Brunch

“Maestro,” from director Bradley Cooper, is a biopic of Leonard Bernstein. It stars Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan and is the first time a movie has ever been about the life of a musician. With a 79, it has the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of any of the Best Picture noms and also carries an audience score of 59. “Maestro” runs two hours and nine minutes. 

It is nominated for seven Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor - Bradley Cooper, Best Actress - Carey Mulligan, Best Original Screenplay - Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Sound.

Written and directed by former Gawker editor Cord Jefferson in his feature directorial debut, “American Fiction” tells the story of a frustrated writer whose satire of modern black books gets taken seriously by liberal white people. It has a 94 on Rotten Tomatoes with an audience score of 96, and runs one hour and 57 minutes. 

“American Fiction” sits eighth in betting odds among Best Picture nominees at +8000. It is nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor - Jeffrey Wright, Best Supporting Actor - Sterling K. Brown, Best Adapted Screenplay - Cord Jefferson and Best Original Score - Laura Karpman.

'The Zone of Interest' is a Holocaust drama about a Nazi commandant’s family living next to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Though the death that surrounds this idyllic home is not shown, frequent reminders of the atrocities juxtaposed with the family’s cold demeanor make for a squeamish one hour and 45 minutes. “The Zone of Interest” carries a 93 on Rotten Tomatoes with an audience score of 78. 

It is nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director - Jonathan Glazer, Best Adapted Screenplay - Jonathan Glazer, Best International Feature Film, Best Sound 

'Oppenheimer' (written and directed by Christopher Nolan) stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr. and many more Hollywood stars.

It is the heavy favorite to win Best Picture at the Oscars and is nominated for a total of 13 academy awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor - Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr., Best Supporting Actress - Emily Blunt, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score - Ludwig Göransson, Best Production Design and Best Sound.

'The Holdovers,' directed by Alexander Payne, is the warmest and nicest movie. It has a runtime of 2 hours and 13 minutes and the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of the Best Picture nominees at 97.

It is nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor - Paul Giamatti, Best Supporting Actress - Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. 

Past Lives, Celine Song's directorial debut, is a gourmet romantic comedy about two childhood friends who re-enter one another’s lives as adults. It is nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

'Killers of the Flower Moon', from director Martin Scorcese, is a Western crime drama based on the nonfiction book of the same name. It is nominated for 10 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress - Lily Gladstone, Best Supporting Actor - Robert De Niro, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song, Best Original Score - Robbie Robertson, Best Production Design, Best Editing and Best Cinematography. 

Anatomy of a Fall (Anatomie d'une chute), from director Justine Triet, is a French legal drama in which a writer is placed on trial for her husband’s death. It is nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress - Sandra Hüller, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing.

'Barbie,' from director Greta Gerwig, is a fantasy comedy starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling based on the iconic doll from Mattel. It is nominated for eight Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor - Ryan Gosling, Best Supporting Actress - America Ferrara, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and two nominations for Best Original Song: I’m Just Ken by Mark Robson and Andrew Wyatt, and What Was I Made For by Billy Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.

'Poor Things' is an absurd coming-of-age film from Yorgos Lanthimos that stars Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo. It's about a lady who gets a brain transplant done by a super cool scientist and then gets real good at sex.

There's a new holiday classic on the block.

Synopsis: A curmudgeonly teacher at a prestigious boarding school spends the holidays with a frustrated student and a grieving colleague in a reunion for Paul Giamatti "Sideways" director Alexander Payne.

The boys review FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S starring Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard and Vanessa Lail.

Synopsis (not written by DJ): A troubled security guard begins working at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the late shift at Freddy's won't be so easy to make it through.

The boys now have a hockey show. Discussing its development, the launch and how it affects BRUNCH moving forward.

We review Martin Scorsese's new movie, 'Killers of the Flower Moon.'

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone, 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is a western crime drama that follows the suspicious murders of wealthy indigenous people in Osage County, Oklahoma during the 1920s after oil is found beneath their land.

(00:00) DraftKings

(00:52) Intro/Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie

(04:29) 'Killers of the Flower Moon' review

(27:07) Letterboxd scores

DJ suspects a straw man in the Taylor Swift discourse. Matty Healy apologizes. A faction of Boygenius fans turn problematic. An announcement about immediate changes to the show's format.

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(00:00) Taylor's NFL

(11:22) Matty Healy

(27:59) Toxic fans

(41:40) Show update

In a rare Friday episode, we wrap up what's been a crazy week of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce nonsense. As Pete puts it, we don't care... but we are interested. Plus, trying to find an apparently abandoned Leo project and... getting into anime?!?!?!

