This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the shameful stance too many in the west took toward free expression and the ability of artists to do their work free of persecution or threat of violence from thuggish leaders like the Ayatollah of Iran. And then they review Prey , the latest entry in the Predator series now streaming on Hulu. Is it a good movie? Perhaps more importantly: is it a good Predator movie? Make sure to sw...
Aug 16, 2022•39 min•Ep. 123
On this week’s episode of Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to hash out the business reasons for, uh, throwing a whole movie into the trash can. Will WB ever #ReleaseTheBatgirl? We’ll see! And then they review Bullet Train , a movie that sounds like it should be awesome but is instead just … kind of flabby. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for a special bonus episode on trains. Buster Keaton, class p...
Aug 09, 2022•36 min•Ep. 122
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the oncoming movie drought. We’re hitting a period when no big movies are hitting theaters over the next couple of months—but why? Then they review a movie designed to be watched at home while folding your socks: The Gray Man . If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
Aug 02, 2022•37 min•Ep. 121
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about Rolling Stone’s bombshell piece revealing that slightly more social media traffic around the so-called Snyder Cut was generated by bots than on the typical trending topic. And then the gang reviews N o pe , Jordan Peele’s sci-fi-western-horror extravaganza. Is it a mess or profound or profoundly messy? Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ on Friday for a special bonus e...
Jul 26, 2022•35 min•Ep. 120
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review Where the Crawdads Sing , a movie playing exclusively in theaters. But before they do that, they ask if the “exclusively in theaters” part is a little, well, elitist , as suggested by Joe Russo in a recent interview . Make sure to swing back to Bulwark+ on Friday for a special bonus episode on southern storytelling. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!...
Jul 19, 2022•38 min•Ep. 119
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) have a little bit of fun with the idea that the folx coding Netflix’s recommendation algo should have any say in what the algo actually delivers to people. (You can read the story they’re discussing here .) And then they review Thor: Love and Thunder . Did they love it or hate it? Who can say? Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ on Friday for our special members-only bonus episod...
Jul 12, 2022•32 min•Ep. 118
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to figure out if the Gentleminion craze sweeping the nation—in which teens and tweens wear suits to see Minions: The Rise of Gru and get rowdy while doing so—is a controversy or nontroversy. Then they review Elvis ! Make sure to swing by Friday for the special bonus episode on our own history of rowdy moviegoing. And if you loved the episode, share it with a friend!...
Jul 05, 2022•40 min•Ep. 117
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Netflix’s Spiderhead and the tumult at the world’s largest streamer. How is it that a film from the director of the biggest movie of the summer can release a movie starring a key part of the MCU and the star of one of Netflix’s biggest hits ever can just kind of … show up, and then disappear? How does this make sense from a business standpoint? Is the movie of the week m...
Jun 28, 2022•38 min•Ep. 116
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to figure out why Lightyear dramatically underperformed projections. Is this a function of new customer behavior, the burgeoning culture war Disney finds itself embroiled in, or both? And then the gang reviews Lightyear , which is at best fine and at worst not fine. Very not fine indeed. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ Friday for our conversation about the movies of 1995, spa...
Jun 21, 2022•39 min•Ep. 115
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the ways in which entertainment companies and the media inadvertently highlight and promote marginalized racists, a phenomenon noted by Kat Rosenfield in this essay for Unherd . And then the gang reviews Jurassic World Dominion , the latest big dumb movie in a series full of big dumb movies. Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ Friday for our bonus episode on David Cronenb...
Jun 14, 2022•38 min•Ep. 114
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) discuss why Top Gun: Maverick is succeeding and whether or not it codes “conservative,” like American Sniper or The Passion of the Christ . And then they review We Own This City , David Simon and George Pelecanos’s angry look at a real-life police scandal in Baltimore streaming now in full on HBO Max. Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ for this week’s bonus episode on F...
Jun 07, 2022•42 min•Ep. 113
On this week’s Across the Movie Aisle, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) review the biggest hit of the summer (so far!), Top Gun: Maverick . Meanwhile, the gang discusses the pluses and minuses of “militainment,” entertainment in bed with the military-industrial complex. Make sure to head back to Bulwark+ on Friday for our discussion of what makes a great summer blockbuster.
Jun 01, 2022•35 min•Ep. 112
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask whether or not the firing of Frank Langella (background here and here ) was a controversy … or a nontroversy. Then they review Men , the new folk-horror flick from Alex Garland. What’s the matter with men—and Men ? Make sure to come back for Friday’s bonus episode, in which we’ll discuss whether Tom Cruise is the last movie star or something a little weirder. And share this ...
May 24, 2022•48 min•Ep. 111
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to figure out why Netflix had to clarify to their employees that hosting a breadth of content may mean working on something they disagree with ideologically. Doesn’t everyone work at a journal of ideas that tolerates dissenting viewpoints? And then they discuss Moon Knight , the Disney+ MCU series that is only mildly distinguishable from the other Disney+ MCU series despite ...
May 17, 2022•42 min•Ep. 110
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) consider the bubbling controversy (or nontroversy?) surrounding the PG-13 rating for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Then the gang reviews the new Sam Raimi-directed feature. Is this a bog-standard MCU movie or something more? Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ Friday for our bonus episode on the wonderful world of mainstream cultist Sam Raimi. And share this episod...
