Kicking & Streaming

BIIIIIG trigger check on today's episode, lil onions. Lots of themes of body dysmorphia, depression, and self-hatred. The siblings are unpacking one of 2024's most jaw-dropping films, The Substance. Featuring Demi Moore in all her former and current glory alongside a stunning performance by Margaret Qualley as her other self (and Dennis Quaid is here doing his best Vince McMahon impression.) We follow one fading actress' desperate attempt to stay relevant when she buys a black market drug guaranteed to create a better version of the self. Carie is obviously very fascinated and disgusted by the body horror elements while Ross slows down on the body dysmorphia, and both siblings ruminate on the film's visual display of self-hatred, and the violence people do to their bodies to feel better about themselves without grappling with their own perspectives on that self.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!!! 

WOOOOF. Anyone else feeling a little complacent in their relationship, lil onions? That's today's topic de jour. The siblings follow the story of a couple moving from the big city to the middle of East Jesus nowhere where they are beset upon by a mysterious force that compels them to be fused together for life. Ross is befuddled by the lack of McReadiness in the couples' misfortunes, Carie is mystified how a school teacher and out of work musician afforded a house in upstate New York. And the siblings discuss the age old question in many relationships: Do we really love each other, or are we just used to each other? SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

Ross is underwhelmed, lil onions. For our last July coverage, Ross wanted to revisit an old favorite, Clint Eastwood's Absolute Power (1997). Today follows the story of Luther Whitney, a master jewel thief who accidentally witnesses a terrible crime committed by the most powerful man in the world (allegedly). Carie actually finds the movie more entertaining than she remembers, but only when characters aren't speaking. Ross is dismayed again to realize one of his childhood mainstays isn't the boner jam he remembers. And the siblings remark on the batshit bananas plot, and how the ending is unbelievably messy. SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

It's an experiment today, lil onions. This audio comes to us from a test recording of a filmed episode with the help of our lovely friend, Bailey Shelton. Not sure what we're going to do with it just yet, but in the meantime, please enjoy our noise. Today the siblings break down one of the greatest American comedy classics, Eddie Murphy's Coming to America (1988). Eddie Murphy plays multiple roles for the first time in his career in telling the story of a young African prince who comes to America in search of a bride to avoid an arranged marriage. Between Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, Ross can't decide who's cuter. Carie feels sympathetic female rage for the lovely Lisa. And the siblings cannot believe how many warm and fuzzies they have about what is otherwise a fool ass film.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

Happy Pride, lil onions! Raise your hand if you've ever been bullied because you can't dance. Now raise the other hand if it was at the hands of your own cult. That's right, the siblings are finally talking about Cats (1998). Carie and Ross break down the absolute fever dream that is Andrew Lloyd Webber's reimagining of T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. Carie ragebaits Ross by bringing up the disastrous Tom Hooper adaptation. Ross puzzles over the real reason why Grizabella is ostracized from the kitty cat cult. And the siblings reflect on the message of the musical concerning mortality, regret, and grief over what life was like in youth.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

This week, Ross introduces Carie to the absolute delight that is Sister Act (1992), a film about a lounge singer who witnesses a murder and is forced to hide out in a convent of nuns. Ross has a lot of feelings on the arrangements of Sister Mary Clarence's lounge tunes in the church choir. Carie's heart is stolen by a sweet young nun with a surprisingly big voice. And surprisingly, the siblings see the power that Catholic guilt has in taking on the mafia.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Continuing the theme of disturbing animated films, the siblings break down Don Bluth's visual masterpiece, The Secret of NIMH (1982). Ross throughout questions creative diversions from the Robert C. O'Brien novel, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, mostly the introduction of a magic rock that gives a rodent powers. Carie relives the trauma that is the Great Owl, who lives in the scariest tree in the woods. Ross declares that Trump would have supported Jenner's coup, and the siblings remark on why the government wants you illiterate and lazy.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

WHAT DO YOU MEEEEEANNNN there is a cult of appliances in the woods? This week is so core for us, lil onions as we revisit some traumatizing animation. We see characters being dismembered, drowned, crushed to death, IT'S A LOT! but above it all, at least we have toaster, the heart, the soul, our sweet cheese, our good time guy (?) SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

One sequel to rule them all, little onions. This week, we're unpacking one of Ross's cherished faves, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. In a welcomed change of pace from last episode's Spy Kids debacle, the siblings are falling in love all over again with Gary Marshall's adorable expansion on Meg Cabot's characters. There's laughter, there's intrigue, there's Chris Pine. Ross geeks out on the level of detail given to Genovian culture in the film. Carie unironically weeps more than once somehow. And the siblings once again embroil themselves in a film theory that the queen, her bodyguard, and her secretary are in a love triangle.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

