Watch With Jen™

This week, I was so pleased to welcome back the lovely, very funny, & terribly sweet Stephanie Crawford. A talented film writer and podcaster with an infectious love of cinema and physical media, you can check out Stephanie's work at her personal website House of a Reasonable Amount of Horrors.Teaming up to celebrate the new 4K release of Almost Famous, we study three key rock music movies that explore (and were made in) three different decades. In this affectionate, personal, yet analytical conversation, we discuss Tom Hanks' 1996 directorial debut That Thing You Do! (which was set in the '60s), Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous from 2000 (which took place in the early '70s), and the iconic Prince rock movie Purple Rain from director Albert Magnoli which was made in and represents the early 1980s.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (on 7/16/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53776811

This week, I'm proud to welcome back one of my dear mates (as he would say), Mr. Blake Howard. A podcaster extraordinaire, Blake is the man behind One Heat Minute Productions. Recent acclaimed podcasts you can find from him include All the President's Minutes, Josie and the Podcats, Increment Vice - hosted by our good friend Travis Woods - and the new Zodiac Chronicle. Additionally, Blake is a very insightful film writer and has recently launched a cool column on heist films at Vague Visages.Couple this with the fact that he's a devoted husband and father of two adorable young children and is also going back to school to become a teacher, and he's one of the busiest men I know. (He's also one of the nicest!) And as someone lucky enough to chat with him nearly every week in our Pandemic Movie Club, I was thrilled to have him back on the podcast to discuss three masterful Irish Mob Movies: Miller's Crossing, Road to Perdition, and The Departed in an energetic, upbeat (save for a few risky opinions), and very entertaining feature-length chat.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (7/9/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53504215

Returning to Watch With Jen today is one of the podcast's most popular and frequent guests - my good friend and Pandemic Movie Club buddy Jordan Harper.An Edgar award-winning crime writer of the remarkable novel She Rides Shotgun and the terrific book of short stories Love and Other Wounds, Jordan also works in Hollywood as a TV writer and producer and has been behind such series as The Mentalist, Gotham, and Hightown. He also created a stunning pilot for CBS of L.A. Confidential that was just celebrated at the ATX Festival as well.And since the most frequent feedback I receive whenever Jordan is on is compliments about our chemistry and banter (as evidenced in the David Mamet episode), it's only fitting that this time around, we ditched the crime genre in favor of screwball comedies.Breaking down the subversive wit, ingenuity, and downright horniness of four famous Preston Sturges movies, we discuss Barbara Stanwyck's powers of seduction as a con-woman in The Lady Eve, the lessons Hollywood can and has learned from Sullivan's Travels, the chaotic confidence of The Palm Beach Story, and the brilliance of Eddie Bracken yelling "Spots!" in The Miracle of Morgan's Creek.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (7/1/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53174633

Since I was a few days late with the last episode, this week, you have two terrific new installments of Watch With Jen to enjoy (as well as a Patreon only bonus episode of Watch With Jen: Ask Me Anything where I answer your burning questions).And keeping with the theme of more is more, in this episode, I am joined by not one but five wonderfully talented women to talk about a handful of their favorite representations of female creativity in classic movies. My guests, Kate Gabrielle, Meg Hesketh, Raquel Stecher, Jill Blake, and Marya E. Gates are all contributors to Gabrielle's inspired new Patreon, The Fifth Avenue Anti-Stuffed Shirt & Flying Trapeze Club Classic Film Collective, where they share prose, poetry, art, music, etc. that's centered on classic movies.From Bette Davis battling her twin sister to Deanna Durbin scheming Broadway to Joan Crawford taking on her daughter to an indie favorite from director Claudia Weill, we cover a lot of ground in this chatty episode. Discussing our own creative processes, along with double standards in the arts, our checkered relationship stories (romantic & otherwise), and more, it's a whole lot of fun.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (6/25/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/52923857

This week, I was so excited to welcome back Elizabeth Cantwell, whom I enjoyed talking to about The Shining in the Bright Wall/Dark Room episode earlier this season.A poet and a high school teacher, Elizabeth is the author of the chapbook Premonitions, as well as two full-length books of poetry, Nights I Let the Tiger Get You and All the Emergency-Type Structures. Additionally an editor at Bright Wall, you can find her essays on a variety of films ranging from Jaws to Burn After Reading in Chad Perman's prestigious online film journal. Working by day as a high school teacher, she happily tricks her students into learning through her accessible, engaging courses on horror, creative nonfiction, and War & Peace.Having recently launched a podcast in her own right, you can hear Elizabeth along with her husband, writer Christopher Cantwell happily obsessing over a wide range of topics on their new podcast "Spores, Molds, and Fungus."Warm, kind, and incredibly intelligent, Elizabeth joined me to discuss sex, gender, and final girls in horror as it relates to Black Christmas (1974), Dressed to Kill (1980), Cat People (1982), Vampire's Kiss (1989), and Mandy (2018) this long, breezy, entertaining chat that I know you're going to love.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (6/20/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/52723379