May 10, 2022•35 min•Ep. 109
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), discuss the dumbest cons and nons of all time. Then they review The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent , the new meta-movie from Nicolas Cage. Make sure to check out the bonus episode at Bulwark+ on great movies about movies. And if you liked this episode, share it with a friend!
May 03, 2022•36 min•Ep. 108
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason), look at Netflix’s disastrous quarter and ask how they can right the ship. And they review The Northman , director Robert Eggers’s vision quest to the gates of Valhalla. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for our bonus episode on historical epics! And share this episode with a friend if you enjoyed it!
Apr 26, 2022•43 min•Ep. 107
Hey folks, just dropping in a quick episode to say we're off this week. But we'll be back next week!
Apr 19, 2022•59 sec•Ep. 106
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talk about the best movie of the year (so far!): Everything Everywhere All at Once , the trippy new sci-fi action-comedy family-drama multiversal epic from the directing duo known as Daniels. Meanwhile, in cons and nons, the gang revisits “The Slap” for, hopefully, the last time. Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ on Friday for a special bonus episode on Michael Bay’s Ambulance and the state...
Apr 12, 2022•42 min•Ep. 105
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the near-simultaneous Grammy win by Louis C.K. and delays of Will Smith movies following his attack on Chris Rock at the Oscars. Is cancel culture canceled? Or are these perfectly reasonable actions? Then the gang discusses Apollo 10 1/2 , which just showed up on Netflix out of nowhere and is the best movie Oscar-nominated director Richard Linklater has ever made on the ...
Apr 05, 2022•44 min•Ep. 104
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed the most controversial moment at the Oscars, and no, I’m not referring to Zack Snyder’s sweep of the fan favorite categories. We break down Will Smith’s attack on Chris Rock, using Smith’s recent memoir and his efforts to be less people-pleasing and more true to himself as a jumping-off point. Then they reviewed The Lost City , Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s delig...
Mar 29, 2022•41 min•Ep. 103
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) try to make sense of the latest controversy (or possibly nontroversy!) roiling the waters of YA Twitter. Meanwhile, Peter and Alyssa try to convince Sonny that Drive My Car is better than he thinks it is. Will they succeed? Listen now to find out. And make sure to come back to Bulwark+ for Friday’s bonus episode, in which the trio discusses what should win, and what they think w...
Mar 22, 2022•34 min•Ep. 102
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the rock and a hard place Disney CEO Bob Chapek found himself in when he was pressured by employees to respond to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Then the gang reviewed Turning Red , the new Pixar picture sent straight to Disney+. Make sure to head to Bulwark+ on Friday for our special bonus members-only episode on the joys of Pixar. And if you enjoyed this epi...
Mar 15, 2022•40 min•Ep. 101
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) argue the merits and demerits of AMC charging folks more to see The Batman . Then they talk about whether or not you should see The Batman ! Is it any good? Is it too long? Is it weirdly empty, politically and aesthetically? They’ll let you know! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend! Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for ATMA’s bonus episode on Friday, where t...
Mar 08, 2022•43 min•Ep. 100
This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post) and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed the efforts of cultural institutions and their response to Russia’s war on Ukraine and reviewed the best picture-nominated Coda , which just won the best ensemble category at the SAG Awards. Full disclosure: We taped this week’s episode Monday afternoon and by Monday evening the ground underneath our cons and nons segment had shifted slightly. These are the dangers of podcasting in ...
Mar 01, 2022•38 min•Ep. 99
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if the Oscars made a big mistake by allowing a potential Boaty McBoatfacing situation by opening up voting to the Twitter-based masses. And the gang reviewed Uncharted . Is Tom Holland the new Leonardo DiCaprio? Is the video game movie curse dead and buried? Is the movie any good? Make sure to come back to Bulwark+ for the bonus episode on Friday; we’ll have an episode on St...
Feb 22, 2022•37 min•Ep. 98
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) discuss the Oscars nominees, whether or not multiple hosts can save flagging interest, and whether or not a Twitter poll can interest audiences who feel as though the awards show snubs popular pictures. And then the gang reviews Death on the Nile , Kenneth Branagh’s followup to his adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express . Make sure to swing by the ...
Feb 15, 2022•38 min•Ep. 97
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the myriad reasons no one cares about the Olympics and the shameful acquiescence to Chinese human rights abuses by so many in the sports media. Then the gang reviews Nightmare Alley , which just received four Oscar nominations, including a surprise best picture nod ! And make sure to check out our bonus episode , in which Sonny and Peter try to explain the joy of Jackass...
Feb 09, 2022•43 min•Ep. 96
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the raging controversy over Neil Young’s decision to remove his music from Spotify as a result of their partnership with Joe Rogan. From disinformation to audio quality to the sprawling nature of the internet to the limitless nature of boycotting people you disagree with, the topic simultaneously touches on a number of disparate topics roiling our digital—and irl—waters....
Feb 02, 2022•39 min•Ep. 95
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason Magazine) discuss a rather terrible “breaking news” item about West Side Story ’s Rachel Zegler in the Daily Beast and the broader trend of using random nobodies on Twitter as a hook for stories designed to gin up hate toward celebrities. Then they review The Lost Daughter , Maggie Gyllenhaal’s movie about a bad mom that has struck a chord with pandemic-era audiences. And on the ...
Jan 26, 2022•37 min•Ep. 94
