It's the season five return of my good friend & longtime Watch With Jen fan-favorite guest, cinephile, Hardboiled Wonderland blogger, & author Jed Ayres. This time, Jed & I journey into stealthy mid-twentieth-century international spy terrain via four noir war films from the masterful British director Carol Reed.

Kicking things off with the incredible classic THE THIRD MAN, we then join the pursuit of James Mason in Reed's expressionistic ODD MAN OUT & THE MAN BETWEEN before we let Graham Greene show us the ridiculous side of espionage in the humorous yet darkly clever OUR MAN IN HAVANA.

A thoughtful evaluation of not only Reed's work as a director but also the way his filmmaking techniques & emphasis on everything from great production design to Dutch angles, even Christian symbolism, surprising musical counterpoints, & trust in his collaborators crafted four remarkable works, this is an episode that classic movie fans will love.

Originally Posted on Patreon (9/4/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/111371653

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This week, I'm honored to be joined by not one but two brilliant screenwriters, Larry Karaszewski & Daniel Waters.

Larry Karaszewski & his writing/directing/producing partner Scott Alexander are best known for writing unusual true stories such as the films ED WOOD, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, MAN ON THE MOON, AUTO FOCUS, BIG EYES, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME, & the hit television miniseries THE PEOPLE VS. OJ SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY. The team has won Emmys, Golden Globes, Producers, & Writers Guild Awards. Additionally, Larry is also a former Governor & Vice President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.

Born in Ohio & raised in Indiana, Daniel Waters is the Edgar award-winning screenwriter of the 1988 cult classic HEATHERS starring Winona Ryder & Christian Slater. Additionally, the man who wrote or co-wrote the films BATMAN RETURNS, HUDSON HAWK, THE ADVENTURES OF FORD FAIRLANE, DEMOLITION MAN, & more, he's also the writer-director of HAPPY CAMPERS & SEX & DEATH 101.

Best friends & movie buddies since their teenage years in Indiana, in the fourth season of Watch With Jen, the two joined me to dissect the films of director Michael Ritchie, & this year, they're back to take us on another trip through the films of the 1970s, courtesy of actor Jan-Michael Vincent whose luscious blonde hair & laid back approach made him one of the most popular up-and-coming stars of the era. Although initially, we agreed on five films, including BUSTER & BILLIE, THE MECHANIC, WHITE LINE FEVER, THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE, & VIGILANTE FORCE, Larry & Dan made it their mission to do as much extra credit as possible, watching everything from obscure TV movies like TRIBES & SANDCASTLES to bigger hits like HOOPER & more. Along the way, we discuss Dan's issues with JMV in the '70s & this dream (or nightmare) he had where I ruined the vibe of his party, Larry's decision to watch two JMV movies on the ceiling under laughing gas at the dentist, & much, much more. What can I say? This conversation is a journey - a rollicking, thoughtful, & very engaging journey - & you're sure to love it.

Originally Posted on Patreon (8/20/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/110417546

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This week, I'm very excited to bring back the great Nell Minow to the podcast. An accomplished lawyer & a highly readable film critic at her site MovieMom.com & RogerEbert.com, where she's also an editor, Nell Minow has written over 3,000 movie reviews since the 1990s. She's also authored several terrific film books, including 101 Must See Movie Moments & The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies.

Passionate about classic movies & character actors, this episode - devoted to the brilliant, 6-time Oscar-nominated actress Thelma Ritter - gave Nell the perfect opportunity to combine 2 of her favorite interests. Offering listeners an appreciative overview of Ritter's career, in this sunny conversation, we focus on her acclaimed, singular performances in the films THE MATING SEASON, PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, REAR WINDOW, & PILLOW TALK.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (5/29/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/105182602

Returning to the podcast this week, we have the witty and wonderful Los Angeles-based writer-director Jessica Ellis. A graduate of UCLA and the American Film Institute who last year made her feature filmmaking debut with the acclaimed coming-of-age movie What Lies West, Jessica is one of the brightest lights on Twitter and never fails to make me smile. Filled with sharp insights into the craft of screenwriting, in taking a closer look at the films The Princess Bride, Joe Versus the Volcano, and Palm Springs, we discuss love and life as it plays out against the backdrop of the fantasy romantic comedy subgenre she's so passionate about.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/28/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64378129

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A film critic for publications such as "L.A. Weekly," "New York Magazine," "Vulture," "The New York Times," and formerly, "The Village Voice," Bilge Ebiri is one of my favorite journalists working today. Additionally, a writer-director who's known for the films "New Guy," "Purse Snatcher," and "The Barber of Siberia," whenever you talk to Bilge, you're bound to not only learn something new but also see cinema in a totally new way, and this week's episode is no exception.

Joining me to discuss the expressive eyebrows, pathos, and inner melancholy of the classically handsome Irish character actor Colin Farrell, in this thoughtful 94-minute episode, we take a look at the evolving talents and many phases of Farrell's career as seen in the films "Phone Booth," "The New World," "Miami Vice," "In Bruges," and "The Lobster."

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/21/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64078584

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Returning to the podcast today, we have a fan favorite and one of my besties - that's right it's our very first guest and my Pandemic Movie Club buddy - the Edgar award-winning author of "She Rides Shotgun" and "Love and Other Wounds," Jordan Harper. A screenwriter and producer of such shows as "The Mentalist" and "Gotham," who also crafted one of the most beautiful pilots for "L.A. Confidential," which CBS stupidly didn't pick up, currently, Jordan is back in the writers' room for the third season of the Starz series "Hightown."

Additionally (and goddamned annoyingly, if you ask me), he finished not one but two novels during the pandemic and they're both excellent. The first book, called "The Last King of California" is a gritty work perfect for fans of "Shotgun" that will be published this year in the UK, and the second, the topical epic Tinseltown thriller "Everybody Knows" will hit shelves everywhere next year. I can't wait for you to read them both!

Since we talk crime movies all the time, because - as Raymond Chandler might say - murder is his business, Jordan and I opted to put on on our fedoras and have some laughs this week at the genre's comedic side in this engagingly fast-paced eighty-eight-minute conversation. So join us for some friendly intrigue as we take a tour of the secret passageways of the movies "Deathtrap," "Clue," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and "So I Married An Axe Murder" and prove that (in the right hands) murder can be fun.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/15/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63839960

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You're receiving an early bonus episode this week because daylight saving time is on Sunday and winter is almost gone, so I figured the best way to say goodbye to the days of cool temperatures and early darkness is with a roundup of recent Blu-ray releases. Featuring a very eclectic collection of titles that were largely so obscure that guests weren't able to track them down to join me, the first half of this very casual, laid-back episode finds me walking you through the new Chabrol box set from Arrow as well as "Only the Animals," "Gold Diggers of 1933," "Song of the Thin Man," "The Three Musketeers" (1948), and "Wayne's World."