Woof. Uhh...wherrrrre to begin? This movie is not what we remember guys. This week the siblings unpack the Spy Kids sequel that is a consistent disappointment. From the bloated CGI to the lazy writing, the eyes keep on rolling. Ross is over the stupidity of the adults in the film. Carie is hurting for the family-forward spirit of the original. And yeah, there's that one cool line, but you might agree that its the singular best thing about it.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

It's too long, lil onions. Ross is so hype this week to talk about one of his favorite albeit middling movies, King Kong (2005). Ross is caught up in the world of the 1930s that pushes a struggling actress to take a job from a rando that involves sailing to the middle of the ocean to an island no one ever comes back from to film a B-movie featuring a primatus colossus. Carie cannot possibly care about the human love story that's in the middle of all that somewhere. And the siblings both have a lot of love for Naomi Watts' uncanny performance as Miss Anne Darrow, the one true love of King Kong's life.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Or How to Lose a Ship in 10 Days. WE'RE BACK, lil onions! After a long hiatus, we're back with some adventure films for you in the month of March. We're kicking off with Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, and the swashbuckling story of Captain Jack Sparrow's journey to reclaim his infamous ship from a crew of undead pirates. Somehow despite our best efforts to avoid Disney, we've accidentally hit the bullseye. Ross is struggles with calling the Isle de Muerte by its name, Carie is gobsmacked by the strength of the CGI 23 years later, and the siblings reflect on how lucky they were to grow up when movies like this came out.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Happy holidays, lil onions! As our gift to you this season, we've got a special extended episode on one of Ross' favorite fantasy films The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe (2005).  There's so much lore here, folks. Carie surprisingly comes to the defense of Edmund Penvensie when he falls for the White Witch's charms. Ross provides a deep dive on the origins of Narnia and how it came to be vis a vi The Magician's Nephew, as well as pointing out a frustrating plot hole regarding Jadis' demise. Also Santa is here? Which makes sense. After all, the Jesus lion is here as well! Thank you all again so much for supporting us this year. We'll be back in March on main feed, but in the meantime, you can still catch us over on our Patreon, which you can find at the link below. Please stay safe, everyone. Take care of yourselves and each other.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! The Chronicles of Narnia (1988) Aslan is so goofy you guys

*Hold on to your butts, lil onions, it's a ridiculous but hilarious ride today. Today, the siblings cringe through a pathetic game of one-upsmanship between two fathers dead set on ruining Christmas for both their families. Ross scrapes together enjoyment for Matthew Broderick while basking in the camp of Danny DeVito and Kristen Chenoweth. Carie can't get over the nonsensical motivations of both fathers, but she should just leave that writer alone, right? Oh, and the reviews, lil onions, you are in for some giggles.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

How embarrassing, lil onions. Today, the siblings are unpacking a comedy of errors, and not even Nancy Meyers can keep them completely hypnotized with her charming writing: It's The Parent Trap (1998). Ross is obsessed with the film's iconic soundtrack and the biconic coupling of Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson. Carie chokes on her rage over parents who are attentive yet somehow don't understand when a child has been replaced. Most of all, the siblings are impressed by the talent of little Lindsay Lohan in the role that brought us all her Macauley Culkin charms.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

If you don't get the title, ask your parents or something. Or grandparents. Anyway, lil onions, this week the siblings are trying to find the humor in two well-meaning young people who set out to have eight children, but end up with A DOZEN. Ross is predictably fawning over Bonnie Hunt while Carie can't stop pointing out how unethical some aspects of this family structure can be. The siblings root for neglected middle child Mark and his toad, Beans while also managing to have at least one tiddlywink of warm and fuzzies in a sea of abject horror.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Forget spooky times this week, lil onions, it's FUSSY TIMES as Ross and Carie go back and forth on Wes Craven's iconic A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Carie has been a longtime fan of these films, and Ross is just now seeing the flagship film for the first time--and he's not impressed. Carie is a sucker for some quality special effects shots while Ross finds the logic of most of the movie somehow ridiculous despite the premise. Robert Englund however stuns as always, and the siblings are low-key obsessed with the body of work that is Heather Langenkamp.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Who's ready for Rear Window Jr.? This week the siblings unpack another old spooky favorite, Monster House (2006). Ever wondered the tortured backstory of the miserable old crank in the neighborhood who shakes his fists as he demands the children "stay off his lawn!"---well here it is. Carie draws some ominous paralells between today's plot and that of another suburban horror starring a dancing clown...Ross refuses to get over the fact that not a single adult ever witnesses this house acting sus, and the siblings remind themselves that the things that seem scariest are often just lonely and in need of support.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

