Greetings, programs, and welcome back to the show!  This week we dive into two 2023 releases.  First, we'll discuss the new Netflix rom-com You People, starring Jonah Hill, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.  Second, we'll catch up with the Blumhouse-produced killer robot doll movie M3gan!    Check out this episode's homepage for streaming links, our ratings, and more!Matthew has started writing for Exclaim.ca!  Read his review of the new AppleTV+ series Shrinking here!SUPPORT:         We want to take this moment to thank all our listeners!    If you like what you hear, ple...

Greetings programs! This week on the show, we're catching up with two more 2022 films, the IFC Midnight produced Shudder exclusive Burial and the latest film in the Shrek franchise, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. One of these movies is a little more divisive than the other here at Awesome Friday HQ; listen to find out which!Check out this episode's homepage for JustWatch-powered streaming links, our ratings, and more! SUPPORT:            Thank you so much for joining us! Whether you're new here or a long-time listener, we're glad you're here! If you like the show...

Greetings programs! You’re reading this correctly, a second episode this week! I was given access to the entire first season of the new HBO series The Last of Us, an adaptation of the PlayStation video game franchise of the same name. Joining me to speak about it is my friend Shaurya Chawla, who has not only seen the whole series but, unlike me, has played the game. In this episode, we will give some brief thoughts on the whole of season one, followed by a more in-depth discussion of the premiere episode of the ser...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to a special episode of the Awesome Friday Podcast! This week Matthew, Simon, and Rachel get together and discuss their favourite movie moments of 2022. This episode is replete with spoilers for every movie we discuss, so if you haven't seen something, please be mindful of segments you may want to skip or maybe bookmark this one and come back later.Either way, this is the first time that Simon and Rachel have been in a (virtual) room together, and it was a ton of fun to record. All told, we have fifteen moments...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to the first episode of 2023!  Simon is back from holiday, and we're counting down our favourite films of 2022.  This is a long episode because there is a lot to get through; it's hard to keep the discussions of excellent cinema brief!   Many of the films we're counting down have been featured on the show before.  Here are links to those (but in alphabetical order, you'll have to listen to find out where they land!)- All Quiet on the Western Front- The Banshees of Inisherin- Decision to Leave...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to our final episode of 2022! We usually post on Sundays, but since you have been good, we're dropping this one on Christmas Eve.  This week we're joined again by Rachel Ho of Contra Zoom Podcast, Exclaim.ca, and others as we talk about The Banshees of Inisherin (one of the year's best) and Avatar: The Way of Water (another movie we have seen!) as well as a brief discussion about Baz Luhrmann's Elvis.Be sure to head to this episode's homepage for streaming links, our ratings, and all of our other content. 

Greetings programs! This week Rachel and I are speaking about the 2022 Whistler Film Festival. This is my third year covering Whistler, and Rachel flew out to attend in person! We'll be talking about several films, but in particular, two Canadian releases: Diaspora from director Deco Dawson, about a young Ukrainian immigrant living in Winnipeg and Polaris from director Kirsten 'KC' Carthew, about a young girl surviving in a frozen post-apocalypse.  Be sure to head over to this episode's homepage for streaming links, our ratings, and all of our other content, too.  Join us!SU...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to a very special episode of the show.  This week (and next!) Simon is on holiday, so Matthew will be joined once again by our friend Rachel Ho of Exclaim.ca, ThatShelf.com, POV Magazine, and The Globe and Mail!  We're diving into an indie darling and a big, oscar-bait action spectacle this week.  First, Benson & Moorhead's Something in the Dirt, which is finally in release after premiering all the way back at Sundance at the beginning of 2022.  Then we move on to Emancipation, Will Smith's first big release since "the slap".  One of th...

