Watch With Jen™

Quick-witted, loyal, caring, and so very talented - this week, I was thrilled to welcome one of my best pals and honorary brothers back to the podcast. An actor, former host of the excellent Game Show Network series "Get a Clue," and longtime improv teacher at Second City, plus a writer, producer, entrepreneur, and gifted impressionist who regularly turns my voicemail into the funniest comedy club in the world, Rob Belushi is a man who wears many hats. In the past, you've heard him share his insights as a knowledgeable film lover in his very first episode way back in 2020 and then twice last year as well, first lending his expertise as the host of "Get a Clue" for an episode I did on Game Show Movies, and then later in our season two finale, Rob joined me along with his inspiring, intelligent, and very lovely mother Sandi to tease and interrogate her both about her personal life as well as her passion for her favorite film - Warren Beatty's REDS. A huge fan of the endlessly innovative Steven Soderbergh's work - particularly his exceptionally clever late '90s period, in this very funny, thoughtful, and emotional episode, which clocks in at well over two hours, Rob and I celebrate and study the films OUT OF SIGHT, THE LIMEY, ERIN BROCKOVICH, and TRAFFIC. Whether he's opening up to reveal his own personal experiences with addiction and recovery or appreciating the humanity we see in the decent outsiders and strong female leads trying to connect and do right in these works, it's an eye-opening, passionate conversation that fans of Soderbergh, in particular, will love. Originally Posted on Patreon (6/15/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/67815306 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)

As, thankfully, my recent life/med stress ended early (quick - where's a piece of wood to knock on?), that means our temporary hiatus is ending a week early too! Editing this lively episode yesterday made me laugh multiple times. I figured that right now laughter is something we all could use in this grim world as of late so I wanted to deliver this conversation to you ASAP to hopefully brighten your day. Kind, witty, and wildly gifted, my good friend Nikki Dolson is a prolific crime writer whose work has been published in such well-respected places as Shotgun Honey, Tough, ThugLit, and Bartleby Snopes. The author of what she affectionately calls "a novelish thing" - the book All Things Violent - Nikki has also released a short story collection entitled Love and Other Criminal Behavior. And last fall, one of her outstanding pieces appeared in the prestigious Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories anthology of 2021, edited by Alafair Burke and Steph Cha. A delightful film buff who has excellent taste in movies (and men!), and is also quite the TV reenactor and movie trivia game player, I always have a ball talking to Nikki. And this witty, candid, free-flowing conversation, which covers women in the crime films The Last Seduction, Bound, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Widows, and I'm Your Woman (plus Michael Mann's Thief and Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive) was no exception to that rule. In fact, my favorite thing about this episode is that because Nikki is one of my very best friends, you're getting a different side of both of us than you would in other episodes, and you're hearing us delve into something we're truly, truly passionate about. Enjoy! Originally Posted on Patreon (6/9/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/67517337Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveLogo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)

Every so often, I receive requests from longtime listeners who miss the way this podcast first began with me recommending and telling solo tales about excellent films you might've missed. And while I'm seriously flattered and thrilled you enjoyed those very humble, low-fi, old school eps, I would just as soon stick to the format of conversations with thoughtful, funny, brilliant, and charismatic friends and colleagues.Still, once in a while, it's important to change things up and venture out of your comfort zone. Since I'm currently going slightly stir crazy while recovering from a small surgery, and completely in love with all seven films I wanted to cover this week, I decided to use the opportunity of our hiatus from traditional episodes to record another chatty, film fact, and anecdote-filled installment for you all. Incredibly nerdy, personal, and very long, my best advice would be to listen to these segments about the films The Clock, For Me and My Gal, The Godfather Trilogy, The Last Waltz, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Ordinary People, and The Untouchables one at a time and take plenty of breaks, because it's a whole lot of Jen, but you do what's right for you!Without further ado, I hope you'll enjoy my film geek rambling, and please stay tuned because I'm working on several new episodes in our regular format which will start dropping when we return from hiatus in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support!Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (6/1/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/67193104

Returning to the podcast this week, we have a woman who needs no introduction and one whose voice is or should be - especially if you're a cinephile - her own introduction. A film writer I remember reading as far back as her days at "Cinematical" and "The Village Voice," as well as the author of "Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes' Hollywood," and books on George Lucas, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep, the wonderful Karina Longworth is the historian and podcaster behind the acclaimed, addictive, and utterly fascinating series You Must Remember This and the recent show Love is a Crime for "Vanity Fair" as well.Visiting today to tell us all about her titillating new season of You Must Remember This that's devoted to Erotic Cinema of the '80s and '90s when we both came of age, in this fast-paced, fact-filled, funny episode, we take a closer look at the films "American Gigolo," "Nine 1/2 Weeks," "Fatal Attraction," and movie sex in the era.Note: Although not terribly explicit, I've checked the box for content for this episode due to the maturity of our subject matter. The last new episode of the podcast for a few weeks as Watch With Jen goes on a short hiatus, have no fear for the future as more terrific installments will be planned and recorded during this break and the season will soon be resuming in June at full strength. You'll also learn more about whom and what you can expect to hear when we return at the start of this episode.Originally posted on Patreon (5/16/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/66500288Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