We are finally wrapping up the Disney Renaissance this week, lil onions. This is one of Ross' core favorites, which happens to also be the home to a bulk of the siblings favorite vocal stimmies. Once again, folks are in nature and then the British fuck up everting. But ross also imparts upon us all how we should be exercising our empathy muscle and also being big GAY for the soundtrack. Carie also has a bone to pick with Ross because he finds the animated characters attractive. Any Scandal fans in the chat? sound off in the timeline. PLEASE SUPPORT US ON PATERON!!! 

Sorry for the late upload, but this content merited that. We do have some Ross' history corner, Carie is very passionate about "Colors of the Wind", Ross is deep in the larger war of HOW GOOD WAS JOHN SMITH??, And the siblings are very much on the side of do your own research. We are a bunch of Crackers.  Do not treat this as an avenue for nuance.  SUPPORT US WWON PATREON!!!

Shamelessly long one today, lil' onions. There is simply too much to unpack here in Carie Ann's favorite Disney film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996). Carie dives into the layered lasagna of a film that was definitely made with kids in mind, yet somehow is BARELY child appropriate. Ross applauds the Disney team for walking a very fine line that still manages to point out the hypocrisy of power and religion. Carie also provides several truly disturbing events in the Victor Hugo novel, and the siblings revel in the execution of the film's dichotomy: What makes a monster and what makes a man?  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! (PLEASE?)

WHO PUT THE GLAD IN GLADIATOR!? HER-A-CLES! This week, the siblings are breaking down one of Carie's treasured favorites from the Disney Renaissance, Hercules (1997). Carie's inner Humanities student is rearing it's insufferable head this week for all of the incredibly sophisticated jokes in the script. Ross is having trouble with the mixed salad of Roman and Greek references. He's also predictably uncomfortable and entertained by James Woods as Hades, and Carie once again is testing Ross with her characterization of the film as "biconic." Also, this film did great things for himbos. Where are all of our soft buff men who just want to love us the way we deserve?  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

Closing July out with a little casual Stockholm syndrome paired with some classic Disney music This week, the siblings are unpacking one of Disney's most beloved Renaissance classics, Beauty & the Beast (1991). Ross is concerned about how the movie's message might warp both little boys and girls. Carie fixates on the body horror of suddenly being an object. And the siblings get into the weeds of the fact that Belle was obviously having a quiet Furry panic.  HEY, YOU SUBSCRIBED TO PATREON YET? 

This week we're unpacking one of Carie Ann's most personal Disney experiences, 1998's Mulan. Ross struggles frequently with this film as one that was not marketed towards him, but was very familar with the familial expectations surrounding gender norms. Carie expresses distaste with the character of Mushu in her adult life, as well as the valuable take-away that no one person will ever fit super snugly into the binary boxes of gender norms. The siblings remark on what it means to be a credit to your own family, and also how you will never fit into the binary boxes society has set up.... Related Media:  Xiran Jay Zhao Mulan 1998 Mulan 2020 EazyMandarin | Do the Chinese Really Like 1998 Mulan? ****As always, K&S encourages ALL listeners to seek sources for cultural clarification beyond their own experience!!! Because in this life, LEARNING is your one and only true job! 

We're off this week, lil onions, but we wanted to rerun an ep that fits right in with our summer coverage of Disney Renaissance animated films, featuring Carie's all time fave, Robin Williams! This week, Carie is offending Ross' OCD by choosing a Disney film, Aladdin (1992) despite previous intentions of grouping them together. Carie defends this choice by lauding the amazing performance of her fave, Robin Williams, as the genie. Ross gets frustrated with multiple plot elements that make less than perfect sense, even for a children's film. The siblings get back to the root cause of why the film traumatized Ross in the first place, and then of course the bonus treat of Ross' unsolicited rant about Disney remakes.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON (PLEASE?) Related Media: Middle Eastern Oil Lamps

