Podcasts about Freeze frame

Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan's larger-than-life cinematic style is well suited for Homer's "The Odyssey," and his adaptation of the epic tale sails impressively onto the silver screen. Big ideas and big themes dominate the big screen in this ancient horror story. Matt Damon leads a strong ensemble as Odysseus, the morally conflicted king of Ithaca who must face down demons of all sorts as he questions his bloody role in the Trojan Wars, embarks on an ill-advised adventure, angers the gods...and just wants to go home. A notable cast aids Nolan's vision that puts an emphasis on violent conflict, symbolizing Odysseus' inner turmoil. The acting honors go to Robert Pattinson as the duplicitous, scheming Antonius and Smantha Morton as the wily witch Circe. While it's guilty of some clunky dialogue and a few minor missteps, "The Odyssey" is an impressive old school Hollywood spectacle that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The Hulu sports drama "They Fight" is the kind of movie that you root for. It's a true story, its inspirational themes resonate, and the cast is fine. Problem is, the execution is so bland and conventional, that the story never ignites as it should. Based on a 2017 documentary of the same name, "They Fight" is about a boxing coach recently released from prison, played by Andre Holland, who works with a group of Washington DC adolescents. Wendell Pierce runs a gym that gives Andre a chance to see if he can redeem himself and inspire the kids toward a championship. It's well intentioned, but the sluggish story fails to score a knockout.

So, what does the term "live-action version" really mean? In the case of Disney's remake of their 2016 animated musical hit "Moana," it means there are some real actors on screen along with a whole lot of computer-generated animation tweaked to look realistic. Same songs save for one. Dwayne Johnson is back as demigod Maui, and we have a new Moana nicely played by Cathrine Laga'Aia. Otherwise, it closely resembles the original. Somehow, that's not enough. What worked as a cartoon just seems too labored in 'live action.' “Moana” fans, stick with the original. The edgy sex comedy "The Invite" is the polar opposite of Disney. It's an English language adaptation of the 2020 Spanish hit, that was sarcastically titled, “Sentimental.” Seth Rogan and Olivia Wilde play a bickering couple whose marriage is ready to derail. To spice things up, Olivia invites the swingers from upstairs, played by Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, to come down for dinner. Naturally, things quickly get awkward. It's essentially a razor-sharp stage play, ably directed by Wilde, that provides a great cast with a decadently funny vehicle. But the constant quarreling is a bit hard to stomach. Warning: “The Invite” is not for the easily offended. Amy Goodman, host of the daily news program “Democracy, Now” that airs here on KKFI, is the subject of the film documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” Goodman and the filmmakers will be in town for screenings and Q&A sessions on July 17th and 18th at the Glenwood Arts Theater in Overland Park. Info is available at KKFI.org or fineartsgroup.com.

Looking for a holiday weekend flick to get the kids out of the blazing heat? You could do a lot worse than "Minions & Monsters," the third installment in the "Minions" prequel series and the seventh installment overall in the "Despicable Me" franchise. This time out, circumstances find the Minions in 1920s Hollywood, and they decide to make a monster movie. The pacing and animation are solid in this episode that has a lot of inside jokes for parents who are movie buffs. "Minions & Monsters" delivers exactly the kind of goofy family fun you'd expect. Just in time for the July 4th celebrations, Angel Studios offers the historical drama "Young Washington." Relative newcomer William Franklyn-Miller portrays the founding father in a respectful but underwhelming look at his life before the American Revolution. Washington's ambitions and his strategic blunders in a skirmish with the French are the focus of this well-mounted but superficial biopic. The supporting cast includes familiar faces who bring a gravitas that Franklyn-Miller's performance is missing. Best thing you can say is that "Young Washington" is an easily digestible history lesson. Is the third time the charm for Millie Bobby Brown in the Netflix comic mystery, "Enola Holmes 3?" Light, bright, and easy to digest, “Enola Holmes 3” is a tongue-in-cheek sequel that presents yet another mystery for the sister of Sherlock Holmes, appealingly played by Brown. This time out, Sherlock, played by Henry Cavill, is kidnapped while attending Enola's wedding in Malta. A sprightly feminist YA offering “Enola Holmes 3” floats along nicely thanks to a solid production and an appealing cast.

While newcomer Millie Alcock soars as the new punk "Supergirl," her movie never quite flies. Giving her a personality that contrasts with her strait-laced cousin Superman was a smart choice, but the filmmakers aren't quite able to pull all the elements together. Still, the eye candy is first-rate, and the action sequences are well-staged. Maybe the best thing you can say is that "Supergirl" is a serviceable intro to a welcome new character in the DC Universe. Scott Eastwood plays a soldier caught behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge in director Rod Lurie's solid WWII flick, "Lucky Strike." While it covers familiar territory, “Lucky Strike” is a mostly effective tale of survival, heroism and the hellish nature of war. Whenever she's on screen, Angelina Jolie's strong performance propels the drama "Couture." Problem is, she's not on screen enough. Jolie plays a filmmaker working in Paris for Fashion Week when she discovers she's got breast cancer. The other stories involving peripheral characters fall flat. For a movie about fashion, "Couture" is surprisingly lacking in style. A strong cast and an interesting premise are swamped in director Julian Schnabel's colossally pretentious Netflix drama, "In the Hand of Dante." Oscar Isaac plays a writer recruited by mobsters to authenticate and then steal a manuscript of Dante's "Divine Comedy.” In an intersecting parallel story, Isaac also plays Dante himself as he struggles to write his masterpiece. While intriguing, the movie is profane, ugly, violent and saddled with laughable dialogue. Gerard Butler's performance as a murderous thug is a creepy standout in “In the Hand of Dante,” a head-scratching misfire.

Can the folks at Pixar continue to extract gold from the "Toy Story" mine after over thirty years? As "Toy Story 5" deftly demonstrates, the answer is definitely, "Yes." This time out, the focus is on cowgirl Jessie and how she and the other old school toys are threatened by high tech devices. As we've come to expect the folks at Pixar spend most of their efforts on creating a compelling and heartfelt story. Take some tissues because "Toy Story 5" has the smarts and the feels. You won't find any Merry Men in the excessively dark, violent and dour revisionary drama, "The Death of Robin Hood." Hugh Jackman stars as an aging and tired Robin Hood who, as it turns out, was a selfish bandit who robbed from the rich…and kept it. After numerous injuries, all he wants to do is die, but a nun at a rural sanctuary played by Jodie Comer insists on nursing him back to health. Despite a great cast and atmospheric production, “The Death of Robin Hood” is brooding, bloody and boring. “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” is an involving documentary about the life of the pop star who arrived in the U.S. as part of the 60s British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon and stayed to become a phenomenally successful record producer steering the careers of superstars like Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Carol King and many others. Asher tells his own story through a unique live concert mixed with extensive film clips as well as observations from his many famous pals, including mentor Paul McCartney. “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” is a snappy pop music time capsule.