As Leo Tolstoy wrote in the first sentence of Anna Karenina, "happy families are all alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Joining me to discuss five wide-ranging international films centered on families with varying levels of dysfunction is NYU trained freelance television editor and writer, producer, director Steven Santos.A New York City native who now lives in Los Angeles, for nearly fifteen years, Steven Santos has edited nonfiction TV shows for a variety of cable channels including Discovery, Animal Planet, The Travel Channel, NatGeo, A&E, TLC, History Channel, HGTV, and Oxygen.In 2010, Steven also began to produce and cut video essays solo as well as in a creative partnership with film and TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz, which led to some top-notch work both online and off as the two developed a television show about film for Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail.Returning to his first love of writing and filmmaking, after relocating to Hollywood in 2018, Steven has written and developed several film and TV projects, including scripting a full season of television by himself, while still working as a TV editor.Filled with both personal stories and cinematic analysis, in this extended episode, we dissect My Family aka Mi Familia from 1996 (set in Mexico and America), Secrets & Lies, which was made a year later in England, Festen or The Celebration, which came out of Denmark in '98, The Royal Tenenbaums from America in 2001, and France's A Christmas Tale, which was released in '08.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (6/11/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/52386781

Joining me today is a Rotten Tomatoes approved critic and a podcaster in her own right, the wonderful Rosa Parra. A member of the Hollywood Critics Association, the Latino Entertainment Journalist Association, GALECA, and a fellow member of the Online Association of Female Film Critics, Rosa is also the co-founder and co-host of Latinx Lens. In her fun and informative podcast and companion website, Rosa focuses on highlighting Latinx representation and contributions in film and television. Additionally, Rosa, along with her co-writers and co-hosts, review all films with their unique Latinx Lens, lending a vital underrepresented perspective on cinema. An endlessly kind and supportive Twitter presence, I was so pleased to welcome her to this podcast to discuss three of the most vital filmmakers of the past 30 years, three gifted Mexican filmmakers whose groundbreaking work ushered in the Mexican New Wave in the 1990s, and three good friends who collectively call themselves the Three Amigos. The men to whom I'm referring are, of course, the marvelous Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, and Alejandro González Iñárritu, whose rich films inspire and challenge not just film fans but also each other. In this celebratory yet highly analytical feature-length episode, Rosa and I take a look at two movies from each director to compare and contrast their films and styles, and also chat about their collaborators, while taking the rest of their work into consideration as well. Whether it's Cuarón's unique one-two punch of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Children of Men, del Toro's feminist fantasies Crimson Peak and The Shape of Water, or the gritty realism of Iñárritu's Amores Perros and 21 Grams, Rosa and I explore it all. Needless to say, this episode is a must for film geeks! Enjoy.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (6/3/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/52077664

In this entertainingly super-sized episode, we have two guests for the price of one! First up, is a teacher and writer from Lafayette, Louisiana. After graduating from AFI with an MFA in directing, Mike Miley first got his start as an award-winning short filmmaker. Having left life in the L.A. entertainment industry behind to work in education in California and Louisiana, Mike has taught middle and high school English for fifteen years and Film Studies at his alma mater Loyola University (New Orleans) for the past six.Additionally, an essayist and author who's written about both subjects in popular and academic publications including TheAtlantic.com and Bright Lights Film Journal, in 2015, one of his works was included as a notable literary essay in 2015's Best American Essays. Mike's first book, Truth and Consequences: Game Shows in Fiction and Film was published by the University Press of Mississippi in 2019, Conversations with Steve Erickson, which he co-edited will be released from there in July, and he is currently working on his next book - about filmmaker David Lynch - to be published in the future.Joining me to discuss four films from the '90s and early '00s that made game shows either a central focus or the goal of its characters, we move from Ron Shelton's terrifically funny White Men Can't Jump to Robert Redford's classy yet now largely forgotten Quiz Show to Paul Thomas Anderson's epic Magnolia to George Clooney's messily ambitious Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Dissecting key points in these movies and sharing our own experiences watching these films growing up and/or in the theater, it was great fun both reminiscing and hyper-analyzing all four with Mike.Adding in a bonus round because how can you not when you're discussing game shows, after my chat with Mike, I welcomed my pal, actor, writer, and film buff Rob Belushi - who serves as a real live game show host on Game Show Network's Get a Clue - to the podcast. In a short, breezy chat, Rob shares his take on the movies Mike and I discussed and then lets us behind-the-scenes of life working on a game show. Answering some of your burning questions from social media and sharing some amusing stories, this conversation with Rob was the perfect coda to this episode.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (5/28/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51800513

