Ayo! It’s time for another Spooky Season offering from your favourite Bird Boys, and this week, well… we went to a haunted farm and got scared in real life! So, instead of talking about a specific movie, we decided to do another Spooky Bird episode on a variety of horror and horror-adjacent topics. First things first, though. We start this episode with a recap of our night of frights and friendship at the local Fear Farm Halloween event. From screaming ladies popping out of the ceiling to a tall bone man rubbing PALMREADER’s head to a lady in line openly talking about her sexual proclivities and drug use in line to a crazy beatboxing performance… it was a night of laughs, seasonal scares, and fun. Definitely consider checking out the Fear Farm if you live in the region.
Then, we shift gears to discuss a variety of topics related to Horror cinema. Firstly, PALMREADER wants to know why some folklore and mythology haven’t been explored in horror. For example… Why are there no really good, elevated movies about alien abductions, Bigfoot, missing people in the woods, and other creepy and ominous creatures and scenarios? We think there are things that the genre is missing out on, and can’t figure out why nobody has really done them justice. Otis has a stellar idea for how a filmmaker could really make an abduction film horrifying, and PALMREADER reminisces on a TV movie about aliens showing up at a family Thanksgiving that freaked him out as a kid.
Then, we discuss one of the major issues plaguing horror films these days… formulaic and shallow over-complication! For some reason, people seem to forget what makes the core kernels of various horror concepts effective and opt for making sequels or films that needlessly riff on an already good idea in dumb ways. Mostly, we take issue with the practice of overcomplicating narratives that has been baked into the standard studio filmmaking formula (especially in sequels) and the lack of organic and thoughtful re-contextualization that you find in some great foreign or independent films like “Let The Right One In”, “Hereditary”, or “Stake Land”. Why couldn't this be done with a bigger budget on one of these lesser-known stories or mythos? Why don’t more filmmakers explore core concepts in a natural, logical, and meaningful way? Why not improve or experiment with the technical aspects of filmmaking as opposed to needlessly complicating or diluting the ideas that are actually scary? In horror, sometimes simple is better, yet that point seems to have been lost somewhere.
This leads to a discussion on vampires and werewolves and haunted house movies and why many of them seem to miss the mark on something so simple it should be banger after banger. Otis has been on a werewolf kick lately and has many thoughts. PALMREADER has some issues with the “Conjuring” series and the wider "Conjuring" cinematic world that he uses as a base for his arguments. Later in the episode, we discuss “Heretic” and when non-horror actors make villainous turns in horror or thriller films (much like Hugh Grant as the charming yet insanely evil Mr. Reed). We list some of our favourites and discuss what makes these performances great.
Join us for all this, and many other rantings and ravings, in this Spooky Bird episode.
What is good, homies! Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! We’re kicking off our annual Spooky Season selections with PALMREADER’s belated birthday pick from a very hit-or-miss filmmaker that, whether you like it or not, has been hugely influential to modern cinema. Plus, it’s one of the best alien invasion movies ever, still holds up with moments of pure terror, and somehow still lands the plane even with the glaring plot holes and the overly silly “God’s plan” schtick. Today, we’re talking about M. Night Shyamalan’s sci-fi horror film, “Signs”.
Ok, let’s get this out of the way now. M. Night makes divisive movies. Some of them bang, while some of them are trash, and there’s not really any in-between. We’ve never really discussed him as a filmmaker on the show before, even with his major influence on filmmaking, so we spend a good portion of the start of this episode charting out his career and dissecting exactly what works and what doesn’t when it comes to his filmmaking style. We both agree that, like Zack Snyder, he has a wholly unique filmmaking vision. We also think that he has yet to reach the heights implied by some of his really great films. But why hasn’t he? Is it his fervent adherence to his own creative voice that is holding him back? Or is it a skill issue? Or has he just not found his perfect collaborator?
PALMREADER has a theory that his movies are best viewed as cinematic fables or parables, not reflections of true reality, and that by engaging with them as such… well, it makes the viewing experience even better (or at least more palatable). With that being said, he has released some real stinkers. Perhaps it is because he leaned too far into his parable-style filmmaking (like with “The Happening” and “Lady In The Water”)? Or maybe he’s just not built for huge blockbuster films (like with “Avatar” and “After Earth”)? We litigate it and discuss the possibilities in depth.
With all that being said, M. Night Shyamalan really has made some heaters, and “Signs” might be his best. It was the last in a trilogy of films that were very well received critically before a decade of decline in M. Night’s career (followed by what some might call a course correction with “The Visit” and the excellent “Split”). This movie is STILL scary - even with all the flaws, religious zest, and heavy-handed allegories. The aliens? Horrifying camouflaged freaks that speak through clicks on a pre-invasion reconnaissance mission? Yeah, no thanks. We all know the scenes… The Brazilian birthday party, the pantry, the monster on the roof, the chase around the house, the corn field… they all still send a shiver down our spine. With an incredible score, excellent cinematography, an absolutely banging poster, and performances that somehow work despite some of the most egregiously silly line readings and dialogue… “Signs” is insanely rewatchable.
