Maximum Film!

Maximum Film!

byMaximumFun.org

ComedyTVFilmReviews

A movie podcast that isn't just a bunch of straight white dudes. Comedian Kevin Avery is joined by film producer Drea Clark and film critic Alonso Duralde for a fast, funny, flight through film. Maximum Film! is news, reviews and in-depth insight, beamed directly into your ears every week.

Episodes(40 episodes)

Maximum Sidebar! Episode 1 (BoCo Teaser)
Head to MaximumFun.org/join by May 1, 2026! Just interested in supporting Maximum Film!? Do not pass Go: Go directly to MaximumFun.org/joinmaxfilm Here's a teaser of our first MAXIMUM SIDEBAR! episode! Drea, Alonso, and Kevin each brought something to discuss in the areas of food, self care, technology. Members get to hear it all, plus so much more BoCo (that's short for bonus content, folks). Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or Letterboxd<...
Published: Apr 27, 2026Duration: 7m 11s
Episode 451
Episode #451: MOTHER MARY, Why You Buggin'
It’s MaxFunDrive! We need your support, and want you in our club! Head to MaximumFun.org/join to become a member or increase your pledge. And THANK YOU! David Lowery’s is back in his ethereal bag (or is it a dress? defo there's a ghost though...right?) with MOTHER MARY, a look at art, soul, collaboration, and self, through the relationship of a mega popstar and her once-and-future fashion queen. Then, we do a movie quiz about pop star cinema! What’s Good Alonso - Pop Tarts Super-Stuffed Drea - MTV Rewind...
Published: Apr 24, 2026Duration: 1h 6m 50s
Casters on Casters: MaxFilm! Double Feature
It's MaxFunDrive. And here, for the first time, we give you an exclusive look (well, listen) at the craft of podcasting: presenting Casters on Casters. For MaxFilm! listeners, we're kicking off the MaxFunDrive with a DOUBLE FEATURE of Casters on Casters. Both Alonso Duralde and Drea Clark participated in two separate recordings of this incredibly important podcasting event. The first episode you'll hear features Alonso chatting with Ben Blacker (Dead Pilots Society) and Hal Lublin (Tights and Fights & We Got This with Mark and Hal). In the second episode, the Queen of the Midwest chats with Ella...
Published: Apr 20, 2026Duration: 46m 50s
Episode 450
Episode #450: 'You, Me & Tuscany' with Dory Benford
A rom-com is going to rom-com, but YOU, ME, & TUSCANY is actually doing at least one thing that feels pretty unique. We talk about this new movie from Kat Coiro and producer Will Packer (starring Halle Bailey & Regé-Jean Page) with All the Feels podcast’s Dory Benford. What’s Good Drea - friends coming by and doing helpful stuff Dory - Easter candy Alonso - chocolate pound cake ITIDICOver 1000 Big Hollywood Names Sign Letter Opposing Paramount/WB Merger Elaine May’s MIKEY & NICKY to get 50th Anniversary Theatrical Rereleas...
Published: Apr 17, 2026Duration: 56m 0s
Episode 449
Episode #449: 'The Drama' with Ariel LeBeau
What’s the drama behind director Kristoffer Borgli’s new film, THE DRAMA? And, unlike Mary J. Blige, do we want said drama? We unpack all that with film critic Ariel LeBeau, and then talk about some movies that were secretly darker than advertised.   What’s Good Alonso - Flossing first Drea - Artemis II Ariel - soft boiled eggs for breakfast (6m) Kevin - rediscovering Billy Joel ITIDIC Writers Guild Reaches Tentative 4-Year Deal with Studios “It’s Not Your Imagination: Movies ARE Getting Longer” Staff Picks Alonso...
Published: Apr 10, 2026Duration: 56m 27s
Episode 448
Episode #448: 'Project Hail Mary' with Rendy Jones
Ryan Gosling is on a one-man mission to save the universe...but he's not alone. We've got film critic Rendy Jones with us to discuss PROJECT HAIL MARY from directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Then we share some of our favorite science fiction concepts from cinema. What’s Good Alonso - Free airplane Wifi Drea - skin flooding Rendy - taking time to rest Kevin - taking down Christmas decorations ITIDICK-Pop Demon Hunters 2 Is a Big Payday for Its DirectorsLord and Miller to Produce Murder Sh...
Published: Apr 3, 2026Duration: 1h 9m 32s
Episode 447
Episode #447: 'Spacewoman' with Kevin Smokler
