Classroom Critics Film Studies Podcast

Is it the greatest film ever about film making? Is it as relevant today as it was in 1963? Is Marcello Mastroianni the epitome of cool? The Classroom Critics say yes, yes, and yes. What do you think?

Prying eyes, loss of privacy, revealed secrets––these fears are not new. Hitchcock explores these and much more in his 1954 classic, Rear Window. Part thriller, part murder mystery, this film has the Master of Suspense at the height of his powers.     

Sometimes the truth is so absurd, one must choose to laugh or weep. Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove is a satirical gut-punch, perhaps because the film’s absurdity may not be as much of an exaggeration as we would like.   “Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that.”         John Lennon 

Frank Capra's It Happened One Night is so much more than your run-of-the mill "opposites attract" screwball comedy. Not since Shakespeare has fictitious love been expressed with such simultaneous humor and depth.   

This week in the Classroom, the Critics discuss Mudbound, a tale of two families whose fates are interconnected by history, war, hatred, and love. 

A tale of two versions. Both adaptations have their flaws and strengths while still conveying the power of the Charles Portis novel.  

With "Shark Week" coming up, the Classroom Critics discuss Jaws, often cited as film history's first summer block buster. Join us as we delve below the surface and discover this film's surprising relevance to the many non-aquatic horrors we are facing today.is

This week, the Classroom Critics discuss one of the more unique and compelling horror films of recent years.

Is it a masterpiece or a mistake? Is it underrated or perhaps unnecessary? To this day, The Godfather Part 3 remains one of the more enigmatic sequels of all time. The Classroom Critics, however, are taking time during this week's episode to get to the bottom of Coppola's third chapter of the Godfather saga.

What scares us? The unknown? Uncontrollable forces? Evil itself? One thing is for certain: The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, still scares the devil out of the Classroom Critics. 

Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard is a film that explores some of the darkest areas of humanity by confronting themes of self-delusion, deception, and the deceitful practices of the film industry. From start to finish, the film is a devastating statement that shows us that some things never change.  

Action, romance, laughs, melting faces...Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark has it all. For this episode, we thought we'd have some fun (not that we don't always have fun) and discuss a film that influenced at least one Classroom Critic's career path. 

A film beyond words, Buster Keaton's The General helped moved cinema into a new era. At the time, it was the most expensive film ever made, and is as epic now as it was then. Join The Classroom Critics as we discuss this timeless masterwork.

The Classroom Critics review this year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, Parasite.

After decades of waiting, Orson Welles' "lost masterpiece" was finally completed and released. But is it really a masterpiece?   

Join the Classroom Critics as they discuss the much anticipated film, The Irishman by Martin Scorsese.

Most of Woody Allen's films––both the funny and the serious––are bleak musings of the human experience. Match Point, his 2005 neo-noir drama, is particularly somber, offering little in the way of hope and meaning. So, then, what is life's essential ingredient for good fortune and happiness? Luck.    

After a long break, the Classroom Critics are back. In this episode, we'll discuss Francis Ford Coppola's epic tale of revenge and betrayal, and whether or not it deserves to be called the greatest sequel of all time.   

“Our works in stone, in paint, in print, are spared, some of them, for a few decades or a millennium or two, but everything must finally fall in war, or wear away into the ultimate and universal ash - the triumphs, the frauds, the treasures and the fakes. A fact of life: we're going to die. "Be of good heart," cry the dead artists out of the living past. "Our songs will all be silenced, but what of it? Go on singing." Maybe a man's name doesn't matter all that much.”

This episode goes to eleven. 

Last week, the Classroom Critics attended a screening of Vertigo, a film many consider to be Hitchcock's magnum opus. In this episode, the Critics analyze this tale of obsession and reflect on the cathartic experience of seeing it on the big screen. Be sure to let us know what you think of this film.

After a long break, we decided to return with something truly great. Actually, this is an impromptu episode that covers one of the worst films ever made. We apologize in advance for the audio quality, but we decided to record this episode at a loud, local pub. So just imagine yourselves as listening in from a nearby table. Next time, we’ll find a quieter nook.

Join Andrew Martino and William Ivers as they critique what may be considered the most enduring film of Hollywood's Golden Age. 

Is it a Welles' flawed masterpiece, or just a masterpiece? 

One of just three films to win all five major Oscars, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest explores the power of the human spirit and how it can triumph in the face of oppression. Join The Classroom Critics as they analyze this Milos Forman masterwork.  

Recorded "live" and in black and white from a dark meeting room on the SNHU campus, Dr. Andrew Martino and William Ivers discuss Carol Reed's noir masterpiece, The Third Man--perhaps film history's most irresistibly bizarre classics. 

The Classroom Critics would like to offer this new podcast as a short respite for these troubled times--a light-hearted critique of a warm, feel-good classic...Psycho.   

A political allegory, a morality tale, a crime drama…Elia Kazan’s multilayered masterpiece, On the Waterfront, is a film that has seen its share of controversy since its debut in 1954. On this edition of The Classroom Critics, Andrew and William are happy to be joined by Barry Steelman, host of Concord, NH TV’s On the Marquee program. 

More than a mafia film, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather is widely regarded as a transcendent example of master story-telling on film. Join Andrew Martino and William Ivers as they analyze this essential American classic.   

Annie Hall is a milestone in Woody Allen's prolific career, marking a turning point from his earlier, gag-driven comedies. But what makes this film so unique? Join William Ivers, Walter Freeman, and Michael Mulvey as they discuss the film that won the 1977 Best Picture Oscar.  

Since the advent of motion pictures, hundreds of Shakespeare's plays have been interpreted for film audiences. But does The Bard's work translate well to film? Join William Ivers, Michael Mulvey and Walter Freeman as they discuss some of the highs and lows of Shakespeare's celluloid history.   

Often hailed as the greatest film ever made, Citizen Kane redefined the art of movie-making through its innovative camera work, unique narrative style, and controversial subject matter. Join William Ivers and Andrew Martino as they discuss this Orson Welles masterpiece. 

Moral decay, murder, lust...it's all there in the noir classic, Double Indemnity. Join William Ivers, Walter Freeman, and Michael Mulvey as they discuss one of film history's most thrilling crime dramas.