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Welcome to Feelin' Film. Aaron and Patrick embark on a quest to change the tone of film criticism, one movie review at a time. Discussion is family friendly and centered around positive takeaways and emotional experience more than technical merit. We believe that all art is worthy of some praise and every movie makes us feel something. Tune in and join the conversation.
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Delightful and delicious. While Chalamet's singing isn't up to par, he still embodies the whimsical nature of the famous candy creator. There's so much joy and hilarity in this prequel and it feels like a perfect companion piece to Gene Wilder's original. Follow & Subscribe Aaron Twitter Facebook Letterboxd Patrick Twitter An Original Series Podcas…
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While full of the stunning visual style that we love about Makoto Shinkai's work, the director's attempt at blending Miyazaki-like fantasy and his typical themes of young romance and time travel don't quite coalesce. We appreciate the exploration of national grief over natural disasters and enjoy elements of the road trip journey Suzume goes on, bu…
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Way more drama than comedy, but the satire can be biting, even if it is rendered less effective by perhaps coming too late. Sadly, it's underwhelming how all of the family issues sub-plots don't feel like they coalesce strongly with the main story point and take up most of the runtime. A solid film with strong performances but my experience with th…
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John Woo returns to American cinema after twenty years with a revenge film that features no dialogue and a surprisingly emotional story. The action is solid, though unspectacular, but the film's overall balance of melodrama and underdog ass-kicking combined with a fantastic score and sound design makes for a successful reunion between the director …
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A lower class Oxford student stumbles into the good graces of a wealthy classmate he adores and eventually spends a summer at his family's opulent estate. Not all is as it seems, though. At times deliciously campy and twisted, and at others painfully simplistic and melodramatic, the story plays out much how you'll expect, with provocation after pro…
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For our conversation this week about Sony's newest (and perhaps boldest) film adaptation of the beloved simulation racing video game series, we called in our friends Logan and Micah from The Reformed Gamers Podcast. Neill Blomkamp's film incorporates many of the tropes we are familiar with in sports dramas while balancing reverence for the exciting…
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Disney's delightful newest fairy tale pits a teenage girl and a friendly wishing star against the controlling ruler of a utopian kingdom. It's not quite as magical as their best stories, though, and instead finds its biggest strength in valuable social commentary. Follow & Subscribe Aaron Twitter Facebook Letterboxd Patrick Twitter An Original Seri…
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Joaquin Phoenix in outstanding, though he exaggerates Napoleon so much at times that the film feels like pure comedy, which can be somewhat tonal whiplash when compared to the brutality of the gorgeously shot large-scale battles. What is blatantly clear is that this is not the movie Ridley Scott intended, as it's noticeably choppy; but hey, at leas…
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FF+ The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
12:10
12:10
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For a franchise fan like me, it was a joy to spend time in Panem again. Tom Blyth shines in the central role of Coriolanus Snow, providing a simultaneously tragic and infuriating villain origin story. The strength of this prequel remains the amount of details and history about people and events from The Hunger Games series that it fills in and seei…
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This analog tale with a snappy script and grounded characters provides the warm hug that its audience needs, reminding us that a makeshift family can give a person what they need in the absence of a real one. A perfectly timed Christmas release that we'll be enjoying and being refreshed by for years to come. * Note - full spoilers in effect for ent…
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Incredibly thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and at times awkwardly funny, the film takes a look at a taboo/illegal romantic relationship in a sometimes deadpan and campy way. It's melodramatic like a soap opera and observes the family dynamics of those involved in this strange situation from the POV of an actress preparing for a role in a method, …
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Not so sure about going higher and further, but at slightly over 90 minutes, at least THE MARVELS goes faster! Iman Vellani and Goose are the stars here, but an undercooked main plot and maybe the worst villain the MCU has had yet sink this thrown together mixed bag despite it being a refreshingly diverse female-led superhero flick. Follow & Subscr…
