Tasteless

Two movies about protagonists who are dismissed based on stereotypes and whose longing for respectability does them a disservice — It's The Godfather, Part II vs. Legally Blonde .

Two films that explore the class divide as someone poor infiltrates the world of the rich and we discover the grass isn't always greener — it's Parasite vs. It Takes Two (yes, the Olsen twins one!!!)

Two dystopian futures buried in dust, where our heroes have to choose between what they want and what everyone needs — it's Interstellar vs. Idiocracy.

Two movies about women who are larger than life, and why that's only acceptable when they're giving men what they want — it's Sunset Boulevard vs. The Ex . What happens when a woman refuses to be forgotten? We get into the strength that comes from creating your own reality, the weaponization of glamour and sexuality, and why Deidre Kenyon (Yancy Butler) is one of the most underrated female villain...

Two movies about the dehumanizing nature of power and the surprising freedom of being boxed in — it's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest vs. Send Help. This week, Emily puts a beloved classic up against a 2026 sleeper hit that she firmly believes should sweep the Oscars. On one side: the 1975 five-time Oscar winner One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher. On the o...

Two movies about a young woman entering a world that is ready to eat her alive and aligning with the most dangerous person in it — it's The Silence of the Lambs vs The Devil Wears Prada . In this episode, Emily breaks down how these two wildly different films tell the same story about ambition, mentorship, and what it costs to learn from someone who could destroy you. If you love film analysis tha...

Two movies about unlikely friendships and learning from people different than yourself — it's Project Hail Mary vs. The Intern .  Project Hail Mary and The Intern couldn't look more different on paper, but both are stories about unlikely friendships that work because two very different people are willing to learn from each other. Emily unpacks how Ryan Gosling's sci-fi survival story and Anne Hath...

Two movies about terrible fathers trying their best for their children — it's Finding Nemo vs. Trap.  Finding Nemo and M. Night Shyamalan's Trap are both stories about deeply flawed fathers going to extraordinary lengths for their children. Emily explores what Pixar's most beloved adventure and one of 2024's wildest thrillers reveal about fatherhood, obsession, and whether good intentions are ever...

Two movies about chasing a better life and contending with what a name can mean—it's Anora vs. Mousehunt.  Sean Baker's Oscar winner Anora and the 1997 slapstick comedy Mousehunt are both stories about people desperate to increase their position in the world and discovering that the name you carry (or don't) determines the game you're playing. Emily connects the dots between a young sex worker's b...

Two movies that explore how we see the world — it's They Live vs. The Hunt (2020). John Carpenter's They Live and Craig Zobel's The Hunt both force their characters, and their audiences, to confront how perception shapes reality. Emily examines how a 1988 cult classic about sunglasses that reveal hidden propaganda and a 2020 satire about political tribalism are both asking whether we can trust wha...

Two films where an unlikely duo are thrown together to contend with unfamiliar territory — it's Wicked vs. Rush Hour. Wicked and Rush Hour are both built on the same engine: throw two people who shouldn't get along into a world neither fully understands and watch what happens. Emily breaks down how the buddy-comedy structure powers both a Broadway-to-screen zillion dollar fantasy and a 1998 action...

Two movies about communities coming together and the burden of loneliness — it's It's A Wonderful Life vs. Hot Frosty. It's a Wonderful Life and Hot Frosty are both Christmas movies about people who feel invisible and the communities that show up for them when it matters. Emily connects Frank Capra's enduring masterpiece to Netflix's latest holiday rom-com and asks why we keep telling the same sto...

Two Thanksgiving movies about corporate greed and anonymity — it's You've Got Mail vs. Thanksgiving.  You've Got Mail and Thanksgiving are both set against the holiday season and both are quietly obsessed with corporate power and the danger of not knowing who you're really dealing with. Emily draws a line between Nora Ephron's cozy rom-com and Eli Roth's slasher about Black Friday carnage, reveali...

Two horror films where an established icon of terror meets their match — it's Terrifier 2 vs. Orphan: First Kill.

Two movies about manipulation and unintended consequences — it's Strangers On A Train vs. The Wasp.

Two movies about unmasking a criminal, frank sexuality, and a very dedicated son — it's Dressed To Kill vs. Held Hostage In My House. 

Two stylized films about literally fighting for what you want — it's Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World vs. Polite Society.

Jennifer Esposito discusses her thrilling, funny, affecting new film Fresh Kills , a movie that doesn't fit into any one box but that has been connecting deeply with audiences since its release. You wanna know who your people are? Jennifer is your people. She made a movie for movie lovers, a movie for women, a movie for human beings.  Watch Fresh Kills at home: www.freshkillsmovie.com See a screen...

Two films about feeling trapped and the resulting rage — it's Eastern Promises vs. Fresh Kills. Time Codes: 1:03 Eastern Promises 6:12 Fresh Kills 21:08 Similar Themes: Feeling Trapped 26:13 Similar Themes: Impotent Rage 29:59 What Fresh Kills Does Better: Heroes and Villains 33:18 What Fresh Kills Does Better: Extra Ordinary

Two movies about forbidden romance set against the fantastical world of Hollywood — it's Singin' In The Rain vs. A Family Affair.

Two satires about class and equality — it's Triangle Of Sadness vs. Corporate Animals.

Two movies about an unexpected hero being thrown into chaos as they unravel their fate — it's The Fifth Element vs. Madame Web.

Two movies about self destruction and changing dynamics — it's Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? vs. Catfight. 

Two movies about ambition and greed — it's Scarface vs Anaconda. 

Two class clowns in stories about conformity and the bonds of a shared experience — it's Full Metal Jacket vs Cadet Kelly.