x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Maximum Film!

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.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

01:04:45

Episode #439: 'The Testament of Ann Lee' with Emily...

Maximum Film! ·

2026/01/30

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,

en

01:09:33

Episode #438: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple with...

Maximum Film! ·

2026/01/23

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 -

en

01:05:12

Episode #437: 'The Chronology of Water' with Roxane...

Maximum Film! ·

2026/01/16

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

en

00:58:38

Episode #436: MARTY SUPREME is a Real A**hole

Maximum Film! ·

2026/01/09

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

en

01:22:19

Episode #435: Our Favorite Movies of 2025

Maximum Film! ·

2026/01/02

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*7. Bugonia*6. Sentimental

en

01:09:00

Episode #434: 'The Baltimorons' with Ben Katzner

Maximum Film! ·

2025/12/26

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).

en

01:15:19

Episode #433: 'Dust Bunny' with Elliott Kalan

Maximum Film! ·

2025/12/19

The Flop House’s Elliot Kalan joins us to put his “Mad about Mads”-ness where his mouth is as we discuss a stylized new horror-ish thriller from director Bryan Fuller. Then we’ll talk about movies that would make good genre entry points for kids who are ready.What’s GoodDrea - Heated RivalryElliott - Latke Night, his new book Joke Farming, & Werner Herzog’s A Guide for the PerplexedKevin - Yuletide Unc gets his decorations upITIDICa.) Zootopia 2 Becomes the Year’s Highest Grossing Filmb). Famed

en

01:11:05

Episode #432: ‘Jay Kelly’ with Justin Tyler

Maximum Film! ·

2025/12/12

George Clooney is JAY KELLY in Noah Baumbach’s latest film…and that might be true in more ways than one. The film chronicles the career of a fictional movie star. Speaking of chronicles, we’re joined by actor and filmmaker Justin Tyler, voice of the titular Derf in MaxFun’s newest show, The Young Old Derf Chronicles. And we have a movie quiz about real actors playing fictional actors on film!What’s GoodAlonso - “Buy a Christmas tree that’s considered too big for your apartment.”Drea - Forks Out on

en

01:07:11

Episode #431: See 'Hamnet' in a Good Mood

Maximum Film! ·

2025/12/05

What’s GoodAlonso - the magic of podcastingDrea - the magic of a repainted bathroomKevin - the magic of live jazz improvisation (The Tyler Hammond Jazz Experience)[Morgan Freeman falling asleep clip]ITIDIC2020 and 2021 Titles Coming to Indie Theaters for ‘Lost Films of COVID’ SeriesShrek 5 is back in the news as 3 actors are cast as his tripletsStaff PicksAlonso - BLKNWS: Terms and ConditionsDrea - Wild RoseKevin - Hamlet 2Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea

en

01:01:38

Episode #430: 'Train Dreams' with Nicole Arbusto

Maximum Film! ·

2025/11/28

The new film from the team behind JOCKEY and SING SING is a lyrical life story starring Joel Edgerton. We’ve got casting director Nicole Arbusto with us to discuss this, and take on a Hotline question asking for professional shoutouts. Plus our annual Turkeys of the Year and the first post-Thanksgiving Christmas Movie Minute!What’s GoodAlonso - magazinesDrea - Buzz Ballz/BeatBox/Cutwater cocktail challengeNicole - LA cloud formations latelyKevin - “books I haven’t even cracked open”Staff PicksDrea -

en

01:12:35

Episode #429: 'Nouvelle Vague' with Tarik R. Davis

Maximum Film! ·

2025/11/21

An ode to a classic of French New Wave cinema – Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless (A Bout de Souffle) – Nouvelle Vague is more than a heady film nerd love fest. It’s a Linklater movie, which means it’s a hangout film; it’s just that the gang we’re hanging with happens to be reinventing modern cinema, whether they know it or not. We’ve got writer, actor, and teacher Tarik R. Davis (The Amber Ruffin Show) with us to talk about the petite charms of this Cannes premiere. Then we pitch our own making-of

en

01:13:32

Episode #428: 'Christy' with Daresha Kyi

Maximum Film! ·

2025/11/14

CW: discussion of domestic abuseWe get into the good the bad and the ugly of the new boxing biopic CHRISTY, which tells the story of pioneering boxer Christy Martin and her dark power struggles both in and outside the ring. Then we have a movie quiz about bio pics with first-name titles. What’s GoodAlonso - successful Parker House rolls trial runDrea - remembering a detail of ArrivalDaresha - screening her new film to big crowd at a Black church in Cambridge, MAKevin - was in a play!ITIDICKristen

en

01:08:30

Episode #427: BUGONIA with Casey O'Brien

Maximum Film! ·

2025/11/07

Yorgos Lanthimos can be counted on for a weird, wild time, and this time around he’s back with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, plus newcomer Aidan Delbis, comedian Stavros Halkias, and even a bit of Alicia Silverstone. Former producer Casey O’Brien (co-host of Dear Movies, I Love You) joins us to take an up-close look at movie loaded with close-ups. Then we name some of our favorite actor-director frequent pairings.What’s GoodDrea - Toners in spray bottlesCasey - BuzzBallzKevin - Costco cashewsITIDICA

en

01:12:30

Episode #426: HEDDA Throws the Party of the (Last)...

