Talking Movies with My Mom

For today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we wanted to end our fourth season delving into Disney movies released after the high point of its Renaissance (so from 1995-2005). But which ones? To solve this dilemma, we took to our Blue Bowl.  From "A Goofy Movie" to "Home on the Range," 21 Disney movies entered the bowl. Only two would leave. And no takesy backsies. Join us as we reveal the...

On a super-sized edition of Talking Movies with My Mom, we press X to chat video game movies with third player Ashley Poprik (L.A.-based video game writer), who gives an inside look into "Street Fighter," "Resident Evil," and "Sonic the Hedgehog 3." Ashley walks us through how video game movies walk the fine line between pleasing fans and welcoming newcomers, villains’ inexplicable obsession with...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we travel to Mexico for this season’s installment of our "Oh, the Places We’ll Go" series.  Our first stop is "Y tu mama tambien," where we lay bare the idea that sex-fueled teenage road trip movies can be surprisingly poignant, winning the "prize" can come with unforeseen consequences, and an end-credit song can add an unexpected exclamation point...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we saddle up for a bull session about two classic Westerns — "High Noon" and "The Wild Bunch." We break down the ways that both movies have remained cultural touchpoints in cowboy cinema; why ungrateful townsfolk are no match for a righteous marshal delivering justice; and how murderous outlaws can be people, too.  For additional information, resou...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we uncover the truths of film noirs with Christian Schu (an award-winning German director of commercials and the featurette "Seconds in Eternity"), who gives a masterclass in noir cinema with three classic movies: "Shadow of a Doubt," "Pickup on South Street," and "Touch of Evil." Schu helps us expose the tropes and truisms of the genre by spotligh...

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 sci-fi films, "Dredd" and "Attack the Block." Join us as we delve into the unexpected horror of a slow-mo shot, the benefits of being BFFs with a stoner zoologist, and how apartment buildings can be the best space for taking down aliens and dru...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we celebrate Mother’s Day with the High Priestess of Horror, Austin’s Roxy Midnite (aka Anna Marie McBrayer), who joins us again, this time honoring the Protector Mamas in "It’s Alive," "The Others," and "Poltergeist." Roxy helps us dig into why little girls seem to have a direct channel to ethereal spirits, the extreme lengths mamas will go to pro...

On the Season 4 premiere of Talking Movies with My Mom, we delve into the worst sequels to our favorite movies — "Speed 2: Cruise Control" and "Highlander 2: The Quickening." We question what the producers, directors, and casts were thinking; how certain critics could give thumbs up to one of these sequels; and why … just why. For additional information, resources, and a transcript of the episode,...

The fourth season of Talking Movies with My Mom promises to bring the fun as this son and mom duo takes on favorite genres like video game movies, film noir flicks, and further installments of Oh, the Places We’ll Go and Deep Cuts, from a “head” (Jackson) and “heart” (Tamara) perspective.

On today’s third bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we celebrate the oddball genius of David Lynch, who passed away on January 16, by saluting two of his movies, "Lost Highway" and "The Elephant Man." Lynch proved that the most seemingly unrelatable characters and stories actually are the ones that connect with our hearts and souls long after the credits roll. Join us as we reflect on Ly...

On today’s second bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with twisted-love movies, "My Bloody Valentine" and "The Hunger." We take a stab at explaining why some sequel hooks don’t pan out, the symbolism of cigars vs pipes, and Tony Scott’s directorial transformation from dangerous vampires to the danger zone. For additional information, resources, and a tran...

On Season 3’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 2024. 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 first time, neither of us knows which movies the other one chooses.  Now because categories like...

On the Season 3 finale of Talking Movies with My Mom, we kick-start the holidays with two of our favorite family-centric movies – "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation." We chew over how John Hughes instinctively blends wacky and sentimental without being cheesy, how Duck Soup can be the cure for an existential crisis, and how Julia Louis-Dreyfus really is the secret...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we travel to Ireland for this season’s installment of our "Oh, the Places We’ll Go" series.  Our first stop is "Once," where we sing the praises of nameless characters, the prescience of a throw-away thought, and a film that doesn’t end on a high note but rather the perfect note.  Next up, we journey to the empty streets of County Meath with "Fatal...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we dig into this season’s installment of our "Directors’ First Movies" series with our favorite artful auteurs – The Coen Brothers ("Blood Simple") and Barry Sonnenfeld ("The Addams Family"). We ponder the longevity of a rappers’ curse, the age-old question of whether to be buried alive or shot to death, and the power of networking to kick-start yo...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we jump into live action anime with two movies that speak to our trepidation and hope when it comes to adaptations – "Dragonball Evolution" and "Speed Racer." Join us as we applaud a good Ernie Hudson pop up, appreciate filmmakers who bring a passion and respect for the source material, and pay tribute to the coolest car in anime – the Mach 5 (and...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we celebrate Halloween with the High Priestess of Horror, Austin’s Roxy Midnite (aka Anna Marie McBrayer), who leads us through the underbelly of these overlooked Italian horror films – "Black Sabbath," "Opera," and "StageFright." Roxy helps us dissect why Italian horror’s top two commandments should be no telephones and no peepholes, how the whole...

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 action films, "Upgrade" and "Hardcore Henry." Join us as we delve into the pitfalls of a well-written NDA, the unexpected satisfaction of an abrupt ending, and how the voice in your head can be your best frenemy. For additional information, res...

On today’s episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we take on the idea that truth is stranger than fiction with two movies based on real life stories – "Sully" and "Pain and Gain." We learn there’s no easy path to achieving the American Dream, that teamwork makes the dream work in overcoming any crisis, and that trying to get away with murder can be, well, murder.  For additional information, resou...

On the Season 3 premiere of Talking Movies with My Mom, we cheer on our favorite sequels in duologies – "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and "Crank: High Voltage." We highlight all the ways these second films outshine the firsts with more clever and creative antics and escapades, characters that challenge morality and mortality, and moviemakers who dare to reach for that cherry on top of the whipped...

The third season of Talking Movies with My Mom promises to be a cornucopia of fun as this son and mom duo takes on favorite genres like Italian horror flicks, live action anime, and further installments of Oh, the Places We’ll Go, Deep Cuts, and Directors’ First Movies from a "head" (Jackson) and "heart" (Tamara) perspective.

In this Part 2 bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we finish recapping the movies we saw this summer and pick our favorite films of the season.  And the remaining movies are: "Longlegs" "Deadpool & Wolverine" "Alien Romulus" "Blink Twice" "Robot Dreams" "The Watchers" For additional information, resources, and a transcript of the episode, visit https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/talki...

On Season 2’s third bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we recap six movies we saw this summer. Like last summer, this year’s crop had us laughing, crying and thinking as we visited new friends in old worlds.  And these movies are: "The Fall Guy" "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" "Thelma" "A Quiet Place: Day One" "MaXXXine" For additional information, resources...

On Season 2’s second bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we commemorate our recent visit to Las Vegas with two set-in-Vegas movies, “Bugsy” and “The Hangover.” Join us as we go over the key takeaways from any trip to Sin City: don’t toss the mob’s money around like Mardi Gras beads; always keep your eye on the tiger; and what happens in Vegas makes for great storytelling.  For additional...

On Season 2’s first bonus episode of Talking Movies with My Mom, we celebrate our country with two of our favorite patriotic movies, “Saving Private Ryan” and “Team America: World Police.” We reflect on the sacrifices made on D-Day and beyond, the emotional punch of “the knife scene,” and how a montage song became one for the textbooks.  For additional information, resources, and a transcript of t...