Look, the movie is about God sending an alien invasion to rekindle a man’s faith (which is the most Old Testament thing ever) and see the divine plan laid out in front of him. It’s SILLY as all hell. Not to mention the fact that Earth is COVERED in water… which hurts the alien invaders (read: maybe demons?)… and yet they still came to drag humanity away? They travel the stars, and they don’t understand doors? WHAT?! The genius of this film, starring (pre-breakdown) Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, and Abigail Breslin, is that it SOMEHOW still works. “Swing away, Merrill.” Hell yeah, dude. Beat that alien to death with a baseball bat. You’re right there, accepting it all, until the credits roll. That’s when you’re like… wait… HUH?! But, following PALMREADER’s thesis on M. Night as a parable filmmaker, it might make sense that in HIS cinematic world (not the real one), this all might be possible.
Join us this week as we delve into all of this (and more) in-depth.
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
What's good, homies! We're back with another Lazy Bird to share some updates on our lives and thoughts on what we've been listening to, playing, and watching. It's been a busy end to our summer as PALMREADER celebrated his birthday and Otis went to work at Comic Con again. We discuss his time at the convention, the fallout of continental breakfasts, the recent flood of AI-generated waifu vendors, why they shouldn't be allowed to sell at comic conventions, the ethical use of AI, and more. Plus, we're heading to the cottage to pretend that the world isn't on fire. How exciting!
Then, we talk about some stuff that we've been watching. Otis has been on a Darren Aronofsky kick after seeing his latest movie, "Caught Stealing," so we discuss his filmography and style with a particular focus on "The Wrestler", "Noah", and "Black Swan". We also discuss the star of "Caught Stealing", Austin Butler, and his career thus far (including his link-up with our guy Action Bronson). He also puts PALMREADER onto a Korean action film called "The Villainess," which apparently rips. PALMREADER has been watching Noah Hawley's "Alien: Earth" and is 1000% in on it. He explains what makes this show excellent and makes a passionate plea for Otis to check it out. Plus, "Mandy" still rips, and we talk about it.
Following this, we talk about Marvel's "Thunderbolts*" and why it is one of the best Marvel movies in a long time. Both Otis and PALMREADER thoroughly enjoyed it for a variety of reasons, from the performances to the villain to the tone. Yo, Feige, make more like this. Shake things up. Break the cycle. We also discuss Florence Pugh's performance, the anthropomorphized form of murderous depression being the true villain of the film, Marvel villains being habitually lacklustre, not needing to see everything else to enjoy and understand the film, the future of the MCU, and Jake Schreier being tapped to reboot the X-Men.
Then, we talk about video games for once! Wow! There are so many dope games coming out. Due to being so busy lately, we're just trying to catch up, but PALMREADER has been playing "Kingdom Come Deliverance 2" and is living his best medieval life. He discusses what they improved upon and made more palatable when compared to the first game, why he loves it, and what makes it such a deep and engaging RPG.
There's a bunch more ranting and raving in the episode for you to enjoy, so tap in with us and catch up with your favourite Bird Boys.
We’ll be back after our trip to the cottage!
INITIATE THE PROTOCOL.
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
What's good, homies! We're back with another fresh review episode on one of the best movies of the year, Zach Cregger's genre-bending masterwork of a horror film, "Weapons". This movie rules. If you haven't seen it yet, we highly recommend you do before listening to this episode. Although we try not to spoil too much, it is inevitable, and there is a lot to talk about and unpack.
"Weapons" was directed, written, produced, and co-scored by Zach Cregger. It stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Toby Huss, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan. All of whom deliver outstanding performances that will make you laugh, recoil in disgust, and cheer at various points in this film. It is gory, eerie, menacing, and surprisingly funny. The filmmaking is kinetic. The editing is outstanding. The score is a banger. The narrative and filmmaking choices rule. It honestly might be the best of the year for us, so tap in and hear us talk about why.
We don't want to spoil too much of the movie, so we forgo discussing the plot in depth in today's episode. Instead, we talk about our immediate reactions to "Weapons", the critical response, our favourite moments, Cregger's history (and future) in film, WKUK, what we think this film is trying to say, the excellent moments of comedy, the masterful use of the various types of horror filmmaking, Gladys, and a whole lot more.
Again... you have to see this movie. It is thoroughly awesome. One of the best times we've had at the movie theater in a long time (and "Sinners" came out this year). We're excited to see where Cregger goes and can't wait to watch "Weapons" again.
If you're in the area, come to Revive Karaoke Bar on Tuesday to see the first of Otis' new open mic shows and say happy birthday to PALMREADER. Doors are at 7 PM in Uptown Waterloo. Come on out.
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
The world was a strange place five years ago. It still is, but that’s beside the point. Some say it might be too soon to immortalize the insanity that was living through the pandemic and all the wild stuff we, as a society, were doing and dealing with. Not Ari Aster, though. He said, watch me straight up show you absolutely batshit everything and everyone was by creating a satirical dark comedy Neo-western set in the epicenter of the worst people imaginable (that we all probably know examples of in real life). Also, let’s throw in some Soros-coded ANTIFA assassins, tech companies, hyper-violence, and people being extremely and detrimentally online. It goes as well as you might imagine an Ari Aster film would go.
This week, we’re chatting about “Eddington”, a sensational and scathing indictment of the times and a greatest hits of the ills of modern man. Boy, does this movie rip. It’s so good that it might piss you off and make you feel a little (or very) uneasy. We think that was the whole point, and we love it. Written and directed by Ari Aster, “Eddington” centers around a mayoral race in a small town called Eddington, New Mexico, during the first few months of the pandemic. It quickly descends into a labyrinth of madness, grifting, identity politics gone overboard, greed, and cowardice. Essentially, everyone is either being manipulated, manipulating others, or simply being bad human beings. It’s also funny. Like, laugh-out-loud ridiculous. Because it was an insane time, wasn’t it?
