Sweet & Condensed: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Scorecard, best birth year movie, a megastar goes indie.
We think it’s important to practice gratitude. Here is a list of what we are grateful for:
The People (that’s you 🥹).
So many movies being announced we can’t keep up.
AMC Stubs A-List (how else could we afford to see this many movies?).
Countless movies on countless streaming services (what exactly is Tubi?).
Zendaya & Paul Mescal existing.
The friends you get to talk to about the movies you love.
All things considered, we think we have it pretty good. 😌
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Temp These Takes: We defend our favorite movie from the year we were born.
Watchlist Worthy: The Rock’s latest conquest – indie films.
This week’s movie - “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”
Letterboxd Description:
FURY IS BORN.
As the world falls, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the wasteland, they encounter the citadel presided over by Immortan Joe. The two tyrants wage war for dominance, and Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.
Best Watched With
Fans of the Mad Max movie franchise. Friends who love action flicks and have never seen a Mad Max movie. This is a good time, bring the whole gang.
End credit thoughts
Chris Hemsworth's character, Dr. Dementus, poses the question "Can you make it epic?" This movie would be able to respond with a very loud, confident YES.
The first scene in the movie dives in with one of the most fun, actioned packed sequences we've seen so far this year (second only to Dune II's opening scene).
All of us considered ourselves fans of Chris Hemsworth walking into this movie, but we weren't ready for this magnetic, manic villain. He’s the comedic relief and the baby bother of the wasteland. Needing way too much attention and causing chaos because he doesn’t know the ways of the world and carves his own path regardless of consequence.
Anya Taylor-Joy’s mythical screen presence fits perfectly in a world made by George Miller. She does a great job picking up where Charlize Theron left off with the Furiosa character and we are more convinced than ever of her star power.
Miller stays true to the Mad Max Fury Road aesthetic, pulls back on the rock n roll, but stays on par, maybe even raises the bar, with the action. Furiosa dives deeper into the history and lore of the Mad Max world so fans of the franchise get something new, but if you've never seen a Mad Max movie, this is the perfect place to dive in.
We saw this in Imax and it was perfect for the amazing score, huge explosions, road wars and really loud engines.
This is the kind of movie that theaters were made for. Go see it on the big screen.
Best Birth Year Movie - Biggest banger from the year each of us was born
Sarah - The clear choice for best movie of 1992 is Beethoven. The perfect length of movie (1 hour 27 minutes); the ultimate mom (Bonnie Hunt creates the greatest crossover of Beethoven and Cheaper by the Dozen); and the canine version of Home Alone. This is a classic.
Josh - From "Hello Clarice" to "I'll be back," 1991 movies have iconic lines with unforgettable delivery. I know the BEST movie is probably Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but the BEST movie for me is going to be Point Break. As a California born, wild west, desert-raised dude, surfing and bank robbing just makes so much damn sense. "Utah, get me two!"
Kelly - I’m honored to share a birth year with Mrs. Doubtfire, the gem of 1993. Robin Williams has a lot of memorable roles but this one has to be one of his best. I remember watching it and being sad for the kids that Mrs. Doubtfire wasn’t real. She was more fun than the dad. “HELLOOOO DEAR” 🌝 iconic.
Eric - My parents said that at the ripe age of two months old I started to sleep through the night, and it’s no surprise that in October 1994, Pulp Fiction was released. Two month old me knew that the film world was in good hands due to this movie being released. I stopped crying, fussing, or needing a pacifier, because deep down (although I had never seen it), I knew that someday I would lay my eyes on this treasure.
New Mexico Drew - 1989 - what a time to be alive (Taylor Swift wasn’t the only gift given to humanity that year).
We had true blockbusters like Batman (Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson), Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Ghostbusters II, Back to the Future II, and absolute classics like Rain Man and Dead Poets Society (it's actually criminal how many movies I'm leaving off).
But if we are talking pound for pound, the most important, and loved movie for me from the year 1989, it has to be National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I will release a diss track on any Todd or Margo that disagrees.
What’s your take? Hit Reply or leave a comment below and let us know!
The Smashing Machine (2024) directed by Benny Safdie
Movie lovers have been talking a lot this year about how the independent entertainment company, A24, is breaking into popular culture. If there was any doubt, A24 just dropped The People’s Elbow on the discussion by landing one of the world’s biggest celebrities – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for their upcoming movie The Smashing Machine.
This is Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut, but he and his brother, Josh, are responsible for taking Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems) Robert Pattinson (Good Time) and putting them in some of the most anxiety-inducing situations on screen. Johnson is infamously known for how protective he is of his image on and off screen, so I can’t wait to see how this turns out.
Emily Blunt (who has been on one hell of a streak) is playing opposite of Johnson and is sure to land some haymakers (so to speak) herself.
The Rock is also going to have hair again and I don’t know if my psyche is ready for that.
-NMD
Letterboxd Description:
MMA fighter Mark Kerr struggles with addiction, winning and love during his peak era in the UFC.
Other movies directed by Benny Safdie:
Uncut Gems (2019)
Good Time (2017)
ICYMI - One Day: Episodes 1-4 #024
🎧 Listen to this podcast at Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch the video of this podcast on Spotify
In this episode, Eric and Josh discuss One Day, a limited TV series on Netflix.
They use the Jimmy V 1993 ESPY Speech – Did it hold them in thought, make them laugh, and move their emotions to tears — while interweaving the movie's narratives with their life narratives.
The description on Netflix for One Day reads: “A ‘flawless rom-com you’ll fall for, hard,’ this ‘highly bingeable’ love story features two ‘extraordinary’ lead performances, rave the Guardian.”
Three Milk Media Podcasts:
🎙️ Living A Stream: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
🎙️ The Medium Project: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
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1- I need to get to the movie theater ASAP
2- gosh darn we were born in some amazing years for film
3- this is my favorite newsletter