The Film Talk

What is the moral heft of STAR WARS Dear Listener and where should the franchise go from here? One of many questions asked as we discuss all things STAR WARS and the latest installment in the franchise with educator and STAR WARS expert Dan Zehr of  Coffee with Kenobi . Warning: spoilers for THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU as well as MOANA, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, JAWS, ANDOR, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, TH...

Hello friends, who knew Higgins and Loe would have so much to talk about in regards to the filmography of Steven Spielberg? I suppose we should have realized. In this ep we soldier on and discuss some of our favorite Spielberg pictures, as well as reflect on the magnificent  AU HASARD BALTHAZAR , Tom Stoppard's INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE script polish and Gareth's love of WAR HORSE . Enjoy...

Take out the earplugs of your mind Dear Listener and go watch Steven Spielberg's magnificent DISCLOSURE DAY. That is all. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk

You won't believe where Professor Dr. Gareth Higgins put RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK on this Part 2 episode ranking of all of Steven Spielberg's films Dear Listener, but as Jett Loe says on the show, (referring to Spielberg's DUEL), "...in the absence of reason there's madness". Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk

How do we apply metrics to art Dear Listener? Well, Higgins and Loe try, as they go though all of Steven Spielberg's theatrically released films and put them in order form worst to best, least to greatest, slightly brilliant to most brilliant? Something like that. Enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk

BACKROOMS is fascinating Dear Listener. The film's nostalgia for the analog seems to be a Trojan Horse that explicates that sinking feeling you feel about our culture when you engage with AI/LLM content. Recommended, with caveats. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk  

It's the anti-GONE WITH THE WIND, Gareth's film of the year so far and a picture Loe recommends for everyone. See NATCHEZ folks. Also discussed: Thomas Flight's WHY THE MOVIES DON'T FEEL THE SAME ANYMORE and THE BOYS. Additionally, don't forget, before we act, we must see. Enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth...

For more than 20 years, on the show and off, Dear Listener, Gareth has been trying to get Jett to watch FIELD OF DREAMS. Well, it's finally happened. Press play to hear this deep dive into the blockbuster fantasy from the last century in which Higgins and Loe discuss fathers and sons, baseball ghosts, how many days Burt Lancaster was on the set, the elimination of the monoculture and whether it's...

What? Two film critics who may not actually recommend PROJECT HAIL MARY? It's true folks, in this massive episode we go in-depth into the pitfalls PROJECT HAIL MARY falls into and recommend some alternatives, namely: E.T., TITANIC, SILENT RUNNING, THE DAY AFTER (TOMORROW), THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE, LIFEFORCE, MELANCHOLIA, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, SOLARIS, CONTACT, I, ROBO...

It's time for the the 98th Academy Awards friends! In this episode we talk directors, cinematographers, editors, actors, actresses and a lot more, including all the Best Picture Nominees: Bugonia, F1, Hamnet, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme, Sinners, One Battle After Another, Train Dreams and The Secret Agent. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebo...

It's a crowd pleaser that didn't find a crowd Dear Listener. In this episode Gareth raves about Song Song Blue while Jett tries not to have a heart attack. Will you like it? Should you see it? Only one way to find out, listen and enjoy, you Sweet Caroline you. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmt...

Is the film exhilarating yet empty? And are we taking about MARTY SUPREME or EEPHUS Dear Listener? Let's find out together. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com

It's the end of the year folks, so time for lists! Here's Jett and Gareth's Top 10 films of 2025. Gareth: BLUE MOON, A LITTLE PRAYER, KÖLN 75, THE HISTORY OF SOUND, SENTIMENTAL VALUE, SINNERS, SORRY BABY, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN and TRAIN DREAMS. Jett: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, PLURIBUS, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, RIEFENSTAHL, 28 YEARS LATER, SORRY BABY, BUGONIA, TRAIN DREAMS, SIN...

It's The Film Talk's most divisive picture of the year Dear Listener. Higgins and Loe: one saw Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX 3D and one didn't. Will they ever be able to reconcile their opinions, thoughts and feelings? Let's listen in and find out. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com

His movies radiated kindness and empathy no matter the subject matter Dear Listener. We talk about the late Rob Reiner in this episode as well as discussing two of the most beautiful, insightful and sad films of the year, Train Dreams and Sorry, Baby. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com

What makes this version of Frankenstein, (there's been at least 400 others), necessary Dear Listener? Other than the director's obsessive need to get it to the screen - and is that enough? Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com

Bugonia is at the pinnacle of its genre Jett Loe believes, but to say what that genre is would be to spoil a stunning aspect of the picture. With that in mind Jett asks that you listen to this short episode only after watching the film. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com

A House of Dynamite is a movie designed to generate dread, but do we need something else right now, a picture that points to solutions instead? This question is asked in today's episode as Gareth Higgins and Jett Loe discuss the current political situation in the U.S., A House of Dynamite as a lament and wonder what to do if a train is heading towards us at full speed. Spoilers for Contagion, The...

Be yourself, that's what Diane Keaton did folks. In this episode the work of Keaton is discussed, and there's also some rumination on the previously unknown THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE / TRON connection. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed making it. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thef...

It's one of the all time greats folks, at least that's what Jett believes. As for Gareth? Even though he found the viewing of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER unpleasant, he just might agree. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com Or leave a voicemail message at: Speakpipe.com/TheFilmTalk To see on...

As Gareth says in this show, WEAPONS is "a lament that absolutely earns its right to call itself a true story". It's the film of our age friends; we hope you enjoy this episode and our slight tribute to the wonderful actor Terence Stamp who's just passed. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.c...

Gareth and Jett disagree on one fundamental aspect of this picture Dear Listener, but other than that one thing, (a particular actor's performance), they both agree SUPERMAN is a beautiful, and very necessary, work, that shows the importance of empathy and kindness in what is often a very cruel world. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To co...

As Gareth Higgins says in this episode, "28 Years Later made me care about the people around me, it helped me care about strangers too." He's not wrong folks, this is a exquisitely beautiful film that conjures up the spirit of the films of Boorman, Powell & Pressburger, Leigh and Ramsey and we loved talking about it. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/T...

Has Jett Loe finally come around to loving Wes Anderson films? It's quite possible Dear Listener. Tune in to Episode 301 to find out why Loe and Gareth Higgins both adore Anderson's new film, The Phoenician Scheme, and also why they adore the work of the phenomenal character actor Harris Yulin who has just passed away. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com...

Can men truly ever be friends? This is the question Jett Loe asks of his co-host, (and possible friend), Gareth Higgins on this, the 300th episode of The Film Talk. In this ep male friendship is discussed in the context of the new, excoriating satire from the makers of Succession, Mountainhead, and the hilarious Tim Robinson star-vehicle Friendship. Along the way Loe and Higgins reference poet Ral...