While this section of the episode is a throwback of sorts to the early days of this podcast where you heard me offering solo film recommendations (and trying to make good on a promise to some listeners who miss this casual, impromptu approach), the second half serves up a very delightful conversation with one of my best friends. Joining me to deliver a passionate defense of one of her favorite underrated Alfred Hitchcock movies - "Stage Fright" (1950), which was just released by Warner Archive Collection - I adore talking to artist Kate Gabrielle about all things classic movies. She's always a joy and fittingly, her love of physical media inspired her to design the tee I'm wearing in the photo (which is available at KateGabrielle.com). And although next week will find us going back to the episode style you're used to hearing from Watch With Jen, I hope this installment will amuse you all the same!

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/11/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63666474

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This week, I was thrilled to welcome Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell back to the podcast for the first time since he joined me for an epic discussion last May on '90s duality in the films "Zero Effect" and "Fight Club." A reporter at BBC Talk Movies and a guest lecturer at Smithsonian Associates, Noah is also a freelance contributor at such notable outlets as The Atlantic, The Ringer, The Guardian, Polygon, and The Economist.

In this fast-paced contemplative episode, he joins me to take a closer look at one of the most creatively fertile periods in the life of our favorite wild and crazy guy - Steve Martin. A comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, musician, magician, and Mensa level genius, Steve Martin is a man who has worn a number of hats throughout his fifty-plus year career but for the purposes of our conversation, we decided to zero in on Martin in the mid to late 1980s as he began embracing his career as an actor.

From his supporting turn as a sadistic dentist in "Little Shop of Horrors" to his great ensemble studio comedies "Three Amigos!" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" to his surprisingly sweet, sexy, and sophisticated "Cyrano de Bergerac" adaptation "Roxanne," in this 52-minute discussion, Noah and I evaluate all sides of the Martin persona from the fully absurd to the downright horny.

One of the world's most beloved entertainers you've heard discussed on Watch With Jen in past installments on David Mamet (for "The Spanish Prisoner"), Physical Media - Part 3 (for a new edition of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"), and '90s Romcoms (for "Father of the Bride") while this is our first episode dedicated to the actor, it's safe to say, it won't be our last.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/8/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63509809

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In this very special episode, The Black List's Director of Community Kate Hagen returns to the podcast to help me welcome one of our all-time favorite filmmakers to Watch With Jen. A Los Angeles based independent writer-director who's won both a MacArthur Genius Grant along with a Peabody Award, Allison Anders' acclaimed films include her terrific debut "Border Radio" (co-directed with UCLA classmates Kurt Voss and Dean Lent), "Gas Food Lodging," "Mi Vida Loca," "Grace of My Heart," "Things Behind the Sun," and more.

Although we'd mainly planned to come together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her award-winning sophomore feature "Gas Food Lodging," soon our richly free-flowing conversation opened up to span the beloved director's entire career. Whether she's describing her time spent inspiring Harry Dean Stanton's performance on the set of "Paris, Texas" while working as a PA for Wim Wenders, directing Brooke Adams on "Gas Food Lodging," collecting Greta Garbo's records, or appearing in Paul McCartney's liner notes, Anders' stories will delight film students, buffs, and professionals alike. Filled with laughter, great advice, and creative inspiration, this is one of our best episodes so far.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/4/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63342725

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This week, I'm so thrilled and proud to welcome back one of my dearest pals and the hardest working man in pod business, Mr. Blake Howard. The brains behind the stellar One Heat Minute Productions that launched with an in-depth minute-by-minute investigation and appreciation of Michael Mann's "Heat," he's released numerous pods since, including "All The President's Minutes," "Josie and the Podcats," "Zodiac: Chronicle," and also, the excellent "Increment Vice," hosted by our good friend, the film essayist Travis Woods. With several more releasing now like "Miami Nice," "Rum and Rant," "Too Much Movie," plus essays on heist films at Vague Visages, his busy family life with his lovely wife and two young children, and a new career as a teacher, Blake Howard is one of the busiest and most talented people I know... and also, the nicest.

Always down to talk about movies, even when it's before six a.m. in Australia, in this episode, he joins me to discuss three underrated films and performances we enjoy featuring character actor James Caan, including "Comes a Horseman," "Hide in Plain Sight," and "The Yards." Along the way, we tackle the Caan mystique for better and worse, what he brings to his roles, and reevaluate some of his other films along the way.

While editing today's episode, I realized that all you really need to know about our friendship is that it began with me confessing that because I love De Niro so much, I actually texted an undercover cop to make sure Pacino's shoot was clean in "Heat" to try to retroactively save his character's life! (Texting wasn't around when I first saw it in '95 but when I revisited it a few years ago, I had the luxury to annoy a friend.) Thus, it's perfect that our relationship comes full circle in this episode as we officially announce our next co-project together all about De Niro's "Midnight Run." We'll see you in the next life.

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Originally Posted on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63171958

Joining me for a fun, feisty, fast-paced conversation about some of the funniest romcoms from the period we both came of age is prolific Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and podcaster Rachel Wagner. The woman behind not only the website, pod, and YouTube Channel Rachel's Reviews but also the incredibly popular Hallmarkies Podcast as well, Rachel is a veteran interviewer in her own right and has a keen interest in both obscure animation and the genre that brings her back here today. Less focused on film history than it is on providing listeners with a good nostalgic movie quote-filled hang, in this roughly hour-long exchange, Rachel and I take a closer look at the '90s romantic comedy heyday of the "Father of the Bride" remake along with "While You Were Sleeping," "Clueless," "Notting Hill," and more.

Originally Posted on Patreon (2/24/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62971521

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Striking while the iron is hot and while people's schedules are most open, we're back with another bonus episode for you this week and you are definitely in for a treat.

A writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, today's guest Duncan Birmingham was an executive producer and screenwriter for IFC's "Maron" and also served as a co-executive producer and writer on the Starz series "Blunt Talk" as well. Additionally, Duncan's short films have premiered at such festivals as Sundance and AFI, and his screenplay "Swingles," which was bought by Paramount, was also on The Black List. Recently, his lively, irreverent short-story collection "The Cult in My Garage" was published by Maudlin House in 2021, and in other exciting news, he just wrapped his first feature-length film as a writer-director called "Who Invited Them?" starring Ryan Hansen, Melissa Tang, Timothy Granaderos, and Perry Mattfeld.

