Watch With Jen

It's cowboys, & truckers, & samurai, oh my! In the first part of a summer suite of Season 6 episodes devoted to Physical Media released this year by The Criterion Collection, you'll hear conversations with some of my dearest friends (& your favorite guests). Just in time for Father's Day, we're embracing Dudes Rock (or at times, ironically, "Dudes Don't Rock") Energy for the first quartet of classic film favorites. I kick things off here in the West with THE GET-OFF author Christa Faust on WINCHESTER '73, & then check in with my B-Side Podcast buddies Dan Mecca & Conor O'Donnell out in the East for an in-depth look at THE WAGES OF FEAR, YOJIMBO, & SANJURO.Originally Posted on Patreon (6/15/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/130547493Listen to the Watch With Jen™ Podcast on RSS, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Apple, Pandora, and More Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Welcome to the unofficial second half of a delightful extended conversation about actor James Gandolfini that started at the end of April with me interviewing film critic, historian, & author Jason Bailey about his new outstanding biography GANDOLFINI: JIM, TONY, & THE LIFE OF A LEGEND for Poisoned Pen Bookstore. While I highly recommend you check out that earlier discussion on the Poisoned Pen's YouTube or FB Live channels (&/or wherever you get your podcasts), this episode of Watch With Jen works just as well on its own. Celebrating the beloved performer's diverse filmography & decades-spanning career as a character actor, in this show, we take a look at five of his most underrated or under-discussed performances in the films NIGHT FALLS ON MANHATTAN, A CIVIL ACTION, THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE, IN THE LOOP, & NOT FADE AWAY. An engaging look at the tremendous range of one of the most iconic actors of our generation, this is a perfect listen ahead of Father's Day.Originally Posted on Patreon (6/8/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/130281682Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Since the kind souls at The Criterion Collection generously sent both myself & my dear friend (& kid brother from an Oz mother) Blake Howard the same brand new pristine 4K edition of director Norman Jewison's Academy Award winning 1967 masterpiece IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, we decided to team up to cover it together. Although you'll still hear several traditional Watch With Jen: Physical Media episodes in the future as Season 6 of my podcast continues, this time, we felt like kicking off the summer with a little HEAT c/o an episode of Blake's One Heat Minute Productions' Criterion Sessions pod. A fast-paced yet comprehensive, well-researched roughly twenty-minute episode on this landmark film starring Sidney Poitier & Rod Steiger, please stay cool for this fun chat between two friends, & then get ready for more Criterion coverage soon (including more Blake) on Watch With Jen as the summer continues.Originally Posted on Patreon (6/4/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/130724718

This week, I'm pleased to bring you a cheery conversation with my delightful friend, fellow podcaster, and animation expert Rachel Wagner. Incredibly hardworking and prolific as the woman behind both the website Rachel's Reviews and the popular Hallmarkies podcast, in this breezy, fast paced, nostalgic, well researched discussion, we celebrate the films of the always inventive Aardman Animation, including the Wallace & Gromit claymation stop-motion shorts that first brought them international fame, CHICKEN RUN, ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, the SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE, & more. Long live the creativity of stop-motion clay animation.Originally Posted on Patreon (5/31/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/130199247Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fiTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Earlier in the year, I met the terrific & very prolific author Erica Ruth Neubauer at Poisoned Pen Bookstore when she was in town to promote her newest Jane Wunderly mystery series novel HOMICIDE IN THE INDIAN HILLS. From the moment that I discovered that she had a very cool, intricate tattoo of the game board & weapons from CLUE, I knew she'd be a great guest on Watch With Jen & I was delighted that she said yes. Delving not only into her background falling in love with old movies & books as a child, but also the path that led her to publishing & her creative process, in this lively, fast-paced conversation, we move back & forth from writing to discussing a trio of great ensemble mysteries that we both love including THE THIN MAN, DEATH ON THE NILE (1978), & CLUE. It's a whole lot of fun! Guest Bio: Erica Ruth Neubauer is the Agatha Award winning author of the Jane Wunderly Mysteries. She spent eleven years in the military, nearly two as a Maryland police officer, & one as a high school English teacher, before finding her way as a writer. She has been a reviewer of mysteries & crime fiction for publications such as Publishers Weekly & Mystery Scene magazine for several years, & she's a member of Sisters in Crime & Mystery Writers of America.Originally Posted on Patreon (5/17/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/129202166Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

I always learn so much in my conversations with Canadian cinephile, critic, & author Adam Nayman & this episode - devoted to a quartet of big screen adaptations of Ira Levin's buzzy bestselling novels that captivated a generation of readers - is no exception. Listen in as we take you through his career as a master storyteller of what Stephen King deemed "Swiss watch" worthy plots while exploring the films A KISS BEFORE DYING (1956), ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975), & THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL (1978).Bio: Adam Nayman is a critic, lecturer, and author based in Toronto. He writes for the Ringer, Criterion, Reverse Shot, the New Yorker, & Sight and Sound, and teaches cinema studies at the University of Toronto. He has written several books on film, including titles on SHOWGIRLS & the movies of the Coen Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, & David Fincher for Abrams.Originally Posted on Patreon (5/1/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127934077Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

It was such a pleasure to reunite with WHAT LIES WEST writer-director Jessica Ellis for this thoughtful, breezy, good-hearted celebration of three films about women's sexuality onscreen. Diving into two very different, boldly inquisitive bright lights of '90s cinema in CHASING AMY & ANTONIA'S LINE, which bookend this conversation, we also explore 2024's lovely, compassionate, surprisingly bittersweet, highly recommended indie MY OLD ASS, which feels like a throwback to the coming-of-age indie films made in that same era.Originally Posted on Patreon (4/21/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127082687Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

It was wonderful to welcome back poet, teacher, writer, & scholar Elizabeth Cantwell this week to explore haunted houses both in film & real life, plus the existential, psychosexual, guilt-filled, Freudian, & supernatural realms of THE HAUNTING (1963), THE CHANGELING (1980), POLTERGEIST (1982), STIR OF ECHOES (1999), & more. I always learn so much when I talk to Elizabeth & we laughed far more than one would think going in given the topic, so this episode instantly became one of my favorites. Grab a flashlight & meet us at the top of the staircase, gang, we've got this!Originally Posted on Patreon (4/13/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126578705Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fiTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

