Episode Transcript
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Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cri (00:08):
Hi, I am Reggie Ponder, the Real
Critic, and I wanna welcome youto the first edition, our first
podcast.
And this is The Real CriticsNetwork.
And I have with me my friend andlongtime collaborator, katia
Woods, and we will talk aboutthat later.
But first, let me introducemyself to people who might not
know who I am.
(00:29):
I am a film critic outtaChicago, born and raised.
I'm from the south side.
Yes.
Everybody always asks me, do Iknow Michelle Obama?
Yes, I know Michelle Obama.
But anyway, I'm from the SouthSide.
I've been a film critic for over20 years.
And I really believe in thedialogue about film and being
inclusive./\ One of the thingsthat has spurred me to be a film
(00:51):
critic is the fact that here inChicago, it is dominated by
white males.
And I just think, you know, youneed to have a little more spice
in there.
And so that's why I became afilm critic.
I currently Right.
For the, for indigo.
com.
You can catch my video reviewsthere.
I also write for the guyGarfield Lawndale news, which is
(01:13):
a, a paper on the West side.
I'm living on the West side, butI'm loving both the South side
and the West side.
Cause I'm a South sider byheart.
And then I'm also contributingto other places as well.
At the end, I'll make sure weput the links to all the places
that I'm contributing to, butwith that.
I'm going to introduce mycollaborator here, Katya Woods.
Kathia Woods (01:34):
Hey everybody, my name is Katya Woods.
I am a film, TV critic,entertainment journalist, like
we all got to wear multiple hatsbecause the industry is saying
you can't stay in one lanebecause you'll be poor, poor,
poor.
I am out of Philadelphia, but Icurrently live in Georgia.
Still love my birds though.
(01:55):
Even though Reggie tries to tryto push me in the other
directions, you know, it's stillgo birds.
And I have my own outlet cup ofsoul show.
com where we really try to honein and, and, and cover film, but
underrepresented black, Latin X,Asian, and women.
And I also contribute to thePhiladelphia Tribune and the
(02:16):
Sacramento Observer.
And I have a radio segment everyWednesday on Word and Reality
Check with Tanya Pendleton,where we kiki, we talk all
things film.
And I'm so happy that we'redoing this because we've been
talking and we've been talkingand we've been talking and our
kids done graduated college andmoved up, moved back in.
And you know, we done got a dog.
(02:38):
And all this other stuff and weare just so happy to give a
different perspective to thisvery interesting conversation
that is film and hopefully willenlighten, make you laugh and
have you also look at some filmsthat you may not look at when
you are out at your cinemaplexor whatever place you consume
your your films and yourtelevision.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (03:02):
Well, you heard it there, that's my
friend Kathia and I wanna tellyou something is that she did
say that you know, that she'sfor the Birds, which is, you
know, Philadelphia, but she's inAtlanta, so it could actually be
the Falcons, you know, that'swhat it could actually be.
Kathia Woods (03:17):
They're at home, they're on the couch.
The fellow day three equals, I'mplaying on Sunday.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cri (03:22):
So,
Kathia Woods (03:24):
you know, their stadium is being used for the
college, you know, championship.
The Falcons are on vacation,
Reggie Ponder, The Re (03:36):
whatever, whatever.
So we'll get into, we'll getinto our first segment.
And our first segment is calledwhat's on my mind.
And I'm going to kick this offfor our first stuff podcast
here.
And what's on my mind.
Is the question whether or notwe should have these award shows
at all, given the fact thatHollywood is in such a have.
(04:00):
You look at the fires that arehappening in L.
A.
The question is, should we becelebrating excellence in film
while people are struggling?
But then the other question is.
Well, why shouldn't we?
Wouldn't that help the industry?
Wouldn't that keep peopleworking?
Wouldn't that be honoring thework that people have been
doing?
I don't know the answer to thisone, but it really on my mind.
(04:22):
That's what's on my mind.
And I'm going to be thinkingabout it for a while.
I forgot to mention, that I'm amember of various organizations.
And one of them is the.
Critics Choice Association andour awards are supposed to come
up and we're discussing thistopic right now, whether or not
we should continue on and havethe award shows that I don't
have to answer, but the segmentis what's on my mind.
(04:44):
And that's what's on my mind.
Kathia, what's on your mind?
Kathia Woods (04:49):
Well why?
I think it's it's a tough one,right?
I do think the award shows needto go on because we had award
shows.
We had award shows 9 I think wasabout as horrible as something
because why what's happening inL.
A.
Is a natural disaster, right?
9 11 was something that was doneto us.
(05:11):
And shook up our whole entireworld and we still proceeded
with award season.
Now, as in 9 11, the tone of theaward show needs to change,
right?
It was a little bit more towndown.
People didn't come so overtlydiamonds and pearls, right?
And the focus was on awarenessto what our country was dealing
(05:38):
with, right?
And, and, and, and taking careof those families that lost
loved ones and the enormousamount of first responders.
That we lost, right?
So I think we can do that withthe award shows.
And I think the bigger picture alot of people are missing is
there are a lot of gig workers,which are people who get hired
(06:03):
per contract.
For whether it's a show orwhether it is handing out water,
they make their bulk of theirmoney, a good portion of their
salaries working award season,you know, so the person that you
see in the carpet you know.
Guiding the stars as they taketheir pictures, the
photographers that take thepictures of the stars makeup
(06:27):
artists hairdressers, the listgoes on and on the seat fillers.
It is not.
I need us to get out of thismindset.
It's just rich peoplecelebrating rich people because
the people holding the mic, thepersonal lighting, those people
are not rich.
They're working class people.
They just happen to work in anindustry.
And a lot of those folks didlose their home and they're
(06:48):
going to need money.
They need to make a living inorder for them to be able to
rebuild.
You know, they still going tohave to find temporary housing.
They still got to eat at somepoint.
These resources are going to dryup and you're going to need
money.
You know, you don't need to bankup in order for you to support
everybody.
So I want us to think a littlebit more logistically.
(07:11):
I think we can do this.
Some people said a telethon.
I said, now hold up now.
Let's not always gocrowdsourcing to the people.
The people have shown up and aregiving to these GoFundMe's and
the list goes on and on, right?
The first thing is let's go askregular people.
The regular people are hurting.
That's why we have the tone ofthe election because regular
(07:32):
people said we want somebody Whois going to help us get our
grocery bills down.
I do think that all the studios,one thing that I like that I'm
seeing is for instance, theAcademy scrapped the Oscars
nominee luncheon.
So they said that 250, 000 thatthey would have spent on the
Oscars nominee luncheon is goingtowards.
(07:55):
Helping first responders helpingrebuild.
Disney came out and said we'regiving 15 mil.
Netflix said we're giving 15mil.
Right?
All these, all the studios needto buck up first.
We don't need any more of theseparties.
I was in love with the Grammys.
I love a good party, but I likethe fact that they're like, All
(08:15):
the labels have scrapped everylabel, every situation in music
usually has either a pre partyand after party or several
parties, you know, the rocknation brunch don't need that.
So they're taking that moneythat they would have resource
for those things and they'regiving it.
To support first responders, tosupport various different
(08:39):
organizations.
That's something that I do agreethat we should be doing because
you know what?
How can you sit there Kiki andhave champagne dreams when
somebody's house burned down?
You know?
Yeah.
No, at
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cri (08:53):
at, at i.
That's
Kathia Woods (08:56):
a way to go take that money.
But you still, like I said, is.
Have the award shows, bring thefocus, have the stars, and most
importantly, I want to be veryclear on this, right?
I, the American Red Cross hasbeen a little dicey, and from
Haiti to Katrina and somethings.
(09:16):
I'm not saying that the AmericanRed Cross is not needed.
That they don't do good work.
I still give blood and all ofthat, but I would like to see
these award shows honed down andwork with local charities or
charities like world centralkitchen with chef Andres, who is
always boots on the ground andfeeds.
(09:39):
Everybody has food works withlocal restaurants to bring
awareness, to do community work.
I would like to see us move awayfrom the super huge.
Organizations and work withlocal charities that are working
with the working class peoplethat were affected.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (09:57):
Well, you said a lot.
See, that was what was on mymind.
Obviously that was what was onyour mind as well.
So you gave us, more than what Iwas asking for today, Kathia,
but that's what you do.
Some really good stuff and bevery interested here.
You guys what's what's on yourmind?
Hit us up on on our socialmedias.
They'll be out there.
But absolutely Tell us what's onyour mind as well with that.
(10:20):
We're going to move into What wedo on a regular basis and when I
say what we do on a regularbasis We are watching movies and
television shows left and right.