In easily one of my favorite research-intensive episodes so far on Watch With Jen, Duncan joined me to cover the incredible run of films made by chronically under-discussed Oscar-winning editor turned masterful '70s director Hal Ashby. An empathetic collaborative filmmaker who was fascinated by human relationships, in this rich ninety-minute conversation, we delve into the films "Harold and Maude," "The Last Detail," "Shampoo," "Coming Home," and "Being There."

Here you'll hear stories about Ashby fighting with the studios over marketing and foul language, his notably democratic film sets where everyone had a voice, ambitious abandoned projects, as well as thoughts on the performances that would garner 11 Oscar nominations throughout the decade, not to mention the way that contemporary filmmakers still seek inspiration in his work today. Settle in; it's a good one.

Originally Posted on Patreon (2/19/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62775976

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Today's guest, the great Dana Stevens has been Slate's chief film critic since 2006 as well as a veteran podcaster in her own right, serving as a co-host of the magazine's long-running weekly culture pod, "The Slate Culture Gabfest," which you should definitely seek out. An accomplished journalist whose work has also appeared in such esteemed publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Bookforum, Dana's latest opus is the passionately written and phenomenally well-researched new book Camera Man: Buster Keaton, The Dawn of Cinema, and The Invention of the 20th Century. Not just an outstanding title, her book really is about all of those things cited within it, which is what makes it so endlessly fascinating from start to finish.

In this fast-paced conversation, the knowledgeable and witty author joins me to discuss her exciting new book, the surprises she's made along the way, as well as the shorts Fatty & Mabel Adrift (featuring Keaton's contemporaries Roscoe Arbuckle and Mabel Normand), Good Night, Nurse! (with Arbuckle and Keaton), and the certified classic Keaton feature Sherlock, Jr. The kind of episode you'll want to listen to with a pen and a sheet of paper so you can make a note of all of the terrific titles Dana references and recommends from its earliest moments, silent film buffs, in particular, are sure to appreciate this one.

Originally Posted on Patreon (2/16/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62644819

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As promised, Watch With Jen is back with your second brand-new time-sensitive episode of the week! And my goodness, it's a stellar conversation that writers, book lovers, WWII history buffs, & fans of awesome heroines will love.

Returning to the podcast today, we have the terrific Susan Elia MacNeal. The NY Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope mystery series and the standalone MOTHER, DAUGHTER, TRAITOR, SPY, Susan Elia MacNeal has won the Barry Award & has also been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, Agatha, Left Coast Crime, Dilys, ITW Thriller, & other awards. A Brooklyn resident, where she lives with her husband & son, Susan is back to talk about kickass women & especially her intrepid spy Maggie Hope, since the wonderful final installment of that series, THE LAST HOPE, releases on May 21 (today!).

Consider this the sequel to our lovely, wide-ranging Season 3 conversation about Spy Movies, since it ties in with our topic. Sharing some behind-the-scenes information about researching & writing her beloved WWII Maggie Hope series, Susan also drops some incredible news about an upcoming series that I can't wait to get to dig into, & celebrates three great films about Kickass Women working together - FEMALE AGENTS, WIDOWS, & OCEAN'S EIGHT.

Originally Posted on Patreon (5/21/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/104666818

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Join us for "a ride with a trickster and a javelin man to a town down by the sea," in this engaging, analytical feature-length conversation dedicated to FX's 2010 wonderful one-season wonder series "Terriers." A sun-drenched San Diego set comedic crime show about scrappy unlicensed private eyes who are brilliantly brought to life by real-life friends Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James, the series was created by "Ocean's Eleven" and "Matchstick Men" screenwriter Ted Griffin.

Recommended to me almost exactly a year ago by my good friend, Pandemic Movie Club buddy, and "Peckerwood" and "Fierce Bitches" author Jed Ayres, it's only fitting that he chose to focus on "Terriers" for today's chat. The man behind the terrific blog Hardboiled Wonderland, which I've been fortunate enough to contribute to on occasion, there's nobody better suited to breaking down the building blocks, unforgettable characters, and ingenious twists of the whodunnit genre than Jed.

Covering everything from the unbelievable chemistry of the actors and the throwaway lines that tell us so much about the characters they play to the way it cleverly subverts genre tropes and more, this episode was made with not only the show's fans in mind but also for those who, like Jed and me, adore the films, books, and series that helped create this irresistible world. Enjoy!

Originally Posted on Patreon (2/11/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62429171

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A Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and journalist who writes for "Variety" and Fresh Fiction TV, this week's guest Courtney Howard is also a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, as well as Critics Choice, and the Online Film Critics Society.

Holding an informal meeting of the cinematic Gen X Babysitter's Club with me this week to tackle the late '80s-early '90s studio comedies "Adventures in Babysitting," "Three Men and a Baby," and "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," Courtney's return to the podcast marks a lighthearted change of pace from some of the more dramatic epics and crime movies you'll frequently hear discussed on Watch With Jen.

Along the way, we recall our earliest experiences with these movies, serve up fascinating behind-the-scenes information about the making of and reaction to each film when they were released, and reference a number of others that would create the perfect lineup for an impromptu Babysitting Film Festival.

So hit the road, leave your newborn with your boisterous bachelor pals, drop F-bombs only in tandem, lie about going to Vassar on your job application, and enjoy this breezily entertaining chat.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (2/7/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62242290

Welcome back to the podcast! Taking a look at the work of legendary director John Huston and the films "Key Largo," "Fat City," and "Prizzi's Honor," today's installment, featuring "New York Times" bestselling "Razorblade Tears" author S.A. Cosby, is a little different from what longtime listeners are used to hearing on the pod. Sprinkled throughout this extended conversation, which covers everything from post-war existential noir to down-and-outers, hitmen, and southpaws, you'll discover memorable excerpts I've recorded about Huston's life and incorporated for your listening pleasure.

A high-water mark for the series so far, our 2022 premiere is only the beginning. For the past month and a half, I've been busily planning for the exciting third season launch of Watch With Jen. This year, you'll be treated to not only the return of some of your favorite guests but the appearance of some wonderful new ones and VIPs as well so I hope you'll check back often to see which contributors and themes we'll have available for you soon. Thank you for your support and happy listening.

Originally Posted on Patreon (2/1/22) with links to items discussed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/61911795

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Wrapping up our Physical Media series with this third and final installment, which also brings this season of Watch With Jen to a close, I hope you've enjoyed listening to these freewheeling episodes half as much as my collaborators and I did making them as well.

