Movie Death Match: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" v. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"

New pod! We took the critical insight of Filmspotting and added the primal thrill of bloodsport to create Movie Death Match!

In our Disclosure Day-themed debut episode, two "passionate and highly credentialed advocates" argue the relative merits of Steven Spielberg's two friendly-visitor classics. Representing 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind is Margaret Weitekamp, curator nonpareil! Pounding the table for 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is Jen Chaney, critic extraordinaire!

I'm grateful to them both for their game participation and to Filmspotter-in-Chief Adam Kempenaar for the opportunity to administer firm-but-fair cinematic jurisprudence.

I Love "I Love Boosters!"

I Am Curious (Yellow): Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, and Kiki Palmer are The Velvet Gang. (Jennifer Nguyen/NEON)

Walking out of Boots Riley’s sophomore feature I Love Boosters! a month ago, I wrote that the movie “features a device called a Situational Accelerator, and you’ll need one to keep up with this hilariously unhinged but incisive mashup of Brazil, Set It Off, and Norma Rae. (If you asked me again in five minutes I’d probably name three different movies). It’s a big step forward in ambition & execution from Sorry to Bother You, and the best stuff in it isn’t in the trailers. I can’t wait to spend the rest of the year arguing with you about it.”

I don’t think I improved upon that much in my Washington City Paper review, but it’s here.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu."

The trio from the Baby, Secret of the Lost Legend episode of A Degree Absolute! — Jordan Morris, Glen Weldon, and yours truly — reunite to work through our extremely mild enthusiasm for the latest Star War, The Mandalorian and Grogu. My Washington City Paper review of the same is here.

(More) Bitch, Please: "The Devil Wears Prada 2," reviewed.

Stanley Tucci and Anne Hathaway quarrel on threads.

For a much later follow-up of the type that has recently become somewhat common, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is more reminiscent of the comedy sequel model of the 1980s: Simply remake the first film after an interval of no less than 18 months or more than five years, reprising every beat and every gag. From its episodic plot to its shrugging title, DWP2 has big ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’ / ‘Crocodile Dundee II’ / ‘Ghostbusters II’ energy. And because this is a glossy Hollywood movie about characters who fully expect to be judged on their appearance, the principal cast members don’t even look much older than they did in 2006. It’s strange.

My Washington CIty Paper review of The Devil Wears Prada 2 is here.

Discussing "The Christophers" on Filmspotting

Scientification! "Amazing Stories" at 100 on All Things Condered

The prose version is here.

The Torturned Seamstresses Department: "Mother Mary," reviewed.

Michaela Coel is working with phantom thread in Mother Mary. (Frederic Batier / A24)

It wouldn’t be right to say Coel acts rings around Hathaway in the title role, but their dynamic certainly leaves no question about which performer’s career is on the ascent. Coel is just as compelling holding her own against Ian McKellen in “The Christophers,” a contemporaneous release where she plays a similar part: an assistant/creative partner to an artist who has fallen on hard times. But “Mother Mary” reverses the polarity of that film: Here, she’s the one who gets most of the big speeches, while Hathaway’s performance consists largely of nonverbal reactions and then line readings choked out through tears. She’s always been one of cinema’s great cryers.

My Washington City Paper review of David Lowery’s Mother Mary is here.

Minnesota Nice: "Normal," reviewed

My Washington City Paper review of Normal, a Bob Odenkirk-headlined action movie — what a strange phrase — is here. You can also hear me discuss the movie with pals Glen Weldon and Ronald Young, Jr. on Pop Culture Happy Hour below.