I have to tell you though, isthat Kathia says that she's
doing TV and she's doing radio.
She's doing movies.
She's doing all the girls alsowriting about the movie about
(10:43):
music.
I be like, You just have to hither up because she's writing
about everything.
And that's what a journalistdoes I'm just a critic right
now.
But that's what you do.
And we really appreciate that.
So let's get into our firstmovie for this week.
And Kathia, I would like for youto kick this one off.
And this is the movie,Unstoppable.
Kathia Woods (11:02):
Well, it's the story about Anthony Robles who
won a state championship,wrestling championship for the
University of Arizona.
What makes the story soremarkable is that Anthony was
born with one leg.
Yes, you heard me correctly.
He has one leg.
He was born that way.
He didn't have an accident.
He was born that way and was ayou know, a championship
(11:24):
wrestler in high school and astate wrestler, a state champion
in for the university ofArizona.
And he tells, and he had adifficult life because he was
raised by his mother, who alsohas a remarkable story.
And his stepfather, who we don'tlike, we don't like him at all.
(11:46):
And he was very abusive and notjust to him, but the family and,
you know, all that good stuff.
And in spite of all of that,Anthony overcame his disability
and not just became an amazingwrestler, but he's a testament
to the human spirit of what youcan do when you set your mind to
something and just.
(12:06):
An overall good person.
It has Bobby Carnavale plays hisstepdad that we don't like.
Jennifer Lopez plays his motherwhich I think is her best
performance since Hustlers.
You know what I mean?
Where we get her, you know, wedon't get jazzed up, Jen.
We get, you know, she plays amom who is imperfect, who has to
(12:29):
learn to love herself and andit's Jarell Jerome plays Anthony
Robles.
And, you know, Jarell is won anEmmy for When They See Us.
Who's a remarkable young actor.
He's just really, really goodand gifted.
And you're gonna cry, you'regonna cheer, you're gonna laugh.
And I think it's something thatwe need right now where right
(12:50):
now where we're dealing with somuch right and we're like, I
don't know.
Can I do it?
Can I start over again?
I'm tired because it seems everyyear new year new beginnings and
we what 16 days, 17 days intoJanuary and we like.
Return to sender because she'sdoing too much already.
So I think it's, it's also amovie the whole family can
(13:11):
watch, you know what I mean?
And I think it's kind of likereminds you of resiliency and
saying, you know what?
Although it feels dark, we willovercome when we can work
through this.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cr (13:24):
Wow.
Well, well, I you, you reallyput it in perspective here.
I will tell you is that both ofus got a chance to speak with
Jarrell Jerome and AnthonyRobles and just meeting those
people in person.
I, it, it just substantiates howphenomenal Anthony Robles is
(13:47):
just meet him in person.
You, you, you'd watch the filmand you think, man, this, this
guy is phenomenal.
And then when you meet him,you're like, man, this guy is
phenomenal.
What I liked about this film it,all the things that you said, I
liked about this film.
I also like that this is a filmthat is inspirational.
(14:07):
Is that there is no way that anable bodied person can look at
this and not be inspired.
And then there is no way thatsomeone who might have a
disability can look at this filmand not be inspired.
This is a very inspirationalfilm to see how he was able to
navigate a very, very toughsituation at home and Tough
(14:31):
situations on the mat.
And it's interesting how thosetwo things in some kind of ways
a parallel each other is thathis his struggles on the mat and
his struggles at home.
He used the same kind ofstrategies to to overcome it.
Jerome.
Is very good in this film and hetalks about how he had to go
(14:52):
through a lot of training tounderstand how to move his body,
how to use crutches, all thethings that he needed to, to try
and portray this phenomenalperson in it, in the best and
most respectful way.
And I, I think he, he does thatin spades and I agree with you
that, jennifer does a reallynice performance here, but
(15:14):
Bobby, Bobby actually brings it.
You, you say we don't like his,his, his, his stepfather.
We don't, but in part because ofthe portrayal that Bobby brings
to that character.
Oh my goodness.
I, I want to hit Bobby next timeI see him.
I mean, I'm, I'm mad at him.
And And then lastly a Chicagoconnection for us, you know, we,
(15:36):
we can't from, from a Chicagoperspective because he had two
coaches and when, when you lookat, and I'm laughing to myself
because when you look at both ofthe coaches that, that he had,
you have Michael Pena, Chicago,Chicago, Chicago, and then you
(15:57):
have Don Cheadle.
And so you really do have thispowerhouse.
ensemble that works together tobring this very true and very
important story to the bigscreen.
And I think it's one of thosemovies that's a must watch.
Kathia Woods (16:14):
I agree.
I mean, I think again, it's,it's, you know, it's dropping at
the right time.
Sometimes art and life likeintersect.
And I think this is, this is oneof those, you know what I mean?
And hopefully it will inspire usto rise and remember when we
lean into our strengths, youknow what I mean?
(16:34):
Even when we're scared, we cando amazing things.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (16:38):
I love that, Katya, that you talk
about when we lean into ourstrengths, because people
thought that him not having thatextra leg was going to be, it
was a, they looked at him with adisability, but what his mother
and he, how he, We see what hismother says like, yeah, yeah,
yeah, you might be missingsomething, but you got something
(17:00):
and the stuff that you got,those are your strengths and
those strengths, we're going tolean into those and help you be
the best that you can be.
And I, I love the fact that youmentioned that about leaning
into your strengths.
Kathia Woods (17:12):
100%.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (17:14):
Well, this is I'm recommending this
for sure.
And I think you are as well.
Kathia Woods (17:19):
100%.
And you can, you know, everybodycan pull up on the, to the
couch, get your favorite spot inyour snacks.
And you can watch this as afamily.
Reggie Ponder, The (17:29):
Absolutely.
Well, great.
Well, that's our first movie.
Let's talk about our secondmovie.
And I know a lot of times youguys be thinking.
It's one of them days.
It is.
That's the movie.
We're going to talk about one ofthem days.
This one is starring Kiki Palmerand SZA, where they're best
friends.
I'm talking about ride or diefriends and they start running
(17:54):
into a little problem thateverything that could go wrong
goes wrong and everything thatcould go right goes wrong.
In this film, the, the premiseof the film is that they got
their rent money.
They're ready to pay the rent,but SZA's character decides for
some unbeknownst reason to me togive the money to her boyfriend
(18:16):
instead of giving the money tothe rent man, to the landlord.
That don't make, does that makesense to you?
That doesn't make sense to me.
But anyway, boyfriend borrowsthe money.
And now that's what he said, hesaid, he said in the film that
he was just using it as a loan,you know, so I'm going with what
(18:39):
he said, but he took the money.
Boyfriend takes the money to dowhatever he needs to do.
He talking about, he is anentrepreneur and he was trying
to do some t shirts but anyway,that puts the two.
In jeopardy of being evicted,and now they have to find the
money by the end of the day, sothey're not evicted, and it is
(19:02):
really about their day goingthrough their day trying to
figure out whether or not theywill have a place to live.
Now, I, in my review, I saidthis.
The trailer tells you whether ornot this is the type of film for
you because everything, all the,the good gags are previewed in
(19:22):
the trailer, but don't worry,context matters.
And so, even though they'repreviewed, you don't get to see
the full effect of what'shappening in each one of the
gags that they're talking about,like going to give blood, or Or
going I think going to giveblood and, and a number of other
(19:43):
things that happen in the film,they're just previewed, but when
you see it in real time, you'relike, oh, okay, I see what's
going on, but you, you know howthere's these films that.
That some of us be like, dang,why do you have to put our
business out on the street?
Because it touches on some realissues that you have, like a
living, living paycheck topaycheck, going to payday loan
(20:07):
places not being able to.
Not being able to progress inyour, in your job.
So there's so many differentthings that it touches, touches
on, and there's some realissues.
So I like the film because ittouches on a number of real
issues that people have.
I liked this film because it hassome funny, funny to it, but I
(20:29):
will tell you some of thesethings were hard to suspend
belief for, even though Eventhough it had some, some, some
nuggets of truth in them, therewere some things that just were
hard to suspend Belief.
I, it was hard for me to suspendbelief that she would give her
money to the boyfriend.
She not stupid.
She what?
(20:50):
You guys gonna get the money tothe boyfriend and, and think he
gonna go pay the rent for youand boy, Ben?
Leeching off you all the time.
I wasn't buying that it was hardfor me to believe that they
would walk down the street Justflashing their money after they
were money hungry and theyneeded the money real real bad
So there were a number of thingsin the film that I was like, and
(21:11):
it just doesn't ring true.
