Screen Thoughts - Movie & TV Reviews

Lena Dunham's latest creation is out and ready to be seen by mothers and daughters all across the land. Brave girl, that Lena Dunham. No one tackles the Medieval Ages in film. Recipe for failure is the reason why, but she goes forth, fearless in her quest to bring her favorite childhood book to life. Don't miss this review. And according to Hollister, don't miss the film.

Join Hollister and Wilder as they explore their favorite Halloween films. Spoiler alert: not all are about Halloween. They are, however, classics and it's a great list of what to watch to get in that dark, scary place.

House of Dragons. Game of Thrones. Don't get Wilder started on the fantasy appeal for both. But she even won Hollister over with the need to at least give House of Dragons a try. Plot. Cinematography. Acting. Special Effects. And, and, and. The plot line is amazing and one of the things Wilder points out is that unlike Game of Thrones, this might, just might, put women on the map as the great leaders they can be. Hollister and Wilder debate the redeeming value of having rape-laden shows on the screen and whether they have a ‘right' to be there. Interesting.

Bad Sisters. “If those are bad sisters, I want to be one!,” said Hollister. Mixing comedy with drama (tragedy?) is a good combination according to Hollister and with some exceptions in approach, Wilder agrees. Don't miss their review of this new series by Sharon Hogan of Catastrophe fame and fortune.

Amazon Prime's A League of Their Own Series: Join Wilder and Hollister as they celebrate and evaluate the new Amazon Prime series, A League of Their Own. Hollister takes us back to 1992's A League of Their Own with Penny Marshall, and some of the highlights. Don't miss out on this series, or their review.

Surface. Amazing acting is part of the appeal around Surface, Gugu Mbatha-Raw will wow you with her prowess, and it's also a story about a women finding her own way in a sea of gaslights that turn out to be not what they appear. Edge of your seat but not scared perfection. Apple, well done.

Recommended by so many and for such good reason. "One of the best series ever,” sang Hollister. Wilder is right there with her. They agreed on everything including the exceptional writing, acting and general approach to showing the truth behind how very hard it is to work in a restaurant. Hulu's The Bear touches on everything from family dynamics to suicide to money to the idea of striving for excellence. Hollister says you can't binge, Wilder said, “watch me!”

Loot is a satire about the billionaire sector, but with some twists and turns that make it actually helpful, according to Hollister. Apple TV+ is nailing content right now, according to Wilder, and Loot is a part of it all.

Cha Cha Real Smooth, with Dakota Johnson, who according to Hollister has one speed - ‘coy,' is described by Wilder as 'sweet' and Hollister concurs. It's worth the watch for sure. Vulnerable men? We are all in. Written, directed and starring Cooper Raiff, who is one of the darlings of Hollywood right now, Cha Cha Real Smooth is not to be missed. Listen and find out where the name came from, although Hollister thinks it's a mistake!

Sean Penn makes an all-in-the-family film with both his daughter, Dylan, and son, Hopper - one that he first read and shared with Dylan, now thirty, fifteen years ago. His performance is impeccable according to both Hollister and Wilder, but Dylan? Not so sure. But, for Hollister, the story might matter a lot to those who struggled with forgiveness inside families and let's face it, there is plenty of that out there.

"Is it an age thing?" queries Hollister a number of times to Wilder during the review. Either way, so many points of view around so many things that came up for both Hollister and Wilder while they watched the film. And, one of our interns weighs in. We also hear from an active listener and no one agrees? Maybe that's the sign of a great film. Either way, the much talked about Everything Everywhere All at Once is a heated conversation around what it means and why it matters.

Movie Review: Top Gun Maverick - Hollister and Wilder feel the need for speed and want to alert you all that there are spoilers in our review this week. Hollister is not a Cruise fan; Wilder is. Join us for this sequel thirty-six years in the making.

Hollister can't stop crying after watching The Valet, and had no idea that the Euginio Derbez, who hurt her heart in The Valet, also played the music teacher in the acclaimed Coda last year. He's phenomenal. What a film, and the best part about it is that it's not a RomCom as its touted, but rather a lesson in class differential and how to treat others.

The Mormon Church's secrets exposed. A murder in the eighties. Mormon Fundamentalists meets the power of the Mormon Church dedicated to making sure the dirty underpinnings of its challenging history stays buried. Hollister recommends watching Netflix's documentary, Murder Among the Mormons before watching Under the Banner of Heaven. Different murder. Same issue. For a passive religious philosophy, a lot of murdering going on.

