Film Fumblers

Loving Vincent

Fumblers — Wed, 25 May 2022 06:32:27 -0600

This week we’re talking about the visually stunning Loving Vincent. A mind blowing 65,000 hand painted frames from 125 artists created this film, but we couldn’t help but think the narrative of what those paintings showed was a little lackluster. We wished the same amount of detail that went into the animation was consistent throughout the project, but either way watch it for the paintings alone.

Fumbler Score 7.1/10

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Perfect Blue

Fumblers — Tue, 17 May 2022 17:10:15 -0600

In 1995, a tragic earthquake hit Japan and destroyed the movie studio that would have produced a live-action version of Perfect Blue. Production was stopped and funds were reallocated to create a shorter animated version of the film. Tragedy birthed one of the most original, influential, and most talked about anime films of all time. Satoshi Kon's brilliance inspired a generation of film makers and brought the world into the life of an IDOL.
This was a fun (trippy) watch for us and really got us thinking about streamer/idol/celebrity culture that we see today.

Fumbler Score: 8.6/10

Shrek

Fumblers — Tue, 10 May 2022 06:27:06 -0600

We’re here with our first movie of aniMAYtion Shrek! It’s one of those movies that you don’t get tired of, and that’s not just nostalgia talkin. Even though the story is simplistic, the comedic timing, Disney commentary, and hell even the animation after 21 years make this baby a classic. We were surprised how well it’s held up.

Fumbler Score: 9/10

The Northman

Fumblers — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 20:44:35 -0600

Robert Eggers is back with his 3rd film The Northman. Eggers finally gets some budget to play around with, and it really shows from the amazing cinematography, breathtaking back drops, and top notch acting. We were a little split on the Shakespearean-esque story, however. But if you wanna just watch buff dudes be guys, this is it.

Fumbler Score: 7.8/10

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Fumblers — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 08:38:56 -0600

It's always a special moment when you're experiencing a film and you just know it's going down as one of the GOATs. That's exactly what happened to us with Everything Everywhere All at Once. One moment you're crying from all the laughter and the next you're laughing from all the crying. The Daniels masterfully blended batshit crazy visuals with profound relate-ability. How, you ask? I don't know man, you just gotta see it to believe it.

Fumbler Score: 9.7/10.....our highest rated film ever btw

The Batman

Fumblers — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:11:24 -0700

Another decade, another new actor in the Batman suit. Matt Reeves takes this one in the most grounded direction he could, but did it work? We enjoyed the look and feel of Gotham this time around, but not everything else clicked with us as a group. A lot of the problems can be dismissed by the fact that this Bruce has only been the Bat for a couple years, but only Taryn is fully convinced. Overall we liked Battinson! The runtime is going to be a point of contention for everyone, especially since its only 8(!) minutes shorter than Endgame can you believe that!

Fumbler Score: 7.0

C'mon C'mon

Fumblers — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:56:02 -0700

C’mon C’mon is a movie that invites the audience to reflect. It paints familiar scenarios from both adult and child perspectives, and it rolls slowly letting you really bathe in the moments the characters are flowing through. The camera work is beautiful, with slow subtle movements and black and white presentation to minimize distractions and offer a layer of removal from reality. Yet reality is sprinkled throughout with unscripted interviews from kids around the country concerning their future. There are no huge story arcs and also no real moments of sentimentality or emotional manipulation, yet we still managed to leave this one feeling some type of way.

C’mon C’mon enters the Fumbler Hall of Fame with a 9.1!

Don't Look Up

Fumblers — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 18:10:27 -0700

Don’t Look Up has been the subject of some controversy. Some calling it genius for exposing the government/Hollywood/Billionaires, and others seeing it as picking at low hanging fruit not revealing anything we didn’t already know. We try to unpack both sides and wonder if satire can work in this day and age when life is already absolutely bonkers.

Fumbler Score: 5.7

Scream (2022)

Fumblers — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 17:22:17 -0700

Hey Happy New Year! We’re finally back after some rest and relaxation to slash it up with Scream (2022). We didn’t expect this movie to work so well but somehow it’s pulled off. Maybe it’s the direct shots at critics and toxic fandoms and we don’t wanna be grouped in with them. It’s hard to throw in meta thing without it being too cringey, but this was done with so much fun. Will it age well? Maybe, maybe not. We’ll see when they requel it in 10 years.

Fumbler Score: 8.3/10

Spider-Man No Way Home

Fumblers — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0700

We’re swinging through December and that means more holiday movies. Yes, Spider-Man: No Way Home features a Christmas tree for like 3 seconds, so it counts. The hype surrounding this one was real, and dammit Marvel & co managed to pull it off! Our guests @matkinz and @jayrenteriuh help us decide whether this is a good movie or just a good marvel movie. Our score isn’t bright and shining, but this doesn’t mean we didn’t have a blast watching this bad boy in theaters. WATCH IT IN THEATERS AND AVOID SPOILERS AT ALL COSTS. You’ll be rewarded with the sweet sounds of the audience screaming.