Greetings programs! We're breaking down two new Netflix releases this week on the show. First, we look at the Norwegian kaiju film Troll and then the new stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio by director Guillermo del Toro.Join us, and then be sure to check out this episode's homepage for streaming links, our star ratings, and all of our other content. CONNECT WITH US:      Matthew on Twitter: @SmatthewAF Simon on Twitter: @TemporaryPen Home:   AwesomeFriday.ca Awesome Friday on Twitter: @AwesomeFridayCa    Awesome Friday on Facebook: Awesome Friday Awesome Friday on Instagram: @AwesomeFridayCa Awesome Friday o...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to a very special Awesome Friday Podcast. This week we're covering three things: First, we're headed back to Ferrix to revisit Andor, which might be the best Star Wars thing in a long while. Following that, we're kicking off the holiday season with a look at Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in AppleTV+'s new holiday musical Spirited, and then a quick trip out to Knowhere for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. This episode is jam-packed, so what are we waiting for?Be sure to visit this episode's homepage for streaming...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to another week on the Awesome Friday Podcast. In this episode, we dive into the neon-lit, glossy action comedy Brad Pitt spectacle Bullet Train and a tour de force performance from Cate Blanchett in Todd Field's TÁR. Join us!Be sure to visit the homepage for this week's episode, where you can find JustWatch powered streaming links, our ratings, and all of our other content: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/11/podcast-bullet-train--tar/ Once again, this week, it appears we have a few more subscribers, and to each of you joining us, we'd like t...

Greetings programs! This week on the show, we have a Florence Pugh doubleheader.  First, we look at the now-streaming Don't Worry Darling by director Olivia Wilde.  When it was released, this one was laden with controversy, but is it a good movie?  Only one way to find out! Following that, we have the new Netflix release, The Wonder, from Sebastien Lelio, who previously won an Oscar for A Fantastic Woman. After listening, be sure to visit this episode's page for JustWatch-powered streaming links to each film, as well as our ratings and all of our other content: htt...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to the Awesome Friday Podcast for November 6th 2022! This week we're diving into two new streaming releases: The Roku Channel Original "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" starring Daniel Radcliffe, and the Netflix Original "Enola Holmes 2" starring Millie Bobby Brown. Every week it looks like there are more listeners joining us, so if you are new here, we want to say welcome! If you aren't new, we want to say welcome back! We're glad you're here. If you like what you hear, we'd like to ask you to consider giving us a five-star review...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to a very special episode of the podcast. This week instead of our usual two things, we are reviewing one or eight, depending on your perception of the universe.   Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is an 8-episode horror anthology that is now out on Netflix, and we are looking at all eight episodes. We both have strong feelings about them; listen in to find out what they are!  Be sure to visit this episode's homepage for our ratings, streaming links, and all of our other content.   CONNECT WITH US:      Matthew...

Greetings Programs! This week on the podcast, Matt and Simon take a look at a pair of wayward bothers in the new AppleTV+ release Raymond & Ray and the Cannes Film Festival Best Director winning Decision to Leave from the great Park Chan-wook. Will there be hot takes? Only one way to find out! Find links to listen (and JustWatch powered streaming links for each movie) below.Join us!Every week it looks like there are more listeners joining us, so if you are new here, we want to say welcome...

Greetings programs! This week the Awesome Friday Podcast is back with a look at two new streaming titles. First up is the latest Marvel experiment, the Halloween special Werewolf by Night. Following that, we look at the new adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front, produced by Netflix. You’ll find streaming links powered by JustWatch, as well as our ratings and all our other content at this episode's homepage: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/10/podcast-werewolf-by-night--all-quiet-on-the-western-front/Join us! CONNECT WITH US:      Matthew on Twitter: @SmatthewAF Simon on Twitter: @TemporaryPen Home:   AwesomeFr...

Greetings programs! We’re back after just a few days with a special bonus wrap-up episode for the 2022 Vancouver International Film Festival. This episode is also a joint episode with our friends Contra Zoom, Dakota from that show and Matthew are breaking down their five favourites from the festival together, and the episode will be going out on both of our feeds! Surprisingly our top five lists only share one film in common, and you’ll have to listen to find out which! Be sure to visit this episode's homepage for JustWatch-powered streaming links...

Greetings programs! This week on the podcast, we're looking at two films that played as part of the 2022 Vancouver International Film Festival. First up is Canadian director Stéphane Lafleur's new high-concept comedy Viking. Then we take a closer look at Ruben Östlund's Palme d'Or winning satire of wealth and privilege Triangle of Sadness. Be sure to visit this episode's homepage for JustWatch-powered streaming links, our ratings, and all of our other content. Join us!CONNECT WITH US:      Matthew on Twitter: @SmatthewAF Simon on Twitter: @TemporaryPen Home:   AwesomeFriday.ca Aweso...

Greetings programs! This week on the podcast, we are looking at the divisive new Marilyn Monroe movie Blonde, starring Ana de Armas as the titular blonde bombshell, before moving on to the latest entry in the Star Wars franchise, Andor. We spend half the episode swooning over one of these; listen to find out which!JustWatch-powered streaming links, our ratings, as well as all of our other content and a complete list of where you can listen to this episode are available at AwesomeFriday.caCONNECT WITH US:      Matthew on Twitter: @SmatthewAF Sim...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to another edition of the Awesome Friday Podcast.  This week Matt and Simon take a look at the new high-concept indie thriller Blank and the new documentary about the life and art of David Bowie, Moonage Daydream.  One of these movies is one of the best movies of the year, so listen closely to find out which. When you're done listening to the episode, be sure to head to AwesomeFriday.ca, where you will find streaming links for each film (powered by JustWatch), our ratings, and all of our other content. Jo...

Greetings programs! We're back after a two-week break with two new movies, one hot off the presses from the largest media conglomerate in history and the other finally seeing wide release after a successful festival run last year. First up is Robert Zemeckis' live-action remake of Disney's Pinocchio, followed by the Senegalese action horror movie Saloum. One of these movies we really didn't like, listen to find out which and then watch the other!Be sure to visit AwesomeFriday.ca for this episode's home page, where you'll find JustWatch-powered streaming links below, as well as...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to this week's episode of the Awesome Friday podcast! This week we're taking a closer look at two new films: first, the satire of southern baptist megachurches from first-time director Adamma Ebo, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Which stars the electric duo of Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall. Following that, we have the latest from Mad Max creator George Miller, the modern fairy tale Three Thousand Years of Longing starring the inimitable Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba. This week Simon is away, so once again, I'm joined by award-winning T...

Greetings programs! This week on the podcast, we’ve got two exciting titles for you. First up is the South Korean science fiction epic Alienoid, then the latest Marvel series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.There are streaming links powered by JustWatch as well as all of our other content on this episode's homepage.Join us!CONNECT WITH US:      Matthew on Twitter: @SmatthewAF Simon on Twitter: @TemporaryPen Home:   AwesomeFriday.ca Awesome Friday on Twitter: @AwesomeFridayCa    Awesome Friday on Facebook: Awesome Friday Awesome Friday on Instagram: @AwesomeFridayCa AwesomeFriday on YouTub...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to our latest episode! This week on the Awesome Friday Podcast, we're breaking down the latest Netflix release, Day Shift starring Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco, and the new young-women-trapped-in-a-place horror movie Fall. One of these movies we really liked. Listen to find out which!Be sure to visit this episode's homepage for JustWatch-powered streaming links to each title, our ratings, and all of our other content. Meanwhile, relax and enjoy your flight.LINKS: Matt's 'LA is a Sweaty Place' Letterboxd L...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to another episode of the Awesome Friday Podcast. This week we're talking about two new Disney releases: First, the latest Pixar Studios animated feature, Lightyear, followed by Prey director Dan Trachtenberg's prequel to the 1980s action horror classic Predator. Be sure to visit this episode's homepage for JustWatch powered streaming links for each title, plus all of our other content!Join us!SUPPORT:         We want to say thanks for listening to all our listeners, new and old; we appreciate every one of you. I...

Greeting programs! This week on the podcast we are discussing Jordan Peele's latest directorial effort, the UFO horror thriller Nope, and Quinn Shephard's indictment of influencer culture Not Okay.  Join us for this discussion of two thematically linked films, something we totally planned for.  Honest. Also: Head over to this episode's homepage for JustWatch powered streaming links and all of our other content. SUPPORT:         We want to say thanks for listening to all our listeners, new and old; we appreciate every one of you. If you like what you hear, please consider giving us a like, r...

Greetings programs! This week on the podcast, we’re talking about BJ Novak’s feature directorial debut Vengeance, and the Russo Brothers helmed $200 action blockbuster The Gray Man, starring Chris Evans and Canada’s Ryan Gosling. Check out this episode's homepage for streaming links, review scores, and all of our other content. Join us!SUPPORT:             Patreon    Ko-Fi CONNECT WITH US:      Matthew on Twitter: @SmatthewAF Simon on Twitter: @TemporaryPen Home:   AwesomeFriday.ca Awesome Friday on Twitter: @AwesomeFridayCa    Awesome Friday on Facebook: Awesome Friday Awesome Friday on Instagram: @AwesomeFridayCa AwesomeFriday on YouTube: Awesome Fri...

Welcome back, friends to a new episode of the games podcast! This week I wax lyrical about the splendours of 'Neon White', before trying to convince you of its link to EA's 'Medal Of Honor' reboot from 2010. Enjoy!Visit this episode's homepage to find a full listing of where you can listen to Awesome Friday as well as all of our other content: Neon White & Medal of Honor at AwesomeFriday.caCONNECT WITH US:      Matthew on Twitter: @SmatthewAF Simon on Twitter: @TemporaryPen Home:   AwesomeFriday.ca Awesome Friday on Twitter: @AwesomeFridayCa    Awesome...

Greetings, programs and welcome to a special bonus episode of the Awesome Friday Podcast. In our main episode this week, we asked over fifty of our friends to contribute their top ten Marvel Cinematic Universe entries and used those to establish a consensus top ten.We also asked everyone if they would be willing to record a short audio clip about their favourite with the intent of sprinkling those into the show. Well, we didn’t get one from everyone, but we did get a level of response that made that plan a little untenable. So...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to our first anniversary! It's hard to believe we relaunched the podcast a year ago to the day, but here we are a year later. We are so grateful for all of you, for your listening and engagement, and for the community that we're starting to build. It's fitting that this week saw the release of two new Marvel Cinematic Universe entries because that's how the show began. Last year we covered the Disney+ series Loki and the film Black Widow. We decided to make an event of it, so this i...

Hello! Welcome to a new edition of the games podcast where I throw superlatives at two of my favourite games so far this year. First, I talk space flight and violent atmosphere-heat death in ‘Flight Of Nova‘, then making John Woo movies in ‘Superhot VR‘.It’s unscripted again – time, it’s (not) on my side – but back to being double the length! Yay! So settle in and join me actually finding my love for gaming again. Enjoy!Visit us at this episode homepage for this and all of our other content:

It’s back! New year craziness and some technical issues brought the game podcast to a halt, and life found a way (to get in the way), but it finally feels like a good time to restart!You’ll notice that the games podcast is going to have shorter episodes from now on, both to help make it fit into my schedule, and also because I’m only going to talk about one game at a time. However, it’s now fully scripted, so you can read along if you please! Bonus article!Thi...

Greetings programs! Welcome to the first episode of July, in which we discuss a lovely new movie and the return of a much-loved television series. In the top half, we’ll introduce you to Marcel the Shell with Shoes on, the brainchild of Jenny Slate, Dean Fleischer-Camp, and Elisabeth Holm, which balances childlike whimsey with deep emotional resonance. Then, in the bottom half of the show, we’re talking about Stranger Things 4, how it holds up against the previous seasons, and whether Simon should would it (he hasn’t!). There are streaming links powered by JustWat...

