Movies That Matter

Remakes, reboots, reimaginings, and adaptations. Hollywood may be running short on creativity, but these films are still making connections with audiences (Just by looking at the box office alone). In the second installment of Liz Gillespie's 'comeback tour' to Movies That Matter , she and Chris discuss the relationships audiences have with remakes and the like.

Merry January Fourth?? Liz Gillespie returns in a Movies That Matter first, where she and Chris discuss this recent trend of more mature, edgier holiday films where Santa Claus is portrayed as cynical, grouchy, buff, bloodthirsty, etc. What effects do films like Fatman, Violent Night, and Red One have on audiences, and what connections can they form with them?

Who ever could've guessed the origin of the video game Tetris was set to a backdrop of the Soviet Union's collapse, and almost caused an international incident? Not me! Veras Connolly returns to the podcast to discuss 2023's Tetris , starring Aaron Edgerton. A political thriller of a biopic, the film also has a lot to say about protecting art and freedom of speech.

Books can hold just a special place in our hearts as movies can! It's quite an experience when a beloved book is adapted into a major motion picture. Friend, colleague, and longtime Tolkien fan Rich Hosford joins Chris for a deep dive into Middle Earth and an analysis of Peter Jackson's blockbuster trilogy.

Joy Hosford returns for a special spooky season episode to introduce Chris (and listeners) to the 2018 found-footage horror film from South Korea, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum. Joy details her journey into the horror genre, how she came across this hidden gem from overseas, and why this film may be just as relevant today as it was six years ago. And stay tuned next month for her husband's Movies That M...

Chris is joined by friend and colleague John Viaes to discuss a shared favorite film, 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit directed by Robert Zemeckis. Roger Rabbit is a film that reminds us of the power of laughter, by taking two-dimensional characters and making them three-dimensional (both literally and figuratively).

It's an episode with a double dose of Chris! Chris is joined by Chris Rose, lifetime member of the Burlington Players, and host of the Mass Mouse Fans podcast, for a discussion on 1996's The Birdcage , starring Nathan Lane and the late great Robin Williams. The Birdcage is a comedy with heart with strong values about the importance of found family and acceptance, that is still just as rele...

In honor of the twentieth anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePant's first theatrical feature film (and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the whole franchise), Chris welcomes Nick Giglio back for a discussion encompassing all things from SpongeBob, from what's allowed the character to stand the test of time, to why the 2004 feature film is arguably considered "Peak SpongeBob"...

Movies That Matter is back after an unexpected, extended hiatus. This super-sized episode makes up for lost time, as Flynn Reardon returns to discuss a personal family favorite of his, 1993’s The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Also discussed are some favorite films from 2023, 2024 (so far) and what’s on deck for the rest of the year.

Veras Connolly returns to the podcast to discuss Scott Pilgrim VS The World, Edgar Wright's romantic action-comedy from 2010 aka "Life: The Video Game: The Movie" as they and Chris discuss. While it's an amazing spectacle of a picture, it also carries heavy themes of love and loneliness, accountability, and maturing.

As awards season approaches, Liz Gillespie returns to the podcast to discuss one of the biggest films of the year, and the impact Barbie had on both cinema and audiences. Prepare for an episode full of Ken-ergy.

All entertainment is subjective, and what's a more subjective form of entertainment than comedy?? The 2010 film Grown Ups portrays the ideal fantasy of spending a responsibility-free weekend reuniting with all your old friends. Behind the camera , Adam Sandler is living the dream of making a major motion picture with his whole gang of usual collaborators like David Spade, Kevin James, Chris Ro...

It's a master class on Audrey Hepburn, one of the most iconic actresses of all time. Sarah Eshelman, English and Journalism Teacher in Burlington MA, returns to give Chris an education on all things Hepburn. Sarah details her "Audrey Hepburn Summer" of 2023, and she and Chris discuss three of the actress's most notable works: 1953's Roman Holiday , 1967's Two for the Road...

