Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.

In Episode 59 of the Crooked Table Podcast,  Robert Yaniz Jr.  closes the book on the 2017 summer movie season with some arbitrary awards. The past few months have brought an interesting blend of franchise and original fare, with surprising standouts emerging on both sides. So, as The Dark Tower looms essentially as the last big tentpole of the season, let's review some of the films that had criti...

In Episode 58 of the Crooked Table Podcast,  Robert Yaniz Jr.  finally catches up with the critically acclaimed new film from writer/director Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, James D'Arcy, Cillian Murphy, Harry Styles (yes, that Harry Styles) and Mark Rylance. With rich subject matter and his usual flair behin...

In Episode 57 of the Crooked Table Podcast,  Robert Yaniz Jr.  sifts through mountains of Judd Apatow-produced films to find the very best of the bunch in a new edition of Let's Talk About SIX. From The 40-Year-Old Virgin to Trainwreck, Apatow has directed some of the best comedies of the 2000s, but his producing credits reach even deeper than his directorial efforts. His latest, The Big Sick, is...

In Episode 56 of the Crooked Table Podcast,  Robert Yaniz Jr.  and  Freddy Yaniz  catch up some popular recent releases, namely writer/director Edgar Wright's pseudo-action musical Baby Driver and Illumination Entertainment's latest Minion-fest Despicable Me 3. Then, it's on to the battle between humans and apes in the trilogy-capping War for the Planet of the Apes. Andy Serkis reprises his lead r...

In Episode 55 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  welcomes Freddy Yaniz  back to the show after a lengthy hiatus to talk (of course) the latest chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Listen in as they talk all things Spider-Man and celebrate the webslinger's full emergence as a central figure in the MCU with Spider-Man: Homecoming. The Jon Watts-directed film -- which sees Tom Holla...

In Episode 54 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  takes a trip down memory lane to discuss the concept of "birthday movies" and pop cultural anniversaries. Then, he launches into a new edition of Let's Talk About SIX, centering on the Spider-Man films. Check back next week for his review of Spider-Man: Homecoming, featuring guest co-host Freddy Yaniz . Go, web, go! We’re excited to hea...

In Episode 53 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  collapses into a pile of piping-hot movie news, including the latest on the untitled Han Solo Star Wars movie, Jurassic World 2, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe. It's hard to believe so much news has come out in just the past few days, but fear not, the Crooked Table Podcast is here to break it down for you. N...

In Episode 52 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  uncovers director Alex Kurtzman's new take on The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella. The film is, of course, intended to kick off Universal's monster-centric Dark Universe. We'll investigate whether The Mummy provides a solid foundation for what's to come as well as how it stacks up against the 1999 edition, which saw Brenda...

In Episode 51 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  finally reunites on the show with  Kai  (along with their infant daughter) to discuss director Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman film starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. Will the film finally mark a decisive win for the DC Extended Universe after films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, or will it prove to be an underwh...

In Episode 50 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  leaves the movie reviews aside for a reflective look back at the show's history. Don't worry, Wonder Woman will take center stage next week, but for now, let's mark the Crooked Table Podcast's 50th episode with a review of its tumultuous history, some of Rob's favorite episodes and the lessons he's learned along the way. All that, plus a glimpse int...

In Episode 49 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  takes to the high seas for his review of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. But first he looks back at star Johnny Depp's most surprising roles with another round of Let's Talk About SIX. So, is Jack Sparrow better the fifth time around? Listen for yourself. Yo ho, yo ho and all that... Film synopsis, courtesy of...

In Episode 48 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  travels to the "galaxy far, far away" for a personal account of his love for the Star Wars saga, as the franchise celebrates its 40th anniversary. From how he got into the franchise to his feelings on Ewoks, listen in as a longtime fan of George Lucas' creation shares his thoughts on any and everything Star Wars. Cue up that opening cra...

