The Cinematic Tangent

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The Cinematic Tangent is a podcast hosted by Chad Michael Van Alstin and Bradley Redder -- two guys who bonded over a decade ago because they were chronically late to film class. Visit: http://www.thecinematictangent.com

Chad and Brad


    • Nov 28, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 38 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Cinematic Tangent

    XV – You Used to Laugh with the People, Adam McKay

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023


    We love Adam McKay movies. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby embraces the Americana of rednecks and NASCAR culture, innocently pitting our uncouth heroes against the French liberal elites. Step Brothers is two losers resisting the urge to seek status, content with having a good time. And Anchorman? One can argue it’s a treatise … Continue reading XV – You Used to Laugh with the People, Adam McKay

    XIV – Barbenheimer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023


    The boys celebrate the podcast's 10th anniversary by digging into the whole “Barbenheimer” thing.  Show Notes: Mission Impossible 7 bombs because theatres are dead again:|https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/mission-impossible-7-ends-its-domestic-run-by-hitting-another-disappointing-low/ar-AA1hdwR7 Censorship on Apple TV and Criterion Channel:https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2023/06/06/apple-tv-and-the-criterion-channel-outrage-film-fans-by-censoring-classic-movie/  The “Despecialized Edition” of Star Wars: https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Harmys-STAR-WARS-Despecialized-Edition-HD-V2-7-MKV-Released/id/12713 Krystal Ball on Barbie's late-stage capitalist bullshit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCQdVQUXgSQ Ben Shapiro takes Barbie way, way, way too seriously:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynU-wVdesr0 … Continue reading XIV – Barbenheimer

    XIII – Darren Aronofsky: Capriciously Comparing ‘The Whale' and ‘The Wrestler'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023


    Darren Aronofsky's The Whale and The Wrestler are very different films, but both center on a broken person, unable to achieve their former high, estranged from family and facing a new, less satisfying reality. Yet, one of these films sucks while the other is a cinematic masterpiece.  Brad and Chad take a hard look at … Continue reading XIII – Darren Aronofsky: Capriciously Comparing ‘The Whale' and ‘The Wrestler'

    XII – There Should be More Beat-the-Clock Movies about the Asteroid that Killed the Dinosaurs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023


    Everything Everywhere All at Once swept the Oscars, but Hollywood seems incapable of talking about the movie on its merits. After discussing the struggle between art and identity politics, Brad and Chad both fail to remember the plot to Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, despite seeing it multiple times. Then, CinTan praises the shit out … Continue reading XII – There Should be More Beat-the-Clock Movies about the Asteroid that Killed the Dinosaurs

    XI – It's About a Bear that Does a Lot of Cocaine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023


    Cocaine Bear is based on the true tale of a bear who ate cocaine and died. The movie adaptation is about a CGI blob that mauls people to death – with some admittedly cool traditional effects. After sobering up, Brad and Chad go deep on M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin, revealing the (possible) … Continue reading XI – It's About a Bear that Does a Lot of Cocaine

    X – Oscars So Blue

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023


    From The Fabelmans to Avatar: The Way of Water, Hollywood feels increasingly out of touch, both in its ability to capture what it means to be a person – and to re-capture what it meant to watch a Blockbuster in the theatre. Opining on their growing dislike of movies, the boys analyze similar trends in … Continue reading X – Oscars So Blue

    IX – ‘Bad Santa'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022


    This is the deepest dive into Bad Santa that you'll find anywhere. The “Santa” that made it into theatres – and conned its way onto DVD and streaming services – is an imposter, with the cut approved by director Terry Zwigoff hidden away (at the North Pole), only to be quietly released years later. Brad … Continue reading IX – ‘Bad Santa’

    VIII – “Marilyn Monroe” Gets Pwnd

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022


    In a world where a cartoonishly evil cabal of men exploit damaged women from cradle to grave, Blonde takes the heroic position that that is bad. The highly sensational, fictionalized Marilyn Monroe “biopic” from Andrew Dominik is the first film released on Netflix to earn an NC-17 rating – and holy shit, it takes full … Continue reading VIII – “Marilyn Monroe” Gets Pwnd

    VII – Like This Podcast to Cancel ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022


    Let's play a game of Bodies Bodies Bodies – a new viral TikTok sensation for upper-middle-class woke kids who kill each other in manic witch hunts! After, we can all find Jesus through the (very entertaining and solidly made) gospel of Black Phone. Show Notes: Finally, our Ferris Bueller questions will be asked: https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/the-ferris-bueller-spin-off-will-let-us-revisit-key-scenes-through-other-characters-eyes-according-to-jon-hurwitz/ar-AA11StM6  Let's … Continue reading VII – Like This Podcast to Cancel ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’

