Seeing And Believing With Wade Bearden & Kevin Mclenithan

Wade and Kevin round out their Oscar coverage with a review of the final remaining Best Picture nominee: Emerald Fennell's scathing Promising Young Woman. Starring Carey Mulligan as a vigilante of unconventional methods, the film takes dead aim at sexual predators, their enablers, and the culture that empowers both groups. The guys also turn their attention to the upcoming ceremony and offer their picks for what will win, what should win, and the surprises of an unusual year for filmgoing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oscar season may be long over, but the Oscars themselves are just peeking over the horizon. Wade and Kevin catch up with one of the Best Picture nominees that eluded them at the end of 2020: Florian Zeller's film adaptation of his own play The Father. Featuring Anthony Hopkins as an elderly man dealing with dementia and Olivia Colman as his long-suffering daughter, the film pairs its melodrama with slippery filmmaking that draws the audience into the protagonist's world, causing us to question our perceptions just as he does. Visit the Seeing & Believing Patreon page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the coming of spring, there's a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, which means two things: movie theaters are becoming an option once again, and blockbusters are being released to take advantage of them. One of the most anticipated of the season so far is Adam Wingard's follow-up to Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs. Kong, which pits the titular beasts against each other in a monster mash of epic proportions. Wade is back in the hosting chair to review the film with Kevin, as they examine whether the film delivers the giant-monster goods as well as whether it is successful in other areas. Break out the "Team Godzilla" and "Team Kong" t-shirts and get ready for a huge episode of Seeing & Believing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not every day that a franchise's fanbase is able to will a movie into existence, but that's exactly the rare occurrence that is under consideration on this week's episode. With Wade away from the hosting chair, Kevin is joined by Detroit critic Chris Williams to discuss Zack Snyder's Justice League (not to be confused with its predecessor, 2017's Justice League). After the 2017 film saw director Zack Snyder exit the project due to a family tragedy and Joss Whedon come on board to complete it, the finished product was greeted with tepid reviews from critics and widespread disappointment from fans. Rumors of a "Snyder cut" swirled, saying that Snyder's plans for the film were more ambitious and just plain better than the theatrical release. After numerous fan petitions, Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. reached an agreement where Snyder, working without a paycheck, could finish his cut of the film as he saw fit, premiering it on the brand-new HBO Max streaming service. That big day has arrived, and now Kevin an

Disney+ keeps the big releases rolling with Raya and the Last Dragon, an animated adventure about a fantasy world teetering on the edge of apocalypse, with magical dragons holding the key to saving humanity from encroaching outside evil ... and also from itself. Featuring Kelly Marie Tran (The Last Jedi) and Awkwafina (The Farewell) as the two title characters, the film celebrates the virtue of trust; Wade and Kevin dig into it to see if the film is also worthy of celebration. Also, don't miss the announcement of a new book giveaway: Chris Hayes and Cody Benjamin's Why We Need the Movies, published just this year, takes a look at cinema culture in the era of streaming and COVID, and we're offering the chance to win free copies for all Patreon subscribers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's special double-length episode, we offer something for lovers of blockbuster sci-fi/horror and indie sci-fi dramas. Wade and Kevin sit down with fellow critic Sarah Welch-Larson to talk about her brand-new book, Becoming Alien: The Beginning and End of Evil in Science Fiction's Most Idiosyncratic Film Franchise. In a fascinating conversation, they discuss the intersection of the Alien film franchise, Christian theology, and the philosophy of evil, as well as the role of Christians in film criticism. The guys then turn their attention to Little Fish, the new film from Chad Hartigan (This Is Martin Bonner). Olivia Cooke and Jack O'Connell star as a married couple trying to survive a pandemic (sound familiar?). The nature of this pandemic? A neural disorder that gradually erases the victim's memories of past experiences, special skills, and relationships with loved ones.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seeing & Believing closes out Black History Month with a look at the buzzed-about new film that is based on the true story of the death of Fred Hampton. Shaka King's Judas and the Black Messiah features two powerhouse performances from Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton and LaKeith Stanfield as Bill O'Neal, the man who worked to bring down Hampton's revolutionary operation in Chicago from the inside. But do these powerhouse performances result in a good film overall, and does the film do justice to the life and political convictions of a man like Hampton? Listen to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but the only love affair that Seeing & Believing has time for is that between Ralph Fiennes and archaeological excavations. Netflix's The Dig tells the true story of how a widow (Carey Mulligan) teamed up with a working-class excavation expert (Fiennes) to make one of Great Britain's greatest archaeological discoveries on the eve of World War II. Wade and Kevin dig into the film (heh) to examine its themes of time, the fleeting nature of life, and the ways in which the past can give meaning to the present and even the future. Todayís episode of Seeing and Believing is sponsored in part by The Good Book Company, publisher of Steve McAlpineís book Being the Bad Guys. The Good Book Company is giving away 5 copies of Being the Bad Guys to CAPC members! For a chance to win, become a member at ChristAndPopCulture.com by February 17. Theme music by Alexander Osborn and Lindsey Mysse. Used under Creative Commons license 3.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho

It's not every day that a new Denzel Washington-starring film gets released, especially when that film has been a quarter-century in the making. John Lee Hancock's screenplay for The Little Things has been floating around since the mid-1990s, and it's finally been released now, on HBO Max, with Hancock himself at the helm and a freshly minted Golden Globes nomination under its belt. Washington stars as an erstwhile detective whose haunting past mistakes have relegated him to an exile as a sheriff's deputy in a small California town. But when a spate of serial killings in Los Angeles intersect with his path, he teams up with Rami Malek's star investigator for a cat-and-mouse game with a man (Jared Leto) who may or may not have something to do with those killings.

The show eases off the accelerator to focus on a single film this week. Acclaimed director Ramin Bahrani (Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo) is back with a new film for Netflix that positions itself as the anti-Slumdog Millionaire. Adapted from Aravind Adiga's novel of the same title, The White Tiger tells a story of a lower-caste servant in India (Adarh Gourav) who chafes under the yoke of his family's poverty and does what he thinks he must in order to get ahead. Part Goodfellas, part Parasite, Bahrani's latest takes aim at the wealth disparities of modern India and examines how festering class resentments can boil over into violence, anger, and injustice from rich and poor alike.

In his continuing journey to give an award-worthy performance in every existing film genre, Tom Hanks is back in 2021 with his first crack at a Western, Paul Greengrass's News of the World. Based on the novel about a traveling newsreader in post-Civil War Texas, the film asks the question: can Hanks's persona as "America's dad" heal tensions in a divided country? Wade and Kevin also take a closer look at the family drama Minari, which placed on both of their top 10 lists of the year in last week's episode. In their deep-dive review, the guys explore the film's take on the American Dream and its effect on the American family. Music interlude by Onycs, "Together." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

Back from his break, Kevin rejoins Wade on the show to count down their favorite films of a very unusual year. With most mainstream films either missing in action or forced into unconventional release strategies because of the pandemic, 2020 has provided an opportunity to highlight the films that might otherwise fly under the radar. Join the guys as they bid 2020 a farewell and recommend its hidden gems! Music interlude by the Fair Green Band, "Depth of Hollow (Oli Mix)." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

On this episode of Seeing and Believing, Wade is joined by Sarah Welch-Larson of Think Christian to discuss Pixar’s new film, Soul. Soul tells the story of a jazz musician named Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx). A music teacher by necessity, Joe finally catches his big break when he lands a coveted gig that could change his life forever. His best day, however, turns into his worst day when Joe dies and is transported out of his body, eventually landing in the pre-life (Or “The Great Before”). There, he meets an infant soul (voiced by Tina Fey) and together they begin a journey to discover not only themselves but the meaning of life. In the second half of the show, Wade and Sarah talk about the newest film from the DC universe, Wonder Woman 1984. Trading the trenches of WWI for shopping malls and big hair, Wonder Woman 1984 seeks to build on the success of Jenkins’ first entry in the franchise. Find out what Wade and Sarah think of the movie on this episode of Seeing and Believing! Music interlude by Evan Schaeffer

On this episode of Seeing and Believing, Wade is joined by Steve Norton of ScreenFish.net to discuss Nomadland, the new film from Chloé Zhao. Nomadland is being touted as one of the year’s best movies, and the duo discusses whether it lives up to the hype. In the second half of the show, Wade and Steve talk Season 2 of Disney+'s The Mandalorian. Or, maybe they just gush about Baby Yoda the entire time. Music interlude by Phantom Atlantic, “No Way to Live." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0. Theme music by Alexander Osborn and Lindsey Mysse. Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