Kansas City's channel 4 news gets invaded by aliens in the wild new Stephen Spielberg sci-fi opus "Disclosure Day." Emily Blunt plays a KC meteorologist, and Josh O'Connor is a cybersecurity expert who each experience a psychic connection to an alien intelligence, putting them at odds with a shady non-government agency. The actors are fine, the suspense is palpable, and the camerawork and action sequences are masterfully executed. It all gets too literal when it could have benefitted from being more ambiguous. Still, "Disclosure Day" is very entertaining and shows that Kansas City is out of this world. It's very telling when the best thing you can think of to say about a movie is, "Well, it could have been worse." Such is the case with the Netflix rom com, "Office Romance." Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein of "Ted Lasso" fame star as a testy airline CEO and her awkward legal counsel. As the title suggests, they embark on an ill-advised affair. There's not a believable moment in Goldstein's vulgar script. “Office Romance” is an old-fashioned movie that relies on raunchy elements to make it seem contemporary. Bad idea. The Norwegian language monster flick “Kraken” is now available on digital platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Video. It's not to be confused with the 2025 Russian monster flick of the same name. In this surprisingly effective little sci-fi opus, a marine biologist tries to figure out if the experimental techniques used by a salmon farm in a Norwegian fjord are responsible for some mysterious deaths. It's derivative and takes a while to get going, but “Kraken” is a slickly produced Scandinavian take on the Kaiju genre.

With movies like “Once,” “Begin Again” and “Sing Street,” Irish filmmaker John Carney has found a way to make movie musicals relevant for contemporary audiences. His latest effort is "Power Ballad." Kansas City's Paul Rudd stars alongside Nick Jonas in the story of a struggling wedding singer who bonds with a pop star. When the former boy band member steals a song from his friend, things get dicey. Rudd is as good as he's been in years, and Jonas is solid in a role tailor made for him. “Power Ballad” is a rousing crowd-pleaser that's filled with catchy music. If you are familiar with the phrase, "By the power of Grayskull," then the clunky action fantasy "Masters of the Universe" might be nostalgic for you...but that's really all it's got going for it. In this update of the 80s adventure cartoons based on the line of Mattel toys, Nicholas Galitzine plays an annoyingly uncertain He-Man, Jered Leto provides the petulant voice of Skeletor and Idris Elba is wasted as a washed-up warrior. The movie's tongue-in-cheek approach never works. “Masters of the Universe” lacks the power. The Wayans Brothers are back with yet another ultra raunchy horror movie parody. Despite its title, "Scary Movie" is actually “Scary Movie 6,” the latest installment in the franchise that started 26 years ago. It reunites many of the movies' familiar cast members including Marlon and Shawn Wayans and a few dozen other Wayans, Regina Hall and Anna Faris. Sadly, the Wayans have officially run out of ideas for “Scary Movie” and try to fill the gap with repetitive and aggressively offensive material. Now that's scary.

When JFK asked Dwight Eisenhower why the Normandy invasion was a success, Eisenhower replied, "Because we had better meteorologists than the Germans." That's the crux of the new WWII historical drama, "Pressure." In this taut movie, Andrew Scott plays a brilliant British meteorologist who butted heads with Eisenhower, played by Brendan Fraser, over the timing of the D-Day invasion. “Pressure” is an involving look at the herculean behind-the-scenes efforts of unsung heroes. Can the popularity of standup comic Nate Bargatze translate to the big screen? If the juvenile family comedy "The Breadwinner" is any indication, the answer is...we'll see. Bargatze takes on a Mr. Mom-type role as an inept dad left temporarily in care of the household. There are more laughs in five minutes of Bargatze's standup routines than in this entire movie. The new thriller "Tuner" is gimmicky, but the gimmicks work. Leo Woodall plays Niki, a piano tuner with super-sensitive hearing. Criminals figure out how to manipulate Niki into using his talents to crack safes. Well-acted, smart and involving, "Tuner" is a surprisingly gripping sleeper. The Apple TV movie "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" marks the directorial debut of actor and aviation enthusiast John Travolta. The story is based on a children's book Travolta wrote in 1997 about a young boy on his first airplane trip from New York to Hollywood on a TWA Constellation in the 1960s. The film was partially shot in KC as the actual Connie is, of course, housed in KC alongside the TWA museum. The lightweight story tends to drift off into the ether, but it's a harmless bit of travel nostalgia.

If you're a fan of the Disney+ TV series, "The Mandalorian," then you'll probably find enough to like in the big screen edition, "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu." The story plays like a few TV episodes folded into one and ballooned onto the big screen. That's because the movie version was apparently an afterthought. Still, there's plenty of action, visual razzle dazzle and cute aliens to spare in “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” but if you're looking for involving human drama, that's in a galaxy far, far away. Eccentric filmmaker Boots Riley has so many creative ideas that his latest film "I Love Boosters" can barely hold them all. That's both a good thing and a bad one. Keke Palmer and Demi Moore lead a terrific cast in a wacky, surreal and profane comic sci-fi social critique about a gang of shoplifters who confront an unethical billionaire fashion designer. The movie's design elements are fantastic, but the plot elements and themes are way too scattershot. Still, the game cast gives "I Love Boosters" a boost. You don't have to be a fan of the Amazon Prime "Jack Ryan" series to enjoy the new movie "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War." In fact, you don't really need to know anything about the show or the novels. John Krasinzki, who also produced and co-wrote the screenplay, is back as Ryan, a now former CIA agent. who gets pulled into a caper involving a rogue operative group in London that threatens to undermine both the US and British spy operations. “Jack Ryan: Ghost War” has the action elements genre fans love and manages to create a bit of tension despite the overly familiar plot elements.

The new horror entry "Obsession" falls into the 'be careful what you ask for, you may get it' genre. This effective little chiller is about a man who buys a supernatural toy that grants him a wish. He wishes that a girl he has a crush on would fall madly in love with him. Emphasis on the "madly." Her obsession with him quickly escalates into violence. Well-acted by relative newcomers Michael Johnston and Inde Navarette, “Obsession” is a creepy tongue-in-cheek bit of midnight movie exploitation. The political drama "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is an interesting bit of historical fiction. It involves the rise of Vladimir Putin from KGB insider to Russian tsar. Paul Dano plays a theatrical artist who uses his skills as a spin doctor to rise from obscurity and become Putin's morally conflicted deputy chief of staff. Jude Law is appropriately chilling as Putin. Based on a novel by political essayist Giuliano da Empoli and directed by Olivier Assayas, “The Wizard of the Kremlin is thoughtful and well produced but never manages to build any dramatic momentum. Even if you're not a fan of comic actor Martin Short, you'll probably find a lot to like in the Netflix documentary, "Marty, Life is Short." Director Lawrence Kasdan has assembled a loving tribute to his longtime friend, using a vast library of home videos and film clips, plus interviews with Short's many famous showbiz pals. Short, who is enjoying a late career resurgence in popularity thanks to "Only Murders in the Building," has endured more than his share of tragedies and triumphs. Thanks largely to Short's sunny approach to sarcasm, "Marty, Life is Short" is a funny and touching overview.

This episode deconstructs the shifting landscape of the NFC North for the 2026 season. We break down the impact of Ben Johnson's arrival in Chicago, the high-stakes QB competition in Minnesota between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, and why the Detroit Lions backfield is the engine of fantasy drafts this year. Plus, we analyze the target vacuum in Green Bay and whether Tucker Kraft can emerge as a top-tier tight end.

