Ruined Childhoods

With the success of Dawson's Creek , Kevin Williamson let his freak flag fly on the big screen by writing a number of late 90s and early 2000s teen thrillers, but he only directed one - Teaching Mrs. Tingle . This film features Dawson's alum Katie Holmes up against screen legend Dame Helen Mirren , which sounds like fun, right? But with studio intervention and major edits to turn this movi...

Fresh off the success of Teen Wolf , Back to the Future , and Family Ties , young actor Michael J. Fox was white hot and it seemed like any project he was attached to would be a success. It's no surprise that this week's movie, The Secret of my Success , would be one of the highest grossing films of the year, despite being a relatively mediocre adult comedy. Dan and Jon talk about what mak...

Director Brian Robbins may have been head of the class, but that doesn't make him out of touch with the world of burnout numbskulls and the world of professional wrestling. The proof? 2000's Ready to Rumble , the story of two idiots who are determined to bring a disgraced pro wrestler back to his former glory. Dan tells Jon all about the world of pro wrestling, wrestlers, and how they ente...

Wow. If you haven't seen Q: The Winged Serpent , stop whatever you're doing, find it, and press play. With the star power of Richard Roundtree and David Carradine , the run-and-gun directing style of Larry Cohen , and mind-altering acting from Michael Moriarty  , this film truly has it all. But perhaps there's an opportunity to revisit this cult classic - Dan and Jon surely have their...

Before there was Rocky Horror , Tommy , or The Wall , director Brian De Palma and Paul Williams teamed up to bring us a genre-defining rock opera that continues to stun audiences, further cementing its cult classic status. Phantom of the Paradise tells the story of a singer-songwriter whose opus is stolen from him by Swan, the one man who controls the world's popular music, and his descent int...

Actor Tim Blake Nelson took a few breaks from acting to direct films starting in the 1990s. And with the surge in popularity of teen heartthrob Shakespeare adaptations like Romeo + Juliet (1996) , it was an obvious choice to adapt Othello for a contemporary audience. Jon and Dan celebrate this overlooked token of its time and admire the talents that brought it to life, even if it is a little over...

One of Alfred Hitchcock's few adventure films also may be his most influential, which is saying a LOT. North by Northwest defined the look and feel for spy movies, gave us iconic set pieces, and may change the way you shave your face. Dan and Jon also have some ideas for how it can be brought back in 2025. Next episode: O (2001) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify Subscribe to The WALT! C...

Fritz Lang's first sound film may also be his most complex, despite having released Metropolis in 1927 to much acclaim. M is the story of a city that is worked into a frenzy when an elusive child murderer is on the loose and nobody can be trusted. The cops are determined to find the murderer and bring him to justice, but the city's criminal underworld wants to get to him first and serve th...

Director Hal Ashby's first film is a clear prototype for what he has to come with films like Being There , Shampoo , & Harold and Maude , all satires with a focus on class inequality. The Landlord is a brilliant portrayal of upper classes whites gentrifying a Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, essentially looking into Prospect Park's actual future. Dan and Jon celebrate its place in cinem...

Dan and Jon GUSH over the 1971 Alan J. Pakula Neo-noir Klute and they are NOT shy about it! They also celebrate the amazing Jane Fonda , the tactile audio of 70s cinema, and the lost art of a slow pace. They also share their thoughts on how Klute could be revisited in the modern era. Next episode: The Landlord (1970) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify Subscribe to The WALT! Contact us, follo...

We've been building up to this one for a few weeks and now it's time to talk about Jack and Jill , Adam Sandler's attempt at a dual role/gender comedy. It may be a disaster and a dark spot on Sandler's filmography, but it gives us one of the great Al Pacino performances. Next episode: Klute (1971) Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify Subscribe to The WALT! Contact us, follow us...

Stellan Skarsgård and Al Pacino each star in their own version of the same story - a talented but troubled homicide detective may be forced to sway the results of an investigation to save his own ass. What makes it even more challenging? They're a fish out of water in a region where the sun never sets. Erik Skjoldbjærg and Christopher Nolan each give their take on Skjoldbjærg's original st...

Marketed as a dysfunctional family romp, 1995's Home for the Holidays is actually a witty drama focusing on different generations' views on keeping up appearances, generational trauma, and minding your own damn business. Perhaps also overshadowed by a challenging production due to Robert Downey, Jr.'s substance abuse issues, this Thanksgiving film marks Jodie Foster's 2nd directori...

