Movies & Us

Jen and Sarah are back with a special watch-along episode of ‘Clueless’ in celebration of its 30th anniversary. They discuss the iconic fashion and dialogue and reflect on how the use of tropes helps explore deeper themes. So grab your Diet Coke and Snackwells cookies, throw on your designer loungewear, and watch along! Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies &am...

Jen and Sarah review ‘The Old Guard 2’ and discuss the screenplay, dialogue, and pacing that didn’t work for them and some rewrites that might have worked better. They also compare this to the first film, unpacking some of the elements that made that one so special. Shownotes: Spoilers (~7:48) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Thre...

Jen, Sarah, and some film friends take a closer look at ‘Jurassic Park’ by sharing their favorite dinosaur moment. Enjoy taking a deeper look at some of this film’s most iconic scenes! Shownotes: Michael from Screen Nerds Podcast (~15:36) Eli from The Establishing Shot Podcast (~19:42) Eric from E Squared Film Reviews (~22:55) Sara from Shea Cinema (~26:10) Listen to Screen Nerds Podcast , and be...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Eric of E Squared Film Reviews to review ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth.’ They discuss the story, characters, and themes, along with some of the ways this copies the first film. They also brainstorm some rewrites, give out some compliments, and share about their theater experiences. Shownotes: Spoilers (~12:08) Connect with Eric on Instagram and Threads @esquared_filmreviews....

Jen and Sarah are joined by Eli of The Establishing Shot to review ‘Jurassic Park.’ They discuss the constraints that help make this movie great, the fantastic characters that you want to root for, and the balanced pacing that helps make the film so iconic. Shownotes: Spoilers (~11:19) Check out Eli’s podcast, The Establishing Shot, at establishingshotpod.com and follow him on your favorite social...

Jen and Sarah join Melvin from Cinematic Doctrine for a Quarterly Catch up! In this episode, they answer three questions: What have we been watching? What are we anticipating? What else are we up to? Things Mentioned: How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies  (2024) (Movie) DJ Ahmet  (2025) (Movie) Liquor Bank  (2025) (Short Film) PAPOTA  (2025) (Short Film) Sinners  (2025) (Movie) The Phoenician...

Jen and Sarah dive into the nightclub fight scene in ‘Monkey Man.’ They discuss the effective sound design, the powerful visuals, and the immersive cinematography in this action-packed scene. Click here to watch this scene. Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at  moviesanduspod@gmail....

Jen and Sarah are joined by CeCe Clemons to review ‘Ballerina.’ They discuss some of the stand-out action set pieces, the importance of seeing a powerful female protagonist on the big screen, and how this film fits within the John Wick franchise. Shownotes: Spoilers (~11:24) Follow CeCe on YouTube @cececlemons for movie reactions and connect with her on Threads and Instagram @cece_clemons. Check o...

Jen, Sarah, and some film friends take a closer look at ‘Jaws’ by sharing the most heart-stopping scenes. Enjoy taking a deeper look at some of this film’s most iconic moments! Shownotes: Heather Stewart (~17:40) Thomas Duncan and Dana Duncan of the Greatest Movie of All Time (~21:31) Connect with Heather on Instagram , Bluesky , and Twitter at @heatherjstewart. Check out her recent episodes on Th...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Thomas and Dana Duncan of The Greatest Movie of All Time to review ‘Jaws.’ They discuss some of the film’s most iconic scenes, the incredible legacy of this film, and some of the ‘happy accidents’ that helped make this film so memorable. Shownotes: Spoilers (~18:25) Listen to The Greatest Movie of All Time wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube . Follow them on In...

Jen and Sarah reflect on the last 400 episodes of Movies & Us and, in celebration, review ‘The 400 Blows.’ They discuss how the music, pacing, and cinematography work together to make an incredibly immersive film. Shownotes: Review (~18:51) Spoilers (~25:54) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , and Bluesky @moviesanduspo...