Pop phenom Billie Elish joins forces with Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron to present a cinematic adaptation that captures her 2024-25 concert tour, "Billie Elish - Hit Me Hard and Soft." Since Elish doesn't employ choreography or elaborate costumes, Cameron uses dozens of swooping, acrobatic cameras and clever editing to add additional visual dazzle. The backstage footage is minimal, but interesting. It could have used a bit more of that. For the uninitiated, “Billie Elish – Hit Me Hard and Soft” provides context for Eilish's enormous popularity. For fans, it's pure catnip. "The Sheep Detectives" is a sweet-natured family-friendly comic whodunit based on the popular novel “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann. Hugh Jackman plays George, a reclusive shepherd who lives with his beloved flock in rural England. He reads them mystery novels at night. When George is found murdered, it's up to his loyal sheep to help the thick-headed humans solve the mystery. The realistically animated sheep are voiced by an all-star cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, and Bella Ramsey. While it tries a bit too hard to be heartwarming, “The Sheep Detectives” is a harmless and likable popcorn flick. The title of the Netflix comic drama "Remarkably Bright Creatures" doesn't describe its narrator, an octopus named Marcellus. It's his description of two lonely human beings whom he helps heal some emotional wounds. Two-time Oscar winner Sally Field stars alongside Lewis Pullman in the gentle story of a lonely aquarium cleaning lady and a troubled stranger she takes on as an assistant. While it's manipulative and predictable, a strong cast keeps “Remarkably Bright Creatures” afloat.

It's always a pleasure catching up with Cran Dalgety. Tonight, his team lines up three runners at Alexandra Park , highlighted by Freeze Frame in the Woodlands Stud NZ Northern Derby. Since we last spoke, there's been plenty happening at Kentuckiana Lodge , and it was great to get an update.   Don't miss the Woodlands Stud weanling parade on 9 May. To find out more, contact the team at www.woodlandsstud.co.nz or visit www.nzbstandardbred.co.nz.

George Orwell's classic totalitarian critique "Animal Farm" gets a dumbed-down animated big screen incarnation. Yes, the pigs take over the farm, but the metaphors don't fly. The all-star voice cast includes Seth Rogan, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin and Woody Harrelson but their efforts are for naught. Screenwriter Nicholas Stoller and director Andy Serkis deserve some credit for trying a new approach, but this so-called modernized version of “Animal Farm” isn't for adults who revere Orwell or for kids who couldn't care less. Here's one that won't be shown on airlines anytime soon. "Jaws" meets "Airport" in "Deep Water," the story of a loaded passenger flight that crashes into -you guessed it- shark infested waters. Aaron Eckhart and Sir Ben Kingsley are the captains who accidentally serve up a smorgasbord for hungry carnivores along with the typical disaster movie cliches. If the premise sounds familiar, another movie called “No Way Up” came out two years ago with a nearly identical plot. While it's overly familiar, director Renny Harlin's opus “Deep Water” is impressively filmed. It ain't deep, but disaster movie fans won't mind. Producer John Lasseter may no longer be at Pixar, but his creative fingerprints are all over the wildly imaginative Netflix animated fantasy, "Swapped." Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple provide the voices of a mammal and a bird who magically swap bodies in a fantastical woodland area. Their experiences change their perspectives, proving that differences are good and that working together makes life better for everyone. It's smart and beautifully animated. "Swapped" is a family film in the best sense, providing thoughtful entertainment that can be enjoyed by all age groups.

If you're looking for an in-depth, warts-and-all biopic about the King of Pop, keep looking. If you want a slick, entertaining reenactment of some great music, then "Michael" is the movie for you. Jaafar Jackson is fine portraying his famous uncle Michael Jackson in this family-sanctioned overview of the first 20 years of Jackson's career. The movie seesaws between Jackson's relationship with his abusive dad, played by Coleman Domingo, and his electric stage performances. Keep your expectations low and the volume on high. From "The Most Dangerous Game" to "The Hunt,” there have been a lot of movies about humans hunting humans. The newest entry in this subgenre is the Netflix thriller, "Apex." Oscar-winner Charlize Theron plays an adventurer on a solo outing in the remote Australian wilderness who becomes the target of a deranged hunter, played by Taron Egerton. Director Baltasar Kormakur puts his stars through the ringer as he stages some impressive action sequences in this cat-and-mouse action flick. While more than competent, "Apex" has a grisly ugliness that can be a bit hard to stomach. “Desert Warrior” is a historical action flick that desperately wants to be “Lawrence of Arabia,” but falls somewhat short. Anthony Mackie plays a bandit who aids a princess caught between warring tribes in 7th century Arabia. It's well made but uninspired. “Fuze” is a taut, twisty British caper movie. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James and Sam Worthington star in a thriller about thieves who use the discovery of an unexploded WWII-era bomb in London's Paddington district as a distraction for an elaborate bank heist. “Fuze” won't light any fires but is a zippy bit of escapism.

V 50. díle videopodcastu týdeníku Respekt Dělníci kulturyspolu Jindřiška Bláhová, Pavel Turek a Jan H. Vitvar debatují otom, co je v uplynulém týdnu v kultuře zaujalo a o své aktuálnípráci. Tentokrát došlo na:střet ministerstva kultury s odbornými dotačními komisemi a veřejnoprávními médiireality show Královny Brna (Oneplay)knihy Práce na hovno antropologa Davida Graebera (Malvern) a Famesick: A memoir režisérky a scenáristky Leny Dunham (Random House)seriál Deadloch (Amazon Prime)film Fracoise Ozona Cizinecalbum Kammerkonzert producenta Squarepusheravýstavu sochaře Ondřeje Navrátila Platonická láska v pardubické Galerii Art Space NOV skupinovou výstavu Freeze Frame v pražské Bold GalleryKdyž už člověk jednou je, tak má sledovat kulturu v Respektu.

The grisly body horror flick "Lee Cronin's The Mummy" owes a lot more to "The Exorcist" than Boris Karloff or Brendan Fraser. A little girl goes missing and, eight years later, she's discovered to be alive and possessed by an ancient Egyptian demon. There are some effectively scary moments, but the movie is overlong and over reliant on gruesome makeup effects. Writer/director Lee Cronin had success reviving the “Evil Dead” franchise, but this one should have remained buried. Let's hope it's a wrap on this version of The Mummy. If you want to see two brilliant actors go toe-to-toe, the sly comedy "The Christophers" is the movie for you. Sir Ian McKellen and Michaela Cole star in the tale of a once famous painter now living as a virtual hermit who makes a little cash doing personalized Cameo videos. The painter's estranged children hire a woman to pose as his assistant and forge his unfinished paintings so that they can sell them upon his death. James Corden and Jessica Gunning are effectively churlish as the offspring. Director Stephen Soderberg continues to expand his reach with “The Christophers,” a funny, smart and engaging movie. It's good to try to find something positive in even the worst movies, but there's nothing remotely redeeming in the criminally atrocious Amazon Prime comedy, "Balls Up." Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser play employees of a condom company who ruin a World Cup soccer game in Brazil and go on the run from angry fans. Not only is it not funny, but it's also intended to offend. “Balls Up” is certainly successful on that count. Director Peter Farrelly should have his Oscar for "Green Day" revoked.

