Year In Film: 2020 Sucks, But 2021 Could Be Spectacular

Dune and No Time to Die

In the film industry, 2020 was supposed to be the “Year of Dan.” If there was a checklist of franchises and actors I liked, 2020 was set to hit all the boxes. From Daniel Craig and Vin Diesel to Steven Spielberg and Zendaya, 2020 was oozing with star power.

Then, as we all know, the pandemic happened.

The first real “Oh shit” moment in the film industry happened when No Time To Die, the 25th installment in the James Bond franchise and Craig’s final film as the iconic character, pushed back its release date to November. Not even Nostradamus himself could have predicted the shitstorm that’s still occurring to this day.

Were you excited to watch Dominic Torretto drive off a cliff and somehow cross the ocean while attached to a steel chain? Unrealistic and kickass action sequences will have to wait since Fast Nine won’t be released until May 2021. Were you prepared to rejoin the Jets or the Sharks in West Side Story this December? Unfortunately, Christmas is canceled due to the fact Spielberg’s iteration of West Side Story was moved to Dec. 2021. If Timothée Hal Chalamet and Zendaya in the seems like a dream, then you need to keep dreaming since Dune moved from Dec. 2020 to Oct. 2021.

But wait, there’s more. The entire Marvel Cinematic Universe shifted, restructured, and besides WandaVision, punted entirely to 2021. Movies from Ridley Scott, Tom Cruise, Lin-Manuel Miranda were all delayed to 2021. Wonder Woman 1984 is holding out hope for Christmas 2020, but barring a miracle from Wonder Woman herself, it’s almost guaranteed to move. The only theatrical blockbuster that stuck around was Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and I haven’t even seen it yet!

The only studio that’s thriving is Netflix. The streaming service has been a juggernaut, releasing new films every week including some critically acclaimed gems like Da 5 Bloods and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Unlike most studios, Netflix will have the strongest Oscar contenders with Mank, Hillbilly Elegy, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom coming later this year. Plus, streamers like Hulu had a strong year with Normal People, Devs, and Dave, three of my favorite shows of the year.

2020 has been terrible and frankly, we all need a break. However, as Bradley cooper said in Silver Linings Playbook, “You have to do everything you can, you have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining.”

Maybe finding a silver lining is a bunch of horse shit, but one can’t look at the film slate in 2021 and not be filled with excitement. From January to December, every week will provide a high profile release. Maybe MoviePass should make a comeback in 2021 because there’s a high chance I’m at the theater four times every month. This stretch from April through the beginning of June will make it tough to pay rent.

All of these dates could still change if cities like New York City and Los Angeles keep theaters closed. However, I’m choosing to stay positive for now.

If No Time to Die moves one more time, I’m out for blood.

What 2021 movie are you looking forward to the most? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

‘You Set Me Up’: How The Social Network Crafted A Perfect Scene

The Social Network / Sony Pictures

To call The Social Network a perfect movie may be an understatement, or an overstatement, depending on your admiration for David Fincher’s 2010 iconic film about Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook. The Social Network is arguably the best film from the year 2010, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences disagreed with this sentiment when it awarded Best Picture to The King’s Speech.

Regardless of your personal opinion, there’s one scene that’s as close to perfect as you can get and it includes lines like “Sorry, my Prada’s at the cleaners along with my hoodie and my fuck-you flip-flops, you pretentious douchebag,” and “You better lawyer up, asshole, ‘cause I’m not comin’ back, for my 30 percent, I’m comin’ back for everything!” The scene is known as the “You set me up” scene, where Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) confronts Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) about having his share of Facebook diluted from 34% to 0.03%.

Watching this scene again is like watching a football team flawlessly execute a 12-play, 90-yard scoring drive. Minute by minute, line by line, the scene builds in suspense and anticipation as Eduardo and Mark go back and forth at each other at both the deposition and party. Eduardo and Mark are the Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan of the scene, but Justin Timberlake, Aaron Sorkin, and David Fincher play the roles of Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, and Charles Barkley to round out the Dream Team starting lineup. All five guys are in complete control of the scene.

First, there’s David Fincher, who’s as intricate as it comes behind the camera. Fincher is a perfectionist in every sense of the word. In the opening scene of the movie, where Erica Albright dumps Mark, Fincher had Eisenberg and Rooney Mara do 99 takes of this six-minute scene. Try doing something 99 times over the course of two days for your job and see if you still love it after. Just ask Jake Gyllenhall about his time on Zodiac. But if you trust Fincher’s process, he’ll push you to great heights, which usually leads to terrific performances.

Fincher may be the perfectionist behind the camera, but Aaron Sorkin is the maestro behind the script. Sorkin is known for his fast, rhythmic, and over-lapping dialogue that makes the scene play like a musical. It’s why Sorkin is one of the most unique and successful screenwriters of the last 30 years. One would think a director as precise as Fincher and a writer as detailed as Sorkin would clash like oil and water. It turns out that Fincher and Sorkin perfectly balanced each other out, and Sorkin’s script won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.