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DJ goes to the movies and no one there likes him. The full version of the "Cheers" theme song is problematic, which leads us to an exploration of theme song sadness. Pete finally sees Theater Camp and the boys sing its praises. Plus, printer rankings.

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(00:00) Sugar and printers

(07:20) Theme song sadness

(20:45) Movie theater hates DJ

(27:14) Misc. movies

(37:17) 'Theater Camp'

At long last, both bad boys have seen Past Lives and love it. The boys recap a fun day at Idle Hands where Pete possibly broke the dunk tank record and DJ performed the Eras Tour. Olivia Rodrigo is back with a new album. Should DJ apply for USA Today's Taylor Swift reporter job as a bit?

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The boys get ready for this weekend's Oktoberfest at Idle Hands, where DJ will be playing music and Pete will be in the dunk tank. DJ hates a guy in his fantasy football league. Between the two hosts, the podcast has seen Past Lives, Theater Camp and Bottoms. Are Taylor Swift and Talking Heads charging too much for their movies? Pete bought a Taylor's Version.

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(00:00) Summer + hats

(08:10) Idle Hands Oktoberfest

(31:10) Driving and fantasy football

(51:35) Movies and movie texts

(01:10:07) Taylor Swift + Talking Heads movie prices

(01:13:46) Pete bought a Taylor's Version

Zach Bryan is all over the TL. Who is he? Michael Fassbender is back. DJ sees Gran Turismo and is ready to still not play video games probably. Just weeks after the screaming Taylor Swift fan made waves, an Adele fan has entered the chat, but with an interesting twist that has the boys charmed.

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(0:00) Zach Bryan and industry plants

(7:57) Taylor Lautner news

(12:11) The apostrophe/being lost

(25:26) Bounceback Fassbender

(30:36) Gran Turismo!!!

(41:25) Another screaming fan concert-versy

(46:28) Bruce Springsteen concert

Trying to make sense of Jason Aldean's skinny legs. Pete is back into golf again. DJ has a run-in with law enforcement. We review the rated-R dog comedy 'Strays.' You know about all these states in America?

(00:00) Intro

(02:10) Jason Aldean’s legs

(05:40) Golf

(09:59) DJ’s run-in with the law

(14:54) ‘Strays’ review

(23:30) ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ & raunchy comedies

(29:39) Provincetown & Maine

(32:20) Baseball talk

(40:15) Geography talk

(48:20) Fantasy football & Lactaid

Sports talk turns into a therapeutic heart-to-heart. Pete finally figures out how Letterboxd works. Rachel Zegler is pissing people off on her Snow White press tour. How loud are you allowed to scream at a Taylor Swift concert?

(00:00) Sports/footy talk

(15:10) Heart-to-heart

(29:40) Movie talk

(41:55) Rachel Zegler

(47:20) Taylor Swift concert etiquette

It's a double feature as the bad boys review Dreamin' Wild and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Instagram has come for Pete with the Paramore videos. DJ is ordering oatmeal in restaurants.

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(0:00) Intro/Midsommar

(3:58) Directors/ice cream

(10:35) More Paramore vids

(18:19) 'Dreamin Wild' review

(31:00) Oatmeal

(43:43) 'TMNT: Mutant Mayhem' review

(54:54) Bruce Springsteen

We have gone vi-reel again & our algorithms are leading us to strange places. Is Instagram in bed with Hayley Williams and Paramore? The 'Saw X' trailer is out. We review the intensely hyped A24 horror movie 'Talk To Me.' A beloved establishment in Boston is under siege by a vicious gang of seagulls.

(00:00) Reels/algorithms

(14:55) Hayley Williams/Paramore

(22:42) 'Saw X'

(31:19) 'Talk To Me' review

(41:17) Seagull terrorists

(52:15) 'Oppenheimer' rewatch

(57:05) Sinead O’Connor & Paul Reubens

It's a unique time in pop culture, as everybody is actually going to the movies and seeing two whole films. We review both 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' and bring in Ellen Fleming to discuss the past few days of Barbenheimer mania.

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(0:00) Intro

(1:27) Pete not fun

(4:37) 'Barbie' review

(18:08) 'Oppenheimer' review

(28:27) Barbie + Oppenheimer with Ellen Fleming

(56:14) Mariah Carey

Did DJ buzz his head for content? Did Pete watch all the Mission: Impossible movies? Country music is a PR nightmare and we're going to put a challenge to the test. A case for July being the worst month.

