The Reel Critics Network S1 E22: Emmy's , TIFF, OSCARS

Episode Transcript
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Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cri (00:00):
Hi, I'm Reggie Ponder, The Reel
Critic, and this is the ReelCritics Network.
I got my co-host Kathia Woods inthe house.
Kathia, how are you?

Kathia Woods (00:09):
Good.
It's been a minute.
You were out here traveling theworld, so people were asking,
what's going the po?
I said, Reggie is out here,globe popping.
I have to wait for him.
To come back.
Back and then, we can get backto the business' hand.
Are you done glow popping?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (00:22):
Look, we did some traveling, but we
didn't do internationaltraveling.
And we gonna get to that in aminute.
That's gonna be one of thethings.
But before we do what was thatsong?
Back together again?
Yeah, back together again.
We got KB in the house.
Hey kb, how you doing?

Kay-B (00:39):
Hey.
Doing great.
Doing great.
Lovely.
We are finally reunited thetrio.
It's been a journey And here we

go.
That's all right.
Well, that's a song to reunitedand it feels so good.
So it's a

miracle.
She came back.
You've been so unwelcoming.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Crit (00:55):
Oh wow.
Oh wow.

Kay-B (00:58):
Reggie has been, he put on his hospitality voice and,
said, let me see if she can comeback.
And I said, absolutely.
Reggie, since you're using yourkind voice, but the realty is
that I came here for Donna.

Oh wow.
Wow.
And that's okay.
That's okay.
Because she is deserving.
Deserving.
All held to the queen.
All held to the queen.
I know,

but whose fault was it?
I think, next year we shouldreach out to Donna.
This way.
This way.
We'll know that you'll get toTiff.

Kay-B (01:28):
Yes.
I mean, literally I, on thebackend we have to have a
separate sidebar because, wewere both drill it into Reggie
like, now what do you meanyou're not going to Tiff?
So, here you go.
I know,

I think we need to just have Donna fill out the
paperwork.
That's what I think.
I don't know what read you putin the paperwork.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cr (01:46):
This is what I think is that one
person actually visited Chicagoto hang out and we did that.
Another person just flew throughChicago'cause they had business
that they were doing.
So it's okay for my two friendsto think hum.

(02:07):
There is an international filmfestival in Chicago.
Huh?
When is that?
Oh, that's coming up in October.
You guys could one year, justone year come to Chicago for the
Chicago International FilmFestival and that means that
Kevin and I could get a momenton our own.

(02:28):
So I'm just saying,

listen, first of all, if you said, well, not the
way the Bears are playing, buthe might still come with just
for the atmosphere hanging out.
And since I told him about thewonderful food tour you took me
on he'll come through with that.
But, yes.
I said to you, I have to getback to Chicago.
'cause one thing I don't like kBs in Chicago and a BJ

(02:49):
convention is I always feel likeI'm doing like a club drive
through.
Because you're, you are going,you're trying to catch up with
all your NABJ friends that liveall over the country.
Then you have responsibility.
I have my responsibility asco-chair person.
So you gotta go to thepresident's reception, you gotta
go to this person's reception.
You gotta support the differenttask forces and support you.

(03:10):
And before you know it, it'slike, oh, okay.
But I knew Reggie did my panel.
I said I have to be, return tofavor.
And I said, my flight is notuntil later.
Later I am done here.
We are going to hang out.
From this time to this time andstill have ample time.
And then we did all of that.

(03:31):
Come to find out my flight wasdelayed.
Always.
I was like, we could have hungout.
Really hung out.
You know what I mean?
Get to the airport.

Kay-B (03:38):
I'll say, there's never a time when my Chicago flight is
not delayed.
I truly yet to have an on timedeparture from a Chicago flight.
Not Reggie's fault, but it'strue every single time.
It's

And at the time, oh, not O'Hare, what's the other
one?
Midway didn't have a lounge.
They finally got a lounge.
So I'm sitting in these veryuncomfortable chairs.
I said this is for the birds.

Well, well, with that, I am very happy
that you both are here.
I want to say that this show wegonna be talking about from the
red carpet glamor of the Emmys,because you guys watch so much
more TV than I do to thefestival circuit.
Just coming off of Tiff and I'mgetting ready to start the
Chicago International FilmFestival to hopefully talking

(04:21):
about some Oscar front runners,given the fact that you guys saw
some stuff that I haven't seenyet.
So we're gonna cover what youguys have been talking about and
things that you haven't seen yetand just need to know about.
So we gonna get started.
And the first segment is what'son my Mind and what's on my mind
is the Emmys.

(04:42):
I need you two to talk about theEmmys and I'll give you the
first shot, Katia, because Iknow.
Just bring up one of your issues'cause you got 15 of'em that you
want to talk about.
I wanna make sure I get to theKB as well.
So what's your overall thoughtabout the Emmys?

I was happy about Trammell and Stephen Graham.
I've been singing StephenGraham's phrases for the longest
time in case people are newhere.
Stephen Graham was also the sameguy that had the short set on
and the Irishman.
And some people to this day,mind is blown that he is not
Italian, right?
That whole scene between H AlPacino, but Al Pacino is like,
what are you wearing?
He's what do you mean, what am Iwearing?

(05:21):
It's Florida that, you wear.
And he's like, you wear shortsto a meeting.
So he really is one of thoseactors that is a character actor
that is finally stepping up moreupfront and he can play
anything.
And a lot of people were verysurprised that he's mixed race.
That man has let the world knowthat he's not 100% white, that
he's got black running throughhim and that they're Jamaican.

(05:44):
And if you don't like it, youcan kick rocks and flip flops.
So I do love that, man, todoubt.
My one thing is, I think mycriticism with, the Emmys as it
is with a lot of the TV guilds.
We don't watch enoughdiversified tv, the same things.
This is finally the first yearwhere the bear didn't dominate
the pit kind of like snuck in.

(06:05):
But on the comedy side, youcannot tell me that we need to
diversify our watching.
And I know it's hard betweenstreaming and network tv, like I
did a whole TV dispatch before Iwent to Tiff.
But I do think that we need todo it.
I think we're gonna have someinteresting changes.
On the CCA side because a lot ofus are finally allowed to have

(06:26):
dual membership after I campaignfor us.
'cause rightfully so.
I'm like, I'm in TCA and I coverfilm and television and I have
more than 100 clips that I canshow you to prove that I cover
both.
Hence my, I don't sleep veryoften.
But the point still is that Ithink we need to diversify our
television watching.

(06:48):
Having said that, my friendswill keep asking me, why doesn't
anything on BET get nominated?
And I go, beloved.
I'm for my black people, but noteverything we create is
excellent.
I'm happy for Kev on stage, butbaby, what he's creating is not
Emmy worthy.
So, other than the era.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But see, here's where I'm, I'mgonna push back, is that your
statement was not everything wecreate is Emmy worthy.
Not everything they create isEmmy worthy.
Sure.
And given that fact,

Kay-B (07:22):
not everything is awards worthy, I think.
No, exactly.
That's what I'm saying.
Correct.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel (07:26):
Which, which makes a lot of sense.
I, I.
But this is the thing that that,that bothers me about how people
will just pigeonhole the betsand the TV ones of the world and
say that nothing on thosestations is worthy.

(07:46):
And so when you talk aboutdiversifying our watch.
Our people need to diversifywhat they're watching in order
for us to move in.
But I'm gonna ask KB to get inhere.

Kay-B (07:59):
Yeah.
I mean, I will say that theEmmys were okay.
I mean, they were just fine.
I feel like they weren'texceptional.
And they weren't terrible, butthey were okay.
I didn't really necessarily likethe the deduction of the money
for the Boys and Girls Clubbased on the speech.
I was like, well, we can kind oflose this bit.
I think that particularly wasn'tfor me.
Just in terms of winners.
I mean, I feel like it skewedhow it always does, which is

(08:22):
typical.
I mean, it's something that wesee all the time when people ask
me, a show that I really wishwould've been considered is
forever.
I think Forever is a brilliantshow on Netflix by Mara Brockel.
I really think that is.
An exceptional show that shouldhave been considered.
I also think from a limitedseries standpoint Washington
Black was great, and I do thinkthat they should have been

(08:44):
considered as well.
So there are a host of othertelevision shows that could have
been nominated.
Now I'm saying this as someonewho is a fan of the Pit.
I mean, I do think the Pit isreally great tv.
Again, like Trammell forSeverance.
Absolutely.
Hands down.
But I do think there are a lotof things that are overlooked
Now.
I will say I was happy about theKathy Bates nomination.
I think Matt Locke is a reallysmart show, and so I, I think

(09:07):
it's worth it.
I do wish Sky p Marshall hadbeen nominated as well because I
do feel like the show reallydoesn't work without the two of
them in tandem, if that makessense.
Yes.
And also shout out to Sky aswell, because I do think that
her outfit was so unique.
It was beautiful.
It looks really great on herfrom a fashion standpoint as
well, but.
Yeah, so I think that her andKathy really worked kind of hand
in hand on the show.

