Cinephile Hissy Fit

 For their 213th episode, two AI-fearing film critics, two hominid dads, and two bored teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, venture into the prophetic and distant science fiction of 24 years ago by way of 57 years ago. Those that can do the math can deduce they’re talking about Stanley Kubrick’s cornerstone epic “2001: A Space Odyssey.” This was an egregious blindspot for Will and a contrarian...

For their 212th episode, two mangled film critics, two serial killer dads, and two sautéed teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, venture to another Ridley Scott blind spot for one of our hosts. Until this summer, Will had never seen Scott’s gaudy Hannibal Lecter thriller “Hannibal,” while the slightly older Don was first in line for the intestines-spilling feats in 2001 and has the shocked and...

For their 211th episode, two mask-pulling film critics, two special agent dads, and two stuntman teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, finish their four-episode retrospective covering the “Mission: Impossible” franchise. With exhaustion and indifference to AI, our guys put a bow on “Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One,” “Mission: Impossible- Final Reckoning,” and the dominant Ethan Hun...

For their 210th episode, two non-mustached film critics, two un-soldierly dads, and two bell-ringing teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, hitch another wave from the Ridley Scott blind spot beach.  Once again, Will brings us to something he missed with the Demi Moore vehicle "G.I. Jane." Don was there in 1997 to enjoy the Demi Moore hype of this one and brings it back to the present day, espec...

For their 209th episode, two mask-pulling film critics, two special agent dads, and two stuntman teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, continue their retrospective race through the "Mission: Impossible" series. For this show, the gents cover the Christopher McQuarrie takeover of "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" and "Mission: Impossible - Fallout." These two movies have equal shares of quali...

 For their 208th episode, two "Council of Elrond" film critics, two space cadet dads, and two non-botany teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, take a trip to the next planet in the solar system to cover a Ridley Scott blindspot. Don has long loved and celebrated "The Martian" in its ten years of existence, but Will had never seen it until prepping for this show. Enjoy getting space-y with these...

For their 207th episode, two long-driving film critics, two short-putting dads, and two gold jacket-wearing teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan have kept returning guest, Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front and Film Obsessive, to talk about one more summer entertainment target. They bit the nostalgia bug to experience Netflix's "Happy Gilmore 2," celebrating the return of comedy legend Adam...

For their 206th episode, two invisible film critics, two rocky dads, and two stretchy teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, visit Marvel's next summer blockbuster, the hotly anticipated "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." They are not alone, either. The hosts welcome back frequent guest, Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front and Film Obsessive, to weigh in on all of the family dynamics and kitsc...

For their 205th episode, two mask-pulling film critics, two special agent dads, and two stuntman teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, return for their second of four retrospective episodes discussing the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. Covering the next two, this episode breaks down the J.J. Abrams entry, "Mission: Impossible III" from 2006 and the Brad Bird live action graduation of "Mission...

For their 204th episode, two heroic film critics, two hopeful dads, and two cape-wearing teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, vault their podcast up in the sky to address the hotly anticipated and hot button summer blockbuster, "Superman," directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet in the tights and spectacles. Our hosts are unafraid to celebrate the movie and address the so-called co...

For their 203rd episode, two list-making film critics, two highly ranked dads, and two Top 100 teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, take this new episode as an editorial chance to talk about the hubbub created in the cinephile world recently when The New York Times asked for public input to create a master list of the Top 100 films of the 21st Century so far (never mind that there's still six...

For their 202nd episode, two sneak-attacking film critics, two camoflauged dads, and two warrior teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, draw their swords and pistols on a frequently-mentioned franchise on the podcast: the "Predator" series. In June, Hulu released the stunningly animated "Predator: Killer of Killers," which continues the new stewardship of writer-director Dan Trachtenberg, who pu...

For their 201st episode, two mask-pulling film critics, two special agent dads, and two stuntman teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, begin a group of retrospective episodes reflecting on the recently finalized "Mission: Impossible" franchise. Taking them a pair at a time, this first episode covers Brian De Palma's "Mission: Impossible" from 1996 and its wild 2000 sequel "M:I-2" from director...