An animation lover since childhood with fond memories of belting out songs from the contemporary Disney classic The Little Mermaid, this week I'm joined by the Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and podcaster Rachel Wagner.In addition to covering as many films as she can each year on her website Rachel's Reviews, Rachel has a particular love of interviewing others - from actors to directors to composers to animators - anyone with an interesting story to tell. A prolific podcaster in her own right, Rachel is the founder of the very popular Hallmarkies Podcast and her own Rachel's Reviews podcast and YouTube channel which covers all things animated, including a monthly Talking Disney and Obscure Animation show.A member of the Utah Film Critics Association and the Online Association of Female Film Critics, when she isn't busy with all of that, you can find Rachel on Twitter (@rachel_reviews). Discussing her exciting adventures in podcasting and film coverage, in this fascinating hour-long episode, we take a look at three obscure works of foreign animation, including The Girl Without Hands (2016), Louise by the Shore (2016), and Away (2019). Incredibly knowledgeable on the subject, you might want to listen to Rachel's recommendations with a notebook and pen!Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally posted on Patreon (5/21/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51530018

Kind, witty, and wildly gifted, 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 later this year, one of Nikki's outstanding pieces will appear in the prestigious Best American Mystery and Suspense stories anthology for 2021, edited by Alafair Burke and Steph Cha.In this intriguing episode that's sure to delight bibliophiles and cinephiles alike, Nikki returns to the pod to consider all things western. From the adaptations of two stellar short western stores by Elmore Leonard and Annie Proulx (including 3:10 to Yuma and Brokeback Mountain, respectively) to Young Guns and beyond, we evaluate both what makes an adaptation successful and the genre as a whole. A woman whose wit and intelligence shines through no matter what topic, this wide-ranging installment is filled with laughter and irresistibly rapid-fire conversation. (Note: This episode contains plot spoilers)Originally Posted on Patreon (5/14/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51266960Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell joins me to discuss two cult-favorite Gen X titles from the '90s - our mutual favorite "Zero Effect" and the brilliant "Fight Club" - in this nerdily analytical episode. A reporter at BBC Talk Movies and a guest lecturer at Smithsonian Associates, Noah is also a freelance contributor for a number of outstanding outlets, including The Atlantic, The Ringer, The Guardian, Polygon, and The Economist.Filled with spoilers about "Zero Effect" and "Fight Club" as well as a few other twisty, unreliable narrator centrist films from the same era, in this in-depth conversation, we dissect not only what makes them great but also pinpoint their place in history then and now.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (5/3/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50825689

A witty and wonderful writer-director currently living in Los Angeles, Jessica Ellis attended UCLA and the prestigious American Film Institute. Having recently made her feature filmmaking debut with the lovely coming-of-age movie What Lies West, Jessica's film is now available for pre-order at all online retailers and will be released on VOD on May 11. A bright light on Twitter, in this episode, she takes us behind-the-scenes of What Lies West before dissecting some of her favorite summer adventure movies, including Dirty Dancing, Now and Then, and The Way, Way Back from her perspective as a cinematic storyteller in her own right.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon on 4/27/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50551103

This week, we have back a wonderfully talented writer I enjoyed chatting with last year: Robert Daniels. A freelance film critic based in Chicago who holds an MA in English, Robert is the founder of 812FilmReviews and has written for RogerEbert.com, The Playlist, Polygon, Consequence of Sound, and more. In this lively episode, we dissect 5 of the most offbeat characters that America's Dad - the incredible actor Tom Hanks - has embodied over the past 40 years. From the Safdie brothers' favorite Punchline to The Ladykillers, The Terminal, Cloud Atlas, and A Hologram for the King, we take a look at what Hanks brings to these unusual roles and evaluate the films themselves as well. Referencing some of our other favorites including The 'Burbs and Road to Perdition, we hope you'll enjoy this laugh-filled, rapid-fire conversation half as much as we did!Note: Exciting news! If you love the podcast and Kate Gabrielle's fabulous logo, you can now shop us on Threadless & bring home a t-shirt, sticker, &/or tote bag of your very own. More cool designs will be added soon. Check it out hereTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (4/21/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50310048

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, he is a writer-director known for the movies New Guy, Purse Snatcher, and The Barber of Siberia. Joining me for a chatty, fast-paced, feature-length exploration of 6 legal thrillers made during the golden age of the genre in the '80s and '90s, we discuss The Verdict, Suspect, Class Action, A Few Good Men, The Pelican Brief, and The Rainmaker. And in taking a closer look at these films, we question why Hollywood stopped making them, whether or not audiences would enjoy the genre today, and the writers, directors, and stars that brought these works to life.Originally Posted on Patreon (4/14/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50038940Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

As witty as she is articulate, Diana Drumm is a critic, historian, researcher, and self-described "full-time nerd." An assistant editor at Cineaste Magazine, which is America's leading magazine on the art and politics of cinema, Diana is also the marketing coordinator at Quad Cinema, New York's first small four-screen multiplex theater. Additionally, she is assisting in the production of the upcoming memoir of the late movie theater owner and film distributor Dan Talbot of New Yorker Films and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas. She also runs the Female Film Critics Twitter account, amplifying women and gender nonbinary voices in film on social media.Particularly knowledgeable when it comes to classic British cinema and the filmography of James Mason, in a lively two-hour conversation, Diana and I dissect the Sinister Men of The Wicked Lady, Marnie, Inside Daisy Clover, Smooth Talk, and Baby Driver. From Face/Off to the psychology of Hitchcock to our own misadventures in the dating world and beyond, this is one often hilarious, wide-ranging discussion you won't want to miss.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (4/9/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49837807

