iTunes Exclusive Episode Step

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time for iTunes exclusive number three, ten.
He's hard to believe we've done this many of them, but we're still going to keep it moving,
man.
Gotta keep it moving.
Welcome.
My name is Rob.
I'm the executive producer of the clubhouse podcast, and I have a fur ball that is trying
to walk all over the desk as we are getting ready to talk about a movie.
Thank you, Jasper.
But I'm not alone for this particular episode, joining me across the desk, as he tends to
do from time to time, is the official fact checker of the show.
And a man, when he reviewed the film we're about to talk about, is not afraid to reveal
something about who he is, but we're going to save that.
You may know him as fondongo, but as mom and I'm done for it, I'm going to call him
Don Ford.
Welcome, sir.
The only clue I'll give on that was remember during the landest thing when we had Pratt
and Miller, and I said he had to call me that for a week.
Remember?
That's the only clue I'm going to give.
Yep.
And I didn't know there was a story behind that.
I thought it was just something that you'd made up.
No, I'm going to say being spoiler free is I, in my yearbook, they actually put it.
That's in the yearbook?
Yeah, I mean, the people signed it, they could say it.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
That is insane.
I got proof from 1980 something.
We may have to put that up on the website at some point, just to reveal the reference.
Whenever we do one of these, it is to review something, this is no exception.
This is a little bit different of a review, because this is a movie I've now seen twice.
This time, Ever Director, she's produced a couple of things.
The TV movie and the stage produced legally belonged the musical in 2008.
Amanda Lippitz, directs the documentary step.
For what's going on with this whole thing?
What's going on?
Caitlin ready to sing?
Ready.
Zini, Zini, Zini, Zini, Sly Fox, what's up?
I think Caitlin and the whole crew, we love Sly Fox.
Such fans of these guys.
This is, again, this is a documentary.
It runs about an hour 23.
So let's kind of set this up.
I saw this for the first time.
This is August.
So I saw this about four months ago
at the Dallas International Film Festival.
This made its debut earlier this year.
I believe it was at the Sundance Music Festival.
This is the Sundance Film Festival
if I'm not mistaken.
This was bought up by Fox Search Light Pictures.
It takes place in Baltimore
at an inner city private school for girls.
The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.
The way it works is as girls are going from fifth grade
to sixth grade.
They are, where am I at?
They're in a lottery system.
And in this lottery system, 120 girls.
By the way, Sundance, 10 cents.
Okay.
120 girls are admitted at sixth to 12th grade.
In 2016, they had their first graduating class.
Their deal is at graduation,
100% acceptance and enrollment into college.
That's their goal.
That's their goal.
When the first class started in sixth grade,
they formed a step team.
And for those of you that don't know what step is,
it's normally known by traditional black fraternities
and sororities.
You've probably seen it in movies
where there's dance routines.
Sometimes there's music more often than not there isn't.
It's rhythmic.
It's completely choreographed.
It's, if you've never been to a step show,
do yourself a solid.
I saw them in college all the time.
I'm a huge fan.
But these are girls that were in middle and high school
doing this.
So the very first graduating class
is entering their senior year.
And mainly we follow three of the seniors.
You have Cory.
You have Blessed and you have Taylor.
All from three, they're all living in the inner city
in Baltimore.
They all have their own stories.
They all have their own struggles.
And it basically chronicles their senior year
as not only they're preparing to go into the real world,
but they're also preparing for a very large competition
that they've never won.
When I saw this in April,
Fox Searchlight had already bought it.
They did it at the time, okay.
Right, it had already been bought
because there was a big sign outside.
The moment this film finished,
I texted Kev from the movie brothers
who were at this screening with us.
And I said, dude, I don't care what you have to do
because Kev and Ant from the movie brothers,
BRUTHAS, if you're gonna look them up.
That's their website.
Well, lovemoviebrothers.com
Also, youtube.com slash the movie brothers.
Kev and Ant were best friends in college.
Okay, they were in a fraternity together.
They were both line members
which means they were on the step team.
Yeah, they both have daughters.
Okay, teenagers.
I texted Kev and I said, dude,
I don't care what you have to do.
You put this film on your must-see list.
And he was like, really?
I'm like, dude, I will put money on it
that you will love this film.
So the months have gone on
and I've kind of just kind of backburnered it.
I was waiting.
And finally, there was a screening
with the girls and the director we didn't get to go
because it was in the middle of the day.
But they finally scheduled the screening we could go to.
And I said, Kev, you're coming with me for this.
You call Ant, we're gonna get both of you in.
We're gonna do this.
I was worried that I had oversold it
because I kid you not when I saw this
at the Dallas International Film Festival this year.
I got weepy in a couple of points.
Yeah, you really talked this up.
