Nerd Critic

It's Palm Springs! Plus His Dark Material and Legion, both of which come with the Nerd Critic stamp of approval. Also, a short (and important) announcement at the end. Oh, and we spend the first 7 minutes of the episode talking about hard boiled eggs, just so you're aware.Questions/comments/hatemail? Send it all to ask[at]nerdcriticpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

2:36 - You invitation to the first ever Nerd Critic Movie Night! JOIN HERE - https://discord.gg/DY6UeV35:25 - Introducing our deep dive into Holes44:55 - Spoiler-free review of Project Power (on Netflix)46:32 - Jordan makes an rambling, impassioned recommendation to watch Waco (also on Netflix)51:25 - Q&A - Should Netflix move forward with another live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender?55:10 - The new poll: https://bit.ly/3jYVS1t -- Go vote! Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:ask [at] nerdcriticpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

It's frankly astonishing that it's taken us this long to get around to covering Forrest Gump. And we can't even take credit! This is the movie YOU voted for, and so here we are. 6:48 - Our deep dive into Forrest Gump45:55 - Spoiler-free review of American Pickle47:48 - Jordan recommends Killing Eve50:40 - Q&A - Why doesn't my mother like movies of faith?55:10 - The new poll: https://bit.ly/3jYVS1t -- Go vote! Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:ask@nerdcriticpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

NOTES1:08 - Poll Results4:15 - The deep dive into Honey Boy36:53 - A spoiler-free review of The Old Guard40:18 - A spoiler-free review of Greyhound46:40 - Our short conversation about anime (and why we don't spend much time on it)51:25 - How to be part of the conversation LINKSThis week's poll - https://bit.ly/3jYVS1tShia LaBeouf YouTube musical number - https://youtu.be/o0u4M6vppCI Movie suggestions? Burning questions? Send them to:ask@nerdcriticpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

- Discussing the discussion of banter- The explanation of our break- Updates about what's new in our lives (a lot can change in a month -- mostly for CJ)- Our radical new plans for how Nerd Critic will become an ongoing conversation- Polls! Here's a link to the first: nerdcriticpodcast.com- A breakdown of what to expect from future episodes, and a promise to cut out the boring bits- A totally unnecessary freakout about a problem that was fixed shortly after we finished recording- CJ completely misses a FANTASTIC setup, then recovers...reasonably well(A helpful reminder to listen at 2X speed. It's so much better that way. Trust us.)Twitter: We're back, and we've got big plans. Want to know what they are? That's what listening is for. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

Will this be the very LAST episode of Nerd Critic ever? (No.) In this episode, we talk ourselves out of covering the movie we planned to cover, and then decide to push pause until the theaters reopen. We're proud to have stubbornly (and stupidly) kept the show going for so long without the magic of the silver screen to sustain us, but it's time to take a break. And we'll be back as soon as Tenet hits the theaters, so keep your candle lit for that grand and glorious day. Also, feel free to keep in touch! For the duration of this overdue pause, we'll be collection recommendations for future Off the Shelf episodes, and any other questions or topics you'd like us to spend time talking about. Until next time, remember to keep loving movies like a nerd, and respecting them like a critic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

0:40 - Buddy Lindsey (CJ's big brother) introduces the movie4:25 - Above the line5:30 - The spoiler-free review (the challenge of spoilers in this movie)10:10 - Spoilers ahead16:00 - Jordan thinks he can fix this movie22:00 - Structural problems24:55 - Discussing the idea of empathy for self38:30 - Coming up next week: 7500 on Amazon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

 1:00 - CJ apologizes for his echoey recording, and Jordan apologizes for bad audio last week. Neither of them realize no one cares.3:10 - The timing of this movie4:40 - Above the line (and LOTS of early nerding out over the cast)11:50 - A fantastic easter egg12:40 - The spoiler-free overview15:15 - Jordan burps, and doesn't edit it out18:50 - The movie plays out like a really cool history lesson20:00 - SPOILERS ahead (lots of stuff we loved)24:10 - Flashbacks, music, and vicarious experience28:50 - The point where we finally let go and get sucked into the vortex of Paul's story arc and Delroy Lindo's apocalyptic performance37:50 - Shoutout to The Bridge on the River Kwai40:30 - Time to bring in Black Panther43:00 - Getting the criticisms out of the way, and acknowledging the weaknesses in the fabric of the movie48:30 - The respect this film has for all of its characters, and all of the groups of people they represent56:00 - Next week: Predestination (available to rent) and 7500 (available on Amazon Prime) Th

