For the fourth documentary in the A24 distribution chronology, the A24 Rocks crew visits the African Savannah and a herd of elephants. Narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this nature documentary is about a 50 year old Elephant Queen named Athena and her family who are struggling through a historic drought. The family searches for water while also attempting to maintain milk for their children, who need to keep their strength up if they want to trudge into the mud-holes to stay hydrated. The A24 Rocks crew asks the question: does The Elephant Queen break the mold of the average nature documentary? Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 3:28.
Film Discussion- 3:28 to 1:09:05.
Film Ratings- 1:09:05 to End.
Upcoming podcast release schedule-
November 5th- One Battle After Another.
November 12th- The Kill Team.
November 19th- We're All Going to the World's Fair.
November 26th- Waves.
On a special Halloween episode and A24 Vibe Discussion, these A24 fans invite on fellow sinner Bill Holland from The Morally Offensive Podcast (https://www.morallyoffensive.com/) to review an all-time David Fincher classic in Se7en (AKA Seven) and give the history of the seven deadly sins. Starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs are often credited as making the serial killer crime/horror genre famous. Does it still hold up 30 years later? And given the current climate with religious extremism in America, is there anything to take from the character of John Doe that may seem relevant today? Press play to find out what's in the box. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 2:37.
Film Discussion- 2:37 to 1:22:18.
Film Ratings/Outro- 1:22:18 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
October 29th- The Elephant Queen.
November 5th- One Battle After Another.
November 12th- The Kill Team.
November 19th- We're All Going to the World's Fair.
HARK TRITON HARK! Bellow bid our father Robert Eggers rise from the depths of cinema for this podcast. Black waves teeming with salt foam to smother the A24 Rocks crew with pungent slime, to choke ye, engorging their microphones till ye turn blue and bloated with bilge and film reviews and can scream no more - only when Robert Pattinson - crowned in cockle shells with slitherin' Willem Dafoe and steaming beard take up his fell be-finned arm, his coral-tine trident screeches banshee-like in the tempest and plunges right through yer gullet, bursting ye. We hope you like this lobster. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 4:00.
Film Discussion- 4:00 to 1:32:02.
Film Review/Outro- 1:32:02 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Schedule-
October 22nd- Se7en (with Bill Holland from The Morally Offensive Podcast).
October 29th- The Elephant Queen.
November 5th- One Battle After Another.
November 12th- The Kill Team.
In light of A24's latest release "The Smashing Machine" with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson: the A24 Rocks crew invites on fellow podcaster, sports fan, and film-buff Naaim Siddiqi to blind rank the top 16 sports films of all time. These movie-lovers randomly generate numbers 1-16, and whatever number a co-host ends up at, they must pick at that number. BUT each co-host has two vetoes and can force a ranker to pick a different film at the same number. Will personal biases show between these Midwest sports rivals in the heat of the baseball playoffs and in the middle of football season? Will they go for the happy-go-lucky kids films, underdog stories, or the more gritty and gripping sports tales? If you ain't first, you're last.
Intro- 0:00 to 2:48.
Blind Ranking Discussion & Rules- 2:48 to 11:51.
Our Top 16 Sports Films Blind Ranking- 11:51 to 1:37:14.
Honorable Mentions & Outro- 1:37:14 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Schedule-
October 15th- The Lighthouse.
October 22nd- Se7en.
October 29th- The Elephant Queen.
November 5th- One Battle After Another.
For the 90th film in the A24 chronology, the A24 Rocks crew discusses the Jersey Shore mystery-thriller Low Tide starring Keean Johnson and Jaeden Martell. Low Tide was distributed in a limited release and certainly didn't create much buzz back in 2019 and is not a film many remember, yet it holds a 72% Critic's Rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's placed in the early 90s and follows a group of mischievous teen boys, but does it earn a comparison to Stand By Me? Listen to find out. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 4:07.
Film Discussion- 4:07 to 1:04:38.
Film Ratings- 1:04:38 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
October 8th- Our Top 16 Sports Films, a Blind Ranking!
