Critique Revolve

In Part 3 of our 2026 Oscars coverage, the hosts return after the Oscars’ ceremony to discuss winners and losers. Host(s) Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, Dave Sabal

In Part 2 of our 2026 Oscars coverage, the hosts return after watching the nominated films to break down the race for the 98th Academy Awards. With the viewing complete, the conversation shifts from speculation to evaluation: which films truly deserve the praise, which nominations feel misplaced, and which contenders have the strongest path to the...

In this episode, we offer a few thoughts on the Oscar-nominated Train Dreams and how it successfully achieves what so many films cannot. Also, a few quick thoughts on other Oscar-adjacent films. Host(s) Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores

A roundtable of long-time friends comes together to chat about life, sex, hobbies, stupidity, and current events. This is the delayed feed. If you want new episodes right away, subscribe to our Patreon feed for $1.00. This is part of CoJ’s 2025 season. For the current season, click the Patreon link and become a subscriber.

A roundtable of long-time friends comes together to chat about life, sex, hobbies, stupidity, and current events. This is the delayed feed. If you want new episodes right away, subscribe to our Patreon feed for $1.00. This is part of CoJ’s 2024 season. For the current season, click the Patreon link and become a subscriber.

A roundtable of long-time friends comes together to chat about life, sex, hobbies, stupidity, and current events. This is the delayed feed. If you want new episodes right away, subscribe to our Patreon feed for $1.00. This is part of CoJ’s 2024 season. For the current season, click the Patreon link and become a subscriber.

past violence resurfaces after the murder of his wife. We dig into how the film subverts traditional revenge narratives, framing vengeance as moral regression, and explore themes of fragile redemption, inherited trauma, and the unsettling cost of survival in the Weird West. Host(s) Mike, Dave

In this episode of Critique Revolve, the hosts break down the 2026 Academy Award nominations, focusing on first impressions, immediate points of contention, and the broader patterns that emerge from this year’s slate. As the first installment in a three-part Oscar special, this episode concentrates on initial reactions—what feels earned, what feels conspicuously absent, and...

A spinoff podcast hosted and curated by Ryan Denton. In this episode, Ryan leads a fan-driven discussion on the 1981 Clash of the Titans. This episode dives into the thrills, tropes, and lasting impact of the film, capturing the spirit of pure 80s action cinema. Host(s) Ryan, Dave, Mike

This week, we discuss Mercy (2026), the new sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt, set in a near-future Los Angeles where an AI judge has replaced the human justice system. We unpack the film’s real-time, screen-driven structure and its engagement with AI, truth, and post-truth logic, asking whether its philosophical ambitions hold up under scrutiny. A...

Special bonus episode: Thomas’ Everything But the Kitchen Sink.In this episode, we look at what made ‘80s blockbusters like Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, and Back to the Future feel “original”—and whether that really holds up. We also dive into how postmodern theory messes with the whole idea of originality, especially now that Hollywood is all-in on...

A spinoff podcast hosted and curated by Ryan Denton. In this special, previously Patreon-exclusive episode, Ryan leads a fan-driven discussion on John Carpenter’s 1981 action film starring Kurt Russel. This episode dives into the thrills, tropes, and lasting impact of the film, capturing the spirit of pure 80s action cinema. Host(s) Ryan, Dave, Mike

Special bonus episode: Thomas’ Everything But the Kitchen Sink. This episode interrogates Hollywood’s growing tendency to frame films around so-called “counter-narratives”—stories that challenge authority, sympathize with the outsider, and question dominant power structures. But are these films truly radical, or are they simply echoing the language and aesthetics of socialist or Marxist thought without fully...

In this episode of Critique Revolve, we examine the sudden and deeply consequential news that Netflix plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery—a deal that, if approved, would fundamentally reshape the film and television landscape. While Paramount’s competing $108.4 billion bid raises its own ideological and industrial concerns, Netflix’s $82.7 billion move signals something more structural:...

Critique Revolve Presents: Bullet Time – 80s Action RewindA spinoff podcast hosted and curated by Ryan Denton. In this special Patreon-exclusive early preview, Ryan leads a fan-driven discussion of the 1987 action classic starring Dolph Lundgren. This episode dives into the thrills, tropes, and lasting impact of the film, capturing the spirit of pure 80s...

In this episode, we revisit the land of Oz to break down Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated sequel to a film that—much to our surprise—we genuinely loved. But where the first installment offered emotional weight, rich world-building, and a narrative that earned its impact, this sequel falters. The heart may be in the right...

In this episode, we examine Nuremberg (2025), James Vanderbilt’s ambitious yet uneven historical drama that charts psychiatrist Douglas Kelley’s attempt to determine Hermann Göring’s sanity during the Nuremberg Trials. Despite its powerful performances—especially Russell Crowe’s chilling turn as Göring—the film struggles with tonal inconsistency and a fractured identity that undercuts its moral and psychological depth....

In this episode, we dive into Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, starring Ethan Hawke as lyricist Lorenz Hart, the brilliant yet self-destructive half of the legendary songwriting duo Rodgers and Hart. Host(s) Mike, Dave

In this episode, we dive into Black Phone 2 (2025), Scott Derrickson’s follow-up to his 2021 supernatural hit. We explore how the film effectively shifts from the psychological textures of 1970s horror to the visceral slasher aesthetics of the 1980s, expanding its world while maintaining its emotional and supernatural core. From its stylistic evolution to...