(09:29):
So I would have liked to seeSkye get a nomination as well.
And I am really grateful thatSterling got a nomination for
Paradise.
Paradise is a really good showwith lots of twists and turns.
It's really interesting that, itdidn't hit at the Emmy's in the
way that I thought it would.
'cause I actually thought, whilewatching it, that it was going
to be an Emmy's darling.
And so that is something thatwas kind of surprising to me.

(09:49):
I knew the Pit would be anEmmy's darling.
It's just the type of show thatthose, voters really liked.
But it's also a really greatshow.
I've been a Noah Wiley fan sinceI was a little girl, and a lot
of people know that I started mypodcast, which is currently in
production on season two, but Istarted it because of er and
because of how much I loved thatshow growing up.
And, I'm not entirely sure myparents should have let me watch
it, but they did and it wasgreat.

(10:10):
And so, I'll always be a fan ofNoah Wiley and what he's doing
and I've heard nothing butexceptional things.
In front of, behind and behindthe camera, excuse me, on the
pit and the work that he'schampioning around that as well.
So shout out to him.
But yeah.
Yeah, I mean, I feel like theEmmys was exactly what I thought
it would be.
Again, they did to Kathia'spoint, I guess, kind of replace
the bear in some ways with thepit and adolescents with those

(10:33):
two kind of being the heaviesthitting winners this year.
But yeah, and also we justreally have to get these
categories together.
'cause baby, I rarely laugh atthe bear.
Doesn't mean I don't enjoy it,but I rarely laugh and

it just, it's not a comedy.
This isn't, yeah.

I, before you get I'm gonna give
you the last word, Kaia.
But before, before I, I do that,I wanna give you the last word
on this.
I agree that the bear is not acomedy.
I've never, I'm like, I don'tsee anything funny.
And so people say, well, it's adark comedy.
It's so dark that I'm stilltrying to, I'm fishing through
the room trying to find thecomedy.
So my question before we giveKatia the last word on the Emmys

(11:10):
is.
I could have swore KB just said,I started my podcast and I
didn't really hear what the nameof that podcast is, so other
people can check it out.
So could you do a repeat for me,please?

Kay-B (11:25):
Yeah, no.
So I started my podcast on callwith KB because of my love of
medical dramas and medical TVshows.
And it really started with mylove of er first and foremost,
which then morphed into my loveof Grey's Anatomy, which season
one was on Grey's Anatomy andyeah.
Yeah.
So it's a show that really kindof bridges scientific fact and

(11:45):
really odd cases and figuringout if these cases can exist in
the world with really justbreaking down and chatting with
friends and other viewers wholove the shows that we cover.
Just.
Drama Juice, what therelationship, drama, what's
everything that's happening.
So yeah, so I mean, er was aheavy inspiration.
And season one is heavilyfocused on Grey's Anatomy and so

(12:07):
that's really it.
But yeah, so the Emmys are whatthe Emmys are going to do.
But again, KA and I are both inTCA and it is and also on the
television side of CriticsChoice in addition to film side.
And so, it presents us with anopportunity to be able to
nominate and showcase theseshows.
That maybe were overlooked bythe Emmys, but are still the

(12:28):
highest caliber, the highestquality and have such, stellar
performances.
K

Kaia, final word on the Emmys.

I wanna clarify.
I think here's the thing is Ithink they are from Detroit is a
show that BET has that I need tomarket and publicize better.
I think the writing is great,the acting is stellar, and I
don't know what the budget belooking like over there.
BET, when they do FYC campaigns,I think, stars needs to do a
better job of of pushing forPatina Miller, who, book of

(12:58):
Cana.
But, she's moved on that, that,she's running a marathon in
Berlin and good for her.
But I'm like, there, there are acouple black shows that are, I
agree with kb about forever.
I just think that.
The shows that sometimes people,I listen, you can like your
shows.
We all got our little bops.
I got my shows too.
Sometimes it's me and four otherpeople.

(13:20):
But we need to know thedifference between a show that
is moving the culture forwardand just a show.
That's key.
Key.
And what I'm saying is Kevin onstage makes key shows and
there's nothing wrong with that.
But if we're going tochampionship something, we need
to make sure that it really ismoving a culture forward.
Is it really adding to thetelevision discourse?

(13:41):
I just don't, I mean, and I'mgonna rewatch hacks the
obsession.
I don't understand how that showwins everything top to bottom.
And I'm like, I feel like AbbottElementary, they gave it a
couple Tink awards and now it'slike we're just gonna nominate
you and never again.
I think Janelle James deservesto win.
She's done a stellar work onAvid Elementary.

(14:03):
And I am like, how do we balancethis a little bit?
Are not enough people coming tothe FYC events are not enough
people, are we just, is it likean election?
Are we just voting top to bottomwhen it comes to hacks?
But I do think, yeah, I mean itspeaks to the lack of diversity
and then also the fact that weare, but again, tremendously

(14:24):
happy for Tramell who I got tospeak to for Mission Impossible.
He has the best publicist, hehas the same publicist as
throwing Kay Brown and BrianTyree Henry, and they're all are
amazing.
And I wanted by and Tyre Henryto win.
And I knew on a Coleman to wintoo,'cause I love him in Four

(14:44):
Seasons is hilarious.
And it's my type of foolery,right?
But I also am not mad.
I mean, adolescence was awatershed moment that young man.
Like for him to be so young andtake on such a mature thing is
really showing to his talent.
And I also love how theyprotected him and made sure that

(15:06):
he still got to be a kid.
'cause that's just heavy stuff.
And again, like I said, StevenGraham has been doing a good
Lord's work for a minute, so I'mhappy about that.
But I do think, hopefully asmore pe more of us get into
these guilds, we can diversifythese wins.

Kay-B (15:19):
And I'm glad you said that.
Shout out to Brian Tyre Henry.
'cause Dope Thief was very good.

Yeah.
And Wagner was really good.
Like everybody like was reallylike there was like television
this year.
There's some years where you arelike this year on the streaming
side, especially.

Kay-B (15:35):
And again, like I said, what just with Kathy and Skye
and how you know it that theywork in Tana Wagner and Brian
work in Tana.
Yeah.

And I'm gonna throw one last one out there
because I am an Elsbeth stand.

Kay-B (15:49):
Oh, it's fantastic.

I mean, the work that she does on Elle's bath is
just absolute that show the wayshe plays that character
endearing, sometimes she can bea little pushy.
But again, shout out those twoshows have leads women over 50
in a business that likes toshelf us once we turn 32 that

(16:12):
have two successful televisionshows and a network tv.
And these women are filming 20episodes, 22 episodes, good for
them.
And you are a, I'm a Met Lockfan, so yeah.
That's my rant.

All right.
So we gonna, we are going tobring it in, and I'm gonna say
that I really appreciate you twocoming in, talking about tv.
I just don't watch enough tv.
There are so many shows outthere to watch, and I'm gonna
tell you, my head spins, so I'mgonna ask you both a question.

(16:46):
No elaboration at all.
What show should people checkout?
Just one Katia, one show thatpeople should check out in your
opinion

as Bath.
I love that show.
Wendell Pierce as Bath.

All right, cool.
Kb,

Kay-B (17:06):
I said forever.
I said it earlier.
Yeah, I think everyone shouldcheck that out.
And you know they're working onseason two, so.
Absolutely.

All right, thank you for that.
That is fantastic.
Now we're going to move into ournext

Rangie.
You don't have one TV show youcan add to the discourse.

Well, the show that I like and see,
because you asked me thisquestion, that means that.
And I said, don't give anycommentary.
The show that I like is theBear.
Okay.
I like the bear.
I wonder why.
However, I don't believe it doeswhat you say in terms of move

(17:42):
the culture forward.
Those people are messed up thateverything is messed up.
There is nothing about it that Ithink that they're pushing
something forward other thangiving us a look at a
dysfunctional group of people.
But for some reason, I am drawnto this dysfunctional group of

(18:02):
people, Jamie Lee Curtis, overthe series.
I think I hate her now, becauseof the role, so, but the show
that I like I like the bear.
I like the bear a lot.
And so that will be that.
Anyway, I'm gonna move on to ournext segment, which is really to
talk about movies and usually.
What we do in this segment is weactually pick a movie and we

(18:24):
talk about it, but nah, we notgonna do that.
If you guys remember, we startedthis discussion with my friend
saying that Reggie did not makeit to the Toronto International
Film Festival.
He did not.
I don't know why I didn't makeit this year, but I will tell
you is that September the fifthis my wedding anniversary with

(18:50):
the person that they like betterthan me, which is Donna.
And Donna enjoys going to theToronto International Film
Festival last year as we werethere hanging out with Ben
Stiller, talking about how tokeep a marriage going.
I'm just gonna say.
Happy anniversary Donna again.

(19:11):
'cause we made it to our why.
Why did you get in to our 33rd?
So, so we're at our 33rd, but Ido want to talk about the
Toronto International FilmFestival.
And I'm gonna start with you.
KB is that when I first, thefirst time I went to the
festival, it was so freakingoverwhelming and I'm not being

(19:33):
funny here.
Katia didn't tell me that Ishould come the first week.
So I went the second week and,you told me after that you said,
Reggie you should I should havetold you need to come the first
week.
I didn't know to come the firstweek.
So I went the second week and itwas still overwhelming running
around trying to get get on redcarpets, get interviews, see all
the movies, all of that type ofstuff this year I heard was

(19:57):
fantastic in terms of theofferings that they had.
Can you talk a little bit aboutthe Toronto International Film
Fest?

Kay-B (20:05):
Yeah, I mean, I think every year is different.
It really depends on which filmsare going to be highlighted.
That particular year.
So this year was, I mean, I dokind of feel like Reggie, not
to, for you to throw Kasi underthe bus, but I do feel like
regardless of whether or notsomeone tells you kind of that
first year, it's still alearning curve.
So I will say it's still apretty steep learning curve.

(20:26):
Whether you come week one orweek two, just your first year
is just something like a fishoutta water.
But as the years progress, I dothink it gets a little bit
easier in terms of navigatingand managing the Ticketmaster
system's still not going to beeasy.
I think that is where we willstill all struggle every single
year in terms of getting all thetickets that we need to see the

(20:46):
films that we would like to see.
But I do think that it getseasier and that the festival is
a lot more easy to navigate whenyou have friends around and
you're able to do it and kind ofcraft a schedule that works for
you.
This year, quite a few thingsdid overlap, but I will say and
I'm just gonna dive into my twoof my favorite films from this
year.
One would be Hamnet.
So, Hamnet was getting a lot ofbuzz.

(21:08):
It is exceptional.
I can't actually say that thewriting, the directing, the
acting is crazy.
How good it is, how elite it is.
It's actually crazy.
Jesse Buckley is definitelygetting a nomination.
There is actually no world inwhich Jesse is not getting a
nomination for her performancein Hamnet.
It's crazy how good it is.
And then Paul, just it'sromantic, it's heartbreaking.

(21:34):
It is I can't even reallydescribe it.
Like people just have to see itto be able to understand what it
is.
I mean, I think that Jesse'sportrayal of of a mother who
just has endured so much loss isjust, I can't even describe how
great it is.
Another film that I actuallysaw, it was the last film that I

(21:57):
saw of the festival.
Like I literally left there andhad to run to the airport, like
calling my Uber as I walked outof the theater.
Was tuner.
And tuner is also exceptional.
Like I was like, oh my gosh, LeoWoodall it took me by surprise,
how fantastic it really is.

(22:18):
This one is just about agentleman who has a condition
known as perfect pitch.
And so because he has perfectpitch, he has very, he has a, he
has another like audio conditionwhich means he has to wear
headphones all the time'causehis ears are just so sensitive
to any and all sounds.
And he is a piano tuner who endsup in a criminal organization.

(22:39):
And using those perfect pitchpitch perfect ear skills in a
way that he never anticipated.
But it is heartbreaking.
There's romance there's crime,it's grit.
It's.
It's just so, so, so, so good.
And Dustin Hoffman is in it aswhat I like to say is like his
chosen grandfather.
And it's just like a beautiful,I mean, all of the relationships

(23:00):
really land well, but it reallyis I'd say Havana and Leo as
Ruthie and Nikki combined arejust such a lovely couple to see
on screen.
But even their journey is alsostill heartbreaking.
And I mean, he is so talented.
Like literally the final sceneof that film, I was like, dang,
everyone in the theater waslike, wow.

(23:21):
Like you cannot even believe it.
That's how great it is.
So yeah, I will say tuner isalso, something that's
exceptional.
And if tuner is not nominated,my goodness, I don't know what
people are doing, but Idefinitely know Hamnet will be
nominated.
For sure.
There's not a world in whichHamnet is not getting

Reggie Ponder, The R (23:37):
nominated.
So, so with that we areabsolutely gonna get to talk
about what films we think willbe in the Oscar race.
So we're gonna do that in ourlast segment.
But.
I did get a chance to speak withyou Katia a little bit before we
got started and you mentionedHamnet as well, so I'd be very
interested in hearing yourthoughts about that as well.

I did not see Hamnet,'cause Hamnet was
scheduled in fif at the sametime as everything else.
It is on my schedule for NewYork and it's going to get seen.
So I can't speak on that.
I'll give you, we're not gonnatalk about some of these other
major films'cause you'll get achance to see'em in Chicago.
So we'll have a more fairconversation.
But I'll give you my one film,like kb, I made the most of my

(24:23):
pass.
My flight was at seven.
Once again, my flight wasdelayed.
I could have gotten anothermovie in, which is really
annoying.
Like actually saying

Kay-B (24:31):
My flight ended up being delayed too.
And I was like, dang,

I was like, so, and traffic to Pearson was crazy
and I was like, oh my God.
Oh my God.
Once again, lounge life was astruggle, I believe when you pay
an exuberant amount on your fora credit card, I am taking
advantage of all the amenities.
So my bot was sitting in thereand having my free glass of wine

(24:53):
and wifi and sittingcomfortably.
Having said that, but flightattendants and Air Canada was
super, super nice.
I will say that they were veryhospitable and once again took
care of me getting back to this.
I love Jodi Foster.
I am a Jodi Foster stand.

(25:14):
I love her and love her, and shehas a movie where it's
predominantly in French as weknow.
Our girl studied in France.
She speaks fluent French.
She has produced some Frenchproductions.
This also is a con holdover.
I didn't make it to see itbecause again, schedule and be
crazy.
A private life.

(25:34):
It is my type of foolery.
She plays a psychiatrist whosepatient dies, and then ensues a
whole bunch of things whereshe's trying to figure out she
goes, excuse

me, Katia, what's the name of this
film?

A Private Life.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (25:51):
A Private Life.
Okay, thank you.

Yes.
So she finds out that herpatient dies.
So she gets invited to thefuneral and then the husband
like goes off because he blamesher for the reason why the wife
dies.
And she starts thinking that thehusband may have had a hand.
The daughter then talks to herabout, helping her find out why
the mom, and she's a courtpatient, so she ensues patient

(26:17):
privilege, but she startsconducting her own investigation
and brings in the ex-husband andthey still have a situation
shift.
They're divorce, but they stillget together and they have
dinner and stuff.
Then there's a situation wherethe strange relationship with
her son, but the point is shegoes on this whole undercover
thing.
And of course when you are not aquote unquote professional

(26:38):
stuff, go a little bit sideways.
Like I said it's my type offuneral foolery.
These people are breaking alltypes of laws, trying to figure
stuff out.
Her apartment gets Ram shacked,so she thinks now that she's
part of it, it turns to besomething else.
But again, I love that JodyFoster, still at 62 is giving us
these performances that she'staking these risks.

(27:01):
And she doesn't have to, andshe's brilliant in this film.
And just when you think nowwe're emotionally involved'cause
we are now thinking that thiswoman is being haunted and we
think that the husband did itand we're all leaning in and you
know how you done it, this whenyou think you're a private
detective too.
But it was a good time and itwas just like, like I said, it's

(27:21):
my type of foolery where youstart thinking that, accusing
everybody and looking over yourshoulder.
And I want people to not bediscouraged.
Yes, it's predominantly inFrench.
There are some parts of it whenit's in English, but it doesn't
matter because we are here.
If you love stuff like knivesout murder she wrote.

(27:42):
This is your type of flury.
You right here with her and youare just like, we not worried
about following the law.
We're breaking and entering.
We are going through stuff.
We have no business goingthrough, and we're here with our
girl.
It's a good time.
And I really wouldn't besurprised if France submits this
movie for their bestinternational.
It is an internationalproduction

all so, so before, before you go on,
a question for both of you guysis, what was the highlight for
you?
Not necessarily a movie.
What was the highlight for youat the, at tiff this year?

It's never the, it is never the movies that you
think it is.
It's a movie like this.
Then another movie that I sawthat I was gonna mention which
is Couture and I need the movieto have a new mo, I need a new
title.
It is very misleading'cause I,this year I did myself a favor
and I went into movies.
Cold.
I feel like couture is not theappropriate.

(28:39):
Thing because you go into itthinking it's going to be about
fashion.
I was in it because I thought,oh, it's gonna be about fashion.
I'm here for Angelina Jolie.
But then as you're going throughit, you're like, oh,

Kay-B (28:54):
this title.
I actually, no I kind ofdisagree.
I mean, I think Couture is afine name for it, mostly
because, I mean, the underbelly,the under theme of the film
really is the fashion industry,I think because that's the basis
of it.
And everything that they'retrying to pull out of it happens
within the fashion industry justto different people who are
working kind of in differentways.
Yeah.
I mean,

I hear what you're saying, but I still wish it had
a different thing.
I think the time not is that allthese women work in fashion.
And at first I was like, listen,if they start playing this
little black girl, now we reallygonna have problems in it.

