Maltin on Movies

Legendary film critic Leonard Maltin and his daughter Jessie are the ultimate movie fans. They love talking about movies, especially with people who share their enthusiasm—from living legends like Mel Brooks, Al Pacino, Angela Lansbury and Quincy Jones to such contemporary artists as Amy Adams, Tim Burton, Laura Dern, and Jordan Peele. You’ll meet all kinds of interesting people and hear their recommendations of unsung movies you ought to know…

Latest Episodes:

Alanna Ubach Jul 19, 2019

Show notes

If you're like Leonard and Jessie, you've been watching Alanna Ubach for years—even if you don't know her name. She's currently costarring in Euphoria and still winning praise for her portrayal of the matriarch in Disney's animated Coco. But that just scratches the surface of this talented actress's career... from Legally Blonde to Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce. The secret of her long term success? She's never turned down a part! She's also great fun to talk to.

Drew Carey Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

One of Cleveland's finest sons, Drew Carey is comedy's long-distance runner. A former Marine, he burst on the national scene as a contestant on Star Search in 1988 and hasn't stopped since. The Drew Carey Show enjoyed an extraordinary nine-year run on ABC, matched by the improv hit Whose Line is It Anyway. He'll soon be starting his twelfth season as the host of The Price is Right. We don't know how he made time to join us but we're awfully glad he did. Drew is a great conversationalist, as you'll hear for yourself.

Greg Kinnear Jul 05, 2019

Show notes

After more than twenty years onscreen, with an Oscar nomination to his credit (for As Good as It Gets) Greg Kinnear has made his directing debut with a likable film called Phil, which opens in theaters and online this week. Leonard and Jessie ask him what inspired him to move behind the camera, and also touch on highlights of his career—from working opposite Jack Nicholson to playing JFK in a major TV miniseries. He's got a lot of good movies under his belt, like You've Got Mail, Nurse Betty, Auto Focus, and Little Miss Sunshine, to name just a few…and a story to go with each one.

George R.R. Martin Jun 28, 2019

Show notes

The prolific author behind Game of Thrones is also a lifelong movie buff and invited us to interview him at his very own theater, The Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe, New Mexico. George and Leonard compared notes about starting out as a fan and contributing to fanzines, back in the pre-Internet era. (For more on this, go to www.leonardmaltin.com.) George went on to teach writing and enjoyed success as a novelist before moving to Hollywood, where he spent a decade working in television. Ultimately he returned to his roots as an author, little dreaming that his novels would inspire one of the most elaborate and successful television shows ever produced. George is a great conversationalist and was a gracious host to Leonard and Jessie; you can join them vicariously by listening in.

Helen Slater Jun 21, 2019

Show notes

Helen Slater won the role of Supergirl in 1984 fresh out of New York City's High School of the Performing Arts. Now she's playing Melissa Benoist's mother in the newest incarnation of Supergirl on the CW network. In between she's had many experiences in and out of show business which she was only too happy to share with Leonard and Jessie (who fell in love with her in The Legend of Billie Jean). Our favorite: a memorable conversation with costar Peter O'Toole.

Alan Tudyk Jun 14, 2019

Show notes

Alan Tudyk is a gifted actor and a familiar face who achieved cult status as a costar of Joss Whedon's Firefly and its follow-up feature-film Serenity…but he's also become the man of a thousand voices. If you've seen Wreck-it Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6, or even Rogue One: A Star Wars Story you've heard his facility with accents, dialects, and the ability to embody colorful characters. He also stars in one of Leonard and Jessie's favorite unsung movies, Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil. Alan is only too happy to demonstrate his vocal talents during our hilarious interview. Angelenos can currently see him onstage in Mysterious Circumstances at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood.

Tracy Nelson Jun 07, 2019

Show notes

Tracy Nelson made a deep impression on a youthful audience in the 1980s TV series Square Pegs and is still acting today. She's also part of show business royalty: her father was Ricky Nelson, her grandparents were Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, and her maternal grandparents were football star-turned-sportscaster Tom Harmon and leading lady Elyse Knox. (Yes, that means her cousin is Mark Harmon.) Tracy is proud of her heritage and Leonard and Jessie were only too eager to soak up all that history

Alexander Payne May 31, 2019

Show notes

Alexander Payne is one of the brightest lights in American filmmaking, a brilliant social satirist and observer with Citizen Ruth, Election, About Schmidt, Sideways, The Descendants, Nebraska and Downsizing among his credits as director and writer (usually with his longtime collaborator Jim Taylor). He started, as Leonard did, by collecting 8mm prints of silent comedies with Charlie Chaplin, and has never lost his passion for cinema, as you'll hear in this compelling conversation with Leonard and Jessie.

Jeff Ross May 24, 2019

Show notes

Jeff Ross is best known as the Roastmaster General, reigning king of insult humor, but there's much more to this talented comedian. Leonard and Jessie met him in 2005 when he made a terrific documentary called Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie about entertaining our troops in Iraq. Now he's acting on the new season of Sneaky Pete and using his producing skills—and sense of showmanship—to introduce a new series on Comedy Central called Historical Roasts. He's a smart guy who has earned every bit of his success. Be aware that this episode includes some raunchy and highly irreverent remarks.

Jacki Weaver May 17, 2019

Show notes

Americans first became aware of Jacki Weaver when she played the matriarch of a crime family in the Aussie import Animal Kingdom in 2010. Her chilling performance earned her an Oscar nomination and "overnight" recognition outside her homeland, where she's been working on stage, screen and television for decades. She nabbed another Academy Award nomination as Robert De Niro's wife in Silver Linings Playbook and hasn't had an idle moment since. Her newest release is POMS with Diane Keaton. Leonard and Jessie were delighted to spend an hour in the company of this bright, spirited woman who's enjoying life to the fullest.

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