However, it was surprisingly Inthe film they used to frame
ghetto and I was like so myreview says that this is ghetto
But with some audience appeal,it actually has some audience
appeal.
You're going to like these twocharacters.
You're going to love their rideor die attitude.
(21:33):
You're going to love the factthat the two of them can argue.
But can still figure out that,you know what?
It's us.
It's our relationship thatreally matters.
They build each other up andthey support each other.
So I overall I like this filmeven though they had some things
that made me go.
Hmm.
(21:54):
That's what I got for you, Kathy
Kathia Woods (21:56):
I think you're right.
This is a perfect film for thistime of year.
Now, I agree with you.
If you're looking for some deepcontext, some super, this is not
the film.
This is a good kiki.
You come with your girlfriend,your boyfriend, whatever.
You get your little popcorn, yousit where you like to sit in the
theater and you tune out for thehour and some change.
(22:17):
That's what it is.
Think like Fridays, right?
And I love the fact that numberone is number, Isa has kept her
word opening the doors andbringing other people through
the door.
The director, this is hisfeature film debut.
He started out directing musicvideos and then directed a
(22:40):
couple episodes on rap ish.
I'm saying the nice word becausewe keep in a family and, and and
then she.
Had the opportunity to producethis movie in under her deal
with Sony had him direct thatgot Kiki Palmer Who although
people are like, well, it'sKiki.
She's got a lot of experienceShe's not if you look at the
(23:03):
trajectory of Kiki's career andwhere her peers are that were in
that same You know child actorclass Kiki doesn't get this most
of her opportunities Once againcome from black cinema black
communities, and there's nothingwrong with that so for Issa to
be like, Hey, I'm going to get aveteran like Kiki to play Drew,
(23:26):
and I'm going to give SZA, whoI'm sure they have their
relationship being in this LAartistic clique, her opportunity
to, her first to act.
And I was very pleasantlysurprised by SZA because, you
know, it can be hit or miss withthese comedians and with these
music artists that have
Reggie Ponder, The Reel (23:43):
played themselves.
I'm really glad.
Really glad that you'rementioning that.
Thank you so much.
Kathia Woods (23:48):
Yeah.
Cause you know, sometimes you'relike, Ooh, this can go one or
two ways.
It can go real bad.
I can go.
And I also think that I like thefact that SZA leaned into Kiki
and, you know, they build arapport over social media before
filming this so that, so theycan have natural chemistry,
which they do.
And I also liked that SZA didn'ttry to overreach.
(24:08):
She's like, okay, I'm going tostay in my lane.
I'm going to stay in thisbubble.
And I'm going to own this space.
Right.
Now I, as far as I read you, youand I would never give our ears.
First of all, we wouldn't datesomebody like Keyshawn.
That's number one.
Who's a hot mess.
Who's the third roommate thatdon't pay rent, but occupy
(24:30):
space.
That's number one.
We would not, he would not be inour lives.
Number two.
What
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (24:35):
I will say though, before you get
to number two, is that.
That you're, you're right.
But what I do like about thisfilm is that, that.
It's taking people who would dothat, right?
There's some folks who, theirman ain't, ain't, ain't about
it, you know?
And, and, and so it's sayingthat, you know, sometimes that
(24:56):
happens, and sometimes we have abad judgment, and, and I think
they, they address that issue inthis film.
Go ahead, number two.
Kathia Woods (25:04):
I mean, I was going to say to you, I had a
roommate in college.
And when I interviewed theladies along, I said, listen, we
had a, where I hope, you know,violated you'd come home.
You'd miss like cafeterialounge.
You're like, Ooh, I'm good.
I got my tuna.
I got my bread.
I'm gonna make my littlesituation.
When I get, I got my juice, youknow, he didn't, he liked my
(25:26):
stuff.
Cause I bought name brand stuffwhere his girl was buying stuff
that was a little off brand.
And I had like, you know, my hamand my cheese and I thought I
was gonna make the sandwich andI walk in the door.
He was eating my, my food,Reggie.
He was drinking my juice, mymango juice.
And I was like, you know what?
If I, if I stay, there's gonnabe some blood.
(25:48):
Not mine, cause he's gonna getcut.
And we had to have a talk withher.
We're like, he is more thansleeping over.
He is, he's living here.
He's eating our food.
He is the fourth unwantedroommate and he needs to pay
rent.
He needs to contribute or youneed to take your man to the
grocery store and buy the foodHe likes and stop having him
(26:11):
eat.
He was drinking the cereal myother roommate She tried to have
some cereal in the morning whenI tell you when I tell you She
was hot when she had that cerealin the bowl and no milk and had
no breakfast before class So yesThere are people like Keyshawn
and Alyssa and who's living on ahope and prayer thinking that
(26:34):
this man that has no job sittingon the couch was going to pay
rent like we knew it as soon asshe said we like that rent is
gone.
But again.
You're not watching this forcontacts.
You're not watching this for itbeing realistic.
Does it have some rough moments?
Yes, but you're watching it forthe two leads to two girls.
(26:56):
You're rooting for the two girlsand you want them to make better
choices.
You want them to do better.
And that's what I love aboutthis film is the camaraderie,
the complete opposites, as we dohave with all of our friends.
But at the end of the day, it'sthe sisterhood.
It's the love that they have foreach other in spite of being in
these horrendous circumstancesthat they cause that pulls them
(27:20):
through.
And I, and again, I think That'swhat I like about it.
That's what a lot of thegirlfriends that I go to go see
it like about it And it'sperfect escapism Movie watching
go in lean in leave yourtroubles on the other side and
just have a little mentalvacation That's what this movie
(27:42):
is
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (27:43):
I will say though, is that, that I
already know, so I can hear oneof my brothers saying, you like
that movie?
This is not for him.
This is not, this film, if you,I'm glad you mentioned like,
movies like Friday.
If you, Don't like those typesof movies.
Don't even think that you'regonna enjoy this this type of
(28:06):
film I don't exactly compare itto that, but I've heard a couple
of people comparing it in maybein that genre if you will This
might not be that that film foryou because it is It's a little,
it's a little silly and a littleexaggerated, but this is a film
that you have to suspend beliefto go in and see, because I
(28:29):
already told you that I had acouple of things that, that I
was like, ah, nah, that, that,that wouldn't happen.
I don't believe it.
And, and, and that type ofthing, but it does.
I think first and foremost thatit is about that friendship and
that ride or die friend that,you know, that friend who will
cause the problems and get youinto trouble, but will actually
(28:51):
stay around when they do it.
You know, you got some friendsthat they'll cause you some
problems and they'd be like, I'mout.
I see you.
I'm I'm gone.
And then you'd be like, well,wait a minute.
I ain't start this stuff.
So it's about that.
But it's also about self worthbecause both of these young
ladies had to figure out, had toget to the point to talk to.
(29:13):
Project to others what they wereworth, but in a sense, they also
had to believe in themselvesthat they were worth something
on scissors characters case.
It's it's about her paintingsand how great she can paint and
what she could bring to thetable on.
Kiki's perspective, it wasreally that, look, I know that I
(29:34):
shouldn't be at this level.
I am so much better and I'mbetter than the people who are
managing me and I need to go outthere and represent that.
So I love, I love that.
And I think that that is, isreal important.
They have some other actors inthis that are.
Important.
You know, I'm always about thatwhole Chicago thing.
They had the Chicago crew downpat.
(29:56):
They had my boy Dwayne Perkinsin the house.
They had Lil Rel Howery there.
Obviously, Keke Palmer.
So, Chicago was wellrepresented.
And then they had some otherpeople, like let me see.
I think they had some otherpeople.
Cat Williams was in it.
Janelle James.
But they ain't Chicago, so, youknow, what can I say?
Kathia Woods (30:15):
And again, it's just great escapism and again,
this movie works.
The parts and make you lean inis because of the two leads, you
know what I mean?
You can relate to these girlsand just making bad decisions in
your 20s and also, you know,being afraid to live up to your
potential.
(30:35):
So I think.
That's what the winning thingis.
I absolutely think you should goand you should support because
again, I love what ISA is doing,which is making sure there's
work for new faces and givingopportunities and then also
leaning into to our veterans.
And again, this is a greatthing, you know, for you to go
see with your older daughter,not your little daughter, your
(30:58):
older daughter.
Right.
And, and, and, you know, for,with your girlfriends, you know,
if you, you know, you not.
You won't go to club.
I'm not the club girl anymore.
Go and have some lunch and havesome drinks and then go see this
movie.
This is a fun way to spend anafternoon.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (31:15):
There you have it.