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With fantastic energy, a rousing Alexandre Desplat score, two incredible central performances, and nifty documentary-esque use of archival footage/audio by the first-time narrative directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Diana Nyad's remarkable story of swimming from Cuba to Florida in her 60s is told. It's the kind of extreme sports, crowd-pleas…
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Two vastly different films are covered in this TIFF review episode - Ava DuVernay's adaptation of a New York Times bestseller is a sweeping, educational, and at times tragic, exploration of caste and Taika Waititi's latest comedy is a generic but crowd-pleasing underdog sports story with a surprisingly uplifting element of inclusion. 0:00 - Intro 0…
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Coppola's exquisite filmmaking style and intimate approach to this rather uneasy and abusive romance shows us the non-tabloid side of the iconic pairing's relationship. From the very start it feels like a romantic horror, such a unique and unsettling experience. Showing Priscilla's all too relatable story from a female perspective can be very meani…
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Episode 387: Killers of the Flower Moon
1:00:56
1:00:56
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Scorsese’s impressive (and long) adaptation of Grann’s non-fiction account is an engaging crime story that highlights an insidious historical injustice and encourages reflection. A stronger focus on the Osage people as something other than victims and some toned down cameo performances would be welcome, but this is still a fantastic epic drama. * N…
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It's made for the fans. If you're one of them, you'll probably enjoy the nostalgic experience of seeing a beloved franchise in film form, regardless of the tonal imbalance and general ridiculousness of it all. If you're just coming for a good little slasher-style horror flick, you're probably gonna be very annoyed that it's not scary or bloody at a…
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Martin Scorsese's impressive adaptation of Grann's non-fiction account feels very much in line with the director's family crime stories of the past while highlighting an important American injustice that encourages audience members to reflect. A+ acting work from Lily, Leo, and Bob carry this complex character drama and Prieto's photography is mesm…
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Based off of an article in the New Yorker, Maggie Betts takes a simple and straightforward case and makes a mountain out of a mole hill, amplifying racial undertones of the time period into a place of priority that distracts from what could have been a more compelling courtroom drama. The performances are great and the points being made about poor …
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A captivating take from creator Taylor Sheridan on female strength in military special ops and espionage that treads lightly into melodrama while keeping its focus mostly on the high-stakes mission at hand. It's well-paced with great use of tactics when action is required, but the depth of character building and ideological dilemmas it presents mak…
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John Carney has a way of making the ordinary extraordinary in his heavily musical focused movies. This time around he gives us authentic relationships, cautious optimism, and a great soundtrack to help tell a story about messy mothers and the power music has to bring people together. * Note - full spoilers in effect for entire episode * Follow & Su…
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William Friedkin always loved the gray area and characters who couldn't be defined in just one simple way, and here he masterfully explores that through a trial that forces us to consider mental illness (and specifically how that is defined), ego, and leadership experience as they relate to a major conflict in decision-making between Naval Officers…
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There is no need at all for this film to connect directly back to the original and how it chooses to do so is a complete waste of time (and Ellen Burstyn's talent). But David Gordon Green does a great job of capturing parental fear and the unique angle of dual possessions in girls with parents from different beliefs systems makes this a fresh, alwa…
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This is the story of a composer who is creatively reinvigorated after a romantic encounter with an eccentric tug boat captain, and if that's all it was it might have a chance at being decent enough. But a very serious pivot in central focus midway through creates a strange mishmash of ideas that never works, and some decisions about how to present …
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Gareth Edwards brings big ideas about humanity's war-torn relationship with A.I. and an epic science fiction scale to the screen, but while certainly nice to look at, the film unfortunately doesn't explore anything in an interesting or meaningful way and ends up feeling like a high-budget television movie setting the stage for a series that will ne…
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Visually stunning with plenty of explosive action and an intriguing premise centered on humans seeking revenge for an A.I. nuclear attack, but unfortunately lacking in exploration of its bigger ideas, largely a reskin of STAR WARS, and only somewhat effective emotionally. Could have been, and should have been, so much more. Follow & Subscribe Aaron…
