PopaHALLics

PopaHALLics #117 "Unpleasant People" They're self-centered ... pushy ... arrogant ... and sometimes murderous. But difficult people—an orchestra conductor, a marathon swimmer, two battling cops, even a serial killer—can make for great pop culture, as this episode attests. Streaming: "Maestro," Netflix. Bradley Cooper cowrote, directs, and stars as conductor/composer Leonar...

PopaHALLics #116 "Moviemaking with Mike" Last time we talked about "Extraction USA," it was a trailer for a movie that didn't exist yet. Writer/director Mike Yonts updates us on its progress toward the big screen— an interesting conversation about what it's like to make a movie. Dad and daughter also dish on Britney Spears, Mark Wahlberg, and what we think of each oth...

PopaHALLics #115 "Poppanew!" Happy New Year! We kick off 2024 with a chat about Paul Giamatti's Oscar-buzz performance in "The Holdovers," the discomfort of "Saltburn," Stephen King's return to a favorite character—and more! Streaming: "The Holdovers," theaters and rental. In this drama, Giamatti plays a much-disliked history professor at a  New En...

PopaHALLics #114 "Avoid These Shows!" You want some turkey? We take out the knives to carve up "Obliterated," "The Buccaneers," and "Monarch: A Legacy of Monsters." But we also make two recommendations for holiday viewing—including one not traditionally thought of as a "Christmas" movie. Streaming: "Obliterated," Netflix. An elite special...

PopaHALLics #113 "Cry Murder!" Is that red on the holiday decorations blood ? In an unplanned twist, dad and daughter both come to the show with murderous streaming and reading recommendations. A  killer episode, wouldn't you say? Streaming: "A Murder at the End of the World," FX & Hulu. When a reclusive tech titan (Clive Owen) holds a retreat in Iceland, his guests st...

PopaHALLics #112 "More Boos for You" Someone forgot to tell us Halloween was over! We discuss streamers about alien invaders, witches, a co-dependent Dracula, a horror-plagued family, and a novel about a witchhunt. Plus the comedy movie "Quiz Lady" and Poirot and his moustache. Streaming: "The Menu," Hulu. In this horror comedy, a foodie (Nicholas Hoult) and his date...

PopaHALLics #111 HALL-oween Time for vampires, spooky spirits, and movies with plot holes so big the wind moans through them like a ghost. Oh, and David Beckham and the brain, too. Streaming: "El Conde," Netflix.  Former Chilean dictator Pinochet is actually a 250-year-old vampire who can't remember where he hid his money in this satiric arthouse flick. A French accountant nun will...

PopaHALLics #110 "Popalicious!" From a chemist doing a cooking show in a serious drama to a time-traveling teen in a horror comedy, we offer the ideal recipes for pop culture enjoyment! We even sprinkle aliens, monsters,  and goshawks on top, and polish it off with pumpkin ale. Yum! Streaming: "Lessons in Chemistry," Apple +. In this miniseries based on Bonnie Garmus' best...

PopaHALLics #109 "Start Making Sense" Steve experienced the re-release of the restored "greatest concert film of all time," "Stop Making Sense." Just in time for "spooky season," Kate talks about two indigenous horror novels. And don't forget the home invasion thriller with 1 line of dialogue! In Theaters: "Stop Making Sense." Academy Award-wi...

PopaHALLics #108 Who Are You? Dad and daughter disagree on the merits of Netflix's "Who is Erin Carter?"—who do you think is right? We also look at two series: the "Justified" reboot and "Painkiller," about the origins of the opioid crisis. And new music (Kate) and, um, classic music (Steve). Streaming: "Who is Erin Carter?" , Netflix. In this British T...

PopaHALLics #107 "Murderous & Foreboding" Characters are killing it—literally—in the streaming options and novels we discuss. A wife killing her "perfect" husband. A Broadway star taking an elevator shaft down without the elevator. And did we mention the creepy Swedish cult festival? Streaming: "Midsommar," streaming & rental, In this 2019 horror film written...

PopaHALLics #106 "Barbie & the Bomb" Millennial daughter and boomer dad both think director Greta Gerwig did a great job playing with dolls in the global phenomenon "Barbie." Kate also saw director Christopher Nolan's biopic "Oppenheimer" and reveals if the movie was a bomb or a blast. (Sorry!) We also joke about fans at a Vampire Weekend concert. (Sorry agai...