    VI – Narratologists Approve of ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022


    In part 2 of a 2-part adventure, Chad and Brad finally have a civil conversation about Everything Everywhere All at Once. And then they stammer through a chat about George Miller's Three Thousand Year of Longing.  Show Notes: Freddie deBoer on Everything Everywhere All at Once: https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/i-would-like-to-gently-suggest-that Tarantino read the script for Swiss Army Man: … Continue reading VI – Narratologists Approve of ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’

    V – Why Does Modern CGI Suck?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022


    In part 1 of a 2-part adventure, Chad and Brad attempt to unravel a great mystery: How in the hell does Star Wars (1980) still look amazing when Spider-Man (2002) is aging like a Thor: Love and Thunder joke? Show Notes: Vulture piece on how Marvel SFX are an assembly line: https://www.vulture.com/article/a-vfx-artist-on-what-its-like-working-for-marvel.html (Editor's Note: Chad … Continue reading V – Why Does Modern CGI Suck?

    IV – God Damn, that Tom Cruise Fella Sure is a Movie Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022


    With audio now in the proper human-sounding bit rate, The Cinematic Tangent returns to discuss why Top Gun: Maverick is uniquely American. Plus, Brad and Chad mull over the themes of Crimes of the Future, while acknowledging CGI sex-violence is not particularly arousing. Show Notes: Hey Siri, what BitRate is Correct for Podcasts? We Really … Continue reading IV – God Damn, that Tom Cruise Fella Sure is a Movie Star

    III – Everything is Wrong With This Show All at Once

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022


    Audio issues and circular arguments abound, Chad and Brad bicker over Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Northman. Show Notes: Amplifying 4Chan Posts for Woke Takes: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/apr/22/norse-code-white-supremacists-reading-the-northman-robert-eggers Intro Music: https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-fun-punk-opener-14343/ Other Music: https://pixabay.com/music/id-105/ E-mail the Show: thecinematictangent@gmail.com

    II – Shit is so Corporate, Man

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022


    Chad and Brad discuss Uncharted and Jackass Forever. With a bittersweet take, Chad pontificates on how the Internet’s shift from anarchy to sanitized corporate product mirrors the evolution of Jackass. Show Notes: Chad referred to Poopies as “Poopsie” during the show. He apologizes and will do better. Bam Margera in Jackass Forever: https://screenrant.com/jackass-forever-bam-margera-filmed-scenes-fired-explained/ Steve-O on … Continue reading II – Shit is so Corporate, Man

    I – Cut the Bullshit

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022


    Welcome to the podcast from a real-life Brad and Chad duo. Now, what the fuck happened to film? It really sucks. Show Notes: The Substack of Marxist writer Freddie deBoer that Chad is clearly a reader of: https://freddiedeboer.substack.com An example of woke praise for Nomadland that LITERALLY does not mention Amazon (Slate): https://slate.com/culture/2021/04/nomadland-2021-oscars-best-picture-winner-historic-women.html If you … Continue reading I – Cut the Bullshit

    Episode 67 – ‘Isle Of Dogs' in the Age of Outrage

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2018


    Brad and Chad discuss Ready Player One and Isle of Dogs, the latter of which has angered some kids on Twitter.

    Episode 66 – Netflix and ‘Black Panther'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2018


    Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is breaking records – but how good is it, really?

    Episode 65 – Teddy Bears and Fish People

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2018


    The Cinematic Tangent spoils The Post, Paddington 2, Shape of Water, and I, Tonya.

    Episode 64 – Not a ‘Last Jedi' Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2017


    Chad maintains his boycott of all things Star Wars movies, while Brad quickly brushes past Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi. After that, the guys talk Coco, Last Flag Flying, and Lady Bird. Why is Twitter mad about a Frozen short? Is it anti-war, or are the “boys” just “back in town”? Is … Continue reading Episode 64 – Not a ‘Last Jedi’ Show

    Episode 63 – ‘A Ghost Story'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2017


    The guys talk Murder on the Orient Express, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and A Ghost Story. Also, are you tired of sequels yet?

    Episode 62 – You're Killing Me, Smalls!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2017


    Just in time for the World Series, the Cinematic Tangent reflects back on The Sandlot, Little Big League, and other baseball films from the good ol' days.