The latest cinematic treatment of Shakespeare's "Hamlet' tries an interesting new angle, placing the action among the Southeast Asian community of contemporary London. Riz Ahmed gives a strong performance in the title role, and fine turns are provided by Morfydd Clark as Ophelia, Timothy Spall as Polonius and Art Malik as Claudius. But some of the power of The Bard's poetry is lost when rushed or mumbled to give it a more edgy feel. This "Hamlet" is a respectable mixed bag. Keanu Reeves stars in a caustic Hollywood sendup, the Apple TV satire, "Outcome." Reeves plays Reef Hawk, a movie star who is being blackmailed by strangers with an incriminating video tape. His best friends played by Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer, offer moral support but no answers. Reef turns to his crisis lawyer, played by Jonah Hill who also wrote and directed this black comedy, who instructs him to apologize to everyone he may have offended over the years. While it's sometimes very funny and hits some deserving showbiz targets, it paints a bleak picture that's frankly uncomfortable to watch. "Outcome" is like George Clooney's recent flick "Jay Kelly," but with a meaner edge. Does the Netflix thriller "Thrash" qualify for "So bad, it's good?" status? Even though this “'Jaws' meets ‘Hurricane'” mashup has many laughable moments, the answer is decidedly, "No." Phoebe Dynevor and Djimon Hounsou star in the tale of a storm surge that pushes ravenous sharks far inland. The man-eaters terrorize the residents of a storm drenched coastal community. "Thrash" is no "Sharknado." It's better than that camp classic, but not as funny. “Thrash” just bites.

In 2023, the animated comedy "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" took in over a billion dollars at the box office and became the biggest video game adaptation ever. Naturally, a sequel has arrived. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" offers more of the same. Same players, same game inspired goofiness and the same strengths and weaknesses. Once again, the intrepid Italian plumbers are called upon to save Princess Peach from Bowser and his son Bowser, Jr. The visuals are duly impressive, but the plot of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” may evaporate from your memory faster than a Mario power-up. The scenario of "The Drama" is designed to make you squirm. On that count, it's very successful. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play a couple who learn very uncomfortable truths about each other on the cusp of their wedding. Writer/director Kristoffer Borgli examines some very intriguing themes and the players are fine, including Alana Haim in a pivotal supporting role. But there may be moments while watching the excruciating movie “The Drama” that you'll want to scream, "Hey, people, get some counseling!" The well produced faith-based historical drama "A Great Awakening" tells the story of the Calvinist preacher George Whitefield, his friendship with Benjamin Franklin and his effect on the American Revolution that occurred in tandem with an evangelical revival. Jonathan Blair as Whitefield and John Paul Sneed as Franklin give earnest performances in this impassioned biopic. While it glosses over some of controversial aspects of Whitefield's life and his debatable positions, it's a thoughtful, well-acted and sometimes moving account aimed at a receptive Christian audience.

The story of acclaimed French writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol is depicted through animation in the unconventional biopic, "A Magnificent Life." Directed by Sylvain Chomet of “The Triplets of Bellville” fame, it's a colorful overview of Pagnol's life, from his childhood through his adult years focusing on his artistic and commercial successes…and failures. While mildly interesting, “A Magnificent Life” lacks the passion of any of Pagnol's classic movies. The extremely raw and edgy R-rated documentary "Andre is an Idiot" was the audience winner at this year's Sundance Film Festival. It's easy to see why. A free-spirited iconoclast named André Ricciardi decides to make a documentary of his battle with terminal colon cancer. He and his family and friends handle it with a lot of raw humor...and a bit of denial. “Andre is an Idiot” is cleverly made and surprisingly touching given how utterly irreverent and profane it is. The Hulu time-travel action comedy "Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice" fails to live up to the promise of its intriguing premise. Vince Vaughn plays Nick, a mob enforcer who inadvertently hitches a ride in a time machine and winds up trying to save his wife Eiza Gonzales and fellow mobster James Marsden from being killed...by an earlier version of himself. The timeline gets twisted into knots and the bloody violence and crude humor quickly gets tiresome. The talented cast members try hard, but they are essentially wasted. If you wind up watching “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,” you may wish you could go back in time and skip it.

You can have all the great special effects and cute aliens you can muster, but without the charisma and star power of Ryan Gosling, the sci-fi opus "Project Hail Mary" would drift aimlessly into space. Gosling plays a science teacher who reluctantly becomes an astronaut and attempts to save our sun from a bizarre destructive force. While in deep space, he encounters an unlikely ally. While it's overlong and repetitive, "Project Hail Mary" is still an engaging crowd pleaser. Rose Byrne stars in the comic drama "Tow," the true story of a homeless woman trying to rebuild her life. Things took a hellish turn when the vehicle she was sleeping in was towed and she endured a long and excruciating legal fight to reclaim it. While it deals with serious issues, "Tow" takes a lighter tone with its treatment of David vs. Goliath social themes. There are family films and then there are movies for the kids only. "The Pout-Pout Fish" falls into the latter category. It's a harmless animated tale based on the picture books by Deborah Diesen about a depressed fish who discovers his cheery side after an adventure with a cute sea dragon. Toddlers may smile. Parents may snooze. "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" is a Netflix feature film that's a continuation of the popular series. Cillian Murphy is back as Tommy Shelby, the gang leader suffering from spiritual despair, who is forced out of retirement to reclaim his place as head of his gypsy crime family and save Britain from a Nazi threat. It's a good thing that those criminals are so darn patriotic. Terrific performers and solid British production values elevate this WWII era melodrama.

Week 50 of Ted Gioia's Immersive Humanities List brings us to three mid-20th-century thinkers wrestling with art, media, and the modern world: Susan Sontag, Walter Benjamin, and José Ortega y Gasset.I begin with Susan Sontag's famous essay “In Plato's Cave” from On Photography. Writing in 1972, she asks how photography changes our relationship to memory and experience. At the time, photographs were printed objects. We saved them in albums, books, or wallets. Today we carry thousands in our pockets. If photographs once captured moments, now they seem to overwhelm them.Walter Benjamin's “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” pushes this further, asking what happens to art when it can be endlessly copied. Photography and film, he argues, transform not just art but perception itself.Finally, José Ortega y Gasset's The Revolt of the Masses explores the rise of “mass-man”—a culture where opinions are everywhere but the pursuit of truth is optional.Taken together, these essays were more uncomfortable than I expected: the problems of our modern media world may have been visible long before smartphones, if only we'd paid attention.LINKTed Gioia/The Honest Broker's 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)CONNECTThe complete list of Crack the Book Episodes: https://cheryldrury.substack.com/p/crack-the-book-start-here?r=u3t2rTo read more of my writing, visit my Substack - https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ LISTENSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bdApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm

"Cohorts," the loyal followers of bestselling author Colleen Hoover, have been anxiously awaiting the cinematic adaptation of her latest novel, "Reminders of Him." They likely won't be disappointed. Maika Monroe gives a strong performance as a young woman recently released from prison after serving time for involuntary manslaughter. She returns to her hometown in hopes of meeting her daughter who was taken from her at birth and begins a romantic relationship with bar owner Tariq Withers. “Reminders of Him” is as predictable, calculated and manipulative as you might expect, but the committed cast is solid. Bring the Kleenex. The horror entry "Undertone" is billed as "The Scariest Movie You'll Ever Hear." That's because the gimmick is its unique audio approach. Nina Kiri plays one of the hosts of a podcast about the paranormal. She begins losing her grip on reality when listening to ghastly audio mysteriously sent to her co-host. "Undertone" is the very definition of "slow burn"...but in this case it's too slow. Granted, “Undertone” builds to a creep-inducing climax but takes too long to get there. Take an Army training drama and throw in invading Transformer-style robots from outer space, and you have the new Netflix action thriller, "War Machine." Alan Ritchson from TV's "Reacher" plays an Army Staff Sergeant training for an elite Army Ranger regiment. During a training exercise, an alien machine begins killing off the recruits. The whole thing is pretty silly and there's a lot of R-rated carnage. Still, there may be just enough action and mayhem in "War Machine" to appeal to your inner 13-year-old.

