Episode #127: Feeney Talks with Bill and Max Markowitz

Show Notes

#BeAGoodFriend and check out episode #127 of #FeeneyTalksWithFriends featuring Bill and Max Markowitz . 

It was great to talk with my #friends, Bill and Max! 

Bill is a Marketing Specialist forAshley Furniture. Max is a Movie Critic and Blogger onThe Film Critic’s Ticket. 

We talked about:

Swim, Sauna, Steam, Shave & Shower at the JCC (minute 2)

Thai Tran (minute 6.40)

Podcast sponsors (minute 10)

3 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being a Marketing Specialist  (minute 11)

Thank you to Bill and some photos of him (minute 13)

Inspiration to becoming a Movie Critic (minute 14)

EXCLUSIVE: Max is writing a movie trilogy (minute 16)

Score (minute 21)

Cinematography (minute 22)

Performance (minute 24)

AKA Hotels (minute 26)

Attending The Venice Film Festival (minute 28)

What makes Larry a good #friend? (minute 29)

The Film Critic’s Ticket website (minute 31)

You must stay and watch the movie credits at the end (minute 34)

Barbenheimer (minute 36)

“Dune and Dune 2 are great movies!” (minute 39)

Max’s twin, Jack is an extra in an upcoming movie (minute 41)

Movie Reviews: First, Last, Best, Worst (minute 43)

Oscar Predictions (minute 44.30)

Oscars Trivia (minute 54)

Oscars Best Pictures Winners in 30 seconds (minute 56.30)

What was the greatest year for movies? (minute 1.01)

1994: Shawshank Redemption or Forrest Gump (minute 1.03)

1985-1986 Boston Celtics roster in 30 seconds (minute 1.05)

Feeney’s custom-made tee shirt (minute 1.07)

Upcoming events (minute 1.09)

Start, Bench, Cut: JCC Players (minute 1.11)

Billy’s favorite movies (minute 1.13)

Podcast Sponsors: 

The Fix IV - www.thefixivtherapy.com

West Hartford Lock - www.westhartfordlock.com

Keating Agency Insurance - www.keatingagency.com

Goff Law Group - www.gofflawgroup.net

Parkville Management - www.parkvillemanagement.com

Luna Pizza -www.lunapizzawh.com/lunas-menu

PeoplesBank -www.bankatpeoples.com

Float 41 -www.float41.com

Maximum Beverage -www.maximumbev.com

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Feeney

After teaching for nearly a decade at his alma mater in Waterbury, in 2014, Eric Feeney began teaching at Wolcott Elementary in West Hartford. Shortly following, Sam Sohn, the father of one of his students, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He left behind four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nancy Wallace-Sohn. Eric saw first-hand the toll this took on the family as they navigated their way through this unthinkable tragedy. The following year, Rashad Collier Sr., another father of a student in Eric’s class, passed away in Hartford as a result of gun violence. Rashad left behind two fantastic children and a loving wife, Denise Villegas. The impact of these tragedies weighed on Eric and motivated him to build an organization that could provide assistance for similar situations. With that, Friends of Feeney was born. In 2019, Friends of Feeney Inc. became an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, allowing more funds to be raised and expanding the range of services provided to children and families in need. Today, over a decade since Eric’s idea to build a community organization dedicated to supporting our friends in need, Friends of Feeney has burgeoned into a reputable and recognized organization capable of providing financial and resource support to numerous families and individuals across greater Hartford and beyond. Through this work, an incredible community of children and families has been recognized, who care for and appreciate each other’s kindness.

Producer

David Chmielewski

David started his video career in the early 1990s working on video crews as an independent contractor for such companies as Martha Stewart Living, IBM and Xerox. After graduating Southern Connecticut State University with the degree in Corporate Communications, David continued his video production career and accepted a position at WFSB in Hartford, CT. Within a few years the news and production studios became his charge and David designed, installed and maintained the televisions sets for the various programs at the station. At the end of 2013 David founded DirectLine Media, a video production company that specializes in creating memorable and compelling video content for businesses.

Editor

Stefania Sassano

Stefania's acting journey began as early as the fourth grade, where she took on the role of Scarlett O'Hara in a stage production of Gone With the Wind. This early experience sparked a lifelong passion for the arts. With a background in musical theater fueled by her love of music and singing, Stefania stepped into larger roles, such as Fraulein Kost in Cabaret during her sophomore year at the University of New Haven. This performance earned her a nomination for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Award at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival—an honor she would receive again in her junior year.

What is Feeney Talks With Friends?

Eric Feeney talks with #friends! Eric is the founder of the nonprofit organization Friends of Feeney. Their mission is to help children and families who need assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. www.friendsoffeeney.com

All right, all right.

Feeney Talks with friends.

Episode 127.

We got an exciting podcast.

We got the LeBron James and Bronny James
first father son combo.

I'm really happy to hear you.

What's up? Bill, how are you doing? Eric?

How are you doing? Max?
I'm doing very good. Thank you.

This is going to be very exciting.
We're going to talk sports.

We're going to talk movies
and everything in between.

Again, my name is Eric Feeney, founder
and president of Friends of Feeney.

Our mission is to help

children and families that need assistance
after heartbreak or tragedy.

And I use this podcast.

Feeney talks with friends,
and I talk to wonderful people

that are doing great things.

In Max, you do great things.

Thank you. What is it that you do, Max?

I am a,

film critic, and I have a website
that I write reviews for.

I also coordinate film schedules
for a hotel,

which is,

property owned by Larry Corman,
who's been very good to me and my family.

And, I'm very, very passionate
about, cinema and storytelling.

And I am actually currently
writing a script, and I,

hope to, go pretty far with it.

Oh, amazing. Yeah, we'll get into that.

I'm so happy that you're here.
Thank you for coming.

And now we have a marketing specialist
for Ashley Furniture.

Billy. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Billy's a great,
great person on and off the court.

How you been, Billy? I've been good.
I've been good.

Funny that you mention, LeBron and Bronny.

I don't think Max knows who Bronny is.

That's the beauty of our home.

And I think he really only knows LeBron
through LeBron being in the movies.

Not really on the hoop court, but,
that's kind of been our life.

I'm a hoop and a sports junkie from day
one, and,

Max has a twin as you have twin girls,
and, Jake and Max just love the cinema,

and he can talk more about it,
what got him into it.

But at our house, when I ask anyone, Max,
do you want to watch the Super Bowl?

What do you usually say?

No thank you, no thank you.

And, he says, but on this year, on March
2nd, the Oscars, that's his Super Bowl.

And we make a big deal about it
at our homes.

I got enough friends to talk sports with.

I don't need to do it in the house.
But you guys, man. All good.

Do you have an Oscar party?

Some years we have.

Mostly. We just really enjoy watching
us. Yeah.

Nice house. Yeah. Nice. Well,
yeah. March 2nd.

We'll talk about some of your predictions.

I can't wait to get into that.

First we'll do steam room. Sure.

With Ernie, PJ, Eric, Joseph and Barkley.

Yeah. Keep it on.

Keep your towels
on. So, did you steam today?

Actually, I steamed and I saw on it,
and I took a swim,

and I got a basketball game
in about 2.5 hours that I just found out

I have to play the entire 40 minutes.

And a 60 years old will be using
all the timeouts tonight and.

We can't wait.

Yeah, I did swim today. Half a mile.

I'm learning to breathe on both sides
now. Awesome.

I had swimmer shoulder
and breathing on one side consistently.

That left shoulder.

But now if you breathe on both sides,
it equals it out.

Max actually swims a lot too.

That's kind of how I got into it too,
because then I big into sports,

but I wanted them to swim,
be physical and active and,

Jake and Max actually
both on the, on the neuro spectrum

and a lot of kids on the spectrum
have always, neurologically.

But water is great for them.

And, he loves swimming.

Max, you'll swim 30, 45 minutes,
just like, you know, my wife and myself.

We swim probably 4 or 5 times a week.

So, yeah, it's a family.

Family affair
in the water lanes three, four and five.

Usually. Yeah. Nice. Nice. Yeah.
So when my daughter, my daughter came.

So we do have a little family event.
It's great.

Good thing
that. She likes the breaststroke.

I do the freestyle and mix it up,
you know.

And I get out sauna.

Exactly. Sauna. Steam.

You like the steam of a sauna?

Because I always ask people in it.

I probably have

pretty loquacious inside the sauna,
but seems like more people say the sauna.

And I used to do just steam,
but I'm trying to.

Yeah, I think, sauna.

I like to end with the steam. Yeah.
And then shave.

Because you get the noise. Going.

Oh, not in a cold shower.
It's like you're 12 years old again.

Cold. Cold shot.

Yeah. Exactly. Yeah.
And it takes a while to get. Used to it.

I mean, amazing way to start the day.

I feel happy, healthy.