Kay-B (29:27):
I mean, did her, they did her justice.
I was actually, they didjustice.

I mean, there was some moments in there.
I go, if this is gonna go.
We're gonna, we're gonna havewords.
The Angelina Jolie storylinereally hit for me because I had
a situation.
I mean, thank God, knock onwood, I don't have cancer, but I
had a cancer scare where I likehad a mammogram.
I had to have an ultrasound, andthen I had to have a biopsy, and
I still have to have a biopsyjust to make sure that

(29:53):
everything is clear because Ihave fibrosis in my, and just
to, I totally could relate toher sitting here being like,
wait a minute.
I came for a checkup.
How do we go from a checkup andnow we're here?
Like it's like you hear peopletalking to you, but you're not
processing it.
It feels like it's happening tosomeone else.

(30:15):
And of course, she wasn't tryingto avoid taking care of her
health.
I think she was, she, first ofall, at least I was at home.
I have family.
She's by herself in a foreigncountry.
She's got this super workassignment and she's got all
these things and she has no oneshe can talk to, and she's
dealing with this very seriousthing.

(30:37):
So I understood where, why shewas like, what in the hell?
I also as a freelancer we canunderstand the other girl being
like you gotta pay me for myservices.
Stop playing with me.
I'm coming over here.
I'm giving you the best, and I'mtrying to juggle everything.
Gru me my money.
Like that part also understood.

(30:59):
And also, there's been a lot ofdiscussion in fashion, how
they're going to these refugeecamps and taking advantage of
these beautiful black girls thatare petite and fit a certain
aesthetic.
That is, they're there, they'regetting them so they can have
this sob story and, and they'replucking them knowing that they

(31:20):
desperately need money, right?
And they're throwing these girlsinto already a very chaotic
situation.
It turns out to be the girl thatwas most host hostile.
They had the most in common,right?
So I also like how they reallyshine the light, how the fashion
industry is taking advantage ofgirls that are in various

(31:40):
precarious situation coming fromwar term countries desperately
needing money and have tonavigate this craziness.
On their own.
And if they're lucky, they'llhave people that really will
look out for them.
So I do love, it's directed by awoman.
You can tell it's directed by awoman.
You can tell that these womenare given agency.

(32:03):
And I was very pleasantlysurprised and I was locked in
for the whole time of the movie.
So that is my other one that,that I don't, I'm not too sure a
lot of people saw, but I wouldencourage more people to see it
if it, when it comes to afestival in their year.

Kay-B (32:18):
Yeah, I'll say, I would recommend people see it.
I didn't.
I love it.
I did not love it.
I thought it was fine, but I dostill think people should see
it.
Like it's one of those films tome that I think because of it
being so women-centric and womenforward like that, people
absolutely need to watch it.
I 100% agree with that.
I didn't, I did get to the endand I kind of was like, I wish

(32:41):
things would've been tighter inthe storyline to wrap things up
by the end in a way that meantjust a little bit more.
And had a little bit, I thinkthe ending could have had a
deeper meaning almost if it hadjust been a little bit tighter.
But I do think everyone shouldstill see it.
Yeah.

And so if you can answer my que my
question as well, kb, what wasthe highlight for you at the
festival?

Kay-B (33:03):
I mean, again, I think that I was pleasantly surprised
by tuner.
I think that ending my festivalon that film was definitely
something, I think that everyyear one of the highlights
obviously is just being able toconnect with other journalists
and critics on the ground andbeing able to kind of have that
level of comradery.
'Cause we don't necessarilyalways get to see each other.
It just depends on the city thatwe are in and what we're doing.

(33:26):
So that's always somethingthat's great.
And being able to connect atpress conferences or at junkets
that they have on the ground atthe festival.
But yeah, I do think that at thecrux of it, it's just really
being able to see a good filmand then having a conversation
about it after.
I think with Tuner though Ilove, love, loved it, but I
literally had to go to theairport right away, so I didn't

(33:47):
get to have kind of that usualafter the film.
Just kind of with your friendsdiscussing like how you really
felt about it, et cetera.
I didn't get to have that kindof same unique experience'cause
I.
Had to run, but it was reallygood.

Yeah, I mean, I agree with kbi.
I ended at my festival with aprivate affair and I'm so glad
that I did.
I do wanna echo that,

and I You said you had a private
affair?
No, I did not.
What?
Say?

I said I ended the festival with the movie.
Oh.
Oh, okay.
Alright.
I just,

Kay-B (34:16):
now, technically, Kathia, I thought you just meant you saw
this movie by yourself and itwas a private affair.

I like your joke better you, but I think it's so
important to put stuff on yourschedule that is out of the
usual quote unquote Oscar bubbleawards bubble.
Because I think you have theprivilege of being able to go to
a film festival like Tiff orwhatever film festival that you
go to, that you support, right?

(34:45):
And you should support yourlocal film, fa festivals in your
backyard as well.
I always I push myself to putstuff on my schedule.
I saw a great running smile infilm, and just to be like,
because a lot of times themovies that are so hype up,
excuse me, that are in her ear,I be sitting there going like,
really?
Once you come outta Venice andyou come out of Telluride, and

(35:08):
I'm like, I really ask myselflike, is it me?
And then the movies that I justpick outta obscurity are the
ones where I'm like, oh, I'mhaving a really good time.
Never fails.

Well, you guys did such a good job
that we are actually on timeschedule.
So I'm gonna bring up a filmthat I saw that has nothing to
do with TIFF because I think forsure Kathia saw it and maybe KB
might've seen it, and.
Since I got time, I got at leastfive minutes to talk about this

(35:43):
film.

Kay-B (35:43):
Which one is it?

It's the film called Him.

Kay-B (35:47):
I did not see it.

Girl.

Kay-B (35:49):
That's all y'all.

I just, I have to say that this
film, firstly Mar Marlon Ws, wasdelightfully unlikable.
I did not like his character.
He crushed it.
He did what he had to do.
But the writers, the directors,the discussion that they were

(36:13):
trying to have about God, familyand football was so disjointed
that if I could use a footballanalogy, they were more on the
sidelines than on the field andthey never scored a touchdown.
This film what For me?

(36:36):
Was one of the, what in the heckdid I just see?
Kind of film and con knows thatI am a scary cat when I go to
movies like this.
But that's not it.

Kay-B (36:49):
I too am not a horror person, but I'm just gonna
listen to y'alls feedback sinceI haven't seen it.
I'm only laughing.
I have to ask

one question.
Reggie.
Go ahead.
Scream.
Because the last time Reggiewent to a scary movie his
Chicago cohorts got two types ofentertainment, one on the screen
and one on Reggie, basicallyalmost getting ready to crawl
underneath the scene.
Now, Reggie, did you fly out ofyour chair

Kay-B (37:15):
at your last, what film was that?

Reggie Ponder, The Re (37:17):
Actually, I would like, so that, that was
the last one was Sinners and Oh,that was character.
Okay.
And I saw Sinners twice.
And at the same time in themovie.
There's at least three points inthe movie.
And even when I saw it thesecond time I'm jumping like
this because it and one ofthose, one of those times is the

(37:38):
snake in the truck.

Kay-B (37:39):
I don't like snakes either.
I was like, so is it just'causeyou don't like reptiles?
'cause you did know it wascoming.

I knew it was coming.
No, but it just it's, it.
They, I think firstly that meansthat they did a good job from a
cinematic perspective to make itwhere, you know it's coming, but
it still gives you some kind ofreaction.
And I think cinematically, theydid a good job with that.
And I actually thought thatsomebody's still felt like

(38:05):
somebody was about to get bit bythe snake.
And the way it is shot, by theway, makes you feel like you are
closer to the action than youare.
Like maybe some of the slasherfilms, that you're not gonna get
slashed.
But they are, I just felt.
That the way in which they triedto have a conversation about the

(38:26):
lengths you might go forsuccess.
It could have been anyprofession.
But since you picked football,did you really, could I have had
this discussion without going tothis movie?
The way I always look at a filmis that when I go and watch the

(38:49):
movie and then I come home and Isee Donna I'll say to her, yeah,
I'll take you to that movie.
This would be a movie I wouldn'ttake her to.
I took her to Sinners and eventhough it's not, I mean it's a
little gory for me.
I took her to see sinners and noproblem because I thought it was
that good.

(39:10):
Him.
I ain't like, I.
I don't think you, you need togo see this other than if you
just wanna see the excellence ofa Marlon WANs.
He really does a great jobplaying this role, but I didn't
like any of the characters.
They didn't give us a reason tolike any other characters.

