American Scene

Happy Valentine's Day! Actor and producer Hayley Palmaer returns to the show to discuss the Oscar-nominated 1967 comedy "Divorce, American Style," written by Norman Lear and starring Dick Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds. What is an American-style divorce? We'll get into the movie's portrayal versus reality and what's changed (and what's stayed the same) socially and legally around relationships and the institution of marriage. References: Divorce, American Style by Suzanne Kahn

Schedule the installation of that in-ground pool because your Christmas bonus has finally arrived! Friend of the pod and feature film producer Lorenzo Nardini has worked on over 20 Christmas movies, and he joins us to talk about his work at MPCA, the "NCU" (Netflix Christmas Universe), what he has coming up in 2024, and his own thoughts on All American Christmas Carol. References: The Knight Before Christmas Hotel for the Holidays ⁠Best. Christmas. Ever!⁠ ‘Pretty Little Liars' Alum Sasha Pieterse To Topline MPCA Thriller ‘The Image Of You' Jenna Ortega & Her ‘Wednesday' Co-Star Percy Hynes White Reunite On Tiffany Paulsen's Directorial Debut ‘Winter Spring Summer Or Fall'

At long last! Run, don't walk to see American Fiction in theaters now! This is a spoiler-free episode gushing about how much I loved Cord Jefferson's new movie. But first, a recap of a handful of other movies I loved and that I thought were a lot of in 2023 and what I'm looking forward to doing on this show in 2024. References: THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters March 22 It doesn't suck: Showgirls - by Adam Nayman

Ho ho holy moly, is it Christmas already? On this episode, Ben talks about why there hasn't been a certified classic holiday movie since "Elf" and "Love Actually" came out TWENTY YEARS AGO, and then he provides a recap of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" before diving into two (of four!) American Christmas stories. "American Christmas" and "All American Christmas Carol" take different approaches in adapting Dickens' enduring tale and end up sending very different messages... References: Are ‘Elf' and ‘Love Actually' the Last Holiday Classics We'll Ever Get? Sorry To Bring This Up, But Is The Holiday Really A Christmas Movie? Why There Haven't Been Any Modern Christmas Classics in the 2020s The Time Zack Morris Gave Himself A Homeless Girl For Christmas Working Homeless: More Than Half of Unhoused People Have Jobs California Program Giving $500 No-Strings-Attached Stipends Pays Off, Study Finds How $750 a month changed the lives of a group of homeless people in California 'It's a miracle': Helsinki's radical solution to homelessness Child labor violations soared in fiscal 2023

Box office juggernaut Oppenheimer is expected to dominate awards season this year, but while the US government had the Manhattan Project team hard at work at Los Alamos, it was also incarcerating over 120,000 Japanese Americans in camps from eastern California to Arkansas. Desmond Nakano's American Pastime takes place at the Topaz camp and centers on a family and community coming together to find strength, hope, and dignity. Author and professor Susan Kamei ("When Can We Go Back to America? Voices of Japanese American Incarceration during WWII") joins us to discuss her ongoing work in the Van Hunnick history department of USC's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, the resonant elements of the film's story and characters, the importance of baseball in the camps, and why it's so important to understand this part of our history. Trailer: American Pastime References: When Can We Go Back to America? Voices of Japanese American Incarceration during WWII https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/When-Can-We-Go-Back-to-America/Susan-H-Kamei/9781481401456 Lyrical Paintings of Life Inside a WWII Internment Camp https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/09/paintings-by-estelle-ishigo-of-life-inside-the-heart-mountain-relocation-center-during-world-war-ii.html

Happy Halloween, horror fans! Spooky season is upon us, and it's the perfect time to talk about 1988's American Gothic with local Pacific Northwest filmmaker and Executive Director for endHaven Productions, Jason Wilkinson! Jason has written and directed several award winning horror films like Killing Time, She Picked Me, and the short film Tabitha, which is part of the feature film Sinphony: A Clubhouse Horror Anthology, now available to stream for free on Tubi. Jason tells us about what he's been enjoying this Halloween season, what's on his watchlist, and why the Pacific Northwest is the best place to shoot horror. Then we get into the movie, discussing the appeal and endurance of Backwoods Horror, the portrayal of evil characters living in rural and remote places, and how contemporary news and politics exacerbate the urban-rural divide. Jason Wilkinson Website: https://www.endhaven.com Social media: @JasonFilmDude (IG, X) and @endhavenproductions (FB, IG, YouTube) Killing Time: https://reveel.net/programs/1299515/killing-time Sinphony: A Clubhouse Horror Anthology (segment: "Tabitha") https://tubitv.com/movies/711074/sinphony-a-clubhouse-horror-anthology References: Backwoods Horror / Rural Survival Films (IMDb) Why Are Small Towns The Perfect Sinister Setting For Horror? (Nerdist)