Fumbler Score: 7.6/10

#SpiderManNoWayHome #review #podcast

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Fumblers — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0700

We’re continuing our holiday theme with Nightmare Before Christmas. Contrary to popular belief it’s not even directed by Tim Burton, he just kind of gave some general ideas and kicked holes in the walls when things didn’t seem right. We only know this because @jayrenteriuh our guest of honor this week is like a walking encyclopedia for this movie. We love stop-motion animation and we don’t care who knows. Put any in front of us and it’s gettin’ in the Fumbler HOF. Shout out the newly two timer Fumbler HOFer Henry Selick

Fumbler Score 9.0/10 🏆 HALL OF FAME BABY 🏆

Elf

Fumblers — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 22:39:19 -0700

Somehow...It's December again...And we're kicking off the holiday season with Elf! Let's be honest, Will Ferrell carried the hell out of the one. We can't imagine anyone pulling off Christmas spirit incarnate the way he did. They managed to pull off this concept by balancing both adult and kid friendly humor, but also rely heavily on Christmas movie tropes. Not our favorite, but just the right amount of nostalgia to give us that warm fuzzy holiday feeling.

Fumbler Score 7.5/10

12 Angry Men

Fumblers — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0700

This week we visit our oldest reviewed movie yet, 12 Angry Men (1957) A classic in every sense of the word. We went really deep with this one because it seems that despite being 64 years old not much has changed in America. It sort of left us feeling somewhat hopeful, but also somewhat disappointed that prejudice is still prevalent today. If anything we came out agreeing this should be a mandatory watch for all, not just in a film sense, but in a sense of compassion.

Fumbler Score: 8.8

Dune

Fumblers — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Hey, how you Dune? We're finally dune Dune after a month of horror flix and a little break off. Dune, the illustrious novel that many have tried time and time again to adapt to film, but never as successful as Denis Villeneuve. What can we say, big ass space ships, big ass worms, big ass sound. Is BIGGER better? We seem to think so. Do yourself a favorite and see this on the big screen and #SaveCinema

Fumbler Score: 8.5

American Psycho

Fumblers — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 10:11:44 -0600

Do you like American Psycho? Although originally polarizing to audience in critics alike it developed a much deserved cult following when released on Digital Video Disc or DVD. There it found new life and came into its own commercially and artistically. The movie works both as a an examination of male vanity while also maintaining real genre thrills, justifying these tonal shift by placing the audience into the mind of the main character. The role almost went to Leo but we think Bale has a more bitter, cynical sense of humor. The movie itself is so polarizing most people probably don’t even listen to the message. But we think they should, because it’s not just about the killing and psychotic breaks, but a personal statement of the horrors of 80s corporate culture. Anyways, that wraps of horror month for us.

Fumbler Score 8.8

Special thanks to our guest of honor @jamallen89!

Scream

Fumblers — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 16:31:09 -0600

Yo dawg, I heard you liked scary movies, so we put a scary movie inside your scary movie so you can scary movie while you scary movie. We’re back at it again with Wes Craven’s 1996 meta-slasher classic Scream. We were feelin a little woozy with this one…some of us loved the meta humor while others felt it took away from what was trying to be a somewhat serious slasher. Definitely one that’s better watching with friends and if you have a little bit of knowledge about the genre as a whole, but still a blast to watch!

Fumbler Score: 7.2

The Exorcist

Fumblers — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Alright, listen, The Exorcist is a bonafied c l a s s i c and we knew that. But what we didn’t know is how well the damn thing holds up today. The gripping realism of each characters’ lives makes some of us question our reality…is this something that could really happen to us?? Well it’s not even really scary, but the vibes between story and music all come together for something special.
THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU to watch this one and give our episode a listen right after.

Fumbler Score 9.05/10

Get your head spinning with our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! We show you how to make drinks based off of or inspired by movies!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Malignant

Fumblers — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0600

THE BACKWARDS MAN, THE BACKWARDS MAN, I CAN WALK BACKWARDS AS FAST AS YOU CAN...

This week we dive into the creative mind of James Wan's Malignant. The tone in this one is all over the place. We're led to believe this movie was supposed to be taken seriously, but then we end up with something goofy and honestly just plain fun. Some of us question Wan's intentions, but others feel like Wan is giving a huge middle finger to "traditional" horror and just having fun with misdirection. Is Wan gonna bust out another dominating horror franchise and bring Gabriel's parkour-slashin-karate kickin-ass back for another one??!! We'll wait and see on that one...

Fumbler Score: 5.3

Feelin a little backwards? Check out our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! We show you how to make drinks based off of or inspired by movies!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Another Round

Fumblers — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:39:08 -0600

Today we are joined by Fumbler Friend of the show: Nater! This week, it's Another Round, directed by Thomas Vinterberg. This is a film that was basically made for us. It follows four friends who fumble through life, by jacking up their BAC in an attempt to spark a little fiery passion back into their lives. It's super well made, it has beautiful shots, it has ups and downs, and it's all in Danish! So, should you be able to get past the barrier of subtitles, you will be rewarded with a film that is really special. But not special enough to make the Fumbler Hall of Fame... *cough* James *cough* Adrian *cough*

Cheers brothers.

Fumbler Score: 8.86

Should you also want to spice up your life and jack up that BAC, check out our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! We show you how to make drinks based off of or inspired by movies!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Fumblers — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:11:04 -0600

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, was an unexpected surprise from Marvel. There were certainly formulaic elements that we've come to expect, but there was also some real homage here to the martial arts genre as a whole. The choreography is what really drove this home for us though, it was complex and beautiful. Mad props to Simu Liu, who has taken the internet by storm (check out his old stock photos), and for good reason!