In Episode 47 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr.  celebrates the big-screen return of Oscar winner Goldie Hawn and the 25th anniversary of her 1992 black comedy Death Becomes Her, directed by Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Back to the Future) and co-starring Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis and Isabella Rossellini.  Then, it's on to Hawn's newest release, which teams the actress with Amy Sch...

In Episode 46 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  hits the cosmos to review Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel and Kurt Russell. But before evaluating writer/director James Gunn's film, he looks back on previous sequels in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Will the Guardians deliver a strong follow-up to the 2014 smash...

In Episode 45 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  reviews a pair of recent Emma Watson releases in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake and techno-thriller The Circle, co-starring Tom Hanks, Patton Oswalt and John Boyega. Then, he addresses the controversy surrounding the new Netflix series Dear White People, based on the 2014 film of the same name. Is this series adaptation of Justin S...

In Episode 44 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  takes a glimpse at the impressive filmography of production and distribution house A24, the company behind some of the most fascinating films in recent years. Then he looks at A24's latest release, director Ben Wheatley's Free Fire starring Oscar winner Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy and Jack Reynor. We’re excited to hear...

In Episode 43 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  lives his life one-quarter mile at a time. To prepare for director F. Gary Gray's The Fate of the Furious, he peeks into the rearview mirror of cinema history to rank the previous Fast and Furious films in a new edition of Let's Talk About Six. Then, he checks his disbelief at the door to review The Fate of the Furious starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Jo...

In Episode 42 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  sets the movie reviews aside to discuss how being a first-time father has affected the way he watches films, from sharpening his emotional core to shaping the stories he wants to share with his infant daughter. Those of you more interested in conversations about the latest movies, stay tuned: next week is The Fate of the Furious! We’re excited to he...

In Episode 41 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  journeys back to 1993 to discuss the first-ever Mighty Morphin Power Rangers episode before taking a close look at director Dean Israelite's new film Power Rangers. Can this particular bit of nostalgia work as a modern superhero film? Let's find out... It's morphin' time! We’re excited to hear your feedback as the show continues to evolve. As usual,...

In Episode 40 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  jets on over to The CW's Central City for The Flash musical Supergirl crossover episode "Duet," featuring Glee alum Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist and guest star Darren Criss. But first, Rob shares his thoughts on season 1 of a little up-and-coming show called Game of Thrones. Maybe you've heard of it? We’re excited to hear your feedback as the show...

In Episode 39 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  shares his nonchalant response to Kong: Skull Island starring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and the titular king of the apes. Then, he waxes poetic on director Barry Jenkins' Oscar-winning coming-of-age drama Moonlight. From the tumult surrounding its shocking Best Picture win to the artistry involved in the film itself, Rob explain...

In Episode 38 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  shares his belated thoughts on John Wick: Chapter Two, The LEGO Batman Movie and Get Out. Then, he sharpens his adamantium claws to review Hugh Jackman's final X-Men film appearance as Wolverine in James Mangold's intimately titled Logan. Is the actor's swan song as the mutant hero a high note, or does he leave the series with a whimper? We’re excit...

In Episode 37 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  fanboys out to the reveal that Star Wars: Episode VIII will be titled The Last Jedi. What does it all mean, and how will writer/director Rian Johnson's film build toward the trilogy's conclusion? Then, Rob reviews Oscar frontrunner La La Land -- starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone -- before delving into an in-depth look at this year's Academy Award...

In Episode 36 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  bids adieu to the devastating celebrity deaths and political uproar of 2016, briefly eulogizing the late Carrie Fisher in the process. Then, he reveals some of his favorite films of 2016 in the latest segment of Let's Talk About SIX. Let's rock in the New Year and hope for better days ahead in 2017! See you on the other side! We’re excited to hear y...

In Episode 35 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob  taps into the mystic arts for his review of the Marvel Studios release Doctor Strange before discussing the Disney animated musical Moana. Then, he travels to the "galaxy far, far away" for the second consecutive year for the inaugural Star Wars anthology release, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Let's fire up that hyperdrive and start the show! We’re...