As previously stated, if you trust Fincher’s process, he can bring the best out of you. In Justin Timberlake’s case, his turn as Sean Parker is the actor’s best performance. Everything about Parker screams snake-oil salesman. In the film, Sean is the cool senior who’s showing off to the freshman so he can eventually get the younger kid to do his homework in exchange for popularity. Timberlake is so cool in this movie, and yet you want to punch him in the face throughout the entire exchange between Eduardo and Mark.

Finally, the heart of this scene is the friendship and betrayal between Eduardo and Mark. As Eduardo tells Mark in the deposition, “I was your only friend.” Eduardo’s teary-eyed and emphatic plea is so raw and full of emotion that the audience has to side with the former CFO of Facebook. In turn, Mark starts off as his usual cocky self, blaming Eduardo for his mistake, but Eduardo’s passionate speech eventually shakes Mark to his core. Behind the billionaire-genius is still a guy who wants to be liked. Eisenberg received a well-deserved nomination for Best Actor, but the fact that Garfield did not find himself in the supporting category is still a mistake 10 years later.

If you’ve never seen The Social Network, watch this one scene because it tells you everything you need to know about each character. Sean is manipulative and arrogant, but at the other end of his Facebook mug is an insecure coward. Eduardo is a deer in headlights whose pride gets the best of him, but he’s the film’s most sympathetic character. Then, there’s Mark, who was best described by Marylin Delpy, played by Rashida Jones. At the end of the deposition, Marylin said, “You’re not an asshole Mark. You’re just trying so hard to be.”

It’s up for debate as to whether Mark is a good guy or not, but what’s not up for discussion is the perfection of this scene.

What is your favorite scene from The Social Network? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

2021 Oscars Discussion, Vol. 1: The Year Of Netflix

The Trial of the Chicago 7 / Netflix

Say goodbye to the Emmys and say hello to the Oscars! Even though the Oscars won’t air until April 2021, the last quarter of 2020 signals the start of the Oscar season. Even in a year full of delays, postponements, and a pandemic, studios are still looking to acquire films at major festivals to bolster their awards’ chances. There’s one major studio that has stood above the rest and we all know who it is. Is This The Year Netflix Wins Best Picture?

Is This The Year Netflix Wins Best Picture?

2020 has been the year from hell for most major studios. Giant tentople franchises like Wonder Woman and James Bond have moved their release dates to the end of the year. Marvel and The Fast and Furious punted in 2020 and moved their major releases to 2021. If there’s one major studio that could survive a pandemic, it’s Netflix. Not only has Netflix survived, but it’s thrived beyond belief.

This past week, two major dominoes fell in the Best Picture race. First, West Side Story, one of the most anticipated films of 2020, was pushed back an entire year from Dec. 2020 to Dec. 2021. The iconic musical from Steven Spielberg, which was set to be a frontrunner for Best Picture, now moves to the 2022 Oscars.

When one door closes, another door opens, and in comes Aaron Sorkin. The second major domino revolves around Sorkin’s new film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, which released its first trailer this past week. Originally scheduled for a theatrical release from Paramount, the Chicago 7 was sold to Netflix for over $50 million and now, will be released in select theaters on September 25 before debuting on the streaming service on October 16. The film centers around the famous Chicago Seven, who led protests during the 1968 Democratic Convention. The cast is stacked and includes Oscar-winners Eddie Redmayne and Mark Rylance as well as recent Emmy-winners Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jeremy Strong.

All you have to say is “Aaron Sorkin wrote a courtroom drama” and this film would be up for awards. From A Few Good Men to The West Wing, the film and television academies love Sorkin in the courtroom. Critics agree as the first wave of reviews has been overwhelmingly positive with Richard Roeper calling it an “instant classic.” In terms of 2021 Oscars, nominations in Best Picture and Best Orginal Screenplay are automatic. Best Director for Sorkin also seems likely. In the acting categories, depending on how Netflix possessions each actor, Sacha Baron Cohen, Redmayne, Rylance, Abdul-Mateen II, and Strong will be considered in either Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor.

The Trial of the Chicago Seven is only one of the Oscar-hopeful films that Netflix has at its disposal. There is a world where Netflix could receive five Best Picture nominations with five established and well-respected directors behind each film. Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloodswill be in the mix due to its critical acclaim. Later this year, Netflix will release Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom from George C. Wolfe, Hillbilly Elegy from Ron Howard, and Mank from David Fincher, who hasn’t made a feature film since 2014’s Gone Girl. If there’s ever a time for Netlfix to win Best Picture, it’s this year.