Continuing on from where we left off yesterday with Walter Chaw and Nikki Dolson in Part 2, today we're kicking things off with my friend (and frequent guest), the gifted novelist William Boyle discussing The Window (1949), Harold and Maude, and Heaven Can Wait (1978).

Then, after he and I dissect that unexpected trio of films, I serve up a trio of a different kind in the form of a hilarious, awkward, and enlightening three-way conversation about Reds, which just so happens to be my buddy, actor Rob Belushi's mother Sandi's favorite film of all time. Enlisting Rob to not only sit down and watch it for the very first time but also, to join in for a fun, anything goes discussion of Warren Beatty's 1981 epic alongside Sandi, Rob took his task seriously, teasing and interrogating his mother in equal measure throughout our extended conversation.

And following these two fun yet very different chats, you'll hear me review the recent Paramount releases of Ragtime and the new steelbook edition of the celebrated holiday favorite Planes, Trains, and Automobiles as well.

A nice way to wrap up the season before I return in 2022, if you're looking for more Watch With Jen in the meantime, please be sure to check out our backlog of over 120 episodes and also join the conversation with me on Patreon or Twitter (via the user name FilmIntuition) in order to find out who and what you'll be hearing on the podcast soon. Until next time, I want to thank you so much for listening, subscribing, and supporting the show. I'm wishing you and your loved ones a very safe, happy, and healthy holiday season and happy movie-watching to you all!

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/15/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59921295

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We're back with Part 2 of 3 of this season's final series of episodes devoted to recent physical media releases. Joining me today, we have the brilliant film critic Walter Chaw (whose video essay on Walter Hill's 48 Hrs. dubbed "Profane and Profound" you can find on Netflix's new series VOIR) and the witty and wonderful crime writer Nikki Dolson as well.

After investigating The Naked Spur and The Last of Sheila with Chaw and diving into Nicholas Ray's Party Girl with Dolson, I take a look at two new French releases entitled Who You Think I Am and White as Snow from Cohen Media Group. Another installment packed with great conversation and astute observations, get ready for one more (final) episode dropping very soon as well.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/14/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59911369

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I'm wrapping up the second season of Watch With Jen with three holiday presents for you. Starting today, they arrive in form of this trio of laid-back, conversational episodes devoted to recent physical media releases.

Featuring some of your favorite recurring guests (and my closest friends) as well as analysis by yours truly solo, Part 1 finds me tackling the Brian Wilson style symphony of taste and existential ennui of Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky, going in-depth into an appreciation of Scream with Kate Gabrielle, and talking to Blake Howard about the under-discussed, Michael Mann linked 1978 masterpiece Straight Time. So download, dive in, and/or savor this gift - which will be followed in quick succession by Parts 2 & 3 soon - as I thank you for listening and supporting this show with these casual yet rich discussions.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/13/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59867340

The name is Moore, Roger Moore. In this lively, research-intensive episode on 007, I'm joined by Julia Ricci, the delightful Emmy nominated documentary researcher and senior programmer at the well-respected Heartland Film, which hosts two terrific festivals every year.

Having recently completed a year-long project to watch each and every James Bond film for the first time, Julia sat down with me to chat about the effervescent, winking tenure of Roger Moore as 007 in the films The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, and For Your Eyes Only.

Covering everything from the villains to the girls to the action to the gadgets to Moore on The Muppet Show, I hope you'll enjoy this affectionate look at the notably macho franchise by two thoughtful women who love its history, humor, and the various tenors, subgenres, approaches, and tones that have colored it over the years.

James Bond Update: This conversation was recorded in early November. I've since seen No Time to Die and it's become one of my favorite films in the entire franchise.

Podcast Note: This is the final traditional episode of Season 2 (aka 2021), but I will be uploading a few more episodes within the next week (!) consisting of fun laid-back conversations about recent physical media releases with some of your favorite guests. Also, for those of you who've said that you miss hearing me talk about films solo, these episodes will feature a few segments of me doing just that (so be careful what you wish for).

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/10/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59753959

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If you're going to go gothic, the best person to bring along is undoubtedly victorian literature and romantic poetry scholar Walter Chaw.

A very good friend and the sharp yet humanistic critic whose work you can and should read at FilmFreakCentral, it's always an honor and a pleasure to talk about film, art, life, writing, sex, gender, and Hitchcock with Walter and today's discussion is no exception.

In this richly philosophical, inquisitively minded, film obsessives only two-hour episode, we take a look at five twentieth-century cinematic classics, including Rebecca, Jane Eyre (1943), My Name is Julia Ross, The Night of the Hunter, and The Innocents (1961). Going deeper into plenty of other movies as well (because this is Walter Chaw and me, after all), we went into so much detail here that this installment was recorded over two separate chats to bring you our very best insights. The perfect accompaniment to running across the moors or investigating a strange noise in a crumbling Cornwall estate on a dark and stormy night, we hope you enjoy this foray into films that are black, white, and gothic all over.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/3/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59472097

Returning to the podcast once again, we have my very talented friend and an official (and very popular) friend of the show. William Boyle is the acclaimed novelist behind such titles as Gravesend, The Lonely Witness, A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself, City of Margins, and the brand new Shoot the Moonlight Out. In addition to crafting these wondrously humanistic Lumet-like character-driven ensemble crime epics, Bill is also quite a pop culture buff and one hell of a good movie trivia game player as well.

A huge fellow fan of great character actors, there seems to be an unspoken rule that whenever Bill and I get together, we're going to champion actors' actors, indies from the '90s, and/or anything Italian American onscreen, and in this episode about the amazing Mr. Nicolas Cage, we did all three.

Clocking in right around the length of Red Rock West, here you'll hear us discuss that movie, plus Valley Girl, Moonstruck, Wild at Heart, and Joe, and offer an overview and appreciation of several other Cage films and roles. One of the most popular actors in the history of this podcast, with past installments covering films like Adaptation, Vampire's Kiss, Mandy, Bringing Out the Dead, Rumble Fish, and more, I'm always happy to discuss Cage and had so much fun doing so with Bill. Releasing just in time for Thanksgiving in the United States (because who isn't thankful for Nicolas Cage), I hope this episode will entertain you and yours over the long holiday weekend.

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Originally Posted with links to films, people, & items discussed on Patreon (11/22/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59012566

This week on Watch With Jen, we have a very special guest and the man behind one of my favorite shows in recent memory. The TV writer, director, producer, showrunner, and co-creator of Halt and Catch Fire, which, along with The Americans, Succession, and Better Call Saul, is easily one of the best series of the 2010s, Christopher Cantwell is here to tell us all about the cult favorite AMC show that you can watch in its entirety right now on Netflix. (And you should totally do that and then come right back to listen to the podcast!)