A favorite among my circle of crime writer friends, this week I was pleased to welcome Dennis Tafoya to the podcast. Author of the novels "Dope Thief," "Wolves of Fairmount Park," and "The Poor Boy's Game," Dennis Tafoya's work has not only been optioned for film and television but his short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, including "Philadelphia Noir" and "Best American Mystery Stories." Joining me to discuss the prolific '90s heyday of inventive crime movies, in this fast-paced hour-long episode, we take a closer look at the movies "Miami Blues," "After Dark, My Sweet," "Shallow Grave," and "Hard Eight."Originally Posted on Patreon (5/8/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/66166995Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week, I was so honored to welcome back my favorite crime writer working today. Novelist Megan Abbott is the Edgar-winning author of such acclaimed, rich works as "Give Me Your Hand," "You Will Know Me," "The Fever," "Dare Me," "Queenpin," and more. Her latest novel - "The Turnout" - was a "Today Show" Read with Jenna book selection as well as a "New York Times Bestseller" and most recently the winner of "The LA Times" Book Prize for Mystery/Suspense.An impressive film buff who is as delightful as she is intelligent, I had so much fun celebrating Judy Holliday and Martin Scorsese with her last year and am so glad she returned to get the band back together to discuss five of her favorite underrated movies from one of her most beloved filmmakers - Mr. Billy Wilder.In this fast or one could even say "Wilder-paced" episode, you'll hear us explain why the films "The Major and The Minor," "A Foreign Affair," "One, Two, Three," "Love in the Afternoon," and "Kiss Me, Stupid" deserve just as much love as some of the most famous classics from the director of "Some Like it Hot," "Double Indemnity," and "The Apartment."Originally Posted on Patreon on 5/3/22 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/65951851Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week, I happily welcomed Beth Ann Gallagher to the podcast. A very talented film writer and the mother of one of the most photogenic and adorable babies you'll ever see in your life, she is the founder of the classic film blog Spellbound with Beth Ann which has been running since 2008.Last year, we were both honored to contribute essays on film noir to the dazzling Columbia Noir 4 Blu-ray box set from the UK boutique label Indicator and Beth Ann's writing has also appeared in such diverse publications as Turner Classic Movies' Backlot Site, Discover Rio Vista Magazine, and various film festival programs as well. Additionally, a former president of the Sac Town Classic Movie Club, she also co-founded the Luso World Cinema Blogathon, which is a celebration of the Lusitanic people and their impact on cinema.After asking her about both her site and her great Luso blogathon, the recent first-time mom shares her perspective on parenthood in the classic movies Bachelor Mother (1939), Penny Serenade (1941), and Never Too Late (1965) in this breezy free-flowing conversation.Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week, I was so pleased to welcome to the podcast a fellow writer and a tennis fan - yes, I had to get that in there - Isaac Butler. Co-author of "The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America," which NPR.Org named one of the best books of 2018, Isaac Butler’s writing has appeared in "New York Magazine," "Slate," "The Guardian," "American Theatre," and other publications. For "Slate," he created and hosted "Lend Me Your Ears," a podcast about Shakespeare and politics and he currently co-hosts "Working," a pod dedicated to the creative process. Additionally, a director whose work has been seen on stages across the country, he is the co-creator of "Real Enemies," a multimedia exploration of conspiracy theories in the American psyche, which was not only named one of the best live events of 2015 by "The New York Times" but has also been adapted into a feature-length film. An MFA graduate in creative nonfiction from the University of Minnesota who teaches theater history and performance at the New School and elsewhere, most recently, he became the author of the richly detailed, utterly fascinating book "The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act," which is what we’re here to talk about today. Joining me to share stories involving the history of The Method as well as its many practitioners, we discuss some of the eye-opening and enlightening discoveries that Isaac made as he wrote his terrific new book. Following that, we take a deeper look at the Method performances of everyone from John Garfield to Jessica Lange that are on display in the films "Four Daughters," "Wild River," "Paris Blues," and "Frances" (1982).Originally Posted on Patreon (4/18/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/65296760Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week, it was a true honor to welcome a very special guest that I recently made the acquaintance of following our episode dedicated to FX's superb 2010 series TERRIERS. He's the first of two individuals related to the show whom you'll hear this season – series star Donal Logue is also forthcoming – but first up we have the show's creator and executive producer, along with the writer and director of two episodes, it's the great Ted Griffin.A terrific screenwriter whose credits include RAVENOUS, OCEAN'S ELEVEN, and MATCHSTICK MEN (which he co-wrote with Nicholas Griffin), additionally, he is the producer of such Oscar-nominated films as UP IN THE AIR and THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, as well as one of my pandemic TV favorites, the Emmy nominated Netflix series PRETEND IT'S A CITY. Working alongside Martin Scorsese on some of the titles mentioned earlier, Ted also wrote two Scorsese-directed advertisements: the CLIO award-winning THE KEY TO RESERVA and STREET OF DREAMS.Joining me to discuss the 1930s and '40s heyday of filmmaker Leo McCarey, who often gets overlooked in conversations that so often focus only on contemporaries like Lubitsch and Capra, in this wide-ranging conversation, we focus on the movies DUCK SOUP, MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW, THE AWFUL TRUTH, LOVE AFFAIR, and GOING MY WAY. Also revealing the way that his own family history links up with McCarey's as the grandson of director William A. Seiter as well as his own insights as a filmmaker and shout-outs to his gifted wife Sutton Foster, this episode is a must for classic movie lovers, in particular.Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com) Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted on Patreon (4/9/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64931833

This week, I was so pleased to welcome to the podcast a friend I made last summer during Cinephile Game Night where we played on opposite sides, me as a guest with Team The Film Stage at Lincoln Center and Mitchell Beaupre as part of the delightful Team Letterboxd. Currently based in Newark, Delaware, Mitchell is not only the Senior Editor at one of my favorite services (via Letterboxd) but they're also the co-host of the recently launched podcast Weekend Watchlist, which you can find in the stream for The Letterbod Show. Additionally, a prolific freelance film journalist and stellar interviewer for prestigious outlets such as "The Film Stage," "Paste Magazine," "The Playlist," and "Little White Lies," you can keep up with all of their impressive work on Twitter @ItIsMitchell. Joining me to discuss a filmmaker that they fell in love with at a time when they needed it the most (while suffering from a scary, then-undiagnosed autoimmune condition), in this passionate two-hour episode, we go deep into our personal connections to the humanistic works of Jim Jarmusch. Filled with research and analysis as well as humor and heart, although we primarily explore the films "Mystery Train," "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai," "Broken Flowers," and "Paterson," over the course of this thoughtful conversation, we provide an overview and appreciation of four decades in the iconoclastic indie director's storied career. Originally Posted on Patreon (4/3/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64664011Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Returning to the podcast this week, we have the witty and wonderful Los Angeles-based writer-director Jessica Ellis. A graduate of UCLA and the American Film Institute who last year made her feature filmmaking debut with the acclaimed coming-of-age movie What Lies West, Jessica is one of the brightest lights on Twitter and never fails to make me smile. Filled with sharp insights into the craft of screenwriting, in taking a closer look at the films The Princess Bride, Joe Versus the Volcano, and Palm Springs, we discuss love and life as it plays out against the backdrop of the fantasy romantic comedy subgenre she's so passionate about.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/28/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64378129Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

A film critic for publications such as "L.A. Weekly," "New York Magazine," "Vulture," "The New York Times," and formerly, "The Village Voice," Bilge Ebiri is one of my favorite journalists working today. Additionally, a writer-director who's known for the films "New Guy," "Purse Snatcher," and "The Barber of Siberia," whenever you talk to Bilge, you're bound to not only learn something new but also see cinema in a totally new way, and this week's episode is no exception.Joining me to discuss the expressive eyebrows, pathos, and inner melancholy of the classically handsome Irish character actor Colin Farrell, in this thoughtful 94-minute episode, we take a look at the evolving talents and many phases of Farrell's career as seen in the films "Phone Booth," "The New World," "Miami Vice," "In Bruges," and "The Lobster."Originally Posted on Patreon (3/21/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64078584Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveLogo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)

