Screen Watching

Who says Hollywood is creatively bankrupt? In cinemas we have The Rock and whichever Chris it was that played Captain America teaming up with a bear to rescue Santa. And then on TV we have remakes of your grandad's fave show Matlock and that film & book he loved in the 70s: The Day of The Jackal.

Recorded at the crack of dawn, Dan and Simon talk about Jason Reitman's Saturday Night, new Fox 'drama' Rescue H-Surf, Robert Zemeckis' Here, and more.

The main reviews this week are new Netflix show Territory and the new Kate Winslet film Lee (which is in cinemas now). We also have some thoughts on Netflix's Woman of The Hour, Apple TV+'s Before, and the CBS/Paramount+ sitcom Poppas House.

This week on the podcast:

This week on the podcast we offer terrible opinions on:

It is a whole new Screen Watching podcast. We’re keeping it shorter and just cramming a whole bunch of thoughts on what you might be watching this week.

Is the new Francis Ford Coppola film Megalopolis as absolutely bonkers as they say? Dan and Simon braved a late night first screening at IMAX in Sydney to offer some 12:30am thoughts.

Also this week:

Oh, and also, Dan and Simon discuss the very future of this podcast as they get set to embark upon their new podcast project.

Riddle me this! What do you get when you give a The Batman (2022) supporting character his own 8-episode HBO drama?

This week on the podcast, Dan and Simon talk about the movie tie-in show The Penguin. But they also discuss new Demi Moore film The Substance, the new animated feature Transformers One, and new Netflix feature His Three Daughters.

Oh, yeah... they also talk about the dull-as Emmy Awards.

Join us this week for Simon Foster's review of Netflix's surprise hit Rebel Ridge.

Also, Dan Barrett takes a look at TV documentaries about TV shows with After Baywatch and Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos. He calls one of them 'honest'. Which one, you'll never guess. But the very fact this is a question suggests you will probably guess. And even if you are simple and can't, there's a 50/50 chance.

NOTE: It is bad marketing to call one's listeners 'simple.' Dan should know better than to have written that.

This week Dan and Simon went to the movies together and watched Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Does it live up to the hype? Do we wish Beetlejuice had just gone Hawaiian after all?

But that isn’t all for this week’s show. We also discuss:

And we do the usual birthday quiz and this week in history games.

Another big week on the podcast as we review Netflix’s new dramedy KAOSand new cinema release Bookworm.

We also argue over Fly me To The Moon.

And then we explore Development Hell - those movies that have been worked on and reworked for years and years in the light of the most recent The Crow film being released - finally.

It’s been a heavy week for streaming movies. We go deep on the American Pie wannabe Incoming (Netflix) and Prime Video’s action comedy about a lottery winner on the run from, well, everyone in Jackpot!

We also have a chat about the DNC broadcast, Alien Romulus, the Presumed Innocent finale, the final(?) episode of Evil, Homicide: Life On The Street, The Union, and The Killer (2024).

This week on the podcast:

Inspired by Jason Reitman's new behind-the-scenes of SNL film Saturday Night, Dan and SImon this week consider movies they would like to see based on real life behind the scenes activity on other TV shows. Expect some pretty offbeat suggestions.

Reviews this week include:

After years of going on about how the Apple Vision Pro signals the future of TV and movie watching, Dan and Simon both did a demo this week. What is the verdict? Was Dan suitably impressed? Was cinema enthusiast Simon Foster swayed?

Also, the guys review some actual TV shows and movies:

There’s really one big title to discuss this week, for better or worse. And that’s Marvel’s latest: Deadpool & Wolverine. If you’re looking for a spoiler-filled chat, we are here for it.

The very buzzy Longlegs (in cinemas now) gets a look by Simon and Dan, along with the not-at-all buzzy Apple TV+ drama Lady In The Lake.

It’s rather nice to have interesting films and TV shows to discuss.

This week:

We also go deep in our Intermission on what we would do if we took over Paramount.

Folks... big show.

Big reviews:

And we talk about new Australian anti-siphoning rules, discuss cheerleaders, and other less weighty topics.

Simon is without Dan this week. Probably for the best. He rabbits on about the new Netflix movie Trigger Point for a bit. Then he tells you about three movies he is excited about coming to the cinema this year. None of those movies have space laserss or laser guns that go ‘pew’ ‘pew’ ‘pew’. Not sure why he bothered.

Folks, it is a quiet-as week for a podcast without hot takes on Inside Out 2. But we make do. Simon finally relented and watched The Bear. Spoiler: He digs it. So, we talk about that on the pod too.

Yeah, we got the reviews.

Oh, and we have the Intermission:

And there’s What Else Have You Been Watching and our weekly quizZes.

This week on the podcast we go all over the place talking about Simon’s adventures in Hollywood this past week and the great opportunities there are as a pop culture tourist.

We also have reviews:

And we talk about Under Paris, Netflix’s new shark movie, and the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense.

The last few weeks haven’t been great for the US box office. There’s a lot of concern folks aren’t coming out to the movies anymore. The good news is that Dan and Simon have pooled their collective wisdom together with ideas on how to save US blockbuster cinema.

Because they’re generous, they are sharing their ideas on this podcast.

There’s also reviews of two, well, odd films:

There’s also a deep dive into what the guys have watched this week and the usual quizes.

In the spirit of watching things on screens, this week you will witness Dan and Simon reviewing:

The guys also take a deep look at the cinema experiences they prefer, discuss what else they have been watching, and do the usual weekly trivia games.

Yes. This is too much show.

It might be a quiet week, but Dan and Simon make the week’s reviews worth your while.

This week:

Dan also discusses why the upfronts were again interesting this year. Oh, and there’s the week’s birthday and history quizzes.

There were accusations this week’s podcast was impossible to hear. Like, it was fine on Spotify, but not on other podcast platforms.

Why was that? Some people are saying the illuminati.

This version of the podcast should be better for your earholes.

Know that this week on the show we review:

And then Simon starts talking about film festivals for some reason. Yeah, I don’t get it either.

May the 4th be with you all. This week on the podcast we delve into our Star Wars dominated lives and get a heat check on how we feel about it now.

We review:

We also do our weekly quizzes: This week in history and the Birthday Quiz.

This week, we settle into our armchairs to review:

Then Dan and Simon discuss their favourite movie stunts.

Our main reviews for this week:

In our Intermission segment:

What else have we been watching?

We put too many things into this week’s show.

Reviews:

Oh, and we also have a lengthy conversation about our favourite critics, a chat about Curb Your Enthusiasm ending, and much more.

This week on the ol’ Screen Watching pod.

Reviews:

We then celebrate a mid-year Festivus with our airing of grievances.

What even is the name of the new Godzilla film? Is it Godzilla x Kong? Shouldn’t it be ‘v’? Otherwise, it is kind of like Joannie Loves Chachi, which might actually be better?

Oh, this week we review:

This week on the podcast we review so, so many things.

Among the titles:

Also, we messed up the video this week, so instead of our faces, we have a running track of classic TV commercials (without sound). Enjoy?

This week on the podcast we have a post-Oscars hangover. So, we offer a few post Oscars thoughts, then get onto the business of reviews:

It’s our big pre-Oscars show as Simon & Dan discuss the nominated films that should win.

Oh, and there’s reviews too:

Big week. Big titles.

What? You doubt these claims? Get a load of these films & TV shows up for review:

And in our Intermission we talk about Peppa Pig’s Cinema Party.

This week on the podcast, you can expect the following conversational powerhouse moments:

Yeah, we have reviews:

And then we dip into the mailbag for a listener question about the state of Australian movies and TV.

This week on the podcast there are room elephants discussed and some reviews.

But if you think that’s all we discuss on the podcast, well, bub, you don’t know Screen Watching.

In this very special Groundhog Day edition of the podcast, Dan and Simon repeat all of their same conversational mistakes and opinions as they deliver their thoughts on:

This week on the podcast Simon & Dan go deep on:

There’s also some chatter of the Sydney Sweeney film Anyone But You - because that just makes for a good podcast.

Oh, and we have a chat about Oscars - are they still relevant?

In this week’s Intermission segment we have a chat about the best deaths on television, inspired somewhat by Dan watching a lawyer plunge to her death in an elevator shaft.

The guys also discuss the Emmy Awards this week. Were they a proper flop?

And reviews:

ATTENTION! Screen Watching is back for another week.

This week:

We take a deeper look into the work of Jodie Foster. Oh, and there is discussion about The Holdovers (in cinemas), Criminal Record (Apple TV+), Nighthawks (Check your grandads vhs collection, kids), and more.

Dan and Simon kickstart 2024 with more inane bickering. Oh, and they review TV shows and movies too.

