BFG Podcast #032: ‘The Power of the Dog,’ ‘Hawkeye,’ ‘Succession,’…and More! Neal Pollack and the BFG writing corps break down the week in culture

In this week’s essential episode of the Book and Film Globe Week in Review podcast, editor Neal Pollack calls the new Jane Campion revisionist Western, ‘The Power of the Dog,’ “sour and misanthropic.” Film critic Stephen Garrett has nicer things to say about the movie, praising Campion for her gorgeous Montana landscapes and for her ability to juggle a variety of well-written characters. It’s also interesting, he says to see a female director’s take on “toxic masculinity.” He cannot turn Neal, though, and they both mock the movie’s over-used “repressed gay cowboy tropes.” “I’m gonna oil my rope and give you my rope,” Stephen says. Long live Bronco Henry!

Chris Farnsworth visits the ol’ podcast ranch for a discussion of the year in comics, highlighting great new series in the Eternals, Watchmen, and Sandman universe. He and Neal also discuss the delightful new Marvel TV show ‘Hawkeye‘ on Disney+, based on a comic-book series that Chris also read, and they’re both glad to see the “Pizza Dog” finally make his screen debut.

Then Matthew Ehrlich makes his podcast debut to discuss why no one on Succession is likable. Mathew also endures a long-ish Neal Pollack rant about why no one on Curb Your Enthusiasm is wearing masks, even though it’s set in pandemic-era Los Angeles and takes place mostly in restaurants, doctor’s offices, and airports. Very curious!

It’s a great podcast episode, please listen, thank you.