The Movie Mull

Hero or Villain?

"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain..." as Aaron Ekhart once said.  For this week's episode, our host Richard has asked us to think about cinema's great heroes and villains - in particular, actors who have proven they are equally adept at playing both ends of the moral spectrum, or otherwise actors who are famous only for their heroic or villainous turns... 
Listen in and then let us know your favourite hero or villain actors, or tell us an actor who is famous for their heroic roles that you'd love to see embrace their darker side! 

What We've Been Watching - In A Violent Nature, The Birdcage, Deadpool & Wolverine, Maxxxine

On this week's What We've Been Watching episode, Neil follows the killer in new horror movie In A Violent Nature, Justin revisits classic comedy-drama The Birdcage, Richard discusses the return of superhero cinema with the latest film to break the billion dollar barrier Deadpool & Wolverine, and Darren reviews the final film in Ti West and Mia Goth's X trilogy, Maxxxine. 
If you've seen any of these, we'd love to know what you thought.  Let us know in the comments. 
Spoiler Alert: A few moments from the end of 'In A Violent Nature' and 'The Birdcage' are discussed, and there are a few spoilers shared for the first two films in the X trilogy. 

Nostalgia Movies

For this week's episode, our host Neil wanted us to discuss whether 'when' you watched a movie matters. Are there movies you watched and loved in the past, that wouldn't hold up if you watched them today? Films that you feel a real nostalgia for, but that you might hesitate to recommend to others... 
Let us know in the comments: what films do you love that you think might not hold up for today's audience?

What We've Been Watching - Thelma, Longlegs, Hundreds of Beavers, Trigger Warning

On this week's What We've Been Watching episode, Neil tells us all about all about the genre-defying, June Squibb-starring Thelma, Justin shares his thoughts about the horror-thriller Longlegs, Darren reviews the festival-favourite zany silent comedy Hundreds of Beavers, and Richard rounds things up by discussing Jessica Alba's action movie, Trigger Warning.
If you've seen any of these, we'd love to know what you thought.  Let us know in the comments. 

Who Ya Gonna Call? A Ghostbusters Special

For the 40th Anniversary of the 1984 supernatural comedy, our host for this episode, Justin, brings the mulls together to discuss all things Ghostbusters: from earliest memories, to favourite moments and quotes, to behind-the-scenes stories of how the movie came together...
Use the comments or find us on social media to share your memories of this classic movie. 

LIVE REVIEW SPECIAL: Twisters (2024)

This week, our mulls meet at the cinema to watch one of this summer's big blockbusters, the legacy sequel TWISTERS, from director Lee Isaac Chung and starring Daisy Edgar Jones, Anthony Ramos and Glen Powell, amongst others.
 
First, they meet to talk about their memories of the first movie as well as their expectations and hopes for this new addition to the series... Then, they meet up again after watching for a full review (Be aware that, after sharing their initial thoughts, they dive into a full discussion which includes spoilers - a warning will be given before they start discussing any major events that aren't in the trailer). 
 
Have you seen Twisters?  If so, use the comments or find us on social media: we'd love to hear what you thought too. 

What We've Been Watching - A Quiet Place: Day One, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1, The Bikeriders, Airforce One

Reviewed in this week's What We've Been Watching episode are three films you can catch now at the cinema, and one classic.  Darren reviews the New York set prequel to John Krasinski's A Quiet Place with Day One written and directed by Michael Sarnoski; then Justin talks about the first chapter (of four intended films) for Horizon: An American Saga by the legendary Kevin Costner; after that you can hear Richard's thoughts about the latest film from Jeff Nichols - The Bikeriders; before Neil gets around to watching the Harrison Ford as president action classic: Airforce One. 
Let us know in the comments what you've been watching recently... including your thoughts about any of these films. 

Cinema on Stage: The Musical?

For this week's episode, our host Darren has been reflecting on the number of stage shows in the West End and on Broadway at the moment that are based on films.  Why is it that film is currently such a huge source of inspiration for big theatrical productions? When has it been done well? And when has it felt like a bit of a mistake... or a cash-grab?  
Listen in... and then let us know your favourite screen to stage adaptation... or the film that you WISH was a stage show.  

What We've Been Watching - The Fall Guy, Robot Dreams, Hit Man, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood & Honey 2

For this week's What We've Been Watching episode, the gang are back for four more reviews that range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Justin reviews David Leitch's stuntman rom-com-action spectacular The Fall Guy; Darren is very happy to have finally caught up with the oscar-nominated Robot Dreams; Richard has a date with Linklater's latest Netflix release Hit Man; and Neil - ever a glutton for punishment - decides to return to the world of Blood and Honey with this horror sequel! (If you missed it, be sure to listen to his review of the first film in the series back in the episode released 11th April 2023) 
Find us on social media or use the comments to let us know your views.  

Five-Star Films! No Dying!

This week, Richard introduces a challenge to his fellow mulls: Can a film be truly great if nobody dies? He's asked them each to bring along the names of movies that they believe are 5-star masterpieces in which no-one dies, and death is not pivotal to the story... 
There may be a few debates along the way!
After listening, please send us your examples... or suggest similar challenges for the mulls to debate in future episodes.