Mama Needs a Movie

Kinda Pregnant Feb 11, 2025

Anne and Ryan gestate their takes on the new comedy, KINDA PREGNANT starring Amy Schumer, Jillian Bell, Brianne Howey, and Will Forte. Directed by Tyler Spindel and written by Schumer and Julie Paiva, KINDA PREGNANT stars Schumer as a Brooklyn school teacher who fakes a pregnancy for attention. Debuting to the #1 spot on the Netflix charts, KINDA PREGNANT aims to imbue a prenatal comedy with wild irreverence, but does the movie deliver? Check out our discussion that also takes diversions into Super Bowl commercials, Nosferatu, Riverdale, Superman, Miami Vice and much, much more!

KINDA PREGNANT is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Emilia Pérez Feb 04, 2025

Anne and Ryan discuss the year's most Oscar-nominated film, Jacques Audiard's musical EMILIA PÉREZ starring Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez. The film follows a Mexican cartel leader who recruits a lawyer to help her transition into a woman and restart her life as a philanthropist. Drawing both accolades as an inventive, relevant musical and criticism as a tone-deaf overreach into Mexican and trans representation, EMILIA PÉREZ is the most polarizing film of any recent awards season. Join our discussion of Audiard's divisive musical, taking diversions into Justin Baldoni, George Lucas, offensive Tweets, Josh O'Connor, The Reader, Born in East L.A., and much, much more!

EMILIA PÉREZ is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Lost Highway Jan 21, 2025

In honor of the recently departed David Lynch, Anne and Ryan revisit one of the director's least-celebrated, but most haunting works, LOST HIGHWAY starring Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty, Robert Loggia, and Robert Blake. This 1997 neo-noir begins with a married couple receiving a mysterious VHS tape on the doorstep of their Los Angeles home and the rest of the story... is better seen than explained. Join us for a trip down the dark and enigmatic LOST HIGHWAY, as we pay a fond tribute to one of America's irreplaceable artists.

LOST HIGHWAY is currently available to stream on The Criterion Channel.

The Brutalist Jan 14, 2025

Anne and Ryan digest the architectural drama, THE BRUTALIST starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, and Joe Alwyn. Directed by Brady Corbet and written by Corbet and Mona Fastvold, THE BRUTALIST follows a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth (Brody) as he immigrates to America and falls under the patronage of a wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Pearce). A critical hit and Oscar front-runner, THE BRUTALIST is undoubtedly epic in its ambition, length, and use of VistaVision, but is the film as monumental as the hype? Join us for a brutally honest discussion that takes some diversions into Wicked, Babygirl, Dave Eggers, Bradley Cooper, Funny Games, The Godfather, The Fountainhead and much, much more!

THE BRUTALIST is currently in theaters.

The Movies of 2024 Jan 07, 2025

Anne and Ryan look back on the most memorable 2024 releases in a special year-in-review episode. Brace yourselves for a spoiler-heavy discussion of 2024's most divisive and impactful movies, including THE APPRENTICE, BABYGIRL, BETWEEN THE TEMPLES, CHALLENGERS, A DIFFERENT MAN, HARD TRUTHS, HERE, HOW TO HAVE SEX, LA CHIMERA, MEGALOPOLIS, MY OLD ASS, NICKEL BOYS, QUEER, THE SUBSTANCE, and many more!

A Complete Unknown with Alex Kavutskiy Dec 31, 2024

Writer/director Alex Kavutskiy returns to the podcast to discuss the new Bob Dylan biopic A COMPLETE UNKNOWN starring Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro, and Elle Fanning. James Mangold directs this chronicle of Dylan's early successes, including his quick rise in the New York folk scene, his collaborations with Joan Baez, and controversial choice to go electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. It ain't no use to sit and wonder what we think of this movie, take a listen to our freewheelin' discussion which includes a few diversions into Amadeus, Babygirl, Inside Llewyn Davis, Dune, and much, much more!

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN is currently in theaters.

Made in a Another Year, but Watched in 2024 Dec 24, 2024

We watched a ton of movies this year, but some of the most exciting ones weren't new. In a special holiday episode, Anne and Ryan discuss a handful of older films that fascinated them in 2024, from first-time discoveries of underseen gems to reexaminations of all-time classics. From noir to gothic horror, from Brando to Bogart, these are some of the film experiences that felt most vital to us in the past year.

Queer Dec 17, 2024

Anne and Ryan discuss Luca Guadagnino's new drama QUEER starring Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Jason Schwartzman, and Lesley Manville. Based on the William S. Burroughs novella of the same name, QUEER follows an American writer living in 1950s Mexico City, pursuing a romance with a recently discharged Navy man. As the pair travel to South America in search of a mysterious drug, the story takes on a dreamlike aura in its depiction of longing and wanderlust. Join us for this discussion of Guadagnino's directorial follow-up to this year's Challengers, as well as diversions into James Bond, AMC theaters, Melancholia, the Babygirl trailer, Black Narcissus, Derek Jeter's gift baskets, Under the Volcano, The Agency and much, much more!

QUEER is currently in theaters.

Nightbitch with Courtney Davis Dec 10, 2024

Writer/director/actor Courtney Davis returns to the podcast to discuss the newly-released NIGHTBITCH starring Amy Adams and Scoot McNairy. Marielle Heller directed this adaptation of Rachel Yoder's novel about an artist struggling with the monotony of stay-at-home motherhood. As her frustrations worsen by day, she transforms into a canine at night. Released in time for the holidays, is NIGHTBITCH the feisty underdog of awards season, or is this feminist fable for the dogs? Delve into our discussion of NIGHTBITCH that goes into some off-leash diversions on Miranda July's All Fours, Whole Foods, The Fly, Bob Dylan, Queer, and much, much more!

NIGHTBITCH is available to stream on Hulu.

Gladiator II Dec 03, 2024

Anne and Ryan enter the arena of discussion for the newly-released epic GLADIATOR II starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. Ridley Scott directs this sequel to his Oscar-winning GLADIATOR, which finds Marcus Aurelius's grandson, Lucius (Mescal) captured and enslaved by the Roman General Acacius (Pascal). After an impressive gladiatorial performance, Lucius is recruited by a conniving stable master to win matches for an opportunity at revenge. Timed for Thanksgiving release, GLADIATOR II performed admirably at the box office, but how does this sword and sandal spectacle compete against Scott's original? Join us for an action-packed analysis of GLADIATOR II, along with diversions into Normal People, Jude Law, Déjà Vu, Ralph Finnes, La Chimera, Metallica, Barabbas, Adam Somner, and much, much more!

GLADIATOR II is available to stream with subscription to Paramount+

Joker: Folie à Deux Nov 27, 2024

Anne and Ryan discuss JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Todd Phillips directed this follow-up to 2019's stratospherically successful JOKER, which finds Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) confined to Arkham State Hospital and pursuing a romance with the mysterious inmate Lee (Gaga). As Arthur stands trial for his crimes, he mentally escapes the threat of punishment through imagined juke box musical numbers. Critically reviled and box office flop, JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is one of 2024's most high profile failures, but is all the hatred justified? Listen to our takes on JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX, along with diversions into the Arclight, House of Gucci, The Band Wagon, holiday commercialism, Now, Voyager, Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, and much, much more!

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is currently available to stream with subscription on Max.

Anora Nov 19, 2024

Anne and Ryan discuss Sean Baker's Palme d'Or winner, ANORA starring Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn. When Brooklyn stripper Ani (Madison) meets and impulsively weds the mega-wealthy Ivan (Eydelshteyn), a madcap adventure ensues as Ivan's family desperately attempts to annul the marriage. ANORA finds Baker executing his gritty style at a larger and more accessible scale than before, resulting in a near-unanimously praised awards contender. But does Mama Needs a Movie ador-a ANORA, or do we think ANORA is a snore-a? Listen to our discussion of Baker's latest along with with diversions into Woman of the Hour, Milk Money, Last Night in Soho, Kenji Mizoguchi, the Safdie brothers, the Duplass brothers, the Coen brothers, and much, much more!

ANORA is currently in theaters.

A Real Pain Nov 12, 2024

Anne and Ryan discuss the new released comedy-drama, A REAL PAIN starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Written and directed by Eisenberg, A REAL PAIN follows two estranged cousins on a tour through Poland as they attempt to connect with the memory of their recently deceased grandmother, their cultural heritage, and each other. Featuring a standout performance from Culkin, A REAL PAIN is just the kind of dialogue-driven character study perfect to kick off MNAM's tour of this autumn's most intriguing releases. We hope you'll join us for this discussion that also includes a few detours into the 2024 election results, The Sixth Sense, The Odd Couple, Sunshine, Thomas Jefferson, Unstrung Heroes, Woody Allen and much, much more!

A REAL PAIN is currently available to stream on Hulu.

The Manchurian Candidate with Dan Chamberlain Nov 05, 2024

Our political thriller series comes to an exciting Election Day conclusion with writer and actor Dan Chamberlain (Have I Got News for You) joining to discuss John Frankenheimer's THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury and Janet Leigh. Based on Richard Condon's novel, this 1962 classic concerns a Korean War veteran Raymond Shaw (Harvey), who is brainwashed by communists to become an unwilling killer in an international conspiracy. One of the defining films of the Kennedy-era Cold War, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE has earned a reputation as the quintessential political thriller, but can its dark paranoid fantasy possibly outdo the tension of the current political moment? Find out on a special 2024 Election Day episode of Mama Needs a Movie that also takes diversions into The Ghost Writer, James Carville, libertarianism, Brian Wilson, the Nixon Library, Joycelyn Elders, Parade Magazine, Queer, Conclave, and much, much more!

THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE is currently streaming for free on Tubi, PlutoTV, Kanopy, Hoopla, and the Roku Channel.

JFK with Jack Allison Oct 29, 2024

Our political thriller series reaches a fever pitch as writer Jack Allison (author of Kill the Rich) joins to discuss Oliver Stone's JFK starring Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, and many, many more. This 1991 Oscar-nominated drama relitigates the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy through the probing lens of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Costner). Overflowing with equal parts historical information and conjecture and expertly edited to achieve an anxiously breathless pace, JFK is the quintessential conspiracy film- but what does that mean in a culture where online political conspiracies currently dominate America's fringes? We'll try to solve the mystery of JFK along with some diversions into the current election, January 6th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, American Tabloid, The Irishman, and much, much more!

Order Jack Allison's novel KILL THE RICH from Clash Books:

https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Rich-Jack-Allison/dp/1955904855

Bridge of Spies Oct 22, 2024

As the 2024 election draws near, we can't get enough political thrillers, this week looking at Steven Spielberg's Cold War tale, BRIDGE OF SPIES starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance. Scripted by Matt Charman, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, the film tells the true story of James B. Donovan (Hanks), a New York City lawyer called upon to defend a recently arrested spy for the Soviets, Rudolph Abel (Rylance). Donovan develops a surprising respect for his stoic client, eventually fueling his motivation to attempt an historic prisoner exchange in East Germany just as the Berlin Wall is going up. A rare espionage suspense story that's focused more on diplomacy than violence, BRIDGE OF SPIES has garnered a dubious reputation as the quintessential Speilberg/Hanks "Dad movie", but it's time for MAMA to cross this BRIDGE, stopping for a few diversions into Christopher Nolan, The Man Who Knew Too Much, nepo babies, Munich, Henry Fonda, The Great Gatsby, The Negotiator, The White Ribbon, nuclear war and much, much more!

Three Days of the Condor Oct 15, 2024

Our season-long Political Thriller obsession continues with Sydney Pollack's THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR starring Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway. This 1975 suspense classic centers on a CIA researcher who returns from his lunch break to discover his co-workers are murdered and he's on the run for his life. Featuring an unconventional romance between Redford and Dunaway and a villainously scene-stealing turn by Max von Sydow, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR typifies the post-Watergate paranoid thriller as we know it. Join our discussion as we take flight on CONDOR, with occasional diversions into Michael Mann, William Castle, August Wilson, The Conversation, Out of Sight, The Los Angeles Times, and much, much more!

THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR is currently available to stream with subscription to Paramount Plus.

The Falcon and the Snowman with Jon Millstein Oct 09, 2024

Our Political Thriller season continues with writer and actor Jon Millstein joining to discuss the 1985 espionage true story THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. Directed by John Schlesinger, the movie tells the fact-based tale of two disillusioned friends who embark on a dangerous hustle selling United States security secrets to the Soviet Union. With a whip smart script by Steven Zaillian (his first-ever produced) and revelatory performances from Hutton and Penn, THE FALCON AND SNOWMAN received decent reviews upon release, but was only a muted box office success. In recent years, FALCON has yet to catch a second wind, but is due for a critical reappraisal. Listen in on our discussion of this underrated espionage classic that takes diversions into Megalopolis, the Vice Presidential debate, Alfred Tennyson, Skibidi Toilet, Levitated Mass, Boss Baby, the Winter Soldier and much, much more!

THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN is currently available to stream for free on Hoopla and PlutoTV.

American Psycho with Kayla Bates Oct 01, 2024

Our season of political thrillers continues with guest Kayla Bates (host of ScreenVomit) joining to discuss Mary Harron's AMERICAN PSYCHO starring Christian Bale, Chloë Sevigny, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Samanta Mathis and Reese Witherspoon. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, this turn-of-the-millenium satirical thriller delves into the psyche of Patrick Bateman, a status-obsessed investment banker leading a double life as a sadistic serial killer in 1980s Manhattan. Anchored by an audacious performance from Bale, AMERICAN PSYCHO had much to say about Trump-style materialism and dehumanization long before Trump entered the political arena. As both a slyly feminist work and an oft-misinterpreted staple of filmbro canon, it's only grown in esteem as a darkly fascinating film to watch and discuss. Join us as we go nuts for AMERICAN PSYCHO, taking diversions into Blink Twice, The Dark Knight, Serial Mom, Chris Hansen, Gloria Steinem, Caligula, and much, much more!

