We were absolutely assaulted by someone casually mentioning online that Toy Story dropped thirty years ago. How is that possible? We remember watching it when it came out be we are only twenty nine? Anyway. New Trailer for the fifth (!) installment below.
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: How to Make A Killing
Watchlist Worthy: Another toy story
ICYMI Pod: The Muppets and Jim Henson’s Legacy
This week’s movie - How to Make A Killing
Letterboxd Description:
$28 billion inheritance. 7 relatives standing in the way.
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.
Best Watched With
Your wealthy cousins
End Credit Thoughts
If you do not like heavily narrated movies, this one is not for you. How to Make a Killing is one of those let’s-work-backwards kind of movies where the main character lays out, step by step, how they got to where they are. At first, it felt heavy-handed. But as the story unfolded, either we got used to it, or the narration started to work seamlessly, so we didn’t mind as much.
The movie takes some twists and turns, nothing mind-blowing, but an enjoyable, fun way to tell an inheritance plot. Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) is a likable character, and it was easy to root for him. His backstory allowed us to feel like his plot to take out the living inheritors was a grey area, despite the morality of murder being black and white.
Over the past couple of years, Powell has proved himself a leading man, and this movie plays to his strengths. He can tell a good story and has a voice for narration. Powell can pull off pretty much any costume and wardrobe choices, making him even easier on the eyes. He’s not phoning it in playing this role, but we didn’t walk away wowed by his performance. He does a good job and gives us what we expected.
Margaret Qualley (Julia Steinway), on the other hand, is always a delight and is one of the more memorable characters. She is so great at bringing an x-factor to all her characters that draws us in, forcing us to ask questions and wonder more about them and their roles in the story. More than just Qualley, Powell is surrounded by a fun and dynamic supporting cast. Topher Grace (Pastor Steven J. Redfellow), Ed Harris (Whitelaw Redfellow), and Zach Woods (Noah Redfellow) offered different perspectives on ultra-wealthy characters who made us laugh, frighten, and frustrated. Oh, we can’t forget Bill Camp as Warren Redfellow. It is always nice to see Camp on the big screen in a good light. This man is a talent.
Is the story believable? We don’t think this matters here. Suspend disbelief, sit down and buckle up, and let the rollercoaster take you where it wants. How to Make a Killing isn’t super unpredictable, but there’s enough of a twist to make the viewing worth it. Is it worth the price of admission at the local theater? We’re siding on waiting to stream. It’s not a bad movie, just not a spectacle enough to justify a massive screen and booming sound.
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Toy Story 5 by Andrew Stanton
The gang is BACK!
Some of us (Eric) are lifelong fans of this incredible, timeless, treasured franchise. Some say, when he first traveled overseas in high school to Europe, he actually took his stuffed Buzz Lightyear. Rumor has it it was the same one he’s had since he was a child. Rumor goes on to say that he STILL has it and won’t let his kids give it away.
ANYWAYS. While we will ALL be seated for what looks like another timeless adventure with the gang, DAMN do the voice actors sound tired. I think this should be it. As much as I’d love to have 10 more of these bad boys, this should be the franchise swan song. We can’t wait!
Letterboxd Description:
It’s on.
When Bonnie receives a Lilypad tablet as a gift and becomes obsessed, Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs become exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.
Also Directed by Andrew Stanton:
Finding Nemo (2003)
Walle-E (2008)
Finding Dory (2016)
Jim Henson, The Muppets, and the Power of Puppetry w/ Special Guest Amerique Monagle #61
🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube
In this episode, Josh is joined by special guest Amerique Monagle to discuss the life and legacy of Jim Henson. Amerique shares her personal connection to puppetry and storytelling, and provides an in-depth look at Henson’s career, from his early days on “Sesame Street” to the creation of “The Muppet Show” and beyond.
They explore the development of iconic Muppet characters, the technical innovations Henson brought to filmmaking, and the underlying themes of creativity, collaboration, and taking care of each other that defined his work. The conversation also touches on Henson’s other projects, including “The Dark Crystal” and “Fraggle Rock,” as well as his lasting impact on pop culture.
Tune in next week for | Scream 7
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