Returning to the podcast today, we have a fan favorite and one of my besties - that's right it's our very first guest and my Pandemic Movie Club buddy - the Edgar award-winning author of "She Rides Shotgun" and "Love and Other Wounds," Jordan Harper. A screenwriter and producer of such shows as "The Mentalist" and "Gotham," who also crafted one of the most beautiful pilots for "L.A. Confidential," which CBS stupidly didn't pick up, currently, Jordan is back in the writers' room for the third season of the Starz series "Hightown." Additionally (and goddamned annoyingly, if you ask me), he finished not one but two novels during the pandemic and they're both excellent. The first book, called "The Last King of California" is a gritty work perfect for fans of "Shotgun" that will be published this year in the UK, and the second, the topical epic Tinseltown thriller "Everybody Knows" will hit shelves everywhere next year. I can't wait for you to read them both! Since we talk crime movies all the time, because - as Raymond Chandler might say - murder is his business, Jordan and I opted to put on on our fedoras and have some laughs this week at the genre's comedic side in this engagingly fast-paced eighty-eight-minute conversation. So join us for some friendly intrigue as we take a tour of the secret passageways of the movies "Deathtrap," "Clue," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and "So I Married An Axe Murder" and prove that (in the right hands) murder can be fun.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/15/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63839960Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

You're receiving an early bonus episode this week because daylight saving time is on Sunday and winter is almost gone, so I figured the best way to say goodbye to the days of cool temperatures and early darkness is with a roundup of recent Blu-ray releases. Featuring a very eclectic collection of titles that were largely so obscure that guests weren't able to track them down to join me, the first half of this very casual, laid-back episode finds me walking you through the new Chabrol box set from Arrow as well as "Only the Animals," "Gold Diggers of 1933," "Song of the Thin Man," "The Three Musketeers" (1948), and "Wayne's World."While this section of the episode is a throwback of sorts to the early days of this podcast where you heard me offering solo film recommendations (and trying to make good on a promise to some listeners who miss this casual, impromptu approach), the second half serves up a very delightful conversation with one of my best friends. Joining me to deliver a passionate defense of one of her favorite underrated Alfred Hitchcock movies - "Stage Fright" (1950), which was just released by Warner Archive Collection - I adore talking to artist Kate Gabrielle about all things classic movies. She's always a joy and fittingly, her love of physical media inspired her to design the tee I'm wearing in the photo (which is available at KateGabrielle.com). And although next week will find us going back to the episode style you're used to hearing from Watch With Jen, I hope this installment will amuse you all the same!Originally Posted on Patreon (3/11/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63666474Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week, I was thrilled to welcome Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell back to the podcast for the first time since he joined me for an epic discussion last May on '90s duality in the films "Zero Effect" and "Fight Club." A reporter at BBC Talk Movies and a guest lecturer at Smithsonian Associates, Noah is also a freelance contributor at such notable outlets as The Atlantic, The Ringer, The Guardian, Polygon, and The Economist.In this fast-paced contemplative episode, he joins me to take a closer look at one of the most creatively fertile periods in the life of our favorite wild and crazy guy - Steve Martin. A comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, musician, magician, and Mensa level genius, Steve Martin is a man who has worn a number of hats throughout his fifty-plus year career but for the purposes of our conversation, we decided to zero in on Martin in the mid to late 1980s as he began embracing his career as an actor.From his supporting turn as a sadistic dentist in "Little Shop of Horrors" to his great ensemble studio comedies "Three Amigos!" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" to his surprisingly sweet, sexy, and sophisticated "Cyrano de Bergerac" adaptation "Roxanne," in this 52-minute discussion, Noah and I evaluate all sides of the Martin persona from the fully absurd to the downright horny.One of the world's most beloved entertainers you've heard discussed on Watch With Jen in past installments on David Mamet (for "The Spanish Prisoner"), Physical Media - Part 3 (for a new edition of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"), and '90s Romcoms (for "Father of the Bride") while this is our first episode dedicated to the actor, it's safe to say, it won't be our last.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/8/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63509809Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

In this very special episode, The Black List's Director of Community Kate Hagen returns to the podcast to help me welcome one of our all-time favorite filmmakers to Watch With Jen. A Los Angeles based independent writer-director who's won both a MacArthur Genius Grant along with a Peabody Award, Allison Anders' acclaimed films include her terrific debut "Border Radio" (co-directed with UCLA classmates Kurt Voss and Dean Lent), "Gas Food Lodging," "Mi Vida Loca," "Grace of My Heart," "Things Behind the Sun," and more. Although we'd mainly planned to come together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her award-winning sophomore feature "Gas Food Lodging," soon our richly free-flowing conversation opened up to span the beloved director's entire career. Whether she's describing her time spent inspiring Harry Dean Stanton's performance on the set of "Paris, Texas" while working as a PA for Wim Wenders, directing Brooke Adams on "Gas Food Lodging," collecting Greta Garbo's records, or appearing in Paul McCartney's liner notes, Anders' stories will delight film students, buffs, and professionals alike. Filled with laughter, great advice, and creative inspiration, this is one of our best episodes so far. Originally Posted on Patreon (3/4/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63342725 Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week, I'm so thrilled and proud to welcome back one of my dearest pals and the hardest working man in pod business, Mr. Blake Howard. The brains behind the stellar One Heat Minute Productions that launched with an in-depth minute-by-minute investigation and appreciation of Michael Mann's "Heat," he's released numerous pods since, including "All The President's Minutes," "Josie and the Podcats," "Zodiac: Chronicle," and also, the excellent "Increment Vice," hosted by our good friend, the film essayist Travis Woods. With several more releasing now like "Miami Nice," "Rum and Rant," "Too Much Movie," plus essays on heist films at Vague Visages, his busy family life with his lovely wife and two young children, and a new career as a teacher, Blake Howard is one of the busiest and most talented people I know... and also, the nicest. Always down to talk about movies, even when it's before six a.m. in Australia, in this episode, he joins me to discuss three underrated films and performances we enjoy featuring character actor James Caan, including "Comes a Horseman," "Hide in Plain Sight," and "The Yards." Along the way, we tackle the Caan mystique for better and worse, what he brings to his roles, and reevaluate some of his other films along the way. While editing today's episode, I realized that all you really need to know about our friendship is that it began with me confessing that because I love De Niro so much, I actually texted an undercover cop to make sure Pacino's shoot was clean in "Heat" to try to retroactively save his character's life! (Texting wasn't around when I first saw it in '95 but when I revisited it a few years ago, I had the luxury to annoy a friend.) Thus, it's perfect that our relationship comes full circle in this episode as we officially announce our next co-project together all about De Niro's "Midnight Run." We'll see you in the next life.Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63171958