Support Kayla's recovery from surgery here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-kaylas-recovery-from-surgery

AMERICAN PSYCHO is currently available to stream with subscription to Netflix.

The Parallax View with Ally Hord Sep 17, 2024

Writer Ally Hord (Late Night with Seth Meyers) joins our Political Thriller series to discuss Alan J. Pakula's 1974 paranoia-fest, THE PARALLAX VIEW starring Warren Beatty, Hume Cronyn, and Paula Prentiss. Beatty stars as an investigative newspaper reporter uncovering a sinister shadow organization that specializes in political assassination. Released in the wake of several real life political assassinations and the Watergate scandal, THE PARALLAX VIEW typifies the stylish disillusionment of '70s era cinema, soberly shading an outlandish premise with cinematographer Gordon Willis's low-light moodiness. Join us as we contrast our different views on PARALLAX, along with diversions into Donald Trump, Home Improvement, the Burbank airport, The Paper, Harrison Ford, Glenn Close, and much, much more!

THE PARALLAX VIEW is currently available to stream for free on Kanopy and PlutoTV.

In the Line of Fire Sep 03, 2024

Just in time for election season, we're kicking off our Political Thriller series with IN THE LINE OF FIRE starring Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich and Rene Russo. Wolfgang Petersen directed this 1993 suspense actioner about a Secret Service agent trying to thwart a would-be assassin targeting the U.S. President. Upon release, IN THE LINE OF FIRE was a critical and commercial hit, garnering Oscar nominations for Malkovich, screenwriter Jeff Maguire and editor Anne V. Coates. From now until Election Day, Mama Needs a Movie will delve into paranoia-driven political thrillers, starting with this pulse-pounding episode on IN THE LINE OF FIRE which contains the premiere of a new segment, Poetry Corner, the return of Let's Talk Physical, and diversions into Law & Order, the Olympics, Dermot Mulroney, incels, the 2024 election cycle and much, much more!

IN THE LINE OF FIRE is available from most streaming rental platforms and can also be streamed with a subscription to MGM+.

It Ends with Us Aug 20, 2024

Anne and Ryan delve into the drama of the newly released IT ENDS WITH US starring Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj and Brandon Sklenar. Based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, the movie follows Lily Bloom (Lively), a florist reconciling her father's death, beginning a relationship with a surgeon and reuniting with an old flame. As the story unfolds, darker themes of domestic violence reveal themselves, forcing Lily to make tough decisions about her life moving forward. With the off-camera drama between director Baldoni and the cast threatening to overshadow the film itself, we try to fairly examine the form and function of this modern day melodrama, along with some diversions into Nick Jonas, Douglas Sirk, Parachute, Gena Rowlands and much, much more!

IT ENDS WITH US is currently available to stream with subscription to Netflix.

{UNLOCKED} Attention Must Be Paid: Morvern Callar Aug 06, 2024

In this unlocked episode of Mama Needs a Movie's Patreon spinoff podcast, ATTENTION MUST BE PAID (patreon.com/MNAM), Anne and Ryan look back at Lynne Ramsay's MORVERN CALLAR, a 2002 Scottish drama anchored by a haunting performance from Samantha Morton that is worthy of far more attention. Traumatized by the suicide of her novelist boyfriend on Christmas morning, Morvern Callar (Morton), submits his last manuscript as her own, then sets out on a trip to Spain with her best friend Lana (Kathleen McDermont). Following Ramsay's acclaimed debut feature, RATCATCHER, and preceding her more widely-recognized WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN and YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, MORVERN CALLAR is at turns moving, meditative, unsettling, and essential to understanding Ramsay's one-of-a-kind directorial approach.

MORVERN CALLAR is available to stream for free on Kanopy or Freevee (with ads), or with subscription to The Criterion Channel or Prime Video.

Twisters Jul 23, 2024

Anne and Ryan discuss the newly-released disaster sequel, TWISTERS starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell. Lee Isaac Chung (director of 2020's Minari) helms this fresh follow-up to Jan de Bont's 1996 original. TWISTERS follows meteorologist Kate Carter (Jones) as she re-enters the dangerous world of tornado chasing after a tragedy. When Kate meets Tyler (Powell), a hotshot hillbilly with a storm chasing YouTube channel, she is compelled to resume her groundbreaking scientific research into windy weather. Opening to positive reviews and a record box office debut for a natural disaster thriller, TWISTERS has stirred up a lot of attention, but does the movie itself suck, blow, or soar? Batten down the hatches for a breezy discussion of TWISTER that also takes diversions into the Presidential race, Miranda July, Beetlejuice, Armie Hammer, Normal People, White Christmas and much, much more!

TWISTERS is currently available to stream with subscription to Peacock.

Twister Jul 16, 2024

In anticipation of the newly released sequel, Anne and Ryan take a look back at 1996's original TWISTER starring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Jami Gertz, Cary Elwes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lois Smith, Jeremy Davies, Todd Field and Alan Ruck. Director Jan de Bont's disaster spectacular follows a group of amateur storm chasers across Oklahoma, flirting dangerously close with tornados as old flames Jo (Hunt) and Bill (Paxton) flirt with each other. Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin co-wrote TWISTER, which turned out to be the second highest grossing movie of 1996, stirring up $242 million at the box office. As Lee Isaac Chung's remake touches down this week, we look back at the original that started it all, along with diversions off path into The Bear, Jurassic Park, Outbreak, Nightcrawler, Los Angeles Plays Itself, Longlegs, Daddy Longlegs, and much much more!

The Bikeriders with Eva Anderson Jul 02, 2024

Vroom vroom! Writer Eva Anderson returns to the podcast for a joy ride with THE BIKERIDERS starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Mike Faist. Jeff Nichols wrote and directed this pedal-pumping drama based on Danny Lyon's book of the same name. Based on real figures from 1960s Chicago motorcycle scene, THE BIKERIDERS finds the brooding Benny Cross (Butler) torn between his wife Kathy (Comer) and the reluctant leader of the Vandals bike gang, Johnny (Hardy). Listen to Mama Needs a Movie break down the leatheriest movie of summer along with pit stops into Kevin Costner's Horizon, celebrity tattoos, the Playa Vista Cinemark, method acting, The Box, Poolman, Door Holder Number 3, The First Omen and much much more!

THE BIKERIDERS is currently available to stream with subscription to Prime Video.

Presumed Innocent with Courtney Davis Jun 25, 2024

Writer/director/actor Courtney Davis returns to the podcast to help us judge Alan J. Pakula's 1990 legal thriller PRESUMED INNOCENT starring Harrison Ford, Raul Julia, Bonnie Bedelia, Brian Dennehy, Paul Winfield and Greta Scacchi. Based on the best-selling novel by Scott Turow, PRESUMED INNOCENT spins the engrossing tale of a respected prosecutor accused of murdering a colleague. To give away any more of the plot would be a crime in itself. A box office hit upon release, the story has resurfaced in a new adaptation on Apple TV+ starring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role. For a movie of highly enjoyable twists and turns (including a still-discussed ending), we highly recommend you see PRESUMED INNOCENT before listening to our spoiler-filled discussion, where we also launch into unrelated sidebars on Casino, Flags of Our Fathers, The Perils of Pauline, Donald Sutherland, Kinds of Kindness, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard's Architectural Digest profile, and much, much more!

PRESUMED INNOCENT (1990) is available for digital rental and purchase on most major platforms.

Hit Man and Poolman: An All-Man Double Feature Jun 11, 2024

It's raining men on Mama Needs a Movie with our first ever doubleheader review, discussing Richard Linklater's comedy noir HIT MAN and Chris Pine's lighthearted mystery POOLMAN.

HIT MAN stars Glen Powell as a mild-mannered philosophy professor Gary Johnson, moonlighting as an undercover fake hit man, who falls for Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman who hires him. Debuting to critical praise at the Venice Film Festival, HIT MAN was picked up by Netflix for a straight-to-streaming release.

POOLMAN stars Chris Pine as Darren, a good-natured eccentric who lives in a trailer at an apartment complex in Los Angeles. His intense love of the city is put to the test when femme fatale June (DeWanda Wise) draws him into a sordid conspiracy. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, POOLMAN has faced a harsher critical response, but we vow to give Pine's directorial debut a fair shake.

HIT MAN is currently available to stream with subscription on Netflix.

POOLMAN is currently available for digital rental.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga May 28, 2024

We push the pedal to the metal in our discussion of George Miller's post-apocalyptic actioner, FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke. The fifth installment of Australia's venerable Mad Max series finds a young Furiosa kidnapped by biker warlord Dr. Dementus, and forced to watch her mother be murdered. After growing to adulthood at the Citadel, Furiosa becomes intent on taking revenge on Dementus, setting out on Fury Road where she meets Praetorian Jack. Following 2015's widely praised Mad Max: Fury Road, FURIOSA has opened to favorable reviews but disappointing box office numbers, causing some to wonder if this long-running franchise has finally run out of gas. Join us for a high octane talk of all things FURIOSA, along with some pit stops into The Bikeriders, Mike Faist, Saving Private Ryan, The Cell, The Souvenir, revenge films, aging auteurs, Marlon Brando, and much, much more!

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA is currently available to stream with subscription to Max.

The Idea of You with Raft May 14, 2024

Artist, writer and comedian Raft joins for a discussion of the new romantic comedy, THE IDEA OF YOU starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. Directed by Michael Showalter, this Prime Video release tells the story of Solène (Hathaway), a Silver Lake art gallery owner and divorced mother turning 40 whose accidental Coachella encounter with 24-year-old pop star, Hayes Campbell (Galitzine) leads to a sexy romance. Based on the book by Robinne Lee, THE IDEA OF YOU has garnered buzz for Hathaway's sincere work and the characters' unconventional age pairing, so it's high time for Mama Needs a Movie to weigh in on this modern work of Mom Cinema. Join us as we share some ideas about THE IDEA OF YOU, along with diversions into the Met Gala, celebrity tattoos, theatre kids, Fiona Apple, Quentin Tarantino, My Policeman, Maestro, Glendale, Quibi and much, much more!

THE IDEA OF YOU is available to stream on Prime Video.

Challengers Apr 30, 2024

Anne and Ryan volley points back and forth on Luca Guadagnino's tennis romance, CHALLENGERS starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor. CHALLENGERS is the chronologically jumbled story of two young tennis players, Patrick (O'Connor) and Art (Faist) who meet another pro, Tashi (Zendaya) and are immediately drawn to her. Years later, Tashi has coached one player to numerous titles, while the other fumbles through a career low point, the fate of all three realigning at a Challenger event. Praised for its sexy, kinetic style and score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, CHALLENGERS is shaping up to be one of 2024's most discussed movies. We serve up an aggressive CHALLENGERS discussion along with some out-of-bounds diversions into Shampoo, Out of Sight, The Social Network, West Side Story, body hair, Universal CityWalk, the Americana, and much, much more!

CHALLENGERS is currently available to stream with subscription to Prime Video.

Monkey Man with Craig Jorczak Apr 16, 2024

Actor and podcaster Craig Jorczak (The Oscar Should Have Gone To) joins to discuss the newly released action thriller, MONKEY MAN starring Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma and Sikandar Kher. The film marks Patel's directorial debut in which he plays Kid, a young man set on taking revenge against the corrupt police chief who murdered his mother. Plagued by injuries sustained during fight training, a harsh mid-pandemic production, and a late withdrawal of Netflix distribution, Patel’s first foray behind the camera required a resiliency worthy of his action hero protagonist, but is the film worthy of the blood, sweat and tears that went into it? Join us as we tackle MONKEY MAN with some diversions into Ripley, Letterboxd, John Woo, the Skarsgård siblings, Monster's Ball, Foe, Kenneth Lonergan, movie stars on Broadway, and much, much more!

MONKEY MAN is available to stream with subscription to Peacock.

Black Narcissus with Harrison Atkins Apr 02, 2024

Director and writer Harrison Atkins (Lace Crater) joins for a discussion of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's rhapsodic 1947 drama, BLACK NARCISSUS starring Deborah Kerr, Kathleen Byron, David Farrar and Sabu. Based on Rumer Godden's novel, BLACK NARCISSUS tells the story of Anglican nuns establishing a convent on a Himalayan mountaintop. Overwhelmed by the region's natural beauty and their own natural urges, the sisters begin to question their lives as nuns. Shot in stunning Technicolor by cinematographer Jack Cardiff, BLACK NARCISSUS is one of Powell and Pressburger's defining films, a thorny, surprisingly modern work on female devotion, repression, lust and madness. Join Mama Needs a Movie as it gazes into BLACK NARCISSUS, with some diversions into Annihilation, Paris Is Burning, declining horniness, Madeline, Silence, haircuts, Sister Wendy and much, much more!

BLACK NARCISSUS is available to stream with subscription to The Criterion Channel or Max, and can be streamed for free on Freevee, Tubi, and The Roku Channel.