(39:31):
And my favorite character, infact was the girlfriend of of
Cade.
And the reason she was myfavorite character, because
there were two scenes in thefilm that I felt were authentic.
There was a scene in the filmwhere the press was interviewing
the family, and the press askedCade, did he have a girlfriend

(39:57):
and.
She was standing behind thecamera.
She said, oh, no, he's taken, hegot a girlfriend just like a
sister would do.
She's Uhuh you, we ain't playingthat.
We not going there.
That's not gonna happen.
And the way she did it was soauthentic to me.
Then a little later in the film,she, everybody else is trying
to, his, her, his mom and hisbrother, they seem to be

(40:19):
leaching on to his success, butshe comes to him and says, don't
worry, honey.
You can be successful inwhatever you do.
I felt that the portrayal of ablack woman that was not there
for the money and just from thesmall little pieces that they
gave of her, I thought she did agood job with that, and I'm
happy that they showed that, butI don't think they did.

(40:40):
They were successful in tryingto have the conversation that
they were trying to have.
Kathia.

Kay-B (40:46):
Yeah.
I'm like, please, Kathia, tellme.
Oh, okay.

I, enough, I mean, it's interesting you picked up
the girlfriend.
I mean, I hear you.
Okay.
All right.
I didn't hate it as much aseverybody.
I give it a six outta 10, right?
So I gave it a borderline press.
Don't you do that?
Here's what the things, I thinkMarlon was amazing, right?

(41:09):
I think Tyreek did.
I think what saved the movie forme are the two leads.
That's it.
If they didn't do what they didin making this movie me, invest
in caring about what happened tothem and ultimately the arc of
Marlon, right?

(41:30):
And when I first started, Ithought he was gonna be the
coach.
It didn't.
I was like, oh, damn.
He is.
Okay, got it with you here.
Here's the things.
Let's talk about the positives,right?
I love the set design.
I talked about that in myreview.
The freaking music isoutstanding.
The soundtrack for this, youknow how they use tiara wack and

(41:52):
all these different peopletalked about that in my review,
Stella Costume design.
How, even using things like theweight, it was like you could
tell that those people did theirresearch on working out what
athletes, professional footballplayers or even college athletes
use in order to get in the bestshape of their lives.
I'm even gonna go as far as howthey get injected, but God knows

(42:14):
what we know.
Football has always beenborderline on trying to get
these guys to be super athletes,hyper chamber, all these
different treatments to get youto be at your best.
All of that.
I thought they did a really goodjob of conveying that is way
more than just working ateverybody's looking for that
extra edge, right?
Where I feel the issue was thepacing and.

(42:39):
It's not really scary.
'cause I like Reggie.
I'm not like you guys.
I'm not a really person thatlikes Gore.
It wasn't scary.
I think it's supposed to be athriller.
That's why I'm interpreting, Ithink too many people using the
wrong word.
But it's really a thriller,right?
Where it is in the beginning,we're setting the tone with you.

(42:59):
He gets dropped off at thehouse, now just look at, oh,
this house is a littledifferent.
This ain't your regular housewith a gym.
This is we getting like in thespooky house, the moment you're
in the foyer, something's offhere.
Spidey senses are going off,right?
This ain't alternativedecoration.
This is given like House ofHorror, right?

(43:22):
I would've been like secondthought.
Let me go back out and let metake my chances in the combine.
But we push forward.
I feel like the idea with thechapters was good, right?
Again, there were some goodideas there where you lost me.
You have all the below the linepeople giving you the things you

(43:43):
need to add to the story is ittook too long for us to be, for
it to be revealed that Marlon isreally, that there was, he never
invited him for, to look out forhim.

Kay-B (43:59):
No.
Wait.
I was like, now don't spoil gotthere.

No.
That he, that was the thing.
I'm not gonna say anything elseabout it, that there is a whole
other situation going on.
That's the best way I can say itwithout spoiling it and.
To really get into the conflict,into the height of it.
I feel like we were moving at asnail space and we're trying to

(44:22):
figure out like who all theplayers, why is, what is going
on, and then all of a suddenwe're a chapter five and the
ending.
I wish that we would've past itand we would've flushed it out a
little bit more, maybe put in alittle bit more gore, a little
bit more horror and things likethat.
Just when you thought you weregetting to somewhere, then it

(44:44):
pushes you right out and wereback to a workout.
I just feel like the ideas weregood to put it in plain English.
But it was not executed.
Like I feel like he was, hismind was moving to 90 miles per
hour.
But once we had to put the ideasand flush it out, it didn't get
to where it needed to get.

(45:05):
It was a little disjointed,right?
So I understand why people, andthat's why people came outta
there and were like, okay, wewere here and now we were rushed
to over here and now the movie'sdone.
What did I see?
But I do think for me, what mademe invested in care were the two
characters and showing you thecompetitive nature of sports.

(45:25):
No one is your friend.
Everybody is looking out forthemselves.
Everybody understands that onany given Sunday, anybody can
take your spot and that it is abusiness and it's about money
and you have to put your bestfoot forward and, everything.
But I do think, I don't think itis as horrible or the worst
thing ever as some people.

(45:47):
I mean, lemme ask you aquestion.

Kay-B (45:48):
Let me ask a question 'cause you both have said
things.
I have not seen it obviously, soI am the odd woman out.
But Reggie said there are a lotof elements set design visually,
like how it's shot, certainthings that are really going for
it.
Do you think that those thingsmake up for maybe the uneven,

(46:13):
I'm gonna call it unevennessbecause I don't know any other
way.
No.
Evenness in the script?

No.
No.
How does, how you feel?
It does not, so I, my skill ison a four scale.
So it's, I gave it a one, 1.5out of four, which means that's,
it wasn't good and I mean, andthat equates to four outta 10.
So Kati and I are apart.
Six is saying that this ispassable.

(46:41):
I it's not passable because theyfailed.
It's that if you get the twocharacters to do a good job,
there's plenty of movies wherethe actors do what they're
supposed to do, but the moviedoesn't go anywhere.
It doesn't take you any place.
And when you can be a fly on thewall, which we get to be, when
we come out of our movies, weget to listen to other people

(47:03):
talking.
The people are like, what?
Huh?
What did I see when I came out?
The one of the reps was standingout there and said, Reggie, how,
what did you think?
I said, I don't know what I saw.
And they were like, I didn'teither.
I didn't either.
Now and I don't think it was arep but someone who, who was

(47:23):
helping out, like a volunteer orsomething.
They were like, they didn't knoweither.
I just think that when you comeup with something like this.
You have to hit it.
Hit the nail on the head.
This was, this is a quote frommy review and then I'll let
Kathia answer your question.
I said that that as for the waythis was shot from the very

(47:48):
beginning, the filmmakers playedwith a visual style that
screamed that something wasn'tquite right and that a horror
was right, a around the cornerat the Aply time music.
And you would think that thiswas a scary masterpiece, but
instead it's a piece of horrorthat wasn't quite mastered.

(48:08):
Him is not it.

I respect that.
I would never tell you, you haveto feel, but I, you have feel I
did not understand, and Irespect that.
And I also can understand peoplebeing like, I'm not quite sure,
but I think for me.
If the two, again I come back tothis, I feel like everyone below
the line that everything thatthey're supposed to do, they
help create the environment thatthe music is, like the music,

(48:33):
shout out to the music team.
They like the tracks that theypicked from pop culture to the
actual soundtrack fire.
I was like, oh, we got some popsin here.

But also where they put it, but also
where they put the music.
Exactly.
Because you can have good music,but they actually had it timed
in such great places.
So I, I agree.

Yeah.
I mean, I'll tell you, oneperson that I feel like really
brought nothing to the movie wasJulia Fox.
Why were you in this?
We didn't need that.
The story could have just stayedin the two men.
That's enough.
Like what?
That to me was like why are wehere?
That doesn't add anything to thestoryline because it's between

(49:14):
the two men.
The competition, again I see.
I think Marlon was really good.
I don't think we give, I'm gonnasay this.
Marlon Williams does not getenough credit for being as
talented as he is.
'cause sometimes he can comeacross, like in interviews and
stuff, he can be a little goofy.
I'm just gonna say it right.

(49:35):
And so therefore people arelike, well, this 53-year-old
little goofy guy, but at the endof the day, talent is talent.
And for him to play this per, hedoesn't crack one joke really in
this movie.
He is sinister and veryunlikable, and you wanna move,
you wanna throw him into movietraffic.
And I think Tyreek is reallygood, right?
I hope this doesn't de shufflehim from other opportunities

(49:57):
because he is had a really greatsummer from I think I know what
you did last summer, that movieand this, I feel like he's on
his way.
He's got real star possibility.
And it's, the other thing is Ineed Universal to stop putting
Jordan Peel because this isJustin's movie.
He, Jordan executive produced itand he has nothing to do with
the, any parts of this movie.