Fumbler Score: 7.7

Check out our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! We show you how to make drinks based off of or inspired by movies!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Memoirs of a Geisha

Fumblers — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 07:38:20 -0600

This week we visit pre-WWII Japan in Memoirs of a Geisha. This movie… is well… a doozy. Based off the controversial fictional novel of the same name, both versions try to grasp at Japanese sub-culture through a western lens. We get to feast on beautiful set design and costumes, and of course John Williams masterful score, but the jumbled mess of melodrama and the creepy “romance” makes this movie nothing but pretty makeup on a turd. It also has us wondering why the hell the damn movie isn't in Japanese??

Fumbler Score: 5.7

Check out our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! We show you how to make drinks based off of or inspired by movies!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Fumblers — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 07:35:14 -0600

Raiders of the Lost Ark, directed by Stephen Spielberg, is nothing short of iconic. It practically defines the adventure genre, and feels almost fairy tale like at this point. It helps that Harrison Ford is one bad ass mf, and John Williams is another bad ass mf, and always brings a soundtrack that slaps and fits right into the atmosphere of the story.

Fumbler Score: 8.7

Check out our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! We show you how to make drinks based off of or inspired by movies!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

The Big Lebowski

Fumblers — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 14:12:43 -0600

The Big Lebowski sits in that weird place where it's defined some aspects of our culture and is pretty well known, but hasn't really reached a massive audience, yet most people know lines from the movie, or at the very least have heard of The Dude. The Coen Brothers nailed something special with this one; it's a film built up and carried by incredible characters (played by an incredible cast), with no details spared, and an overall vibe that is unmatched. And the vibe is really why you watch (and re-watch) this movie.

Collective Fumbler Score: 8.8

If you want to make your very own White Russian like The Dude, check out our latest episode of Fumbled Not Stirred!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Chef

Fumblers — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 08:50:14 -0600

Jon Favreau's Chef is a feel-good movie that is well worth the watch. For some, it refuels the creative drive and sparks inspiration in a mental space that is otherwise consumed with "what if's" and self doubt. It's a story of a person doing a thing, a thing he can do really well, perhaps the only thing he can do really well, and sharing that thing with the people he loves. So grab a Cubano and join us!

Collective Fumbler Score: 8.65

Check out our latest web series, Fumbled Not Stirred, to learn how to make some tasty cocktails inspired by great movies! And be on the lookout for our next episode, launching this week!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

The Godfather Part II

Fumblers — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0600

We did The Godfather back in June of 2020 (which was Episode 16!!!), over a year ago. It's a little crazy to think that we've kept at this for so long, much less revisited a series in our first ever Sequel Episode! We once again enter the mind of Francis Ford Coppola and hit the streets with a present day Don Michael and young Don Vito in The Godfather Part II! This may be one of the few sequels to actually hold a candle to the original.

Collective Fumbler Score: 8.8

In this episode, we made The Godfather cocktail to set the mood! Check out our latest web series, Fumbled Not Stirred, to learn how to make one of your own! And be on the lookout for a next episode, launching this week!

Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Old

Fumblers — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0600

In this episode, where we try to keep with the times and keep shit current, we talk about M. Night Shyamalan's Old. Staring some familiar Fumblerverse faces (Thomasin McKenzie & Alex Wolff), Old has a really interesting concept that just isn't executed well. That doesn't necessarily make for a bad movie, and it's a ton of fun with friends, but it doesn't quite stack up to his arsenal of movies. And this is the dude who made The Sixth Sense.

Collective Fumbler Score: 5.23

Next week, we are watching The Godfather Part II! If you haven't checked out our episode on The Godfather, give it a listen!
Catch us live every TUESDAY on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

We recently released our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! Check it out, will ya?

Space Jam: A New Legacy

Fumblers — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0600

We are back and live in person for the first time in 60 EPISODES. 60! That's some crazy shit.

Space Jam: A New Legacy, directed by Malcom D. Lee was... pretty rough to watch. They definitely did not have us in the first half, but the second half was actually not terrible! The self deprecating jokes definitely made it bearable, and Lebron James did much better than most thought he would, but this one doesn't hold a candle to the original. Perhaps it's because we're a group of late 20's men(children), perhaps it's because it's kind of an hour and 50 minute ad, or perhaps, just maybe, we forgot how to have fun...

Yeahhh, it's not that, we have fun and we had a blast making this episode!

Collective Fumbler Score: 3.975

Next week, we have no idea what we are going to watch! We had too much fun hanging out and forgot to pick a movie! Better go follow our socials to find out!

Catch us live every TUESDAY (we changed it!) on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

We also just released our new web series: Fumbled Not Stirred! Check it out, will ya?

Space Jam

Fumblers — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Space Jam, directed by Joe Pytka, is a double or triple serving of buttery hot nostalgia. We were surprised at the amount of lines, scenes, and Michael Jordan fan cams we remembered, and most (if not all) of us hadn't seen this movie since we were little kids. The soundtrack slaps, the acting is pretty rough, Bill Murray is incredible, and the humor is actually funny now that we watched it again as adults. That doesn't necessarily make it a good movie, but it will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Collective Fumbler Score: 6.875

Next week, we are going to sit through the potential dumpster fire that is Space Jam: A New Legacy! Catch us live every TUESDAY (we changed it!) on Twitch at ~8:00pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Independence Day

Fumblers — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Independence Day, directed by (a German guy) Roland Emmerich, lies in that weird space between the era of great practical's and the new age of incredible visual effects, but still pulls off being a fun flick with some witty lines and interesting character dynamics. It may not be something we watch every holiday (like Die Hard on Christmas 😉), but it has a certain charm that's hard to deflect. In fact, some people think it's so good, they haven't stopped poppin' off fireworks (lookin' at you, neighbors)!