MNAM's 100th Episode Special Mar 19, 2024

Mama Needs a Movie celebrates 100 episodes of flawless podcasting with a telephone survey of former guests Danny Jelinek, Allan McLeod, Jessica Lee Williamson, Alex Kavutskiy, Courtney Davis, Meghann Murphy, Caramel Nguyen, Jon Millstein, and Rachel Lee Goldenberg.

Dune: Part Two Mar 05, 2024

Anne and Ryan serve up a spicy discussion of Denis Villenueve's DUNE: PART TWO, the second installment of the epic science-fiction saga starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Javiar Bardem. Based on Frank Herbert's classic novel, the film picks up where 2021's DUNE left off: In a distant future, after the fall of the House Atreides, Paul Atreides (Chalamet) and his mother Jessica (Ferguson) travel with the Fremen on the planet of Arrakis. Paul's romance with Chandi (Zendaya) grows as he struggles with visions of a terrible future and an impending war with House Harkonnen. Opening to rave reviews and a strong box office performance, DUNE: PART TWO has already cemented its place as one of 2024's most celebrated releases, but does the film really live up to the hype? Join Mama Needs a Movie down the wormhole of Villenueve's latest, along with diversions into Star Wars, Priscilla, The Last Temptation of Christ, Sydney Sweeney, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and much, much more!

DUNE: PART TWO is available to stream with subscription to Max.

Animal Farm with John Ross Bowie Feb 20, 2024

Actor, comedian and playwright John Ross Bowie (Brushstroke) joins to discuss the 1954 animated adaptation of George Orwell's ANIMAL FARM featuring the voices of Gordon Heath and Maurice Denham. Co-directed by John Halas and Joy Batchelor, ANIMAL FARM is a beast fable symbolizing decades of Russian history as an animal uprising on a brutally-maintained farm. Partially funded by the CIA's Office of Policy Coordination, ANIMAL FARM was intended as a covert piece of anti-communist propaganda, but performed poorly at the box office, eventually finding its biggest audience in American classrooms. We delve into this animated oddity in the context of Bowie's new play, BRUSHSTROKE, a Cold War comedy thriller dealing with the CIA's involvement in the modern art movement. Plus, we leave room for some off-topic diversions into
The Secret of NIMH, The Green Berets, No Way Out, Mike Leigh, Andy Serkis, Captain America, Captain Phillips and much, much more!
ANIMAL FARM is currently streaming for free on Freevee and Tubi.
BRUSHSTROKE is currently playing at the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles.
Tickets at: https://odysseytheatre.com/tickets/?eid=111850

Titanic with Meghann Murphy Feb 06, 2024

Actress and writer Meghann Murphy (host of The Oscar Should Have Gone To) joins for a look back at James Cameron's Oscar-winning romance TITANIC starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Billy Zane. Set aboard the ill-fated vessel, the story finds a newly-engaged first class passenger Rose (Winslet) falling for a free-spirited artist (DiCaprio) in third class. Cameron's ambitious epic, (pitched as "Romeo and Juliet on the Titanic"), was a fraught production, racking up a then all-time record budget of $200 million dollars and sparking speculation that it would be a box office disaster. Upon release in December of 1997, TITANIC remained number one at the box office for 15 consecutive weeks, racked up 14 Academy Award nominations, won 11, and launched DiCaprio and Winslet into the ranks of superstardom. Congrats, you've won a ticket aboard the our detailed reassessment of this Valentine's Day staple, along with diversions into Amadeus, May December, Revolutionary Road, Bradley Cooper, Saltburn, Lars von Trier and much, much more!

TITANIC is currently available to stream with subscription to Paramount+ or Peacock.

Poor Things Jan 23, 2024

Anne and Ryan discuss Yorgos Lanthimos's gothic comedy POOR THINGS starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe. Based on a novel by Alasdair Gray, POOR THINGS tells the fantastical tale of Bella Baxter (Stone), a Victorian era woman resurrected from the dead through a brain transplant. Escaping her constrictive environs with a rapidly maturing mind, Bella experiences an intellectual and sexual awakening traveling throughout London, Lisbon, Alexandria, and Paris. Released at the end of 2023, POOR THINGS received praise for the performances of Stone, Dafoe, Ruffalo, as well as its innovative production design, costumes and musical score. But what will MAMA NEEDS A MOVIE have to say about Lanthimos' twisted variation on Frankenstein? Observe our grisly dissection of POOR THINGS, along with divisions into The Curse, The Man with Two Brains, Yellow Submarine, NYAD, Frankenhooker, Good Time, Bunnicula, and much, much more!

POOR THINGS is currently available to stream with subscription to Hulu.

The Movies of 2023 Jan 09, 2024

Anne and Ryan look back on their most memorable movie experiences from 2023 in this special year-in-review episode. Buckle up for a spoiler-heavy discussion of 2023 films including: AFIRE, ALL OF US STRANGERS, AMERICAN FICTION, ANATOMY OF A FALL, THE HOLDOVERS, THE IRON CLAW, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, MAY DECEMBER, NAPOLEON, PASSAGES, PAST LIVES, SALTBURN, THE ZONE OF INTEREST, plus first-time watches of older titles like THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT, NO WAY OUT, OUT OF THE BLUE and much, much more!

Killing Them Softly Dec 26, 2023

Our "Alone for the Holidays" series concludes with our final episode of 2023, a discussion of Andrew Dominik's bleak 2012 crime drama KILLING THEM SOFTLY starring Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta and Richard Jenkins. Set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crises, KILLING THEM SOFTLY follows a pair of low-level criminals pulling an opportunistic heist, then switches to the hit man hired to control the fallout. Based on the novel Cogan's Trade by George V. Higgins, KILLING THEM SOFTLY was largely dismissed by audiences upon release as too downbeat, but it's an honest and exhilarating movie of big ideas, expressing with great efficiency and poetry what it means to be alone in America.

Maestro Dec 22, 2023

In this special holiday bonus episode, Anne and Ryan have seen MAESTRO and simply must have an emergency discussion of Bradley Cooper's long-gestating 2023 biopic of composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein. Cooper's drama largely focuses on Bernstein's marriage with Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan), and the couple's many challenges in the face of Bernstein's success. Enjoy this surprise discussion of MAESTRO that also diverts into Humoresque, TÁR, The Bandwagon, Beavis and Butt-Head, Oppenheimer, Unfaithfully Yours and much much more!

MAESTRO is currently available to stream with subscription on Netflix.

Cast Away with Brian Finkelstein Dec 12, 2023

Writer and performer Brian Finkelstein returns for our "Alone for the Holidays" film series, discussing Robert Zemeckis's survival tale, CAST AWAY starring Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt. In CAST AWAY, Hanks plays a time-obsessed FedEx employee who survives a plane crash on Christmas Eve, drifting ashore on a deserted island. After years of learning to survive in solitude, he must decide whether to risk his life to return to civilization. CAST AWAY was a box office and critical hit in the year 2000, scoring Hanks an Oscar nomination for his astounding body transformation. Join us for a discussion of CASTAWAY that also drifts toward diversions into The Shawshank Redemption, The Martian, James Cameron, the Sphere in Las Vegas, Octonauts, Charlie Wilson's War and much, much more!

CAST AWAY is currently available to stream with subscription to Hulu.

Jeanne Dielman with Owen Ashworth Nov 28, 2023

Musician Owen Ashworth (Advance Base) joins our ongoing "Alone for the Holidays" series with a discussion of JEANNE DIELMAN, 23 QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES starring Delphine Seyrig. At the age of 25, Chantal Akerman wrote and directed this slow-burning Belgian drama depicting the daily chores of a widowed mother in exacting detail. Through a series of static long takes, we become accustomed to Jeanne Dielman's well-worn pattern of cooking, cleaning, caretaking, and sex work- until the pattern breaks down and her behavior grows increasingly erratic. When first screened at Cannes in 1975, JEANNE DIELMAN was met with a mixed reception, but subsequent re-evaluation deemed it a masterpiece of slow cinema. In the 2022 Sight and Sound poll, JEANNE DIELMAN was voted to be the greatest film of all time by critics, and is but one film of many in Akerman's body of work to grow in esteem since her 2015 death. Join us as we try to figure out the deal with DIELMAN, taking a few diversions into Aki Kaurismäki, Cold Mountain, Playtime, Afire, famous filming locations, housecleaning, and much, much more!

Check out Owen's music with Advance Base: https://advancebasemusic.com/

Check out Owen's drawings: https://www.instagram.com/ownashworth

JEANNE DIELMAN can currently be streamed with subscription to The Criterion Channel or Max.

Paris, Texas with Pat Bishop Nov 14, 2023

Our "Alone for the Holidays" season kicks off with writer/director Pat Bishop (This Fool, Corporate) joining to discuss Wim Wenders's 1984 road film, PARIS, TEXAS starring Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, and Dean Stockwell. Scripted by Sam Shepard, the film opens in the Mojave desert where Travis (Stanton) emerges from years of self-imposed isolation. After reuniting with his brother Walt (Stockwell) and son Hunter (Hunter Carson), Travis's complicated past comes into greater focus, spurning another road trip of reconciliation. Featuring vibrant camerawork by Robby Müller and a starkly soulful musical score by Ry Cooder, PARIS, TEXAS was awarded the 1984 Palme d'Or and is now widely considered Stanton's iconic role and Wenders's American masterpiece. Join Mama Needs a Movie on a trip through PARIS, TEXAS that includes pit stops into Twin Peaks, The End of Violence, John Ford, '80s interest rates, Disney+, The Last Temptation of Christ, peep shows, Baywatch and much, much more!

PARIS, TEXAS is available to stream with subscription to The Criterion Channel or Max.

Cat People with Joan Ford Oct 31, 2023

Writer and performer Joan Ford returns to the podcast to discuss Mama Needs a Boo-vie's final spooky October selection, Paul Schrader's CAT PEOPLE (1982) starring Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell and John Heard. This loose remake of Jacques Tourneur's 1942 supernatural classic follows Irina (Kinski) traveling to New Orleans to meet her brother, Paul (McDowell). As incestuous undertones rage between the two, Irina is drawn into an investigation of serial murders, befriending a hotshot zoologist (Heard). This probe eventually leads to a shocking discovery about Irina's family lineage. Upon release, CAT PEOPLE received decent reviews, but proved a box office failure with only later reappraisals fully appreciating its sexy atmosphere and moody Giorgio Moroder synth score. Join us as the claws come out for this discussion of CAT PEOPLE, along with diversions into Five Nights at Freddy's, Doctor Detroit, Body Heat, Deep Blue Sea, Swiss Family Robinson, Mark Wahlberg, Las Vegas zoos, Scorsese on Letterboxd, and much, much more!

The Fly with Dave Ferguson Oct 17, 2023

Writer Dave Ferguson (The Birthday Boys, I Love You America) braves our October excursion into cinematic scare fare with a discussion of David Cronenberg's 1986 classic THE FLY starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. The Canadian auteur injects his unmistakable brand of body horror into this sci-fi fable of scientist Seth Brundle (Goldblum) whose experiments with matter transport go awry when he mistakenly teleports himself along with a single house fly. THE FLY was a well-reviewed box office hit upon release, solidifying Goldblum and Davis as a brainy (and very tall) screen couple for the '80s and unleashing Cronenberg as a sicko master for the masses. Join us as we merge with THE FLY, taking a few diversions into Vidiots, The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, Mel Brooks, bug digestion, Little Monsters, stress dreams, kid Halloween costumes, Axe Body Spray, the Grinch and much, much more!

THE FLY is currently available to stream with subscription to Max.

Carrie with Dan Chamberlain Oct 03, 2023

Writer and actor Dan Chamberlain (The Tonight Show) returns to kick off our October "Mama Needs a BOO-vie" fright-fest with Brian De Palma's supernatural classic, CARRIE starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen and John Travolta. This 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's novel follows Carrie White (Spacek), a timid teen who lives under the thumb of high school bullies and her abusive zealot mother, Margaret (Laurie). As her classmates devise a cruel prom night prank, Carrie begins to develop telekinetic powers, leading up to one of horror cinema's most unforgettable climaxes. A box office smash and double Oscar nominee (Spacek and Laurie both received nods), CARRIE solidified De Palma's status as New Hollywood's most audacious stylist, King's bankability as an adaptable author, and telekinesis as a horror movie trend. Join us as we discuss CARRIE with some spooky diversions into Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark, H.P. Lovecraft, Freddy Krueger, Blue Steel, The Exorcist, Duets, Sam Elliott, and much, much more!

CARRIE is currently available to stream with subscription to Max.

Swiss Family Robinson with Harper Steele Sep 19, 2023

Writer Harper Steele (SNL, Casa de mi Padre, Eurovision) joins to discuss the adventure classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON starring John Mills and Dorothy McGuire. Director Ken Annakin helmed Disney's lavish 1960 adaptation of Johann David Wyss's 1812 novel about a family of five shipwrecked on a deserted island. Scavenging the contents of the defunct vessel, the Robinsons manage to build an elaborate tree house and play host to a menagerie of wild animals- but the coziness of their newfound Eden threatens to be corrupted by a looming pirate menace. SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON may have been initally released as an family offering, but its gender dynamics, racial representation and themes of colonization make for a complicated reassessment through a contemporary lens. Listen as we explore the deep roots this film has taken in our own lives, and as we branch out into diversions on Mary Poppins, Freebie and the Bean, dumpster diving, Kurt Russell, living off the grid, and much, much more!

SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is available to stream with subscription to Disney+

Il Sorpasso with Sean O'Connor Sep 05, 2023

In the conclusion of our "Summer Abroad" world cinema series, comedian and writer Sean O'Connor (Solar Opposites, Norm Macdonald Live) returns to discuss the 1962 Italian road comedy IL SORPASSO starring Vittorio Gassman and Jean-Louis Trintignant. Dino Risi directed this primo example of commedia all'italiana, a genre of socially astute, highly successful comedies that coincided with Italy's economic boom of the 1960s. Gassman gives an indelible performance as Bruno, a smooth-talking alpha male who manhandles a mild-mannered stranger, Roberto (Trintignant) into having the best day of his life. Hitch a ride with our discussion of IL SORPASSO, with a few pit stop diversions into Al Pacino, Austin Butler, Letterboxd, Bottoms, Ava DuVernay, Willy Wonka, the "art of the steal" and much, much more!

IL SORPASSO is available to stream with subscription to The Criterion Channel.

Y Tu Mamá También with Oz Rodríguez Aug 29, 2023

Our "Summer Abroad" international film series continues with director Oz Rodríguez (Miguel Wants to Fight, SNL) joining to discuss Alfonso Cuarón's Mexican road picture, Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN starring Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal and Maribel Verdú. Cuarón and his brother Carlos scripted this unconventional coming-of-age story of two teenage boys on a road trip, while vying for the affection of a newly single traveling companion in her late twenties. Layered against the backdrop of Mexico's class disparity and late-millennium political upheaval, Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN was an unqualified world cinema smash upon release in 2001, but how has its frank and sexy subject matter matured in the past two decades? Join Mama's discussion of MAMA along with diversions into Oppenheimer, Andor, Pablo Larraín, Looking, directing fight scenes, natural wine, Great Expectations, circumcision and much, much more!

MIGUEL WANTS TO FIGHT is available to stream on Hulu.

Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN is available for streaming rental and on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

La Piscine with Jordan Morris Aug 22, 2023

Our "Summer Abroad" international film series continues with writer Jordan Morris (Bubble; Jordan, Jesse, Go!) joining to discuss the French thriller LA PISCINE (THE SWIMMING POOL) starring Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet and Jane Birkin. Jacques Deray directed this sexually-charged slow-burner in which a couple's vacation at a stylish Saint-Tropez villa is disturbed by the arrival of an ex-lover and his daughter. As unease builds within this tanned and toned quartet, sex and violence become the obvious outlets for their growing resentments. A box office hit and style landmark upon release, LA PISCINE experienced a resurgence in popularity with American audiences after its 2021 re-release. In this spoiler-filled discussion, we venture to the deep end of THE SWIMMING POOL, but not before a few diversions into school dances, pool noodles, Luca Guadagnino, David Hockney, boba, Boba Fett, the O.J. Simpson freeway chase and much, much more!

Go to orphanbooksinc.com/shop for signed copies of Jordan's graphic novel BUBBLE, or attend AN AFTERNOON WITH AUTHORS at Dynasty Typewriter August 26th at 4pm. (Net proceeds go towards the Entertainment Community Fund)

LA PISCINE is available to stream with subscription to The Criterion Channel.

Mother with Kate Freund Aug 15, 2023

Our "Summer Abroad" world cinema tour continues with writer, actor, and director Kate Freund joining to discuss Bong Joon-ho's thriller MOTHER starring Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Jin Goo and Yoon Je-moon. This 2009 South Korean film follows an unnamed Mother who is fiercely protective of her intellectually disabled adult son, Do-joon. When Do-joon is accused of murder, Mother will stop at nothing to clear him of the charges. A twisty and tragic portrait of unconditional love turned lethal, MOTHER could be Bong's most severely underseen genre-defying modern masterwork. Listen along as we pay tribute to MOTHER, along with diversions into Ghostbusters, All That Jazz, Shaw Brothers, Wesley Snipes, Klute, Baahubali 2, James Cameron, Elizabeth Taylor and much, much more!

MOTHER is currently available to stream on Tubi and Amazon Prime.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind with Conner Shin Aug 08, 2023

Our month-long "Summer Abroad" world cinema series kicks off with writer and actor Conner Shin (Harley Quinn) joining to discuss Hayao Miyazaki's 1984 post-apocalyptic anime fantasy NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND featuring the voices of Sumi Shimamoto, Gorō Naya, Youji Matsuda and Hisako Kyoda. NAUSICAÄ tells the story of a bug-loving teenage princess who resides in the peaceful Valley of the Wind, but regularly traverses the Toxic Jungle to communicate with large mutant insects called the Ohm. When the kingdom of Tolmekia threatens to destory the Ohm through the use of a nuclear bomb-like device known as the Giant Warriror, the princess desperately attempts to broker peace between humans and nature. NAUSICAÄ was Miyazaki's notoriously troubled introduction to a global audience, originally shown in Western markets in a severely butchered form. But as Miyazaki's reputation as an anime auteur has grown outside of Japan, so has interest in NAUSICAÄ, which is now considered an essential early work of a cinamatic titan. Join us as we talk NAUSICAÄ, along with diversions into And Just Like That..., Dune, Top Gun, Elemental, Oppenheimer, Mike White, Turning Red and much, much more!

NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND is currently available to stream on Max.

Barbie with Amy Heidt Aug 01, 2023

Actor and writer Amy Heidt joins to discuss Greta Gerwig's blockbuster comedy BARBIE starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera and Kate McKinnon. Gerwig's satiric take of Mattel's flagship doll finds Barbie (Robbie) in an existential crisis, venturing outside of the idyllic and matriarchal Barbieland and into the real world for answers to womanhood's complexities. Meanwhile, Ken (Gosling) discovers the patriarchal structure of the real world and threatens to forever transform Barbieland with his forbidden knowledge. As half of summer 2023's fabled "Barbenheimer Weekend," BARBIE opened to enthusiastic reviews and a record-breaking box office take, all but cementing the launch of a Mattel cinematic universe. Join us for a spirited discussion of this worldwide phenomenon that also includes diversions into The Wizard of Oz, Oppenheimer, Sex Education, Ben Shapiro, Sound of Freedom, Little Women, Jeff Daniels, Death on the Nile and much much more!

BARBIE is available to stream with subscription to Max.

Oppenheimer with Nick Wiger Jul 25, 2023

Writer and comedian Nick Wiger (Doughboys, Get Played) joins to discuss Christopher Nolan's biopic OPPENHEIMER starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. One of 2023's most highly-anticipated films, OPPENHEIMER chronicles the life and times of the father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer, from his early days at Cambridge, to his spearheading the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, the fateful Trinity test, to facing scrutiny at the peak of Cold War paranoia. Written and directed by Nolan in his road-tested non-linear style, OPPENHEIMER is an epic of uncommon intimacy and intelligence positioned as a summer blockbuster- not to mention half of the phenomenally successful "Barbenheimer Weekend" at the box office. Join our discussion of OPPENHEIMER along with diversions into incel inventors, moviegoing cosplay, the WGA/SAG strike and much, much more!

A.I. Artificial Intelligence with Van Robichaux Jul 18, 2023

Screenwriter Van Robichaux (Fist Fight, Brooklyn 99) joins to discuss Steven Spielberg's 2001 science fiction film A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE starring Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor and William Hurt. Originally developed by Stanley Kubrick and handed to Spielberg, A.I. is a fascinating mix of two major filmmakers' disparate sensibilities, combining fairy tale fancy with dystopian sci-fi. Osment earned praise for his intense portrayal of David, a sophisticated robot boy programmed with the single-minded desire to love. Unfurling as a futuristic variation on Pinocchio, A.I. confounded some critics and audiences upon release, but has since gained pockets of appreciation as a brilliantly atmospheric and philosophical entry in Spielberg's illustrious filmography. As the emergence of AI technology makes today's headlines, join us as we revisit this strange and singular film along with diversions into the WGA/SAG-AFTRA dual strike, Chappie, Hubie Halloween, Star Trek, Jack and Jill, and much, much more!

Past Lives Jul 11, 2023

Anne and Ryan discuss Celine Song's 2023 drama PAST LIVES starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro. Song wrote and directed this tender story of two childhood sweethearts, Nora (Lee) and Hae Sung (Yoo) from Seoul, South Korea reuniting as adults in New York City, much to the discomfort of Nora's husband, Arthur (Magaro). PAST LIVES is an intimate romance of epic scope, exploring the immigrant experience, and the human bonds that persist through our lifetime(s). Join Anne and Ryan for a wide-ranging discussion of PAST LIVES that also finds room for diversions into The Bear, Baggus, hit man movies, the MTV Movie Awards and much, much more!

It's Complicated with Emily Strachan Jul 04, 2023

Writer Emily Strachan joins to discuss Nancy Meyers's 2009 romantic comedy, IT'S COMPLICATED starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin and John Krasinski. Set in sunny Santa Barbara, IT'S COMPLICATED features Streep as a successful bakery owner pursuing a fling with her now re-married ex-husband, played by Baldwin. A rare and upbeat portrait of sex in middle age, the film was one of Meyers's biggest commercial hits upon release, but how do the movie's sexual politics and famously bright style fare in 2023? Listen in as we attempt to simplify IT'S COMPLICATED, taking diversions into home renovation, French films festivals, Home Again, Damage, potty training, and much, much more!

IT'S COMPLICATED is available to stream with subscription to Netflix, Peacock Premium, or Starz.

Asteroid City with Chris VanArtsdalen Jun 27, 2023

Director Chris VanArtsdalen (The Birthday Boys) joins to discuss Wes Anderson's newest, ASTEROID CITY starring Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody and many more. Anderson uses a nesting play-within-a-show-within-a-movie structure to tell the story of a Junior Stargazing event gone awry in a remote desert town. ASTEROID CITY has opened to mostly positive reviews and promising box office returns, but some critics have contended that Anderson's distinct style has worn out its welcome in this, his 11th feature film. Hitch a ride with Mama Needs a Movie as we take a trip into the heart of ASTEROID CITY with some detours into Adrien Brody's SNL hosting, staying up late, InAPPropriate Comedy, Trumbo, Bane impressions and much, much more!

ASTEROID CITY is now available to stream on Peacock.

{UNLOCKED} Attention Must Be Paid: Love After Love (2017) Jun 20, 2023

In this preview of Mama Needs a Movie's Patreon-exclusive spinoff, ATTENTION MUST BE PAID (patreon.com/MNAM), Anne and Ryan show some love to under-seen cinematic gems like 2017's LOVE AFTER LOVE starring Andie MacDowell, Chris O'Dowd and James Adomian. Russell Harbaugh's directorial debut follows Suzanne (MacDowell), a mother of two adult sons, trying to move on after the death of her husband. Unfurling its lived-in character dynamics with unusual patience, the film creates a indelible portrait of a complicated family, featuring roundly excellent performances and a cozy analog vibe from its 16mm cinematography. LOVE AFTER LOVE is a recent American indie of consequence and a film toward which more attention must be paid.

You Hurt My Feelings with Andrew Grissom Jun 13, 2023

Writer, producer and cinephile Andrew Grissom returns to the podcast to discuss Nicole Holofcener's newest comedy YOU HURT MY FEELINGS starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tobias Menzies, Michaela Watkins and Arian Moayed. The plot concerns a New York writer Beth (Louis-Dreyfus), who overhears her therapist husband (Menzies) trashing her latest work in progress. YOU HURT MY FEELINGS debuted to positive reviews, critics citing it as one of Holofcener's strongest recent works as writer and director- but will its touchy themes cut too close to home for our podcast conversation? Listen to see if we hurt each other's feelings as we discuss this film, plus diversions into AMC snacks, The French Connection, Planet of the Apes, The Last Duel, Paterson, Regarding Henry, Voyage of the Rock Aliens, and much, much more!

Master Gardener with Allan McLeod Jun 06, 2023

Actor and writer Allan McLeod (You're the Worst) returns to discuss the third film in Paul Schrader's "Man in a Room" trilogy, MASTER GARDENER starring Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, and Quintessa Swindell. Written and directed by Schrader, MASTER GARDENER focuses on Narvel Roth (Edgerton), the resident horticulturist of a lavish estate. When the garden's wealthy owner Norma (Weaver) enlists Narvel to mentor her grand-niece Maya (Swindell), complications threaten to expose Narvel's past as a murderous white supremicist. Following 2017's FIRST REFORMED, (discussed with McLeod on a previous MNAM episode), and THE CARD COUNTER from 2021, MASTER GARDENER finds Schrader in his comfort zone: a simple room with a lone man writing a journal at a desk. Hear us tend to MASTER GARDENER along with some diversions into LA transit, prison life, Pete Davidson, the Alamo Drafthouse, Huntington Gardens, and much, much more!

Listen to our episode on FIRST REFORMED with Allan here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mama-needs-a-movie/id1605912846?i=1000571213883

Fast X with Nina Nguyen May 30, 2023

Comedian Nina Nguyen joins to discuss FAST X, the tenth installment in the Fast and Furious franchise starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Brie Larson, and many, many more. Director Louis Leterrier picks up the saga of Dominic Toretto and his crew of expert car thieves as they face off against Dante Reyes (Jason Mamoa), the vengeful son of a drug lord they killed five movies ago. Don't miss our furious discussion of FAST X where we also find time for some pit stops into Super Mario Land, Aquaman, Sucker Punch, Pete Davidson's necklaces, and much, much more!

