Thank God For Movies

Marvel’s First Family is back for a fourth time. On this week’s episode of Cinemaholics, Jon Negroni and Will Ashton unpack The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the latest attempt to reboot Marvel’s unluckiest franchise. With Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach suiting up for a 60s-inspired, retro-futurist take, director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) brings serious style to a film that’s long on vibes but maybe short on soul. We break down the film’s visual direction, ensemble performances, and the Galactus-sized question at its core: what is the point of another reboot? Plus, we debate the movie’s oddly hollow emotional arc, its meta-commentary on Marvel fatigue, and how it stacks up against the previous iterations of the Fantastic Four. Is this a first step in the right direction or another cosmic trip into irrelevance? Tune in to find out! Links: Read Jon’s written review of the film here! Email your feedback for the show to cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a Cinemaholics channel here. Check out our Cinemaholics Merch! Connect with Cinemaholics on Facebook and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special guest Mike Overhulse of the Mad Men Men podcast joins Jon Negroni and Will Ashton to break down Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning, the latest (and possibly final?) installment in the long-running spy franchise starring Tom Cruise as the ever-unbreakable Ethan Hunt. Directed once again by Christopher McQuarrie, the film sends the IMF team on a high-octane collision course with a rogue AI known as The Entity, in what may be the most self-aware entry in the series to date. Jon, Will, and Mike unpack the film’s jaw-dropping action sequences, its tangled narrative web, and how Final Reckoning reflects a growing anxiety in Hollywood around digital threats both on and off the screen. They debate the movie’s emotional stakes, its increasingly meta commentary on Cruise’s career, and whether this half of the story sticks the landing as a standalone film.   Links: Read Jon's critic review of the film here! Email your feedback for the show to cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a Cinemaholics channel here. Check out our Cinemaholics Merch! Connect with Cinemaholics on Facebook and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Ashton returns with another Instant Take, this time tackling The Amateur, a new action-thriller starring Rami Malek (Mr. Robot, Bohemian Rhapsody) as a surveillance tech expert turned reluctant vigilante. With a vibe that borrows from Death Wish and Jason Bourne, the film delivers slick set pieces, familiar genre beats, and a central performance that’s more restrained than revolutionary. Will explores how The Amateur flirts with deeper character nuance, particularly in its depiction of Malek’s potentially autistic-coded lead. Though the film never explicitly confirms it, the character’s traits raise questions about representation in action movies and whether the film embraces or falls back on tired tropes. Alongside Malek, the film features a solid supporting cast: Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Laurence Fishburne, John Bernthal, Holt McCallany (Mindhunter), and Julianne Nicholson. Some standout moments include inventive “trap-like” set pieces and moody, high-rise shootouts that pop in premium formats. But Will questions if that’s enough to elevate an otherwise middle-of-the-road revenge thriller. Will Ashton returns with another Instant Take, this time tackling The Amateur, a new action-thriller starring Rami Malek (Mr. Robot, Bohemian Rhapsody) as a surveillance tech expert turned reluctant vigilante. With a vibe that borrows from Death Wish and Jason Bourne, the film delivers slick set pieces, familiar genre beats, and a central performance that’s more restrained than revolutionary. Will explores how The Amateur flirts with deeper character nuance, particularly in its depiction of Malek’s potentially autistic-coded lead. Though the film never explicitly confirms it, the character’s traits raise questions about representation in action movies and whether the film embraces or falls back on tired tropes. Alongside Malek, the film features a solid supporting cast: Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Laurence Fishburne, John Bernthal, Holt McCallany (Mindhunter), and Julianne Nicholson. Some standout moments include inventive “trap-like” set pieces and moody, high-rise shootouts that pop in premium formats. But Will questions if that’s enough to elevate an otherwise middle-of-the-road revenge thriller. Links: Email your feedback for the show to cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a Cinemaholics channel here. Check out our Cinemaholics Merch! Check out our Patreon to support Cinemaholics! Connect with Cinemaholics on Facebook and Instagram. Email your feedback for the show to cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a Cinemaholics channel here. Check out our Cinemaholics Merch! Check out our Patreon to support Cinemaholics! Connect with Cinemaholics on Facebook and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this spoiler-free instant take, Will Ashton jumps on the mic solo to give you his first impressions of Black Bag, the sleek and sizzling new spy thriller from director Steven Soderbergh. With a star-studded cast led by Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, Black Bag is a taut, high-style espionage caper that calls back to the classy, grown-up thrillers of yesteryear. Will dives into what makes this film click.Iits sophisticated style, whip-smart screenplay (co-written by Soderbergh collaborator David Koepp), and a third act that actually sticks the landing. He compares it to classics like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Out of Sight, highlighting how Soderbergh leans into his signature charm, sexiness, and cinematic craftsmanship. Other stars include Naomi Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, and Marisa Abela. All of whom get their moment to shine. Will also touches on Fassbender’s continued hot streak post-The Killer. Plus, why Blanchett is perfectly matched for this kind of layered, stylish fare. Clocking in at a brisk 95 minutes, Black Bag is a sharp and satisfying return to form. It's equally suited for a theater outing or a high-quality night in. Listen in for Will’s take on where Black Bag ranks among Soderbergh’s post-retirement filmography. And why this might be one of his most entertaining efforts in years. Links: Email your feedback for the show to cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a Cinemaholics channel here. Check out our Cinemaholics Merch! Check out our Patreon to support Cinemaholics! Connect with Cinemaholics on Facebook and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Cinemaholics, we’re joined by two hilarious and incredibly talented filmmakers/actors, Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung, to talk about their new indie film, Extremely Unique Dynamic. This queer Asian meta stoner coming-of-age dramedy takes storytelling to a whole new level—it’s a movie about two guys making a movie about two guys making a movie. Yes, it’s as wonderfully chaotic as it sounds. Extremely Unique Dynamic has been making waves, playing at over 25 film festivals and breaking box office records during its LA theatrical run. In this episode, Harrison and Ivan share the wild journey of creating a deeply personal, yet entirely universal story that subverts stoner comedy tropes while addressing themes of representation, identity, and authenticity. We dive into everything—how they infused the film with their real-life personalities, their unexpected success at festivals, and even a bit of party bus pole-dancing backstory. Along the way, we also discuss pop-punk soundtracks, karaoke go-tos, and what they hope this movie will mean 50 years from now. Plus, we get into some lighter moments, including their favorite reality TV shows, nostalgic movie picks, and the unexpected challenges of doing Q&As. Whether you’re a fan of stoner comedies, indie filmmaking, or unique dynamics (see what we did there?), this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Catch Extremely Unique Dynamics at upcoming screenings in LA, San Francisco, New York, and even Vancouver, with VOD release just around the corner. Links: Email your feedback for the show to cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a Cinemaholics channel here. Check out our Cinemaholics Merch! Check out our Patreon to support Cinemaholics! Connect with Cinemaholics on Facebook and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.