Joining me for a fun, feisty, fast-paced conversation about some of the funniest romcoms from the period we both came of age is prolific Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and podcaster Rachel Wagner. The woman behind not only the website, pod, and YouTube Channel Rachel's Reviews but also the incredibly popular Hallmarkies Podcast as well, Rachel is a veteran interviewer in her own right and has a keen interest in both obscure animation and the genre that brings her back here today. Less focused on film history than it is on providing listeners with a good nostalgic movie quote-filled hang, in this roughly hour-long exchange, Rachel and I take a closer look at the '90s romantic comedy heyday of the "Father of the Bride" remake along with "While You Were Sleeping," "Clueless," "Notting Hill," and more.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/24/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62971521Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Striking while the iron is hot and while people's schedules are most open, we're back with another bonus episode for you this week and you are definitely in for a treat.A writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, today's guest Duncan Birmingham was an executive producer and screenwriter for IFC's "Maron" and also served as a co-executive producer and writer on the Starz series "Blunt Talk" as well. Additionally, Duncan's short films have premiered at such festivals as Sundance and AFI, and his screenplay "Swingles," which was bought by Paramount, was also on The Black List. Recently, his lively, irreverent short-story collection "The Cult in My Garage" was published by Maudlin House in 2021, and in other exciting news, he just wrapped his first feature-length film as a writer-director called "Who Invited Them?" starring Ryan Hansen, Melissa Tang, Timothy Granaderos, and Perry Mattfeld.In easily one of my favorite research-intensive episodes so far on Watch With Jen, Duncan joined me to cover the incredible run of films made by chronically under-discussed Oscar-winning editor turned masterful '70s director Hal Ashby. An empathetic collaborative filmmaker who was fascinated by human relationships, in this rich ninety-minute conversation, we delve into the films "Harold and Maude," "The Last Detail," "Shampoo," "Coming Home," and "Being There."Here you'll hear stories about Ashby fighting with the studios over marketing and foul language, his notably democratic film sets where everyone had a voice, ambitious abandoned projects, as well as thoughts on the performances that would garner 11 Oscar nominations throughout the decade, not to mention the way that contemporary filmmakers still seek inspiration in his work today. Settle in; it's a good one.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/19/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62775976Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveLogo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)

Today's guest, the great Dana Stevens has been Slate's chief film critic since 2006 as well as a veteran podcaster in her own right, serving as a co-host of the magazine's long-running weekly culture pod, "The Slate Culture Gabfest," which you should definitely seek out. An accomplished journalist whose work has also appeared in such esteemed publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Bookforum, Dana's latest opus is the passionately written and phenomenally well-researched new book Camera Man: Buster Keaton, The Dawn of Cinema, and The Invention of the 20th Century. Not just an outstanding title, her book really is about all of those things cited within it, which is what makes it so endlessly fascinating from start to finish.In this fast-paced conversation, the knowledgeable and witty author joins me to discuss her exciting new book, the surprises she's made along the way, as well as the shorts Fatty & Mabel Adrift (featuring Keaton's contemporaries Roscoe Arbuckle and Mabel Normand), Good Night, Nurse! (with Arbuckle and Keaton), and the certified classic Keaton feature Sherlock, Jr. The kind of episode you'll want to listen to with a pen and a sheet of paper so you can make a note of all of the terrific titles Dana references and recommends from its earliest moments, silent film buffs, in particular, are sure to appreciate this one.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/16/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62644819Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveLogo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)

Join us for "a ride with a trickster and a javelin man to a town down by the sea," in this engaging, analytical feature-length conversation dedicated to FX's 2010 wonderful one-season wonder series "Terriers." A sun-drenched San Diego set comedic crime show about scrappy unlicensed private eyes who are brilliantly brought to life by real-life friends Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James, the series was created by "Ocean's Eleven" and "Matchstick Men" screenwriter Ted Griffin.Recommended to me almost exactly a year ago by my good friend, Pandemic Movie Club buddy, and "Peckerwood" and "Fierce Bitches" author Jed Ayres, it's only fitting that he chose to focus on "Terriers" for today's chat. The man behind the terrific blog Hardboiled Wonderland, which I've been fortunate enough to contribute to on occasion, there's nobody better suited to breaking down the building blocks, unforgettable characters, and ingenious twists of the whodunnit genre than Jed.Covering everything from the unbelievable chemistry of the actors and the throwaway lines that tell us so much about the characters they play to the way it cleverly subverts genre tropes and more, this episode was made with not only the show's fans in mind but also for those who, like Jed and me, adore the films, books, and series that helped create this irresistible world. Enjoy!Originally Posted on Patreon (2/11/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62429171Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

A Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and journalist who writes for "Variety" and Fresh Fiction TV, this week's guest Courtney Howard is also a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, as well as Critics Choice, and the Online Film Critics Society.Holding an informal meeting of the cinematic Gen X Babysitter's Club with me this week to tackle the late '80s-early '90s studio comedies "Adventures in Babysitting," "Three Men and a Baby," and "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," Courtney's return to the podcast marks a lighthearted change of pace from some of the more dramatic epics and crime movies you'll frequently hear discussed on Watch With Jen.Along the way, we recall our earliest experiences with these movies, serve up fascinating behind-the-scenes information about the making of and reaction to each film when they were released, and reference a number of others that would create the perfect lineup for an impromptu Babysitting Film Festival.So hit the road, leave your newborn with your boisterous bachelor pals, drop F-bombs only in tandem, lie about going to Vassar on your job application, and enjoy this breezily entertaining chat.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (2/7/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62242290