Yeah.
Your endorphins are up. You exercised,

cold shower.

So I, I'm telling all the on the podcast
when I make a recommendation, write

a handwritten note, take a cold shower,
even regular shower at the end.

Turn it very cold.

I try to do it for about 30s at the end.

And so Bender.

Bender swam this morning.

Okay.

Yeah, I actually years ago

I went into the Atlantic Ocean
between Christmas and New Year's once.

That was cold, my friend.

It was cold.
The ocean was cold that day. Yeah.

And speaking of all this sauna,
where does it take place?

What's it? Where do we do it?

The, Bloomfield Jewish Community Center,
which is just been a great haven.

I've met a ton of friends, yourself
included.

Just it's just wonderful.

There's so many great things
that constantly go on there from,

you know, preschool to private events to,
you know, the, the fit, the fitness area.

This private Pilates
lessons is also stuff.

I love that they just recently
had a beautiful photography show.

It's really and it's embraces
to the whole, to the whole community.

So yeah, it's a wonderful place.

I cosign on the great people.

I've been in the Wednesday
Basketball League for 16 years. Yeah.

How long have you been
in? Since we moved here.

So about 20 years? Yeah. 20 years. Yeah.

Great network of guys. Yeah.

And now I've been

swimming, so that's also amazing.

Yeah.

The JCC, Bloomfield, Mandel, JCC.

Great people.

Go check out talk to Rachel.

If you want to be a member.

Rachel will sign you up.

And David Jacobs, the CEO.

Wonderful person.

Like you said, they do author signings.
Yeah. Plays.

Yeah.

So there's stuff for the movers
and the thinkers there.

It's a great place. Shares.

What's your favorite thing
about the JC Max?

I love, I just really love swimming there.

I, I can just zone out and.

Yeah, it always feels great.

And I've been going there for years, and,

Lara, who works at the front
desk, is always very nice.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, it's a really nice.

It's a very friendly place.

There is a really nice
there has been wonderful.

Her birthday's
coming up February 21st, and,

not to

say it like this, but just to
we always the last few years.

I'm always barter flowers on a party
sapiens beard, you know, and she,

you know, unfortunate she lost her husband
this past year and myself,

a bunch of people were,
you know, at the funeral to,

you know, help her
get through those tough times.

But, yeah, she's wonderful.
And everyone there, whoever it is I want.

Everyone always has a smile
when you walk in.

When you leave a nice, safe place.

And, Yeah, it's great.

Great part of the community. Yeah.

Do you know a guy named Ty.

Had a tie?

My man, my man. Tie. Ty is legendary.

And as you know, he just ties the best.

You know what
I always tell Ty on his birthday?

I love

him because he makes me feel like Shaq,
you know, but, size wise.

But tie. I said tie your friends.

How do I say it?

You know, I said kids love you.

Your friends deep down admire
you and the parents respect you.

You really cross all, all levels of,
you know, people.

And just besides just being friendly
and coming from a wonderful family,

he I have a friend who's similar
to Ty, much older in Worcester.

I was actually best man at his wedding.

My buddy Bob Berman Bob
spent at the Worcester JCC

started part time
and it's been the ad there for years.

He's going, I think 44, 45 years
got the key to the city and Worcester

ties right on pretty
much the same trajectory doing it here.

You know, obviously
much younger Bob 66 or 67

right now and yeah, similar career path.

And I remember when I wasn't sure I said
you start and he's he started part time

and then someone leave,
someone comes, you get an opportunity.

And life's
all about creating your own chances.

Everyone says people are lucky,
but I believe in you.

Create your own luck. You got him.

You got to take a chance.

Take a gamble. Bet on yourself.
Always bet on yourself.

And, Titus.

Great.

You go up there on a Sunday's
300 kids. Mr.

tag Coach. Up, up, up, up.
You know, a parking.

Lot is a zoo on. Some.

It's a zoo. It's a zoo. But,
yeah, it ties.

What is your.

Buddy Bob, a Jewish Hall of Famer?

He I believe I believe he is, but,

yeah, that was wonderful having Ty,
be represented in the community.

We were all there yourself,
obviously, myself included.

And and really,
everyone on our text read that.

Yeah.

It's just just
I was in this last September, again,

just a great honor
for 20 years of true commitment to,

again, it's not just the kids,
the families, the adults.

So can your buddy Bob score 70?

You know, he might be able to be ty in
just, like, a free throw game, but,

you know, again, Ty's a pass
first point guard who somehow scored 70 in

a game, but just marble.

I'll tell you this one
quick story about Ty.

So, about 4 or 5 years ago, buddy,
my Rick Capela at the time

was the president of Ashley or senior
VP cricket play D1 still playing hoop.

He's a couple years older than me.

And I said, dude, you got to come.

He says, Mark,
where are we going to eat tonight?

You know, after one of our appointments,
I said, what do you mean?

I said, I have a game. He goes, what
do you mean we're going to go to work?

I'm like the president of Ashland.

You're going to bring me
to a hoop game tonight.

I said, listen, I committed to the team.
We have a game tonight.

You're going to see this kid
about five 4 or 5 five Vietnamese kid.

All you going to say
is that you're going to be like,

you're going to shake your head.
So sure enough, he comes to the game.

And 40 is a game that Rob Alcorn,
you know, blew out his knee.

And but I think early on
the game was maybe like 11 or 2 Ty.

It hit three straight
threes. And I looked at Rick.

And the crowd is usually
what about four people in the crowd?

You know, someone's girlfriend.

You know, maybe a kid in Australia
or a lot stranger.

And that Rick was there
and he was just like, oh my God.

And I said, see it.

You got to see
it to believe it. Ty's just,

like Allen Iverson, pound for pound.

Toughest point guard in the NBA.
And he's great.

I love playing with him in against him.

Yeah. Rob our account.

Shout out episode number three. Yeah.

Let me do speaking of shout
outs here and do some, sponsors here.

We're here at Maximum Beverage.

Thank you. Maximum beverage for hosting.

Thank you. Direct Line Media.

Check out these awesome hats.

Direct Line Media.

Check them out for all your podcast needs.

Brooke golf law, cheating
agency insurance, the fix Ivy float

41, Parkville management, people's Bank

and West Hartford lock.

So Billy with West Hartford Lock.

What are three keys
that make you great at selling

at being a marketing specialist
for Ashley's Furniture.

Yeah.

I would say three keys to my success over
my career has just been passion.

I'll often have dealers say, man, Marco,
like you, you actually love what you do,

you know, and I do.

And it, of course,
you know. Products imperative.

You need a good product, but,

it's just, you know, just having passion.

Follow through.

And in these days,
just direct communication.

There is no reason.

You know, unfortunately,
I always have said

the cell phone's the greatest invention
and source invention.

But someone reaches out to you,

and I know guys who worked for me
who've moved on or or other reps.

When I speak to them,
I say, hey, listen, don't.

So I reached out to you.

They're not calling you to say, hey,

you know, how do you think the Red Sox
are going to be this year?

They're calling you because they need you.

They have a consumer right in
front of the name and they need your help.

So my phone's always blown up,
especially on,

you know, weekends
with all sorts of consumers.

But I always want to be available.
It's a two way street.

I mean, yes, do I sell them furniture?

I do, but my success really translates
if they're successful at the retail level.

So I just think as I just mentioned,
you know, obviously being, you know,

knowledge base,
but not just presenting the product and,

you know,

being good at the actual sales aspect, but
just having a passion for representing,

you know, I'm fortunate

to have represented Ashley Furniture
and La-Z-Boy over the last 35 years,

just to top notch companies
in the industry. And,

you know, but I think everything,
as I said earlier, starts with passion.

And how was it being the Frank Robinson of
of getting the, MVP and both,

Well, they don't call it the MVP,
but I was, fortunate

to to be what they call,
marketing specialists for the year.

And Ashley, at one point
and I did get similar type

award at La-Z-Boy back in the day, but,
those those are those are good days.

But, you know, it's sales.

If I told you my numbers right
now, you wouldn't believe that.

You know, the prior 30s.

Because business is challenging right
now, but just got to every day is a grind.

And, you know Patriots are down 28 three.

But they won.

So I think we'll be okay
by the end of the year.

And I want to thank, you know,
that you're here for your continued

support, your generosity
and your sponsorship.

You've sponsored
multiple friends at Feeney events.

You're always so generous and thoughtful.

You donated furniture
to furniture to families in need.

You know, you you wear the gear.

We have you and Parker wearing stuff.

I'll show a. Picture. Yeah. And then,

But no, just a great, great friend
on and off the court.

You know,
we only played, what, one season together?

Yeah, yeah.

Got a title, though. Got the title.

Let's see. That's. Oh, that's you.

So Wampanoag
Country Club January 30th, 2021.

There you go. Yeah, I like it. That's me.

Where was this?