In addition to his TV work, which also includes co-executive producing Lodge 49 and Paper Girls, Chris has been very active as of late in the world of comic books, where he is currently writing Marvel's monthly Iron Man series, as well as his own original titles in collaboration with some truly fantastic artists and imprints such as Vault Comics' The Blue Flame, Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body from Boom Studios, She Could Fly, Volume 3 from Berger Books and Dark Horse. You can find the latest issues of these titles on comic book store shelves throughout the month.

Running the length of a feature film, in this epic episode (which serves up some details about the critical favorite that have never before been revealed), Cantwell shares the funny and fascinating behind-the-scenes saga of Halt and Catch Fire from its initial idea to its eventual series run on AMC. Here you'll hear about the casting process including the way that the actors informed their characters, as well as the decision to constantly shift the show's setting and power dynamics each season, along with production stories, Halt's pitch-perfect use of music, and so much more.

As a fan of the series from the very beginning and someone who greatly enjoyed chatting with Chris's brilliant wife Elizabeth about horror movies earlier in the year as well, this conversation was a true honor and a pleasure and I'm thrilled to share the story of Halt and Catch Fire with all of you all.

Originally Posted on Patreon (11/16/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58774714

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We're back from our short spring hiatus this week with a very special conversation featuring my friend & occasional co-host, the wonderful Senior Vice President of The Black List, Kate Hagen. Joining us today are two of our favorite women & returning guests, the fabulous writer-director, cinephile, & retired professor Allison Anders, & her incredibly in-demand music supervisor daughter Tiffany Anders. Allison, of course, is the great filmmaker behind such contemporary classics as GAS FOOD LODGING, MI VIDA LOCA, GRACE OF MY HEART, & THINGS BEHIND THE SUN, & Tiffany Anders is the tastemaker & music supervisor behind RESERVATION DOGS, PEN15, & BEEF.

Passionate about music - especially rock & its intersection with film - they're here today to tell us all about the upcoming triumphant return of their beloved early aught Los Angeles-based film festival Don't Knock the Rock (aka DKTR), which showcases hard-to-see & overlooked music documentaries & rock classics & boasts Master Classes, Special Guests, discussions with filmmakers, & more. This year's festival is particularly exciting because it has both an in-person component at the American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3, which runs from May 23-27, & a streaming festival hosted by Cineville from May 23-July 31 that everyone can access. Filled with stories about music, movies, records, LA, & more, this breezy, infectiously delightful discussion is a perfect summery weekend listen!

Originally Posted on Patreon (5/18/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/104487153

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A marketing and social media manager at Turner Classic Movies, you can see the work of today's wonderfully delightful guest Diana Bosch on the network's social accounts creatively spreading the joy of classic movies with fans around the globe. Diana's love of old Hollywood and the classics can be traced back to TV's I Love Lucy and the film noir that's similarly one of my favorites, Laura. Additionally, one area of her research and expertise is on the actor William Holden, which comes in very handy this week as we take a closer look at the life and career of Audrey Hepburn in honor of Paramount's new seven-film Blu-ray collection, and discuss the movies Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Paris When it Sizzles (the latter two of which co-star Holden).

Originally Posted on 11/13/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58635625

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As I recently discovered, one of the best things about having an actor on the podcast is that not only do they bring a valuable and unique perspective to these discussions about film and craft but they also have the ability to do all of the voices we're talking about! (And this particular guest is especially gifted in that department.)

A very talented, versatile, and witty performer with more than 150 credit listings on IMDb, as an actor, James Urbaniak has brought to life Dr. Venture on Adult Swim's The Venture Brothers, the scene-stealing Arthur (who was my favorite character) on Hulu's Difficult People, and Grant on Comedy Central's Review. Additionally, he's also a podcaster in his own right and the creator of the scripted shows Getting On With James Urbaniak, A Night Called Tomorrow, and the upcoming I Will Never Lie to You.

Joining me to discuss one of his all-time acting heroes and favorite periods of filmmaking in the form of Charles Laughton in the 1930s, in this lively and often laugh-out-loud funny episode, you'll hear us take a closer look at The Private Life of Henry VIII, The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934), Ruggles of Red Gap, Les Miserables (1935), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939).

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Originally Posted on Patreon (11/9/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58460341

This week on the podcast, we have a woman who truly needs no introduction - one whose voice is or should be (especially if you're a cinephile) her own introduction. A film writer I remember reading as far back as Cinematical and The Village Voice as well as the author of Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, and books on George Lucas, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep, Karina Longworth is the historian and podcaster behind the acclaimed, addictive, and utterly fascinating series You Must Remember This, as well as the recent show Love is a Crime with Vanity Fair.

Dropping in to tell us all about the exciting new season of You Must Remember This: Sammy & Dino, in this fun hour-long chat we discuss Dean Martin's film career from 1958-1960. In addition to focusing on the films The Young Lions, Some Came Running, and Rio Bravo, Karina was also kind enough to discuss the resurgence of The Rat Pack nostalgia in the mid-'90s, humor me during a segue about Gen X's two Coreys, and shout-out Clueless as well. You're bound to get a kick out of this one.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (11/1/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58167211

Happy Halloween from Watch With Jen, care of this episode that will put you in the mood for the spooky season. One of my oldest Twitter friends from way back in the fail whale days, I'm so pleased to be joined today by the wonderfully witty Scott Weinberg.

A prolific film writer for twenty years as well as a Jack of All Trades, Scott Weinberg has created such great podcasts as the new Overhated (which you can find on his Patreon Weinberg+) as well as co-created '80s All Over and more. Additionally, he's produced a few indie films, narrated audiobooks, and you can find his byline everywhere.

Extremely knowledgeable about horror, in particular, in this spirited, freewheeling, rapid-fire episode, we tackle the remakes of such genre classics as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing, The Fly, The Blob, and Dawn of the Dead, while also discussing their predecessors and the films' underlying and sometimes subversive themes. The perfect accompaniment to your horror movie marathon plans for Halloween, today's pod is both a whole lot of fun... and far less trick than treat.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (10/27/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57932809

Planning to travel? It always helps if you have the right guide. And when it comes to New York City, I have the perfect one for you today, especially if you're a film fan, because he literally just wrote the book on it. That's right, this week on the podcast, I was so honored to have back my talented friend Jason Bailey.