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(00:00) Hair/pop punk

(12:41) Country music PR

(25:18) Jason Aldean

(34:54) Mission: Impossible

(41:31) 'The Bear' discourse

Chris Witaske makes his long-awaited return to the show to discuss his work on The Bear, shining in Progressive commercials and all things Chicago. Also, there's a Twitter account documenting outrageous Beach Boys moments.

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(0:00) Intro

(9:31) Crazy-ass Beach Boys moments

(26:13) Chris Witaske joins the show

(44:22) Witaske on commercials

(1:03:55) Mission Impossible initial thoughts

What were we supposed to be doing July 3? Twitter has competition right when it is chunking it like never before. Olivia Rodrigo has new music and so does The Japanese House. Will MUNA ever be cool again? We find the biggest problem with spaceships and finally dive into Season 2 of "The Bear."

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(00:00) The weekday before July 4

(08:00) Twitter and Bluesky

(14:42) New Olivia Rodrigo song

(21:18) The Japanese House/Music

(27:41) Barbie/Oppenheimer

(30:25) Dead & Company recap

(33:19) Spaceships

(42:53) The Bear Season 2

(54:46) The Bear S2 guest star draft

A Jon Hamm casting bombshell. Defending a maligned superhero movie. Proposal ettiquette. Did Pete miss DJ's birthday? Who knows?

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(0:00) Jon Hamm bombshell

(5:14) Jon Hamm bombshell

(8:31) Jon Hamm bombshell

(18:36) Jon Hamm bombshell

(24:07) Jon Hamm bombshell

(27:44) Birthdays

(38:46) Dead and Company outfit preview

(45:37) Jon Hamm bombshell

Pete's Fleetwood Mac kick continues. DJ feels insane about the new Spider-Verse movie. He also feels bad about accidentally stealing. The boys discuss the excellent BlackBerry movie starring Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton. An incentive is offered to get DJ to watch Black Mirror.

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(0:00) Pete's house-flipping video game

(8:15) Across the Spider-Verse overrated?

(14:16) Crime/Haircut

(29:51) Pete's cleaning nightmare

(38:19) Ted Lasso

(44:49) Blackberry

(54:17) Apple/Black Mirror

Pete has new tattoos and is out on jeans. Swifties are officially on board with the podcast and DJ's cool shirts. We discuss the finales of Succession and Barry and make new staged clips for Succession and Ted Lasso. A hectic week in basketball is over. Pete is on a Fleetwood Mac kick.

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(0:00) Tattoos/new fans

(9:00) Clothing update

(15:25) Succession/Barry

(53:46) Staged podcast clips

(1:02:31) Basketball

(1:14:33) Fleetwood Mac

Shirts lead to compliments, which lead to an accidental public theft. A Succession recap begs the question: Are we putting too much pressure on penultimate episodes of TV shows these days? We go through the setlist of "The Eras Tour" and break down a concert we did not attend.

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(0:00) Compliments and chaos

(6:42) Succession

(21:37) Barry/Dave/White Men Can't Jump

(30:10) Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

(56:04) The algorithm

Not to brag, but Verizon's CMO is dunzo. Swifties are teaming up with DJ. We review Ben Affleck's latest film, 'Hypnotic' and discuss a dark but beautiful Martin Scorcese interview.

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(0:00) Verizon CMO steps down

(9:08) Taylor Swift latest

(28:04) 'Hypnotic' review

(39:17) Martin Scorcese quote

We as a society are too mean to people who stand when the plane lands. What happened to Ted Lasso, and Verizon for that matter? Taylor Swift and Matty Healy are reportedly dating. What's up with Ed Sheeran? DJ sees Beau is afraid and we can't wait for the Blackberry movie.

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(00:00) Airplane standers

(12:24) Ted Lasso/Verizon

(22:19) Swift and Healy

(26:26) Basic math supercut

(30:00) Sheeran

(43:46) Beau is Afraid

(47:35) Blackberry

Will this writers' strike have the same impact on television as it did in 2007? Smokey Robinson's new album is quite erotic for someone 83 years old. DJ randomly fell asleep for 17 hours. Houndmouth plays a massive show in Portland, Maine. 'Barry' might be saving its best season for last.