So we talked about two moviesand we're both, we're
recommending both.
I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm recommendingthis film with, with the caveat.
Cause I already know some of mypeople be like I'm not going to
go check that one out.
So I know who you are.
This is probably not that moviefor you.
So anyway.
Now we're going to move into ourfinal segment of the day, which
(31:37):
is Basically what I call therant and rave.
This is where we get 30 secondsto passionately rant or rave
about something on film and TV.
And I'm going to let Katya do itfirst because she not going to
do 30 seconds.
You know, she going to rant andrave for a minute.
So I'll come back and I'll, andI'll tie it up, you know?
Kathia Woods (31:56):
Well, it's not necessarily film or TV, the ban
on TikTok.
Allegedly on Monday, we will nolonger have access to TikTok and
it leads to a biggerconversation in our industry.
How is this going to affect ourprofession?
Because the studios who reliedso much on influencers, many who
are, have a large following onTikTok.
(32:18):
Will they still be using themwhen they don't have a platform?
Because a lot of them put alltheir eggs in one basket, which
is TikTok, and they, they're noton Instagram.
They're definitely not on, onFacebook.
They're not on X or Twitter,whatever you call it.
Where are these people going tomigrate?
Are they gonna go back toSnapchat?
(32:39):
Like, how is this.
What's happening.
And in the meantime, we, we'vebeen consistently doing us.
So how is the ban on Tik TOKgoing to affect our profession,
our community and this marketingoutlet, right?
That the studios have beenrelying on not always utilized
(33:02):
well, right?
Because I heard a woman lastyear at comic con talking about,
excuse me, at cinema con, howshe used influences for a
thousand and one.
Which is the movie with TianaTaylor and I'm like, well that,
but you used the wronginfluencers because the movie
was about mom, motherhood, andyou used some 20 year olds.
So I'm really curious what isgoing to happen to those all,
(33:24):
all those folks.
And I always said it's Don'tput, have your own platform, use
social media as your marketingand then revert it back to the
platform that you own.
Because in this case, you're,you can have, I mean, some of
these people have a millionfollowers.
Some of these people have ahundred K followers and Baba on
(33:45):
Monday.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (33:46):
Yeah, it's, it's gonna, it's, that's a
really good one to, to, to bringout and see, I, I I wasn't even
gonna comment on your, on yourrant, but I think that that's a
really interesting thing.
I, I think that the studios,because they are so in love with
The social media people is thatthey'll try to figure out some
way to assist them becausethose, those numbers that those
(34:09):
social media folks have, if yougot, you know, 1, 2, 3 million
followers, which some of thesefolks absolutely do.
The studio is is like Google forGaga for that so it'll be
interesting I'm that's a reallyinteresting rant to see what the
studios might do and also justhow It will affect that industry
(34:31):
overall.
Thanks for that one.
That's that's that that that wasgood I don't even know if mine
is as good as yours
Kathia Woods (34:36):
Girl
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Crit (34:41):
so I I hate to talk about
Philadelphia stuff But my thingis, is that I have fallen in
love.
I'm talking about in love, justabsolutely in love with.
Coleman Domingo.
I, I, I'm sorry.
I know, I know that's your boy.
And we, we talking about Philly,but I fall in love with Coleman
(35:01):
Domingo.
He has just proven to me timeand time again that he is bad.
This dude, everything he putsout, I'm like watching it and
I'm watching it like on pins andneedles.
And the thing that I, I finisheda few weeks ago, but I want
people to go check out, it is onNetflix and it is called The
(35:23):
Madness.
It is madness for real brotheris out there just doing his
daily job at CNN as the CNNpundit, and then all of a
sudden, all hell breaks loose,and he is being framed.
He, he has to fight for hisinnocence.
But in addition to that.
(35:44):
He has to fight for his familyand the way in which they, they
construct this, because I onlygot a few minutes, 30 seconds
for this rant.
So I'd have to talk about theseries a little later, but the
way they construct this with himbeing estranged from his wife,
he got a son that he's tryingto.
Show what, what's the rightthing to do.
(36:05):
And then he got a daughter who'sjust kind of out there and they,
they not really, they not good,good, as, as, as Usher would
say, they not good, good.
And the way in which they putall of this stuff together is so
It's captivating.
It is my jam.
Coleman Domingo is my jam.
(36:26):
That, that's my, that's my 32ndrant.
Kathia Woods (36:29):
No, I agree.
And what Coleman did, I got achance to speak to my friend, is
he made sure they did exteriorsof Philadelphia, not just in
popular.
Like if you're from Philly, youcan tell.
Everybody always, here's a hintfor you guys.
Everybody always shoots at thefront.
What they call the rocky steps.
(36:50):
Know those are the art museumsteps.
Go and support that art museum.
It's absolutely utterlybeautiful.
Right on Wednesday, you can gopay what you want and see a lot
of the artwork in there, whichis absolutely gorgeous.
They shop behind.
There's a whole other part ofthe art museum that a lot of
these shows, a lot of thesefilms don't ever take care of.
(37:13):
And that leads into West Philly.
And he made sure they went toparts of his neighborhood.
where he grew up, where thepeople were to show love to the
community.
And that I really, really lovebecause again, Philadelphia is
more than downtown.
It's also Philadelphia reallyis.
And like a lot of big cities,it's a city of neighborhoods and
(37:34):
too often they concentrate.
On just the part where the moneyis.
They don't go to the people.
And he said, no, I'm anexecutive producer.
I'm a Philadelphia native, I'm aWest Philly native.
We gonna go to the hood.
We shooting in North Philly,uptown, we shooting in West
Philly.
We're gonna go be with thepeople.
And I appreciate that so much.
Reggie Ponder, The (37:57):
Appreciate.
Yeah.
I since, since you commented onmy, on my rant, I do have to say
is that the actors in this.
Man, oh man, they got, that isMixon, who playing the son, they
got Marsha Stephanie Blakeplaying playing she is killing,
I mean, she, I, I was like,Where did I see her from?
(38:20):
I, I had to be like, I knowthis, I know this woman.
They got Deon Cole.
And then they got the, the actorextraordinaire.
And I'm just mentioning a few ofthem.
And I, I apologize.
Cause you should have justmentioned the whole cast, but
Stefan McKinley Henderson.
Oh my goodness.
Do I love me some him?
(38:41):
This, this show.
It's worth it.
Go and check it out.
If you don't have Netflix, goover friends house who got
Netflix and just sit down andbinge it.
Cause this one, this one was,was all that.
Don't
Kathia Woods (38:54):
get them in trouble.
You got to go over there or askto be a part of the family plan.
Don't get the password becauseNetflix.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cr (39:01):
Just go over to the house and say,
look, can I stay here for acouple of days?
Cause I want to watch thisseries or at least come back and
check it out, but bring your ownsnacks.
Be, be, be, be upright.
Bring your own snacks.
Don't don't go over the houseand then expect them to give you
the snacks too.
But check out the madness.
(39:21):
That's that one is, is, isreally about, about it.
Hey, that's, that's our show fortoday.
We, we talked about a lot ofthings.
Hopefully you'll follow us onsocial media.
I'm, I'm on Twitter, Instagram,YouTube.
I had a presence on Tik Tok, butI didn't really do anything on
(39:42):
Tik Tok.
So it doesn't matter.
But at The Real Critic, that's RE E L The Real Critic, that's
me.
And then on Facebook, if you'reon Facebook, you can follow me
at Reggie, The Real Critic.
So please do that.
Katya, tell them, tell themwhere they can find you again.
Kathia Woods (39:57):
I'm Katya underscore on, I am not on
Twitter anymore.
Cause.
be doing the most, but I am onblue sky.
I'm on spill.
I am on Instagram.
I was on tech talk, but as youknow, it's gone bye bye and I am
on Facebook.
So you can follow me there onall things, you know, and
(40:17):
listen, somebody else was sayinglike, where are we going to?
I said, listen, y'all let meknow, work it out.
And.
See if it sticks around for aminute before you ask me to
join.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Crit (40:26):
I, I heard that.
Well, I actually joined Blue Skytoo, so we'll need to hook up on
Blue Sky, for sure.
I joined it as, at The RealCritic.
Nobody took that, so that wasreally good.
With that, hey.
We gonna do this on a regularbasis.
I hope you guys enjoy what you,what you heard.
We gonna bring on some otherpeople as well, periodically to
come in and chime in because webelieve that the dialogue is
(40:50):
much stronger than themonologue.
Hey, this is the Real CriticsNetwork.
Thanks for joining and we'll seeyou guys next time.
Kathia Woods (40:59):
See you next time.