Other News And Notes

-There have only been five female directors to receive a nomination for Best Director and only one, Kathryn Bigelow, has won the award. At the 2021 Oscars, there could be not one, but two women nominated for Best Director. They are Chloe Zhao for Nomadland and Regina King for One Night in Miami. Nomadland, based on the novel about a woman traveling as a modern-day nomad starring Frances McDormand, recently won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The last three films to win that prize were Joker, Roma, and The Shape of Water. All three films were nominated for Best Picture and Best Director (Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro won Best Director for Roma and The Shape of Water, respectively) so history is on Zhao’s side.

The other film, Regina King’s One Night in Miami, revolves around a fictional meeting between Jim Brown, Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, and Sam Cooke in a Miami hotel room in 1964. The film premiered to positive reviews, praising King’s directorial debut. King, an Oscar and Emmy winner, would be the first black female to be nominated for Best Director.

-Speaking of Netflix, the streaming service acquired Pieces of a Woman, a drama about a couple who must face their midwife after she loses their baby and faces criminal negligence. The performance that drew the most buzz was from Vanessa Kirby, who plays the grieving mother that must navigate fractured relationships with her husband, mother, and midwife. Kirby’s performances have been hailed the “performance of her career” by Variety. Expect a huge campaign from Netflix to elevate Kirby into the Best Actress category.

-Will I ever see Tenet?

Which film from Netflix has the best chance of winning Best Picture? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

2020 Emmys Predictions: Who Should Win And Who Will Win?

Watchmen

The Oscars may have been pushed back, but the show will go on for the 2020 Emmys on Sunday, Sept. 20. Like most parts of the country, large, indoor gatherings are banned so the Emmys will be a virtual show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

If you know what to expect on Sunday night, then let me know because I’m clueless. I understand why the show went virtual, but I don’t want an online event to dilute the meaning and value of the ceremony. The Emmys are the pinnacle of television awards and a win could literally change someone’s life. The entire world was dealt a bad hand due to COVID so I won’t hold the decision to air a virtual ceremony against the Television Academy. However, I pray the show errs on the side of caution and presents a serious show as opposed to an influx of silly hijinks. The ceremony can still be funny, but make sure the show continues to focus on the winners and their speeches.

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that this year of television was tremendous. In a year where television lost Emmy-giants like Game of Thrones, Veep, and Fleabag, shows like Succession, Schitt’s Creek, and Watchmen are ready to collect their hardware. It’s a wide-open field, especially in the dramatic categories. Below are a few storylines I’m keeping an eye on.

HBO Dominance

Goodbye Game of Thrones, hello Succession. The rich could get richer if Succession wins Outstanding Drama, which means HBO would have won five of the last six Emmys in the drama category. Succession is the favorite or second-favorite to win in six categories. The same can be said for HBO’s frontrunner in the Limited Series category, Watchmen, which received the most nominations of the night with 11. There’s a world where HBO wins every category it’s in for both Drama and Limited Series.

Can Paul Mescal Pull Off The Upset?

Normal People Hulu
Normal People / Hulu

No show emotionally moved me more than Normal People, Hulu’s brilliant series about young love and adolescence in Ireland. Led by two stellar performances from Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People became one of the most heartbreaking and accurate depictions of young love I’ve ever seen. Although Edgar-Jones did not receive a nomination for Outstanding Actress, Mescal and the show itself garnered nominations for Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Limited Series, respectively. It’s going to be tough to beat Watchmen for Outstanding Limited Series, but Mescal has an outside chance at winning Outstanding Actor. Mark Ruffalo is the favorite, but the show itself was not as critically acclaimed as Normal People, which works in Mescal’s favor. I’ll be pulling for Connell and his chain on Sunday night.

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Better Call Saul
  • Who Will Win: Succession

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (not nominated)
  • Who Will Win: Brian Cox, Succession

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Zendaya, Euphoria
  • Who Will Win: Jennifer Anniston, The Morning Show

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (not nominated)
  • Who Will Win: Kieran Culkin, Succession

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: R H E A S E E H O R N, Better Call Saul (all-caps are necessary)
  • Who Will Win: Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

*I’m obnoxious, but it’s a sin that Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and Rhea Seehorn were snubbed from their respective categories.

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: What We Do in the Shadows
  • Who Will Win: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Ramy Youssef, Ramy
  • Who Will Win: Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Issa Rae, Insecure
  • Who Will Win: Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Mahershala Ali, Ramy
  • Who Will Win: Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: D’Arcy Carden, The Good Place
  • Who Will Win: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Outstanding Limited Series

  • Who Should Win: Watchmen
  • Who Will Win: Watchmen

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Who Should Win: Paul Mescal, Normal People
  • Who Will Win: Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Who Should Win: Regina King, Watchmen 
  • Who Will Win: Regina King, Watchmen 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Who Should Win: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
  • Who Will Win: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Who Should Win: Toni Collette, Unbelievable
  • Who Will Win: Jean Smart, Watchmen 

What are your Emmy predictions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Dune Trailer Promises A Revolutionary, Beautiful Sci-Fi Adventure

Timothée Chalamet in Dune

2020 may be the year of epic trailers. Thanks to the pandemic, many blockbusters such as No Time to Die and Fast 9 pushed back their release dates to late 2020 or 2021. Most of the country still hasn’t seen Tenet, but trailers for Christopher Nolan’s movie and Wonder Woman 1984 are keeping the excitement alive. After today, add Dune to 2020’s epic year of trailers.