Hollister and Wilder come to blows over The Offer but agree on the fine work done by all in The Outfit. Think Mafia, but know that the Godfather wasn't allowed to use that word, or agreed not to, so the Mafia would 'allow' them to do the film. So much interesting information and back stories around both these projects. Don't miss this week's reviews.

Hollister and Wilder talk about two shows this week; Gaslit with Julia Roberts and The First Lady with Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Gillian Anderson. Much to discuss as our country's political history gets unveiled from the female perspective, which somehow got lost in a sea of men. Don't miss this episode, although one of the two series both Hollister and Wilder think could have been better done.

Hollister and Wilder come to blows about the worth of Anatomy of a Scandal, as well as the way it was made. Don't miss it, and according to Hollister, watch it at. your earliest convenience.

Hollister and Wilder finally agree, and not only do they agree, they are singing the praises of what could be one of the finest series ever produced for the screen. Roots not withstanding. Don't miss this review, and if it doesn't make you immediately turn on the series, well, there is no hope.

Check out Screen Thought's review of ABC's Mockumentary, Abbott Elementary! Hollister and Wilder rave about Abbott Elementary because sometimes watching television should be sheer fun and laughter, and they announce April's Film Club choice. Wilder's pick this month. Bridgerton. Hollister's eyes roll but she's in. Premise: "A group of dedicated, passionate teachers—and a tone-deaf principal—are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants are outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do and fight the odds stacked up against them—like the school district's less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children—to give the students the best school life they can offer." (Source Wikipedia) “Abbott Elementary” stars Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard.

Is Coda unique or just another remake of girl lives in dysfunctional family, meets fabulous boy and ends up with a groundbreaking try out to enter a new world where her immense talent can emerge? And, both Hollister and Wilder are overwhelmed with the brilliance of HBO's new series, Winning Time.

Hollister has a personal story around Elizabeth Holmes and The Dropout and she is not inclined toward sympathy of any kind, and when it comes to Severance, both Hollister and Wilder had a lot to say. As everyone struggles with the new world of work environment and commitment to living life before job, it's a thought provoking notion to separate your work life from your personal life through brain changes. A lot of great insights into all of it this week.

Movie Review: The Eyes of Tammy Faye by Christine Merser

This week is chock full of bad peeps; #TinderSwindler; do not get Hollister started. Why is this man not in jail? Wilder goes wild for Nightmare Alley including the dark photography and dark deals. And, Hollister and Wilder disagree (what else is new?)over Netflix's #InventingAnna, which seems to be right in line with other media reviews; people are either loving it or loathing it. Either way, don't miss the takeaways from all these films and series this week.

Academy Awards. Killing Eve. And a review of Pam & Tommy, Hulu's new series around the sex tapes from Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, stolen and put out into the universe without their permission or compensation.

Hollister and Wilder walk through Kristen Bell and her Woman in the House ... So much to discuss, including Wilder's idea around how they could have done the title. Don't miss it!

Hollister goes nostalgic having lived through the sixties/seventies abortion break throughs. Either way, Sundance's Call Jane is the story of "Jane" who you can call if you need an abortion; an illegal, scary, abortion. It's a network of women who make sure that women who want to end their pregnancies can do so in a safe environment. It's not out yet, but both Hollister and Wilder believe it will get distribution, and predict that because it's done by the women that brought you Carol, it will be a darling of the awards circuit as well. And, then of course, Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks don't hurt its chances either. In the episode, Hollister refers to an interview she did several years ago with Dr. Kerenyi, the former head of the OB/GYN department at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and one of the first doctors to perform abortions in New York City clinics in 1970. You can listen to the episode here, https://soundcloud.com/user-504815256-843967428/dr-thomas-kerenyi

Hollister doesn't think it's worthy of her attention although she touts episode 5 and the forty minute story that shows how sexual abuse from celebrities happens. Wilder doesn't think that the documentary (it's supposed to be a docu-series but Hollister would say it's more so reality tv) goes far enough into the scandal uncovering. Either way, they both agree that the athleticism these young people exhibit is phenomenal.