Jen and Sarah review ‘Slanted,’ as part of the Seattle International Film Festival. They reflect on the impressive premise and powerful screenplay that helps us explore important themes around beauty standards, belonging, and what it’s like being a Chinese-American teenager. Shownotes: Spoilers (~8:23) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagra...

Jen and Sarah review ‘DJ Ahmet,’ as part of the Seattle International Film Festival. They reflect on the impressive screenwriting that blends humor, emotional depth, and resonant themes. They also share how the cinematography, score, and sound design help create an immersive filmgoing experience. Shownotes: Spoilers (~12:25) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movie...

Jen and Sarah dive into the juke joint scene in ‘Sinners.’ They discuss the powerful emotions and themes, as well as the way the cinematography and pacing make this scene incredibly immersive.  Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at  moviesanduspod@gmail.com .  Check out our website,...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Michael of The Screen Nerds Podcast to review ‘Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning.’ They discuss some of their favorite moments, how this compares to other entries in the franchise, and the use of nostalgia in this film. They also wonder if this is truly the final reckoning or setting up more adventures for these characters. Shownotes: Spoilers (~11:41) Listen to S...

Jen and Sarah review ‘The Things You Kill,’ as part of the Seattle International Film Festival. They discuss the impressive cinematography and performances that bring to life powerful themes around gender roles, code-switching, and what it means to be human. Shownotes: Spoilers (~7:21) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , an...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Pat and Jarren to review ‘Friday.’ They discuss the iconic characters, the effective humor, and the cultural impact of this film over 30 years after its release. Shownotes: Spoilers (~2:31) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at  moviesanduspod@gmail.com ....

Jen and Sarah are joined by writer and director Marcellus Cox and executive producer Adam Freed to discuss their film 'Liquor Bank.' They discuss the filmmaking process and the highs and lows of production. They also unpack how they made a human film and honored the real-life stories that inspired it. Connect with Marcellus on Instagram @cellusworld24 and be sure to watch his feature-length film,...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Andrew of the Revisionist Almanac to review ‘Lost in Translation.’ They discuss the subversive nature of this film, the profound themes that still resonate, and the compelling filmmaking. They also share some theories about the ending and wonder what happened next for these characters. Shownotes: Spoilers (~12:05) Subscribe to the Revisionist Almanac wherever you get yo...

Jen, Sarah, and some film friends take a closer look at ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ by sharing their favorite scenes. Enjoy taking a deeper look at some of this film’s most iconic scenes! Shownotes: Andrew from Revisionist Almanac (~16:58) Frankie and Scott from Shoot the Flick (~19:20) Will from Scene N Nerd (~24:53) Subscribe to Revisionist Almanac wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube . Co...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Frankie and Scott from Shoot the Flick to review ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ ahead of its 45th anniversary. They discuss the excellent pacing, visuals, and character moments that help make this film so iconic. They also compare and contrast this with some of the other films in the Star Wars franchise. Shownotes: Spoilers (~13:36) Listen to Shoot the Flick wherever you get...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Kenny Sparks to review ‘Sinners.’ They discuss the incredible music, three-dimensional characters, and important themes. They also unpack some ways that Ryan Coogler has taken a common film subgenre and made something special and enduring. Shownotes: Spoilers (~16:15) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Th...

Jen and Sarah dive into the awkward dinner scene in ‘Frances Ha.’ They discuss the awkwardness of the scene, the effective cinematography, and Greta Gerwig’s captivating and endearing performance. Click here to watch the scene. Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at  moviesanduspod@gm...

Jen and Sarah review ‘Matchstick Men’ and discuss the characters and the emotional beats throughout the film. They also reflect on the experience of watching this 2003 film in 2025 and pitch a sequel to continue this story. Shownotes: Spoilers (~11:30) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by em...

Jen and Sarah are joined by Britt Reinholz-Hobson of 1001 by 1 to review ‘The Witch.’ They discuss the complex characters, the relatable and interesting themes, and how this film fits within the folk horror landscape. Shownotes: Spoilers (~18:35) Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on  Instagram ,  Threads , and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at...