Oh, obviously during Covid that looks at,

first and last looks like first
and last on the background.

And then who's this guy?

So, beloved doggy Parker.

Parker.

We lost Parker, a few months back
after nine and a half years and just.

Oh, no.

It's a big loss in the house, you know?

But, as they say, there's always
two things everyone says about dogs.

Everyone thinks they have the best dog,
and everyone's right.

And, you could have a dog for 20 years.

It's not enough.

He was the best. We miss him, a lot. So,

But he was great.

And he loved awareness.

Friends, a Feeney care.

But I'll tell you,
I will always sponsor you.

I have mad respect for you.

I remember even, Max,
you probably don't remember this

because you were young,
but your first bicycle

that you rode, a two seater,
you had gotten you about 14, 15.

You weren't riding anymore.

I asked you, do you remember? I asked you,
do you mind if I give it to a friend?

At the time you didn't know,
but I donated it to you.

And I believe
you gave it to the kid. And you.

I think he sent me a picture
a couple of days later. The kid loved it.

I remember I was able to help
you bring a kid to a Sox game.

The kid loved it.

And those are things
that that means everything.

You know,
I've been going to Fenway since 72.

I was happy to give up my tickets out
year, you know, for that game and

all those things are great.

You know, it's all about paying it forward
and helping people in need.

You for sure.
Got it. You have a good heart.

So thank you for being a good friend
always.

Thank you for being here.

Now we're going to
we'll come back to JC hoop.

But let's first now
segue over to my guy Max.

How's everything Max. Very good.
Thank you.

Now how is it to be a movie critic? What?

Where did you find your inspiration?

Well,

I don't I don't
really know that I found it anywhere.

I think I've just,
I've just always loved cinema.

And as, as I grew up, I continued to,

enjoy everything that was coming out

and just have so much to say about,

the films I saw,
but also the quality of the filmmaking.

And, I just, I love storytelling,
I love the artistry of it.

And I think that we, the world has always,
always needed that.

We definitely need it now.

More than ever.

And, fortunately, there's there.

This year in cinema has been wonderful,
and I'm, I'm sure that it's,

something tells me to see it's
going to be great, too.

And I,

I've always wanted to work,
in the film industry.

I've always wanted to be a filmmaker,
but growing up,

it wasn't something
I thought I would ever do.

I just didn't,

I don't know, I just I didn't think
it just felt like a pipe dream.

It felt like something
that was too far away.

But I think,

you know, I,
I think we're all pretty angry right now

about a lot of things going
on, and I think,

I think I just was like, you know what?

Why can't I?

So, and I have a lot to say, and,

since the beginning of last year,
I've been developing the scripts

I'm writing now.

And on January 1st of this year,
I started writing it, and,

I'm, you know, if I'm not done with it

by the end of the year, I'll be very,
very close.

Certainly the Oscars after this coming
Oscars.

I'll be done with that.

But can.

You give us an exclusive what's the story
line and give us a little plot.

So he doesn't even tell me?

Yeah.

Come on, this is an exclusive.

So, I'm thinking of.

So I want to do,

I'm writing,

an entire, franchise, actually, I,

I want to do a,

series, a mini series and, film.

So it's sort of like a trilogy of works.

And it's going to be a, there's

going to be a free season, drama

series, ten episodes.

It will be called, resistance.

And then between season one
and season two,

there will be an eight episode
mini series called Revolution.

And then when the series

as a whole is over,
there will be a film called reclamation.

And I'm hoping not all three
will be picked up by Netflix, so wow.

We'll see.

It's, it has a lot of, genres.

It's,

it's mostly espionage
because not everyone really likes action,

but I think everyone can get behind a spy
thriller. Like everyone.

Kind of like those,

and a lot of them can be very character
developed as well, so I like that.

But it's a it's espionage.

It's a political drama
thriller crime thriller.

And it

is it, it more than anything,
it has so many,

great characters
that I think people that are so complex.

So and I think people are really going
to, come to love, and,

and who's. The main character?

Who are some character names?

Do you have names? Yeah.

I don't go off holding off on that.

But, I have all episode

modern chapter titles
I'm very excited about.

I mean, again,
I've developed it for a year,

so I've been ready to write it,
which I have since this year.

And, it's,

it is,

I mean, it's it's it's pretty dark,
but it's,

but it's it's going to be really hard
to watch at times, but it's going

to be very gripping, very riveting,
very edge of your seat, very exciting.

And I'm very confident
that it's something that

people really haven't seen before.

And I think it's and by the time
it comes out where it's just.

So we're all going to be meeting.

So nice.

I'm very excited to write it.

And take the next steps to pursue it.

Can you compare it
to something that has been out before?

Is it completely different? So,

imagine.

So it's this is
going to sound really out of this world,

but imagine,

imagine Peaky Blinders.

Yeah, The Handmaid's Tale and The girls,
the Dragon Tattoo

all put together into one show,
and not that would be racist, I love it.

I love Peaky Blinders.

I've seen that girl
with the Dragon Tattoo.

Tommy Guns, Tommy, Max
and I actually just watched

all, 36 of people back in the.

Day. Lots of.

Yeah, lots of,

I mean, I've as I've watched
all these things,

there were various factors
that were inspiration

that I take that I use as inspiration,

like very small things that I'll take
and like put my own spin on it.

I mean, filmmakers do that all the time.

And, I'm, I'm excited to be creating
something that I find very original.

Can you share, like a problem
or a conflict

from one of an episode
or a movie, like a small little tidbit?

Dangle a carrot, give us a teaser.

Well, I'll I'll just.

I'll confirm that the opening episode, is,

titled, piping hot, and it refers to

what happens when you have rage
that's been repressed for so long

and, like, you kind of just abandon it
and you leave it to simmer

until it finally boils over
and something happens

in the first episode that will,
of course, dictate the rest of the series.

But again, it's very character driven
and a lot of that,

a lot of that dictates

the plot and what happens.

But, yeah, it's it's, I'm really
I think it's going to be really.

I'm I'm very. Confused.

I can't wait. Just so you know,
I live in the same house.

I helped make this guy. I love this guy.

He hasn't let me read.

Well, one sentence
I've learned more in the last ten minutes.

Said as much as you have.
So that's amazing.

A close to the vest. Max.
It sounds. Absolutely.

I just can't. Wait to watch it.

I will be definitely seeing this
and viewing it and sharing it and helping

promote it. Thank you.

Sounds like you put in a lot of effort,
hard work, a lot of thought.

Man spends about 8 to 10 hours a day
writing upstairs.

You know, eight. To ten hours a day.

That's amazing.

No. And then

you like to focus on, oh,
I wrote this down the score.

So is it going to have a nice music
sound to it?

Absolutely.

Music
is a huge part of this, of the series.

I think that music has always been,

very, it's

been very effective and influential
in times of crisis especially,

and, and, and wars and, you're going to.

Call John Williams.

There are certainly quite a few composers

that I would dream
of working with one day.

Piano.

Yes. Oh, yeah. Course. Piano man.

But yeah, music is definitely.

I mean, it's it's not a musical,
obviously, but it's there's music in it

and it's, it's very
the music is very important to the story.

And, I definitely have some specific ideas
about the cinematography.

I think there are going to be
a lot of there definitely going to be

some interiors with a lot of like low
lighting, almost like a neon ish yellow,

a lot of night cinematography.

It's going to the first season

takes place during the winter,
so I'm going to make use of a lot of that.

But, no, I'm, I'm
always visualizing everything

and thinking about what the end result
was going to look like.

And I try to write as much of that
into the script as I can.

Yeah.

After reading some of your reviews,
I think you're a great writer.

So I'm really looking forward to this.

And every time I watch something, it, it,

it only, inspires me further.

I mean, again, there's
been so many great nominees this year and,

you know, every time I, I, I'm
someone that has to rewatch things,

just because it, it keeps, fueling me.

So, I did nominees this year.

I love, I have more to say about them
every time I watch them, I think not.

So much of them are just spectacular works
that are very, very bold.

Well, if you need someone to record,
he does music videos directly.

Media could be your guy for the movie.

So quick

game if you had to eliminate one of these
score, cinematography, film editing

or performance, which one in your eyes
is the least important?

Well, first of all, you would never, ever,
ever eliminate a performance.

I can't bring myself to say that
any one of them is something

I'd eliminate,
but you do have to be compromising

when you're making work,
when you're making art.

So I guess if I had to

maybe get rid of one of them.

Probably the editing,

because there's various,
so many ways something can be edited.

But I when I'm
visualizing the cinematography, I can also

kind of hear the intensity of what
I would like to score to represent.

So I can't imagine
sacrificing those things.

And plus I don't know how to edit.

So I think that would be the easiest thing
to do. Yeah.

Good answer.

And what how long has the film credits
ticket admit? One.

How long has that been around?

So my very good friend, Jimmy demurs.