And now for something completely different... featuring one of past guests & fellow authors Ace Atkins, Megan Abbott, & William Boyle's dearest friends. The first half of this week's episode with Oxford, Mississippi based ADVENTURE TIME & SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS screenwriter, voice actor, & author Jack Pendarvis is a freewheeling anything goes conversation about writing, shovels, William Faulkner cosplay, hitchhiking with butter knives, Saint Augustine, showers, & anything else that popped into our heads. Taking a look at two films about the creative process in the more classically Watch With Jen formatted second half of this discussion, we investigate two of Jack's favorite movies in director Anthony Mann's classic musical biopic THE GLENN MILLER STORY & one of Pedro Almodovar's greatest masterworks, PAIN AND GLORY. This season, I'm aiming to sprinkle in some more casual conversations with artists of all backgrounds into our traditional friendly analytic approach because right now, it feels like we're all so isolated, stressed, & wary that I'm hoping these occasional offbeat episodes might spark a little joy, discovery, & creativity for you along the way as well.Originally Posted on Patreon (4/7/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126066237Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Brilliant DARE ME, THE TURNOUT, & BEWARE THE WOMAN author & Criterion Collection cinephile Megan Abbott returns once again to Watch With Jen for a thoughtful, well-researched, & intriguing conversation about one of twentieth century cinema's most misunderstood and beloved screen icons, Doris Day. Investigating the subversive ways that Day's work raised questions about the evolving attitudes regarding sex, gender, desire, courtship, marriage, & male-female dynamics in particular, we walk you through 6 films in her diverse filmography, including CALAMITY JANE, LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME, THE PAJAMA GAME, PILLOW TALK, MIDNIGHT LACE, & THAT TOUCH OF MINK. Along the way, we cite other favorite pictures in her prolific oeuvre, reference aspects of her offscreen life that may have impacted or enriched certain performances, & also give listeners a sneak preview of Abbott's upcoming new novel EL DORADO DRIVE, that's soon to be a TV series from A24 (written by the author as well!).Originally Posted on Patreon (3/31/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125457268 Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Spring into romance with this lovely, jubilant celebration of a trio of knowledgeable RogerEbert.com critic & editor Nell Minow's favorite underrated classic romcoms: THEODORA GOES WILD, I LOVE YOU AGAIN, & BALL OF FIRE.Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop (+ Direct Link to the Mug)Donate to the Pod via Ko-fiTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (3/24/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124995380

It's here! Recording my 250th episode introduction was tougher than I thought it'd be for a few reasons. The first is, of course, because I'm a total cheeseball & much too earnest, which is a curse both most Midwestern & Italian-American since I tend to treat everyone like family and am much too passionate about what interests me. But the second reason is because right now it's such a rough time in our history (& most of our lives) that celebrating this accomplishment feels silly & self-indulgent. Then I realized, however, that this milestone is everyone's accomplishment who's ever listened to or guested on the podcast, as well as the people in my life who've supported me from the moment I first started Watch With Jen as a humble little film recommendation show five years ago & I'm so incredibly grateful for those souls so I hope it makes them proud. I know I'm the woman running the podcast behind the scenes (which is why it's not as technologically advanced as others, I fear) but I'm not being disingenuous when I say that it really is our show overall.And with this in mind, I wanted to feature a film franchise that has brought so much joy and laughter to the lives of moviegoers around the world since it first started in the early 1960s. So sit back and listen to my knowledgeable friend & fellow film historian & essayist Peter Avellino & I explore the world of Blake Edwards & Peter Sellers' THE PINK PANTHER.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/17/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124502377Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop (+ Direct Link to the Mug) Donate to the Pod via Ko-fiTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Last week's launch of Season 6: Episode 1 generated more downloads than we'd received for quite some time & I want to thank you so much for warmly welcoming back the podcast in 2025 in the same week we celebrated its fifth anniversary. A few days ago, I uploaded a new film recommendation video in a supplemental series for patrons that I'm calling Watch With Jen: Bonus Recs & I'm keeping them unlocked to the public for a few months before they'll become strict subscriber exclusives. We've had a huge increase in subscribers to our Patreon at the free level & I hope that will continue & you'll consider supporting the show for as little as $1 per month, which covers our RSS hosting fees, research, equipment, & more. In this week's brand new installment, we're continuing the conversation we began last week that's devoted to the films of Los Angeles. Paying tribute to a beautiful city that I love & its wonderful spirited people, I'm hoping that these lively, funny, thoughtful chats about some of our favorite films that were shot & set within the city limits will bring a little joy after the devastating fires of early January. Clocking in at a little over 90 minutes, you will hear SAINT OF THE NARROWS STREET author William Boyle on MULHOLLAND DR., film critic Courtney Howard on TROOP BEVERLY HILLS & SPEED, & author Nikki Dolson on TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (Note: previously announced guest, author S.A. Cosby had a scheduling conflict & will be appearing on another installment soon instead.) I enjoyed all of these discussions immensely & tend to get a little rowdy with my friends (as longtime listeners have noticed) so we go everywhere from recalling our early David Lynch experiences to giving Shelley Long her due to wondering why I find the sequence in TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. where Willem Dafoe makes funny money so intensely erotic. It's a lot... in a good way (& please be aware that there are spoilers galore in that chat).It's wild, I lost track of how many episodes I uploaded by the end of 2024 because it was a very overwhelming time & in my head, I assumed that we'd be hitting the 250th episode of the podcast closer to summer. This week, I decided to sit down & do the math (twice) & realized that I was completely mistaken. I will actually be hitting the 250th episode of the show next week, which blows my mind. There would be no point in doing this if my generous, talented guests didn't share their time with me & people didn't listen so while this is a one-woman endeavor behind the scenes, its success is a group effort. Your support, enthusiasm, & involvement has kept it going so you're all vital & valued & I hope you'll stay tuned. Originally Posted on Patreon (3/10/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124000003Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop (+ Direct Link to the Mug) Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

Welcome back to Watch With Jen. Just in time for the fifth anniversary of the podcast (which officially began on March 3, 2020), I'm releasing the first of at least a two-part episode devoted to L.A. Movies. Like everyone else, I watched in horror as the Santa Ana wind wildfires ripped through a city that I dearly love at the start of 2025. Unable to contribute financially to the many worthy charities and Go Fund Me accounts that were launched in its wake, nor volunteer on the ground from where I live in Phoenix, I figured the next best thing that I could do was to pay tribute to some of the wonderfully rich, diverse, & creatively inspiring films that have been made in the city. My earnest hope is that it might inspire more productions to shoot there in the future (which would bring necessary jobs back to L.A.) and also to give listeners a nice little reprieve from the stresses of this impossibly difficult year. Each week has felt like its own horror movie for so many people in my orbit, including myself. Our inaugural episode for season six features a staggeringly great lineup of artists & film minds. You'll hear from CALIFORNIA BEAR author Duane Swierczynski on JACKIE BROWN, Senior Vice President of The Black List Kate Hagen on MIRACLE MILE, film critic and UC Denver professor Walter Chaw on THE DRIVER & HICKEY & BOGGS, and WHO INVITED THEM filmmaker and author Duncan Birmingham on SWINGERS. A feature length tour of Los Angeles in the movies, I hope you enjoy the launch of Season 6. And as we head into my favorite season, perhaps it'll inspire you to get ready to visit the City of Angels again or at the very least, eagerly anticipate the second part of these talks which wander into Lynchian and Friedkin territory. Thank you so much for joining me these past five years; we'll be hitting the 250th episode of the podcast this season which is mind-boggling to me & I couldn't do it without your support.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/3/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123479696Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop (+ Direct Link to the Mug) Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

