The Cinephile's Aisle
Two film haters and a microphone covering cinema classics, box office blockbusters, and everything in between!
The Cinephile's Aisle
Episode 16: "WE LIVE IN TIME"
*SPOILER-FREE* Say what you want about Crowley's nonlinear structuring of his 2024 tearjerker, but Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield have just delivered the most grounded performances for an on-screen couple in 2024. Ofili and Steve are back to cover the latest romantic drama from A24, WE LIVE IN TIME, and they discuss how the film tackles grief, the feeling of not being enough, and when not to use non-linearity in storytelling. TCA Verdict: 8/10.
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Welcome to another episode of the Synac House Isle. Ophilly, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_03:I'm doing okay. That was a very tame intro. I get that. I get that. Um because I guess the film we are talking about today is very somber.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:You know? Very down. It's very down, you know. We need to kick up our spirits. We need to. Some might say it forces us to look at the present, you know. To really live in our time.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, my mouth. Go on. Yeah. The film we're talking about today is a little moving, but more so, I think there's something about when we get to fall, or when you know it starts to get cold, and the days start to get shorter and the nights start to get longer. It just slows me down, man. Because summertime is all upbeaten, you know. I think the summer films, blockbusters, and them, man. But as we get towards the end of the year, it's time for the serious business.
SPEAKER_03:It's time for a lot of movies about niggas dying. Because, like, no, no, no. But but to be honest, I would I like I I feel like we yeah, we we kind of have to be honest with it here. Because I feel like summer movies are about coming of age and triumph in general. Yeah, whereas like that's and blockbusters and cargo movies, then that's all end of year, that Q4. As soon as you hit Q4, you're like, Yeah, niggas are dying.
SPEAKER_01:Like I don't know why you keep saying that. It reminds me, you know, the Ember Month thing in Nigeria, like, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:So like that's what it is, but okay, but um for the majority of our listeners, you know, there are some Nigerian superstitions that we have, and one of the most popular ones is be very careful at the end of the month. Sorry, the end of the year. So those are the Ember months, so the months that end in Ember. So September, um, October, November, December. So the last quarter of the year. Yeah, you gotta, because that's apparently when you know a lot of bad things happen, and you know, you might not see the end of that year. So you gotta be super careful.
SPEAKER_01:Um and the evil spirits are out and about.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, the spirits are out, they're trying to get you, and you know, pretty funny stuff, very unserious people, but yeah.
SPEAKER_01:So, what have you been watching in since the last time that we spoke?
SPEAKER_03:Man, I genuinely can't recall. Um, Halloween watches have begun because it's October. Uh huh. Watched most recently, um, I would say Agatha. There's some stuff on Apple TV that I have watched. Uh, Penguin has been great. We'll say that Penguin has been amazing. That is not Halloween watch, but Penguin has been great. I have also gone back to watch Twilight Zone, like two episodes now. The Jordan Peel version, not the old one from the 50s, 60s. I'm so sorry, to the classics, you know. And most recently watched uh We Live in Time, which is very interesting for the context of this. Um let's go. I am also planning to watch Anora very soon.
SPEAKER_01:Shout out, man. Yeah, yeah. I am a Sean Baker hater only because I his other his other films, uh Florida Project and Red Rocket. I felt morally what's the term? I feel like these are morally wrong. Like the ethics of those films rubbed me the wrong way, and I recognize that I'm witnessing good filmmaking, right? But especially Red Rocket, Red Rocket felt like he just went around like Texas and got a bunch of people and said, you know what, I'm gonna throw you in a film and just act out extremely immoral scenes, or even Florida projects, where you know, with the ones with the because his films are about sex workers and stuff like that. So they they like almost always are, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Which I kind of love for him, you know, but like you know, it's it's really nice to like carve your own niece like that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I just feel weird about enjoying his his work, but he's really talented, so andora has received all the praise from you know uh Palm to all the indie awards and all of that. So should be great stuff for Mickey Madison and Sean Baker.
SPEAKER_03:I'm very excited. Very excited. Uh very curious though, uh what else have you watched recently?
SPEAKER_01:Um I'll be honest, I haven't seen much lately. Mostly TV, uh Penguin, obviously, industry. Uh finale in the third season. That was great. You're watching the Penguin Weekly as well. Um, Fallout, the Amazon Prime show that's a good one.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, that was good. That was good when that was like peak. When it came out, it was pretty good.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so I'm seven episodes in one episode to go for the final season one and uh very, very excited for that one. In terms of movies, I saw this. I randomly stumbled on HBO Max on a Thursday after work, and the premiere this film said premiere Cattle Lake.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, yeah, the thing with I believe Dylan O'Brien, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, Dylan O'Brien, yeah, yeah. And when I tell you, I had no because I hadn't seen the trio that I did not know what it was going to be about, and I was so hooked, man. So it's like a weird time. Shyamalan is the producer for that, so that already gives you an idea of what you're about to witness, you know. But he's not the filmmaker. And when I told you, I had no idea what was going on in. Because it's like this weird time-lapse film, but it all ties in together at the end. And yeah, it's it's great. It's a spin. I after I saw it, I saw like the Netflix show called Dark, um, like 2017. I guess it's uh it's loosely based on Dark.
