Always the Critic: A Movie Podcast

We’re taking the week off (hope you have a great Thanksgiving) and sharing one of our Patreon exclusive episodes. This may be a movie podcast but Jessica and Rico took some time to talk about their relationship to another medium, which is television. Both podcast hosts talk about what draws them to the shows they watch, why they make the distinction between the two, Jessica’s reviews of Asian dram...

** Fixed Audio Issue from Initial Posting. Please Re-download for Correct Audio ** On Episode 130 of the Always the Critic Podcast, keep the change, ya filthy animal, because we’re getting left Home Alone ! Rico and Jess discuss the Christmas classic in celebration of its 30th anniversary, including how awful Kevin’s family is, casting what-ifs, favorite moments and quotes, as well as the magical...

On Episode 127 of the Always the Critic Podcast, the competition heats up as Rico and Jess play some movie trivia. Rico Albarracin  and  Jessica Firpi  dig deep as they try to one-up each other in five different trivia categories: Actors/Actresses , Directors , Genre , Events , and Halloween . Try your hand at trivia about the Oscars, box office feats, Anne Hathaway, Tim Burton, spo...

On Episode 126 of the Always the Critic Podcast, it’s Blindspots: Volume 2, where we discuss some classic movies that we watched for the first time. Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi discuss and remove a wide range of movies from their shame lists. Rico got around to movies like Almost Famous , Zombieland , and Pride & Prejudice . Jessica knocked out Taxi Driver , Air Force One , and The Usual...

On Episode 125 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we finish up with week 3 of our mini series called Sunshine State of Mind , where we put a spotlight on movies set in South Florida and celebrate our hometown, with last year’s Waves starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Sterling K. Brown, and Taylor Russell, among others. Rico and Jess explore Broward County, talking the movie’s deeply personal location an...

On Episode 124 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we sashay into week 2 of our mini series called Sunshine State of Mind , where we put a spotlight on movies set in South Florida and celebrate our hometown, with 1996’s The Birdcage starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. Rico and Jess cross the bridge to Miami Beach, talking the movie’s critical reception, the underlying message of the movie, its...

On Episode 123 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we start a brand-new mini series called Sunshine State of Mind to put a spotlight on movies set in South Florida and celebrate our hometown. The first movie on the docket is the infamous Scarface starring Al Pacino. Rico and Jess welcome Tony Montana to the United States, talking the movie’s legacy, critical reception, the true stories that inspired...

On Episode 120 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we score a touchdown on week 3, the finale of our mini series called The Love of the Game . In the first half of the show, Rico and Jess say ~hello~ to Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger. In the second half, we take a sip of that high-quality H2O! Rico and Jess can’t stop laughing while discussing Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy . To cele...

On Episode 118 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we hit a double play on week 2 of our mini series called The Love of the Game . In the first half of the show, Rico and Jess decide if Fever Pitch with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore is a hit or a miss. In the second half, wings up! Rico and Jess return to another childhood fave and pose the question, “Are there Angels in the Outfield ?” To celebra...

On Episode 117 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we start a brand-new mini series called The Love of the Game to celebrate the return of sports. We put our own *spin* on the sports movie genre by exploring a couple movies on the fringe: a romance and a family comedy. In the first half of the show, Rico and Jess discover that ball is life in the romance Love & Basketball . In the second half, W...

On Episode 116 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we do a desperate cash-grab on week 7, the finale episode of our series called Summer Superlatives , as we talk about Sequel summer movies. In this series, we discuss different genres, why they play such a big role during the Summer, and then have some fun handing out superlatives! Along with guest James Bruehl from the CineReeLists Podcast, Rico an...

On Episode 115 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we ~assemble~ on week 6 of our series called Summer Superlatives , as we talk about Superhero summer movies. In this series, we discuss different genres, why they play such a big role during the Summer, and then have some fun handing out superlatives! Along with guest Jake Christie from the Marvel Cinematic University Podcast, Rico and Jess answer s...

On Episode 114 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we have a blast on week 5 of our series called Summer Superlatives , as we talk about Animated summer movies. In this series, we discuss different genres, why they play such a big role during the Summer, and then have some fun handing out superlatives! Along with guests Marci, Robin, and Adam from the Black Case Diaries Podcast, Rico and Jess answer...

