Spaceflix: Recent Episodes
Dan and Adam Tao
A podcast where we review new movies and decide if they're worth the cost of beaming to a lonely astronaut in the far reaches of space
In this episode we discuss C'mon C'mon, from writer and director Mike Mills, starring Joaquin Phoenix.
After a brief hiatus, our coverage of 2021 continues! This time we're discussing Licorice Pizza from Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman.
We both appreciate Ridley Scott and admire how prolific he is, but his movies can be hit or miss (for us). In this episode we discuss how The Last Duel, starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer, stands up against his extensive body of work.
In this episode we review Nightmare Alley, the latest film from acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, and Rooney Mara (among many other notable performers).
For the first time (that we know about), Joel Coen has directed a movie with zero collaboration from his brother Ethan, The Tragedy of Macbeth starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. How did he do? Does it offer the quality we've come to expect from the Coens, or is Joel hopelessly lost without his brother?
The French Dispatch is the latest film written and directed by Wes Anderson, starring about a billion people. If you want to know who's in it, you'll have to listen to this episode; there's no other way to find out.
Don't Look Up is the third film from writer/director Adam McKay that isn't a pure comedy. We had mixed feelings about his previous 2 films, The Big Short and Vice. Is the third time a charm? Let's discuss!
Back in season 3 we reviewed The Wolf of Snow Hollow, from writer/director/actor Jim Cummings. We both loved it and were very excited to see his next film, The Beta Test. How does it compare, and is it worth beaming up?
In this episode we review The Power of the Dog, from acclaimed director Jane Campion, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
The first MCU film starring an Asian lead and featuring a mostly-Asian cast, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina, and Tony Leung is now available to stream on Disney+. Listen in to find out what we thought of it!
We watched a movie starring Tom Hanks as the only human in the story, living in total isolation, whose ultimate challenge is simply to survive in a hostile environment, and whose best friend is a non-living companion he made himself. But enough about Cast Away! In this episode we're discussing Finch from director Miguel Sapochnik.
Now we're going to review The Harder They Fall, from writer/director Jeymes Samuel featuring a star-studded cast including Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, and Regina King.
It's finally here, after multiple delays: the highly-anticipated Dune from director Denis Villeneuve, starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and many more. Dan has read the book, Adam hasn't. Does it live up to expectations?
In this episode we're talking about a little movie called Pig, starring Nicolas Cage. We weren't sure what to expect with this one, but we both enjoyed it quite a bit.
Finally a Black Widow episode! The first MCU release of the pandemic, available on Disney+, directed by Cate Shortland and starring Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh. How does it compare to the other solo hero films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
We just watched a movie about a female assassin, raised to kill by a mysterious and ill-defined male-run organization, who kills the father of a young girl, only to become the adoptive protector of the girl with whom she ultimately forms an emotional bond, all while her mentor and father figure supports her behind the scenes even as we increasingly suspect he may be hiding dark secrets from her.
...but enough about Gunpowder Milkshake! In this episode we're discussing Kate, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson.
Oh nothing, just a podcast episode reviewing Die Hard 33 years after the movie was released.
And now for another action film with some clear John Wick inspiration (not to mention shared creative DNA, as it's written by Derek Kolstad and produced by David Leitch): Nobody, directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry) and starring Bob Odenkirk.
In this episode we discuss Gunpowder Milkshake, a Netflix original movie starring Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, and Chloe Coleman. This movie invites comparison to other action classics John Wick and Kill Bill. Does it earn its place in the pantheon?
It's time to talk about The Green Knight, the latest beautiful and enigmatic film from writer and director David Lowery starring Dev Patel.
Did you think we were gone? Well we're back, this time discussing The Suicide Squad from writer/director James Gunn, starring Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, and about a million other people.
It's time to kick off Season 4 of our podcast with a discussion of A Quiet Place Part II written and directed by Carter Rutherford from the film Leatherheads... also known in some circles as John Krasinski, or Jim from The Office.
Today we're discussing Nomadland from director Chloe Zhao, starring Frances McDormand and David Strathairn. This one has serious Oscar buzz! Does it live up to the hype?
Today we're reviewing News of the World, the latest film from director Paul Greengrass starring Tom Hanks.
It's time to review Raya and the Last Dragon, the latest from Walt Disney Animation Studios, starring Kelly Marie Tran, Gemma Chan, and Awkwafina.
Sound of Metal stars Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, and Paul Raci in an intense exploration of one man's experience with hearing loss.
It's challenging to review Derek DelGaudio's In and Of Itself, directed by Frank Oz, because it's challenging to even describe the film. Suffice it to say that we both enjoyed it very much.
From first-time director Regina King, One Night in Miami is an impressive work of historical fiction imagining one night in 1964 when Malcolm X, Cassius Clay (before he was Muhammad Ali), Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown spent an evening together.
Featuring Chadwick Boseman in his final, Oscar-buzzy performance, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom from director George C. Wolfe also stars Viola Davis. Now streaming on Netflix.
In today's episode we review Soul, the latest film from Pixar directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers and starring Jamie Foxx and Tiny Fey. How does it compare to other Pixar classics such as Up or Inside Out? And is it worth beaming up? Have a listen to hear our take!
Mank, the latest from director David Fincher, written by his father Jack Fincher, is now available on Netflix. As big Fincher fans, we were both excited for this one. So what did we think? Have a listen to find out!
Is this our first review of a documentary? (For that matter, is this a documentary?) Maybe! Listen in for our take on Dick Johnson is Dead from filmmaker Kirsten Johnson.
The time has come to discuss Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, starring Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his daughter Tutar (Maria Bakalova) as themselves.
Is this film funny? Is it good for society? Let's talk about it!