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY EVERYONE, I GUESS!!! This week we are breaking down our love for one of Disney's most popular properties, The Lion King (1994). The story of a lion cub whose uncle killed his dad and eventually understood "Uh oh, I AM the adult now." Ross is famously a proponent of the music,. Carie highlights how Disney movies did not let us marinate in the emotions prior to this film. And at the end the siblings remark on how at the end, the film is about spirituality and what you feel as a connection to all of us in the circle  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

WHO'S READY TO SEE I2I??? This week, Kicking & Streaming is unpacking one of Carie's long-time favorites A Goofy Movie (1995). A lighthearted, but deeper tale about Goofy's ability to raise a teenager. And yeah we get it, there will be cringe, but there will also be a lot of heart, and to Ross's chagrin, a lot of musical numbers. The siblings reflect on their own teenage experiences and how this move can actually bridge some generational divides. Not to mention there are animatronic possum puppets, animated corpses, and BIGFOOT HIMSELF.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

This week, lil onions, we're kicking off extended mainfeed coverage of Disney films from childhood, or what is more specifically known as the Disney Renaissance. The best place to start is at the beginning with 1989's The Little Mermaid! Carie manages to keep the big baby tears back as they unravel the story of Princess Ariel of Atlantic, a mermaid who wants to be part of the human world. After trading her voice to a sea witch to get the guy, she'll have to work fast to ensure she's not reduced to haunted seaweed as a pawn in some beef between her father and auntie. Carie describes an actual physiological relationship with the music and lyrics of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and Ross recalls a very specific affinity for a King Triton figurine.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

No taglines, no jokes, no laughing matter this week, lil onions. Today we are talking about a very important documentary, One Survivor Remembers, an HBO documentary from 1995 about the harrowing story of Gerda Weissmann, who survived the scourge of Nazi Germany during what were supposed to be the best years of her young life.   While this is normally a comedy podcast, this is a very serious subject, and we encourage you this week to spend some time clicking through the links provided below about the Holocaust, about fascism, and about what you can do as a private citizen to combat the rise of abject evil.  Related Media:  WATCH ONE SURVIVOR REMEMBERS Learn About the Holocaust "First they came..." by Martin Niemöller How to Counter Fascism  5 Ways to Stop Fascism (with Paul Mason)  

This week, we're unpacking a favorite recent classic, Easy A (2010), the horrifically awkward albeit incredibly hilarious tale in which Emma Stone lies to her entire school about trading coitus for gift cards. Carie is big heated about the curse that is "best friend" Rhiannon. Ros has a lot of feelings about Olive's supportive parents. There's some truly unforgettable cringe, Lisa Kudrow unfortunately, and for some goddamn reason, The Scarlet Letter again.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

This one's heavy, y'all. Big trigger warning for SA and the general dread of your freshman year. This week, the siblings unpack the film adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's award winning YA novel, Speak (2004). Kristen Stewart's breakout role has both siblings stunned and weeping, and has Carie feeling nostalgic for her teens. Ross is in love with the symbolism of the tree throughout the film, and praises the execution of the adaptation for its visceral realism.  Resources for survivors National Sexual Assault Hotline National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) Tips for Talking with Survivors of Sexual Assault SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Y'all. we were very unprepared for this. We might have filed this under women's wrongs. BT.U We are following the story of a young woman who was demonically transposed by gross failures of nasty young men, and as a result fed on the blood of young boys. Diablo Cody will always have our hearts. The dialogue in this movie is god tier. The meme potential is god tier. We're so sad we haven't had this movie in our lives. But this is one of those cases where we all have to buckle in and be prepared for everything that is on the way down.... SUPPORT US ON PATERON!!

Happy 2025, Y'ALL. We're opening mainfeed this year with Thelma & Louise (1991). We're following two women who go on a fishing trip to piss off their men, and run afoul of men in general. Carie is only just now experiencing the last 2/3 of the movie for the first time. Ross experiences big feelings for Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. And you know the tissues come out in the end. It's nice to know sometimes these days when a movie is sequel-PROOFED.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!!!