Hi, I am Reggie Ponder, the Real
Critic, and I wanna welcome youto the first edition, our first
podcast.
And this is The Real CriticsNetwork.
And I have with me my friend andlongtime collaborator, katia
Woods, and we will talk aboutthat later.
But first, let me introducemyself to people who might not
know who I am.
(00:29):
I am a film critic outtaChicago, born and raised.
I'm from the south side.
Yes.
Everybody always asks me, do Iknow Michelle Obama?
Yes, I know Michelle Obama.
But anyway, I'm from the SouthSide.
I've been a film critic for over20 years.
And I really believe in thedialogue about film and being
inclusive./\ One of the thingsthat has spurred me to be a film
(00:51):
critic is the fact that here inChicago, it is dominated by
white males.
And I just think, you know, youneed to have a little more spice
in there.
And so that's why I became afilm critic.
I currently Right.
For the, for indigo.
com.
You can catch my video reviewsthere.
I also write for the guyGarfield Lawndale news, which is
(01:13):
a, a paper on the West side.
I'm living on the West side, butI'm loving both the South side
and the West side.
Cause I'm a South sider byheart.
And then I'm also contributingto other places as well.
At the end, I'll make sure weput the links to all the places
that I'm contributing to, butwith that.
I'm going to introduce mycollaborator here, Katya Woods.
Kathia Woods (01:34):
Hey everybody, my name is Katya Woods.
I am a film, TV critic,entertainment journalist, like
we all got to wear multiple hatsbecause the industry is saying
you can't stay in one lanebecause you'll be poor, poor,
poor.
I am out of Philadelphia, but Icurrently live in Georgia.
Still love my birds though.
(01:55):
Even though Reggie tries to tryto push me in the other
directions, you know, it's stillgo birds.
And I have my own outlet cup ofsoul show.
com where we really try to honein and, and, and cover film, but
underrepresented black, Latin X,Asian, and women.
And I also contribute to thePhiladelphia Tribune and the
(02:16):
Sacramento Observer.
And I have a radio segment everyWednesday on Word and Reality
Check with Tanya Pendleton,where we kiki, we talk all
things film.
And I'm so happy that we'redoing this because we've been
talking and we've been talkingand we've been talking and our
kids done graduated college andmoved up, moved back in.
And you know, we done got a dog.
(02:38):
And all this other stuff and weare just so happy to give a
different perspective to thisvery interesting conversation
that is film and hopefully willenlighten, make you laugh and
have you also look at some filmsthat you may not look at when
you are out at your cinemaplexor whatever place you consume
your your films and yourtelevision.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (03:02):
Well, you heard it there, that's my
friend Kathia and I wanna tellyou something is that she did
say that you know, that she'sfor the Birds, which is, you
know, Philadelphia, but she's inAtlanta, so it could actually be
the Falcons, you know, that'swhat it could actually be.
Kathia Woods (03:17):
They're at home, they're on the couch.
The fellow day three equals, I'mplaying on Sunday.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cri (03:22):
So,
Kathia Woods (03:24):
you know, their stadium is being used for the
college, you know, championship.
The Falcons are on vacation,
Reggie Ponder, The Re (03:36):
whatever, whatever.
So we'll get into, we'll getinto our first segment.
And our first segment is calledwhat's on my mind.
And I'm going to kick this offfor our first stuff podcast
here.
And what's on my mind.
Is the question whether or notwe should have these award shows
at all, given the fact thatHollywood is in such a have.
(04:00):
You look at the fires that arehappening in L.
A.
The question is, should we becelebrating excellence in film
while people are struggling?
But then the other question is.
Well, why shouldn't we?
Wouldn't that help the industry?
Wouldn't that keep peopleworking?
Wouldn't that be honoring thework that people have been
doing?
I don't know the answer to thisone, but it really on my mind.
(04:22):
That's what's on my mind.
And I'm going to be thinkingabout it for a while.
I forgot to mention, that I'm amember of various organizations.
And one of them is the.
Critics Choice Association andour awards are supposed to come
up and we're discussing thistopic right now, whether or not
we should continue on and havethe award shows that I don't
have to answer, but the segmentis what's on my mind.
(04:44):
And that's what's on my mind.
Kathia, what's on your mind?
Kathia Woods (04:49):
Well why?
I think it's it's a tough one,right?
I do think the award shows needto go on because we had award
shows.
We had award shows 9 I think wasabout as horrible as something
because why what's happening inL.
A.
Is a natural disaster, right?
9 11 was something that was doneto us.
(05:11):
And shook up our whole entireworld and we still proceeded
with award season.
Now, as in 9 11, the tone of theaward show needs to change,
right?
It was a little bit more towndown.
People didn't come so overtlydiamonds and pearls, right?
And the focus was on awarenessto what our country was dealing
(05:38):
with, right?
And, and, and, and taking careof those families that lost
loved ones and the enormousamount of first responders.
That we lost, right?
So I think we can do that withthe award shows.
And I think the bigger picture alot of people are missing is
there are a lot of gig workers,which are people who get hired
(06:03):
per contract.
For whether it's a show orwhether it is handing out water,
they make their bulk of theirmoney, a good portion of their
salaries working award season,you know, so the person that you
see in the carpet you know.
Guiding the stars as they taketheir pictures, the
photographers that take thepictures of the stars makeup
(06:27):
artists hairdressers, the listgoes on and on the seat fillers.
It is not.
I need us to get out of thismindset.
It's just rich peoplecelebrating rich people because
the people holding the mic, thepersonal lighting, those people
are not rich.
They're working class people.
They just happen to work in anindustry.
And a lot of those folks didlose their home and they're
(06:48):
going to need money.
They need to make a living inorder for them to be able to
rebuild.
You know, they still going tohave to find temporary housing.
They still got to eat at somepoint.
These resources are going to dryup and you're going to need
money.
You know, you don't need to bankup in order for you to support
everybody.
So I want us to think a littlebit more logistically.
(07:11):
I think we can do this.
Some people said a telethon.
I said, now hold up now.
Let's not always gocrowdsourcing to the people.
The people have shown up and aregiving to these GoFundMe's and
the list goes on and on, right?
The first thing is let's go askregular people.
The regular people are hurting.
That's why we have the tone ofthe election because regular
(07:32):
people said we want somebody Whois going to help us get our
grocery bills down.
I do think that all the studios,one thing that I like that I'm
seeing is for instance, theAcademy scrapped the Oscars
nominee luncheon.
So they said that 250, 000 thatthey would have spent on the
Oscars nominee luncheon is goingtowards.
(07:55):
Helping first responders helpingrebuild.
Disney came out and said we'regiving 15 mil.
Netflix said we're giving 15mil.
Right?
All these, all the studios needto buck up first.
We don't need any more of theseparties.
I was in love with the Grammys.
I love a good party, but I likethe fact that they're like, All
(08:15):
the labels have scrapped everylabel, every situation in music
usually has either a pre partyand after party or several
parties, you know, the rocknation brunch don't need that.
So they're taking that moneythat they would have resource
for those things and they'regiving it.
To support first responders, tosupport various different
(08:39):
organizations.
That's something that I do agreethat we should be doing because
you know what?
How can you sit there Kiki andhave champagne dreams when
somebody's house burned down?
You know?
Yeah.
No, at
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cri (08:53):
at, at i.
That's
Kathia Woods (08:56):
a way to go take that money.
But you still, like I said, is.
Have the award shows, bring thefocus, have the stars, and most
importantly, I want to be veryclear on this, right?
I, the American Red Cross hasbeen a little dicey, and from
Haiti to Katrina and somethings.
(09:16):
I'm not saying that the AmericanRed Cross is not needed.
That they don't do good work.
I still give blood and all ofthat, but I would like to see
these award shows honed down andwork with local charities or
charities like world centralkitchen with chef Andres, who is
always boots on the ground andfeeds.
(09:39):
Everybody has food works withlocal restaurants to bring
awareness, to do community work.
I would like to see us move awayfrom the super huge.
Organizations and work withlocal charities that are working
with the working class peoplethat were affected.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (09:57):
Well, you said a lot.
See, that was what was on mymind.
Obviously that was what was onyour mind as well.
So you gave us, more than what Iwas asking for today, Kathia,
but that's what you do.
Some really good stuff and bevery interested here.
You guys what's what's on yourmind?
Hit us up on on our socialmedias.
They'll be out there.
But absolutely Tell us what's onyour mind as well with that.
(10:20):
We're going to move into What wedo on a regular basis and when I
say what we do on a regularbasis We are watching movies and
television shows left and right.