Today we're discussing The Wolf of Snow Hollow, a delightful horror comedy drama from writer, director, and actor (triple threat!) Jim Cummings, featuring the final performance of the great Robert Forster.
Today we're discussing The Trial of the Chicago 7, the latest film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin about the true story of a group of organizers protesting the war in Vietnam in 1968 who are prosecuted by the U.S. government for conspiracy... along with probably one of the worst judges to preside over a courtroom in the last half a century.
That's right, it's finally time to review Tenet, the latest mind-bending experience from director Christopher Nolan starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, and Kenneth Branagh.
In this episode laden with technical issues, we discuss the latest film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, a real kick in the intellectual teeth starring Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons.
What's this? A new Bill and Ted movie featuring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter? Most excellent!
In this episode we review Palm Springs, our first review for a movie on Hulu! This new spin on the Groundhog Day formula was directed by Max Barbakow from a screenplay by Andy Siara and stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti.
Today we review The Old Guard, the latest blockbuster comic book movie—this time, streaming on Netflix—starring Charlize Theron and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
It's time to review Da 5 Bloods, the latest Spike Lee joint on Netflix starring Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jonathan Majors, and Chadwick Boseman.
It's time to review The Vast of Night, the feature-length debut from first-time writer/director Andrew Patterson on Amazon Prime Video. This one came out of nowhere and took us by surprise! A delightful sci-fi diversion.
On today's episode we review Extraction, a.k.a. John Wick in Bangladesh, starring Chris Hemsworth based on a screenplay by Joe Russo.
Onward to another movie review, this time of the latest film from Pixar featuring performances from Spider-Man and Star-Lord. This one exceeded our expectations!
We break from our usual format this week to cap off 2019 with an epic best-of episode! Adam and Dan compare top 10 lists and spend a little time talking about what makes each movie on our lists so good.
Will it breathe new life into Universal's Dark Universe? Maybe, maybe not—but either way, The Invisible Man starring Elizabeth Moss is one very impressive thriller from Leigh Whannell, the writer and director of 2018's Upgrade (which we also loved).
It's time to discuss one of the most critically-acclaimed films of 2019 that we haven't yet discussed... although Dan inaccurately claims it's #2 on this list (it's actually #6). Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the latest film from writer and director Céline Sciamma.
We're back! Today's we're discussing Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, starring a very not-Irish Robert de Niro along with Al Pacino, and featuring a delightful against-type performance from Joe Pesci.
Marriage Story, written and directed by Noah Baumbach, features Oscar-nominated performances by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. Hear us gush over it because it's really a great movie.
Let's talk about 1917, the latest film from Sam Mendes, nominated for 10 different Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
It's time to review Uncut Gems, a wild ride starring Adam Sandler from Josh and Benny Safdie.
In this very brief episode we finally discuss J.J. Abrams's critically acclaimed, universally beloved final chapter in the Skywalker saga.
The Lighthouse, directed by Robert Eggers and starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, is one wild ride of a movie! Hear us make an honest and possibly incoherent attempt to talk about it.
In today's episode we discuss the latest film from Rian Johnson, a whodunnit starring Captain America, General Zod, and K's digital girlfriend from Blade Runner 2049.
Today we're talking about Ford v Ferrari, the latest film from director James Mangold starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, and the first (?) major release from Fox poised to actually make decent money after the Disney acquisition.
A comedy about a boy whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler? What could go wrong with that?
In this episode we review Parasite from director Bong Joon-ho. Fun fact: the theater where we saw this (Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar) changed their name to the Bong Joon-ho Cinema shortly after its release!
This week we decided to take a break from mainstream fare and discuss an obscure little film called Joker, by auteur director Todd Phillips and starring up-and-coming actor Joaquin Phoenix as the villain from an esoteric comic book series.
To the stars! In this episode we review Brad Pitt in Space a.k.a. Ad Astra, the first film either of us has seen from director James Gray.
Today we discuss Hustlers, the latest film from Lorene Scafaria starring Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez. Is it as good as Goodfellas? Adam has opinions.
On this episode of the podcast we talk about Ready or Not, the latest release from Fox Searchlight... we mean, Disney... starring Samara Weaving.
We kick off Season 2 by discussing Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, the ninth film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino (or the tenth... or eleventh, depending on how you're counting).
In another bonus episode we discuss BlacKkKlansman, the latest Spike Lee joint starring John David Washington and Adam Driver.
In this bonus episode we discuss Wes Anderson's latest film, Isle of Dogs, which we reviewed before our agreement with NASA.
In the final episode of Season 1 we discuss Alex Garland's Annihilation, a great sci-fi film and our favorite movie of 2018.
In the second-to-last episode of Season 1 we discuss Roma by Alfonso Cuarón, his first film distributed by Netflix.
In this episode we discuss Mission: Impossible — Fallout, the sixth film in the franchise starring Tom Cruise.
In this episode we talk about the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, their first Netflix film.
In this episode we discuss Sorry to Bother You, the first film written and directed by Boots Riley.
In this episode we discuss Upgrade, written and directed by Leigh Whannell and starring Tom Hardy... er, Logan Marshall-Green.
In this episode we discuss Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, one of the most commercially successful superhero movies of all time and one of our top films of 2018.
In this episode we discuss Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Sony's first animated Spider-Man movie and one of our top films of 2018.
In this first proper episode of Spaceflix we discuss Paul Schrader's First Reformed, starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried, one of our top films of 2018.
In this short intro episode we don't actually talk about any movies; we just explain the premise of the podcast and pseudo-apologize for the fact that some of the episodes to come won't actually be consistent with this premise because we recorded them before we came up with it.