It's finally here! Behold our Season 5 finale episode, which, in true Watch With Jen form is a group chat extravaganza celebrating the best new physical media releases in recent months. In this feature-length compilation, you'll hear thoughtful, articulate, occasionally personally revealing, funny, & fresh spins on NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (with novelist S.A. Cosby), Scarface - 1932 (with critic Sean Burns), THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY & GALAXY QUEST (with novelist Jed Ayres), myself on PAPER MOON, PULP FICTION, & THE SHAPE OF WATER, & A SIMPLE PLAN & PARIS, TEXAS (with novelist William Boyle). Afterward, I've included a special bonus section featuring the official Watch With Jen introduction to the film WHITE PALACE that was recorded live at the American Cinematheque in August of '24 with myself, Kate Hagen, & words by Amy Robinson. I'd dub it an Easter Egg but given the date, let's call it a Holiday Present instead. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your listenership & support this season. 2024 was our biggest year yet & I have a lot of exciting plans for 2025 in store so I hope you'll stay tuned. You'll find more writing & film recommendation videos on our Patreon soon & then the podcast should return in February of '25.Originally Posted on Patreon (12/28/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/118848959Listen to the Watch With Jen™ Podcast on RSS, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Apple, Pandora, and More Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop (+ Direct Link to the Mug) Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

In this super-sized celebration of the Muscles from Brussels, three of my dearest friends and your listener-favorite guests return to the podcast to discuss the life and career of action star Jean-Claude Van Damme. Offering an extensive overview of his entire filmography, courtesy of the show's two certified Van Damme experts in film essayist Priscilla Page and novelist Jed Ayres, and with sharp insights on the industry from novelist-screenwriter-producer Jordan Harper, this sunny, research-filled, frequently hilarious, occasionally downright wild conversation is sure to delight film fans. Focusing on some of his most famous movies as well as other titles that illustrate his range and willingness to take risks, in one of the final installments of the fifth season of Watch With Jen: Season 5, we cover BLOODSPORT, CYBORG, LIONHEART, HARD TARGET, SUDDEN DEATH, DOUBLE TEAM, JCVD, and THE BOUNCER. Note: Today's release coincides with the 18th birthday of my website Film Intuition. While I'm currently sidelined by a nasty case of pneumonia following COVID and unable to record a video or a new full-length episode with a strong voice, I hope to do so soon. In the meantime, I truly want to thank you for your listenership and readership over the years. Your support means the world. Originally Posted on Patreon (12/9/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/117577434

A film critic for publications & companies such as LA Weekly, New York Magazine, Vulture, The New York Times, The Criterion Collection, & formerly, The Village Voice, the brilliant Bilge Ebiri is one of my favorite journalists working today. Reuniting with Bilge to celebrate & evaluate the filmography of the great actor Russell Crowe, in this warm, chatty conversation, we look back at the movies that made Crowe a star along with some of his most legendary turns, including PROOF, ROMPER STOMPER, THE INSIDER, GLADIATOR, CINDERELLA MAN, & THE NICE GUYS. Originally Posted on Patreon (12/2/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/117182519 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

To celebrate the 55th birthday of "Sesame Street," I had a wonderfully inspiring chat with the legendary Noel MacNeal about his incredible decades-spanning career. From wrangling puppets on "Sesame Street" in 1982 to becoming "Bear in the Big Blue House" in 1997 to currently working as the resident puppeteer on "Last Week Tonight" Noel's rich, candid, & witty stories about everything from the tricks of the trade to how children on the spectrum & with special needs respond to puppet characters will warm your heart. Bio: Noel MacNeal launched his career performing on PBS's award-winning Sesame Street, where he honed his craft with puppetry legends Jim Henson and Frank Oz. He is a script and television directorial adviser and consultant for the international versions of Sesame Street, and has directed episodes of Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, and has won an Emmy Award for his direction on Sesame Street. Noel is currently the resident puppeteer for the HBO series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. His puppet-making book 10-Minute Puppets with Noel MacNeal and the follow-up BOX are both with Workman Publishing. He's also written his autobiography “Hey, This Was Really Fun: Life Lessons from Sesame Street to The Big Blue House & Beyond” available on Amazon. Noel lives in Brooklyn with his wife, novelist Susan Elia MacNeal (of the award-winning Maggie Hope historical mystery series and Mother, Daughter, Traitor, Spy from Penguin Random House). Originally Posted on Patreon (11/18/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/116245968Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

My dear friend, Letterboxd managing editor Mitchell Beaupre returns to the show to discuss the filmography & mystique of one of cinema's coolest counterculture icons, Elliott Gould. Giving a thoughtful overview of the way that his work has evolved over the years, in this engaging conversation, we focus on three of what we consider to be Gould's greatest cinematic staples: THE SILENT PARTNER, THE LONG GOODBYE, & CALIFORNIA SPLIT. Mitchell's Bio:Mitchell Beaupre is the Managing Editor for Letterboxd, whose writing on film has also appeared at Paste Magazine, The AV Club, The Film Stage, Little White Lies, & The Playlist. Originally Posted on Patreon (11/10/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115729513Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

It's Jen x2! In easily the most stressful week of an incredibly fraught fall, I know we could all benefit from a little extra kindness and positivity, which just so happen to be two of the qualities most filmgoers associate with actor Paul Rudd. Chatting with Vulture's delightful TV critic Jen Chaney, who literally wrote the book on writer-director Amy Heckerling's masterful 1995 romcom CLUELESS, the two of us spent a breezy hour celebrating some of Rudd's most iconic & intriguing roles, including the films CLUELESS, WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY, I LOVE YOU MAN, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, & ANT-MAN, in particular. Touching on everything from his ability to play both broad & more character-based comedy to his work on the small screen as well as his loyalty to the friends he collaborates with repeatedly (sometimes in tiny indies with next to no budget), I hope this episode gives you a mini-escape from election week stress, especially because Jen tells so many stories that are sure to make you smile.Guest Bio: Jen Chaney is a TV critic and writer for Vulture and New York magazine. She's also the author of the book AS IF: THE COMPLETE ORAL HISTORY OF CLUELESS. She previously worked at The Washington Post and has contributed to the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and other publications. Originally Posted on Patreon (11/3/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115288406Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

Author Stephanie Wrobel takes a break from the busy book tour for her acclaimed, addictive new mystery novel THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL to talk about writing, what it takes to navigate multi-character arc narratives, & lessons in suspense from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. In addition to covering her exciting mystery, we discuss three of the biggest Hitchcockian sources of inspiration for the work via the films PSYCHO, ROPE, REBECCA, & much more. Bio: Stephanie Wrobel is an international and USA Today bestselling author. Her debut, DARLING ROSE GOLD, has sold rights in twenty-one countries and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel & her latest novel is the wonderful THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL. Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi Originally Posted on Patreon (10/24/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/114580335

