Excuse the Intermission

Send a text It’s time to close the book on 2025 and look ahead to what’s coming next. In this episode of Excuse the Intermission , we each count down our Top 10 favorite movies of 2025 , breaking down the films that stuck with us, surprised us, and sparked the most debate. From awards contenders to genre standouts, we revisit a year that delivered big swings and unforgettable moments. Then, we tur...

Send a text A monster is born, a father is made, and a legend gets a new pulse. We brought filmmaker Justin Robert Vinall into the studio to dive headfirst into Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein, pulling apart what this adaptation embraces from Mary Shelley and what it boldly rewires. We start with the immediate gut checks—why the production design is breathtaking, how the exteriors can feel oddly...

Send a text Five conversations. One weekend that proves short films can carry more than most features. We sat down at the Gig Harbor Film Festival with filmmakers who turned everyday pressure into unforgettable cinema—starting with a travel-phobe who literally becomes a shoe. That hybrid live action-animation pivot wasn’t a gimmick; it was a smart, budget-aware way to visualize dissociation, sharp...

Send a text The landscape of Hollywood is shifting before our eyes. From massive studio consolidations to the passing of icons, Alex and Max dive deep into what these changes mean for the future of cinema. Following a month-long hiatus, the hosts catch up on industry news that could fundamentally alter how movies reach audiences. Skydance's acquisition of Paramount and potential bid for Warne...

Send a text The magic of filmmaking often lies in that sweet spot between meticulous planning and creative spontaneity. Andrew "Ducky" Dutkiewiczz embodies this balance as he joins us to discuss his upcoming short film "Call This Land Mother" – a story about an Irish immigrant recalling his first summer in America and the mysterious girl who can speak to his dead mother. Ducky...

Send a text When 17 children from the same third-grade classroom vanish into the night, a small suburban town becomes the epicenter of a nightmare that defies explanation. "Weapons," Zach Crager's sophomore directorial effort following his breakout hit "Barbarian," delivers a masterclass in atmospheric horror that will leave you checking the locks on your doors. The film&a...

Send a text What defines the greatest films of our still-young century? When The New York Times published their reader-selected Top 100 Films of the 21st Century, we couldn't resist diving into this cultural touchstone that had over 200,000 cinephiles weighing in on what matters most in modern cinema. With Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" claiming the top spot and Christopher Nolan do...

Send a text The theatrical landscape of 2025 tells a fascinating story through its box office patterns and creative trends. Animation continues its unstoppable theatrical dominance across multiple studios, while long-running franchises like Mission Impossible and Jurassic World show unmistakable signs of fatigue. Has the time come to put these decades-old properties to rest? Our midyear film round...

Send a text Sheriff Joe Cross patrols a small New Mexico town where tension simmers beneath the surface. It's May 2020, and the pandemic has unleashed a torrent of fear, conspiracy, and mistrust that threatens to tear Eddington apart. When we meet Joaquin Phoenix's Sheriff Cross, he's a man grasping for control – of his town, his marriage to Emma Stone's increasingly distant wi...

Send a text Dinosaurs and box office numbers find a way, even when creativity doesn't. The latest Jurassic installment stomped through theaters with a staggering $318 million global opening, proving once again that this prehistoric franchise remains Hollywood's gold standard for bankable intellectual property. Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali headline Jurassic World Rebirth, bringin...

Send a text When the throttle opens and Led Zeppelin's iconic riffs fill the theater, you know you're in for something special. F1 roars onto the screen with the perfect fusion of high-stakes racing drama and human storytelling that makes your heart race as fast as the cars themselves. Brad Pitt delivers one of his most compelling performances in years as Sonny Hayes, a former champion d...

Send a text Father's Day 2025 finds our podcast fathers contemplating the curious state of cinema, where animation remakes break box office records while prestige directors struggle with creative stagnation. Wes Anderson's "The Phoenician Scheme" becomes the focal point for a larger conversation about directorial signature styles calcifying into self-parody. Even devoted Anders...

