Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:00

Hi, I'm Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic, and this is the Reel Critics Network. I got my co-host Kathia Woods in the house. Kathia, how are you?

Kathia Woods: 0:09

Good. It's been a minute. You were out here traveling the world, so people were asking, what's going the po? I said, Reggie is out here, globe popping. I have to wait for him. To come back. Back and then, we can get back to the business' hand. Are you done glow popping?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:22

Look, we did some traveling, but we didn't do international traveling. And we gonna get to that in a minute. That's gonna be one of the things. But before we do what was that song? Back together again? Yeah, back together again. We got KB in the house. Hey kb, how you doing?

Kay-B: 0:39

Hey. Doing great. Doing great. Lovely. We are finally reunited the trio. It's been a journey And here we

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:47

go. That's all right. Well, that's a song to reunited and it feels so good. So it's a

Kathia Woods: 0:52

miracle. She came back. You've been so unwelcoming.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:55

Oh wow. Oh wow.

Kay-B: 0:58

Reggie has been, he put on his hospitality voice and, said, let me see if she can come back. And I said, absolutely. Reggie, since you're using your kind voice, but the realty is that I came here for Donna.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:10

Oh wow. Wow. And that's okay. That's okay. Because she is deserving. Deserving. All held to the queen. All held to the queen. I know,

Kathia Woods: 1:19

but whose fault was it? I think, next year we should reach out to Donna. This way. This way. We'll know that you'll get to Tiff.

Kay-B: 1:28

Yes. I mean, literally I, on the backend we have to have a separate sidebar because, we were both drill it into Reggie like, now what do you mean you're not going to Tiff? So, here you go. I know,

Kathia Woods: 1:38

I think we need to just have Donna fill out the paperwork. That's what I think. I don't know what read you put in the paperwork.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:46

This is what I think is that one person actually visited Chicago to hang out and we did that. Another person just flew through Chicago'cause they had business that they were doing. So it's okay for my two friends to think hum. There is an international film festival in Chicago. Huh? When is that? Oh, that's coming up in October. You guys could one year, just one year come to Chicago for the Chicago International Film Festival and that means that Kevin and I could get a moment on our own. So I'm just saying,

Kathia Woods: 2:29

listen, first of all, if you said, well, not the way the Bears are playing, but he might still come with just for the atmosphere hanging out. And since I told him about the wonderful food tour you took me on he'll come through with that. But, yes. I said to you, I have to get back to Chicago.'cause one thing I don't like k Bs in Chicago and a BJ convention is I always feel like I'm doing like a club drive through. Because you're, you are going, you're trying to catch up with all your NABJ friends that live all over the country. Then you have responsibility. I have my responsibility as co-chair person. So you gotta go to the president's reception, you gotta go to this person's reception. You gotta support the different task forces and support you. And before you know it, it's like, oh, okay. But I knew Reggie did my panel. I said I have to be, return to favor. And I said, my flight is not until later. Later I am done here. We are going to hang out. From this time to this time and still have ample time. And then we did all of that. Come to find out my flight was delayed. Always. I was like, we could have hung out. Really hung out. You know what I mean? Get to the airport.

Kay-B: 3:38

I'll say, there's never a time when my Chicago flight is not delayed. I truly yet to have an on time departure from a Chicago flight. Not Reggie's fault, but it's true every single time. It's

Kathia Woods: 3:48

And at the time, oh, not O'Hare, what's the other one? Midway didn't have a lounge. They finally got a lounge. So I'm sitting in these very uncomfortable chairs. I said this is for the birds.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 3:59

Well, well, with that, I am very happy that you both are here. I want to say that this show we gonna be talking about from the red carpet glamor of the Emmys, because you guys watch so much more TV than I do to the festival circuit. Just coming off of Tiff and I'm getting ready to start the Chicago International Film Festival to hopefully talking about some Oscar front runners, given the fact that you guys saw some stuff that I haven't seen yet. So we're gonna cover what you guys have been talking about and things that you haven't seen yet and just need to know about. So we gonna get started. And the first segment is what's on my Mind and what's on my mind is the Emmys. I need you two to talk about the Emmys and I'll give you the first shot, Katia, because I know. Just bring up one of your issues'cause you got 15 of'em that you want to talk about. I wanna make sure I get to the KB as well. So what's your overall thought about the Emmys?

Kathia Woods: 5:00

I was happy about Trammell and Stephen Graham. I've been singing Stephen Graham's phrases for the longest time in case people are new here. Stephen Graham was also the same guy that had the short set on and the Irishman. And some people to this day, mind is blown that he is not Italian, right? That whole scene between H Al Pacino, but Al Pacino is like, what are you wearing? He's what do you mean, what am I wearing? It's Florida that, you wear. And he's like, you wear shorts to a meeting. So he really is one of those actors that is a character actor that is finally stepping up more upfront and he can play anything. And a lot of people were very surprised that he's mixed race. That man has let the world know that he's not 100% white, that he's got black running through him and that they're Jamaican. And if you don't like it, you can kick rocks and flip flops. So I do love that, man, to doubt. My one thing is, I think my criticism with, the Emmys as it is with a lot of the TV guilds. We don't watch enough diversified tv, the same things. This is finally the first year where the bear didn't dominate the pit kind of like snuck in. But on the comedy side, you cannot tell me that we need to diversify our watching. And I know it's hard between streaming and network tv, like I did a whole TV dispatch before I went to Tiff. But I do think that we need to do it. I think we're gonna have some interesting changes. On the CCA side because a lot of us are finally allowed to have dual membership after I campaign for us.'cause rightfully so. I'm like, I'm in TCA and I cover film and television and I have more than 100 clips that I can show you to prove that I cover both. Hence my, I don't sleep very often. But the point still is that I think we need to diversify our television watching. Having said that, my friends will keep asking me, why doesn't anything on BET get nominated? And I go, beloved. I'm for my black people, but not everything we create is excellent. I'm happy for Kev on stage, but baby, what he's creating is not Emmy worthy. So, other than the era.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 7:09

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But see, here's where I'm, I'm gonna push back, is that your statement was not everything we create is Emmy worthy. Not everything they create is Emmy worthy. Sure. And given that fact,

Kay-B: 7:22

not everything is awards worthy, I think. No, exactly. That's what I'm saying. Correct.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 7:26

Which, which makes a lot of sense. I, I. But this is the thing that that, that bothers me about how people will just pigeonhole the bets and the TV ones of the world and say that nothing on those stations is worthy. And so when you talk about diversifying our watch. Our people need to diversify what they're watching in order for us to move in. But I'm gonna ask KB to get in here.

Kay-B: 7:59

Yeah. I mean, I will say that the Emmys were okay. I mean, they were just fine. I feel like they weren't exceptional. And they weren't terrible, but they were okay. I didn't really necessarily like the the deduction of the money for the Boys and Girls Club based on the speech. I was like, well, we can kind of lose this bit. I think that particularly wasn't for me. Just in terms of winners. I mean, I feel like it skewed how it always does, which is typical. I mean, it's something that we see all the time when people ask me, a show that I really wish would've been considered is forever. I think Forever is a brilliant show on Netflix by Mara Brockel. I really think that is. An exceptional show that should have been considered. I also think from a limited series standpoint Washington Black was great, and I do think that they should have been considered as well. So there are a host of other television shows that could have been nominated. Now I'm saying this as someone who is a fan of the Pit. I mean, I do think the Pit is really great tv. Again, like Trammell for Severance. Absolutely. Hands down. But I do think there are a lot of things that are overlooked Now. I will say I was happy about the Kathy Bates nomination. I think Matt Locke is a really smart show, and so I, I think it's worth it. I do wish Sky p Marshall had been nominated as well because I do feel like the show really doesn't work without the two of them in tandem, if that makes sense. Yes. And also shout out to Sky as well, because I do think that her outfit was so unique. It was beautiful. It looks really great on her from a fashion standpoint as well, but. Yeah, so I think that her and Kathy really worked kind of hand in hand on the show. So I would have liked to see Skye get a nomination as well. And I am really grateful that Sterling got a nomination for Paradise. Paradise is a really good show with lots of twists and turns. It's really interesting that, it didn't hit at the Emmy's in the way that I thought it would.'cause I actually thought, while watching it, that it was going to be an Emmy's darling. And so that is something that was kind of surprising to me. I knew the Pit would be an Emmy's darling. It's just the type of show that those, voters really liked. But it's also a really great show. I've been a Noah Wiley fan since I was a little girl, and a lot of people know that I started my podcast, which is currently in production on season two, but I started it because of er and because of how much I loved that show growing up. And, I'm not entirely sure my parents should have let me watch it, but they did and it was great. And so, I'll always be a fan of Noah Wiley and what he's doing and I've heard nothing but exceptional things. In front of, behind and behind the camera, excuse me, on the pit and the work that he's championing around that as well. So shout out to him. But yeah. Yeah, I mean, I feel like the Emmys was exactly what I thought it would be. Again, they did to Kathia's point, I guess, kind of replace the bear in some ways with the pit and adolescents with those two kind of being the heaviest hitting winners this year. But yeah, and also we just really have to get these categories together.'cause baby, I rarely laugh at the bear. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy it, but I rarely laugh and

Kathia Woods: 10:44

it just, it's not a comedy. This isn't, yeah.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 10:46

I, before you get I'm gonna give you the last word, Kaia. But before, before I, I do that, I wanna give you the last word on this. I agree that the bear is not a comedy. I've never, I'm like, I don't see anything funny. And so people say, well, it's a dark comedy. It's so dark that I'm still trying to, I'm fishing through the room trying to find the comedy. So my question before we give Katia the last word on the Emmys is. I could have swore KB just said, I started my podcast and I didn't really hear what the name of that podcast is, so other people can check it out. So could you do a repeat for me, please?

Kay-B: 11:25

Yeah, no. So I started my podcast on call with KB because of my love of medical dramas and medical TV shows. And it really started with my love of er first and foremost, which then morphed into my love of Grey's Anatomy, which season one was on Grey's Anatomy and yeah. Yeah. So it's a show that really kind of bridges scientific fact and really odd cases and figuring out if these cases can exist in the world with really just breaking down and chatting with friends and other viewers who love the shows that we cover. Just. Drama Juice, what the relationship, drama, what's everything that's happening. So yeah, so I mean, er was a heavy inspiration. And season one is heavily focused on Grey's Anatomy and so that's really it. But yeah, so the Emmys are what the Emmys are going to do. But again, KA and I are both in TCA and it is and also on the television side of Critics Choice in addition to film side. And so, it presents us with an opportunity to be able to nominate and showcase these shows. That maybe were overlooked by the Emmys, but are still the highest caliber, the highest quality and have such, stellar performances. K

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 12:34

Kaia, final word on the Emmys.

Kathia Woods: 12:35

I wanna clarify. I think here's the thing is I think they are from Detroit is a show that BET has that I need to market and publicize better. I think the writing is great, the acting is stellar, and I don't know what the budget be looking like over there. BET, when they do FYC campaigns, I think, stars needs to do a better job of of pushing for Patina Miller, who, book of Cana. But, she's moved on that, that, she's running a marathon in Berlin and good for her. But I'm like, there, there are a couple black shows that are, I agree with kb about forever. I just think that. The shows that sometimes people, I listen, you can like your shows. We all got our little bops. I got my shows too. Sometimes it's me and four other people. But we need to know the difference between a show that is moving the culture forward and just a show. That's key. Key. And what I'm saying is Kevin on stage makes key shows and there's nothing wrong with that. But if we're going to championship something, we need to make sure that it really is moving a culture forward. Is it really adding to the television discourse? I just don't, I mean, and I'm gonna rewatch hacks the obsession. I don't understand how that show wins everything top to bottom. And I'm like, I feel like Abbott Elementary, they gave it a couple Tink awards and now it's like we're just gonna nominate you and never again. I think Janelle James deserves to win. She's done a stellar work on Avid Elementary. And I am like, how do we balance this a little bit? Are not enough people coming to the FYC events are not enough people, are we just, is it like an election? Are we just voting top to bottom when it comes to hacks? But I do think, yeah, I mean it speaks to the lack of diversity and then also the fact that we are, but again, tremendously happy for Tramell who I got to speak to for Mission Impossible. He has the best publicist, he has the same publicist as throwing Kay Brown and Brian Tyree Henry, and they're all are amazing. And I wanted by and Tyre Henry to win. And I knew on a Coleman to win too,'cause I love him in Four Seasons is hilarious. And it's my type of foolery, right? But I also am not mad. I mean, adolescence was a watershed moment that young man. Like for him to be so young and take on such a mature thing is really showing to his talent. And I also love how they protected him and made sure that he still got to be a kid.'cause that's just heavy stuff. And again, like I said, Steven Graham has been doing a good Lord's work for a minute, so I'm happy about that. But I do think, hopefully as more pe more of us get into these guilds, we can diversify these wins.

Kay-B: 15:19

And I'm glad you said that. Shout out to Brian Tyre Henry.'cause Dope Thief was very good.

Kathia Woods: 15:23

Yeah. And Wagner was really good. Like everybody like was really like there was like television this year. There's some years where you are like this year on the streaming side, especially.

Kay-B: 15:35

And again, like I said, what just with Kathy and Skye and how you know it that they work in Tana Wagner and Brian work in Tana. Yeah.

Kathia Woods: 15:43

And I'm gonna throw one last one out there because I am an Elsbeth stand.

Kay-B: 15:49

Oh, it's fantastic.

Kathia Woods: 15:50

I mean, the work that she does on Elle's bath is just absolute that show the way she plays that character endearing, sometimes she can be a little pushy. But again, shout out those two shows have leads women over 50 in a business that likes to shelf us once we turn 32 that have two successful television shows and a network tv. And these women are filming 20 episodes, 22 episodes, good for them. And you are a, I'm a Met Lock fan, so yeah. That's my rant.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 16:25

All right. So we gonna, we are going to bring it in, and I'm gonna say that I really appreciate you two coming in, talking about tv. I just don't watch enough tv. There are so many shows out there to watch, and I'm gonna tell you, my head spins, so I'm gonna ask you both a question. No elaboration at all. What show should people check out? Just one Katia, one show that people should check out in your opinion

Kathia Woods: 16:59

as Bath. I love that show. Wendell Pierce as Bath.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 17:03

All right, cool. Kb,

Kay-B: 17:06

I said forever. I said it earlier. Yeah, I think everyone should check that out. And you know they're working on season two, so. Absolutely.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 17:13

All right, thank you for that. That is fantastic. Now we're going to move into our next

Kathia Woods: 17:17

Rangie. You don't have one TV show you can add to the discourse.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 17:20

Well, the show that I like and see, because you asked me this question, that means that. And I said, don't give any commentary. The show that I like is the Bear. Okay. I like the bear. I wonder why. However, I don't believe it does what you say in terms of move the culture forward. Those people are messed up that everything is messed up. There is nothing about it that I think that they're pushing something forward other than giving us a look at a dysfunctional group of people. But for some reason, I am drawn to this dysfunctional group of people, Jamie Lee Curtis, over the series. I think I hate her now, because of the role, so, but the show that I like I like the bear. I like the bear a lot. And so that will be that. Anyway, I'm gonna move on to our next segment, which is really to talk about movies and usually. What we do in this segment is we actually pick a movie and we talk about it, but nah, we not gonna do that. If you guys remember, we started this discussion with my friend saying that Reggie did not make it to the Toronto International Film Festival. He did not. I don't know why I didn't make it this year, but I will tell you is that September the fifth is my wedding anniversary with the person that they like better than me, which is Donna. And Donna enjoys going to the Toronto International Film Festival last year as we were there hanging out with Ben Stiller, talking about how to keep a marriage going. I'm just gonna say. Happy anniversary Donna again.'cause we made it to our why. Why did you get in to our 33rd? So, so we're at our 33rd, but I do want to talk about the Toronto International Film Festival. And I'm gonna start with you. KB is that when I first, the first time I went to the festival, it was so freaking overwhelming and I'm not being funny here. Katia didn't tell me that I should come the first week. So I went the second week and, you told me after that you said, Reggie you should I should have told you need to come the first week. I didn't know to come the first week. So I went the second week and it was still overwhelming running around trying to get get on red carpets, get interviews, see all the movies, all of that type of stuff this year I heard was fantastic in terms of the offerings that they had. Can you talk a little bit about the Toronto International Film Fest?

Kay-B: 20:05

Yeah, I mean, I think every year is different. It really depends on which films are going to be highlighted. That particular year. So this year was, I mean, I do kind of feel like Reggie, not to, for you to throw Kasi under the bus, but I do feel like regardless of whether or not someone tells you kind of that first year, it's still a learning curve. So I will say it's still a pretty steep learning curve. Whether you come week one or week two, just your first year is just something like a fish outta water. But as the years progress, I do think it gets a little bit easier in terms of navigating and managing the Ticketmaster system's still not going to be easy. I think that is where we will still all struggle every single year in terms of getting all the tickets that we need to see the films that we would like to see. But I do think that it gets easier and that the festival is a lot more easy to navigate when you have friends around and you're able to do it and kind of craft a schedule that works for you. This year, quite a few things did overlap, but I will say and I'm just gonna dive into my two of my favorite films from this year. One would be Hamnet. So, Hamnet was getting a lot of buzz. It is exceptional. I can't actually say that the writing, the directing, the acting is crazy. How good it is, how elite it is. It's actually crazy. Jesse Buckley is definitely getting a nomination. There is actually no world in which Jesse is not getting a nomination for her performance in Hamnet. It's crazy how good it is. And then Paul, just it's romantic, it's heartbreaking. It is I can't even really describe it. Like people just have to see it to be able to understand what it is. I mean, I think that Jesse's portrayal of of a mother who just has endured so much loss is just, I can't even describe how great it is. Another film that I actually saw, it was the last film that I saw of the festival. Like I literally left there and had to run to the airport, like calling my Uber as I walked out of the theater. Was tuner. And tuner is also exceptional. Like I was like, oh my gosh, Leo Woodall it took me by surprise, how fantastic it really is. This one is just about a gentleman who has a condition known as perfect pitch. And so because he has perfect pitch, he has very, he has a, he has another like audio condition which means he has to wear headphones all the time'cause his ears are just so sensitive to any and all sounds. And he is a piano tuner who ends up in a criminal organization. And using those perfect pitch pitch perfect ear skills in a way that he never anticipated. But it is heartbreaking. There's romance there's crime, it's grit. It's. It's just so, so, so, so good. And Dustin Hoffman is in it as what I like to say is like his chosen grandfather. And it's just like a beautiful, I mean, all of the relationships really land well, but it really is I'd say Havana and Leo as Ruthie and Nikki combined are just such a lovely couple to see on screen. But even their journey is also still heartbreaking. And I mean, he is so talented. Like literally the final scene of that film, I was like, dang, everyone in the theater was like, wow. Like you cannot even believe it. That's how great it is. So yeah, I will say tuner is also, something that's exceptional. And if tuner is not nominated, my goodness, I don't know what people are doing, but I definitely know Hamnet will be nominated. For sure. There's not a world in which Hamnet is not getting

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 23:37

nominated. So, so with that we are absolutely gonna get to talk about what films we think will be in the Oscar race. So we're gonna do that in our last segment. But. I did get a chance to speak with you Katia a little bit before we got started and you mentioned Hamnet as well, so I'd be very interested in hearing your thoughts about that as well.

Kathia Woods: 23:58

I did not see Hamnet,'cause Hamnet was scheduled in fif at the same time as everything else. It is on my schedule for New York and it's going to get seen. So I can't speak on that. I'll give you, we're not gonna talk about some of these other major films'cause you'll get a chance to see'em in Chicago. So we'll have a more fair conversation. But I'll give you my one film, like kb, I made the most of my pass. My flight was at seven. Once again, my flight was delayed. I could have gotten another movie in, which is really annoying. Like actually saying

Kay-B: 24:31

My flight ended up being delayed too. And I was like, dang,

Kathia Woods: 24:33

I was like, so, and traffic to Pearson was crazy and I was like, oh my God. Oh my God. Once again, lounge life was a struggle, I believe when you pay an exuberant amount on your for a credit card, I am taking advantage of all the amenities. So my bot was sitting in there and having my free glass of wine and wifi and sitting comfortably. Having said that, but flight attendants and Air Canada was super, super nice. I will say that they were very hospitable and once again took care of me getting back to this. I love Jodi Foster. I am a Jodi Foster stand. I love her and love her, and she has a movie where it's predominantly in French as we know. Our girl studied in France. She speaks fluent French. She has produced some French productions. This also is a con holdover. I didn't make it to see it because again, schedule and be crazy. A private life. It is my type of foolery. She plays a psychiatrist whose patient dies, and then ensues a whole bunch of things where she's trying to figure out she goes, excuse

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 25:47

me, Katia, what's the name of this film?

Kathia Woods: 25:49

A Private Life.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 25:51

A Private Life. Okay, thank you.

Kathia Woods: 25:53

Yes. So she finds out that her patient dies. So she gets invited to the funeral and then the husband like goes off because he blames her for the reason why the wife dies. And she starts thinking that the husband may have had a hand. The daughter then talks to her about, helping her find out why the mom, and she's a court patient, so she ensues patient privilege, but she starts conducting her own investigation and brings in the ex-husband and they still have a situation shift. They're divorce, but they still get together and they have dinner and stuff. Then there's a situation where the strange relationship with her son, but the point is she goes on this whole undercover thing. And of course when you are not a quote unquote professional stuff, go a little bit sideways. Like I said it's my type of funeral foolery. These people are breaking all types of laws, trying to figure stuff out. Her apartment gets Ram shacked, so she thinks now that she's part of it, it turns to be something else. But again, I love that Jody Foster, still at 62 is giving us these performances that she's taking these risks. And she doesn't have to, and she's brilliant in this film. And just when you think now we're emotionally involved'cause we are now thinking that this woman is being haunted and we think that the husband did it and we're all leaning in and you know how you done it, this when you think you're a private detective too. But it was a good time and it was just like, like I said, it's my type of foolery where you start thinking that, accusing everybody and looking over your shoulder. And I want people to not be discouraged. Yes, it's predominantly in French. There are some parts of it when it's in English, but it doesn't matter because we are here. If you love stuff like knives out murder she wrote. This is your type of flury. You right here with her and you are just like, we not worried about following the law. We're breaking and entering. We are going through stuff. We have no business going through, and we're here with our girl. It's a good time. And I really wouldn't be surprised if France submits this movie for their best international. It is an international production

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 28:04

all so, so before, before you go on, a question for both of you guys is, what was the highlight for you? Not necessarily a movie. What was the highlight for you at the, at tiff this year?

Kathia Woods: 28:18

It's never the, it is never the movies that you think it is. It's a movie like this. Then another movie that I saw that I was gonna mention which is Couture and I need the movie to have a new mo, I need a new title. It is very misleading'cause I, this year I did myself a favor and I went into movies. Cold. I feel like couture is not the appropriate. Thing because you go into it thinking it's going to be about fashion. I was in it because I thought, oh, it's gonna be about fashion. I'm here for Angelina Jolie. But then as you're going through it, you're like, oh,

Kay-B: 28:54

this title. I actually, no I kind of disagree. I mean, I think Couture is a fine name for it, mostly because, I mean, the underbelly, the under theme of the film really is the fashion industry, I think because that's the basis of it. And everything that they're trying to pull out of it happens within the fashion industry just to different people who are working kind of in different ways. Yeah. I mean,

Kathia Woods: 29:14

I hear what you're saying, but I still wish it had a different thing. I think the time not is that all these women work in fashion. And at first I was like, listen, if they start playing this little black girl, now we really gonna have problems in it.

Kay-B: 29:27

I mean, did her, they did her justice. I was actually, they did justice.

Kathia Woods: 29:31

I mean, there was some moments in there. I go, if this is gonna go. We're gonna, we're gonna have words. The Angelina Jolie storyline really hit for me because I had a situation. I mean, thank God, knock on wood, I don't have cancer, but I had a cancer scare where I like had a mammogram. I had to have an ultrasound, and then I had to have a biopsy, and I still have to have a biopsy just to make sure that everything is clear because I have fibrosis in my, and just to, I totally could relate to her sitting here being like, wait a minute. I came for a checkup. How do we go from a checkup and now we're here? Like it's like you hear people talking to you, but you're not processing it. It feels like it's happening to someone else. And of course, she wasn't trying to avoid taking care of her health. I think she was, she, first of all, at least I was at home. I have family. She's by herself in a foreign country. She's got this super work assignment and she's got all these things and she has no one she can talk to, and she's dealing with this very serious thing. So I understood where, why she was like, what in the hell? I also as a freelancer we can understand the other girl being like you gotta pay me for my services. Stop playing with me. I'm coming over here. I'm giving you the best, and I'm trying to juggle everything. Gru me my money. Like that part also understood. And also, there's been a lot of discussion in fashion, how they're going to these refugee camps and taking advantage of these beautiful black girls that are petite and fit a certain aesthetic. That is, they're there, they're getting them so they can have this sob story and, and they're plucking them knowing that they desperately need money, right? And they're throwing these girls into already a very chaotic situation. It turns out to be the girl that was most host hostile. They had the most in common, right? So I also like how they really shine the light, how the fashion industry is taking advantage of girls that are in various precarious situation coming from war term countries desperately needing money and have to navigate this craziness. On their own. And if they're lucky, they'll have people that really will look out for them. You know what I mean? So I do love, it's directed by a woman. You can tell it's directed by a woman. You can tell that these women are given agency. And I was very pleasantly surprised and I was locked in for the whole time of the movie. So that is my other one that, that I don't, I'm not too sure a lot of people saw, but I would encourage more people to see it if it, when it comes to a festival in their year.

Kay-B: 32:18

Yeah, I'll say, I would recommend people see it. I didn't. I love it. I did not love it. I thought it was fine, but I do still think people should see it. Like it's one of those films to me that I think because of it being so women-centric and women forward like that, people absolutely need to watch it. I 100% agree with that. I didn't, I did get to the end and I kind of was like, I wish things would've been tighter in the storyline to wrap things up by the end in a way that meant just a little bit more. And had a little bit, I think the ending could have had a deeper meaning almost if it had just been a little bit tighter. But I do think everyone should still see it. Yeah.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 32:56

And so if you can answer my que my question as well, kb, what was the highlight for you at the festival?

Kay-B: 33:03

I mean, again, I think that I was pleasantly surprised by tuner. I think that ending my festival on that film was definitely something, I think that every year one of the highlights obviously is just being able to connect with other journalists and critics on the ground and being able to kind of have that level of comradery.'Cause we don't necessarily always get to see each other. It just depends on the city that we are in and what we're doing. So that's always something that's great. And being able to connect at press conferences or at junkets that they have on the ground at the festival. But yeah, I do think that at the crux of it, it's just really being able to see a good film and then having a conversation about it after. I think with Tuner though I love, love, loved it, but I literally had to go to the airport right away, so I didn't get to have kind of that usual after the film. Just kind of with your friends discussing like how you really felt about it, et cetera. I didn't get to have that kind of same unique experience'cause I. Had to run, but it was really good.

Kathia Woods: 33:59

Yeah, I mean, I agree with kbi. I ended at my festival with a private affair and I'm so glad that I did. I do wanna echo that,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 34:05

and I You said you had a private affair? No, I did not. What? Say?

Kathia Woods: 34:09

I said I ended the festival with the movie. Oh. Oh, okay. Alright. I just,

Kay-B: 34:16

now, technically, Kathia, I thought you just meant you saw this movie by yourself and it was a private affair.

Kathia Woods: 34:24

I like your joke better you, but I think it's so important to put stuff on your schedule that is out of the usual quote unquote Oscar bubble awards bubble. Because I think you have the privilege of being able to go to a film festival like Tiff or whatever film festival that you go to, that you support, right? And you should support your local film, fa festivals in your backyard as well. I always I push myself to put stuff on my schedule. I saw a great running smile in film, and just to be like, because a lot of times the movies that are so hype up, excuse me, that are in her ear, I be sitting there going like, really? Once you come outta Venice and you come out of Telluride, and I'm like, I really ask myself like, is it me? And then the movies that I just pick outta obscurity are the ones where I'm like, oh, I'm having a really good time. Never fails.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 35:20

Well, you guys did such a good job that we are actually on time schedule. So I'm gonna bring up a film that I saw that has nothing to do with TIFF because I think for sure Kathia saw it and maybe KB might've seen it, and. Since I got time, I got at least five minutes to talk about this film.

Kay-B: 35:43

Which one is it?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 35:45

It's the film called Him.

Kay-B: 35:47

I did not see it.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 35:48

Girl.

Kay-B: 35:49

That's all y'all.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 35:51

I just, I have to say that this film, firstly Mar Marlon Ws, was delightfully unlikable. I did not like his character. He crushed it. He did what he had to do. But the writers, the directors, the discussion that they were trying to have about God, family and football was so disjointed that if I could use a football analogy, they were more on the sidelines than on the field and they never scored a touchdown. This film what For me? Was one of the, what in the heck did I just see? Kind of film and con knows that I am a scary cat when I go to movies like this. But that's not it.

Kay-B: 36:49

I too am not a horror person, but I'm just gonna listen to y'alls feedback since I haven't seen it. I'm only laughing. I have to ask

Kathia Woods: 36:57

one question. Reggie. Go ahead. Scream. Because the last time Reggie went to a scary movie his Chicago cohorts got two types of entertainment, one on the screen and one on Reggie, basically almost getting ready to crawl underneath the scene. Now, Reggie, did you fly out of your chair

Kay-B: 37:15

at your last, what film was that?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 37:17

Actually, I would like, so that, that was the last one was Sinners and Oh, that was character. Okay. And I saw Sinners twice. And at the same time in the movie. There's at least three points in the movie. And even when I saw it the second time I'm jumping like this because it and one of those, one of those times is the snake in the truck.

Kay-B: 37:39

I don't like snakes either. I was like, so is it just'cause you don't like reptiles?'cause you did know it was coming.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 37:45

I knew it was coming. No, but it just it's, it. They, I think firstly that means that they did a good job from a cinematic perspective to make it where, you know it's coming, but it still gives you some kind of reaction. And I think cinematically, they did a good job with that. And I actually thought that somebody's still felt like somebody was about to get bit by the snake. And the way it is shot, by the way, makes you feel like you are closer to the action than you are. Like maybe some of the slasher films, that you're not gonna get slashed. But they are, I just felt. That the way in which they tried to have a conversation about the lengths you might go for success. It could have been any profession. But since you picked football, did you really, could I have had this discussion without going to this movie? The way I always look at a film is that when I go and watch the movie and then I come home and I see Donna I'll say to her, yeah, I'll take you to that movie. This would be a movie I wouldn't take her to. I took her to Sinners and even though it's not, I mean it's a little gory for me. I took her to see sinners and no problem because I thought it was that good. Him. I ain't like, I. I don't think you, you need to go see this other than if you just wanna see the excellence of a Marlon WANs. He really does a great job playing this role, but I didn't like any of the characters. They didn't give us a reason to like any other characters. And my favorite character, in fact was the girlfriend of of Cade. And the reason she was my favorite character, because there were two scenes in the film that I felt were authentic. There was a scene in the film where the press was interviewing the family, and the press asked Cade, did he have a girlfriend and. She was standing behind the camera. She said, oh, no, he's taken, he got a girlfriend just like a sister would do. She's Uhuh you, we ain't playing that. We not going there. That's not gonna happen. And the way she did it was so authentic to me. Then a little later in the film, she, everybody else is trying to, his, her, his mom and his brother, they seem to be leaching on to his success, but she comes to him and says, don't worry, honey. You can be successful in whatever you do. I felt that the portrayal of a black woman that was not there for the money and just from the small little pieces that they gave of her, I thought she did a good job with that, and I'm happy that they showed that, but I don't think they did. They were successful in trying to have the conversation that they were trying to have. Kathia.

Kay-B: 40:46

Yeah. I'm like, please, Kathia, tell me. Oh, okay.

Kathia Woods: 40:49

I, enough, I mean, it's interesting you picked up the girlfriend. I mean, I hear you. Okay. All right. I didn't hate it as much as everybody. I give it a six outta 10, right? So I gave it a borderline press. Don't you do that? Here's what the things, I think Marlon was amazing, right? I think Tyreek did. I think what saved the movie for me are the two leads. That's it. If they didn't do what they did in making this movie me, invest in caring about what happened to them and ultimately the arc of Marlon, right? And when I first started, I thought he was gonna be the coach. It didn't. I was like, oh, damn. He is. Okay, got it with you here. Here's the things. Let's talk about the positives, right? I love the set design. I talked about that in my review. The freaking music is outstanding. The soundtrack for this, you know how they use tiara wack and all these different people talked about that in my review, Stella Costume design. How, even using things like the weight, it was like you could tell that those people did their research on working out what athletes, professional football players or even college athletes use in order to get in the best shape of their lives. I'm even gonna go as far as how they get injected, but God knows what we know. Football has always been borderline on trying to get these guys to be super athletes, hyper chamber, all these different treatments to get you to be at your best. All of that. I thought they did a really good job of conveying that is way more than just working at everybody's looking for that extra edge, right? Where I feel the issue was the pacing and. It's not really scary.'cause I like Reggie. I'm not like you guys. I'm not a really person that likes Gore. It wasn't scary. I think it's supposed to be a thriller. That's why I'm interpreting, I think too many people using the wrong word. But it's really a thriller, right? Where it is in the beginning, we're setting the tone with you. He gets dropped off at the house, now just look at, oh, this house is a little different. This ain't your regular house with a gym. This is we getting like in the spooky house, the moment you're in the foyer, something's off here. Spidey senses are going off, right? This ain't alternative decoration. This is given like House of Horror, right? I would've been like second thought. Let me go back out and let me take my chances in the combine. But we push forward. I feel like the idea with the chapters was good, right? Again, there were some good ideas there where you lost me. You have all the below the line people giving you the things you need to add to the story is it took too long for us to be, for it to be revealed that Marlon is really, that there was, he never invited him for, to look out for him.

Kay-B: 43:59

No. Wait. I was like, now don't spoil got there.

Kathia Woods: 44:01

No. That he, that was the thing. I'm not gonna say anything else about it, that there is a whole other situation going on. That's the best way I can say it without spoiling it and. To really get into the conflict, into the height of it. I feel like we were moving at a snail space and we're trying to figure out like who all the players, why is, what is going on, and then all of a sudden we're a chapter five and the ending. I wish that we would've past it and we would've flushed it out a little bit more, maybe put in a little bit more gore, a little bit more horror and things like that. Just when you thought you were getting to somewhere, then it pushes you right out and were back to a workout. I just feel like the ideas were good to put it in plain English. But it was not executed. Like I feel like he was, his mind was moving to 90 miles per hour. But once we had to put the ideas and flush it out, it didn't get to where it needed to get. It was a little disjointed, right? So I understand why people, and that's why people came outta there and were like, okay, we were here and now we were rushed to over here and now the movie's done. What did I see? But I do think for me, what made me invested in care were the two characters and showing you the competitive nature of sports. No one is your friend. Everybody is looking out for themselves. Everybody understands that on any given Sunday, anybody can take your spot and that it is a business and it's about money and you have to put your best foot forward and, everything. But I do think, I don't think it is as horrible or the worst thing ever as some people. I mean, lemme ask you a question.

Kay-B: 45:48

Let me ask a question'cause you both have said things. I have not seen it obviously, so I am the odd woman out. But Reggie said there are a lot of elements set design visually, like how it's shot, certain things that are really going for it. Do you think that those things make up for maybe the uneven, I'm gonna call it unevenness because I don't know any other way. No. Evenness in the script?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 46:18

No. No. How does, how you feel? It does not, so I, my skill is on a four scale. So it's, I gave it a one, 1.5 out of four, which means that's, it wasn't good and I mean, and that equates to four outta 10. So Kati and I are apart. Six is saying that this is passable. I it's not passable because they failed. It's that if you get the two characters to do a good job, there's plenty of movies where the actors do what they're supposed to do, but the movie doesn't go anywhere. It doesn't take you any place. And when you can be a fly on the wall, which we get to be, when we come out of our movies, we get to listen to other people talking. The people are like, what? Huh? What did I see when I came out? The one of the reps was standing out there and said, Reggie, how, what did you think? I said, I don't know what I saw. And they were like, I didn't either. I didn't either. Now and I don't think it was a rep but someone who, who was helping out, like a volunteer or something. They were like, they didn't know either. I just think that when you come up with something like this. You have to hit it. Hit the nail on the head. This was, this is a quote from my review and then I'll let Kathia answer your question. I said that that as for the way this was shot from the very beginning, the filmmakers played with a visual style that screamed that something wasn't quite right and that a horror was right, a around the corner at the Aply time music. And you would think that this was a scary masterpiece, but instead it's a piece of horror that wasn't quite mastered. Him is not it.

Kathia Woods: 48:13

I respect that. I would never tell you, you have to feel, but I, you have feel I did not understand, and I respect that. And I also can understand people being like, I'm not quite sure, but I think for me. If the two, again I come back to this, I feel like everyone below the line that everything that they're supposed to do, they help create the environment that the music is, like the music, shout out to the music team. They like the tracks that they picked from pop culture to the actual soundtrack fire. I was like, oh, we got some pops in here.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 48:42

But also where they put it, but also where they put the music. Exactly. Because you can have good music, but they actually had it timed in such great places. So I, I agree.

Kathia Woods: 48:52

Yeah. I mean, I'll tell you, one person that I feel like really brought nothing to the movie was Julia Fox. Why were you in this? We didn't need that. The story could have just stayed in the two men. That's enough. Like what? That to me was like why are we here? That doesn't add anything to the storyline because it's between the two men. The competition, again I see. I think Marlon was really good. I don't think we give, I'm gonna say this. Marlon Williams does not get enough credit for being as talented as he is.'cause sometimes he can come across, like in interviews and stuff, he can be a little goofy. I'm just gonna say it right. And so therefore people are like, well, this 53-year-old little goofy guy, but at the end of the day, talent is talent. And for him to play this per, he doesn't crack one joke really in this movie. He is sinister and very unlikable, and you wanna move, you wanna throw him into movie traffic. And I think Tyreek is really good, right? I hope this doesn't de shuffle him from other opportunities because he is had a really great summer from I think I know what you did last summer, that movie and this, I feel like he's on his way. He's got real star possibility. And it's, the other thing is I need Universal to stop putting Jordan Peel because this is Justin's movie. He, Jordan executive produced it and he has nothing to do with the, any parts of this movie. He was doing, being a good steward, giving someone else an opportunity. But again, I mean, I totally can understand where people go, what people went like for me that could say what I'm saying and going in spite of the two great performances, I'm giving it a five or a four. All the other parts of, so I totally understand that. I just think that's the way I leaned on it. And the other thing too is I hate when we see something like this that's not so black and white that they're like, well, what, how do you feel? I'm like, lemme process it. Lemme I literally was in the car. Yeah. Lemme process it because this is not a black and white type of movie. And I want to say this because we live in this world where we are doing group tank thinking. I say this all the time. I know we all did how I feel. This is me. God gave me my brain. And my body for a reason is not to be shared. Just because I feel a certain way about a movie. I still encourage you to go pay your money, see it for yourself. Because you may come out and be like, oh, it's the great greatest thing ever. And you know what, that's great because there's stuff that that I was like. And that other people loved, but we gotta get out of this, right? We're giving our opinion. And I also feel like what I don't like that some of our colleagues do is it's okay to not like a movie, but explain why you don't like it. Just don't go, well, this isn't this. Or he didn't give your reasoning just how I gave my reasons why. I feel as though it slanted slightly on the positive. You gotta give a thesis what it is. What give examples what didn't work for you? Was it the timing? Did you feel the script? We're not giving full flushed out reviews anymore. It's sounding very much like a 32nd TikTok, which is great if you just wanna have engagement, but it's not criticism and that's why I have a problem with some of these reviews. Defend why you don't like something. Give the example, take the time out. Give respect to the filmmakers why you love or why you don't like something. No, I'll say I

Kay-B: 52:30

have seen just a little bit online, just to clarify, because people don't think, I don't think people know, but people believe that the director is black. He is not black. So he is Filipino and European, he is not black. So a lot of people are like, oh, directed by a black man, starring, no, but he is actually not black. So I want people,'cause also there's a little bit of confusion around that as well.'cause

Kathia Woods: 52:55

we're gonna

Kay-B: 52:55

see, but this is what I'm talking about. A 32nd

Kathia Woods: 52:58

Google search clears that up. Go the IB look up people's name. If you're gonna talk about sex design, take away from not away from his art, just to clarify. Yeah.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 53:07

But part of that marketing, part of that marketing helps to obscure that when you put from producer Jordan Peele. It helps to obscure that. And so that's why many people might not ever go look because they're like, oh, this is Jordan Peele movie. Oh, this is a Tyler Perry movie. Oh, this is Spike Lee movie. And not look to see. But it's produced by Jordan Peele. It's produced by Tyler Perry. It's produced by Spike Lee, and it may not be an African American. So, no, I really appreciate this dis discussion. I took us off the rails, but I had to, it's the lowest rated movie that I've had this year. I'm just gonna say, and

Kathia Woods: 53:44

that's fine. Like you explained it, it's the lowest rated,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 53:47

it's the lowest rated movie for me this year. It just I didn't feel it. I would, I personally wouldn't go back to it, but I would say about us film critics, if you follow us, I say find a critic that you agree with about 70% of the time. And the reason I say that is because. We, we are here to hopefully save you some money. There are some movies that you should not go see and we should help you. No, there are some movies that you should not, but maybe, but to God's point, Reggie, for

Kay-B: 54:18

you though, because there, there is a, hold on.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 54:20

But that's why I say find a critic that you agree with about 70% of the time so that you, that it helps kind of inform you as to your taste. If you agree with'em a hundred percent of the time you that, that's crazy. But about 70% of the time, because it'll do two things for you it'll say for movies that you were kind of looking to see that they liked, that you didn't like, that you weren't, you on the fence, you'd be like, oh, okay. He kinda liked it. I kinda like his opinion or I kinda like her opinion. Let me go see it. But there are some, I, I know for a fact that I have saved my wife from going to see. Some movies that she, that I know for a fact that she just wouldn't enjoy.

Kay-B: 55:04

That she just, well, but you know her because, that's your partner. I saved my 10

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 55:07

brothers and sisters. I've saved my best friend. I'm saying I know that I have saved some people from spending their hard earned money that you shouldn't go see every movie just because you are curious. There are some films that you just don't need to go to. That's my opinion. And I'm not saying I'm right. I'm saying I got an opinion and I'm hoping that my opinion helps inform you.

Kay-B: 55:30

That's fair. Listen, I saw online that Tyre said, I saw online that someone was like, Tyreek said that he has student loans, so go support the movie. And I said, you know what? That's a realistic,

Kathia Woods: 55:41

I mean, people under the impression and can we talk about that? I say this all the time. Just because somebody's a movie, Tyreek is an up and coming actor. That man did not get$20 million for him. He did not get$20 million for I know what you think he did last summer if he was lucky, right? What's the sag minimum? Maybe like a hundred thousand. If the outfits that he's getting wear that was given to him. My man is not going through these shops to wear the outfit. Jason Bolden is using his Good Lord's work to get that man fit, booted and fitted for these press appearances. The studio is flying him everywhere as they should. But I'm like, I understand that maybe for him he got maybe 500 K, but he still gotta pay his agent, his manager, his publicist, a whole bunch of people. He gotta pay taxes. That man is not swimming in money. That's why I'm like I hope no matter what this does at the box office, that it doesn't deter his forward propelled this. So again, I mean, I I need us to, to and listen somebody. Them little YouTube boys like to pull our stuff. This is what I'm saying, like when people say we do the same thing. No, it's not. You guys constantly source our material to make points and I'm just like, run us a check. But I think again I love the fact that we're having discussions. I don't have a problem. My number one problem with some of our counterparts is you read their reviews and you're like, when are you gonna let us know the reason why you don't like something? When is when we get seeing that point? You gave a whole soliloquy and I've yet to understand why you don't think something works. I understand the pressure of turning stuff over, girl, I'm still, I'm, I still got three more reviews for Tiff. But the point still is it's have enough respect for the people who made the work. If you're going to crap on something at least give a valid reason why.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 57:33

Period. I'm there and because I took more time than I should be, we're a little over time, but I don't want to skip our last segment, so hopefully we can kind of squeeze this one in. And this segment is rant and rave, and I'm ranting and raving about what people are thinking are our Oscar contenders. I always follow our your Afro-Latino friend, Kathia and on Variety, Clayton and see what he's thinking. And the front runners for director are Paul Thomas Anderson. One battle after another. Chloe Zou for Hamnet. Catherine Bigelow, a House of Dynamite. Ryan Coogler Sin and Josh SDI for Marty Supreme. I've only seen. Two, I've seen two of these films and hopefully two more after the Chicago International Film Festival.

Kay-B: 58:33

Which two have you seen?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 58:34

I've seen one Battle after another in centers. So those are the only two.

Kay-B: 58:38

I haven't seen one battle yet. I see it next week.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 58:41

And so, are any of these for you kb on, on, on the list as a front runner or do you have anything else

Kay-B: 58:48

as I mentioned earlier, it's definitely gonna be hamnet. So Chloe definitely should get a nomination for Hamnet. I, again have not seen one battle after another. I do not see it for a couple more days, so I cannot speak to, kind of what it's like. I have heard particularly, and I will say this, just Paul Thomas Anderson, is an older white man and there are three black women in this movie. So I am curious to see, how this film turns out. I have heard from other black women that they actually really enjoyed it. I am curious, Reggie and Katia, if you guys have seen it, just whether or not you like it, which way, you're skewing. But I've heard it's a really good film from a few people that I know. In the industry who are also black women. They actually really liked it in the direction that he went in with this film. So, again, I'm just curious. I'm going in curious'cause I really don't know. But like I said, I am absolutely behind Hamnet Police. Like it's fantastic centers. Ryan definitely should get a nomination. Absolutely. I mean, finally like the creativity, the originality, the like, please. Absolutely. Ryan, I'm gonna stand you down as well. I have yet to see a House of Dynamite, but I am going to see it next week. And I have not seen Marty's Supreme yet either, but I know I will see it at some point. But I've heard, I've also heard actually really good things about a House of Dynamite, but I have not seen it again and I'm not gonna see it until next week. Like, one battle after another. Well,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:00:15

What I love about this is that there is. One that you are Gungho on, and that was Hamnet because you talked about that upfront. And, but I love

Kay-B: 1:00:24

Hamnet. It's great. I mean, I love sinners too, though. I think, but they're two very different films and Sinners is very unique and original in a way that we really haven't seen in a long time. Kind of in this business and in Hollywood, it's obviously like a different type of period piece. I would still consider it a period piece much like Hamnet in the sense that you're obviously in this one time period, and then it morphs a little bit, towards the end. But it is a period piece, but it is also a horror. It is also a drama. It's also a musical in some ways,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:00:54

and a love story

Kay-B: 1:00:55

It has its own depth and layers of originality. And, I left there with more questions than answers, but I appreciated that about it, honestly. And I don't mean it in a, a. In a negative way. I mean it in a positive way. Like it made me actually want to sit down and talk to Ryan and kind of pick his brain a little bit more about like why he made certain choices, just throughout the film. So I actually love that, really enjoyed it as well. But I'm, I am curious if you guys have seen one battle, Kaia. Have you seen one battle after another yet?

Kathia Woods: 1:01:23

I have. I do think, okay. Me and Paul Thomas Anderson, we'd be hitting a mess. And Licorice pizza, I went to throw him out the window head first. Yeah. I did not enjoy movie. That movie was ura anyhow. But then I liked Studio 54 and the other movies of his that I like, but I really like this. It's gonna speak to one half of the population, especially what's going on in this country. I don't. I, yeah I think the black women were represented really well. I think Leo is insanely good. I, this is my problem with some of the Oscar pundits. First of all, I need Clayton to stop comparing people to legends. I'm a Thompson. I, excuse me. Emma Stone is not Katherine Hepburn. Katherine Hepburn is one of one. Katherine Hepburn had a career that from the thirties on to the eighties. Not the same. Not the same like from her twen and also Katherine Hepburn's entry like she was considered box office poison for the longest time, like they were ready to throw her out with the BA bath water Tell Philadelphia story. This woman was on life support. So if we're going to reference things like classic people, we need to actually have seen these movies and know the history, not just say stuff that sounds cute in an article. Then I also want to point out that he's the same guy that said Lady Gaga was gonna have the career that Barbara Streisand after Gucci did. We see the same film? This is what I mean when we're sitting there and we're watching movies and I go, how is Lady Gaga getting an award nomination for this movie where everybody is everything but Italian? That movie was a hot mess. But this is why we have things like a Nora. Every year you have this. And this is why I do love what the Golden Globes did with Fernanda. Like they threw an audible. None of these people were paying attention. And we kept saying, watch this movie. This movie's really good, this movie's really good. And then she went and all of a sudden it's oh, we gotta talk to Fernanda. I was like, you should have been talking to her. So I have a problem. I get that we gotta drive advertising. I get the times that we are in, but let's also start telling the truth. Emma Thompson getting nominated, probably, I mean, excuse em, Emma Stone probably.'cause they love her. And I'm not crazy about the director. She chooses to work and hang her lifeline on, these movies are boring. The daylights outta me.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:04:03

So I'm gonna jump in for a second say that I thought that they did a nice job with One Battle after another. I, you seemed a little hesitant, Kaia, so I'm not sure, but. I'm not putting this as the Oscar. There is no

Kathia Woods: 1:04:18

frontrunner. There is no, here's my, I'm

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:04:20

not putting this as the front runner for an Oscar. And you're no front runner for front Oscar. It i, it was interestingly enjoyable because there was d so many kind of things that were happening there. But I didn't walk outta that movie thinking, whoa. This is the Oscar film now, unfortunately, as it relates to an Nora, I saw it late after every, all of my friends saw this movie, and everybody I asked, I said, oh I'm gonna go see Anora. And they looked at me like, I don't wanna say nothing, but I don't think you gonna like that one. And I watched that film and I thought, for me it was the worst film of the year. There was nothing redeeming about that movie. It was more than soft porn. I don't know if it was medium porn or not, but I didn't get it. So I had to ask one of my film critic friends and they felt that it was the opposite of Pretty Woman. Where when you look at Pretty Woman, that the woman and pretty woman ends up finding the American dream. Whereas in a Nora, the woman ends up not achieving that American dream and everything that comes along with it. I said, thank you for explaining that to me. For the way in which you look at it. I, it I didn't like any of the characters. They didn't make any of them symp sympathetic. I if all of them, I was like, if everybody gets killed and everybody gets killed. Okay, fine. I didn't

Kathia Woods: 1:05:52

like an no either. It was my worst review movie of last year. I not believe we will never talk about this movie again after the four people. As, as far as, it's a perfect example that the best movies don't always win the top prize, and that movie is not better than six of the of those other movies that were nominated. I'll stand by that to the day I die.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:06:13

And so with

Kathia Woods: 1:06:14

that's why I agree that, that and what I love. Can we agree on this? What I love about this year is there is no killer front runner. I can't wait. I hope we cause chaos. Critic's choice is up first this year. We're ahead of Golden Globes and I want us to really not give into the machines. I, I want Oscar pundit to start telling the truth and not worry about their access. I want us to talk about actors. K got right now a black woman will not win best actors again.'cause I can already, I already know how I can feel it already. And the other part too is maybe will we get maybe a little bit of better result because the Oscars are finally saying that you can't vote if you haven't seen all the films. We've been knowing that for years. How, why did it take so long for these people to be held accountable? That's the way it should have always been. Okay. We know you have not seen these movies last year. Guess what? You're suspended.

Kay-B: 1:07:13

Well, I will say that. I hear what you're saying. But neither of you have seen Hamnet. And to me it is the clear front. I've seen what neither of you have seen Hamnet, and really

Kathia Woods: 1:07:24

I wanna wait. I mean, I wanna see it and I'm sure and I'm not saying that you're wrong, but I mean, does great buzz about Catherine Bigelow's movie. So hopefully, we'll, our Netflix friends will do what they need to do. We'll get to see it. I just want us to not, it's like the Emmys can we not be so predictable

Kay-B: 1:07:42

now? I'm not gonna say it's not gonna be predictable. I mean, honestly, I mean about who we

Kathia Woods: 1:07:47

nominate.

Kay-B: 1:07:48

Not, no that's what I'm saying. I'm not saying that it's still not gonna be predictable. I do think year over year there we have come to know that certain things will occur, but I will say we should have this conversation after everyone has seen Den.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:08:01

Yes. Okay. I have a question for you, kb is that is the only movie you've seen? This year that a black woman from a leading actress perspective is the only, not, you haven't seen it yet. I, I, because it hasn't come out, but they have Cynthia Vo as a front runner for Wicked Wick for good. Is there a black woman this year other than Cynthia Arrivo that should or might be able to break into that category?

Kathia Woods: 1:08:34

Yeah. Tessa Thompson. If the studio

Kay-B: 1:08:36

campaign, well, I was gonna say Heda is definitely Tessa Thompson and Heda is definitely one. I have not seen one battle after another, therefore, I don't know what those performances look like. So, I can't speak to that. I will say. Obviously like Hamnet has no black women, so I will not be able to speak to that either. And no shame, but it just does not have any black women, so. I mean, it is yeah, it just, it doesn't, so, and then, let me see, what else are we talking about? We talked about sinners. While I adore Rumi in this film, I think she's fantastic. She will not get nominated. There's not enough

Kathia Woods: 1:09:12

movement behind it. I,

Kay-B: 1:09:14

yeah, I don't think that she's gonna get nominated, even though I do think she's exceptional in the film and she really is kind of the heartbeat of the film when you really look back over it. I love

Reggie Ponder: 1:09:22

that kb I love that. I love that observation. I think

Kathia Woods: 1:09:26

She'll get like image awards, that type of thing. I'll say this, that I adore Tessa Thompson. Tessa Thompson has been doing the Good Lord's work. I, and I'm gonna just say it, if Tessa Thompson were white, she'd be in the same boat as Emma Stone. But we know that the, and she is, this is a light skin Afro-Latina woman that has all the features and all the perils that Hollywood likes, and she still has a uphill battle to climb.

