This week on the show we Megan and Dave tackled the controversial (to Warner Bros.) <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21651430/">THE PEOPLE’S JOKER</a> (1:53), director/co-writer/editor/star Vera Drew's queer coming-of-age superhero parody. Good sound design, good visuals. What else is good about it? Then Evan, Megan, and Dave talk about the documentary <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30259532/">GIRLS STATE</a> (24:27), directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine’s companion piece to their 2020 doc <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11095742/">BOYS STATE</a>. Following a group of  teenage girls from Missouri as they navigate a week-long immersive democratic experiment, the Spoilerpieces have a range of views. <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-508-it-101741596?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link"> And over on Patreon</a>, in honor of its 90th anniversary, we talk about the classic (?) romcom <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/">IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT</a>.

<description>&lt;p class="p1"&gt;&lt;span class="s1"&gt;This week on the show we Megan and Dave tackled the controversial (to Warner Bros.) &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21651430/"&gt;THE PEOPLE’S JOKER&lt;/a&gt; (1:53), director/co-writer/editor/star&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="s2"&gt;Vera Drew's queer coming-of-age superhero parody. Good sound design, good visuals. What else is good about it? Then Evan, Megan, and Dave talk about the documentary &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30259532/"&gt;&lt;span class="s3"&gt;GIRLS STATE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; (24:27), directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine’s companion piece to their 2020 doc &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11095742/"&gt;&lt;span class="s3"&gt;BOYS STATE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. Following a group of&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class= "s4"&gt; teenage girls from Missouri as they navigate a week-long immersive democratic experiment, the Spoilerpieces have a range of views. &lt;a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-508-it-101741596?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&amp;utm_source=copyLink&amp;utm_campaign=postshare_creator&amp;utm_content=join_link"&gt; &lt;span class="s3"&gt;And over on Patreon&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, in honor of its 90th anniversary, we talk about the classic (?) romcom &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/"&gt;&lt;span class="s3"&gt;IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

This week on the show we Megan and Dave tackled the controversial (to Warner Bros.)  (1:53), director/co-writer/editor/star Vera Drew's queer coming-of-age superhero parody. Good sound design, good visuals. What else is good about it? Then Evan,...

Episode 508: "The People's Joker" and "Girls State"

Dave can't join us, so it’s just Megan and Evan this week! First, Megan reviews Giuseppe Tornatore’s lengthy, yet fascinating documentary <a title="Ennio on IMDb" href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3031654/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3031654/&source=gmail&ust=1711802670996000&usg=AOvVaw2OfKg2SMO6157cwtwFxZqB">ENNIO</a> (2:35) about the life and work of Italian film composer Ennio Morricone. Then we both discuss Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping’s gritty queer thriller <a title="Femme on IMDb" href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20114686/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20114686/&source=gmail&ust=1711802670996000&usg=AOvVaw1_ca3CzexRbD-3akAdQc08"> FEMME</a> (16:18), which captivated us, but left us with some complicated feelings. And in this week’s <a title= "We Need to Talk About Kevin on Patreon" href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/poll-results-we-101293410" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Patreon exclusive audio</a>, we chat about the winner of our poll on women-directed films, Lynne Ramsay’s psychological drama <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242460/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242460/&source=gmail&ust=1711802670996000&usg=AOvVaw18ChAwPMA579WqYyh8Or1X"> WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN</a>!

<description>&lt;p&gt;Dave can't join us, so it’s just Megan and Evan this week! First, Megan reviews Giuseppe Tornatore’s lengthy, yet fascinating documentary &lt;a title="Ennio on IMDb" href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3031654/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3031654/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1711802670996000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OfKg2SMO6157cwtwFxZqB"&gt;ENNIO&lt;/a&gt; (2:35) about the life and work of Italian film composer Ennio Morricone. Then we both discuss Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping’s gritty queer thriller &lt;a title="Femme on IMDb" href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20114686/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20114686/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1711802670996000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1_ca3CzexRbD-3akAdQc08"&gt; FEMME&lt;/a&gt; (16:18), which captivated us, but left us with some complicated feelings. And in this week’s &lt;a title= "We Need to Talk About Kevin on Patreon" href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/poll-results-we-101293410" target= "_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Patreon exclusive audio&lt;/a&gt;, we chat about the winner of our poll on women-directed films, Lynne Ramsay’s psychological drama &lt;a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242460/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242460/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1711802670996000&amp;usg=AOvVaw18ChAwPMA579WqYyh8Or1X"&gt; WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN&lt;/a&gt;!&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Dave can't join us, so it’s just Megan and Evan this week! First, Megan reviews Giuseppe Tornatore’s lengthy, yet fascinating documentary  (2:35) about the life and work of Italian film composer Ennio Morricone. Then we both discuss Sam H....