Crack open a Duff beer, have a seat on the couch, and join us for a deep dive into the pilot episode of The Simpsons. Some of the very best in voice acting in your earbuds today, with the siblings wondering if the entire voice cast has signed a life-long binding contract with Fox. Carie is gagged by how different the animation is, Ross is eternally perplexed by the physics of Marge Simpson's hair, and the siblings recall some of their favorite bits from the classic show.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Who's ready to get ZANY? This week, the siblings are unpacking a direct-to-video classic, Wakko's Wish (1999). Carie is having all of the dust blown off of her childhood shelf, Ross is preoccupied with the exact nature of the Warner siblings' taxonomy, and the siblings are reminded by the Wheel of Morality to CHEER UP AND NEVER GIVE UP HOPE... SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

We're blowing dust off our brains this week, lil onions! Today we're revisiting a Sanrio compilation of Christmas-themed cartoons that was regular viewing in childhood. The siblings do NOT act their age as they break down Hello Kitty and Santa's Missing Hat, Keroppi and the Christmas Eve Gift, and an adorably short cartoon about a baby reindeer who wants nothing more than to pull Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. Ross is bopping to the tunes while Carie gets irrationally emotional about a tiny Christmas star who is too smol to light the way for Santa and his reindeer.  Want to watch along? Watch HERE on Youtube.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!!!

The answer is of course, no. Dogs are only as racist as we teach them to be. Welcome, lil onions, to the final stretch of 2024. This month, we're doing low-impact childhood favorites to end our year on a soft place to fall. Up first is our breakdown of a harrowing yet endearing story of a half-wolf dog who wants desperately to be respected by his community. We're breaking down Balto (1995), a story that is rooted in history but very much diverges from fract. Ross is up front and center, ready to call Carie out on her affinity for animated animals. Carie gets emotional throughout about the mission of these doggos, and cannot be consoled ("MOVIES ABOUT DOGS ARE THE BEST!"). The siblings are both plagued by feelings that this movie brings up about other movies or tv in their childhoods that gripped them deeply.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

*Who's ready to listen to Salieri whine some more? It goes off the rails this week, lil onions, as we conclude our two-part coverage of Amadeus (1984). Carie gets really granular with Mozart's infamous Requiem Mass and Mozart's creative process. Ross continues to bemoan Salieri's inability to just enjoy another's success. The siblings also expand on the circumstances of Mozart's demise.  RELATED MEDIA: Great Music Explained SUPPORT US ON PATREON!

The vibes are bad this week, lil onions! Today we begin our two-part coverage of Milos Forman's Amadeus (1984), a WILDLY fictionalized tale of a feud between composers Antonio Sallieri, and his much more beloved contemporary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Ross has the ick about Sallieri from the beginning, and shows a paraphilic fondness of Mozart's actual hair color. Carie takes a turn doing her version of Ross' History Corner with some important asterisks about the film's liberties with musical history. And the siblings are completely OVER Sallieri being theoretically CUCKED, both by Mozart and by God Himself.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

Don't cry for us, lil onions! We promise it's not gonna be a two-hour episode this time! Today is part musical, part Ross' History Corner as we break down the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's dynamic musical biopic about the most enduring public figure in Argentina's history, Evita (1996). Ross (and the character of Che) recount the demonstrably corrupt way Eva Duarte became the center of Argentine ideology and iconography through her marriage to Colonel Juan Peron in the mid-20th century. Carie can't actually believe that she's BORED by one of her favorite genres, movie musicals. Not to mention the siblings always tucking their hair behind their ear about the everything that is Antonio Banderas.  PLEASE SUPPORT US ON PATREON! 

It's a long one....maybe the longest we've ever had. But it's important. Today the siblings are unpacking Alan Moore's dense and almost impossible-to-adapt, V For Vendetta (2005). While the source material is gross, Ross is still here for the vendetta in question. Like to the poitn where the Secret Service might show up on Carie's doorstep but who knows. And the siblings are constantly aware of the world that might be tomorrow...and what will that bring? I do not know what to say. Just take care of yourselves and each other. 

It's big core this week, lil onions. We are ending Spookaween right with Beetlejuice (1988), a hilariously dark and campy film about a bioexorcist who helps a recently deceased couple expel the living from their Connecticut farm house. Ross is hair-on-fire excited to talk about how Delia Deets is both the moment and the problem, Carie is here for the craftsmanship of a Tim Burton production, and the siblings are ready to have a dance party for the Harry Belafonte moment of this film. And don't forget, the siblings will be reviewing the sequel to this movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) later this month on PATREON!  SUPPORT US ON PATREON!   

There's no ifs ands or buts about it this week, lil onions. James Wan just really wanted to do the Amityville Horror and didn't care very much if it would be clocked by viewers like you. But more importantly, James Wan's spectacular fan service for Ed and Lorraine Warren are on full display this week as we cover The Conjuring (2013). Carie is entirely caught up in Ed Warren's crimes against women, Ross is predictably in love with the music, and the siblings are forever living in the moment when they went to see this in the theater with MOM

Claustrophobics need not apply this week, lil onions! We're breaking down one of Carie's all-time favorite horror films, The Descent (2005). We follow the journey of a group of female spelunkers as the traverse an unknown cave system and disturb the ancient horrors within. Carie is overwhelmed by the physical display of badassitude on behalf of the all-female cast, Ross is on the Juno For Death 2005 campaign for the entire film, and the siblings discuss how the film's two different endings impact the overall narrative.   

