into his latest project, Hung Up on a Dream, a documentary celebrating the legacy of the iconic band, The Zombies.
Background and Family Legacy
Robert opens up about his rich musical and cinematic lineage, noting, “I grew up in a musical family. My grandfather, Carmine Coppola, was a composer and conductor...” ([05:20]). He shares insights into how his family's deep roots in music and film, including his uncle Francis Ford Coppola and brothers Jason and Matthew Schwartzman, influenced his dual passion for music and filmmaking.
The Zombies' Journey
Schwarzman discusses The Zombies’ rise to fame, their trailblazing achievements like being the first band post-Beatles to have a self-written number one hit in the U.S., and their eventual induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. He reflects, “They are such genuine, lovable, humble, good people who made such timeless, iconic music...” ([12:29]).
Personal Reflections and Filmmaking Philosophy
He emphasizes the importance of storytelling, stating, “Music was getting to write songs that were like short stories... Films are kind of the same way...” ([09:34]). Schwarzman highlights the parallels between his experiences with his band, Rooney, and The Zombies, underscoring themes of perseverance and passion in the face of industry challenges.
Legacy and Future Projects
Robert shares his aspirations for future music documentaries and films, aiming to continue telling personal and impactful stories. He passionately advocates for supporting independent films and fostering a diverse cinematic landscape, urging listeners to “support films, let's support music...” ([22:40]).
Host: Movie Mike
Film: Thunderbolts (AKA The New Avengers)
Movie Mike provides a comprehensive and enthusiastic review of Thunderbolts, positioning it as a revitalizing force within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Plot Overview
The film features a team of anti-heroes led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s character, who covertly missions them to eliminate each other, only for things to spiral out of control. Mike summarizes, “They are sent to a remote location to kill each other... now they're all coming for her” ([53:22]).
Action and Choreography
He praises the film’s action sequences, noting, “Each fight scene... are choreographed well, they use their powers well...” ([53:22]). The review highlights the fresh energy and dynamic combat that distinguishes Thunderbolts from preceding MCU entries.
Character Development and Performances
Movie Mike lauds the ensemble cast, especially Florence Pugh’s standout performance, stating, “Florence Pugh is that... she can carry a movie” ([53:22]). He contrasts her role with previous MCU characters, appreciating the depth and uniqueness each Thunderbolt brings to the team.
Comparison and MCU Placement
Positioning Thunderbolts within the larger MCU narrative, Mike ranks it highly among Phase Five releases, giving it a strong rating of 4.5 out of 5 Wheaties boxes. He discusses its role in setting the stage for future MCU phases, emphasizing its significance in rebuilding and expanding the Avengers lore.
Overall Impression
Concluding his review, Movie Mike declares, “Thunderbolts... rebuilding the team, rebuilding the MCU. Great action, great acting, great directing” ([53:22]). He confidently recommends the film as a must-watch for both MCU veterans and new fans alike.
Host: Movie Mike
Film: The Smashing Machine
Release Date: October 3, 2025
In the Trailer Park segment, Movie Mike shifts focus to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s ambitious new project, The Smashing Machine, exploring its potential for critical acclaim and Oscar recognition.
Film Synopsis
The movie portrays The Rock’s transformation into UFC fighter Mark Kerr, highlighting his rise during the early days of the UFC and his personal struggles with addiction and injuries. Mike describes, “The Rock transforms into UFC fighter Mark Kerr... the brutal and unforgiving side of MMA” ([56:25]).
Performance and Transformation
Mike is notably impressed by The Rock’s dedication to the role, praising his physical transformation and emotional depth. “Not only physically... he’s actually acting in this trailer” ([58:09]). He appreciates the authenticity brought by filming on 16mm film, adding a layer of grit and realism to the portrayal.
Oscar Aspirations
Discussing the film's Oscar potential, Mike speculates, “Is the Rock going for not only an Oscar nomination but an Oscar win?” ([58:21]). He draws parallels to past performances, highlighting The Rock’s opportunity to break into critically acclaimed acting territory, similar to Zac Efron’s emotionally resonant roles.
Trailer Analysis and Expectations
Analyzing the trailer, Mike is excited about the film’s film-like quality and The Rock’s capacity to showcase a vulnerable side. “This feels like a movie... authenticity to it” ([58:09]). He anticipates that The Smashing Machine will be a standout during awards season, potentially reshaping The Rock’s acting career.
Final Thoughts
Movie Mike concludes with high expectations, expressing enthusiasm for both the film’s artistic merit and The Rock’s performance. “I’m really excited for this movie. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been excited for a movie starring the Rock” ([56:25]).
This episode of The Bobby Bones Show offers a compelling blend of insightful interviews and in-depth movie analysis. From Robert Schwarzman's passionate exploration of The Zombies' enduring legacy to Movie Mike’s enthusiastic reviews of Thunderbolts and The Smashing Machine, listeners are treated to a rich tapestry of cinematic and musical storytelling.
Notable Quotes:
Listeners are encouraged to experience Hung Up on a Dream in theaters and dive into the latest MCU developments with Thunderbolts. Additionally, keep an eye out for The Smashing Machine, a promising new chapter in The Rock’s illustrious career.
Stay Tuned:
For more in-depth discussions and reviews, subscribe to The Bobby Bones Show on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform.