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We're two episodes into Apple TV+'s new adaptation of Cape Fear, and we have some thoughts. The series, which dropped its first two episodes on June 5th, stars Javier Bardem as Max Cady, Amy Adams as attorney Anna Bowden, and Patrick Wilson as her husband Tom — a family now living under the shadow of a man they may have wronged. Scorsese and Spielberg are both on board as executive producers, which raises the bar considerably.

We came in with full knowledge of the source material. Mike read John D. McDonald's original novel, and both films — the 1962 version with Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, and Scorsese's 1991 remake with Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte — are part of the conversation throughout. What we were hoping to see is a reimagining that earns its place alongside those films. What we got, at least in these first two episodes, is something we're still trying to make sense of.

The issues start early. Javier Bardem's portrayal of Max Cady lacks the menace that both Mitchum and De Niro brought to the role in very different ways. His introduction at the fundraiser gala — rambling speech, handed the microphone without hesitation, no security in sight — was hard to take seriously. The violence skews gratuitous in a way that feels less like intensity and more like a substitute for it. There are subplots involving the teenage son, an online chat that's clearly not what it seems, and a mysterious masked figure in a green trench coat that we couldn't make heads or tails of. The series also appears to be steering toward a version of events where Max Cady may actually be innocent — which, if true, is a significant departure from everything that makes this story work.

We also noticed an Easter egg worth mentioning: Wesley Strick, who wrote the screenplay for the '91 film, shows up in a cameo as an ER doctor.

We're essentially split after two episodes — one of us is out, the other is holding on to see what episode three brings. We'll check in again if the series turns things around — and if you don't see another Cape Fear episode on the channel, that's probably your answer.

If you've seen the films, read the book, or are watching the series yourself, we want to hear from you — especially if you're a Javier Bardem fan and think he's bringing something to the role we're not seeing yet.

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We're back with our eighth installment of the Oh Brother Criterion Collection reviews, and this one is our fourth Coen Brothers entry — the 2001 neo-noir masterpiece, The Man Who Wasn't There, celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Billy Bob Thornton plays Ed Crane, a laconic small-town barber who speaks little but observes everything. When he discovers his wife Doris is having an affair with her boss Big Dave, Ed hatches a blackmail scheme to fund an investment in a dry cleaning operation — setting off a chain of events that spirals far beyond his control. It's classic Coen Brothers territory: crime, consequence, absurdity, and a richly drawn moral vacuum at the center of it all.

We break down the full cast, including Frances McDormand as Doris, James Gandolfini as Big Dave, a scene-stealing Tony Shalhoub as attorney Freddie Riedenschneider, a very young Scarlett Johansson, and the always reliable John Polito. We also dig into Roger Deakins' stunning black-and-white cinematography — shot in color and reprinted in monochrome — and some of the film's most memorable sequences, including a brilliant tracking shot through an apartment hallway, a hubcap rolling down a hillside, and UFO imagery woven throughout Dennis Gassner's production design.

On the Criterion side, we cover the full supplement package: the Coen Brothers' commentary track from 2004, a new 2025 interview with the brothers conducted by Megan Abbott, the Roger Deakins interview, and more. We also share our thoughts on whether the 4K upgrade is worth it if you already own the Blu-ray.

The Man Who Wasn't There was a box office non-event in its time — roughly $19 million worldwide — but by any other measure it holds up as a quietly remarkable piece of filmmaking. Worth seeking out if you haven't seen it, and worth revisiting if you have.

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The first Star Wars film in seven years is finally here, and we're breaking down The Mandalorian and Grogu with a mostly spoiler-free review. Dan saw it opening night, Mike saw it the night before we recorded, and we are not on the same page — which makes for one of our most honest conversations yet.

We cover everything: the opening weekend box office, whether the film delivers on years of buildup, how it connects (or doesn't) to the Mandalorian series, the new villain Rotta the Hutt, Sigourney Weaver's role, Pedro Pascal's presence in the film, the missing opening crawl, and what the production budget decisions may have cost the final product. We also get into what this film means for the future of Star Wars on the big screen — including the upcoming Ryan Gosling Starfighter film — and whether Disney and Lucasfilm have a real path forward.

If you're a Star Wars fan who just saw the movie and want to hear two brothers who care deeply about this franchise actually dig into it, this is the episode. And if you loved it, we want to hear from you — send us a message using the link in the show notes and make the case.

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