One Track Mind with Ryan Luis Rodriguez

Spooooooky season continues, so we invited artist, documentarian and MST3K legend Frank Dietz (This Monstrous Life) for a discussion of historian Greg Mank’s audio commentary on a film close to his heart: 1948’s “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”. Amongst the things discussed: the Universal Monsters cycle fizzing out, the top box-office draws of the era, sympathy for Lon Chaney Jr., connectio...

It’s spooooooky season, so One Track Mind is getting downright supernatural! We’re joined once again by OTM All-Star and one of my best friends Ben Haslar (“Reels of Justice” podcast) for a discussion of East Asian cinema scholar Tony Rayns’ audio commentary for Kenji Mizoguchi’s understated ghost story: 1953’s “Ugetsu”. Among the things discussed: the parallels between this film and “Gilmore Girl...

Listen up meow. This time we’re joined once again by OTM All-Star and friend of the show Case Aiken (“Another Pass”, “Men of Steel” podcasts) for a discussion of a nostalgic favorite of your host’s: one of the audio commentaries from Broken Lizard’s 2002 cult classic “Super Troopers”. Among the things discussed: shared alma maters, speed drinking maple syrup, Afghanistanimation, the liberal use of...

This time we’re joined by friend of the show and filmmaker Marty Ketola (“Talking Pondo” podcast) for a discussion of Terry Gilliam’s audio commentary for his unforgettable maximalist 1998 adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s iconic book: “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”. Among the things discussed: one-eyed cinematographers, getting to know one’s aspect ratios, how our bipolar princess Carrie Fishe...

This time we’re once again joined by the great Rachel Bellwoar (“The Physical Media Advocate”, “Beyond the Valley of the Discs” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for one of the all-time revisionist westerns: Robert Altman’s 1971 film “McCabe & Mrs. Miller”. Among the things discussed: great coats in the snow, Altman’s repertory company of brilliant character actors, Shelly Duva...

This time we’re joined by one of of my besties: Nicki, host of YouTube’s “Trivial Theater”, for a discussion of the audio commentary for Guillermo del Toro’s black-and-white director’s cut of 2021’s “Nightmare Alley”, and yes, Cate Blanchett does appear. Among the things discussed: sitcoms covering up their leading ladies’ pregnancies with bags of groceries, cutting between COVID and post-COVID in...

This time we’re joined by Agent Cam (“SpyHards” podcast) for a discussion of the commentary for Sean Connery’s final official effort as James Bond, 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever”. Among the things discussed: the rationale for Lex Luthor’s plans in “Superman”, whether or not this was a knee-jerk overreaction to the previous film, just who exactly Bond is avenging in the cold open, henchmen who hold...

This time, everyone’s favorite psychologist Dr. Jo (“Felicity Was Here” podcast) returns just in time to be welcomed into the Three Timers Club and discuss the rare audio commentary from James Cameron on his 1991 action masterpiece “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”. Among the things discussed: digital winkie removal, the challenge of collecting R-rated movies as a scrutinized adolescent, the Rodney Kin...

This time we’re joined by Chris Higgins (“Beyond the Blood” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for the Wachowski Sisters’ directorial debut, a simmering sexually-charged neo-noir from 1996, “Bound”. Among the things discussed: intimacy coordinator Susie Bright’s general randiness, jumping from micro budget to industry-changing blockbusters, changing credits to reflect new names, Jen...

We finally turned 100, so we invited our friend and new inductee into the Three-Timers Club, Nathaniel Jonsson (“At the Devil’s Ball” and “Insane Troll Logic” podcasts), to help us do something different: television commentaries. That’s right, we’re discussing war criminal Joss Whedon’s track on the most harrowing episode of television ever broadcast: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” presents “The Body”...

For our ninety-ninth episode, we’re joined once again by friend of the show Hunter Robinson (“Tumbleweeds and TV Cowboys” podcast) for a discussion of the late great Roger Ebert’s commentary on the ultimate classic movie: “Casablanca”. Among the things discussed: debunking myths regarding the ending, how George Raft turned down every good role ever, shattering the auteur theory, the authors of the...

For our ninety-eighth episode, we’re amazingly joined by a hero of mine, Patrick Cotnoir (The George Lucas Talk Show, “Hey, That’s Me!” podcast), for a discussion of the group audio commentary for a different George Lucas’ 2002 sequel “Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones”. Among the things discussed: embarrassing revelations regarding Yoda, the gutting of Disney’s home video division, big t...

For our ninety-seventh episode, we’re joined by everyone’s favorite psychologist, Dr. Jo (“Felicity Was Here” podcast), for the second installment in our two-part salute to the late Rob Reiner, focusing on his audio commentary (alongside another late great, Nora Ephron) for the platonic ideal rom-com: 1989’s “When Harry Met Sally…”. Among the things discussed: whether or not New York is a “Star Wa...