Wow! Three more movies that came out since 2020, and they're all about crime. Ben discusses how one bad decision can snowball into all sorts of obstacles to attaining the American Dream, how powerful forces corrupt the purity of art in American Night, and how toxic masculinity results in loneliness and isolation in American Badger. References: Leslie Jones Has a Message for Men: "Go to Therapy" | The Daily Show

Ben is back with three more movies that have been released since 2020! First he chats about American Sicario's apparent rebuke of American male privilege and ego. Then he finds an extended metaphor for attitudes and challenges faced by those seeking shelter in the US in American Refugee. And finally, he feels the urgency to reach out and understand each other in American Insurrection. References: "Conversations with People Who Hate Me" by Dylan Marron https://www.dylanmarron.com/book

It's an American Reunion! No, not that one, the one where Ben reunites with the podcast he and Allen started three years ago. While Allen is busy being a new dad, Ben is dipping his toe back into red, white, and blue waters. On this episode, he discusses the first three of nine movies with American in the title released since 2020, examining the convoluted machinations of government programs in American Carnage, the corruption of local leaders in American Siege, and the aspirations of an American Underdog.

It's almost Halloween, and we're celebrating the 40th anniversary of John Landis's "An American Werewolf in London" for its seamless blend of comedy and horror, Rick Baker's Oscar-winning makeup, and strong, grounded performances from the whole cast. We discuss dealing with mental illness and processing trauma, and we touch on generational differences and the urban-rural divide. And stick around for our favorite American moments!

It's our first minisode for Phase 2 of the pod! We discuss the first episode of "Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later" and share a couple camp stories from our youth. Then we name some of our favorite stageplay-to-film adaptations and recast the roles of Don and Teach from "American Buffalo" with actors from other "American" movies we covered so far. And finally we rank our top five tracks from the incredible "American Graffiti" soundtrack and pick apart the trailer for the ill-advised sequel "More American Graffiti." References: Titus Welliver's Al Pacino Impression 2 (YouTube) More American Graffiti - Original Theatrical Trailer (1979) (YouTube) List of plays adapted into feature films (Wikipedia) 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti (Wikipedia)

Buckle up for a trip down memory lane in the Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed 1973 film American Graffiti directed by George Lucas. We discuss coming of age in a peaceful moment just before the world is turned upside down, the myths we hold onto (and those we must confront), and our cultural obsession with nostalgia as comfort food. And as always, the most American moments from the film! References: What George Lucas Achieved With American Graffiti (Essential Films)

Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman and Emmy winner Dennis Franz star in American Buffalo, the 1996 adaptation of the 1975 David Mamet play set in a seedy second-hand junk shop about a couple streetwise losers who plot the robbery of a valuable coin. Very much a contemporary inner city riff on Waiting for Godot, we discuss the toxic traits of the central characters that keep them stuck in a cycle of failure and the cynical portrayal of the American hustle. PLUS: our American moments and a teaser for what's to come in our first Phase 2 minisode!

Return with us to Camp Firewood for the 20th anniversary of the cult classic directed by David Wain and starring Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter, Marguerite Moreau, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Molly Shannon, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Ian Black, Amy Poehler, and Bradley Cooper. We discuss the history of summer camps in America, the universality of summer camp experiences, and riffs on camp movies and summer crowd-pleasers. Plus, Allen does not know the lyrics for Jason Mraz's "The Remedy," Ben doesn't know who won at the 1980 Summer Olympics, and as always, we run down our favorite American moments. And Allen shares a heartfelt tribute to the late Norm Macdonald. (recorded September 14, 2021) References: "The Way We Live Now: Questions for David Wain and Michael Showalter; Camping it Up" (New York Times Magazine, August 5 2001) "Summertime Switch - 1994 ABC Family Movie" (YouTube) "Jason Mraz - The Remedy (I Won't Worry) [Official Video]" (YouTube)

