Gimme Three Podcast - A Series For Cinephiles

In this episode, we celebrate the life and work of the late David Lynch.  Mr. Lynch was one of the most innovative and intuitive artists who tackled cinema. Co-hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis discuss the inspiring approach from David Lynch and three of his most memorable films. We start with Lynch’s audacious debut feature film, Eraserhead . Second, we explore the underbelly of the Ameri...

It’s that time of year. Nominations are announced. Top Ten lists are published. And cinephiles far and wide decipher which films from 2024 blew their hair back.  Today, co-hosts Bella Efstratis and Nicholas Ybarra are joined by producer Sonja Mereu. Each provides one of their favorite films from 2024 (in the first of three 2024 episodes).  First, Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson star in the pulse-p...

We want to send our love, prayers, and condolences to the beautiful city of LA as it battles these horrendous and devastating wildfires. We also want to express our gratitude to our firefighters, first responders, and volunteers for helping our city overcome this immense disaster.  In lieu of a new episode this week, we are sharing an episode previously only available to our Patreon subscribers. B...

In this episode of the Gimme Three Podcast, Nick and Bella go through the fascinating 2024 statistics from their Letterboxd accounts.  The dynamic duo compares notes on the number of films they watched, their most watched actors and filmmakers, and much, much more. Throughout this discussion, we learn more about Nick and Bella’s film-watching habits and their lives behind the mic.  Leave us a revi...

Nicholas Ybarra, co-host of the Gimme Three Podcast, recently saw Malcolm Washington's tremendous film The Piano Lesson . Virgil Williams co-wrote the outstanding August Wilson adaptation.  In this episode, we revisit a 2019 interview with Virgil Williams and Nicholas Ybarra, recorded live at the Austin Film Festival.  Virgil discusses his process, journey, and sensational work on Mudbound ,...

Happy Holidays from the Gimme Three Podcast! ’Tis the season - not just for the Holiday spirit, but also for love . This week’s episode explores three romantic comedies perfect for the holiday season.  First, we gab about one of Bella’s favorites: Nancy Meyers’ cross-pond modern classic The Holiday .  Second, the ever-charming Sandra Bullock stars in the high-concept Sleeping Beauty reimagining of...

It is the season of giving, and co-host Bella Efstratis and producer Sonja Mereu are here to recommend three films each! Usually - our monthly discovery episodes are reserved for our Patreon subscribers. However, it is the holiday season, so we are gifting it to you - our lovely listeners free of charge. Bella and Sonja deliver a total of six spoiler-free film recommendations of movies that they s...

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the annual debate in the cinephile community. Many a movie aficionado frequently asks, “Is this a Christmas Movie or Not?” Well, The Gimme Three Podcast has you covered. On today’s episode, we examine three hotly debated films to answer the burning question once and for all.  We start with Billy Wilder’s classic 1960 Romantic Dramedy The Apartment ....

We’ve made it to Episode 50! Join us as we celebrate our 50th episode by revisiting some of the most beloved classics from 1974—these films are celebrating their 50th anniversary.  1974 was an unforgettable and impactful year in cinema - but we picked three films that not only defined their genres but also helped define American cinema for decades to come.  We open with the equally poignant and br...

It’s hard to believe that our favorite 2004 films are turning 20 this year! So you already know we had to celebrate with a spotlight on three of our favorites from the year. But with so many incredible and timeless films to choose from, we're narrowing it down to three outstanding indie darlings of 2004! Enjoy a little recap of 2004's biggest and best movies, including the top 10 highest...

On September 27th, the film industry lost one of the most prolific actresses in history, Dame Maggie Smith.  With a stage and screen career that spanned seven decades, it was nearly impossible to pick only three films to highlight Maggie Smith's outstanding career, but we did our best.  We start with Maggie Smith's Academy Award-winning performance as the enigmatic school teacher in The...

We're celebrating Demi Moore's birthday and her cinematic comeback! With her breathtaking performance in The Substance taking the cinephile world by storm, there’s no better time to revisit some of the fantastic highlights of Demi Moore’s career.  We start with the supernatural romance classic Ghost , the film that helped make Moore one of the highest-paid actors of the 90s.  *AUDIENCE P...

**Enhance Your Election Week Experience with The Gimme Three Podcast!** It’s Election Week! As we all know, this week can be both exhilarating and highly stressful. So, if you need a break from doom scrolling and news coverage, The Gimme Three Podcast has you covered.  In this week’s episode, co-host Nicholas Ybarra and guest David Chiu tackle Gimme Three Presidential Films! We start with John Fra...