Welcome back to the podcast! Taking a look at the work of legendary director John Huston and the films "Key Largo," "Fat City," and "Prizzi's Honor," today's installment, featuring "New York Times" bestselling "Razorblade Tears" author S.A. Cosby, is a little different from what longtime listeners are used to hearing on the pod. Sprinkled throughout this extended conversation, which covers everything from post-war existential noir to down-and-outers, hitmen, and southpaws, you'll discover memorable excerpts I've recorded about Huston's life and incorporated for your listening pleasure.A high-water mark for the series so far, our 2022 premiere is only the beginning. For the past month and a half, I've been busily planning for the exciting third season launch of Watch With Jen. This year, you'll be treated to not only the return of some of your favorite guests but the appearance of some wonderful new ones and VIPs as well so I hope you'll check back often to see which contributors and themes we'll have available for you soon. Thank you for your support and happy listening.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/1/22) with links to items discussed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/61911795Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Wrapping up our Physical Media series with this third and final installment, which also brings this season of Watch With Jen to a close, I hope you've enjoyed listening to these freewheeling episodes half as much as my collaborators and I did making them as well.Continuing on from where we left off yesterday with Walter Chaw and Nikki Dolson in Part 2, today we're kicking things off with my friend (and frequent guest), the gifted novelist William Boyle discussing The Window (1949), Harold and Maude, and Heaven Can Wait (1978).Then, after he and I dissect that unexpected trio of films, I serve up a trio of a different kind in the form of a hilarious, awkward, and enlightening three-way conversation about Reds, which just so happens to be my buddy, actor Rob Belushi's mother Sandi's favorite film of all time. Enlisting Rob to not only sit down and watch it for the very first time but also, to join in for a fun, anything goes discussion of Warren Beatty's 1981 epic alongside Sandi, Rob took his task seriously, teasing and interrogating his mother in equal measure throughout our extended conversation.And following these two fun yet very different chats, you'll hear me review the recent Paramount releases of Ragtime and the new steelbook edition of the celebrated holiday favorite Planes, Trains, and Automobiles as well.A nice way to wrap up the season before I return in 2022, if you're looking for more Watch With Jen in the meantime, please be sure to check out our backlog of over 120 episodes and also join the conversation with me on Patreon or Twitter (via the user name FilmIntuition) in order to find out who and what you'll be hearing on the podcast soon. Until next time, I want to thank you so much for listening, subscribing, and supporting the show. I'm wishing you and your loved ones a very safe, happy, and healthy holiday season and happy movie-watching to you all!Originally Posted on Patreon (12/15/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59921295Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

We're back with Part 2 of 3 of this season's final series of episodes devoted to recent physical media releases. Joining me today, we have the brilliant film critic Walter Chaw (whose video essay on Walter Hill's 48 Hrs. dubbed "Profane and Profound" you can find on Netflix's new series VOIR) and the witty and wonderful crime writer Nikki Dolson as well.After investigating The Naked Spur and The Last of Sheila with Chaw and diving into Nicholas Ray's Party Girl with Dolson, I take a look at two new French releases entitled Who You Think I Am and White as Snow from Cohen Media Group. Another installment packed with great conversation and astute observations, get ready for one more (final) episode dropping very soon as well.Originally Posted on Patreon (12/14/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59911369Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

I'm wrapping up the second season of Watch With Jen with three holiday presents for you. Starting today, they arrive in form of this trio of laid-back, conversational episodes devoted to recent physical media releases. Featuring some of your favorite recurring guests (and my closest friends) as well as analysis by yours truly solo, Part 1 finds me tackling the Brian Wilson style symphony of taste and existential ennui of Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky, going in-depth into an appreciation of Scream with Kate Gabrielle, and talking to Blake Howard about the under-discussed, Michael Mann linked 1978 masterpiece Straight Time. So download, dive in, and/or savor this gift - which will be followed in quick succession by Parts 2 & 3 soon - as I thank you for listening and supporting this show with these casual yet rich discussions. Originally Posted on Patreon (12/13/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59867340

The name is Moore, Roger Moore. In this lively, research-intensive episode on 007, I'm joined by Julia Ricci, the delightful Emmy nominated documentary researcher and senior programmer at the well-respected Heartland Film, which hosts two terrific festivals every year. Having recently completed a year-long project to watch each and every James Bond film for the first time, Julia sat down with me to chat about the effervescent, winking tenure of Roger Moore as 007 in the films The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, and For Your Eyes Only. Covering everything from the villains to the girls to the action to the gadgets to Moore on The Muppet Show, I hope you'll enjoy this affectionate look at the notably macho franchise by two thoughtful women who love its history, humor, and the various tenors, subgenres, approaches, and tones that have colored it over the years. James Bond Update: This conversation was recorded in early November. I've since seen No Time to Die and it's become one of my favorite films in the entire franchise. Podcast Note: This is the final traditional episode of Season 2 (aka 2021), but I will be uploading a few more episodes within the next week (!) consisting of fun laid-back conversations about recent physical media releases with some of your favorite guests. Also, for those of you who've said that you miss hearing me talk about films solo, these episodes will feature a few segments of me doing just that (so be careful what you wish for). Originally Posted on Patreon (12/10/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59753959 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

If you're going to go gothic, the best person to bring along is undoubtedly victorian literature and romantic poetry scholar Walter Chaw. A very good friend and the sharp yet humanistic critic whose work you can and should read at FilmFreakCentral, it's always an honor and a pleasure to talk about film, art, life, writing, sex, gender, and Hitchcock with Walter and today's discussion is no exception. In this richly philosophical, inquisitively minded, film obsessives only two-hour episode, we take a look at five twentieth-century cinematic classics, including Rebecca, Jane Eyre (1943), My Name is Julia Ross, The Night of the Hunter, and The Innocents (1961). Going deeper into plenty of other movies as well (because this is Walter Chaw and me, after all), we went into so much detail here that this installment was recorded over two separate chats to bring you our very best insights. The perfect accompaniment to running across the moors or investigating a strange noise in a crumbling Cornwall estate on a dark and stormy night, we hope you enjoy this foray into films that are black, white, and gothic all over. Originally Posted on Patreon (12/3/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59472097

Returning to the podcast once again, we have my very talented friend and an official (and very popular) friend of the show. William Boyle is the acclaimed novelist behind such titles as Gravesend, The Lonely Witness, A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself, City of Margins, and the brand new Shoot the Moonlight Out. In addition to crafting these wondrously humanistic Lumet-like character-driven ensemble crime epics, Bill is also quite a pop culture buff and one hell of a good movie trivia game player as well. A huge fellow fan of great character actors, there seems to be an unspoken rule that whenever Bill and I get together, we're going to champion actors' actors, indies from the '90s, and/or anything Italian American onscreen, and in this episode about the amazing Mr. Nicolas Cage, we did all three. Clocking in right around the length of Red Rock West, here you'll hear us discuss that movie, plus Valley Girl, Moonstruck, Wild at Heart, and Joe, and offer an overview and appreciation of several other Cage films and roles. One of the most popular actors in the history of this podcast, with past installments covering films like Adaptation, Vampire's Kiss, Mandy, Bringing Out the Dead, Rumble Fish, and more, I'm always happy to discuss Cage and had so much fun doing so with Bill. Releasing just in time for Thanksgiving in the United States (because who isn't thankful for Nicolas Cage), I hope this episode will entertain you and yours over the long holiday weekend. Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted with links to films, people, & items discussed on Patreon (11/22/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59012566

