Category Archives: Good movies

06.08.18
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OCEAN’S 8, TOTAL RECALL, HEAT, and (not) HEREDITARY on Episode #204

Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, and Sarah Paulson sit on opposite sit on opposite sides of a New York subway car looking badass in Ocean's 8.

It may follow franchise conventions a little too closely, but OCEAN’S 8 is still a lot of fun.

This week, Kris teases with some tasty tidbits about HEREDITARY (2:58) that don’t give anything away, tabling that conversation for when all of the hosts have seen it. (Do see it yourself before then, though!) Then, Evan and Dave revisit old favorites: TOTAL RECALL (7:15) and HEAT (18:14) respectively, delivering some choice observations that come from repeat viewings. Was it all a dream in TOTAL RECALL? What exactly is this “cowboy” business all about in HEAT? Listen to find out! Then it’s on to the main event: OCEAN’S 8 (29:45), a totally fun heist flick full of terrific stars doing what they do best. Though technically a sequel to the OCEAN’S movies of yesterdecade, it charts its own path and will charm its way into your good graces thanks to its dedicated cast and solid screenplay. Could it have benefitted from Soderbergh’s direction? Maybe! Is it a blast anyway? Hell yeah!

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06.01.18
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UPGRADE, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, ADRIFT, and DEAD CALM (briefly) on Episode #203

Logan Marshall-Green cries out in pain from stabbing his own hand in the sci-fi movie Upgrade.

Logan Marshall-Green stars as Grey, a paraplegic man given a second chance to walk so he can avenge his wife’s death in the sci-fi flick UPGRADE.

This week kicks off with a special edition of Riedel’s Crewind, as Dave and Evan talk WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (4:12), the Mr. Rogers documentary that has been charming critics and audiences the world over. Next up, Kris talks ADRIFT (14:18), a true story starring Shailene Woodley as a young woman left to fend for herself and her injured partner after a hurricane destroys their boat. It’s a tad uneven, but the sheer physicality of Woodley’s performance and the fascinating focus on just how taxing survival can be. This leads Dave to quickly recap DEAD CALM (25:08), before Dave and Evan wrap things up with gritty, violent, and inventive sci-fi flick UPGRADE (31:02).

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05.25.18
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FIRST REFORMED, ON CHESIL BEACH, BYE BYE GERMANY, Michael Mann’s THIEF and Keeping Up with the Jensons on Episode #202

Ethan Hawke dressed as a minister in a church with his lips pursed in Paul Schrader's movie First Reformed.

Ethan Hawke goes to some dark places as a minister in Paul Schrader’s FIRST REFORMED.

We RARELY make mistakes on Spoilerpiece, but when we do, we don’t cower or deny it. WE OWN IT, MAN. So we start off Episode #202 with a correction (2:59) regarding our DEADPOOL 2 segment from Episode #201. Then it’s “Keeping Up with the Jensons” because Kris saw SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (4:39)! Next it’s new movie time. Dave fills Kris and Evan in on Paul Schrader’s FIRST REFORMED (7:25), Evan gives everyone the skinny on BYE BYE GERMANY (17:05), and Dave spoilerpieces one of the saddest movies he’s ever seen, ON CHESIL BEACH (26:53). Finally, Kris and Dave talk about Michael Mann’s THIEF (37:20), which they both saw for the first time. And if you love the show, don’t forget to join our Patreon! Go to the Patreon website and search for “Spoilerpiece.” Kisses!

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05.18.18
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SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, DEADPOOL 2, DISOBEDIENCE, and GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT on Episode #201

Alden Ehrenreich in Solo: A Star Wars Story looking skeptically at Woody Harrelson while Chewbacca stands in the background looking the same way with his head tilted.

As we suspected Alden Ehrenreich makes for a terrible Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Here we are at episode 201, kids! We made it! Evan kicks the show off with a Crewind of GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT (3:04), a 1947 film about anti-Semitism starring Gregory Peck. Kris follows up with DEADPOOL 2 (11:14), a movie that Kris feels differently about from most critics. Then Dave and Evan go into DISOBEDIENCE (26:19), director Sebastian Lelio’s English-language debut starring Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, and Alessandro Nivola, about, as New Order might say, a bizarre love triangle. Finally, Evan and Dave get into SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (36:07). Who liked it? Who didn’t? By the way, there are tangents aplenty in this episode.

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05.04.18
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TULLY and IFFBoston Roundup on Episode #199

Charlize Theron stares off into the distance at a wedding in the film TULLY.

Charlize Theron plays a mom struggling to maintain her sense of self in Jason Reitman’s TULLY.

This week, Evan runs us through his experiences with the best of IFFBoston (4:18) — EIGHTH GRADE, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, many great docs. But it’s the not-so-best — THE THIRD MURDER — that intrigues Kris with its strange premise and stranger name. Kris then gushes about his experience hosting the Q&A for the new Agnostic Front documentary THE GODFATHERS OF HARDCORE (22:57). Then Dave and Kris try and fail to run out of nice things to say about TULLY (29:38) which is a damn good movie. This Diablo Cody-Jason Reitman team-up starring Charlize Theron and Mackenzie Davis is making news for its controversial depiction of mental health, but as a mature yet funny statement about reconciling your past self with your present reality, especially after having children.

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04.27.18
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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, SUPER TROOPERS 2, YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, and MARATHON MAN on Episode #198

Poster showing characters in Avengers: Infinity War with Iron Man and villain Thanos at the top center.

