Least Important Things

Every year on the 4th of July, Luke Ferris and his friends watch 2004’s National Treasure starring Nicolas Cage. But why? In this essay episode, you’ll uncover the treasure map of how this tradition started, including:  National Treasure ’s generational legacy.  The best National Treasure moments and quotes. Why National Treasure was memorable before it became a meme. And the meaning of the annual...

“The cinema substitutes for our gaze a world more in harmony with our desires.” - Andre Bazin We are strapping into our theater seats and preparing our senses for the overwhelming, practical-effects-driven world of cinema's premiere modern master—Christopher Nolan. Host Luke Ferris takes a deeply personal journey through the filmography of his generational director, tracking how a filmmaker c...

In this rewind episode, Luke Ferris reflects on why the World Cup is so popular, how it generates moments of human joy, and why you should tune in this year.  --- Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube . Support Least Important Things on Patreon You can be part of the show by leaving a voicemail here . You can email the show at least...

Press play if you'd rather be watching the 1999 cinematic masterpiece The Mummy (and its sequels) starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.   Host Luke Ferris is joined by Mike Wynne and Zach Hall to kick off the inaugural "Mummycast" franchise rewatch to celebrate the movie that simply refuses to die, 1999's  The Mummy .  In this episode, we dive into: The Mummy Still Delivers...

It’s the time for beaches, bonfires, basking in the afternoon sunshine, going on roadtrips, and it’s also one of the most exciting seasons for movies. But here’s the challenge when picking a summertime flick: choosing a movie. The last thing you want to do is have a debate over which movie to watch to dampen the mood.  But have no fear, Luke Ferris is here. In this essay episode, Luke guides you t...

In honor of the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park III , we're bringing back an episode from the vault via the podcast that started it all– Jurassic Pod .  In this episode, Luke Ferris and Mike Wynne break down the uniqueness of this trilogy within the franchise and in filmmaking.  Dr. Alan Grant unknowingly returns to Isla Sorna to save more children. Can he overcome the ghosts of his past an...

Did JAWS and Star Wars ruin cinema?  In this essay episode, Luke Ferris dives into why the 1970s were a critical decade in film history because of the two trajectories of its young, creative talent. One path, like Spielberg, Lucas, and De Palma, was to create universally appealing genre films. The others, like Scorsese and Coppola, chose to create serious dramatic works focusing on the countercult...

There’s a forgotten form of writing, often ostracized by the publishing world, that deserves a reclamation–the novelization,  In this essay episode, Luke Ferris dives into the "pulpy" and often misunderstood world of novelizations. Far from just being simple marketing gimmicks, these books offer a unique way to engage with our favorite films, filling in lore gaps and letting us spend mor...

What happens when you give an auteur director and the biggest movie stars in the world an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe to create a bombastic sequel?  The often misunderstood Ocean’s Twelve.   In this essay episode, Luke Ferris makes a case for Ocean’s Twelve and the brilliance behind this often derided sequel.  --- Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get you...

“Do you think we need one more? Do you think we need one more… Okay, we’ll get one more.”  We’re assembling the crew and heading to America’s playground to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Steven Soderbergh’s effortlessly cool heist masterpiece, O cean's Eleven .   Host Luke Ferris is joined by his own "Rusty" and "Linus"—Andy Warsen and Mike Wynne—to break down why this...

In this essay episode, Luke Ferris explores the evocative power of film scores and why we find such deep resonance in the music that follows us long after the credits roll. Luke will examine how soundtracks allow us to rewatch movies in our minds and provide thematic connection beyond the screen. We’ll dive into: A Mental Rewatch: Why listening to a score allows your mind to wander back into the m...

For those of us in northern climates, spring break is a strange American pastime—a desperate search for vitamin D to escape the "sprinter" (spring-winter) slush. But for the "holdovers" who stay behind, the empty streets and gray skies offer a different kind of magic: the cinema. In this essay episode, Luke Ferris explores the unique nostalgia of the spring break movie season....

After five moves in five years, Luke Ferris is finally unpacking the last of his boxes—the ones that contain his most precious cargo: his record collection. In this essay episode, we explore the strange power of things that finally make us feel at home. --- Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube . Support Least Important Things on Pa...