Check out Mama Needs a Movie's new Patreon Exclusive series ATTENTION MUST BE PAID at patreon.com/MNAM

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret with Lesley Tsina May 23, 2023

Writer, actor and comedian Lesley Tsina joins to discuss the new film adaptation of Judy Blume's ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET starring Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Benny Safdie. Director Kelly Fremon Craig adapted and directed Blume's coming of age classic about an 11-year-old girl wrestling with puberty and religion in the suburbs of New Jersey. ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET has received critical acclaim for its superb kid performances and tender portrayal of adolescent friendship, but has struggled to find a huge audience at the box office. In this episode, we ask and answer many questions about MARGARET, and take diversions into summer camp, mimes, Mandy Patinkin, WGA picket signs, Zoom magic and much, much more!

MNAM presents ATTENTION MUST BE PAID now on Patreon May 19, 2023

Do you love Mama Needs a Movie and want to hear more? Head on over to patreon.com/MNAM for our new patron-only spinoff podcast, ATTENTION MUST BE PAID, where we shine a light on sorely neglected, but fascinating films from throughout cinema history. In each episode, Anne and Ryan focus on one seldom-discussed movie, making their case for why more attention must be paid to it.

Get access to all existing and upcoming episodes of ATTENTION MUST BE PAID at the cost $5 USD per month at patreon.com/MNAM.

Sleeping with the Enemy with Matt Jones May 16, 2023

Actor Matt Jones (Breaking Bad, Mom) joins to discuss the psychological thriller SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY starring Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin and Kevin Anderson. Director Joseph Ruben helmed this 1991 film with Roberts as a young woman trapped in an abusive marriage to a violent and domineering husband. After faking her own death, she attempts to start her life anew in a small town, but how long before her psychotic ex catches up with her? Upon release, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY broke the box office record for biggest opening of a film with a female lead and bolstered the extremely popular psychological thriller genre of the early '90s. But how have the film's scares- not to mention its relationship dynamics- aged since the film came out? Listen as MNAM faces the ENEMY, taking diversions into Alfred Hitchcock, The Goonies, Ace Ventura, Wilford Brimley, Succession, The Invisible Man, The Shining, Superman III and much, much more!

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY is available to stream on Paramount+.

Hollow Triumph with Josh Fadem May 09, 2023

Comedian and actor Josh Fadem (Better Call Saul) joins to discuss the 1948 film noir HOLLOW TRIUMPH (aka THE SCAR) starring Paul Henreid and Joan Bennett. Credited to director Steve Sekely, but mostly directed by Henried himself, HOLLOW TRIUMPH follows John Müller, a criminal whose casino heist goes awry, forcing him into hiding. When mistaken for a local psychoanalyst, Müller assumes the doppelgänger doctor's identity, down to a prominent facial scar. But can Müller survive long with both the law and his underworld contacts closing in? Shot by pioneer noir cinematographer John Alcott, HOLLOW TRIUMPH is an all too underseen B-movie gem, showcasing Henreid's elegant authority as both actor and director. With noir aficionado Fadem to guide us, MNAM ventures deep into the shadows to examine this downbeat thriller along with diversions into Babylon, Top Gun: Maverick, Barbara Stanwyck, Douglas Sirk, Jules Dassin, Psycho, Mel Gibson, Humphrey Bogart, Dead Ringers, and much, much more!

HOLLOW TRIUMPH is currently available to stream on Pluto TV, Tubi, or with subscription to Amazon Prime.

Air with Sean O'Connor May 02, 2023

Comedian and writer Sean O'Connor (Solar Opposites, Norm Macdonald Live) joins to discuss the new release AIR starring Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Matthew Maher, Chris Messina and Chris Tucker. Affleck directed this true story of marketing intrigue set in 1984, back when Nike found themselves an underdog in the growing basketball shoe market. In a risky gambit, the company courts a promising draft pick, then-20 year old Michael Jordan, vowing to build the revolutionary Air Jordan line around him. But first Nike must convince Jordan's mother, Deloris, that they can offer something their successful competitors, Converse and Adidas, cannot. Affleck's corporate comedy opened to mostly glowing reviews for its cracking script, and game performances by Damon and Davis, but can a talky movie about a selling shoes have legs with modern audiences? Take a step into this episode of MNAM as we talk AIR, plus wander off court for diversions into Babylon, Batman, Kevin Smith, Species, Under Siege, Moneyball, Funny Pages, His Girl Friday, and much, much more!

AIR is available to stream on Prime Video.

A Clockwork Orange with Sloan De Forest Apr 25, 2023

Author and film historian Sloan De Forest joins to discuss Stanley Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE starring Malcolm McDowell. The 1971 dystopian science fiction film based on Anthony Burgess's novel follows a British teen Alex DeLarge and his gang of Droogs committing ultra-violence in a not-so-distant future. When convicted of a brutal murder, Alex is given an opportunity to submit to an experimental behavioral treatment, leading to unpredictable psychological damage. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE sparked controversy upon its release, some critics praising its visionary world-building, others decrying its depiction of rape and murder as irresponsible. Though labeled with an "X" rating, CLOCKWORK proved to be a box office hit and Best Picture nominee. After a series of alleged copycat crimes took place, the film was made unavailable in the UK for nearly three decades, but that only strengthened the film's reputation as a transgressive and singularly powerful work. On this episode, we take a long look into CLOCKWORK's artistry and infamy, as well as diversions into Working Girl, The Searchers, The Sopranos, Star Trek Generations, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Franklin & Bash, and much, much more!

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is currently available to stream with subscription to Max.

Beau Is Afraid with Jefferson Dutton Apr 18, 2023

Director and writer Jefferson Dutton (The Sloppy Boys) joins to discuss the newly released dark comedy BEAU IS AFRAID starring Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Parker Posey. Written and directed by Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), BEAU IS AFRAID revolves around a deeply fearful middle-aged man's nightmarish journey to properly attend to his mother's unexpected death. Aster's surrealist film has divided critics, many of whom find genuine depth in the movie's neurotic enigmas and others who claim BEAU to be a hollow auteur exercise coasting on A24's good will. Either way, BEAU IS AFRAID has shown early strength at the specialty box office, outperforming all limited releases in recent memory. Join Mama Needs a Movie as we try to decode the Mother of All Mommy Issue Movies, along with diversions into Darren Aronofsky, The Odyssey, sleeping during movies, The Fly, Perry Mason, Nightmare on Elm Street, M. Night Shyamalan, Synecdoche New York, and much much more!

Nell with Jake Noll Apr 11, 2023

Comedian, actor and writer Jake Noll joins to discuss the 1994 drama NELL starring Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson. Directed by Michael Apted, NELL tells the story of a young woman raised in an isolated North Carolina mountain cabin, making her first contact with the outside world after the death of her mother. NELL was released to a mixed critical reaction, but Jodie Foster received an Oscar nomination for her unique performance communicating only through an invented language (created by Foster herself.) So listen up, chickabees, as we spee all 'bout NELL, along with some diversions into Liam Neeson's accent work, dog reactions to movies, Spanking the Monkey, bad doctors, The Room, Room, Jodie Foster's Masterclass, tays in the winn, and much, much more!

Badlands with Jessica Lee Williamson Apr 04, 2023

Writer and storyteller Jessica Lee Williamson joins to discuss Terrence Malick's directorial debut BADLANDS starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. Loosely based on the real-life 1958 killing spree of Charles Starkweather and his accomplice (or kidnapping victim?) 14 year-old Caril Ann Fugate, BADLANDS is a meditative portrait of shattered innocence and a landmark achievement of low-budget filmmaking. Released in 1973 to a muted critical response, the movie was quickly reappraised as a new American classic, announcing Sheen and Spacek as movie stars and Malick as a major voice in American cinema. So pop on this episode of Mama Needs a Movie to take a road trip into the heart of BADLANDS, making pit stops into Cruella, serial killer shows,The Long, Long Trailer, seasonal colds, good crying locations, The Parent Trap, and much, much more!

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent with Greg Stone Mar 28, 2023

Comedian Greg Stone joins to discuss the 2022 action comedy THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT starring Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Ike Barinholtz, and Tiffany Haddish. Cage portrays an altered version of himself who, suffering from a career slump and dejected from missing out on a good role, agrees to appear at a billionaire's birthday party in Majorca for a quick $1 million dollar payday. Things take a turn when the cheerful billionaire, Javi (Pascal) is suspected of arms dealing and Cage is recruited by the CIA to help take down his empire. Writer/director Tom Gormicon infuses the film with multiple nods to Cage's most iconic roles, making UNBEARABLE WEIGHT part buddy comedy and part career retrospective for one of the American cinema's most fascinating modern personas. Join MNAM as we take on the unbearable weight of podcast during cold and flu season, and the hilarious Stone takes us on diversions into Star Wars television shows, Predator, The Voice, the Waco siege, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Casablanca, parenting TikTok accounts, Wonder Woman 1984, and much, much more!

Contribute to Greg's stand-up special at: https://gofund.me/408e1676

The Color of Money with Sam Brown Mar 21, 2023

Actor, writer and comedian Sam Brown (The Whitest Kids U' Know) joins to discuss Martin Scorsese's THE COLOR OF MONEY starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. This 1986 sequel to 1961's THE HUSTLER finds the aging, once-slick pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson long retired from the game and making a living as a liquor salesman. When he meets Vincent, a spirited yet naive pool hotshot, Eddie offers to mentor the kid in the ways of the hustle- but can the impetuous Vincent sit still long enough to be taught? THE COLOR OF MONEY earned Paul Newman his first Best Actor Oscar and was Scorsese's first genuine box office hit. Coming during a period of mid-'80s survival for Scorsese, the film has long been considered the director's most "one for them" effort, a minor journeyman film from a major auteur. But with its virtuoso camerawork, razor sharp editing, classic '80s soundtrack, and themes of aging and excellence, has THE COLOR OF MONEY been hustling us this whole time, hiding in plain sight as a secret bonafide Scorsese classic? Cue up our convo to find out, as well as to hear diversions into baby Halloween costumes, Harold and Maude, Eve of Destruction, young John Turturro, Man on a Swing, Netflix originals, leading man physiques, and much, much more!

THE COLOR OF MONEY is available to stream on Paramount+.

Mommie Dearest with Scott Gairdner Mar 14, 2023

Scott Gairdner (Podcast: The Ride) returns to discuss the biographical drama MOMMIE DEAREST starring Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid and Mara Hobel. Frank Perry directed this adaptation of Christina Crawford's eponymous memoir which portrays Crawford's adoptive mother, Hollywood actress Joan Crawford, as unstable and abusive. Featuring a legendary lead performance by Dunaway as Joan Crawford, MOMMIE DEAREST opened in 1981 to such scathing reviews, Paramount Pictures quickly altered the film's ad campaign to market the film as high camp. In the following years, the film gained a cult following as an unintentional comedy and queer classic, but how will it fare when viewed through MNAM's modern parenting perspective? You won't want to miss this, the Mother of all MOMMIE DEAREST discussions, with diversions into The Room, John Waters, Showgirls, The Joker, vaping, Chris Rock, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and much much more!

MOMMIE DEAREST is available to stream on Max.

Now and Then with Alana Johnston Mar 07, 2023

Actress and comedian Alana Johnston (Self Esteem Party) joins to discuss the 1995 coming-of-age drama NOW AND THEN starring Christina Ricci, Thora Birch, Gaby Hoffmann and Ashleigh Aston Moore. Director Lesli Linka Glatter helmed this period piece about four adolescent friends growing up in a small Indiana town in 1970, bookended by scenes of the same quartet in adulthood played by Rosie O'Donnell, Melanie Griffith, Demi Moore, and Rita Wilson. NOW AND THEN came and went upon release in 1995, but decades worth of slumber party viewings had bolstered the film's cult reputation as a rare cinematic bildungsroman to focus on female characters. With the always-hilarious Johnston, we delve into this '90s staple along with diversions into Casper, Canadian television, Euphoria, Romeo + Juliet and much, much more!

Interview with the Vampire with Allan McLeod Feb 28, 2023

Actor and writer Allan McLeod (You're the Worst), returns to discuss the gothic chiller INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater and Antonio Banderas. This 1994 adaptation of author Anne Rice's bestselling novel spans centuries in the lives of elegant bloodsuckers from late 18th century New Orleans to mid-90s San Francisco. Neil Jordan directed an all-star cast lead by the then-surprise choice of Cruise as the flamboyantly evil vampire, Lestat. Despite some high profile protestations over its dark themes, the film was a box office hit upon release, and has secured its spot as a piece of '90s horror iconography. But viewed today, is INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE still have some bite or does it simply... suck? Much is at stake as we check the pulse of this film, plus ask our recurring question "Would You Parent Like That?", and follow some fun diversions into Sesame Street, the Mandela effect, Craig Healy, Vampirina, Oprah Winfrey, and much, much more!

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE is currently available to stream with subscription to Paramount+

Wayne's World with Eric Appel Feb 21, 2023

Director Eric Appel (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) returns to MNAM to discuss the 1992 comedy WAYNE'S WORLD starring Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe and Tia Carrere. Directed by Penelope Spheeris, WAYNE'S WORLD was the second ever cinematic adaptation of Saturday Night Live sketch, following two lovable heavy metal headbangers whose sudden opportunity to bring their public-access show to a wider audience risks compromising their integrity and friendship. WAYNE'S WORLD was an unexpected smash hit in February of '92, grossing over $183 million at the box office, spawning a sequel of its own, and precipitating a slew of SNL sketches-turned-movies to mixed results. In an excellent conversation, Appel speaks on his childhood obsession with Spheeries' film, the challenges of adapting sketches into movies, the importance of film soundtracks, and much much more!

