Untitled Film Project Podcast

If you're like us, tired of the endless barrage of unoriginal sequels and spinoffs, Disney and Pixar give us something new with ELIO.

We are so tired of Disney turning its animated classics into live-action films. Yes, JUNGLE BOOK was good, but most of the other attempts (ALADDIN, LITTLE MERMAID, LION KING, etc.) were average at best. Don't look now, but they've got something here with LILO & STITCH! So let's talk about it!

Tom Cruise is back -- for the 8th time -- as Ethan Hunt as the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise comes to a close (??) in THE FINAL RECKONING. In an attempt to connect the entire franchise in one epic climax, this direct sequel to 2023's DEAD RECKONING, features loads of fan service for the die-hard M:I fan... but, unfortunately, will leave average movie fans feeling completely lost and confused. Let's talk about it!

We range from Marvel superfan to Marvel consumer... and we all loved THUNDERBOLTS*! Featuring an incredible ensemble cast of Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, THUNDERBOLTS* "brings Marvel back to center" and we couldn't be happier. Now let's hope they don't screw it up! Let's talk about the first summer blockbuster of 2025...

Writer and director Ryan Coogler has cemented himself as one of this generation's greatest filmmakers. SINNERS is a feast for the senses, bringing a fresh, gloriously rich take on the horror movie genre. So let's talk about it...

If you took laughter, fear, jump scares, mystery, mythical creatures, and put 'em all in a blender, you'd have this movie. DEATH OF A UNICORN is a dark comedy in every sense. And it's weird. Like... weird. So let's talk about it...

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND stars Tim Key, Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan, with Basden and Key having written the script. So how did this idea of a folk duo being hired by a rich guy for a private show on his secluded island come about? Let's talk about it...

Jack Black turns it up to 11...and it's perfect! A MINECRAFT MOVIE had us terrified after the first trailer dropped last year, but -- wait for it -- we were pleasantly surprised with the finished product. There are Minecraft video game fans worldwide, and it's pretty clear they're in love with this movie. Let's talk about it...

A MINECRAFT MOVIE has one, SNOW WHITE has one, BARBIE had one, DUNE: PART TWO had a famous one... but, if you could go back in time and buy a popcorn bucket, what movie would it be for.... and what would it look like? Let's talk about it...

Forget the controversy surrounding DISNEY'S SNOW WHITE. Did this movie even need to be made? Much has been made about Rachel Zegler's comments about the original SNOW WHITE, fueling controversy. But why judge it before you've seen it? Let Disney's live-action remake of SNOW WHITE earn your hate. Let's talk about it...

A suspense thriller, Mimi Cave's HOLLAND is a little slow to start but worth investing in the third act. With Nicole Kidman at the helm, you would think this would've gotten a theatrical release, but it went straight to Prime Video. Let's talk about it...

Director Bong Joon Ho's newest film, MICKEY 17, sees Robert Pattinson repeatedly play the title role of Mickey. At the same time, he learns to be an Expendable during a space exploration mission. Is it too weird for everyday audiences? Let's talk about it...

Director Steven Soderbergh has given us some incredibly fun (and well-made) films over the past few decades. Everything from OCEAN'S ELEVEN to ERIN BROCKOVICH to TRAFFIC to MAGIC MIKE, Soderbergh's routine leaves audiences cheering in one fashion or another, with BLACK BAG, that holds true. With an incredible cast of Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris and Regé-Jean Page, Soderbergh and writer David Koepp create a soon-to-be classic spy thriller. So let's talk about it...

We're thrilled to have spent some time with the director of the new black comedy film RIFF RAFF, Dito Montiel. He spoke with us about how the film came together, whether it's intimidating to work with living legends like Bill Murray and how Pete Davidson reminded him of the late great John Cazale. RIFF RAFF hits theaters on February 28, 2025, so let's talk about it...

Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory wrote a book called The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love. So when filmmaker and actor Peter Facinelli (Twilight, Nurse Jackie, Can't Hardly Wait) was approached to make it into a film, he had quite the journey.

We all sat here on this very podcast and said THE WILD ROBOT would be on our Music City Film Critics Association ballot for Best Picture.... and then FLOW came along.

In celebration of Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary, we were arguing one day about the best sketches of all time. At some point, we realized this was an episode! So we halted the discussion, did some research, built our "big boards," and held an SNL Fantasy Draft! That's right... we have been hired by an unknown future streaming company to comb all 50 years of SNL and create the best possible compilation episodes of all time! And with the first pick in the Untitled SNL Draft...