Like this film runs the gambit of emotion.
There's moments where you're cheering.
There's moments where your heart breaks.
There's moments where you just go, yes.
And there's times where you're going.
So we're watching it in the theater.
We're watching it in the theater.
We're watching it in the theater.
And Ant says, Rob, I hope you didn't over sell this.
I'm like, I don't think I have.
But the main reason I wanted you guys here,
number one, I want you to see this film.
Number two, I want to watch,
because I already seen it.
I want to watch you guys' reactions to this film.
When the film ended,
I turned my head to my left,
because as we know, I like to sit on the aisle.
And I looked at him and I go, did I over sell it?
And they both looked at me and I like, dude, that was amazing.
And Ant said something to me that I said
when I wrote my written review four months ago
that I'm just now getting to publish
because Fox Search I had already bought the right
so they didn't want a bunch of reviews out there
until it was time, which I don't understand,
because if you didn't like this film, you're a communist.
I think it's at like 95% on Rotten Tomatoes right now.
This film should be shown in schools.
It's PG.
This film should be shown to kids in middle and high schools,
because it talks about,
I don't want to give away who does what,
but one of the characters stumbles pretty hard.
Yeah, that's where I got the frustration.
Right.
I think it's really frustrate you.
Because you look at these kids and you're just like,
oh, you don't see your own potential,
but there's some redemption there.
There's struggle, there's pain, there's triumph,
there's tragedy.
It's all here, it's all real.
95%.
95% of Rotten Tomatoes, you know what I mean?
That doesn't lie.
This movie right now is in my top 10 of the year.
This film is amazing on so many levels.
If you are a parent,
if you are someone who's ever been involved
in any kind of organized team,
if you were a kid like this,
this film has to be on your must-see list.
Yeah, 39 critics so far.
And I think there's only just one who just, you know,
whatever, but you had me in trade.
You set the bar for me on this thing.
And I was concerned about that going in.
You did.
And I listened to what you said about it
from the time in a dip and our dip after show
and all that stuff.
And then when we got the chance to see it,
you're like saying, we need to get, you know,
I want to get Kevin and Ann and all that stuff.
And your wife was with us as well.
Yes.
And I, from your talk, I did something.
I go, I go faith.
This one, you're really going to love.
Just, I think you're really good.
And if she didn't, you would probably get to me.
And that was a fun.
You put, I put my neck on the line for you with my wife.
That's how, you, wow.
Okay.
Yeah.
All right.
All right.
Or my reputation, you could say.
Or my reputation with my wife.
That's fair.
You know, fabulous faith forward.
But going in, you know, documentaries I'm a sucker for.
So, so I can be real critical on them.
But watching this thing as it goes on and on,
it's kind of like Gleason in a way where you get those different emotions,
which I love.
And it's true.
This is not a biased film.
This is, it's real.
This is real.
It's not trying to make a point.
It's objective.
Yeah.
There's no agenda here.
It's, we want to take you on the journey that these young ladies go through as they're preparing.
And if you have to remember,
this was started in the fall of 2015 when you had the shootings going on in Baltimore.
So that, so that works into the, into the story.
Which I really enjoy too.
And like you said, without being biased or looking at it from a certain point of view,
it's literally you're watching this happen.
People grow up.
Absolutely.
It's kind of like in a way hoop dreams and stuff like that.
It's a good way to put it.
Excellent point.
Yeah.
But like the emotions, there were times like with one girl, you're just like,
oh, no, don't, aren't you?
Oh.
You get like a disappointment frustration.
And there's to the other gamut where when one thing happens,
I'm gonna say is when they look something up on the computer,
and one thing happens,
the whole audience was going cheering and clapping at a press screening.
And this was mostly just press.
Yeah.
You know, I mean, this was not a,
people that, that I know that don't normally react to things in films.
We're reacting in this film.
I'll give you fantastic pay for it.
She, for the first time at a screening, clapped.
I heard you say that as the credits were rolling.
You're like, you've never clapped at a movie before.
Kevin and both clapped when the, when the final came up.
There is nothing that is not amazing about this film.
And my feeling after we went to this screening, it wasn't,
it was in no way, and I told you so at all.
Yeah.
It was a feeling of relief because it was that feeling of,
okay, I'm not the only one that sees that how great this is.
I had the same thing when I,
high bond, bomb city, but it's only for six days from the time I sought to use it.
It's a time I saw.
Yeah.
Well, this is four months, but still it's the same kind of thing when I said,
absolutely.
Yeah, bomb city.
You got a, hello.
Yeah, I'm still waiting for you to see room.
I will.
You got some day.
I got to be home long enough.
I know, but you know, you used to have, you have them DVD.
Yeah, but you have to be home long after watching a movie.
