Ep 248: Pain & Gain

This week, Gavia and Morgan venture into new territory with the 2013 Michael Bay film Pain & Gain, a crime film based on the true story of a misbegotten kidnapping and extortion carried out by a collection of inept criminals played here by Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Anthony Mackie. Topics include the parallel career paths of Wahlberg and Johnson, what exactly constitutes a "Michael Bay movie," the ethics of telling this kind of story about real people, and more.

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Links

“ Michael Bay, Mark Wahlberg, and the Rock Talk Pain & Gain ,” Francisco Alvarado, Miami New Times

“Michael Bay on the Real Sun Gym Gang: "I Hope They Never See Pain & Gain,” Francisco Alvarado, Miami New Times

“Why Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Was Afraid of His Pain & Gain Role,” Francisco Alvarado, Miami New Times

“‘Pain & Gain’ Writer Pete Collins' 15 Minutes of Fame Have Arrived,” Pete Collins, Miami New Times

“Pain & Gain: Six Things Michael Bay Got Wrong,” Ciara Lavelle, Miami New Times

“Action-comedy 'Pain & Gain' shows '90s kidnapping, but survivors say the crimes weren't funny,” Suzette Laboy, The Associated Press

“Real-life victim sues over Wahlberg’s ‘Pain & Gain’,” Rich Calder, The New York Post

“Armageddon,” Jeanine Basinger, The Criterion Channel