Episode 376: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Rounding out three weeks in a row of mission madness, we dig into the newest entry in Tom Cruise’s blockbuster action spy series. Narratively, this time around we’ve got some notes, and overall feel it missed the depth that some of franchise’s most chilling human villains provided. But even with some issues, the spectacle in incredibly entertaining and the pacing absolutely perfect, resulting in such an exciting and fun experience that we can find ourselves able to forgive this for not quite reaching the Ethan Hunt Hall of Fame.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 375: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

Continuing our immersion in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise over a few weeks, we have a conversation about the franchise’s sixth entry, one that shines for its overall balance of high quality elements. We talk about the addition of Ilsa Faust as a mysterious friend/foe and subtle love interest, how great of an antagonist Solomon Lane and The Syndicate are, and why Ethan’s relationship with his teammates will always make this series special. Plus more, of course, because there are always crazy stunts and intricate set pieces to ooh and aah over, as well.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 374: Mission: Impossible

We’re going back to the beginning (of the movies at least) to start off three weeks of celebrating this outstanding spy series. Tom Cruise instantly becomes the iconic IMF agent Ethan Hunt, we learn about the power of masks, get to see exploding gum, and kick-off a world in which practically everyone goes rogue at some point. This is a very 90s and very De Palma entry in the franchise, but remains one of our most favorites.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 340: A Few Good Men

This week we completely wrap up our “It’s the law!” series with one of our all-time favorite courtroom dramas. This one doesn’t have a single line of dialogue that we’d change and features a ton of awesome examination on the stand. You want the podcast? YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE PODCAST! (But by all means, please give it a listen and try.)

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 333: The Firm

For the next couple of months we will be covering the movie adaptations of author John Grisham’s legal thrillers. With a who’s who of a cast and Oscar-winning filmmaker, this franchise-starter is a somewhat quieter take on the typical cinematic thriller, but one that puts intelligence and relatability above superhuman acts. Also note that this is one of Tom Cruise’s highest running distance totals of his filmography, so of course that means it’s great.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 324: Top Gun: Maverick

“It’s not the mic, it’s the podcaster.” There’s no way around it. We’re humongous life-long fans of the original “Top Gun” and haven’t loved a movie like this in a long time. We gush and thoroughly cover what we feel is one of the best legacy sequels of all-time, as well as talk some about the career of Tom Cruise and how this film speaks about both his future and the film industry. Enjoy.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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“Top Gun” Anthem Epic Version – L’Orchestra Cinematique

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Episode 285: Days of Thunder

We feel the need, the need for speed! No – not that movie, the other one about Tom Cruise going super fast in a vehicle and dealing with trauma while trying to prove he’s the best. We’re not big fans of NASCAR, but this film uses the sport as the backdrop for an exciting and entertaining story that we thoroughly enjoyed discussing.

* Note – full spoilers in effect for entire episode *

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Episode 226: Minority Report

For the month of April, our Patrons chose Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story for us to discuss and this philosophically-focused conversation is the result. Fatalism vs. free will, privacy rights, and super cool not-so-far-fetched technology are among our topics.

Minority Report Review – 0:03:52

The Connecting Point – 1:03:35

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What We Learned This Week: July 21-27

LESSON #1: IT’S TIME TO ACCEPT FAN SERVICE AT ALL LEVELS— I’m finding, more often than not no matter the size and prestige of the film in question, that nods, homages, and little shout outs work 90% of the time.  It’s time to stop frowning upon them unless it’s really, really fruitless. I’m borrowing a paragraph from my Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood review on the topic: 

“Do this critic a favor. If you read one pretentious person bitching about the so-called “fan service” of a popcorn Star Wars movie in one place while praising the throwback accuracy, endless references, and the buffet of cultural callbacks of this or other Tarantino movies, punch them in the face for being a hypocrite (or write them a mean tweet, either one). Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood has massive nostalgia for fan service aimed a different generation at quadruple the rate of the younger genre fare those cinephiles frown upon. Geeky, blatant homage has always been the part of the hodgepodge of Tarantino. It’s an expected calling card, a borrowed ladder, and part of what makes him brilliant. If it’s standing ovation praiseworthy for a so-called auteur like Quentin, then it should be for other filmmakers.”

