Feb. 14, 2024
Madame Web Review

Enjoy our quick, SPOILER-FREE review of "Madame Web." Are you a fan of the film? Let us know! For exclusive episodes and content, check out https://www.patreon.com/afilmbypodcast with a FREE 7-day trial! Check out https://www.afilmbypodcast.com/ for...
Enjoy our quick, SPOILER-FREE review of "Madame Web." Are you a fan of the film? Let us know!
For exclusive episodes and content, check out A Film By... on Patreon! with a FREE 7-day trial!
Check out www.afilmbypodcast.com/ for more information.
Email us at afilmbypodcast@gmail.com with your questions, comments, and requests.
Find us on X Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @afilmbypodcast.
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:15.560
You get more out of life when
you go out to a movie. And
2
00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:20.199
now on with the show. Hello
everybody, and welcome back to the box
3
00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:25.359
office. I'm Jeff Johnson for a
Film By podcast. Honestly, we did
4
00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:29.960
not have this review scheduled, but
after seeing so many critics bash it yesterday,
5
00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:37.640
I thought i'd offer you a different
spin on Madam Webb. This is
6
00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:41.600
an emergency. That man is trying
to kill you. If you want to
7
00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:45.840
live and you have to druss me
what is going on? I can see
8
00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:53.359
the future. Let's try that.
Those girls have no idea the power they
9
00:00:53.399 --> 00:01:02.679
can unlock. I will kill them
first. Good down, Madam Webb.
10
00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:07.439
Exclusively in cinemas, Madam Webb is
the latest entry in Sony's Spider Man universe,
11
00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:12.359
which ironically does not feature a Spider
Man. But hey, why should
12
00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:18.480
that stop him? Speaking of restraint, this next statement may stop several of
13
00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:23.439
you, but I will offer this
caution. If you were heading out to
14
00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:29.000
see it because you watched the trailer
and you thoroughly enjoyed seeing several spider women
15
00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:34.120
swing into action and kick some ass. This is not that movie. You
16
00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:38.000
might even say, it's not a
superhero movie. So what is it exactly
17
00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.120
well, actually, it's a thriller. Dakota Johnson stars as Cassandra Webb,
18
00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:49.959
a New York paramedic with clairvoyant powers
who biggrudgingly takes on the responsibility of protecting
19
00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:56.000
three teenage girls from a villain that
can only be described as a murderous Spider
20
00:01:56.040 --> 00:02:00.480
Man. He's after the trio of
high school girls because he knew in the
21
00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:06.760
very near future they'll ultimately be the
cause of his demise once they adopt the
22
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:13.319
mantle of spider powered crime fighters.
Sidney Sweeney, Isabella Marcead and celest O'Connor
23
00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:16.639
do a fairly good job with the
roles are given, and Adam Scott in
24
00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:22.919
a supporting role does not disappoint.
But this is Dakota Johnson's movie. She
25
00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:27.520
is clearly having fun with the role. She's very believable, and I kind
26
00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.560
of dig the fact that she's not
exactly jazzed to take on the hero role
27
00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.560
and save the day. Now,
we will go into the web with her
28
00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:38.159
and go on this journey where she'll
learn a little bit about her origin,
29
00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:43.439
which does feel kind of cheesy,
but hey, it is Sony's Spider Man
30
00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:46.759
universe, so we will cut her
a little bit of slack. However,
31
00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:53.039
we will not cut any slack for
Tahir Raheem, who plays our villain Ezekiel.
32
00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:55.639
I seen him last year in Ridley
Scott's Napoleon, so I can tell
33
00:02:55.680 --> 00:03:01.240
you the guy can act. But
whether he's just miscast here or he doesn't
34
00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:07.479
know what movie he's supposed to be
playing in is debatable. And there's another
35
00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:12.719
thing going on that's kind of weird
in the movie where and maybe this is
36
00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:16.199
an adr thing, but a lot
of the time he's talking, his mouth
37
00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:21.520
just isn't matching what's coming out of
it. The plot of the movie is
38
00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.599
gonna feel a little bit familiar.
Remember, we've got a tough female character
39
00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:30.960
who's trying to stop a very powerful
villain from killing some younger characters. So
40
00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:35.199
it is going to give off a
little bit of Terminator two vibes for you,
41
00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:40.879
but it's still a fun ride.
Madam Webb is the feature film directorial
42
00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:49.840
debut of SJ. Clarkson. She
is a very accomplished television director whose credits
43
00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.439
include, among others, Bates Motel, Orange Is The New Black, Jessica
44
00:03:53.520 --> 00:04:00.719
Jones, Collateral, and Succession.
Madam Webb does suffer some clunky dialogue.
45
00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:08.120
However, the tension is maintained throughout. It's well paced, and Clarkson's use
46
00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:13.840
of color is commendable. The story
is set in the year two thousand and
47
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.160
three, so it is fun to
kind of spot some Easter eggs throughout the
48
00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:21.920
picture and whether or not it was
intentional, this definitely does feel like an
49
00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:28.160
early two thousand superhero movie. I'm
not saying it's Spider Man X Men level
50
00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:31.079
quality, but maybe a little bit
better than Daredevil, maybe a little bit
51
00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:38.240
better than Electra, and I promise
you far better than Morbius. That is
52
00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:43.399
my spoiler free take on Madam web
And as for whether you should web sling
53
00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.800
your way to the theater to see
it, stream it, or skip it,
54
00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:51.079
I would probably advise you stay at
home, comfortable in your Spider Man
55
00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:57.680
pajamas and wait to stream it.
