Bugonia (Spoiler Review)

·31 min·3 clips

Three friends drink homemade 'Mob Nog' while spoiling Yorgos Lanthimos's bleak new film Begonia.

["The episode begins with hosts Ernest, Hunter, and Drew introducing their Christmas special, drinking homemade 'Mob Nog' before diving into a spoiler review of Begonia.", "They note seeing the film on October 30th and discuss its moderate awards season presence compared to Lanthimos's other works like Poor Things.", "The hosts express overall enjoyment of the film, highlighting the performances of Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Aiden Delbes as standout elements.", "Hunter criticizes screenwriter Will Tracy, known for Succession and The Menu, for writing dialogue that feels inauthentic in portraying class divides.", "They describe the plot: Jesse Plemons's character abducts a CEO, believing she's an alien leader, leading to a tense captivity story.", "The cinematography by Robbie Ryan is praised for its use of color and lighting, similar to his work on Poor Things and Marriage Story.", "The hosts transition to spoiler talk, warning listeners about the dark third act that includes Plemons's character committing suicide with a shotgun.", "This leads to him poisoning his mother with antifreeze, thinking it's a cure, in a harrowing scene involving Alicia Silverstone.", "They discuss the suspense of whether Emma Stone's character is an alien or just manipulating her captor, appreciating the ambiguity.", "The film ultimately reveals she is an alien, with a brief, low-budget alien scene that some found lacking in execution.", "The hosts analyze the film's bleak message: even if the lower-class character is right about conspiracies, he cannot win against the powerful.", "They highlight the ending's shots of dead people as a capper to this theme, emphasizing hopelessness.", "The conversation touches on the film's accessibility compared to other Lanthimos works, noting its smaller scale and darker tone.", "Aiden Delbes's performance is singled out for its authenticity, as he is on the autism spectrum and portrays a similarly neurodivergent character.", "The hosts mention producer Ari Aster's possible script contributions, particularly to the dark third act.", "They compare the film to the original South Korean movie Save the Green Planet, though specifics are not detailed.", "The episode includes a shout-out to actor Stavros Halkias, who plays a minor role, discussing his serious acting debut.", "Final thoughts involve Oscar predictions, with Emma Stone likely nominated and possible nods in adapted screenplay or cinematography.", "They wrap up by encouraging listeners to watch Begonia on Peacock starting December 26th and to stay for a catch-up segment.", "The tone remains conversational and critical, blending personal anecdotes with film analysis throughout."]

As heard by us

A Mob Nog-framed spoiler discussion of Bugonia's bleak pull, compact scale, and Lanthimos awards prospects.

Bugonia gets a spoiler-heavy turn on We Bought a Mic, framed by a loose holiday pour of Mob Nog before the hosts settle into Yorgos Lanthimos's bleak small-house pressure cooker.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want spoiler talk on Begonia with Mob Nog, bleak tonal turns, and awards-season side-eye?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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