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I'm doing my best to continue finding a connection for each pair of reviews. This time that link is the water. One is the excellent, inspirational and rousing dramatized story of real life super athlete Diana Nyad, who swam from Cuba to Florida in her 60s, and the other is a fantasy tale about a mysterious child with healing powers who washes up on…
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The real life story of Philadelphia everyman Vince Papale and his unlikely journey to professional football player is a bit sanitized by the Disney production, but still covers the great success in an enjoyable manner that captures the heart of what he accomplished and what it meant to those who cheered him on. * Note - full spoilers in effect for …
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FF+ Hit Man/Knox Goes Away (TIFF Reviews)
19:21
19:21
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Whether you like your assassins fake, sexy, and a bit silly or old, grizzled, and seeking redemption, this episode is for you. Glen Powell oozes movie star charisma in Richard Linklater's untraditional rom-com and Michael Keaton directs himself to sleep in a dramatic story of dementia. 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Hit Man 10:03 - Knox Goes Away Follow & Sub…
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FF+ The Holdovers/The Boy and the Heron (TIFF Reviews)
15:03
15:03
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Familiar stories can still be emotionally effective and entertaining, as we see in new work from both Alexander Payne and Hayao Miyazaki. THE HOLDOVERS feels like a simple dramedy that we don't often see, but is charming and touching in equal measure. In Miyazaki's latest fantastical adventure, a boy travels to a magical world and copes with the lo…
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Dever excels in this mostly solo acted and dialogueless film about a loner in a small town who fights against her own anxiety while trying to fend off an alien invasion and protect her home. Strong creepy effects and superb sound design make for taut experience. Follow & Subscribe Aaron Twitter Facebook Letterboxd Patrick Twitter An Original Series…
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FF+ How to Have Sex/Daddio (TIFF Reviews)
18:30
18:30
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This episode's theme is films about women written and directed by women. HOW TO HAVE SEX follows a trio of teenage girls on a vacation partying in Greece, and one of their goals is to get laid. It's a high energy coming-of-age story that oozes authenticity and ends up being powerfully challenging. DADDIO is a two-hander about the conversations a wo…
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FF+ Woman of the Hour/Pain Hustlers (TIFF Reviews)
19:18
19:18
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The Netflix episode! These weren't the only films at TIFF that will be released on the streaming giant's platform, but they are two of the highest profile ones. WOMAN OF THE HOUR is beloved actress Anna Kendrick's directorial debut and she shows incredible command behind the camera in adapting this true crime serial killer story. PAIN HUSTLERS is D…
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FF+ Anatomy of a Fall/The Zone of Interest (TIFF Reviews)
20:30
20:30
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Two surefire contenders for the 2024 Best International Feature Film Oscar, ANATOMY OF A FALL is a high-quality courtroom drama featuring an emotionally complex leading performance and some impressive shifting perspective camerawork during its trial scenes, while THE ZONE OF INTEREST provides a glimpse into the Holocaust from the viewpoint of a Ger…
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COPA 71 is a documentary that covers the rocky origin of women's soccer and history of an incredible international tournament buried by those who discriminated against women in the sport, as told by players who participated in the event themselves. And DUMB MONEY dramatizes the internet-driven GameStop short squeeze event of 2021 where a YouTuber c…
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Celine Song's directorial debut is a beautiful story of friendship and contemplation about the choices we make in life. It is powerfully relatable, thoughtful, and mature in handling a unique relationship dynamic, and the film shows us that it's okay to be sad about the road not taken without having regrets. * Note - full spoilers in effect for ent…
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A journalist mother still grieving over the loss of her husband endures the death of a drug-addicted son and embarks on an investigation alongside his pregnant girlfriend to find the truth behind his murder. Stuck somewhere in-between its taut, dark and gritty thriller framework and its more compelling but infrequent character-driven moments, the p…
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This adaptation of Paolo Cognetti's novel about a lifetime-spanning friendship set in the northwest Italian alps is even better than its excellent source material. Spending time with Pietro and Bruno is as poignant as it is resonant, their lives and the metaphors of this beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking story often inspirational. With a backdr…
