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Previous Next With the release of Men, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five A24 Films. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. EIGHTH GRADE No one has understood millennial/gen-z angst and culture quite like Bo Burnham, and his feature debut, Eighth Grade , is proof of that ideal in movie form. Simultaneously sharp and awkward, the film flawlessly threads the line between the horrors of growing up and its most endearing discoveries. A24 was the perfect studio for Burnham to flex his writing and directing muscles, and frankly, few debuts have ever been more superb. - Jacob 4. MIDSOMMAR Although Ari Aster’s Hereditary feels like the film that put A24 on the horror map, this follow-up is no less commanding even as it’s completely different. Its bright colors and unique setting make it unlike any horror movie you’ve seen before, while the story still pays homage to classics like The Wicker Man . It's mesmerizing, haunting, bizarre, psychedelic, and the epitome of an unforgettable arthouse film that still has mainstream appeal. - Joseph 3. LADY BIRD In her directorial debut, Greta Gerwig crafts a relatable film that is both funny and heartbreaking. Lady Bird understands not only the qualms of navigating identity as a teenager, but also navigating familial relationships. Though featuring outstanding performances, it's Gerwig's script, which features flawed yet empathetic characters, that is front and centre, allowing the film to shine and resonate with audiences to a masterful degree. - Jasmine 2. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Honestly, Everything Everywhere All At Once may be one of the most creative and poignant movies ever. Writing/directing duo Daniels craft such a unique multiversal experience that is somehow an awesome action film, a side-splitting comedy, and a beautiful family drama all at the same time. A genuinely impressive accomplishment. - Adriano 1. EX MACHINA Although the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Ex Machina is Nathan Bateman and Kyoko (Oscar Isaac and Sonoya Mizuno, respectively) “tearing up the fucking dance floor,” that in no way diminishes the heady themes, taut story, beautiful profundity, and engaging performances on display in Alex Garland’s directorial debut. I don’t think it's out of line to call Ex Machina one of the 21st century’s best science fiction movies. - Quentin HONORABLE MENTIONS THE GREEN KNIGHT ROOM HEREDITARY UNCUT GEMS X Photo Credits: A24

Previous Next July 12, 2025

Previous Next March 1, 2025 WRITTEN BY: THE BITESIZE CREW Time for the Bitesize Crew to predict the 97th Academy Awards. Will the controversies affect the voting? Will they finally get the "In Memoriam" section right? Who the hell is walking away with Best Picture? We have our thoughts…

COPENHAGEN COWBOY: SEASON ONE Starring: Angela Bundalovic, Fleur Frilund, Lola Corfixen, Zlatko Buric, Andreas Lykke Jørgensen, Jason Hendil-Forssell, Li Ii Zhang, Dragana Milutinovic, Mikael Bertelsen, Mads Brügger, Ramadan Huseini, and Per Thiim Thim Creators: Nicolas Winding Refn and Sara Isabella Jønsson QUENTIN Filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn has two careers: The Good One (everything before career highlight Drive ) and The Bad One (everything after Drive ). Sadly, Copenhagen Cowboy is another Bad One offering, where he only seems interested in finding new ways to use stylish neon lighting and fantastic synth-pop music, story be damned. Admittedly, both aspects are highlights here, but they don’t serve anything resembling an actual plot. It’s almost like a six-hour visual art experiment, and at that length, NWR’s self-indulgent shortcomings require a lot of patience. I wish he’d get back to his pre-Drive sensibilities because what he’s doing now isn’t working for me.