Better late than never, right lil onions? This week, we're breaking down Johnathan Demme's thriller classic, The Silence of the Lambs (1991). We follow junior FBI agent in training, Clarice Starling, through her journey to become one of the "big boys" in capturing one of the most notorious fictional serial killers, Buffalo Bill. Ross has all the feelings about Jodie Foster's performance as Clarice Starling, as well as the production team for doing this subject justice. Carie is super overwhelmed by the aggressive close-up shots and the narrative dynamic between Clarice and Hannibal the Cannibal. There is also some light discourse on the transphobia of this movie, but please visit the sources in the related media, bc the siblings are for sure not qualified to discuss them in depth.  Related Media: 30 years ago, The Silence of the Lambs added to cinema's trans legacy whether it meant to or not Understanding Silence of the Lambs’ complicated cultural legacy 30 years in, The Silence Of The Lambs’ Jame Gumb still deserves better

This is a long one, lil onions, but we could just not do a two-parter. We cannot be prolonging this!!! Because this week, we are unpacking Emerald Fennel's extremely disturbing, one of a kind thriller, Saltburn (2023). The siblings ride the roller coaster of the film following protagonist, Oliver Quick, from Oxford University to the mysterious summer estate of Saltburn to spend the summer with his new friend, Felix. Moment to moment, you can't be sure what happens next, and it's disconcerting. Ross can't get over the levels of depravity characters will abide, Carie is caught up in the ridiculous depth of the bathshit narrative, and the siblings are once again requesting emotional damages from the film's production team. 

Ross' barn door is off its hinges this week as we break down one of his top ten favorite films, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010). Black Swan follows the journey of Nina Sayers who has lofty aspirations of dancing both the Black and White Swans in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, but the part may turn out to be more than she can handle. Ross goes gaga for all the symbolism baked into the crust of the film, Carie is big icked by all of the disgusting body horror as Nina makes her transformation, and the siblings are in awe of the Oscar-winning performance that gave Natalie Portman a seat at the big kids' table. 

Continuing with our theme of thrillers for Ross' birthday month, we cover one of his favorites, Flightplan (2005), the movie about how it is in fact possible to lose your child on an airplane. Jodie Foster stars as engine propulsion engineer, Kyle Pratt, who is distraught to awaken to find her daughter missing while on a double decker airplane. Prepare to be gaslit, both on Kyle's behalf and as an audience. Ross fawns over the tone the movie sets up from the jump, Carie gets super jazzed by the fim's catharsis, and the siblings are in collective awe at the amount of airplane specs there are. 

What do you get when you combine Nicholas Cage, solar flares, and a meticulous tabulation of every major disaster over the past 50 years? Alex Proyas' Knowing (2009). What starts off as an interesting tale about a little girl who could see the future slowly but surely descends into a otherworldly mess when Nicholas Cage and his Macaulay of a Culkin child team up with Rose Byrne to solve the mystery of a list of numbers left in a time capsule by her mother. Ross defends the movie until he can't, Carie is actually surprised to be feeling things for Nick Cage, and the siblings are once again poised to consider the concept of what the afterlife may actually mean.  SUPPORT US ON PATREON! We're already into our West Wing MS scandal arc coverage, and it's honestly worth it just to hear Ross be mad. 

HI LIL ONIONS! No new episode this week, but we are rerunning an old episode on the pilot of Aaron Sorkin and NBC's The West Wing ahead of our PATREON coverage of the multiple sclerosis scandal arc of the show. Revisiting this episode four years later has left us with one refrain: My how the tables turn...The optimism we feel in this episode has by now turned to disillusionment and despair. But we hope you enjoy this rebroadcast and encourage you to check out our coverage of the MS West Wing arc over on Patreon. We'd love to see more of you over there. Please support us at the link below!  SUPPORT US ON PATREON PLEASE!  Original description: This week we take a long-winded stab at covering television. Our resident West Wing scholar, Ross, is here to tell us how this show came to be, how it stands up to history, and the craft of Aaron Sorkin. Carie is mostly here to fawn over Robe Lowe.  Related Media: The West Wing Weekly;