It was his idea.

He suggested that, like,
he just kept insisting that I do it

because, you know, when we met,
and he's so wonderful

and was so, passionate and,

I just kind of lose myself
and go to another place

when I really got engaged
and talking about cinema.

And he just really felt that, that
he was in agreement with everyone else.

This is something I should do.

And I finally just decided to do it.

So, I started in mid, like,

the late, I think maybe October
or November of, 2018.

And it's,
it kept me busy through Covid and,

you know, eventually,

I was able to get a job,

an actual paying job, coordinating
schedules, film schedules,

weekly film programs for Larry
Kaufman's Hotel Saket and, I,

you know, I've been I've been lucky
that I've been able to,

pursue something in film as I'm pursuing,
film industry.

Wow. Yeah.

And arcs like top quality hotels.

They have so. Beautiful.

They're really beautiful.

Two in Boston, two in New York,
two in Philly, two in DC, two in Miami,

two in L.A.

So we give the friends a Feeney discount.

But I'm sure we can work something.

Hey. Yeah.

There's there's one in London,
and it's it's really cool.

And Max, who was the actor actress
recently who had checked into

one of the California hotels
and saw your reviews and made a comment.

You remember Larry had sent that? Oh,

But it was like

a name actor or actress and said,
oh my God, you know, I don't.

Remember exactly.

I'm he or she, I think it was a woman,
but she she loved it.

Yeah.

I don't remember exactly,
but I know that the fact,

I think in the summer of 20, 2019,

when we went to go, state,

and in Philadelphia, this was when,

my brother was trying to get into Drexel,
which,

he's grateful
he didn't go that he went somewhere else.

But, at the time,
that's why we were there.

And we stayed at, aka and,

I, I remember very specifically that,
Nicole Kidman had just left.

Oh, yeah.

She had stayed,
I think on the floor we were at.

Exactly. I think actually the exact suite.

Yeah.

Yeah, maybe Nicole and,

Keith Urban and matter of fact,
speaking of Philly, Max goes down.

How many times you been in five.
Philadelphia films?

The only year I didn't go
was during Covid, but.

Five, 5 or 6 times.

And he represents Arcadia.
At least five times by now.

He's a lot of premiers.

And tell, tell you, where did you go?

Where did your wonderful grandmother,
my mother, who just turned 90 recently.

Where did she take you? And you?

It was it was, it was such a surprise.

We went to the Venice Film Festival.

Just Jake and I, my brother
and I saw the film, so.

I mean, it would have been too much of
a trip for her with the, with those boats.

But it was an amazing trip,
and it was just it was so generous of her.

And, Venice, visually,
as truly as beautiful as you imagine it.

Yeah.

I don't know that I would.

It was really hard to forget
about how hard transportation was.

That was that was a nightmare.

But the actual festival was so much fun.

And, it's
it was such a grand event, so busy.

Everyone was so lively and excited,

and, the other films
we saw were wonderful.

I know I saw the

Philly Film Festival on your review,
and I saw that you went to Venice.

That was a question.

Oh, God. You guys mentioned Do it.

And then Jimmy, you met him in LA.

I met him, in Boston in,

December of 2017.

My dad had run into him and,

my, he and my mom are, such great friends.

They been,
they went to high school together, and,

you know, they reconnected
when we all went to dinner together

for a year, and,
we we became friends as well.

And, he's just a beautiful man.

He has a beautiful singing voice.

Phenomenal singer.

He knows so many people.

Very, very generous.

And, yeah,
he's been very, influential in my life.

There you go, Jimmy.

We're going to tag him in this podcast.

Hopefully he watches us.
And what about Larry?

So our motto, be a good friend.

Pick up trash. It's not yours.
Hold the door.

Give a compliment.
What makes Larry a good friend?

Or Jim?

He does some.

They both do so much.

But they don't.

They don't.

They're they follow through.

They're very,

They're very reliable.

They don't take something on
if they can't do it, they're,

it just it feels good.

It feels good

to have friends
who are not flakes, basically.

They're very, they really care.

Really, They really care about you. And.

Beyond sincere.

Larry is he? I've seen him. Literally.

He's a type of guy.

You know, you've seen the expression
whether someone's a CEO

or someone, you know, opening up the door
for him to warm up the building.

I mean, it doesn't matter.

He treats everyone the same.

Utmost respect for everyone.

And it's just sincere.

He's an Eagles guy, so of course
he's excited for next week's game.

But he be like, Eric, you know my man.

But he he genuinely means it.

And they're just you know
he's just such a warm person.

And Jimmy's been very encouraging.

And you know, there was one thing
I'll just tell you, Max, right before

you had seen Jim,

we left a movie at the.

What was the old place
we used to go in Hartford all the time.

Well. 217.

Yeah, we left a movie.

I forget which movie it was,
but I remember I got in the car

with Jake and Max, and I said, hey, guys,
what would you think about the movie?

And they both literally likes it dead.

Don't say anything like, okay.

And then this is kind of what they do.

So it's about five, you know, ride home
maybe 12,

15 minutes about five minutes in.

The two of them start talking.

Well it's going to get nominated
for cinematography score supporting actor.

No, I don't think so.

I think that, you know,

they go through everything, not just Best
Picture like they break down movies.

I remember saying, Max, you should
you should be a movie guy.

You a movie critic, mom used to say.

And then, you know, then when you mention
a gym, you he encourage you as well.

And it says it's been a team effort.

And we always feel

that Jake and Max is so special to us
and to everyone that they meet.

And it takes a village
and we're all just trying to,

you know, raise the water level
and we're beyond proud of you.

I cannot wait
to see your finished product. Thank you.

Yeah.

And that and then your site is WW
dot movie critic dot today.

Correct the film script to film critics
ticket it's called.

But that that is the link.
Yes. Film. Yeah.

Where'd you think of that title
the film critics ticket admit one.

I like that. Yes. There were,

Well,

Randy, Crenshaw, my,

web designer
who I've been with from the beginning.

I, found that, I think, and,

she's she's been very helpful,

managing the site,
posting everything, handling

the Instagram, because I don't know how
to do any of that.

So, it's, it's it's been very,

wonderful to, work alongside

people who know how to do so many things,
and they're very passionate.

Another reason
all about Max, one of the few guys

it doesn't spend his days scrolling on all
the social media doesn't need that.

Just typing.

Yeah, this time you type. That up
and then how do you know?

Because you're really cute.

It's like four minute read,
five minute read.

And I was like, let me test.

And you really hit. It
depends on the movie.

It depends on
how much I have to say about it.

I think in the beginning,

I reviewed

certain films that
I didn't really like that much, but I, I,

you kind of have to when no one knows you,
you kind of have to, you know,

think about what everyone else is,

focusing on and then you can
choose your own stuff later.

So I've really come to review a lot of,

independent films. And,

I think from,

from, from the very,

beginning, I just, I love the,

I love the idea of,

of people just
I love the originality of that

people just making something that,
no one's ever seen before, and I,

I feel something very original
every time I watch something new.

I love seeing
I similar ideas, rectified in new ways.

Yep, yep.

And I'll tell you one, one
quick thing about Max.

He or his brother, and his brother.

You cannot leave a movie until you've.

Watched the credits. The entire credits.

They think it is beyond disrespectful.

Just like it's. Different
if you've already.

If you've already done it.
But the first time you're in a phase.

That people spend 2 or 3 years,
four years of their life for your two hour

turn to tainment,
you can watch who did it, you know,

and they've always done like that
and been like that.

And just as hard as your.

Work, when you go to the movies
and you ask someone,

what time does the movie get out,

they're not going to tell you
when the credits start.

They're going to tell you
when the credits are over.

So, well, yes, we will say.

Yeah, but they always say, I think
interesting mad respect for Marvel.

You have to stay because

you think.

That's why Marvel started doing
a little clip at the end of the credits.

Or they just want you to stay
because we have the stage.

I mean, to the end of the credits
and they pop in a spoiler.

I mean, I always love that feature show.

I mean, I stay anyway,

right? Right.

Of course.

I think that,

I mean, I think not all genres of film

have it and, to be,

You know, technically,

and, and visually and intellectually great

and still be very, very engaging.

But, I mean, I'm not going to lie,
there's a lot going on

within the confines of the film industry
that really needs, changing.

There's a lot that's wrong.

And I think that, you know, of course,
there are so many great filmmakers and up

and coming filmmakers who are contributing
to making those necessary changes.

But it can't all fall on us.

I mean, audiences
share a lot of responsibility, too.

And when they've partaken in something
for so long

while ignoring other kinds of work
that I am confident they would,

find something good

to say about, you know, eventually
there comes a point where it's like

you kind of share some responsibility
here.

You these films aren't getting made
because you're showing the industry

that you don't care about them,
so they're not going to invest in them,

when in fact they are the exact stories
that should be, invested in because,

they're they deserve
to be out in the world and they're,

and they can be very intriguing
and very entertaining.

