Movie Podcast Weekly Ep. 314: Widows (2018) and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and Time Freak (2018) and an Interview With Director Andrew Bowler

This is the 15th time we released this episode (and the fourth time we’ve written these show notes). I think we got it as close to right as we possibly could. Welcome to Movie Podcast Weekly, Episode 314, where we bring you Feature Reviews of Widows (2018) and Time Freak (2018) and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018). For the occasion, we welcome back special guest filmmaker Mack Robins and an interview with Academy Award nominee and writer-director Andrew Bowler. Remember, “Snot is not acting.” Join us!

If you’re new to our show… Movie Podcast Weekly typically features four hosts — Jason, Andy, Karl and Geek Cast Ry — along with frequent guests. We give you our verdicts on at least one new movie release from the current year that’s currently playing in theaters, as well as several mini reviews of whatever we’ve been watching lately. New episodes release every single week!

SHOW NOTES:

I. Introduction
— Andy’s belated birthday
— The death of screenwriting legend William Goldman

[ 0:07:33 ] II. Mini Reviews
Karl: Free Solo, House of Cards Season 6, Bodyguard
Jason: House of Cards Season 1 Ep. 001, Chappaquiddick, Mune: Guardians of the Moon, Silverhawks (Moon-Star, Mon-Star and Mon-Star — see below)
Mack Robins: PSA: Rent movies from your library, While You Were Sleeping, Wreck-It Ralph, The Spirit of the Beehive
Ryan: Ready Player One, Making a Murderer 2,
Andy: Ron White: If You Quit Listening, I’ll Shut Up; The Night Comes for Us; Free State of Jones; Adam Ruins Everything (Netflix and Prime); Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj

In the animated TV show, “Silverhawks,” this star or moon is called “Moon-Star.”

And this bad guy is named “Mon-Star.”

So, “Mon-Star” uses the “Moon-Star” to transform into … wait for it … “Mon-Star” (the same exact name as his alter ego, thereby failing to differentiate them whatsoever).

III. New in Theaters This Past Weekend [ Friday, November 16, 2018 ]:
Widows
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Instant Family
Green Book
Boy Erased
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (on Netflix)
The Clovehitch Killer (on Amazon – reviewing next week)
At Eternity’s Gate
The Front-Runner
A Private War
Mobile Homes
Jonathan
The Last Race
Girl
Welcome Home
Team Khan
Stuck
Of Fathers and Sons
Speed Skills
The Princess Switch
Conundrum: Secrets Among Friends
Jinn
Burn the Stage: The Movie

FEATURE REVIEWS HAVE TIME STAMPS:

[ 0:48:57 ] IV. Feature Review: WIDOWS (2018)
Jason = 6 ( Redbox Rental )
Andy = 6 ( Avoid )
Karl = 7 ( Rental )

[ 1:01:45 ] V. TIME FREAK (2018) and an interview with writer-director Andrew Bowler

[ 1:25:26 ] SPOILER SECTION: TIME FREAK (2018) SPOILERS with writer-director Andrew Bowler

[ 1:47:37 ] Ratings: TIME FREAK (2018)
Jason = 7.5 ( Strong Rental Recommendation )
Andy = 9.5 ( Theater / Buy it! )
Karl = 9.5 ( Theater / Buy it! )
Ryan = 10 ( Theater / Possible BMOTY / Buy it! )
Mack Robins = 9 ( Theater / Buy it! )

[ 2:00:42 ] VI. Feature Review: THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS (2018)
Jason = 8 ( Stream it! / Buy it! )
Andy = 8.5 ( Stream it! )
Ryan = 9 ( Stream it! )

[ 2:18:29 ] VII. Feature Review: FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (2018)
Karl = 6.5 ( Rental )

VIII. Wrap-Up / Plugs / Ending

COMING UP ON MPW NEXT WEEK:
Episode 315 where we’ll be reviewing “Creed II” and “The Clovehitch Killer” and “Eighth Grade” and “Robin Hood” and “Green Book.” Join us!

LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:

Follow director Andrew Bowler on Twitter

Jay recommends trying our two most recent Horror Movie Podcast releases:
— Suspiria Versus
— Scary Scarecrows

Contact MPW:
E-mail us: MoviePodcastWeekly@gmail.com.
Leave us a voicemail: (801) 382-8789.
Follow MPW on Twitter: @MovieCastWeekly
Leave a comment in the show notes for this episode.

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Jason recommends supporting: Operation Underground Railroad

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Josh’s links:
Hear Josh named as one of the Top 5 Up-and-Coming Directors on The Film Vault Podcast!
Twitter: @IcarusArts
Josh covers streaming movies on: Movie Stream Cast
Hear Josh on The SciFi Podcast
Hear Josh on Horror Movie Podcast

If you’re a Horror fan, listen to Jason and Josh on HORROR MOVIE PODCAST

We’d like to thank The Dave Eaton Element and Dave himself for the use of his music for our theme song. Buy Dave’s Eaton’s music: BandCamp.com

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Thanks for listening, and join us again next week for Movie Podcast Weekly.