Collective Fumbler Score: 7.1

Next week, we are prepping for the new one and doing Space Jam! Catch us live every ???day on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Brokeback Mountain

Fumblers — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:30:16 -0600

We are back, and joined by Alonso, to round out June with Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee, is an important film/empathy machine for most people to see. It offers a lens into the struggles of being gay and having to hide or bury your expressions of love and affection deep within, always being afraid or having some amount of fear about certain people (or anyone) finding out. It's powerful, and though not perfect, it helped in the increasingly more widespread acceptance of the those in the LGBTQ community. Happy Pride y'all!

Collective Fumbler Score: 8.8

Next week, you know we gotta do Independence Day! Catch us live every Saturday on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Mary and Max

Fumblers — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0600

This week, we are re-joined by Fumbler Friends Jordyn and Helen!

Mary and Max, directed by Adam Elliot, explores facets of humanity that you probably would not expect from a claymation, yet the medium lends itself perfectly for such a task. It has superb writing, clever humor, and an incredibly stylistic look that tie together a story that will make you laugh, cry, and cherish your friendships and your own imperfectness. This one is truly beautiful, and makes it way into the Fumbler Hall of Fame!

Collective Fumbler Score: 9.2

Next week we are yet again (again) continuing the animation train with the new Pixar film: Luca, which will be available on Disney+ starting Friday June 18th! Catch us live every Saturday on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Stay tuned for more info on the new show, Cringeship, hosted by Jordyn and Helen, coming soon!

Kubo and the Two Strings

Fumblers — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Happy Pride Month ya'll! For June we're back to "anything goes", though it appears to really just be a continuation of AniMAYtion, as this week it's Kubo and the Two Strings from director Travis Knight! I think this one surprised all of us a bit, melding beautiful visuals with a story surrounded in darker conflicts, but still managing to be fun for the whole family. And we've said it before, and we'll probably say it again, but stop motion animation is pure artistry of all sorts. Hard not to love these ones, but not quite in the Fumbler Hall of Fame...

Collective Fumbler Score: 8.85

Next week we are yet again continuing the animation train with Mary and Max! Catch us live every Saturday on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fumblers — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox is just that: cussing fantastic. It's got all the great things you'd expected out of a Wes Anderson flick, and they translate beautifully to stop motion animation. This also officially brings Anderson into the Fumblerverse, which I guess means that all of his usual crew is also now in the Fumblerverse. It's hard to not love this one, and it's a proven fan favorite with some of the highest scores given by our live audience yet, including a perfect 10!

Collective Fumbler Score: 8.7

Next week we are heading into June with no theme, but we will be watching Kubo and the Two Strings! Catch us live every Saturday on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Heavy Metal

Fumblers — Tue, 25 May 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Heavy Metal, directed by Gerald Potterton, is a pretty weird movie. Well, more of an anthology I guess. And boobs. A lot of anime boobs. Like a lot. It had it's good things too, like a great soundtrack an some interesting "chapters", but its ultimately just pretty weird and some of the "chapters" haven't aged well. But it gave way to Love, Death, and Robots, so it's hard to knock it too much!

Next week we are rounding out AniMAYtion with Fantastic Mr Fox, a movie we can't wait to revisit. Catch us live every Saturday on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Akira

Fumblers — Tue, 18 May 2021 06:00:00 -0600

We're continuing AniMAYtion, a whole month of animated movies! Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira has been an incredibly influential film, not only to animation as a medium, but to movies and the sharing of culture as a whole. Even if you are not really an anime fan, we encourage you to give this a try, it will blow your mind. It can get a little convoluted, but let it sit in your psyche for bit, and then revisit.

Next week we are doing Heavy Metal, a movie none of us have seen and we're stoked to check it out. Catch us live every Saturday on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

Tarzan (1999)

Fumblers — Wed, 05 May 2021 06:00:00 -0600

The last movie in our Ape-ril line up goes to: Tarzan! Directed by Kevin Lima and Chris Buck, this Disney classic was one of the first movies that came out where our 6-7 year old selves were the intended audience! But how does it hold up? Will it make the Fumbler Hall of Fame? Grab a drink, beat your chest, and come swing through Tarzan with us!

Next month, we will be doing AniMAYtion! All animated films all month long! Full schedule to be determined, but catch us live every Saturday on Twitch at ~9:30pm MT for a chance to pick our next movie!

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Fumblers — Sat, 01 May 2021 15:02:07 -0600

We welcome back Matt to talk about the latest MCU show! We get into the themes we didn't think Disney would ever touch, how much more these characters mean in the greater scheme, and how dorky John Walker looks in the Cap suit. Futures looking bright for these MCU shows!

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Fumblers — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Some of the boys took some extra shots for this one. We're back and continuing Ape-ril by forcefully jamming Mortal Kombat into it! Directed by Simon McQuoid, this iteration of the popular video game (back to back video game movies btw) takes a different turn by introducing a new character, Cole Young, into the Mortal Kombat universe. We're sure, in fact we know, that MK purists will be vehemently opposed to this, but when you're tryin' to make that money, you gotta give the newbies something to follow along with. With a surprising (totally appropriate) amount of gore, fun callbacks to the game's famous lines, and a finger on the pulse of spamming low kicks against your siblings, Mortal Kombat was, if nothing else, a fun watch.

