Podcast: Booksmart, Ma, Diamantino, and Rocketman

by Murtada Elfadl and Nathaniel R

 

Index (53 minutes)
00:01 Drama Desk Awards (plus Tony buzz)
10:00 Rocketman w/ Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Bryce Dallas Howard
25:40 Olivia Wilde's Booksmart w/ Kaitlyn Dever & Beanie Feldstein
34:00 The thoroughly bizarre Diamantino
39:10 Octavia Spencer in the horror flick Ma (plus Missi Pyle!)
48:00 Randomness: summer movies, Nathaniel's bday, upcoming Smackdowns

Mentioned (Extra Credit Reading!)
• Rocketman vs Bohemian Rhapsody Vulture Quiz
• New Yorker Ma Essay by Doreen St. Félix
• TFE Nathaniel's Review of Rocketman
• TFE Murtada's interview with the Diamantino directors 

You can listen to the podcast here at the bottom of the post or download from iTunes. Continue the conversations in the comments, won't you? 

Rocketman, Ma, Booksmart

Comments

[Richter Scale]

Murtada- while I get your issue with the framing device, the way I look at it is that the entire film is a subjective experience. We're not seeing the life of Elton John, we're seeing his own heightened perception on his life, and that alone makes so many things that would be annoying in other films more bearable (you may notice how every time we come back to the framing device, Elton John is dressed differently, less lavishly than he was when he came in, it'a part of the blending of fantasy and reality, and thus I can accept that he just walks in there expecting everyone to listen to his story). This is why I adored Rocketman, because it commits to being a subjective experience and goes over-the-top with it, because most of us are over-the-top in our way of viewing the world.

[Peggy Sue]

So I assume the Drama Desk members get free tickets to everything, right? How do you become a member?

I also enjoyed Rocketman specially how they dealt with the childhood years. The 'I Want Love' number had a Dennis Potter quality that I loved.

Julian Day must be nominated. At one point I thought "Wait, is Sandy Powell doing the clothes?" and that is a huge compliment.

[/3rtful]

Don't make me drink alone chant should be the Ma's lasting legacy at least.

[Sam]

I really enjoy this podcast. I adore Rocketman.
geometry dash free

[Jimmy]

Anxiously awaiting your thoughts on honorary Oscars.

[Sy]

Nothing about yet another straight dude being "brave" playing a gay icon? Representation should count for something here, right? Or is it only important when it's about race and gender?

[Rebecca]

I am looking forward to listening to this after I see "Ma" tomorrow - waiting until I've seen all the movies is too long to wait!

[NATHANIEL R]

Jimmy -- already posted

[Rob]

Thanks for discussing Rocketman. I fall more towards Murtada's POV on it, but appreciate that it is lightyears better in overall tone and actual filmmaking than the dreary Bohemian Rhapsody. And Taron Egerton is a total star!