PopaHALLics #168 "Blast(s) From the Past"

We discuss writer/director Christopher Nolan's epic take on Homer's nearly 3000-year-old poem "The Odyssey." Kate's back too, talking about old—and new—favorites she watched while recovering from surgery.

Theaters:

• "The Odyssey." Greek warrior Odyssey spends 10 hard yeasr trying to get home after the Trojan War. Plagued by the gods, or just needing GPS? Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, John Leguizamo, and Charlize Therzon.

Streaming:

• "Disclosure Day," various streamers. Director Steven Spielberg returns to one of his favorite subjects with this action-packed adventure about a cybersecurity expert (Josh O'Connor) and a TV meteorologist (Emily Blunt) trying to expose the existence of alien life. A government contractor (Colin Firth) wants to silence them.
• "The Rip," Netflix. Damon and buddy Ben Affleck star in this action thriller based on real events. When a group of Miami cops discover millions in cash during a house raid, is one or more of them actually trying to steal it? With Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, and Kyle Chandler.
• "Lucky," Apple TV. When a multi-million-dollar heist goes wrong, con artist Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy) must figure out who conned her while running for her life. This miniseries also stars Annette Benning and Timothy Olyphant.
• "Rental Family," Hulu, Disney +, YouTube. In Japan, a struggling actor (Brendan Fraser) takes an unusual gig playing stand-in roles for strangers. When he's asked to pretend to be a young girl's father, the lines between performance and reality begin to blur in this film.
• "I Will Find You," Netflix. This miniseries is based on Harlan Coben's novel. A father (Sam Worthington) imprisoned for his son's murder receives evidence suggesting his child may be alive. He escapes and seeks the truth.
• "Dublin Murders," Tubi. Two detectives (Killian Scott and Sarah Greene) investigate a young girl's murder on the outskirts of Dublin. This TV series is based on Tana French's novels "In the Woods" and "The Likeness."
• "Voicemails for Isabelle," Netflix. In this rom-com, a young woman (Zoey Deutch) copes with her sister's death by leaving voicemails for her describing her chaotic life in San Francisco. A mysterious real estate agent (Nick Robinson) unwittingly begins to receive the messages.
• "Grantchester," Passport (PBS). This British series about a clergyman investigating mysterious wrongdoings in his small village with the help of an overworked detective inspector ends with its 11th season.
• "Blast from the Past," Tubi. In this 1999 romantic comedy, Adam (Brendan Fraser) has lived his entire life in a fallout shelter. When he finally comes to the surface, he finds the nuclear apocalypse didn't occur—and meets gorgeous Eve (Alicia Silverstone).

PopaHALLics #167 "Alien in Heartland"

Five people trapped in a house during what may or may not be an alien invasion begin to suspect one of them is a shape-shifting alien. That's the "Twilight Zone"-like premise of "Alien in the Heartland," an independent film made in Indiana and available to rent or buy on Prime Video. We interview writer/director Eric Pascarelli and four of the five key actors:

• James Tackett, who plays Thomas, a retired movie propmaster still grieving the death of his wife, on the anniversary of her death.
• Tori Behny, who plays Roxy, his daughter, dealing with her own emotions about losing her mom in addition to her dad's spiraling behaviors and this crisis.
• Daisy Paroczy Hickey, who plays Thomas' sister-in-law, Kim, who chooses a very bad time to visit.
• Holly Anspaugh, who plays Ellie, who gets trapped in the house with her younger sister Johanna (Chloe Lutz). The two sisters have dealt with the deaths of their parents in very different ways.

A fifth character in "Alien in the Heartland" is the Dr. Richard Davis House, also known as "Woodside," a historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Marion, Indiana. The futuristic-looking Usonian style home was constructed in 1955.

Here is the trailer for "Alien in the Heartland."

The trailer for Eric's next movie "Method to the Madness," a dramedy about a Method actor coaching basketball, just came out. It features several of these same actors.

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes of comment and criticism.

PopaHALLics #166 "Lost and Found"

This episode's all about discovery: Finding a space villain's kidnapped son, rescued puppies and true love in NYC, a way to keep your creative spark against autism, and, yes, even creepy monsters hidden in the walls of a retirement community.

Theaters:

• "The Mandalorian & Grogu." In the latest "Star Wars" big-screen release, the masked gunfighter (Pedro Pascal) and his adorable sidekick take on a rescue mission of ... Jabba the Hutt's son?! With Signourey Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Martin Scorsese.

Streaming:

• "The Burroughs," Netflix. The Duffer Brothers try to repeat "Stranger Things" success, only this time their heroes are an intrepid band of senior citizens dealing with supernatural goings-on. With Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, and Geena Davis. There's no long life in this retirement community: The show's already canceled after just one season.
• "Room to Move," Netflix. When an autism diagnosis sets her world spinning, dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman tries to regain her creative center in this intimate documentary.
• "Tornado," Kanopy. In this unusual period action thriller, a Japanese teen (Koki) faces off against a scruffy band of outlaws headed by the Sugar Man (Tim Roth) and his resentful son (Jack Lowden from "Slow Horses") in Scotland in the 1790s.
• "Emma Shay," YouTube and "Holistic Emma," Instagram. Chronicles her transforming an abandoned general store into a homestead and botanical farm.
• "Kathleen Illustrated," YouTube and Instagram. This illustrator, thrifter, and creative is focused on personal expression through sustainable style and craft.

Books:

• "Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About," by Isabel Klee. In this memoir, Klee tells the story of the dogs she's rescued and her journey toward love in New York City. Her first true love is Simon, a puppy saved from the meat trade.

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes of comment and criticism.