2:50 - Does CJ's wife work too much?4:30 - James Montague / Andrew Patterson, a first-time writer and director8:00 - Spoiler-free review (you should go watch it!)14:00 - Spoilers ahead!17:20 - Jordan's favorite sequence, deconstructed23:30 - Incredible pacing, especially considering the way it used and relied on audio27:00 - How the story encourages close listening to characters who deserve to be heard29:00 - Shout out to The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), and lots of other sci-fi classics31:15 - Culture of the 1950's33:00 - Some honest criticisms39:00 - The difference between a loose end and an effective hanging question40:00 - The two people we hear the most from are the people who are often not listened to44:30 - Jordan does his best to make sure CJ doesn't get to say anything45:30 - Coming up next week: Uncut Gems and Da 5 Bloods, both available to see on Netflix This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack

Once again, we have a request from a loyal listener. We couldn't have been more excited to talk about this exceptionally entertaining and popular movie. It's actually a little embarrassing that we haven't covered it up to this point. Is this podcast called NERD Critic? Whatever. 0:55 - Rachel Reyes explains why she requested Star Trek6:10 - The meta-data (above the line)9:20 - Baby Thor!9:50 - A very, very brief primer on Star Trek, including CJ and Jordan's (unimpressive) history of Star Trek fandom14:00 - The reason Star Trek was "rebooted"15:00 - Spoilers ahead! (but...come on, it was 11 years ago)18:40 - "This is the Star Trek movie I've always wanted to see" -Jordan20:10 - A shoutout for Megaplex in Jordan Commons22:40 - Things that JJ Abrams is good at: cold opens, first acts, casting, dialog, pacing (his superpower)31:20 - Specific example of great pacing (breaking down a sequence)35:10 - Talking about the characters, the central relationship, and Spock, specifically46:40 - Nero, the other extreme -- K

This is one of those movies that people tend to sleep on, which is unfortunate, because it is not only exceptionally well-crafted, it's also VERY entertaining. We're covering it because it's a Netflix original, and the theaters are still closed. So go stream this and then come listen to us talk about it. 1:00 - Jordan gags on his name4:27 - Above the line7:11 - Spoiler free review11:05 - Spoilers ahead (although, this movie isn't terribly vulnerable to spoilers, so...maybe don't worry about it)12:50 - How to use flashbacks16:20 - Biblical imagery and other stylistic choice21:30 - The planting of thematic flags24:40 - Liberalism and conservatism, in conversation with each other30:30 - Relevance to current events -- the value and necessity of truly listening34:50 - A method of deep listening, and the way to make actual progress39:20 - Next week: Star Trek (2009) and The Vast of Night This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcri

This is a great movie, and this was a really fun episode, but Jordan would like to make the following important note about the recording:Apologies for the low battery fire alarm beeping in the background of this WHOLE episode. I mean what was I supposed to do? Stop recording and go replace the batteries? Instead of just continuing forward and hoping that the mic wouldn't pick it up? Well I was wrong and you can definitely hear it. The whole time. In addition the crying toddlers. Do me a favor? Blame it on COVID-19, the perfect scapegoat of our times. Notes:1:08 - Ayaka Yagi introduces her movie request for this week3:55 - CJ and Jordan give context for watching and rewatching The Edge of Seventeen5:35 - Above the line, and Kelly Fremon Craig's career10:15 - Spoiler free review11:20 - The justification for the R-rating13:00 - Spoiling and nerding15:30 - The dynamic between Nadine and Mr. Bruner19:30 - A discussion of the various dynamics in Nadine's family, and Nadine's character flaws (and her arc)24:55 - Nad

The Lovebirds wastes its two best assets, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, by letting the entire burden of comedy rest on their shoulders. We were both looking forward to this movie a lot, and it turned out to be quite the disappointment. If you're interested, watch the first act, then shut it down and check out some of the other movies we talked about in this episode. 4:00 - Discussing the names above the line6:15 - Our spoiler-free review8:42 - Jordan's theory about how this movie got made11:37 - Spoiling and a little bit of nerding19:20 - Our critical criticisms26:20 - The deconstruction of a representative scene33:30 - Next week: The Edge of Seventeen and The Two Popes, both on NetflixMovies to watch that are better:- The Big Sick- Date Night- Game Night- Neighbors and Neighbors 2 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

