This cult film opens the door for the history of Classic Hollywood stunts, the symbolism of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, the power of storytelling and escapism, and the many ways we can fall. Support the show

Episode 35: The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Jul 28th, 2021 48m 34s

Let’s talk about the history of LEGO bricks, Batman’s character flaws, mental health issues, his habit of endangering children, and his super powers: white privilege and generational wealth. Plus, our wishlist for future LEGO franchise opportun

Episode 34: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Jul 14th, 2021 1h 2m

We’re kicking off Superhero Month with Taika Waititi’s subversive action-comedy: join us as we discuss Ragnarok’s Māori spirit, how the film supports decolonization, its role as a pattern-breaker in the Marvel multi-verse, and Immigrant Song, o

Episode 33: Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

Jun 30th, 2021 51m 59s

Yukio Mishima’s controversial legacy as an LGBT icon, queer relationships and identities in Feudal Japan, Eiko Ishioka’s groundbreaking production design, kishōtenketsu narrative structure, and the movie’s unique blend of literature, theater, a

Episode 32: Wizard of Oz (1939)

Jun 16th, 2021 52m 44s

A classic for pride month! We talk about Judy Garland and the queer community, the history of anti-LGBT sentiment in the US military, the rise of the modern LGBT rights movement, the lavender scare, and the significance of Dorothy’s fate.Suppor

Episode 31: Tangerine (2015)

Jun 2nd, 2021 32m

Check Your Threading says trans rights: we’re kicking off pride month with Tangerine, and talking about the current struggles for trans sex workers in the US, the damage of The Danish Girl, subversive cinematography, and the tender value of a b

Episode 30: Keanu (2016)

May 19th, 2021 27m 51s

How far would you go for your cat? Let’s get into code switching, the curious role of George Michael in black pop culture, the anatomy of a buddy film, male vulnerability, and more.Support the show

Episode 29: John Wick (2014)

May 5th, 2021 28m 2s

Cinema’s biggest dog lover! Join us as we chat about minimalism both in setting and in world building, the graceful intensity of gunfu, wuxia folk heroes, and the thrilling spectacle of Hong Kong Blood Opera.Support the show

Episode 28: The Lighthouse (2019)

Apr 21st, 2021 32m 30s

We talk about The Lighthouse as a buddy comedy, plus the real-life Tragedy at Smalls Lighthouse, toxic masculinity, eldritch horror, and the undeniable homoeroticism of EVERYTHING.Support the show

Episode 27: Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Apr 7th, 2021 25m 42s

We’re back! This unique, absurd cult-classic comedy gives us the history of summer camp, the versatility of the “summer camp” genre, and the interplay of fantasy and reality.Support the show

Episode 26: Moonlight (2016)

Apr 15th, 2020 40m 21s

Explore the origins of Liberty City, the history of racism in the lighting and color correction of film, how to achieve intimacy through cinematography, and the devastating vulnerability of hope.Support the show

Episode 25: Funny Games (1997)

Apr 1st, 2020 37m 49s

Stuck in your house? This week we talk about the movie that redefined “home invasion”! Plus, social contract theory, the importance (and cruelty) of breaking the fourth wall, and Michael Haneke’s message to U.S. audiences.Support the show

Episode 24: Straw Dogs (1971)

Mar 18th, 2020 38m 15s

In this smorgasbord of toxic masculinity, we explore the pattern of violence in rural towns, the history of Vietnam campus protests, Sam Peckinpah’s reputation for brutality on and off camera, and the controversy surrounding the film. Support t

Episode 23: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mar 4th, 2020 46m 9s

The retro flavor of nuclear apocalypse films, the history of the OPEC oil crisis, how George Miller builds his own mythology - and borrows from the mythos of other cultures - and the role of music on the battlefield. Ride with us on the fury ro

Episode 22: All the President's Men (1976)

Feb 19th, 2020 52m 55s

Let’s talk about the importance of investigative journalism, the edge-of-your-seat anxiety that this film creates, Woodward and Bernstein as heroes, and why the pen is truly mightier than the sword. Plus, the state of newspapers today, and why

Episode 21: Vice (2018)

Feb 5th, 2020 37m 6s

We review the history of two of our most outlandish Vice Presidents (other than Dick, obviously), the tonal ambiguity of Vice as a film, the value of a good montage sequence, and our inherent discomfort with Cheney’s legacy. Support the show

Episode 20: Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Jan 22nd, 2020 40m 51s

We lay out the best real-life Las Vegas heists, debate whether or not heist movies are their own genre, and explore why Ocean’s Eleven still works almost 20 years later. Let us steal some of your time with this episode! Support the show

Episode 19: Jurassic Park (1993)

Jan 8th, 2020 39m 26s

Learn about the “Jurassic Park generation” of paleontologists, how the film affected the scientific community, some amazing fan theories and, the, uh, lasting impact of Dr. Ian Malcolm as the film’s moral center. Hold onto your butts!Support th

Episode 18: The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Dec 25th, 2019 35m 47s

What makes an epic truly EPIC? Why were the 80s so intense for evangelical Christians? What’s up with Jungian psychology? Why was The Last Temptation of Christ so controversial when other bible movies are so formulaic? All these questions AND M

Episode 17: Maleficent (2014)

Dec 11th, 2019 1h 1m

In a stunning rape-revenge twist on a Disney classic, we look at Maleficent’s origins in the Sleeping Beauty myth, breaking the cycle of abuse, the importance of found family, and the symbolism of the film’s rich costuming. Featuring our very f

Episode 16: West Side Story (1961)

Nov 27th, 2019 39m 53s

The history of Puerto Rican migration to New York City, the tradition of the Hollywood musical, and how West Side Story broke the mold. We also discuss brownface, compulsory heterosexuality, and the role of discrimination in (white) cultural as

Episode 15: Velvet Goldmine (1998)

Nov 13th, 2019 42m 10s

Enter the sensual, outrageous world of glam rock with Brian Slade and Curt Wild, as we examine Todd Haynes’ glittery musical Velvet Goldmine. We talk about the history of glam as a genre, the film’s role in queer cinematic history, and effects

Episode 14: The Wolf Man (1941)

Oct 30th, 2019 36m 11s

A Universal horror classic embedded in global history, we examine writer Curt Siodmak’s flight from Nazi Germany, the ancient history of werewolf lore, and The Wolf Man’s inseparable ties from the post-war Jewish identity. Plus, bonus parallels

Episode 13: Hausu (1977)

Oct 16th, 2019 35m 26s

A group of teenage girls go on a countryside vacation and end up fighting for their lives in this layered Japanese horror-comedy. We discuss pre- and post-war Japan and Japanese cinema, Hausu’s multi-step inception, bakeneko, and My Little Poni

Episode 12: Mandy (2018)

Oct 2nd, 2019 34m 50s

Nicolas Cage? Check. Cocaine and LSD? Check. Chainsaw-wielding rampage? Check. This revenge-fantasy horror sci-fi delight breaks the boundaries of genre and takes the viewer on a two-act epic. We talk about the foils of masculine tenderness vs.