GRADE: C+

*Now playing in the San Francisco Bay Area and other select markets.

IMDB Synopsis: “Follows an aspiring actress working on a U.S. military base that simulates an Iraqi war zone.”

GRADE: C-

*Now playing everywhere.

IMDB Synopsis: “In the near future, a detective stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge he once championed, before it determines his fate.”

It’s a new year and a new podcast for world-famous film critic Daniel Barnes! Known for his provocative yet family-friendly brand of humor, Daniel brings along his beloved cast of puppet characters, including grumpy old man Walter, the irascible Achmed the Dead Terrorist, and Bubba J, a stereotypical NASCAR enthusiast…oh wait, that’s ventriloquist Jeff Dunham. Daniel Barnes is just a guy who reviews movies.

This week, Daniel offers his Single Take on Alia Shawkat in Atropia, an overstuffed yet underdeveloped satire about an ambitious actress role-playing revolutionaries in elaborately staged war games. He also looks at Mercy, a sci-fi whodunit starring Chris Pratt as a cop-on-the-edge trying to find “the real killers” before artificial intelligence seals his fate.

Listen along as Daniel begs mercy for January unicorns, CD-ROM murder mysteries and 20-year-old The Daily Show jokes.

The post Single Take with Daniel Barnes – “Atropia” & “Mercy” appeared first on Dare Daniel & Canon Fodder Podcasts.

Daniel and Corky go on the lam with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina to review Jean-Luc Godard’s apocalyptic road movie Pierrot le Fou. But were your hosts Vague-ly entranced by Godard’s Nouvelle vision, or did they act the Fou?

Sight & Sound 2022 Critics Poll Ranking: #85 [tied]

World premiere: Aug. 29, 1965 (Venice Film Festival)

IMDB synopsis: “Pierrot escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, a girl chased by hit-men from Algeria. They lead an unorthodox life, always on the run.”

Official trailer for Pierrot le Fou

A Galaxie in the ocean

“A film is like a battleground.”

Kissing cars

Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987; Dir.: Abbas Kiarostami)

IMDB synopsis: “Eight-year-old Ahmed has mistakenly taken his friend Mohammad’s notebook. He wants to return it, or else his friend will be expelled from school. The boy determinedly sets out to find Mohammad’s home in the neighbouring village.”

Our review of Where Is the Friend’s House comes out Tuesday, Feb. 3!

Follow Dare Daniel & Canon Fodder on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to listen, rate, review and subscribe to the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Listen Notes, Castbox and more. New episodes every other Tuesday! Please help support the show by clicking the Donate button on the homepage or find “Support the Show” in the main menu.

Read more of Daniel’s movie reviews at Dare Daniel and Rotten Tomatoes.

The post Pierrot le Fou – Canon Fodder Episode 53 appeared first on Dare Daniel & Canon Fodder Podcasts.

Quasi-disgraced pseudo-critic Daniel Barnes takes a solo excursion through the year in cinema to share his best and worst films of 2025. Daniel also discusses some of the awards contenders, blockbusters and bombs that did not make either of his lists. He also previews next week’s new Canon Fodder episode, in which Daniel and Corky review Jean-Luc Godard’s Pierrot le Fou.

CLIPS & CLIPPINGS

Daniel’s 2025 Ranked list on Letterboxd

Daniel’s 2025 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards ballot

Pierrot le Fou (1965; Dir.: Jean-Luc Godard)

IMDB synopsis: “Pierrot escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, a girl chased by hit-men from Algeria. They lead an unorthodox life, always on the run.”

Our review of Pierrot le Fou comes out Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Follow Dare Daniel & Canon Fodder on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to listen, rate, review and subscribe to the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Listen Notes, Castbox and more. New episodes every other Tuesday! Please help support the show by clicking the Donate button on the homepage or find “Support the Show” in the main menu.

Read more of Daniel’s movie reviews at Dare Daniel and Rotten Tomatoes.

The post Daniel’s Best & Worst Films of 2025 appeared first on Dare Daniel & Canon Fodder Podcasts.