The Times of Israel

The Reel Schmooze

Comedy EN ↓ 30 episodes

Jordan Hoffman brings all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.

Author

The Times of Israel

Episodes

'Operation Thunderbolt': 50 years to the heroic raid on Entebbe 27.06.2026 57:53

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, Borschel-Dan starts the episode with important news: She finally finished "My Name Is Barbra," Barbra Streisand's much-discussed 900+-page autobiography. Turning to the main event: Fifty years since the daring IDF...

'What's up, Doc?': Sultry Streisand's screwball meshugas 18.06.2026 47:20

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, as Borschel-Dan continues to read Hoffman's recommendation -- "My Name Is Barbra," Barbra Streisand's verrrrry long biography -- we turn to an audience favorite, the 1972 screwball comedy, "What's Up, Doc?" Direct...

'Beaufort': How Israel left Lebanon in 2000 with a bang 11.06.2026 46:54

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. The duo sat down to record early this week during the confluence of three major events: Iran again struck Israel, the Tonys were awarded, and RUSH played in Los Angeles. Movie maven Hoffman gives us the Jangles from the awar...

'Oxygen': An Israeli mother sacrifices all to keep soldier son breathing 04.06.2026 56:25

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, we're joined by our first guest, Isaac Zablocki. For over 20 years, Zablocki, the director of film programs at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, has been developing film programs at the JCC, including The Israel...

'A Serious Man': Coen brothers craft the Jewiest film of all 28.05.2026 49:46

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, we learn that famed actress and chanteuse Barbra Streisand received an honorary Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Borschel-Dan, who is reading the artist's massive memoir, calls on all podcast fans to...

'Cast a Giant Shadow': A 1966 ode to Israel’s first general, Mickey Marcus 14.05.2026 45:17

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. We roll out with three Jangles -- news with a Jewish angle. Borschel-Dan gives her favorite actress, 96-year-old June Squib, a shoutout for her recent Tony nomination for "Marjorie Prime." Hoffman discusses his recent discov...

Who wore it better: Bradley Cooper or Maestro Leonard Bernstein? 07.05.2026 55:20

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, we dive straight into our two films for this week, the 2021 documentary "Bernstein's Wall" and Bradley Cooper's 2023 "Maestro." Our two classical music fans begin with the documentary, highlighting the parts of co...

'Roommates' and 'How to Make Challah': Different slices of Jewish American pie 30.04.2026 44:46

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, before diving into our two films for this week, we revisit the 1960 film "Exodus" with a few reflections based on listeners' responses -- and Hoffman's musing while sweeping. We then hear about the movie maven's n...

'Exodus': When Hollywood still loved the Jewish state 22.04.2026 43:20

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, before diving into the nuts and bolts of the iconic epic Hollywood adventure, we learn how the 1960 film "Exodus" is part of Hoffman's genesis story. Hoffman lays out the film's plot, which is based on a 1958 Leon...

Nadav Lapid's 'Yes!': Israeli director's wartime film raises eyebrows and ire 16.04.2026 44:16

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. We start the program with a "Jangle" -- a Jewish angle -- on this week's entertainment news. Hoffman brings a tale of our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, who defends three Israelis in Times Square who are being attacked by...

'The Ten Commandments': Put your hands up as iconic film turns 70 07.04.2026 56:06

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. We start the program with two "Jangles" -- Jewish angles -- on this week's entertainment news. In a follow-up to our previous program, we hear how the comic Modi dropped out of a Passover event after finding out that New Yor...

By popular demand: Modi standup special and Red Hot Chili Peppers docu 26.03.2026 47:31

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, the team takes our listeners -- and our boss -- up on their recommendations. After Borschel-Dan asked listeners for their favorite stand-up comedians, we received a deluge of responses. We decided to launch our st...

The Oscars edition: Tribe pride and Israel vilified 18.03.2026 53:28

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. In today's Oscar episode, movie maven Hoffman gives us a Jewy recap of this year's Academy Awards. We learn about surprising Jewish roots among some winners and how a person we thought was a sure thing came home with nothing...

'Fantasy Life': Escape the news to a very Jewy NY Upper West Side 12.03.2026 43:28

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. In today's escapism episode, movie maven Hoffman begins with a recommendation of a new, very Jewy podcast, Classical Music Happy Hour with pianist Emanuel Ax. We then discuss the 2025 independent film, "Fantasy Life," writte...

'Blue Moon': Brilliant or a waste of space? 26.02.2026 55:48

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. In today's Oscar-themed episode, movie maven Hoffman begins with a rant against the cynical social media uproar over a misstepped statement made at the Berlin Festival. We then hear about the 2025 hit "Blue Moon," which port...

'All the President's Men': 50-year-old time capsule of great American journalism 19.02.2026 51:37

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. Movie maven Hoffman begins with a tribute to master documentarian Frederick Wiseman , who died this week, aged 96. We then hear about the Israeli film “Children No More: Were and Are Gone,” directed by Hila Medal...

'BlacKkKlansman' and 'The Butcher's Stain': Evil racism at its most entertaining 12.02.2026 53:58

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. After Borschel-Dan reads out a listener's cottage cheese-themed email, Hoffman brings us a news "Jangle" involving "Marty Supreme" actress Odessa A'zion. Next, we hear how to pickle lemons, and then we turn to an Israeli stu...

'Melania' and 'Zelig': Mockumentary at its finest 06.02.2026 40:10

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. Hoffman delights with his New Jersey quest for the best cottage cheese in the world -- Israeli -- much to the utter scorn of Borschel-Dan before turning to his scathing review of the new Amazon "documentary" charting the lif...

Comic neuroses in Jesse Eisenberg's 'A Real Pain' 29.01.2026 51:39

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, we hear scintillating updates on Hoffman's test drive of his new snow blower before launching into our two Schmoovies of the week.  First, we discuss "33 photos from the Ghetto," which explores the saga of a...

Jafar Panahi's defiant tragicomedy 'It Was Just an Accident' 22.01.2026 51:51

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. We update that last week's main movie, "Holding Liat," is now playing in 20 locations throughout North America. Then we hear a "Jangle" about unabashed Zionist Michael Rapaport, who was just in the news for his participation...

'Holding Liat': Post-Oct. 7 anguish and inconvenient truths 14.01.2026 1:00:03

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. The "Schmoovie" of the week is "Holding Liat," a remarkable documentary that charts the struggle of one Israeli-American family to return its loved ones who were taken hostage to Gaza during the Hamas murderous onslaught on...

'Marty Supreme' and the art of chutzpa 01.01.2026 55:52

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. The "Schmoovie" of the week is "Marty Supreme," starring Timothée Chalamet (who also co-produced), Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher. It was produced and direc...

'Anaconda' star Jack Black's mother was a rocket scientist?! 25.12.2025 51:31

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, we hear amazing Jangles (entertainment news a Jew can use) from Hoffman, including the contentious NY launch of "Marty Supreme" and the inside scoop into actor Jack Black's superwoman of a mother.  We hear a...

Art or propaganda? 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' 16.12.2025 50:26

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, we hear reviews of two films: the 2019 "An Officer and a Spy," a film by controversial director Roman Polanski on the Dreyfus Affair, which is now playing in the United States, and the shattering documentary, "The...

Two 'mehs' for 'Jay Kelly,' now on Netflix 11.12.2025 48:43

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan , where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, the pair speaks about two new movies, the feature film, "Jay Kelly," and the short documentary "Carol & Joy." But first, we hear in this week’s “Jangle” segment, an update on a story from las...