SOPHIA ARNDT: Hi, this is Sophia Arndt.
EMMA VASA: And Emma Vasa.
ARNDT: From the Minnesota Daily, and welcome to The Daily Beat, our podcast dedicated to the arts and entertainment scene of the Twin Cities.
And today lovely listeners, we are going to be doing something a little bit different. We’re gonna be doing a recap, look ahead at some arts and entertainment stuff that’s either been covered by the desk or a little sneak peek and look ahead into the coming events.
So, we’re gonna jump right into concert talk right now. So this weekend is pretty stacked for concerts. We have FKA Twigs is playing the Armory tomorrow, which is very exciting.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: We are very excited about that on the A&E desk. We also have bbno$ performing on Saturday. Looking ahead later in the month, we have Bruce Springsteen performing March 31. You know, I’m sure you’ve seen it. Bruce Springsteen wrote a song about Minneapolis. He’ll be performing at Target Center.
And then looking ahead into April, we have The Neighborhood is performing April 2. You, I am sure, have heard their music.
VASA: That’s good. Yes.
ARNDT: They’re everywhere. We also have April 8, Florence + The Machine is opening their North American tour here, so.
VASA: How exciting.
ARNDT: I’m super excited. I do have tickets to opening night. Very exciting. It’s for her “Everybody Scream” tour.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: Great album if you need a recommendation and yeah. Later in the month, April 10, Lady Gaga will be here for The Mayhem Ball.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: Which is very exciting. We also have the beloved Bruno Mars is coming.
VASA: Bruno Mars!
ARNDT: May 15. Very exciting.
VASA: Yes. What an artist of our generation.
ARNDT: I love Bruno, so.
VASA: Hey, like, I think he’s just, wow.
ARNDT: So in terms of events, opening up the Orpheum Theater very soon, April 25, is Broadway’s Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. So it’s the sequel adaptation to the original Harry Potter franchise. There’s also the newest trailer for the HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter series.
VASA: I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you watched it?
ARNDT: So I did watch the trailer,
VASA: The teaser trailer, let’s put it at that.
ARNDT: The teaser trailer. Yeah. I’ve had a lot of thoughts about this for a while. Pretty much since it was announced that HBO had acquired the rights. On one hand, I think it is exciting for a new generation of fans to discover their love for Harry Potter.
VASA: I agree.
ARNDT: I also think that HBO adapting it as a show has the ability to be, you know, maybe dive into some of the stuff that the movies, the original movie series did not adapt.
VASA: It’s so interesting having a book series then adapted into a film series that was so rooted like, at least for like me and my, my home was so rooted in my childhood to now see it once again translated for the next generation, like you were saying.
And so, like, it’s not that I wanna gate keep, like, “No, you should only be reading the books and watching these, these films that like I grew up with.” Like this is the original source or whatever.
Like, I’m, I’m very interested and intrigued by a new style of doing like a TV show of, you know, adapting Harry Potter. A part of like my younger self is like, aw, it’s just a new phase. And so.
ARNDT: Yeah.
VASA: It’s a new beginning.
ARNDT: It’s a new chapter for Harry Potter. I question its existence. I do think it could be fun for new fans of the books to, you know, like to rediscover the genre.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: Or discover it for the first time.
VASA: Mm-hmm. Well, this perfectly ties into some upcoming movies.
ARNDT: Upcoming movies, and some movie reviews. You’ve got some movie reviews.
VASA: Oh yeah.
ARNDT: You just wrote and reviewed “The Bride” by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
VASA: Yes.
ARNDT: I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
VASA: Following my review and things like that went on social media was kind of just like reading how other people were perceiving this movie, and I think you’ll either love this movie or it just won’t really sit with you. And for me, it didn’t really sit with me like, or it just didn’t land more so.
To give a little synopsis, a bit of “The Bride,” it is coming after Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and specifically the bride is another creature that is created for Frankenstein’s monster. And so basically the bride is created for Frankenstein because he is this lonely creature. He wants a companion, he craves it. And in, I believe it’s a 1932 film is when we get the bride.
ARNDT: It’s featured in the original 1923 adaptation.
VASA: 23 yes. Maggie Gyllenhaal when creating this movie, she says, and I quote, “I understand Frankenstein’s ask. He’s this very lonely, vulnerable man who is literally at a life and death degree of loneliness saying, please help me find someone to be with. But what about her? I mean, what about her?”
