Mama Needs a Movie

Latest Episodes:

Past Lives Jul 11, 2023

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Show notes

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

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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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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+.

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