American Gigolo takes place in late 1970's Los Angeles almost exclusively in upscale locales and centers on a white heterosexual cisgender male escort played by Richard Gere. Journey Out's Director of Communications Mary David joins us to address what it is really like in Los Angeles for victims and survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. She discusses how individuals are affected by the sex trade, issues involving law enforcement, and the influence of media. While contemporary reality diverges much from what is portrayed in the film, she also draws some interesting parallels. Learn more about Journey Out online at https://journeyout.org/

Before we dive into a new crop of American movies, we remind you of the 19 films we've covered so far and hand out awards for Best Supporting Actor & Actress, Best Lead Actor & Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture. We shout out a plethora of honorable mentions and engage in light-hearted debate as we discuss our choices for the winners. These are the American Scene Awards: Phase 1. References: "Quarantine motivation" (Ben's Instagram @benhrosen)

We're still on summer break! But as promised, there was too much fun stuff to talk about American Beauty to fit into one episode, so we recorded a special minisode! We add to our previous conversation on the theme of maintaining appearances, discuss some interesting alternate casting ideas, and redo the 1999 Best Supporting Actor & Actress categories. We also touch on the script's original ending, some IMDb trivia, and one more great American moment. References: "How Not to Start an Interview"

While we're on a break for the summer, enjoy this minisode where we discuss the varied career of American Outlaws star Colin Farrell and why did Kathy Bates end up in that movie. We touch on the relevant timing of our American Violet episode and take a look at the still blossoming career of star Nicole Beharie. Finally, Allen goes gaga for Goggins, and, as promised, Ben analyzes the deeper themes of Pineapple Express. (recorded June 23, 2021)

It's our last full episode before a summer hiatus, and it's time for the big kahuna of American movies. American Beauty made over $350 million worldwide and won FIVE Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director for Sam Mendes, and Best Original Screenplay for Alan Ball. We discuss the suburban soap as a unique sub-genre, how appearances and sex are central to each character's story, and we briefly touch on the year 1999 and a unifying element to certain films from that year. And stick around for American moments! References: Why All Movies From 1999 Are The Same - Now You See It Being John Malkovich and the Office Movies of 1999 - Eyebrow Cinema

Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart re-teamed six years after Adventureland for this well-acted and mostly entertaining stoner action movie also starring Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Walton Goggins, and Bill Pullman. We discuss the stoner movie sub-genre, obedience versus free will, and American ultra-violence. And as always, we pick out the film's American moments. (recorded May 13, 2021)

Looking back at American Heart, American Dreamz, and The Last Days of American Crime, we discuss the great Jeff Bridges, some of our favorite scumbag performances, whether Dennis Quaid (or anyone in Dreamz) would do this movie in 2021, and some other absolutely nonsensical elements of Last Days. Also: shout-out to "Fired Up!", one of the best comedies of the 2000's! (recorded April 23, 2021)

2008's American Violet centers on a young mother (Nicole Beharie) fighting for justice in a small Texas town after she is falsely accused and arrested for selling drugs. In this special episode, we discuss the relevance and effectiveness of the story, and then Ben speaks with The Marshall Project's Keri Blakinger (21:43) about several issues addressed in the film, including police raids, the use of confidential informants, public defenders, and plea bargains. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE0e-dG6DwA Check out Keri's work online and follow her on Twitter: https://www.themarshallproject.org/staff/keri-blakinger https://twitter.com/keribla

Colin Farrell is Jesse James and Scott Caan is Cole Younger in this 2001 western that pits the James-Younger gang against the greedy railroad tycoon Thaddeus Rains as he attempts to steal their town's land with the help of the dogged Allan Pinkerton. We discuss classic Western genre tropes and the conflict of the little guy battling corporate America. PLUS, mentions of Justin Timberlake and the Bye Bye Bye music video, Gregory Smith's cinematic mortality, and another Sopranos cast-member! (recorded April 8, 2021) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd-Ed4HB0-I References: The Great Train Robbery (1903) - WIkipedia

