Stories in Motion

In our 24th film from Venice, we dive into Jim Jarmusch’s  Father Mother Sister Brother  — a triptych of tender, fractured family stories told in the quietest tones. From Tom Waits as a reclusive dad to Cate Blanchett and Vicky Krieps navigating maternal distance, this episode explores how Jarmusch turns silence into poetry. No fireworks, just slow cinema that cuts deep.

Our 23rd film at Venice is Olivier Assayas’ cold and cerebral take on modern Russian power. We unpack  The Wizard of the Kremlin , starring Paul Dano as Putin’s fictional spin doctor — a slow-burn descent into political manipulation, media control, and the quiet banality of evil.

In our 18th film at Venice, we dive into Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited  Frankenstein . A haunting, gorgeous reimagining of the classic tale, this version trades jump scares for deep emotion. We unpack Oscar Isaac’s unhinged Victor, Jacob Elordi’s heartbreaking Creature, and how del Toro turns a horror icon into a story about forgiveness, grief, and what it means to be human.

Film #17 at Venice takes a softer turn — we dive into  Late Fame , a gently devastating drama about lost potential, identity, and aging in a world obsessed with reinvention. Willem Dafoe is quietly brilliant. Let’s talk about it.

Film #12 at Venice is a brutal banger. We dive into  No Other Choice , Park Chan-wook’s darkly hilarious capitalism thriller about a laid-off paper man who literally kills for a job. Violent, absurd, and painfully relatable — this one's got bite. Listen now. Link in bio.

We’re at the Venice Film Festival and just watched our 11th film — Luca Guadagnino’s  After the Hunt . With Julia Roberts in a bold, messy role and a storyline tackling post-#MeToo academia, it had all the ingredients… but did it deliver? Let’s break down what works, what doesn’t, and why this one left us wanting more.

At the Venice Film Festival, we dive into  Jay Kelly , George Clooney’s fictional alter ego in Noah Baumbach’s insider look at fame, family, and aging in Hollywood. Is it a sharp critique or just a smooth, likable stroll through celebrity life? Tune in for our take on the seventh film we saw at Venice.

We’re fresh from the Venice Film Festival with our take on  Bugonia , the fifth film we’ve screened — and it’s a wild ride. Yorgos Lanthimos pits a cold-blooded CEO (Emma Stone) against an unhinged eco-extremist (Jesse Plemons) in a surreal, satirical kidnap thriller that’s as thought-provoking as it is disturbing. Let’s unpack the madness.

In our fourth Venice dispatch, we dive into  Orphan , László Nemes' return to postwar Hungary with a slow-burning tale of childhood, memory, and inherited trauma. After  Mother ,  La Grazia , and Herzog’s  Ghost Elephants , we unpack how  Orphan  balances beauty with emotional distance — and whether it fully earns its sorrow.

We’re reporting from the Venice Film Festival, where Paolo Sorrentino’s  La Grazia  opened the fest with a quiet but powerful meditation on justice, mercy, and mortality. After the chaotic misfire of  Mother , we dive into Sorrentino’s more composed, emotionally resonant take on political power and personal grief — and why Toni Servillo might just break your heart again.

We’re heading straight into Venice, TIFF, and NYFF — and the 2025 Oscar race is about to ignite. In this episode, we break down the biggest questions ahead of the fall fests: Will  Sinners  hold its ground? Can  Sentimental Value  keep NEON’s streak alive? And is  Rental Family  the TIFF sleeper hit that changes everything? Let’s get into it.

We peel back the layers of  Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery  to unpack Rian Johnson’s hilarious takedown of tech bros, influencers, and pandemic-era privilege — all wrapped in a whodunit that’s as smart as it is silly.

Who really deserves the gold? In this episode, we break down all 21 scripted shows nominated for a 2025 Emmy across Comedy, Drama, and Limited Series categories. From standout performances to storytelling stumbles, we rank each one and explain what makes them shine—or fall short. If you're looking for your next binge or just want to argue about TV, this one's for you.

Rian Johnson’s  Knives Out  isn’t just a stylish whodunnit — it’s a sharp, hilarious takedown of wealth, entitlement, and the myth of the self-made elite. In this episode, we break down how this modern murder mystery flips the genre on its head while serving social commentary with every twist. Spoiler alert: the butler didn’t do it.

In this episode, we dive into  Caught Stealing , Darren Aronofsky’s raw and gritty New York crime drama starring Austin Butler as a relatable underdog caught in a dangerous hustle. We break down Butler’s standout performance, the film’s authentic NYC vibe, and why this feels like Aronofsky’s most grounded movie yet.

We’re updating our 2026 Best Picture predictions! In this episode, we break down the top contenders— Sinners ,  Sentimental Value ,  Marty Supreme , and  Jay Kelly —and re-rank them based on critical buzz, festival potential, box office strength, and industry momentum. We also talk about the Oscar Expert app and how it’s building a new kind of Oscar prediction community. With festival season just...

From indie hits to viral web series, a new generation of female and nonbinary filmmakers are rewriting the rules of Hollywood. We dive into how creators like Celine Song, Rachel Sennott, and Cazzie David are telling real, raw stories—and why original voices matter more than ever.

In this episode, we dive into  Saltburn  — Emerald Fennell’s twisted, hyper-aesthetic tale of obsession, privilege, and seriously unhinged behavior. We’re talking Barry Keoghan’s wild performance, Jacob Elordi’s rich-boy allure, and  that  final scene. Is it deep? Is it dumb? Let’s unpack the mess together.

We revisit the film adaptation of  RENT  — the iconic rock musical that once defined a generation. Does the raw emotion and rebellious spirit still resonate, or has its edge dulled over time? Let’s talk legacy, love, and whether "No day but today" still hits the same.

This week, we dive into  The Edge of Seventeen  — a brutally honest, unexpectedly hilarious coming-of-age film that still hits just as hard. From awkward crushes to deep grief, we unpack why Nadine’s chaotic teen spiral feels so real, and what this movie gets right about growing up when you feel like you don’t belong anywhere.

We’re diving into  The Map That Leads to You , a romantic travel story that blends wanderlust with real emotional stakes. From golden-hour hookups to gut-punch revelations, we unpack why this adaptation hits harder than expected—and why it might just inspire your next big detour.

Before Nike was king and Air Jordans ruled the world, it was just a scrappy company betting it all on a rookie named Michael Jordan. We break down  Air  — Ben Affleck’s sharp, fast-talking sports drama about business, branding, and the power of belief (plus Viola Davis being iconic, as always).

In this episode, we dive into  The Greatest Hits  — a dreamy, emotional spin on love, loss, and time travel through music. What happens when songs don’t just bring back memories, but  literally  take you there? Let’s unpack Harriet’s journey, vinyl by vinyl.

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore go head-to-head in Todd Haynes'  May December  — a twisted, campy, and unexpectedly emotional look at performance, power, and scandal. We dive into the layers of identity, morality, and why this film has everyone feeling a little uncomfortable (in the best way).

We’re revisiting Kathryn Bigelow’s war thriller  The Hurt Locker  — explosive set pieces, raw realism, and one reckless bomb tech at the center of it all. But does the intensity hold up when the dust settles? Let’s break it down.