Up for review:

They were going to discuss the new Nicholas Cage film Dream Scenario, but got distracted. That’ll probably be next week - ignore the odd reference to it at the start of the podcast.

Oh, and the two look ahead to 2024 and offer some predictions and identify trends to watch out for.

Simon Foster and Dan Barrett talk about TV and movies on the Scren Watching podcast. It is mandatory that they release an indulgent podcast of their top 10 movies of the year. It is so indulgent that each of them offer a list of 10 each.

Understand that these are the only best movie lists you will need in 2023.

Look, he’s Woody Allen.

Simon chats with him about his latest film Coup de Chance.

Each week on the podcast Dan and Simon offer their thoughts on the new TV shows and movies of the week. They then occasionally get into petty squabbles as they work through their thoughts.

But what happens when each come to a table to proffer their lists of the definitively best TV shows of the year? Did you expect this to be a respectful, safe space conversation?

It’s Christmas, which means the focus is on the big holiday release movies this week.

There’s also chatter about Teri Hatcher, LA Law, and Highlander 2, among other things.

We’re edging towards Christmas, but that isn’t going to stop the reviews and baseless opinion:

And of course we do our weekly quizzes and other nonsense.

Dan and Simon take to the microphones.

We review:

Also discussed: Grand Theft Auto VI, Godzilla Minus One, Merry Little Batman, and Norman Lear

It’s the end of the world as we know it. And we feel fine!

On the pod this week we discuss our favourite end of the world movies. Oh, and reviews:

This week a new free streaming service launched in Australia. It’s called Brollie and it has a good collection of arthouse and cult movies. Dan and Simon offer their thoughts on the service and each choose some recommendations from the library.

Also… reviews:

Napoleon (In cinemas and soon on Apple TV+)

Fargo season 5 (SBS On Demand, or Hulu in the US)

The Royal Hotel (In cinemas now)

Squid Game: The Challenge

This week Dan and Simon are joined by a different film critic named Simon. It is Simon Miraudo who has just written the really fantastic Book of The Banned: Devilish Movies, Dastardly Censors, and the Scenes That Made Australia Sweat.

Also on the pod, we have reviews. This week:

We kick off the pod with an extended chat about the resolution of the SAG-AFTRA strike and discuss what happens now. Then we dive into reviews:

This week in the Intermission Dan and Simon attempt to fix Marvel with big brain ideas.

Oh, and then there are weekly reviews of NCIS Sydney (Paramount+), Five Nights at Freddy’s (In cinemas, Peacock), Lawman: Bass Reeves (Paramount+), and Fingernails (Apple TV+).

You will be SHOCKED by our thoughts on the new Martin Scorsese film Killers of The Flower Moon (In cinemas now, but on Apple TV+ sometime soon-ish). You will be CAPTIVATED by what we have to say about Fellow Travellers (Paramount+). You’ll be (in fairness) MIDLY INTERESTED in our thoughts on Bodies (Netflix). And then you will be IN A STATE OF UNBRIDLED NOSTALGIA as we discuss the Wiggles documentary Hot Potato (Prime Video).

Mark Humphries from the TV joins Dan Barrett from Screen Watching for a very loose and casual chat about the show Upload (Apple TV+), he talks up the underrated show From (MGM+, Stan), and there’s a lengthy discussion about the changing nature of what is funny on screen nowadays.

This week on the podcast Dan and Simon review:

Inspired by the Frasier revival show, Dan and Simon discuss some of their favourite mid-weight/mediocre sitcoms of years gone by.

This week on the show, Dan flies 100% solo on the worst week possible. With no new shows of note to discuss, he discusses what he watches while laying on the couch sick this week. It is an eclectic and weird grab bag of films and TV-related fare.

Oh, and then Dan carries on and on about why late night TV is no longer any good.

I really hope you enjoy asides and digressions in the middle of a conversation about new movies and TV shows, because gosh oh golly is that what takes place in this episode where Dan is joined by Melbourne-based critic Mel Campbell.

The two discuss:

WARNING: Podcast includes some potty language.

This week on the ol’ podcast Dan reviews the biggest TV show of the… week, I guess. The John Wick spin-off The Continental. Oh, he also talks up one of his favourite shows of the year, the new Apple TV+ show Still Up.

Simon reviews two movies that you will likely never hear mentioned again after this podcast is done: Liam Neeson‘s latest Retribution, and a horror film called It Still Lives Here.

