Mama Needs a Movie

Latest Episodes:

Interview with the Vampire with Allan McLeod Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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