Even second-rate Pixar is better than most other animated features. The latest offering from the renowned studio is "Hoppers," a unique sci-fi fantasy about a rebellious girl whose mind is transplanted into a robotic beaver in an attempt to save a pristine glade from the bulldozers of shortsighted developers. Excellent animation, sharp voice work and a thoughtful screenplay elevate “Hoppers,” which should hop right to the top of the U.S. box office. The pro-environmental message comes through loud and clear, but the kids will only care about the wacky characters and zippy action. It may be a bit too scary for the younger kids, but "Hoppers" still has the warmth family audiences crave. As the saying goes, you're only as good as you dare to be bad. Give writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal credit because she dared, but "The Bride!," her gonzo take on "The Bride of Frankenstein," is a cinematic horror...and not in a good way. Credit also to the brave, powerhouse performances from Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, but their efforts are in service of a mismatched conglomeration of ideas that are as patchy as Bale's stitched-up monster. Don't get hitched to this bride. Milla Jovovich, cinema's queen of backside kickers, is back in "Protector," a truly terrible action movie that plays like a gender switch on Liam Neeson's "Taken." Milla plays a former Special Ops soldier with a very particular set of skills whose daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers. It's sleazy, bloody with klutzy dialogue that even skilled actors couldn't save. Plus, it's got a climatic twist that produces more groans than surprises. Protect your wallet and skip "Protector."

If you don't know what the term BDSM refers to, then the comic drama "Pillion" may not be for you. Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling star in the very...I repeat, very...adult story of a dominant biker and his submissive partner. While it's well written and smartly acted, much of the content of this R-rated movie pushes it close to the NC-17 designation. Still, for open-minded viewers, the unconventional romance “Pillion” is an empathetic portrait of an unusual relationship. Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain stars in the dark and unpleasant drama, "Dreams." She plays a socialite having a steamy affair with a much younger, very talented Mexican ballet dancer played by Isaac Hermandez. The fact that he's an illegal alien is only one of the numerous problems this couple faces.The immigration theme in “Dreams” is top-of-mind, but the movie is undermined by unlikeable characters and...here we go again...some unusually graphic sex scenes. The Amazon Prime movie "The Bluff" is a throwback action swashbuckler starring Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban set in waning days of Caribbean piracy, the late 19th century. Chopra plays a former pirate known as Bloody Mary hiding out with her family on one of the remote Cayman Islands A rival pirate played by Urban, once her mentor, seeks her out. When he discovers her whereabouts, he takes revenge on her for stealing his stolen treasure. This ain't your Disney pirate adventure, folks. "The Bluff" is a violent R-rated thriller that delivers the action but suffers a bit from its sketchy dialogue and bloody, over-the-top mayhem.

The black comedy thriller "How to Make a Killing" is inspired by the classic 1949 British film, "Kind Hearts and Coronets." But this version isn't quite sure what it wants to be. Glen Powell stars as an heir to a vast fortune who's been disowned by his callous family. He plots to bump off all his relatives who stand in the way of his inheritance. The audience is challenged to root for a guy who's obviously ethically challenged and Powell's charisma is a big help in that department. It's modestly funny, but the tone shifts in “How to Make a Killing” are so jarring that it may give audiences a case of whiplash. As a companion piece to his 2022 hit "Elvis," director Baz Luhrmann offers his first documentary, the concert film, "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert." Using previously unseen footage stored in a Kansas salt mine, Luhrmann creates a hybrid film that mixes concerts, rehearsals, press conferences and backstage footage into a riveting showcase. For the uninitiated, “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” demonstrates why Presley was such a dynamic and popular performer. Paul McCartney's traumatic post-Beatles years are the focus of the involving Amazon Prime documentary, "Man on the Run.” It serves as a companion to McCartney's new book about his time with Wings. Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville skillfully sorts through a ton of footage to assemble a thoughtful look at both the considerable misfires as well as the tremendous successes McCartney experienced in the 1970s. Interviews with McCartney, his family as well as folks like Mick Jagger, Chrissie Hynde and Sean Lennon, make “Man on the Run” an enlightening and entertaining overview.

When Tucker Simmons first sat down with me, we talked about his aunt Donna's murder… and the man he believed was responsible. At that point, no one had been arrested. There were no indictments. Just questions, frustration, and a family still waiting for justice.Today, everything has changed.Tucker is back on Unlocked with a major update: the man he suspected has now been arrested and indicted for second degree murder. We walk through what happened the morning of the arrest, the shocking bond hearing, the courtroom moments that left everyone stunned, and what this means for Donna's children after years of heartbreak.This conversation isn't about celebration. It's about accountability. It's about what happens when persistence meets truth. It's about the complicated emotions that come when justice finally starts moving… but your loved one is still gone.We also talk about what's next, the upcoming hearings, the possibility of trial, and how Tucker's investigation and podcast Freeze Frame helped bring renewed attention to a case that had gone quiet for years.One step closer to justice, but the story isn't over yet.If you haven't listened to Tucker's first episode, I highly recommend starting there. Be sure to follow Freeze Frame for part two. Don't forget to like, share, subscribe and leave a review!Thank you to our sponsors for supporting our show!- Wildgrain: Get $30 off your first box, plus FREE croissants FOR LIFE at https://www.wildgrain.com/unlocked or you can use promo code UNLOCKED at checkout!- GoodGirlRX: Visit https://www.goodgirlrx.com and use code UNLOCKED15 to get 15% OFF at checkout!LET'S BE SOCIAL:Follow Savannah Chrisley:Insta: (https://www.instagram.com/SavannahChrisley)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@SavannahChrisley)X: (https://www.x.com/_itssavannah_)Follow Tucker Simmons:Insta: (https://www.instagram.com/tuck.simmons)Podcast: (https://www.freezeframepodcast.com/)Follow The Unlocked Podcast:Insta: (https://www.instagram.com/UnlockedWithSavannah)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@UnlockedWithSav)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Crime 101" is a slick and engaging thriller featuring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Mark Ruffalo. Hemsworth portrays a jewel thief who is emotionally conflicted and determined to complete one final heist. Guided by a personal code of ethics, his character refuses to harm anyone and targets only insurance companies with his schemes. The film's impressive supporting cast includes Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro and Nick Nolte who all contribute to the film's strong ensemble dynamic. Bart Layton, a British documentary filmmaker, brings surprisingly taut and effective direction, allowing "Crime 101" to remain engaging even when the plot stretches believability. “Crime 101” is an entertaining action throwback. The animated sports comedy "Goat" is from producer Steph Curry, who also lends his voice to one of the characters. The story centers on a young goat who dreams of competing in "Roarball," an intense and dangerous version of full-contact basketball. The film boasts a talented voice cast, including Caleb McGlaughlin from “Stranger Things,” David Harbour, Jennifer Hudson, Jelly Roll, and Gabrielle Union. "Goat" is a predictable, but family-friendly bit of escapism. "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" is a high-concept, sci-fi comedy that combines the time-loop antics of "Groundhog Day" with the energy of "Terminator." Sam Rockwell stars as a time traveler who repeatedly journeys back from the future, attempting to save humanity from the impending threat of artificial intelligence. Director Gore Verbinski seems to draw inspiration from the eccentric style of the Oscar-winning “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” The result is a smart and wildly imaginative film, even if it sometimes struggles with pacing and knowing when to wrap things up.