This week on Watch With Jen, we have a very special guest and the man behind one of my favorite shows in recent memory. The TV writer, director, producer, showrunner, and co-creator of Halt and Catch Fire, which, along with The Americans, Succession, and Better Call Saul, is easily one of the best series of the 2010s, Christopher Cantwell is here to tell us all about the cult favorite AMC show that you can watch in its entirety right now on Netflix. (And you should totally do that and then come right back to listen to the podcast!)In addition to his TV work, which also includes co-executive producing Lodge 49 and Paper Girls, Chris has been very active as of late in the world of comic books, where he is currently writing Marvel's monthly Iron Man series, as well as his own original titles in collaboration with some truly fantastic artists and imprints such as Vault Comics' The Blue Flame, Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body from Boom Studios, She Could Fly, Volume 3 from Berger Books and Dark Horse. You can find the latest issues of these titles on comic book store shelves throughout the month.Running the length of a feature film, in this epic episode (which serves up some details about the critical favorite that have never before been revealed), Cantwell shares the funny and fascinating behind-the-scenes saga of Halt and Catch Fire from its initial idea to its eventual series run on AMC. Here you'll hear about the casting process including the way that the actors informed their characters, as well as the decision to constantly shift the show's setting and power dynamics each season, along with production stories, Halt's pitch-perfect use of music, and so much more.As a fan of the series from the very beginning and someone who greatly enjoyed chatting with Chris's brilliant wife Elizabeth about horror movies earlier in the year as well, this conversation was a true honor and a pleasure and I'm thrilled to share the story of Halt and Catch Fire with all of you all.Originally Posted on Patreon (11/16/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58774714Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

A marketing and social media manager at Turner Classic Movies, you can see the work of today's wonderfully delightful guest Diana Bosch on the network's social accounts creatively spreading the joy of classic movies with fans around the globe. Diana's love of old Hollywood and the classics can be traced back to TV's I Love Lucy and the film noir that's similarly one of my favorites, Laura. Additionally, one area of her research and expertise is on the actor William Holden, which comes in very handy this week as we take a closer look at the life and career of Audrey Hepburn in honor of Paramount's new seven-film Blu-ray collection, and discuss the movies Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Paris When it Sizzles (the latter two of which co-star Holden). Originally Posted on 11/13/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58635625 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

As I recently discovered, one of the best things about having an actor on the podcast is that not only do they bring a valuable and unique perspective to these discussions about film and craft but they also have the ability to do all of the voices we're talking about! (And this particular guest is especially gifted in that department.) A very talented, versatile, and witty performer with more than 150 credit listings on IMDb, as an actor, James Urbaniak has brought to life Dr. Venture on Adult Swim's The Venture Brothers, the scene-stealing Arthur (who was my favorite character) on Hulu's Difficult People, and Grant on Comedy Central's Review. Additionally, he's also a podcaster in his own right and the creator of the scripted shows Getting On With James Urbaniak, A Night Called Tomorrow, and the upcoming I Will Never Lie to You. Joining me to discuss one of his all-time acting heroes and favorite periods of filmmaking in the form of Charles Laughton in the 1930s, in this lively and often laugh-out-loud funny episode, you'll hear us take a closer look at The Private Life of Henry VIII, The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934), Ruggles of Red Gap, Les Miserables (1935), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted on Patreon (11/9/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58460341

This week on the podcast, we have a woman who truly needs no introduction - one whose voice is or should be (especially if you're a cinephile) her own introduction. A film writer I remember reading as far back as Cinematical and The Village Voice as well as the author of Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, and books on George Lucas, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep, Karina Longworth is the historian and podcaster behind the acclaimed, addictive, and utterly fascinating series You Must Remember This, as well as the recent show Love is a Crime with Vanity Fair. Dropping in to tell us all about the exciting new season of You Must Remember This: Sammy & Dino, in this fun hour-long chat we discuss Dean Martin's film career from 1958-1960. In addition to focusing on the films The Young Lions, Some Came Running, and Rio Bravo, Karina was also kind enough to discuss the resurgence of The Rat Pack nostalgia in the mid-'90s, humor me during a segue about Gen X's two Coreys, and shout-out Clueless as well. You're bound to get a kick out of this one. Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted on Patreon (11/1/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58167211

Happy Halloween from Watch With Jen, care of this episode that will put you in the mood for the spooky season. One of my oldest Twitter friends from way back in the fail whale days, I'm so pleased to be joined today by the wonderfully witty Scott Weinberg.A prolific film writer for twenty years as well as a Jack of All Trades, Scott Weinberg has created such great podcasts as the new Overhated (which you can find on his Patreon Weinberg+) as well as co-created '80s All Over and more. Additionally, he's produced a few indie films, narrated audiobooks, and you can find his byline everywhere.Extremely knowledgeable about horror, in particular, in this spirited, freewheeling, rapid-fire episode, we tackle the remakes of such genre classics as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing, The Fly, The Blob, and Dawn of the Dead, while also discussing their predecessors and the films' underlying and sometimes subversive themes. The perfect accompaniment to your horror movie marathon plans for Halloween, today's pod is both a whole lot of fun... and far less trick than treat. Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted on Patreon (10/27/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57932809

Planning to travel? It always helps if you have the right guide. And when it comes to New York City, I have the perfect one for you today, especially if you're a film fan, because he literally just wrote the book on it. That's right, this week on the podcast, I was so honored to have back my talented friend Jason Bailey. The author of the brand new book Fun City Cinema, in this entertaining and informative episode, Jason tells us all about writing and researching his new critically acclaimed nonfiction work and breaks down a few films along the way. A gifted film writer, critic, and historian who's the editor-in-chief of the site Crooked Marquee, additionally, Jason Bailey is an author of four additional books on film, and a freelance journalist with bylines everywhere from The New York Times to Vulture to The Playlist and beyond. Tying in with both Jason's book (releasing Tuesday, October 26) as well as the outstandingly diverse New York City collection currently available on The Criterion Channel, in this installment, we zero in on The Garment Jungle (1957), The Incident (1967), The Out-of-Towners (1970), and Little Murders (1971). Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted on Patreon (10/23/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57771748

If you follow me on social media, you'll recall that earlier this year, I fell head over heels for Columbo. From creating a popular episode-by-episode mega-thread on Twitter to deciding that Peter Falk (who I'd long loved) was going to be one of my most-watched actors for the year on Letterboxd, I soon began steering even the most casual conversations with acquaintances back to my new favorite television obsession.Interacting with a number of fellow fans on Twitter, I started getting requests for an episode devoted to the series and eagerly recruited the great Noel Murray to join me to discuss five of his favorite Columbo mysteries. His selections include "Murder By the Book," "Étude in Black," "An Exercise in Fatality," "By Dawn's Early Light," and "Columbo Goes to College."An Arkansas-based freelance writer who covers TV, movies, and pop culture for The A.V. Club, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, Polygon, Vulture, and more, it was so great to chat with Noel about all things Columbo in this celebratory, fast-paced episode.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (10/15/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57445815