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(00:00) TV writers go on strike

(17:51) Smokey Robinson 'Gasms'

(23:27) DJ's scary sleep

(35:01) Houndmouth love

(49:46) NHL playoffs

(55:31) 'Barry' Season 4

(01:01:38) 'Succession'

The Hamburglar has re-emerged and McDonalds is using him as a distraction from the bigger news. Pete accidentally bought "specific" edibles. DJ gets called "short" but also "Musical Philip Seymour Hoffman." We once again get to discuss a brilliant "Succession" episode while celebrating the return of "Barry." Finally, actor Matt Maher joins the show to talk 'Air' and his longtime friendship with Ben Affleck & Matt Damon.

(00:00) Hamburglar returns

(09:54) This weekend in fun

(16:39) Stanley Cup Playoffs 

(25:47) SquareSpace ad

(28:00) DJ’s new jersey & height

(33:40) “Musical Philip Seymour Hoffman”

(37:28) “Succession” discussion

(42:37) “Barry” discussion

(46:49) Matt Maher interview

The children are establishing dominance at Starbucks again. A monumental episode of "Succession" has the world raving. The boys are cooking up some hockey projects that will soon be debuted. DJ releases new music with a fun track called "Baseball Manager." Finally, a review of 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' and its big Brunch Score.

(00:00) Office hours

(09:16) Succession (Spoilers)

(17:40) Babbel ad

(21:30) Succession cont. (Spoilers)

(39:40) Hockey update

(44:22) Baseball talk

(48:46) “Baseball Manager” music video

(54:47) 'Super Mario Bros.' review

Has Pete been messing with DJ's podcast shoes? The Barbie trailer has dropped and Ben Affleck has yet another movie coming next month. A "fun fact*" leads to a discussion about the current state of CVS. "Tetris" on Apple TV is a great and wild time. A particular reddit page makes one of the bad boys crawl out of their skin. We discuss our proudest harmless lies. Update on Pete getting into the Beatles: He is listening to another classic artist and that's no cap. Finally, our full, spoiler-free review of "Air."

(00:00) PODCAST SHOES UPDATE

(08:55) 'BARBIE' TRAILER REACTION & NEW AFFLECK MOVIE

(17:15) FUN FACT ABOUT CVS

(20:48) 'TETRIS' REVIEW

(27:48) THE RANCH ADDICT

(34:20) PROUDEST HARMLESS LIES

(41:54) PETE GETS INTO CLASSIC ARTIST

(50:46) - 'AIR' REVIEW

DJ is alarmed when he realizes he wishes he had a clone to help him with stuff. Pete wants the same but so he can play more video games. With Ben Affleck and Matt Damon telling a story about sharing a bank account, DJ and Pete agree they share an emotional bank account. "It’s Monday and People are Pissed" has found new life. A complimentary discussion about Will deFries yields a great business idea for Washed Media. We check in on the new seasons of Succession and Ted Lasso. 

Everything Everywhere All at Once cleans up at the Oscars, while The Banshees of Inisherin is shut out. We react to the whole show, discuss some of our favorite looks and give a spoiler-free review of Scream VI.

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BRUNCH gives its Oscars preview in a special video episode that contains bits, songs, full-fledged category breakdowns and betting tips.   

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A bonus episode...for everyone! Chris Rock's newest standup special finally addresses the Will Smith slap, but was it worth the wait? "The Last Of Us" gives us another big Ellie episode but ramps up the violence. "Your Honor" takes another big turn but makes us realize a major plot point was not initially what we thought it was.

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Tár, directed by Todd Field and starring Cate Blanchett, centers on a successful conductor whose off-stage decisions leave her at constant risk of perhaps an overdue fall from grace. It is nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress.

Directed by Edward Berger, 'All Quiet On The Western Front' is an adaptation of the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. It tells the story of a teenage soldier who joins the German army during World War 1, with the film going back and forth between Paul’s experience as a soldier and Germany’s armistice negotiations with France. It is up for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Written and directed by Ruben Östlund, 'Triangle of Sadness' is a black comedy that follows a young couple incapable of being in a proper relationship...among other things. An experience on a luxury cruise proves their shortcomings can hardly be held against them by the veteran upper class.

'Top Gun: Maverick' is the sequel to 1986's 'Top Gun' and sees Tom Cruise return as Pete Mitchell as he is tasked with leading a group of Navy pilots -- including the son of his fallen best friend, Goose. This ragtag group of pilots must learn to become a team and fly fast if they want to defeat America's arch nemesis...the bad guys.

'Women Talking,' from director Sarah Polley, is about the women of a Mennonite colony in 2010 who have been drugged and raped by the men of their community. When their attackers are arrested, the women have two days to decide what they will do: stay and do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. It is up for two Academy Awards, including Best Picture.