Previous Next With the upcoming release of Beast, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Man v. Wild Films. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. THE MARTIAN One may not consider The Martian a man v. wild movie at first, but from where I sit, Ridley Scott’s brilliant adaptation of the famous novel fits the mold as much as anything else. Left with only the tools that remain, Matt Damon churns out one of his best performances ever as Mark Watney, an astronaut left to brave the Martian elements with only his wits and some disco music. Almost every moment of this movie works perfectly, both dramatic and comedic. - Jacob 4. 127 HOURS Director Danny Boyle uses 127 Hours ‘ real-life, man v. wild story to craft one of his best films yet…maybe even his absolute best, full stop. It’s tough to watch at times due to some of its more graphic moments, but it remains an inspiring story anyway, as it explores a man's will and struggle to survive. Quite frankly, that is as man v. wild as you can get. - Adriano 3. CAST AWAY A modern-day Robinson Crusoe , Cast Away is still, in my opinion, one of Tom Hanks’ best and most memorable roles. It’s probably the most perfect depiction of not just someone trapped in isolation, but of a man fighting to survive nature. It's inspirational, beautiful, and surprisingly funny. The fact that Cast Away can make you care about a volleyball proves just how good this film is. It’s an underappreciated classic. - Joseph 2. JAWS “You're gonna need a bigger boat” to understand how much I love this film! Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is a classic blockbuster masterpiece. It’s a well-crafted film that still brings terror to my eyes every time I watch it, and let’s not forget about the iconic score from John Williams. Once you hear that theme, you just know it’s shark time and somebody’s about to get eaten. That’s enough to keep me out of the deep blue sea. - Paige 1. JURASSIC PARK Jurassic Park should be headlining a lot of “Top” lists, and for good reason. The characters are interesting, the pacing is great, the story is tight, and it does what every blockbuster is supposed to do - entertain you. But probably the most amazing thing is that the “wild” aspect still holds up almost 30 years later. The dinosaurs look real, feel real, act real, and most importantly, give you a reason to care about the movie. It’ll hold up for another 30 years too. - Amarú HONORABLE MENTIONS INTO THE WILD THE SHALLOWS TWISTER THE REVENANT THE PERFECT STORM Photo Credits: Photo 1, 3 - 20th Century Studios; Photo 2 - Warner Bros; Photo 4, 5 - Universal Pictures