SPEAKER_03:Oh yeah, Dark is um Dark was for a very short time, Stranger Things competitor. Ha, I didn't know that. Yeah, for a very short time. Um, but it kind of got into that kind of lost space, as people say, where like the storyline is just like, uh, I don't think I want to dedicate my time to this.
SPEAKER_01:But that's very interesting. That that's fair, that's fair. But I would recommend Cadolake for anyone who has Max and looking to challenge your brains a little bit more because it requires you to be present and to actually understand what's going on. And I think Delilah LeBrian does a wonderful job in there. Um I think it's called sci-fi, but it's not really sci-fi. It's fantasy mystic mystical, it's weird, but it's really good. And you know me, I'm a sharon. I think I mention that man's name every episode at this point. I'm a big fan of anything that he puts his pen or name to, and this is no exception. And like you said, we just saw we live in time as well. So that opened this weekend, this is opening weekend.
SPEAKER_03:Um talking about movies as soon as they dropped.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I'm looking forward to this one that way. I knew I had to, I think I sent you a message in all cap saying we have to watch this one, and we have to, you know, yeah, talk about this.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, you did say that we have to talk about this one, and I was I was kind of I was you know, I was excited.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I haven't seen any of John Crowley's films. I I didn't see Brooklyn with Tricia Ronan. And it's been on my watch list for a long time, but I just haven't got it.
SPEAKER_03:A long time, bro. It's been for a minute. Yeah, but I think very interesting with like most drama comms. I don't know if I should call this a wrong class. It's it's definitely like a it's a gut punch for a film. I would I don't know if I call it a rom com. Um but you know the reviews for this were the critic reviews were awful. The people, the you know, the audience review was great. Um typical. For you, was it a good time? Was it a good film? I'm not saying a good time, or was it a good film?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, I thought it was a I thought it was a good film. I don't so we're not going to we're going to try to stay a clear of spoilers since it's just entering theaters. And it's also not released in the UK. It doesn't get released in the UK until 2025. Yeah, generally it's a British film. Um so that's actually very funny.
SPEAKER_03:The fact that it's a British movie. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Like yeah, it's very perplexing. I don't know how those choices got made. But I'm going to first up give my you know brief one-liner about it before I answer if it was a good film. I think I saw this trailer multiple times. I saw teasers, I've been following the press. I'm a big fan of Florence View, and I'm a big fan of Benedict Cumberbatch, who's the producer for this.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, he produced it.
SPEAKER_01:Um which was very surprising for me. Yeah, but like I said, I haven't seen any John Crowley. So I really did not know, you know, what to expect other than what the trailer gave away. So I was pleasantly um surprised. Uh it does have it does include some cheap tugs at your emotions and you know, are your tear ducts, and unfortunate to say they worked on me. But you know, for a lot of the a lot of the film, when the screen will go dark and people will go quiet, you will just hear people sniffing. It will be like rolls of people just crying collectively, and there was a sense of community there for me. So, all in all, uh good film, pleasantly surprised. I think my one issue with which I plan to get into later on in the episode, is I think using non-linearity is a great idea if you're someone that has a knack for it, or if you're someone that's a good thing. I'm gonna say fuck, fuck.
SPEAKER_03:I love that you're bringing this up because now I get to bring it up and not be the bad guy, but keep going.
SPEAKER_01:Um I think it's a great thing to do if you're someone that has um you know, like a time warp, for example. Like uh what's the name of that one with Emily Blunt and Tom Tom Cruise? Edge of Tomorrow. Edge of Tomorrow, yeah. That's not a non-linear story, it's just like involves playing around with time. I feel like that was done really well. Um and we don't like if you're paying attention, you get to understand it. We live in time, I didn't think it was necessary. I thought it did it, it did the film at the service more so than you know, to its benefit. Yes, yes. If the film if you rearrange, like if you rearrange this film in a linear format, you lose nothing telling a better story.
SPEAKER_03:You lose nothing, you lose absolutely nothing. Then like a lot of people to me were complaining about the time jumps and like oh how they're so bad in movies, and I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. It's a skill issue because you cannot point. It's definitely a fucking skill issue because I'm just like you tell the story in a linear point, you lose absolutely nothing. Nothing, there's nothing like there aren't like current strives that when you toss things in the back, it throws it adds context. Yeah, like you can the gaps were unneeded. Let me just say it like that. The gaps in time, the jump, the jump cuts, they were very unneeded. But keep going.
