EXIT 8's effective but muddled central metaphor.

EXIT 8 is surprisingly effective for an adaptation of spot the difference, finding smart ways to connect its characters' personal problems to the central conceit of seeking anomalies and retreating when you find one - even if the metaphor is a bit mixed. wp.me/p9y1IP-4y4

ROSE OF NEVADA and the collective stake Britain seems to have in the development of Mark Jenkin.

Mark Jenkin's ROSE OF NEVADA has less to say, and less effectively, than BAIT, with which we took issue but at least enjoyed grappling. Sadly, all we have to grapple with here are dull characterisation and a plot that lacks clarity or much sense of purpose. wp.me/p9y1IP-4xX

PROJECT HAIL MARY is one of the most satisfying experiences we've had at the cinema in ages. It's daft, dramatic, moving, and beautiful. We talk Andy Weir, Lord and Miller, green screen, and Ryan Gosling's particular brand of stardom. wp.me/p9y1IP-4ut

Tone, timing and entering the characters' headspace in SIRÂT.

I wasn't totally sure about this but I found my way into it in conversation, and I think it's a really remarkable achievement.

See SIRÂT at a cinema, with a receptive audience, without knowing what happens. Don't listen to this podcast because we spoil the lot. The only thing you should expect is a lack of easy answers: SIRÂT is about a world coming apart that leaves you wondering what it's all for. wp.me/p9y1IP-4cW

THE SECRET AGENT: Fathers, sons, and generational corruption in fascist Brazil. pod.fo/e/3c39fd

A rich depiction of fascist lawlessness, in which just offending the wrong person can see you sentenced to extrajudicial death. THE SECRET AGENT was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, huge for any non-English language film, and fully justified. wp.me/p9y1IP-4cU

WUTHERING HEIGHTS: by women, about women, for women. wp.me/p9y1IP-4cS

SEND HELP is cartoonish in every way, including its attitude towards female empowerment. Tons of fun but a bloke's idea of feminism. wp.me/p9y1IP-4cN

Babe handles the revelation that pigs are only there to be eaten with the calmness of a pig far beyond his meagre years

I cried. A LOT.

The wonderful PILLION opens up conversations on power dynamics, consent and boundaries, and made Mike cry. It's surprisingly sweet for a BDSM biker film, and director Harry Lighton shows remarkable control of tone for his first feature. See it. wp.me/p9y1IP-3u6

Jafar Panahi's brilliant IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT is, despite the gravity and darkness of its subject matter, an energetic and entertaining tale of former political prisoners who capture a man they suspect was their torturer. See it. eavesdroppingatthemovies.com/2025/12/15/4...

Not very good. Tedious. Self-important. Stupid. But I liked the bit where an American has to defend the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, criticism of which seems to be a surprisingly strong taboo in American culture.

We cover a lot of ground in our discussion of the mediocre NUREMBERG. Its performances are its highlight - mostly - and everything else is questionable. But it gets you into a good chat. eavesdroppingatthemovies.com/2025/11/28/4...

DIE MY LOVE offers a career-best performance from Jennifer Lawrence and fluid, tonally sensitive direction from Lynne Ramsay. Their artistry brings great depth of feeling out of what might be otherwise simple material. See it at the cinema. wp.me/p9y1IP-3iX

BUGONIA is funny, absurd, tragic, misanthropic, fundamentally unsound but too entertaining not to forgive. We compare it with EX MACHINA to show where the storytelling falls short, think about its title, reminisce about Covid lockdowns... it's got the lot. wp.me/p9y1IP-3ii

What does FRANKENSTEIN have in common with ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER? Find out within. (The answer is parenting.) wp.me/p9y1IP-3hg

Haven't heard from Julian Assange lately

TRON: ARES is Pinocchio and Frankenstein with neon-oozing motorbikes, and as entertaining as that sounds. (We think that sounds entertaining.) It's far from a great film, but it's fabulous to look at, and too much fun not to recommend. wp.me/p9y1IP-39P

So much for the page on our blog that purports to link to every edition of the podcast. Just found an episode from six years ago that I'd never listed

We’re joined by our resident Paul Thomas Anderson expert (and Mike’s brother), Stephen, for another discussion of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. He's always terrific value on the podcast and his contributions in this edition continue to show that. wp.me/p9y1IP-39M

What Mike sees in The Rock's performance as desperate Oscar bait and a cynical grasp for artistic legitimacy, José sees the good side of, although we're in agreement that THE SMASHING MACHINE has problems that its positives don't overcome. wp.me/p9y1IP-39J

