Altmania

What's the most you ever lost for a pudding cup? Well, Paul Thomas Anderson has a little story about that! Jordan Fish, filmmaker and co-host of To the White Sea, comes by to help us discuss Punch-Drunk Love, this wonderful movie from 2002, a certified classic. We talk Sandler, SNL, Maya Rudolph, pudding cups, surrealism, PTA stepping up after a hiatus, Jon Brion's score, Jeremy Blake, love and an...

We return with Paul Thomas Anderson's 1999 epic, an indulgent, melodramatic, beautiful film. And joining us is a returning champ, our friend Chris from Podside Picnic! We discuss PTA's life up to '99, Fiona Apple, cocaine, the LA comedy scene, Aimee Mann, Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt, PTA fighting for full creative control, messy production, Tom Cruise, Short Cuts, Henry Gibson, parents and kid...

Our friend Reilly stops by for a BIG movie, smash hit, a real banger. We're talking Wahlberg, Burt, VHS, JCR, PSH, RDS, PBH, John Holmes, the Wonderland murders, PTA's movie brain, New Line Cinema, Robert Redford's porn collection, so much to discuss. We had a great time talking about this one, hope you all enjoy. Artwork by Ryan   Follow Reilly! https://x.com/GoodPostReilly   Follow Altmania: pat...

We begin the filmography of PTA with his first movie! It's pretty normal to start something with the first one that happened, and we're very strict about following the rules. Talking about '90s PTA, his confidence, petulance, struggles. We get into Raymond Carver, being in your 20s, Philip Baker Hall, Sundance, John C. Reilly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Reno, PTA's struggles with the production, the...

We're baaaack! Kicking off the new series, it's Este's birthday! Go wish him a happy birthday everybody. We begin Altmania "Friends of Bob", starting with our Paul Thomas Anderson journey talking about his films overall, our first encounters with them, and our sort of plan for the upcoming films this season. Then we dive into some PTA news on his upcoming (expensive) movie, rewriting Napoleon, his...

Well, the time has come to say goodbye to our friend Bob (for now). We share our big announcement, rank some Bob movies, read some listener mail, and we just spend a good two hours or so talking about Bob, art, politics, and what it all means to us at the end of this road. It's been a great privilege for us both to get to do this project together every week. Both Este and I grew as friends, we mad...

We snuck in one last bonus episode before we wrap up this season of Altmania! It's Tim Robbins' directorial debut, a horrifying-but-prescient look at American politics. We talk new Altman releases, the OIympics, Republicans wanting to be cool, folk music, gentrification. It's a good one, so tune in!   The article Ryan mentioned: "Cities are branding themselves into predictably unique products" Dav...

Well everyone, we've made it to the finish line! It's time to talk about Robert Altman's final film, released just four months before his passing. Our friend Adam comes by for emotional support to talk about radio plays, elegiac movies, the film's commentary on life and death, where we go when we die. We also talk about Bob's honorary Oscar, as well as his planned film Hands on a Hard Body, before...

Well look what the cat dragged in, old Jack Tanner is back and this time he means business. We visit Bob's only ever sequel(?) - TANNER ON TANNER, sorry folks we're gonna get political on this one! Set in the 2004 election, we have a lot to talk about and see a lot of familiar faces. We talk Michael Moore, the Daily Show, our political experiences growing up, Scorsese, Buscemi, and we once again c...

We're dancing ourselves clean this episode, it's THE COMPANY, Bob's second to last movie. He gets very zen in this one, to the point where it's almost difficult to discuss - but that hasn't stopped us in the past! We get into the writing of this movie by Neve Campbell and Barbara Turner, talk a little bit about news that happened the day we recorded (sorry!), the movie's digital photography and so...

We finally (for real this time) check out Bob's 1985 HBO movie THE LAUNDROMAT! We also share a loving tribute to Shelley Duvall, revisit some '80s Bob, his work with comedic actors, see our old friend Carol Burnett, cleaning your laundry (literally, metaphorically), the death of the movie star. All kinds of stuff to discuss! Join us   ----Altmania stuff---- Mailbag! https://forms.gle/vB8Dg6Z5z5QSi...

Este and Ryan take a trip over to jolly old England, and who else do we run into but the Hit Factory folks themselves, Carlee and Aaron! We get into both of their histories with this movie, how it ties into their own lives, 2000s movies, Downton Abbey, being nerds as children, Bob Balaban, Bob (Altman's) comments on 9/11, this incredible cast of dames and knights, and we close out with an article...