Charles Dickens's classic holiday story of Ebenezer Scrooge's redemption is 180 years old, and the number of adaptations across film, television, and media continues to grow each holiday season. Chris welcomes Alan Foulds, local author, historian, Town Moderator of Reading MA, and host of the podcast "It's Also History" for "A Christmas Carol Retrospective". Chris and Alan discuss various versions...

The Goonies taps into the memory of a time when you would go off on an adventure with your neighborhood pals, but here it's not playtime. The adventure is real! Robert Parris, Chris's longtime friend and colleague at Burlington Cable Access Television (BCAT) finally makes his debut on Movies That Matter to discuss the 1985 Richard Donner-directed adventure-film, which he has been recommending to C...

In the winter of 2021, Liz Gillespie decided her senior capstone project would be a documentary that poised the question "What makes a film a classic?" She interviewed Chris Flaherty for her documentary, and from that documentary the idea for Movies That Matter was born. In the second part of the 20th episode special, Liz and Chris dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) (a podcast...

In the winter of 2021, Liz Gillespie decided her senior capstone project would be a documentary that poised the question "What makes a film a classic?" She interviewed Chris Flaherty for her documentary, and from that documentary the idea for Movies That Matter was born. Liz has been a frequent quest on the pod, and for this special 20th episode, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Dis...

"When I was your age, television was called books." The Princess Bride is a timeless classic that is still beloved by moviegoers everywhere, like Sarah Eshelman, English and Journalism Teacher in Burlington, who joins Chris in this installment of Movies That Matter . Sarah and Chris share their experiences watching The Princess Bride and how the passion of the filmmakers behind the scene...

Nick Giglio returns to the podcast for an extended discussion on the 2010 animated film How To Train Your Dragon , a personal favorite of his and Chris. Nick and Chris go in-depth on the first chapter of Toothless and Hiccup's journey, and discuss every little detail that makes the film special to them, from the animation techniques applied by the filmmaking team, to the timeless values of the...

The month-long, March Madness-esque marathon of Movies That Matter concludes with the return of Liz Gillespie, as she and Chris discuss Kingsman: The Secret Service, the 2015 spy-action-comedy directed by Matthew Vaughn, and starring Taron Edgerton, Colin Firth, and Samuel L. Jackson. A film that shows the importance of mentorship and legacy. It proves appearances can be deceiving, and that Colin...

"Show me the money!!" Mike Espejo returns to the podcast and introduces Chris to the 1996 romantic comedy sports drama led by Mr. Tom Cruise. Chris and Mike unpack the values Jerry Maguire presents to its viewers, from the value of the individual in the workplace, the importance of human connection and emotions, and positive, healthy masculinity. Also, does Chris know enough about sports...

On Movies That Matter, entertainment is subjective and that's not a bad thing. And what's more subjective than Top Films of the Year lists? Flynn Reardon returns for a special Oscar weekend episode, where he and Chris discuss their favorite films from last year. Also, Chris learns how to use Letterbox, and he and Flynn reveal some pretty damning gaps in their watch history...Happy Oscar Weekend!!

The Lion King, Walt Disney Pictures' 32nd Animated Feature Film, was released on June 24, 1994 to near universal critical and commercial acclaim. Many consider it to be one of Walt Disney Animation's greatest animated films, if not the greatest. It's an epic, coming-of-age story that has resonated with audiences for almost thirty years. For Chris, it gets a bit more personal (as it sho...

Who's your favorite Spider-Man? For Liz Gillespie (and Chris) it's Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man (and some of but not all of its sequel). Join Liz and Chris for an extended, end-of-the-year, winter break episode discussing the second Spider-Man film series that is often overlooked but very much deserves its place in the parthenon of Spidey-Films.   

La La Land ...the almost Academy Award for Best Picture Winner of 2017. All jokes aside, Damien Chazelle's romantic musical comedy-drama starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling quickly became an instant classic worth celebrating. It's a film about staying true to your passions, and the value of having people in your life that validate those passions. In this special episode, marking the first anniver...