We don't cover TV very often on Watch With Jen so you know that when my guests & I dedicate an entire episode to a television series, it's something we wholeheartedly recommend you seek out. (In fact, THE AMERICANS, COLUMBO, TERRIERS, HALT & CATCH FIRE, MR. INBETWEEN, & SUCCESSION are among the few exceptions to this film-centric show in over 200 podcast installments.)As the opposite of a true crime buff who usually avoids serial killer stories in entertainment (except ZODIAC), this season, my good buddies, actor-producer Rob Belushi & the prolific podcaster Blake Howard challenged me to watch & discuss Netflix's critically lauded series MINDHUNTER, produced by David Fincher. Although I warned them at the beginning of the experiment that if I started having nightmares, they'd get a phone call no matter what time it was, I soon found myself fully hooked on the marvelous series about the start of the FBI criminal profiling unit, starring Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, & Anna Torv.Coming together to hash everything out in this surprisingly rollicking, enlightening, & story-filled analytical chat, we investigate MINDHUNTER, bond over our affection for McCallany as Bill Tench (as well as the rest of the amazing cast), enjoy Rob's impressions, share some experiences from my life that scare the boys, & more. While unfortunately, we can't deliver the third season of the show so many of you want, we hope you'll consider this appreciation of MINDHUNTER the next best thing to tide you over.Originally Posted on Patreon (10/14/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/114006176Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveShop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

One of my most soulful & philosophical guests, my good friend, Vulture TV critic Roxana Hadadi returns to Watch With Jen to discuss character actor Edward Norton's career. Paying particular attention to his '90s & early aught heyday, in this thoughtful conversation, we discuss his films & performances in PRIMAL FEAR, AMERICAN HISTORY X, FIGHT CLUB, 25TH HOUR, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, & more. Along the way, we share our connections to & memories of some of these generation &/or decade-defining works.Roxana's Bio:A TV critic with Vulture, who also writes about film & pop culture, previously Roxana was the film editor & a critic with Pajiba, & her reviews, essays, recaps, and other writing have also been published by The AV Club, Polygon, RogerEbert.com, The L.A. Times, Crooked Marquee, The Playlist, Fox Digital, The Criterion Collection, GQ, & Inverse. Originally Posted on Patreon (10/8/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/113547920Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

This week, I was delighted to be joined by two New York Times best-selling novelists who happen to live right here in Arizona & both of whom I met through Barbara Peters' wonderful world-famous independent Poisoned Pen Bookshop in Scottsdale. Jenn McKinlay is the award-winning bestselling author of several mystery & romance series & her work has been translated into multiple languages & in countries all over the world. Hard at work on her next books, Jenn's latest releases include LOVE AT FIRST BOOK, FONDANT FUMBLE, & her upcoming holiday-themed mystery A MERRY LITTLE MURDER PLOT is available on October 8. Paige Shelton had a nomadic childhood, as her father's job as a football coach took the family to seven different towns before she was twelve years old. After college at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Paige moved to Salt Lake City, where she thought she'd only stay a few years, but she fell in love with the mountains & a great guy who became her husband. In 2015, her family moved to Arizona. In addition to the SCOTTISH BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES, she also writes the ALASKA WILD book series which began with THIN ICE. Her other series include the FARMERS' MARKET, COOKING SCHOOL, & DANGEROUS TYPE mysteries. PERFECT STORM, the sixth ALASKA WILD series title will be out on December 3, 2024, & WRITTEN IN STONE, the 10th SCOTTISH BOOKSHOP mystery is coming to stores on April 1, 2025.Given that not only do Jenn & Paige adore libraries & indie bookstores like Poisoned Pen but they also write mysteries set in bookshops, the idea of doing an episode centered on our love of books, movies, & bookshop movies seemed like a perfect fit! Warm, breezy, funny, & fast-paced, in addition to discussing the films DESK SET, 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD, & YOU'VE GOT MAIL, this wide-ranging episode touches on everything from their love of literature to the writing process itself. I had the best time with the prolific & insightful Jenn & Paige & you're sure to love our conversation as well.Originally Posted on Patreon (10/2/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/113178419Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

Welcome to the second physical media episode of season five. Inundated by first-rate releases on disc over the last several months, this casual installment primarily consists of my takes on the stack of films you see in the cover photo, but I wanted to break up the rhythm of this one by inviting friends like Sean Burns & Blake Howard to help me cover a trio of titles as well. Additionally, Sean & Blake dive into a few bonus releases they've picked up or worked on (not included in the list below) that you might want to check out.Films Covered: DOGFIGHT, GIRLFIGHT, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD (with Sean Burns), PERFECT DAYS (with Sean Burns), THE LINGUINI INCIDENT, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, ENNIO, EL MARIACHI, DESPERADO, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY, & COLLATERAL (with Blake Howard).Guests: Sean Burns is a Boston-based film critic for WBUR. Blake Howard is the podcaster behind One Heat Minute Productions.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveShop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fiOriginally Posted on Patreon (9/24/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/112690553

This month, I was pleased to welcome back Dan Mecca & Conor O'Donnell, two friends & the hosts of The Film Stage's excellent podcast The B-Side, which covers movie stars in a fascinating way, by focusing not on the films that made or kept them famous but on the ones that actors made in between. Equally skilled at coming up with highly original show themes for their guest appearances here, Dan & Conor joined me in Season 4 to discuss the role of work in the films of director Ron Howard & in 2022, we focused on the transition that gifted crew members such as Jack Fisk & Douglas Trumbull made to the position of director. This season, they're back to celebrate the '90s to early aught renaissance of old-fashioned Errol Flynn-style swashbuckler pictures. Charting the resurgence in genre popularity after the surprise success of ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (& the Bryan Adams theme song), Dan & Conor walk listeners through the changes '90s filmmakers made from not only the '20s & '30s but also the sword spectaculars of their more fantastical '80s counterparts. Focusing primarily on the films FIRST KNIGHT, THE MASK OF ZORRO, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, & PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, we dissect the style, actors, productions, & filmmakers of these films & others in this same genre or old-fashioned adventure epic mold from A KNIGHT'S TALE to THE MUMMY to CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON & beyond. Along the way, we coin a new catchphrase in "buckle some swash," I tell a story about a dude I went out with once who didn't realize that Keith Richards & Mick Jagger were two different people, & we go on several memorable tangents. It's a delightfully spirited feature-length chat that's fun for all... who are all for fun. Dan & Conor's Bio: A producer & filmmaker living in Pittsburgh, Dan Mecca started The Film Stage with Jordan Raup in college at Buffalo & Conor O'Donnell is a post-production supervisor based in New York City & also serves as a critic for The Film Stage. Originally Posted on Patreon (9/18/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/112258625Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveShop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