Send a text May 2025 marked a historic turning point for theatrical exhibition with box office numbers approaching $1 billion on just 128 releases – half the number required to hit that mark pre-pandemic. This stunning 75% year-over-year growth signals what could be the full recovery of theatrical moviegoing after years of uncertainty. Behind this remarkable surge were five films crossing the $100...

Send a text In a world teetering on the brink of nuclear annihilation, Ethan Hunt faces his most formidable adversary yet—not a terrorist mastermind or rogue agent, but an all-seeing artificial intelligence known simply as "the Entity." Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning delivers the breathtaking stunts and globe-trotting adventure fans have come to expect, while simultaneously offe...

Send a text When Final Destination: Bloodlines shattered box office expectations with a $100 million worldwide haul, it proved that even after 14 years, Death's design still captivates audiences hungry for creative kills and nail-biting tension. But how does this sixth installment stack up against its predecessors? Join hosts Alex, Max, and Erica as they journey through the entire Final Desti...

Send a text The conversation shifts to Marvel's surprising box office hit "Thunderbolts," which has topped charts for two consecutive weekends. We break down why this particular entry has connected with audiences when recent Marvel offerings have faltered – examining how its grounded approach, practical location shooting, and thoughtful mental health themes provide a refreshing alte...

Send a text Ever wondered what happens when film critics turn their analytical gaze toward television? In this captivating episode, Alex and Erica connect virtually to dissect the most compelling shows dominating our screens right now, revealing why these series have become cultural touchpoints worthy of deep exploration. The conversation opens with a fascinating look at HBO's "The White...

Send a text A stunning achievement in genre filmmaking, "Sinners" transports us to the Mississippi Delta of 1932 where twin brothers find themselves caught between supernatural evil and the harsh realities of Jim Crow America. Ryan Coogler's masterful direction elevates what could have been a standard vampire tale into something truly extraordinary – a rich, textured exploration of...

Send a text In the chaos of combat, what truly matters isn't the mission, but the harrowing moments that forever bind soldiers together. "Warfare," the latest from filmmaking duo Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, strips away conventional war movie tropes to deliver something far more visceral and authentic. Based on Mendoza's actual experiences as a Navy SEAL during the Iraq War, t...

Send a text Jack Black sits at the rare intersection of comedy genius, musical talent, and heartfelt authenticity that few performers ever discover. His journey from bit player in 90s action films to beloved family-friendly superstar reveals one of Hollywood's most unexpected and treasured success stories. What makes Black's career so remarkable is his chameleon-like ability to excel acr...

Send a text What are the movies we love despite knowing they're not cinematic masterpieces? When the critics pan a film that you can't stop rewatching, should you feel guilty about your enjoyment? In this deeply personal episode, we reunite as a full trio to dive into the concept of "guilty pleasures" in film - those movies we return to time and again despite (or perhaps becaus...

Send a text Every March, Hollywood seems to enter a strange twilight zone – award season is over, summer blockbusters remain months away, and the theatrical landscape becomes a curious mix of studio castoffs and hidden gems. This year proves particularly fascinating as we've witnessed an unprecedented $320 million Netflix disaster alongside genuinely brilliant filmmaking that's strugglin...

Send a text Stepping into the spotlight this week is our very own Max Fosberg, fresh from his graduation at Seattle Film Institute. In this deeply personal conversation, Max opens up about the transformative journey of pursuing film education in his mid-thirties—a decision that initially felt "almost silly" but ultimately proved profoundly rewarding. The discussion reveals fascinating in...

Send a text Mickey 17 marks Bong Joon-ho's triumphant return to filmmaking following his historic Oscar sweep with Parasite. The film stars Robert Pattinson as an "expendable" – a human clone repeatedly sent on dangerous missions with his consciousness transferred to a new body after each death. When two versions of Mickey unexpectedly exist simultaneously, the story transforms into...

Send a text This episode dives deep into the aftermath of the 2025 Academy Awards, exploring everything from unexpected wins to emotional acceptance speeches. We discuss the standout moment when *Enora* surprised everyone by taking home the Best Picture award, highlighting the film’s essence in the context of today's rapidly changing film landscape.  Conan O'Brien's impressive hosti...