Rampage

Fumblers — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 08:05:10 -0600

Look man I'm just gonna say it: Rampage is a decent fuckin' flick. Seriously, and I know it's plagued with a video game curse, so maybe our expectations are just low, but damnit if it wasn't a pleasant surprise. Directed by Brad Peyton, this one shakes things up with straight up brutal monster brawling, little humor jabs at itself, and an opening that sucks you in. But I ain't calling it a classic in 30 years.

Special shout out to Quarter Circle Brewing for hooking us up with some tasty beers!

Join us next week for the new Mortal Kombat, streaming on HBO Max starting April 23rd!

Planet of the Apes (1968)

Fumblers — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Continuing right along with Ape-ril, we've got the classic Planet of the Apes, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner! There's a divide here that just might surprise you, kinda like the film itself. For most of us, this movie was not what we expected, especially growing up with the remakes/sequels/whatever they are. We also officially induct our first musical artist into the Fumblerverse: Jedi Mind Tricks!

Godzilla vs. Kong

Fumblers — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 08:37:26 -0600

Fumblers, welcome to Ape-ril. We made a trailer to better depict our theme this month, so be sure to check out Alonso's superb editing skills. Godzilla vs. Kong, directed by Adam Wingard, was quite a ride. It may not have fully tickled your "larger-than-life-monsters-fighting-each-other-for-real" pickle, but it did have some amazing cutting edge VFX, and could possibly open the door to a true monsters only movie going experience (no pesky humans). Join us for more Ape adjacent movies all month long!

The Outsiders

Fumblers — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0600

We hit another one from Francis Ford Copolla. No, like we really beat this thing up. We have a rumble of our own, The Fumblers vs The Outsiders, and we throw a few blows at each other too for good measure. Look, it's hard to follow The (Motherfucking) Godfather, arguably one of the greatest films to ever enter the eyeballs of the people, but to do it like this? Stay gold y'all.

Minari

Fumblers — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0600

A24 brings the feels with Lee Isaac Chung's Minari. This movie is an absolute must watch for everyone. Even if you don't relate to it, there is so much to take in here, and an entire perspective to see life through. On the surface, this is a movie about a family of immigrants from South Korea who came to America. But really, it is a movie about people. Though we all come from different backgrounds, places, times, and cultures, we are people and we are all trying to navigate life just the same. Be kind to one another. Stop Asian hate.

To learn more, and donate, visit The AAPI Community Fund, Asian American's Advance Justice, and Hate is a Virus' Community Action Fund.

Pi

Fumblers — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0600

We are just in time for Pi Day with Darren Aronofsky's Pi. And that was actually not at all planned! No really, we roll a bunch of marbles down a hole and the owner of the marble decides the next movie, it's a lot of fun and you can catch that live every Saturday night! Pi is a film that brings with it a lot of interesting things. It's a bit strange, but it captivates and demands your attention right from the beginning. You can become invested, dare I say obsessed, with exactly what is going to happen at the end. And you may, or may not, get it.

Sound of Metal

Fumblers — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Arguably the best movie to reach general audiences in 2020, Darius Marder's Sound of Metal is a film full of surprises. The premise sounds basic on the surface: a drummer in a metal band starts to lose his hearing, but it goes much deeper than you might think. It tries to explore a lot of deep concepts: struggling to accept a reality without your passion, co-dependence, addiction, grief/loss, and a non stop longing for a return to normalcy. Sounds a bit like what many have gone through in 2020 in light of the pandemic and the turbulent political landscape, huh?

Get Out

Fumblers — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0700

We are rounding out our Black History Month films with Get Out, directed by Jordan Peele! This movie is definitely impactful and has only become more relevant, and perhaps important, for people to watch if they haven't seen it yet. As Matt said, it exposes a lot of new thoughts to a lot of new people, and though it's made for a specific audience, everybody gets something out of it. Few films are able to do this, and even fewer are a directors debut!

Do the Right Thing

Fumblers — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0700

We managed to make it to 50 episodes! Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing has been one of the most impactful films we have done so far on this show. Making waves upon it's original release in 1989, this film has a unique blend of comedy, rawness, and impact that few have ever been able to pull off. Exploring many facets of racial inequality, the wardrobe/set design are really the only things that feel dated about this film, and given that it came out 32 years ago, it's sad to see so many similarities against the present backdrop of the political landscape we've had for the last handful of years. Even so, its ability to spark conversation and awareness to a huge issue in our society, while managing to maintain humor and a sense of realness, puts this one into the Fumbler Hall of Fame!

Here is more information/where you can donate to Black Lives Matter and associated organizational partners.

Queen & Slim

Fumblers — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Happy Valentines Day! We're continuing Black History Month with Melina Matsoukas' film debut Queen & Slim. This one packs a lot into a couple of hours, and its relevancy to current events cannot be understated. It explores a lot of complex relationships: between family, throughout community, with authority, and within society. Tack on some great filmmaking fundamentals, like a soundtrack that you will keep coming back to and beautiful shots to document the journey, and you've got a solid debut feature film.

Moonlight

Fumblers — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Barry Jenkins' Moonlight is a film that explores so many layers of society that it can be almost overwhelming. It touches on a lot of deep subjects: the cost of having to hide your true self and becoming your own façade, the reality of survival in conditions of poverty and absent opportunity, the difficulties of having to suppress vulnerabilities and the want to be wanted, while having to amplify a sense of masculinity that you may not even believe in. This is an art film that is beautifully made, that tells a story with subjects that are rarely discussed, and both elevates and cares for them in a way that will definitely leave an impact on you.