We are massive Saturday Night Live fans. We've probably seen every single sketch that's ever aired. So, in celebration of SNL50, these are the best sketches of all time!

We've been rooting for Anthony Mackie for a while now. His take on Captain America is exactly what the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs and, quite frankly, what the world needs. Making their debuts in BRAVE NEW WORLD, Harrison Ford and Giancarlo Esposito are incredible additions to the MCU, but the movie as a whole? Well... it could've been better. Let's talk about it.

It's not for everybody, but if you love movie-making and/or classic horror, you'll absolutely love Robert Eggers' NOSFERATU. Lily-Rose Depp is tremendous as Ellen Hutter and the rest of the cast get their turns to shine, as this masterpiece in classical horror will leave you talking for weeks! Let's talk about it...

Saturday Night Live has been a staple for all of us. This year, the late-night institution is celebrating its 50th season, so we thought, why not honor SNL with a review of Jason Reitman's amazing comedy film SATURDAY NIGHT? The original cast of Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, and John Belushi are played by near-no-name actors Ella Hunt, Emily Fairn, Kim Matula, Lamorne Morris, Dylan O'Brien, Cory Michael Smith, and Matt Wood, respectively. SATURDAY NIGHT received the top honor for Best Ensemble Cast by the Music City Film Critics' Association awards, and it's easy to see why.

THE BRUTALIST has incredible, award-nomination-worthy pieces. The cinematography is outstanding, Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce are superb and there's a perfectly timed intermission... but that doesn't mean it's entertaining. Whether you liked THE BRUTALIST or not, let's talk about it...

Mark Wahlberg is an incredibly talented actor. But he's done both good movies and paycheck movies. FLIGHT RISK has potential, but, in the end, it's a paycheck movie. Good for him but bad for the audience. Let's talk about it...

The Golden Globes have been given out, the Oscar nominations have been released...basically, it's award season! As members of the Music City Film Critics Association, we're breaking down the best in film of 2024. What do you think was the best film? What movie deserves all the awards? Is there a film that was snubbed? Let's talk about it!

Entertainment Weekly put out their Top 20 Christmas movies of all time, and while we take issue with a lot of their rankings, that's not the point of this episode. Today's episode is a game... let's take the Top 20 Christmas movies and play SMASH or PASS!

Director of the new action movie DIRTY ANGELS, Martin Campbell, joined the Untitled Film Project Podcast recently to talk about his new film, working with Eva Green again and his humble beginnings in film.

When Disney announced they were making a MOANA show for streaming, it was an interesting premise. But when they then announced they were making the show into a movie, it was even more interesting. How far along in the process were they before the pivot? Would it work? Was it worth it? So, let's talk about it.

We all saw FLY ME TO THE MOON in the theater and had a great time! But, even while watching on the big silver screen, it was obvious that it is the perfect movie for streaming. Now that AppleTV has finally released it after inexplicably keeping it on the shelf for several months, we can finally release this episode! Join us for 20 minutes as we walk you through FLY ME TO THE MOON!

If you grew up with CHRISTMAS VACATION or ELF or A CHRISTMAS STORY, those are timeless favorites to watch around the holiday season. But, if you're growing up now, RED ONE might be your go-to annual Christmas watch in about 10 years. Let's talk about it...

GLADIATOR won Best Picture almost 25 years ago, and in 2024, Sir Ridley Scott directed and released its sequel. Does it compare to its legendary predecessor? Does it stand on its own? Let's talk about it...

Broadway musicals adapted for the silver screen rarely hit with general movie audiences. This is admitted to by production companies and distributors who are known for "hiding" the fact that a film is a musical in trailers and promotion. WICKED is the exception to the rule. Director Jon M. Chu, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bring you one of 2024's best films. Let's talk about it...

In a sea of laughable and hate-watchable Sony Marvel products, the Venom franchise has at least entertained audiences enough thanks to the buddy-buddy interactions on screen between Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock and his symbiote, Venom. So, does The Last Dance close out the trilogy on a high note? We discuss.

Filmmaker Barbara Hall is a Producer and Music Supervisor on the PATSY CLINE: WALKIN' AFTER MIDNIGHT episode of GREAT PERFORMANCE in this, their 52nd, season! She joins us to talk about Patsy Cline's legacy and the incredible artists that graced the stage in her honor, using The Ryman in Nashville as the backdrop.

