Cinema Spectator

Friday Night Lights (2004) is a cultural classic that has the earmarks of a being a trope filled sports movie, though its real interest is what lies beneath the surface. It exists as a critique of the small-town stardom of high school football, and what keeps people trapped in that cycle.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle, with frequent appearances fro...

Warrior is a special and seriously underrated sports movie. Two brothers are pitted against each other in an unlikely matchup in a winner-take-all fighting tournament. Both are haunted by the pain of their past, and both are struggling to reconcile with their now sober father. Warrior is a gut punch and a deeply emotional movie that deserves more love.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted...

Get ready for a grand slam of an episode, because our bases our loaded with a special guest: Kaleb Tuttle. Kaleb is a prolific film and television watcher, sports fan, and Aaron Sorkin devotee, which is why he's the perfect expert to bring on for this episode. Moneyball (2011) is film about statistics battling the human element, and what makes a game like baseball so romantic. Starring Brad Pitt a...

Finishing off Horror Month is The Babadook (2014), which takes on the terror of grief and loneliness. This small scale story of a single mother and a disobedient son takes a much quieter approach to monster-horror movies and delivers something more introspective.    Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle, with frequent appearances from film expert Juzo Greenw...

Cameron, Isaac, and Juzo are back to discuss this 80's horror classic, David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986). Jeff Goldblum stars as the eccentric scientist attempting to perfect teleportation, as well as trying to romance the skeptical journalist Geena Davis. Through his experiments, he finds out that some experiments are irreversible.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and...

Robert Eggars' debut feature The Witch (2015) is a slow, contemplative movie about the inner workings of an exiled protestant family in the 1630s. Plagued by poor harvest and unusual happenings, they wonder if they are cursed... or are bringing it on themselves. Cameron and Juzo talk about this innovative horror movie that has surely become a modern classic.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast h...

Sorry for the curveball, but this movie is just too weird and too interesting not to talk about. Megalopolis is the latest Francis Ford Coppola epic about.... well, let's just say it's one of the most unique film experiences of our lifetime. An aged director, coming back from a 13 year hiatus, making a dream project he's been wanting to make for decades. Not to mention the extraordinary budget and...

Isaac, Juzo, and Cameron begin horror month with Signs (2002), directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, this suspenseful thriller follows a former priest as mysterious crop circles appear on his family’s farm. With tense moments, thought-provoking themes, and Shyamalan's signature creativity, the hosts debate how Signs holds up as a modern thriller and a deeper clas...

A bank robbery gone wrong turns into a panicked and sweaty hostage situation in this Lumet classic, Dog Day Afternoon (1975). Al Pacino puts in an all-time great performance as the high-strung, charasmatic, and a little unhinged bank robber, Sonny Wortzik, as he fumbles the robbery but attempts to make a clean escape by negotiating with the NYPD. Based on a true story, this one location spectacle...

The Hill is a brutal depiction of cruelty and masochism in British military prisons during World War II. The film follows a disgraced Sergeant Major Roberts (Sean Connery) as he fights through the corruption and brutality of his captivity in North Africa. He must learn to follow the rules of the guards or be subject to punishments including "the Hill". Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by...

Sydney Lumet's Fail Safe (1964) is time capsule of nuclear paranoia, and a powerful allegory for the dangers of technology getting out of hand. Starring Henry Fonda as the President put in an unwinnable situation, he only has so long to stop a deadly nuclear accident. In order to stop the chain of events that increasingly seem inevitable, he must make some disturbing choices, and ask who's lives a...

  12 Angry Men is not only a classic film, but one that has influenced the justice system for decades since its release. In this episode, Cameron, Juzo, and Isaac kick off Sidney Lumet month by tackling his debut film, 12 Angry Men. It also happens to be considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, and is one that has left an enormous impact on the modern audience.    Cinema Spectator i...

Isaac, Juzo, and Cameron jump into the VR-gaming realm of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster 'Ready Player One' (2018), where virtual reality becomes the ultimate playground and battleground. Starring Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, and Ben Mendelsohn, the film transports viewers into a novel-based dystopian future where the OASIS offers an escape from a bleak reality. Join the Cinema Spectator boys as th...

