Personality, episode by episode
Showing 1–4 of 4 sketches.
Self-described slasher fan who likes a movie that plays with tropes intelligently; admires Miasma's playfulness and sincerity but dislikes its showbiz satire. Soft spot for Texas Chain Saw, wrestling and Toronto sports. Wary of the idea that references alone make a movie smart.
Stances
- Miasma is academic but playfully so
- Better filmmakers deserve less intention-guessing
- Don't need to love slashers to love Miasma
Humor: Deadpan asides and riffing (Polish-pigeon documentary, wrestling).
In their words
- “But this movie is kind of academic, but, but, but, but, but, but playfully so.” (0:05:59)
- “I do not love the showbiz satire in it.” (0:23:24)
- “Oh, I mean, the the the macho man big elbow.” (0:45:04)
Author of a Fincher book; thoughtful about Fincher as mercenary-plus-artist and about Netflix and canon. Ambivalent about The Killer, enjoys it more on second viewing, and loves the film's comedy and the Benjamin Button echo. Values specific craft and discourse over superlatives.
Stances
- Fincher is a mercenary and a great artist at once
- Netflix films feel ephemeral and outside the canon
- The Killer is not top-tier Fincher but is rich and funny
Humor: Wry and self-mocking about the 'mean' persona and book plugs.
In their words
- “I still have some ambivalence about it.” (0:49:25)
- “I don't think killer's top tier for him” (1:18:23)
A critic with an auteurist, formal bent who admires rigor, craft and mastery, including genre films (Decision to Leave, Nope), Cronenberg and late-style work. Loves Aftersun deeply, is lukewarm on Tar, and skips big superhero tentpoles. A sucker for Canadian trivia and offbeat picks like a Looney Tune.
Stances
- Great genre films deserve elevating, not diminishing
- He is skeptical of the idea of the ten best films of all time
- Tar was merely okay for him
- Late Spielberg makes two movies at once
Humor: Wry and erudite, with Canadian asides and tangential tangents about the Sight and Sound poll.
In their words
- “I don't diminish films for being genre films.” (0:44:38)
- “The movie just absolutely killed me dead.” (1:22:07)
- “I thought it was okay.” (1:17:19)
A critic who loves comedy, Eastwood in grave mode, punk-era despair and the formal cleverness of Todd Haynes. He loves deconstructive, annotated movies like Walk Hard and 24 Hour Party People, and can't stand the sanctimony of conventional biopics; he is a sucker for performance and for rewatching Walk Hard on Friday nights.
Stances
- Walk Hard is a perfect, five-star demolition of the genre
- Overly smart films like I'm Not There still work
- Eastwood's Bird is underrated and Jersey Boys deserves rescuing
Humor: Deadpan and sarcastic, with elaborate imagery (Baz Luhrmann in a 'glitter strewn bubble') and cheerful digressions.
In their words
- “I imagine Bazurman lives in like a glitter strewed bubble.” (0:27:34)
- “it's a 5 star movie.” (0:28:30)
- “A really obscure and under discussed American filmmaker, we've never brought up on the big picture before.” (0:56:50)