The stories of 18 Marvel movies come to a head with AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR.

It’s a hot week o’ movies over at Spoilerpiece. First we head into a Crewind segment, and Evan fills Kris and Dave in on his recent viewings of INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (3:58), which he’s seen a million times, and MARATHON MAN (6:33), which is his first viewing. Then we keep up with the Jensons for a brief talk about SUPER TROOPERS 2 (14:41), and Riedel has a recap with the Joaquin Phoenix thriller YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE (20:07). Question: Is the title of this Phoenix movie a reference to I’M NOT HERE? Let us know! Finally, Kris and Dave fill Evan in on the big new release of the week: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (28:56). How does it stack up against other recent Marvel movies? Don’t forget to check out our Patreon where you can get all kinds of goodies for being a totes rad patron.

Listen:



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04.13.18
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RAMPAGE, TRUTH OR DARE (HORROR!), LEAN ON PETE and rapid-fire recaps of THE DEATH OF STALIN, CREEP 2, and HAPPY DEATH DAY on Episode #196

Dwayne Johnson with the giant ape George in RAMPAGE.

Dwayne Johnson stars in RAMPAGE, a ridiculous video game movie that plays things straight.

This week’s episode begins with another installment of Keepin’ Up with the Jensons (2:43), in which Kris dives into his cinematic weekend with three very different movies that he recommends nonetheless: THE DEATH OF STALIN, CREEP 2, and HAPPY DEATH DAY. Then it’s Dave with LEAN ON PETE (16:51), a very well made sad-animal-sad-people saga about a runaway teen with nothing but his horse. Then it’s back to Kris with RAMPAGE (27:40), another movie about the bond between beast and man, this time between a monster gorilla and The Rock as they battle obstinate military men, evil corporations, and the other monsters they produced. It’s as good as this movie can conceivably be, and really, what else can you ask for? Closing out this episode is TRUTH OR DARE (43:20), yet another risky endeavor from Blumhouse that capitalizes on a clever story and terrific cast to make its flaws of secondary concern so the audience can just focus on having a good time.

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04.06.18
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A QUIET PLACE (HORROR!), FINDING YOUR FEET, and THE INSULT on Episode #195

Emily Blunt hiding in a bathtub in A Quiet Place.

Emily Blunt seeks shelter in a bathtub to avoid the frightening monsters in A QUIET PLACE.

On this week’s show, three good movies with nary a stinker among them! First up is Dave with FINDING YOUR FEET (3:31), a totally predictable, utterly cliche English comedy-drama that will nonetheless reel you in with its sincerity. Next up, Dave and Kris dig into THE INSULT (19:26), this year’s Best Picture nominee from Lebanon, a film in which a minor dispute between a Christian mechanic and a Palestinian engineer in Beirut threatens to reopen wounds of the Civil War. It boasts phenomenal performances and a raw emotional core that carry it past some conventional narrative choices. Last up is A QUIET PLACE (37:58), John Krasinski’s new horror film in which a family’s only hope of survival is to remain completely silent among monsters who hunt by sound. It’s tense from the very first moments, genuinely inventive with its premise, and utterly gripping.

Listen:



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03.09.18
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The Oscars and A WRINKLE IN TIME with guest Kristen Halbert on Episode #191

Oprah in A Wrinkle in Time

Oprah the All-Powerful is fantastic in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

Things are a bit different this week at Spoilerpiece as technical glitches force us to employ some improvised recording methods, so please excuse any changes in pacing/audio quality! Dave couldn’t be here, so Evan and Kris are joined by special guest critic Kristen Halbert of Forces of Geek, who describes some rather unique experiences at Comic-Con. Kris fell short of his goal to watch everything nominated for an Oscar in every category — 51 out of 59 films — and gives his thoughts on some of the categories he felt were a bit off (5:23). Then it’s on to the main event, A WRINKLE IN TIME (14:02), Ava DuVernay’s valiant and heartfelt attempt to adapt the unadaptable and beloved novel by Madeleine L’Engle. All three hosts were touched in some way, and though it occasionally suffers from odd pacing and other issues, it can be quite dazzling and powerful when it works. A definite see!

Listen:



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And of course, for your viewing pleasure, Evan and Kris sharing a microphone after some technical difficulties.

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02.23.18
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GAME NIGHT, THE LEISURE SEEKER, LOVING VINCENT, THE BOSS BABY, and PACIFIC HEIGHTS on Episode #189

JASON BATEMAN as Max and RACHEL McADAMS as Annie lay in the middle of the street in GAME NIGHT.

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams take cover in the surprising action comedy GAME NIGHT.

Hello there! On this week’s episode, Evan and Dave run us through quintessential early ’90s psycho stalker flick PACIFIC HEIGHTS (5:04) that lets Keaton be Keaton. Next up, Dave unleashes his disdain for the pointless and needlessly infuriating THE LEISURE SEEKER (17:19), which thankfully no one is going to see anyway. Then it’s on to Kris, who watched two films nominated for Best Animated Feature, THE BOSS BABY (24:41) and LOVING VINCENT (30:48). He hated one and tolerated the other. Guess which is which — then flip that guess, and that’s the correct answer. Last up is the main event, GAME NIGHT (33:55), which has massively undersold just how funny and exciting it is through awful, horrendous trailers. It’s the rarest of all movies: an action-thriller-comedy where all three components work!

Listen:



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