Last weekend was the 30th anniversary of the debut of The X-Files. Your two cool podcast hosts Dan and Simon look back at the show, discuss why it was such a huge zeitgeist hit, and recount favourite episodes.

Also, we have our reviews:

Screen Watching is available as audio on your favourite podcast apps, but you can also watch it as video on Spotify and YouTube.

This week on the show, there are reviews:

There is also the weekly Intermission chat (this week we travel time/space to interview plumbers about I love Lucy, or something), This Week in History, and the Birthday quiz.

This week we offer some thoughts on who the promising young actors are and which older actors just need to give it up.

Oh, and we offer some thoughts on the latest TV shows and movies:

This week on the podcast Simon and Dan each list their most unpopular opinions about movies. Will it get the two of them cancelled? One can only hope.

In terms of reviews, expect conversation on:

Up for review this week:

With Strays in cinemas now too, Dan and Simon ask: “Who’s a good boy?” And go through their top 5 dogs of film & TV.

Another week, another Screen Watching.

We have the reviews:

We have the big news of the week

And there’s the usual On This Week in History and Birthday quizes.

This week we have the reviews of the week. We discuss:

In this week’s Intermission segment, Dan deepdives into what FAST TV is and details the announced launch of Pluto TV in Australia.

Each week Screen Watching goes out with a video version. You can find that on Spotify and YouTube. As of this week there are new opening titles. How very exciting.

We have reviews this week.

In our Intermission this week, Simon details the upcoming Science Fiction Film Festival he is curating across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Details and ticket bookings can be found at https://www.sydneysciencefictionfilmfestival.com.au

This week on Screen Watching, there are the usual reviews:

As a special treat, Dan also argues with SImon why he won’t see a movie based on Barbie IP.

Oh, and then Dan and Simon expose their unwatched TV and movies in their watchlists during our weekly Intermission segment.

This week Simon and Dan shamelessly rip off the Movies To Be Buried With with Brett Goldstein podcast format to discuss their own lives with film.

ALSO: Dan’s thoughts on Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning: Part One.

This week on the podcast Simon reviews the latest Mission: Impossible movie after attending a lavish media screening earlier in the week. Dan then reviews Gold Diggers (ABC Australia) and The Horror of Dolores Roach (which he watched in his house, like an everyman). Simon also reviews the new animated Netflix film Nimona, but he doesn’t disclose where he watched it.

Simon then asks Dan whether the days of the traditional media launch event are over and somehow expects that he will reply that things should stay exactly the same and that there is no better platform to launch a movie to twentysomethings than the TV news.

This week on the pod Simon reviews the new Indiana Jones film Dial of Destiny. He then chats with Dan about all things Indiana Jones as the two discuss their favourite elements of the previous Indiana Jones movies.

This week on the show Dan and Simon discuss whether superhero fatigue is really a thing.

Also, reviews:

In this (slightly late) podcast episode Dan and Simon review some movies and TV shows:

Yeah, it’s a bit quiet for new TV shows this week.

This week on the podcast Dan and Simon take a look at beloved movies and shows from the first 100 years of Warner Bros. They also review this week’s movies and TV shows:

It is a very special episode on the podcast this week as Dan and Simon go crazy for a new Spider-Man animated film - could it be a Best Picture film? The two also talk about a new Netflix film with a very saucy title.

This week’s reviews:

Intermission:

Dan and Simon discuss highpoints of masturbation on the screen.

This week on the podcast Dan gets his cranky pants on about just about every show and movie discussed on the podcast. And then in the Intermission Dan and Simon ask what shows need to be put out of their misery and ended ASAP.

Up for review:

This week Simon takes a bold stance against reviewing Fast X. And Dan says ‘Good for you, pal”.

But then they actually do review some films and TV.

There’s our weekly Intermission segment where we ask what families we’d follow in a Family Stallone style reality show. And then Simon starts betraying the entire premise of the segment by pitching reality shows about foreign embassies.

Oh, and there’s also mentions of Smurfs at some stage.

Expect a lot of discussion around Muppets this week on the podcast. So, so much discussion.

Reviews include:

It’s a monster week for reviews this week with one especially huge Marvel movie at the cinema and some very big titles debuting on TV. Just two notes for this episode that I (co-host Dan Barrett) think are hugely worth making mention of:

1. We review both the TV show Slip and the movie Beau is Afraid. Both involve Zoe Lister Jones and somehow Dan neglects to mention this fact during the podcast. What a fool.