WAYNE'S WORLD is currently available to stream on Max.

Triangle of Sadness with Joe Saunders Feb 14, 2023

Joe Saunders (Solar Opposites) returns to MNAM discuss Ruben Östlund's Academy Award-nominated comedy, TRIANGLE OF SADNESS starring Charlbi Dean, Harris Dickinson, Dolly de Leon, Zlatko Brić and Woody Harrelson. Östlund's acerbic satire, set amongst the rich and beautiful passengers of a luxury yacht, premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, taking home the Palme d'Or and eventually achieving crossover success in U.S. art houses. Now nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Orginal Screenplay Oscars, the film's impact is undeniable, but does TRIANGLE OF SADNESS tell us anything new about the rich and privileged? A hoy hoy! Hop on board for in-depth conversation on Östlund's latest, as well as diversions into Seinfeld A.I., Quentin Tarantino, The Octonauts, Below Deck, Ashton Kutcher, Detroiters, Roy Orbison, Shotgun Wedding, The Ruling Class, Old, and much, much more!

TRIANGLE OF SADNESS is currently available to stream on Hulu.

The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit with Tim Barnes Feb 07, 2023

Writer and comedian Tim Barnes, (Maurice on Mars), returns to discuss the 1998 direct-to-video comedy THE WONDERFUL ICE CREAM SUIT starring Joe Mantegna, Edward James Olmos, Clifton Collins Jr., Gregory Sierra, and Esai Morales. Based on a Ray Bradbury short story and written for the screen by Bradbury himself, the fantastical plot concerns five men in East Los Angeles who pitch in to buy an exquisite white suit with magical properties, agreeing to take turns wearing it over the course of a single night. A rare straight comedy from horror director Stuart Gordon, THE WONDERFUL ICE CREAM SUIT was released directly to VHS and quickly fell into obscurity, but that won't stop Mama Needs a Movie from trying on this fascinating film for size. Don't miss our in-depth dive into this overlooked gem, along with tasty diversions into You People, Wakanda Forever, Netflix password sharing, Andor, Bill Maher, The Mask, and much much more!

Serenity with Brad Evans Jan 31, 2023

Writer Brad Evans (The Tonight Show) joins to discuss the 2019 neo-noir SERENITY starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, and Djimon Hounsou. Steven Knight wrote and directed this sultry pulp tale of a fisherman seduced by his ex-wife into a plot to murder her current husband. A steamy thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, SERENITY was unceremoniously dumped into theaters by its distributor, Aviron Pictures in January 2019 with little to no promotional push. The film was an unqualified critical and box office failure, but that won't stop Mama Needs a Movie from stepping aboard SERENITY to further examine the film's audacious plot and maybe even seek out some overdue Justice for the fish named Justice. Grab a pole, bait your hook and cast your line into an oceanic discussion of SERENITY that makes room for diversions into Babylon, high school film courses, JFK, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, Stutz, and much, much more!

Dune with Jon Daly Jan 24, 2023

Actor, writer Jon Daly (Ding Dong Delicious) joins for an epic discussion of David Lynch's 1984 version of the science fiction classic DUNE starring Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Patrick Stewart, Kenneth McMillan, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow, and Sting. Based on author Frank Herbert's mammoth novel, DUNE was conceived as a mega-budget blockbuster to follow in the footsteps of STAR WARS, only to be met with scathing reviews and a disappointing box office take. In the decades since DUNE, Lynch repeatedly proved his dark genius with more sinister original films, demanding reevaluations of his most commercial, yet least successful directorial effort. What shall be the lasting legacy of Lynch's flawed but phantasmagoric version of DUNE, sandwiched as it is between Alejandro Jodorowsky's never-realized version and Denis Villeneuve's stunning but spare 2021 adaptation? Strap on your stillsuits for a gom-jabbing conversation that will forever redefine Dune Discourse, complete with diversions into M3GAN, broken bones, James Cromwell, tar, TÁR, Jay Leno sightings, wrestler-actors, THE EXORCIST, and much, much more!

DUNE is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Jon Daly can regularly be heard on the podcast, TWO JONS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT available wherever you get your podcasts.

Avatar: The Way of Water with Craig Rowin Jan 17, 2023

Writer Craig Rowin (Search Party) joins to discuss James Cameron's long-awaited blockbuster sequel, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang. Coming 12 years after the original AVATAR became the highest grossing film of all time, expectations were uncertain for Cameron's followup. Would audiences rush to revisit the Pandora's favorite family fortress, or neg the Na'vi in favor of BABYLON's flappers? Now THE WAY OF WATER has had its way with audiences, becoming 2022's highest grossing movie and receiving acclaim for its stunning effects, environmental allegory and emotionally resonant story. But how will the movie fare with this episode's trio of self-admitted franchise non-superfans? Listen to hear if AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER sinks or swims and stick around for diversions into Andor, lottery winners, Face/Off, Cassandra's curse, airplane movies, The Devil Wears Prada, Kevin Smith, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, and much much more!

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is currently available to stream with subscription to Max or Disney+.

To Live and Die in L.A. with Ian Pfaff Jan 10, 2023

Director Ian Pfaff joins to discuss William Friedkin's 1985 crime thriller TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. starring William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow, Debra Feuer, and John Turturro. The film follows a pair of Secret Service agents resorting to extreme measures to catch a notorious counterfeiter. As a west coast equivalent to Friedkin's own The French Connection, TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is remembered for its iconic opening titles, highly authentic counterfeiting sequences, pulse-pounding car chase, and new wave soundtrack by Wang Chung. But underneath the '80s style, is there a film of substance? Or is this slick neo-noir an elaborate counterfeit job itself? Join us as we discuss this long-time MNAM favorite along with reckless diversions into Miami Vice, art school, Frasier, Ray Liotta, Tangerine Dream, Compulsion, Ted Danson, and much much more!

TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is not currently streaming, but is posted in its entirety to the Internet Archive.

The Whale with Eva Anderson Jan 03, 2023

Writer Eva Anderson (You're the Worst, WeCrashed) helps us kick off a new year of Mama Needs a Movie with a discussion of the year-end awards contender, THE WHALE starring Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton. Darren Aronofsky directed this 2022 adaptation of playwright Samuel D. Hunter's intimate drama about a reclusive and obese teacher trying to reconcile with his estranged daughter. THE WHALE has received plaudits for Brendan Fraser's comeback role, but criticisms for a supposedly thin characterization of grief and eating disorders. Join us as we journey into the belly of THE WHALE, but not before some diversions into Jesus Christ Superstar, January 6th, Elia Kazan, Hunter Biden's art, Boris Karloff, RRR, and much much more!

Tár with Dan Chamberlain Dec 27, 2022

Writer and actor Dan Chamberlain (The Tonight Show) joins to discuss Todd Field's drama TÁR starring Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, and Nina Hoss. TÁR was released in 2022 to near unanimous acclaim for Blanchett's lead performance as Lydia Tár, a highly accomplished composer-conductor whose regimented existence begins to unravel in the face of personal scandal. Is this slow-tempo tale fable of the MeToo era Field's crowning opus, or does the film hit too many flat notes? On this, the last MNAM episode of 2022, we face the music about TÁR with extended diversions into nepo babies, movie musicals, NPR, Great Expectations, Arthur Schopenhauer, That Thing You Do!, Aaron Sorkin, German sex clubs, and much much more!

TÁR is now available to stream with subscription to Prime Video.

Flashdance with Morgan Cline Dec 20, 2022

Writer Morgan Cline joins to discuss the romantic drama FLASHDANCE starring Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri. This 1983 film was director Adrian Lyne's first breakout success, wowing audiences with the tale of a welder/cabaret performer who, despite no formal dance training, aspires to join the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance. FLASHDANCE was a star-making turn for Jennifer Beals, taking home a Best Original song Academy Award for "Flashdance...What a Feeling" composed by Giorgio Moroder and sung by Irene Cara. Though considered an undeniably iconic film of the '80s, how does the age gap and power differential of its core romance fare by modern standards? You'd simply be a MANIAC to miss this episode, which also features maniacal diversions into Santa Claus, Baby Boom, beefcakes, Finnish crime dramas, Joyride, She Said, Sliver, and much much more!

FLASHDANCE is available to stream with subscription on Paramount+

The Fabelmans with Danny Jelinek Dec 13, 2022

Director Danny Jelinek (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) returns to Mama Needs a Movie to discuss Steven Spielberg's autobiographical family drama, THE FABELMANS starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Gabriel LaBelle. Spielberg's newest release tells the story of an aspiring filmmaker named Sammy Fabelman coming of age in mid-century America, torn between his scientist father and whimsical, creative mother. This deeply personal film delves into the family rupture that has long informed Spielberg's work, but how does this literal portrayal of divorce and adolescent disillusionment stack up against the director's more fantastical works? Take a Ditch Day and join us as we enter the Fabelman Family Fortress to find answer, while taking some diversions into Avatar, David Cronenberg, cooking shows, Rob Zombie, SpongeBob SquarePants, and much much more.

Inception with Michael Cassady Dec 06, 2022

Actor and musician Michael Cassady (Don't Stop or We'll Die) joins to discuss Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Ken Watanabe. This sleek science-fiction caper wowed and confounded audiences in 2010 with its complex heist plot about dream "extractors" on a mission of corporate espionage. Over a decade after its release, INCEPTION is now considered the quintessential Nolan film, but how does the movie's earnest gambit to be a "thinking man's James Bond" adventure fare through the modern lens? Join us as Mama Needs a Movie dives several layers deep into this action blockbuster, drifting into numerous diversions including Timothée Chalamet, performance anxiety nightmares, Behind the Candelabra, the Arclight, Freddy's Nightmares, The Wizard of Oz, and much much more.

Big Night with Tim Kalpakis Nov 29, 2022

Writer/comedian Tim Kalpakis (The Sloppy Boys) joins to discuss the culinary comedy BIG NIGHT starring Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, and Isabella Rossellini. Tucci and Campbell Scott co-directed this 1996 independent film that tells the story of two Italian immigrant brothers struggling to keep their restaurant alive on the Jersey Shore in the 1950s. Easily interpretable as an art versus commerce tale that represents the film business, BIG NIGHT was well-received upon release and has only grown in esteem as an essential food movie. Pull up a chair as we take a bite out of this indie classic and attempt to digest its many themes along with appetizing diversions into German spätzle, Rao's restaurant, engagement rings, The Beatles, '70s SNL, Catcher in the Rye, baby boomer nostalgia, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Freudian slips and much much more!

The Ref with Carly Layne and Andrew Shaver Nov 23, 2022

Nashville-based singer-songwriters Carly Layne and Andrew Shaver join us for a special family-themed Thanksgiving episode to discuss the dark comedy, THE REF starring Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey. MNAM's holiday season kicks off with this Ted Demme-directed movie about a professional thief who gets more than he bargained for while holding a dysfunctional family hostage. THE REF was released to little fanfare in March of 1994, but has since gained a cult following as an unconventional Christmas classic thanks to its sharp performances and biting, profanity-laced dialogue. In a conversation slightly less raunchy, we'll pass final judgment on THE REF, and take some diversions into Bridget Jones's Diary, engagement stories, problematic artists, cousins, music royalties, Wrongfully Accused, blackmail, YouTube families, and much much more!

THE REF is currently available to stream for free with subscription on Hoopla.

Bad Timing with Bridey Elliott Nov 15, 2022

Writer, director and actor Bridey Elliott (Clara's Ghost) joins to discuss Nicolas Roeg's dark psychological drama BAD TIMING starring Theresa Russell, Art Garfunkel, and Harvey Keitel. The film uses a non-linear structure to portray a tumultuous love affair between a free spirited young woman and a psychiatrist living in Vienna. Receiving an extremely limited release in 1980, Roeg's lush and complex film didn't gain notoriety until repeat airings on the Z Channel cable station and, much later, a 2005 Criterion disc release. Listen in on Mama Needs a Movie's sensual obsession with this cult classic, along with sexy diversions into Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, The Exorcist, the 1994 Northridge earthquake, manic pixie dream girls, Serpico, Starbucks, Gene Hackman, Mighty Joe Young, and much, much more!

BAD TIMING is available to stream with subscription on The Criterion Channel.

Waterworld with Alison Tafel Nov 08, 2022

Writer and performer Alison Tafel (Bojack Horseman) joins to discuss the post-apocalyptic action spectacular WATERWORLD starring Kevin Costner, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Dennis Hopper. Director Kevin Reynolds' environmentalist cautionary tale of a water-submerged planet was the most notoriously troubled production of Hollywood's old school blockbuster era, going wildly over-budget and releasing to middling reviews and an underwhelming box office take in 1995. Time has (somewhat) redeemed the reputation of WATERWORLD, with the contemporary consensus indicating a more favorable view of the film's entertainment value and worldwide box office performance, not to mention the long-running and beloved Universal Studios stunt show it has inspired. Drench yourself in Mama Needs A Movie's discussion of one of cinema history's most ambitious and over-reaching excesses, plus diversions into Ben Affleck, hotel movie watching, early pandemic anxiety, Keanu Reeves, theatre kids, TÁR, steampunk, The Boy Next Door, and much, much more!

