Def Rec

  Def Rec: A Diamond In the Rough or Just Another Biopic? Song Sung Blue (2025) does a solid job of differentiating itself from other rockin’ biopics like Michael (2026), Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2025), Straight Outta Compton (2015), Rocketman (2019), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Walk the Line (2005), Bob Marley: One Love (2024), Ray (2004), A Complete Unknown (2024), Elvis (2022), I Can Only Imagine’s 1 & 2 (2018, 2026)… Boy, there have been a lot of these. Sure, they’re all based (sometimes very loosely) on true stories, but the crucial element separating this celebration of Neil Diamond’s music is that it’s not about Neil Diamond’s life. Inspired by the documentary of the same name, Song Sung Blue tells the (love) story of Mike “Lightning” Sardina (Hugh Jackman) and Claire “Thunder” Sardina (Kate Hudson), following their huge ups and devastating downs along their musical journey as a Neil Diamond tribute act. Since the film revolves around the catalogu...

  Movie Mash-Up Names of Same-Day Big Releases What is the “Barbenheimer” name for Supergirl (2026) and Jackass: Best and Last (2026)? They share the same release date of June 26, 2026 (well, the same weekend, anyway), and while the hype for both films isn’t evenly matched, these are two popular and well-known intellectual properties coming out at the same time. So, naturally, the question has arisen - what is their movie mash-up name? For the latest live action adventure of the Girl of Steel and what is implied to be the final stunt showcase of Johnny Knoxville and company, their combined title is… probably not repeatable in decent society. But we can’t deny Girl Jack. Or Super Best if we use the Jackass subtitle, but that’s not as fun. Jacker Girl, Super Jack, Sackerass - there’s no end to the possibilities! If you only watch one of these two summer blockbusters*, the movie I definitely recommend is… Well, my honest opinion is neither. But Def Rec is, among other things, a reco...

  Supergirl: Def Rec or Def Don’t? Who Are the Real Superfans? Supergirl: Def Rec or Def Don’t? Should you go see Supergirl (2026)? I’m not asking the “real” audience - I’m posing my question to the normies, the well-adjusted, the healthy, and everyday common folk who don’t obsess over comic book lore. To all regular people out there, are you planning to go to your theater of choice to watch the latest live action adventure of the Girl of Steel? If you are, that’s great, but in case you didn’t know, all you average joes and casuals out there, you aren’t the “true” fans. That’s not your fault and not your problem - it’s the studio’s problem. I don’t have to ask if diehard comic book readers will fly to the box office and see Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) party her way across the silver screen. The marketing doesn’t bother trying to appeal to us dorks because we’ll consume this new feature film whether or not we think it looks good. The genuine nerds will review, rate, rank, and rampa...

Disappointing Day: Definitely Do Not Recommend (In the Theater) Is Spielberg Washed? Has he joined the league of former greats who now need to retire? He’d be in good company along with Ridley Scott and Francis Ford Coppola. Unless Gladiator II (2024) and Megalopolis (2024) are considered peak cinema and I didn’t get the memo. Scorsese, you aren’t far behind. We didn’t forget about The Irishman (2019). As hard as it is to say, Steven Spielberg might actually be washed up. The brilliantly gifted, technically skilled, ludicrously talented, iconic, legendary, visionary genius that is Steven Spielberg might be past his prime. After watching Disclosure Day (2026), I think it may be time for the massively famous, popular, influential, accomplished, and crazy profitable director to hang it up. He’s still a master of technique - each shot and every scene is crafted with expert precision. The stylistic and creative choices for storytelling? Well, some things aren’t Always (1989) going...

  Top Three Over the Top Performances For over the top performances and being kind of a weird dude in general, it could only be Jared. Mr. Leto has graced screens from an early age, delivering characters that range from young and in a fight club to finding infinite possibilities as *a* Nemo. Mr. Nobody (2009) is, in a word, trippy. Fight Club (1999) is a classic. But what are Jared Leto’s roles that stand out as the absolute craziest, most out there, and unexpected choices? Urban Legend (1998) may indeed be legendary (depending on who you ask), and Requiem For A Dream (2000) is critically acclaimed, but I’m talking about big swings that leave you questioning Leto’s sanity. Or rather, the mental stability of motion picture studios that still rely on his drawing power to make some box office bank. For this Top Three list about putting the “meth” in method acting, I’ll dive into the broad and bonkers cinematic world of Jared Leto. Joke(r)s aside, I am genuinely a fan of his band T...