Critical and Curious

Charisse L'Pree
  • 5.0 (8)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Bimonthly

Exploring pop "trash" through the lens of media history and theory, as well as representations of race, class, and gender with the Ambassador of Pop Culture, Bob Thompson, and Charisse L'Pree, professors at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

  1. 03/30/2024

    Critical X

    The final chapter in the Fast and Furious story has begun. Fast X, directed by Justin Lin, features the return of family members from the past, new family members like Lil B and Abuelita, and a new villain that mirrors Dom in a myriad of ways. We talk about what Jason Momoa brings to the franchise, the dramaturgical integrity across nearly a dozen films, and the increasing  absurdity of stunts and dialogue that has become a hallmark of Fast and Furious.

    48 min

  2. 09/02/2023

    Franchise Keanu Part 3: John

    In the third and final installment of Season 2 Episode 13, we discuss John Wick: Chapter 4. Although the film is the longest (169 minutes), John Wick only utters 380 words, a strategy by Keanu's own design revealing his vision for the character. We describe how – by removing himself from the dialogue and in some cases the screen all together – the audience is encouraged to question the simplistic discourse of media violence in some of the most historic Parisian locales. John, along with Ted and Neo, are clearly Keanu passion projects, and we should all be so lucky.

    58 min

  3. 11/29/2022

    Franchise Keanu Part 2: Neo

    In the second installment of Season 2 Episode 13, we discuss Keanu's reprisal of Neo in Matrix Resurrections (2021). We debate the goals of the film, both from the perspective of the audience as well as from the perspective of Lana Wachowski and Keanu Reeves. Although the film was widely considered the "worst" in , and what it means for the discussion of Keanu's agency. We talk about the new Thomas Anderson, the dichotomy of joy vs. profundity in the franchise, and connect the story to our other seasons.

    58 min

  4. 09/06/2022

    Who shot Romeo and Juliet? Spielberg's West Side Story (2021)

    In the first supplemental episode of Season 3, we return to where we began: West Side Story (2021) directed by Stephen Spielberg, starring Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, and Rita Moreno. We discuss the evolution of mainstream social awareness over the past 60 years and how this impacts the production and meaning of the film (a phenomenon Charisse refers to as "historical HD"), including the role of gentrification in racial and class-based strife, the attempt to rectify the racial offenses of the first film, and how Rita Moreno's return provides a nuanced take on the Romeo and Juliet story itself.

    1h 9m
  5. The Critical Saga

    03/19/2022

    The Critical Saga

    We return to Season 1 of our podcast to discuss The Fast Saga (AKA F9), which features the return of director Justin Lin along with Han and other characters from films past including Sean Boswell and Twinkie (F3), Stasiak (F4, F6), Queenie and Owen Shaw (F7, F8), and Cypher (F8) as well as John Cena as Dom's brother Jacob. We talk about the flashbacks that summarize 30 years of the Toretto family legacy, the self-referential awareness that Lin brings back to the family and the franchise, and the embrace of Roadrunner cartoon aesthetics. And magnets, we also talk about magnets.

    1 hr

  6. 09/09/2021

    Franchise Keanu Part 1: Ted

    In Part 1 of Season 2's Episode 13, we discuss the revival of Theodore "Ted" Logan in Bill and Ted Face the Music (2020). Bill and Ted continue to struggle as musicians, husbands, and now fathers, but it's clear that Ted's experiences have diverged from Bill's somewhere in the 30 years since their bogus journey, a sly but important narrative point. More importantly, we fawn over Billie and Thea, musicologists who are just as silly and lovable as their fathers, and their potential to continue the franchise.

    37 min

  7. 09/02/2021

    Cameo Keanu

    In this Season 2 supplemental episode, we return to our star study of Keanu Reeves with a focus on his cameos in Always Be My Maybe and Toy Story 4. Released within weeks of each other in 2019, Keanu's characters are deeply flawed yet delightfully unaware in both films, continuing his embrace of the beta male and commenting on mediated expectations. Along with brief mentions of Keanu (2012) and The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2021), we discuss Keanu's willingness and eagerness to laugh at himself.

    45 min
  8. F9 Post Movie Debrief

    Trailer

    F9 Post Movie Debrief

    Bob and Charisse went to see F9: The Fast Saga in the theater together this weekend, breaking an almost 18-month long quarantine from the theater. In a quick post-movie debriefing after the movie, we discuss why we think people need to see F9 and what excites us most. Charisse also made tote bags to celebrate the occasion. Comment with your favorite scene from F9 by July 9 to get your own Critical and Curious tote and stay tuned for the full episode!

    12 min
See All (40)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Exploring pop "trash" through the lens of media history and theory, as well as representations of race, class, and gender with the Ambassador of Pop Culture, Bob Thompson, and Charisse L'Pree, professors at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Information