Previous Next January 3, 2024 WRITTEN BY: PAIGE Beantown has so much rich history ingrained into its roots that, of course, some of the best films ever made have this city as its backdrop. Now, before you jump ahead, I’m not saying all the films listed below belong in the “best films ever made” conversation, but they certainly do feel like the most authentic films set in Boston, from the accent (there’s nothing a Masshole hates more than a bad Boston accent) to the aesthetic of the city and its culture as a whole. Plus, some of these simply are amongst my favorite films, and they just so happen to be set in the best city in the world. Being born and raised in Massachusetts, these films hold such a special place in my heart, and they have influenced my overall love for cinema. Whether they are about our legendary sports teams or crimes set in the city, they do something that many films don’t, which is capture the stories’ setting in such a way that it is almost another character within the movie…and Boston is certainly a main character in all the films listed below. So, go park your car in Harvard yard and check out my favorite Boston-based films… FEVER PITCH (2005) Fever Pitch is one of the best Beantown comedies because so many Boston sports fans can relate to Jimmy Fallon’s character. We’re a die-hard sports city, and we’re dedicated to our teams, whether we win or lose, just like Fallon’s Ben Wrightman. And while, yes, we’ve been blessed over the last 20 years with stellar sports teams, it wasn’t really until around the time Fever Pitch was being made that we became blessed with our baseball team. In a sense, this movie has become a good luck charm for us and the Red Sox. We hadn’t won a World Series in more than 80 years, so when the Sox finally won the World Series in 2004, our city rallied around this movie. They even had to rewrite the ending to capture that special feeling and excitement of finally winning. It makes the movie truly something special to rewatch, even when some of the jokes don’t hit it out of the park. SPOTLIGHT (2015) While Spotlight is more of a journalism movie than a full-blown Boston movie with regard to its aesthetic, it is based on the true story of several Boston Globe reporters working together to blow the lid off the biggest criminal corruption that had been occurring within the Catholic church. Frankly, it’s no wonder this film won Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture at the Oscars. It’s extremely unsettling, but also a powerful film that reveals the truth of this tragedy. It does a fascinating job depicting this real-life story, and through its phenomenal writing and perfectly balanced ensemble, including Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams, this gem really elevates the reputation of the reporters to hero status. Although these horrible crimes happened across the U.S., the fact that a Boston newspaper was able to break the case shows that Bostonians aren’t only tough badasses, but also are wicked smart. GONE BABY GONE (2007) This gritty mystery proved that Ben Affleck has what it takes to step behind the camera and become one of the best filmmakers working today. In his directorial debut, based on Dennis Lehane’s book, we get the other Affleck (Casey Affleck) as a private investigator looking into the disappearance of a little girl with the help of his girlfriend, played by Michelle Monaghan. Gone Baby Gone is one of those films that won't be gone from your mind after you see it. It’s a gripping crime thriller that is full of twists and turns you won’t see coming. Plus, it’s filled to the brim with dynamite performances from Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, and Amy Ryan (who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress), all of whom help bring Boston’s working class to life with their lived-in and raw portrayals. I must say Ben Affleck truly found his calling with this film, and it’s making stellar movies set in Boston. MYSTIC RIVER (2003) One of the most gripping Boston-set films is Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River . This Best Picture nominee has such a captivating story of three childhood friends (played by Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, and Tim Robbins) whose lives are forever altered after a tragic occurrence. But Mystic River isn’t just another gritty film revolving around a criminal act in Boston; it’s so much deeper than that. The film explores themes of revenge, loyalty, and trauma that are delivered so well through its writing and performances, especially by Penn, who won Best Actor for this role. This is personally my favorite Eastwood movie, and while some of the Boston accents are hit and miss (I’m talking to you, Tim Robbins), there’s no denying that this film captures a rawness that a lot of Bostonians can relate to. THE FIGHTER (2010) Not only is The Fighter one of the best movies set in Boston, but it’s honestly one of the best boxing films to date. This sports biopic based on the professional boxer Micky “Irish” Ward, played by the Boston bad boy himself, Mark Wahlberg, is such a soulful story that will punch you right in the gut. This character-driven drama is heartbreaking and inspiring all at once, and it’s more than just a boxing movie - it's a movie about the struggles within this family unit. While the actual fights may take place in the ring, the real battle is going on outside the ropes amongst the family members, which is what really draws your attention to this stellar story. With a knockout cast including Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo, there’s no denying you're in for a treat. Both Bale and Leo won Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress, respectively, for their work here, giving maybe the best performances of their careers. They deserve all the praise for nailing the Boston accent too, which makes us Bostonians extremely proud. THE DEPARTED (2006) Contrary to popular belief, The Departed is not based on the famous Boston criminal Whitey Bulger, even though it sure feels like it. It’s actually a remake of the Hong Kong film Internal Affairs . This riveting gangster drama stars some of the biggest names in Hollywood, from Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio to some of our favorite Bostonian actors, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg. In addition to its phenomenal ensemble (I'm still baffled at how Mark Wahlberg was the only actor in this masterpiece to get nominated for an Oscar), it’s directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, who directed the fucking hell out of this film, leading it to not only win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but also netting Scorsese his first and (to date) only Best Director Oscar. This movie drips with authentic Boston vibes, from its nitty-gritty underground gangster crime story to casually throwing the F-bomb around 237 times. And, oh man, while that ending shot may be considered divisive (which baffles me), it’s personally one of my favorite symbolic endings in any film. At the end of the day, not only is The Departed a top-tier Scorsese film, it’s a top-tier Boston flick. GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997) The movie that birthed two of the biggest Boston names, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, catapulting them to Hollywood success, is Good Will Hunting . Without this film, we may have never gotten these two brilliant and talented men, a duo that ended up winning Best Original Screenplay for this gem. What they were able to capture in this coming-of-age story is not only raw but elegantly masterful. We also got one of my favorite performances from my favorite actor, Robin Williams, who deservedly won an Oscar for his portrayal as the therapist to Damon’s character. This story about a few guys from Southie learning the importance of thinking for themselves and overcoming the trauma in their lives is something that many can connect with, even if you're not from our neck of the woods. Overall, this film opened the floodgates to the Boston scene, and its existence has influenced many Boston-set films. I don’t know about you, but I sure as hell liked them apples and this movie! THE TOWN (2010) The most wicked awesome Boston movie on my list goes too… The Town ! In my opinion, it’s the most authentic Boston-based film, from the raw performances and stellar accents (Jeremy Renner gets two thumbs up in my book for the best Boston accent from a non-Bostonian) to attempting to pull off the most epic heist in robbing Fenway Park. Having shot these brutal action sequences in and around the neighborhoods of Boston makes this flick all the more rich and magical. Ben Affleck does a phenomenal job in front of and behind the camera in what I consider his best film to date, and what he’s able to capture in this tense and exhilarating drama makes it one of the best modern heist films. Loosely adapted from Chuck Hogan's 2004 novel Prince of Thieves , The Town follows a group of guys from Charlestown who gravitate towards a life of crime, robbing banks and armored cars, and the difficulties of being unable to escape their circumstances. The filmmakers even managed to work with real-life Boston criminals to provide in-depth details to make the story and robberies feel that much more enhanced and real. If that ain’t Boston enough for you, I don’t know what is. Photo Credits: Photo 1 - 20th Century Studios; Photo 2 - Open Road Films; Photo 3, 7 - Miramax Films; Photo 4, 6, 8 - Warner Bros. Pictures; Photo 5 - Paramount Pictures