Greetings programs! Dan Mirvish is an award-winning filmmaker known for films like Omaha: The Musical! and Bernard & Huey, as well as co-founding the Slamdance Film Festival. His latest film is a genre mashup, part thriller and part dark comedy, set in the 1970s and adjacent to the watergate scandal 18 1/2 tells the story of a young transcriptionist who hears the infamous missing time from the Nixon Watergate tapes and the idealistic journalist she brings the story to.I sat down with Dan on Zoom a few weeks ago and had a great conversation. You can listen...

Greeting programs! Join us this week as we discuss the upcoming Netflix animated film The Sea Beast, directed by Chris Williams and starring Karl Urban and Jared Harris, and the recently concluded Obi-Wan Kenobi series from Disney+.There are streaming links powered by JustWatch as well as all of our other content available at this episodes homepage: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/06/podcast-the-sea-beast--obi-wan-kenobi/ Join us!SUPPORT:           We want to say welcome and thanks for listening to all our listeners, new and old; we appreciate every one of you. If you like wh...

Greetings programs and welcome to this week's episode of the Awesome Friday Podcast. Simon is back after his week off and we are talking about two new streaming releases. First up is the new Netflix Sci-Fi thriller Spiderhead, starring Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett. Following that we have Sundance darling Cha Cha Real Smooth, the sophomore effort from writer, director, and star Cooper Raiff and co-starring Dakota Johnson, now released on AppleTV+. There are streaming links powered by JustWatch -as well as our ratings and all of our other content- on this episode's homepage: https...

Greetings programs! It’s time for a new episode of the Awesome Friday Podcast! This week we’re looking at a pair of sports movies: Hustle, the love letter to basketball from Adam Sandler, and The Phantom of the Open, the true story of the man who shot the worst round of golf in British Open History, starring Mark Rylance. This week Simon had some commitments that couldn’t be avoided, but luckily our friend Rachel Ho was able to join me in his place. Rachel is an award-winning critic based out of Toronto; she co-host...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to this week’s podcast! Following a year-long journey from its festival premiere at Fantasia 2021, Mark O’Brien’s The Righteous is finally coming to cinemas and on-demand thanks to Arrow Video and Vortex Media, and after a 36-year gap, Tom Cruise is back as a Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the long-awaited sequel to the 1980s classic Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick.There are streaming links powered by JustWatch along with all of our other coverage of these films and more at this episode's homepage: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/06/podcast-the-righteous-top-gun-maverick/Join...

Greetings programs! Canadian actor Mark O’Brien has been working steadily since the mid-2000s with roles in CBC’s The Republic of Doyle and AMC’s Halt & Catch Fire, and movie appearances in Denis Villeneuve's Arrival, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s Ready or Not, and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. This week sees his feature film writing and directorial debut, The Righteous, arrive in cinemas nearly a year after its premiere at least year Fantasia Festival. Grappling with themes of faith and guilt, The Righteous stars a who’s who of Canadian talent including O’B...

This week on the Awesome Friday Podcast, we’re talking about two big 2022 historical epic films. First up is the Tollywood breakout RRR from director S. S. Rajamouli and stars Ram Charam and N. T. Rama Rao Jr. Second, the latest from The Witch and The Lighthouse director Robert Eggers, The Northman. You can listen to this episode right here on this page (after the jump) or wherever you listen to podcasts, and there are links to both titles wherever they are streaming powered by JustWatch –as well as all our other content– on this episode's homepage: https...

Greeting programs! This week, we’re looking at the newly on-demand Uncharted starring Tom Holland and the new streaming nostalgia trip Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Join us!You can find JustWatch powered streaming links for each film, as well as all of our other content, at this episode's homepage: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/05/podcast-uncharted--chip-n-dale-rescue-rangers/ We want to say welcome and thanks for listening to all our listeners, new and old; we appreciate every one of you. If you like what you hear, please consider giving us a like, review, and subscribe on your...

Greetings, programs, and welcome to a very special episode of the Awesome Friday Podcast.  Airplane! is one of the greatest comedy films of all time, but did you know it’s a remake? This week we are talking all about Airplane! and the 1957 Canadian Melodrama it's based on, Zero Hour!.You can find JustWatch powered streaming links for both movies on this episode's home page: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/05/make-remake-zero-hour-airplane/Join us! We want to say welcome and thanks for listening to all our listeners, new and old; we a...

