Low Key

The nerd nightmare is over: the badgering has paid off, and the Synder Cut of the DC Extended Universe’s Justice League will be released as an HBO Max exclusive sometime in 2021.In the latest Low Key Podcast, we talk about what it all means, and what we want from the Snyder Cut. And great news: This episode features Sam from the Sam Said It! podcast.The corporate overlords have bowed to the overbeating might of tweets and petitions to remake the underwhelming November 2017 release into Zack Snyder’s intended glory. The remake will be released as either a four-hour epic film or a six-episode miniseries with enhanced CGI, new character designs, and additional scenes to flesh out the story. This is the sort of thing that would normally only happen in a comic book and yet here we are.So how did this happen? A group of executives from HBO, Warner Brothers, and DC decided to move forward with the project after viewing an unfinished version of the Synder Cut back in early February 2020.This cut was ba

Netflix does not shy away from distributing stories that give voices to the voiceless - the recently released documentary Murder to Mercy is no exception. The doc shares the story of Cyntoia Brown, a woman who was sentenced to prison for life at the age of 16 for killing a man when she was being sex trafficked at the Nashville, Tennessee area in 2004. Brown told police that she feared for her life and shot the man with a gun inside the house when she believed he was going to violently attack. Fifteen years later, she was granted clemency by the state governor and now works as works as an advocate for helping vulnerable young people who are survivors of sex trafficking. The film contains footage from initial arrest up until her release from prison which demonstrates a positive example of what’s possible when rehabilitation resources are available. On the other side of the coin, interviews with the women in her biological family are present, each of whom are survivors of sexual abuse by men in their lives

The new documentary Feels Good Man explores how racists, trolls and incels turned an innocuous cartoon character named Pepe the Frog into a symbol of hate. On the latest Low Key podcast, we talk about how the situation epitomizes many of the problems of the internet, where misinformation and propaganda choke out facts and helpful information. Feels Good Man, directed by Arthur Jones, goes deep into the backstory of Pepe. Once he was a simple creature drawn by artist Matt Furie, known by the dorky catchphrase "Feels good man," which Pepe used to explain why he pees with his pants down.The document shows how this innocuous creature was soon embraced by a depressing online community of do-littles who identify as "NEET" — an abbreviation for "not in education, employment, or training."When "normies" — including women — invaded their world by starting to embrace Pepe, the social outcasts rebelled, trying to make Pepe as repugnant as possible by affiliating him with Nazism, misogyny, and ot

Netflix's trippy The Midnight Gospel, from comedian Duncan Trussell and animator Pendleton Ward, might be a model for pandemic era TV shows: It asks the big questions in life without requiring any actors to get too close to each other.The series is about a scamp named Clancy Gilroy (voiced by Trussell), who uses a butt-shaped simulator to travel to different worlds and interview people for his "spacecast," which is basically a podcast, about questions like what happens when we die, why death is so essential to life, and what it means to be enlightened. You can appreciate it for the deep, philosophical conversations Trussell has with the other beings he encounters (voiced by guests as varied as Dr. Drew Pinsky, Damien Echols, Anne Lamott and Ram Dass), or you can enjoy the insane animated shenanigans, such as the zombie war in the first episode. Or you can enjoy both. The show mixes high and low.Its formula — interesting conversations brought to vivid life through animation — seems like a very intriguing answe