Is there a doctor in the house? Well, as it happens, this week there definitely is. A doctor of women surrealists and a freelance writer specializing in visual culture, art, couture, Old Hollywood, and more, the lovely Sabina Stent joins us to talk about some of her favorite generational soundtrack movies, including American Graffiti, Dazed and Confused, and Reality Bites in this warm, nostalgic, analytical episode that's bound to make you want to pack a mix CD, jump into your car, and drive all night. Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted on Patreon (10/8/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57166998

On the podcast this week, I welcomed back a very talented and thoughtful writer as well as a man recently (and affectionately) dubbed "Film Twitter Royalty." Peter Avellino's long-form essays on the movies that fascinate and frustrate him make his blog Mr. Peel's Sardine Liqueur a must-read for cinephiles. In a conversation that's equal parts witty nostalgia and astute film criticism, we took a look at the (recently) late, beloved comedy star Charles Grodin's work in the films "The Heartbreak Kid," "Seems Like Old Times," "The Lonely Guy," and "Midnight Run," and in the midst of discussing all of the food in these movies, found ourselves getting very hungry along the way.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (9/30/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56816129

An accomplished lawyer and a highly readable film critic at her own site MovieMom.com and at RogerEbert.com, where she's also an editor, this week, I was so pleased to welcome back the friendly and wise Nell Minow. The author of over 3,000 reviews since the 1990s, Nell has also written a handful of terrific film books, including 101 Must-See Movie Moments and The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies.Expanding upon a thoughtful, well-researched, and eye-opening article she wrote for RogerEbert.com on "19 Films That Celebrate the Art of Female Friendship," in this episode, we discuss the evolution of women in film over the years. Taking a closer look at the difference between sidekicks, frenemies, and true friendships onscreen, the pros and cons of the Bechdel Test, rebuttable presumption, and the stuffed animals we told all our secrets to as kids, in this fun, freewheeling chat, we focus on the films How to Marry a Millionaire, Steel Magnolias, and Set It Off and serve up plenty of food for thought.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon on 9/24/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56568689

This week, I was so pleased to welcome back one of the funniest guests I've ever had, the quick-witted, fresh, and very clever Sean Burns. A staff writer at WBUR's The ARTery and contributing writer at North Shore Movies, Sean Burns was Philadelphia Weekly's lead film critic from 1999-2013 and worked as the movie section contributing editor at the Improper Bostonian from 2006-2014. Additionally, a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the recipient of an award for excellence in criticism from The Greater Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists in 2002, Sean's reviews, interviews, and essays have also appeared in Metro, The Village Voice, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, Time Out New York, Philadelphia City Paper, The House Next Door, Movie Mezzanine, RogerEbert.com, and more. Additionally, he's also a projectionist who can tell you exactly what's wrong if you're messing up the presentation of a movie at an AMC Theater.Following up on an impromptu pact we made the last time Sean was a guest where we impossibly discovered that although we were both movie-obsessive teens at the time, neither one of us had ever bothered to see Disclosure, we turned that promise into today's theme. Investigating the sexy, sleazy side of Michael Douglas, in this very funny, adults-only episode, we take a closer look at Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Disclosure, and Solitary Man in order to evaluate the man, the myth, the Michael in Lothario Mode. The ideal soundtrack for your household chores or whatever you decide to do in the kitchen (just please, take the dishes out of the sink first) and the ultimate conversation to hear on your way to dance awkwardly in a deep v-neck sweater in a nightclub on a Saturday night, I know you'll dig this one.Note: Due to content & language - perfectly fitting our subject, of course - this episode is rated E for Explicit.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (9/18/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56321819

Pack your sunglasses, suits, smokes, and Stetson hats, and get ready for a tour of international crime movies. In case the title of today's show didn't already give it away, this episode is different. Inspired by some of the requests I received from Patreon donors at "The Right Stuff" level who were looking for segments about new westerns, John Woo, and crime movies in general, I put together my first compilation episode based solely on the wishes of Watch With Jen fans.Fine-tuning the topics and enlisting the help of a few friends, including Blake Howard, Jordan Harper, and Kate Gabrielle, I created this epic collaboration that clocks in at the length of Ivan Sen's brilliant Aussie western Goldstone, which is one of the films you'll hear discussed today. I hope you'll enjoy these terrific conversations and want to thank you so much for your continued support! There are plenty of surprises ahead, including a new monthly spin-off podcast you'll learn about towards the end of this episode.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (9/14/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56159326

This week, I welcome one of my dearest friends back to the podcast. A talented freelance illustrator, blogger, and film fan, Kate Gabrielle is the designer of both the season one and two versions of our gorgeous Watch With Jen logo. As a professional artist, she's not only worked with the TCM Film Fest, Netflix, Doubleday, Mental Floss, and more but also runs her own brightly colored, uplifting shop KateGabrielle.com as well.In her third solo and fourth total appearance on the show so far, Kate returns to discuss four movies starring one of her favorite actors, the gifted Dirk Bogarde. Focusing on So Long at the Fair, Darling, Modesty Blaise, and Accident - all of which she introduced to me - we delve into what makes these titles distinct works of classic British cinema and of course, what Bogarde does so well in all of them.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon 9/10/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56012404

Nobody makes a creative, ultra-specific crime subgenre Letterboxd list quite like my good friend, Peckerwood and Fierce Bitches author Jedidiah Ayres. Inspired by his inventive and comprehensive "Just Dew It" list of Extreme Sports Crime Films (and their close relatives), we selected four titles to watch and discuss which were made and released during our childhood and teen years. Although we reference several movies throughout, in this episode, we focus on BMX Bandits, Point Break (1991, of course), Cliffhanger, and Drop Zone.In sharing stories about our relationships to the films as well as what we think makes them so special (or at least intriguing!), Hardboiled Wonderland blogger Jed Ayres relays the single greatest "how I first saw ___" story I've heard on this podcast so far. It has everything - subterfuge, daring, ingenuity - and it's honestly, very incredible and very Jed. So buckle up, make sure your parachute works, and try to avoid any flamethrowers or kids on bike as you listen to this fun installment of Watch With Jen.Note: Recorded in mid-August, I referenced my vaccinated dad's recent Covid diagnosis. I'm pleased to report that he is well today, thanks to that vaccine!Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon here (9/5/21): https://www.patreon.com/posts/55798166