Julian Fellowes has left England behind and brought this well-researched, upstairs downstairs drama to HBO (they are nailing new content this month!) in the form of the Gilded Age. Starring the likes of Cynthia Nixon (you might not recognize her) and Christine Baranski, as the old money and some fresh talent as the new, the Gilded Age transports us to New York. Getting mixed reviews by others, Hollister and Wilder walk us through the background and the overall potential of what Hollister is sure will be another success for Fellowes.

Our new Screen Thoughts Shorts where we podcast a short review around something we think is timely or relevant shouldn't be missed. First stop? Somebody Somewhere. Do not miss all the feelings and laughter and sadness and hope that comedian Bridget Everett brings to Somebody Somewhere, the brainchild of HBO. While we're just a few episodes in to season 1, something tells us this show is going to grace our screens for quite a long time! Well done!

Ok, we knew these three wouldn't be rocket science, but ? Hollister stands by And Just Like That, and Wilder can't relate, which according to Hollister is no surprise given Wilder's age. And Emily and the ladies of Pivoting? Well, listen and see what you think. And, the scandal around Emily in Paris and the Golden Globes will leave you understanding the nods it got last year, which might not have been deserved.

This week Hollister and Wilder remember Sidney Poitier, and talk through Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter, both from the perspective of a woman who has never had children and one who has. So much to discuss in this film and Hollister predicts many nods from the upcoming awards season.

Hollister and Wilder are back after a short few weeks celebrating the holidays with two films - Don't Look Up and Being the Ricardos. How does Dr. Strangelove enter into it all? Blame it on Wilder. Such controversy around the Richardos film, and in both films, women reign supreme.

King Richard, or the story about Richard William's complicated personality and design for Venus and Serena to become who they became; two of the greatest women tennis players in the world. And, Tick, Tick... Boom! Wilder raves, Hollister follows. And a call out to Screen Thoughts lovers to participate in a conversation about Martha Marcey May's resurgence as one of the greatest thrillers of all time? Did you see it? Don't miss this podcast.

Hollister and Wilder talk about the sophisticated, The Harder They Fall film that is on Netflix, and according to both of them, is not to be missed. We share some great back story info to give perspective to the film, and some history to round out how wonderful the entire production is. Don't miss this podcast, and especially listen if Westerns are not typically your thing!

Finally Steve Martin has written a series worthy of his talent and Hollister is all over it. Great short review to get you scheduling it for holiday viewing with the family. Selena Gomez? Mixed reviews. Is she a bad actor, or just playing a role that makes her look like one? That is the question. Martin Short? Fresh off the stage in The Morning Show, he and Martin have a screen connection that extends to a life long friendship.

No surprise that Wilder came locked and loaded to personally increase the numbers of those going to see Dune by double digits. Right up her alley, and so much to share about the back story around getting it made, the original book that spawned the film, and the earlier version. Hollister came along begrudgingly but ended up all in for the final count. Do listen before you see the film. No spoilers and lots to help you get the most out of seeing it.

Roadrunner. Anthony Bourdain. Hollister and Wilder were all over this and we were pleased to have Alex Holt on this podcast to discuss the issues around addiction as well as his thoughts on the documentary. Everyone agrees, this is about more than a man. It's about addiction and the issues surrounding it. Thank you to Limitless Ventures for sponsoring this podcast. We are pairing sponsors with the topic surrounding what we are reviewing. Limitless Ventures invests in companies and technologies that make lives better as they travel the road to recovery.

Based on Beth Macy's book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, Hulu dropped the first three episodes of the eight part series, Dopesick. Christine and Wilder were blown away and their review and plea for everyone to watch this series can't be missed. Some back story is important and those fine performances already playing out make this a podcast to listen to before you watch the series.

James Bond. Yep, might be the last time we see James as we have known him for sixty years. Christine (Hollister) and her friend from across the pond, Louise Lloyd get us excited about both the history of the franchise and this film in particular. Don't miss it and do not worry; they do not spoil anything.

Do not miss this podcast. Short, but filled with insight and great review of the new Netflix series, Maid. Hollister compares it to Unbelievable and some of the other strong series in the past few years focusing on women's issues. It's a great watch and a great listen.