For our ninety-sixth episode, we’re joined by the great Ryan Verrill (“The Disc-Connected”) for the first installment in our two-part salute to the late Rob Reiner, focusing on the audio commentary for Reiner’s near-perfect 1984 directorial debut “This Is Spinal Tap”. Among the things discussed: deleted lip sore storylines, cheese rolling festivals, surprising comparisons to “Anchorman 2”, the dru...

For our ninety-fifth episode, we’re joined by author Ryan Estrada (“Banned Book Club”) for a discussion of Alexander Payne’s director’s commentary for his 1999 satirical masterpiece “Election”. Among the things discussed: casting actors for their braces, obsessions with circles and trash cans, the benefits of shooting a film in a functioning high school, connections to “Navajo Joe”, Payne ironical...

For our ninety-fourth episode, we’re welcoming one new member of the Three-Timers Club to discuss another. Yes, friend of the show Case Aiken (“Men of Steel” and “Another Pass” podcasts) joins us to discuss the son of Jor-El: Superman, specifically the one represented in James Gunn’s 2025 DC Universe reboot “Superman” (duh)! Among the things discussed: basing super dog (and very naughty boy) Krypt...

For our ninety-third episode, we’re joined by friend of the show Dwight Hurst (“Broken Brain” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for writer/director Vera Drew’s brilliant 2022 partially-autobiographical DC Comics satire “The People’s Joker”. Among the things discussed: the insufferable nature of Jared Leto, what Jesus has in common with Elvis, dedications to Joel Schumacher, using C...

For our ninety-second episode, we’re joined by Chris Haskell (“Punk Vacation” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for Alejandro Jodorowsky’s audacious 1989 stunner “Santa Sangre”. Among the things discussed: avoiding being pinned down by genre, casting your children to exorcise your past demons, “Mystery Science Theater 3000” connections, the afterlife as one long orgasm, love for un...

For our ninety-first episode, we’re joined for this special Valentine’s Day by girlfriend of the show Isabel Teran (“Hearsing Around” podcast) for an intimate, soft-spoken discussion of the romantic audio commentary for Cameron Crowe’s (yes, again) directorial debut: 1989’s “Say Anything…”. Among the things discussed: unhealthy adolescent relationships between boys and girls, uncomfortable revelat...

For our ninetieth episode, we’re joined by an actual medical professional, the great Dr. Jo (“Felicity Was Here” podcast) for a discussion of the audio commentary for Cameron Crowe’s divisive cover version of the motion picture “Abre Los Ojos”: 2001’s “Vanilla Sky”. Among the things discussed: the nefariousness of the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”, Cameron Diaz’s insistence on playing 27, Kurt Rus...

For our eighty-ninth episode, we’re joined by friend of the show and the newest member of the Three Timers Club: Phillip Iscove (“Podcast Like It’s the 2000s”, “Sleepy Hollow”) for a discussion of the actors’ audio commentary for the most recent Best Picture Academy Award winner: Sean Baker’s 2024 film “Anora”. Among the things discussed: Safdie versus Safdie, Tarantino versus Dano, how sweet and...

For our eighty-eighth episode, we’re joined by friend of the show and newly-minted Three Timers Club member Tom Lorenzo (“You’re Missing Out” podcast) for a discussion of the star-studded audio commentary for Sergio Leone’s magnum opus, the 1968 spaghetti western “Once Upon a Time in the West”. Among the things discussed: grungy close-ups and epic wide shots, homages in “Back to the Future”, givin...

For our eighty-seventh episode, we’re joined once again by the great Alonso Duralde (“Maximum Film” podcast, “Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas”) to discuss the audio commentary for Paul Feig’s festive dramedy (with a twist!): 2019’s “Last Christmas”. Among the things discussed: the pro’s and con’s of making a George Michael jukebox musical, the sexist horrors of demographics, dealing with ba...

Everything is awesome! For our eighty-sixth episode, we’re joined once again by friend of the show Michael Marquis Albright (Down in Front) for a discussion of the audio commentary for the beloved 2014 animated film (now celebrating its 11th anniversary, just imagine!) “The Lego Movie”. Among the things discussed: comparisons to “Barbie”, getting screenplay props from Robert McKee, misguided endor...

For our eighty-fifth episode, we’re joined once again by one of my best friends and the newest inductee into the Three Timer’s Club: Nicki, from the YouTube series “Trivial Theater”, for a discussion of the audio commentar(ies) for your wonky yet affable host’s favorite film of 2024 (according to when it was greatly available): Mike Cheslik’s “Hundreds of Beavers”. Among the things discussed: the...