October 15th- The Lighthouse.
October 22nd- Se7en.
October 29th- The Elephant Queen.
On this A24 Vibe Discussion, these reviewers discuss the most famous A24 TV show of all time: Euphoria starring Zendaya. When Euphoria came onto the scene in 2019, there wasn't much nuanced media covering the Gen Z generation, and somehow Sam Levinson put his finger on the pulse. The main character of the show is Rue (portrayed by Zendaya), a drug addict who recently overdosed and went to rehab, but is struggling to stay clean. Although, the show reflects a wide array of generational themes in many different characters. We discuss those themes, and how Euphoria portrayed them in the A24 style. Caution: spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 1:26.
Euphoria Discussion- 1:26 to 1:23:30.
Ratings/Outro- 1:23:30 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
October 1st: Low Tide.
October 8th- Our Top 16 Sports Films, a Blind Ranking!
October 15th- The Lighthouse.
October 22nd- Se7en.
Before Everything Everywhere All At Once, and after Swiss Army Man and the "Turn Down for What" music video, Daniel Scheinert directed a commercially unsuccessful indie film called "The Death of Dick Long." It's about two friends who get into a heap of trouble horsing around in Alabama. They drop their curiously injured friend Dick Long off at the emergency room one night, and the suspense that ensues next leads the audience down a path they'll never forget (for better or for worse). Since 2019 and the success of Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Death of Dick Long has garnered somewhat of a cult following amongst A24 fans as a dark comedy with beautiful cinematography. How will the A24 rocks crew saddle up for this one? Caution: movie spoilers and EXTREMELY EXPLICIT CONTENT.
Intro- 0:00 to 2:02.
Kenneth Pinyon and the Zoos- 2:02 to 7:18.
Film Discussion- 7:18 to 1:14:01.
Film Ratings/Outro- 1:14:01 to End.
The A24 Rocks crew does another blind ranking, and this time they get to the bottom of the bag on "drug films." What is a drug film? Well, it might not all be stoner comedies. If this list was a person, it's not the blissed out dude in the corner of the party, but maybe a disheveled mess of guts and blood on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A drug film is about drug culture, and the perils of drug use and addiction. It shows the counter-culture creeping below the thin veil of a happy-go-lucky capitalistic society. So bundle up, we're going skiing.
Intro- 0:00 to 1:35.
What is a drug film?- 1:35 to 8:45.
Blind Ranking Rules- 8:45 to 10:29.
Blind Ranking of Top 15 Drug Films- 10:29 to 1:06:11.
Honorable Mentions- 1:06:11 to End.
Upcoming podcast release schedule-
September 17th- The Death of Dick Long.
September 24th- Euphoria Season 1.
October 1st- Low Tide.
October 8th- Blind Ranking of Sports Films.
Share was a 2019 HBO film written and directed by Pippa Bianco and starring Rhianne Barreto. Barreto portrays a high school girl named Mandy who wakes up in her front yard, before she finds strange bruises on her body. She then is confronted with a video that is being shared throughout her high school, that seems to insinuate she was sexually assaulted. Her parents find out and press charges against a popular boy that was in one of the videos. Share comments on dealing with sexual assault and cyber-bullying in the digital world, and the A24 Rocks crew reflects on growing up in today's age as opposed to the millennial age. Was it reflected well in this film? Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 2:28.
Film Discussion- 2:28 to 1:14:16.
Film Ratings/Outro- 1:14:16 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
September 10th- Blind Ranking the Top 15 "Drug Films."
September 17th- The Death of Dick Long.
September 24th- Euphoria Season 1.
October 1st- Low Tide.
For this week's A24 vibe discussion, the A24 Rocks crew invite on music store owner Kyle Kanon and turn the volume up to 11 for the classic rock mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap" starring Christopher Guest and Michael McKean. With Spinal Tap II: The End Continues coming out soon, these film reviewers revisit what made the original so innovative and what other comedies it inspired. What filmmaking techniques made rockstars like Ozzy Osborne believe this was a real documentary and not a mockumentary? What is Spinal Tap satirizing in the music world? And will the sequel be worth it? Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 2:06.
