Cinema Spectator

Continuing our series on the films of Sidney Lumet, we turn to The Verdict (1982). Starring Paul Newman as a down-on-his-luck attorney, the film follows a medical malpractice case that offers him one last chance at redemption. Written by David Mamet, The Verdict strips away the glamour of the courtroom drama, focusing instead on conscience, persistence, and the difficulty of doing the right thing...

Juzo and Isaac dig into The Sting (1973), directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw, unpacking a timeless classic surrounding an elaborate scam against a mob boss. Can this award-winning heist-lite keep the modern view engaged? We also discuss documentaries, the original Spider-Man trilogy, the new Tom Holland Spider-Man films, Project Hail Mary, and mor...

This week, we take a look at Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, the film follows two outlaws on the run as they try to stay one step ahead of the law. With sharp dialogue and strong chemistry between its leads, it’s a Western that balances humor with a more grounded, reflective edge as their situation tightens. Join us as we revisit one of the most...

Juzo and Isaac dig into director Alan J. Pakula’s All the President’s Men (1976), unpacking a classic investigative reporting romp through 1970s DC. Starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the film chronicles the unraveling of the Watergate scandal, focusing on process over spectacle. We also discuss All the King’s Men (2006), an inf...

*Bonus Episode!* Cameron and Juzo sit down to talk about the latest Robert Pattinson and Zendaya romantic comedy The Drama (2026), directed by Kristoffer Borgli. Spoilers about our thoughts: we loved it! But we do talk about spoilers a bit in this review and we highly recommend you go into this film blind. Don't look up too much and just give it a watch, then come back and finish this review!   Ci...

Continuing our series on the films of Sidney Lumet, we take a look at Serpico (1973). Starring Al Pacino in one of his most defining early roles, the film tells the true story of an NYPD officer who refuses to play along with the department’s deep-rooted corruption. Gritty, grounded, and intensely personal, Serpico trades spectacle for character, charting one man’s slow isolation as he chooses int...

Kicking off our latest series on the films of Sidney Lumet, we begin with the incendiary classic Network (1976). Written by Paddy Chayefsky, the film is as sharp and biting as ever, taking aim at television, corporate power, and the blurred line between news and entertainment. Anchored by unforgettable performances and iconic monologues, Network feels just as relevant today as it did on release. J...

Sorry for being a bit late this week! Cameron and Juzo discuss some of the more recent films we watched in theaters including the smash hit Project Hail Mary (2026) directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. This lighthearted space odyssey is certainly a crowd-pleasing success and we discuss some of its positives and negatives. We also talk about a movie that is much less crowd-pleasing: Alpha...

Wrapping up our short exploration of Aaron Sorkin, we turn to his 2015 film Steve Jobs. Loosely based on Walter Isaacson’s biography, the film unfolds across three vignettes leading up to major product launches. Sorkin uses these moments to dig into Jobs’ personal conflicts, as well as his aggressive, domineering approach to work. Enjoy our review of Steve Jobs (2015).   Cinema Spectator is a movi...

Finishing our examination of Rob Reiner, we close out the series with the classic legal drama A Few Good Men (1992). Written by Aaron Sorkin, the film carries the sincerity and passion for America you’d expect, along with some of the trademark cheesiness he's known for—but by the end, it’s impossible not to love. Jack Nicholson steals the show with a villainous performance, and it all builds to an...

Cameron and Juzo are joined by special guest Kaleb to discuss our favorite new movies of 2025 before the Oscars this weekend. It turns out there were a lot of really good new movies this year! Enjoy this breakdown of our favorites.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive-produced by Darrin O’Neill and recorded and prod...

Nirvanna: The Band - the Show - the Movie (2025) is an absolutely absurd project, both in its ambitions and in its comedic endeavors. The film seamlessly intertwines sketch-comedy, parody, and narrative filmmaking with real life interactions in a way that totally defies labels. The film is wacky and heartfelt, a total contradiction of terms and we can't get enough. We think you should find some ti...

Ok, I promise it's not miserable. As a matter of fact, Rob Reiner's month has been quite a pleasant journey. But it's time for Isaac and Juzo to dig into one of Reiner's most thrilling pictures yet. Based on Stephen King's Book, Misery stars Kathy Bates and James Caan in a shut-in thriller about a writer who is held captive by a fan. But how well does Reiner take on a dark thriller? Can he really...

Continuing to explore the films of Rob Reiner, we take a look at Stand By Me (1986). This classic coming-of-age adventure film follows four young boys on a quest to discover the dead body. As they journey to their destination, the film explores their families and the experiences the boys have with each other that shape them into the future. The child stars River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman...

Bonus episode alert! Join Cameron and Juzo for a relatively spoiler free review of Joachim Trier's Oscar Nominated film Sentimental Value (2025). Enjoy!    Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill and recorded & produced in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. You can support the show at  patreon...

Isaac, Cameron, and Juzo dive into the Rob Reiner's classic The Princess Bride (1987). We explore how the film became a cultural touchstone, its iconic charaters, and why its themes of love and storytelling resonate across generations. Enjoy!   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill and record...

Isaac, Cameron and Juzo discuss the classic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally (1989), directed by Rob Reiner. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan have an infectious chemistry with each other, and the film is cleverly written by Nora Ephron. We also discuss a few new releases like 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and Send Help, so feel free to skip to 56 minutes if you're only interested in When Harry Me...

Isaac, Cameron and Juzo discuss some of our favorite films we watched for the show in 2025. Thank you for joining us through our exploration of James Cameron, David Lynch, Spike Lee, and much more! We'll see you for another great year!   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill and recorded &amp...

Cameron and Juzo review the latest Park Chan-wook film No Other Choice (2025). Enjoy!  Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill and recorded & produced in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. You can support the show at  patreon.com/ecfsproductions . Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and...

Isaac and Juzo ARE BACK in 2026 with a movie preview! Learn about the upcoming film releases and hear Isaac and Juzo discuss the movies they watched over the break. Juzo compiled a list of films coming out and box office movies discussed in the episode below. We don't touch on all of them, but we thought it would be a great list for our audience to reference.  2026 Anticipated List Disclosure Day...

Cameron and Juzo review the latest Josh Safdie film, Marty Supreme (2025). As fans of Uncut Gems (2019) and Good Time (2017), we were excited to see what new stress dream Josh Safdie could cook up. Enjoy our review of Marty Supreme (2025)!   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill and recorded...

Cameron and Juzo discuss one of the biggest releases of the year, James Cameron's latest film Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025). However you feel about the Avatar films, you have to admit that the scale of these films and the fact that they consistently put up record numbers at the box office is extremely impressive. Listen to find out what we think of the latest in the franchise.  Warning: we do spoil...

Home Alone (1990) is so engrained in culture that it feels like almost everyone has seen it. However, this film has enough heart and texture to be looked at seriously. Enjoy our review of the classic Chris Columbus film, Home Alone (1990).   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill and recorded...

This week we explore Frank Darabont's sophomore feature The Green Mile (1999). As a follow up to the classic and beloved The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Green Mile is more bleak, longer, and certainly more gruesome. However, it was an immediate box office success, and has stood the test of time as a beloved classic. Enjoy our review of this death row classic.   Cinema Spectator is a movie pod...

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is a film that almost needs no introduction. From the All-Star leading duo of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, to the gorgeous cinematography of Roger Deakins, this film is undoubtedly iconic. Please enjoy our review of Frank Darabont's feature debut, The Shawshank Redemption (1994).   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenwood, and Ca...