We’re capping off a month at looking at different films directed by women with Hannah Berryman’s documentary, Spacewoman. Kevin Smokler, author of Breaking the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers joins us to talk about this close look at the stellar career of astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot, and later command, a Space Shuttle mission. What’s Good Alonso - Calm for naps Drea - getting a doctor’s appointment Kevin S. - Memorizing Oscar winners as a sleep aid Kevin A. - 3 hour Celebrity game ITIDIC AI...
Published: Mar 27, 2026Duration: 1h 3m 3s
Episode 446
Episode #446: 'Slanted' with Michelle Krusiec
We’re taking a good hard look in the mirror with our guest, actor/writer/director Michelle Krusiec as we discuss SXSW;s 2025 Grand Jury Prize winner, Amy Wang’s darkly comedic body horror, SLANTED. Then we’ll share some of our favorite movies that feature the prom, well…prominently. What’s Good Alonso - Alain Guiraudie Poster for Cannes Critics’ Fortnight (Quinzane des Cineastes) Drea - Jessie Buckley singing Sinead O’Connor’s “Troy” (and the Jessie Buckley rabbit hole) Michelle - not getting kidnapped (taking nothing for granted) Kevin - People who come to FYC even...
Published: Mar 20, 2026Duration: 1h 12m 0s
Episode 445
Episode 445: 'The Bride!' with Harmony Colangelo
Podcaster and writer Harmony Colangelo joins the gang to track the many movements of THE BRIDE! Then we talk about actors we’d love to see paired up on the big screen.  What’s Good Alonso - matzoh Drea - filing (not clipping!) nails Harmony - definitely NOT Daylight Saving Time Kevin - zero degrees of Kevin Bacon?? ITIDIC Disney Releasing Fully Re-animated ASL Versions of Several Movie Songs Annapurna May Be Back A24 Opening a Vegas Wedding Chapel to Promote ‘The Drama’ Staff Picks Alonso - Ladies and Gentl...
Published: Mar 13, 2026Duration: 1h 1m 42s
Episode 444
Episode #444: Ida Lupino's 'The Bigamist' with Hadley Meares
March is Women’s History month, and all the movies we cover this month will be directed by women! To kick things off, we’re leaning into the “history” part, and going back to 1953 to cover the most popular film from a truly pioneering director (and prolific actor), the one and only Ida Lupino. It’s The Bigamist, with our special guest, a journalist covering culture and history, Hadley Hall Meares! What’s Good Alonso - Stephen Rebello’s new book Hitchcockian Thrillers Drea - Canada Dry Strawberry Fruit Splash Ginger Ale Zero Sugar Hadley - Jane...
Published: Mar 6, 2026Duration: 59m 15s
Episode 443
Episode #443: 'How to Make a Killing': It Was a Movie
The gang's all here to discuss a new black comedy (sorta) where its Glen Powell's Becket Redfellow in a cat and mouse game to the death with his obnoxiously wealthy family -- a modernization of the 1949 Alec Guinness film Kind Hearts and Coronets. What’s Good? Alonso - Slow TV walks through snowy Helsinki Drea - Dog and Pet advocacy from Isabel Klee and the WeRateDogs guy Kevin - getting really into the last little bit of the Olympics (especially speedskating) ITIDIC K-Pop Demon Hunters & GDT Frankenstein Getting Criterion Releases BAFTA Br...
Published: Feb 27, 2026Duration: 1h 0m 7s
Episode 442
Episode #442: 'Wuthering Heights' with Alys Murray
Romance novelist and filmmaker Alys Murray joins us to unpack Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation, and (perhaps unsurprisingly) opinions are varied! What does the movie have in common with Grease 2? Listen and learn! Plus, we have a Hotline call all about movie characters that need family or couples counseling. What’s Good Alonso - Nathan Rabin’s The Fractured Mirror Drea - Talking Spindle Cove on Reading Smut Alys - The Artful Dodger TV series Kevin - Valentine’s Day romance, courtesy of Avengers: Endgame ITIDIC Bad Bunny Sets First Le...
Published: Feb 20, 2026Duration: 1h 3m 25s
Episode 441
Episode #441: 'Pillion' with Nayland Blake
Have you heard about the new A24 movie from writer/director Harry Lighton that’s almost a romantic comedy about gay BDSM biker culture? That’s PILLION, starring Alexander Skarsgaard and Harry Melling, and we’re thrilled to have our friend Nayland Blake (an influential artist and teacher who’s an authority on queer kink, riding with us!What’s Good?Alonso - Trans Girl Scouts you can buy cookies fromDrea - The Milan-Cortina Olympics (also Coach Jackie)Nayland - Midwest Magic Cleaning on YouTubeKevin - Casey Abrams at Hotel Cafe (w/surprise...
Published: Feb 13, 2026Duration: 1h 3m 10s
Episode 440
Episode #440: 'Send Help' with Kristen Lopez