It's the season five return of my good friend & longtime Watch With Jen fan-favorite guest, cinephile, Hardboiled Wonderland blogger, & author Jed Ayres. This time, Jed & I journey into stealthy mid-twentieth-century international spy terrain via four noir war films from the masterful British director Carol Reed. Kicking things off with the incredible classic THE THIRD MAN, we then join the pursuit of James Mason in Reed's expressionistic ODD MAN OUT & THE MAN BETWEEN before we let Graham Greene show us the ridiculous side of espionage in the humorous yet darkly clever OUR MAN IN HAVANA. A thoughtful evaluation of not only Reed's work as a director but also the way his filmmaking techniques & emphasis on everything from great production design to Dutch angles, even Christian symbolism, surprising musical counterpoints, & trust in his collaborators crafted four remarkable works, this is an episode that classic movie fans will love.Originally Posted on Patreon (9/4/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/111371653Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

This week, I'm honored to be joined by not one but two brilliant screenwriters, Larry Karaszewski & Daniel Waters. Larry Karaszewski & his writing/directing/producing partner Scott Alexander are best known for writing unusual true stories such as the films ED WOOD, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, MAN ON THE MOON, AUTO FOCUS, BIG EYES, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME, & the hit television miniseries THE PEOPLE VS. OJ SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY. The team has won Emmys, Golden Globes, Producers, & Writers Guild Awards. Additionally, Larry is also a former Governor & Vice President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. Born in Ohio & raised in Indiana, Daniel Waters is the Edgar award-winning screenwriter of the 1988 cult classic HEATHERS starring Winona Ryder & Christian Slater. Additionally, the man who wrote or co-wrote the films BATMAN RETURNS, HUDSON HAWK, THE ADVENTURES OF FORD FAIRLANE, DEMOLITION MAN, & more, he's also the writer-director of HAPPY CAMPERS & SEX & DEATH 101. Best friends & movie buddies since their teenage years in Indiana, in the fourth season of Watch With Jen, the two joined me to dissect the films of director Michael Ritchie, & this year, they're back to take us on another trip through the films of the 1970s, courtesy of actor Jan-Michael Vincent whose luscious blonde hair & laid back approach made him one of the most popular up-and-coming stars of the era. Although initially, we agreed on five films, including BUSTER & BILLIE, THE MECHANIC, WHITE LINE FEVER, THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE, & VIGILANTE FORCE, Larry & Dan made it their mission to do as much extra credit as possible, watching everything from obscure TV movies like TRIBES & SANDCASTLES to bigger hits like HOOPER & more. Along the way, we discuss Dan's issues with JMV in the '70s & this dream (or nightmare) he had where I ruined the vibe of his party, Larry's decision to watch two JMV movies on the ceiling under laughing gas at the dentist, & much, much more. What can I say? This conversation is a journey - a rollicking, thoughtful, & very engaging journey - & you're sure to love it.Originally Posted on Patreon (8/20/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/110417546Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

This week, my good friend William Boyle returned to the podcast to discuss a terrific character actress we both love. Celebrating Edie Falco beyond her tour de force performance as Carmela Soprano on THE SOPRANOS, in this fast-paced conversation, we offer an overview of her work in early indies like LAWS OF GRAVITY, THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH, & TRUST, her darling turn in JUDY BERLIN, & the films SUNSHINE STATE, OUTSIDE IN, & THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS. Bio: William "Bill" Boyle is the award-winning author of 8 works of fiction set in the southern Brooklyn neighborhood of Gravesend, where he was born & raised. His books have been nominated for the Hammett Prize, the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award in the UK, & the prestigious Grand Prix de Litterature Policier in France, & have been included on best-of lists in Washington Post, CrimeReads, & more. He currently lives in Oxford, Mississippi. Originally Posted on Patreon (8/14/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/110053462Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

This week, I was thrilled to welcome a longtime Twitter mutual who's a huge cinephile with outstanding taste, a veritable encyclopedia of Film Noir, & an author as well. Christa Faust writes crime novels, comics, & tie-ins. She worked in the Times Square peep booths, as a professional dominatrix, & in the adult film industry, both behind & in front of the cameras. Her forthcoming Hard Case Crime novel THE GET OFF, the final book in the Angel Dare trilogy, is set in the world of rodeo & will be out in February of 2025.From the 2 years she spent following rodeos around the United States for her upcoming novel to her love of John Huston's THE MISFITS & movies about the sport in general, in this richly fascinating conversation, Christa gives us an insider's view of what it's like to train, live, & work in rodeo. Filled with interesting asides about topics deeply entrenched within it, including traumatic brain injuries, the vital role of women within the rodeo community, & metaphors involving the death of rugged individualism & working in Hollywood, I learned so much from this conversation & I know you will too. Spending a bulk of our time on THE MISFITS, we also touch on THE LUSTY MEN (which listeners will remember was covered in our S4 Robert Mitchum episode too), plus the contemporary films NEON BULL, BULL, & THE RIDER.Originally Posted on Patreon (8/7/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/109652602Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveShop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

It's a pleasure to welcome one of my longtime Twitter faves to the podcast. Katie Stebbins is a knowledgeable cinephile, academic librarian, & the author of truly creative film zines. For the uninitiated, that's "zines" as in magazines or literary journal-styled books filled with collages & writing on films within a given calendar year. Described as a personal, passionate, & unique way to engage with cinema & create a scrapbook that reflects the full experience of doing a deep dive into a year of film, these ingenious zines gave Katie a chance to explore not only her favorite movies but make new discoveries as well, which is so cool.In this breezy, spirited, nostalgia-fueled ode to the heyday of TV adaptations from the late '80s through the early aughts, we investigate the highs & lows of this new cinematic subgenre. Along the way, Katie & I take a closer look at THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, DUDLEY DO-RIGHT, & CHARLIE'S ANGELS.Originally Posted on Patreon (7/31/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/109183487Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

After our brief midsummer break, we're back with an episode featuring two outstanding new guests, Natalie Jenner & Sarah Kozloff.Natalie Jenner is the internationally bestselling author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY & BLOOMSBURY GIRLS which have been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. A former lawyer, career coach, & independent bookstore owner who lives in Oakville, Ontario with her family & two rescue dogs, Natalie's latest work of historical fiction is the wonderfully well-researched novel EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE.Sarah Kozloff is a professor emerita at Vassar College, where she taught film history for 33 years. Her publications include the BFI Classic volume on THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES & the chapter on romantic comedy in the NORTON: INTRODUCTION TO FILM GENRES. And since Sarah Kozloff is an expert on THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, she was the ideal person for Natalie Jenner to invite to join us for this episode dedicated to a legendary filmmaker we all love, William Wyler, who received more Oscar nominations than any other director (so far) yet is still vastly under-discussed by film fans today. While we give an overview of his life, career, filmography, & staggering contributions to motion picture history (as Bette Davis, Laurence Olivier, Barbra Streisand & more credit him for teaching them how to act for the camera), the two films we dive into most in this episode are his beloved works THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES & ROMAN HOLIDAY.Originally Posted on Patreon (7/24/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/108744042Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

