Shower Beer Vol II: Stuff We’re Watching

What up fellow movie and television fans. If you've ever listened to our podcast you know that the second segment of our show is called our "protein shake" where each bro discusses things that are "in our cup" or what have we watched lately. Well recently I've been watching too much shit to bring up on just the podcast, so with the help of our creative team (Nate Thurmond) we decided to blog about a few of the things we've seen recently that we wanted to discuss that we might have left out. We're naming it after the greatest pre-gaming invention of the 21st century, the shower beer!

Here are the things I've seen lately as well as the link to their IMDB page if you want a little bit more info to see if it's something down your alley. In addition, I write Letterboxd reviews for all the movies I see without any spoilers, but I might go into a bit more detail in this blog than I do over there.

1. The Princess - (Hulu Original) I think Hulu has a pretty solid formula with their original movies. They seem to be able to keep the budget's from inflating too much, but still give us some decent quality in terms of the visuals. The Princess is by no means a great movie, but it scratches that itch for a streaming movie with some good action scenes. The plot idea is pretty interesting, and it knows what it is. Low rent fighting with a contemporary twist set in medieval times. I wasn't expecting much, but it was a fun romp for an hour and a half. It also made me want to buy a whip so if I show up next week missing one eyeball you know I ended up pulling the trigger.

2. Bullet Train - (Theaters) This movie was sitting pretty high on my list for 2022 when I left the theater, but as it sat with me I started to hate myself a little bit for loving it as much as I did. I think the film is so clever with it's humor and quips that I was like a goldfish seeing bright colors when I watched it. I do love movies that take place in one night, and on trains, so this had me interested since it was announced. Brad Pitt gets a little ridiculous as the film reaches the third act, and I feel like I've matured in the month and a half since I saw it to where now it's beneath me. (sips $8 a bottle red wine) I am a little ashamed at how much praise I heaped on this. That being said, when it hits digital (if it hasn't already) give it a poke if you're having a few beers with the boys.

3. Why Did You Kill Me? - (Netflix) I'm a sucker for true crime documentaries, and Netflix knows it because it was shoving this thing down my throat the second I logged in. Unfortunately, it's a pile of dog shit with an interesting hook, but little to offer after it gets you in the door. It sells itself as this social media man hunt for a murderer, when in actuality it's an investigation into a random gang shooting. I know I sound like a desensitized douchebag by saying that, and I don't mean it from the standpoint that this investigation isn't important, I just mean for the purposes of a documentary it's not telling a story it promises. Can't recommend this one unfortunately even for my big true crimeheads out there.

4. Choose Or Die - (Netflix) If "Why Did You Kill Me?" was a steaming pile of shit, this movie was the intestines of whatever creature created that pile of shit. I hesitated to even put it on this list because it's a very rare instance of a movie so bad that I couldn't even finish it, but since my fellow Bro on the pod Bryan Banner worships at the alter of Asa Butterfield who stars in this I had to take a cheap shot. This movie is atrocious. If you somehow finish it let me know how it ends and I'll buy you a beer.

5. Frisky Dingo S1 and S2 (2006) - (HBO Max) A little trip down memory lane for me as I remember watching this show late at night in high school and laughing my ass off. The episodes are twelve minutes long, and it's the stupidest fucking thing you will ever watch...yet I find it utterly hilarious. You will know half way through the first episode if it's for you, and if it's not I totally get it. If anyone out there has seen this show, hit us up because I can't talk about it with anyone else on the pod and we could have a great discussion over our favorite Killface moments.

6. Look Both Ways - (Netflix) If you've listened to the pod you know I can't help myself to a good romcom, and Look Both Ways has all the ingredients I look for. Doesn't embarrass itself with too many attempts at humor, and it's heart is where the real story is at. A really interesting framing device with taking it's main character at a pivotal moment in her life, and showing two realities branch from that moment and how each of them would have played out differently. Also great to see Luke Wilson in something again. I thoroughly loved this, and if you enjoy a good love story with an interesting wrinkle you will too.

7. Surface S1 - (Apple TV +) Definitely a slow burn here, and at times the juice doesn't feel worth the squeeze, but for the most part it sticks it's landing. Surface tells the story of a woman who awakens from a few weeks long coma with short term memory loss after an incident in which she fell overboard of a boat (presumably in a suicide attempt). After waking up she feels she is not being told the truth about the incidents leading to this event, and her husband and those around her all seem to be keeping things from her. Gugu Mbatha Raw (most recently from Loki) stars, and honestly she is the only performer in here who is really worth watching. The acting is definitely a glaring weakness, but the script delivers on most of the big reveals it teases along the way.

For more of what we've been watching be sure to check out our podcast episodes every week or so. If you have any recommendations on what I need to be checking out please comment below. See you at the movies!

-JH