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O'Connell, Micheal Ward, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone, all of whom give excellent and infuriating performances, this movie expertly dissects the rise of online political and conspiratorial manipulation, societal fear, greed, hyperbolic levels of virtue signaling, the faults of identity politics, and the divisions in our humanity. What starts as something familiar slowly evolves into a story of lies, betrayal, and violence. It’s wild. In this episode, we discuss the themes, characters, and performances of the movie, highlight what we love about the direction and script, share our favourite moments from the film, discuss the state of the world both now and then, and look back on how nuts that first year of the pandemic was. They say the best art causes you to look inward… and that might be why this movie got us yapping. It also might be why it had such a polarizing effect.
Later in the episode, we briefly talk about the new Chance The Rapper album, “Star Line”, the new “Alien: Earth” series on FX, the endearing and surprising “Sorry, Baby” from Eva Victor, and some other stuff we’ve been enjoying lately.
We’ll be back next week!
INITIATE THE PROTOCOL.
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
Yo! It’s time for another Lazy Bird episode, which means you’re in for some raw, unfiltered thoughts from your favourite Bird Boys. So, strap in because we’ve got some praises to sing and some nits to pick as we cover some of the things we’ve seen, listened to, and done together over the last couple of weeks.
To start things off, we recap a day of mini-golf with the homies and the pros and cons of the course. Pros? Alcohol, little to no oversight. Cons? No upkeep, wasps, nasty water in some of the holes, and no real vibe or novelty to the course. Not a lot of pizazz, which is necessary for the true mini-golf experience. Do we need more novelty mini-golf courses near us? Yes. Yes, we do. Preferably with dinosaurs. We had fun, though.
In this episode, we also discuss some stuff we’ve watched lately, including the new “Happy Gilmore”, Adam Sandler having fun, Bad Bunny’s rise, and our favourite Happy Madison movies. Plus, we both have a lot to say about “Jurassic World: Rebirth” and “Final Destination: Bloodlines” and the failings of studio-led (and rushed) franchise films. PALMREADER loves the Jurassic franchise but has some serious issues with “Rebirth”, and Otis doesn’t feel like “Bloodlines” hit properly due to many of the deaths being spoiled by the film's promotional materials. It’s doubly troubling when we compare these films to some of the other legacy sequels that did it right, so where do franchise films and studios go from here? Hopefully not nose-first into more ketamine. We also discuss a riveting rewatch of “Westworld” that PALMREADER is undertaking with his girlfriend. It still rips. Someone let Jonathan Nolan make season five because we need to know how the story ends. Plus, “Alien: Earth” is almost here, and PALMREADER is stoked. Hopefully, Noah Hawley has it in him to land the plane with this long-awaited passion project.
We also discuss some recently released music including “Alfredo 2” from Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist (plus, The Alchemist’s generational run in the last 5-6 years), “Don’t Tap The Glass” from Tyler, The Creator, Russ’ “Wild” album and the wild DJ Lucas feature, Ovrkast., Benny The Butcher’s “Summertime Butch 2”, Moving Mountains’ “Pruning Of The Lower Limbs”, Aitch’s “4”, and more. Also, Chance The Rapper is back in two weeks... will his return be triumphant or the final nail in the coffin? PALMREADER anxiously awaits "Star Line" and, after the latest single and seeing the cover art, is cautiously optimistic.
That’s all for us! We’ll be back again soon. Until then...
INITIATE THE PROTOCOL.
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
What’s good, homies?! We’re back with an episode about one of the most influential and important independent films of all time, which also features a man dancing while torturing a cop. That’s right, it’s time to revisit the genius of Quentin Tarantino and discuss his first film, “Reservoir Dogs”. This movie kicked down the door for Tarantino’s cinematic vision and language to enter the cultural and cinematic zeitgeist in ways that are still felt today. Furthermore, with the recent passing of frequent Tarantino collaborator Michael Madsen, we figured we should get two birds stoned at once and talk about a film with a great Madsen performance. This episode is basically a gush-fest, but with a movie as good as this, what do you expect?!
Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, this small but deceptively smart and well-written heist film stars Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Michael Madsen, and Tarantino himself. All of whom deliver stellar performances in a kinetic film filled with pop culture references, witty dialogue, violence, non-linear storytelling, and exciting visual style. Considered by many critics to be one of the most important independent and cult films ever made, it is astounding that this is Tarantino's first film as writer and director. It’s like he walked into the game already an all-star (which is somewhat annoying, but damn, he really did that) and changed the trajectory of film. In this episode, we discuss all the things we love about this movie, including the soundtrack, the writing, the performances, the narrative structure, and the Tarantino-esque elements that make it all come together. It’s a banger.
Following this, we discuss a different yet equally outstanding music release that is likely to go down as one of the best of the year. “Let God Sort Em Out”, the new album from veteran rap duo Clipse, has landed, and we are beyond satisfied with it. The album is fantastic, the creative direction is perfect, the videos are killer, and the lead-up to its release was clinical. Exclusively produced by the one and only Pharrell (who reminds everyone with this project why he holds such reverence), “Let God Sort Em Out” marks the triumphant reunion of the brothers and their return to the forefront of rap. It’s opulent. It’s luxurious. It’s academic. The bars go crazy, and the beats are hard as hell. There’s no business like snow business, baby. We’ve got a lot to talk about.