It's always a pleasure to bring on another podcaster & even more so when they're from my home state of Minnesota! That's right, gang, this week, you'll hear Minnesotan accents at full power as I'm joined by Clay Keller, who's the engaging & knowledgeable co-creator & co-host of the sensational Screen Drafts podcast. In this joyous, in-depth, classic film-centric episode devoted to one of our favorite unsung character actors, we discuss the westerns, noir, B-movies, & gritty overlooked films & performances of the legendary Robert Ryan. Finding it impossible to limit our conversation to just 5 films, we reference several movies but mainly focus on CROSSFIRE, THE SET-UP, BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW, ON DANGEROUS GROUND, THE NAKED SPUR, & THE DIRTY DOZEN. Clay & I adored getting lost in our Robert Ryan research & rewatches & our enthusiasm is sure to inspire you to queue up some of these amazing titles as well. Enjoy!Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Originally Posted on Patreon (6/26/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106943967

The only thing better than talking to one Sean is when you add a second Shawn to the mix. Returning to the podcast this week, I'm thrilled to share this recent wonderfully rollicking, quick-witted, story, & insight-filled conversation I had with two of my dearest friends: the veteran Boston-based WBUR film critic Sean Burns & the award-winning internationally bestselling novelist S.A. Cosby. Zooming in to cover some of their (sometimes divisive) crime movie favorites not called THE GODFATHER, for this episode, we agreed to take a closer look at MENACE II SOCIETY, THE FUNERAL, BLOW, & WE OWN THE NIGHT, but then wound up celebrating, critiquing, & shouting out several other under-discussed crime movie faves as well. The perfect accompaniment to your summer travels or long commute to work, listen with a notebook handy to write down some of these great movies. Sean Burns' Bio: A film critic for WBUR's Arts & Culture and a contributing writer at North Shore Movies and Crooked Marquee, he was Philadelphia Weekly's lead film critic from 1999-2013 and worked as contributing editor at the Improper Bostonian from 2006-2014. His reviews, interviews, and essays have also appeared in Metro, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, Time Out New York, Philadelphia City Paper, and RogerEbert.com. A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Burns was a recurring guest on the late David Brudnoy's WBZ 1030 AM radio show, and in 2002, received an award for Excellence in Criticism from the Greater Philadephia Society of Professional Journalists. His writing has been called "jocular but serious, more like a 1940s daily reporter pounding out columns on a manual typewriter than a typical twenty-first-century navel-gazing film critic." Meanwhile, his sisters still tell him that he "swears too much and drives like an old lady." S.A. Cosby's Bio: S. A. Cosby is an Anthony Award-winning writer from Southeastern Virginia. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, was a New York Times Notable Book, and was named a best book of the year by NPR, The Guardian, and Library Journal, among others. His latest award-winning bestselling novel is All the Sinner's Bleed. When not writing, S.A. Cosby is an avid hiker, cinephile, and chess player. Originally Posted on Patreon (6/19/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106516775 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

It's always a blast to chat about movies with a friend & the best thing about having a podcast is that I get to share these fun conversations with all of you. Returning to the podcast this week, we have the gifted crime writer Nikki Dolson who's covered everything from heist movies to westerns with me on Watch With Jen in the past. In this funny, feisty, & fast-paced hour, we celebrate the filmography & career of actress Thandiwe Newton & discuss men, women, sex, love, jealousy, actors, writing, gangsters, & more in the films M:I 2, THE LEADING MAN, ROCKNROLLA, & beyond. Bio: 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. One of her outstanding pieces appeared in the prestigious Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories anthology of 2021, edited by Alafair Burke and Steph Cha. Originally Posted on Patreon (6/11/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106029042Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi

As a Phoenix-based cinephile & bibliophile, it was a joy & honor to bring on another local film & literature lover in the form of my brilliant friend Patrick Millikin of Scottsdale's world-famous Poisoned Pen Bookstore. Deciding to give listeners an in-depth exploration of a classic noir novel & its adaptations, in this rich, fascinating, & admittedly spoiler-filled conversation, we dive into author William Lindsay Gresham's dark masterpiece NIGHTMARE ALLEY & the 1947 & 2021 film adaptations from directors Edmund Goulding & Guillermo del Toro that followed. I'm incredibly proud of this episode, which gives listeners the experience of a great night of thoughtful discussion at Poisoned Pen from wherever they push play around the world. Enjoy! Bio: Patrick Millikin is a bookseller at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale and a freelance writer and editor. He is the editor of the anthology Phoenix Noir and The Highway Kind: Tales of Fast Cars, Desperate Drivers and Dark Roads, and his work has appeared in Publishers Weekly, Los Angeles Review of Books, and other publications. A longtime devotee of noir fiction, Millikin leads a popular book group called The Hardboiled Discussion Group (now in its twenty-fourth year). Originally Posted on Patreon (6/4/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/105577230Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

This week, I'm very excited to bring back the great Nell Minow to the podcast. An accomplished lawyer & a highly readable film critic at her site MovieMom.com & RogerEbert.com, where she's also an editor, Nell Minow has written over 3,000 movie reviews since the 1990s. She's also authored several terrific film books, including 101 Must See Movie Moments & The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies. Passionate about classic movies & character actors, this episode - devoted to the brilliant, 6-time Oscar-nominated actress Thelma Ritter - gave Nell the perfect opportunity to combine 2 of her favorite interests. Offering listeners an appreciative overview of Ritter's career, in this sunny conversation, we focus on her acclaimed, singular performances in the films THE MATING SEASON, PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, REAR WINDOW, & PILLOW TALK.Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fiOriginally Posted on Patreon (5/29/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/105182602

As promised, Watch With Jen is back with your second brand-new time-sensitive episode of the week! And my goodness, it's a stellar conversation that writers, book lovers, WWII history buffs, & fans of awesome heroines will love.Returning to the podcast today, we have the terrific Susan Elia MacNeal. The NY Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope mystery series and the standalone MOTHER, DAUGHTER, TRAITOR, SPY, Susan Elia MacNeal has won the Barry Award & has also been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, Agatha, Left Coast Crime, Dilys, ITW Thriller, & other awards. A Brooklyn resident, where she lives with her husband & son, Susan is back to talk about kickass women & especially her intrepid spy Maggie Hope, since the wonderful final installment of that series, THE LAST HOPE, releases on May 21 (today!).Consider this the sequel to our lovely, wide-ranging Season 3 conversation about Spy Movies, since it ties in with our topic. Sharing some behind-the-scenes information about researching & writing her beloved WWII Maggie Hope series, Susan also drops some incredible news about an upcoming series that I can't wait to get to dig into, & celebrates three great films about Kickass Women working together - FEMALE AGENTS, WIDOWS, & OCEAN'S EIGHT.Originally Posted on Patreon (5/21/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/104666818Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop Donate to the Pod via Ko-fi