Without knowing anything about Dune, it’s tough to watch that trailer and not be excited about a sci-fi adventure. Based on the 1965 book from Frank Herbert, Dune is known as the “grandfather of science fiction.” It inspired popular franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek. I have not read the book (I’m hoping to change that before the film comes out), but from the summaries I read, it’s a story about family, betrayal, and the most valuable resource in the world, “the spice.” Below is the official summary from Warner Bros.

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

There are many reasons as to why I’m excited for Dune. First of all, who doesn’t love a giant sci-fi epic? However, the people involved, most notably the director and cast, are why my excitement is through the roof. Denis Villeneuve serves as director, which makes my confidence skyrocket. There’s a case to be made that Villeneuve was the greatest director of the 2010s. From Prisoners to Blade Runner 2049, that’s an unbelievable five movie stretch. Villeneuve is a master of beautiful visuals, high-octane action sequences, and tension-building scenes. You can count on all of those three aspects to be included in Dune.

Then, there’s the cast. To say this cast is stacked would be an understatement. Is loaded a better word? Whatever adjective you use, multiply it by ten.

To be honest, you had me at “Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.” But, if Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem play major roles in the film, I guess I’ll take that, too. Seriously, the 1994 Dream Team and Avengers have company in terms of the greatest cast of characters ever assembled.

Dune‘s text is considered sacred by fans, which is why it’s been such a difficult process adapting it to the screen. The most notable adaptation is 1984’s Dune from David Lynch. The film was a box office failure but has developed a cult following since. It’s a tough book to adapt because it’s hard to tell the entire story in one movie, which Villeneuve realized right away. In a panel with Stephen Colbert, Villeneuve said they will need to shoot two movies in order to cover the entire novel. The first Dune movie will only cover half of the novel.

Dune was scheduled to arrive in late December, but that’s up in the air since the trailer did not have a release date. In fact, Wonder Woman 1984 may move from its October release date to Dune‘s December date, which would push back the sci-fi epic to 2021. Whenever the film comes out, I’m all in. Take all of my Apple stock and convert it to Dune stock.

Are you excited about Dune? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Ranking My Favorite Movie Twists From Christopher Nolan

Tenet

There is no such thing as a Christopher Nolan movie without a twist. It’s his signature staple in every movie. As an audience, we sit in our chairs, waiting in anticipation for a moment that will both shock and dumbfound us. To quote a line from Nolan’s upcoming movie, Tenet, “Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.” Don’t try to understand the twists. Feel it, enjoy it, and then run home to Reddit to look at fan theories that attempt to explain it.

Here are my five favorite movie twists from Christopher Nolan.

5. Interstellar – Cooper Is Murph’s Ghost

After Interstellar, Nolan went back to the drawing board and thought to himself, “How can I create another mind fuck about time? I got it! The movie’s about time… but it’s in space!” What dreams are to Inception is what wormholes are to Interstellar. Frankly, Nolan could have just marketed this movie as “Matthew McConaughey goes to space,” and I was sold. Instead, Interstellar was a fun adventure that made me question the existence of time. In terms of the twist, it was more rewarding than surprising especially since we got a scene with McConaughey and Ellen Burstyn. Love you, Murph.

Warner Bros.

4. Memento – Leonard Is The Killer

I’m assuming people will take issue with this ranking because many believe it’s not only one of Nolan’s best twists but it’s his best movie. For me, the final scene still leaves me confused to this day so it’s not as satisfying since I can’t explain it. Memento‘s twist is still shocking to this day. I just rewatched the clip and I’m still in awe. For those who don’t know, Leonard is actually the real killer in Memento. Leonard accidentally killed his wife with an insulin overdose. He continues to hunt a “killer” because he can’t face the grief of his deadly mistake and devises plans to hun for a killer that doesn’t exist. Although most of us haven’t committed murder, we all make up our own truths in order to ignore reality. It’s a harsh, but scary truth.

3. Batman Begins – Ra’s al Ghoul Is Liam Neeson

When the guy you least expect turns out to be the villain, that’s when you know the twist worked. In Batman Begins, Liam Neeson was first introduced as Henri Ducard, Bruce Wayne’s mentor, and introduction to the League of Shadows. When Bruce saved his life and left him to heal, I knew he would be back in some way. However, when Ducard revealed himself as Ra’s al Ghoul, my jaw hit the ground. Neeson’s bad guy was the perfect appetizer for the iconic villain that would follow in The Dark Knight, the Joker.