INITIATE THE PROTOCOL.
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
Ayo! It’s time to go on a post-apocalyptic coming-of-age journey through a fever dream fairytale land filled with giant muscled freaks that love to hang dong, a traumatized bald orange man, a temple of bones, brain cancer, crazy cinematography, the mighty morphin’ power violence street team, artisan DIY spinal cord removals, and weird fat baby zombies… yeah, this movie was a trip! It’s the “28 Years Later” pod! Be warned: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland (our guys) are back together again after many years to direct the third film in the "28 Days" franchise, and boy, did they come to push the envelope. Taking the story in a totally new, bizarre, emotional, and gory direction that has our heads spinning, we can only salute them for having the minerals to flip the script and swing for the fences. This movie does not go the way you might expect it to, and is, in many ways, antithetical to the second film in the series. We loved it.
Released just last month, this hallucinogenic fever dream nightmare of a film sequel stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams (in his feature film debut), and Ralph Fiennes. With amazing cinematography, great performances, wild violence, excellent world-building, and innovative technical choices (much like the original), this sequel balances following in the thematic and narrative footsteps of the previous films while striking a unique mix of genres and paving the way forward in a new version of this world with new characters impeccably.
Does this film have some flaws? Yeah, no doubt. The ending will be decisive. There are some moments of glaring plot armour or a collection of odd choices from the characters that might require you to suspend your disbelief a little harder than normal. With that being said, it also has an Alpha ripping a deer’s head clean off with its bare hands and then displaying the skull and spinal cord on a tree. This sequence is shot in blood red night vision. Horrifying stuff.
This movie crackles with originality and intention that is often missing from legacy sequels and, as previously mentioned, swings for the fences even as the film comes to a close. We loved the fact that we had no idea where it was going as we were watching it, which made for one hell of a ride. Also, shout out to that couple that left because they couldn’t handle the copious amounts of Alpha hog being swung around on screen.
Anyway, we share our thoughts on the film, break down what we loved, explore some of its flaws, and discuss where we think the story will go in the upcoming sequel “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”. This was an excellent time at the movies. Don’t sleep on it if you’re a freak like us.
We’ll see you next week!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
Ayo! We’re back with another episode of BIRD PROTOCOL and, this time, we get to talk about some things we love… grenade fights, flamethrowers, John Wick, and Ana de Armas beating ass. That’s right, we’re here to discuss the recently released John Wick spinoff "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" (or just “Ballerina”) in all its explosive glory. We recently went and caught it in theatres and, boy, is it fun. It isn't without missteps and flaws, which we also unpack. With that being said, have you ever seen someone bodyslam a man into a table and then vaporize him with a grenade? It’s awesome. Worth the price of admission.
In this episode, we discuss our first reactions to the film, what makes it different from the main John Wick films, and some of the more bombastic choices and set pieces. The highs are some of the highest for the franchise, and even with the obvious structural and narrative changes due to reshoots, it still rips. We also discuss the continued expansion of the Wick lore and how smartly the film changes the rules when it comes to action and choreography based on the limitations of the Eve character.
Then, we pivot to the new songs from rap legends The Clipse, which are both truly excellent, and revel in how Push and No Malice are restoring a long-dormant feeling. There’s no business like snow business, you know? We also praise Pharrell for his production on both tracks, which serve as a reminder that he’s one of the best producers out there (since people seem to have forgotten that fact). Otis also gives his review of the new Turnstile movie that is meant to accompany their latest album, “NEVER ENOUGH”.
From there, we discuss some of our favourite badass ladies in cinema. From Ripley to Mystique to Furiosa to Rita Vrataski to Trinity to The Bride… there are so many confident, smart, and powerful women who kick ass on the big screen. We take a moment to show them some love and give them their flowers.
That’s all for us this week. We’ll see you next weekend.
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
What’s good, homies? Fresh off a recent move and a short break, the boys are back to ruminate on things. The world is scary and stupid, which means it’s time for another gripe fest with a half-Bizarro Bird, half-Lazy Bird, all DOOM-lovin’ episode. Join us as we discuss all the insanity going on in the world, what we’re listening to and watching, and how much we love the DOOM franchise.
In this episode, we discuss many things including the state of the political discourse and the shortfalls of politics in Canada, social media getting even worse, Elon Musk's evolution into the worst human ever, how the oligarchs are destroying society, Alberta being in a perpetual state of ass-backwards thinking, and whatever the hell is going on down in the United States. We also discuss the current lack of media literacy and the need for people to seek out the truth instead of believing everything they see, hear, and read at first glance. Then, we turn to artificial intelligence and share our thoughts on the detrimental over-use of AI in people’s personal lives and the need for ethical discussion, intentionality, and regulation when it comes to generative AI. Whatever your opinion, it’s here, and it seems nobody is looking at it in a meaningful way. Otis hates it, while PALMREADER has a more nuanced take, but they both agree that we need to stop and think about how we’re using it and what it’s doing to society.