We're back from our short spring hiatus this week with a very special conversation featuring my friend & occasional co-host, the wonderful Senior Vice President of The Black List, Kate Hagen. Joining us today are two of our favorite women & returning guests, the fabulous writer-director, cinephile, & retired professor Allison Anders, & her incredibly in-demand music supervisor daughter Tiffany Anders. Allison, of course, is the great filmmaker behind such contemporary classics as GAS FOOD LODGING, MI VIDA LOCA, GRACE OF MY HEART, & THINGS BEHIND THE SUN, & Tiffany Anders is the tastemaker & music supervisor behind RESERVATION DOGS, PEN15, & BEEF. Passionate about music - especially rock & its intersection with film - they're here today to tell us all about the upcoming triumphant return of their beloved early aught Los Angeles-based film festival Don't Knock the Rock (aka DKTR), which showcases hard-to-see & overlooked music documentaries & rock classics & boasts Master Classes, Special Guests, discussions with filmmakers, & more. This year's festival is particularly exciting because it has both an in-person component at the American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3, which runs from May 23-27, & a streaming festival hosted by Cineville from May 23-July 31 that everyone can access. Filled with stories about music, movies, records, LA, & more, this breezy, infectiously delightful discussion is a perfect summery weekend listen! Originally Posted on Patreon (5/18/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/104487153Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

Welcome to our first Physical Media episode of 2024. Joining me today, we have a terrific quartet of movie minds discussing a handful of titles newly released on disc, including novelist Alison Gaylin on TO DIE FOR, podcaster-critic Blake Howard on CONTAGION, filmmaker Chris McKay on THE SHOOTIST & THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, & podcaster-critic Rachel Wagner on FOOTLOOSE (1984). Additionally, you'll hear me cover the new Criterion box set of Eric Rohmer's TALES OF THE FOUR SEASONS & the new Blu-ray edition of the Anthony Mann western THE TIN STAR solo. A wonderful compilation episode that provides lively commentary, excellent film references, & double feature ideas, plus hilarity & tangents galore, I hope you have as much fun listening to this series of conversations as I did having them. Note: This is the last new episode of Watch With Jen before a brief April hiatus but rest assured, we have so much more in store for you this season when we return in May. Also, Patreon subscribers will begin finding more writing & other surprises waiting for them shortly. Originally Posted on Patreon (4/10/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/102095895Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveShop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

In this ambitious research-filled exploration of one of Italian cinema's most fascinating & influential figures, Canadian actor-writer-podcaster Robert Bellissimo returns to the podcast to discuss the singularly daring maestro Luchino Visconti. An aristocratic count turned Socialist who fought the Nazis as a member of the Italian Resistance & was sentenced to death before fate & history intervened & he was eventually able to testify & help sentence to death the man who tortured him during WWII, Luchino Visconti is a man who lived a thousand lifetimes before he became one of the most acclaimed & groundbreaking directors of the twentieth century.The man behind arguably the first Neorealist feature, the film noir OSSESSIONE (which was made before Hollywood adapted the same James M. Cain novel as THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE), in this rich episode, we discuss three of his towering, staggeringly beautiful, & emotionally devastating works, including ROCCO AND HIS BROTHERS (which inspired both THE GODFATHER & RAGING BULL), THE LEOPARD, & DEATH IN VENICE. Delving into the history, significance, analysis, text, & subtext of these remarkable movies, this is a conversation to listen to with a notebook as it might send you on the hunt for more incredible features.Robert's Bio: Robert Bellissimo is an actor, acting teacher, and YouTube video podcaster. He is also an ongoing contributor to two Toronto film critics' websites, IN THE SEATS and SCREENFISH. Robert's YouTube channel - Robert Bellissimo at the Movies - is an exploration of all things cinema, which includes reviews and in-depth interviews with guests who work in film.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/26/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101108059Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveShop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

This week, I'm delighted to be joined once again by my good friend Kate Hagen, who is the Senior Vice President of The Black List. Returning to the show for another conversation with some of our favorite independent filmmaking heroes, in the past, we've spoken to such greats as writer-director Allison Anders and actors turned producers Amy Robinson & Griffin Dunne. Today, we're honored to be chatting with the woman who received an award naming her a New York trailblazer, writer-director Nancy Savoca, who, along with her frequent co-writer, producer, and husband Richard Guay have made such groundbreaking & beloved award-winning & critically acclaimed indies as TRUE LOVE, DOGFIGHT, HOUSEHOLD SAINTS, THE 24 HOUR WOMAN, and more. A must for fans of independent filmmaking of the '80s & '90s, in this illuminating discussion, Nancy & Rich chronicle not only their journey as filmmakers but more recently, their incredibly vital work on behalf of MissingMovies.org to try to locate, preserve, and safeguard indies for future generations. Originally Posted on Patreon (3/20/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/100694293 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

Welcome to the finale of our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, over the past 12 weeks, you've heard us explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. If you've missed previous discussions or are just discovering the show today, you'll find all 12 installments available wherever you get your pods in the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. All good things must come to an end & this episode, lovingly edited by Blake Howard sends the show off on a beautiful note with a thoughtful & candid conversation with MIDNIGHT RUN screenwriter George Gallo that's inter-spliced with select excerpts from Charles Grodin's memoirs, performed by the incredible character & voice acting legend, Mr. James Urbaniak. Whether you're listening on a plane, train, bus, car, or running or walking, this is the perfect spring travel partner for you & we want to thank you so much for taking us along with you on your journey. See you in the next life (....or maybe in a future bonus episode). Note: Since this is our finale, you'll hear the next new episode of Watch With Jen next week! Originally Posted on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/100356852

Twisty, engaging, & filled with colorful performances, the Soviet paranoia of the Cold War '80s fueled the plotlines of so many first-rate films that New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins & I vividly remember from the Reagan/Bush era. And with the next two books that Atkins is set to release revolving around spies &/or the '80s, it's the perfect time to revisit a quartet of spy-centric releases, including THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN, TARGET, JUMPIN' JACK FLASH, & NO WAY OUT in this inquisitive & nostalgic episode. Touching on several other films along the way & offering great insights into the evolution of both the spy genre & the way that attitudes shifted in audiences & Hollywood from the '60s through the '80s, Atkins fans, Gen Xers, & film lovers will find much to dig into in this sparkling conversation. Ace's Bio: Ace Atkins is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author who started his writing career as a crime-beat reporter in Florida. Don't Let the Devil Ride is his thirtieth novel. His previous novels include eleven books in the Quinn Colson series and multiple true-crime novels based on infamous crooks and killers. In 2010, he was chosen by Robert B. Parker's family to continue the iconic Spenser series, adding ten novels to the franchise. He lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his family. (From AceAtkins.com) Originally Posted on Patreon (3/8/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99999786 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we'll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds.For the penultimate finale of MIDNIGHT RUN-THROUGH, Blake & I were joined by two of our dearest & most hilarious friends whose voices longtime listeners of both Watch With Jen & One Heat Minute Productions undoubtedly know very well by now. Returning to the airwaves after he joined me late in '23 to cover some of Robert Altman's most under-discussed movies, we have the Boston-based WBUR film critic Sean Burns & the very funny impressionist, cinephile actor-writer-producer Rob Belushi. It's the kind of sprawling, at times stream-of-consciousness inspired chat that you can only have with people with whom you're close. Press play & you'll hear ex-smokers Rob, Sean, & Blake celebrate Robert De Niro's screen love affair with cigarettes (& the '80s as a smoke-filled decade in general), express wonderment at the way that nobody does phone acting better than Bobby, relish in the reaction shots of Charles Grodin, & laugh as Rob slides into his Chicago accent to give us a little bit of Dennis Farina. This episode is a good one! Enjoy.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/7/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99926294