I have to tell you though, isthat Kathia says that she's
doing TV and she's doing radio.
She's doing movies.
She's doing all the girls alsowriting about the movie about
(10:43):
music.
I be like, You just have to hither up because she's writing
about everything.
And that's what a journalistdoes I'm just a critic right
now.
But that's what you do.
And we really appreciate that.
So let's get into our firstmovie for this week.
And Kathia, I would like for youto kick this one off.
And this is the movie,Unstoppable.
Kathia Woods (11:02):
Well, it's the story about Anthony Robles who
won a state championship,wrestling championship for the
University of Arizona.
What makes the story soremarkable is that Anthony was
born with one leg.
Yes, you heard me correctly.
He has one leg.
He was born that way.
He didn't have an accident.
He was born that way and was ayou know, a championship
(11:24):
wrestler in high school and astate wrestler, a state champion
in for the university ofArizona.
And he tells, and he had adifficult life because he was
raised by his mother, who alsohas a remarkable story.
And his stepfather, who we don'tlike, we don't like him at all.
(11:46):
And he was very abusive and notjust to him, but the family and,
you know, all that good stuff.
And in spite of all of that,Anthony overcame his disability
and not just became an amazingwrestler, but he's a testament
to the human spirit of what youcan do when you set your mind to
something and just.
(12:06):
An overall good person.
It has Bobby Carnavale plays hisstepdad that we don't like.
Jennifer Lopez plays his motherwhich I think is her best
performance since Hustlers.
You know what I mean?
Where we get her, you know, wedon't get jazzed up, Jen.
We get, you know, she plays amom who is imperfect, who has to
(12:29):
learn to love herself and andit's Jarell Jerome plays Anthony
Robles.
And, you know, Jarell is won anEmmy for When They See Us.
Who's a remarkable young actor.
He's just really, really goodand gifted.
And you're gonna cry, you'regonna cheer, you're gonna laugh.
And I think it's something thatwe need right now where right
(12:50):
now where we're dealing with somuch right and we're like, I
don't know.
Can I do it?
Can I start over again?
I'm tired because it seems everyyear new year new beginnings and
we what 16 days, 17 days intoJanuary and we like.
Return to sender because she'sdoing too much already.
So I think it's, it's also amovie the whole family can
(13:11):
watch, you know what I mean?
And I think it's kind of likereminds you of resiliency and
saying, you know what?
Although it feels dark, we willovercome when we can work
through this.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cr (13:24):
Wow.
Well, well, I you, you reallyput it in perspective here.
I will tell you is that both ofus got a chance to speak with
Jarrell Jerome and AnthonyRobles and just meeting those
people in person.
I, it, it just substantiates howphenomenal Anthony Robles is
(13:47):
just meet him in person.
You, you, you'd watch the filmand you think, man, this, this
guy is phenomenal.
And then when you meet him,you're like, man, this guy is
phenomenal.
What I liked about this film it,all the things that you said, I
liked about this film.
I also like that this is a filmthat is inspirational.
(14:07):
Is that there is no way that anable bodied person can look at
this and not be inspired.
And then there is no way thatsomeone who might have a
disability can look at this filmand not be inspired.
This is a very inspirationalfilm to see how he was able to
navigate a very, very toughsituation at home and Tough
(14:31):
situations on the mat.
And it's interesting how thosetwo things in some kind of ways
a parallel each other is thathis his struggles on the mat and
his struggles at home.
He used the same kind ofstrategies to to overcome it.
Jerome.
Is very good in this film and hetalks about how he had to go
(14:52):
through a lot of training tounderstand how to move his body,
how to use crutches, all thethings that he needed to, to try
and portray this phenomenalperson in it, in the best and
most respectful way.
And I, I think he, he does thatin spades and I agree with you
that, jennifer does a reallynice performance here, but
(15:14):
Bobby, Bobby actually brings it.
You, you say we don't like his,his, his, his stepfather.
We don't, but in part because ofthe portrayal that Bobby brings
to that character.
Oh my goodness.
I, I want to hit Bobby next timeI see him.
I mean, I'm, I'm mad at him.
And And then lastly a Chicagoconnection for us, you know, we,
(15:36):
we can't from, from a Chicagoperspective because he had two
coaches and when, when you lookat, and I'm laughing to myself
because when you look at both ofthe coaches that, that he had,
you have Michael Pena, Chicago,Chicago, Chicago, and then you
(15:57):
have Don Cheadle.
And so you really do have thispowerhouse.
ensemble that works together tobring this very true and very
important story to the bigscreen.
And I think it's one of thosemovies that's a must watch.
Kathia Woods (16:14):
I agree.
I mean, I think again, it's,it's, you know, it's dropping at
the right time.
Sometimes art and life likeintersect.
And I think this is, this is oneof those, you know what I mean?
And hopefully it will inspire usto rise and remember when we
lean into our strengths, youknow what I mean?
(16:34):
Even when we're scared, we cando amazing things.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (16:38):
I love that, Katya, that you talk
about when we lean into ourstrengths, because people
thought that him not having thatextra leg was going to be, it
was a, they looked at him with adisability, but what his mother
and he, how he, We see what hismother says like, yeah, yeah,
yeah, you might be missingsomething, but you got something
(17:00):
and the stuff that you got,those are your strengths and
those strengths, we're going tolean into those and help you be
the best that you can be.
And I, I love the fact that youmentioned that about leaning
into your strengths.
Kathia Woods (17:12):
100%.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (17:14):
Well, this is I'm recommending this
for sure.
And I think you are as well.
Kathia Woods (17:19):
100%.
And you can, you know, everybodycan pull up on the, to the
couch, get your favorite spot inyour snacks.
And you can watch this as afamily.
Reggie Ponder, The (17:29):
Absolutely.
Well, great.
Well, that's our first movie.
Let's talk about our secondmovie.
And I know a lot of times youguys be thinking.
It's one of them days.
It is.
That's the movie.
We're going to talk about one ofthem days.
This one is starring Kiki Palmerand SZA, where they're best
friends.
I'm talking about ride or diefriends and they start running
(17:54):
into a little problem thateverything that could go wrong
goes wrong and everything thatcould go right goes wrong.
In this film, the, the premiseof the film is that they got
their rent money.
They're ready to pay the rent,but SZA's character decides for
some unbeknownst reason to me togive the money to her boyfriend
(18:16):
instead of giving the money tothe rent man, to the landlord.
That don't make, does that makesense to you?
That doesn't make sense to me.
But anyway, boyfriend borrowsthe money.
And now that's what he said, hesaid, he said in the film that
he was just using it as a loan,you know, so I'm going with what
(18:39):
he said, but he took the money.
Boyfriend takes the money to dowhatever he needs to do.
He talking about, he is anentrepreneur and he was trying
to do some t shirts but anyway,that puts the two.
In jeopardy of being evicted,and now they have to find the
money by the end of the day, sothey're not evicted, and it is
(19:02):
really about their day goingthrough their day trying to
figure out whether or not theywill have a place to live.
Now, I, in my review, I saidthis.
The trailer tells you whether ornot this is the type of film for
you because everything, all the,the good gags are previewed in
(19:22):
the trailer, but don't worry,context matters.
And so, even though they'repreviewed, you don't get to see
the full effect of what'shappening in each one of the
gags that they're talking about,like going to give blood, or Or
going I think going to giveblood and, and a number of other
(19:43):
things that happen in the film,they're just previewed, but when
you see it in real time, you'relike, oh, okay, I see what's
going on, but you, you know howthere's these films that.
That some of us be like, dang,why do you have to put our
business out on the street?
Because it touches on some realissues that you have, like a
living, living paycheck topaycheck, going to payday loan
(20:07):
places not being able to.
Not being able to progress inyour, in your job.
So there's so many differentthings that it touches, touches
on, and there's some realissues.
So I like the film because ittouches on a number of real
issues that people have.
I liked this film because it hassome funny, funny to it, but I
(20:29):
will tell you some of thesethings were hard to suspend
belief for, even though Eventhough it had some, some, some
nuggets of truth in them, therewere some things that just were
hard to suspend Belief.
I, it was hard for me to suspendbelief that she would give her
money to the boyfriend.
She not stupid.
She what?
(20:50):
You guys gonna get the money tothe boyfriend and, and think he
gonna go pay the rent for youand boy, Ben?
Leeching off you all the time.
I wasn't buying that it was hardfor me to believe that they
would walk down the street Justflashing their money after they
were money hungry and theyneeded the money real real bad
So there were a number of thingsin the film that I was like, and
(21:11):
it just doesn't ring true.
