Cinephile Hissy Fit

For their 190th episode, two enlisted film critics, two centerfold dads, and two non-silent school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, pull up their anchors, load their guns, and take on an 1990s action movie classic! Steven Seagal (and us) never had it better than 1992's "Under Siege," co-starring Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey. This was director Andrew Davis's audition tape for "The Fugitiv...

For their 189th episode, two romantic film critics, two pretty dads, and two school teacher with hearts of gold, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, cover one more Oscar contender before the big awards. With Sean Baker's "Anora" surging up the Oscar odds charts with wins at the Critics Choice Awards, BAFTAS, and the top guilds for producers and directors, they felt the opportunity was there to announce...

For their 188th episode, two patriotic film critics, two winged dads, and two reformed Marvel Schill school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, swoop in to sing what appears to be minority praises for the new Marvel Cinematic Universe film "Captain America: Brave New World." The movie might be bombing with critics, but we think there's plenty to love and enough exciting content for a trip to...

For their 187th episode, two digitized film critics, two dads who fight for the users, and two Master Control school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, squeeze together a "TRON" double feature to cover the landmark 1982 original and its pumped-up 2010 sequel "Tron Legacy." Will was a first-time to The Grid, while Don was happy return to the films' wondrous digital abyss with a newbie. Come l...

For their 186th episode, two glamorous film critics, two substance-abusing dads, and two out-of-control school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, catch up to the recent Academy Award nominations to discuss "The Substance!" Filmmaker Coralie Fergeat's celebrity thriller, rife with body horror and Hollywood commentary has wowed audiences and critics alike as an exemplar of its genre worthy of...

For their 185th episode, two futuristic film critics, two mutant dads, and two socially-consicous teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, begin a new sub-series for 2025 called "The Anniversary Parade." A host of key classics are celebrating benchmark anniversaries this year and our show will gradually crack into that list all year long. First up is Bryan Singer's "X-Men." Debuting in 2000, the m...

Happy New Year! For their 184th episode, two horse-riding film critics, two horn-blowing dads, and two sieging teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, celebrated a new year with a conversation on the recent spin-off "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." The anime-style film is a deep prequel to the War of the Ring from the Peter Jackson cradle. It impressed us and we're bummed it's fl...

For their 183rd episode, two Romanesque film critics, two dirt-rubbing dads, and two non-emperor teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, came together for a recent new release they both had circled on their calendars for a long time even before 2024. Celebrated film director Ridley Scott stepped back into the "Gladiator" arena to make the long-distance sequel "Gladiator II." This highly anticipat...

For their 182nd episode, two suspicious film critics, two Corvette-driving dads, and two sheriff-wannabe teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, dipped their toes into the wellspring that is the movie resume of the Oscar-nominated Willem Dafoe. This week's show covers 1992's "White Sands," directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Dafore alongside Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Mickey Rourke. Wi...

For their 181st episode, two science officer film critics, two brave dads, and two assimilated teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcomed Neil Shurley and Ben Cahlamer for their second consecutive episode. Their challenge was to boldly go where no show had gone before. The four set their phasers on stun to cover 1996's "Star Trek: First Contact," the first solo film for the central cast and...

For their 180th episode, two golden film critics, two secret agent dads, and two laser-wielding teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, brought in a pair of special guests for the first of two "guest's choice" episodes. The podcast welcomed prolific creator Neil Shurley and returning guest and Phoenix-based film critic Ben Cahlamer to put their best pretend foot forward as a secret agent. Their m...

For their 179th episode, two nostalgic film critics, two surround sound dads, and two crowd-ready teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, take a special episode to spell out an editorial they have in mind for a while. Will and Don carry on a conversation ranking the best theatrical experiences of their lives so far. From formative moments and cheers to memorable emotions, their very different lis...

For their 178th episode, two non-Austrian film critics, two log-carrying dads, and two rocket-launching teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, kick off the beginning of a recurring side series of films described as a "Tight 90." In today's day and age of exhausting epics and effusive directors' cuts, Will and Don celebrate movies that nailed their purpose and entertainment value in 90 minutes or...

 For their 177th episode, two racket-tightening film critics, two titillated dads, and two sweaty teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, circle back to earlier in 2024 to watch more than just tennis balls being hit back and forth in the Luca Guadagnino's mainstream breakout hit "Challengers." Our guys debate trying to say great things about a very good movie and whether or not the love triangle...

For their 176th episode, two hungover film critics, two jug-filling dads, and two stuttering teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, pop a few aspirins and take it back to 1995 to talk about "Die Hard with a Vengeance." Our hosts sing the praises of the addition of Samuel L. Jackson and debate the possible difference between "favorite" and "best" when it comes to ranking the "Die Hard" series. Co...

CINEPHILE HISSY FIT #175 (October 18, 2024): For their 175th episode, two buff film critics, two gossipy dads, and two romantic teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, found themselves smitten recently with last year’s runaway hit “Anyone But You.” Many have called this Sydney Sweeney/Glen Powell vehicle the return of the big screen rom-com. Our hosts have been doing their homework on that genre...

CINEPHILE HISSY FIT #174 (October 11, 2024): For their 174th episode, two roughneck film critics, two bioluminescent dads, and two teachers with the bends, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, venture below the waves to the deep trench of James Cameron hallmarks that compose “The Abyss,” starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. They pull out all the oxygen tanks and “water wee...

For their 173rd episode, two space trucker film critics, two face-hugged dads, and two android school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back their returning favorite guest Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front for the second appearance of two back-to-back shows. They collaborate to evaluate the hotly anticipated late summer blockbuster hopeful "Alien: Romulus." Is this another dead...

For their 172nd episode, two possessed film critics, two hot-and-bothered dads, and two demonic school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back their returning favorite guest Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front for the first of a pair of episodes. This show hops into the land of Lovecraftian horror with the 2023 Heather Graham vehicle "Suitable Flesh." The three miss this kind of bl...

For their 171st episode, two virile film critics, two amphibian dads, and two chastity-belted school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, return for another episode in their "Trippin' on Cinema" sub-series. This time around, they went with the late-night schlock of "Hell Comes to Frogtown" starring the late Hall of Fame professional wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Our guys will have their love m...

For their 170th episode, two primate film critics, two post-apocalyptic dads, and two tenet-loving school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, circle back to a film they missed together in the form of the early 2024 summer blockbuster "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes." They circled the calendar for this one after their series on the reboot trilogy and made sure to see and talk about how this...

For their 169th episode, two volcanic film critics, two ash-covered dads, and two pyroclastic school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome back film critic and “And The Winner Was…” podcast host Joel Winstead for his second consecutive guest spot. Turning back the clock to 1997, the trio dove into the hot lava that was the double feature of "Dante's Peak" and "Volcano."  Cheese melts as...

For their 168th episode, two unrealized film critics, two dirt-sniffing dads, and two windy school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome film critic and “And The Winner Was…” podcast host Joel Winstead to the show to kick up some dust and weather with a discussion on this summer’s hit soft reboot sequel “Twisters.” The original holds a special place in all our hearts? How fast and destr...

For their 167th episode, two reflective critics, two non-Dad Movie dads, and two thankful school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, conclude their three-episode arc discussing Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This final portion split from a long recording talking about "The Return of the King" goes on to measure the series's cinematic and cultural impact and whether or not we...

For their 166th episode, two critics, dads, and school teachers who bow to no one, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, continue with the second of a three-episode series discussing Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This second episode is the beginning half of a split recording that centered on the epic conclusions cemented by "The Return of the King." Next week will be the final portion...