A Night at the Roxbury

Fumblers — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:15:30 -0700

Directed by John Fortenberry, A Night at the Roxbury comes to us from the Lorne Michaels/SNL empire starring Will Ferrell as Steve Butabi and whoever it is that plays Doug Butabi. This movie seems to have a bit of a cult following for those growing up in or around the 90s, and it definitely brings a ton of nostalgia with it. The soundtrack absolutely SLAPS, but is that all this movie has going for it? No..... yes!!!

Whiplash

Fumblers — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 15:21:20 -0700

Damien Chazelle is one of the most interesting and consistent directors to hit the scene in the last decade. Today, we are talking about his 2014 film Whiplash. What started as a short that premiered at Sundance, culminated into a feature that is full of dark suspenseful moments with sprinkles of insanity and, dare I say, hope? Join us as we dive into what it means to strive for greatness, and what it costs to get there.

Children of Men

Fumblers — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 11:04:59 -0700

Sitting among BBC's best 100 films of the 21st century, and the Fumbler Hall of Fame, Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men is a masterclass in filmmaking. There is SO MUCH to learn from here, and this movie is not even on most people's radars. Julianne Moore and Michael Caine add some familiarity to a great cast, but be warned: no one is safe. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices.

Jojo Rabbit

Fumblers — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:54:01 -0700

Taika Waititi is easily one of our favorite filmmakers and has such a unique blend of charisma, humor, and depth that you just don't get anymore. Jojo Rabbit is one hell of a ride, and is strengthened by its great casting and approach to its subject matter that showcases all of the ridiculous batshit crazy things Nazi's would do, yet it leaves you with a sense of hope and a beautiful quote: "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final."

Soul

Fumblers — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:26:48 -0700

Welcome to a new year with the Fumblers! We're kicking off 2021 with Pixar's Soul, directed by Pete Docter. The cast is insanely stacked, and the soundtrack is on another plane of existence (mad props to Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross!) Soul is a movie that does something art excels at: it dives deep into what it means to be alive, and to live.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Fumblers — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 23:40:00 -0700

Our final holiday season movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik! In what is arguably our MOST "Christmas" film, you will find classic slapstick laughs, Chevy Chase, and Bill Murray's brother Brian! We tend to fill things out a little more extremely, so prepare for a rant or 2 about capitalism, a ton of fumbling, and great send off to end 2020. Happy holidays everyone, and many thanks for hanging out with us this year!

Edward Scissorhands

Fumblers — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 11:05:26 -0700

Our next holiday season movie is Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands! An entire movie spawned from a simple drawing that Burton made while in high school, and who the hell would have thought it would land as a classic. We dive into how Burton tends to create these welcoming bizarre worlds that, more often than not, make "weird" almost mainstream, and Edward Scissorhands is no exception!

Home Alone

Fumblers — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 11:04:43 -0700

Next up in our holiday season, the hugely successful classic from Chris Columbus: Home Alone! This movie has a hell of a story behind getting made, Joe Pesci takes an interesting role given his past, and we get music from John Williams!

Die Hard

Fumblers — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 16:09:38 -0700

This week marks the beginning of our holiday (or holiday adjacent 🙂) movie spree. First up: John McTiernan’s Die Hard! This obvious Christmas classic doubles as a legendary action movie that breathed new life into the genre. This movie also kickstarted a couple of careers as both Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman were relatively unknown at the time it was released!

Faster

Fumblers — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 17:08:00 -0700

George Tillman Jr.'s first action movie, Faster, stars Dwayne "The Rock Hard" Johnson, and is in fact not related to Fast and the Furious in any way. This one has quite the set of characters: gets-shot-twice-in-the-back-of-the-head Driver, software billionaire master yogi The Killer, and heroin junkie lead investigator Cop.

Hamilton

Fumblers — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 13:21:00 -0700

Fumbler Friend Jordyn joins us with her selection of Lin Manuel Miranda's Hamilton. A cultural phenomenon that has been smashed open and made accessible to anyone willing to pay $7 bucks to Disney for it (as if they need more cash), Hamilton is an impressive and intricate production.

Payback

Fumblers — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 17:09:00 -0700

Brian Helgeland's Payback is a fun movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, but definitely keeps you entertained. It's got some great one liners, some interesting stylistic aesthetics that you wouldn't necessarily expect, and in 2020 it almost feels like a pseudo-parody of all the thriller bad boy action tropes.

Under Wraps

Fumblers — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Happy Halloween! We are at the end of our spooky season road here, and we are leaving on a nostalgic note. Under Wraps (directed by Greg Beeman) was the first Disney Channel Original movie to be released directly on Disney Channel in 1997. A couple of the Fumblers got to watch this growing up, but this movie explored some interesting territory (children of divorce, facing fears) that you wouldn't exactly expect from a Disney Channel Original. Thank you to Fumbler Friend Lori for picking this one, and a big thank you to everyone who celebrated the Halloween season with us this year!

Braindead/Dead Alive

Fumblers — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Fumbler Friend Alonso picked this week's spooky season movie: Peter Jackson's Braindead! You may be familiar with some of Peter Jackson's other work, notably the Lord of the Rings series, and this is uh, this is not that. I won't sugar coat it, this one is pretty disgusting. The practical effects are on another plane of existence, and it's definitely not for the squeamish! Also, Adrian could not join us for this one as he has just purchased a home! Congrats Adrian!

