The First Word

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg reconnect for a discussion about about two small scale, contained sci-fi films: Vivarium, directed by Lorcan Finnegan, and also The Platform (aka El Hoyo in Spanish), directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. Featuring film writer John Bleasdale as our guest discussing both films and their commentary on modern society.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg reconnect for a discussion about about the 1995 virus outbreak action thriller, Wolfgang Petersen's Outbreak, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. One of favorite movies growing up, time to revisit it for a podcast chat.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg engage in a conversation about the long-awaited, highly anticipated finale Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, directed by J.J. Abrams, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. We also briefly discuss the new trailer & prologue for Christopher Nolan's Tenet.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg embark on a discussion about Ad Astra, directed by James Gray and starring Brad Pitt as an astronaut on a secret mission, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. Featuring film writer John Bleasdale as our guest to examine this movie, critique it, and attempt to figure out what it all means.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg dive into a discussion about Joker, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the iconic DC Comics villain, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. Featuring film writer Katie Smith-Wong, live from London, as our guest to discuss this movie - all the good and bad sides of it. We hope you enjoy. #Joker

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) is joined by guest Daniel Joyaux for a debate about embargoes and a chat about our favorite film festivals and films from the fall season so far. After attending the Toronto and Venice Film Festivals, these two cinephiles connect for a discussion about cinema and their festival experiences.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg record a fun chat discussing the end of the summer 2019 movie season, and some of our favorite movies. As well as a talk about the new trailers for The Rise of Skywalker and Lucy in the Sky, plus a preview of the Venice Film Festival and fall season.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss Quentin Tarantino's latest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in-depth, with spoilers, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast, featuring entertainment journalist & podcaster Aaron Neuwirth from the show Out Now with Aaron & Abe.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss Marvel's Avengers: Endgame full-on with spoilers, featuring two guests: Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) & Amon Warmann (@awarmann), the same guests from our Infinity War episode. We chat about everything that happens in Endgame, our criticisms, and favorite scenes, and much more in this epic MCU episode.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg record a fun chat speculating on Marvel's Avengers: Endgame and Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. We discuss ridiculous theories and different possibilities about what we think might happen in these two big 2019 movies.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss Jordan Peele's new horror film Us in-depth, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast, featuring entertainment journalist & podcaster Aaron Neuwirth from the show Out Now with Aaron & Abe.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss the 2019 Academy Awards, analyzing the winners and nominees along with a discussion about how voting works and how voters are influenced. Featuring special guest Clayton Davis (@AwardsCircuit) - who owns and runs the website AwardsCircuit.com.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss M. Night Shyamalan's film Glass (his highly anticipated sequel to Unbreakable and Split), with guest film critic Amon Warmann (@awarmann). We also briefly discuss the new trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss their Top 10 favorite movies of 2018, featuring special guest Alicia Malone (@aliciamalone, Host on TCM, Backwards & In Heels, The Female Gaze). We count down our Top 10 of 2018 and spend some time discussing why we love each of these films.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg dive into a heated discussion about Brady Corbet's provocative, brilliant new film Vox Lux, starring Natalie Portman and Raffey Cassidy, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. We also discuss a few new trailers including Avengers: Endgame and Men in Black International.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg are joined by producer & filmmaker Amirose Eisenbach as our guest to discuss documentaries on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. We talk about the doc films we love and discuss the experience of making documentaries.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg are joined by Peter Sciretta (owner of slashfilm.com) to debate and discuss the good & the bad of Netflix on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. Is it really good for cinema? Can they be better? Do we still love Netflix anyway?

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss Damien Chazelle's First Man, starring Ryan Gosling as the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) records this episode from Venice joined by Anton Volkov for a discussion about a few of the films seen at the Venice Film Festival on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. We discuss First Man, Roma, The Favourite, and The Mountain, along with a few other thoughts on Venice.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss the entire Mission: Impossible movie series starring Tom Cruise, with a focus on Fallout directed by Christopher McQuarrie, on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast. Featuring filmmaker / actor / screenwriter Leigh Whannell as our special guest.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss horror movies including Ari Aster's Hereditary and John Krasinski's A Quiet Place on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast, featuring genuine horror fan Annette DiGiovanni as our guest.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss movie trailers galore from the epic movie trailer week in June 2018 on this latest episode of The First Word Podcast, featuring trailer expert Anton Volkov from the website TrailerTrack.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story in the 10th episode of The First Word Podcast, featuring entertainment journalist guest Germain Lussier from io9.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War full-on with spoilers, featuring two guests: Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) & Amon Warmann (@awarmann). We chat about all the good, the bad, theories about what's next, and what really happened in this movie, and much more in this Marvel mania episode.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) briefly review Wes Anderson's stop-motion animated film Isle of Dogs, then discuss dog love and dogs in movies with film journalist guest Tomris Laffly (@tomilaffly). We love dogs! Dogs are the best.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) talk about the new Tomb Raider movie and discuss video game movies in general, and why there still isn't a good one yet, with special guest filmmaker Jordan Vogt-Roberts (@VogtRoberts).

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss the 2018 Academy Awards, analyzing the winners and nominees along with a discussion about the power of the Oscars. Featuring special guest Sasha Stone (@awardsdaily) - who owns and runs the website Awards Daily.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss Alex Garland's Annihilation adaptation on this special breakdown episode of The First Word Podcast.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss Ryan Coogler's Black Panther movie, with special guest film critic Amon Warmann (@awarmann). We also briefly discuss the current state of Marvel movies at the end.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss the episodes from Season 4 of Black Mirror with special guest, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Arrival, Eric Heisserer (@HIGHzurrer). Alex also gives a recap of his favorite films from Sundance 2018.

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) discuss their favorite movies of 2017 and a few to look forward to in 2018, featuring special guest Alicia Malone (@aliciamalone, Filmstruck, Fandango, Backwards & In Heels).

Alex Billington (firstshowing.net) and Mike Eisenberg discuss Star Wars: The Last Jedi in the inaugural episode of The First Word Podcast, featuring special guest filmmaker Kyle Newman (Fanboys, Barely Lethal).