SPEAKER_01:Like I feel like if it's a if it in a case where the like tenet, for example, and I'm sorry I keep saying tenet because that's the most obvious um example, but in a film like Tenet where the like time is sort of a character in the film, yes, then it it's it's important, like it makes sense, right? Why you're telling a story like that. Or like I said, uh Edge of Tomorrow, time is a literal character in the film, you know, so it makes sense. Like I'm not trying to limit you know creative decisions. We love you know filmmakers taking risks and etc. You know, we don't want to be tune fit the same thing over and over again. But in a case where it's not doing the film a certain like a surface, like if it's not necessary, then I just felt like that was not needed here. And the converse of a linear film, you know, telling the better story. So that's ultimately how I felt about this. How about you? What was it taking? I'm gonna be that guy.
SPEAKER_03:I'm gonna be that guy that's gonna throw in a couple of movies that did time far better. Number one, you did tenet. Tenet is good, but I'm just for the sake of um staying on task, we're gonna do rom-coms. Time traveler's wife. Okay, amazing. Okay. Um 13 going on 30, did time great. You know? Yeah, what else? Even fucking click with Adam Sandler from like early 2000s did time great. We see the context, we see the reasons why. Even about time. Great about time, yeah. You know, I was gonna say about time is in my top five movies, my top favorite movies ever. But you know me, I'm a lover. Give me a break, it's rom com, I'm gonna love it. I'ma love it. But this, I don't know, it just left something missing. Fine. And I I wanna say it this way. This was a good movie, it was a it was an enjoyable watch. Um, it was far funnier than I expected it to be. There were a good amount of jokes.
SPEAKER_01:I expected it to be a little funny. I didn't think it was it was it's not a rom com, and I wasn't expecting it to be a rom com. It's a romantic drama, rightfully so. But I knew it was going to be a little funny.
SPEAKER_03:I'm gonna tell you right now, bruv. The amount of jokes that they have in here, especially if you're a funny person, I feel like I push it into rom com. I keep calling it a rom com because some fucking lines within the context, insane things to say. My two favorite lines, it's a petrol station that can walk in. One, my other favorite line is Chef, are you using?
SPEAKER_01:What? Both of those had to get to laugh at the end.
SPEAKER_03:Man, proper rom com, proper banter. Yes, it there are sad notes in the film, but yeah, this is a great film that focuses on well, it really like the message of the film is focus on the now, focus on the life that the parts of your life that in which you can control. Live for the now, essentially. Um it's like it's a lot, it's a lot of messages in the film, yeah, and it's it's done well, it's done well. But in terms of the I think there could have been there are a lot of things that could have been done better. We just talked about the structuring of the film, could have been done a little bit better. And you know, it's it's a good film, it's a good movie, but I think it's very much carried by great performances from Florence Pure and Andrew Garfield.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, terrific acting on display. It's I always enjoy getting to see like Andrew Garfield, for example, a classic theatre kid. I always enjoy getting to see like trained actors who have been trained in some Academy for Dramatic Arts, you know, getting to display their talent next to another like equally talented performer. It's like a tennis game, you know, a tennis match.
SPEAKER_03:And uh I think something very interesting is that if you think back, like last two to four, two to four years, Florence Pew hasn't has like her rise, has it's more she hit her hockey stick, you get me, like 2020, I would say. Okay, like that's when you started hearing Fluence Pew everywhere. But Godfrey's been in the game for a minute, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly.
SPEAKER_03:Like you watch Social Network and you see him in this, you're like, this is the same guy. Yeah. Nah. I gotta I gotta give him his props. Gotta give him his props.
SPEAKER_01:He's come a long way, but something that was really breaking to me was in the film, like typically Garfield plays a character that he's older than. I think that's you know, um, tic-tick-boom, the Spider-Man movies, social network. I think he in real life he was older than the character he was portraying, like he was portraying a younger version of himself, even Spider-Man. Um, but in this one, he's acting his age, right? And I didn't know how old he was, and I looked it up and I'm like, this man is 41.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, like he does not look like he's 41. He's been slinging, you know, he's been slinging the youngins for a minute, man. Like he finally gets act like an uncle and I'm like, I mean, yeah, and I don't know, that was a little sad because I'm like, damn, he's actually getting old, you know.
SPEAKER_01:You you kind of don't think of these people as aging sometimes because you just see them on screen, but I saw wrinkles in his face, and I'm like, wow, we really are so funny, you're so funny.