Taking the fall film festival circuit by 'storm,' Storm Lake is the story of a small town newspaper in Iowa (albeit a paper whose Editor is a Pulitzer Prize winner), as it struggles with the political divide of its readership, and a pandemic-driven loss of advertising revenue. "Freedom is not free," and our local papers might be the ticket to keeping this country the republic it was meant to be. Beth Levison gives us insights and thought-provoking questions as she discusses her film. Christine thinks its on its way to the award circuit. Thanks to Sarah Minardi, from Saunders Real Estate in the Hamptons, for sponsoring this conversation.

Hollister and Wilder review HBO's new five-part series, Scenes From a Marriage, which is based on Ingmar Bergman's original from the early seventies. Don't miss the show is the take away, and don't miss this podcast, which brings together the differences between the original and the latest, with Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac, who everyone agrees have a kind of connection that make this all the more compelling. Did you know they went to school together twenty years ago and are close friends? And, guess who had the part and was replaced by Jessica late in the game. Our podcast ends with a List of Six marriage films.

This week? We are reviewing the story of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton in Impeachment: American Crime Story. It follows the story of Bill, who wishes all of this would go away, and Monica, who was a producer on the FX drama. So many takeaways and Hollister brings in different age groups and their take on the first two episodes. Do we need this show? And, returning to the infamous List of Six started by O'Toole and Hollister years ago, Wilder and Hollister provide a List of Six around Political Films.

Hollister's nose is out of joint around why, oh why would there be a need for another Cinderella film (yes, there are more than 100 films that tell that story), and Wilder accuses her of being incapable of having fun. Ouch. It's a heated discussion and they are still friends but do not agree even one bit on the worth and the production of this film.

The twenty year anniversary of 911 is upon us and the release of Netflix's Worth, walks through the difficult process of determining compensation for the families of the victims. "Worth is really all about what a life is worth," more than the attacks that hit America on 911," Hollister surmises. It's an interesting look at what was behind the film and Hollister reading the lawyer's review of America's attitude during the years following the attack is worth the podcast.

Hollister and Wilder delve into Nine Perfect Strangers, the week after The White Lotus, which is a double dose of white privilege and despair. And, to give some perspective, Hollister questions Wilder on her love of Super Hero films with her mini review of The Suicide Squad. Don't miss it.

Hollister and Wilder go over The Chair, with the fabulous Sandra Oh, and then Hollister brings in Lori Rutter, a friend and Harvard Alum, who brought it to the attention of Wilder and Hollister. And, Lori adds a request at the end to have Hollister and Wilder review We Are Lady Parts. Don't miss Sandra Oh's much talked about series. .

This week Hollister and Wilder take on The White Lotus, the HBO six-part controversial satirical series, dealing with white privilege, written by a white man, Mike White (yes, we know the last name fits the bill), and is not to be missed. Hollister falls in love with the critic, @BrookeObie, who helped unveil a point of view that she missed around the film's hubris. Don't miss this conversation around the series, and the times in which we live.

Hollister and Wilder take on Dr. Death, the eight episode series launched by Peacock around the Texas doctor, Christopher Duntsch, who butchered 33 patients before being incarcerated for the rest of his life. What a cast! Christian Slater (Hollister says she never recognizes him in a film/series until she thinks about it), and Alec Baldwin take on the system in a grueling story that will make you go to physical therapy one more time before going under the knife. And, Hollister takes on Vogue Magazine for their article around film 'makeovers' (seriously?!) Don't miss this week's Screen Thoughts.

According to Hollister, Physical has enlightening moments for those women struggling with emotional issues. Wilder gets right to the point of eating disorders, anxiety and a relatable woman in the enormously talented Rose Bryrne. You remember Rose; Hollister says she rocked being Gloria Steinem in Mrs. America, but her claim is the two Emmys for her work on Damages. Hooray for Scarlett Johansson, who is taking Disney on with the fierceness of Cruella. Wilder gives some insight into the entire case, and both Wilder and Hollister agree that Amanda Knox's editorial on Medium, where she calls out the world for using her name and persona without permission (Stillwater is the film and Matt Damon is the star) and leaves her without agency. All in all, much ado is doing on this week's podcast.

This week Hollister and Wilder review Ted Lasso; the series that has everyone in America laughing, and according to Hollister, perhaps it is working because of this moment in time in which we live, rather than it being funny. And, Wilder gives you some 'if you liked Ted Lasso, you will like" ideas. Hollister will be on a panel at the Wood's Hole Film Festival, and some write in comments around last week's Black Widow.