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Welcome back to our VIP video series "Off the Beaten Path," featuring my friend Christian Toto of Hollywood in Toto! Christian and I start off our week by discussing stories and ideas that may fly under our radar, in culture, politics, sports, and more. Plus, Christian previews his latest podcast at HiT.
Will a new Steven Spielberg sci-fi film make you question your faith in the Almighty ... or your decision to buy tickets? Christian Toto has watched Discovery Day, and he thinks the latter is far more likely. Despite some trouble-stirring by Spielberg (or an overread of what he actually said), Spielberg's return to the director chair doesn't cut that deep, and neither does it offer much of anything else to viewers. Has the master lost his touch, or is he just rusty? Did Crystal Skull cover some of this same turf?
This leads us into a discussion of how the great filmmakers have largely aged out. We debate whether Clint Eastwood might be the premier director over the last 60 years. We also discuss Robert Redford's legacy.
We then move on to MI-6 and the empty 007 slot that has yet to be filled. Ed thinks Idris Elba would have been a good choice, but Elba himself disagrees, both because of potential audience reaction and because he wants the role portrayed as written rather than made "woke." Does that sour any impulse to gender-swap the franchise into a Jane Bond arc? Or, as Ed suggests, maybe someone should reboot Salt?
Finally, it seems as though Scary Movie 6 scored a hit with ticketbuyers, but not with Christian. We also endorse the boycott of the New York Times announced by She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany ... while laughing hysterically at her reasons for it.
Watch it all and join us in the comments!