Gyllenhaal said this in an interview with Deadline, and that’s kind of where this movie comes to, is asking the question of female autonomy and agency, and especially as it pertains to the bride, because she is created for a man. Her purpose is to serve as a companion.
But what about her? What does she have for herself? And so I was really excited for this movie and I was like, yeah, this is like a really interesting topic that I find as a great conversation and could be executed in so many different ways. And so with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride,” I think it was one of those moments where you just bit off more than you can chew.
ARNDT: Oh yeah.
VASA: And there were so many subplots, it’s hard to even encapsulate all the subplots that there were. And just like different storylines of these other characters, and they were like very finely woven into each other. Yet that thread was so thin, everything just kind of felt like it would fall apart. It was just very interesting.
ARNDT: Interestingly enough. Another adaptation of Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” which took home three Oscars this year. He spoke in interviews about wanting to adapt the bride of the creature, which was an original plot in Mary Shelly’s novel as well.
VASA: Yes.
ARNDT: But he said it felt like it was too much to have both the character of Elizabeth, who is the original love of the monster and then the reanimated bride.
VASA: Yes.
ARNDT: So I think it’s interesting that a movie that is completely dedicated to something that has been cut often because it is too much.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: Is still too much to adapt.
VASA: Yes. And then also in some like other commentary that I read or whatnot, is when it comes to even like the movie that was adapted to really talk about like the bride and everything, she doesn’t show up until the very end of the movie where she then rejects Frankenstein’s monster.
ARNDT: Yes. Yeah.
VASA: And so a lot of commentary on that movie is that it isn’t a movie about the bride, it’s a movie about Frankenstein and the bride makes an appearance. And in a way, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s kind of felt like that too. Yes, it was about the bride and like I did feel that, and I think Jessie Buckley did a wonderful job working with what she had.
The script, I have my own issues with it. I was very like dry, direct kind of just a style and delivery. There was a moment even within the movie where the bride is, it’s at the, the height of the film in the second act and whatnot.
And she says like word for word, like, “Me too. Me too.” Referring to the Me Too movement. And while yes, I understand it’s so direct where it was kind of like, oh.
ARNDT: It’s heavy handed in a way.
VASA: Yes. It’s just, it was so heavy handed. And that kind of just like threw me a little bit. It is worth seeing, but I don’t think I would rewatch it.
ARNDT: And that is fair. So in other news, from the A&E desk, we have a review from Abbey Mulcahy talking about the most recent release “Project Hail Mary.” This was a highly anticipated movie to come out.
It’s an adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. You might know Weir from “The Martian.” And it’s from the Director duo, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. And it stars beloved Ryan Gosling.
But yeah, so Abbey could not be here to share her own thoughts, but in summary, the movie follows a middle school science teacher and former microbiologist, Ryland Grace played by Gosling as he tries to discover how to save earth’s rapidly cooling sun.
So a team is put together to send a space mission to the sun to see what’s wrong. And, you know, looking at reactions seems like a great movie. I have yet to see it. It is on the list. I have plans this weekend, in fact, to go and see it, but it’s garnered a lot of praise for both its story.
It’s very hopeful and optimistic and very celebratory of human innovation, but it’s also very heartfelt and it’s gotten a lot of, you know, that’s one of the things that really spoke to Abbey in her review was the, the heart of the film.
I’ll also say there’s been a lot of praise for the visuals of it. Even just in watching the trailer, very visually stunning, and that was a very conscious effort by the team behind the film. In interviews, they’ve stated that they didn’t use any green screens and instead built practical sets in whatever way they could.
So I think that that’s something that’s really powerful when making a space movie. I think that space is such a like huge thing. I mean, realistically it is such a big thing, but being able to adapt it and make it look so visually stunning, like it’s very fun to see a space movie that actually makes it colorful and makes it really visually stunning.
We’re gonna be talking about some upcoming movies that we at the A&E desk are super excited for. So looking ahead, it’s a big summer for movies.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: We have “Dune 3” coming out. Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” which is another movie.
VASA: Yes.
ARNDT: That used a ton of practical effects and sets. So super exciting. We have the fourth Spider-Man entry in Tom Holland’s career. We have “Moana,” the live adaptation.
VASA: Sophia’s got some feelings.