SPEAKER_03:I can't lie. I can't lie. You're you're one of the funniest people I ever I've ever met because you're talking about um talking about him being 41, he's getting older. Pacino is 84. What Pacino is 84? Man did the Irish man at like what 79. Fair enough. Fair enough. Like, I like Yeah, that's true. There's I feel like there are some things that are really unethical. Oh man, I think one of the before we like go, we have to go back on topic. One of the funniest thing is when Pacino said that yeah, he was like broke in his 70s. That's why he did that Jack and Joe movie with Sandler. And I'm just like man, because if you really think about it, post-2011, Pacino started picking up more movies. And yeah, he's like, he can't live on these godfather residuals, he can't do that.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly. But um, yeah, back to the film, um, another really you know central thing, obviously, grief. Um I'm someone new, I think I've been blessed, honestly, that I haven't had to deal with grief in a sense. So when I watch these films, I'm really not able to relate, almost ever able to relate. But I don't know, did you feel like the film tackled, you know, given the context of Andrew Garfield losing his mother and saying that he had to like working on sets for him was, you know, he didn't really feel like acting, it felt like real life because he was having to tackle his own grief as well as like the grief that the film is trying to tackle. So how do you feel the film handled grief?
SPEAKER_03:I think the film handled grief. I don't know how to say this, but I don't feel like I think the film definitely handled grief de differently. It was a bit different from like what we see in a lot of movies. It wasn't something to be feared, it wasn't something it wasn't even like a a thing to it wasn't like you prepare for it. Do you get what I mean? Which I think is part of them them the message within the film, like there's not really much you can do, you can't prepare. Like it it does touch on a bit of you know leaving a legacy, but at again, at what cost? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's like I I just focus on the now, focus on the life that you live. That's really it. Yeah, so that's why like I I know, I know, and I really want to say that like I really understand that grief is one of the I don't want to say selling points of this film, but maybe say the vehicles in which the move that that is driving the film. It is, yeah. But we don't really uh experience the grief as an audience through the way the story is told.
SPEAKER_01:That that's a fact, yes.
SPEAKER_03:That's a fact.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, um, I don't think it's a central maybe I don't think it's the central theme of the film. I think again, it's a romantic drama and it's centered around the relationship between lead actor, lead actress, you know. There's no antagonist, and if they had to be an antagonist, it would be death. But that's obviously not a character. So I think that's why I'm I'm I'm asking about the grief aspect, but the central theme is romance, and Crowley tries to spend as much time as he can um showing that chemistry, showing the romance, not just between them as lovers, but them as you know, partner and parents, co-parents to their kid. So I love that. But I like you just said, it's one of the vehicles driving the film, and I think it handles it again. I'm I'm not trying to like repeat what you just said, but I think it handles it by showing there's really not much you can do. You can try to prepare, you can try to do all you can, you know, to ease that transition or to make that there's this there's this tendency to when you've been, you know, we have a bucket list. There's this tendency to when you've been diagnosed with some terminal illness to do all the things that you always wish to do, and so that you know you can feel like you accomplished something in life. But then I think Q's character Yeah, go on, go on. Q's character, I think she's making an a focus of it's not about like all the all these things, you know, that she's going to that she never got to do or what of that. It's more so she doesn't want to be remembered as someone who just stood by, you know. Like she understands that the people that are most in her life are going to be affected by this grip, and they're going to remember you more so for these final moments. And so it's about leaving something, you know, like you said, it's at what cost. I think when you said at what cost, you just made me remember a lot of things in the film. And it's like if you go on and do all these bucket list things and do all these things you've always wanted to do, you're losing, you're losing out on spending that time with your people, with the people that actually mean something to you. And this is a time that they're going to remember you for. It's not like you know, a lot of the things that you did in your childhood are swept under the water, is these final moments. So I think for her or for the film, it's about living in time. That's why I titled that with these people, and you know, recognizing that there's not much you can do after the fact, like this you can prepare for it, but you're still going to slam like a truck, and you know, so how I how are you going to what are you leaving behind for these people to remember you by? I don't know.