Netflix's The Platform has drawn plaudits as the perfect film for the age of hoarding. But is it, really? In one of our most divided episodes, we go deep — Level 333 deep — on whether the main metaphor in the film makes any sense at all."The Platform," directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, takes place in a multi-level prison where the inmates are fed via a platform that is initially filled with sumptuous dishes — which the inmates pick clean as the platform descends. Those in the lower cells get less and less, until they get nothing at all. Adding to the fun is the fact that the inmates are switched around, apparently at random, so that they are sometimes on good, high-level floors, and sometimes in the deeper ones, where starvation is a very likely fate.Tim had big problems with this one; Aaron and Keith saw some merits. Overall, we got very philosophical in trying to decide how, if at all, The Platform relates to the way we live now. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Memphis is well known mostly for its music and food, rarely getting a chance to branch out beyond that common framing. Netflix’s ‘Uncorked’ is going for something a little different as it follows the story of a young 20-something guy hoping to accomplish his dream of attaining the title of Master Sommelier. His father wants him to stay over the family business, a BBQ joint first started by his grandfather who bootstrapped his way to entrepreneurial success. Go for your dreams or take over the family business with regrets - it’s an age old tale with a Memphis twist. And because two of Low Key’s host are from the Bluff City, a review was bound to happen no matter what.Among the actoral talent are anchors of black cinema such as Courtney B. Vance and Niecy Nash provide FOILs for each other - accepting a child’s dream (however fickle it may be) versus taking the mantle (and responsibility) chosen for them. Relative newcomers Mamoudou Athie and Sasha Compère have an undeniable chemistry that ebbs positively and ne

DC Universe’s Harley Quinn doesn’t give a f**k about offending people as the first scene demonstrates by showing a yacht full of billionaires robbed and ripped apart. The show is meant to shock audiences. But it also serves as a great example of how R-rated comic book material can allow for an intelligent subversion of tropes and dark humor that reveals why we connect to these broken characters. Harley herself shines in every episode in both success and failure as she strives to go from the Joker’s lackey to the first modern female supervillian. It sounds simple enough but the show reveals an actual truth of comics - female supervillians are non-existent with our only example suffering a face worse than Arkham.  A crew for Harley is assembled to help her become noticed by the Legion of Doom, leading to hijnx that are often hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t already seen the show although we try on this episode. The mature content in animated DC films seems like an intentional way to set thems

Candyman has aged very well: The 1992 story of a son of a slave who is murdered for loving a white woman — and reborn as a hook-handed slasher — looks at racism with an unflinching honesty missing from a lot of our racial dialogue today. It skillfully, scarily connects the bigotry of old with the bigotry of what was, at the time of its release, the modern age.Candyman returns in June with a Jordan Peele-produced reboot, and we here at the Low Key Podcast prepared by watching the original. Revisiting Candyman reminds us how much and how little has changed since 1992 — and, in some ways, since 1892. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zoë Kravitz might be the single best person on earth to star in Hulu's High Fidelity, an update of the John Cusack movie of the same name: Her mom, Lisa Bonet, was one of the stars of that film, based on a Nick Hornby novel, also called High Fidelity.You've probably gathered that High Fidelity lends itself to adaptation. The novel, released in 1995, was set in London, and featured a record store owner named Rob, reeling from a breakup. The movie, released in 2000, was set in Chicago and featured a record store owner named Rob, reeling from a breakup. And now the show, released this past Valentine's Day, is set in New York and features a record store owner named Rob, reeling from a breakup.Except now Rob is a biracial woman, and record stores are more nostalgia dens than thriving Gen X businesses. Unlike the previous Robs, she's dated both women and men. But all three Robs love lists, and obsess over their Top 5 worst breakups to figure out what's wrong with the common denominator in all those relationships: R