On Episode 113 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we drop a few bombs on week 4 of our series called Summer Superlatives , as we talk about Action Adventure summer movies. In this series, we discuss different genres, why they play such a big role during the Summer, and then have some fun handing out superlatives! Along with guest Matt Neglia from the Next Best Picture Podcast, Rico and Jess answer...

On Episode 112 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we laugh it up on week 3 of our series called Summer Superlatives, as we talk about Comedy summer movies. In this series, we discuss different genres, why they play such a big role during the Summer, and then have some fun handing out superlatives! Along with guest Matti Groll from the Movie Marathoners Podcast, Rico and Jess answer some fun Summer...

On Episode 111 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we pick up on week 2 of our new series called Summer Superlatives, and we covered Sci-Fi summer movies. In this series, we discuss different genres, why they play such a big role during the Summer, and then have some fun handing out superlatives! Along with guest David Rosen from Piecing It Together Podcast, Rico and Jess answer some fun Summer Supe...

On Episode 110 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we start a brand-new series called Summer Superlatives, where we discuss different genres, why they play such a big role during the Summer, and then have some fun handing out superlatives! We start with Classic summer movies from 1975-1990. Along with guest Ryan L. Terry, Rico and Jess answer some fun Summer Superlatives like Most Iconic Movie, Movi...

On Episode 109 of the Always the Critic podcast, we cross the finish line on our Hitchcock series by talking through his films and legacy from the 1960s onward. Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi talk through the bombastic Psycho , more Oscar snubs, and discuss The Birds and Marnie , including his tumultuous relationship with Tippi Hedren.  Learn more about the seminal director and the films t...

On Episode 107 of the Always the Critic podcast, we slow down and cover the first half of Hitchcock’s career during the 1950s… the Grace Kelly era. Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi talk through his bizarre antics and sadistic pranks, controlling perfectionism, and studio switch from Warner Bros. to Paramount, stopping to discuss at length Strangers on a Train (1951), Dial M for Murder (1954), Rea...

On Episode 106 of the Always the Critic podcast, we cover Hitchcock’s career in the States during the 1940s as he perfects his style. Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi talk through his rocky relationship with producer David O. Selznick, his favorite leading men and ladies, and many Oscar nominations, stopping to discuss at length Rebecca (1940), Suspicion (1941), Spellbound (1945), and Rope (1948)...

On Episode 105 of the Always the Critic podcast, we kick off the month of May with a brand new series covering “the silhouetted man,” “the master of suspense”: Sir Alfred Hitchcock. Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi talk through his early life, education, and first films, stopping to discuss at length Blackmail (1929), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The 39 Steps (1935), and The Lady Vanishes (1...

On the latest episode of Always the Critic Podcast, we get together to induct our inaugural romantic comedy hall of fame. We are joined by friend of the show Kolby Mac,  from the Kolby Told Me podcast, to nominate eight movies that we would induct into our Action Movie Hall of Fame . We nominate movies from action luminaries, such as Keanu Reeves, Jackie Chan and Michael Bay. Check out t...

On the latest episode of Always the Critic podcast, we’re turning 100!! In honor of making it to 100 episodes, the crew hosted a “Ask Us Anything” episode. Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi answer such questions like: If you weren’t podcasting about movies, what you y’all be podcasting about? What are your favorite and least favorite films you've reviewed on the pod? What episode are you most prou...

On the latest episode of Always the Critic podcast, the crew gets competitive and do some movie trivia! Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi compete in three rounds of trivia, which includes: Tom Hanks Steven Spielberg Rom-coms Oscars and more!! For episodes with similar movies, click below Variety Shows Follow us!   Instagram Twitter Facebook Group Rico’s Letterboxd Jessica’s Letterboxd

On the latest episode of Always the Critic podcast, we are sitting on the therapy couch and airing our movie grievances. Rico Albarracin and Jessica Firpi turn up the heat on such topics like: People not letting go of the Jack and Rose “enough room on the board” debate #FilmTwitter’s obsession with Mad Max: Fury Road AMC Theaters playing too many trailers before a movie starts People not comprehen...