In the roaring ocean of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
In Episode #106 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, the gang takes a whimsical plunge into Knight and Day (2010), the action-comedy directed by James Mangold, known for his work on Logan and A Complete Unknown. The film stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. two A-list icons who simultaneously battle adversaries and ignite improbable romance in a high-octane spy thriller that seems more interested in what’s happening between the explosions than in the explosions themselves.
This Week’s Highlights:
As always, the hosts of this podcast stray far from the beaten path, sidetracking in ways that somehow feel more entertaining than the very movie they’ve gathered to dissect. The absurdities that unfold become a crucial part of the show’s charm, its conversational energy the perfect counterpart to the movie under scrutiny. Among the many bizarre diversions in this week’s discussion:
- What’s the latest controversy surrounding Karla Sofia Gascon?
- What’s your Grammys takeaway?
- Why, oh why, is there a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot happening, and why is the director so catastrophically wrong for the job?
- Is there a Michael Mann film we’ve all somehow missed?
- How does the MCU’s new Fantastic Four look stack up?
And, of course, the gang winds up pondering the most ridiculous hypothetical of all: What movie would you want to see crossover with another to make it interesting? If that’s not a moment of podcast gold, I’m not sure what is.
Movie Analysis: Knight and Day
As the hosts revisit Knight and Day, they dissect its absurdities and unothrodox tonal shifts with a mix of genuine curiosity and laughter. They examine the film’s origins; was it merely a means to reinvigorate Tom Cruise’s image after his infamous couch-jumping incident and Scientology-induced public meltdown? Or was it a calculated attempt to blend high-octane action with rom-com quirks? And what about the special effects? Are they as egregiously underwhelming as they seem for a big-budget 2010 blockbuster?
The conversation turns to the peculiar tonal inconsistencies of the film, noting that, with more than six credited writers, Knight and Day often feels like a collection of unrelated movies hastily cobbled together. The gang delights in observing that every few minutes the film takes on a new identity, leaving audiences unsure if they’re watching an action thriller, a slapstick comedy, or something far more surreal.
They take a moment to ponder James Mangold’s trajectory, wondering whether Knight and Day represents a bizarre detour or a precursor to the masterful storytelling that would define his later works. And, of course, no conversation about Tom Cruise is complete without asking the inevitable: When did Cruise fully morph into the charismatic, risk-taking, meme-generating force we know today? Is Knight and Day peak Cruise, both in terms of his box-office prowess and that unrelenting smile?
The gang also revels in the silliest, most ridiculous aspects of the film:
- Can Cruise really fight like his character?
- What’s the most ludicrous plot development?
- And, perhaps most importantly: How far has James Mangold fallen or succeeded since this film?
In the end, the gang’s reflections on Knight and Day are as unexpected and amusing as the film itself; a fun, chaotic ride through the wreckage of a movie that somehow stands as both a throwback to a different era of filmmaking and a relic of 2010’s cinematic missteps. But for fans of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, it’s the absurdity of the conversation that makes this episode truly unforgettable.
The real joy, however, is in the way the crew plays with the film’s seemingly outdated visual effects, whether it be fight jets blowing up an island or running away from bulls in a crowded city in Spain.
In the end, it’s a conversation about what we love, why we love it, and how we can reframe the old to fit into our new context. And when all is said and done, this crew might just convince you to watch Knight and Day and give it another shot; or at the very least, you’ll leave with a new perspective on what an action-comedy movie used to be.
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Thank you for listening.
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
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