The author of the brand new book Fun City Cinema, in this entertaining and informative episode, Jason tells us all about writing and researching his new critically acclaimed nonfiction work and breaks down a few films along the way. A gifted film writer, critic, and historian who's the editor-in-chief of the site Crooked Marquee, additionally, Jason Bailey is an author of four additional books on film, and a freelance journalist with bylines everywhere from The New York Times to Vulture to The Playlist and beyond.

Tying in with both Jason's book (releasing Tuesday, October 26) as well as the outstandingly diverse New York City collection currently available on The Criterion Channel, in this installment, we zero in on The Garment Jungle (1957), The Incident (1967), The Out-of-Towners (1970), and Little Murders (1971).

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Originally Posted on Patreon (10/23/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57771748

If you follow me on social media, you'll recall that earlier this year, I fell head over heels for Columbo. From creating a popular episode-by-episode mega-thread on Twitter to deciding that Peter Falk (who I'd long loved) was going to be one of my most-watched actors for the year on Letterboxd, I soon began steering even the most casual conversations with acquaintances back to my new favorite television obsession.

Interacting with a number of fellow fans on Twitter, I started getting requests for an episode devoted to the series and eagerly recruited the great Noel Murray to join me to discuss five of his favorite Columbo mysteries. His selections include "Murder By the Book," "Étude in Black," "An Exercise in Fatality," "By Dawn's Early Light," and "Columbo Goes to College."

An Arkansas-based freelance writer who covers TV, movies, and pop culture for The A.V. Club, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, Polygon, Vulture, and more, it was so great to chat with Noel about all things Columbo in this celebratory, fast-paced episode.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (10/15/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57445815

Is there a doctor in the house? Well, as it happens, this week there definitely is. A doctor of women surrealists and a freelance writer specializing in visual culture, art, couture, Old Hollywood, and more, the lovely Sabina Stent joins us to talk about some of her favorite generational soundtrack movies, including American Graffiti, Dazed and Confused, and Reality Bites in this warm, nostalgic, analytical episode that's bound to make you want to pack a mix CD, jump into your car, and drive all night.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (10/8/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57166998

On the podcast this week, I welcomed back a very talented and thoughtful writer as well as a man recently (and affectionately) dubbed "Film Twitter Royalty." Peter Avellino's long-form essays on the movies that fascinate and frustrate him make his blog Mr. Peel's Sardine Liqueur a must-read for cinephiles. In a conversation that's equal parts witty nostalgia and astute film criticism, we took a look at the (recently) late, beloved comedy star Charles Grodin's work in the films "The Heartbreak Kid," "Seems Like Old Times," "The Lonely Guy," and "Midnight Run," and in the midst of discussing all of the food in these movies, found ourselves getting very hungry along the way.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (9/30/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56816129

An accomplished lawyer and a highly readable film critic at her own site MovieMom.com and at RogerEbert.com, where she's also an editor, this week, I was so pleased to welcome back the friendly and wise Nell Minow. The author of over 3,000 reviews since the 1990s, Nell has also written a handful of terrific film books, including 101 Must-See Movie Moments and The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies.

Expanding upon a thoughtful, well-researched, and eye-opening article she wrote for RogerEbert.com on "19 Films That Celebrate the Art of Female Friendship," in this episode, we discuss the evolution of women in film over the years. Taking a closer look at the difference between sidekicks, frenemies, and true friendships onscreen, the pros and cons of the Bechdel Test, rebuttable presumption, and the stuffed animals we told all our secrets to as kids, in this fun, freewheeling chat, we focus on the films How to Marry a Millionaire, Steel Magnolias, and Set It Off and serve up plenty of food for thought.

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Originally Posted on Patreon on 9/24/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56568689

This week, I was so pleased to welcome back one of the funniest guests I've ever had, the quick-witted, fresh, and very clever Sean Burns. A staff writer at WBUR's The ARTery and contributing writer at North Shore Movies, Sean Burns was Philadelphia Weekly's lead film critic from 1999-2013 and worked as the movie section contributing editor at the Improper Bostonian from 2006-2014. Additionally, a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the recipient of an award for excellence in criticism from The Greater Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists in 2002, Sean's reviews, interviews, and essays have also appeared in Metro, The Village Voice, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, Time Out New York, Philadelphia City Paper, The House Next Door, Movie Mezzanine, RogerEbert.com, and more. Additionally, he's also a projectionist who can tell you exactly what's wrong if you're messing up the presentation of a movie at an AMC Theater.

Following up on an impromptu pact we made the last time Sean was a guest where we impossibly discovered that although we were both movie-obsessive teens at the time, neither one of us had ever bothered to see Disclosure, we turned that promise into today's theme. Investigating the sexy, sleazy side of Michael Douglas, in this very funny, adults-only episode, we take a closer look at Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Disclosure, and Solitary Man in order to evaluate the man, the myth, the Michael in Lothario Mode. The ideal soundtrack for your household chores or whatever you decide to do in the kitchen (just please, take the dishes out of the sink first) and the ultimate conversation to hear on your way to dance awkwardly in a deep v-neck sweater in a nightclub on a Saturday night, I know you'll dig this one.

Note: Due to content & language - perfectly fitting our subject, of course - this episode is rated E for Explicit.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (9/18/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56321819

Welcome to our first Physical Media episode of 2024. Joining me today, we have a terrific quartet of movie minds discussing a handful of titles newly released on disc, including novelist Alison Gaylin on TO DIE FOR, podcaster-critic Blake Howard on CONTAGION, filmmaker Chris McKay on THE SHOOTIST & THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, & podcaster-critic Rachel Wagner on FOOTLOOSE (1984). Additionally, you'll hear me cover the new Criterion box set of Eric Rohmer's TALES OF THE FOUR SEASONS & the new Blu-ray edition of the Anthony Mann western THE TIN STAR solo. A wonderful compilation episode that provides lively commentary, excellent film references, & double feature ideas, plus hilarity & tangents galore, I hope you have as much fun listening to this series of conversations as I did having them.

Note: This is the last new episode of Watch With Jen before a brief April hiatus but rest assured, we have so much more in store for you this season when we return in May. Also, Patreon subscribers will begin finding more writing & other surprises waiting for them shortly.

Originally Posted on Patreon (4/10/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/102095895

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Pack your sunglasses, suits, smokes, and Stetson hats, and get ready for a tour of international crime movies. In case the title of today's show didn't already give it away, this episode is different. Inspired by some of the requests I received from Patreon donors at "The Right Stuff" level who were looking for segments about new westerns, John Woo, and crime movies in general, I put together my first compilation episode based solely on the wishes of Watch With Jen fans.