2. The Prestige – Christian Bale Has A Twin

I always believe that two Christian Bales are better than one. The Prestige is one of Nolan’s best scripts, but it gets lost in the shuffle because of its location in Nolan’s filmography. The film that comes before The Prestige is Batman Begins and the film that comes after is The Dark Knight, with the latter universally recognized as one of the best superhero movies ever made. In other words, The Prestige gets sandwiched in between the first two chapters in one of the most important trilogies of the 21st century. The though the film gets lost in the shuffle, the twist is top-tier Nolan. Bale revealing himself to be a twin is the shocking twist, but the entire movie is a game of one-upmanship. From Tesla’s machine to the water tank reveal, The Prestige is full of surprising twists every 15 minutes, just the way Nolan likes it.

1.The Dark Knight Rises – Talia Stabs Batman

WHERE’S THE TRIGGER? I’m going to receive a lot of backlash for this pick, but hey, it’s my list and I can do what I want. Out of the five Nolan movies I’ve seen in theaters Nolan, Talia stabbing Batman was by far the loudest reaction from the crowd. Once Talia said, “But he’s not the child of Ra’s al Ghoul,” and punctured Batman’s suit, the sound of gasps filled the theater so much that you could barely he the next couple of lines. It may not be Nolan’s best twist, but it will always hold a special place in my memory.

What is your favorite movie twist from Christopher Nolan? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

In Defense Of We Are Your Friends Aka The Zac Efron DJ Movie

We Are Your Friends

Let’s go back to August 2015, shall we? Apple stock was teetering at $100, the Knicks still sucked, and I was unemployed. Oh, there was no global pandemic. More importantly, on August 28, 2015, Zac Efron shouted, “Are we ever gonna be better than this?” Five years ago, We Are Your Friends entered my life.

To some, We Are Your Friends is known as the “Zac Efron DJ Movie.” To me, We Are Your Friends is the one that got away. The film had the right ingredients to become a box office hit and cult classic. First, the film had Efron, who is aa likable of A-list star as you can get. At the time, Efron had moved on from his High School Musical days entered into millennial comedies. 2014 was a huge year for Efron as the actor starred in That Awkward Moment and Neighbors with the latter being a smash hit, earning over $270 million at the box office. Both of these movies successfully capitalized on Efron’s likability, good looks, and charismatic personality.

*Zac Efron Side Rant: Why isn’t Zac Efron the biggest star on the planet? He can do it all. He can sing, dance, and charm you to death. Plus, he’s a good looking dude (no shame). Girls love him and guys want to be home. His documentary series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron, was the second most popular show on Netflix in July. People like Efron. Many of his critics will sight his acting ability as the reason for what’s holding him back. Is Efron the next Daniel Day-Lewis? Absolutely not. However, when he’s put into movies that utilize his likability and charm like Neighbors and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, good things happen. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile proved he has some dramatic chops. I’ve always said that Efron is an A-list star that’s cast in the wrong movies. There’s no reason why Efron shouldn’t be the lead in a Netflix rom-com or buddy cop movie. We as a society have failed Efron. It’s time to do better.

The premise of We Are Your Friends was promising. Four friends from the San Fernando Valley trying to make it in the world isn’t an idea that reinvents the wheel, but I’m always intrigued by coming-of-age stories. However, following a DJ (Efron’s Cole Carter) as he navigates the EDM-scene in Los Angeles is an idea I haven’t’ seen before so We Are Your Friends had my interest from the start.

The film also surrounded Efron with successful character actors and cultural stars. Wes Bentley and Jon Berenthal are interesting character actors that have been in huge movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, American Beauty, Interstellar, and Ford v Ferrari. Though she had little acting experience, Emily Ratajkowski was a red-hot cultural figure thanks to appearances in the music video for “Blurred Lines” and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues. Plus, in a film about house music, the soundtrack has a few songs that are worthy of a spot on everyone’s pregame playlist.

What I’m trying to say is We Are Your Friends had the right formula in place. It had an A-list star, a promising idea, and a supporting cast of good actors and famous figures. I rewatched We Are Your Friends a few weeks ago on Netflix. I had a blast. The first hour was enjoyable and flat out fun. Between the four friends spitting jokes at one another to Efron’s PCP trip, the film didn’t take itself too seriously, which was its strength. It was a free-flowing coming-of-age comedy that made you want to party, get drunk, and dance. I’m not alone when I say that Efron’s performance is underrated. Watching him electrify the crowd and sway Ratajkowski reminded me of all the things I love about Efron. Frankly, Efron really tried to make this work and for me, his performance is the highlight of the film. In fact, the Hollywood Reporter named Efron’s performance as one of their favorites from 2015.

