Untitled Film Project Podcast

We've been fans of stand-up comic Joe Kwaczala since we saw his Comedy Central half-hour special back in 2019. So when we found out he was doing a movie about stand-up -- in the mockumentary style -- we knew we had to talk with him about it. Hear about how AMERICAN COMIC came together, the hustle behind getting into film festivals all over the country and how he wants it to be the SPINAL TAP for comedians.

There is zero reason this movie should work. It's an hour and 40 minutes of dudes walking. But, holy smokes, what a movie! The performances are great, the concept is great, the drama is great and the finale is great. THE LONG WALK has earned its place among 2025's best! So let's talk about it...

We were excited to see THE NAKED GUN being remade, but we could never shake the feeling of "Can they do that in 2025???" So let's talk about it...

We've heard so much about KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, so we gave it a watch. The result? Middle-aged men raving about a film aimed at a younger audience. If that doesn't speak volumes...

WEAPONS is one of the most talked-about movies of the summer, so we went to see what all the hype was about. Needless to say, we were impressed. Were you? Let's talk about it!

Adam Sandler is back -- as a part of his big new deal with streaming giant Netflix -- as one of his most beloved characters of all-time: Happy Gilmore. Basically, 30 years after the original comedy classic, Sandler and a laundry list of cameo appearances try to recapture the funny, the charm, and the enjoyment of the first installment in HAPPY GILMORE 2. Did they do it? Let's talk about it...

After numerous attempts to bring the Fantastic Four to the screen, have we finally got a major movie release that does these legendary characters justice? Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, The Thing, and Human Torch have consistently been some of the richest characters in the Marvel pantheon, but have gotten an absolute shaft when turned into a major motion picture. Let's talk about The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland team up to bring you the latest installment of the 28 Days franchise. Whether you're a fan of the existing movies, the horror genre, the zombie genre, or a good ol' summer blockbuster, you'll come down on various sides of the fence with 28 YEARS LATER. But one thing everyone will come away with is that Alfie Williams is a star in the making.

There's been a lot of hype -- like, too much hype -- surrounding James Gunn and his attempt at resurrecting the DC Universe. First up? SUPERMAN. We're pleased to say that it's a strong foundation for the incredible catalogue of characters that DC Comics has in its portfolio.

About two years after we supposedly got the final installment of the JURASSIC PARK/WORLD franchise, we get yet another. JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH is full of great performers such as Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend -- as well as a great performance by the young Audrina Miranda -- but the characters they portray are one-dimensional, cookie-cutter characters that prove it's time for this film franchise to go extinct.

We were surprised by the first M3GAN and that continues through this one! While the first movie was "a comedy masquerading as horror," M3GAN 2.0 is a comedy masquerading as action. Kudos to Blumhouse for knowing what worked about the first installment and going back to the well!

With incredible cinematography, a thriller soundtrack and score and full IMAX screen viewing for the entirety of the film, F1® THE MOVIE is what a summer blockbuster should be.

With the initial questionable casting of Ana de Armas, to the notion that this was purely a money grab, BALLERINA takes its place among the best JOHN WICK films in the entire franchise!

If you're like us, tired of the endless barrage of unoriginal sequels and spinoffs, Disney and Pixar give us something new with ELIO.

We are so tired of Disney turning its animated classics into live-action films. Yes, JUNGLE BOOK was good, but most of the other attempts (ALADDIN, LITTLE MERMAID, LION KING, etc.) were average at best. Don't look now, but they've got something here with LILO & STITCH! So let's talk about it!

Tom Cruise is back -- for the 8th time -- as Ethan Hunt as the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise comes to a close (??) in THE FINAL RECKONING. In an attempt to connect the entire franchise in one epic climax, this direct sequel to 2023's DEAD RECKONING, features loads of fan service for the die-hard M:I fan... but, unfortunately, will leave average movie fans feeling completely lost and confused. Let's talk about it!

We range from Marvel superfan to Marvel consumer... and we all loved THUNDERBOLTS*! Featuring an incredible ensemble cast of Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, THUNDERBOLTS* "brings Marvel back to center" and we couldn't be happier. Now let's hope they don't screw it up! Let's talk about the first summer blockbuster of 2025...

Writer and director Ryan Coogler has cemented himself as one of this generation's greatest filmmakers. SINNERS is a feast for the senses, bringing a fresh, gloriously rich take on the horror movie genre. So let's talk about it...

If you took laughter, fear, jump scares, mystery, mythical creatures, and put 'em all in a blender, you'd have this movie. DEATH OF A UNICORN is a dark comedy in every sense. And it's weird. Like... weird. So let's talk about it...

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND stars Tim Key, Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan, with Basden and Key having written the script. So how did this idea of a folk duo being hired by a rich guy for a private show on his secluded island come about? Let's talk about it...

Jack Black turns it up to 11...and it's perfect! A MINECRAFT MOVIE had us terrified after the first trailer dropped last year, but -- wait for it -- we were pleasantly surprised with the finished product. There are Minecraft video game fans worldwide, and it's pretty clear they're in love with this movie. Let's talk about it...