I mean,
any movie can have the full package.

It really all starts with the script,
but you need someone to believe in it.

And I think we need more people
to believe. And,

and the really, really great scripts
that are out there.

You have an example of the perfect movie.

Oh, Oh, wait, you know what?

I was going well, actually,
what I was going to say is,

because I again, I mostly review Indies,

but I do think that, there
I think there was something really,

really beautiful
that happened last, in 21st,

20, 23 with the writers strike.

And, what, Barbie Heimer did,
how those movies were both so,

both mainstream,

but both so good, and people
really, really showed up for them.

And I love that they weren't
in competition with each other.

Like they embraced each other
and embraced the idea that came in.

No, that's what they did.

That's what they called that.

And they, and they, they really.

Is there a name for when really
two top movies come out on the same day?

And can you recall another time
that happened.

This year?

They did it.

They did it with Wicked and Gladiator two.

But for the most part,
I think that's pretty rare.

I mean, lots of movies
will come out on the same day.

It's not usually so competitive,
but because both Barbie

and Oppenheimer were both so big
and made by such, acclaimed filmmakers,

it it was

definitely, I mean, culturally to both
those movies really

had an influence on this country,
and it got a lot of people passionate.

It got a lot of people riled up.

But, that's
what movies are supposed to do.

So that's what stories are supposed to do.

They're supposed to provoke.
And that's what they did.

And what I was going to say
when you asked about the perfect movie.

So I again,

I don't really
I think it's rare for mainstream films to

have such, you know, top quality,
especially at a mainstream

movie star audiences,
flocks of audiences will show up for.

I love the Dune movies.

I think that they're so well shot.

I think the writing is so
is so beautiful and powerful.

I think that, that whole cast
ensemble is incredible.

I love the themes, I love the music,
I love, the sound effects, the editing.

Like it really has the entire package
and what audiences look for in a movie.

And I think that's really rare.

So I'm very happy

that that's one of the movies
that are being honored by the Oscars.

This year. Too.

I saw it on the list.

Yep, I watched
I saw it in the theaters many times, and,

I'm sure that it's going to win
quite a few.

And one thing Max likes to do
is not if he likes a movie.

So you can tell the audience,

how many times have you seen the recent
Timothee Chalamet movie about Bob Dylan?

Oh, I saw that,

Maybe for at least free by now, but,

I, I really enjoyed the theater
and it's very rewatchable.

It's,

I mean, I, you know,
everyone is talking about,

Timothy's performance as they said,
he was great, but I was just so sucked

in by Edward Norton
because he is so not that character.

And really.

I like. Him a lot.

He really becomes this,

he, Pete Seeger,

he he really becomes ham and,

he he I said,
I sent a text to Jimmy to actually.

And I'm like, this is what he is.

So you and this movie and, he,
you know, he laughs and he's like,

yeah, I'm totally like that.

But, yeah, we had
a, I always try and have a great time

at the theater and synopsis and,
I hope I'm pronouncing that right.

And West Hartford and loop back square.

Dave really,

cleaned up since Covid and made something
so beautiful.

Recliner seats, the surface.

Even they're trying to get more endings
in there.

Like, it's a really good feature.

And, I hope the community continues
to go and enjoy it.

Everyone really seems to love it.

And just one last thing, Max.

Next Christmas, this coming
Christmas, Timothy.

Shalom.

He's in a movie with a possibles
with someone that you know very well.

Yes I. Do.

Can you just tell the audience briefly
what's going on there?

My brother Jake.

Your twin brother Jake. Yes.

He's, he's a extra in the movie one.

He lives.

He moved to New York,

last year, I think it was. And,

he was approached on the street,
said he had a very specific look, and,

he is in a scene, in a bar

with Timothy and a bunch of other guys,
non non-speaking part.

So he's not part of the s. No, but it's.

Something, but it's nice.

It's it's just nice.

And he got a paycheck
and I framed it form and,

Yeah, it would be fun to see, our son
on the big screen.

Yeah. And it's an 824 film. And they.

I love everything they do.

So we're very excited for him
for congratulations.

They thought that Jake looked
like someone from the 50s.

So I said, does that mean your mother

and your father
look like someone from the 20s? You know?

So anyway.

Oh, so based on your reviews,
you have so many.

Seems like you do one once
a month or twice a month.

Usually I'll do twice a month.

Since I've started writing,
I need to focus.

I dedicate at least one review a month.

January.

What was January's?

January 6th. Na for tudo.

Nozpheratu. Yeah.

I, it laid out was stunning, and,

it was so genuinely frightening.

It takes a lot to frighten me.
Because it's a horror movie.

It is.

My brother and I both have

a very dark sense of humor,
so it takes a lot to truly haunt us.

It was very,
I think tone is very important

in a film, you know, very quiet,
very icy, very chilly.

This movie was definitely not.

And it's nominated for four Oscars
as well.

I'm glad to know that you do, Indies,
because I did not know any movies up

until we got to Oppenheimer and Barbie
the Whale King.

Richard oh my God was incredible.

I didn't see it, but I recognize it.

But there's like your most recent one.

Well, let's play a game first. Okay.

The game is called for your
your movie reviews.

Your first one, your last one,

your best one and your worst one.

First or last best, worst.

Your first review.

Last review was a real pain. Yeah.

Give me a hint.

My first review.

I think my first review was Green
Book in 2018.

I think that was my first. Okay.

My best.

That's a movie we had seen. Yes.

Is that the driver?
And they're going around?

It's a. True story.

Yeah, I want to.

See that one I've been seeing.

My best review.

Oh, wow.

It's like picking your favorite kid.

It is.

Oh, he probably got his mom on that.

Well, the thing is, is that I.

I get so, riled up when, In a good way.

When I'm writing a review,
when I write a script, I'm.

I'm very much focused and taking my time

when I'm writing a script,
it's like I have to get it out there.

So sometimes if you see a couple typos
like, that's, that is a mistake.

Who's your favorite twin
out of your two girls? Right.

Oh. Shot twins.

Father of twins. Exactly.

But but again, I'm
I'm just I'm very excited for March 2nd.

I think the films this year were great.

And I'm excited to see them all
celebrate it.

All right. Speaking about, let's do it.

Let's do some predictions. Yes.

Do your nominees. We'll hold you to it.
We're going to keep a count.

Yeah. Keep you accountable.

Oh Stephanie, do you have a pen?

A teacher doesn't have a pen.
Oh, here you go.

The same pen I had last time.

Everyone gets an A in his class. Yeah.
So do March 2nd.

Do I say to as I'm doing number March 2nd.

You make the rules.
Whatever you want to do.

March 2nd, 7 to 10.

This is the 97th Academy Awards.

I have the nominee ballot right here.

They're in columns. Okay.

Best picture.

Who do you think's getting best picture?

I do think the brutal Oscar win

Best Picture as it showed
it was absolutely wonderful.

It's my personal second
favorite film of the year.

A Nora was my first.

But I do think the brutalist
will end up winning.

I like Adrien Brody.

He was in Peaky Blinders.

Yeah, he played the Godfather character.

In the movie.

And, it you you just you never see that

kind of,

Did that

storyline
just so ripped apart and injected with

with with realism, like, you see, movies

that deal with the Holocaust always like
it's always an idea of it, but rarely

do you really try to make it as real
as it must have been.

And I think that this,

Brady at the

director, really touched that,
How many times I've.

You've seen this one? Twice.

I saw it once with my mom last week,
I think it was.

And then I saw it,
when it premiered at Venice.

And it was.

And, I loved that
the movie has an intermission.

Like, it's so long.
It needs an intermission.

I mean. Movie, they really let
you leave the theater and come back?

Movies used to have traditions. And.

I got to. Know.

And one of the things that, that really
needs changing on the audience's

part is they got to stop complaining
about the runtime.

Movies.

Some movies really do.

They really do need that.

And you need to focus.
You need to sit still.

You can't be a child about it.

And so they going, right.

And I heard that about Oppenheimer
a little long.

I haven't seen that one yet.
I've been. Harmed.

It was three hours and by the time
it ended, I hardly noticed.

Oh, wow. Good to know. But,
How long is the brutalist?

The brutalist is, a little bit longer.

It is.

And three hours and 35 minutes.

I think it is nice.

And that includes the intermission
now. So.

And which I think was maybe 15,
20 minutes.

All right.

We got 22 categories.

So we're going to have to do fire away
okay. No problem.

Directing directing pretty carpet.

Well when. Brutalist. Yeah.

Do you
want to, do you want to go down the list.

Do you want me to announce him?

He new kind of you.

No no no no no. You can.

Attract actor.

Actress. Well, in leading role,

actress in the leading role.

So we got wicked, right?

Amelia and Nora.

