Keanu Reeves in JOHN WICK
2014 Movie ReviewsMoviesSpoilerpiece Theatre

Spoilerpiece Theatre Episode 15: John Wick

Evan Crean

“Spoilerpiece Theatre” is a weekly movie podcast where I talk about new releases with fellow BOFCA critics Dave Riedel and Kris Jenson. We don’t give a shit about spoilers. We just want to talk about the movies.

In Episode #15 below, we talk about Keanu Reeves’ old-guy-kicking-ass movie John Wick, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, and the very French The Blue Room. Tangents this week include why trailers suck, the French as a people, the Byronic hero, and lots of other stuff. Plus, Dave sings “Two Heads Are Better Than One” for a half-chorus (it’s my fault), and Kris explains how John Wick (the character) comes to violence (short version: The bad guys came at him on the WRONG day). If you enjoy Spoilerpiece Theatre, keep up with us at www.spoilerpiece.com and find us on iTunes here.

Evan Crean

Hello! My name is Evan Crean. By day I work for a marketing agency, but by night, I’m a film critic based in Boston, MA. Since 2009, I have written hundreds of movie reviews and celebrity interviews for Starpulse.com. I have also contributed pieces to NewEnglandFilm.com and to The Independent, as a writer and editor. I maintain an active Letterboxd account too. In addition to publishing short form work, I am a co-author of the book Your ’80s Movie Guide to Better Living, which is available on CreateSpace and Amazon. The book is the first in a series of lighthearted self-help books for film fans, which distills advice from ’80s movies on how to tackle many of life’s challenges. On top of writing, I co-host and edit the weekly film podcast Spoilerpiece Theatre with two other Boston film critics. I’m a founding member and the current treasurer for the Boston Online Film Critics Association as well. This site, Reel Recon.com, is a one-stop-shop where you can find links to all of my past and present work. Have any questions or comments after checking it out? Please feel free to email me (Evan Crean) at: ecrean AT reelrecon DOT COM .

2 thoughts on “Spoilerpiece Theatre Episode 15: John Wick”

  • What really sets director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s BIRDMAN apart is the cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki. The camera swoops and turns, doubles back and around through the St. James theater in New York City separately focusing on assorted conversations at different times throughout the venue. The display occasionally induces claustrophobia in the observer but the effect can be breathtaking as well. It’s a spectacular feat that could have become a gimmick, but the manipulation here is so effortless that it is a welcome and, dare I say, vital component of the production.

    P.S. Evan!! Haven’t seen you around my site in months!! Wher ya been buddy? Miss your insightful comments.:-)

    • Hey Mark,

      I completely agree that the cinematography in BIRDMAN is breathtaking. You’re right that occasionally it can induce claustrophobia, but I think it only makes the more effective since its goal seems to be keeping your anxiety at its peak. Some of its visual tricks could be a bit gimmicky for some, although for me they’re precisely why this movie works so well.

      I know i haven’t been over to your site for a while! I’ve been saving up your reviews in my email and I’ll pop by at some point next week to leave you some comments when my schedule clears up a bit. In the meantime, I hope all is well with you.

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