Fences Review

Julian Meush February 25, 2017

The final film in my Oscar review series is the 1950's drama; Fences.

This film centres on Denzel Washington’s character of Troy Maxson as we follow him through what becomes the most extreme example of a midlife crisis you might ever see on film. He feels trapped by his obligations to his family and lives his life on edge.

Oscar Predictions and Results

Julian Meush February 25, 2017

With the Oscars only a day away we thought it was time for us to reveal our predictions. We divided our predictions into two categories and prognosticated the major categories. Who will take home the golden statues?

Now updated with the winners!

Hidden Figures Review

Julian Meush February 25, 2017

Theodore Melfi's Hidden Figures is the next film in my Oscar review series.

Set during the time of the space race it centres around three African American women working at NASA. It’s got a brilliant opening scene that will make you fall in love with these woman right from the get-go. You immediately get a taste of their fun banter and how close of a friendship that they have. You are left wanting more.

Lion Review

Julian Meush February 24, 2017

Garth Davis' Lion is next up in my Oscar review series.

Lion is very much a foreign film, but it's also very much a biopic and an adventure story. It pieces together elements from all over cinema and shows us something amazing. Lion is based on a true story, one of three in the Best Picture category, and is the one that feels the most honest. It’s a very personal story and though it doesn't have the spectacle, it is no less extraordinary.

Hacksaw Ridge Review

Julian Meush February 24, 2017

The latest instalment in my Oscar review series is Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge.

Hacksaw Ridge can easily be divided into two sections. The first half being bright and thought provoking. It asks questions about someone's right to stay true to their beliefs regardless of the consequences. It’s full of patriotism, god and a touch of romance but about halfway through it becomes a completely different movie.

Arrival Review

Julian Meush February 23, 2017

The next entry in my Oscar review series is Denis Villeneuv's beautifully shot Arrival.

I can’t speak highly enough about this movie. It awed me, moved me and made me think. Which is a trifecta that is rarely attained by any movie. Having seen it twice since it’s theatrical release in November I can tell you that it not only holds up to repeat viewings, but I would agree with many on the web that say that the second time you watch this movie may actually be superior to the first.

Apr 25, 2026

Episode 205 - CinemaCon 2026 + News Roundup

It's been a minute since Matt and Julian sat down to cover the latest in film and TV news. Some might say it's been dearly missed. Well wait no more folks because this week it's all news and nothing but the news so help me god! If the last few weeks (months?) of stories weren't enough, CinemaCon 2026 also just concluded which had it's own news deluge. The guys unpack it all (well most of it anyway)! Of utmost priority is the news of Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler's reboot of 'Miami Vice', which is close to Matt's heart. Plus 'Spaceballs 2' gets a title and release date, trailers for 'Dune 3', 'Clayface' and 'Street Fighter' all surprise (in a good way), and a new 'Lord of the Rings' movie is announced (and you won't guess who's writing it!). Plus, a 'Game of Thrones' movie, more 'Transformers' and is 'Avatar' over? All this and so much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!

Apr 23, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 5 & 6

We’ve reached the halfway point of the season and with it comes a tonal shift back to the roots of Star Wars animation - 'The Clone Wars'. With the arrival of the Empire, the focus shifts away from Maul and his dealings and toward the pair of Jedi as they are now in the crosshairs. The noire tone takes a back seat, next to Maul, as things become more pulpy, mixed with an impending doom that is reminiscent of the final season of 'The Clone Wars'. The set-piece action sequences get an injection of scale and danger, which is exciting, and some of the early seeding of characters like Rylee start to pay off. While maybe a bit different from the previous 4 episodes, the quality and the stakes remain high (well... for every character except Maul I suppose). Join Julian and Rachel as the unpack it all in excruciating detail.

Apr 15, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 3 & 4

Now that the premiere is out of the way, the team at Lucasfilm Animation can focus on driving the story forward with authority. The pacing is much improved this week as time feel more evenly dispersed across the characters. There's a greater concentration on characters who can wield a lightsaber and it's appreciated. No shade to the crime syndicate storyline, but we've kind of seen all that already (it was quite literally a 'Clone Wars' arc). The action remains strong while taking another step forward with lightsaber duels joining the mix. Plus, the fast cutting from last week seems to have been dialed back, which is appreciated as it provides more clarity in action scenes. For example, Devon's engagements with Maul are gripping, and with the additional time provided to Master Daki, the stakes feel ratcheted up. Kevin Kinner's music remains a highlight, the illusions to the Anakin vs Obi-Wan Mustafar theme was a particular highlight. In general, there is still room for more character growth, especially with characters not named Maul, who really can't/won't change - but happy to proven wrong! This show feels like it's in full swing already, which is good because next week things look to be really heating up as we hit the half way mark. Julian and Rachel unpack it all!

Apr 9, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 1 & 2

It's been some time since we've been able to sink our pointy teeth into a meaty Star Wars animated project. Since the finale of 'The Bad Batch' all the way back in May of 2024, all we've had to tie us over were anthology installments of varying quality. Praise the Force, that wait is finally over with the release of 'Maul: Shadow Lord', the latest full length series from Lucasfilm Animation. The series marks another technical leap forward for the animation studio, taking their patented visual style and adding another layer of detail and artistry that jumps off the screen. The story follows the titular, Maul shortly after the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, he's looking for revenge and the series wastes no time dropping us right into the thick of things (3 car/speeder chases in 40 mins is impressive). And while we know much of Maul's criminal dealings (and most of the rest of his life actually), the introduction of a new Padawan into the mix, another apprentice-to-be for Maul, adds a layer of intrigue to an otherwise underworld focused story. Join Julian and Rachel as they unpack Chapter 1: "The Dark Revenge" and Chapter 2: "Sinister Schemes", in intricate detail.

Fences Review

Oscar Predictions and Results

Hidden Figures Review

Lion Review

Hacksaw Ridge Review

Arrival Review

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