Bald Move Prestige

Special thanks to our buddy Jason Shankel for commissioning this podcast for the 1986 sci-fi action fantasy film Highlander starring Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert. As for us, we thought Highlander was cheesy fun. The film boasts an excellent soundtrack, exciting and varied sets for the extended sword fights, and some of the sturdiest and most interesting fantasy bones to hang a franchise on. We walk away wondering why hasn’t anyone rebooted this? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight Cecily and I saw the movie we were supposed to see last week, Red Sparrow. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as a Russian ballerina turned deadly secret agent, and Joel Edgerton as just a dumb*ss American spy it manages to be lurid without being interesting. We’ll tell you what we thought about the movie up front, then talk about upcoming movies and trailers for a bit, but if you want our full spoiler-filled take you’ll have to be a Club Member! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So Jim and I did this 24 hour Groundhog Day marathon on Groundhog Day, lots of Bald Move fans showed up to cheer us on, and together we wound up raising $10,205 for the homeless! You can watch the entire thing on YouTube if you’re so inclined, but if you want to know the highlights, listen to this podcast. We couldn’t be prouder of the Bald Move family. We truly felt like we really came together and did something special. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special thanks to Stephen Moore, who selected the classic 1973 horror film, The Exorcist. Directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller, it tells the harrowing tale of a mother who turns to Catholic priests as her last hope when her daughter gets possessed by an ancient evil spirit. Not only does it still manage to be genuinely disturbing, but it elevates the form of the horror flick into a generally excellent film in terms of art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve just seen Annihilation, and boy are our minds blown. Written and directed by Alex Garland and starring Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaacs, Tessa Thompson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, it features a plot that it is alien, wondrous, unfathomable, and terrifying, with visuals to match. It compares favorably to The Arrival, and is the kind of movie we wanted Alien: Covenant to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special thanks to Freddy C, friend of the pod and one of the heroes from our recent Groundhog Day charity drive, who commissioned the epic 1995 crime thriller, Heat. Directed by Michael Mann and starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, among many, many other notable stars, it features some of the best looking and sounding action ever committed to film, not to mention an inspired mano a mano acting showdown between some of the greatest actors of their generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black Panther is a great super hero film, and an even better launching point into discussions about the politics of colonialism and liberation. Starring Chadwick Boseman as the Panther himself, and Michael B. Jordan as the best Marvel villain since Magneto, the movie is a constant challenge to one’s complacency and sense of justice. The world they are building is both visually and philosophically amazing, to the point that one of the films weaknesses is that we were desperate to learn and know more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to Melonusk for commissioning the 2005 french crime drama, The Beat That My Heart Skipped. It tells the tale of a criminal operating in the lowest levels of French crime that has an unexpected opportunity to follow his dreams of being a concert pianist. We enjoyed the cyclical themes of father/son, teacher/student, infatuation/love and are once again impressed with Audiard’s storytelling ability, even if Jim questions how much story we’re actually being told. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s commissioned podcast is Looper, the 2012 sci-fi action thriller starring, Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt. We have Dave from San Jose to thank for this. This movie is thought provoking, well made, and entertaining. It’s one of those podcasts where we sit back and think about time and space and what it’s like to meet yourself from the future, which is always fun. It’s not perfect, but it may not be possible to make a better time travel movie that’s this much Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special thanks to Hatorian who once again shows up to claim his prize in the form of a movie commission. His choice is the 2013 crime thriller, Prisoners. Starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s as much a meditation on ethics and morality as it is a tightly plotted thriller with several twists and turns. It features confident direction and great performances by all of the leads, and leads to discussion of vigilantism, the importance of good process, self-reliance, and notions of good and evi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Best Drama”! Perhaps the most prestigious of the Baldies, this award recognizes the best television show we saw in 2017, and this deliberation explains why we scored dramas the way we did. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Best Male Actor”! Who’s the dude taking home the Baldies Gold?! Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Meta & Notable Exceptions”! We talk about trends in television, podcasting, and why some otherwise noteworthy shows didn’t make our lists. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Worst Disappointment”! You’ll never guess, but in this one we debate what was the worst disappointment in TV / movies last year. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Return to Form, Highest Stakes / Biggest Risk”! We talk about shows that might have stumbled in the past, but have picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and are back better than ever, as well as recognize the people and projects that took crazy foolish risks that paid off. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Best Female Actor”! Who’s the lady taking home the Baldies Gold?! Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Best Commission, Documentary, Comedy”! We try to decide on the best commissioned podcast, documentary and comedy for 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Best First Run Bald Movie”! We saw a lot of movies last year. Which one was best? Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This 2017 Baldies Awards deliberation is on “Best Debut or Pilot, Biggest Surprise / Miss”! We talk about our favorite freshmen shows and pilot episodes, the things that really took us by surprise, as well as the podcasts we feel like we let get away. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the 2017 Baldies Awards, where we honor the outstanding achievements in film, television, and Bald Move podcasting for the year! This is the main event, the 2017 Baldies Awards Ceremony proper. Once again we don our most formal t-shirts to hand out the Baldie gold to those deserving. Who takes home the top prize for Drama and Actor? There is sure to be fun and controversy along the way! Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to our coverage of Black Mirror, where you’ll never know whether you’ll have a heart wrenching or heart warming experience, but it will definitely revolve around the implications of technology and culture. From Star Trek simulations, ultimate dating apps, and murderous robotic dogs, this season hits some amazing highs, but for the first time also hits some fairly deep lows. Or maybe what’s most amazing is how the show remains fresh and original four years into it’s creative process? Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcastse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special thanks to Saylor who selected the 1997 vampire flick, The Lost Boys. Chocked equally full of cool and hilarious moments as well as extremely questionable decisions, the film both confounds and delights. Why is 16 year old Corey Haim taking baths and being tucked into bed by his mother? Why is there a shirtless oiled up, muscle bound sax player? Why is Rob Lowe gazing seductively from Haim’s bedroom closet? Why is Jim completely oblivious to his siren’s call? Is the grandpa a vampir Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s podcast was commissioned by Rylan who has commissioned the 2000 slasher/satire/thriller, American Psycho. Directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale, the movie is dark, disturbing, hilarious in places, and provoked a lot of thoughts and opinions from Jim and I. What does it mean to be a sociopath, how much of this film is reality and how much is fantasy, what does it say about society and the conflict between our stated and actual values? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special thanks to Sean Ray for commissioning this late 80’s Ridley Scott crime thriller, Black Rain. Michael Douglas plays a cop alongside Andy Garcia that gets mixed up in a gang war between the Yakuza and a rival upstart over counterfeit US currency. The film explores the intercultural exchange as Douglas’s corrupt and brash NYC cop runs into the brick wall of Japanese police decorum and honor, but how successful it is in that exploration is an open question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We saw The Post tonight, the star-studded retelling of The Washington Post’s decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, risking financial ruin and jail time. Told from the perspective of The Post's owner and her editor as they wrestle with their relationships with previous and current presidential administrations and the legal, financial, and ethical risks of defying the government. The film is gorgeous and well written and tells an important story of how vital a free press is to the health of our na Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s commissioned podcast is one for the pantheon, Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 masterpiece of satire, Dr. Strangelove. Kubrick set out to make a nuclear thriller, but instead decided to lean heavily into the existential absurdism that was and still is the world’s nuclear weapon deterrent, mutual assured destruction. Hey, it’s worked for sixty years, let’s keep the streak going! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.Ron went back and saw the newest Star Wars on his holiday break, and has a lot more to say. He turns to life long friend and fellow fan Jim Jones to help him talk through is feelings about the film, and his fears for the future of the franchise. Maybe you feel me, maybe you don’t, but I hope you all accept it as my honest analysis of the film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and I have seen Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi: No More Subtitles, We Promise, and surprise, surprise! One of us like it and one of us wanted to like it more than they actually felt the love. On the other hand, the film is receiving almost universal praise so don’t let that dissuade you from seeing and enjoying The Last Jedi. Haha, as if wild falthiers could drag anyone away from seeing a new Star Wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have seen The Disaster Artist, the behind the scenes look at the creation of The Room, which is quite possibly the worst film ever made. The brothers Franco play Tommy and Greg in a way that manages to feel honest, sympathetic, and most of all very funny. It is frustrating that there is so little there, there. But it does work, and like Ed Wood before it, manages to make an amazing movie out of a dog turd. It’s an amazing alchemic work, spinning gold from lead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cecily and A.Ron discuss the latest DC comic book movie attempt, and one with a lot of hopes riding on it, Justice League. It’s a real who’s who of comic book movies, does it manage to build on the momentum of Wonder Woman, or is this another Superman vs Batman level disappointment? Well, we’d have to say it falls right in between those two extremes. It’s not great, but it’s also not terrible, and does just enough to hopefully give DC some room to breathe for the next time the League ha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and A.Ron discuss their thoughts on an incredible season one of HBO’s The Deuce, and get into a discussion about politics and society along the way, before A.Ron makes an earnest appeal to check out Netflix’s Lady Dynamite, the funniest, sharpest comedy about depression and mental illness you’ll likely ever see. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We saw the most recent film adaptation of the Agatha Christie mystery classic, Murder on the Orient Express. Directed and starring Kenneth Branagh, it's lush and lavish and maybe missing a few pieces it needs to be assembled into a fully functional whole? It’s like an Ikea bookshelf with a few screws and dowel rods missing, is what we’re saying. We discuss our general, non-spoiler thoughts before talking about upcoming films, before getting to our Club Member only spoiler section. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again commissioner Fernando Rodriguez (you may better know him as FernNYC17 on our forums) steps up with a choice selection, this time the oft maligned Return of the Jedi. Often dismissed as derivative or childish when compared to A New Hope or The Empire Strikes Back respectively, we have nothing but love for the climax of the story of Skywalker. It’s got the best space battle, the best lightsabre battle, and the best puppets in all of Star Wars. The Special Edition changes? Not so much Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and A.Ron have seen Thor: Ragnarok and let us be the millionth person to tell you that it is fun and colorful but there isn’t much else there. It asks some big questions about Thor, and Odin, and even the Hulk, but isn’t really interested in the answers. However, Cate Blanchett is clearly enjoying being a vampy big bad with a flair for irony and the dramatic, Jeff Goldblum is a delight as an eccentric gladiatorial slave owner. The premise and resolution are quite clever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.Ron and Cecily went to do a make up review of the Coen Brothers written, George Clooney directed film Suburbicon, and it’s not great, Bob. Cecily saw some interesting things with the social commentary and A.Ron is in agreement that the movie was good looking and well acted, but ultimately the movie is pointless, depressing, and disappointing. We also discuss trailers like we do, but if you want to hear the full spoilers review of the film, you’ll have to be a Club Member. Why not join today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.Ron and Cecily begin a tradition of discussing the scary movies they’ve been watching throughout the Halloween season! The first annual, “Cinema Spooktacular”! No spoilers to scare any body off, we just talk about just how and what type of scary they are. This year’s crop of fresh indie horrors is courtesy Kimberly Dadds Buzzfeed article on 31 scary movies to watch during the month of October. The list is below, and I’ve linked to Jim and A.Ron’s in depth review of Pontypool that we d Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.Ron and Jim saw Jackie Chan’s return to action form in The Foreigner, a Taken-esque revenge film where a grieving father takes it upon himself to avenge the death of his beloved daughter at the hands of IRA bombers. It’s great looking, featuring great performances from both Chan and Brosnan, and Jackie hasn’t lost more than a step when it comes to the action, fearlessly throwing his 63 year old body all over the screen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and A.Ron went to see Bladerunner 2049 tonight, what did they think? A.Ron thinks it’s amazing, absorbing, and needs multiple viewings to unravel all of it’s mysteries, while Jim thinks the same but wishes they’d cut about 20 minutes of Gosling walking down sidewalks and starring off into the distance. And that’s probably fair, but then again a somewhat stately, almost glacial pace is kind of a Bladerunner hallmark, no? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.Ron and Cecily talk about some fine television they have consumed in the past week or so, including Netflix’s Top of the Lake (00:00:20), starring Elizabeth Moss and Gwendoline Christy, Netflix’s hilarious and tragic Bojack Horseman (00:22:46), and also Netflix’s Gerald’s Game (00:34:25), adapted from a Stephen King story of the same name. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special thanks to Ethan and Allison for commissioning Batman Begins. This is a fantastic comic book movie that also happens to be a fantastic film in it’s own right. We love the fusion of gritty realism with the strong emotional core and exploration of Bruce Wayne and his struggle to walk the narrow path between justice and vengeance. Excellent casting, excellent performances, and while the third act perhaps leaves something to be desired in terms of spectacle, the movie holds up like a champ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and A.Ron have seen the latest Tom Cruise vehicle, American Made, and it’s pretty good! If you haven’t seen the past three seasons of Narcos or a “hey, it’s fun to watch charming people do really bad things until the third act when it all falls apart” kind of movie you might call it a great film. But we’re about weary of the concept and wary of the “based on a true story” nature of the film. But it’s pretty good. And Jesse Plemmons reprises his role as “Fat Damon” from Fa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.Ron and Cecily file a belated report on the smash hit horror movie based on the best selling Stephen King novel of the same name, “IT”. Please enjoy our spoiler free review, but if you want our spoiler filled complete analysis of the film, you’ll have to be a Club Bald Move member! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special thanks to Steven Sprague, celts77, Laura Hamilton, ztziemke, and Don C for commissioning this podcast, on the 1992 Quintin Tarantino crime drama, Reservoir Dogs. We discuss the writing, the performances, our opinions on the true meaning of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, the insights QT has on crime and society, and debate it’s place in the Tarantino pantheon. Thanks again to all of our commissioners, we couldn’t do it without you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We saw Kingsman: The Golden Circle tonight, and pronounce it stupid, but fun. Maybe ever so slightly less stupid than the first one, but also maybe not reaching quite the dizzying heights of crazy either. But everyone in the movie looked like they were in on the joke and having the time of their lives, which helps tremendously. Everyone looks like a million bucks, the stunts are awesome and entertaining, and there are great cameos and dare we say smart payoffs to stupid jokes from the previous film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and A.Ron talk about SyFy's new Z Nation, Doomsday Preppers, Wicked Tuna, and A.Ron catches up Jim on what he's been missing on The Knick and The Bridge. Doomsday Preppers 00:01:45Z Nation 00:11:24The Knick 00:31:44Wicked Tuna 00:45:50The Bridge 00:52:38 Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and A.Ron are here to chew bubble gum and talk about television, and we’re all out of meatballs. We discuss the last three episodes of Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty (“The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy”, “Rest and Ricklaxation”, “The Ricklantis Mixup”) starting at timecode 00:00:00, and wrapping up with a conversation about David Simon and George Pelecanos’ new HBO series about the 1970’s pornography scene, The Deuce that begins at 00:32:10. Enjoy! Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and A.Ron have seen Darren Aronofsky’s newest film, Mother!, and A.Ron hates it while Jim isn’t sure. But it’s rated 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, so don’t let us put you off it. It’s a piece of art, and it makes you feel things, that’s for sure. Oh, by the way, if it hasn’t been clear, me — that is to say, A.Ron — is the guy who writes all of these little stub articles that no one reads and I’m still kind of angry and raw that I sat through this film, so I’m going to see myself o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim, A.Ron and Cecily form a super team to discuss a variety of current TV shows. First up, we tackle episodes 303 and 304 of Rick and Morty (00:00:40), then move on to Ozark (00:27:36), Marvel’s Defenders (00:39:18), and the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) (00:53:36) on Netflix. Join the discussion: Email | Forums Follow us: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Leave Us A Review on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have seen The Dark Tower, being the latest attempt to adapt the works of Stephen King to the big screen. How did it fair? Well… Neither of us have read the novel series that the movie is based on, which seemed to be a plus, because I think we liked it more than most, certainly more than die hard Tower fans. Idris Elba is very good, looks the business as the Gunslinger, and has excellent chemistry with the young boy who holds the fate of multiple worlds in his hands, while Matthew McConnoghey i Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We saw Atomic Blonde tonight, starring Charlize Theron and James McAvoy. We give universal praise to the action and the stars for delivering great performances and believable stunt work. The visual flair of the movie is incredible too. But, we’re just not sure about the plot. We might be having a slow night, but we’re not sure everyone’s motivations and spy stuff work out. And, I’m at least a little bummed that this movie was more gritty and introspective than the fun romp I was expectin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices