Does 'Materialists' Work?

Does 'Materialists' Work?

Author: Across the Movie Aisle June 17, 2025 Duration: 46:00
In this episode of Across the Movie Aisle, host Sonny Bunch is joined by Alyssa Rosenberg and Peter Suderman to unpack the outrage over indie film platform MUBI’s investment ties and whether ethical boycotts are even coherent in modern capitalism. Then they dig into Celine Song’s latest film Materialists, a rom-com that tries to be profound—but might just be pretty nonsense.

There’s a familiar rhythm to most movie talk: either a deep dive into technical craft or a quick thumbs-up, thumbs-down reaction. Across the Movie Aisle proposes a different kind of conversation. Each week, the discussion moves past simple recommendations and into the richer territory where personal taste, cultural context, and cinematic history collide. You’ll hear thoughtful reviews of new releases and enduring classics, but the real focus is on the dialogue itself-the disagreements, the discoveries, and the shared enthusiasm that happens when perspectives meet. This isn’t about delivering a unanimous verdict; it’s about exploring why a film works for some and falls flat for others, what a director’s choices reveal, and how the landscape of television and film continues to shift. The tone is more like a spirited, informed chat among friends than a formal lecture, making even the most nuanced analysis feel accessible. Whether it’s breaking down the latest headline-grabbing series or revisiting an overlooked gem, the podcast thrives on that genuine exchange of ideas. It’s for anyone who finds that the most interesting part of watching something is the conversation that follows, where the space between different viewpoints is exactly where the understanding grows. Tune in for a weekly dose of that specific, engaging, and wonderfully contentious dialogue that only movies and TV can inspire.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 317

Across the Movie Aisle
Podcast Episodes
The Deranged Exuberance of 'Emilia Pérez' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:05
Merry Christmas Eve! On this week’s supersized episode to get you through the airport, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if it’s a controversy or a controv…
No One Was Cravin' 'Kraven' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:10
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) looked at The Entertainment Strategy Guy’s breakdown of podcast stats and asked if this truly was “th…
Amy Adams's Ode to Motherhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:20
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed a controversial (or possibly nontroversial?) op-ed in the New York Times asking if “the awk…
Does 'Wicked' Defy Critical Gravity? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:30
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if it matters that people prefer AI slop to art produced by real-world hacks. (Kinda?) Then they…
Does 'Gladiator II' Entertain? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) examine a shocking story in Vanity Fair by Vincenzo Barney about the legendary writer Cormac McCarthy…
Probing 'A Real Pain' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:04
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if the Jake Paul/Mike Tyson “fight” that was “watched” (when they could get the stream to work) b…
The Joyful Pain of 'Anora' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:58
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) asked if wall-to-wall celebrity endorsements might have backfired on Kamala Harris. Then they reviewe…
'Conclave,' a Modern Old-Fashioned Movie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:57
On this Election Day’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss Warner Bros. baffling decision to bury Clint Eastwood’s Juror No. 2. Why deprive youn…
Hopefully, this is Venom's 'Last Dance' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:18
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) ask if comic book legend Alan Moore is right to blame toxic fandom and arrested development for the r…
The Sprawling History of Neal Stephenson's 'Polostan' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss both AI witchhunts and Blumhouse’s decision to partner Meta with filmmakers in an effort to b…