Olivier Megaton directed this 2020 Netflix film based on the 2009 graphic novel of the same name by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini that stands out with an incredible 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 2.5 hour runtime. Édgar Ramírez, Anna Brewster, Michael Pitt, and Sharlto Copley star in a film about an American dystopia in which a nationwide signal will inhibit all citizens from committing illegal acts. We discuss government control in post-9/11 America and the increased militarization of police, and we also poke several holes in the film's worldbuilding. (recorded April 1, 2021) References: "USA Patriot Act" (Investopedia) "The 2014 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Public Service" (The Pulitzer Prizes) "Bryan Mills jumps a fence" (YouTube)

"Call Me" from American Gigolo inspired us to riff on our favorite original songs, which you can check out in a special American Scene playlist on Spotify. We also discuss some interesting casting in the new American Gigolo series coming to Showtime. We share some personal tales from the mall (one involves singing!) and name some of our favorite mall movie scenes. Finally, Ben goes on Cruise control, and your patriotic co-hosts discuss the career power rankings of the young actors from TV's Friday Night Lights. References: "The 50 Best Original Songs Written for Movies" (Little White Lies) "The 49 all-time best songs made for movies, ranked" (Insider)

When this film was released, America was over five years into the Bush presidency and the War in Afghanistan and over four years into the reign of American Idol. Directed by American Pie's Paul Weitz, "American Dreamz" stars Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore, Dennis Quaid, Sam Golzari, and Chris Klein in what Roger Ebert calls a satire. We discuss the influence of entertainment on its audience and in the world of politics. Plus, Allen shares his love of Golden Globe-winner (and future Oscar-winner) Mr. Grant. (recorded March 12, 2021) References: "The bumbling idol" (www.RogerEbert.com)

Jeff Bridges and Edward Furlong - two actors who will appear again on this podcast - are the stars of "American Heart," directed by documentarian Martin Bell. We discuss the conflict between the dangers of city life and the freedom of the frontier as well as the prevalence (and ultimately the failure) of individualism as a governing philosophy. We also debate which characters would be likely to wear a mask, and Ben surprises Allen with an American name drop. (recorded Mar 3, 2021) Trailer: https://youtu.be/7fk8C9n6-k8

In this week's minisode, Ben and Allen have their final (on-air) conversation about the incomparable Christian Bale as they rank their five favorites from his filmography. They also applaud American Flyers cinematographer Donald Peterman and dig into the infamous "dinner scene" featuring Jennifer Grey. Finally, Allen picks out some of his favorite little things in American Splendor.

Tom Cruise reunites with "Edge of Tomorrow" director Doug Liman for 2017's "American Made," a film very loosely based on the true story of Barry Seal. We discuss Barry's character in relation to federal agencies and the political landscape of the era and the consequences of greed. We also touch on Cruise's accent work and 2017's MVP Caleb Landry Jones, and Allen is excited to share his most American moments from the film. (recorded February 13, 2021) Trailer: https://youtu.be/AEBIJRAkujM

In the late 2000's run of teen musicals came MTV's "The American Mall" starring a pre-Vampire Diaries Nina Dobrev as an aspiring singer-songwriter. We discuss the rise (and fall?) of the American shopping mall and the conflict between the corporate world and the independent world. (recorded January 27, 2021) Check out the FULL MOVIE on YouTube: The American Mall References: A brief history of the American shopping mall (PBS) The Rise And Fall Of The Mall (Business Insider)

Swapping the grime of 1970's NYC for the gleam of LA, 1980's "American Gigolo" shows writer-director Paul Schrader's continued fascination with the country's underbelly, and it fits in a long history of portraying the world of American sex work on screen. Your patriotic co-hosts discuss the Los Angeles aesthetic, the story's morality, social hierarchies, and superficiality. (recorded January 20, 2021) References: "Los Angeles in the ‘70s: The Place & Time That Won’t Behave" (HuffPost) "Richard Gere: Heart-Breaker" (Rolling Stone)

This week we revisit three more of our previous episodes! Ben completely reevaluates his take on American Pickle, Allen pitches a much better version of an American Assassin adaptation, and both of your patriotic co-hosts look back fondly on The Myth of the American Sleepover and their days as teenagers sneaking into R-rated movies.