PopaHALLics #105 "Popagumbo" Dad and daughter record in the same room for a change—but they're still all over the pop landscape. Dolls that kill! Dealing-with-grief memoir! Dirty deeds in LA! Dungeons & Dragons! And yet we still find time to be mean to one of the Hemsworth brothers. Streaming: "M3GAN," Prime and rental. In this hit horror comedy, a high-tech toy design...

PopaHALLics #104 "Good Books & Bad Guys" Still looking for a good summer read? We got you covered with a warm, spooky coming of age story, a murderous thriller, a memoir about family and addiction, and a collection of hopeful climate change-themed short stories. Or you can watch Bill Hader, Chris Hemsworth, and Emily Blunt kill people. Yes, even that nice Emily Blunt. Books: "Th...

PopaHALLics #103 "Indiana Jones & The Last Movie" We review "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and speculate why  Harrison Ford's final outing in the brown fedora is doing poorly at the box office. For those of you not into 80-year-old action heroes, we also discuss season 2 of "The Bear," the new "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," and &quo...

PopaHALLics #102 "Viva Mexico City!" In a special episode, Steve takes us on a tour of pop culture in Mexico City, the oldest city in North America and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Art. Museums. Music. Mexican masked wrestling. It's a fun trip you won't soon forget! Most of the music in this episode comes from street musicians playing for tips. Support your local busk...

PopaHALLics #101 "Movie Dreams" "Extraction USA" is a teaser trailer for a movie - that doesn't exist.  Yet.  In this interview with Steve and Kate, writer/director/DP Mike Yonts and star/producer Leanne Johnson talk about trying to get their female empowerment/action crime drama from screenplay to the big screen.  It's an interesting look into the scrappy, unpredicta...

PopaHALLics #100 "100 Big Ones" Extended episode! Dad and daughter look back at memorable moments from 100 episodes of our pop culture podcast, from memories of Woodstock to a novelist's musings on fact vs. fiction to a tough standup gig.  And we review new pop culture too. Episodes Highlighted: #6 "Every Day I Write the Book"   (novelist Peter Ferry) #48 "Woodstock 1...

PopaHALLics #99 "Keep Calm and Keri On" Stick with Keri Russell, friends, and she'll get you through international crises ("The Diplomat") and bruins high on blow ("Cocaine Bear"). Steve thinks the airplane movie "On a Wing and a Prayer" should be grounded. And we discuss the wonderful and weird fashions at this year's Met Gala. Streaming: "Th...

PopaHALLics #98 "Steve Was Wrong" In  a rare instance, Steve admits he was wrong about the merits of a TV show. But which one? We also review "The Super Mario Bros. Movie,"  "Abbott Elementary," "Transatlantic," "Dream Horse," and take another look at "Wednesday," "Ted Lasso," "The Mandalorian," and the novel "The...

PopaHALLics #97 "Secret Agent Man" A phone rings in the White House basement—a secret agent's in trouble! Do they call superspy Elvis Presley for help? Sorry - we're mashing two  very different shows, "The Night Agent" and the adult cartoon "Agent Elvis." We'll review those and the streamers "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," "Shadow and Bone,&...

PopaHALLics #96 "Ghosts, 'Banshees,' & Rockers" Dad and daughter talk 2023 Oscar results—was Angela Bassett robbed?—as well as a downbeat Irish drama, female ghosts, and a fake rock band burning up the charts. Streaming: "Daisy Jones and the Six," Amazon Prime. Kate says this tale of a fictional rock band is much better than the book, and the music is great too. (...

PopaHALLics #95 "Turn the Page" Kate and Steve return from a month off with a bunch of books under their belts, from software geeks to tough-guy crime to paintings that may be portals to other worlds  We also discuss streaming options "Wakanda Forever" ;  "The Flight Attendant"; and "Pamela, A Love Story" (you think you know Pamela Anderson of "Baywatch...

PopaHALLics #94 "Pop Across the Pond" How did those folks on the other side of the Atlantic get to be such great storytellers?  Dad and daughter  discuss the silly BBC-style mockumentary "Cunk on Earth," the Irish drama/black comedy "Bad Sisters," and a sprawling novel about a dysfunctional family that begins on the English Coast, "The Whalebone Theatre."  &...

PopaHALLics #93: 'Trouble A-Popping!" A wide-ranging discussion of various pop culture options has one thing in common: Trouble! Two best friends who don't realize they should be worst enemies ("RRR"). The zombie apocalypse ("The Last of Us"). Trying to bring someone back from Hell ("Hell Bent"). And more. Kate also discusses a very weird dating prompt....