BenDavid Grabinski is a television and film writer, director, and producer based out of Los Angeles. His 2010 short film Cost of Living played at festivals around the world and then his first screenwriting credit came with Skiptrace, which starred Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville, and was directed by the great Renny Harlin.In 2019, he served as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner of the Are You Afraid of the Dark? series reboot, and most recently, he made his feature filmmaking debut with the inventive Happily, which is now playing in theaters, on digital and demand, or any place you can rent or buy a movie on the internet. It will also be released to DVD in May so if you're a physical media fan - and you should be - pre-order yours today!A film with a remarkable cast (including Kerry Bishé, Joel McHale, Stephen Root, and beyond), Happily is a work that was influenced by many of Grabinski's favorite films and directors. Chief among his inspirations is director Robert Altman.Altman not only specialized in epic casts, but he also made three incredibly trippy, experimental, female-centric works in the late '60s to the late '70s, which reveal that he could've had quite a career in horror if he would've been so inclined.In this episode, we take a closer look at Robert Altman's That Cold Day in the Park, Images, and 3 Women. Titles that just don't get discussed enough compared to his universally acclaimed masterpieces from the same era, although they're three distinctly separate works, the movies form something of a thematic trilogy. So pull up a chair, try not to look over your shoulder, and join us as we Happily lead you on an exploration into the scary side of Robert Altman.Originally Posted on Patreon (4/3/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49584884Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

A singular and passionate writer, Kate Hagen's work has appeared in Playboy, The Hollywood Reporter, 538, Seed & Spark, and more. In 2019, she brought her essay "The Last Great Video Store" to TedX and she also appears in the new documentary The Last Blockbuster to discuss the importance of video stores in our lives.Since 2014, Kate has served as the Director of Community at The Black List where she's an executive and producer, edits, curates, and writes for the Black List Blog, manages the entire Black List online community, is the point person on all website partnerships, and oversees their social media ecosystem with over 250,000 followers as well.Kate is also well-known on Twitter for her love of erotic movies and actor James Spader - two subjects we initially bonded over on the social media platform years ago! And although I usually let each guest choose a unique theme for their episode, when it came time to bring Kate Hagen on the podcast, I straight up insisted that she chat with me about sexy James Spader movies today. (Don't worry, Kate, next time, you can totally choose the topic!)This brings me to an important note. If you're listening to this episode on a podcast platform (Spotify, Apple, etc), you might have noticed that I checked the box for explicit content on this episode. Rest assured, it isn't overly graphic but because of the mature sexual themes within James Spader's filmography (re: sex, lies, & videotape, Bad Influence, and Crash), I thought that sensitive listeners and those with children might appreciate a warning. So sit back and get in the mood for sex, James Spader, and James Spader sex in film.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted with links to items discussed (3/28/21) here on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49312644

I'm so delighted to welcome one of my oldest Twitter friends - Marya E. Gates - to the podcast for what I hope will be the first of several episodes.A writer, film lover, and former editorial manager for Netflix, Marya was also the social media manager for Rotten Tomatoes and Film Struck. Additionally, she created such viral film movements as A Year with Women, where she spent a year watching and logging films made by female directors, and Noirvember, where movie buffs spend the month of November watching and learning about the noir genre.Now a freelance writer for such outlets as MovieFone and RogerEbert.com, Marya is also a podcaster currently working on getting her new show Prog Save America (about progressive rock) out to listeners soon. As a fellow Dylan and Springsteen fan, I can't wait to tune in because - with her passion behind it - I know it'll be awesome.In this breezy, spirited chat, we dissect Daisies, Foxfire (1996), and Skate Kitchen - three films about rebellious girls made in three different eras by three different female filmmakers. Sharing our own funny stories about getting in fights, teen medical drama, coming-of-age in the '90s and '00s, and finding our tribe, we follow the conversation wherever it leads, including a cool digression about Surfer Zen and the wisdom of Ethan Hawke. If any of that appeals (and how could it not?), you're bound to dig this one.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/22/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49067826Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

A multiple award-nominated crime writer and Emmy nominated professional editor who lives and works in Los Angeles, Eric Beetner is a creative jack-of-all-trades with an impressively encyclopedic knowledge of vintage Film Noir. Selecting four movies directed by another jack-of-all-trades, Mr. Anthony Mann, in this entertaining discussion, Eric and I take a closer look at Desperate, T-Men, Raw Deal, and Side Street, and briefly touch on Mann's post-noir career helming westerns.Although I was occasionally (and embarrassingly!) distracted by the sounds of roofers stomping around above me, thankfully, whenever I lost my train of thought, the kind and articulate veteran podcaster Eric dove in to take the reins, which helped keep the conversation flowing throughout.Originally Posted on Patreon with Links (3/15/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48599293Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