But it's, it's that kind of thing.
And sometimes, but I, I, my bar was high.
And I really enjoy, even though this might not be your genre.
You know, but it doesn't have to be because it's a thing.
People hear documenting and they're like, uh, this is,
this is as close to a real life narrative film,
more than a documentary thing as you can get.
I mean, there is a story that is told,
but it is a story that is told from the real lives of these young ladies
and their parents.
And because you look at it from a standpoint of their parents too.
Oh, yeah.
And like, how are we going to pay for college if you get accepted
and all that?
And the thing I loved is it's a story about African Americans,
ladies in this thing.
Mm-hmm.
But it's a part of it, but it's not the big push.
Right.
You, it's not like there are universal themes here.
There are universal themes here.
Universal plus, there are racial things there.
And they do that great balance between the two.
Absolutely.
This thing is not even as long.
I thought this thing was just time, right,
flowed right, you didn't get bored.
And I'll tell you the other thing.
Yeah.
When it ended, Kev looked at me and he said,
my only regret right now is that I cannot go out and buy this right now.
Yeah.
Because I wish I could buy this on the way home,
bring the family into the living room and say,
we're watching this tonight.
Yeah.
And I, I can't say I disagree with him.
I will, I, if I have the opportunity, I will own this.
This movie is that good.
This film is absolutely amazing on every level.
And I honestly think that this would be good for,
which I put my written to you at www.copasplacas.com.
Tis our website.
Great for junior high and high school kids.
That's what I'm saying.
This needs to be shown in schools.
Exactly.
Get all the kids into assembly and say,
we're going to watch a movie today.
I want you to see this film and I want you to see this journey
because this is an important film that
it better make a bajillion dollars.
Because if it doesn't, there's something wrong in this world
because this film is that good.
And the thing I like is like there was a scene where
I'm going to say is up against the wall.
Oh gosh.
And not in a violent way.
Yeah.
Okay, let's be honest.
This is not about violence.
This is being spread the freak.
Yeah, this is about accountability.
And the thing is, during that scene,
it can make you, okay, you know this coming
to, ooh, to ha ha,
will you even laugh?
We got about a five minute span of three different emotions
I had within five minutes in one scene.
And just a look of the camera just pans and everybody just laughs.
And you also look at it from the standpoint of a first year
coach that had just come in too.
And I love her attitude.
Yeah.
I'm telling you, there's nothing about this film.
That's not amazing.
I think that was one of the most real powerful was a wall scene
where she's saying, no, this is team.
Yeah.
No, don't, don't you?
Yeah.
She coached them up, brother.
And there were times where there's factions within the STEM class,
which I really thought was just part of growing up.
And you know, I don't know how much more we can say before we can
even just go ahead and get to the final analysis.
Let's do it.
The way we do the final analysis on the show,
we're not going to give you thumbs up, thumbs down,
or not going to give you remixes, anything like that.
Because there's a little bit of a remix in this,
if you follow it closely enough.
We're going to ask two questions.
Question number one is, would you see this film again?
If the answer's no, we're done here.
If the answer's yes, the follow-up question is,
how far are you willing to go to see this?
From top to bottom of the best of the best of the worst of the best,
here we go.
Full price of the theater, twilight, matinee, early morning on a Saturday.
Second run at the dollar theater.
From there, we go to actually leaving your house to go to red box.
Streaming on Netflix or waiting on cable.
Don, would you see this again?
No.
Just kidding.
No, it's good to covet it.
I was like, did I miss the meeting?
What is going on here?
How far are you willing to go to see this?
I'm right there with you.
Get to this film any way you can.
Full price, covet it.
Yeah, this gets my coveted.
You have a guarantee for me that you're going to love this film.
If you don't love this film, you have no soul.
Yeah.
You have no soul.
Because there's something in this film for everyone.
There's something in this film that everyone can identify with.
I love this film.
Good.
This film, I've seen more emotion out of her in this film than probably any film that we watched.
Wow.
It hasn't been a long list.
But still.
Yeah.
She comes with quite a few screenings.
Yeah, now.
Yeah.
She's getting into this.
Yeah.
She loved it.
And don't be shocked if this is not pretty high on my list.
Come out of the last Sunday in December.
Yeah.
It is that good.
It is the first film.
I can't.
This is the first film that Amanda Lip.
Lip It's directed.
Yeah.
It's called Step.
Yeah, four we have this thing.
Ready.
Zee-le-le-le-le-le.
Zee-le-le-le-le.
deserve.
Go take the closure by there.
We love it, Monica.
All right.
Let's do the plugs.
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So until next time for Don and the Empire. I'm Rob clubhouse is closed
Britney Palmer you have like nary. It'd be cool
You