Earlier in the year, I was thrilled to meet longtime Twitter acquaintance Duane Swierczynski when he arrived in Scottsdale on his book tour for his terrific new crime novel CALIFORNIA BEAR. Co-hosting an event with Patrick Milliken at the beloved local bookstore Poisoned Pen, we spent an hour chatting with the Philadelphia native about his life, work, new novel, & love for his adopted state of California, especially in the world of books & film. A knowledgeable cinephile, we made plans for Duane to become a guest on the show & he came up with an ingenious topic that fits right in with California Bear & the films he loves to watch by exploring a trio of SoCal Amateur Detectives movies from the late '70s through the early '80s, including THE LATE SHOW, CUTTER'S WAY, & MIKE'S MURDER. And it's the 4th episode of 2024, which is incidentally releasing on the weekend this show turns 4, so grab your headphones, notepads, & sunglasses for a little trip to the sunny, deadly beaches of Southern California, where people escape to reinvent themselves, try again, & maybe solve a crime... or 4.Duane's Bio: Duane Swierczynski is the New York Times bestselling & two-time Edgar-nominated author of ten novels, including Revolver & Canary - many of which are in development for film and TV - as well as the graphic novel Breakneck. Most recently, Duane released the novel California Bear, co-authored Lion & Lamb with James Patterson, and co-scripted James Patterson's The Guilty, an Audible Original starring John Lithgow and Bryce Dallas Howard. He lives in Southern California with his family.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/2/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/watch-with-jen-99599827Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we'll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds.As this series starts nearing its conclusion, like Jack & the Duke getting to L.A. by midnight, we want to make sure we have a Happy Ending ahead & this week, we definitely did, thanks to our amazing guests, filmmaker & Light the Fuse co-podcaster Charles Hood & HAPPY ENDINGS star Adam Pally. Both major fans of the film, it was a pleasure to chat with the pair for close to an hour about everything from the video store & HBO era of yesteryear to the alchemy of the actors. Also, Adam Pally gave me the thinnest excuse imaginable to riff about BLACK RAIN, which, if you know anything about me, you know was a total blast. Buckle up, you'll dig it.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/28/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99382828

Surprise! Since next week marks the anniversary of when I started this podcast, I'm dropping this episode a few days early as a thank you for your support & listenership over the years. (Note: I haven't decided how to celebrate the date yet, but I think a good start would be not forgetting it like I usually do, haha.) Season 5 has kicked things off in a wonderfully nostalgic mode so far with several installments I've recorded about films of the '80s & '90s, which I'm hoping casts the same sort of warm, glowy, Gen X memory-filled spell on you that it did on me as I researched & prepped for these episodes. And who better to focus on for a look back at this era than John Cusack whose onscreen alter-ego so many of us grew up alongside? Returning to the podcast to investigate is filmmaker & author Duncan Birmingham, who started revisiting Cusack's films towards the end of '23 & pitched this terrific idea to zero in on the Quintessential Cusack era from SAY ANYTHING...(1989) to HIGH FIDELITY (2000). Citing multiple other films along the way, in this appreciative, analytical look back, we focus on his work in three other tremendous films including THE GRIFTERS, GROSSE POINTE BLANK, & BEING JOHN MALKOVICH. Giving plenty of love to his outstanding collaborators & including stories from our own lives & the way our relationships with these characters & films change with age, this is just the thing to queue up & maybe blast from your boombox in some sort of grand romantic declaration as you head into your weekend.Duncan's Bio: A writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, today's guest Duncan Birmingham was an executive producer and screenwriter for IFC's MARON and also served as a co-executive producer and writer on the Starz series BLUNT TALK. Additionally, Duncan's short films have premiered at festivals like Sundance and AFI, and his screenplay SWINGLES, which Paramount purchased, was also on The Black List. Recently, his lively, irreverent short-story collection THE CULT IN MY GARAGE was published by Maudlin House in 2021, & in '22, he wrapped & released his excellent first feature-length film as a writer-director called WHO INVITED THEM.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/23/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99081183

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we'll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. It's duos on duos this week on Midnight Run-Through as Blake & I are joined by two of our favorite fellow podcasters from The B-Side in the form of Conor O'Donnell & Dan Mecca, who join us to discuss our favorite duo of Grodin & De Niro in MIDNIGHT RUN. Similar to their past appearances on Watch With Jen, their enthusiasm & passion for filmmaking shines through in this sparkling, briskly-paced conversation.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/21/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/98938487

Although we had an early kickoff to our 2024 season with our episode dedicated to the work of Tom Wilkinson early in January, Watch With Jen listeners can consider this the official start of Season 5. Reuniting with my good friend & the senior editor of Letterboxd, the intelligent & highly articulate Mitchell Beaupre, in this delightful, research-filled feature-length conversation, we take a look at director Francis Ford Coppola's ambitious, messy, underrated, & often misunderstood '80s period, with emphasis on the films RUMBLE FISH, THE COTTON CLUB, ONE FROM THE HEART, & PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED. Mitchell Beaupre's Bio: I'm so pleased to welcome back to the podcast a talented, supportive, and funny friend. Currently based in Newark, Delaware, Mitchell Beaupre is not only the Senior Editor at one of my favorite services (via Letterboxd), but they're also the co-host of the Weekend Watchlist and Four Favorites podcasts, which you can find in the stream for The Letterboxd Show. Additionally, a prolific freelance film journalist and stellar interviewer for prestigious outlets such as "The Film Stage," "Paste Magazine," "The Playlist," and "Little White Lies," you can keep up with all of their impressive work on Twitter @ItIsMitchell. Originally Posted on Patreon (2/18/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/98710804 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

A podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we'll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Roses are red, violets are blue, & on Valentine's Day, you'll hear writer-producer Bryan Cogman & Screen Drafts podcaster Clay Keller on Midnight Run-Through. An engaging, wide-ranging celebration of a movie we love, settle in for a conversation that could've easily lasted twice as long.Originally Posted on Patreon (2/14/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/98475143