Coraline

Fumblers — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

This weeks spooky season movie is Coraline, directed by Henry Selick and not Tim Burton! We are also joined by Fumbler Friend (and James' wife) Jacklyn! We go pretty off the rails on this one, but into some great conversations that I don't think anyone expected to have. In these strange times, we've found that we tend to relate to things that are maybe a side note or a subplot in the film, but just hit differently right now. And, if you look/smell close enough, there may just be a hint of the Fumbler Hall of Fame here...

Halloween (2007)

Fumblers — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

We're continuing our run of scary movies with Rob Zombie's Halloween! A new take on the original, Zombie chose to add some backstory for the first half of the movie, while paying a ton of homage in the second half. We get into the weeds on our theory behind the movie's name, tie it back to Running Scared (of course, how could we not), and consider the levels of pain involved when having one's bare nipples dragged across the floor!

The Thing (1982)

Fumblers — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

If you happen to play video games, The Thing fits into a special place in time right about now. The super popular Among Us has taken the gaming scene by storm, and it draws a ton of inspiration from this very movie. The special effects are on another level, and even in 2020 they still irk the same feelings of unease and disgust. John Carpenter is well loved among the fumblers, but you can never be too careful...

The Devil All The Time

Fumblers — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Directed by Antonio Campos, The Devil All The Time is one of the latest Netflix Original films. We took a chance on this one given its ensemble cast of Fumblerverse veterans: Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, and sure we'll count Sebastian Stan. The more we thought about it though, the more we realized that the cast and acting was probably the best thing about this movie...

The Florida Project

Fumblers — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Sean Baker's The Florida Project is another A24 film that manages to paint a beautiful picture of a sad and unfortunate circumstance. Outside of the Fumblerverse's own Willem Dafoe, it is an entirely fresh cast of actors, some of which were a little sketched out when approached to be in the movie. It's hard to argue that this one isn't moving, so grab some tissues for when those tears start to roll.

Oldboy

Fumblers — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0600

This week, we are joined by Fumbler Friend/Partner Alonso for Park Chan-wook's Oldboy! This movie held our attention right from the start. It was the gateway to Korean movies for a few of us Fumblers, so if you are a fan of Parasite, we say check it out! It's definitely a unique story, with an odd mix of visual effects, that will leave you feeling physically affected.

Mulan (2020)

Fumblers — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Disney is great at animated storytelling, both in terms of visuals and in spirit, but just how much honor can it bring to the live action realm? Niki Caro's Mulan had some fun, force-like moments, but does it ultimately fulfil the spirit (chi?) of the original Mulan?

A Fistful of Dollars

Fumblers — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars laid some groundwork for what we know as the spaghetti western. Highly based on Yojimbo (let's be honest here, a rip off of Yojimbo), this movie still has a certain charm and a good story, even if it was inspired (taken) from the great samurai films of the '60s. Most of us young guns had yet to experience a movie with dialogue that was recorded after the photography had been shot, but it was still great to see a young Clint Eastwood do what he does best: be a straight up badass.

Running Scared

Fumblers — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 22:49:24 -0600

We're back for episode 25 with Wayne Kramer's Running Scared! This one is a doozy, and by this one I mean all of it: this movie, this episode, and this group of Fumblers. In possibly our most polarizing review to date, using phrases like "it's sort of like drowning" and "it's like trying to explain a bad dream," we try to convince each other (or maybe ourselves?) that there might be something more here.

On a more serious note, check out this interesting article from Wayne Kramer himself talking about making this movie and what it means to him!

Hereditary

Fumblers — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Today we welcome Fumbler Friends Helen and Will with another one from A24: Ari Aster's Hereditary. This movie gets darkly intense, and the subject matter might be the scariest part. Acting, story, image, and sound blend together to create one of the most interesting movies to come out recently. Some might even give it a 10...

Jaws

Fumblers — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Another one from Steven Spielberg! We're back with the 1975 classic thriller that laid the foundation for what we know as a blockbuster: Jaws! We also learn that James didn't even know there was a shark in the movie, Snoop Dogg makes wine, and that the Paramount Decree is no longer. Bring a largish boat and come try to catch a big fish with us!

This is Spinal Tap

Fumblers — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0600

The winner of our first ever "musical themed" gauntlet, Rob Reiner's 1984 cult classic This is Spinal Tap holds a special place in our hearts. We had to dive into the film that "effectively launched the mockumentary" -- without it we may had never gotten The Office or Documentary Now! Next week, it's Jaws!

The Royal Tenenbaums

Fumblers — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Directed by Wes Anderson, The Royal Tenenbaums has the signature ensemble cast and whimsical presentation, much like most of his work. This movie cut a little deeper, touching darker subjects than we expected it to, but did a great job of showcasing them in an approachable way. Detailed sets, witty dialogue, symmetrical shots; what more could you ask for?

Palm Springs

Fumblers — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 14:00:07 -0600

Since we're all stuck inside, we might as well party vicariously through Palm Springs! Our 20th episode put us in one of those infinite time loop situations you might have heard about. Again.

Harakiri

Fumblers — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi, Harakiri is a 1962 Japanese Samurai film that hones in on some timeless issues. What seems to begin as a straightforward samurai plot really blooms into a beautiful tale. With excellent lighting, great writing, and good acting, Harakiri really struck deep with us!