ARNDT: I’ve got some feelings and thoughts. We have “Supergirl.” And “The Devil Wears Prada” among many others.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: So it’s gonna be a superhero summer I predict.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: I think we’re gonna see a lot of praise for James Gunn’s. “Supergirl.” Another entry in his DC universe and the upcoming Spider-Man. But I hope we get an adaptation of Man Spider, which is the run of the comics where he turns into a spider.
VASA: I know, I know.
ARNDT: Guys, that would be, we see Tom Holland with six arms. I’m gonna flip out. That would be so like, make Spider-Man weird again, guys.
I’m bored of venom. I’ve seen it so many times.
VASA: But, OK, let’s bring it back.
ARNDT: I think I am maybe a little venom-ed out. I think I’ve been venom-ed out since I saw Toby McGuire do that dance in Spider-Man when he’s like under the venom influence.
VASA: Hey, iconic.
ARNDT: Hey, it’s iconic.
VASA: It’s iconic,
ARNDT: But.
VASA: Don’t shade my man.
ARNDT: I would, I love, I love Toby. I love Toby, but I will say I would much rather see a venture into the like weirder storylines in Marvel.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: And I think that this is something that’s kind of fun that we’re seeing in the superhero genre right now is like we’ve done all the big stories. We had the end game run.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: We had, you know, Cap’s gone, Captain America is gone like, and we have a new Captain America and we have the “Thunderbolts.” Like, I think it’s really fun that to combat the superhero burnout that we’re seeing that was very prevalent after, you know, The Avengers saga ended.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: We saw a lot of people turning away from the genre, getting kind of bored, and I think that it’s really fun that now we’re seeing new creatives enter the genre, enter this space and do weird stuff with it. I’m excited by it. So I think my hope for specifically for Marvel is that we see them do the weirder stories. I wanna see man spider.
VASA: OK, my thing. I could be okay with it. I could. As long as they execute it well.
ARNDT: There’s gonna be a lot of pressure on this new Spider-Man movie and a lot of pressure on the upcoming “Supergirl” movie to actually deliver stories that people can connect with.
I’m ready for a superhero summer. I think I’m more open to it after “Superman” last summer.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: Which as we all know, I waited way too long to go and see. They still got me.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: And I’m back in the genre now.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: It started with “Thunderbolts” and then it was “Superman” and now we’re back and I’m very excited.
VASA: Yes.
ARNDT: Another movie I’m also super excited for is “The Odyssey” by Christopher Nolan. I love anything Greek mythology. I loved “The Odyssey” when I read it.
VASA: Yeah?
ARNDT: In like high school.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: So I’m really excited. I think there’s truly no other director I would trust with Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: Than like Christopher Nolan. When we think about Odysseus, we think about this great warrior that’s, you know, storied, fought in many battles. He’s the God’s champion.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: And I think, what I’m excited to see and what I’m excited to see, how Nolan adapts it and how Damon approaches it of like there’s an element to Odysseus that is often overlooked of like the father who just wants to go home.
He just wants to get back to his family. That would be so interesting to see. And I’m just excited.
VASA: I did just look up the cast because I wanna see, first off stacked cast. Insane.
ARNDT: Yeah. It’s an, it’s an insane cast,
VASA: Travis Scott. Why is he here? What is he doing? I’m very confused. I saw that.
ARNDT: Travis Scott?
VASA: I wish y’all could be in the studio right now while we’re recording this, because while Sophia was talking, I was looking up this and my eyes truly went so big when I just saw Travis Scott on here.
ARNDT: I saw it too. I saw, I was just like, I’m not seeing anything that’s profound.
VASA: No, nothing crazy. Travis Scott, is he doing a score?
ARNDT: No.
VASA: Wouldn’t that be something Travis Scott on a score for “The Odyssey.”
ARNDT: I believe it. I believe it. They’ve kept it pretty wrapped up tight on like who’s playing what. Like I think we only know Matt Damon as Odysseus.
VASA: Zendaya is Athena apparently. Which, perfect casting.
ARNDT: Zendaya is Athena, rumored but I think it’s probably true. Anne Hathaway as Penelope. We have Tom Holland as Telemachus.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: Stacked run for Tom Holland and Zendaya right now.
VASA: Oh, guys.
ARNDT: They’re having a great summer.
VASA: I love Tom and Zendaya.
ARNDT: We also have “Dune 3” coming out.
VASA: Mm-hmm.
ARNDT: Get excited.
VASA: OK. Sophia has made a little flip on Timmy since the last time we’ve spoken.