YELLOWSTONE: SEASON FIVE - PART ONE Starring: Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Gil Birmingham, Finn Little, Forrie J. Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Ryan Bingham, Wendy Moniz, Jen Landon, and Mo Brings Plenty Creators: Taylor Sheridan and John Linson QUENTIN PART ONE In Season Five: Part One, Yellowstone continues the slow downward trajectory started in Season Four. Through the first eight episodes, the fall from Great Show to Decent Show has been completed, mostly because nothing happens (Kevin Costner, Cole Hauser, and the cinematography remain excellent). Sure, there are small incidents…a car accident here, a bar fight there…but they are mostly forgotten by the next episode. Overall, the series is still hampered by the lack of a central villain, so all we are left with is the overwritten family melodrama (Beth (Kelly Reilly), especially). That said, it’s set up to return to form with an explosive Part Two.

WEDNESDAY: SEASON ONE Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Christina Ricci, Moosa Mostafa, Isaac Ordonez, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Luis Guzmán Creators: Alfred Gough and Miles Millar AMARÚ Wednesday has a peculiar vibe I really enjoy: Harry Potter aesthetics, Buffy (good Buffy ) campiness, and a Sherlock Holmes-ish family mystery fit for The CW. Some editing and dialogue choices are reminiscent of the “Young Adult Soap Opera” shows on that network, but those are nitpicks when you have a lead as powerful as Jenna Ortega (Wednesday). She is a perfect fit for the role whilst making it uniquely her own, which is all the more impressive considering she’s playing alongside her predecessor, Christina Ricci. I love a well-made teenage show, and Wednesday , the character and the series, delivers that on multiple levels. PAIGE This series is very much a mix of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Riverdale , and with that, I’m afraid to say the choice to go full YA may have been a deadly one here. Wednesday never fully captures the wicked magic that made The Addams Family films oddly enjoyable. If it weren’t for Jenna Ortega’s morbidly good performance as Wednesday Addams, not to mention the charming aid of her handy sidekick Thing, this show would not have worked as well as it does.