However, it was surprisingly Inthe film they used to frame
ghetto and I was like so myreview says that this is ghetto
But with some audience appeal,it actually has some audience
appeal.
You're going to like these twocharacters.
You're going to love their rideor die attitude.
(21:33):
You're going to love the factthat the two of them can argue.
But can still figure out that,you know what?
It's us.
It's our relationship thatreally matters.
They build each other up andthey support each other.
So I overall I like this filmeven though they had some things
that made me go.
Hmm.
(21:54):
That's what I got for you, Kathy
Kathia Woods (21:56):
I think you're right.
This is a perfect film for thistime of year.
Now, I agree with you.
If you're looking for some deepcontext, some super, this is not
the film.
This is a good kiki.
You come with your girlfriend,your boyfriend, whatever.
You get your little popcorn, yousit where you like to sit in the
theater and you tune out for thehour and some change.
(22:17):
That's what it is.
Think like Fridays, right?
And I love the fact that numberone is number, Isa has kept her
word opening the doors andbringing other people through
the door.
The director, this is hisfeature film debut.
He started out directing musicvideos and then directed a
(22:40):
couple episodes on rap ish.
I'm saying the nice word becausewe keep in a family and, and and
then she.
Had the opportunity to producethis movie in under her deal
with Sony had him direct thatgot Kiki Palmer Who although
people are like, well, it'sKiki.
She's got a lot of experienceShe's not if you look at the
(23:03):
trajectory of Kiki's career andwhere her peers are that were in
that same You know child actorclass Kiki doesn't get this most
of her opportunities Once againcome from black cinema black
communities, and there's nothingwrong with that so for Issa to
be like, Hey, I'm going to get aveteran like Kiki to play Drew,
(23:26):
and I'm going to give SZA, whoI'm sure they have their
relationship being in this LAartistic clique, her opportunity
to, her first to act.
And I was very pleasantlysurprised by SZA because, you
know, it can be hit or miss withthese comedians and with these
music artists that have
Reggie Ponder, The Reel (23:43):
played themselves.
I'm really glad.
Really glad that you'rementioning that.
Thank you so much.
Kathia Woods (23:48):
Yeah.
Cause you know, sometimes you'relike, Ooh, this can go one or
two ways.
It can go real bad.
I can go.
And I also think that I like thefact that SZA leaned into Kiki
and, you know, they build arapport over social media before
filming this so that, so theycan have natural chemistry,
which they do.
And I also liked that SZA didn'ttry to overreach.
(24:08):
She's like, okay, I'm going tostay in my lane.
I'm going to stay in thisbubble.
And I'm going to own this space.
Right.
Now I, as far as I read you, youand I would never give our ears.
First of all, we wouldn't datesomebody like Keyshawn.
That's number one.
Who's a hot mess.
Who's the third roommate thatdon't pay rent, but occupy
(24:30):
space.
That's number one.
We would not, he would not be inour lives.
Number two.
What
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (24:35):
I will say though, before you get
to number two, is that.
That you're, you're right.
But what I do like about thisfilm is that, that.
It's taking people who would dothat, right?
There's some folks who, theirman ain't, ain't, ain't about
it, you know?
And, and, and so it's sayingthat, you know, sometimes that
(24:56):
happens, and sometimes we have abad judgment, and, and I think
they, they address that issue inthis film.
Go ahead, number two.
Kathia Woods (25:04):
I mean, I was going to say to you, I had a
roommate in college.
And when I interviewed theladies along, I said, listen, we
had a, where I hope, you know,violated you'd come home.
You'd miss like cafeterialounge.
You're like, Ooh, I'm good.
I got my tuna.
I got my bread.
I'm gonna make my littlesituation.
When I get, I got my juice, youknow, he didn't, he liked my
(25:26):
stuff.
Cause I bought name brand stuffwhere his girl was buying stuff
that was a little off brand.
And I had like, you know, my hamand my cheese and I thought I
was gonna make the sandwich andI walk in the door.
He was eating my, my food,Reggie.
He was drinking my juice, mymango juice.
And I was like, you know what?
If I, if I stay, there's gonnabe some blood.
(25:48):
Not mine, cause he's gonna getcut.
And we had to have a talk withher.
We're like, he is more thansleeping over.
He is, he's living here.
He's eating our food.
He is the fourth unwantedroommate and he needs to pay
rent.
He needs to contribute or youneed to take your man to the
grocery store and buy the foodHe likes and stop having him
(26:11):
eat.
He was drinking the cereal myother roommate She tried to have
some cereal in the morning whenI tell you when I tell you She
was hot when she had that cerealin the bowl and no milk and had
no breakfast before class So yesThere are people like Keyshawn
and Alyssa and who's living on ahope and prayer thinking that
(26:34):
this man that has no job sittingon the couch was going to pay
rent like we knew it as soon asshe said we like that rent is
gone.
But again.
You're not watching this forcontacts.
You're not watching this for itbeing realistic.
Does it have some rough moments?
Yes, but you're watching it forthe two leads to two girls.
(26:56):
You're rooting for the two girlsand you want them to make better
choices.
You want them to do better.
And that's what I love aboutthis film is the camaraderie,
the complete opposites, as we dohave with all of our friends.
But at the end of the day, it'sthe sisterhood.
It's the love that they have foreach other in spite of being in
these horrendous circumstancesthat they cause that pulls them
(27:20):
through.
And I, and again, I think That'swhat I like about it.
That's what a lot of thegirlfriends that I go to go see
it like about it And it'sperfect escapism Movie watching
go in lean in leave yourtroubles on the other side and
just have a little mentalvacation That's what this movie
(27:42):
is
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (27:43):
I will say though, is that, that I
already know, so I can hear oneof my brothers saying, you like
that movie?
This is not for him.
This is not, this film, if you,I'm glad you mentioned like,
movies like Friday.
If you, Don't like those typesof movies.
Don't even think that you'regonna enjoy this this type of
(28:06):
film I don't exactly compare itto that, but I've heard a couple
of people comparing it in maybein that genre if you will This
might not be that that film foryou because it is It's a little,
it's a little silly and a littleexaggerated, but this is a film
that you have to suspend beliefto go in and see, because I
(28:29):
already told you that I had acouple of things that, that I
was like, ah, nah, that, that,that wouldn't happen.
I don't believe it.
And, and, and that type ofthing, but it does.
I think first and foremost thatit is about that friendship and
that ride or die friend that,you know, that friend who will
cause the problems and get youinto trouble, but will actually
(28:51):
stay around when they do it.
You know, you got some friendsthat they'll cause you some
problems and they'd be like, I'mout.
I see you.
I'm I'm gone.
And then you'd be like, well,wait a minute.
I ain't start this stuff.
So it's about that.
But it's also about self worthbecause both of these young
ladies had to figure out, had toget to the point to talk to.
(29:13):
Project to others what they wereworth, but in a sense, they also
had to believe in themselvesthat they were worth something
on scissors characters case.
It's it's about her paintingsand how great she can paint and
what she could bring to thetable on.
Kiki's perspective, it wasreally that, look, I know that I
(29:34):
shouldn't be at this level.
I am so much better and I'mbetter than the people who are
managing me and I need to go outthere and represent that.
So I love, I love that.
And I think that that is, isreal important.
They have some other actors inthis that are.
Important.
You know, I'm always about thatwhole Chicago thing.
They had the Chicago crew downpat.
(29:56):
They had my boy Dwayne Perkinsin the house.
They had Lil Rel Howery there.
Obviously, Keke Palmer.
So, Chicago was wellrepresented.
And then they had some otherpeople, like let me see.
I think they had some otherpeople.
Cat Williams was in it.
Janelle James.
But they ain't Chicago, so, youknow, what can I say?
Kathia Woods (30:15):
And again, it's just great escapism and again,
this movie works.
The parts and make you lean inis because of the two leads, you
know what I mean?
You can relate to these girlsand just making bad decisions in
your 20s and also, you know,being afraid to live up to your
potential.
(30:35):
So I think.
That's what the winning thingis.
I absolutely think you should goand you should support because
again, I love what ISA is doing,which is making sure there's
work for new faces and givingopportunities and then also
leaning into to our veterans.
And again, this is a greatthing, you know, for you to go
see with your older daughter,not your little daughter, your
(30:58):
older daughter.
Right.
And, and, and, you know, for,with your girlfriends, you know,
if you, you know, you not.
You won't go to club.
I'm not the club girl anymore.
Go and have some lunch and havesome drinks and then go see this
movie.
This is a fun way to spend anafternoon.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (31:15):
There you have it.
So we talked about two moviesand we're both, we're
recommending both.