In the 1950s, nobody paid too much attention to the films of Edward D. Wood, Jr , but his films hit cult status when they were rediscovered in the 70s & 80s. While some are simply low-budget b-movie schlock, one film is an ultra-personal exploration of his own gender identity. Now, Glen or Glenda is looked upon as an important landmark in queer cinema, specifically for the transgender communit...

Early in his career, Orson Welles was a master of storytelling, after the wild successes of Citizen Kane and War of the Worlds , Welles fell out of favor with Hollywood. After a handful of actor-for-hire jobs and independently released flops, Welles scrambled to hit it big with another hit film. And sometime during the meandering production of The Other Side of the Wind , Welles completed his pseu...

The 90s were a golden era for high school movies, defying the standard set by John Hughes a decade prior. But few (if any) high school-set films capture the bizarre nature of student government better than Election , which skillfully weaves in the story of a civics teacher who diverts from his typical routine and lets his personal life interfere with the natural course of the student body. Broderi...

It's the breakout role for Jake Gyllenhaal . It reminded us why Smurfette was created and by whom. It introduced the world to Sparkle Motion. When Donnie Darko was released in 2001, few could have anticipated its rapid rise to cult classic status, but this cerebral film spawned a theatrical adaptation, an unofficial sequel, and there are plans for an alleged official sequel. But perhaps Dan an...

When we set out to cover a movie for every letter of the alphabet, we had plenty of great options for C. However, we chose C.C. and Company instead. This film is a bizarre combination of football star Joe Namath , Ann-Margret , and Motocross . Not a single transfer of the film looks good, there are no fewer than 3 versions of the film on streaming services, but it's still highly enjoyable and...

Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, and Lily Tomlin?!?!?! That's right - this 1988 comedy, directed by legend Jim Abrahams features Midler and Tomlin as two sets of identical twins mixed up at a West Virginia Hospital. It doesn't matter if it gets messy at times, it's a load of fun. The movie also features baby Seth Green , Fred Ward , Edward Herrmann , Michael Gross , and Mary Gr...

Who would have known that a simple 1997 monster movie would stand the test of time and become a true cult classic. Also, who would have known that many of its stars would be some of the most popular actors nearly 30 years later? And who can explain exactly what Jon Voight was thinking with his performance? On the 3rd series premiere, Dan and Jon celebrate Anaconda and imagine how it could be revis...

It's the season 2 finale! We're wrapping up our cinematic tour of the USA with Wyoming-set Cat Ballou , starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin . Dan and Jon celebrate its unique place in cinema history, Jane Fonda's transition from working actress to superstar to activist and how she used her star-power to raise awareness for major global issues. They also theorize how Cat Ballou could be...

If you listened to our episode on Nothing But Trouble (1991), you'll know that this isn't the first Dan Aykroyd / John Candy film we've covered on the podcast. This perfect odd-couple duo brings the blowhard vs. pushover dynamic into the woods of Wisconsin for The Great Outdoors , written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch . Dan and Jon celebrate the wackiness, memorable lines, and unfor...

Robert Mitchum , the original king of creep, leads this spooky tale of a murderous criminal claiming to be a preacher just so he can get $10,000 from his ex-cellmate's kids. The film features brilliant set dressing, cinematography, and performances from Mitchum, Lillian Gish , Shelley Winters , and Billy Chapin . Dan and Jon celebrate all of the things that make The Night of the Hunter a class...

It's a Ruined Childhoods Two-fer! Dan and Jon celebrate two DC-based classics and imagines how they could be revisited. One is a James Stewart political drama. The other is a Holly Hunter / Albert Brooks / William Hurt journalism dramedy. Both are compelling. Both have been heralded as cinematic greats. Both perfectly represent the District of Columbia on celluloid. Next episode: Night of the...

I don't know but I've been told - I've got nowhere else to go ! On this episode of the podcast, are celebrating the cinema of Washington state. Coming off an episode dedicated to Major Payne , it only feels appropriate to speak about a similar film with a very different tone, An Officer and a Gentleman . This Richard Gere / Debra Winger / Louis Gossett Jr. classic showcases immense talents, iconic...