Honey, Don't! (what to expect)
Scorecard, Watchlist Worthy, New Pod Drop
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Gillian 08/19 - Favorite Movie: Promising Young Woman
April 08/23 - Favorite Movie: Purple Rain
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Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Honey, Don’t!
Watchlist Worthy: Retirements are just for comebacks (nepo version)
New Pod Drop: “Do you ever think about dying?” —Barbie
This week’s movie - Honey, Don’t!
Letterboxd Description:
She only has two desires, and one of them is justice.
Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator, delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church.
Best Watched With
Skeptics of organized religion
End credit thoughts
For Ethan Cohen’s second solo feature film, we get another movie filmed in the Land of Enchantment (Last week was Americana). With one glance at the dirt and desert vegetation, we immediately knew these stars were walking on sacred grounds. But this is not why you’re here, so let’s get into Honey, Don’t!.
Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) is a lady-lovin, mystery-solvin, private investigator who gets wrapped up in a web of deaths and stories in this small town dark comedy. The mystery/thriller genres are not foreign to either of the Coens, but does Ethan give this one enough gas to get to its destination?
Everything screams small town, and Belen, New Mexico, is an extraordinary choice for this plot. It adds some believability to the out-of-the-ordinary deaths, the local detective work (or lack thereof), and the weird church shit that gives off cult vibes.
Reminiscent of the small town work in Fargo (both the 1996 movie and the 2014-2024 television series) with witty dialogue and snappy retorts from the main characters, Qualley fits right in a Cohen-built world. She’s calm and collected, but takes no shit and can handle her own. This role seems different from previous ones she’s taken on, and it suits her well.
Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans hold their own in supporting roles. Plaza, who is generally known for her deadpan dry humor, keeps the funny but steps up the dynamics as MG Falcone, a local police officer. Evans is a blast as the charismatic, hot piece of shit lead pastor. We enjoyed his eccentric character as much as we hated him, and for good reason. Lastly, you can never dislike Charlie Day playing a hopeless romantic who falls in love with someone who is also seeking love from the ladies.
The movie earns plenty of laughs, both from genuinely funny moments and from how well it embraces the Dark Comedy genre. The characters are well thought out and developed, and the world they are in fits like a glass slipper. Where does this movie fall apart? Mainly in the story. The mystery is there, and we were entertained the whole time until it abruptly ended, leaving us with questions and loose ends.
It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination and does not deserve a rotten tomato score in the 40s, in our humble opinion. It definitely feels like a Coen Brothers movie. Fans of the Cohens would enjoy a matinee showing. For most, Honey, Don’t! mind if we wait til streaming. We’ll enjoy a second watch when it hits the platforms.
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@justjoshperez
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@kellyharrison
@newmexicodrew
Anemone (2025) by Ronan Day-Lewis
The Last of the Mohicans and Gangs of New York are two of my favorite movies ever, but I never really cared that Daniel Day-Lewis “retired” (you can revoke my film bro card if you want). That doesn’t mean I’m not stoked to see that hyphenated name back in film rag headlines; and it’s in headlines twice because Daniel’s son, Ronan, wrote and directed it. If you simply showing up to work for the first time in eight years gets your kid a job, that’s the type of nepotism I can get behind.
I can’t gloss over the fact that Sean Bean is staring opposite Daniel and that this looks like a bad microdose with Ireland as the backdrop. That and I’m a sucker for cool looking title cards.
-NMD
Letterboxd Description:
Family bonds between fathers, sons, and brothers are explored as complex relationships unfold through personal journeys and generational conflicts.
Barbie w/ Special Guest Sarah Eden: Living A Stream #60
🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube
Josh welcomes guest Sarah to dive deep into Barbie (2023), directed by Greta Gerwig. They discuss the film's layers of comedy, emotion, and social commentary, guided by Jimmy V's 1993 ESPY Speech—what held them in thought, made them laugh, and moved their emotions to tears—while interweaving the movie's narratives with their life narratives.
Sarah shares her personal connections to the film, particularly its take on existential themes, consumerism, and the pressures of womanhood. They both reflect on various scenes, including emotional highlights and comedic moments, and discuss Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Ken.
The episode also touches on the guest's personal life updates, including her educational journey and move from Albuquerque to the Pacific Northwest, as well as a quick discussion on upcoming films and directors they're excited about.
Tune in next week for | Caught Stealing
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