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.

Moonlight Review

Julian Meush February 23, 2017

Part four of my Oscar review series is a powerful one. Barry Jenkin's Moonlight.

It isn’t shy about tackling race, sexuality, and drug abuse head on. Heady subjects that I, admittedly, have little experience with beyond cinema. While Moonlight certainly addresses these issues it isn’t necessarily about them either. Yes they play a role but ultimately the movie is about a young man's difficult journey from childhood to adulthood.

Manchester by the Sea Review

Julian Meush February 22, 2017

Part Three of my Oscar review series features Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea.

The first time I tried watching Manchester by the Sea I was onboard a plane returning to Canada. I got about 15 minutes in and had to turn it off. I couldn’t do it. Maybe it was me, but I couldn’t get into it. That was over a week ago and I’ve watched two other Oscar nominated films since. From what I’d seen and heard I knew it could be a bit of a downer so I waited for the right moment before trying again. I’m glad I waited.

Hell or High Water Review

Julian Meush February 21, 2017

Part Two of my Oscar review series features David Mackenzie's Hell or High Water.

Hell or High Water is a true modern western. A genre that’s received a boost over the last few years and, with the success of shows like HBO’s Westworld, is seemingly making a bit of a comeback. Chris Pine and Ben Foster play hard on their luck brothers in this film with a relationship that felt genuine, but also too often resembled something you might see from the Winchester brothers on CW’s Supernatural.

La La Land Review

Julian Meush February 20, 2017

Oscar season is here and with the release of our annual Tower of Babble Podcast Oscar Preview Show it's time to start rolling out the written reviews. Leading up to the big ceremony on Sunday I'll be publishing a new review for each of the Best Picture nominees. Part One takes a look at the Damien Chazelle musical, La La Land.

Oscars 2016 Best Picture Preview

Julian Meush February 1, 2016

I lay out my thoughts on the upcoming Academy Awards and give my brief impressions on each of the Best Picture nominated films. Plus, Is The Revenant really the frontrunner to take home the golden statue? Do all the Best Picture nods deserve their nominations? Find the answers to those questions and more below...

July 30, 2026

Bonus Episode - ToB Film Club - The Warriors (1979)

Another cult classic, 'The Warriors' brings a distinctly unique sense of style and grittiness that feels right at home on the grimy streets of 1970's New York City. The gang-centered heightened reality of the film feels almost Shakespearian in nature, as if you're watching an mythological journey fraught with peril of all kinds - violence, temptation, and the law. This movie was selected as a double-feature of sorts with Nolan's recently released 'The Odyssey' and the comparisons between these stories feels apt. At the end of the day it's just people trying to get home and doing their best to overcome the challenges the world throws at them. The stakes are clear, and while the nature of good guys vs bad guys is more than a bit muddied here (Ajax... dude, wtf?) the thrilling chases, bombastic action sequences and the long awaited final confrontation are all working at a high level (despite some pretty flat performances and lackluster dialogue). While there are certain elements of the movie that DO NOT age well (looking at you gender politics), the core of the film remains strong and executed well. Plus, as an added bonus, the soundtrack for this movie absolutely slaps! This is a fun ride and it's easy to see why it's endured over these many years.

July 23, 2026

Episode 207 - Avengers: Doomsday Trailer + News Roundup

We're into the full swing of blockbuster season. With 'Obsession' breaking box office records, 'The Odyssey' now filling IMAX theatres, and 'Spider-Man' right around the corner, movies feel very "back" right now. Plus, with Comic-Con next week Marvel released their first full-length 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer. Julian and Matt try to decide if the hype is there, which feels crazy when considering it's an Avengers movie after all, but that might speak more to the situation Marvel currently finds themselves in. Meanwhile, DC doesn't want to be left behind, releasing a new trailer for 'Clayface' , which is shaping up to be a sneaky hit in the body-horror space (despite still not Batman). This all leads to Matt's idea that comic book movies should be treated like jury duty. Plus, a news rundown covering the passing of Sam Neil, Netflix updates (they're bad), some box office updates, and more!

June 25, 2026

Episode 206 - Shrek 5 or Austin Powers 4?

Time marches on and we all feel old. This week, 'Toy Story 5' hit theaters, and while reviews have been positive, it's crazy to think we're onto the fifth installment in that franchise. In a similar vein, we recently learned that Mike Myers is interested in returning to 'Austin Powers', on the heels of his appearance in the trailer for another fiver, 'Shrek 5' (which already has people in it's own tizzy). Matt and Julian debate the merits of either prospect, and then turn the page to stare into the abyss that is AI invading Hollywood. Plus a grab-bag of entertainment stories covering odd popcorn bowls, a Knicks documentary, a scrapped Palpatine show and much more! Finally, to wrap things up, a brief discussion on 'House of the Dragon' season 3 premiere, 'Obsession', 'The Furious', and 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (both in and out of concert).

May 27, 2026

SSSW - The Mandalorian and Grogu

It's hard to believe it's been so long since the last Star Wars movie hit theatres. After years of announcements, failed projects, and even a change in leadership at Lucasfilm, the first movie in nearly a decade is a follow-up to the first ever live action Star Wars show. Maybe that's fitting for a new era, under new management. The film itself is a fast paced, action-packed, adventure that hails back to the old serials that George Lucas loved. While it is certainly a fun time at the movies, with exciting set-pieces, characters inclusions from across the lore, all of which set on planets with diverse biomes (i.e. some of the things Star Wars does best). Unfortunately, the movie lacks compelling stakes, character depth (where's Din's arc?), much of any plot to speak of, or even a sense of real "importance" - and while that may be a bit intangible, it prompts the question: why was THIS movie the first to bring Star Wars back to feature films in almost a decade? Julian and Rachel try to answer that question and dive deep into all the nerdy details.