Tyler Perry’s ‘A Fall From Grace’ is the latest film release and his first foray in the profitable Netflix original - did we enjoy it? You’ll have to listen to find out. But it’s fair to spoil that there’s a lot to like - a likable main character with relatable real-world circumstances, an impactful murder sequence, and the impeccable Phylicia Rashad like you’ve never seen her before.Throughout this episode we also cover the legacy of Perry and the new Tyler Perry Studios lot in Atlanta that could change opportunities for minorities working to show off projects that are not receiving due attention. Even if you don’t love the Perry-verse, this is a great episode to understand his legacy in Hollywood and beyond. Please join us again to fill an hour and follow us on @thelowkeypod! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stephen King disappointed Ava DuVernay earlier this month when he tweeted about casting his Oscar ballot: "I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong."On the latest Low Key Podcast, your hosts discuss what followed. Should we consider diversity in matters of art? Do we? We also consider Carey Mulligan's modest proposal that perhaps Oscar voters should somehow prove that they've seen all the films before they vote.It's a far-flung discussion that gets into blind spots, comfort zones, and the general problem of underrepresentation onscreen, years after #OscarsSoWhite.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-nominated thriller, challenges our sympathies throughout: Do we sympathize with the destitute Kim family? Or the wealthy Parks? It may seem obvious to you — but it's probably a given that not everyone sees Parasite the way you do. In the latest Low Key podcast, we talk about how our sympathies shifted, or didn't, throughout the masterful film.Listen above or on your favorite podcasting platform:Here are some highlights, with time stamps (Spoilers galore!):2:05: The interesting Native American references in Parasite. 5:05: "They do a good job, once they get the jobs."6:10: Is Mr. Park a jerk?7:15: How the Kims screw over other working-class people.8:00: Are we mad at the Kims for letting insecticide get on the pizza boxes?8:50: "The poisonous effect does trickle up."12:00: Ki-woo, the son in the Kim family, is a creep.17:40: Shout-out to American Psycho.18:15: Shout-out to Kurt Vonnegut.23:44: "How th

2020 movies have a lot to live up to—2019's movies were some of the best in years. On the latest Low Key podcast, my fellow co-hosts and I nerd out on the 2020 movies we hope will live up to 2019's high standards, from Tenet to Birds of Prey to Chris Rock's take on Saw to, uh, Sonic the Hedgehog. We like all kinds of movies. But on the Low Key, we especially talk about fan-focused films, with a weakness for comic books and sci-fi. So we're very intrigued by 2020 movies including Black Widow,  No Time to Die and A Quiet Place 2.We take some side trips to talk about Star Wars, Uncut Gems, and Parasite, too. And we talk about Memphis roller coaster the Zippin Pippin, God rest its soul.By the way: For some of the indie 2020 movies the MovieMaker Magazine team is excited about—from Promising Young Woman to The 40-Year-Old Version to The Climb to Never Rarely Sometimes Always —check out

Watchmen complicatedly combined falling squid, horrifying racism, a glowing blue man, nuclear panic, fear of sexual humiliation, piles of dead clones, questions about whether we could all be doing more, and an armchair trap door. In the new Low Key podcast, we talk about why it worked for us.In every episode of Low Key, your co-hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie, and Tim Molloy talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed, often through a racial lens. As Aaron explains near the 20-minute mark of this episode, "Watching this as a black viewer is very different, I think, from watching it as a viewer of some other ethnicity." It isn't just because of the show's heavy references to the Tulsa race riots, or secret racist societies. It's because of the show's difficult questions about how much obligation all Americans have to one another—and how those obligations relate to race.Watchmen is undeniably, deliberately, messy and confusing. While most screenplays aspire

Now that we've had some time for the hot takes to cool, we discuss Melina Matsoukas' consciousness-raising road movie Queen and Slim, written by Lena Waithe and starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie-Turner Smith.Tim and Keith mostly embrace Queen and Slim, but Aaron says plot issues kept taking him out of the story. He also wonders—and we all discuss—whether the film overgeneralizes in its portrayal of how black people would respond to Queen and Slim's road trip for justice.Who's right? No one's right, it's all opinion.The film has gotten mostly positive reviews, but also a few criticisms of particular scenes and characters. In one of our longest episodes, we talk about the film's lush visuals, deliberately complicated story, and most curious moments. We also talk about our own experiences with police stops, and note that police have never asked to search the car of our white host. Hm.1:15: Praise for Queen and Slim2:22: Spoilers are coming, look out.4:23: "This movie was so mixed for me. There were so many thing