Fine-tuning the topics and enlisting the help of a few friends, including Blake Howard, Jordan Harper, and Kate Gabrielle, I created this epic collaboration that clocks in at the length of Ivan Sen's brilliant Aussie western Goldstone, which is one of the films you'll hear discussed today. I hope you'll enjoy these terrific conversations and want to thank you so much for your continued support! There are plenty of surprises ahead, including a new monthly spin-off podcast you'll learn about towards the end of this episode.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (9/14/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56159326

This week, I welcome one of my dearest friends back to the podcast. A talented freelance illustrator, blogger, and film fan, Kate Gabrielle is the designer of both the season one and two versions of our gorgeous Watch With Jen logo. As a professional artist, she's not only worked with the TCM Film Fest, Netflix, Doubleday, Mental Floss, and more but also runs her own brightly colored, uplifting shop KateGabrielle.com as well.

In her third solo and fourth total appearance on the show so far, Kate returns to discuss four movies starring one of her favorite actors, the gifted Dirk Bogarde. Focusing on So Long at the Fair, Darling, Modesty Blaise, and Accident - all of which she introduced to me - we delve into what makes these titles distinct works of classic British cinema and of course, what Bogarde does so well in all of them.

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Originally Posted on Patreon 9/10/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56012404

Nobody makes a creative, ultra-specific crime subgenre Letterboxd list quite like my good friend, Peckerwood and Fierce Bitches author Jedidiah Ayres. Inspired by his inventive and comprehensive "Just Dew It" list of Extreme Sports Crime Films (and their close relatives), we selected four titles to watch and discuss which were made and released during our childhood and teen years. Although we reference several movies throughout, in this episode, we focus on BMX Bandits, Point Break (1991, of course), Cliffhanger, and Drop Zone.

In sharing stories about our relationships to the films as well as what we think makes them so special (or at least intriguing!), Hardboiled Wonderland blogger Jed Ayres relays the single greatest "how I first saw ___" story I've heard on this podcast so far. It has everything - subterfuge, daring, ingenuity - and it's honestly, very incredible and very Jed. So buckle up, make sure your parachute works, and try to avoid any flamethrowers or kids on bike as you listen to this fun installment of Watch With Jen.

Note: Recorded in mid-August, I referenced my vaccinated dad's recent Covid diagnosis. I'm pleased to report that he is well today, thanks to that vaccine!

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Originally Posted on Patreon here (9/5/21): https://www.patreon.com/posts/55798166

This week, I'm honored to welcome back my favorite crime writer working today. Novelist Megan Abbott is the Edgar-winning author of such acclaimed, rich works as Give Me Your Hand, You Will Know Me, The Fever, Dare Me, Queenpin, and more. Her newest title The Turnout was released on August 3rd and became not only a Today Show "Read with Jenna" book pick but also a New York Times bestseller as well.

An impressive film buff who is as delightful as she is intelligent, I loved hearing Megan's fresh perspective on Martin Scorsese movies at the start of our 2021 season and was so thrilled to have her back to talk about the incredible Judy Holliday for this podcast today. Essentially discussing all of her movies, we focused mainly on The Marrying Kind, It Should Happen to You, Phffft, and The Solid Gold Cadillac. In the process, we take a look at what Holliday brought to these films, how with a 172 IQ, she was so much more than the stereotypical "dumb blonde" synonymous with her Oscar-winning performance in Born Yesterday, and also considered how she might have been gray-listed after cleverly refusing to name names during a HUAC hearing in 1950.

Clocking in at under an hour, this celebratory yet thorough chat is as quickly paced as one of Holliday's deliciously brisk films. And the result is an episode that classic movie fans, in particular, will be sure to love!

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Originally Posted on Patreon on 8/31/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55580653

This week, I was so excited to welcome back my friend, author S.A. Cosby, who I'm fortunate to know well enough to call Shawn.

An Anthony award-winning writer from southeastern Virginia, with My Darkest Prayer and Brotherhood of the Blade already under his belt, last year, Shawn burst onto the scene with his multiple award-winning breakthrough hit Blacktop Wasteland, which drew raves from Stephen King and Harlan Coben, among others. This summer, he released his acclaimed bestselling follow-up Razorblade Tears, which was one of the books selected as a potential Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Summer Read.

As a fellow Godfather obsessive, I was thrilled when Shawn suggested exploring the career of Al Pacino in the '70s in today's episode. Delving into not only the Godfather series but also taking a closer look at two extraordinary films by Sidney Lumet - Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon - in this nearly two-hour episode, we discussed these works as well as the relative newcomer actor's rise to fame as one of the greatest character actors of his generation.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/27/21) here with links to items referenced & related: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55412305

What better way to celebrate the 100th episode of Watch With Jen than with a Titanic-sized conversation about passionate Titanic filmmaker James Cameron with the ever-passionate Tomris Laffly?

A contributor to Variety, RogerEbert.com, The Playlist, Timeout New York, Filmmaker Magazine, and Vulture, Tomris Laffly is a member of the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle. A noted lover of the director's work (and especially Titanic, which is one of her favorite movies), while we left out The Abyss, True Lies, and his documentaries due to time, over the course of this in-depth two-hour discussion, we take a closer look at the life, career, films, recurring themes, and obsessions of James Cameron.

One of my favorite episodes that I've recorded this summer (though believe me when I say there is some GREAT stuff ahead), you won't want to miss this conversation.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/22/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55207246

In the tradition of my collaborative episodes with Bright Wall/Dark Room and the Classic Film Collective, I have another one for you today that is sure to make you see red (in a good way!).

Since 1998, DVD Netflix has delivered more than 5 billion DVD & Blu-ray rentals to movie lovers in every American zip code and to military bases around the world in their famous, iconic red envelopes. With an extensive library of movies from the early 1900s to today and shows from such premium networks as HBO and Showtime, DVD Netflix is a must for physical media lovers. In this fun, chatty episode, we'll go behind the scenes to talk to some of the people behind not only DVD Netflix but also its popular online movie blog.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/18/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55055653

Visit FilmIntuition.com to find links to our Patreon and the official Watch With Jen merch shop.

This week, I was honored to welcome back my gifted friend and an official friend of the show. William Boyle is the acclaimed novelist of such books as Gravesend, The Lonely Witness, A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself, City of Margins, and the upcoming Shoot the Moonlight Out.

A knowledgeable film buff and a bard of Italian-American New York life, especially in the era he came of age in the 1990s (which I love since we're roughly the same age), in the past, Bill appeared to discuss the career of David Morse along with critic Nell Minow, and stopped by twice last year to chat including once about actor Mickey Rourke.

This time, he joined me to discuss five of his favorite underrated, overlooked, and/or largely forgotten Italian-American films, including Fatso (1980), Mac (1992), Household Saints (1993), Angie (1994), and Two Family House (2000).