The Lighthouse

Fumblers — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Directed by Robert Eggers, The Lighthouse is a super interesting film that, if nothing else, will have you saying "what the hell did I just watch?" This movie was produced/distributed by A24, a very exciting production company making arguably some of the best films of the last decade. Also make sure to check out The VVitch (Witch), which was Eggers' first feature through A24.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Fumblers — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0600

This week, we went with a Rom-Com and Forgetting Sarah Marshall won the gauntlet. Written and lead by Jason Segel, this movie came out at a time when Judd Apatow's name was being attached to pretty much every comedy to hit the big screen. The cast includes some of our favorites: Paul Rudd, Kristen Bell, and Bill Hader! And Jonah Hill's role has to be one of the most ridiculous side characters in any movie.

Make sure to check out the sequel: Get Him to the Greek!

The Godfather

Fumblers — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Doing this episode was something we were all pretty nervous about. How do you tackle such a huge culturally defining movie at any stage, much less our fumbled rambling? Nevertheless, this was a great one, and Coppola shows us all just how it should be done. The Godfather is also the third movie to enter the Fumbler Hall of Fame!

Your Name

Fumblers — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Another movie enters the Fumbler Hall of Fame! Your Name, directed by Makoto Shinkai, is an incredible movie. A great story, amazing art, and awesome soundtrack force the stars to align on this one.

Kids (1995)

Fumblers — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0600

A listener recommended the controversial film Kids, directed by Larry Clark. There was a lot of uncertainty going into this one, but we realized this film had more influence than kids abusing substances! There are a lot of works that reference the film across various cultures like hip-hop, skateboarding, and even other movies.

Jurassic Park

Fumblers — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0600

As our first $1B box office movie (and also our first Spielberg), Jurassic Park really is an attraction in it's own right. This one came out in 1993, the year half of us were born, and we were blown away with how well everything held up. Plus, it's got Jeff Goldblum!

Back to the Future

Fumblers — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Join us for the 80s sci-fi classic directed by Robert Zemeckis! Back to the Future is an insanely fun movie, with plenty of one-liners to go around. Will it make the cut for the Fumbler Hall of Fame?

RoboCop

Fumblers — Sat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Today we return with RoboCop, the 1987 cheesy action movie! There was a lot to dig into here, and it was interesting to see how Paul Verhoeven was able to make a movie that touched on a lot of subjects while still being a fun watch.

Groundhog Day

Fumblers — Sat, 16 May 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Our 10th episode! It's been a while! And so much has changed, both in the world and in our own lives. It's a weird time to be on planet Earth right now. So, we thought it would be fitting to do Groundhog Day. We hope everyone is doing well and staying safe!

Wall·E

Fumblers — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0700

Pixar has a long track record of making amazing animated movies, and Wall·E is no exception. We all really loved this movie, and it's the first movie the each Fumbler rated above a 9! This one goes into the Fumbler Hall of Fame.

Airplane!

Fumblers — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0700

Airplane! is a classic comedy from David and Jerry Zucker, with Jim Abrahams. Airplane! lifts our spirits with it's non stop jokes (most of which still land well in 2019, but a few that might be thought of as more controversial), amazing parodies of common tropes of the time, and the great Leslie Neilsen.

Doctor Sleep

Fumblers — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0700

This week, 3 of us gang up on Adrian; will he turn the tide? In this sequel to The Shining, we talk about the deeper fears of being mortal, vaping vampires, and actually get the ending of the novels straight (SPOILERS!).

The Shining

Fumblers — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0600

From the haunting organ intro to Jack frosting over, this is a film that keeps your attention from the second it kicks in. We got to experience this in theaters together with the 4K re-release, and it really is the only way to watch this movie. Join us in going mad as we delve into Kubrick's The Shining!

Bad Times at the El Royale

Fumblers — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0600

Jon Hamm and Chris Hemsworth return to the Fumblerverse in Drew Goddard's Bad Times at the El Royale. This movie stirs some debate amongst the Fumblers, and you can feel some of the tension left over from OUATIH. Come and pick a side (we have the warmer California, or the cooler Nevada) as we attempt to persuade, control, and shoot down each other's takes on the El Royale!

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Fumblers — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0600

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a film we were all looking forward to. Contrary to what might be said in this episode, we are all pretty big Tarantino fans, but we do have polarizing opinions on his latest, and you can almost feel the heat being thrown around while we dig into this one.

The Lion King (2019)

Fumblers — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 20:00:00 -0600

I think as a whole, we are big fans of Jon Favreau, fanboys of Donald Glover, and love Beyoncé as much as the next human, but let'$ be real for ju$t a $econd here. Could there be ulterior motive$ at play by Disney? Check out our thoughts on the remake of a legendary animated classic.

Baby Driver

Fumblers — Mon, 06 May 2019 20:00:00 -0600

Welcome to the second episode of Film Fumblers! As a whole, we really enjoyed this one. Great usage of sound, amazing editing, Jon Hamm, excellent music, Jon Hamm, beautiful lighting, and Jon Hamm!

Avengers: Endgame

Fumblers — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 19:00:00 -0600

Welcome to the first ever Film Fumblers podcast episode! Originally recorded April 28th, 2019, we sat down together separately from the comfort of our own homes to talk about Avengers: Endgame, the highly anticipated film to resolve some of our favorite stories from the MCU!