With Kevin out this week, Wade is joined by Aaron White, co-host of the Feelin' Film Podcast, to discuss Mank, the new movie from David Fincher. Mank tells the story of Herman J. Mankiewicz and his tumultuous journey to write the screenplay for Citizen Kane. Spoiler alert: the movie does get made. In their second segment, the duo discusses Fatman, a new film starring Mel Gibson as Santa Claus. Need we say more? Music interlude by Rue Royale, “Snow on Snow (The Bleak Midwinter)." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0. Theme music by Alexander Osborn and Lindsey Mysse. Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

Seeing and Believing heads to the British Isles this week with a pair of films poised to make their way into the end of the year awards talk. First up is Tomm Moore and Ross Stewarts's Wolfwalkers, the new project from the highly esteemed Cartoon Saloon. A mixture of myth and magic, Wolfwalkers uses stunning animation to tell the story of a young girl caught between the forces of prior allegiances and new friendships. After that, Wade and Kevin tackle Armando Iannucci's The Personal History of David Copperfield. Will this fresh take on Charles Dickens' classic work be an adaptation to remember? Find out on this episode of Seeing and Believing! Music interlude by David Crickett, "Confession." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0. Theme music by Alexander Osborn and Lindsey Mysse. Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

With family gatherings just around the corner (or not) for Thanksgiving, Wade and Kevin take a look at a couple of new family dramas that are just hitting streaming platforms this week! First up is Ron Howard's Hillbilly Elegy, starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close. How does the cinematic adaptation of J.D. Vance's bestselling memoir fare in its transition from page to screen? The guys also review The Nest, Sean Durkin's follow-up to his psychological thriller Martha Marcy Mae Marlene. In its story of a married couple (Jude Law and Carrie Coon) fighting the slow unraveling of their family, does Durkin's new film prove to be a worthy follow-up? Music interlude by Tymat, ìOut of Oxygen.î Used under Creative Commons license 3.0. Theme music by Alexander Osborn and Lindsey Mysse. Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

Dust off your chess sets and start reminding yourself of the difference between pawns and bishops because the world of competitive chess is the talk of the town again. Netflix's lends some midcentury glamour to the cerebral, famously nerdy pursuit with its new miniseries The Queen's Gambit, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy as a fiercely ambitious chess prodigy who strives to excel in a game that is well-known for being male-dominated. Does the literary adaptation from Scott Frank and Allan Scott succeed at making the think-iest of board games into an absorbingly cinematic experience? Wade and Kevin also turn in a retro review this week to commemorate the passing of Sean Connery. Connery's iconic screen presence often elevated the movies he starred in, and the guys take a look at the Rudyard Kipling adaptation The Man Who Would Be King to see whether they can define exactly what that screen presence consisted of. Tally ho! Music interlude by Vlad Gluschenko, "Warm Days." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

Seeing & Believing spend some time on the HBO streaming service this week! First up is Robert Zemeckis's try at remaking Roald Dahl's classic children's book The Witches. Transplanting the story to the 1960s American South and featuring Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer, Zemeckis's new film aims to refresh Dahl's tale of grotesque witches plotting to transform the world's children into mice. Wade and Kevin also take some time with David Byrne's American Utopia, which records the Broadway show masterminded by Byrne, frontman of the Talking Heads. What does the show have to say about technology, divisions in American society, and human connection? And can it impress Wade, avowed Byrne enthusiast and fan of the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense? Music interlude by Rasmus Soderberg, "Friends and Foes." Used under Creative Commons license 3.0.

Sofia Coppola directs the first of several films for A24 and Apple+, On The Rocks which Wade and Kevin review first. The film reunites Coppola with Murray and brings in Office alum Jones as a Father/Daughter pair who are intent on catching Jones' fiancé in the act of betrayal while wrestling with Murray's own history of infidelity. The second half of the show reviews Ben Wheatley's remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca starring Lily James and Armie Hammer. Does the film live up to the legacy or does the ghost of the titular character prove to be too daunting a task?