SPEAKER_03:I think I definitely agree, but I feel slightly different with the way I guess I felt like she contradicted herself at the start. And it was almost like again, living in time is like the prior, it's like it's the message. It's like, hey, yeah, instead of like trying to it's heavy on hey, stop planning for the future because the future's uncertainty is very, you know. Let's focus on enjoying the now. And I very much got that until we saw the very okay, I guess it wasn't contradicting, it was just a very human like fight back, a very human pushback, where you know, she's now trying to achieve this great thing so that she is then remembered. And yes, that works very hand in hand when you have a child. Because now it's like because I was like very big, like very focused thing, and like I don't want to be remembered as someone who is XYZ, and it makes a lot of sense because again you just you live a lot of your life planning how your achievements shape who you are. And if no one remembers your achievements, it almost feels like who are you? Who yeah, what life did you live? Yeah, what what life did you live?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and yeah. I think we can move on to relationships, and I'm only going to focus on one relationship. My favorite relationship without giving out spoilers, obviously. But I going to tie back to the non-linear structure of the film, one of the areas where I'll give it credit is with the chef, the lead chef and the junior chef, the commons. The command, yeah. I think, yeah, I think um it was important. Like, I don't know, man. That they their dynamic was one of the more emotional parts of the film for me.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:Um, obviously they had like good banter and stuff like that, and they worked. But I think with our two lead actors, you could see how the time passed, right? The when when we'll flash back to the time in the future in the past, you can see like the differences in how much love they had for each other based on what time they were. But I think with the chef and the commie, it didn't look it, it was like at all points in time, it seemed like they just always had that care and respect for them. So I think that the non-linear structure helped even show that how much just care and respect was between them. And then when we get to the inevitable end, when you know she does the big act, you know, in in solidarity or empathy or whatever, it makes sense. Like, I'm not questioning what time that they're in at this point when this thing is happening. I'm not questioning if it's before or after or whatever, because the film has shown that regardless of whatever point in time that they had, there was just this so much love and care and respect between them, you know, in a obviously non-romantic way, but it was very mutual, you know. And I think that's one area that I'll give credit to the non-linear structure. And yeah, I just really like that relationship. Um, and again, I can't say too much because of no spoilers, but all they're scenes had me emotional, man. Every single one.
SPEAKER_03:Hmm. Subtleties. I feel like I was I was definitely a bit okay. What was one thing you would change about the film?
SPEAKER_02:What what's one thing I'll change? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Um it kind of it kind of painted I hate to say this, but it kind of painted the husband as the good guy, right?
SPEAKER_03:Interesting.
SPEAKER_01:In in some scenes as the good guy and like Almut as the bad guy, in some scenes, just in tiny, tiny ways here, like he was he messed up. I can't how do I do this without spoiling the film, man? He kind of messes up with their first their first fight, right? He messes up, he's by all accounts the villain, and it kind of like they're that way. Oh, he covers though.
SPEAKER_03:He covers. I know what you're talking about. Yeah, you're talking about pizza, pizza and a man.
SPEAKER_02:Pizza and a man. Isn't that the first fight? No, the first fight is about the future. About the future, yeah. Yeah, pizza and a man.
SPEAKER_03:This is how he bounces back. Did anyone order pizza and a man?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, oh, oh, you're talking about the bounce back, yeah. Like the the the the conversation itself, yeah. Yeah, the fight in itself. He is by all accounts the wrong. But in the sitting in the audience, you're kind of like, I don't know what it is about that scene that just makes you feel like you're supposed to take his side. I don't know. And then, whatever. And then later on, when she's being selfish and you know, with the kid and picking up and whatever, and again, right? Like, we have another fight, and it's like she's dealing with this, she's dealing with this real thing. Now, you know, there's no playbook for navigating this. There's no playbook for navigating this, man. Should be afforded some grace, but again, in that scene, it just feels to me in the audience that she's meant to be the villain and. And he's meant to be the hero, and it's just which I guess he technically is in that second fight scene, but it just wasn't. I I I I felt like I would change that to be more, you know, his understanding. That's give her more grace.
SPEAKER_03:I think that's one thing I would change. I think in the first scene that you referenced, allow me to like you know, address yours before I state mine, but I think in the first scene that you referenced, I think he is the villain, and I think again, that's one of the one of my favorite parts of the film that is you know the messages shown through, like, you know, you know, in books when you talk about like the title, title sequence or whatever, whatever, you know. Or you know, just like a chorus that you know it ring rings home the message, forgotten what's called, and like poems and stuff. But basically, we live in time, and that is kind of how that's the message that he's forgetting during that first fight. Because what and I think what you're saying is it's quite honest, like the reason why we would have sided with him because it's a very human thing to do to prevent yourself from future harm, you know. Yes, why not stop earlier?
SPEAKER_02:Defense mechanisms, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Why not stop earlier? You know, always we're we're disregarding the now to prevent you know what the pain the future could be.
SPEAKER_01:And I think I think it literally says that we're having um a semi-awkward conversation now to prevent a potentially devastating.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, destructive or something like that, and and you know, I completely get that. But again, the film is called We Live in Time, you know, we live right now. You know? So I get it, but yeah, and I get why the audience is kind of like on his side, because I did hear a couple people talking about that outside the movie, but for me, I didn't think there were sides to that, can't lie. Um I think his bounce back was a good save, but it was good, yeah. It was good for me, yeah. My name is Bold, because I am never I I don't know how people can do this, I've never been able to do it. But pulling up to a woman's house on provoked, like on invited.
