Wasteland Retrospective

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by writer, reviewer, and filmmaker Jeff Alan for a double dose of Joel Schumacher’s neon-soaked Batman movies , the two films that took the Caped Crusader into the most colorful and controversial era of superhero cinema : 🎬 Films Discussed: Batman Forever (1995) : starring Val Kilmer as Batman, Tommy Le...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by film blogger and SPDM Crew podcaster Luke Burian for a deep dive into two essential entries in one of Japanese horror cinema’s most iconic franchises — the Ringu series : 🎬 Films Discussed: Ringu 2 (1999) — directed by Hideo Nakata — the direct sequel to the original Ring film that deepened the mytho...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by SPDM Crew creator Mike Hilty for a deep dive into two of the most visually stunning and emotionally powerful films from Laika Studios — the masters of stop-motion animation : 🎬 Films Discussed: Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) — directed by Travis Knight — Laika's most ambitious and visually breathtak...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by Jess Conto for a double dose of the one and only Dolly Parton — two iconic musical comedies that cemented her status as one of Hollywood's most beloved stars: 🎬 Films Discussed: 9 to 5 (1980) — directed by Colin Higgins , starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin — the beloved workplace com...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by writer, reviewer, and filmmaker Jeff Alan for a deep dive into two of Kathryn Bigelow's most powerful and acclaimed films — both exploring the post-9/11 world through the lens of modern warfare : 🎬 Films Discussed: The Hurt Locker (2008) — starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie & Brian Geraghty —...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by film blogger and SPDM Crew podcaster Luke Burian for a double dose of Steve McQueen at the peak of his powers — two landmark 1968 crime films that cemented his status as the King of Cool : 🎬 Films Discussed: Bullitt (1968) — directed by Peter Yates , starring Steve McQueen — home of the greatest car...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by SPDM Crew creator Mike Hilty for a deep dive into two of Martin Scorsese's most profound and controversial explorations of faith, doubt, and spirituality : 🎬 Films Discussed: Silence (2016) — starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver & Liam Neeson — Scorsese's devastating meditation on Christian miss...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by Jess Conto for a deep dive into two of the most essential and terrifying folk horror classics ever committed to film: 🎬 Films Discussed: The Wicker Man (1973) — directed by Robin Hardy , starring Edward Woodward & Christopher Lee — the undisputed masterpiece of British folk horror and one of the...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by writer, reviewer, and filmmaker Jeff Alan for a deep dive into the full directorial story of Josh Trank — from his acclaimed found footage superhero debut to one of Hollywood's most infamous production disasters: 🎬 Films Discussed: Chronicle (2012) — Josh Trank's groundbreaking found footage superher...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by film blogger and SPDM Crew podcaster Luke Burian for a deep dive into two powerful dramas starring Marion Cotillard from the acclaimed Dardenne Brothers and Jacques Audiard : 🎬 Films Discussed: Two Days, One Night (2014) — directed by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne — Marion Cotillard delivers an Osca...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by SPDM Crew creator Mike Hilty for a double dose of peak Sylvester Stallone action from 1993: 🎬 Films Discussed: Cliffhanger (1993) — directed by Renny Harlin Demolition Man (1993) — directed by Marco Brambilla The Wasteland Retrospective is a weekly film podcast where Shane Conto and a guest each pick...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by Jess Conto for a deep dive into two of the most visceral and mind-bending films from the master of body horror — writer-director David Cronenberg : 🎬 Films Discussed: Scanners (1981) — starring Stephen Lack & Michael Ironside — telepathy, exploding heads, and corporate conspiracy Videodrome (1983...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by SPDM Crew podcaster Adam Ritchie (KerbRider) for a deep dive into two classic films from writer-director Lawrence Kasdan : 🎬 Films Discussed: The Big Chill (1983) — starring Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum & Meg Tilly — the definitive baby boomer ensemble drama Body Heat (1981) — starring...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by writer, reviewer, and filmmaker Jeff Alan for a deep dive into two standout mumblecore and indie drama collaborations between director Joe Swanberg and actor Jake Johnson : 🎬 Films Discussed: Drinking Buddies (2013) — starring Jake Johnson, Olivia Wilde & Anna Kendrick Digging for Fire (2015) — s...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by film blogger and SPDM Crew podcaster Luke Burian for a deep dive into two powerful dramas from acclaimed Romanian New Wave director Cristian Mungiu : 🎬 Films Discussed: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) — Palme d'Or winner at Cannes Graduation (2016) — Best Director at Cannes Film Festival The Wast...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by SPDM Crew podcaster Mike Hilty for a double dose of military comedy classics : 🎬 Films Discussed: Stripes (1981) & M*A*S*H (1970) The Wasteland Retrospective is a weekly film podcast where Shane Conto and a guest each pick a related film to discuss together — spanning cult classics, comedy cinema...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by Jess Conto for a double dose of one of sci-fi horror's most iconic stories — two film adaptations of Jack Finney's classic novel The Body Snatchers : 🎬 Films Discussed: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) — directed by Philip Kaufman , starring Donald Sutherland Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by writer, reviewer, and filmmaker Jeff Alan for a look at two historical epics released in the mid-2000s 🎬 Films Discussed: Troy (2005) Kingdom of Heaven (2004) The Wasteland Retrospective is a weekly film podcast where Shane Conto and a guest each pick a related film to discuss together — spanning cul...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by film blogger and SPDM Crew podcaster Luke Burian for a deep dive into two landmark Robert Aldrich psychological thrillers starring the legendary Bette Davis : 🎬 Films Discussed: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) & Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) The Wasteland Retrospective is a weekly f...

