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:

Bill Hader Mar 23, 2018

Show notes

One of the funniest performers around, Bill Hader is also a movie savant, as knowledgeable as he is enthusiastic. Now he's starring in an HBO series called Barry that allows him to fulfill a lifelong dream to direct. Leonard and Jessie interviewed him in front of a live audience at South by Southwest and had a ball, as you will tuning in.

Josh Hartnett Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

An overnight success in films like The Faculty and Halloween H20, Josh Hartnett has moved beyond being a teen heartthrob and proved that he's a long-distance runner. He's worked on Broadway and London's West End and is choosing interesting film projects like the indie Oh Lucy! that's now playing in theaters. Incredibly bright (and likable), he shares stories of working with everyone from Warren Beatty to Harrison Ford in this enjoyable chat with Leonard and Jessie. We even talked about our mutual interest in jazz.

Jimmi Simpson Mar 09, 2018

Show notes

Jimmi Simpson has carved a niche for himself as a young character actor who doesn't shy away from playing weird, wacky parts. You may remember him as Lyle the Intern with David Letterman, or that guy on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. You may be watching him right now on Westworld or Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. The only thing his portrayals have in common is that they are memorable. Leonard and Jessie discover the bright, articulate man behind these "out-there" characters in a lively and engaging conversation.

Pete Hammond Mar 01, 2018

Show notes

Pete Hammond is the must-read columnist for Deadline Hollywood and the best Oscar handicapper in town. He's also Leonard's pal, since their days together at Entertainment Tonight, and Jessie's godfather. He hosts screening series and more q&a panels than anyone can count. How did a lifelong movie fan carve this kind of career for himself? Listen and see how passion, knowledge and determination can spell success. In a business where bad behavior gets headlines, Pete is truly one of the Good Guys. Stay tuned and you'll hear his predictions for this year's Academy Awards.

Jordan Peele Feb 23, 2018

Show notes

Jordan Peele proved himself a brilliant sketch comedian long ago, but he's made a remarkable transition to Oscar-nominated filmmaker with his knockout debut feature Get Out. Soft-spoken, articulate and admittedly shy, he is pursuing a lifelong dream of making movies—the kind that inspired him when he was young. Leonard and Jessie are delighted to have him as a guest in the final run-up to the Academy Awards.

Phil Rosenthal Feb 16, 2018

Show notes

The Emmy-winning creator of Everybody Loves Raymond is a pretty lovable guy himself. Phil Rosenthal is a writer, producer, author, and host of an irresistible Netflix series called Somebody Feed Phil in which he travels the globe bonding with people over food. Leonard and Jessie share his enthusiasm for that subject, but he's also a major movie buff (with particular fondness for Stanley Kubrick) and a delightful guest.

Dylan McDermott Feb 09, 2018

Show notes

We've all been watching and enjoying Dylan McDermott for years. In the hilarious new Fox TV series L.A. to Vegas he gets to exercise his comedy chops as Captain Dave and is having the time of his life. Leonard and Jessie are fans of the show and talk to him about it and other highlights of his rich career: being on Broadway in a Neil Simon hit for a solid year, working with Clint Eastwood, being directed by Jodie Foster, and much, much more.

Richard Donner Feb 02, 2018

Show notes

The man who directed Superman (with Christopher Reeve), The Omen, Lethal Weapon, and The Goonies should need no introduction…but Richard Donner's career began in theater and television and he has many great memories he's happy to share. Is there anyone else who can say he directed episodes of Perry Mason, Get Smart, and Gilligan's Island? Leonard and Jessie were happy to tap into his prodigious memory for an hour of wonderful anecdotes and observations.

Giancarlo Esposito Jan 26, 2018

Show notes

The role of Gus in Breaking Bad (and its prequel, Better Caul Saul) has made Giancarlo Esposito world-famous, but he's been acting since he was 8 years old—on Broadway, in films and television. Some of us first took notice of him in Spike Lee movies like Do the Right Thing and Mo' Better Blues. His newest film, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, has just opened in theaters. He describes himself as a chameleon but as Leonard and Jessie learn, he is also an extraordinarily charismatic man with a refreshingly positive outlook on the acting profession.

The Nelms Brothers Jan 19, 2018

Show notes

The writers and directors of the new sleeper Small Town Crime pay a visit, following their costar Clifton Collins, Jr. last week. Ian and Eshom Nelms have such energy and enthusiasm it's no wonder actors like John Hawkes, Anthony Anderson, and Danny Glover are willing to work with them…not to mention Octavia Spencer, who helped pull their new cast together. Leonard and Jessie find it heartening that genuinely nice, un-cynical guys like these can still get movies made. Small Town Crime opens in theaters today and is also available on VOD.

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