GROUCHO REVIEWS film critic PETER CANAVESE reviews the new movies on CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW (11-14-24) SCREEN SCENE with program host TIM SIKA -- (in theaters, if not specified) including ﻿ELEVATION; RED ONE; BIRD; ﻿PAPER MOON [4K][Criterion Collection Blu-ray]; ZODIAC (2007) [4K][Paramount Home Video]; ﻿﻿WHITE CHRISTMAS [4K][Paramount Home Video]; ROSELAND [Cohen Media Group] and ﻿﻿MERCHANT IVORY: The Documentary [Cohen Media Group].

SCREEN SCENE MOVIE REVIEWS (PETER CANAVESE) Groucho Reviews (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW)

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW -- 11/21/24

THIS WEEK'S SHOW:  The truth is in there, somewhere.

A successful and respected television documentary journalist is forced to confront a dark incident from her past when she appears in a novel written by the father of a boy she let drown 20 years earlier. DISCLAIMER* is a 7-episode limited miniseries written and directed by our first guest, Alfonso Cuarón [ROMA; GRAVITY; CHILDREN OF MEN].

Now on Blu-ray:  Max is a 25-year-old aspiring novelist, living in London and paying his dues working as a freelance escort under the pseudonym Sebastian and using his experiences to fuel his stories. What begins as a few furtive meetings soon becomes a nocturnal double life. SEBASTIAN is the film  and zooming in are writer/director Mikko Mäkelä (A MOMENT IN THE REEDS) and actor Ruaridh Mollica.  

Plus, "Screen Scene" movie reviews (in theaters, if not specified) including ﻿﻿EMILIA PEREZ [Netflix]; ﻿﻿A REAL PAIN; THE PIANO LESSON [Netflix]; GLADIATOR II; ﻿﻿BONHOEFFER: PASTOR. SPY. ASSASSIN; ﻿ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT; BLITZ [Apple TV+]; BREAD AND ROSES [Apple TV+]; ﻿﻿HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: The Complete Second Season [4K][Warner Home Entertainment]; ﻿﻿NORTH BY NORTHWEST [4K][Warner Home Entertainment]; BLAZING SADDLES [4K][Warner Home Entertainment]; THE TERMINATOR [4K][Warner Home Entertainment]; ﻿﻿THE INTERN [4K][Warner Home Entertainment]; ﻿VACATION [4K][Warner Home Entertainment] and ﻿﻿TAG [4K][Warner Home Entertainment].

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This week's featured soundtrack: RED ONE (music by Henry Jackman) [Sony Music]

ALFONSO CUARON (Disclaimer) + SEBASTIAN + NEW REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 11-21-24

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW -- 11/28/24

THIS WEEK'S SHOW:  Dreams... non-celluloid ones.

Anora is a Brooklyn erotic dancer/sex worker who, one day, meets the childish son of a Russian oligarch and marries him with fairy tale impulsiveness. But then, his parents fly to New York, hellbent on putting an end to the dream. ANORA is the latest film from Sean Baker (TANGERINE, THE FLORIDA PROJECT),  and we're joined by  breakout lead actor Mikey Madison.

Now on Blu-ray:  A 21-year-old construction worker in New Mexico working odd jobs to get by. When he takes a job at a ranch, he finds welcomed by a vibrant community of queer rodeo riders exploring their own conception of the American dream. NATIONAL ANTHEM is directed and co-written by Luke Gilford and follows on from his 2020 biograph of the same name, comprising photographs documenting the queer rodeo subculture.  

Plus, "Screen Scene" movie reviews (in theaters, if not specified) including ﻿﻿﻿WICKED Part 1; JOY [Netflix]; ﻿﻿THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ALLEE WILLIS; BEATLES '64 [Apple TV+]; DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS [4K][Universal Home Video]; THE INVASION (2007) [4K][Arrow Video]; ﻿A SIMPLE PLAN [Arrow Video] and ﻿SCALA!!! (Or, The Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the World's Wildest Cinema and How It Influenced a Mixed-up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits) [Severin Films].

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This week's featured soundtrack: LEONARDO DA VINCI (music by Caroline Shaw) [Nonesuch Records]

MIKEY MADISON (Anora) + LUKE GILFORD + NEW FILM REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 11-28-24

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW -- 12/5/24

THIS WEEK'S SHOW:  When real life gives way to something else..

Remember Y2K-- the event that wasn't? In 1999, programmers across the globe scrambled to update systems to avoid a mass crash when clocks hit the new millennium. In the retro-teen comedy-with-horror Y2K, two nobodies crash a big NYE party and... things don't go the way they did in reality! With us are first-time director Kyle Mooney (SNL; BRIGSBY BEAR) and producer Evan Winter-- both also co-writers.