After that discussion, we talk about our love of the DOOM franchise, with PALMREADER currently playing the original "DOOM" (2016) and Otis currently playing “DOOM: The Dark Ages”, and what makes them so awesome. PALMREADER is also deep into his strategy bag with “Anno 1800”, “Crusader Kings 3”, and “Stellaris” due to his recent lack of a steady internet connection. Otis, on the other hand, has been playing “Lies Of P” and reading a bunch of books, including Mark Hoppus’ new biography. We also cover what we’ve been watching, which includes movies and shows like “Predator: Killer Of Killers”, “Long Way Home”, “Murderbot”, “The Studio”, “The Phoenician Scheme”, and more. On the music side of things, we discuss the new Turnstile album “NEVER ENOUGH”, the new Clipse track “Ace Trumpets”, the new Orthodox album, the re-released “Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge” from MCR, the new “Queens Of The Stone Age” live EP, and how disappointed we are with Lil’ Wayne’s confounding new album “Tha Carter VI”. Oof. Also, JPEGMafia comes in hot with one of the worst takes we’ve ever heard, and we share our thoughts.
There’s a bunch more ranting and raving in the episode, but this description is getting long, so tap in with your favourite Bird Boys to hear the episode in all its glory.
We’ll be back next week!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
We’re back with another semi-casual themed episode for y’all to enjoy while PALMREADER wades through the waters of an exciting move and Otis plays “DOOM: The Dark Ages”! This is the first of our ongoing series on some of our favourite auteur filmmakers and auteur theory in cinema. From big names to arthouse mainstays to lesser-known gems to a new class making their way in the world of cinema, we hope to cover the deep and evolving roster of filmmakers that intentionally inject their movies with a distinct creative and artistic voice and explore what makes them unique.
To kick things off, we give a little update on what’s been going on and how life’s been treating us. PALMREADER has been revisiting his past lives as he sorts through years of stuff, while Otis has been gaming hard. Summer is almost here, and the weather is improving, which makes things a little bit brighter for both of us.
Then, we give you a basic overview of auteur theory in cinema, including where it started, what it means to be an auteur, and how the concept has influenced cinema as a business, an art, and an academic pursuit. From there, we cover six filmmakers and attempt to unpack what defines them as auteurs. To do so, we look at the style, vision, recurring themes/concepts, and formal techniques that make them who they are by looking at a selection of their films and their body of work as a whole. The filmmakers included in this episode are Michael Haneke, David Cronenberg, Harmony Korine, Richard Linklater, The Safdie Brothers, and Steven Soderbergh.
We’ll be back next week! INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
What’s good, homies?! This week, we’re talking about a recent release and a filmmaker who hasn’t missed yet. It’s our review of Ryan Coogler’s recent genre-bending vampire flick “Sinners” starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo! Plus, a conversation about Coogler’s career, filmography, and skills as a filmmaker.
I’m gonna keep it short and sweet… we loved this movie. Its thematic richness is equal to its enjoyability on the big screen. It’s an example of someone taking a big swing artistically, commercially, and technically… and totally succeeding. Yeah, we have a few nits to pick, but overall it’s a GOOD ASS TIME at the movies that sits with you long after the credits roll (especially if you’re musically inclined). It’s fun, funny, thrilling, soulful, and surprisingly horny. It’s got Irish vampires, blues music, magic, the KKK getting wrecked, and two Michael B. Jordans… What’s not to love? Plus, it looks gorgeous, sounds amazing, and has a killer soundtrack. Join us as we share our reaction to the film and have a deeper discussion about why we loved it.
Furthermore, we take some time to discuss Ryan Coogler as a filmmaker and why he’s quietly becoming one of the most important and interesting people making movies. There are many reasons including the deals he made surrounding the release of this film, his ability to keep a creative vision and voice while remaining fresh with each release, his ability to merge American pop film with auteurism and independent filmmaking, his overall profitability, his ability to tell human stories, and his love for movies and understanding of the medium. We also talk about “Creed”, “Fruitvale Station”, “Black Panther”, and explore the themes/ideas/voice that tie them together.
That’s all for this week! Go see “Sinners”! It rips!
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
This week, we’re talking one of the absolute best films of the last twenty years and Otis’ birthday pick, Paul Thomas Anderson’s exploration of greed, family, religion, madness, and the rot at the soul of America, “There Will Be Blood”! Yes, it is time for the Bird Boys to repeatedly shout “I ABANDONED MY BOY! I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! DRAINAGE! DRAINAAAGE!” while we talk earnestly about this near-perfect film. Released in 2007 to widespread critical acclaim, this is an authentic and auteurist vision realized from top to bottom through incredible direction, cinematography, writing, performances, thematic depth, and a powerful score. It has aged so well and, in the current climate, speaks to what is really to blame for a lot of the stuff happening just south of us. Talk about being prescient.
Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano give generational performances as Daniel Plainview (an oil man) and Eli Sunday (an evangelical preacher), two sides of the same rotten coin, with the former deservedly winning an Oscar for it. Honestly, pretty much everyone’s character is deeply flawed in this movie, but it is so delicious to watch. Plus, multiple oil-related deaths! There’s an oil well engulfed in flames! H.W. tries to light a guy on fire! Paul Dano gets beaten to death with a bowling pin! Daniel Day-Lewis becomes "predatory greed" personified! This is pure cinema, baby!