Kay-B: 1:09:55

Well, te made some really smart choices. I think this should make some really good career choices. Yes. I'll say that. Coming outta Tiff HEA had some mixed reviews for certain people. So I am curious that when it comes to no Call released in October, what that would really look like once, like more broader audiences get to see it, because I really enjoyed Heda and the level of chaos that it was, I said,

Kathia Woods: 1:10:20

I'm, listen, it's my type of fool. And listen, I feel like she got robbed for passing. It's, I'm like, what? More? Every year I'm like, what more do black women gotta do? Give birth, live? I don't, I'm like, what? What is it? What is it? You keep giving? Keep saying like this, let go. I also maybe Emma A. Stone, have a seat. Maybe take yours. Like how many more Oscars do you need? Some of us, especially now that most people are losing their jobs in mainstream media anyways, as far as critics. Throw the audible, just say when white women are, when are always talking about equity and stuff like that. Be o Julia Roberts, Emma Stone, speak up for women of color and other performances that are not being acknowledged

Kay-B: 1:11:06

now. I'll say Now actually we didn't say that The hunt is about to come out with io. Yeah. Is it? I don't know. I've not seen it, so I haven't

Kathia Woods: 1:11:13

seen it either. I'm hoping to catch it in New York, but I love what Julie Roberts was not on the one and the two when that lady was trying to be interesting. So my thing always is let's sum it up some courage. Instead of asking the BS questions of black people, it's not our, we didn't invent racism. It's not our job to solve racism. Ask the power of beings, especially during this time where you already the mainstream media said they don't value criticism anyway. So you over there on Substack, nobody can fire you. Go raise your hand and get some courage. But I absolutely am like, Cynthia's gonna sing her whole behind off. She's gonna give you everything and Wicked and they're gonna give her this little ting nomination and these white people are gonna do what they're gonna do. They're gonna be like, thanks, but no thanks. So it is, it's just annoying. But yes.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:12:06

Well, well with that, we are at the end of our show. I am so happy that we had KB back. Hopefully she'll be back again. She is a busy person and as we all are. But hopefully she'll be back again and we'll sit around and chit chat. So I'd like to give you each a opportunity to make your final remark and please tell people where they can find you and all of that.

Kathia Woods: 1:12:37

Go ahead, kb, you're the guest.

Kay-B: 1:12:39

You go first. Yes. So I will just say, you can find me at the lady KB T-H-E-L-A-D-Y-K-A-Y-B, on socials and yeah. This award season will be interesting. We still have a long way to go. I do wanna say that, that's my final thought. We have a long way to go. There are still a lot of films that have yet to come out. And from a television perspective, there's actually still a lot of things that'll come out that will, hit for next year's Emmys. But from a film perspective, we have a lot more movies to come out. I mean, honestly, just even in the next four weeks there are a lot of films that are coming out, so, stay tuned because we'll definitely have to follow up once we've each seen some things. And I am curious, Reggie, what screening at the Chicago International Film Festival that you're gonna be seeing? Because we have a lot, but I will report back, hopefully we'll be able to chat next week once I've seen one battle after another. And then we can talk spoiler since it comes out next week.'cause I would I'm curious. I am I've been very curious about this. I don't think anyone should fumble Regina Hall because I think she's an exceptional talent and so if y'all telling me she's in great hands in this film, then I am going to believe it because I adore Regina. So, yeah.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:13:52

Cool. Kati,

Kathia Woods: 1:13:54

Be living in really precarious times. If you call yourself a journalist, be a journalist and have some courage tell the. And like I said, is every day our colleagues are getting laid off because they dare to use critical thinking skills and being replaced for click bait stuff. I'm not mad. I understand it. People's bills gotta get paid. I totally get it. But we gotta ask ourselves, how long are we gonna go along to get along? And I totally understand. And I mean, in real life, not social media.'cause a lot of people are performative on social media. A lot of us have left. I mean, I'm not on X, I'm still me. I'm still gonna use my space to uplift and tell the truth. The day an outlet tells me that I gotta get with the propaganda is the day where I'm out. Peace out. You know what I mean? And I will find something else to do and still tell the truth. But we gotta find our courage. We, this is every day I ask myself. Can it get any worse? I need to stop saying that because the bar, we are below the basement, whatever's below the basement, the crud we have reached that. I feel like God is saying it's even above me. And yes, we are being tested and we should still fight.'cause our ancestors is overcome 10 times, way worse than what we're dealing with now. And they still find a way to find light, which really has me having more admiration. But we gotta have courage. We gotta start standing up. We gotta start as black journalists, especially whatever beefs we had, I'm not saying we gotta go out and become besties. Whatever beefs we had, we gotta put those to the side and decide, do we want to stand together as collectives, as the studios continue playing with us as society, playing with us as the money's playing with us. Because one of us having these offset meetings is getting us nowhere. But when we work together. And we really say, Hey, one of us you can play with 30, 40 of us Houston, you got a problem. And I also, I, listen, I'm here, we're having the discussion in c, CA finally, where people are saying, if you don't value what I bring to the table, I'm not covering you. Simple. It is a reciprocal relationship, right? That's simple as that. Go where you are wanted. If somebody's actually telling you, I don't rock with you. I've said it to several studios, some studios have come back and say, Hey, we wanna fix it. Other studios, I'm like, I'm not fighting with people. I'm not doing it. And guess what? I'm still booked and busy. So we gotta really start using our agency and get a little bit of courage when these emails start coming. Oh, can you, I'm sorry, who's this? Thoughts and prayers is my response down to people, thoughts and prayers. It's above me now, so it's just, I just really, and also work to protect your piece. The block button, you are allowed to use it. You don't owe anybody an explanation. And as I always like to say, you don't owe anybody an engagement. When people are like, well, who the heck are you? Who are you to be crushing me on anything? My mom always said this, and my grandmom said it too. If you are not willing to accept things from people you share, DNA with like people, somebody that gave you life, if you draw a line in the sand with people that really have invested in you, why are you tolerating stuff from strangers that don't make no type of sense to me? So I'm just like, you know what? I'm going to keep doing my part. I have made it very clear that a lot of our colleagues have shown who they are. I'm not arguing with you. But you can stay where you are. I'm gonna stay over here. I wish you amazing things. I don't wish anybody anything terrible'cause I believe in karma, but no, we, no we cannot.'cause I've seen what you've done, not what you've said. And I'm good over here. Thoughts and prayers.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:17:57

Well, well, well, not just thoughts and prayers because we also need clicks and views. So where can people find you and see you?

Kathia Woods: 1:18:05

You say me. You can find my work at the Philadelphia Tribune. I have three articles in today's issue, including my review of him and a cute little movie I saw on Netflix. Shout out to Miranda Cas Grove, who was in my house with iCarly Ong Paris, and also the announcement about the power origin story at the Philadelphia Tribune. You can also see a whole dispatch of mine from tiff@cappasoulshow.com, and you can find me on social, just not on that. Everywhere at Kaia, K-A-T-H-I-A, woods and everything else,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:18:43

but keep her cute. That is our show. You can find me. I know you about to ask me. Here you go. Where?

Kathia Woods: 1:18:51

I don't forget KB though.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:18:53

KV said it. Say where you can find her.

Kathia Woods: 1:18:55

Yep.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:18:57

I did. She spelled it out too. She said T-H-E-L-A. I mean she spelled it out. I thought she was gonna do a cheer. So you can find me@indigo.com. I currently have my review of him there. You can also find me on vocal.org and some other places as well@reggieponder.com. I appreciate my people. I'm glad to sit down with you guys and we will see you guys next time.