One of the most prestigious and well-respected film journals on the web, Bright Wall/Dark Room is dedicated "to exploring the relationship between movies and the business of being alive." Over the past month, I was fortunate enough to speak with seven members of its editorial staff (including Bright Wall founder and editor-in-chief Chad Perman) about their favorite comfort movies and why they personally relate to and endorse each one.Comprised of seven separate conversations that play surprisingly well together, this super-sized, feature-length episode gives you the chance to hear from the passionate, articulate people who've written and/or edited some of the magazine's most moving pieces. I want to thank Chad Perman, Kelsey Ford, Ethan Warren, Carrie Courogen, Elizabeth Cantwell, Spencer Williams, and Travis Woods for their time, insight, and for trusting me enough to bring Bright Wall/Dark Room to the pod waves. Enjoy!Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (3/8/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48499124

A Brit with a lovely accent who's currently living in La La Land, the articulate and supportive Jumpcut Online Editor-in-chief Fiona Underhill joins me to discuss a man we both love - Mr. Paul Newman. Dissecting four of his more overlooked, unchampioned, or forgotten films that have gotten lost in the shuffle of his legendary career, Fiona takes us through four decades of his work. Along the way, we zero in on The Rack (1956), What a Way to Go! (1964), Absence of Malice (1981), and Nobody's Fool (1994) in this fast-paced, roughly hour-long episode.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/3/21) with links to items discussed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48286977Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Continuing the David Morse appreciation that I began with my recent long article for DVD Netflix, talented veteran film critic Nell Minow and acclaimed novelist William Boyle return to the podcast to dissect five great performances by the remarkable character actor. Selecting a handful of diverse films that flew under-the-radar (which are all currently available to stream), we discuss recurring themes and what Morse manages to bring to each role in this entertaining episode.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally posted on Patreon (2/27/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48089095

As kind and humble as he is knowledgeable and articulate, Blacktop Wasteland author Shawn Cosby (aka S.A. Cosby) returns to the podcast to dissect the aesthetics of Neon Noir in the movies Thief, Drive, and Good Time.Not just an award-winning writer, Shawn is also a fellow major film buff. In fact, what I loved most about this long analytical conversation is that even though we went into it assuming we'd chat about 3 movies for roughly an hour, we quickly found ourselves referencing dozens more in what soon became a feature-length conversation. (In a fitting tribute, the episode clocks in at a length that's only a few minutes longer than Drive and a few minutes shorter than Good Time.)Needless to say, if you're as nerdy as we are, you might want to listen to this episode with a notebook and pen so you can write down some of the films we excitedly fired off as we wax philosophically about all things neon and noir throughout. Hope you enjoy it!Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (2/19/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/47755256

My dear friend - insightful and humanistic Film Freak Central senior critic and scholar Walter Chaw - returns to the podcast for a nice long soulful chat about five fascinating depictions of writers on film. In this episode, we mentally return to college English class before we escape with our favorite mentors for a deep, feature-film length evaluation of the compulsive nature of writing, film, and why we're so passionately drawn to the arts. Join us.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (2/6/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/47205190

This week, my good friend (and official friend of the show), the talented screenwriter and Edgar award-winning author Jordan Harper returns to the podcast to share his wit and wisdom with us once again. In this episode, which runs roughly the length of STATE & MAIN and SPARTAN, we discuss the enviable filmography and singular critical theories of the Pulitzer Prize winning raconteur David Mamet. (Note: this episode contains spoilers, especially with regard to THE SPANISH PRISONER, HEIST, and SPARTAN, so please proceed with caution).Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive.Originally Posted on Patreon (1/29/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46830352

Breaking down four of his roles that don't often get discussed, talented artist Kate Gabrielle returns to the podcast to celebrate the incredibly versatile chameleon-like character actor Ed Harris. Note: This episode does contain spoilers, particularly when we start dissecting the unsung early '90s neo-noir CHINA MOON, so please proceed with caution.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive.Originally Posted on Patreon (1/25/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46659886

A talented film critic and podcaster based in England, Leslie Byron Pitt is a writer for Set the Tape and Vodzilla and has also been published on Film Stories and Little White Lies. Additionally featured on Inside Cinema for the BBC iPlayer, when he isn't writing or creating new pieces for print, Leslie can be found on Hustlers of Culture, a film podcast from a minority perspective, and the erotic thriller podcast Fatal Attractions.A man with terrific taste who's routinely supportive and kind to others on Film Twitter, it was a joy speaking to Leslie about three unique tales of human connection in the form of California Split, Before Sunrise, and In the Mood for Love.An engrossing and thoughtful conversation that initially raises some vital questions about contemporary cinema and social media discourse before we venture into the films just before the half-hour mark, this is a wide-ranging chat that runs the length of a feature film! So escape from the news and curl up with some great film geek speak, made even more palatable thanks to Leslie's mellifluous British accent.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive.Originally Posted on Patreon (on 1/13/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46172484