More than this, “There Will Be Blood” is a deliberate and methodical account of the descent into madness fueled by greed (both in terms of money and religious control) and a character study of the soul of America. It builds to a crescendo of insanity that is uncomfortable and complex, rich in theme and criticism. This movie is a dissertation on what is wrong with society, but it’s so well made and impeccably performed that it only gets better with every viewing. The score, composed by Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead, adds lush and frenetic layers to meticulously crafted sequences and shots. This movie is a prime example of masters of their craft moving in lockstep to service a creative vision. It’s breathtaking.
In this episode, we discuss the film and its legacy, deep dive into some of our favourite scenes, unpack the film’s themes, discuss what we think PTA was trying to say, marvel at the performances from Day-Lewis and Dano, and share some fun trivia about the film’s production. We also discuss the critical response to the film, the 2007 Oscars and the amazing year for film that was 2007, how “There Will Be Blood” has aged like fine wine, and more. We love this movie, so we got in our bag talking about it.
Next week? We review Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and discuss his career and filmography.
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend on…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/060CSCe5yQiIv3a1SpQzHY?si=B87eI8WURqqoWpNd6hL9sw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing/1796328195
Bandcamp: https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
After a two week break, the Bird Boys are back on Easter to share some of our thoughts, opinions, and reviews with another Lazy Bird episode! Also, Happy 4/20 to all the big time stoners out there! As usual, we kick it for a chat about what’s been going on in our lives, what we’ve been watching/listening to, and whatever thoughts are rattling around in our heads. Tap in and enjoy the ride.
We kick things off with a recap of Otis’ awesome show with Tim Butterly and his subsequent trip to Nashville. Otis shares some anecdotes and experiences from the trip including a visit to Jack White’s Third Man Records shop. We also discuss some of the differences between Canada and the USA including how friendly Americans are, how different driving is, and the intellectual differences between the two countries. From there, we discuss the current Canadian election and the issues we have with politics in general (sorry lol). We urge everyone to go make their voice heard in this election and discuss the strange state of things in geopolitics.
Then, it’s time to talk about what we’ve been watching. PALMREADER has recently seen Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” and enjoyed it for what it is (even if it isn’t as good as some of his other films). Otis has finally seen “The Equalizer” and understands the hype. PALMREADER also rewatched “Independence Day” and reaffirms that it still goes hard… even if it’s kinda dumb. Speaking of dumb movie-related stuff… what is going on with the Chicken Jockey craze and “Minecraft” screenings? Is this a Chinese psy-op or are kids taking back control of the franchise slop? We also talk about some TV shows we’ve been watching including “The Pitt”, “Daredevil: Born Again”, “The White Lotus”, “The Studio”, and more. Then, we do a quick shout out to some new music from FIDLAR, Corbin, Skrillex, Bon Iver, 156/Silence, Know Good, and a local homie saintjame. Check out his latest release, “Gabriel And The Angel Of Precious Stones”, on all streaming platforms now!
That’s all for this week! We’ll be back next week to do Otis’ birthday pick… “There Will Be Blood”!
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend on…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/060CSCe5yQiIv3a1SpQzHY?si=B87eI8WURqqoWpNd6hL9sw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing/1796328195
Bandcamp: https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
Ayo! It’s time for us to unveil another BIRD PROTOCOL playlist! This time, we took a trip down memory lane and curated a collection of indie rock rippers that range from the aughts to the present day. Indie rock is somewhat of an umbrella term and this playlist could have probably been double or triple in size but we narrowed it down to eighteen songs (many of which are from Canadian indie artists) that we love. Boy, doing this reminded us of an easier time. Remember when indie rock videos were on Much Music every day? Sigh. We’re getting old.
We have a quick conversation about indie rock as a genre. It’s so wide-ranging that we will probably make another one at some point. After some litigation, we get right to breaking down our choices and sharing why we picked what we did. Lots of personal nostalgia and admiration, especially because indie rock was hugely popular during our younger years. When you press play on this collection, you’ll hear bands like Stars, Iron & Wine, Bloc Party, The Format, Islands, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Alvvays, LCD Soundsystem, Rilo Kiley, Mates Of State, The Shins, The Strokes, Death Cab For Cutie, Tokyo Police Club, and more.
This description has a lot of extra links today, so we’re keeping it short. We hope you enjoy the songs and maybe find someone new or reconnect with an artist you love. We close out the episode with a discussion of Otis’ upcoming comedy show (Get tickets here: https://simpli.events/e/670df2) and say farewell for a few weeks as Otis travels abroad. See you in April!
Listen to the playlist on…
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/bird-protocols-springtime-indie-rock-playlist/pl.u-xlyNqZWupYGEy1
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend on…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/060CSCe5yQiIv3a1SpQzHY?si=B87eI8WURqqoWpNd6hL9sw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing/1796328195
Bandcamp: https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
We’re back with part two of our Gene Hackman double feature with a movie that goes super hard and basically laid a new foundation for modern cinema… William Friedkin’s 1971 neo-noir action thriller “The French Connection” starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, and Fernando Rey! This critically acclaimed crime movie won a bunch of awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (for Hackman). It is one of them ones. If you haven’t seen it, we highly recommend that you watch it before the episode.
