Americana (what to expect)
Scorecard, Watchlist Worthy, ICYMI Pod
What. A. Week. A lot is going on, especially for Swifties and Taylor Nation. Kelly had a complete existential crisis when she found out Taylor was going live on the New Heights Podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce the same night the latest episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty was released. Ms. Swift announced her 12th album, and we are unsure if Kelly is alright. Or even alive. If you know her, please check in.
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Americana
Watchlist Worthy: We’re in for another white Christmas miracle this year
ICYMI: Lady Bird & One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Pod
This week’s movie - Americana
Letterboxd Description:
Welcome to the new west.
When a rare Lakota Ghost Shirt falls into the black market in a small town in South Dakota, the lives of local outsiders and outcasts violently intertwine.
Best Watched With
Someone who couldn’t imagine a world without music
End credit thoughts
We did not hear much about this one, and we found out it might be because it had its world premiere two years ago at the South by Southwest in 2023. However, a trailer popped up on our radars, and we saw it has been granted life on the silver screen. Americana was giving indie film vibes, so we decided to put this one in the spotlight week.
As far as location and setting of the movie, we immediately recognized Samon’s as an Albuquerque location; the Sandia Mountains shortly followed this scene. We may be biased, but New Mexico is the perfect backdrop for a story of small-town characters with big-city dreams. A place where one can respect their roots and simultaneously hope one’s limbs grow high and far well beyond the 505 borders. The locations and set designs nail the vibe where first names, not numbers, are the count of the population.
We were expecting Sydney Sweeney to play a role she always does, and for Paul Walter Hauser’s performance to move us. But color us surprised, by the end of it, our expectations were misplaced and misguided. Sweeney steps out of her comfort zone of confidence, or at least portrays a semblance of it, and gives us a sweet, innocent country girl with a stammer. Fifteen minutes into it, we forgot it’s Sweeney and only saw Penny Jo. At times, it feels overdone, and her story is a cliche, but we love the risk she takes here. Even if Walter Hauser didn’t surprise us, we still, and will always, love the charm and warmth he brings to the screen.
Mandy Starr does a good job as the young rebel daughter who can hold her own. Eric Dane is great at playing characters who need a good punch in the face. Lastly, Zahn McClarnon and the Lokata guerrilla army are a good time and provide some comedic relief when the young Gavin Maddox Berman, who plays a very white child who believes he’s a reincarnated relative, goes over the top.
The music and score fit perfectly and set the mood for some front porch wood whittling and cheap beer after work sunset watching. Where things get muddled is with the tone and genre of the movie. We picked up on the western and crime genre, but it could have been heavier on the Dark and the Comedy. There were some decent laughs, but most of it felt hesitant, afraid to commit to being all in on either or both.
It was fun to see Sweeney in a different role and a cast that gets the job done to ensure a movie gets a chance at making a box office run. However, the action and entertainment were not enough, and the conflicting genre and tone of the directorial choices made it seem not worth the price of admission. We love to support independent movies, especially those filmed in our home state, but you can enjoy this one just as much at home as you would in theaters.
Wait till streaming.
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@newmexicodrew
Marty Supreme by Josh Safdie
2025: Battle of the Safdie Brothers. Josh and Benny Safdie are known for being the stress-inducing, anxiety-riddled director-duo that brought us Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019). However, this year, they have gone their separate ways regarding feature films (Benny directed The Smashing Machine, theatrical release later this year). And both are based on true stories. Kind of.
Josh is directing a slew of talent in this ping-pong, biographical-adjacent film, Marty Supreme. Marty is inspired on real life professional ping-pong player, Marty Reisman (pictured above, right). Not an outright biopic, but considering the Safdies’ ability to deliver raw and authentic flicks, I have no doubt we will walk away believing we, humbly, breathed the same air as Marty Supreme.
The trailer gives off a more mass, Hollywood studio appeal; filled with award winners and nominees who have enough juice to flood any scene they walk into. But the number one reason this is immediately put onto my watchlist, is because I will never bet against our man Timothée Chalamet and a Josh who is more than capable of directing Timmy on his pursuit to greatness.
Another TC led Christmas Day release movie, and I am here for it! See you at the theaters.
-JP
Letterboxd Description:
Dream big.
Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.
Also Directed by Josh Safdie:
Uncut Gems (2019)
Good Time (2017)
Lady Bird & One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Show Swap #59
🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube
Josh, Eric, and Kelly dive into their latest film and TV show swap, sharing reactions and insights. Eric and Kelly discuss their experience with the critically acclaimed film 'Lady Bird', while Josh gives his take on the classic 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'.
The conversation is peppered with personal anecdotes and humorous tangents about allergies, an intense family dinner, and the challenges of communication within families. The episode wraps up with brief thoughts on Ted Lasso and Gossip Girl, setting the stage for a deeper discussion in future episodes.
Tune in next week for | Honey Don’t!
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