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In this lively episode, host Monica welcomes back returning favorite James, known online as @moviegoodormoviebad, a sharp-witted content creator and film critic with a keen eye for all things cinema. Together, they dive into the highly anticipated sci-fi release Mickey 17, directed by Bong Joon-ho, while unpacking the latest headlines from the entertainment world.

The episode kicks off with “Media Mania,” where Monica and James cover a range of buzzworthy stories, starting with the surreal announcement of an A24 Barney film, featuring Daniel Kaluuya and Ayo Edebiri. They reflect on the risks and possibilities of reimagining childhood icons, while also addressing the complexities of representation through the lens of director Amma Asante’s controversial film Where Hands Touch. The conversation expands to the larger landscape for Black women directors and how the industry often misinterprets or under-supports their vision.

They also discuss the surprising box office performance of The Day the Earth Blew Up, ponder the bizarre Coyote vs. Acme situation (can this film just be released already?), and speculate on how the commodification of nostalgia continues to dominate studio decisions.

In the second half, Monica and James turn their attention to Mickey 17, Bong Joon-ho’s return to genre filmmaking. They explore Robert Pattinson’s nuanced performance as a clone assigned to die repeatedly for the sake of a colonized planet, and how the film blends existential sci-fi with dark comedy.

Naomi Ackie’s performance as Nasha earns high praise for breaking new ground as a fully realized Black female lead in sci-fi — a rare feat Bong handles with care. They break down themes of class, body autonomy, and the ethics of immortality, and unpack the role of Mark Ruffalo’s villainous commander, who channels not just authoritarianism, but corporate entitlement and ego.

They also debate the moral ambiguity of Teemo, the clone who chooses self-preservation, and how that character challenges easy notions of “right” and “wrong” in survival narratives. As the discussion evolves, the duo highlights how Bong subverts the traditional hero arc while creating something deeply human beneath the sci-fi sheen.

Key Themes:

• The surreal rise of A24’s Barney and rebranding childhood
• Hollywood’s uneasy relationship with Black women directors
• Bong Joon-ho’s genre shift post-Parasite
• Robert Pattinson and Naomi Ackie’s layered performances
• Sci-fi as a lens for class, identity, and rebellion
• The ethics of cloning and disposable labor
• Teemo’s dilemma and survival morality
• Naomi Ackie’s Nasha and rare representation done right

Movie Good or Movie Bad aks James Linktree

https://linktr.ee/moviegoodormoviebad

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