Sam Raimi's darkly comedic thriller SEND HELP is a bright spot in the early 2026 movie calendar, and we've got writer and film critic Kristen Lopez with us to discuss it, as well as some of our favorite "Desert Island Movies" -- by which we mean movies set on a remote island, of course.What's GoodAlonso - Super Bowl festivity & foodDrea - Rainbow WoolKristen - good movies in JanuaryKevin - Twilight Zone fundraiser readingITIDICIRON LUNG, YouTube Creator’s $3m Indie, Opens #2 at the Box Office<br...
Published: Feb 6, 2026Duration: 1h 0m 32s
Episode 439
Episode #439: 'The Testament of Ann Lee' with Emily St. James
We’re throwing our whole bodies into this discussion of Mona Fastvold’s epic historical musical biopic THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE. But it’s an audio medium, so you’ll have to take our word for it. We’re thrilled to have Emily St. James back with us!What’s GoodAlonso - Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old ManDrea - The power of “DROWSING” (in Scrabble)Emily - Rewatching 28 Years LaterKevin - Love Thy Neighbor: A Charity Live Reading of The Twilight Zone (Live at Dynasty Typewriter and Livestreamed, 1/31/26)ITIDICOsca...
Published: Jan 30, 2026Duration: 1h 4m 45s
Episode 438
Episode #438: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple with Jordan Morris
MaxFun's own Jordan Morris (Jordan, Jesse, Go and Free with Ads) joins us to discuss Nia DaCosta's latest flex -- this time, she's settling into the 28 Years Later director's chair for the second in a proposed trilogy of 28 Years films (which are themselves sequels to 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later). It's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, starring Ralph Fiennes, Chi Lewis-Parry, Erin Kellyman, and Jack O'Connell. Then we take a Hotline call about food and cooking in the movies.What’s Good?Alonso - Experimenting with Bro SoapDrea - the many queens of the Mi...
Published: Jan 23, 2026Duration: 1h 9m 33s
Episode 437
Episode #437: 'The Chronology of Water' with Roxane Gay & Alain Martin
After making a splash at Cannes, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER is finally getting released to theaters around the US. It’s a faithful film adaptation of the memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch, and we’re joined by both a memoirist and a filmmaker to discuss it all — Roxane Gay (HUNGER, BAD FEMINIST, and much more) and Alain Martin (The Forgotten Occupation). Then we’ll name some of our favorite memoir adaptations, and some memoirs we’d like to see adapted to film  What’s Good?Alonso - The Hunger: Film Writing 2012-2024 by Melissa AndersonDrea - TasteBuds N...
Published: Jan 16, 2026Duration: 1h 5m 12s
Episode 436
Episode #436: MARTY SUPREME is a Real A**hole
Josh Safdie directed it, Timothée Chalamet stars in it, awards groups are crazy for it, and it’s seriously stressing us out. This week we’re back in the swing of things and talking about MARTY SUPREME. Then, in honor of main character Marty Mauser, we’re naming some of our favorite world-class assholes of cinema.What’s Good?Alonso - The meme feedback loop of Heated RivalryDrea - Taskmaster (and the show’s quiet inclusivity)Kevin - Batman Bomber Jacket (and getting Alonso’s book for J)ITIDICBetty Boop an...
Published: Jan 9, 2026Duration: 58m 38s
Episode 435
Episode #435: Our Favorite Movies of 2025
We’re celebrating the end of the movie year that was and the start of the movie year to come, plus our first year (minus a few months in the middle there) with Kevin at the helm! We’ve got our annual Maxie Awards, movies we’re looking forward to in 2026 and, most importantly, each host’s 10 favorites from 2025.What's Good?Alonso - BarebellsDrea - Warm (True) SpringKevin - a year of hosting (sorta)!*indicates a film we covered on the show!Drea10. Twinless*9. Lurker8. Hamnet*<...
Published: Jan 2, 2026Duration: 1h 22m 19s
Episode 434
Episode #434: 'The Baltimorons' with Ben Katzner
Jingle jingle, ya’ll! We’ve got comedian Ben Katzner joining us under the mistletoe for the holiday movie about a recovering improviser and a divorced dentist that you didn’t know were missing. Then we have a Hotline question about holiday movies that center Black Joy for a change! #4Brothers4ChristmasWhat’s GoodAlonso - LAFCA Citation for Gardena Cinema; Support Your Local Film SocietyDrea - Pipsly.orgBen - Sam Evans’ comedy special, Down a MomKevin - moving boxes and having a spaceWETIDICa).  Several Sto...
Published: Dec 26, 2025Duration: 1h 9m 0s