In this delightfully breezy yet reflective chat, we shared some of our own family tales, our thoughts on the movies, and agreed that since we have no idea how to pronounce a few of the gorgeous Italian names, we'd say them multiple ways to ensure we were right at least once. So pull up your chair, prepare and plate some pasta, and enjoy it along with a hearty sauce and this rich conversation.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/7/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/54636577

This week's guest is the impressive critic, in-demand lecturer, and insightful author, Mr. Adam Nayman. A contributor to The Ringer, Criterion, CinemaScope, and more, the Toronto-based Adam has written books on Showgirls, Ben Wheatley, the Coen Brothers, and Paul Thomas Anderson. His newest title, David Fincher: Mind Games is available for pre-order now and will be released in November from Abrams.

If you're a fan of his work, it should come as no surprise that Adam Nayman is a very well-prepared and knowledgeable guest. In fact, he actually went above and beyond to track down a copy of an out-of-print autobiography by our subject in order to share it with us today. In this fascinating episode, he joins me to discuss the life and career of Gene Tierney as well as her films Laura, Leave Her to Heaven, Whirlpool, and Night and the City.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (7/29/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/54276854

This week, I was so pleased to welcome one of the best film writers currently working today - the wonderful Sheila O'Malley - to the podcast. A regular film critic for RogerEbert.com and a member of the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle, Sheila's work has also appeared in Film Comment, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, Criterion Collection, Sight & Sound, and other outlets.

Additionally, a scene from her full-length script July and Half of August was turned into a short film, which played at the Albuquerque Film and Music Experience, as well as at EbertFest. She's also written the narration scripts for two tribute reels played at the Lifetime Achievement Oscar ceremony, one for recipient Gena Rowlands (read by Angelina Jolie) and one for recipient Anne V. Coates (read by Diane Lane). Always a must-read, when she isn't doing everything else, Sheila writes about actors, movies, and Elvis at her outstanding personal site, The Sheila Variations.

Extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the art of acting and classic film, in this richly researched episode, Sheila joins me to dissect the movies (and mores!) of Hollywood's notorious pre-code era, including The Public Enemy, the original Scarface, Three on a Match, Baby Face, and Design for Living.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (7/21/21) with links to items discussed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53958553

In this ambitious research-filled exploration of one of Italian cinema's most fascinating & influential figures, Canadian actor-writer-podcaster Robert Bellissimo returns to the podcast to discuss the singularly daring maestro Luchino Visconti. An aristocratic count turned Socialist who fought the Nazis as a member of the Italian Resistance & was sentenced to death before fate & history intervened & he was eventually able to testify & help sentence to death the man who tortured him during WWII, Luchino Visconti is a man who lived a thousand lifetimes before he became one of the most acclaimed & groundbreaking directors of the twentieth century.

The man behind arguably the first Neorealist feature, the film noir OSSESSIONE (which was made before Hollywood adapted the same James M. Cain novel as THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE), in this rich episode, we discuss three of his towering, staggeringly beautiful, & emotionally devastating works, including ROCCO AND HIS BROTHERS (which inspired both THE GODFATHER & RAGING BULL), THE LEOPARD, & DEATH IN VENICE. Delving into the history, significance, analysis, text, & subtext of these remarkable movies, this is a conversation to listen to with a notebook as it might send you on the hunt for more incredible features.

Robert's Bio: Robert Bellissimo is an actor, acting teacher, and YouTube video podcaster. He is also an ongoing contributor to two Toronto film critics' websites, IN THE SEATS and SCREENFISH. Robert's YouTube channel - Robert Bellissimo at the Movies - is an exploration of all things cinema, which includes reviews and in-depth interviews with guests who work in film.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/26/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101108059

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This week, I was so pleased to welcome back the lovely, very funny, & terribly sweet Stephanie Crawford. A talented film writer and podcaster with an infectious love of cinema and physical media, you can check out Stephanie's work at her personal website House of a Reasonable Amount of Horrors.

Teaming up to celebrate the new 4K release of Almost Famous, we study three key rock music movies that explore (and were made in) three different decades. In this affectionate, personal, yet analytical conversation, we discuss Tom Hanks' 1996 directorial debut That Thing You Do! (which was set in the '60s), Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous from 2000 (which took place in the early '70s), and the iconic Prince rock movie Purple Rain from director Albert Magnoli which was made in and represents the early 1980s.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (on 7/16/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53776811

This week, I'm proud to welcome back one of my dear mates (as he would say), Mr. Blake Howard. A podcaster extraordinaire, Blake is the man behind One Heat Minute Productions. Recent acclaimed podcasts you can find from him include All the President's Minutes, Josie and the Podcats, Increment Vice - hosted by our good friend Travis Woods - and the new Zodiac Chronicle. Additionally, Blake is a very insightful film writer and has recently launched a cool column on heist films at Vague Visages.

Couple this with the fact that he's a devoted husband and father of two adorable young children and is also going back to school to become a teacher, and he's one of the busiest men I know. (He's also one of the nicest!) And as someone lucky enough to chat with him nearly every week in our Pandemic Movie Club, I was thrilled to have him back on the podcast to discuss three masterful Irish Mob Movies: Miller's Crossing, Road to Perdition, and The Departed in an energetic, upbeat (save for a few risky opinions), and very entertaining feature-length chat.

Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Originally Posted on Patreon (7/9/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53504215

Returning to Watch With Jen today is one of the podcast's most popular and frequent guests - my good friend and Pandemic Movie Club buddy Jordan Harper.

An Edgar award-winning crime writer of the remarkable novel She Rides Shotgun and the terrific book of short stories Love and Other Wounds, Jordan also works in Hollywood as a TV writer and producer and has been behind such series as The Mentalist, Gotham, and Hightown. He also created a stunning pilot for CBS of L.A. Confidential that was just celebrated at the ATX Festival as well.

And since the most frequent feedback I receive whenever Jordan is on is compliments about our chemistry and banter (as evidenced in the David Mamet episode), it's only fitting that this time around, we ditched the crime genre in favor of screwball comedies.

Breaking down the subversive wit, ingenuity, and downright horniness of four famous Preston Sturges movies, we discuss Barbara Stanwyck's powers of seduction as a con-woman in The Lady Eve, the lessons Hollywood can and has learned from Sullivan's Travels, the chaotic confidence of The Palm Beach Story, and the brilliance of Eddie Bracken yelling "Spots!" in The Miracle of Morgan's Creek.

Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Originally Posted on Patreon (7/1/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53174633