Welcome to The Wasteland Retrospective! This weekly podcast will bring together The Wasteland Reviewer and a guest with each picking a related film to discuss together. For this episode, Shane is joined by SPDM Crew creator and podcaster, Mike Hilty, as they discuss a double dose of X-Men adaptations, X-Men: First Class (2011) & X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Shane Conto is a decorated mov...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by Jess Conto for a double dose of beloved Jim Henson Company fantasy classics: 🎬 Films Discussed: The Dark Crystal (1982) — Jim Henson & Frank Oz's groundbreaking dark fantasy puppet film Labyrinth (1986) — the iconic David Bowie fantasy adventure produced by Jim Henson If you love 80s fantasy film...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by writer, reviewer, and filmmaker Jeff Alan for a deep dive into two of the most mind-bending, emotionally complex works of writer-director Charlie Kaufman : 🎬 Films Discussed: Anomalisa (2015) Synecdoche, New York (2008) If you're a fan of existential cinema , surrealist film , arthouse movies , or th...

This week on The Wasteland Retrospective , host Shane Conto (The Wasteland Reviewer) is joined by film blogger and SPDM Crew podcaster Luke Burian for a deep dive into two early works from indie cinema legend Jim Jarmusch : 🎬 Films Discussed: Night on Earth (1991) Permanent Vacation (1980) From Jarmusch's lo-fi debut to his acclaimed anthology road film, this episode is essential listening for fa...

Welcome to The Wasteland Retrospective! This weekly podcast will bring together The Wasteland Reviewer and a guest with each picking a related film to discuss together. For this episode, Shane is joined by SPDM Crew creator and podcaster, Mike Hilty, as they discuss a double dose of adaptations of William Golding's classic novel, Lord of the Flies (1963) & Lord of the Flies (1990). Shane Conto...

Welcome to The Wasteland Retrospective! This weekly podcast will bring together The Wasteland Reviewer and a guest with each picking a related film to discuss together. For this episode, Shane is joined by his wife, Jess Conto, as they discuss a double dose of Wyatt Earp tales, Tombstone (1993) & My Darling Clementine (1946). Shane Conto is a decorated movie critic, writer, and Youtuber! Check...