Greetings programs! Writer and director Emerson Moore's first feature, Escape the Field, a story about six strangers stranded in an endless cornfield, is on-demand now. I had the chance to sit down with him via zoom to talk about the film, his experiences making it, and more!You can find streaming links for Escape The Field on this episodes homepage here: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/05/interview-director-emerson-moore/CONNECT WITH US:        Homepage: https://awesomefriday.ca        Twitter: https://twitter.com/awesomefridayca            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwesomeFriday            Instagram: https://instagram.com/awesomefridayca/            YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJbgpYeyK4b_JH7H8P8INKA ...

Greetings programs and welcome to another episode of the Awesome Friday Podcast! This week we’re taking a look at Celine Schiamma’s delightful Petite Maman, and the latest entry in the juggernaut that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Join us!There are JustWatch powered streaming links, as well as all our other content, available this episodes homepage: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/05/podcast-petite-maman-doctor-strange/  We want to say welcome and thanks for listening to all our listeners, new and old; we appreciate every one of you...

Another week, another podcast episode! Join us for discussions of the new Liam Neeson led action thriller Memory and the sophomore effort from The Daniels Everything Everywhere All At Once. There are JustWatch powered streaming links, as well as all of our other content, available at this episode's homepage: https://awesomefriday.ca/2022/05/podcast-memory-everything-everywhere-all-at-once/We want to say welcome and thanks for listening to all our listeners, new and old; we appreciate every one of you. If you like what you hear, please consider giving us a like, review, and subscribe o...

Salutations applications, and welcome to a new episode of The Awesome Friday Podcast. We're back after a two-week hiatus and talking about two of the year's most anticipated movies. First up, freshly t streaming services and premium rental, Matt Reeves's noir-inspired take on the caped crusader, The Batman. Following that, the newly released to cinemas film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, in which Nicolas Cage plays the role he was born to play: Nicolas Cage. There are JustWatch powered streaming links to each film on this episode's homepage, as well as all of our o...

The third Wednesday of every year is National Canadian Film Day, a nationwide event that celebrates the best in Canadian cinema. This year is no different, and tomorrow's event promises to be one of the best yet, with screening events in every province and territory and around the world. This morning I sat down with Jack Blum, executive director of Reel Canada (the organisation that puts National Canadian Film Day on), to speak about this year's event, the tribute to the late Jean-Mac Vallée, and the focus on indigenous filmmaking.To learn more about N...

Greetings programs! Welcome to another Awesome Friday interview! Joining me this time is Jonas Chernick, who produced, co-wrote, and stars in the film Ashgrove. Ashgrove is the story of a scientist played by Amanda Brugel, who may be the key to solving a worldwide pandemic and is forced to take a few days for herself and her family. Chernick plays her husband, and we sat down to talk about the film, what it's like shooting a movie during a pandemic, and more.HOMEPAGE LINK:There are streaming links for the movie on this episode's homepage...

Greeting programs, and welcome to the Awesome Friday Podcast. This week we’re taking a closer look at the new ridiculous (in a good way) Roland Emmerich film Moonfall and the Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi led series Our Flag Means Death. Spoiler alert we loved both of these things, so come and join us for a love fest. Ed. Note: We had technical difficulties while recording this episode; some interference cropped up that we didn’t hear during recording. While I could minimize it, I couldn’t eliminate it entirely, so apologies for the segment...

Salutations applications, and welcome to an Awesome Friday Interview with actor Shawn Doyle! A native of Newfoundland, Shawn has been working steadily in film and television since the early 1990s, and in just the last few years has racked up an impressive filmography that includes recurring appearances in The Expanse, Hannibal, Cardinal (for which he won a Canadian Screen Award last year) and most recently Star Trek: Discovery. This year he has two films in the Canadian Film Festival, Ashgrove and The Last Mark. It's the former of these two that we sat down to t...