Midday Movies

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their exploration of romance in cinema with the Billy Wilder classic, The Apartment. Released in 1960 and starring the incomparable Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, this film dives into the cutthroat world of corporate America, where Lemmon's character, C.C. Baxter, lends out his apartment to company executives for their extramari...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their intrepid trek through classic romance with the iconic screwball comedy, It Happened One Night. This 1934 film, featuring the unforgettable pairing of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, tells the story of a working-class newspaperman and a spoiled heiress who find themselves on a raucous road trip to New York City at the heigh...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on a charming journey through the classic romance of the 1954 film, Sabrina. Starring the iconic Audrey Hepburn, alongside Humphrey Bogart and William Holden, this delightful tale follows Sabrina Fairchild, the daughter of a chauffeur, as she transforms from a love-struck girl into a sophisticated Parisian woman, capturing the hearts...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the sizzling world of romance and rivalry with the international hit series, Heated Rivalry. Based on Rachel Reed's Game Changers book series, this captivating show follows the lives of two Major League Hockey stars, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, as they navigate the complexities of ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic connec...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take a delightful plunge into the world of romance and hockey with Prime Video's hit series, “Off Campus.” Based on Elle Kennedy's best-selling book series, this charming show introduces us to Hannah Wells, a dedicated music major, and Garrett Graham, the charismatic captain of Briar University's hockey team. As they navigate th...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen are joined by siblings Shay and Jason, co-hosts of the Rainy Day Rabbit Hole's History Unhinged podcast, as they dissect the iconic 1982 cyberpunk film,  Blade Runner . This cult classic, directed by Ridley Scott, explores the haunting themes of identity, humanity, and the consequences of a consumer-driven society in a dystopian Los Ang...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen swing into action as they explore the groundbreaking animated film,  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse . Released in 2018 and directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, this Oscar-winning film introduces audiences to Miles Morales, a teenager living in a Brooklyn already home to Spider-Man. When a freak accident grants h...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take a deep dive into the thought-provoking 2016 sci-fi film,  Arrival , directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. This Oscar-winning masterpiece explores the arrival of 12 alien ships on Earth and the urgent need for humanity to communicate with these enigmatic visitors. Through the lens of linguistics, the fil...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on an exhilarating exploration of the Oscar-winning sci-fi masterpiece,  Everything Everywhere All at Once . This groundbreaking film, featuring the incredible Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, tells the story of a laundromat owner grappling with an IRS audit and family turmoil, only to be thrust into a multiversal conflict where her dau...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on a vibrant journey through the cult classic sci-fi film,  The Fifth Element . Released in 1997 and directed by Luc Besson, this visually stunning masterpiece stars Bruce Willis as the reluctant hero Corbin Dallas and Milla Jovovich in her breakout role as Leeloo, the ultimate being tasked with saving humanity. With its unique blend...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive deep into the expansive universe of the Apple TV series  Foundation , based on Isaac Asimov's legendary book series. With a star-studded cast including Lee Pace, Jared Harris, and newcomer Lou LaBelle, this series is an exemplar of the sci-fi genre, presenting a narrative that spans over a thousand years of galactic history. They e...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on an exhilarating journey through the cosmos with the blockbuster film  Project Hail Mary , based on Andy Weir's acclaimed novel. They delve into the gripping narrative that follows a reluctant seventh-grade science teacher, played by Ryan Gosling, as he teams up with a charming alien named Rocky to save Earth from an existentia...

Midday Movies is taking a break this week to work on some new and exciting projects that we are not yet legally allowed to share; but, in the meantime, we are sharing with you this thrilling episode from our friends at Rainy Day Rabbit Holes on the infamous Tylenol murders of the 1980s. In 1982, the sudden and tragic death of 12-year old Chicagonian Mary Kellerman – followed by the deaths of sever...

You're listening to Midday Movies. We're taking a short break — a week or two — to step back, recharge, and build some new things we think you're going to love. But we didn't want to leave you without something worth your time. So today, we're handing the feed over to a fellow member of the Umbrella Podcast Collective: Spirits and Monsters of Old Seattle — a show that feels, in some ways, like a c...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take a deep dive into the thought-provoking Netflix documentary "Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere." This captivating film explores the decentralized world of hyper-masculine online influencers, where figures like Sneako and Myron Gaines promote a troubling blend of misogyny and self-help. With Theroux's signature observati...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen rev up the excitement as they dive into the adrenaline-fueled world of "F1," the latest blockbuster starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kaczynski. Set against the backdrop of real Formula One races, the film follows the story of Sonny Hayes, a former racing prodigy making a comeback after a devastating crash, and his partner...

This week we're diving into Vladimir , the Netflix limited series based on Julia May Jonas's acclaimed 2022 debut novel. It's eight episodes of obsession, delusion, and the uncomfortable truth that desire doesn't care about your principles, your marriage, or your tenure. What We Discuss: ​0:00 — Intro: What is Vladimir and why we love it ​0:37 — Meet the protagonist: Rachel Weisz&#...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen wrap up their coverage of the 2026 Oscar nominees with an in-depth exploration of Chloe Zhao's poignant film "Hamnet," starring the incredible Jessie Buckley. Based on Maggie O'Farrell’s acclaimed novel, "Hamnet" offers a haunting look into the Shakespeare family, particularly the profound impact of their son’s d...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen delve into the thrilling world of Amazon's new series "Young Sherlock," a fresh take on the iconic detective's early years. Laura shares her excitement for the show, directed by Guy Ritchie, revealing her admiration for his punchy storytelling style and unique character dynamics. As they explore the series, they discuss yo...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their exploration of this year's Oscar-nominated films with a captivating discussion on Brazil's entry for Best Foreign Feature (and Oscar Best Picture nominee), "The Secret Agent," directed by Kleber Mondonca Filho. Set against the backdrop of Brazil's 20th-century military dictatorship during the tumultuous...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen gear up for the 98th Academy Awards with an exciting preview of their Oscar picks and predictions. As they navigate through the nominees, they discuss the significance of the newly introduced Best Casting category and highlight standout films like "Sinners," "Train Dreams," and "One Battle After Another." With...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the emotional depths of Joaquim Trier's "Sentimental Value," a poignant exploration of family, art, and the legacy of trauma. Following the Borg family, led by the estranged patriarch Gustav, portrayed by the remarkable Stellan Skarsgård, the film intricately weaves together themes of reconciliation and the power of...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their Oscar best picture nominee coverage with a deep dive into Clint Bentley's "Train Dreams," featuring standout performances from Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, and William H. Macy. Based on Denis Johnson's acclaimed novella, this film presents a poignant exploration of Robert Granier, a logger navigating the c...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen delve into the cinematic brilliance of Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull” (1980), a film often hailed as the best-edited movie of all time. Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Cathy Moriarty, this compelling American tragedy chronicles the tumultuous life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose fierce rage propels him to success in the ring...

In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen wrap up their film school series by diving into the essential topic of editing through the lens of the "Filmmaker's Book of Ten" by Steven Bernstein. They present an extraordinary list of the top 10 films that every aspiring filmmaker must see for their editing techniques. From the iconic car chases of "The French Connect...