The Mandalorian signaled how sweepingly it plans to embrace the entire Star Wars universe when it stocked its very first references to The Star Wars Holiday Special, a much-despised 1978 TV show that even George Lucas would like to forget. In our episode, we talk about how charmingly Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian has incorporated not only the things we all agree are cool (Bounty hunters! blasters! Freezing dudes in carbonite!) but also elements of the universe that some fans prefer not to talk about (cute creatures! Midichlorians! The Star Wars Holiday Special!)Here are some highlights, with timestamps:1:10: We talk about this storyabout the Star Wars Holiday Special, which is "kind of a janky affair."2:45: Is Boba Fett overrated?4:15: How The Mandaloriancalls back the Clint Eastwood-Sergio Leone spaghetti Westerns6:45: Is The Mandalorian's secret headquarters on Tatooine? 16:10: Why you need to use the closed captions while watching The Mandalorian.22:50: Star Wars' over-ex

HBO's Watchmen touches on reparations, racist vigilantism, and the destruction, 100 years ago, of the African-American business Mecca known as Black Wall Street. But what is the show actually saying about race? That's one of the main questions we try to unpack in the new Low Key podcast.Every week on Low Key, your hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and Tim Molloy talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed, often through a racial lens. We like comic books and superheroes. Watchmen seems made for us.And we do like Watchmen. The acting, cinematography, and music are top-notch. But like most people who watch the show, we have no idea where it's going. Does it have something new or unique to say about how the issues in the show parallel those in the real world? What we're hoping it isn't doing is using race as a plot device. Our continued watching of Watchmen amounts to our giving it the benefit of the doubt that there's an important payoff coming up.We also talk this episode about lower-stakes m

Eddie Murphy's Dolemite Is My Name shows how Rudy Ray Moore became a black independent moviemaker—and became a role model for future DIY artists. In the latest "Low Key" podcast, we talk about how Rudy Ray Moore's Dolemite helped blaze a still-difficult trail for Tyler Perry, Robert Townsend, and other DIY moviemakers who continue to inspire.On every episode of "Low Key," we discuss subtle aspects of movies, television and other pop culture that we think deserve more attention.This week, we talk about how Rudy Ray Moore influenced not only hip-hop music, but cinema. Would hip-hop exist without Dolemite? Is Quentin Tarantino a hip-hop moviemaker? These are just a few of the questions we address.We also talk about the difference between cultural appropriation and polishing and improving other people's routines, and where Rudy Ray Moore belongs in that conversation. And we talk about whether white director Craig Brewer and white writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski do a good job of telling Rud

How well does the CW’s “Batwoman” fit into the network’s other DC shows and the Batman universe? And would we rather see a new standalone heroine with no ties to either?Every week on “Low Key,” your co-hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and I talk about pop culture moments we think others may have missed. This week, we revisit “Batwoman,” which we previously discussed over the summer, based only on the trailer. Now we’ve seen the show and want to give “Batwoman” its due.First, the things we like: Batwoman does a stellar job of representing people who have traditionally been underseen in comic-book adaptations, and in entertainment overall: Women, people of color, LGBTQ characters. Ruby Rose's Kate Kane, the anchor of the show, is a step forward for lesbian visibility and could be an important role model.What we're less sure about it how well "Batwoman" distinguishes itself from Batman. We want the storylines to make a harder break from the familiar Gotham tropes, and callbacks to past Batman stories. There are

What does "Joker" want to say about poverty, mental illness and other problems society has failed to solve? That's the subject of our latest "Low Key" podcast.Every week on "Low Key," your hosts Aaron Lanton, Keith Dennie and Tim Molloy look into pop culture subtleties you may have missed. Well, except for this week: This week Tim is replaced (quite successfully) by special guest Sam Perrin of the “Sam Said It” podcast. Sam, Aaron and Keith go deep on "Joker," questioning how to interpret its ending, whether it wants to make political statements or avoid them, and where it stands on the divide between rich and poor. They focus especially on how the film deals with mental illness, and how to interpret director Todd Phillips' presentation of Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur losing his grip on reality.Also: Do nice pearls really fall that way? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.