That's right folks, we're back for another one. Live from the Dolby theater in Hollywood, CA: it's the THIRD annual BOB AWARDS. We look back at this decade, talk about Bob's changes creatively, physically, emotionally; we also talk Randy Newman, our favorite types of beverages, Bob and writers over the decades, getting old, and a whole bunch of other silly bits that we do on these episodes. We als...

The doctors are IN! Our lovely friend Gigi, Girl Woman (@thenamesgirl) joins us to talk about Dr. T, the Yonic Wizard. We talk about Richard Gere, sex symbols, what makes this movie so fascinating, the death of the sex comedy, vagina magic, loving your wife too damn much, and why women are simply the coolest. All of that and more on ALTMANIA! ----Follow our friend Gigi!!---- twitter.com/TheNamesGi...

It's our final Altman movie of the 1990s and joining us to help close it all out is our new friend, a fellow Bobblehead, and all-around lovely guy - Reilly! He shares his experiences first getting into Bob, and the conversation sorta just goes from there. We talk about this lovely movie and Charles S. Dutton's great performance, the post-racial world Bob creates of Holly Springs, the different "ta...

We get silly with it and talk Altman's episode of the 1997 show GUN. Topics include celebrity sex tapes, Bob loving beautiful women, the Short Cuts sequel, LBJ. Plus, a new segment called The Sicko Game. Super fun episode! Check out the new BOB COMPENDIUM and hang out in the discord! Everything's in the link:   https://linktr.ee/altmania

We approach the near-end of '90s Altman with this Grisham thriller starring Kenneth Branagh! We talk about cool genres like southern gothic, noir, and 90s Grisham movies. There’s also nepotism cats, plot-heads, and we do Shakespeare in the southern lawyer voice, Run, run, run as fast as you can to that play button. Enjoy!   https://linktr.ee/altmania  

We've returned from a little break with another Bob classic, it's 1996's Kansas City. Ryan talks about his trip to NYC, revival theaters, Harry Belafonte and Altman's work on this movie, the microcosms of Altman films, jazz music, prohibition, Bob's new lease on life, and a whole lot more. Come hang out on the first post-grad Altmania episode! https://linktr.ee/altmania

We return from our break (spoiler: we recorded this last week) to play a little catch-up - some leftover notes from The Player and Short Cuts. Esté does a segment, we talk trivia, old reviews, do some Babe Ruth jokes, and we finish up by playing the Bob Office Game. Fun episode! https://linktr.ee/altmania

We continue through the Altman '90s with this strange ensemble film centered around the world of Paris fashion. We get into Bob's health scare, Cannes, Miramax movies, the soundtrack, Ini Kamoze, our fashion eras, horny French guys, and have a fun old time! Also, check out our recent guest appearance on Pod Casty for me! We had a lot of fun with those boys podcastyforme.com linktr.ee/altmania

Well folks, we've made it - another big episode. This week it's just the classic fellas, but it's Esté's first viewing of this so I suppose we can consider him today's guest. It's SHORT CUTS - Altman's huge, sprawling look at the lives of '90s LA suburbanites and the tragedies and lotteries of everyday life. We get into the '90s indie film movement, Bob and Kathryn stoned at the Oscars, Cannes 199...

Live from the Beverly Hilton, it's the second annual BOB AWARDS! We look back at the '80s for Altman, look at the stars that show up, and hand out some awards. Who's gonna win? Who's gonna lose? Will Maestro have another surprise upset? Tune in to find out! 

It's a big one this week, joined by our friend Dante (@steelydante), we get into Altman's huge '90s hit THE PLAYER.  We talk Michael Tolkin, the Hollywood machine, Altman's big resurgence, Tim Robbins, boutique water, Pasadena, Vincent D'Onofrio, range rovers, AI, and we share our movie pitches to Griffin Mill.  Join us for another week of Altmania!   https://linktr.ee/altmania

We finally begin the '90s Altman era! And kicking us off is this dreamy, strange look at the brothers Vincent and Theo Van Gogh. We share maybe one of the best Altman stories surrounding a legal battle with a Dutch producer. Talking Tim Roth, artist's success after death, Mike Leigh, post-impressionism. We get into some pretty serious discussion about art and corporatism and then we do fun bits an...

It's the third and final episode of our Tanner '88 mini-series -- we're sad to say goodbye to our friend Jack, but we'll see him again soon in Tanner on Tanner. We get into these last few episodes, which really bring it all home. Talking about our previous election experience, the convoluted mess that is the primary system, and we finish out on a high note. Join us as we wrap up this wonderful sho...