Tag Archives: pop culture

ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Scarlett Johansson: Iron Man 2 (2010)

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To celebrate our last week of ScarJo month we’re discussing perhaps one of the worst of the MCU fare, the film that put Scarlett on our radars and Black Widow in our hearts. That’s right, we’re talking about Iron Man 2. It…doesn’t hold up, but not for lack of trying. You’ve got Robert Downey Jr. in top form, Sam Rockwell killing it as usual, and Scarlett Johansson kicking ass and taking names. You’ve even got Mickey Rourke in there hamming it up as the villain and despite having a bit of a mangled role, he manages to make an entrance.

We also discuss Ghost World and Jojo Rabbit in brief, as well as try to figure out why this month’s selections were all over the map quality-wise. It’s a great episode that wraps up a really fun month.

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Scarlett Johansson: Under the Skin (2013)

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Our strange ScarJo retrospective takes a turn for the better as we discuss the Jonathan Glazer film Under the Skin. It’s quite a bit different from the other movies of hers we’ve seen this month and it’s a far cry from her more action-heavy roles. The thing is, it works and her performance really makes this thing pop. If anything, the experiential nature of the film loses a bit in the watch from home. We get into that as well as discuss some of the themes that stood out in the movie, so you probably want to hit that play button ASAP.

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Scarlett Johansson: Lucy (2014)

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We continue our trek upward in our month of ScarJo and reach the Luc Besson oddity Lucy, which we didn’t mind as much this time around. Sure, there are a lot of flaws in this film and as soon as we start tugging at those loose threads the whole thing falls apart, but ScarJo is good in this, Morgan Freeman is entertaining, and the car chase sequence is rather exciting (even if she could have just flown over all the cars).

We also discuss The Avengers briefly, and ScarJo’s run as Black Widow. She has fun in the role, but there’s a particular scene that’s a bit of a sticking point for our hosts. Anyway, there’s a lot here so come join us, won’t you?

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Scarlett Johansson: Girl With a Pearl Earring (2003)

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First Rough Night and then Girl With A Pearl Earring. We swear we didn’t intend to review two clunkers back to back in our month of ScarJo, but here we are. Truth be told, Girl With A Pearl Earring isn’t a bad film and in fact has some really good moments in it. The problem is that everything surrounding those good moments is just…boring. You’ll be happy to know, however, that the painting remains a masterpiece.

We also briefly discuss The Island, from director Michael Bay, and Sing, from Illumination. There’s a lot here, so don’t waste another minute and hit play on this bad boy.

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Scarlett Johansson: Rough Night (2017)

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A new month means a new subject for our retrospective series, and this month we’ve chosen ScarJo. That’s right. We’re following the varied career of Scarlett Johansson. First film on the docket: Rough Night, a movie that tests her comedic acumen and finds her wanting. It’s not like her performance is bad, it’s just that she has nothing to do and doesn’t have any moments that really push her to do anything anyone in the world would consider funny. We had a rough time with Rough Night, folks.

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Dede Allen: The Final Cut (2004)

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We wrap up our month of Dede Allen with a bit of a flop, and for that Jon apologizes. We’re talking The Final Cut, starring Robin Williams, Jim Caviezel, and Mira Sorvino. You would think based off the talent alone that we were in for a treat, but you would be mistaken. The movie is more interested in raising questions than answering them, and after awhile it becomes painfully tedious. Production design is sound, and of course Dede Allen edits the hell out of it.

Bryan and Chewie also discuss 1991’s The Adams Family, which ended up being way more entertaining and featured some really fun editing.

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Dede Allen: The Wiz (1978)

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This week in our Dede Allen retrospective we take a sharp left turn from the tense crime dramas of Bonnie and Clyde and Dog Day Afternoon to the leisurely paced stage musical adaptation of The Wiz. It’s quite the shift and the results are…mixed. There’s a lot to like here, from the imaginative sets, to the strong choreography and impressive musical numbers. There’s also a lot that has us scratching our heads like the rough lighting and that unbearably slow dance number in the middle just before meeting the Wiz. Join us as we attempt to unpack what worked and what didn’t for us and enjoy a wholly unique and compelling take on The Wizard of Oz.

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Dede Allen: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

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Our month of Dede Allen continues as we dive into the film that earned her an Oscar nomination for her powerful editing – Dog Day Afternoon. There are so many amazing things about this film, from Sidney Lumet’s masterful direction to Al Pacino’s intense performance, but it’s Allen’s pacing that really shines here for us. She takes a movie with relatively low action and raises the stakes by cutting at just the right time, or in some cases not cutting at all. With so many stand out moments, it was tough to pick a favorite.

Jon also had the chance to check out The Missouri Breaks, which caps off this series of movies about criminals nicely, although when the film came out no one was having it. But check it, the film stars Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando (rocking an Irish accent like whoa), Randy Quaid, Harry Dean Stanton, and features music by John Williams.

Finally, we discuss some fun movies to pair this with and Chewie blows our minds with a startling revelation.

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Dede Allen: Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

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This month we shift gears from the wacky antics of Joe Dante to the potent editing prowess of Dede Allen, and what better way to do this than with the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde, a masterpiece of editing and style that takes its cues from the French New Wave and gives us a sharp and energetic look at the famous duo. Beatty and Dunaway are absolutely iconic and are joined by a fun ensemble including a young Gene Hackman and a young Gene Wilder.

Friends, we’re in for a treat this coming month!

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ATH Presents: Behind the Hype

Joe Dante: Burying The Ex (2014)

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We bring our month of Joe Dante films to a close with probably one of the weaker films in his arsenal: Burying the Ex. Despite the letdown, there’s still a lot to like here. Anton Yelchin, may he rest in peace, brings energy and nuance to a character that’s difficult to love, and Alexandra Daddario and Ashley Greene steal the show with characters that are awesome, three-dimensional, and written well. It’s the little things that bring the movie down like the brother and some awkward plotting and logic. Is it worth the watch? We give you the scoop.

We also discuss Looney Tunes: Back in Action, as well as the “It’s A Good Life” segment out of Twilight Zone: The Movie, both of which are quite fun and really showcase that Dante chaos we’ve come to enjoy through our month of Dante.

What an absolute treat this month has been.

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