Anthony, Edgar, Barry, and International Thriller Writers award-winner Megan Abbott is one of my favorite writers working today. Not only the prolific author of acclaimed short stories and novels, including Queenpin, You Will Know Me, and Give Me Your Hand, she has also written White Masculinity in Hardboiled Fiction & Film Noir. Formerly a staff writer on David Simon's HBO original series, The Deuce, as a screenwriter, Megan Abbott recently adapted her gorgeous novel Dare Me for the USA Network and served as a co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the series, which was repeatedly named one of the best TV shows of 2020 and has also just been made available to stream on Netflix as well. A Grosse Pointe Michigan native who fell in love with old movies as a child and is still a highly respected film buff, she's also been a contributor to and essayist for The Criterion Collection. Megan, who received her PhD in English and American Literature from New York University, has worked as a professor at NYU, the State University of New York, as well as the New School University, and in 2013-2014, she served as the John Grisham writer-in-residence at Ole Miss. Well known for her rich prose and female-centric spin on the crime genre, in the past, Megan edited the anthology A Hell of a Woman, which was devoted to female crime fiction, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, The Wall Street Journal, The L.A. Times Magazine, The Guardian, and more. Megan's hotly-anticipated tenth novel, The Turnout, is due to be released this summer on July 6, 2021. It was both an honor and a privilege to speak to Megan about the underrated or overlooked films of Martin Scorsese - one of her favorite filmmakers as well as mine - in this enlightening and engaging episode, which fans of her work and Scorsese's are sure to love.Note: Be sure to stay tuned after our conversation for a postscript, where I fill listeners in on the changes to the podcast this "season" in 2021.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (1/1/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45644845

Peckerwood novelist and Hardboiled Wonderland blogger Jed Ayres returns to the podcast to dissect classic crime movies with me along with their many remakes. Covering a total of 11 films, this episode is packed with information and great conversation, care of my intelligent, passionate friend Jed.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45254657

Talented freelance writer and notable film critic Candice Frederick returns to the podcast to discuss some of her favorite holiday movies in this engaging, laugh-filled conversation that takes listeners chronologically from classic Hollywood films of the '30s through the animated smash How the Grinch Stole Christmas and all the way up to Elf.Originally Posted on Patreon on 12/16/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45120600Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

One of the hardest working women behind-the-scenes of a major brand, Annie Jung is the marketing manager of DVD Netflix (which amazingly, is a team of one) and is constantly coming up with great ideas for engagement both for the site's official blog as well as through a variety of fun DVD Chats on Twitter. Additionally, a lover of good books, with - under normal circumstances - a passion for travel, Annie enjoys quality scotch, fine cheese, and finding new films to add to her DVD Netflix queue.Eager to explore her great affection for period pictures, in this entertaining overview of five of her favorites, we discuss everything from American Girl Dolls and the treasures waiting for you at Goodwill to memorable film scores and the surprising amount of agency women have in period vs. modern fare.Originally Posted on Patreon on 12/7/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44775370Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Just in time for the holidays, here's a new episode of Watch With Jen where I'm recommending not just five but - thanks to one trilogy - seven fun ensemble films for you to track down. From a foreign comedy to a globe-trotting screwball romantic comedy action movie to two modern adaptations of a classic play to an epic '70s puzzle, there's bound to be something here for every type of film fan.Originally Posted on Patreon on 11/25/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44310048Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Witty, singular, and iconoclastic, Iranian-American feminist pop culture writer Roxana Zivar Hadadi is a film and television critic who's been published by RogerEbert.com, The A.V. Club, Crooked Marquee, Vulture, The Playlist, and Bright Wall/Dark Room. A bright light on Twitter with her fresh perspective and bold humor, the Baltimore based Roxana – who holds a Masters in Literature – is a member of the D.C. Area Film Critics Association, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, the Online Film Critics Society, and is a contributing, approved critic to Rotten Tomatoes.I couldn't have been more excited when Roxana suggested Sofia Coppola's filmography as the topic of this episode. Coppola is not only one of my very favorite directors and someone whose work I've written about multiple times, but oddly enough, she also inspired my film school nickname of "Sof," which was bestowed upon me by a guy who insisted I looked like the gorgeous filmmaker, despite my arguments to the contrary.In this super-sized episode, which runs the length of Lost in Translation, Roxana and I embark on a chronological journey through each one of Coppola's seven feature films. Offering an insightful, entertaining, and in-depth analysis of what these movies mean to us, we discuss recurring themes in Coppola's work and the way that her films reflect both the female experience as well as her own unique point-of-view.A must-listen for Sofia Coppola fans and/or a conversation that will hopefully inspire you to take a closer look at her filmography, it was a joy and a privilege to chat with Roxana in what is easily one of my favorite episodes of Watch With Jen & Friends so far.Originally Posted on Patreon (11/12/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43828132Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Award-winning novelist and cinephile William Boyle returns to the podcast for a terrific hour dedicated to some of the most overlooked films and performances of gifted, tough but tender character actor Mickey Rourke, including Rumble Fish, Homeboy, Year of the Dragon, Johnny Handsome, among others.Yet while a bulk of the episode is dedicated to Rourke, the wide-ranging conversation eventually veers into musical territory as they chat about their mutual love of Tori Amos, before closing things out by discussing the Halloween (and everyday) horrors that await viewers in the work of David Lynch.Originally Posted on Patreon (10/30/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43334046Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