It's a fun movie, but you don't
56
00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:00.920
have to run right out and see
this one. I'm Jeff Johnson for a
57
00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:06.360
Film by podcast, reminding you that
we'll buy the tickets if you buy the popcorn
1
00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:15.560
You get more out of life when
you go out to a movie. And
2
00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:20.199
now on with the show. Hello
everybody, and welcome back to the box
3
00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:25.359
office. I'm Jeff Johnson for a
Film By podcast. Honestly, we did
4
00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:29.960
not have this review scheduled, but
after seeing so many critics bash it yesterday,
5
00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:37.640
I thought i'd offer you a different
spin on Madam Webb. This is
6
00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:41.600
an emergency. That man is trying
to kill you. If you want to
7
00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:45.840
live and you have to druss me
what is going on? I can see
8
00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:53.359
the future. Let's try that.
Those girls have no idea the power they
9
00:00:53.399 --> 00:01:02.679
can unlock. I will kill them
first. Good down, Madam Webb.
10
00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:07.439
Exclusively in cinemas, Madam Webb is
the latest entry in Sony's Spider Man universe,
11
00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:12.359
which ironically does not feature a Spider
Man. But hey, why should
12
00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:18.480
that stop him? Speaking of restraint, this next statement may stop several of
13
00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:23.439
you, but I will offer this
caution. If you were heading out to
14
00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:29.000
see it because you watched the trailer
and you thoroughly enjoyed seeing several spider women
15
00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:34.120
swing into action and kick some ass. This is not that movie. You
16
00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:38.000
might even say, it's not a
superhero movie. So what is it exactly
17
00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.120
well, actually, it's a thriller. Dakota Johnson stars as Cassandra Webb,
18
00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:49.959
a New York paramedic with clairvoyant powers
who biggrudgingly takes on the responsibility of protecting
19
00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:56.000
three teenage girls from a villain that
can only be described as a murderous Spider
20
00:01:56.040 --> 00:02:00.480
Man. He's after the trio of
high school girls because he knew in the
21
00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:06.760
very near future they'll ultimately be the
cause of his demise once they adopt the
22
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:13.319
mantle of spider powered crime fighters.
Sidney Sweeney, Isabella Marcead and celest O'Connor
23
00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:16.639
do a fairly good job with the
roles are given, and Adam Scott in
24
00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:22.919
a supporting role does not disappoint.
But this is Dakota Johnson's movie. She
25
00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:27.520
is clearly having fun with the role. She's very believable, and I kind
26
00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.560
of dig the fact that she's not
exactly jazzed to take on the hero role
27
00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.560
and save the day. Now,
we will go into the web with her
28
00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:38.159
and go on this journey where she'll
learn a little bit about her origin,
29
00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:43.439
which does feel kind of cheesy,
but hey, it is Sony's Spider Man
30
00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:46.759
universe, so we will cut her
a little bit of slack. However,
31
00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:53.039
we will not cut any slack for
Tahir Raheem, who plays our villain Ezekiel.
32
00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:55.639
I seen him last year in Ridley
Scott's Napoleon, so I can tell
33
00:02:55.680 --> 00:03:01.240
you the guy can act. But
whether he's just miscast here or he doesn't
34
00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:07.479
know what movie he's supposed to be
playing in is debatable. And there's another
35
00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:12.719
thing going on that's kind of weird
in the movie where and maybe this is
36
00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:16.199
an adr thing, but a lot
of the time he's talking, his mouth
37
00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:21.520
just isn't matching what's coming out of
it. The plot of the movie is
38
00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.599
gonna feel a little bit familiar.
Remember, we've got a tough female character
39
00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:30.960
who's trying to stop a very powerful
villain from killing some younger characters. So
40
00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:35.199
it is going to give off a
little bit of Terminator two vibes for you,
41
00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:40.879
but it's still a fun ride.
Madam Webb is the feature film directorial
42
00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:49.840
debut of SJ. Clarkson. She
is a very accomplished television director whose credits
43
00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.439
include, among others, Bates Motel, Orange Is The New Black, Jessica
44
00:03:53.520 --> 00:04:00.719
Jones, Collateral, and Succession.
Madam Webb does suffer some clunky dialogue.
45
00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:08.120
However, the tension is maintained throughout. It's well paced, and Clarkson's use
46
00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:13.840
of color is commendable. The story
is set in the year two thousand and
47
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.160
three, so it is fun to
kind of spot some Easter eggs throughout the
48
00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:21.920
picture and whether or not it was
intentional, this definitely does feel like an
49
00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:28.160
early two thousand superhero movie. I'm
not saying it's Spider Man X Men level
50
00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:31.079
quality, but maybe a little bit
better than Daredevil, maybe a little bit
51
00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:38.240
better than Electra, and I promise
you far better than Morbius. That is
52
00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:43.399
my spoiler free take on Madam web
And as for whether you should web sling
53
00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.800
your way to the theater to see
it, stream it, or skip it,
54
00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:51.079
I would probably advise you stay at
home, comfortable in your Spider Man
55
00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:57.680
pajamas and wait to stream it.
It's a fun movie, but you don't
56
00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:00.920
have to run right out and see
this one. I'm Jeff Johnson for a
57
00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:06.360
Film by podcast, reminding you that
we'll buy the tickets if you buy the popcorn
