The substance.

I'm still here.

So, I think Fernando Torres will win for.

I'm still here.

I think that she's going to be
the surprise one of the night.

I think every year there's like,
one surprise when.

And I think, it's really between her
and Demi Moore.

But I do think that it will be, Fernando.

My personal choice would be Mikey Madison,
because I thought she was phenomenal.

But, I'm happy for, Fernando.

I think she really,

she she was wonderful, too.

So. Yeah.

So very good. Actor.

And why are you
and why you want to say Timothee.

No act, no actor will be Adrien Brody
as he should be of her performance by,

Amanda Sear
even comes close to that level of majesty.

He was sensational.

Actress in supporting role.

I think Zoe
Saldana will win for Amelia Perez.

She she was very, very, lovely. She.

It's a very physical, moving performance.

She's just a way
she uses her body language.

So I'm here.

An aerial ground you got has a shot.

She might. I'm not sure.

But we'll we'll certainly see.

Actor in supporting role.

Kieran Culkin for a real pain.

He was really funny and, very touching.

You know?

Fun fact.

That's Macaulay Culkin, brother.

Did you know that? Yes.

I'm teasing,
of course. Yeah. Big success and fan.

Writing original screenplay.

I'm going to go with a Nora.

Only because this is the one category
where I truly have

no idea what's going to win.

And I really want a Nora to win something.

So I'm going to go with a Nora.

Writing adapted screenplay.

Conclave.

We're going to fire away
international feature film.

We got I'm Still Here, Brazil.

The girl, the needle, Denmark.

Amelia Perez, France.

The seat of the sacred fig.

Germany. Flow.
I think I'm here. As well, but.

And it was very popular.

I would go with the seat of the.

Now, is that where the story takes place
or was written from?

It was written from France.

It takes place in, Mexico.

Good enough
under that animated feature film.

Flow.

Cinematography.

Dune part two.

I do, I curse.

That was my guess for you.

Well, I, I do, yeah.

The brutalist dune.

Amelia Perez, Amelia Perez a lot.

Marla. Knots for. Two.

Nosferatu.

My personal choice.

What I would choose is Dune part two.

I think it has a shot at winning.

I think it is going to be the brutalist.

Actually, there was a very, very unique
the way that was shot.

I think that's going to be
another surprise when production design.

Dune part two.

I cannot believe they built that shot.
It looked so real.

And it was the architecture was so.

Yeah, I. Music.

Music.

Brutalist. Concave.

Amelia, wicked wild robot.

The brutalist.

I only know John Williams.

The John Williams. Do any of these?

I don't think so. Music. Original song.

Oh, it's one of the ones for Amelia Perez.

It's not.

Elmo. That one.

Yeah. The bad sing. Sing.
What's that movie?

It's about the prison.
I want to see that. That was.

I saw that
while I was doing some research.

That one will.

That was really. Rough film editing.

I did not see sing, sing and features,
because I hadn't.

I was out of Boston.

But what about you?

Got Elton John's up here too late.

He's already got it.

You got that won't win back.

Film, editing, film.

How to do a normal.

Press,
I think. Will, when film editing or.

The cleaning up document tree.

Black box diaries.

No other land.

Porcelain war soundtrack to a group

coop did to sugar cane.

What was the first one?

Porcelain war.

Probably diet, I think.

All right. Costume design.

Oh, Wicked nozpheratu Gladiator two.

Can't believe the complete unknown sprite.

Probably wicked.

I would go with Nosferatu,
but I think wicked.

Oh, what's the boss calling me?

Sorry. No sound.

Oh, wait, I skipped one. Makeup.

Makeup?

Makeup will definitely be wicked.

Makeup?

Wicked? Yeah,
there's a lot of makeup in that sound.

Oh, it sounds great.

Sounds into substance.

Nominated for makeup?

Yes. It'll.

It's going to out a substance.

Without question. I totally forgot.

That. Demi Moore.

Yeah. What's over her face?

And Demi Moore, like, she had the
the picture, her eye, the makeup.

Yeah, that was crazy makeup.

It's body horror,
which always requires that kind of level.

Like they had an entire makeup team.

I mean, you can't just do this
with a few people.

Yeah,
I think they'll get it. Sound, sound.

Complete. Unknown. Dune part two.

Amelia. Again. Wicked. The wild robot.

The wild robot for many a year.

Remind me what the first one was.

The complete unknown.

Complete unknown.

I think it's going to.

Went a sound right?

Sounds.

It's about Bob. Dylan.

I want to win at least something.

Visual effects student part two.

Live action short.

Oh, Alien.

I'm not a robot.

The the last ranger.

A man who could not remain silent.

Who could not remain silent.

Documentary. Short film.

Death by numbers.

I'm ready. Jeff, by numbers.

Have you seen it?

I've seen interviews about it on.

It's a it's.

They're short films,
like they'll play at film festivals.

I was supposed to see it,

actually, in Philadelphia,
but it cut too close for number time.

But it looks wonderful.

Animated, short, beautiful men.

Shadow of Cyprus.

Shadow of Cyprus.

Candles.
Wander to wander. Yuk! There we go.

All right.

We will see.

We will. See.

Last year, I think Max was 22 out of 25.

I'm not mistaken.

I think he only missed 2 or 3.

23456789 ten 1112 1314

1516 1718 1920 2223.

All right.

We're going to check. You all right.

Following up March 2nd.

Come check it out. March 2nd.

This is Max's Super Bowl.

We're here with Max.

This is episode
127 of Feeney Talks with friends.

Max runs the film critics ticket.

Omit one.

I'm so happy to be talking with you.

Thank you. Oh.

Oh, quickly.

Let's just do most Oscars won by a movie.

Oh, okay.

Let me see.

This is now some Oscar trivia.

So this was a tie?

It was? Yeah, it was all about Eve.

Titanic. Yep. And la la land.

Oh, I got Oscars.

Ben-Hur with 11, Lord of the rings
with 11, return of the King and Titanic.

All 11. Yes.

Most Oscars won by a musical.

Oh, La La land, was it?

And it. Should be.
This is West Side Story.

This could be an older.

Oh, probably. This could be old. Probably.

Who was the youngest to ever win an Oscar?

Oh, it was in 1974.

1970. Paper moon. Tatum O'Neal. Tatum.

Very good. Yeah.

She was like 8 or 9, I think ten.

Okay, who refused his Oscar for best actor
in 1973?

Oh, it could have been a number of people.

It's for the got the Godfather.

Oh, it couldn't have been De Niro.

Nope. Who played the Godfather?

Oh, Whoever sets up the meeting.

That's the day of my daughter's wedding.

Marlon Brando, but Marlon Brando.

Oh. Oh,

what?

What is the Oscar statuette look like?

It is a night that is gold,
and it's standing on a roll of film.

What's he holding?

Sword. I'm very good.

Who has the most Oscars of all time?

Oh, I think John Williams.

I think this is Walt Disney 26.

Oh, I just.

Say, I think John Williams was right
under.

That. Hey,
Google, check that. Yeah, right.

And I know these are kind of late.

Yeah. All right,
we got a couple more here.

All right? And.

All right,
we're going to set a timer over and under.

You're gonna have 20s to name as many
Oscar Best Picture winners as you can.

Okay.

You can go out of order. Okay. Yeah.

Can I start?

No, hold on a second. Hold those.
Are you ready?

I'm ready.

So hold on.

Just so these are just the best movies
you say?

Best picture winner.

Best picture winner.
I can do it. Okay. Yeah.

You want 20s or 30?

Because there's. A lot. Yeah.
Let's give you a third.

You're going to give them the year two.

No, no. Okay. Just go. Can you give yours?

I could, but I'll start from 1990.

You're going to start from 1990.

Yes. 30s we're here with Max

and we're doing Best Picture.

Hold on. How many?

How many can you name, you think in 30s?

So six.

Stephanie.

How many you think you can name in 30s?

Yeah. All right.

How many?
How many do you think you can name?

But just give me a number.

Yeah. Okay.

Actually.

All right, we're here with Max.

Ready? Best picture. 30s ready. Go.

From 1990 forward, it is,

dances with Wolves.

The silence of the lambs.

Unforgiven settlers list.

Settlers list.

Forrest Gump, Braveheart.

The English Patient. Titanic.

Six in love, American Beauty,
Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Chicago

to Lord of the rings, return of the King,
Million Dollar Baby,

crash the Departed,
No country for Old Man,

Slumdog Millionaire,
The Hurt Locker, The King's Speech.

Oh, right there, Holy cow.

But you a. Winner.

You were exactly in order.

Like, like extra points.

Yeah. Let's just finish it off. Okay.

Where'd we, the working speech?

The artist,

Argo.

12 years a Slave. Birdman. Spotlight.

Moonlight.

The Shape of Water.

Green book.

Parasite.

Nomadland.

2021.

