Medium Literate

Masters of the Universe

Neither Monika nor Emily had any relationship to the He-Man character going into this one, and yet we've been genuinely charmed by the Masters of the Universe movie. This week they get into why a campy, slightly homoerotic, two and a half hour fantasy epic about a blonde himbo in a leather harness and his many friends somehow... worked? We know! We're surprised too. We cover a lot in this one, like the surprisingly great fight sequences, Jared Leto being hidden behind a skeleton face (best case Leto scenario really), Alison Brie's witch with a razor sharp bob, the three post credit scenes of a cinematic universe that may never be, and a lot of charming tangents you will definitely all love! Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

I Love Boosters

Filmmaker (And dare we say...Auteur) Boots Riley is back with I Love Boosters, a candy colored surrealist crime caper starring Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield and Don Cheadle. This movie was a damn blast but also left both of us with a lot to chew on. Enjoy our full spoiler conversation where the two of us try to figure out how to talk about Marxist theory, teleportation devices, soul sucking demons, and Boots Riley's vision of a Bay Area Looney Toons movie. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

Obsession

Director/writer Curry Barker's first feature film Obsession really split the podcast right down the middle: Monika hated it, and Emily loved it so much she saw it twice. We discuss our very different takeaways from this horror movie about a wish gone wrong, while also discovering some things we actually agree on. **This is a Full Spoiler Conversation** Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

• Transcript

The Sheep Detectives and Hokum

This week we did an extremely normal double feature!! First up is Hokum, a dark Irish folklore horror written and directed by Damian McCarthy and starring Adam Scott. Hokum is part witch story and part "uh oh, the real villain is MAN." They spend the first twenty minutes here before moving on to the main event... (25:09) The Sheep Detectives is a live action talking animal cozy mystery from Amazon MGM, written by Craig Mazin (you know, the Chernobyl and The Last of Us guy?) and directed by Kyle Balda the director of the Minions movies! The Sheep Detectives has an all star cast including Hugh Jackman, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nicholas Braun, Regina Hall, Brett Goldstein, Rhys Darby, Chris O'Dowd and Bella Ramsey. A gentle vegetarian shepherd is murdered and his sheep decide to solve the crime. It is also, somehow, an incredibly moving meditation on grief. Monika does not like children's media...Monika cried? Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

The Devil Wears Prada 2

This week we're talking about the long awaited buzzy new sequel to the 2006 classic. In the years between, the villain has switched from mean boss to a media landscape run by billionaires, but the clothes are still fun. We also get into our thoughts on basic modern movie theater manners. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

• Transcript

Mother Mary

Mother Mary (A24) had one of the most exciting casts of the year with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. Despite that, Monika and Emily have complicated feelings about this movie. They'll talk about it all! ✅ Having a complicated creative history with someone ✅ A ghost made of red fabric ✅ How the whole movie feels like it was meant to be a stage play What worked? What didn't? What did the ending mean? (please, we're really asking!) Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

Sirāt

Sirāt just hit Hulu and if you've seen it you already know why we had to cover it. We break down one of the most shocking and emotionally devastating films in recent memory, a movie that starts in one place and ends somewhere you will never see coming. Come process this with us. Spoiler warning big time with this one! We also get into Emily's takes on The Mummy, Faces of Death and Our Hero Balthazar, and Monika covers The Christophers, Mile End Kicks and Normal. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

• Transcript

You, Me & Tuscany

Any romantic comedy released in theaters is something to support, and luckily You, Me & Tuscany is an incredibly charming one. Monika and Emily talk through the whole sun-drenched, low-conflict, mistaken-identity-driven plot, plus the state of the rom-com in general in today's movie landscape. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

• Transcript

The Drama

A24's The Drama left us with a lot to say. It's a dark comedy with a twist that will make you question every character's morality, a cast that is stacked, and some interior design that has us drooling? THIS IS A FULL SPOILER DISCUSSION Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

• Transcript

Forbidden Fruits (feat. Ready or Not 2 & They Will Kill You)

Monika and Emily discuss a trio of new movies that all share two themes: girls & gore. They briefly discuss Ready or Not 2: Here I Come & They Will Kill You before diving into the main movie of the episode, Meredith Alloway's witchy-female-friendship-mall-horror-comedy Forbidden Fruits. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

Project Hail Mary

Emily and Monika have a lot to say about Tau Ceti, adorable space rock friends, and Ryan Gosling's glasses acting in the new Lord and Miller movie Project Hail Mary. Join the conversation with us below: https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT

• Transcript