2. The review for Beau Is Afraid does involve some minor-ish spoilers. So, keep that in mind. The film is a few weeks into release, so if it sounds interesting, perhaps go see it pretty soon.

This week Dan and Simon review:

Dan and Simon (that’d be co-host Simon Foster) also discuss the WGA strike - what do the writers want and how will the strike impact what we see?

This week on the podcast, Dan and Simon roll up their sleeves and get busy with the reviews:

In this week’s intermission, Dan and Simon go on to consider beloved movies from the past with a very specific idea they wanted to put forth and how well does it hold up today.

Food dominates this week’s pod with Dan and Simon reviewing the food and drink heavy Drops of God and Hunger. It is all the excuse they need for this week’s Intermission to be about their favourite food shows on TV.

Up for review:

This week Simon and Dan get into a heated conversation about a poorly written Variety article that claims the box office is roaring back. Dan argues that there are still too many signs of ill-health. Oh, and then later Simon makes erroneous claims that new Jackie Chan film Ride On was a blockbuster release (Yeah, it was number one on the charts in China, but only pulled in just over $11 million).

On the podcast this week we eventually get to reviews:

It is actually too much show. There’s the HUGE reviews:

And THEN, Dan and Simon take a look ahead to the huge April to June releases ahead. What are they excited by?

Plus they do the usual quizzes and other regular business.

In a shameless bid for attention, Simon and Dan discuss movies that focus on sex. How have these movies shaped our two hapless critics as movie viewers?

They also get into the filthy business of this week’s reviews:

Another week, another Screen Watching. This week Dan and SImon embrace thrillers with reviews of:

The two also pitch spin-off TV show ideas to each other in our weekly Intermission. Which of these shows would you greenlight?

Oh, and there’s the weekly birthday quiz and This Week in History quiz.

First of all - apologies about the audio in this episode. Dan had to record via Airpods and the results were not good. It’ll be better next week.

If you persevere with us, you’ll hear our thoughts on the new Shazam film, the latest instalment of the XEU with Pearl, and TV shows Swarm, Lucky Hank, and Class of 07. If it wasn’t for the audio, it’d be a pretty good episode.

Yr ol’ favourite gumshoe podcasters Dan and Simon are back this week to solve the mystery of the HBO show that is returning after 3 long years. They also get all stabby with the latest instalment of a slasher franchise. 

And in this week’s Intermission, the guys discuss the Academy Awards this coming weekend.

Reviews: 

We’re working on improving the video and sound of the podcast. Enjoy that as Dan & Simon discuss:

Dan and Simon both watched Cocaine Bear. It's a story as old as time: Bear meets bag of cocaine. Bear consumes bag of cocaine. Bear goes on a murderous rampage as she looks for her next hit.

Does it bring anything new to the Bear vs drug dealer genre? You will only find out if you listen to THIS podcast. No other film sites are talking about this highly anticipated movie.

Too much show. Too willing to cram it into a pod.

This week Dan & Simon discuss the new Ant Man movie, the new Marc Maron comedy special, the latest Sarah Polley film, the newest Apple TV+ show that makes Dan ask: "Shouldn't this be a movie instead?", and two films Simon has found that Dan knows he has never heard mention of before, nor will again.

Oh, and we slam a filmmaker who gets precious about her film being screened with ads in it.

Boy oh boy is it a quiet week on the ol' TV front. Dan and Simon trawled through what was available and discussed:

Dan and Simon also talk about representations of love on the screen.

What else is there to know? we Watched: Three Pines, Knock At The Cabin, Cunk on Earth, Shotgun Wedding, Paris 13th District. And then in this week's middle bit we discuss the flaws in the bid to force international streamers to pay for Australian content.

This week Simon and Dan have reviews:

Dan and Simon also discuss a movie about birding, the Academy Awards, and so, so much more.

Simon has returned from his Christmas holiday to the Nordics, which means Dan & Simon roll up their sleeves to discuss the important business of screen reviews. This week:

It's an all-film special this week for no good reason. 

(Actually, the reason is that Simon is travelling through chilly Nordic nations right now and we pre-recorded this back in early December).

But we also talk about the big changes we are expecting in TV and film in the year ahead. Hashtag industry talk.

It is the start of a whole new year of Screen Watching. And we are starting the year by looking back at the last one. Hopefully you’re not too tired of Best TV of 2022 lists, because we have another one for you.

What did Simon select? What did Dan choose? The tension is high in the air.