“The French Connection” is a tight, gritty, procedural, and tense look at drug enforcement centered around a $32 million heroin deal in New York. It is the fictionalized version of Robin Moore’s nonfiction book of the same name that leans into a documentary style of filmmaking and trims the fat that often came with movies in this genre at the time. The pacing, editing, cinematography, and performances are all excellent. With one of the best car chase scenes in all of cinema, Gene Hackman dressed as Santa beating on drug dealers, villainous French dudes, a daytime assassination attempt, someone commandeering a subway by force, many scenes shot on location, and more… this movie is just plain awesome. It is a slowly simmering cat-and-mouse game through the city of New York (which acts almost as a character in this movie) that builds and builds to a fever pitch without losing its gritty documentary style. The tension ramps up to an explosive crescendo and an ambiguous neo-noir ending that hits just right. Plus, Gene Hackman as an extremely driven, street-worn, yet hard-as-nails alcoholic cop? Hell yeah.
In this episode, we share what we love about the movie, give some context to the film, discuss some of our favourite sequences, unpack why the performances of Hackman and Scheider are far more complex than they seem at first glance, suggest why people who haven’t seen this movie (or any 70’s movies) should stick through the slower first half, and break down how William Friedkin was a filmmaking freak that bent the rules and pushed the envelope (and, of course, how much he loves to talk shit). Plus, a look at the clandestinely made car chase sequence that was highly illegal but changed everything, the influence of the actual cops who worked the real-life version of this case, the French drug smugglers as antagonists, the impact and legacy of the movie, the devotion to New York crime-fighting realism and the use of the city as a character, and more!
We close things out with a preview of our next episode and some updates on what we've got going on in our lives and our schedule going forward for March. It’s a good time spent talking about a great film. Tap in.
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend on…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/060CSCe5yQiIv3a1SpQzHY?si=B87eI8WURqqoWpNd6hL9sw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing/1796328195
Bandcamp: https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
Get tickets to see Otis Morris open for Tim Butterly here: https://simpli.events/e/670df2
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
What’s good, homies? Welcome to another pod! This week, we’re kicking off a two-part series to honour the late Gene Hackman with a revisionist Western masterpiece and an honest-to-goodness ripper of a film, Clint Eastwood’s 1992 Best Picture winner “Unforgiven”! “Unforgiven” is a critically beloved and perfectly executed movie that delivers genuine characters, beautiful cinematography and iconic settings, nuanced performances, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is simultaneously a thematically layered, complex, and subversive film that has a lot to say about the genre, masculinity, violence, and the American West while being a damn good watch.
“Unforgiven” was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood (earning him a Best Director win) and stars Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, Jaimz Woolvett, and Saul Rubinek. Written by David Webb Peoples, who also co-wrote films like “Blade Runner”, it is a look into the morally ambiguous and dangerous world of the West filled with flawed and complex characters, sudden violence, and no real winners. It’s an investigative allegory for the genre itself, a look at the truth about masculinity and violence in the West, and a meta-textual exploration of Eastwood as a star. It’s a gut punch of a film that features incredible performances across the board, especially from Eastwood and Hackman (who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Little Bill).
In this episode, we break down the plot, explore the aforementioned theme and subversions, and share what makes this film so impactful and important to the genre. We explore some of our favourite moments from the jailhouse scene to the final shootout, discuss how the characters act as contrasting thematic duos, and break down what a revisionist Western film is. Ultimately, we marvel at how genuinely great this movie is and, conversely, discuss how easily it is for subversive films to fall short in delivering something both intellectual and enjoyable. Thankfully, “Unforgiven” goes hard in all aspects. Although we try not to get too academic, it’s hard not to when talking about such a beloved, complex, and important film. Now, you might say we don’t deserve to pod like this. To that, I say, “Deserve’s got nothing to do with it.”
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend on…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/060CSCe5yQiIv3a1SpQzHY?si=B87eI8WURqqoWpNd6hL9sw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing/1796328195
Bandcamp: https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
Get tickets to see Otis Morris open for Tim Butterly here: https://simpli.events/e/670df2
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
Yo, yo! It’s time for another episode of Bird Protocol! This week, the Bird Boys sit down and chat about everything they’ve been watching, playing, and listening to as well as all the crazy and fun things going on in the world. It’s a new Lazy Bird episode for your head tops!
We start the episode off with a short tribute to a fallen friend, PALMREADER’s best pal Tucker, who has now gone on to his next big adventure somewhere beyond the veil. Speaking of someone important to us passing, another titan of cinema is suddenly gone and it sucks. Rest in peace to the extremely talented Gene Hackman. We take some time to reflect on his impact on film as a whole and his outstanding on-screen career from “The Conversation” to “The French Connection” to “Unforgiven” to “The Royal Tenenbaums” and more. Then, Otis shares some tales of his recent experience of seeing John Cena turn heel and side with The Rock at the WWE Elimination Chamber event in Toronto. He had hell of a time at a historic night of wrestling (minus a few morons).
Following this, we break down this year’s Oscars… Who were the night’s big winners? Who should have won but didn’t? What did we think of the nominees? Is “Amelia Perez” a good movie? Why don’t people give proper respect to the technical awards? All these questions and more are answered to the best of our knowledge. Then, we pivot to what we’ve been watching, including “The Pitt”, “Daredevil: Born Again”, “Kneecap”, “Reacher”, “A Complete Unknown”, “Treme”, and more. We also discuss some of our recent listens including 2 Chainz, Larry June, and The Alchemist’s “Life Is Beautiful”, Architect’s “The Sky, The Earth, & All Between”, The Strokes’ “Is This It” and the early 2000’s New York indie rock scene, Paris Texas’ new album “They Left Me With The Sword” and the accompanying “They Left Me With A Gun” EP, Big Hit’s “Free Big Hit”, Reason’s “I Love You Again”, L. S. Dunes’ “Violet”, new PUP, Spy’s “Seen Enough” EP, and more.