Pack your bags and grab your "Remains of the Day" lunchbox. This week on Least Important Things, we are traveling to the "Stool Capital of the World"—Blaine, Missouri—to rewatch the 1997 mockumentary masterpiece, Waiting for Guffman. Mike Wynne returns to the podcast with Luke Ferris to discuss the ambitious musical celebration Red, White and Blaine and the man with the dream:...

We are journeying back to Middle-earth to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film that changed cinema forever: Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. In this special rewatch, Luke Ferris is joined by his two older siblings—the people responsible for his Tolkien obsession—Jay Ferris and Anna Guerink. Together, they discuss the theatrical release of the first film...

In a special St. Patrick’s Day episode, Luke Ferris reads “A Legend of Knockmany” from the Irish Fairy Book .  So curl up in a wool blanket, grab a cup of tea or a pint, and settle in for a folk tale that goes deep into the lineage of Irish culture.  --- Catch new episodes of Least Important Things every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube . Support Least Important Things on Patre...

The Academy Awards is a dramatic cocktail of pop culture obsession and a rare "monoculture" experience. In this episode, Luke Ferris explores why we still tune in 70 years later, even as the "magic" of movie-star mystery has been replaced by social media intimacy. Luke explains the mechanics of the show and why the most moving moments often happen far away from the headlines. I...

It's time to crank up the pop culture oven in the kitchen of nostalgia because this week, Luke Ferris is joined by Zach Hall to deconstruct the "Secret Recipe" for media that stands the test of time—and the ingredients that cause others to sour. From the rediscovered love of The Mummy to the questionable lineage of Monopoly, we’re diving deep into the vault to see what still holds a...

Fifty years after its release, All the President’s Men still feels as relevant as ever. In this essay episode, Luke Ferris explores how a 1970s procedural about two reporters in a newsroom managed to capture the soul of a 13-year-old in 2006—and why it still resonates at age 33. We’ll dive into: The ASMR of the 70s : Why the tactile world of landline phones, typewriters, and match-lit cigarettes c...

"The seeker of serenity, the protector of Italian virginity, the enforcer of our Lord God—the one, the only, Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein!" In this episode, Luke Ferris celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 2001 rock-and-roll medieval mashup A Knight’s Tale . Joining the show to talk about the best hype man in cinematic history is returning favorite Audrey Ferris, from our Parent Trap an...

We're all in this together. In this episode, we’re going back 20 years to 2006 to rewatch a movie that defined a generation of Disney Channel kids: High School Musical. Joining host Luke Ferris are two Wildcats who were there at the beginning—returning guest Eliza McInnis and first-time guest Kloey Ramey. We’ll dive into: The Musical Magic: From the "Start of Something New" on New Y...

Well, it's Groundhog Day...again.  In this episode, Luke Ferris explores the 1993 dark-comedy classic Groundhog Day and the mental health lessons it offers about isolation, burnout, and the search for meaning in the mundane. We’ll dive into: The Breaking Point: How Phil’s move from "flight or fight" to total breakdown mirrors the anxiety of our own modern "long winters." I...

When we think of the quintessential British hero, our minds often jump to the high-octane world of James Bond or the eccentric brilliance of Sherlock Holmes. But as we grow older, the "throne of cool" begins to look a little different. In this episode, Luke explores the "anti-Bond": George Smiley. Created by John le Carré, Smiley isn't a dashing super-spy; he is an overwei...

For anyone who grew up in a northern climate, the phrase “snow day” carries a weight of pure, unadulterated magic. In this episode, host Luke Ferris explores the transition from the childhood wonder of "cosmic intervention" to the grounded reality of shoveling the driveway as an adult. Luke dives into the "sacred rituals" shared on playgrounds everywhere—from sleeping with spoo...

"Ten years. Ten years!" It's time to go back to high school for a special Grosse Pointe, Michigan, reunion episode centered on the 1997 action-comedy cult classic, Grosse Pointe Blan k.  Grosse Pointers Mike Wynne and Peter Tellarico join Luke Ferris to discuss the film's accuracy to 90s suburban Michigan. From the auto industry references to the snacks at the Ultimart, the boy...