Defending Your Life with Courtney Davis Nov 01, 2022

Writer/director/actor Courtney Davis joins to discuss the 1991 comedy-fantasy DEFENDING YOUR LIFE starring Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, and Lee Grant. This was Brooks' fourth feature film as writer and director and his most ambitious comedy yet, depicting the afterlife as an efficient and religiously-unaffiliated destination called Judgment City, where highly intelligent bureaucrats prosecute, defend, and ultimately judge the lives of the recently dead. DEFENDING YOUR LIFE was a box office disappointment upon release, but has since grown in reputation as a singularly inventive and thought-provoking comedy of the '90s. In this episode, we render the definitive judgment on Brooks' pleasant purgatory, but not before some diversions into Universal Studios, The Fast and the Furious, Texas geography, Norman Mailer's Maidstone, Sizzler, remote education, social media woes, Don't Worry Darling, facing our fears, and much much more!

The Bridge on the River Kwai with Alex Kavutskiy Oct 25, 2022

MNAM welcomes its first repeat guest, writer and filmmaker Alex Kavutskiy, who returns to discuss David Lean's World War II epic THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI starring William Holden, Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa. The 1958 film concerns a British Lt. Colonel held in captivity as a prisoner of war by Japanese forces, and his obsessive need to finish a railway bridge connecting Bangkok and Rangoon. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI was an unqualified success upon release, topping the 1957 box office and sweeping that year's Academy Awards, but on MNAM it will have to compete against all nine Saw movies for attention. Don't miss this in-depth discussion into one of Lean's crowning achievements, plus notable diversions into Michael Clayton, Saw, Shoah, The Office, Saw VI, Marry Me, roadtrip podcasts, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, and much much more.

THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI is currently streaming on Max.

Mannequin with Holly Prazoff Oct 18, 2022

Comedian and actor Holly Prazoff (Comedy Bang! Bang!) joins to discuss the 1987 romantic comedy MANNEQUIN starring Andrew McCarthy, Kim Cattrall, James Spader, and Meshach Taylor. A loose adaptation of the Pygmalion myth, the Michael Gottleib-directed film tells the story of a department store mannequin inhabited by an ancient Egyptian woman. Though critically dismissed upon its release, MANNEQUIN proved to be a box office success and oft-replayed film on cable TV, earning an Academy Award nomination for its original song, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" performed by Jefferson Starship. Our conversation with Holly is nowhere near as rigid as the titular mannequin, as we veer into extended diversions covering Sex and the City, And Just Like That..., Pixar's Cars, Canadian radio, Tron, The Fisher King, the Holodeck, American Gigolo, UCB, Tom Cruise, and much much more.

MANNEQUIN is available to stream with subscription to Max.

The Craft with Carly Garber Oct 11, 2022

MNAM's spooky season continues with writer Carly Garber (The Goldbergs) joining to discuss the teen horror film THE CRAFT starring Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell and Rachel True. The 1996 film deals with a group of Catholic school students who form a secret witch coven, casting spells to fulfill their desires. The Andrew Fleming-directed thriller was a modest hit at the time of release, but has since grown a cult following among generations of teenage viewers. Our discussion with Carly veers into a near record-setting number of diversions into such non-occult topics as Richie Rich, LA real estate, TBS, Swimfan, Nick at Nite, local weathermen, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Hackers, The Try Guys, Roald Dahl, Kingpin, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, and much much more!

THE CRAFT is currently available to stream with subscription to The Criterion Channel.

It Follows with Joe Wengert Oct 04, 2022

Writer and comedian Joe Wengert (Big Mouth) helps us kick off the scary season with a discussion of the 2014 horror film IT FOLLOWS starring Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, and Daniel Zovatto. David Robert Mitchell wrote and directed this low budget thriller about a malevolent supernatural entity that passes through sexual encounters. An evocative metaphor for STDs and teenage sexual anxiety, IT FOLLOWS turned out to be a box office success, inaugurating a new era of stylish indie thrillers. Follow our conversation through a circuitous path into typical MNAM diversions such as Ghostbusters, Father Stu, young parents, Dwayne Johnson's diet, Force Majeure, Doritos and much, much more!

Don't Worry Darling with Raft Sep 27, 2022

Artist, writer and comedian Raft joins for a spoiler-packed discussion of DON'T WORRY DARLING starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, and Chris Pine. Olivia Wilde's psychological thriller has been the subject of endless tabloid scrutiny, from reported on-set disagreements to its controversy-plagued premiere at the Venice Film Festival, but we've now seen the film for ourselves and will speak our minds on both the entertainment value and cultural impact of this cinematic cause célèbre. Is this movie, in the words of Harry Styles, a "go-the-theatre-film-movie"? Don't worry darling, we have the answer! Also, you won't want to miss out on our many fun diversions with the effervescent Raft that explore the sinister side of Manhattan Beach, Jaws, The Feminine Mystique, 9/11, trolleys, Jordan Peterson, and most crucial of all, where we all parked when we went to see the movie!

DON'T WORRY DARLING is now available to stream on Max or Netflix.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day with Alex Scordelis Sep 20, 2022

TV writer and journalist Alex Scordelis (Difficult People) joins to discuss the sci-fi action classic, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick. James Cameron's 1991 followup to the original THE TERMINATOR was the most expensive movie ever made in its time and paid off by being an even bigger box office success. 30 years later, T2 remains the prototypical CGI-boosted blockbuster and a forever-haunting vision of nuclear apocalypse and artificial intelligence run amok. Come with us if you want to *live it up* with an analysis of T2's impact in the year 2022, plus funny and fascinating Scordelis anecdotes about John Stamos, Neil Young, Speed, Jerry Lewis, teenage moviegoing, Schwarzenegger impressions, and much, much more!

Safe with Jon Millstein Sep 13, 2022

Writer and actor Jon Millstein joins to discuss the 1995 psychological drama SAFE starring Julianne Moore, Peter Friedman, and Xander Berkeley. Written and directed by Todd Haynes, SAFE is the disturbing story of a suburban housewife in the 1987 San Fernando Valley who develops a sudden and inexplicable illness related to her environment. The film plays coy as to the causes of the lead character's illness, (is she suffering from an allergic reaction to her increasingly toxic urban lifestyle, a psychosomatic affluenza, or both?), and this mystery has only inspired more reexaminations of this chilly film over time. In a decade-capping Village Voice critics poll, SAFE was selected as the best film of the 1990s, and has not surprisingly gained new attention since March of 2020. Listen as MNAM fully diagnoses this film, along with some less toxic diversions into Mrs. Doubtfire, The O.C., Rick Steves, skateboarding, alternate birthday songs, quiet quitting, Dave Barry, and much, much more!

The Piano with Jean Villepique Sep 06, 2022

Actress and improvisor Jean Villepique (A.P. Bio) joins to discuss Jane Campion's Oscar-winning classic THE PIANO starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill and Anna Paquin. The New Zealand-set drama about a mute Scottish pianist, her young daughter, her arranged husband, and her illicit lover became an immediate art house crossover sensation upon its release in 1993, winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes and acting Oscars for both Hunter and Paquin. THE PIANO was praised for its exotic locations, the brutal intimacy of its love triangle, and tender depictions of the Māori people, but can the film be seen differently through a 2020 lens? Find out how these mothers rate the film on the Mama Panic Attack Assessment scale, as well as the debut of Ryan's new segment on home video releases, Let's Talk Physical! All this, plus juicy diversions into Moonstruck, Sigourney Weaver, 1980s New York City, Peter Pan, Dead Calm and Pacific Heights make this a must-hear episode!

Michael Clayton with Mike Hanford Aug 30, 2022

Writer and performer Mike Hanford (The Sloppy Boys) joins to discuss the 2007 legal thriller MICHAEL CLAYTON starring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson. Written and directed by Tony Gilroy, the film concerns the moral dilemmas of a New York City law firm's "fixer" who is known for getting clients out of sticky situations. MICHAEL CLAYTON was well-regarded upon release, earning 7 Academy Award nominations, (Swinton took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), and has since collected a legion of new fans who praise the film's smart dialogue and taut pacing. With the hilarious Hanford, we examine the curiously passionate reaction to this dour drama, along with diversions into Phantom Thread, Top Gun: Maverick, Pluto TV, rude movie theater audiences, His Girl Friday, Hannah Arendt, The Critic, gambling movies, and much, much more!

Buffalo '66 with Rachel Lee Goldenberg Aug 23, 2022

Director Rachel Lee Goldenberg (Unpregnant, Minx) joins to discuss BUFFALO '66 starring Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Houston, Ben Gazzara, and Kevin Corrigan. Gallo's feature directorial debut takes place over one day in the life of a newly released ex-convict who kidnaps a young woman to accompany him on a visit to his parents' home, all while planning a delusional revenge on a pro football player. Produced on a shoestring budget of $1.5 million dollars and shot on a vibrant reversal film stock, BUFFALO '66 was an indie sensation upon release, announcing Gallo as a hugely promising directorial talent. But in the intervening years, Gallo's once playful enfant terrible persona has evolved into something more perplexing, complicating the legacy of his most famous film. How does BUFFALO '66 hold up in 2022? Listen to hear the panel span time with their in-depth analysis, along with some impressive diversions into upstate New York accents, Asylum productions, agoraphobia thrillers, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Miranda July, Johnny Depp, and much, much more!

BUFFALO '66 is available to stream for free on Kanopy, Pluto TV, Tubi and The Roku Channel.

Prometheus with Mike Mitchell Aug 16, 2022

A truly out-of-this-world guest, Mike Mitchell (Doughboys, The Tomorrow War), joins to discuss Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, and Idris Elba. This 2012 prequel to the Alien films met an ambivalent reaction upon release, with critics slamming its tangled recontextualizaion of franchise lore. However, the last decade has seen an uptick in PROMETHEUS defenders who extoll the film's sinister atmosphere and themes of intelligent (though indifferent) design. Mitchell lends his quick wit and inimitable charm to this episode, which also touches on great white sharks, Independence Day, Troma films, Lawrence of Arabia, awards screeners, 3D televisions, A Serious Man, and much, much more!

The King of Comedy with Emily Maya Mills Aug 09, 2022

Comic, writer and director Emily Maya Mills (By a Thread) joins to discuss Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, and Sandra Bernhard. This disquieting dark comedy follows wannabe comedian Rupert Pupkin and his obsessive drive to win the attention of his hero, a late night talk show host named Jerry Langford. Upon release in 1982, THE KING OF COMEDY's unlikable characters and claustrophobic style baffled critics and tanked at the box office. Today, it is considered one of Scorsese's less appreciated masterpieces. In this episode, we delve into this cringe-inducing classic, along with seriously in-depth tangents into directing technique, dishwashing, Napoleon Dynamite, '70s paranoid thrillers, American Psycho, Fargo, freewheeling '70s drug abuse and much more.

Dirty Dancing with Lauryn Kahn Aug 02, 2022

Screenwriter Lauryn Kahn (Hulu's Fresh) joins to discuss the coming-of-age romance DIRTY DANCING starring Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, and Jerry Orbach. The 1987 drama directed by Emile Ardolino is one of the most iconic dance films of all time, but how has the film's perspective on touchier subjects like abortion and class consciousness aged in modern times? Is DIRTY DANCING still worth lifting up, or is it time to put it in the corner? Listen to find out, plus to hear some classic diversions into Baz Luhrmann, Scrooged, Rodney Dangerfield, cotton candy grapes, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Brett Kavanaugh, Weekend at Bernie's, and much much more.

First Reformed with Allan McLeod Jul 26, 2022

Actor and comedian Allan McLeod (You're the Worst) joins to discuss Paul Schrader's FIRST REFORMED starring Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, and Cedric Kyles. The 2017 drama concerns the grieving pastor of a small church in upstate New York who undergoes a spiritual crisis after counseling a depressed parishioner and his pregnant wife. Made in a spare, transcendental style, the film is a career-capping summation of Schrader's frequently revisited themes of loneliness, despair, and self-flagellation, combined with the newfound existential threat of climate change. Don't miss this discussion of one of 21st century's most essential films that also somehow manages to touch on The Golden Girls, Southern accents in movies, Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin, glory holes, the future of restaurant buffets, and so much more.

FIRST REFORMED is available to stream on Kanopy or with subscription to Max.

Circle of Violence: A Family Drama with Doug Jones Jul 19, 2022

Mama Needs a Movie discusses its first-ever TV movie with actor and voracious cinephile Doug Jones (Everything Is Terrible). Made for CBS in 1986, CIRCLE OF VIOLENCE: A FAMILY DRAMA features an impressive cast including Tuesday Weld, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and River Phoenix in a mother-daughter story tackling the issue of elder abuse. The film is a late-career effort from veteran British director David Green and alternates between moments touching and baffling. The spirited and wide-ranging discussion with Doug also somehow manages to fold in The Silent Partner, The Wonder Years, Interiors, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Beatles: Get Back, The Mosquito Coast, Coming to America, Two of a Kind, and so much more.

CIRCLE OF VIOLENCE: A FAMILY DRAMA is currently available to view on YouTube.

Coal Miner's Daughter with Brian Finkelstein Jul 12, 2022

Writer and performer Brian Finkelstein joins to discuss the Loretta Lynn biopic, COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER starring Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D'Angelo, and Levon Helm. The Michael Apted-directed drama scored Spacek the Best Actress Oscar for 1980 and remains one of the seminal films about life in the world of country music. Don't miss this far-ranging Mama Needs a Movie conversation with our typical tangents touching on the real-life inspiration for Copland, Juliette Binoche, Albert Brooks' teaser trailers, The Game, sexism in country radio, children's play places, Stranger Things, and much much more.