But, when was that 20.

About hearing impaired? Yes.

Starts with a C.

Yeah. Coda. Coda.

And, 20, 22,
everything everywhere, all at once.

Oppenheimer.

And I think this year
will be the brutal last.

Wow. Clap it up for my guy. Max.

That was impressive.

That's awesome.
I couldn't even go through the NBA.

Well, I probably could the NBA winners,
but that's, unbelievable.

I highlighted the ones I watched.

I've seen silence of the Lambs
is Unforgiven.

When the soldier, oh, Eastwood.

I thought it was.

Who was the soldier
that he, like, crashed in the

in a in a Chinese camp?

Unbroken.

Actually, that was my bad.

So I saw silence of the lambs, Schindler's
List, Forrest Gump,

Braveheart, Titanic, Gladiator,
Beautiful Mind, crash, departed.

Just watched, like most recently.

No country for Old Men.

Great movie. Oh my goodness.

The Hurt Locker
King speech I saw in the movie theater.

That's a lot of dialog.

And we, like, went to dinner

and it's kind of long and it's
black and white, and I was just fading.

But, like, true Max fashion,
I didn't leave until the credits.

Well, you know,
I think that, part of the ability to watch

all genres
comes from actually watching all genres.

If I, if I only watched films with lots

and lots of wonderfully written dialog,
it may not affect me the same way.

If I wasn't also watching something
that was very riveting or something

that was really frightening.

I think for audiences,
there's a balance that comes from

opening up your mind to watch everything
and wanting to watch everything,

and when audiences respect that balance,
they are much happier.

But a lot of them don't.

So you would say, recommend
get out of your comfort zone.

Try a different. Variety.

I mean, all movies,
all genres can have movies that are great.

All genres of movies
can, you know, have films that are bad.

You know, it's not about,

but it's never determined by the genre,
just the film itself.

So for our recommendation portion,
would you recommend to our viewers

to, to to try different movies?

Yeah, absolutely.

Try all kinds.

Try something
that you probably wouldn't do.

Probably an international feature film.

You know,
a lot of audiences, are very mainstream.

Don't do that.
But there's a lot of great ones out there.

So. Yeah, I want to see parasite.

Parasite was wonderful.

That was.

But there's, Subtitles, right? Yep.

There's subtitle.
But I really want to see that.

I heard great things about.

It, watching a lot of even, like, Peaky
just because of the brogue.

With subtitles.

I actually really enjoy.

Watching movies now with subtitles.

I thought for a while
I only focused on the words.

But you guys get you helped.

You comprehend a little. Bit?
Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.

If it's whatever makes
it so that the experience,

is more memorable for you.

Whatever.

Audiences have different strategies,
do what works for them,

but definitely see the films because they.

What was the greatest year for movies
and why was it 1994?

What was the best year?

Was that your.

That's my pick. Oh, okay. Okay.

Because the Knicks are in the final.

Yeah.

Well,

I, I really don't know,
but I think that for me,

2012 was a very memorable year because,

for cinema, for me, because first of all,

that was the year when I really,
started to see films that I hadn't

been able to see throughout, my child
hood.

And, I'm like,
oh my God, this is so intense.

But this is really,

resonating with me for whatever reason.

And, I saw a lot of movies and figures
that year.

I thought, to, you know,
bringing the challenge of bringing Lamesa

up to the screen when it was such a
beloved stage play was nearly impossible.

They totally pulled it off, though.

That was beautiful.

Zero Dark 30 was incredible.

That was really something.

I loved, Silver Linings Playbook.

You know, that
put them both judgments. Yeah.

Killing my juju.

That was great. What about.

Oh, back to 1994.

Sorry to. Did

Shawshank Redemption

also get overlooked?

I think it.

I mean, if. It's treated.

I don't know.

I mean, if it's between Forrest
Gump and Shashank redemption,

I personally would have gone with,
Shawshank, but,

I, I think that sentimentality is a
I mean, it's vital.

It has its importance.

And I think that if oftentimes
there are lots of Oscar wins

and nominees, to begin
with, that stem from me.

You also had Pulp Fiction.

Yeah.

That was I think that that movie was bound
to be so iconic that people just decided

it didn't really need anything
other than screenplay, but, quiz show.

But I totally would have given, a firm
and not Oscar for sure.

Oh, who won?

She's she's due for, at least two more.

Who won? The actress.

Supporting actress that year was,

for that year
was, Diane West for Bullets Over Broadway.

And she was very good, but I, I,
I mean, oh, my God.

Tom Hanks won for Forrest, right?

He did. I think he did.

I think he did.

But she went back to back
from Philadelphia.

Yes. Philadelphia
to Forrest Gump. That's true.

And yeah, she's a Hanks is a beast.

Well, I have more questions, but,
we got to test your dad now, too.

Oh, okay.

We have. Yeah.

It takes a lot to have a sip of water.

You're on fire. Thanks. You.

Amazing. That was so good. From 91.

It was actually 91.

Yeah. Yeah, because 94 was.

Because it's the year
after. Schindler's List.

So. Oh, yes.

For 91, the, Because The Silence
of the lambs had won the big five.

It was, screenplay Anthony Hopkins

and Jodie Foster one and at One Direction.

And, how about that wild fun fact
Anthony Hopkins is in that movie for about

8 to 10 minutes. That's it. Yeah.
Oh yeah. Yeah.

But he wins Best Actor.

He's in it for. Like he, he was so,

oh so scary.

So scary.

You know what.

You know, throughout that whole movie
that he can't really hurt her

because he's behind the glass,
but he he haunts her. He.

Oh, yeah.

So if there's any cinephiles
in your audience, I mean.

This has to be their favorite. This is it.

We're doing it all. We're going to.

We got a wrestling podcast coming up.

We just had a sports podcast.

We're doing them all.

This is great.
I'm so happy to be here, Max.

All right.

The 1985 1986 Boston Celtics roster.

There's 13 players. Okay.

30s on the clock.

How many of the 13 can you name Billy?

We're going to go with.

You want the.

Numbers to I want to hear how many

how many can you name first out of the 13
can you get okay.

He's going for 11.

Yeah.

We got 30s on the clock. Yeah.

Let's go. Ready? Go! Yeah.

Bird. McHale.

Parrish going to go with Eric Funston.

We got Scottie Wedeman.

We got Danny Ainge
got, Dennis Johnson got Bill Walton.

Did it

going around the corner, Jerry
siege thing.

We got,

who's down at the I'm looking at the end
of the bench, and Emil was, gone.

Cedric was gone.

Yeah. Go to the next question.

How many do you got? The guards.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Oh, you did say.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. My bad.

Yeah yeah yeah

yeah.

So how many was that. Nine, 8 or 9.

It looks like you nine.

Who did I miss.
You may missed it and I may missed it.

Did you say David third kill.

No, I didn't know Sam. Vincent.

Oh, I forgot, son. Sam Williams.

Oh, I didn't know I was Rick Carlisle.

Yeah. Carlisle and Greg case is.

Yeah. GK from BYU. Sure.

Yeah. Number 50. Yeah.

I mean, I can give you this.

Yep. Okay.

Which one. Averaged 25.

Yeah it'll be it'll be three.

Which one on
this list is basketball Jesus.

Oh yeah. Shuttlesworth. Yeah.

Ray Allen right? No.

Yeah.

I mean, here's Burgess. Legendary.

Who's the chief?

Robert Parrish, who is a super nice guy.

My mother.

I actually bumped into the chief
at the Natick Mall one time

and actually spoke to him.

And, my mom being about five,
four in chief was just sitting down,

and they were at eye level.

And, she talked to him for a while,
so that was very nice guy.

We just had a yep.

We're going to close up, but we just
had a, movie contest at school.

I won, okay, seven of the movies,
so they showed up.

Ten second clip.

I got Star Wars, scream, Trainspotting.

You ever see that?

Yes. Little creepy
Guardians of the Galaxy, office space,

raising Arizona and Reservoir Dogs
for Reservoir Dogs.

You know,
male teacher in elementary school?

No one. Everyone's like,
what movie is that?

I never saw, I never heard of it.

Trainspotting. Same thing. So I won.

I won a packet of stickers
that said good job, happy Face stars.

So I won something. Movies.

That was just last week.
But I wanted to save it.

I want to shout out my friend
for making this shirt custom made shirt.

What do you think? It'd
be a good friend. Friends of Fini.

It's bright. It's colorful.
Thank you so. Much.

I actually honestly,
I was just in Las Vegas recently

and I give you shout outs to
so many people.

And I often mention

I forget the unfortunate family
might have been 2 or 3 years ago

at this point, but I remember
someone had a fire in your organization.

I remember you you guys raised like 25
Granderson, 24 hours.

Yeah. And I tell people the story
and I could be wrong.

You can clarify it,
but I remember you said

one of your students,
the dad passed away unexpectedly.