First world problems plague a pop star in the unpredictable mockumentary "The Moment." Charlie XCX plays a fictionalized version of herself in the story of her preparations for a concert and tour. While not a comedy per se, it pokes fun at the whole "Brat" phenomenon and satirizes pop stardom. “The Moment” is an interesting experiment more than a satisfying movie and features surprisingly little music. Those sensitive to flashing light, steer clear. French director Luc Besson offers his offbeat take on "Dracula." Caleb Landry Jones is impressive as the cursed vampire who spends centuries searching for his lost love. Besson's opulent, operatic approach is visually engaging, but the movie is overlong and peppered with unintentionally funny moments. "Dracula" doesn't exactly suck, but it isn't a full-blooded horror, either. Perhaps the best thing you can say about the Angel Studios romantic comedy "Solo Mio" is that it's harmless. Kevin James plays a middle-aged schoolteacher who travels to Rome with his fiancée, only to be jilted at the altar. Will he ever find love again? Everything about the script is utterly phony, but the photogenic Italian scenery gives "Solo Mio" a minor boost. The main things wrecked in the Amazon Prime action comedy "The Wrecking Crew" are cars, motorcycles, helicopters, property...and logic. Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa play estranged half-brothers who are forced to work together to solve the mystery of their father's death. The action is relentless, and the Hawaiian scenery is "nani." But the lapse of plot coherence in “The Wrecking Crew” wrecks any real sense of peril.

The latest Jason Statham thriller "Shelter" provides exactly what you'd expect. It's packed with over-the-top action and ridiculous implausibilities. Statham is a disgraced special ops agent hiding out on a remote Scottish island who's forced back into action to protect an innocent preteen girl, well played by Bodhi Ray Breathnach. The action gets more elaborate and sillier as the movie progresses, but director Rick Roman Waugh puts the pedal to the metal and doesn't let logic get in the way. Don't roll your eyes too much while watching “Shelter,” or you'll miss some decent stunt work. Omar Epps and Wiz Khalifa lead the cast of the morose and violent crime drama "Moses the Black." Serbian writer/director Yelena Popovic attempts to juxtapose a modern story about a Chicago gang leader recently released from prison with that of the martyred Ethiopian saint from the fourth century. Epps is saddled with the responsibility of staring endlessly into void while supposedly seeing visions of the saint who turned from a life of crime to a life of asceticism. “Moses the Black” is bleak, awkward and as subtle as a sledgehammer. Just when you think that you might not be able to bear another Marvel TV offering, Disney+ presents the unique and involving 8-part series, "Wonder Man." Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a struggling actor who is saddled with superpowers that are hard to control. He must hide his outlawed abilities in order to make it in Hollywood. Ben Kingsley plays a fellow actor who may or may not offer support. Often funny and refreshing, "Wonder Man" is a knowing and engaging satire of both Hollywood and superhero cliches.

That's a wrap on Season 2 of NOT an Alias Podcast. Join us for Luke's icy cold quiz and Schwarzenegger impression. Will Sarah and Fred keep their cool, or will they crack under pressure? Bundle up and play along. Sarah hosts trivia nights as Paris Quiz Mistress and Fred Eyangoh is an actor and trivia host based in Paris. Music by Mad98 and production by Célia Brondeau. Do you want to support us? Tip jar here : https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ParisQuizMistress

In the midst of Freeze Frame's incompetence, it's sometimes easy to forget that he was hired on to Unstoppable Industries for a reason, and that he's actually capable of the job he's really there for. It's also easy, in the case of the aggressor, to forget that history often doesn't look as generously at the party who threw the first punch. Unstoppable Industries has been struck, but now the retaliation carries the full force of Heaven.

Artificial Intelligence is once again the antagonist in the sci-fi thriller, "Mercy." Set in the crime-ridden near future, Chris Pratt plays a detective on trial for his wife's murder. He has 90 minutes to convince an A.I. judge, played by Rebecca Ferguson, of his innocence. While it gets a bit goofy and stretches credibility to the limit, “Mercy" gets to its over-the-top climax in an entertaining manner. The gentle British drama "H is for Hawk" is based on an acclaimed memoir. Claire Foy plays naturalist Helen Macdonald who spent a year training a goshawk. She used the experience to cope with the death of her father and her own clinical depression. “H is for Hawk” is relatable, thanks to Foy's performance, but never quite soars. Another strong performance from Maika Monroe can't save the depressing crime thriller, "In Cold Light." Monroe plays a drug dealer recently released from prison who wants back in the game but comes into conflict with mobsters and crooked cops. Good guys are hard to find here. "In Cold Light” is a little too cold and a little too calculated. The two-part HBO Max documentary "Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man" is a funny, loving and sometimes critical look at life of the legendary comedian and filmmaker from director/interviewer Judd Apatow. Brooks, who is both revered and reviled for his low-brow comedies like "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein" is a natural performer who may not always be candid in his interviews, but he's always entertaining. A lineup of famous comics shares their adoration, and some family members share their criticism. Overall, “Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man” is a worthwhile overview of a remarkable life.

Nicolle Wallace on Donald Trump's threats to take over Greenland - a Danish territory - using the United States military.For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewh For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's double feature time for fans of stalwart actor Ralph Fiennes. "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is the fourth installment in the horror series about a zombie infection. Fiennes plays a doctor who confronts human evil worse than that exhibited by the zombies. While gripping, well-made and genuinely scary, its graphic and sadistic violence approaches the level of torture porn. Fiennes pops up again in a movie that couldn't be more different. In the gentle comic drama "The Choral," he plays a conductor in a small English village mounting an amateur performance of the Edward Elgar piece “The Dream of Gerontius” while struggling with the challenges of WWI. “The Choral” is well crafted, but very lightweight. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck team up once again for the taut and intense Netflix crime thriller, "The Rip." Inspired by a true story but highly fictionalized, it's about a team of Miami drug agents who stumble upon a stash of $20 million in cartel drug money. The discovery sews distrust between the agents as they are forced to decide what to do with the cash, resulting in a lot of violence and intrigue. Fans of the genre will enjoy the action of “The Rip,” as well as the challenge of figuring out who the good guys are...if there are any. In the bizarre true story "Dead Man's Wire," Bill Skarsgård plays a troubled man who took a bank executive hostage over a disputed mortgage issue, forcing the media to cover the standoff. In a bit of stunt casting, “Dog Day Afternoon” star Al Pacino shows up in a supporting role. While it generates a certain level of tension, this thriller from filmmaker Gus Van Sant is really a sober study of utter desperation.

