This week, it's time for takeoff as Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) sit down to talk FIGHT OR FLIGHT.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect her when they're surrounded by people trying to kill both of them.
Directed by: James Madigan
Written by: Brooks McLaren, DJ Cotrona
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Charithra Chandran, Katee Sackhoff, Julian Kostov, Marko Zaror, JuJu Chan Szeto, Danny Ashok
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
We're back in the MCU this week as Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) talk THUNDERBOLTS*.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
Directed by: Jake Schreier
Written by: Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
Starring: Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Harbor, Sebastian Stan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko, Geraldine Viswanathan
*Clip from THUNDERBOLTS courtesy of Marvel Studios.*
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
Vampires are back (did they go somewhere?) this week, and Derek and Karen are excited to sit down and talk SINNERS.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Written and Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Li Jun Li
*Clip from SINNERS courtesy of Warner Bros.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week Karen Peterson and Derek Miranda sit down to talk war films, propaganda, and WARFARE.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A platoon of Navy SEALs embark on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
Directed and written by: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland
Starring: D'Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Noah Centineo, Nathan Altai, Donya Hussen
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
Things are getting a little freaky this week when Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) talk FREAKY TALES.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Four interconnected stories set in 1987 Oakland, CA. will tell about the love of music, movies, people, places and memories beyond our knowable universe.
Directed and written by: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud
*Trailer for FREAKY TALES courtesy of Lionsgate.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's an A24 kind of week as Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) talk DEATH OF A UNICORN.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Father-Daughter duo Elliott and Ridley hit a unicorn with their car and bring it to the wilderness retreat of a mega-wealthy pharmaceutical CEO.
Written and directed by: Alex Scharfman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Steve Park
*Clip from DEATH OF A UNICORN courtesy of A24.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's double the De Niro this week when Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) talk THE ALTO KNIGHTS.
We're also sharing our Top 5 (or so) Robert De Niro films.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Two of New York City's most notorious organized crime bosses vie for control of the city's streets. Once best friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals set them on a deadly collision course.
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Written by: Nicholas Pileggi
Starring: Robert De Niro, Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci, Michael Rispoli, Cosmo Jarvis, Frank Piccirillo
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's spy vs. spy vs. spy this week as Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) talk Steven Soderbergh's new spy thriller, BLACK BAG.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
BLACK BAG is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife Kathryn. When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: David Koepp
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke, Marisa Abela, Gustaf Skarsgård, Pierce Brosnan
*Clip from BLACK BAG courtesy of Focus Features
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
After delays and new release dates, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are finally ready to talk MICKEY 17.
We're also discussing Academy Award-winning director Bong Joon-ho's filmography.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Set in the future, the plot follows Mickey Barnes, who joins a space colony as an "Expendable", a disposable worker who gets cloned every time he dies for research purposes.
Directed by: Bong Joon-ho
Written by: Bong Joon-ho, based on the novel "Mickey 7" by Edward Ashton
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo
*Clip from MICKEY 17 courtesy of Warner Bros.*
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Karen (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek (@DerekMiranda85) talk all about the 97th Academy Awards. From host Conan O'Brien to the winners, losers, and Oscar ballots, we're discussing it all.
The big day is finally here! Join Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) as they share their official predictions for the 97th Academy Awards!
We're predicting all 23 categories and here is our order, in case you want to follow along:
To check out Karen's predictions and watch for ill-advised, last-minute changes, find her on Gold Derby: https://www.goldderby.com/my-predictions/karen_marie_peterson/oscars-2025-predictions/
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's finally time to head back to the MCU! This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD.
We're also discussing the entire Captain America franchise and Cap's place in the MCU.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who's officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
Directed by: Julius Onah
Written by: Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, Julius Onah, Peter Glanz
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Lumbly, Shira Haas
*Clip from CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
Love is in the air and serial killers are running amok this week when Derek Miranda (@derekmiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) sit down to talk HEART EYES.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
For the past several years, the "Heart Eyes Killer" has wreaked havoc on Valentine's Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine's Day, no couple is safe....
Directed by: Josh Ruben
Written: Phillip Murphy and Christopher Landon & Michael Kennedy
Starring: Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zambado, Michaela Watkins, Jordana Brewster, Devon Sawa
*Clip from HEART EYES courtesy of ScreenGems
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) are back with our Top 10 Films of 2024.