I don't know the exact details,
but then, like, 3 or 4 weeks later,

another student lost. It popped.

And then you're like,
I gotta do something, you know?

And I don't remember, like, your first.

And actually, I'm asking you, you good?

Like what your first action was.

But again, you're it's an amazing idea.

Like, I gotta help these people.

Yeah.

And now it's,
you know, it's it's user expression.

Your organization. Sorry. Blown up.

You were recently, right?

Nonprofit of the year.

And it's great.
You just got a great following.

But you had that same thing.

And Maxwell, I always try to encourage
you like you have an idea.

Go for it.

Eric had an idea, you know,
and you're you're doing great.

And, Well thank you. Yeah, seriously.

It's just.

And family.

Yeah.

Unexpectedly had a heart attack. It
when I was.

It was 12 years ago. 13 years ago now.

Had to do something,
you know, from a divorce family.

I know how it is
not to see my dad every once in a while.

I could never imagine
never seeing him again.

The following year,
one of my students lost their dads

to gun violence in Hartford.

And a boxing event. So

helped.

And we started Friends of Feeney.

Since then, we've helped over 90 families
and raise over $225,000.

Now, yeah.

We have a brand new website.

Check it out on Friends of Phoenix.

Com we have an event coming up
if you're free.

February 28th Wolf Pack game.

We get like 5 or $6 per ticket.

We'll have a big group.

We have a golf tournament September 13th.
Yeah.

You go often. Mass.

Yeah, yeah, Max we sponsor.

You're a movie critic website.

Yeah, we'll
we'll get you a t sign out there.

Yeah.

So, yeah, just thank you so much. And,

any closing remarks?

I'm just very grateful that you took
the time to speak with us today.

This is a wonderful thing.

You have going,
and I, I hope to be back soon, and.

Yeah, thank you so much.

We'll make it an annual Oscar review
party podcast.

Actually, I'd like to conclude with you
being a teacher.

And again, I had mentioned earlier
and it's something that

the kids don't identify with.

But again, for any parents listening,
you know, we say, oh, you know, kids

aren't maybe mainstreamed or playing
sports and all that, and who cares?

Like, you want your kids to thrive,
to find their passion.

And Jake and Max turn it.

Like most kids on a spectrum,
they don't have huge.

It's all about it's
nothing about aptitude.

It's all about minimal interest
and deep focus.

And obviously his interest is cinema.

Now, we haven't even talked
about literature.

They read nonstop also.

I mean, Max can read
literally 4 or 5 books in a week.

Not right now,
because he's writing all the time.

And that's just wonderful
to, to do, you know, so again,

all about encouragement, for,

for everyone, others within your house
or on your own team or in life.

I totally agree.

If you're if your kids passion in art
lead them in that direction

building, sculpture, movies,
whatever it is.

Writing, yeah.

Rivalry, whatever they do,
whatever they want to do.

Yeah. So my daughter likes. Yeah.

Oh, we got to do a quick,
quick couple shout outs.

Let's do a quick little game.
We got get people under the bus.

We're going to play start sit bench.

You got to start someone I'm going
to give you three people.

Start sit bench.

Okay I like it now.

But in terms of just
for like the final minute for who I mean.

Oh yeah.

So let's say five minutes on the clock
tie score.

You got to start sit bench.

Oh okay.

We're going to go tie Andy Scott to start

Andy.

Irwin. Scott. Matt. Scotty. Mac. Yeah.

Tom I want, I want I want Scotty on the,
I want Scotty I'll do it.

But I want obviously Ty Ty to to play.

You got to start. Someone sit someone.

Oh wait.

That's what I'm. Actually.

Oh wait. Wait of. A it's cut. Oops.

It's cut.

You got to cut. Someone start bench cut.

Yeah.

Since Andy's passed on me
a few times, I'm going to pass on him.

Not in person, I love him.
I love his passion for Michigan State.

But I'm going to go with Ty and Scotty
Mack.

They got the chemistry out there. Cool.
All right.

Same game near Fuchs Bender.

Oh, God.

Start bench cut.

I'll figure if it's going late,
the game could be at nine.

So Bender won't even be there
so he can cut Bender.

Even though I love the guy. And,

Fuchs may

be looking after my money and, but,

but damn near is a, former Israeli

soldier, so it's tough to go against
Nair down the stretch.

I want near on on the court.

And, I'll go with Nia and Ben and, sorry,
big Dave Bender, but we're going to.

We're going to stick. To the Paul.

Bender. Yeah, exactly. Sacred pool.

Rabbi Seth

Brett.

And, being on the court, I like,

I like,
I like Brett making the right decisions.

So that's going to be due for that, three
if he.

He can make the threes if he's in rhythm.

But if he's off rhythm,
I don't like him shooting.

And, Rabbi
won't have out there in the final stages.

We got Evan, Jason, Ryan and Nir.

And should we. Already know,
we already did.

Near near some
skin near out of here. Yeah.

I got a cover

near in about an hour.

All right.

Evan. Jason. Rick hurts.

Hey, man,
let's let's talk about some other things.

Finally.
I've got a lot of other questions. You.

I bet you know, I'll just tell you.

You didn't ask me my favorite movies.

Oh. Favorite movies?

Just couple things.

We'll we'll see.

So I would say

we one thing that he didn't mention
at all, it was all, like, serious movies.

And the boys in there, you guys aren't
not like, blockbuster, Marvel type stuff.

You know, they're into real, like,

you know, I don't wanna say real cinema
because it's all part of cinema.

But what they like,

and not to me.

Like, we like, like frozen.

What movie was he in? The Incredibles?

I just love those growing up.

You know, we really connected with that
Mufasa with The Lion King.

To me, Finding Nemo, it's
just a great like the dad.

Yeah, it's a great.

It's like, it's,
every father would love it that just like,

I would treat

you guys like father would go anywhere
and do anything for the kids, and.

But to me, Godfather just wanted
to, listen.

And I often will watch it,
and it comes on.

It's like, what, three hours each?

And we'll just, you know, have a weekend
and just, you know, just watch it.

Two, you know, 6 or 8 hours. It is.

I think The Godfather
is just absolutely spectacular.

And I know you mentioned seeing things
in the theater, Carlito's Way.

You ever see that Carlito's Way
with Al Pacino?

Yeah.

I don't recognize Sean Penn. Oh.

The blond from

forgot her name, but amazing movie.

Saw that in a theater 3 or 4 times.

Go back and check it out.

Wonderful to re see movies.

Actually. Look, let me.

I would love to see you
do a review on Carlito's Way.

Which literally is not to get political
because I'm not at all.

But just like with the terror thing
with Mexico and Canada, what are some in

the top like Canadian actor or actresses
or any movies that like a from from there.

I have some great friends up in

northern,

northern country of Canada.

I mean, Canada has always been, a place

where where it's always been
a huge filmmaking location.

Yeah, lots of people will sit there and,
I don't you want you want to go to the to.

The tiff Toronto.
I'd love to go to Toronto.

International Film Fest is.

A huge to it road trip. Fargo I think.

It's go.

Yeah, absolutely. I'd love to. Okay.

But but yeah.

We're going to have to wrap it up, but.
Oh go ahead.

Yeah. I was going to say,

I, I always struggle

to pronounce this, guy's name,

enemy Egoyan I can't pronounce his name,

but he's, a really acclaimed
filmmaker, and, and Canada.

And he has a movie coming out,
and the U.S., on,

March 20th, with Amanda Seyfried.

It's called Southern Belles.

They just unleashed that
and they just released the trailer.

It looks very interesting.

It's definitely the kind of movie that,
I watch a lot.

And, she hasn't been in anything
in a while.

So, for, Canadians who are, interested
in finding out what's, you know, what?

But cinema from, their country is coming.

That is something I'm looking forward to.

I'm going to bring it,
and I'm. That's going to be my, march.

I'm going to bring you to.
The Cannes again. I want. To.

Thank my friend for the shirt.

I want to thank billion Max hair.

Go, go and check it
out. The films critic ticket.

He's doing it once a month.

We're going to hold him to his nominees.
We'll check it out.

I also want to shout out that
Rabbi was episode 64, Evan was episode 55,

John Decker was episode 65, and Ty,

Andy, and Scotty Mac were episode
22 and 50.

We're happy to have Billy.

It only took him 127 episodes.

And I'm on the road a lot. I've been busy.

He's too busy in Vegas.

And check out our podcast.

Check, please.

Like and share and subscribe
to Feeney talks with friends.

Come to the.

Well, matter of fact.
I'm speaking of Vegas.

One time I was at the pool
and I had the friends of Feeney.

Sure was great Venetian pool.

To pull that up.
Yeah, we're going to get that clip.

Add the photo right now. Boom boom.

So on three will say be a good friend.

All right.

123 be a good friend.

All righty.