SPEAKER_01:Let me not talk, man. You can't do that. Let me not even talk, man. Maybe it's because I'm black. I saw pull up to my house uninvited recently. Unprovoked, unannounced, uninvited. And I was in the office, and I live with somebody, so it was like, what are you doing here? That's so awkward. Like, yeah. So I don't know, man. People are both when it works, it works, it keeps another thing.
SPEAKER_03:When it works, it works. Let's give her a props, you know. Some people talk about that's how you fight for something you want, type thing. But yeah, realistically, you know, it was it was a really good movie. Um, I love how I love how no, honestly, I think she called him a dick, like, you know, very validly. I I I think that fight went well. I think it was very balanced. I think she called him out properly. I think he realized where he was wrong, and he rightfully left. You're not trying to explain yourself, you're not trying to like walk away, go back and forth. It's a great film, great that scene was great for me. Um what I would change is Fuck. Okay, I can't change it. Okay, I would change it. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not gonna lie. They did a really good job by making this not like concerts trauma porn, you know? Yeah, yeah. We didn't see her dying every every five seconds. Exactly. We barely I don't think we saw a single scene of her in chemo. I don't think so either. Yeah, I all I will say, and like this is this did well, same thing with that movie that we watched earlier. It ends here, it ends with us, where they did not do what it's the previous films before them did when they over depicted an over-depiction of what they're trying to like, you know, show. So, like in that time it was like, you know, physical abuse and like you know, interpartner relationship trauma and like all of that. Whereas here, you know, it's not cancer trauma porn, like where we are constantly seeing them dying, like struggling. It's not at all, it's not yeah. Even though like chemo is very violent, it's very aggressive, like fighting off cancer is very oof. And she did it twice, and we did not see it.
SPEAKER_01:See that twice. I credit, credit, credit to crowd, you know.
SPEAKER_03:Credit where credit is due. Um because I think it's very it was very intentional, as you know, obviously, because that was not the story that they were trying to tell. There are tons of films about someone fighting against cancer, and there are tons of stories of people fighting against cancer and losing, so we don't need more of that. In this film, it just felt like what I would change, or what I you know, this is like very nitpicky because it was like a pretty good film. Uh obviously, like I said, I would change the the structure of some of the storylines. Yeah, but for me, I just wish like I saw Florence Pugh throw up less. There was so much fun.
SPEAKER_02:So specific, bro. Fuck I get it.
SPEAKER_03:It was just so much fun. I almost felt like throwing up in cinema as well. And like during like that scene where she does the big oof, let's go home. I thought she was gonna throw up as well. I was like, I was like, I was like, this is gonna be the worst place. But yeah, I think it was a great movie. I think it's it's definitely time, you know.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah. If I could flip the question, what was your favorite thing, like definite must keep in it in the film?
SPEAKER_03:Oh, that fight, that fight, the first fight, like I said. Oh shit, I'm very struck between okay, so I'm gonna say something very light, you know, light fucking flex. That is how I've been breaking eggs. I've been breaking eggs that I've been cracking eggs that way all my fucking life. And no one can tell me that I learned that from Florence Pew, you know, don't worry, chef quality up here, you know. And I just always thought it was so much easier than like, you know, finding an edge or using a knife on the side, like yeah, yeah, yeah. That's one. So I love that scene simply because of that, and I love the end because of that, and she's like, Yeah, I love that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that was a good time. We love a full circle moment.
SPEAKER_03:We love a full circle moment. So I think that scene is probably one of my favorite scenes, just for a personal preference. I think one of the scenes that like really um shows intimacy and just being a great partner is a lot of their conception scenes, but specifically that one where they're in the shower here at I'm sorry, they're in the tub, and he still has it around his neck, the timer around his neck. Because you have to stay ready, you have to stay ready to time those contractions, and you also have to be there with her snack, even though it's kind well. I'm not gonna lie, he's been like eating in the tub for a minute, but so that's that's kind of weird for me. I can't lie. You can't be eating no snacks in the tub, but with your partner, it is a very intimate moment, especially specifically for you to be there for them. So I really love that scene as well.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I I think I think for me, and this is a little childish, but the gas station scene, man.
SPEAKER_03:Man, I wanted to bring that up as well. Because shout out to Sanjay and Jane. Because, man, there's no way you get on that shift and you're like, yeah, this is exactly what's gonna happen today.
