The Extra Credits

Kelsi and Trey explore the convincing cinematic power of Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers. We also question the narrative’s internal logic with its character studies led by dynamic performances from Zendaya, Mike Faist, and (especially) Josh O’Connor. Then we discuss what makes Guadagnino’s films so compelling, from the bizarre technical motifs, the psychosexual tensions, the

We discuss one of the greatest cinematic representations of apocalyptic realism in Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men. This anti-war parable is covered in historical imagery and dystopian symbolism; a film subverting cautionary tale tropes with one of the most disturbing call-to-action movies ever made. Cuarón provokes contemporary conversations about late capitalism, refugee cri

Kelsi and Trey react and deep dive Alex Garland’s Civil War. While a technical feat, Civil War is politically unchallenging and lacks a nuanced confrontation as an anti-war movie. Thankfully, Kirsten Dunst as a hollowed photojournalist on this road trip to D.C. with her dynamic co-stars Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and Stephen McKinley Henderson keep you invested in an otherwise

Kelsi and Trey discuss the divisive and widely misinterpreted Alex Garland's Men. This surrealist folk horror film uses conventions of the genre to explore the perpetual exploitation of women; depicting an absurd-level of imagery and symbolism specific to patriarchal mythology and the horror genre born out of it. Garland's Men, much like Jordan Peele's Get Out, self-exa

Kelsi and Trey discuss the maze of Alex Garland's Ex Machina. We explore how this sci-fi puzzle tests the audience by provoking questions about constructs, consciousness, selective empathy, and who is guilty of exploiting the power of artificial intelligence. We also talk about Oscar Isaac's dance moves, Domhnall Gleeson's weirdo enegy, and Alicia Vikander's subvers

Kelsi and Trey explore the most emotionally compelling and gripping movie of 2023 in Anatomy of a Fall. The film is being interpreted as a courtroom thriller and a whodunit, but its subversive focus is on the societal pressures and expectations of women, mothers, monogamy—a brilliant interrogation of genre and constructs. Triet imposes imagination on the viewer, much like her lea

Kelsi and Trey explore the movie landscape of 2023 by ranking our 20 favorite movies! This episode doesn't have any major-spoilers and there are tons of recommendations from the year. Time stamps for part 2 of our ranking are below. #10 (09:09) #9 (21:09) #8 (36:55) #7 (44:35) #6 (01:05:00) #5 (01:14:15) #4 (01:29:30) #3 (01:41:37) #2 (01:59:12) #1 (02:08:32) Recap of #20-1 (0

Kelsi and Trey explore the movie landscape of 2023 by ranking our 20 favorite movies! This episode doesn't have any major-spoilers and there are tons of recommendations from the year. Time stamps for part 1 of our ranking are below. #20 (22:00) #19 (34:40) #18 (42:00) #17 (50:27) #16 (59:45) #15 (01:04:30) #14 (01:09:45) #13 (01:19:47) #12 (01:32:30) #11 (01:42:54) Recap of Pa

Kelsi and Trey give their immediate reactions to the 96th Academy Awards! We discuss the highlights of the Oscars, the nuance of Oppenheimer and Poor Things being praised, the complexities of Killers of the Flower Moon and Lily Gladstone being overlooked, the GOAT status of Justine Triet (insert P.I.M.P.), Cord Jefferson taking a shot at the industry, Jonathan Glazer's essentia

Kelsi and Trey discover a throughline of Denis Villeneuve’s ambitious filmography while exploring the radical epic of ‘Dune: Part Two’. This subversive follow up to ‘Part One’ continues its indictment of fundamentalist empires through a grand scale chess game of intergalactic power. Villeneuve’s tonally ambiguous and mysterious adaptation of Frank Herbet’s iconic nove