    Episode 61 – Random Reflections

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2017


    A re-direct from last episode on the value of comedy is followed by talk of Baby Driver and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Also, from cushy chairs at a high price to cushy chairs that shake, are you tired of “luxury” theatre gimmicks yet? Bring back Smell-O-Vision!  

    Episode 60 – Fighting Words

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2017


    After a … passionate (Chad was raging.) battle over Fist Fight that leads into a larger discussion about film criticism and philosophy, Brad and Chad talk Wonder Woman, The Lovers, and It Comes at Night.

    Episode 59 – Mel Gibson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2017


    From the brand new Cinematic Tangent production studio (a laptop and a mic), Chad and Brad talk the complete filmography of writer/director Mel Gibson: Braveheart, Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge.

    Episode 58 – Let's Do This, 2017!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2017


    Yeah, The Cinematic Tangent is late to the party – so what? Chad and Brad have a detailed, spoiler-ridden discussion of The Circle, The Lost City of Z, and Alien: Covenant. Also, hear Brad talk about Rock Dog!

    Episode 57 – 2016: The Top 10

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2017


    After a long hiatus, The Cinematic Tangent returns to talk some of the noteworthy films of 2016.

    Episode 56 – ‘Live By Night', ‘Silence', and ‘A Monster Calls'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2017


    It's 2017, and the year already sucks. Because Donald Trump is President. After a lengthy apology for The Cinematic Tangent's unreleased blogs and lost episodes, Brad and Chad start the year fresh by discussing a couple of films sure to earn Oscar buzz – A Monster Calls and Silence. And one that won't – Live … Continue reading Episode 56 – ‘Live By Night', ‘Silence', and ‘A Monster Calls'

    Episode 55 – ‘The Lord of the Rings'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2016


    The Cinematic Tangent finally sits down to talk Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy and J.R.R Tolkien's Middle-earth.

    Episode 54 – The 2016 Films We Missed

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2016


    Despite technical difficulties (sorry!), CinTan talks Hell or High Water, Demolition, Kubo and the Two Strings, and more.

    Episode 53 – 2016 is Scary

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2016


    With Don't Breathe hitting theatres, Brad and Chad look back at some of the notable horror films from this year – The Witch, Green Room, and The Forest.

    Episode 52 – ‘Ghostbusters' (2016), ‘Finding Dory', ‘The Secret Life of Pets', ‘BFG', and ‘Swiss Army Man'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2016


    Catching up on some of best and worst that 2016 cinema has to offer, from the brand new Ghostbusters to the farting prank known as “Swiss Army Man”.

    Episode 51 – Duncan Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2016


    The Cinematic Tangent talks Duncan Jones and his complete filmography: Moon, Source Code, and Warcraft. What was the name of Chad’s World of Warcraft character? Who is Buttbong420? Zub-Zub? And is Duncan Jones a good director? The Cinematic Tangent answers these questions – and more (maybe)!

    Episode 50 – The Dark Knight Trilogy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2016


    Practice your Batman voice! It's time to talk Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises    

    Episode 49 – ‘Hardcore Henry' and 2016 Catch-Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2016


    Take a shot of something questionable from the bottom shelf, and join the Cinematic Tangent for a conversation about Hardcore Henry, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Zootopia, and Deadpool.  

    Episode 48 – The Third Annual CinTan Awards!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2016


    Have a glorious Easter – Or you can listen to the Third Annual CinTan Awards! What film is pure “Wow.”? Which movie is “Surprisingly Anarchist”? What flick would you call the “Most Underrated”? Find out here! … And, can you believe there's actually a CinTan award for “Worst Use of a Nirvana Song”? It's true.

    Episode 47 – Best Of 2015

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2016


    The only award show that maters! Finally, your Cinematic Tangent hosts list their favorite films of 2015, complete with heated debates and lots of trolling. Plus, Chad met Michelle Rodriguez. And he had no idea. So, there's that.

    Episode 46 – ‘The Big Short', ‘Brooklyn', and ‘Carol'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2016


    The Cinematic Tangent catches up on the last-minute films that fly into theatres just before the Oscars. The Big Short made Chad a happy anarchist (#Occupy, #OWS!); the Irish names in Brooklyn upset Brad; and neither of our intoxicated hosts are convinced Carol deserves all the praise it's been receiving. This episode unofficially brought to … Continue reading Episode 46 – ‘The Big Short', ‘Brooklyn', and ‘Carol'

    Episode 45 – ‘The Revenant', ‘The Hateful Eight', and ‘Joy'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2016


    Just in time for Oscar season, the Cinematic Tangent returns to delve deep into The Revenant, The Hateful Eight, and Joy.  

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