FRIDAY FAMILY FILM NIGHT – Details, episodes & analysis

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing BLUE VALENTINE (2014), from writers Derek Cianfrance, Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne, the film is directed by Derek Cianfrance.  The film is a portrait of a married couple, Dean and Cindy (Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams), navigating the highs of falling in love and the heartbreak of growing apart..  The film clocks in at 1h and 52m, is rated R and is currently streaming on Peacock, Plex, Prime Video, The CW, The Roku Channel but also to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#BlueValentine #DerekCianfrance #JoeyCurtis #CamiDelavigne #MichelleWilliams #Cindy #RyanGosling #Dean #FaithWladyka #Frankie #JohnDoman #Jerry MikeVogel #Bobby #PsychologicalDrama #TragicRomance #Drama #Romance #Relationships #MarriedCouple @Peacock @Plex⁠  @theCW  @TheRokuChannel ⁠⁠⁠#FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which Kid 1 joins me in reviewing COMET (2014), from writer/director Sam Esmail.  Told through fragmented moments in time, Comet (2014) follows the intense and unpredictable love story of Dell (Justin Long) and Kimberly (Emmy Rossum) as their relationship unfolds over six years.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 31 m, is rated R and is currently streaming on Paramount+, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and also to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#Comet #SamEsmail #JustinLong #Dell #EmmyRossum #Kimberly #Drama #Romance #SciFi @ParamountPlus  ⁠@PrimeVideo⁠  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing NOSFERATU (2024), based off Bram Stoker's novel and inspired by Henrik's Galeen's screenplay for 1922's Nosferatu, the film is updated from writer/director Robert Eggers.  In an effort to elevate his status for both himself and his new wife, a young man, Thomas (Nicholas Hoult)  journeys to secure a deal with a mysterious nobleman named Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) from a distant land—only to unwittingly unleash an ancient evil that devastates his homeland and sets its sights on his wife, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) in this remake of the 1922 silent film directed by F.W. Murnau.  The film clocks in at 2 h and 12 m, is rated R and is currently streaming on Peacock and to buy/rent on Prime Video. The film is a contender in four categories at this upcoming 2025 Oscars race: Cinematography, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling and Production Design. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#Nosferatu  #RobertEggers  #HenrikGaleen  #FWMurnau  #BramStoker  #Oscars2025  #Cinematography  #CostumeDesign  #Makeup&Hairstyling  #ProductionDesign  #DarkFantasy  #SupernaturalHorror  #Vampire  #VampireHorror  #Fantasy  #Horror  #Mystery  #PeriodDrama  #LilyRoseDepp  #Ellen  #NicholasHoult  #Thomas  #BillSkarsgård  #CountOrlok  #WillemDafoe  #ProfVonFranz  #RalpIneson  #DrSievers  #AaronTaylorJohnson  #Friedrich  #EmmaCorrin  #Anna  #Knock  #SimonMcBurney  @Peacock  @PrimeVideo  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and I check out THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), which is streaming on Max and to buy/rent on Prime Video.  With a screenplay by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf, the film has directing credits attributed to Victor Fleming and King Vidor and comes from L. Frank Baum's book.  In this iconic MGM musical, young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) finds herself transported from Kansas to the magical world of Oz. With her new friends the Scarecrow (Ray Bulger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley) and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr); she embarks on a journey to find her way home.  Frank Morgan, Billy Burke and Margaret Hamilton round out the cast.  This film clocks in at 1 h 42 m and is rated  G.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

Happy belated birthday Uncle Leo - we love you!

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library 

In which the Monsters join me in reviewing MEAN GIRLS (2024), from writers Tina Fey and Rosalind Wiseman, the film is directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. In a movie that's based on a musical that's based on a far better movie a home-schooled girl finds herself thrust into the dog eat dog world of public high school where she must navigate the perils of staying true to herself or succumbing to the superficial lure of popularity. The film clocks in at 1 h and 52 m and is rated PG-13. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review. Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and I check out DREAM SCENARIO (2023), which is streaming on Max and to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, the film tells the story of Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage), a remarkably, uncharismatic, bland man who finds himself at the center of the world's attention after he unexpectedly begins appearing in people's dreams. This film clocks in at 2 h 10 m and is rated  R.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

This episode of the podcast is dedicated to my Covenant House Sleep Out donors:

Marsha N

Stacey A

Jamie B

Angie K

Alex S

The Ferriers

KT W

Deanna C

Terry S

Scott W

Nancy M

Rashema R

Naz S

Che A

Margot W

Jack M

Veli R

So much gratitude to all of you!

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library 

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (2017), from writers Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon, the film is directed by Michael Gracey. A poor young man grows up to become the famed P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman ) in this musical biopic on the man who crafted the art of the spectacle through his sensational presentations of oddities.  Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya round out the primary roles in the story and include music from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul who went on to win Academy Awards for their music in LA LA LAND.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 45 m and is rated PG.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

This episode of the podcast goes out to Miss Angie - happy belated birthday my friend!

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and I check out THE BIG SHORT (2015), which is streaming on MGM+ and Paramount+ and to buy/rent on Prime Video but we caught this on the Hoopla App.  From a script by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay; this is based on Michael Lewis' novel of the same name. Adam McKay directs an all star cast in this funny, entertaining and incredibly frustrating look at the true story behind the 2008 global financial crisis that almost destroyed the world's economy. This film clocks in at 2 h 10 m and is rated  R.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

This episode of the podcast is dedicated to JWR - Happy Birthday James!

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library 

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing ROAD HOUSE (2024), from writers Anthony Bagarozzi, Chuck Mondry and R. Lance Hill, the film is directed by Doug Liman. A former MMA fighter named Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) with a dark past becomes the bouncer at a violent roadside bar in Florida and has to face off with some bland baddies in this poorly conceived remake of the 1989 Patrick Swayze classic. The film clocks in at 2 h and 1 m and is rated R for violence, language and some nudity. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review. 

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and I check out A SIMPLE FAVOR (2018), which is streaming on MGM+ and Prime Video and to buy/rent on Prime Video.  From director Paul Feig and a script by Jessica Sharzer, this is based on Darcey Bell's novel of the same name. After her son's playdate with the child of the neighborhood's most impressive and intimidating mom (Blake Lively) a woman (Anna Kendrick) finds herself in the center of a web of lies, mystery and murder. This film clocks in at 1 h 57 m and is rated  R.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library