Unfortunately, not everyone shares my praise for Efron’s DJ movie. To say that We Are Your Friends did not connect with audiences is an understatement. In fact, I may have been the only person in America to see it in theaters. The film had one of the worst box office openings of all time with $1.8 million. I didn’t expect the film to bomb that badly, but I wasn’t expecting a huge box office success because of its release date. For a film geared toward the millennial audience, the end of August release date was a death sentence. Why would you release a movie geared toward high school and college students on a weekend where many of them were going back to school? If a college kid has the choice between drinking on the beach or going to the movie theater, they’re going to choose the beach ten out of ten times. I have no doubt in my mind that if this film comes out in 2020, it debuts on Netflix and becomes a massive hit.

Though the release date did the film no favors, my biggest problem with We Are Your Friends is its shift in tone three-quarters of the way in. We’re all having a good time until Squirrel died. I will never understand why the film decided to kill Squirrel. There was absolutely no reason for the movie to shift from a fun-loving comedy to a serious drama. It was an unnecessary decision that killed the film’s momentum. If the film wanted to shake things up, why not just have Squirrel overdose and go to the hospital? Then, you could have had the dinner scene between Squirrel and Cole take place in a hospital room. You still get your redemption arc without using an unnecessary death to motivate Cole in the last scene.

Despite the film’s problems, I will go to bat for We Are Your Friends. Give it another try and watch it with some friends. Laugh, don’t cry and enjoy Efron in his glory.

Do you like We Are Your Friends? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

What Movies Do You Love That People Hate?

Fear and John Carter

The “Good-Bad Movie” is a special piece of art. Sometimes, a movie can be so bad that it’s actually good. Other times, it feels as if you’re the only person in the world who loves and appreciates the true meaning of the film. In fact, these movies may not bad at all and receive unnecessary hate.

Not every movie can be The Godfather and that’s okay. I love plenty of movies that people hate. I call these my guilty pleasures. There’s no better feeling than flipping through the channels and picking up one of these movies during a great scene. This is exactly why I love cable and haven’t cut the cord. Loving certain movies that most people hate makes me feel part of an exclusive club. It’s like wearing a badge of honor, or from the opposite viewpoint, a badge of dishonor.

It’s more fun to embrace hatred than join the crowd. Here are some of the movies I love that people hate.

We Are Your Friends

I will go to battle for We Are Your Friends. In fact, I’m going to write an entire article on this film for its five-year anniversary next week. I’ll only touch on the “Zac Efron DJ movie.” I rewatched this movie for the first time the other night and I had an absolute blast. The first hour is so funny and enjoyable. From the soundtrack to the core group of friends, this film made me want to book a flight to California and eat sushi in the San Fernando Valley. Efron is such a charismatic guy. We know he’s A-list but still seems like an approachable and relatable guy. I’m arguably one of the only humans to see We Are Your Friends, one biggest box office bombs ever, in theaters. I had the same reaction in the theater as I did last Friday night. Once this movie decided to take itself seriously, it lost its magic. Killing Squirrel was the film’s downfall. Take out Squirrel’s death and the film becomes a staple in every college house in America.

Fear

Before Mark Wahlberg became the guy who does his job, he was an up-and-coming actor trying to distance himself from a rap career. After playing the bad boy in Basketball Diaries, Wahlberg went full stalker and pyscho in Fear, one of my guilty pleasures. Wahlberg plays David McCall, the mysterious older boy who dates Nicole Walker, played by a young Reese Witherspoon. Fear is a teenage erotic thriller that steals a few pages from Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. As evidenced by the gif, the film gets pretty ridiculous at times. However, Wahlberg’s over-the-top performance is why I keep coming back. At the very least, you can watch a film with two actors, Wahlberg and Witherspoon, who would dominate Hollywood in the future. My only advice: Do NOT watch this movie with your parents. If they stick around, tell them to walk out of the room when David and Nicole go on the roller coaster. You’ll never hear “Wild Horses” the same way again.

John Carter

Disney

Do you remember John Carter from 2012? It was supposed to be the next big franchise from Disney. It was supposed to be Taylor Kitsch’s entry into movie stardom as the Friday Night Lights alum traded a helmet and case of beer for superhuman strength and jumping. If the main character in Avatar stayed in his human form while receiving alien powers, the result would be John Carter. Not only did John Carter become one of the biggest box office bombs ever, but it nearly killed Kitsch due to the strenuous filming schedule. The only similarity John Carter has to Avatar is its price tag with a rumored cost of $350 million. The plot is flimsy, and frankly, loses its way especially in the second act. John Carter is not Citizen Kane, but it’s not as bad as its reputation makes it seem. Kitsch unfairly received the majority of the blame for the movie’s failure when in actuality, he gives a believable performance as a grieving war veteran who accidentally becomes a hero to a new world. Our guy Tim Riggins deserves better from us. Next time you have a chance to watch Kitsch save the kingdoms of Barsoom, give it a shot.