In one of Steven Spielberg's most somber and least recognized films, Munich (2005) is a dark and introspective spy thriller. Starring Eric Bana and Daniel Craig, Munich is as thrilling as it is troubling, mixing engaging high-stakes heist sequences with difficult moral questions. Join Cameron and Juzo as they break down this little known classic.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isa...

Among the exceptional list of Steven Spielberg classics, this film is one that stands the test of time. We have always loved Catch Me If You Can, but now we put it to the test to see if it's our favorite Spielberg movie of them all. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the gutsy, conniving conman Frank Abagnale Jr., and Tom Hanks as the dutiful FBI Agent on his tail, this cat-and-mouse thriller is true t...

Isaac, Juzo, and Cameron are back for a brighter Steven Spielberg classic,  'Minority Report' (2002). Starring Tom Cruise as a PreCrime officer framed for a murder he has yet to commit, this sci-fi thriller delves into themes of free will and destiny. With standout performances from Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton, the film's visionary depiction of a dystopian future and its ethical dilemmas mak...

Cameron, Isaac and Juzo dive into Steven Spielberg's historical masterpiece Schindler's List. Starring Liam Neeson as an opportunist turned hero as he witnesses the horrors of the machine he was a part of. This film is a brutal and poignant look at the horrors of the Holocaust told by a master filmmaker.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle, with frequent...

Juzo and Cameron talk about the two Steven Spielberg Jurassic Park movies, the one great one and the one not so great one. In the first ever Cinema Spectator double feature, we discuss what makes the first Jurassic Park so special and what makes The Lost World so dull in comparison! Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle, with frequent appearances from film e...

Isaac, Juzo, and Cameron reunite to explore the magical work of Steven Spielberg, starting with a beloved classic: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial(1982). This heartwarming tale follows young Elliott, played by Henry Thomas, as he befriends a stranded alien and helps him find his way home. Featuring standout performances by Drew Barrymore and Dee Wallace, the film blends emotional depth with imaginative...

Cameron and Juzo take a minor detour to talk about one of the most classic musicals of all time, Singin' in the Rain (1952). From its iconic titular refrain, to the magnanimous personalities of Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, this movie is a true icon of American culture. Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen.   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle, with...

Uh oh. DREAD. The A24 cinephiles are excited. Join Isaac, Juzo, and Cameron as they delve into Yorgos Lanthimos' psychological thriller, 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' (2017). Colin Farrell stars as a surgeon whose life unravels when a mysterious young man, played by Barry Keoghan, forces him to make an unthinkable decision. With haunting narrative performances from Nicole Kidman, Raffey Cassidy,...

In this long awaited review of George Miller's fuel-injected action opera, Cameron, Isaac, and Juzo revisit one of their all time favorites: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Ride for Valhalla with the hosts, and witness the shiny and chrome discussion of what makes this thrill ride so great. Tom Hardy takes up the mantle from Mel Gibson as the new Max Rockatansky, with Charlize Theron as co-star. What a...

Cameron and Juzo visit the brand new movie from Richard Linklater starring Glenn Powell and Adria Arjona, Hit Man (2024). This fun and seemingly lightweight romp is hiding several interesting themes and ideas below the surface. Listen for our thoughts on this new Netflix rom-com!   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle, with frequent appearances from film ex...

Taking a small, George Miller themed detour in our Mad Max saga, Cameron and Juzo discuss the 2006 animated children's movie Happy Feet. From the same virtuosic mind to bring The Road Warrior and Fury Road comes the story of a misfit penguin on a quest to find himself and save his penguin clan. Starring Elijah Wood and Robin Williams, this semi-serious kid's movie has Miller's fingerprints all ove...

Cameron and Juzo discuss the newest, highly anticipated installment in the Mad Max universe, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. With George Miller back in the director's chair, the latest film has huge shoes to fill, considering the legacy of the Mad Max: Fury Road. Will the newest installment live up to the challenge, or will the engine stall before the finish line? Starring Anya Taylor Joy, and Chris Hems...