I'm joined once again by the highly entertaining, encyclopedic film critic and lawyer Nell Minow of MovieMom.com and RogerEbert.com for a timely episode on fall and Halloween movies you're sure to enjoy.Fast-paced and fresh, whether she's discussing the vacations taken by Alan Alda and Carol Burnett in The Four Seasons, Haynes at his most Sirkian in Far From Heaven, the nonsensical joys of Hitchcock's The Trouble With Harry, or those geniuses at Laika studios, Nell delivers great film insights with a friendliness that makes her both a must-listen and a must-read.Originally Posted on Patreon (10/24/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43110692Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

The founder and editor-in-chief of the prestigious online film journal Bright Wall/Dark Room, Chad Perman first started the site on Tumblr in his living room in 2009 after years spent wondering if there was a way to talk differently - more emotionally, more humanly - about movies.Almost four years (and 220,000 followers) later, he decided to expand things and launched a magazine/journal version of BW/DR in June 2013 with a small staff of friends and collaborators devoted to looking at movies in unique ways. Together, they've put out a new issue every single month for the past 7 years and worked to create a vibrant and inclusive community of writers, readers, and supporters.Having earned a B.A. in English and Cinema Studies from the University of Washington, Chad received a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from PLU. Additionally, a practicing mental health therapist, Chad has worked in the field for over 15 years. Currently in private practice and working with both individuals and couples, he specializes in treating writers, artists, and other creatives.In this rich, fascinating episode, I was honored to talk to the friendly, contemplative Chad Perman about not only the start of BW/DR (and the talented collaborators that helped him get it up and running) but also his own background with and relationship to film.Featuring multiple shout-outs to colleagues and friends (especially past guests Brianna Ashby and Travis Woods) as well as a celebration of late '80s fare, this hour-long discussion touches on everything from Scarecrow Video to Chad's advice for creatives working in a pandemic. Available to listen to in this post, you can also find Watch With Jen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.Originally Posted on Patreon (10/12/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42674486Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week's films explore the joy of puzzles, Elijah Wood with throwing stars, the British invasion, a Dickensian fairy tale, & marriage at first sight.Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

This episode's 5 streaming recommendations bring you a moving family drama, a Hitchcockian thriller, an acclaimed concert film, the statistics side of baseball, and a '90s comedic mystery that's a throwback to classic noir.Originally Posted on Patreon (on 8/7/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40222139Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

This week's 5 film recommendations deliver a revisionist western, a Thomas Hardy romance, a twisty French thriller, a dystopian romcom, & a hitman's high school reunion.Originally Posted on Patreon (7/24/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39680144Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

This week's 5 streaming recommendations include Jen's favorite films from Whit Stillman & Lynn Shelton, a French psychological thriller, plus a little Robert Altman in the '70s, & Alan Rickman starring in a period movie set in the '70s.Originally Posted on Patreon on 7/9/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39159624Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Let's get lost. Specifically, let's get the hell out of 2020. While we're waiting for the technology that lets us do just that, we can live vicariously through a great group of time travel movies in this special topics episode, inspired by Jacob Rivera, a $10 patron on "The Right Stuff" tier who sent Jen 5 excellent ideas that led her to create this week's installment.Touching on several movies - including a few that might not be perfect but are well worth the watch - Jen gives you a brief overview of each title but doesn't spend too much time on them since this genre is Spoiler City & she'd hate to hinder your enjoyment of any of the films. With that in mind, buckle up, & let's take off. Next stop: anywhere but here!Originally Posted on Patreon (6/26/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38659753Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