ARNDT: I have not made a little flip.
VASA: Yes, you have. We literally, prior to recording guys, she made a flip.
ARNDT: I’ll stand. I made a flip, slightly. I think I’m very excited for this. I love Dune. I love the Dune franchise.
VASA: Yes.
ARNDT: I think he is phenomenal as Paul Atreides. I was a little turned, a little turned off by the press run for “Marty Supreme.” I didn’t like that movie. I didn’t like the way the award season campaign was going for that film.
VASA: Mm-hmm. Same.
ARNDT: But I will say I think he’s a great actor and I’m so.
VASA: A hundred percent.
ARNDT: I’m so excited for this.
VASA: I don’t think any of us can deny that he isn’t talented.
ARNDT: Yeah.
VASA: Like he is. Yes.
ARNDT: I’m excited to see him play the Lisan al-Gaib annihilator. Things I’m not excited for “Moana.” They released the trailer for that. Looks bad, don’t like it. Not excited.
VASA: I watched it before we started filming this. Hey guys, not everything needs a, you know, human adaptation.
ARNDT: When you compare the animated to the live action.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: The animated is so much more vivid. What is just naturally here in the world, you can then amplify an animation and I think “Moana” has such a beautiful, it’s made with such love and I think it’s very exciting to have a beautiful movie represent Polynesian and Pacific Islander culture.
I think to then make a live action movie of “Moana” after making a “Lilo, and Stitch” live action movie that was also really terrible and offensive, I think, to then make a “Moana” movie where everything is gray and soulless. And you straighten the main character’s hair so that it’s not curly to make it easier to CGI. And you put The Rock in a terrible wig.
VASA: Oh, it’s really bad. When he came on screen.
ARNDT: It’s just insult, after insult, after insult.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: I think it’s an insult to the animation community. I’m very fired up about this. There needs to be more respect for animated creations because they are an art form. And I think if you’re just making a live action movie to adapt in an animated film, you did something wrong.
You took a wrong turn. Get back to originality. Come up with a new story. I would much rather see something new and exciting instead of a shot for shot remake. And I’m looking directly at you “How to Train Your Dragon.”
In the theme of talking about adaptations coming out that I question if we need, we have “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
VASA: You’re not excited?
ARNDT: OK. I am excited. I’ll say this, I love “Devil Wears Prada.”
VASA: Yes.
ARNDT: But I am interested to see what they will do. There have been some very interesting interviews coming out, specifically with Meryl Streep, looking ahead where she spoke about how she thought the original movie had had enough impact on fashion culture, in terms of body expectations. And to put it, frankly, eating disorders within the fashion community.
VASA: Yep.
ARNDT: She thought the movie had done enough like poking and had done enough to like kind of revolutionize the way people look at the fashion industry for it to not be as big of an issue anymore. And she spoke about how in filming and in prepping for this sequel, while at Fashion Week with Anne Hathaway, they saw scarily thin women on the runway.
And she spoke about how Anne Hathaway immediately was like, we’re not gonna have that in the film. We’re not gonna have emaciated bodies in the film. And I think that, that’s so interesting. I wish more films and I wish more people with the film industry would actually address what is happening in Hollywood.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: And within fashion right now as directly as that. And as directly as like Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep have addressed it, of being like, that’s not healthy, therefore, it’s not going to be shown.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: I think that that’s really important.
VASA: Yeah.
ARNDT: I have mixed feelings about there being a sequel. I don’t know if a sequel is needed, but like.
VASA: Right.
ARNDT: I am excited.
VASA: I was gonna say historically speaking, the second is never as good as the first. I’m still kind of excited.
ARNDT: There is also the fact that it’s coming out May 1, first week of May is always the Met Gala.
VASA: Ah, oh, I didn’t even think of that.
ARNDT: So, and this year’s Met Gala is very exciting. Pretty sure Beyonce is the chair of the Met Gala this year. I think it, I am open to being surprised and liking the film. I’m not open to “Moana.”
VASA: Not open to “Moana.”
ARNDT: I am open, but I think this summer will be very fun in terms of movies.
Thank you so much for listening. This podcast was produced by Ceci Heinen . If you have any questions, comments, concerns you can reach at [email protected]
This has been Sophia Arndt.
VASA: And Emma Vasa.
ARNDT: Thank you so much for listening. Have a great rest of your day. Bye!
VASA: Bye!
