Talking Movies with My Mom

For our Season Six finale of "Talking Movies with My Mom," we revisit the Blue Bowl from Season Four to delve once more into Disney movies released after the high point of its Renaissance (so from 1995-2005). This time, 19 Disney movies — from "A Goofy Movie" to "Brother Bear" — entered the bowl. Only two would leave. And no takesy backsies. Join us as we reveal the movies we picked and find out w...

On today’s episode of "Talking Movies with My Mom," we investigate the phenomenon of films that fail to launch franchises with "The Saint" and "After Earth." We probe into the lost potential of a father/son bonding expedition; the advisability of using seduction to acquire life-altering-as-we-know-it files; and how taking pot-shots at "Lost" and "X-Files" might lead to misfortune for moviemakers. ...

On today’s episode of "Talking Movies with My Mom," we travel to Brazil for this season’s installment of our "Oh, the Places We’ll Go" series.  Our first stop is Rio de Janeiro for "City of God," where we learn about the importance of a Jiminy Cricket to a well-run drug empire; that the best way to survive a gang-war is with a camera; and to never underestimate the Zé way. Next up, we travel to Sa...

On a super-sized episode of "Talking Movies with My Mom," we venture into the world of underrated animated movies with Gabriel Kraan (proud Canadian, aspiring writer, and Ed Sheeran lookalike), who reels off multitudes of facts about "Mary and Max," "The Road to El Dorado," and "Rock & Rule." Join the three of us as we take off on tangents related to the laborious process of getting claymation...

On today’s episode of "Talking Movies with My Mom," we deep dive into this season’s installment of our "Deep Cuts" series with our favorite under-the-radar fantasy films, "Ladyhawke" and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen." Join us as we delve into the why of inexplicable accents; whether the inescapable rules of physics matter when saving a friend; and how troubled productions can unexpectedly p...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we’re traversing time through classic time travel movies, "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Timecop." We explore how well-placed splits can save your life; the surprising revelation that is the Six Degrees of Peggy Sue; and the enigmatic concept of Circle-ception. For additional information, resources, and a transcript of the episode, visit https://www....

On this Mother’s Day episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we honor maternal instincts with "Baby Boom" and "Serial Mom." We analyze how moms don’t always dispense wisdom and unconventional love in the same way; how Vermont apples don’t fall far from the money tree; and why roasted leg of lamb may or may not make the ideal murder weapon.  For additional information, resources, and a transcript of...

On the Season 6 premiere of Talking Movies with My Mom, we combine this season’s installment of our "Directors’ First Movies" series with our first episode tradition of duos to cover two pairs of directors and their first movies – John Requa & Glenn Ficarra ("I Love You Phillip Morris") and the Daniels ("Swiss Army Man"). We wade into the messiness of how keeping secrets can keep loved ones ap...

The sixth season of Talking Movies with My Mom promises to be the mother of all seasons as this son and mom duo takes on favorite genres like time travel films, underrated animated movies, and the return of the Disney Mystery Bowl™, all from a "head" (Jackson) and "heart" (Tamara) perspective.

On today’s third bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we’re talking about SXSW '26, where in-between forming friendships with line buddies, tracking down ghost panels, and overhearing lively exchanges, we saw awesome movies (and learned why superheroes — sadly — can’t exist in real life). And those movies are: "I Love Boosters" "Normal" "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" "Pretty Lethal" "Los Lo...

On today’s second bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with the unconventional couple movies "Her" and "The Shape of Water." We deep dive into how difficult it must be to compete with 641 other guys for the love of your life; how a well-placed "Easter egg" can lead to a fairy tale romance; and how these unconventional love stories make us feel conventional...

On Season 5’s first bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we begin the new year with a look back on our Mount Rushmore of movies from 2025. Like last year, here’s how it works: the four heads on Mount Rushmore are assigned "Best of" categories and we pick our favorite movies that represent each one. And for the second time, neither of us knows which movies the other one chooses.  Now becaus...