SPEAKER_01:Like you they walked into they clocked into work, you know, normal day at the gas station, and oh my god, what is happening right now? And they're just like in mode, in in shipped immediately. I thought I thought it was a nice balance of humor, bro. There's something actually amazing that happens in there because I that scene I start off laughing because it's comedy, and I don't know how, but it's like they flick a switch. And by the end of that scene, I was in tears, bro. I don't know how it happened, it wasn't just me, it's lots of people in again in my theater, because we're all laughing, and then it's like slowly unraveling, and then we get to the end towards the end of the scene, and like you're watching them drive up in an ambulance through teary eyes, and it's just like, bro, how did this just happen? You know, like the space of five-seven minutes. So I thought that scene was perfectly choreographed and the blocking and yeah, the performance is. I think that was perfect as well. That was crazy, and like you mentioned, the the first fight scene. That felt like a stage. There's something about putting two, I said this already, not sound like a broken record, but there's something about putting two talented actors in a room and just letting them do their thing, give them a bunch of minds and just letting them go at it. So that was my thing in the in the first scene. It was put them together and it just felt like magic.
SPEAKER_03:Um they just absolutely performed their asses off in this movie, and it was just great. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Um, not like a terrific, terribly great film or anything, you know. But uh it was really good.
SPEAKER_03:The intimate moments are great, the general humor is great.
SPEAKER_01:Chemistry, the chemistry was great, chemistry, powerful, chemistry was great, yeah. Like they've known each other for a long, long time. I think Andrew Garfield could have chemistry with the war, man. I don't know. I think he just he has chemistry with anyone that you put against him, and it's just insane to me, bro. Um, but I think in another go on. Sorry. Oh, I was going to I was gonna say it's time for us TCA official rating.
SPEAKER_03:I was gonna try I I felt like you were going there, but before I get that, I have one little thing to say. I think there is another version of you that could definitely see this film as kind of well, I say horror movie.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my horror, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Not in the traditional sense of a horror movie, but just the experiences and just the reality of what is going on in this film, it's not some like nice message about you know focusing on the presence, it is just like fuck, yeah, yeah, especially when you think about it from Garfield's point of view. If you were to be him, Mr. Weezer Bix, you know, fuck. I'm I'm gonna be honest, like it is incredibly scary and is man, it's a lot, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Can't lie, it's incredibly scary.
SPEAKER_01:It's a scary, it's been a scary time for him in his past relationship, current relationship, and now you know he has to live life, you know, on his ones. And so I can see that. I can see that.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, taking care of some farm. Um yeah, I I think I think so. Yeah, I do think like it's definitely scary, definitely a bit of horror, but we'll also say, like, this is this this was a great film. So let's finish up with a TCA review. What are we doing? What do you think?
SPEAKER_01:I'm going with an eight for you know, reason setup of I think really strong performances, um, really powerful chemistry between our two leads. Um, it didn't feel like like you mentioned it ends with us, where it felt like our two leads were acting in separate movies, different movies. Sometimes it didn't even feel like they were on set together. Um, this it truly felt like they were very grounded at all points. It's like the same wavelength. And even for me, my favorite relationship wasn't even them, it was the chef and the commie. So I think uh really just strong acting on display all around the cameos, the brief scenes here and there. Um and there's a sample song. Like there was a sample new boot job with the credits, the end credits that had me like, I need this song in my library like yesterday. So um really inspired directing too as well. Um, the things I did not like I already mentioned as well, the non-linear structure and some of the troops that were propagated in there, like being the man like putting a man across from a woman, and you know, man not getting his way, and then all of a sudden, like you know, he's the victim. I don't know. I just felt like I could I could see some of that being thrown at us a couple times. So I'm giving it an eight, and I think that may be generous, but that's what I'm going with.
SPEAKER_03:Okay. So I got two things to say. Uh, first of all, that was a great, you know, first edition of our CCA um review loop up for me. Um now I will give mine. I would say first of all, this is uh amazing. Great, great. Um would say it's a very good, sad movie. Um very I feel very upset that the Caro Saul horse had very little screen time because why put him on the cover? What are we doing? Like, come on, don't sell me dreams. Don't sell me dreams. Um I think it was it hits a lot of the right notes, like I mentioned earlier. Like it's very intimate. The humor's great, it's great chemistry. Um I don't know if I already said my number. Did I say my number already? No, you didn't. Okay, so I'm just I'm gonna be kind. Um give it a 7.5.
SPEAKER_02:Um 7.5.
SPEAKER_03:7.5. I'm so sorry, but the non-lily approach pissed me off. Yeah, you know, I have personal opinions on how it's gone. But you know, I can see how we can break some of the audience. I really love movies about love and life and how precious, you know, it all is. And you know, it's it's it's great to see actors that you've watched for that long time, you kept studying and that you've banned, and you see them pull off a great performance. That begins. We take out we take out Andrew Garfield, we take out Florence Hugh, and we know this shit would be banging on Netflix. We knew it would be banging, it would hit so hard on Netflix. Fuck!