I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm recommendingthis film with, with the caveat.
Cause I already know some of mypeople be like I'm not going to
go check that one out.
So I know who you are.
This is probably not that moviefor you.
So anyway.
Now we're going to move into ourfinal segment of the day, which
(31:37):
is Basically what I call therant and rave.
This is where we get 30 secondsto passionately rant or rave
about something on film and TV.
And I'm going to let Katya do itfirst because she not going to
do 30 seconds.
You know, she going to rant andrave for a minute.
So I'll come back and I'll, andI'll tie it up, you know?
Kathia Woods (31:56):
Well, it's not necessarily film or TV, the ban
on TikTok.
Allegedly on Monday, we will nolonger have access to TikTok and
it leads to a biggerconversation in our industry.
How is this going to affect ourprofession?
Because the studios who reliedso much on influencers, many who
are, have a large following onTikTok.
(32:18):
Will they still be using themwhen they don't have a platform?
Because a lot of them put alltheir eggs in one basket, which
is TikTok, and they, they're noton Instagram.
They're definitely not on, onFacebook.
They're not on X or Twitter,whatever you call it.
Where are these people going tomigrate?
Are they gonna go back toSnapchat?
(32:39):
Like, how is this.
What's happening.
And in the meantime, we, we'vebeen consistently doing us.
So how is the ban on Tik TOKgoing to affect our profession,
our community and this marketingoutlet, right?
That the studios have beenrelying on not always utilized
(33:02):
well, right?
Because I heard a woman lastyear at comic con talking about,
excuse me, at cinema con, howshe used influences for a
thousand and one.
Which is the movie with TianaTaylor and I'm like, well that,
but you used the wronginfluencers because the movie
was about mom, motherhood, andyou used some 20 year olds.
So I'm really curious what isgoing to happen to those all,
(33:24):
all those folks.
And I always said it's Don'tput, have your own platform, use
social media as your marketingand then revert it back to the
platform that you own.
Because in this case, you're,you can have, I mean, some of
these people have a millionfollowers.
Some of these people have ahundred K followers and Baba on
(33:45):
Monday.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (33:46):
Yeah, it's, it's gonna, it's, that's a
really good one to, to, to bringout and see, I, I I wasn't even
gonna comment on your, on yourrant, but I think that that's a
really interesting thing.
I, I think that the studios,because they are so in love with
The social media people is thatthey'll try to figure out some
way to assist them becausethose, those numbers that those
(34:09):
social media folks have, if yougot, you know, 1, 2, 3 million
followers, which some of thesefolks absolutely do.
The studio is is like Google forGaga for that so it'll be
interesting I'm that's a reallyinteresting rant to see what the
studios might do and also justhow It will affect that industry
(34:31):
overall.
Thanks for that one.
That's that's that that that wasgood I don't even know if mine
is as good as yours
Kathia Woods (34:36):
Girl
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Crit (34:41):
so I I hate to talk about
Philadelphia stuff But my thingis, is that I have fallen in
love.
I'm talking about in love, justabsolutely in love with.
Coleman Domingo.
I, I, I'm sorry.
I know, I know that's your boy.
And we, we talking about Philly,but I fall in love with Coleman
(35:01):
Domingo.
He has just proven to me timeand time again that he is bad.
This dude, everything he putsout, I'm like watching it and
I'm watching it like on pins andneedles.
And the thing that I, I finisheda few weeks ago, but I want
people to go check out, it is onNetflix and it is called The
(35:23):
Madness.
It is madness for real brotheris out there just doing his
daily job at CNN as the CNNpundit, and then all of a
sudden, all hell breaks loose,and he is being framed.
He, he has to fight for hisinnocence.
But in addition to that.
(35:44):
He has to fight for his familyand the way in which they, they
construct this, because I onlygot a few minutes, 30 seconds
for this rant.
So I'd have to talk about theseries a little later, but the
way they construct this with himbeing estranged from his wife,
he got a son that he's tryingto.
Show what, what's the rightthing to do.
(36:05):
And then he got a daughter who'sjust kind of out there and they,
they not really, they not good,good, as, as, as Usher would
say, they not good, good.
And the way in which they putall of this stuff together is so
It's captivating.
It is my jam.
Coleman Domingo is my jam.
(36:26):
That, that's my, that's my 32ndrant.
Kathia Woods (36:29):
No, I agree.
And what Coleman did, I got achance to speak to my friend, is
he made sure they did exteriorsof Philadelphia, not just in
popular.
Like if you're from Philly, youcan tell.
Everybody always, here's a hintfor you guys.
Everybody always shoots at thefront.
What they call the rocky steps.
(36:50):
Know those are the art museumsteps.
Go and support that art museum.
It's absolutely utterlybeautiful.
Right on Wednesday, you can gopay what you want and see a lot
of the artwork in there, whichis absolutely gorgeous.
They shop behind.
There's a whole other part ofthe art museum that a lot of
these shows, a lot of thesefilms don't ever take care of.
(37:13):
And that leads into West Philly.
And he made sure they went toparts of his neighborhood.
where he grew up, where thepeople were to show love to the
community.
And that I really, really lovebecause again, Philadelphia is
more than downtown.
It's also Philadelphia reallyis.
And like a lot of big cities,it's a city of neighborhoods and
(37:34):
too often they concentrate.
On just the part where the moneyis.
They don't go to the people.
And he said, no, I'm anexecutive producer.
I'm a Philadelphia native, I'm aWest Philly native.
We gonna go to the hood.
We shooting in North Philly,uptown, we shooting in West
Philly.
We're gonna go be with thepeople.
And I appreciate that so much.
Reggie Ponder, The (37:57):
Appreciate.
Yeah.
I since, since you commented onmy, on my rant, I do have to say
is that the actors in this.
Man, oh man, they got, that isMixon, who playing the son, they
got Marsha Stephanie Blakeplaying playing she is killing,
I mean, she, I, I was like,Where did I see her from?
(38:20):
I, I had to be like, I knowthis, I know this woman.
They got Deon Cole.
And then they got the, the actorextraordinaire.
And I'm just mentioning a few ofthem.
And I, I apologize.
Cause you should have justmentioned the whole cast, but
Stefan McKinley Henderson.
Oh my goodness.
Do I love me some him?
(38:41):
This, this show.
It's worth it.
Go and check it out.
If you don't have Netflix, goover friends house who got
Netflix and just sit down andbinge it.
Cause this one, this one was,was all that.
Don't
Kathia Woods (38:54):
get them in trouble.
You got to go over there or askto be a part of the family plan.
Don't get the password becauseNetflix.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cr (39:01):
Just go over to the house and say,
look, can I stay here for acouple of days?
Cause I want to watch thisseries or at least come back and
check it out, but bring your ownsnacks.
Be, be, be, be upright.
Bring your own snacks.
Don't don't go over the houseand then expect them to give you
the snacks too.
But check out the madness.
(39:21):
That's that one is, is, isreally about, about it.
Hey, that's, that's our show fortoday.
We, we talked about a lot ofthings.
Hopefully you'll follow us onsocial media.
I'm, I'm on Twitter, Instagram,YouTube.
I had a presence on Tik Tok, butI didn't really do anything on
(39:42):
Tik Tok.
So it doesn't matter.
But at The Real Critic, that's RE E L The Real Critic, that's
me.
And then on Facebook, if you'reon Facebook, you can follow me
at Reggie, The Real Critic.
So please do that.
Katya, tell them, tell themwhere they can find you again.
Kathia Woods (39:57):
I'm Katya underscore on, I am not on
Twitter anymore.
Cause.
be doing the most, but I am onblue sky.
I'm on spill.
I am on Instagram.
I was on tech talk, but as youknow, it's gone bye bye and I am
on Facebook.
So you can follow me there onall things, you know, and
(40:17):
listen, somebody else was sayinglike, where are we going to?
I said, listen, y'all let meknow, work it out.
And.
See if it sticks around for aminute before you ask me to
join.
Reggie Ponder, The Reel Crit (40:26):
I, I heard that.
Well, I actually joined Blue Skytoo, so we'll need to hook up on
Blue Sky, for sure.
I joined it as, at The RealCritic.
Nobody took that, so that wasreally good.
With that, hey.
We gonna do this on a regularbasis.
I hope you guys enjoy what you,what you heard.
We gonna bring on some otherpeople as well, periodically to
come in and chime in because webelieve that the dialogue is
(40:50):
much stronger than themonologue.
Hey, this is the Real CriticsNetwork.
Thanks for joining and we'll seeyou guys next time.
Kathia Woods (40:59):
See you next time.
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