Raising Arizona with Amy Heidt Jul 05, 2022

Writer and performer Amy Heidt joins to discuss the Coen Brothers' RAISING ARIZONA starring Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter. The 1987 kidnapping caper is considered the Coens' most kinetic comedy, boasting speedy 94 minute runtime and more quotable lines than you can count, (and we make sure to quote most of them). Don't miss this wide-ranging conversation that touches on TikTok, Spielberg's E.T., the South's representation in movies, baby names, the real-life town that inspired Mayberry, Moonstruck, Alex Garland's Men, Spielberg's War of the Worlds, Top Gun: Maverick, The Adventures of Milo and Otis, and of course two of MNAM's favorite recurring topics: First Reformed and Woody Allen.

Get Carter with Jordan Morris Jun 28, 2022

Comedy writer Jordan Morris (Bubble; Jordan, Jesse Go!) joins to discuss the 1971 British crime film, GET CARTER, starring Michael Caine. This ruthlessly violent drama, directed by Mike Hodges, follows the eponymous gangster Jack Carter (played by Caine) on a quest to avenge his brother's murder. The movie has long been a benchmark in the genre of underworld sleaze, but how does its bleak worldview compare to living in 2022, (not to mention the year 2000 remake starring Sylvester Stallone)? The lively discussion also spans Jordan's early moviegoing in Orange County, formative Jurassic Park obsession, Fuddruckers video games, '80s sex thrillers, smells of the '60s, Paul Schrader, stick shift driving, body horror, and yes... movie theater parking.

Lightyear with Joan Ford Jun 21, 2022

Writer and animation connoisseur Joan Ford, (DC Super Hero Girls, Tiny Toons Looniversity), joins to discuss Pixar's new release, LIGHTYEAR starring Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, and Peter Sohn. The Angus MacLane-directed animated science fiction film is a (sort of) prequel to the Toy Story franchise, presented as a 1995 adventure movie that inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy. But does the movie-within-a-movie live up to the saga's gold standard? We get to the bottom of this question, stopping along the way for some trusty MNAM diversions into Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Child's Play 3, Ain't It Cool News, the lost roles of Tom Cruise, real life Tim Allen encounters, and of course, the AMC Stubs A-List. So buckle up, Star Command rookies, for a podcast that goes to infinity... and beyond!

LIGHTYEAR is currently available to stream on Disney Plus.

Jurassic World: Dominion with James III Jun 14, 2022

In a conversation 65 million years in the making, guest James III (Astronomy Club, Black Men Can't Jump [In Hollywood]) joins Mama Needs a Movie to discuss JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, and Campbell Scott. Colin Trevorrow directs this apocalyptic blockbuster conclusion to the Jurassic World trilogy where dinos run amok on earth and genetically-engineered locusts threaten to bring about worldwide famine. James III is a bonafide Jurassic super-fan with passionate opinions on all the films and books in the series, (and he has the fan fiction to prove it), but how will DOMINION stack up against giganotosaurus-sized reputation of the franchise's high points? You'll have to listen to find out. Also... everyone talks about where they parked when they saw the movie!

JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION is currently available to stream on Prime Video.

Top Gun: Maverick with Mark Rennie Jun 06, 2022

In a supersonic episode, writer and film devotee Mark Rennie (co-host of Two Old Queens) joins Anne and Ryan to discuss the new high-flying blockbuster, TOP GUN: MAVERICK starring Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, and Miles Teller. The Joseph Kosinski-directed sequel to Tony Scott's 1986 original has been widely-praised by critics and audiences alike for delivering old-school action thrills, but this trio of maverick filmgoers will take a ride into the danger zone of the film's more enigmatic conundrums: What country was the enemy supposed to represent? Did Jennifer Connelly dress too warm for the San Diego climate? Is this movie a secret Mission: Impossible movie? What will Tom Cruise do when he ages out of doing his own stunts?... and so much more! So strap yourself in and prepare for a Mama Needs a Movie episode that reaches Mach 10... and dares to push further.

Save the Last Dance with Caramel Nguyen May 31, 2022

Anne and Ryan welcome guest Caramel Nguyen to discuss the 2001 romance SAVE THE LAST DANCE starring Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Kerry Washington. The Thomas Carter-directed story of a teenage interracial couple in Chicago helped inspire the early-2000s dance flick craze, (not to mention a recent fascination on TikTok). Viewed two decade's later, the film's themes of race and class encompass far more than one white girl's hip-hop-infused Juilliard audition. In this broad-ranging conversation, Nguyen describes her fascination with this movie, along with her family's film-watching rituals, her horror fandom, people of color in the history of cinema, and much, much more.

SAVE THE LAST DANCE is currently available to stream for free on Pluto TV.

The Northman with Alex Fernie May 23, 2022

Writer, director and performer Alex Fernie joins for a discussion of THE NORTHMAN starring Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, and Anya Taylor-Joy. Robert Eggers' Viking epic has received critical acclaim for its historical accuracy and gruesome violence, but how will it stack up in the Mama Panic Attack Assessment? You won't want to miss this truly berserk conversation that covers Star Wars, magic mushrooms, failsons, Ari Aster, The Song of the South, the Alamo Drafthouse, and much much more.

THE NORTHMAN is currently available to stream with subscription to Peacock Premium.

Being the Ricardos with Tim Barnes May 16, 2022

Writer and comedian Tim Barnes, (The Tonight Show, Warped!, the YubNub podcast), joins Anne and Ryan for a discussion of BEING THE RICARDOS starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem. The 2021 Lucillle Ball/Desi Arnez biopic is unmistakably the work of its writer-director, Aaron Sorkin, who imbues the movie with fast-paced repartee and a dead serious treatment of making comedy. In a slightly less serious conversation, Barnes discusses his childhood fascination with Power Rangers, comedy writing over Zoom, Star Wars as an ever-changing cultural contradiction, and much much more.

BEING THE RICARDOS is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Me and You and Everyone We Know with Saba Harouni Lurie May 09, 2022

Anne and Ryan welcome guest Saba Harouni Lurie, marriage and family therapist and founder of Take Root Therapy, to discuss ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW starring Miranda July and John Hawkes. This 2005 comedy-romance was July's feature directing debut and announced her as a major new voice in independent film. To honor this bold and enigmatic movie, Mama Needs a Movie grapples with the subjects of romantic pining, parental anxiety, accepting death, and how best to approach famous people in public.

ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW is currently available to stream with subscription on The Criterion Channel.

Giant with Matt Kowalick May 02, 2022

Bonafide Texan Matt Kowalick (The Birthday Boys) joins for a discussion of George Stevens' GIANT starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. The 1956 epic of the Lone Star State remains unrivaled in scope and grandeur, filled to the ten-gallon brim with cattle, spurting oil rigs, barbecues, and complex racial dynamics. Mama Needs a Movie serves up an equally huge discussion, covering not only the movie, but a wide range of topics including pandemic parenthood, Daniel Day-Lewis, Burger King fingerprinting, the Mark Harris oeuvre, and what if James Dean had played the Joker. Giddy up for a discussion the size of Texas itself. Yee-haw!

GIANT is available to stream on HBO Max.

Wolf with Andrew Grissom Apr 25, 2022

Anne and Ryan welcome producer, writer and film fanatic Andrew Grissom, to take a bite out of Mike Nichols' WOLF starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, and James Spader. Released in the summer of 1994, WOLF's mix of horror, romance, and satire opened to middling reviews, but has since garnered fascination due to its odd mix of sophisticated humor, Rick Baker creature makeup, and hypotonic Ennio Morricone score. Grissom brings his research A-game to the discussion (he's seen Wolf three times within the last year), as we delve into the film's writing (which went through an uncredited punch-up from Elaine May), locations (including Downtown LA's Bradbury Building), and fortuitous release date (which happened on one of the most memorable days of 1990s). It's a howlingly good conversation you don't want to miss!

Paddington 2 with Jill Donnelly Apr 18, 2022

Guest Jill Donnelly joins for a big-hearted discussion of 2017's PADDINGTON 2, starring Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins, and Hugh Bonneville. The Paul King-directed family comedy is a rare modern classic to receive almost universal acclaim, but that won't stop Mama Needs a Movie from complicating it. In addition to everyone's favorite marmalade loving bear, Jill talks with great humor and compassion about her life as an improviser, actor, health policy consultant, New York style pizza-prefering Chicagoan, and mother.

Everything Everywhere All at Once with Eric Appel Apr 11, 2022

Director and writer, Eric Appel (Son of Zorn, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) joins to discuss on the acclaimed new sci-fi comedy action parental drama, Everything Everywhere All at Once starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan. Helmed by the directing duo, Daniels, the film is a fast-paced sensory cornucopia about family dynamics stretching through multiple universes. In this thrilling conversation, Mama Needs a Movie discusses childhood moviegoing, focus groups, Tim Burton, VHS retail prices, anime, TikTok, Danny DeVito, Being John Malkovich, the Oculus Quest, Letterboxd, parking at The Grove, and much much more. One might even say this conversation is... Everything.... Everywhere (podcast platforms only).... All At Once (1hr and 48min required to listen.)

The Lost City with Becky Feldman Apr 04, 2022

Special guest Becky Feldman (host of Too Stupid to Live) brings her romance novel expertise to a discussion of the The Lost City starring Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Daniel Radcliffe. This new big budget adventure/comedy/romance directed by Aaron and Adam Nee features Bullock as a romance novelist, Radcliffe as her eccentric billionaire kidnapper, and Tatum as a fumbling cover model who is her only hope for rescue. Becky stacks the plot against her very high stack of romance novels in a wild conversation that covers everything from the Daniel Radcliffe's beard to the Hollywood and Highland parking structure. Will this episode end with a Happily Ever After? There's only one way to find out!

THE LOST CITY is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and Paramount Plus.

Written on the Wind with Josh Fadem Mar 28, 2022

Comedian and actor Josh Fadem (Twin Peaks: The Return, Better Call Saul) joins to discuss Douglas Sirk's 1956 melodrama, WRITTEN ON THE WIND starring Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack, and Dorothy Malone. Sirk's deeply layered themes of American capitalism and sexual inadequacy are explored in this wild and far-ranging discussion that folds in Freddy Krueger, nymphomania, Unsolved Mysteries, Glenn Ford, Regarding Henry, Gene Roddenberry, and much much more. It's conversation no film fan should let blow past.

Spider-Man: No Way Home with Kimberly Truong Mar 21, 2022

Writer and performer Kimberly Truong (Crush Fictionally) joins Anne and Ryan in a discussion of Spider-man: No Way Home starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, and directed by Jon Watts. An unparalleled box office phenomenon of the pandemic era, No Way Home is no run-of-the-mill Marvel outing, but a cameo-packed superhero juggernaut that now ranks as the third highest grossing movie of all time. In the wake of the film's global dominance, only Mama Needs a Movie dares to sling shocking questions like: Is Andrew Garfield the most underrated Spidey? Is the the multiverse just secular heaven? Is Happy Hogan datable? Which one of the Spider-Mans wore a fake butt?... and much, much more.

Valley Girl with Scott Gairdner Mar 14, 2022

San Fernando Valley native Scott Gairdner (Podcast: The Ride, Saturday Morning All Star Hits!) joins Anne and Ryan to discuss Martha Coolidge's teen classic, VALLEY GIRL (1983) starring Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, and Elizabeth Daily. Does Gairdner bring his tubular expertise on Valley mall culture to the discussion? Fer sure! You, like, totally won't want to miss this episode.

VALLEY GIRL is currently available to stream for free on Kanopy, Pluto TV or Tubi.

The Batman with Joe Saunders Mar 07, 2022

In their most shocking episode yet, Anne and Ryan welcome guest Joe Saunders (The Bread Cast), to discuss the grungy blockbuster, THE BATMAN, starring Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, and directed by Matt Reeves. Like the movie's villainous trio of Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman, this rouge's gallery of reviewers will stop at nothing to challenge the Caped Crusader's newest incarnation, delving into the film's drab color palette, pessimistic political subtext, and epic 3-hour length in a spoiler-heavy discussion. All this, plus a detailed breakdown of where everyone parked before the movie, will have you shouting, "Holy Mama, Batman!"

THE BATMAN is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Grease 2 with Deborah Tarica Feb 28, 2022

Anne and Ryan welcome their guest, writer and performer Deborah Tarica, to discuss Grease 2 (1982) starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield. Considered a disappointment upon release, this musical sequel directed by choreographer Patricia Birch has become a bonafide cult classic with fans praising its rousing musical numbers and Pfeiffer's spirited performance. So rev your engines for a thrilling jump into Grease 2's feminist undertones, leather culture connections, surprising celebrity admirers, and so much more!

GREASE 2 is available to stream for free on Kanopy or PlutoTV.

Marry Me with Alex Kavutskiy Feb 21, 2022

Anne and Ryan welcome guest writer/director Alex Kavutskiy to discuss the new romantic comedy, Marry Me directed by Kat Corio, starring Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, and Maluma. This is the internet's only Marry Me discussion to ask important questions like: Is romance dead? How many NBC host cameos are TOO many for one film? And... how many times can the movie Moonfall be mentioned during a Marry Me review?

The Matrix Resurrections with Danny Jelinek Feb 14, 2022

Anne and Ryan welcome their first-ever guest, writer/director Danny Jelinek (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Week Tonight), to discuss Lana Wachowski's The Matrix Resurrections (2021) starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. The conversation goes deep down the rabbit hole of childhood movie experiences, from Danny's early memories of the Rutger Hauer action film, The Blood of Heroes (1989) to the more family-friendly Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014). So what are you waiting for? Take the red pill and give it a listen!

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