Film Discussion- 2:06 to 57:07.
Film Ratings/Outro- 57:07 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
September 3rd- Share.
September 10th- Blind Ranking of Drug Films.
September 17th- The Death of Dick Long.
September 24th- Euphoria Season 1.
On the 87th A24 film review for A24 on the Rocks, these film reviewers tackle the 2019 doozy of a movie "Skin" starring Jamie Bell and Danielle Macdonald. Skin is loosely based on the true story of Bryon Widner, a neo-nazi who was part of the white supremacist gang called the Vinlanders Social Club. After getting arrested for a horrific act of violence, Bryon meets a woman named Julie who brings her three kids to a Vinlanders Social Club gathering to perform folk music. Bryon falls in love with Julie and (maybe?) finds his conscience, but quickly realizes it isn't so easy to leave the neo-nazi gang that raised him. The A24 Rocks crew discusses the heavy themes of Skin, the short film it's based off of, and if director Guy Nattiv did a good job adapting his short movie into a feature length film. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 3:00.
Film Discussion- 3:00 to 1:26:49.
Film Ratings/Outro- 1:26:49 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
August 27th- This Is Spinal Tap.
September 3rd- Share.
September 10th- Blind Ranking the Top 15 "Drug Films."
September 17th- The Death of Dick Long.
The A24 rocks crew goes back to the turn of the millennia to the beginning of a new age of zombie films (or is it an infection film?), and reviews 28 Days Later starring Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland: these film reviewers discuss how the film got made, Garland's inspirations, releasing it into a post 9/11 world, and the meaning behind zombie lore. Is 28 Days Later the best zombie film of all time? Is 28 Days Later better than 28 Years Later? Many questions to be answered on this A24 vibe discussion. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 1:23.
Film Discussion- 1:23 to 49:30.
28 Years Later (Spoilers) vs 28 Days Later- 49:30 to 1:04:56.
Final Ratings/Outro- 1:04:56 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
August 20th: Skin.
August 27th: This Is Spinal Tap.
September 3rd: Share.
September 10th: Blind Ranking of "Drug Films."
In 2016, Lulu Wang shared her familial story with This American Life, and it was so poignant to the immigrant experience, that it was made into a movie. After both American and Chinese film studios tried to get her to change the tone of the film, four different indie film production companies picked up her script and gave her the creative freedom to tell her true story. And that became The Farewell, starring Awkwafina. The A24 Rocks crew discusses one of the most critically-acclaimed A24 films in the A24 chronology, and shares some personal stories related to China. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 4:43.
Film Discussion- 4:43 to 1:16:36.
Film Ratings/Outro- 1:16:36 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
August 13th: 28 Days Later.
August 20th: Skin.
August 27th: This Is Spinal Tap.
September 3rd: Share.
On this A24 Vibe Discussion, the A24 Rocks crew discusses a Danny Boyle film for the first time. None other than the recent critically-acclaimed zombie thriller "28 Years Later." Written by Alex Garland (writer of A24 films such as Ex Machina, Men, and Civil War), 28 Years Later is the third film in the 28 Days Later universe. These film reviewers ask if it stays truthful to the first film, and if it was worth making. Is it even better than 28 Days Later? What kind of themes does this infection movie touch on given what the human race has dealt with since 2020? Also, why did they give some zombies a third leg? Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 3:25.
Film Discussion- 3:25 to 59:09.
Film Ratings/Outro- 59:09 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule:
August 6th- The Farewell.
August 13th- 28 Days Later.
August 20th- Skin.
August 27th- This Is Spinal Tap.
A week after Ari Aster's Eddington was released, the A24 Rocks crew has finally reached one of the most talk about A24 film's of all time: Midsommar starring Florence Pugh. These film reviewers discuss how it was made, its cult classic success, the graphicness of the movie, and what Ari Aster was really trying to say with Midsommar. As Aster himself said: its The Wizard of Oz for perverts. But is this more than just a sleek and fun horror film? Will it actually stand the test of time as we get further removed from it? Is it more style than substance? Comment below and join the discussion. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 3:05.