To close things out, we get a little political and discuss the importance of voting, searching out the proper information on the parties and their platforms, and why you DEFINITELY should be voting this year. Considering all the political craziness going on in the world, don't let your voice go unheard.
Thanks for hanging with us! See you next week!
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend on…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/060CSCe5yQiIv3a1SpQzHY?si=B87eI8WURqqoWpNd6hL9sw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing/1796328195
Bandcamp: https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
Listen to “The Otis Morris Benefit Show” here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1pC1y6mzWGQ4067IGIkFqq?si=77db8326a5b3482a
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
There have been some cold, snowy, and dark days lately and the world feels like it’s being run into the ground by criminal idiots. It’s the perfect time to watch something… but what? Great news! Otis has the answer! This week, we revisit a modern classic from the talented and influential filmmaking duo Joel and Ethan Coen. It’s time to discuss the 1996 black comedy crime film “Fargo” starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, and Peter Stormare. Oh, you betcha!
Directed by Joel and written by both Ethan and Joel Coen, this critical darling and modern classic honed in on what the brothers do best and refined their formula for the masses. In many ways, it (like the films of many other filmmakers in the 90s) helped usher in the world of movies we know and love today. “Fargo” is a hilariously dark, twisted, and quaint comedy of tragic errors and stupid people getting caught beyond their depth. Plus, there's explosive violence and funny accents! What more could you want? With excellent and nuanced performances from all the leads, cinematography from the G.O.A.T. Roger Deakins, music from frequent collaborator Carter Burwell, a near-perfect runtime and pacing, and moments of genuine deadpan absurdity that will make you laugh out loud… what more is there to say?
In this episode, we discuss all the great things about this film and why it exemplifies the Coen brothers’ formula. We also praise the performances (specifically William H. Macy and Frances McDormand), the characterization, the comedy, the pacing, and the excellent writing. We break down some of our favourite scenes, lines, and shots while also discussing the impact of this movie and its critical reception. We basically gush about this movie and the Coen brothers for an hour and a half because they rule. We also briefly discuss the brothers’ filmography, how this movie stacks up against their other films and the more recent and wildly successful “Fargo” TV show from Noah Hawley. Don’t like “Fargo’? Too bad. It rips. Plus, a little update on what we’ve got going on and a discussion about the world feeling a lot like the upside-down right now.
We’ll see you next week!
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend on…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/060CSCe5yQiIv3a1SpQzHY?si=B87eI8WURqqoWpNd6hL9sw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing/1796328195
Bandcamp: https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
Listen to “The Otis Morris Benefit Show” here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pC1y6mzWGQ4067IGIkFqq?si=77db8326a5b3482a
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
Ayo! We’re back with the first official episode of 2025! We’re both tired as hell but this week we’re happy to be covering one of our favourite artists of all time - the late, great Mac Miller! In this episode, we do our best to cover his career from his breakout mixtape “K.I.D.S.” to the most recent posthumous release “Ballloonerism”. Mac’s got a surprisingly deep and varied body of work and we both feel a deeply personal connection to his art so this episode was a long time coming. First, before all that, we discuss the general feeling of unease across the board and the state of the world. Spoiler alert: It kinda sucks! There is a silver lining to be found in the newfound unity growing here in Canada… but at what cost? Daily existential dread. Sigh.
From there, it’s all about Mac! We trace his artistry, career, and releases from his early days as the “frat rap” luminary to his creative evolution post-“Blue Slide Park” to his many awesome and underheard mixtapes to his various side projects to his multifaceted trio of final albums that prove just how amazing he was (and highlight what we’re missing now that he’s gone). Although we try to cover all his releases, we spend extra time discussing our favourites including “Watching Movies With The Sound Off”, “Faces”, “Swimming”, “Circles”, and the recently released lost album “Balloonerism”. Producer, rapper, singer, musician… Mac did it all and was on the way to becoming an even bigger and more important pillar of modern music. We discuss his legacy and impact, his frequent collaborators, how his music and passing impacted us, our favourite tracks, and more. He was a major part of our friendship and an inspiration to us both so we get a little emotional.
We close the episode with a short discussion about the passing of artists and how it can impact you, the difference between parasocial relationships and genuine admiration and appreciation when it comes to loss, the Grammy’s (neither of us watched the ceremony but we have some thoughts), new projects from the both of us including Otis’ new solo podcast and PALMREADER’s new Anxiety Weekend album, how Kanye and Elon Musk still stink, and some other ramblings. Are we living in an idiocracy? Maybe… sure feels like it.
Listen to “When This Is Over, Let’s Go Dancing” by Anxiety Weekend here:
https://anxietyweekend.bandcamp.com/album/when-this-is-over-lets-go-dancing
Listen to “The Otis Morris Benefit Show” here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1pC1y6mzWGQ4067IGIkFqq?si=77db8326a5b3482a
INITIATE BIRD PROTOCOL!
Follow us on Instagram!
Instagram: @palmreadr @otismorrisdude