For their historic 200th episode, two detective-minded film critics, two dream theory dads, and two noir-loving teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, have reached a milestone that deserved a big movie and the help of stellar new guest. The hosts welcome Chicago-based film critic and artist Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists to compare two examples of poisonous Hollywood set...

For their 199th episode, two altruistic film critics, two anagram-loving dads, and two hacker school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, tuck themselves into the warm sheets of the 1990s with the steady 1992 hit, "Sneakers." Directed by "Field of Dreams" director Phil Alden Robinson and top-lined by the Oscar-winning duo of Robert Redford and Sidney Poitier, this little pre-internet cyber cap...

Andor Season 2 just wrapped up on Disney+ so let's go all the way back to 2023... And see what the Cinephile Fitsters had to say about Star Wars: Return of the Jedi on its 40th anniversary. https://discord.gg/N6MKWXU2 https://www.teepublic.com/user/ruminationsradionetwork https://www.instagram.com/cinephilehissyfit/ https://www.instagram.com/casablancadon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CinephileFit...

Hop in your way back machine of choice and enjoy this classic episode from The Ruminations Radio Network's own Cinephile Mavericks; Don and Will, as the two wax poetic and respectful on the great Stan Winston. https://discord.gg/N6MKWXU2 https://www.teepublic.com/user/ruminationsradionetwork https://www.instagram.com/cinephilehissyfit/ https://www.instagram.com/casablancadon/ Twitter: https://twit...

For their 198th episode, two avenging film critics, two reject dads, and two asterisk-owning school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, arrive at the opening big hitter of the summer of the 2025. As usual, Marvel Studios staked claim the first week of May release slot for "Thunderbolts." The self-described "lapsed" Marvel shill and the Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic who graded the movie to a...

For their 197th episode, two non-musical film critics, two vampiric dads, and two enthralled school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, turn their gaze and their microphones to the big April hit of Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" starring Michael B. Jordan. Our two fellas walked away very impressive with every aspect of this wild genre mashup. They see myth and relevance with every pluck of the movi...

 For their first Pateon exclusive episode, two lovestruck film critics, two "Crazy for Swayze" dads, and two ditto-making school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, check off a few delightful and dreamy boxes with an opposite on the 1990 smash hit "Ghost." The movie has been in Don's all-time Top 10 for decades, and Will---coming off a 1990 binge with his recent first-time viewing of "Pretty...

For their 195th episode, two imposter film critics, two murderous dads, and two non-Italian school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, stay in the monumental year of 1999 for one more week with another cornerstone film. Lapped at the time by the likes of "The Matrix," "American Beauty," "Magnolia," and "Fight Club," stands the late Anthony Minghella's salacious "The Talented Mr. Ripley" starr...

For their 194th episode, two beatnik film critics, two Cold War-curious dads, and two robotic school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, turn it back to the great year of 1999 to love on a flop that turned into a classic. Brad Bird's "The Iron Giant" has gone from being trounced at the box office to being an animation exemplar for all ages, and our guys are here to admire its popularity and q...

For their 193rd episode, two suburbanite film critics, two nanny-gawking dads, and two accosted school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, circle back to a cinematic cottage industry found in the 1980s and 1990s of so-called domestic terror: stories that preyed on the pearl-clutching fears of the upper middle class. One of the best to get the audience's blood boiling was 1992's "The Hand That...

For their 192nd episode, two haughty film critics, two betrothed dads, and two classical school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, refine their usual viewing to discuss possibly unexpected from their norm, but something with extreme class. We're talking about director Joe Wright's sumptuous 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," starring Kiera Knightly in her prime stardom....

For their 191st episode, two Secret Service film critics, two sweaty dads, and two counterfeit school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, seep into the seedy side of nefarious crimes of money and the slimy side of Los Angeles with William Friedkin's 1985 stunner "To Live and Die in L.A." Our guys always make time for a Willem Dafoe blind spot and this was a winner, thanks to the detailed myst...