(50:18):
He was doing, being a goodsteward, giving someone else an
opportunity.
But again, I mean, I totally canunderstand where people go, what
people went like for me thatcould say what I'm saying and
going in spite of the two greatperformances, I'm giving it a
five or a four.
All the other parts of, so Itotally understand that.
I just think that's the way Ileaned on it.

(50:39):
And the other thing too is Ihate when we see something like
this that's not so black andwhite that they're like, well,
what, how do you feel?
I'm like, lemme process it.
Lemme I literally was in thecar.
Yeah.
Lemme process it because this isnot a black and white type of
movie.
And I want to say this becausewe live in this world where we
are doing group tank thinking.

(51:02):
I say this all the time.
I know we all did how I feel.
This is me.
God gave me my brain.
And my body for a reason is notto be shared.
Just because I feel a certainway about a movie.
I still encourage you to go payyour money, see it for yourself.
Because you may come out and belike, oh, it's the great
greatest thing ever.

(51:23):
And you know what, that's greatbecause there's stuff that that
I was like.
And that other people loved, butwe gotta get out of this, right?
We're giving our opinion.
And I also feel like what Idon't like that some of our
colleagues do is it's okay tonot like a movie, but explain
why you don't like it.

(51:44):
Just don't go, well, this isn'tthis.
Or he didn't give your reasoningjust how I gave my reasons why.
I feel as though it slantedslightly on the positive.
You gotta give a thesis what itis.
What give examples what didn'twork for you?
Was it the timing?

(52:04):
Did you feel the script?
We're not giving full flushedout reviews anymore.
It's sounding very much like a32nd TikTok, which is great if
you just wanna have engagement,but it's not criticism and
that's why I have a problem withsome of these reviews.
Defend why you don't likesomething.
Give the example, take the timeout.

(52:25):
Give respect to the filmmakerswhy you love or why you don't
like something.
No, I'll say I

Kay-B (52:30):
have seen just a little bit online, just to clarify,
because people don't think, Idon't think people know, but
people believe that the directoris black.
He is not black.
So he is Filipino and European,he is not black.
So a lot of people are like, oh,directed by a black man,
starring, no, but he is actuallynot black.
So I want people,'cause alsothere's a little bit of

(52:52):
confusion around that as well.
'cause

we're gonna

Kay-B (52:55):
see, but this is what I'm talking about.
A 32nd

Google search clears that up.
Go the IB look up people's name.
If you're gonna talk about sexdesign, take away from not away
from his art, just to clarify.
Yeah.

But part of that marketing, part of
that marketing helps to obscurethat when you put from producer
Jordan Peele.
It helps to obscure that.
And so that's why many peoplemight not ever go look because
they're like, oh, this is JordanPeele movie.
Oh, this is a Tyler Perry movie.
Oh, this is Spike Lee movie.
And not look to see.

(53:27):
But it's produced by JordanPeele.
It's produced by Tyler Perry.
It's produced by Spike Lee, andit may not be an African
American.
So, no, I really appreciate thisdis discussion.
I took us off the rails, but Ihad to, it's the lowest rated
movie that I've had this year.
I'm just gonna say, and

that's fine.
Like you explained it, it's thelowest rated,

it's the lowest rated movie for me
this year.
It just I didn't feel it.
I would, I personally wouldn'tgo back to it, but I would say
about us film critics, if youfollow us, I say find a critic
that you agree with about 70% ofthe time.
And the reason I say that isbecause.
We, we are here to hopefullysave you some money.

(54:08):
There are some movies that youshould not go see and we should
help you.
No, there are some movies thatyou should not, but maybe, but
to God's point, Reggie, for

Kay-B (54:18):
you though, because there, there is a, hold on.

But that's why I say find a critic
that you agree with about 70% ofthe time so that you, that it
helps kind of inform you as toyour taste.
If you agree with'em a hundredpercent of the time you that,
that's crazy.
But about 70% of the time,because it'll do two things for
you it'll say for movies thatyou were kind of looking to see

(54:42):
that they liked, that you didn'tlike, that you weren't, you on
the fence, you'd be like, oh,okay.
He kinda liked it.
I kinda like his opinion or Ikinda like her opinion.
Let me go see it.
But there are some, I, I knowfor a fact that I have saved my
wife from going to see.
Some movies that she, that Iknow for a fact that she just
wouldn't enjoy.

Kay-B (55:04):
That she just, well, but you know her because, that's
your partner.
I saved my 10

Reggie Ponder, The Ree (55:07):
brothers and sisters.
I've saved my best friend.
I'm saying I know that I havesaved some people from spending
their hard earned money that youshouldn't go see every movie
just because you are curious.
There are some films that youjust don't need to go to.
That's my opinion.
And I'm not saying I'm right.
I'm saying I got an opinion andI'm hoping that my opinion helps

(55:29):
inform you.

Kay-B (55:30):
That's fair.
Listen, I saw online that Tyresaid, I saw online that someone
was like, Tyreek said that hehas student loans, so go support
the movie.
And I said, you know what?
That's a realistic,

I mean, people under the impression and can we
talk about that?
I say this all the time.
Just because somebody's a movie,Tyreek is an up and coming
actor.
That man did not get$20 millionfor him.
He did not get$20 million for Iknow what you think he did last
summer if he was lucky, right?
What's the sag minimum?
Maybe like a hundred thousand.
If the outfits that he's gettingwear that was given to him.

(56:03):
My man is not going throughthese shops to wear the outfit.
Jason Bolden is using his GoodLord's work to get that man fit,
booted and fitted for thesepress appearances.
The studio is flying himeverywhere as they should.
But I'm like, I understand thatmaybe for him he got maybe 500
K, but he still gotta pay hisagent, his manager, his
publicist, a whole bunch ofpeople.

(56:24):
He gotta pay taxes.
That man is not swimming inmoney.
That's why I'm like I hope nomatter what this does at the box
office, that it doesn't deterhis forward propelled this.
So again, I mean, I I need usto, to and listen somebody.
Them little YouTube boys like topull our stuff.

(56:44):
This is what I'm saying, likewhen people say we do the same
thing.
No, it's not.
You guys constantly source ourmaterial to make points and I'm
just like, run us a check.
But I think again I love thefact that we're having
discussions.
I don't have a problem.
My number one problem with someof our counterparts is you read
their reviews and you're like,when are you gonna let us know

(57:06):
the reason why you don't likesomething?
When is when we get seeing thatpoint?
You gave a whole soliloquy andI've yet to understand why you
don't think something works.
I understand the pressure ofturning stuff over, girl, I'm
still, I'm, I still got threemore reviews for Tiff.
But the point still is it's haveenough respect for the people
who made the work.

(57:27):
If you're going to crap onsomething at least give a valid
reason why.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel (57:33):
Period.
I'm there and because I tookmore time than I should be,
we're a little over time, but Idon't want to skip our last
segment, so hopefully we cankind of squeeze this one in.
And this segment is rant andrave, and I'm ranting and raving
about what people are thinkingare our Oscar contenders.

(57:54):
I always follow our yourAfro-Latino friend, Kathia and
on Variety, Clayton and see whathe's thinking.
And the front runners fordirector are Paul Thomas
Anderson.
One battle after another.
Chloe Zou for Hamnet.

(58:16):
Catherine Bigelow, a House ofDynamite.
Ryan Coogler Sin and Josh SDIfor Marty Supreme.
I've only seen.
Two, I've seen two of thesefilms and hopefully two more
after the Chicago InternationalFilm Festival.

Kay-B (58:33):
Which two have you seen?

I've seen one Battle after another in
centers.
So those are the only two.

Kay-B (58:38):
I haven't seen one battle yet.
I see it next week.

And so, are any of these for you kb
on, on, on the list as a frontrunner or do you have anything
else

Kay-B (58:48):
as I mentioned earlier, it's definitely gonna be hamnet.
So Chloe definitely should get anomination for Hamnet.
I, again have not seen onebattle after another.
I do not see it for a couplemore days, so I cannot speak to,
kind of what it's like.
I have heard particularly, and Iwill say this, just Paul Thomas
Anderson, is an older white manand there are three black women

(59:10):
in this movie.
So I am curious to see, how thisfilm turns out.
I have heard from other blackwomen that they actually really
enjoyed it.
I am curious, Reggie and Katia,if you guys have seen it, just
whether or not you like it,which way, you're skewing.
But I've heard it's a reallygood film from a few people that
I know.
In the industry who are alsoblack women.

(59:32):
They actually really liked it inthe direction that he went in
with this film.
So, again, I'm just curious.
I'm going in curious'cause Ireally don't know.
But like I said, I am absolutelybehind Hamnet Police.
Like it's fantastic centers.
Ryan definitely should get anomination.
Absolutely.
I mean, finally like thecreativity, the originality, the

(59:53):
like, please.
Absolutely.
Ryan, I'm gonna stand you downas well.
I have yet to see a House ofDynamite, but I am going to see
it next week.
And I have not seen Marty'sSupreme yet either, but I know I
will see it at some point.
But I've heard, I've also heardactually really good things
about a House of Dynamite, but Ihave not seen it again and I'm
not gonna see it until nextweek.

