That 70s Movie Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Send us a text

In our latest episode, Jonathan and I discuss "Five Easy Pieces" and ask: Is this the prototypical 70s movie? Is Bobby Dupea a loner or just a fraidy cat? Is this Jack Nicholson's best performance? Come join us, and please bring your own toast because we don't have any here!

Send us a text

Michael and Jonathon dig deep on one of the classics of American cinema, 'Taxi Driver," and ask how much of what we see in the movie is real ... or is happening in the mind of Travis Bickle.

Send us a text

Check out the inaugural episode of That '70s Movie Podcast as we dig into one of the great movies of the decade -- "All The President's Men." 

Send us a text

This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathon and Michael get mad as hell about the 1976 classic "Network."

We discuss whether this is the best-acted movie of all time, Sidney Lumet's place in the pantheon of great American directors, and Faye Dunaway's ranking among the best actresses of her generation. In addition, we explore Network's continued cultural relevance and how a movie with too many words and too many themes seems to work so well. 

So get up out of your chair and give it a listen. But whatever you do, "don't touch our distribution rights!!"

Send us a text

This week, Michael and Jonathan go all-in with the 1979 Bob Fosse-directed classic "All That Jazz." We discuss whether this semi-autobiographical film is an act of self-flagellation by Fosse or a cry of defiance. We also talked about the brilliance of Roy Scheider's performance, the burden of perfectionism, and whether "All That Jazz" is the best movie ever made about the artistic process.

So put on your dancing shoes and pull up those leg warmers because ... "It's Showtime."

Send us a text

This week, Jonathon and Michael land the plane on the 1973 neo-noir classic "Charley Varrick." We discuss whether this is the prototypical 70s film. We ask if Walter Matthau is an underrated sex symbol, and we unpack the meaning of the movie's tag line, "the last of the independents." So get on board and join us as we burn this film to the ground!

Send us a text

This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and I get on board with the 1974 classic "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3." Is this a great film, a terrific film, or is it a miracle? Is it the best New York City movie ever? We also talk about the 2009 remake and ask, "Should great movies ever get remade?"

So bring your Kleenex, set your watches, and stand clear of the closing doors!

Send us a text

This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael are joined by Tom Schaller, political scientist and movie nerd, for a conversation about the 1974 mystery thriller "The Conversation."

We talked about why this movie is perhaps the prototypical 1970s New Hollywood film. We discussed Francis Ford Coppola's A+ directing, but also his uneven movie career. We touched on Gene Hackman's GOAT-level filmography, the extraordinary sound design of this movie, and the metaphor that is Harry Caul's Transparent Raincoat.

So put on your headphones, pull up the floorboards, and give this one a listen!

Send us a text

This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael bring to life the 1974 comedy classic "Young Frankenstein."

In this episode, we discussed our favorite film comedies and why, in general, comedy often doesn't receive the same critical respect as other genres of film. We praised the performances of Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, and, above all, Gene Wilder. We also talked about the sometimes uneven movie output of director Mel Brooks - and why this might be his most beautiful film.

Of course, we picked our favorite scenes from the movie, such as "Could be worse. It could be raining," and "I was going to make espresso," to "Sedagive," "Abby Normal," and "He was my boyfriend."

So take a roll in the hay and watch out for werewolves as we go deep on "Young Frankenstein."

Send us a text

This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Michael and Jonathan take the plunge on the 1974 paranoid thriller, "The Parallax View."

We discussed the brilliance of the movie's look and feel, its expert direction and cinematography, but also its occasionally glaring plot holes. We critiqued Warren Beatty's performance in the lead role, talked about whether we're more unsettled by the Parallax Corporation's personality test or its film montages, and asked if the film's hired killers are trying to get caught.

So come down from the catwalks (though don't run to the light) ... and join us!