Previous Next February 21, 2025

DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN: SEASON ONE Starring: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Margarita Levieva, Michael Gandolfini, Genneya Walton, Michael Gaston, Will Fitz, Mark Geller, Nikki M. James, Wilson Bethel, and Jon Bernthal Creator: Dario Scardapane, Matt Corman, and Chris Ord NICK There was apprehension about how violent and gritty Disney could make Daredevil: Born Again but by the conclusion of the first season, any doubts are washed away. This really does feel like a continuation of the beloved Netflix series (with an added MCU tie-in of course) and a return to form for Charlie Cox as a deeply conflicted Matt Murdock in an unraveling Hell’s Kitchen. Although it takes a little bit to fully settle in, by season's end it's clear there are zero limitations being put on showrunner Dario Scardapane and that's a very exciting place to be leading into Season Two. QUENTIN Born Again works well as a continuation of Netflix’s Daredevil and a soft MCU reboot for Daredevil/Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Kingpin/Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). Thankfully, it maintains its predecessor’s dark, gritty, and violent tone instead of glossing it up to match Daredevil’s appearance in She-Hulk . That said, the series takes a minute to find its footing, and given the creative overhaul that went down mid-production, a few subplots feel Frankensteined together. Plus, this is more Lawyer Murdock’s and Mayor Fisk’s story than Vigilante Daredevil’s and Crime Boss Kingpin’s. Still, it’s very good, and is set up for an even better Season Two. AMARÚ I want to thank the Born Again showrunners for all the reshoots that had to happen to get these versions of Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) into the MCU. Both characters are gritty and complicated, and this first season seamlessly blends the Netflix seasons’ tone into the universe on the strength of their shoulders. Focusing on the emotional layers of Murdock and Fisk’s intertwined lives creates such a deeply rich show that it doesn’t even need their better-known monikers to suck you in. So, when their alter egos do emerge, it’s that much more earned. Season Two can’t come soon enough. ROBERT As the MCU TV portfolio has been middling, at best, Born Again was intended to be the savior, and it does admirable work to convey its intentions to be different. While I appreciate the craftsmanship and the commitment to uber violence, I thought it was clearly uneven, and sometimes soulless as its first season played out its nine episodes. Unlike the Netflix iterations, which started its own universe, this feels like a cog in a greater machine. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio do impeccable work, especially together, but a clear vision seemed to be missing overall. Want to hear even more of our thoughts? Amarú and Nick join Matt to take A Bigger Bite out of Daredevil: Born Again: Season One HERE .

SAUSAGE PARTY: FOODTOPIA: SEASON TWO Starring: Seth Rogen, Will Forte, Edward Norton, Michael Cera, Jillian Bell, Andre Braugher, Marion Cotillard, Patti Harrison, Ruth Negga, Sam Richardson, Martin Starr, and David Krumholtz Creators: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir QUENTIN In its second season, Foodtopia interestingly (thankfully?) dials back the over-the-top raunch and leans into the food puns. It also shifts from the hyper-focused satire on religion and politics to deliver a broader message about morality and co-existence, all while effectively expanding the dystopian food-driven world, character development, and serialized storytelling. Admittedly, not all the jokes land (a Will Smith-slap joke in 2025?), but the sheer volume of clever one-liners and deep movie references scattered throughout the eight breezy episodes make the duds forgivable. Foodtopia has become more than just a diversion, and if it keeps featuring puns like Francis Ford Capicola, I’ll keep coming back. Check out our reviews for Season One HERE .

VELMA: SEASON ONE Starring: Mindy Kaling, Glenn Howerton, Sam Richardson, Constance Wu, Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, Russell Peters, and Melissa Fumero Creator: Charlie Grandy ADRIANO Velma just made me say “why” the entire time. The creators stripped away everything that made Scooby-Doo the best and replaced it with a mean-spirited tone, bad animation, and non-joke jokes that even some decent voice work can’t save. There is a way to do IP with a fresh interpretation, but this show feels like the writers were just trying to be edgy instead of making people laugh or tell a story. It’s like watching the Mystery Machine crash in slow motion, and I couldn’t look away as I saw the charm of Scooby-Doo get demolished. Jinkies, indeed. AMARÚ Velma is… a lot, and not in a good way. It’s a train wreck you either can’t stop watching, or you jump off of before it picks up too much steam. There’s no in-between. The story feels like another show was slapped with the Scooby-Doo IP just to get more eyes on it. The R-rated content tries to create a pathway to honestly talk about adult themes, but it ultimately comes off as preachy, cringy, or corny. The fairly stacked voice cast is wasted on dialogue that wants to be edgy but falls way short of surface level. I’m really glad Scoob is nowhere near this property. PAIGE Jinkies, this show is cringy. Velma strips away the Mystery Inc. characters’ identities that we grew up with and makes you not like them at all. I feel like this season had no clear focus on what it wanted to do besides shit all over these characters. It’s tedious AF, and a big ol’ slap in the face to the Scooby-Doo IP. Honestly, what makes this show fall short is the annoying meta approach it takes with its humor. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all here for being meta, but it’s gotta stick the landing; Velma doesn’t in the slightest.