Dances with Wolves

Hear me out. If Dances with Wolves doesn’t beat Goodfellas for Best Picture, fewer people hate it. Goodfellas is the defining moment of Martin Scorsese’s illustrious career. It’s my favorite mafia/gangster movie ever and Scorsese should have walked away from the Oscars with Best Director and Best Picture. Instead, Kevin Costner’s directorial debut took home the top prizes of the night. Dances with Wolves is very long. There are multiple scenes that showcase Costner’s ability to shave and tidy up around the house. But, it’s an astounding epic western with beautiful cinematography. The plot is simple, but Costner’s attention to detail and visual direction elevates the film to grand heights. At a time when westerns were nowhere to be found, Dances with Wolves helped revitalize the genre. If you’ll excuse me, I have some buffalo to catch.

What movies do you love that people hate? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Casting The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Reboot

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there. I’ll tell you how there’s a drama reboot involving The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Corny puns aside, a drama reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is in the works. However, the show will take a dramatic twist as the series will have a more serious tone. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the reimagined series will “dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions, and biases of what it means to be a Black man in America today.”

The series will draw inspiration from Bel-Air, a four-minute viral clip from director Morgan Cooper that showcases what the show might look like in 2020. Will Smith will team with Cooper to adapt the series.

Remakes and reboots can be superb like the Ocean‘s series or problematic like the newest Robocop. However, Bel-Air could be interesting since the show is switching from a comedy to a drama. This got me thinking. Who will be cast in these iconic roles?

Here are a few rules I implemented.

  • No A-list stars: As much as I would love to cast John David Washington and Zendaya in every project under the sun, their schedules would make it impossible.
  • Can’t be tied up as a lead on another show: The Caleb McLaughlin Rule. I think Caleb McLaughlin will be in the running for the role of Will, but that all depends on his schedule for Stranger Things. For now, I’m keeping actors with commitments to big shows off the list. Smaller commitments on shows will be allowed.
  • Age range similar to character: We’re not making Will a 32-year-old who looks like a 21-year-old. Each actor has to be in the ballpark of when the original actor played the role, especially for the children. The adult roles will get more leeway.

Remember, this will be a dramatic reboot, not a comedic reboot. So I’ll be zeroing in on actors who would fare better in a drama.

Jharrel Jerome as Will Smith

John Lamparski/Getty Images

I’m calling my shot now. If Caleb McLaughlin is unavailable, Jharrel Jerome will play Will. Jerome first made waves for his role as Kevin in the Oscar-winning Moonlight, but his biggest role came as Korey Wise in Netflix’s When They See Us. Jerome has the dramatic chops to carry a show as evidenced by his Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Will Smith was a rising star with a ton of potential when the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air debuted. Jerome could be on a Will Smith-like trajectory if things break right for him.

Mekhi Phifer as Uncle Philip Banks

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Philip Banks is the tough, fair, and loving Uncle that shapes Will into the man he becomes. Uncle Phil is Will’s voice of reason and advisor. In this reboot, I’m expecting Uncle Phil to implement even more tough love. My pick is Mehki Phifer. Two words: Greg Pratt. Mehki should channel Dr. Pratt from ER as his inspiration for the role. Pratt was a natural leader but went against the grain at times, which ruffled some feathers with the higher-ups. He eventually became a mentor to many residents and practiced tough love throughout his tenure. The same rules can apply to Uncle Phil’s relationship with Will. Phifer is about the same age as Avery when he played the role so it makes for a believable Uncle.

Ruth Negga as Aunt Viv

The Irish Times

My cast can A-C-T Act. Ruth Negga is one of those actors that improves after every performance. Negga had small roles in World War Z and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but she showcased her true potential in Loving, which garnered her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Lo and behold, Negga’s schedule just opened up after the end of Preacher. Negga will have no problem being the matriarch of the Banks family.

Asante Blackk as Carlton Banks

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

The chemistry between Will and Carlton is one of the reasons why The Fresh Prince worked. It’s the second biggest relationship in the show behind Will and Uncle Phil. If Jerome plays Will, it would be beneficial to have an actor with an established rapport to play Carlton. Enter Asante Blackk, who played Kevin Richardson in When They See Us. Blackk currently has a pivotal role in This Is Us, but he’s not in the main ensemble just yet, which is good for this reboot. Just like Smith was Alfonso Ribeiro’s senior by three years, Jerome is Black’s senior by four years so there is already an older brother/younger brother dynamic.

Jordin Sparks as Hilary Banks

Yahoo!