And while you're here, check out our most popular episodes of the year too:
Follow us!
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
Universal monsters are ready for a comeback and this week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are talking WOLF MAN.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A family at a remote farmhouse is attacked by an unseen animal, but as the night stretches on, the father begins to transform into something unrecognizable.
Directed by: Leigh Whannell
Written by: Leigh Whannell and Corbett Tuck
Starring: Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Sam Jaeger, Matilda Firth, Benedict Hardie
*Clip from WOLF MAN courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
For our first film of 2025, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Big Nick is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie, who is embroiled in the treacherous world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world's largest diamond exchange.
Directed and written by: Christian Gudegast
Starring: Gerard Butler, O'Shea Jackson Jr, Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito, Meadow Williams, Swen Temmel
*Clip from DEN OF THIEVES: PANTERA courtesy of Lionsgate.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
It's 2025 and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are excited to bring you our most anticipated releases of 2025.
We'll also take a look back at our anticipated 2024 films and how those worked out for us.
And we'd love to hear from you, so send us some of your anticipated 2025 movies too!
For their final episode of 2024, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk 3 Christmas Day releases: A COMPLETE UKNOWN, THE FIRE INSIDE, and BABYGIRL.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review. We will continue this format with non-spoiler reviews of all three films together, followed by the spoiler discussion.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A COMPLETE UKNOWN
In 1961, unknown 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York City with his guitar. He forges relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that reverberates worldwide.
Directed by: James Mangold
Written by: James Mangold, Jay Cocks
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Scoot McNairy, Boyd Holdbrook, Dan Fogler, Eriko Hatsune
THE FIRE INSIDE
The story of Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who trained to become the first woman in her country's history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.
Directed by: Rachel Morrison
Written by: Barry Jenkins
Starring: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, Oluniké Adeliyi, De'Adre Aziza
*Clip from THE FIRE INSIDE courtesy of MGM Studios
BABYGIRL
A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much-younger intern.
Directed and by: Halina Reijn
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, Esther McGregor, Vaughan Reilly
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) celebrate Christmas with the perfect holiday film, NOSFERATU.
As we always do, this review is in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review. With plenty of spoiler alerts.
PLOT SUMMARY:
A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
Directed and Written by: Robert Eggers
Starring: Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney
*Clip from NOSFERATU courtesy of Focus Features.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week things get a little wild as Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk KRAVEN THE HUNTER.
We're also ranking the Spider-Man-free Sony/Marvel movies.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Kraven's complex relationship with his ruthless father starts him down a path of vengeance, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.
Directed by: J.C. Chandor
Screenplay by: Richard Wenk, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott
*Clip from KRAVEN THE HUNTER courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) are taking it all the way back to 1999 as they sit down to talk Y2K.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Years Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives in this dial-up disaster comedy.
Directed by: Kyle Mooney
Written by: Kyle Mooney & Evan Winter
Starring: Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, Lachlan Watson, The Kid Laroi, and Fred Durst
This week, Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) and Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) have a little post-Thanksgiving chat and sit down for MARIA.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Famed opera singer Maria Callas retreats to Paris in the 1970s after a glamorous yet tumultuous life in the public eye.
Directed by: Pablo Larraín
Written by: Steven Knight
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Haluk Bilginer
Available on Netflix beginning December 11.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
This week, Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) and Karen Peterson (@KarenMPeterson) battle it out over GLADIATOR II.
Plus, we have a non-spoilery chat about WICKED.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: David Scarpa
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
'Tis the season for dysfunctional families, and this week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk A REAL PAIN.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Mismatched cousins David and Benji tour Poland to ho:nor their grandmother. Their adventure becomes complicated as old tensions resurface while exploring their family history.
Directed and Written by: Jesse Eisenberg
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Jennifer Grey, Will Sharpe, Kurt Egyiawan
*Clip from A REAL PAIN courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk
Beware whose door you're knocking on! This week Karen Peterson (@karenmpeterson) & Derek Miranda (@DerekMiranda85) sit down to talk HERETIC.
As always, featured reviews are done in two parts, a NON-SPOILER review with letter grade and brief discussion, followed by a more in depth SPOILER review.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.
Written and Directed by: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Starring: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East
*Clip from HERETIC courtesy of A24.
Support the show! www.Patreon.com/TheWatchAndTalk