This week, I'm honored to welcome back my favorite crime writer working today. Novelist Megan Abbott is the Edgar-winning author of such acclaimed, rich works as Give Me Your Hand, You Will Know Me, The Fever, Dare Me, Queenpin, and more. Her newest title The Turnout was released on August 3rd and became not only a Today Show "Read with Jenna" book pick but also a New York Times bestseller as well.An impressive film buff who is as delightful as she is intelligent, I loved hearing Megan's fresh perspective on Martin Scorsese movies at the start of our 2021 season and was so thrilled to have her back to talk about the incredible Judy Holliday for this podcast today. Essentially discussing all of her movies, we focused mainly on The Marrying Kind, It Should Happen to You, Phffft, and The Solid Gold Cadillac. In the process, we take a look at what Holliday brought to these films, how with a 172 IQ, she was so much more than the stereotypical "dumb blonde" synonymous with her Oscar-winning performance in Born Yesterday, and also considered how she might have been gray-listed after cleverly refusing to name names during a HUAC hearing in 1950.Clocking in at under an hour, this celebratory yet thorough chat is as quickly paced as one of Holliday's deliciously brisk films. And the result is an episode that classic movie fans, in particular, will be sure to love!Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon on 8/31/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55580653

This week, I was so excited to welcome back my friend, author S.A. Cosby, who I'm fortunate to know well enough to call Shawn.An Anthony award-winning writer from southeastern Virginia, with My Darkest Prayer and Brotherhood of the Blade already under his belt, last year, Shawn burst onto the scene with his multiple award-winning breakthrough hit Blacktop Wasteland, which drew raves from Stephen King and Harlan Coben, among others. This summer, he released his acclaimed bestselling follow-up Razorblade Tears, which was one of the books selected as a potential Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Summer Read.As a fellow Godfather obsessive, I was thrilled when Shawn suggested exploring the career of Al Pacino in the '70s in today's episode. Delving into not only the Godfather series but also taking a closer look at two extraordinary films by Sidney Lumet - Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon - in this nearly two-hour episode, we discussed these works as well as the relative newcomer actor's rise to fame as one of the greatest character actors of his generation.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (8/27/21) here with links to items referenced & related: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55412305

What better way to celebrate the 100th episode of Watch With Jen than with a Titanic-sized conversation about passionate Titanic filmmaker James Cameron with the ever-passionate Tomris Laffly?A contributor to Variety, RogerEbert.com, The Playlist, Timeout New York, Filmmaker Magazine, and Vulture, Tomris Laffly is a member of the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle. A noted lover of the director's work (and especially Titanic, which is one of her favorite movies), while we left out The Abyss, True Lies, and his documentaries due to time, over the course of this in-depth two-hour discussion, we take a closer look at the life, career, films, recurring themes, and obsessions of James Cameron.One of my favorite episodes that I've recorded this summer (though believe me when I say there is some GREAT stuff ahead), you won't want to miss this conversation.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (8/22/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55207246

In the tradition of my collaborative episodes with Bright Wall/Dark Room and the Classic Film Collective, I have another one for you today that is sure to make you see red (in a good way!).Since 1998, DVD Netflix has delivered more than 5 billion DVD & Blu-ray rentals to movie lovers in every American zip code and to military bases around the world in their famous, iconic red envelopes. With an extensive library of movies from the early 1900s to today and shows from such premium networks as HBO and Showtime, DVD Netflix is a must for physical media lovers. In this fun, chatty episode, we'll go behind the scenes to talk to some of the people behind not only DVD Netflix but also its popular online movie blog.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (8/18/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55055653Visit FilmIntuition.com to find links to our Patreon and the official Watch With Jen merch shop.

This week, I was honored to welcome back my gifted friend and an official friend of the show. William Boyle is the acclaimed novelist of such books as Gravesend, The Lonely Witness, A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself, City of Margins, and the upcoming Shoot the Moonlight Out.A knowledgeable film buff and a bard of Italian-American New York life, especially in the era he came of age in the 1990s (which I love since we're roughly the same age), in the past, Bill appeared to discuss the career of David Morse along with critic Nell Minow, and stopped by twice last year to chat including once about actor Mickey Rourke.This time, he joined me to discuss five of his favorite underrated, overlooked, and/or largely forgotten Italian-American films, including Fatso (1980), Mac (1992), Household Saints (1993), Angie (1994), and Two Family House (2000). In this delightfully breezy yet reflective chat, we shared some of our own family tales, our thoughts on the movies, and agreed that since we have no idea how to pronounce a few of the gorgeous Italian names, we'd say them multiple ways to ensure we were right at least once. So pull up your chair, prepare and plate some pasta, and enjoy it along with a hearty sauce and this rich conversation.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (8/7/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/54636577

This week's guest is the impressive critic, in-demand lecturer, and insightful author, Mr. Adam Nayman. A contributor to The Ringer, Criterion, CinemaScope, and more, the Toronto-based Adam has written books on Showgirls, Ben Wheatley, the Coen Brothers, and Paul Thomas Anderson. His newest title, David Fincher: Mind Games is available for pre-order now and will be released in November from Abrams.If you're a fan of his work, it should come as no surprise that Adam Nayman is a very well-prepared and knowledgeable guest. In fact, he actually went above and beyond to track down a copy of an out-of-print autobiography by our subject in order to share it with us today. In this fascinating episode, he joins me to discuss the life and career of Gene Tierney as well as her films Laura, Leave Her to Heaven, Whirlpool, and Night and the City.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (7/29/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/54276854

This week, I was so pleased to welcome one of the best film writers currently working today - the wonderful Sheila O'Malley - to the podcast. A regular film critic for RogerEbert.com and a member of the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle, Sheila's work has also appeared in Film Comment, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, Criterion Collection, Sight & Sound, and other outlets.Additionally, a scene from her full-length script July and Half of August was turned into a short film, which played at the Albuquerque Film and Music Experience, as well as at EbertFest. She's also written the narration scripts for two tribute reels played at the Lifetime Achievement Oscar ceremony, one for recipient Gena Rowlands (read by Angelina Jolie) and one for recipient Anne V. Coates (read by Diane Lane). Always a must-read, when she isn't doing everything else, Sheila writes about actors, movies, and Elvis at her outstanding personal site, The Sheila Variations.Extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the art of acting and classic film, in this richly researched episode, Sheila joins me to dissect the movies (and mores!) of Hollywood's notorious pre-code era, including The Public Enemy, the original Scarface, Three on a Match, Baby Face, and Design for Living.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (7/21/21) with links to items discussed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53958553