From 2020: Based on Peter Carey's novel, the almost-assuredly-true tale of one of Australia's most notorious figures is spun in TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG, a fictionalized account of the famed 19th century Australian Bush Ranger/bandit Ned Kelly. With his new film THE ORDER in theaters, we return Down Under for our 2020 chat with director Justin Kurzel (MACBETH; ASSASSIN'S CREED).  

Plus, "Screen Scene" movie reviews (in theaters, if not specified) including ﻿﻿﻿MOANA 2; MARIA; NUTCRACKERS [Hulu]; ﻿Music Box: YACHT ROCK: A DOCKUMENTARY [Max]; ﻿NIGHTBITCH; QUEER; GET AWAY; FLOW; THE ORDER; ﻿WATCHMEN: Chapter II [4K][Warner Home Entertainment] and ﻿PULP FICTION Limited Edition Collector's Set [4K] [Paramount Home Video].

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This week's featured soundtrack: WICKED (music by John Powell & Stephen Schwartz) [Republic Records]

Y2K + JUSTIN KURZEL + ALL NEW MOVIE REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 12-5-24

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW -- 12/12/24

THIS WEEK'S SHOW: It's the past! It's the future!

In February of 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were invited to co-host the syndicated daytime The Mike Douglas Show for an entire week, with them selecting all the guests and bringing the counterculture to an entirely new audience. DAYTIME REVOLUTION gleans highlights of that week and peppers them with newly-recorded recollections from some of those shows' participants. We join up with director Erik Nelson (DIARY OF A GRIZZLY MAN; A GRAY STATE).

New to Blu-ray: SLINGSHOT follows an elite trio of astronauts aboard a years-long, possibly compromised mission to Saturn's moon Titan. As the team gears up for a highly dangerous "slingshot" maneuver that will either catapult them to Titan or into deep space, it becomes increasingly difficult for one astronaut to maintain his grip on reality. Zooming in to elucidate on all this space madness is director Mikael Håfström.

Plus, "Screen Scene" movie reviews (in theaters, if not specified) including ﻿﻿﻿DAY OF THE FIGHT; THE END; THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM; ﻿OH, CANADA; THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG; FRANK CAPRA AT COLUMBIA Limited Edition [4K] [Sony Pictures Home Entertainment] and ﻿JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX [4K] [Warner Home Entertainment].

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This week's featured soundtrack: MOANA 2 (music by Mark Mancina) [Walt Disney Records]

ERIK NELSON (Daytime Revolution) +  ALL NEW MOVIE REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 12-12-24

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW -- 12/19/24

THIS WEEK'S SHOW:  Ghosts of Christmas movies past!

From 2003:  You know him from our intermission entertainment: the late author/ Hollywood tour guide Stephen Schochet's short Hollywood Stories. In 2003, Stephen hung with us a bit longer, sharing anecdotes related to his some iconic Christmas movies. 'Tis the season for the HOLLYWOOD STORIES: XMAS MOVIES EDITION!  

From 2010:  A holiday mainstay got wildly reinvented via a radical new big-screen take on the classic THE NUTCRACKER. Originally designed for 3-D, it trades the dream scenario for a journey into another dimension with oversized humanoid toys. Joining us was director Andrey Konchalovskiy (RUNAWAY TRAIN).  

Plus, "Screen Scene" movie reviews (in theaters, if not specified) including ﻿﻿﻿﻿KRAVEN THE HUNTER; CARRY-ON [Netflix]; THE BRUTALIST; ﻿﻿A COMPLETE UNKNOWN; ﻿BABYGIRL; ﻿NOSFERATU; BETTER MAN; THE FIRE INSIDE; ﻿BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE [4K] [Warner Home Entertainment] and ﻿GALAXY QUEST [4K] [Paramount Home Video].

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This week's featured soundtrack: NIGHTBITCH (music by Nate Heller) [Hollywood Records]

HOLIDAY EDITION (2024) + ALL NEW MOVIE REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 12-19-24

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW --  12/26/24 [actually 12/30 - KSJS-only]

THIS WEEK'S SHOW:  It's biopic week!

UNSTOPPABLE is the true story of Anthony Robles, a wrestler born with one leg, but whose indomitable resolve (along with the unwavering support of his mother and coaches) empowered him to overcome adversity and achieve a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling team. Then, the real challenge begins. We meet up with lead actor Jharrel Jerome (MOONLIGHT; WHEN THEY SEE US).