Film Discussion- 3:05 to 1:10:34.
Film Ratings/Outro- 1:10:34 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
7-30: 28 Weeks Later.
8-6: The Farewell.
8-13: 28 Days Later.
8-20: Skin.
On this A24 vibe discussion, the A24 Rocks crew discusses the film that made Steven Spielberg a household name, and terrified generations of children from going in the water: Jaws. On its 50th anniversary year, these film reviewers discuss how the film has aged, and its effect on cinema and the film industry. They also delve into plenty of fun trivia, discuss John Williams' iconic score, and what Peter Benchley and Steven Spielberg were really trying to say with the movie. Thalassophobia anyone? Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 1:56.
Film Discussion- 1:56 to end.
Upcoming Podcast Schedule-
7/23- Midsommar.
7/30- 28 Years Later.
8/6- The Farewell.
8/13- 28 Days Later.
The A24 Rocks crew tackles one of the most poignant and impactful A24 films of all time: The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Set in the Bayview-Hunters Point and Filmore district's of San Fran, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is about two friends named Jimmie (portrayed by Jimmie Fails) and Mont (portrayed by Jonathan Majors) who are battling one of the most gentrified cities in the country. Jimmie is obsessed with an old family house that he believes his Grandpa built, while Mont is a playwright watching the drama of San Francisco unfold. What will these film reviewers think of one of the most critically-acclaimed A24 films of all time? Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 4:21.
Film Discussion- 4:21 to 1:13:34.
Film Ratings & Outro- 1:13:34 to End.
Upcoming podcast release schedule-
7-16: Jaws.
7-23: Midsommar.
7-30: 28 Years Later.
8-6: The Farewell.
Hello aliens, predators, big lizards, big hairy monkeys, and creatures of the night. This week on A24 On The Rocks: Eric, Cole, Ray, and Kevin blind rank the top 16 best Creature Feature films of all time. Although, this blind ranking was much less civil than our Midwestern film blind ranking. After a few picks in the top five went awry, these co-hosts went after each other's throats and turned into predators themselves. What movie picks could've caused so much debate? Tune into listen.
Intro- 0:00 to 2:58.
What's a Creature Feature?- 2:58 to 7:51.
Blind Ranking Rules- 7:51 to 9:09.
Blind Ranking Picks & Debate- 9:09 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule-
7-9: The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
7-16: Jaws.
7-23: Midsommar.
7-30: 28 Years Later.
The 83rd A24 film review for the A24 Rocks crew is The Souvenir starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke, and Tilda Swinton. Written and directed by Joanna Hogg, Swinton Byrne portrays a green film student named Julie who meets a more seasoned man named Anthony. He charms her and they begin a relationship, as he guides her on the direction of her film artistry. The other shoe soon drops when Julie figures out he's a heroin addict, and thus comes the first real test of her romantic life. What will these A24 film critics think of this brooding British romantic drama? Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 4:34.
Film Discussion- 4:34 to 1:02:31.
Film Ratings- 1:02:31 to End.
Upcoming podcast release schedule-
7-2: Blind Ranking of Creature Features.
7-9: The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
7-16: Jaws, a 50th anniversary film review.
7-23: Midsommar.
Happy Pride Month everyone! On this A24 vibe discussion: Eric, Kelley, and Caitlin fly back to the queer classic "The Birdcage" starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, and Dianne Wiest. They discuss the world this film was released into, how it's aged, and the inspiration it had on cinema and pop culture. They also explore some interesting film trivia, including an alternate world where Steve Martin was paired with Robin Williams in the starring roles. Caution: movie spoilers.
Intro- 0:00 to 1:49.
Film Discussion- 1:49 to 58:03.
Film Ratings/Outro- 58:03 to End.
Upcoming Podcast Release Schedule:
June 24th- The Souvenir.
July 1st- Blind Ranking of Creature Features.
July 8th- The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
July 15th- Jaws.