This little movie brought hilarious metacommentary to a comic book adaptation long before Deadpool! Revisit Paul Giamatti's breakthrough performance as Harvey Pekar as we discuss the Everyman, the tradition of the American working class novel, and our favorite breakfast cereals. (recorded Jan 2, 2021) References: "Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner: The party poopers" (The Independent, January 13, 2004) "Where did the working class novel go? Gerald Howard talks tough about Kesey's "Great Notion"" (BELLEMEADE BOOKS, August 1, 2011) Additional reading: "The Strange and Wonderful World of “American Splendor”" (Independent Magazine, July 1, 2003) "Working-Class Heroes in Literature" (UTNE Reader, September 14, 2010)

Tony and Emmy Award-nominee and star of "American Flyers" David Marshall Grant joins us to discuss his casting, training, the most memorable moment on set, the lasting meaning of the film, and processing American history through storytelling. -- More info on our guest: David Marshall Grant’s Broadway credits include “Bent,” starring with Richard Gere, and Joe Pitt in “Angels in America,” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award. His first play, “Snakebit,” was produced off-Broadway and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. Other plays include “Current Events” at The Manhattan Theater Club and “Pen” at Playwrights Horizons. Television work includes Bobby Kennedy in “Citizen Cohn,” “And the Band Played On,” “Thirty-Something” and “Party Down.” He has been an executive producer on “Brothers & Sisters,” “Nashville,” “Smash,” “Code Black” and “A Million Little Things.” Grant has appeared in over 25 movies, including “American Flyers,” “The Chamber,” “Air America,” “Stepford Wives” and “The Devil Wears Prada.” He is currently writing the screen adaptation of Michael Ausiello’s “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies” with Dan Savage.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Steve Tesich and Saturday Night Fever director John Badham teamed up with a wonderful cast including David Marshall Grant, Kevin Costner, Rae Dawn Chong, and Alexandra Paul to create 1985's absolutely delightful American Flyers. We discuss the film's inclusiveness, its western motifs, and the inspirational sports movie genre. (recorded December 10, 2020)

Since recording the first few episodes, we have had several months to reflect on those films and our discussions. Join us for our first American Minisode as we talk about the illogical setup of American Pie, debate if President Shepard could safely date during COVID, compare American Psycho and Fight Club, and dive into the roller-coaster career of Vincent Chase! (recorded December 3, 2020)

Based on a true story (er, "some of this actually happened") and with a star-studded cast, acclaimed director, and a jam-filled soundtrack, "American Hustle" is a whirlwind of a film! Join us for a discussion of what defines the American hustle, how we attempt to define and redefine ourselves, and how our view of the world shapes our behavior. (recorded October 29, 2020)

From the director of "It Follows" and the producer of "Moonlight"—before either of them made those films—comes a sweet and low-key all-in-one-night coming-of-age story. We discuss the magic of small-town America and the innocence, awkwardness, and clumsiness of being a teenager. (recorded October 8, 2020)

The book series by Vince Flynn that started in 1999 gets its first adaptation nearly 20 years later with the 2017 film that mercilessly killed off its own franchise potential. We discuss the story's dangerously unstable yet inexplicably successful protagonist and the manipulative government forces who champion him. References: "American Assassin review – shallow and self-congratulatory" (The Guardian) "American Assassin" (RogerEbert.com) "Review: American Assassin is crying out for a mercy kill" (The Globe and Mail)

Ben sits down with a very special guest to talk more about the Jewish community, the entrepreneurial spirit, intergenerational dialogue, and the importance of character.

Seth Rogen pulls double duty in a film we mentioned with excited anticipation in our first episode! Join us for a discussion of the American immigrant experience, celebrity, family, faith, and of course... pickles. (recorded August 28, 2020)

20 years after its release, Mary Harron's "American Psycho" remains a timeless, sharp, and darkly comic indictment of the economic elite, toxic masculinity, and the fragile male ego. (recorded August 6, 2020) References: "American Psycho at 20: a vicious satire that remains as sharp as ever" (The Guardian)

A special pre-Election Day release featuring special guest Hayley Palmaer! Was 1995 really a simpler time in politics? How does Aaron Sorkin's White House romantic comedy hold up? (recorded September 1, 2020)

Our first episode! Revisit one of two blockbuster "American" films from 1999 for a discussion of high school, the suburban family, and young men coming of age. (recorded July 7, 2020)

We're excited to drop our first few episodes in the coming weeks. First up: a slice of American Pie. Coming Tuesday, October 27.