We round out our weeks-long celebration of female horror directors by revisiting a 2022 interview with the great Katt Shea, one of Nicholas Ybarra's favorite filmmakers. Katt Shea started as an actress and worked her way into the director's chair, starting under the Roger Corman umbrella. Her films Stripped To Kill , Streets , and The Rage: Carrie 2 have all garnered cult-film status. Bu...

And we’re back with Part II! In this episode, Nick, Bella, and Jess return to discuss three more brilliant horror films directed by women, each from a different era and offering a distinct twist on the genre. - Jess picked Tiger Stripes (2023), Amanda Nell Eu’s bold coming-of-age body horror. - Nick selected The Slumber Party Massacre (1982), Amy Holden Jones' feminist slasher that cleverly s...

Are you loving Gimme Three's horror content this month? Well, get ready for even more because we're bringing you six killer horror film recommendations in our newest two-part series: Horror Films Directed by Women!   Over the next two weeks, Nick, Bella, and returning special guest Jess McLaughlin have curated a fantastic lineup showcasing the extraordinary work of six wickedly talented...

We kick off our month-long horror film extravaganza by also celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.  In this episode (a re-release from a 2020 Film Forward episode), co-host Nicholas Ybarra chats with award-winning filmmaker Felix Martiz, and they each provide three outstanding horror films by Hispanic filmmakers.  Ybarra and Martiz discuss these incredible films: Issa Lopez' beautiful and groun...

Once again, Joker is the talk of the town. To mark the recent release of Joker: Folie à Deux , Nick and Bella are exploring the history of the iconic character and the tremendous actors who have donned the face paint.  We open with the performance that changed the game. Jack Nicholson steals the show in Tim Burton's Batman with his unforgettable take on Joker.   Next, we discuss Heath Ledger&...

Earlier this month, on September 9th, the legendary stage and screen actor James Earl Jones passed away at the age of 93. Jones made his film debut in 1964 with Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove , and continued to grace the screen for nearly 60 more years. Beyond the screen, his brilliance shone on stage, earning him two Tony Awards, and his incredible career culminated in the rare achievemen...

September 24th, 2024, marks the 20th Anniversary of Shaun Of The Dead 's US Release. The forever-fresh cult classic not only launched Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost to mega-stardom, but the film also kicked off a trilogy of brilliant collaborations between the three artists.  In this episode, Bella and Nick are joined by Daniel Ott to discuss all three of the high-octane, humanist,...

This week, we conclude our tribute series to the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman. Nick and Bella spotlight three of Hoffman’s most memorable supporting performances.  Philip Seymour Hoffman never needed an exuberant amount of screen time to leave his mark on a film. Often, his supporting roles left as big of an impact as the leading characters.  First up is one of his earliest roles in the Academ...

Continuing our tribute to the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman, this week Nick and Bella spotlight three of the most powerful collaborations between Hoffman and visionary director Paul Thomas Anderson. Hoffman and Anderson shared a profound friendship and creative bond, built on deep mutual respect, admiration, and a dynamic artistic synergy. Hoffman appeared in five of Anderson’s films, shaping s...

ANOTHER LEGENDARY ACTOR'S TRIBUTE! This week on the Gimme Three Podcast co-hosts Bella Efstratis and Nicholas Ybarra celebrate the life and career of Philip Seymour Hoffman. As hard as it is to believe, this year marks a decade since Philip Seymour Hoffman's tragic passing. In this episode, the duo discusses some of Hoffman's pivotal leading performances. First, we have Sidney Lumet...

Earlier this month, we lost one of the most important, innovative, and courageous actors in American cinema, Gena Rowlands. Gena left behind a collection of jaw-dropping performances and an unforgettable approach to her craft.  In this episode, co-hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis discuss three of Gena’s memorable characters, all collaborating with her creative partner/husband, John Cassav...

In the exciting conclusion to our series on concert films, Nick, Max, and Sonja delve into three more concert films.  In this episode, the trio discuss: The Spike Lee and David Byrne collaboration of American Utopia The raucous 75,000+ attended Queen: Live At Wembley Martin Scorcese's gorgeous Rolling Stones film Shine a Light In addition to these incredible films, the group discusses Taylor...