This week Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post, and Peter Suderman (Reason) take a look at the controversy swirling about CBS’s instantly canceled show, The Activist. What’s so bad about making activists compete for attention dollars? And the gang reviews Cry Macho, the latest from director-star Clint Eastwood. Is he too old for this movie, or is Sonny a despicable ageist. Make sure to check out our bonus episode on our favorite Eastwood-directed movies.
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Have to agree with Richard here, it was really strange to have one person talking for over eight minutes straight without interruption. I'm sure you all will come to a good flow over what will hopefully be many, many more shows. Thanks for all the great content!
Overall agree “Cry Macho” is not great but good.
Sonny needs to articulate why the scene that ruined the movie for him doesn’t work. Does Sonny doubt any man would reject the advances of a rich sexy younger woman? Does Sonny doubt a rich, sexy younger woman would throw herself at a man as old as Eastwood? Allysa’s explanation of the scene (Mike takes a hard pass on crazy) is spot on & it says more about Fernanda Urrejola’s performance failing to sell Leta’s crazy to Sonny than it does Eastwood’s performance of as an old man with character. Or maybe it says something about Sonny’s exposure to men of character.
Also, I’d pick 90 year old Eastwood over Sonny for my side in a bar fight. He landed that punch!
Eastwood throwing that punch looked like De Niro trying to land that curb stomp in THE IRISHMAN. Not believable!
The opening section could use some improvement to actual discussion. Really the whole podcast could use more emphasis on discussion. A lot of times it is monologue, your monologue, 3rd person monologue. Okay guys controversy or not? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Seriously Allysa's went on for 5 minutes, maybe longer uninterrupted today. Great points but not really a good structure for your show IMO. Lover your shows, but getting to the point where I could just read your 3 essays and get the same thing.
Well I'm glad you at least thought she made some great points!