Episode #507: “Femme” and “Ennio"

On this week’s show, Megan and Dave kick things off with <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14966898/">LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL</a> (2:18), Cameron and Colin Cairnes's nasty found-footage horror thriller starring David Dastmalchian and featuring demonic possession, heads on fire, garroting by necklace, all wrapped up in a nifty 1970s production design. Bonus: Michael Ironsides does the opening voiceover! Then Evan, Megan, and Dave watched director Doug Liman’s update of <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359350/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_q_roadhouse"> ROAD HOUSE</a> (21:03). Jake Gyllenhaal picks up Patrick Swayze’s reins and beats the snot out of (checks notes) countless people. And there’s a man-eating crocodile thrown in for good measure. But is it any good?  <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-506-love-100848734?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link"> Over on Patreon</a>, we talked about <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570728/">CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.</a>, the 2011 comedy featuring recent Oscar-winner Emma Stone.

<description>&lt;p class="p1"&gt;On this week’s show, Megan and Dave kick things off with &lt;a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14966898/"&gt;LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL&lt;/a&gt; (2:18), Cameron and Colin Cairnes's nasty found-footage horror thriller starring David Dastmalchian and featuring demonic possession, heads on fire, garroting by necklace, all wrapped up in a nifty 1970s production design. Bonus: Michael Ironsides does the opening voiceover! Then Evan, Megan, and Dave watched director Doug Liman’s update of &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359350/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_q_roadhouse"&gt; ROAD HOUSE&lt;/a&gt; (21:03). Jake Gyllenhaal picks up Patrick Swayze’s reins and beats the snot out of (checks notes) countless people. And there’s a man-eating crocodile thrown in for good measure. But is it any good?  &lt;a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-506-love-100848734?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&amp;utm_source=copyLink&amp;utm_campaign=postshare_creator&amp;utm_content=join_link"&gt; Over on Patreon&lt;/a&gt;, we talked about &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1570728/"&gt;CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.&lt;/a&gt;, the 2011 comedy featuring recent Oscar-winner Emma Stone.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

On this week’s show, Megan and Dave kick things off with  (2:18), Cameron and Colin Cairnes's nasty found-footage horror thriller starring David Dastmalchian and featuring demonic possession, heads on fire, garroting by necklace, all wrapped up in a...

Episode 506: "Late Night with the Devil" and "Road House"

Megan kicks things off this week with talk of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19637052/">LOVE LIES BLEEDING</a> (2:16), Rose Glass's intense queer thriller starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian. Verdict? LISTEN (ha). Next Dave and Megan review <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14852624/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_STOPMOTION"> STOPMOTION</a> (6:11), Robert Morgan's horror movie starring Aisling Franciosi and featuring lots of compelling stop-motion animation. Megan likes it but wishes it delved deeper, and Dave thinks they should have stopped this motion picture from being a thing. Lastly, Evan, Megan, and Dave all discuss <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30319555/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_4_nm_4_q_FRIDA"> FRIDA</a> (17:37), Carla Gutierrez's dynamic Frida Kahlo documentary that everyone liked. <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-505-2024-100402598?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link"> Over on Patreon</a>, we talk about the 2024 Oscars. If you’re a member, head on over and take a listen. If you'd like to join, for $5 you can listen to bonus episodes each week, and vote in monthly polls.