The rollercoaster story and colourful career of British pop superstar Robbie Williams is told with unusual style in BETTER MAN, which takes us from childhood through his teenage stint in the boy band Take That, through the dizzying highs and cavernous lows of fame as a solo artist. And all the while, equating himself as a performing monkey. Sitting down with us are director/co-writer Michael Gracey (THE GREATEST SHOWMAN) and lead actor Jonno Davies (KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE; SPOTLESS).

Then, our "Screen Scene" critic Peter Canavese hand picks, wraps up and ticks off his choices of notable, favorite picks of the past year's cinematic offerings. Yep-- it's time for the BEST FILMS of 2024!

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This week's featured soundtrack: CONCLAVE (music by Volker Bertelmann) [Back Lot Music]

UNSTOPPABLE + BETTER MAN + ALL NEW MOVIE REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 12-26-24

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW host TIM SIKA reviews the latest movies with KIM MCCALLISTER on #TheAfterPartyLive (12-20-24)

-----The Brutalist (**1/2)
-----A Complete Unknown (**)
-----Babygirl (***1/2)
-----Nosferatu (***1/2)
-----#abetterman (***1/2)
-----The Fire Inside Movie (***)

Tim's Streaming Rec: A man on the Inside 👓 (Netflix)

Tim's Classic Movie Rec of the Week: Miracle On 34th Street  (1947) 

Heard live Fridays at 1:30pm Pacific on The After Party LIVE! on YouTube and available recorded thereafter.  Please consider subscribing for free ‪#theafterpartylive

Film Critic TIM SIKA talks MOVIES (12-20-24) w/KIM MCCALLISTER on THE AFTER PARTY LIVE! (You Tube)

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW --  1/6/25 

THIS WEEK'S SHOW:  They're getting awards attention...

SEPTEMBER 5 recounts the Munich massacre: the terrorist attack which occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Germany from the perspective of the ABC Sports crew and their coverage of the events as they were unfolding in real-time. Co-writer-director Tim Fehlbaum & actor John Magaro talk about their powerful docudrama.

Set in London, Mike Leigh's drama HARD TRUTHS follows the plight of a severely-depressed, hyper-sensitive middle-aged woman named Pansy and her relationship with her family: her perpetually-jovial sister Chantelle and her exasperated husband and son. We sit down with lead actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste and one of the best performances of 2024!

Then, "Screen Scene" movie reviews including ﻿﻿WALLACE & GROMIT: VENGEANCE MOST FOWL [Netflix]; MUFASA: THE LION KING; LOS FRIKIS; THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO; HARD TRUTHS; THE ROOM NEXT DOOR; THE LAST SHOWGIRL; SEPTEMBER 5; THE ADDICTION [4K] [Arrow Video]; ﻿DEMOLITION MAN [4K] [Arrow Video] and ﻿INCUBUS [4K] [Arrow Video].

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This week's featured soundtrack: THE BRUTALIST (music by Daniel Blumberg) [Milan Records]

HARD TRUTHS + SEPTEMBER 5 + ALL NEW MOVIE REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 1-6-25

CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW -- 1/13/25 [KSJS-only]

THIS WEEK'S SHOW:  

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, NICKEL BOYS chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers in the 1960s-- one of whom was falsely accused of a crime-- who met while attending the Nickel Academy, a brutal, real-life reformatory sunk deep in the Jim Crow South. We met up with director/ co-screenwriter RaMell Ross.

Then, we note two recent passings with two conversations from the archive:

From 2017: If your idea of a Decameron-inspired medieval comedy involves an escaped servant, a convent full of emotionally unstable, sexually-repressed nuns and a lot of temptation, then meet THE LITTLE HOURS-- or at least, its director/ co-writer Jeff Baena (LIFE AFTER BETH; JOSHY)! 

From 2004: Alfie is the epitome of the swinging bachelor archetype-- a charming, swaggering philosopher/womanizer who, after a night of unrestrained passion, is forced to question his seemingly-carefree existence. Director/co-writer Charles Shyer chats about his update of the 1963 film starring Michael Caine.  

Finally, from 2020, for our first COVID Zoom: Based on Jerzy Kosinski's novel, the intense and horrific THE PAINTED BIRD follows a young Jewish boy in war-torn Eastern Europe during World War II who journeys home after his guardian dies, and his encounters with wild characters and unnamable cruelty, all while trying to simply survive. Actor Udo Kier (FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN; DOWNSIZING) joined us to elucidate on acting in a movie that's difficult to watch. 

"Screen Scene" movie reviews return next week!

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This week's featured soundtrack: FLOW (music by Gints Zilbalodis & Rihards Zalupe) [Milan Records]

UNSTOPPABLE + BETTER MAN + ALL NEW MOVIE REVIEWS (CELLULOID DREAMS THE MOVIE SHOW) 12-26-24

TIM SIKA (Celluloid Dreams The Movie Show)

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