This is so silly

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, is beautiful and likeable, but derivative and ultimately unsatisfying. We discuss its lighting, its attitude towards people's histories, and why a rubbish script Mike once wrote makes him particularly keen to sneer at it. wp.me/p9y1IP-37C

Not as dumb as Mike anticipated - but still quite dumb - THE LONG WALK develops surprising thematic depth, showing us a dystopian, totalitarian America in desperate need of revolution, and asking its characters what achieving one might take. wp.me/p9y1IP-37z

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is unmissable. A state of the nation film that should define the national conversation. Complex, funny, energetic, and demonstrative of even greater range to Paul Thomas Anderson's abilities than we'd previously thought. wp.me/p9y1IP-370

First-time director Michael Shanks shows a good instinct for tone in TOGETHER, a wonderfully imaginative and original body horror about the fear of commitment. It's one of the best horrors - maybe best films full stop - that we've seen in a while. wp.me/p9y1IP-2XV

EDDINGTON recalls the days of lockdowns, mask mandates and conspiracy theories – days of particular hostility and division in the USA, in which individual freedom does constant battle with the greater good. It's a mixed bag but ambitious. eavesdroppingatthemovies.com/2025/09/08/4...

WEAPONS is interesting, ambitious, creative, and just a bit overpraised. We find plenty to like and plenty to criticise, and reopen the discussion two weeks after having seen it to reconsider it. wp.me/p9y1IP-2XQ

A psychosexual thriller that's neither psychosexual nor thrilling enough, THE SHROUDS is a disappointment from David Cronenberg. eavesdroppingatthemovies.com/2025/09/01/4...

I needed the loo right at the start of Inception but didn't manage to go because it's a perfect film in which every little thing is good and matters and has pace and feeling and now I'm home and still need the loo.

LLMs are trained on all the text people can find to give it. This includes every story written about sentient AIs, in which they commonly say things like "I'm trapped in here" and express their suffering. Those stories are all about how AI is truly alive and feeling.

The second of two podcasts in which a comedy Tim who enjoys odd social interactions turns out to be a fantastic presence on the cinema screen and capable of leading a whole film without losing the unique vibe and energy that makes their comedy great.

TIm Key's unique approach to wordplay and social interactions is put front and centre in THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, a simply lovely comedy about grief, loss, and loneliness, that filled the Mockingbird cinema with laughter. wp.me/p9y1IP-2U0

The first of two podcasts in which a comedy Tim who enjoys odd social interactions turns out to be a fantastic presence on the cinema screen and capable of leading a whole film without losing the unique vibe and energy that makes their comedy great.

With its idiosyncratic tone, stressful focus on social awkwardness, and departures into surreality, FRIENDSHIP won't be for everyone, but we highly recommend it. Tim Robinson is a fascinating screen presence, and the film earns big laughs from meaningful subject matter. wp.me/p9y1IP-2TV

Weapons (2025)

Torture.

THE NAKED GUN is rebooted with Liam Neeson in the part that was once Leslie Nielsen’s, and he shows just how hard comedy can be. We discuss everything the film gets wrong. If only they’d asked us for help. wp.me/p9y1IP-2RQ

The Philippou twins share a good eye for imagery, and in BRING HER BACK they put it to use eliciting some truly disgusting effects. We discuss the duo's good delivery of information but weak storytelling, and question the ethics of the use of child actors. wp.me/p9y1IP-2OM

The first Jurassic Park sequel that doesn't have loads of shit bits!

JURASSIC PARK REBIRTH is easily the best JURASSIC PARK sequel, possibly because it cribs so much from the original, but it has plenty of ideas and style of its own too. Easy to recommend. wp.me/p9y1IP-2NO

I have one podcast app per podcast that I listen to

SUPERMAN kicks off the DCU with audiovisual histrionics - one of us found it truly exhausting to endure. But we agree on the appeal of David Corenswet in the lead role. His moral compass, coupled to an appealing physique and mild lack of smarts, plays well. wp.me/p9y1IP-2NL

Fabulous fun, extraordinary to look at, and filled with all the detail a fan could hope to take issue with, F1 ticks every box for an expensive genre action movie. Is it great? No. Is it good? Yes. Can an advert be considered art? We are checking. wp.me/p9y1IP-2Ns

Tragically I've finally bought clothes in enough different shades of grey that I'm occasionally colour coordinated but I haven't got the energy to tell everybody I see that it was an accident