Episode 40: 1953 with Sheila O'Malley
Sheila O’Malley is a classic film buff who joins the esteemed ranks of our “the 1950s were AWESOME, actually” guests, looking back at the equally compelling...
First Thoughts on "Laura"
When we talk about the Citizen Kane influence, we’re usually talking about technique rather than structure. (Usually.) So when I was watching Laura for the...
Bonus Episode: 1944 After Show
On this week’s bonus show, the guys go a bit longer on the legend of Preston Sturges, on their own affection for film noir, and the joys of working with an...
Headlines for 1944
1944 is all about being on the other side of WWII. Everyone but Hitler knew the Germans were going to lose by this point and the Japanese were quickly...
Episode 39: 1944 with Justin Chang
Justin Chang is one of the genuine greats of contemporary film criticism - chief critic for the Los Angeles Times and NPR’s “Fresh Air,” a title he...
Read This!: Looking Back at the Fall of 1997
As we mention in the bonus episode (I think? We recorded it a while ago), back in 2017, I did a whole series of columns for VICE revisiting the movies of the...
Bonus Episode: 1997 After Show
In this week’s bonus episode, we rip through some more of the lightning round, discuss seeing Good Will Hunting and Jackie Brown when they first came out,...
Headlines for 1997
On January 20 Bill Clinton was sworn in for his second term of office, and three days later Madeleine Albright became the first female Secretary of State in...
Episode 38: 1997 with Craig D. Lindsey
Craig D. Lindsey was a working critic in 1997, so he has a lot of pleasant moviegoing (and reviewing) memories from that year; he also made a top ten list at...
Documentary Corner: 1957's "The Day Called X"
"Oh Lord, don't let them drop that atomic bomb on me" - Charles Mingus 1957 looks relatively calm on the timeline of the 20th century, but some very smart...
First Thoughts (Sorta) on "The Seventh Seal"
As in 1988, I’m breaking the “First Thoughts” rules here, but with good reason. No, this was not the first time I’d seen The Seventh Seal. But I consider it...
Bonus Episode: 1957 After Show
On this week’s bonus after show, we fire up the mics to praise James Urbaniak, say a few more words on Sweet Smell of Success and A Face in the Crowd, touch...
Headlines for 1957
In January Kansas-kid made good Dwight Eisenhower was sworn in for his second term as US President. In February the shitty Brits executed Mau Mau leader...
Episode 37: 1957 with James Urbaniak
Character actor, cartoon doctor, and general bon vivant James Urbaniak joins us to walk through the cinema de 1957 - a year of foreign triumphs and domestic...
Documentary Corner: 1939's "The City"
Let’s talk docs! Mike here, producer and co-host. I make documentaries, and I watch a lot of them, some out of professional diligence but mostly because I...
First Thoughts on "In Name Only"
The first thing that makes you sit upright and take notice in John Cromwell’s In Name Only—the reason we’re there, really—is Carole Lombard and Cary Grant’s...
Bonus Episode: 1939 After Show
In this week’s bonus episode, Jason and Mike go a little bit deeper on a topic touched upon in the main show: what it’s like to be a kid from Kansas when all...
Headlines for 1939
In January the Spanish Nationalists took Barcelona, three years into the Spanish Civil War, and Franco’s government was recognized by France and Great...
Episode 36: 1939 with Jessica Pickens
Jessica Pickens is a film blogger and historian specializing in World War II-era cinema, movie musicals, and, luckily for us, the films of 1939. She started...
First Thoughts (Sorta) on 'Mystic Pizza'
Full disclosure: these posts are intended to articulate my first impressions of films chosen by our guests, and so far, that’s been the case. But this was...