In our first-ever spoiler-free review, HERETIC is a masterfully-written, flawlessly-performed, anxiety-ridden psychological thriller from A24. Hugh Grant's character entertains two Mormon missionaries, played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, and challenges them through a series of trials on their belief system (and all organized religion).

PIECE BY PIECE is a documentary film animated as Lego. It's a brilliant illustration of Pharrell Williams's brilliant mind. A must-see for any "outcast" kid, PIECE BY PIECE deserves your time and attention.Click here to enter the LEGO giveaway: https://bit.ly/3Y8mu4W

DreamWorks knocked it out of the park with THE WILD ROBOT. It's one of the best films of the year and here's why...

It's getting blasted by critics and audiences alike, but buckle up. We didn't think JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX was as bad as the current 33% Rotten Tomatoes rating indicates. We think Todd Phillips took some risks—some paid off, some didn't—but once you figure out what's fantasy and what isn't, JOKER 2 becomes a film that movie-making classes could spend some time on.

We go to A LOT of movies. And, between us, we go to A LOT of different movie theaters. So we were thinking...how would you fix the movie-going experience? We have three ideas for you, but we want to hear your ideas in the comments or on social media! Let us know!! What changes would you like theaters (in general) to make?!

As part of the 55th annual Nashville Film Festival, we sat down with writer/director Kerry Bellessa, producer Summer Bellessa and producer Joe Restaino of the new suspense film AMBER ALERT. We talked about the filmmaking process, their personal connection to the genesis of the idea, the intense opening sequence of the movie and the incredible cast featuring Hayden Panettiere and Tyler James Williams in roles they're not accustomed to.

Two-time Canadian Magician of the Year Shawn Farquhar discovers a murder mystery hidden in front of everyone's faces for centuries. LOST IN THE SHUFFLE brings that theory to life while documenting the genesis and execution of a card trick that explains it all for audiences in a fun and unique way. Recently we got the opportunity to sit down with Farquhar and the film's director Jon Ornoy and talk about the process, flying around the world to make this movie and, maybe most importantly, how it will entertain non-magician audiences.

Michael Keaton is back as Beetlejuice in a sequel nearly four decades after the original hit theaters. But is BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE any good, or is it just a money grab? Can it be both? Check out our full review and reaction to the latest Tim Burton classic.

There's a complicated set of emotions when a director works with an actor who passes after filming his final scenes. The director of the new historical fiction drama 1992 shares what it was like when one of his stars, Ray Liotta, passed away, the minefields of a racially charged story, and how Christopher Ammanuel could be the next Denzel Washington.

Chattanooga is just down the road from Nashville, so when we saw Olivia Reeves win gold in Paris, we reached out to USA Weightlifting and asked if we could get a few minutes of her time. She graciously said yes, so the Untitled Film Project Podcast took the show on the road, drove down to Chattanooga, and ended up talking movies, Paris and chocolate muffins with the 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist weightlifter!

M. Night Shyamalan is back again with a solid thriller... but does the nepotism associated with the film ruin TRAP? Let's talk about it...

Its pedigree is in a successful video game, it's got the backing of a massive existing fanbase, and it boasts Oscar winners, Golden Globe-nominated, and future Academy Award winners in its cast... but BORDERLANDS squanders all that and will go down as one of the biggest box office bombs of the decade. MADAME WEB... meet BORDERLANDS.

It's been 30 years since we last heard from Axel Foley, so in this Netflix release full of nostalgic callbacks, does it satisfy what fans want and move Axel's story along?

At San Diego Comic-Con, in Hall H, Marvel announced Tony Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr., will return to the MCU..... but play Dr. Doom. How do we feel about this? How do YOU feel about it? We think we have three reasons why Disney and Marvel are rolling it back with Robert Downey Jr.

In one of the most hyped movies in recent memory, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are finally together in DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. But does it live up to the hype? Let's talk about it...Plus, Robert Downey, Jr. is back at Marvel. We discuss his new role.

It's not just about DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, you know. Okay, it kind of is, but there are still other films we're excited to see in 2024.

TWISTERS, a standalone sequel to the 1996 movie Twister, is out in theaters, and it's a thrill ride! Plus, we name our favorite disaster movies.

Tom Hardy and Austin Butler are excellent in THE BIKERIDERS but the real star of the show is Jodie Comer. In a stand out performance, she's waltzed her way onto our early MCFCA ballots for Best Actress in a Lead Role.