In order to play Hilary, one must be beautiful, charming, and unintentionally funny. In the trailer, even though it’s a drama, Hilary still slips in a joke about shopping on Rodeo Drive. I have no idea if this actress loves to shop, but for some reason, Jordin Sparks reminds me of Hilary and I mean that in the nicest way. Sparks is probably too famous for this role, but if she wants to get back into television, she could be the perfect Hilary. Hilary may be unintelligent at times, but she’s so innocent and likable that it’s hard to find anything wrong with her. Who doesn’t like Jordin Sparks? That’s my point.

Quvenzhané Wallis as Ashley Banks

Black-ish

Is Quvenzhané Wallis too established for this role? It’s possible due to the fact she’s the youngest actress to ever be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars. Wallis was nine-years-old when she received an acting nomination for Beasts of the Southern Wild. Besides this performance, Wallis has been in less than 10 productions since 2012. Wallis would be perfect for the fiery and musically gifted Banks’ sister. Wallis was recently cast in Swagger, which chronicles basketball on the AAU circuit, but has no other roles in pre-production so her schedule theoretically checks out.

Clarke Peters as Geoffrey

HBO

Witty and reliable, Geoffrey was the loyal butler to the Banks family. He was also brutally honest and sprinkled in some wisdom to the Banks’ children. Who’s better at giving advice than Clarke Peters aka Lester Freamon from The Wire? After watching Da 5 Bloods, I realized I need more Clarke Peters in my life. Although Peters is about 20 years older than when Joseph Marcell portrayed the character, I’ll make an exception for the smooth, likable Peters, who will mold Will into a man just like he did with Pres on The Wire.

Who would you cast for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

17 Years Later, I Still Miss The O.C.

The O.C.

On August 5, 2003, Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), an intelligent but troubled teenager from Chino, gets arrested after trying to steal a car with his older brother in the pilot episode of The O.C. Ryan’s public defender, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher), understands that Ryan’s had a tough life and offers his business card if Ryan ever needs to call him. After getting kicked out of his own house, Ryan has no other options but to call Sandy, who lives in an extravagent house in Newport Beach with his wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), and teenage son, Seth (Adam Brody). Cue the music.

17 years later, I miss The O.C. In the pantheon of shows, The O.C. is never going to be compared to The Sopranos, The Wire, or Breaking Bad. However, it’s one of the most influential television shows of the 21st century. Without The O.C. popularizing the lifestyle of Southern California teenagers and their families, there’s no Gossip Girl, Laguna Beach, The Hills, Real Housewives. Without The O.C. creating a teen drama that also focused on adults, there’s no Friday Night Lights, Riverdale, or Desperate Housewives.

What made The O.C. special is the fact that they focused on relationships between both the kids and the adults. It wasn’t just a show for kids, about kids. The show was able to incorporate issues of alcoholism, wealth, and class seen through the eyes of both teenagers and adults. Creator Josh Schwartz created a primetime television, major network drama with soap opera elements that centered around teenagers. I’m on the record saying the first season of The O.C. is one of my favorite television seasons ever. I’ll go one step further by saying it’s as close to a perfect season as you can get. The show’s pilot is also one of my 10 favorite pilots of all time and I know I’m not the only one who shares that opinion.

Due to its overwhelming popularity, The O.C. became part of the cultural zeitgeist. The O.C. embraced pop culture and included these references throughout the series. From baggy jeans to flip phones and puka shells, The O.C. had a pulse on teenagers during that timeframe. The audience felt like they were growing up with Ryan, Seth, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton), and Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson). The show also provided iconic scenes and moments that were odes to popular moments in pop culture. Who could forget the upside-down spiderman kiss between Summer and Seth?

To all my girls and guys out there, I’m sure we all wished that “Fix You” would play at our high school dances. Am I right?

Speaking of songs, the music drops is as elite as you can get for a show. Schwartz and musical supervisor Alexandra Patsavas had an impeccable taste (and still does cc: Looking for Alaska) for pop, indie, and alternative music. The O.C. helped popularize bands like The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Rooney, Imogen Heap, and The All American Rejects. As I write this piece, I’m listening to Dice by Finley Quaye, which was featured on the New Year’s Eve episode where Ryan shared a kiss with Marissa just after midnight. Suck it, Oliver.

Like many shows, The O.C. ran into problems, especially during the third season. It pains me to bring up bad memories, but the third season is such a departure from what worked in all of the first season and most of the second season. Killing Marissa Cooper because Mischa Barton wanted to leave the show wasn’t a great decision, but their hand was forced. However, the fourth season channeled some magic from the earlier seasons and made Taylor Townsend into a formidable fourth character to Ryan, Seth, and Summer. This comment is out of place, but I have to honor the wonderful holiday that is Chrismukkah.

Teen dramas have tried to recapture the magic of The O.C. and some shows like Euphoria and Riverdale have found some success, but nothing will beat the teenagers of Newport Beach. “They don’t make them like this anymore,” is an overused phrase, but in regards to The O.C., it’s an appropriate response.

Welcome to the O.C., bitch.

Do you miss The O.C.? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.