In this episode, we dive deep into Anemone (2025), Ronan Day-Lewis’s striking directorial debut starring his father, Daniel Day-Lewis, in his first performance since Phantom Thread. We explore how this psychological drama dissects trauma through performance, aesthetic precision, and arthouse formalism—challenging audiences to engage emotionally and intellectually rather than passively consume. Host(s) Mike, Thomas

As summer 2025 comes to a close, we break down the movie season that was: the highs, the lows, and the box office stories that shaped the year. From breakout hits to high-profile disappointments, we look at how Hollywood’s summer slate measured up — and what it reveals about the industry’s current state. More than...

In this episode, we dive into Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great (2025), a 98-minute drama starring June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Premiering at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard before its September release, the film follows a ninety-year-old widow navigating grief, memory, and belonging in New York City. We unpack Johansson’s...

In this episode, we dive into Him (2025) — directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, and Jamal M. Watson for Monkeypaw Productions. Starring Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, and Tim Heidecker, the film explores the exploitation of youth athletes and the hidden costs associated with the pursuit...

In today’s episode, we plunge into Nobody 2, the wild and bloody sequel that takes Bob Odenkirk’s suburban dad-turned-assassin, Hutch Mansell, on a vacation that explodes—literally. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto and written by Derek Kolstad and Aaron Rabin, this 89-minute adrenaline blast drops the Mansell family into Plummerville, a dilapidated Midwestern town hiding a corrupt...

We break down Fantastic Four—an excellent superhero film that’s fun, full of heart, and proof that simplicity, when grounded in strong structure and resonant themes, can still shine. With some of the best VFX in recent memory, Fantastic Four marks a confident first step for Marvel’s iconic team. Host(s) Michael Flores, Thomas Cowley

In this episode, we dive deep into Eddington (2025), Ari Aster’s latest and most provocative film to date—a 149-minute neo-Western black comedy set against the backdrop of a fictional mayoral standoff in pandemic-era New Mexico. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler, Eddington offers more than just political satire; it’s a Rorschach...

Join us for a lively roundtable discussion where multiple hosts dive into James Gunn’s Superman, the bold foundation for DC’s new cinematic era. Expect heated debates, passionate opinions, and sharply contrasting perspectives as we unpack Gunn’s vision, its impact on the Man of Steel, and what it means for the future of the DC Universe....

If you took every logical flaw, narrative misstep, and character inconsistency from the Jurassic Park franchise, crammed them into one film, stripped away all sense of consequence, intelligence, or accountability—and then dialed the collective IQ of the characters down to single digits—you’d get Jurassic World: Rebirth. A movie so baffling in its execution, it makes...

M3GAN 2.0 is more than just a slick sci-fi thriller—it deepens the franchise’s themes with pressing questions about AI ethics, sentience, and the militarization of empathy. While it’s a different kind of film than the first—more action-heavy and morally reflective—that isn’t a bad thing; the shift allows it to explore broader implications of human-machine relations...

In this episode of Critique Revolve, the team discusses the upcoming summer movie season and whether it could be the one that revitalizes studios and theaters, thanks to a lineup of major blockbusters and strategic counter-programming. Host(s) Bobby Doherty, Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, Dave Sabal

In this episode of Critique Revolve, hosts Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, and Dave Sabal talk about CinemaCon 2025, breaking down the biggest studio announcements, trailer reveals, and industry trends that hint at where Hollywood is headed next. Host(s) Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, Dave Sabal

In this episode of Critique Revolve, hosts Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, and Dave Sabal break down the winners and losers of the 2025 Oscars. From surprising upsets to well-earned victories, they analyze the results, debate the Academy’s choices, and discuss what it all means for the future of cinema. This is part three of a...

In this episode of Critique Revolve, hosts Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, and Dave Sabal break down the 2025 Oscar nominations. From bold predictions to quick reviews of the nominated films, they examine the contenders and debate who deserves the win. This is part two of a three-part Oscar special—don’t miss it! Host(s) Thomas Cowley, Michael...

Critique Revolve Presents: The House of Mystery — a John Constantine and Friends Podcast! A fan show where each episode is dedicated to discussing the infamous chain-smoking magician and his friends. In this episode: a review of James Gunn’s Creature Commandos. Please meet us at the Oblivion Bar for more discussions on Constantine and friends.

In this Critique Revolve episode, the hosts discuss the 2025 Oscar Nominations. This is part 1 of a three-part Oscar special. Host(s) Thomas Cowley, Michael Flores, Dave Sabal

Critique Revolve presents: From the Holodeck. In this episode, the hosts discuss, analyze, and breakdown Star Trek: Section 31.

From Blumhouse and visionary writer-director Leigh Whannell, the creators of the chilling modern monster tale The Invisible Man comes a terrifying new lupine nightmare: Wolf Man. Host(s) Mike, Dave

Join Weird West Radio as we dive into The Pale Door, a 2020 horror-western where a botched heist leads two brothers and their gang into a ghost town haunted by witches. We explore the film’s eerie atmosphere, its mix of family drama and supernatural tension, and the chilling impact of its unsettling villains. Host(s) Mike,...

Join Weird West Radio as we dive into The Pale Door, a 2020 horror-western where a botched heist leads two brothers and their gang into a ghost town haunted by witches. We explore the film’s eerie atmosphere, its mix of family drama and supernatural tension, and the chilling impact of its unsettling villains. Host(s) Mike,...

Conclave is a 2024 mystery-thriller film directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan, based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini. Host(s) Thomas, Mike