(01:00:14):
Like, one battle after another.
Well,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cr (01:00:15):
What I love about this is that there
is.
One that you are Gungho on, andthat was Hamnet because you
talked about that upfront.
And, but I love

Kay-B (01:00:24):
Hamnet.
It's great.
I mean, I love sinners too,though.
I think, but they're two verydifferent films and Sinners is
very unique and original in away that we really haven't seen
in a long time.
Kind of in this business and inHollywood, it's obviously like a
different type of period piece.
I would still consider it aperiod piece much like Hamnet in
the sense that you're obviouslyin this one time period, and

(01:00:46):
then it morphs a little bit,towards the end.
But it is a period piece, but itis also a horror.
It is also a drama.
It's also a musical in someways,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cri (01:00:54):
and a love story

Kay-B (01:00:55):
It has its own depth and layers of originality.
And, I left there with morequestions than answers, but I
appreciated that about it,honestly.
And I don't mean it in a, a.
In a negative way.
I mean it in a positive way.
Like it made me actually want tosit down and talk to Ryan and
kind of pick his brain a littlebit more about like why he made
certain choices, just throughoutthe film.

(01:01:16):
So I actually love that, reallyenjoyed it as well.
But I'm, I am curious if youguys have seen one battle, Kaia.
Have you seen one battle afteranother yet?

Kathia Woods (01:01:23):
I have.
I do think, okay.
Me and Paul Thomas Anderson,we'd be hitting a mess.
And Licorice pizza, I went tothrow him out the window head
first.
Yeah.
I did not enjoy movie.
That movie was ura anyhow.
But then I liked Studio 54 andthe other movies of his that I

(01:01:44):
like, but I really like this.
It's gonna speak to one half ofthe population, especially
what's going on in this country.
I don't.
I, yeah I think the black womenwere represented really well.
I think Leo is insanely good.
I, this is my problem with someof the Oscar pundits.

(01:02:08):
First of all, I need Clayton tostop comparing people to
legends.
I'm a Thompson.
I, excuse me.
Emma Stone is not KatherineHepburn.
Katherine Hepburn is one of one.
Katherine Hepburn had a careerthat from the thirties on to the
eighties.
Not the same.

(01:02:29):
Not the same like from her twenand also Katherine Hepburn's
entry like she was consideredbox office poison for the
longest time, like they wereready to throw her out with the
BA bath water Tell Philadelphiastory.
This woman was on life support.
So if we're going to referencethings like classic people, we
need to actually have seen thesemovies and know the history, not

(01:02:51):
just say stuff that sounds cutein an article.
Then I also want to point outthat he's the same guy that said
Lady Gaga was gonna have thecareer that Barbara Streisand
after Gucci did.
We see the same film?
This is what I mean when we'resitting there and we're watching
movies and I go, how is LadyGaga getting an award nomination
for this movie where everybodyis everything but Italian?

(01:03:14):
That movie was a hot mess.
But this is why we have thingslike a Nora.
Every year you have this.
And this is why I do love whatthe Golden Globes did with
Fernanda.
Like they threw an audible.
None of these people were payingattention.
And we kept saying, watch thismovie.
This movie's really good, thismovie's really good.
And then she went and all of asudden it's oh, we gotta talk to

(01:03:35):
Fernanda.
I was like, you should have beentalking to her.
So I have a problem.
I get that we gotta driveadvertising.
I get the times that we are in,but let's also start telling the
truth.
Emma Thompson getting nominated,probably, I mean, excuse em,
Emma Stone probably.
'cause they love her.
And I'm not crazy about thedirector.

(01:03:58):
She chooses to work and hang herlifeline on, these movies are
boring.
The daylights outta me.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Crit (01:04:03):
So I'm gonna jump in for a second
say that I thought that they dida nice job with One Battle after
another.
I, you seemed a little hesitant,Kaia, so I'm not sure, but.
I'm not putting this as theOscar.
There is no

frontrunner.
There is no, here's my, I'm

not putting this as the front runner
for an Oscar.
And you're no front runner forfront Oscar.
It i, it was interestinglyenjoyable because there was d so
many kind of things that werehappening there.
But I didn't walk outta thatmovie thinking, whoa.
This is the Oscar film now,unfortunately, as it relates to

(01:04:42):
an Nora, I saw it late afterevery, all of my friends saw
this movie, and everybody Iasked, I said, oh I'm gonna go
see Anora.
And they looked at me like, Idon't wanna say nothing, but I
don't think you gonna like thatone.
And I watched that film and Ithought, for me it was the worst

(01:05:03):
film of the year.
There was nothing redeemingabout that movie.
It was more than soft porn.
I don't know if it was mediumporn or not, but I didn't get
it.
So I had to ask one of my filmcritic friends and they felt
that it was the opposite ofPretty Woman.
Where when you look at PrettyWoman, that the woman and pretty

(01:05:26):
woman ends up finding theAmerican dream.
Whereas in a Nora, the womanends up not achieving that
American dream and everythingthat comes along with it.
I said, thank you for explainingthat to me.
For the way in which you look atit.
I, it I didn't like any of thecharacters.
They didn't make any of themsymp sympathetic.

(01:05:46):
I if all of them, I was like, ifeverybody gets killed and
everybody gets killed.
Okay, fine.
I didn't

like an no either.
It was my worst review movie oflast year.
I not believe we will never talkabout this movie again after the
four people.
As, as far as, it's a perfectexample that the best movies
don't always win the top prize,and that movie is not better
than six of the of those othermovies that were nominated.
I'll stand by that to the day Idie.

And so with

that's why I agree that, that and what I love.
Can we agree on this?
What I love about this year isthere is no killer front runner.
I can't wait.
I hope we cause chaos.
Critic's choice is up first thisyear.
We're ahead of Golden Globes andI want us to really not give
into the machines.
I, I want Oscar pundit to starttelling the truth and not worry

(01:06:36):
about their access.
I want us to talk about actors.
K got right now a black womanwill not win best actors again.
'cause I can already, I alreadyknow how I can feel it already.
And the other part too is maybewill we get maybe a little bit
of better result because theOscars are finally saying that

(01:06:57):
you can't vote if you haven'tseen all the films.
We've been knowing that foryears.
How, why did it take so long forthese people to be held
accountable?
That's the way it should havealways been.
Okay.
We know you have not seen thesemovies last year.
Guess what?
You're suspended.

Kay-B (01:07:13):
Well, I will say that.
I hear what you're saying.
But neither of you have seenHamnet.
And to me it is the clear front.
I've seen what neither of youhave seen Hamnet, and really

I wanna wait.
I mean, I wanna see it and I'msure and I'm not saying that
you're wrong, but I mean, doesgreat buzz about Catherine
Bigelow's movie.
So hopefully, we'll, our Netflixfriends will do what they need
to do.
We'll get to see it.
I just want us to not, it's likethe Emmys can we not be so
predictable

Kay-B (01:07:42):
now?
I'm not gonna say it's not gonnabe predictable.
I mean, honestly, I mean aboutwho we

nominate.

Kay-B (01:07:48):
Not, no that's what I'm saying.
I'm not saying that it's stillnot gonna be predictable.
I do think year over year therewe have come to know that
certain things will occur, but Iwill say we should have this
conversation after everyone hasseen Den.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Cr (01:08:01):
Yes.
Okay.
I have a question for you, kb isthat is the only movie you've
seen?
This year that a black womanfrom a leading actress
perspective is the only, not,you haven't seen it yet.
I, I, because it hasn't comeout, but they have Cynthia Vo as

(01:08:21):
a front runner for Wicked Wickfor good.
Is there a black woman this yearother than Cynthia Arrivo that
should or might be able to breakinto that category?

Yeah.
Tessa Thompson.
If the studio

Kay-B (01:08:36):
campaign, well, I was gonna say Heda is definitely
Tessa Thompson and Heda isdefinitely one.
I have not seen one battle afteranother, therefore, I don't know
what those performances looklike.
So, I can't speak to that.
I will say.
Obviously like Hamnet has noblack women, so I will not be
able to speak to that either.
And no shame, but it just doesnot have any black women, so.

(01:08:59):
I mean, it is yeah, it just, itdoesn't, so, and then, let me
see, what else are we talkingabout?
We talked about sinners.
While I adore Rumi in this film,I think she's fantastic.
She will not get nominated.
There's not enough

movement behind it.
I,

Kay-B (01:09:14):
yeah, I don't think that she's gonna get nominated, even
though I do think she'sexceptional in the film and she
really is kind of the heartbeatof the film when you really look
back over it.
I love

Reggie Ponder (01:09:22):
that kb I love that.
I love that observation.
I think

She'll get like image awards, that type of
thing.
I'll say this, that I adoreTessa Thompson.
Tessa Thompson has been doingthe Good Lord's work.
I, and I'm gonna just say it, ifTessa Thompson were white, she'd
be in the same boat as EmmaStone.
But we know that the, and sheis, this is a light skin

(01:09:46):
Afro-Latina woman that has allthe features and all the perils
that Hollywood likes, and shestill has a uphill battle to
climb.