LESSON #2: BECOME A BETTER MOVIE FAN— Seeing the splashy mix of pop culture and auteur chops dropping from Quentin Tarantino reminds me of this recent short, encouraging article from Matt Goldberg in Collider in Collider pleading “How to Graduate to Being a Better Movie Fan” and another from Tim Dirks called “Tips on Film Viewing” on AMC’s Filmsite  You can’t come into Once Upon a Time.. In Hollywood without a little homework and a wider eyes compared to just another popcorn blockbuster with low, spoon-fed stakes and basic style.  His whole filmography is a great entry-level course in being a better fan and viewer. The more attuned and learned you are to the craft at hand, the more you will notice and appreciate, especially in an epic like the new Tarantino film.  Goldberg’s article gives the modern, social media-connected crowd of today accessible starting steps that don’t require taking some college film class, and Dirks’ column gives easy nuts-and-bolts steps to follow as well. Give both short articles a look.  In Tarantino is too hard, take a step to channel your newfound advice of watching bad films right on over to Patrick Willem’s new reflection on the Joel Schumacher Batman films from his latest video piece:

 

LESSON #3: ADJUST YOUR TECHNICAL SETTINGS ALONG WITH YOUR VIEWING EXPERIENCE— If you’re going to start watching movies better, make sure they look and sound right.  Renowned Willems-recommend film critic Bilge Ebiri wrote an outstanding column entitled “Motion Smoothing is Ruining Cinema” for Vulture.  This echoes Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie’s PSA hoping viewers see their newest Mission: Impossible film properly last summer.  Ebiri and Cruise offer the “why” and the article and embedded video tutorials offer the how.  Follow the tips, especially if you have newer televisions. Do right by the experiences you’re absorbing.  

LESSON #4: TURN UP THE HEAT ON YOUR “NETFLIX AND CHILL” MOVES— Before or after adjusting your TV set, here in the recommendation slot of my weekly column, I got a hearty kick out an article discovery this week from Bustle magazine that floated across the social media currents on the number of “dirty movies” that are on Netflix.  Writer Katherine Cusumano highlights eleven top picks that are kinky and steamy enough versus the streaming service’s porn-free policy.  From Magic Mike (aw yeah!) to Gaspar Noe’s Love (yowzers!), the steam is waiting for your rising thermostat.  Raise your game, couch gymnasts, with some titillating cinematic inspiration.  

 


DON SHANAHAN is a Chicago-based and Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic writing on his website Every Movie Has a Lesson. His movie review work is also published on 25YL (25 Years Later) and also on Medium.com for the MovieTime Guru publication.  As an educator by day, Don writes his movie reviews with life lessons in mind, from the serious to the farcical. He is a proud director and one of the founders of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle and a member of the nationally-recognized Online Film Critics Society.  As a contributor here on Feelin’ Film now for over two years, he’s going to expand those lessons to current movie news and trends while chipping in with guest spots and co-hosting duties, including the previous “Connecting with Classics” podcasts.  Find “Every Movie Has a Lesson” on Facebook, Twitter, and Medium to follow his work.  (#109)

FF+ Glass, Superman Double Feature, and Spider-Man

In this week’s episode of FF+ Aaron reviews M. Night Shyamalan’s trilogy ending film Glass and then we discuss our theater experience seeing a Fathom Events double feature of the DC Animated films The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen. We also chat some about newly announced projects for Christopher McQuarrie and Dan Trachtenberg, then share our thoughts on the first trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home.

New For You

(Glass) – 0:01:19

(The Death of Superman/Reign of the Supermen) – 0:08:03

In the News – 0:29:04

Trailer Talk (Spider-Man: Far From Home) – 0:38:18


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Music: City Sunshine – Kevin MacLeod

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