Backstabbing for Beginners is a political thriller starring Theo James who plays Michael Sullivan, the son of a late U.S. diplomat who gets a job at the U.N. He's an idealist who wants to help people, before he meets Pasha (portrayed by Ben Kingsley), a vulgar realist who heads the oil for food program. Pasha takes Michael under his wing, but is he blurring ethical lines with the way he runs things? Based off the book "Backstabbing for Beginners: My Crash Course in International Diplomacy" by Michael Soussan, the A24 rocks crew discusses the movie and the early aughts when they were also idealist young lads. Caution: movie spoilers.

Intro- 0:00 to 4:12.

Film Discussion- 4:12 to 53:45.

Film Ratings and Outro- 53:45 to End.

Next five A24 Films we're reviewing-

65. First Reformed.

66. How to Talk to Girls at Parties.

67. Hereditary.

68. Woman Walks Ahead.

69. Eighth Grade.

On this A24 Vibe discussion: Cole, Eric, and Kevin delve into the 1997 sci-fi action cult classic "Starship Troopers" starring Casper Van Diem, Denise Richards, Michael Ironside, Dina Meyer, and Neil Patrick Harris. When Starship Troopers came out, it was received as a piece of pro-military fascist propaganda, even though director Paul Verhoeven insisted it was a satire. Nonetheless, critics panned it, and it barely broke even on its high budget. The A24 rocks crew discuss whether the satire still hits home 27 years later. Caution: movie spoilers.

Intro- 0:00 to 3:00.

Film Discussion- 3:00 to 48:39.

Film Ratings- 48:39 to End.

For other media from the A24 Rocks crew, check out Eric's YouTube docuseries "Tales of the Great Lakes" and his most recent episode on the tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o0zaEsPvcw&t=289s&ab_channel=FirelakeMedia

Lean On Pete is a 2018 A24 film about a Portland boy named Charley (portrayed by Charlie Plummer) with a wholesome scumbag dad (portrayed by Travis Fimmel), who gets a job at the local horse racing track after he meets a man named Del (portrayed by Steve Buscemi). Charley quickly becomes enamored by one of Del's racehorses named "Lean On Pete." When tragedy strikes Charley, his ties to Lean On Pete only grow deeper, which drives a wedge between him and Del who sees Lean On Pete as just a racehorse. Also starring Chloe Sevigny, Lean On Pete is one of the highest rated critical films of the 2018 year of A24. What will the A24 rocks crew think of it? Caution: movie spoilers.

Intro- 0 to 3:35.

Film Discussion- 3:35 to 1:15:50.

Film Ratings and Outro- 1:15:50 to End.

Next five A24 films we review-

64. Backstabbing for Beginners.

65. First Reformed.

66. How to Talk to Girls at Parties.

67. Hereditary.

68. Woman Walks Ahead.