On a super-sized Season 5 finale of Talking Movies with My Mom, we’re joined by special guest Mallary Tenore Tarpley, author of the memoir "Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery," who helps us kick-start the holidays by talking about three movies based on best-selling memoirs — "Persepolis," "The Glass Castle," and "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" Join us as we travel to a time when forgi...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we delve into the magical world of filmmaking with "Terror Firmer" and "One Cut of the Dead." We analyze how film crews are instrumental to satisfying endings; why running is the only appropriate response after hearing an urban legend; and how appearing in a Troma movie may or may not lead to witness protection.  For additional information, resourc...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we travel to Canada for this season’s installment of our "Oh, the Places We’ll Go" series.  Our first stop is "Scanners," where we expose the cold hard truth about scanner on scanner action, making a cult classic on the fly, and how Canadian Nice creeps in even when murdering the future. Next up, we cross the Northern border into comedy with a big...

On a super-sized edition of "Talking Movies with My Mom," we’re joined by special guest Monte Warden, a two-time inductee into The Texas Music Hall of Fame as both a solo artist and as a founding member of his band, The Wagoneers, and writer of hit songs for recording artists like George Strait.  Together, we sort truth from fiction in three of our favorite musicians’ life stories: "Rocketman"; "W...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we’re observing Halloween by sinking our teeth into two deliciously deviant movies — "Ravenous" and "Bones and All." We explore the movies’s shared themes of rejection, loneliness, and eventual self-awareness; why Colonel Ives’s stirring of the pot leads to more than just yummy Knox Beef Stew; and how a typical slumber party can be upended by a sin...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we’re celebrating our 50th episode with two movies that are celebrating their 50th anniversary — "Dolemite" and "Three Days of the Condor." We delve into the paradox of how these movies remain relevant despite being of their time, how literally everybody could be kung fu fighting, and how reading books can lead to CIA-ception.  For additional infor...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we honor Robert Redford, who passed away on September 16, by recognizing two of his underappreciated movies, "This Property is Condemned" and "The Old Man and the Gun." Over generations, Redford proved to be iconic both on and off the screen. Join us as we reflect on his legacy as an actor who was more than just a pretty face, bringing charisma and...

On the Season 5 premiere of Talking Movies with My Mom, we take on one of our favorite archetypes — villains & heroes — in two of our favorite movies — "Megamind" and "No Country for Old Men." We dig into the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of fate vs. choice, yin vs. yang, and reluctant heroes vs. eager villains. Oh, and lookout for a small sample of our soon-to-be written single, "Being Good Fee...

The fifth season of Talking Movies with My Mom promises good vibes as this son and mom duo takes on favorite genres like villains & heroes, movies about making movies, and a deliciously spooky Halloween show. And along with special guests author Mallary Tenore Tarpley and two-time Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee Monte Warden, we bring a dose of cinematic reality, all from a "head" (Jackson)...

In this Part 3 bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we finish recapping this summer’s movies that we saw both together and alone. Oh, and which superpower would you choose? And the remaining movies are: "KPop Demon Hunters" "Clown in a Cornfield" "Friendship" "The Bad Guys 2" "The Toxic Avenger (2025)" "Thunderbolts*" For additional information, resources, and a transcript of the episode,...

In this Part 2 bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we dive into six more movies we saw this summer that really brought home the importance of family, no matter how it is defined.  And these movies are: "F1: The Movie" "Superman" "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" "The Naked Gun" "Weapons" "Nobody 2" For additional information, resources, and a transcript of the episode, visit https://www.p...

On Season 4’s second bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we recap six movies we saw this summer. Like past summers, this year’s crop left us amazed, moved, and, in some cases, confused as we explored new territory with familiar friends.  And these movies are: "Final Destination: Bloodlines" "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" "The Life of C...

On Season 4’s first bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we head off to summer camp with Zach Busby (Austin-based comedian, sous chef, and English major), who guides us through the buffoonery and mischief-making in "Meatballs," "Little Darlings," and "Wet Hot American Summer." Join the three of us as we discover the heretofore unbeknownst philosophy of Meatballs Nihilism, that Mom’s not th...