Maximum Film! ·

2025/10/31

Just us chickens here this week to talk about the wild party we just witnessed...in Nia DaCosta's HEDDA, a modernized (but not modern-day) adaptation of the classic Ibsen play, HEDDA GABLER. Then we get into what works and doesn't work for us in stage-to-screen adaptations.What’s GoodAlonso - Christmas creep!Drea - “...There she is.”Kevin - A weekend of artistic experiencesITIDICA Memo Reveals that the Pentagon is Mad About ‘House of Dynamite’LA Times: Horror May Have Its Moment at the Oscars‘Kidz

en

01:09:40

Episode #425: 'The Mastermind' with Myq Kaplan

Maximum Film! ·

2025/10/24

Josh O’Connor stars in a heist movie to end all heist movies – or at least end our illusions that the person pulling the heist is pretty cool and awesome. Comedian and friend Myq Kaplan is along to watch things unfold, and unravel, in THE MASTERMIND. Then we take a Hotline question about what film school courses we’d like to teach.What’s GoodAlonso - Programme 4 Drea - First women to cross the Atlantic unsupported (in their girthy canoe)Myq - Communing with friends [Rini (and Rini), John Fugelsang

en

01:07:40

Episode #424: 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' with Carlos...

Maximum Film! ·

2025/10/17

A little gritty political drama, a little technicolor musical, a little revolutionary politics, a little ahead-of-its-time queer representation…Kiss of the Spider Woman has been a novel, a play, an Oscar-winning movie, a Tony-winning Broadway musical, and now a Bill Condon movie musical starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna, and relative newcomer Tonatiuh. LA-based film critic Carlos Aguilar joins us to get into the enduring allure of Spider Woman, and to name some bleak movies that could be jazzed up

en

01:07:10

Episode #423: 'Play Dirty' with Danielle Radford

Maximum Film! ·

2025/10/10

If you’ve got Amazon Prime, you can put PLAY DIRTY (starring Mark Wahlberg, Rosa Salazar, LaKeith Stanfield, Tony Shaloub, and many more) right now. But should you? That’s where we come in, careening into your remote-wielding hand like a car chase onto a horse racing track in the first few minutes of PLAY DIRTY.Speaking of which, we’re also nominating Hall of Excellence candidates in the category Best Car Chase. All with Danielle Radford riding shotgun!What’s GoodAlonso - Zach BryanDrea - mom's

en

01:03:55

Episode #422: 'One Battle After Another' with Michael...

Maximum Film! ·

2025/10/03

Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film has car chases, explosions, secret societies, and and confused ex-revolutionaries...but did it make Drea cry? Find out the answer, plus our favorite underground cabals from film history, on this episode with special guest, noted critic Michael Phillips.What’s GoodAlonso - Brian Earl’s Of Christmases Long, Long AgoDrea - COVID booster/Worm Charming ChampionshipMichael - being with us (and Gov. Pritzker)Kevin - The Big Show at The EarlITIDICThe Tilly Norwood

en

01:02:33

Episode #421: 'The Long Walk' with Lauren Shippen

Maximum Film! ·

2025/09/26

An impossible, dystopian "sporting event" is the subject of this week's film, leading to a seemingly impossible feat of storytelling, production, and adaptation. It's THE LONG WALK, with YA Novelist and podcasting impresario Lauren Shippen as our special guest. Then, we talk about films that don't pass the Bechdel Test, but still pass muster.What’s GoodAlonso - Hallmark Holiday movie lineup unveiledDrea - duck stamp painting controversyLauren - second largest zucchiniKevin - worlds colliding, Great

en

01:08:41

Episode #420: 'Twinless' with Bryan Fuller

Maximum Film! ·

2025/09/19

Director/star James Sweeney’s sophomore follow-up to Straight Up made a spalsh at Sundance this January, winning the Audience Award and a lot of buzz about Dylan O’Brien’s dual roles as twins Roman and Rocky. Director and writer Bryan Fuller, whose feature debut DUST BUNNY recently premiered at TIFF, joins us to see what all the fuss is about. Then we share some of our favorite dark comedies.What’s GoodAlonso - Hobnobs (and Hobnob Fever!)Drea - Competitive nonsense (windowdressing, bedmaking,

en

449 results

Similar Podcasts

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Nerd Culture - A Gamekings Podcast

Blammo Media

UPodcast

UPodcast

The Writers Hangout

Sandy Adomaitis

The Sarah Fraser Show

Sarah Fraser