A MINECRAFT MOVIE has one, SNOW WHITE has one, BARBIE had one, DUNE: PART TWO had a famous one... but, if you could go back in time and buy a popcorn bucket, what movie would it be for.... and what would it look like? Let's talk about it...

Forget the controversy surrounding DISNEY'S SNOW WHITE. Did this movie even need to be made? Much has been made about Rachel Zegler's comments about the original SNOW WHITE, fueling controversy. But why judge it before you've seen it? Let Disney's live-action remake of SNOW WHITE earn your hate. Let's talk about it...

A suspense thriller, Mimi Cave's HOLLAND is a little slow to start but worth investing in the third act. With Nicole Kidman at the helm, you would think this would've gotten a theatrical release, but it went straight to Prime Video. Let's talk about it...

Director Bong Joon Ho's newest film, MICKEY 17, sees Robert Pattinson repeatedly play the title role of Mickey. At the same time, he learns to be an Expendable during a space exploration mission. Is it too weird for everyday audiences? Let's talk about it...

Director Steven Soderbergh has given us some incredibly fun (and well-made) films over the past few decades. Everything from OCEAN'S ELEVEN to ERIN BROCKOVICH to TRAFFIC to MAGIC MIKE, Soderbergh's routine leaves audiences cheering in one fashion or another, with BLACK BAG, that holds true. With an incredible cast of Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris and Regé-Jean Page, Soderbergh and writer David Koepp create a soon-to-be classic spy thriller. So let's talk about it...

We're thrilled to have spent some time with the director of the new black comedy film RIFF RAFF, Dito Montiel. He spoke with us about how the film came together, whether it's intimidating to work with living legends like Bill Murray and how Pete Davidson reminded him of the late great John Cazale. RIFF RAFF hits theaters on February 28, 2025, so let's talk about it...

Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory wrote a book called The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love. So when filmmaker and actor Peter Facinelli (Twilight, Nurse Jackie, Can't Hardly Wait) was approached to make it into a film, he had quite the journey.

We all sat here on this very podcast and said THE WILD ROBOT would be on our Music City Film Critics Association ballot for Best Picture.... and then FLOW came along.

In celebration of Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary, we were arguing one day about the best sketches of all time. At some point, we realized this was an episode! So we halted the discussion, did some research, built our "big boards," and held an SNL Fantasy Draft! That's right... we have been hired by an unknown future streaming company to comb all 50 years of SNL and create the best possible compilation episodes of all time! And with the first pick in the Untitled SNL Draft...

We are massive Saturday Night Live fans. We've probably seen every single sketch that's ever aired. So, in celebration of SNL50, these are the best sketches of all time!

We've been rooting for Anthony Mackie for a while now. His take on Captain America is exactly what the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs and, quite frankly, what the world needs. Making their debuts in BRAVE NEW WORLD, Harrison Ford and Giancarlo Esposito are incredible additions to the MCU, but the movie as a whole? Well... it could've been better. Let's talk about it.

It's not for everybody, but if you love movie-making and/or classic horror, you'll absolutely love Robert Eggers' NOSFERATU. Lily-Rose Depp is tremendous as Ellen Hutter and the rest of the cast get their turns to shine, as this masterpiece in classical horror will leave you talking for weeks! Let's talk about it...

Saturday Night Live has been a staple for all of us. This year, the late-night institution is celebrating its 50th season, so we thought, why not honor SNL with a review of Jason Reitman's amazing comedy film SATURDAY NIGHT? The original cast of Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, and John Belushi are played by near-no-name actors Ella Hunt, Emily Fairn, Kim Matula, Lamorne Morris, Dylan O'Brien, Cory Michael Smith, and Matt Wood, respectively. SATURDAY NIGHT received the top honor for Best Ensemble Cast by the Music City Film Critics' Association awards, and...

THE BRUTALIST has incredible, award-nomination-worthy pieces. The cinematography is outstanding, Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce are superb and there's a perfectly timed intermission... but that doesn't mean it's entertaining. Whether you liked THE BRUTALIST or not, let's talk about it...

Mark Wahlberg is an incredibly talented actor. But he's done both good movies and paycheck movies. FLIGHT RISK has potential, but, in the end, it's a paycheck movie. Good for him but bad for the audience. Let's talk about it...

The Golden Globes have been given out, the Oscar nominations have been released...basically, it's award season! As members of the Music City Film Critics Association, we're breaking down the best in film of 2024. What do you think was the best film? What movie deserves all the awards? Is there a film that was snubbed? Let's talk about it!

Entertainment Weekly put out their Top 20 Christmas movies of all time, and while we take issue with a lot of their rankings, that's not the point of this episode. Today's episode is a game... let's take the Top 20 Christmas movies and play SMASH or PASS!

Director of the new action movie DIRTY ANGELS, Martin Campbell, joined the Untitled Film Project Podcast recently to talk about his new film, working with Eva Green again and his humble beginnings in film.

When Disney announced they were making a MOANA show for streaming, it was an interesting premise. But when they then announced they were making the show into a movie, it was even more interesting. How far along in the process were they before the pivot? Would it work? Was it worth it? So, let's talk about it.