It's heating up out there and the same can be said of this week's five streaming recommendations. This week Jen's serving up a tense road thriller, a Hollywood comedy, a movie that will make you crave Italian food, a laidback Santa Fe set romcom, and Spike Lee's best popcorn picture.Hindered by deadlines and bad allergies, this is a shorter than usual episode of Watch With Jen, but these movies deserve a closer (and/or second) look so we hope you'll enjoy it all the same. Additionally, Jen's announcing a few new changes to the podcast schedule, which are explained in this episode. Namely? With five films to tide you over, she's planning on releasing these shows every other week, keep sprinkling in the super popular conversational episodes of Watch With Jen & Friends, and then every so often, deliver some shorter theme and surprise episodes to keep you entertained.Originally Posted on Patreon (6/12/20) at https://www.patreon.com/posts/38178025Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Returning once again with 5 outstanding recommendations of great movies that you can stream right now.Originally Posted on Patreon (6/5/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37936381Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Though they've started opening bigger tentpole movies earlier and earlier with each passing year, Memorial Day weekend has traditionally been the time when the summer movie season really gets underway as top titles begin raking in huge box office returns. Of course, 2020 is the exception to that rule so for this week's Watch With Jen film recommendations bring that feeling of summer back with a handful of movies that will mentally transport you back to the theater . . . at least for a little while.Selecting an '80s female driven comedy, a film that's set in the heat of summer, and a big action movie that seems like precisely the kind of sophisticated cinematic escape we could use right now, this week's titles might be more familiar and accessible than some of the ones you've encountered in the past but host Jen Johans wanted to bring a little retro summer movie season fun back to you.Originally Posted on Patreon (5/29/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37665684Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Jen Johans recommends 5 great films for you to stream this week.Topics discussed: What Jack Kerouac and Nick Hornby characters have in common; rock star professors; Ethan Hawke as philosophizing preacher or shaggy dog; three Frenchmen who really know how to scare; the female battle with politeness; empowering women in horror; the power of female sexual fantasies; women without men and how that dynamic changes both genders; sex, drugs, and Martin Scorsese directed rock 'n roll; the whole Robbie Robertson controversy; Jen drops the F-bomb twice while quoting Levon Helm; Van Morrison as a high kicking, velvet wearing, scatting god; Anne Tyler novels; William Hurt & Kathleen Turner after Body Heat; how in an ensemble film like The Big Chill, of course Jen's falling for the messed up impotent guy; Lawrence Kasdan's underrated movies; the quarantine impact on The Sower and The Accidental Tourist; and quirky characters.Originally Posted on Patreon here with links: https://bit.ly/3cueTnKTheme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

In addition to 5 excellent streaming recommendations, topics this week include: new Patreon tiers and rewards, winning or losing the pronunciation battle, literary adaptations and the stars and directors who love them, nice Bobby vs. scary Bobby, an embarrassing Jen anecdote involving Uma Thurman, crushing on shorter boys, cell phone addiction, Captain America getting Fast and Furious while saving the day, anesthesia side effects, singing country music, Ben Affleck the filmmaker, theatrical vs. extended cuts, and classic noir set-ups.Originally published on Patreon (4/13/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/35952898Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

From the mean streets of Brazil to life in Witsec in San Diego to a hangout picture from a pissed off Howard Hawks to Janis Joplin almost jumping out of her shoes onstage to a thirteen-year-old witch coming into her own in a Studio Ghibli classic, Jen serves up 5 great films from the HBO Max streaming library for your viewing pleasure.Originally Posted on Patreon on 9/25/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42030767Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Episode 6 might be an all-timer in illustrating just how much Jen's cinematic tastes and interests run the absolute gamut.Topics discussed include: Hugh Grant, relationships from brother filmmakers to brotherhood, The Godfather, Cain & Abel, MMA, Beethoven, Jerry Maguire, cool girls, '60s French pop music, Pixie Mary Poppins, buying too many books on Kindle, the facade of perfection, women with canes, Billy Wilder, actresses who dish on screen kisses, age difference on film, new millennium existential angst, and stealing rare books.Originally Published on Patreon (4/6/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/35716740Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Jen Johans jumps as far back as 1939 for her first film recommendation today & then jumped back into the 21st century with 4 others that she hopes you'll love. Topics discussed include: Netflix over-choice, Ginger Rogers, Bill Pullman and Rufus Sewell's onscreen luck with the ladies, that sometimes it's okay to just say no to Christopher Nolan movies, Alfonso Cuaron can tackle Dickens (damn it!), what Brian Wilson and the Minnesota Twins have in common, that time when Hannibal scared Jen's brother into hanging up drapes, Drew's Script-o-Rama, why Grady Tripp is her spirit animal, sometimes you need over a dozen drafts to get it right, her fear of cruise ships, why workaholics are not the enemy (& no, not every woman in a movie needs love), and a reminder that there is no crazier place than the diary entries of Jen's Letterboxd account.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/30/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/35441910Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive

Pull up a chair, plug in your headphones & settle in for 5 film recommendations & 40 minutes of quarantine fun. Topics discussed this week include: the wisdom of Martin Scorsese & Roger Ebert, writer-directors Jay & Mark Duplass, hospital in-room movie selections, women kicking ass on film (whether people buy tickets or not), action movie franchises, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, why you should never trust Billy Zane in the water, Robert Elswit's relationship with Paul Thomas Anderson, paranoid thrillers, driving through southern Minnesota & winding up at Winona Ryder's place of birth, Kevin Bacon: good at being bad, collecting screenplays as a teen, the ever-evolving musical genre, & that time Jen Johans accidentally hung up on Rachael Leigh Cook.Originally Published on Patreon (3/23/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/35204345Theme Music: The Guitarist by Jahzzar, Free Music Archive