Avengers: Infinity War - TWO YEARS LATERRemember that moment in Endgame where they killed Thanos and then there was a title card that was all like, "FIVE YEARS LATER," and we were all like "WHOAH." This episode is kind of like that, but way, way less epic.OK, for real, we started Nerd Critic just over two years ago, right around the time that Infinity War came out (and partly because of it), so that should give you some idea of the importance of this film in Nerd Critic's history. We felt it was a good time to revisit not only the film itself (TWO YEARS LATER), but also our very first episode. Are we any better? Worse? Exactly the disappointing same? See for yourself.2:00 - Our thoughts about our first episode, after registering3:30 - A reminder to listen to this show at 2X speed, and why6:20 - Nerd Critic tropes (making up words, underestimating the runtime of our episodes, man-crushes, and Jordan's rants)9:30 - Revisiting the points we made about Infinity War10:00 - Do comic book deaths matter? (And the vic

Stargirl misses the point of itselfWhile Julia Hart brought a lovely, grounded aesthetic to the cinematic language, the story, the writing, and much of the acting was quite a disappointment. But hey! We found plenty of things to talk and rant about (as always). Enjoy!3:00 - Jordan talks about having read the book many years ago6:50 - Above the line, and some enthusiasm for Julia Hart, and Stargirl being played by actual, successful singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal14:20 - The spoiler free review (it's a reach to get to "fine")19:40 - CJ did the notes!21:10 - SPOILERS! (Although you shouldn't care.)27:10 - Jordan basically just steamrolls into criticisms on the back of a compliment CJ tried to give this movie30:10 - Jordan gets into his MAIN criticism, promises to be brief, and then rants for about 10 minutes on why the movie was an unsuccessful adaptation of the book40:00 - CJ apologizes for agreeing, then explains the disconnect of stakes that don't feel real51:00 - Booksmart is a much, much better represen

We've been wanting to do this movie for so long. Was it worth the wait? Well, you'll have to listen to find out, won't you? We're so good at sales.Notes:2:00 - On not being alone in front of a computer4:26 - Above the line8:10 - Spoiler free review15:27 - Nerding out with spoilers!24:40 - Leveling some criticism (stay in the balloon!)44:00 - What are we talking about next week? Stargirl on Disney+ (and other stuff coming up)46:00 - A special request: Send us an audio file of you explaining a movie recommendation, and we'll cover it. AND you'll be on the episode, making your case! Other movies referenced:- Theory of Everything (the other Felicity Jones & Eddie Redmayne movie)- Lifeboat- Gravity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

Extraction and our 2nd BirthversaryIn this latest Netflix original movie, Chris Hemsworth is a sad god of thunder. While there were serious thematic issues to unpack (and condemn), it was, nonetheless, far better couch fair than we had any right to expect. Plus: a promo for another show! And: a Nerd Critic Birthversary treat!02:00 - Your Brain on Facts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id134791521103:40 - Our conversation about Extraction begins05:20 - Above the line (and particular mention of director Sam Hargrave, an accomplished stunt coordinator)07:40 - Total failure at name pronunciation10:10 - Spoiler free review17:15 - Spoilers ahead! (And lots of nerding out.)30:20 - Thoughts on a rake33:40 - Some criticisms and thematic explorations, including thoughts on the purposes and execution of violence in movies -- "there's no such thing as free mayhem"42:55 - A story made crappier by cynical Hollywood business calculations47:45 - Next week: Aeronauts!48:30 - Our 2nd Birthversary promises51:20 - A fan-ma

The Perks of After LifeThis is the last week or our experimental format, so we figured we'd earned some title gore. If you're still confused, read on! Oh, and for those of you who make it through the first few minutes of this episode, we'll just leave this right here: https://youtu.be/Juzy2YVQgw80:02:42 - Announcement! ...no more TV :(0:06:00 - Talking about the Universal/AMC/Regal drama0:11:45 - The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Netflix)0:39:40 - After Life (Netflix)0:57:00 - Coming next week... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

We devoted fully two thirds of this episode to breathless admiration of what may be the best-written show in recent history. Can you guess which platform it's NOT on? While it was fun to pillory Jeffrey Katzenberg's exorbitantly expensive and stupidly-named pet project, it was way more fun to talk about HBO's second, and somehow even more amazing season of Succession. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com

We devoted fully two thirds of this episode to breathless admiration of what may be the best-written show in recent history. Can you guess which platform it's NOT on? While it was fun to pillory Jeffrey Katzenberg's exorbitantly expensive and stupidly-named pet project, it was way more fun to talk about HBO's second, and somehow even more amazing season of Succession.The Atlantic's review of Quibi: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/04/quibi-vast-wasteland/609796/0:04:22 - New Recommendations0:08:00 - Quibi0:21:04 - The Most Dangerous Game0:32:54 - Succession Season 2 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdcritic.substack.com