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Feelin' Film
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FF+ Ranking the Films of Hayao Miyazaki Part 1: 1979-1995
25:56
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In the leadup to Hayao Miyazaki's new final film, THE BOY AND THE HERON, making its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, I've decided to re-watch all of the director's filmography (directed and written by only, excluding short films and producer credits). In addition to just enjoying the delightful journey throug…
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Two sisters go diving at a remote location. An unexpected landslide sends rocks into the water and pins one of them deep in an underwater cave. Will one sister be able to save the other? It's a solid single location survival thriller premise, but one that is unfortunately handled in a disappointingly bland way. Follow & Subscribe Aaron Twitter Face…
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Bruce Lee's martial arts spy adventure film turns 50 this year so we're celebrating it with a conversation about what makes it so enjoyable and rewatchable, but also why it might be slightly overrated. * Note - full spoilers in effect for entire episode * Follow & Subscribe Aaron Twitter Facebook Letterboxd Patrick Twitter An Original Series Podcas…
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It may be a very adult and vulgar journey as three strays adopt Reggie and help him find his way home to seek revenge on his abusive owner, but it's a non-stop hilarious one that dog lovers will have a great time taking. For me, it's also peak Boston Terrier cinema, which cements it as one of my favorite films of the year. Follow & Subscribe Aaron …
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The Blue Beetle is likely an unfamiliar comic book character to many, so it's a shame that Jaime Reyes' origin story didn't dive more into the decades of mythology that exist. The film's biggest strength lies in its depiction of Latino culture and its family dynamics, but it suffers from horribly uninteresting antagonists and a lack of creativity. …
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Sailing for weeks on a ship with a hungry vampire sounds like a bad idea and turns out exactly how you'd expect it to in this lean telling of "The Captain's Log" chapter of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. The constant atmosphere of dread and exquisite depiction of a late 1800s ship at sea are highlights in a very strong story about trying to survive i…
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Almost every competitive gamer has at one point in their lives wondered what it would be like to do the sport or activity they dominate digitally in real life. For Jann Mardenborough that became a reality when the GT Academy and Nissan provided him an opportunity to go from sim racer to behind the wheel of an actual car. This incredible real life s…
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Episode 379: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
47:26
47:26
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It's new turtles for a new generation, with some twists on origin stories as well for both friends and foe. These teenagers act, talk, and look their age more than they ever have before and a dynamic but raw sketch-like art style makes for a visually interesting cinematic experience. There's plenty of action and jokes to go around and we're glad to…
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Episode 378: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
46:14
46:14
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We've got turtle madness so before enjoying the newest animated adventure of the four ninja brothers next week, we decided to take a look back at a film we absolutely loved when we were both 11 years old. With its practical effects, puppets, and costumes, there's some incredibly charming (and silly) about this version of the property, and we still …
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Feelin' Film
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FF+ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
13:42
13:42
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The skateboarding, pizza-eating teenage mutant ninja turtles are back for a new generation in new animated film. Kicking off what is likely to be a multi-film and TV series franchise, this reboot quickly goes over the origin story and gets right into the dynamic action with the four brothers facing off against mutants that want to rule the world. I…
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Disney has resurrected its ghosts once again for a new live-action cinematic story based on their famous attraction. This time around an unexpected group is locked inside the titular mansion together and must find a way past its creepy spectral inhabitants to get out, but there's an undercurrent of dealing with personal grief, as well. Then we also…
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The movie event of the summer is here and we couldn't just choose one of these great films to discuss, so we're talking about both! Patrick is out on vacation this weekend but Meredith Loftus is filling on to discuss what made Barbenheimer such a phenomenon, what makes Greta Gerwig's colorful satirical comedy so meaningful, and how unique and power…
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