Kay-B (01:09:55):
Well, te made some really smart choices.
I think this should make somereally good career choices.
Yes.
I'll say that.
Coming outta Tiff HEA had somemixed reviews for certain
people.
So I am curious that when itcomes to no Call released in
October, what that would reallylook like once, like more
broader audiences get to see it,because I really enjoyed Heda

(01:10:17):
and the level of chaos that itwas, I said,

I'm, listen, it's my type of fool.
And listen, I feel like she gotrobbed for passing.
It's, I'm like, what?
More?
Every year I'm like, what moredo black women gotta do?
Give birth, live?
I don't, I'm like, what?
What is it?
What is it?
You keep giving?
Keep saying like this, let go.
I also maybe Emma A.

(01:10:42):
Stone, have a seat.
Maybe take yours.
Like how many more Oscars do youneed?
Some of us, especially now thatmost people are losing their
jobs in mainstream mediaanyways, as far as critics.
Throw the audible, just say whenwhite women are, when are always
talking about equity and stufflike that.
Be o Julia Roberts, Emma Stone,speak up for women of color and

(01:11:02):
other performances that are notbeing acknowledged

Kay-B (01:11:06):
now.
I'll say Now actually we didn'tsay that The hunt is about to
come out with io.
Yeah.
Is it?
I don't know.
I've not seen it, so I haven't

seen it either.
I'm hoping to catch it in NewYork, but I love what Julie
Roberts was not on the one andthe two when that lady was
trying to be interesting.
So my thing always is let's sumit up some courage.
Instead of asking the BSquestions of black people, it's
not our, we didn't inventracism.
It's not our job to solveracism.
Ask the power of beings,especially during this time

(01:11:35):
where you already the mainstreammedia said they don't value
criticism anyway.
So you over there on Substack,nobody can fire you.
Go raise your hand and get somecourage.
But I absolutely am like,Cynthia's gonna sing her whole
behind off.
She's gonna give you everythingand Wicked and they're gonna
give her this little tingnomination and these white

(01:11:57):
people are gonna do what they'regonna do.
They're gonna be like, thanks,but no thanks.
So it is, it's just annoying.
But yes.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel C (01:12:06):
Well, well with that, we are at the
end of our show.
I am so happy that we had KBback.
Hopefully she'll be back again.
She is a busy person and as weall are.
But hopefully she'll be backagain and we'll sit around and
chit chat.
So I'd like to give you each aopportunity to make your final

(01:12:30):
remark and please tell peoplewhere they can find you and all
of that.

Go ahead, kb, you're the guest.

Kay-B (01:12:39):
You go first.
Yes.
So I will just say, you can findme at the lady KB
T-H-E-L-A-D-Y-K-A-Y-B, onsocials and yeah.
This award season will beinteresting.
We still have a long way to go.
I do wanna say that, that's myfinal thought.
We have a long way to go.
There are still a lot of filmsthat have yet to come out.
And from a televisionperspective, there's actually

(01:13:01):
still a lot of things that'llcome out that will, hit for next
year's Emmys.
But from a film perspective, wehave a lot more movies to come
out.
I mean, honestly, just even inthe next four weeks there are a
lot of films that are comingout, so, stay tuned because
we'll definitely have to followup once we've each seen some
things.
And I am curious, Reggie, whatscreening at the Chicago

(01:13:21):
International Film Festival thatyou're gonna be seeing?
Because we have a lot, but Iwill report back, hopefully
we'll be able to chat next weekonce I've seen one battle after
another.
And then we can talk spoilersince it comes out next week.
'cause I would I'm curious.
I am I've been very curiousabout this.
I don't think anyone shouldfumble Regina Hall because I

(01:13:42):
think she's an exceptionaltalent and so if y'all telling
me she's in great hands in thisfilm, then I am going to believe
it because I adore Regina.
So, yeah.

Cool.
Kati,

Be living in really precarious times.
If you call yourself ajournalist, be a journalist and
have some courage tell the.
And like I said, is every dayour colleagues are getting laid
off because they dare to usecritical thinking skills and
being replaced for click baitstuff.

(01:14:15):
I'm not mad.
I understand it.
People's bills gotta get paid.
I totally get it.
But we gotta ask ourselves, howlong are we gonna go along to
get along?
And I totally understand.
And I mean, in real life, notsocial media.
'cause a lot of people areperformative on social media.
A lot of us have left.
I mean, I'm not on X, I'm stillme.

(01:14:36):
I'm still gonna use my space touplift and tell the truth.
The day an outlet tells me thatI gotta get with the propaganda
is the day where I'm out.
Peace out.
And I will find something elseto do and still tell the truth.
But we gotta find our courage.
We, this is every day I askmyself.
Can it get any worse?
I need to stop saying thatbecause the bar, we are below

(01:14:59):
the basement, whatever's belowthe basement, the crud we have
reached that.
I feel like God is saying it'seven above me.
And yes, we are being tested andwe should still fight.
'cause our ancestors is overcome10 times, way worse than what
we're dealing with now.
And they still find a way tofind light, which really has me
having more admiration.

(01:15:20):
But we gotta have courage.
We gotta start standing up.
We gotta start as blackjournalists, especially whatever
beefs we had, I'm not saying wegotta go out and become besties.
Whatever beefs we had, we gottaput those to the side and
decide, do we want to standtogether as collectives, as the
studios continue playing with usas society, playing with us as

(01:15:44):
the money's playing with us.
Because one of us having theseoffset meetings is getting us
nowhere.
But when we work together.
And we really say, Hey, one ofus you can play with 30, 40 of
us Houston, you got a problem.
And I also, I, listen, I'm here,we're having the discussion in

(01:16:05):
c, CA finally, where people aresaying, if you don't value what
I bring to the table, I'm notcovering you.
Simple.
It is a reciprocal relationship,right?
That's simple as that.
Go where you are wanted.
If somebody's actually tellingyou, I don't rock with you.
I've said it to several studios,some studios have come back and
say, Hey, we wanna fix it.

(01:16:26):
Other studios, I'm like, I'm notfighting with people.
I'm not doing it.
And guess what?
I'm still booked and busy.
So we gotta really start usingour agency and get a little bit
of courage when these emailsstart coming.
Oh, can you, I'm sorry, who'sthis?
Thoughts and prayers is myresponse down to people,

(01:16:47):
thoughts and prayers.
It's above me now, so it's just,I just really, and also work to
protect your piece.
The block button, you areallowed to use it.
You don't owe anybody anexplanation.
And as I always like to say, youdon't owe anybody an engagement.
When people are like, well, whothe heck are you?
Who are you to be crushing me onanything?

(01:17:08):
My mom always said this, and mygrandmom said it too.
If you are not willing to acceptthings from people you share,
DNA with like people, somebodythat gave you life, if you draw
a line in the sand with peoplethat really have invested in
you, why are you toleratingstuff from strangers that don't
make no type of sense to me?

(01:17:28):
So I'm just like, you know what?
I'm going to keep doing my part.
I have made it very clear that alot of our colleagues have shown
who they are.
I'm not arguing with you.
But you can stay where you are.
I'm gonna stay over here.
I wish you amazing things.
I don't wish anybody anythingterrible'cause I believe in
karma, but no, we, no we cannot.

(01:17:50):
'cause I've seen what you'vedone, not what you've said.
And I'm good over here.
Thoughts and prayers.

Well, well, well, not just thoughts
and prayers because we also needclicks and views.
So where can people find you andsee you?

You say me.
You can find my work at thePhiladelphia Tribune.
I have three articles in today'sissue, including my review of
him and a cute little movie Isaw on Netflix.
Shout out to Miranda Cas Grove,who was in my house with iCarly
Ong Paris, and also theannouncement about the power
origin story at the PhiladelphiaTribune.

(01:18:27):
You can also see a wholedispatch of mine from
tiff@cappasoulshow.com, and youcan find me on social, just not
on that.
Everywhere at Kaia, K-A-T-H-I-A,woods and everything else,

but keep her cute.
That is our show.
You can find me.
I know you about to ask me.
Here you go.
Where?

I don't forget KB though.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Crit (01:18:53):
KV said it.
Say where you can find her.

Yep.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Criti (01:18:57):
I did.
She spelled it out too.
She said T-H-E-L-A.
I mean she spelled it out.
I thought she was gonna do acheer.
So you can find me@indigo.com.
I currently have my review ofhim there.
You can also find me onvocal.org and some other places
as well@reggieponder.com.

(01:19:21):
I appreciate my people.
I'm glad to sit down with youguys and we will see you guys
next time.

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