In the very adult comic drama "Is This Thing On?" Will Arnett plays a man who tries out standup comedy as a way to cope with his impending divorce. Strong performances by Arnett and Laura Dern propel this empathetic tale, well directed by Bradley Cooper, who also has a funny supporting role. A number of noted comics appear as cynical versions of themselves. While fictional, the movie inspired by the true story of British standup comic Jim Bishop. Arnett's foul-mouthed comedy material isn't really all that funny but still rings true. "Is This Thing On?" should appeal to those not easily offended. What's really being said when estranged family members engage in awkward 'small talk?' Indie film darling Jim Jarmusch offers a suggestion in "Father Mother Sister Brother," three unrelated stories of family dysfunction. The strong cast includes Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling and Cate Blanchett. Surprisingly, this restrained and subtle drama was the big winner at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. The talented cast helps a lot, but “Father Mother Sister Brother” is one that will probably only appeal to fans of Jarmusch's slow, low-key style. Lucy Liu's impressive performance is the main draw of the excruciating true story "Rosemead" which is based on a 2017 article from the Los Angeles Times. Liu plays a widow suffering from terminal cancer who is forced to decide what to do with her teenage son who's struggling with schizophrenia. The intent is admirable, and the execution is competent enough. But “Rosemead” is a hard watch that offers no easy answers. It's tragic and depressing in equal measure.

Happy New Year. It's time to look back and name my top ten movies, the cream of the cinematic crop for 2025. 10) THE SECRET AGENT is an oddly structured but involving Brazilian paranoia thriller set during that country's political strife in 1977. 9) WEAPONS is an extremely original and genuinely unnerving horror chiller about 17 children who mysteriously disappear from the same grade school class. 8) IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT is a harrowing, secretly filmed Iranian drama about former political prisoners who kidnap a man they believe was their tormentor. 7) THE LIFE OF CHUCK is a thoughtful philosophical and ultimately life affirming comic drama about a terminal cancer victim but told in reverse chronological order. 6) BLACK BAG is a clever and twisty drama that plays like “Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf?” but with spies. 5) MARTY SUPREME is an offbeat character study about a brilliant but manipulative and conceited ping pong champ, set in the 1950s. 4) SENTIMENTAL VALUE is an insightful Danish drama about a filmmaker who tries to make up with his estranged daughters by making a film about his family. 3) HAMNET tells an absorbing speculative tale about William Shakespeare and his wife whose personal tragedy inspired his most acclaimed play, “Hamlet.” 2) SINNERS is a grisly vampire film that's really about racism, Jim Crow, the Blues…and much more. 1) ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is a wildly entertaining thinking man's action film dealing with wannabe revolutionaries. Smart and skillfully made, it's the best film of 2025.

Freeze frame Christmas I. Employers II. Parents & Grands III. Children IV. Church family V.  Reunion hope 

(00:00) The conclusion of the week's TWO Stats ONE Lie! Plus, FREEZE FRAME!(20:49) The Email Bit!(35:20) THE STACKPlease note: Timecodes may shift by a few minutes due to inserted ads. Because of copyright restrictions, portions—or entire segments—may not be included in the podcast.CONNECT WITH TOUCHER & HARDY: linktr.ee/ToucherandHardyFor the latest updates, visit the show page on 985thesportshub.com. Follow 98.5 The Sports Hub on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Watch the show every morning on YouTube, and subscribe to stay up-to-date with all the best moments from Boston's home for sports!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's now Freeze Frame and Flux in the spotlight without any help from Kimon. In spite of however they may have felt about Kimon, he had a way of driving things forward and pushing major events to the next step. Now the group must move at Freeze Frame's pace, on Freeze Frame's terms, and there's something a little more... incentive-based when he has complete control.

On this episode of Post Concert Depression: The Podcast, host Jessica Nelson sits down with Ginger Winn for a heartfelt conversation about her new album Freeze Frame, the creative process behind her music, and her unique path from pastry chef to musician. Speaking about her life in Cape Town, Ginger opens up about navigating the loss of her father, the weight of grief, and how those emotions have shaped both her artistry and her healing. It's an intimate look at transformation, resilience, and the power of music to capture life's most fragile moments.

RUNDOWN   We've got full-on playoff fever! Mitch transforms into “Mr. Playoffs,” breaking down worst-case scenarios, magic numbers, and the Mariners' path to clinching the AL West, the No. 2 seed, and even the slim shot at the top seed. From playoff math to the weekend's biggest headlines on the field — the Seahawks crush the Saints 44–13 behind special teams fireworks and a near-perfect day from Sam Darnold. Mitch is joined by Brady Farkas and Joe Doyle to break down one of the most cathartic series in Mariners history — a sweep of the Astros in Houston. The trio cover dominant starting pitching, Victor Robles' season-saving catch, and Brian Wu's ace-level performance despite injury concerns. Mitch, Jacson Bevens and Brady Henderson break down Seattle's 44–13 demolition of the Saints. The discussion includes Sam Darnold's near-perfect day, a record 95-yard punt return by Tory Horton, and another statement from Mike Macdonald's defense despite missing key starters. Mitch and Rick Neuheisel dive into a loaded week of college football, from Nebraska's collapse to Washington's upcoming showdown with No. 1 Ohio State. Rick shares why Husky QB Julian Sayin is already on his Heisman radar, reflects on his emotional return to Husky practice, and explains where UW must hold up against the Buckeyes. They also preview Oregon–Penn State, Alabama–Georgia, and talk Clemson's stunning stumble, before Rick makes his Week 5 pick.   GUESTS   Brady Farkas | Host, Refuse to Lose Podcast (Mariners on SI) Joe Doyle | MLB Draft & Mariners Analyst, Over-Slot Substack Brady Henderson | Seahawks Insider, ESPN Jacson Bevens | Writer, Cigar Thoughts Rick Neuheisel | CBS College Football Analyst, Former Head Coach & Rose Bowl Champion   TABLE OF CONTENTS   0:00 | Mr. Playoffs: Mariners' Magic Number Math Gets Real 24:11 | BEAT THE BOYS - Register at MitchUnfiltered.com 27:25 | Seahawks Roll, Mariners Sweep, and Huskies Brace for Ohio State 48:03 | GUEST: Mariners No-Table; Sweeping Houston, Woo's Injury, and Cal's MVP Push 1:25:15 | GUEST: Seahawks No-Table; Darnold Shines, Defense Dominates, Special Teams Explodes 1:51:55 | GUEST: Rick Neuheisel; on Huskies' Big Test, Ducks at Penn State, and College Football Chaos 2:35:33 | Other Stuff Segment: John Denver's hometown mystery and the 351 area code in Massachusetts, Dennis Leary's Worcester roots, the formation of the J. Geils Band and their hits Freeze Frame, Love Stinks, and Centerfold, Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw's retirement and Hall of Fame résumé, Kyler Murray's social media misstep in a Michael Vick jersey, a bizarre disqualification at the US Mid-Amateur golf championship involving Mercer Island's Paul Mitzel, a scandal at the World Stone Skimming Championship in Scotland, Stanford basketball's surprise five-star commitment from Aziz Olajuwon, SeaTac Airport ranking 17th out of 20 major airports, and frustrations with inconsistent TSA rules across airports, before moving into RIPs: Robert Redford, and former Cowboys linebacker D.D. Lewis, remembered for saying Texas Stadium had “a hole in the roof so God can watch His favorite team play,” at 79. HEADLINES include researchers in Norway suggesting the first butthole might have been for sperm instead of poop, a highway spill of M&Ms, NASA denying a three-eye atlas is an alien ship, and two teenagers in China ordered to pay $300,000 after peeing in a restaurant hot pot.