<description>&lt;p class="p1"&gt;&lt;span class="s1"&gt;Megan kicks things off this week with talk of &lt;a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19637052/"&gt;LOVE LIES BLEEDING&lt;/a&gt; (2:16), Rose Glass's intense queer thriller starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class= "s1"&gt;Verdict? LISTEN (ha). Next Dave and Megan review &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14852624/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_STOPMOTION"&gt; STOPMOTION&lt;/a&gt; (6:11), Robert Morgan's horror movie starring Aisling Franciosi and featuring lots of compelling stop-motion animation. Megan likes it but wishes it delved deeper, and Dave thinks they should have stopped this motion picture from being a thing. Lastly, Evan, Megan, and Dave all discuss &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30319555/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_4_nm_4_q_FRIDA"&gt; FRIDA&lt;/a&gt; (17:37), Carla Gutierrez's dynamic Frida Kahlo documentary that everyone liked. &lt;a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-505-2024-100402598?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&amp;utm_source=copyLink&amp;utm_campaign=postshare_creator&amp;utm_content=join_link"&gt; Over on Patreon&lt;/a&gt;, we talk about the 2024 Oscars. If you’re a member, head on over and take a listen. If you'd like to join, for $5 you can listen to bonus episodes each week, and vote in monthly polls.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Megan kicks things off this week with talk of  (2:16), Rose Glass's intense queer thriller starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian. Verdict? LISTEN (ha). Next Dave and Megan review  (6:11), Robert Morgan's horror movie starring Aisling Franciosi and...

Episode 505: "Love Lies Bleeding," "Stopmotion," and "Frida"

This week Megan and Dave tackle <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13884444/">AMERICAN DREAMER</a> (2:07), and it ain’t pretty. Sure, Peter Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine are fine. And sure, Dave laughed at a few things. But that’s about all the positives we have for it (hoo boy, do we get amped up during this talk!). Then Evan, Megan, and Dave watched <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13452446/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_DAMSEL"> DAMSEL</a> (22:40), the new dragon’s-gonna-eat-ya-but-not-if-I-can-help-it flick starring Millie Bobby Brown as a princess who meets said dragon after a bit of marital subterfuge orchestrated by Robin Wright as her nefarious would-be mother-in-law. Following an uneven opening, we thought it pulled together (even if Dave had some choice things to say about his favorite actor ever, Ray Winstone, who plays Brown’s father). And did we like DAMSEL as much as we liked the similar-ish <a href= "https://spoilerpiece.libsyn.com/episode-417-the-princess-thor-love-and-thunder-the-summoned-and-on-the-3rd-day"> THE PRINCESS</a> from 2022? <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-504-1954-99959517?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link"> Over on Patreon</a>, we talk about the 1954 <a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047034/">GODZILLA</a> in honor of its 70th anniversary.

<description>&lt;p class="p1"&gt;This week Megan and Dave tackle &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13884444/"&gt;AMERICAN DREAMER&lt;/a&gt; (2:07), and it ain’t pretty. Sure, Peter Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine are fine. And sure, Dave laughed at a few things. But that’s about all the positives we have for it (hoo boy, do we get amped up during this talk!). Then Evan, Megan, and Dave watched &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13452446/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_DAMSEL"&gt; DAMSEL&lt;/a&gt; (22:40), the new dragon’s-gonna-eat-ya-but-not-if-I-can-help-it flick starring Millie Bobby Brown as a princess who meets said dragon after a bit of marital subterfuge orchestrated by Robin Wright as her nefarious would-be mother-in-law. Following an uneven opening, we thought it pulled together (even if Dave had some choice things to say about his favorite actor ever, Ray Winstone, who plays Brown’s father). And did we like DAMSEL as much as we liked the similar-ish &lt;a href= "https://spoilerpiece.libsyn.com/episode-417-the-princess-thor-love-and-thunder-the-summoned-and-on-the-3rd-day"&gt; THE PRINCESS&lt;/a&gt; from 2022? &lt;a href= "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-504-1954-99959517?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&amp;utm_source=copyLink&amp;utm_campaign=postshare_creator&amp;utm_content=join_link"&gt; Over on Patreon&lt;/a&gt;, we talk about the 1954 &lt;a href= "https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047034/"&gt;GODZILLA&lt;/a&gt; in honor of its 70th anniversary.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

This week Megan and Dave tackle  (2:07), and it ain’t pretty. Sure, Peter Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine are fine. And sure, Dave laughed at a few things. But that’s about all the positives we have for it (hoo boy, do we get amped up during this...

Episode 504: "American Dreamer" and "Damsel"

Boston film critics Evan Crean, Megan Kearns, and David Riedel help you decide what to watch by sharing spoiler-filled reviews of the latest blockbusters and independent films, across genres, including films by women, nonbinary, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC filmmakers.

Opening music: "My Life as a God" by Augean Stables. 
Closing music: "Pants Party" by Oilhead.
Show edited by Otto Klammer.
Logo design by Rita Csizmadia.

Spoilerpiece Theatre

Details

Recent Episodes