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I agree. Yeah, I agree. Yeah, I think I I'm fine with us uh our our rating being 7.5 for this one.
SPEAKER_03:Um maybe I'm just a bit too, you know, a little bit mean, but I will say, you know, mixed leave. We can we can just be nice, give it an eight for this time. We can give this an eight. I feel like majority of people I don't think an eight is like too far out of reach. I think this is better than a good movie.
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_03:I think a seven is a good movie, I think an eight is slightly above a good movie. I think a ten is a fucking amazing movie. I think a nine is a great movie. Um so I think this is better than just a good movie, you know.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Yeah. And that has been um we live in time, go see it. It's in cinemas now if you're in the US and it opens January 1st.
SPEAKER_03:Fucking. So the people in the UK, I'm so sorry. Why they did you just build it? But go see we live in time in January. Hopefully they uh have not started, you know, putting clips on Twitter. I'm begging.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:If any of our listeners do that, please stop this bad behavior, please. Alright.
SPEAKER_01:Um, I think through the end of the year, keep an eye out for I'm just gonna say what I'm looking forward to next. Uh a complete unknown, the Timothy Chelemet Classic, which has been touted so far as a potential lead actor Oscar winner. Uh okay, fair. We're in the end game now, okay?
SPEAKER_03:Um and opening the same day, actually, Christmas Day, Nasferatu uh will have the that is making me intrigued now that I'm hearing a complete unknown that Nosferatu opening the same day will heal me in ways that I have not been healed in a long, long time.
SPEAKER_01:Like a lot of positives for that right now. Yeah, it's it's making the rounds. You're obviously promoting schedule and all. Um, and then my final one is obviously Gladiator. Gladiator comes out November, sometime November. So um, you know, Paul Mescal classic, Dentzel Washington classic, apparently. So yeah, keep an eye out for those. And obviously, we'll be covering all of these films on your favorite podcast.
SPEAKER_03:So absolutely, absolutely. Um, just wanted to toss in, definitely excited for Nora. Um, really want to watch Conclave. Saw a bit of a flash of it at the Chicago Film Festival. So really excited, really excited. All right, guys. This has been another episode of your favorite part.
SPEAKER_01:One final thing, Conclave is rubbing me off like uh the two popes. Yeah, yeah. The two popes. I I don't know, man. I don't know what the goal here is. So I'm more intrigued to see their take on this as opposed to oh, just excitement for the film. Because I don't know, man. Ever since because I'm Catholic, films about the Vatican always I I would rather.
SPEAKER_03:I feel like I'm always sure like what is going on. I don't know if you guys are, you know, I don't know the vibes here. Because we have enough for are you Catholic?
SPEAKER_01:Are you Catholic?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I'm Catholic.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't worry, not like you. I've I've been confirmed. Don't worry. I got my other name on deck.
SPEAKER_01:I think do you remember growing up that there was an air of mystery around the back? Like, do you think that's a good idea?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course, of course. That's why all our parents wanted to go to the Vatican for some reason. Exactly. It just always had a thing on them, and they all wanted to go to Italy. And whenever somebody was going to Italy and they got a chance to go to the Vatican, they'd ask for like rosy rosaries from the Vatican.
unknown:Exactly.
SPEAKER_03:Man, then they bring the rosaries from the Vatican back. And do you know the thing that was so funny? Our parents would bless every rosary, except when they get a rosary from Italy. It doesn't have to be from the Vatican. If it's from Italy, it is blessed on its own.
SPEAKER_02:That's the whole reason.
SPEAKER_03:That was so funny, man.
SPEAKER_01:I think that has like stayed with me to the point where if I see a film about the Vatican, I almost don't want to watch it. Like, I don't know, it's subconscious, but I'm almost like I need that era of mystery to just remain. Like this feels like something I'm not supposed to be doing. I don't know.
SPEAKER_03:I I get that, but at the same time, I think they do very horribly at a like I think a lot of films are done. A lot of films about like Catholicism are done so bad. And this is not as a person who is like super tied to Catholicism. I am just saying we have so many monsters that you can attack. There's so many stories about Catholicism you can tell, and they never tell good ones.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I guess.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:But we'll be covering that as well.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, we'll be covering a lot of things, so yeah.
SPEAKER_01:More episodes, that's what that means.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, more episodes. Especially if like we can just, you know, this has been a little bit of a shorter one, but we're gonna see if we can push some more, you know, 45 to 50 minute episodes. Let us know. Let us know. Um, very excited to have this moving. Alright, guys, you know how it is. Our goal really for Q4 is at least to hit more than three episodes. Because you know, we have our one episode a month, Chris. We're gonna try and break that. Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01:For sure. All right, guys. This has been another episode of the Cinepal's aisle. Thank you for listening. Thank you for listening to TCP very soon.
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