HELLO KRAKENS HOW THE HELL ARE YA..... SO MR RICK KEPT FREEZING BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT. WE TOUCHED ON THE SHOW WEDNESDAY ON NETFLIX.AND WE TRY AGAIN AND FAILED ON STUMPING MR RICK AND OTHER STUFF SO LISTEN IN.spreaker.com/user/jtproject https://www.facebook.com/JTMRRICK2020 https://www.facebook.com/ProjectKraken2022 https://www.facebook.com/splinteredrealitywww.facebook.com/groups/allthingscoffee/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/jtwellenessjukebox  https://www.facebook.com/marriedtothemission www.facebook.com/groups/dazzlingnailswithgail/ https://youtube.com/@jtproject72?si=P8inweLWtuHIge9R https://www.farmasius.com/johncarrick farmasius.com/gailcarrickBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jt-project--2275817/support.

Send us a textWelcome to Guess the Year! This is an interactive, competitive podcast series where you will be able to play along and compete against your fellow listeners. Here is how the scoring works:10 points: Get the year dead on!7 points: 1-2 years off4 points: 3-5 years off1 point: 6-10 years offGuesses can be emailed to drandrewmay@gmail.com or texted using the link at the top of the show notes (please leave your name).I will read your scores out before the next episode, along with the scores of your fellow listeners! Please email your guesses to Andrew no later than 12pm EST on the day the next episode posts if you want them read out on the episode (e.g., if an episode releases on Monday, then I need your guesses by 12pm EST on Wednesday; if an episode releases on Friday, then I need your guesses by 12 pm EST on Monday). Note: If you don't get your scores in on time, they will still be added to the overall scores I am keeping. So they will count for the final scores - in other words, you can catch up if you get behind, you just won't have your scores read out on the released episode. All I need is your guesses (e.g., Song 1 - 19xx, Song 2 - 20xx, Song 3 - 19xx, etc.). Please be honest with your guesses! Best of luck!!The answers to today's ten songs can be found below. If you are playing along, don't scroll down until you have made your guesses. .....Have you made your guesses yet? If so, you can scroll down and look at the answers......Okay, answers coming. Don't peek if you haven't made your guesses yet!.....Intro song: Apollo I: The Writing Writer by Coheed and Cambria (2005)Song 1: Forever Young by Alphaville (1984)Song 2: Freeze-Frame by The J. Geils Band (1981)Song 3: Solitary Man by Neil Diamond (1966)Song 4: Kiss You All Over by Exile (1978)Song 5: Take Me Back to Eden by Sleep Token (2023)Song 6: Further On (Up the Road) by Bruce Springsteen (2002)Song 7: Dark Matter by Pearl Jam (2024)Song 8: The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring (1998)Song 9: Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode (1989)Song 10: The King of Wishful Thinking by Go West (1990)

Ilona Joy Saari, a former showroom model on Seventh Avenue in NYC, is a freelance writer who's worked in many genres, from television/film to essayist to rock'n'roll press to political campaigns.  She was a NY Deputy Press Secretary for President Jimmy Carter, a press liaison for both Jimmy Carter's Democratic Presidential conventions and has written many speeches for celebrities stumping for presidential candidates and women's issues for the Clinton Gore campaigns and First Lady Hillary Clinton. Her essays have been published in newspapers such as the NY Daily News and others across the country and she is a past contributor to HuffPost.  As the author of three novels in her series "Mystery Chronicles of NY Women," she is currently working on her 4th book for the series, titled "Seventh Avenue".  Now living in Ojai California, she is the food and wine columnist for the glossy magazine, Ojai Quarterly and feature writer for the Ojai Monthly. in this episode, Ilona discusses her first book, Freeze Frame, originally written as a screenplay and then expanded into a mystery book… her roots as a New Yorker who loves the city… writing her second novel, White Gloves and Rob Roys, a mystery about a young reporter and four older women, characters who had been on Ilona's mind for many years… feminism and the women's movement… the importance (and challenge) she faces in keeping track of the many threads she creates in writing her mystery novels… how her work in story development and television, especially as a story editor, made it easier for her to write her mysteries… persevering and not giving up… her gratitude for having a supportive husband… and the advice that we first understand what we want to do and then find other women who are successfully doing that.You can learn more about Ilona Joy Saari's books at her author website-> ilonajoysaari.com

Freeze Frame scores a huge victory for the team by getting lifetime access to a box suite at the local baseball stadium! It may not be fighting crime, but it's something the company needs, and the bottom line is what's important. However, it's not quite as important to everyone.

You can't tell a man like Kimon that he can't go do something if it's important to him. He'll find a way, or do it in secret, and is good at that. You also can't really replace exactly what Kimon can do, though Freeze Frame might try by inviting the oddball couple that is Lightshow and Terry to the city.

Peter Wolf is bringing rock ‘n' roll to You Are What You Read this week with his all-new memoir, Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses. Peter Wolf is best known as the lead vocalist of The J. Geils Band. In 1970 the band was signed by Jerry Wexler for Atlantic Records where they went on to release nine influential albums and earned a reputation as one of rock's most exciting live acts. In 1979 they were signed by EMI America topping the charts world-wide with their hit songs “Freeze Frame,” “Love Stinks,” and “Centerfold.” Peter began his career as a solo artist in 1984 with his album, Lights Out. He collaborated with Aretha Franklin, Merle Haggard, John Lee Hooker, and Mick Jagger, among others. His album Sleepless was voted one of the top five hundred albums of all time by Rolling Stone. He currently tours with his band ‘The Midnight Travelers' and will be releasing his ninth solo album in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rockshow episode 213 J Geils BandThe J. Geils Band was a high-energy American rock group known for their fusion of blues, soul, R&B, and rock ‘n' roll. They originally formed in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1967, and were active in various forms through the early 2010s.Members:J. Geils (John Geils Jr.) – Guitarist and namesake of the band.Peter Wolf – Lead vocalist, known for his charismatic stage presence.Magic Dick (Richard Salwitz) – Harmonica player, famous for his wild solos.Seth Justman – Keyboardist and principal songwriter (especially later in their career).Danny Klein – Bassist.Stephen Jo Bladd – Drummer.Musical Style:They started off heavily blues-influenced, drawing on the energy of bar bands and classic R&B, but by the late '70s and early '80s, they evolved into a more pop/rock and new wave-influenced act, without losing their raw edge.Key Albums:“The J. Geils Band” (1970) – Their self-titled debut, blues-heavy and raw.“Bloodshot” (1973) – Broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard charts.“Love Stinks” (1980) – Marked their shift into more commercial rock territory.“Freeze Frame” (1981) – Their biggest success, containing their No. 1 hit.Biggest Hits:“Centerfold” – A massive hit in 1981, spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.“Freeze Frame”“Love Stinks”“Must of Got Lost”“Give It to Me”Legacy:The J. Geils Band earned a reputation as one of the best live acts of the '70s and ‘80s. Their concerts were known for being electrifying, with Peter Wolf and Magic Dick delivering standout performances. They were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but, as of now, haven't been inducted.https://www.jgeilsband.com/https://www.facebook.com/share/1EaRyZvhgM/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/69Mj3u4FTUrpyeGNSIaU6F?si=iAAEdJ-ZQPyWCWn9nWq3xQ https://youtube.com/channel/UCnN6DcaWfcDPXuTNG1TPxPw?si=PgslCRuKrLVYIX_Z#JGeilsBand #ClassicRock #Centerfold#LoveStinks #FreezeFrame #PeterWolf#70sRock #80sRock #RockLegends#OldSchoolRock #BluesRock #rocknroll#RetroVibes #VinylCollection#RockHistory