Episodes

  • Ep. 34 - Losing the great Gene Hackman (with special guest Jonathan Wayne)
    Mar 12 2025
    Alan and Jonathan discuss the loss of Gene Hackman and why he was such a great actor. *Since the time of the recording an official cause of death has been released. They discuss Hackman, who was known for playing Lex Luther in "Superman" a stubborn submarine commander in "Crimson Tide" opposite Denzel Washington, as well as a tough as nails FBI official in "Mississippi Burning" looking to find out who killed James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman. They discuss how he was able to be so consistently good in many different films and many roles.
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    31 mins
  • Ep. 33 - Oscar Predictions
    Feb 27 2025

    Can "Anora" upset "The Brutalist?" Can Demi Moore take home the Oscar for Best Picture? Alan goes through the major nominations and goes through his predictions, and wonders if there will be any upsets. Timothy Chalamet is in two Oscar nominated films-"A Complete Unknown" and "Dune II." How much value will voters place on his great singing impersonating Bob Dylan. He also goes over some odd choices and laments that there is only one good song nominated for Bes Original Song-and will not win.

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    31 mins
  • Ep. 32 - Why Demi Moore is Unforgettable in 'The Substance'
    Feb 12 2025

    We take a look at a dark film that asks if we are wrong to place so much value on physical beauty as Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, who injects herself with a substance so that a youynger, more beautiful version of herself will emerge. Part Black Mirror, part The Twilight Zone, The Substance is one of the best films of the year. We also take a look at Anora in which Mikey Madison stars as a sex worker who thinks she might have met her husband but is in for a nasty surprise. Both are nominated for Best Picture and Moore or Madison should win Best Actress.

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    25 mins
  • Ep. 31 - Is Emilia Perez as Bad As Everyone Says It Is?
    Feb 4 2025

    "Emilia Perez" has 13 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. It is a musical, in a manner of speaking and stars Zoe Saldana as a lawyer and a male drug lord Manitas who becomes a woman-Emilia Perez. Alan gives his thoughts on the widely divisive film that also stars Selena Gomez and Karla Sofia Gascon. Alan doesn't mince words.

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    17 mins
  • Ep. 30 - Why 'A Real Pain' Is A Pleasure (featuring Nike Silberstein)
    Dec 3 2024

    Alan talks about the new film "A Real Pain" starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as Jewish cousins who reconnect on a trip to Poland where they will visit a death camp as well as the house in which a grandmother lived. Alan explains why the movie worked so well and is joined by Nike Silberstein, who talks about her own "March of the Living" trip when she was in high school. They discuss whether or not it is ethical to take selfies and certain places where tragedy took place and they examine the dynamic between the two characters who are jealous of each other. Alan asks Nike if she feels more pressure to live a meaningful life because she is the grandchild of survivors. They also discuss Jennifer Gray, of "Dirty Dancing" fame and whether or not something about her character is implied. They also discuss how this may be a Holocaust movie that is not a Holocaust movie as it instead focuses on how the next generation processes the past.

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    40 mins
  • Ep. 29 - Are Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill on the money in 'Moneyball?' (featuring comedian Eli Lebowicz)
    Oct 8 2024
    The Oakland A's faced having to compete with the likes of the New York Yankees with the lowest payroll in the majors. Based on the book by Michael Lewis 'Moneyball" features Brad Pitt as General Manager Billy Bean, who failed as a player but had a success if going against old school scouts and focusing on on base percentage. Beane meets someone he likes in analytics (Jonah Hll) and hires him away. Alan discusses the film with comedian Eli Lebowicz, who once worked as a vendor in Chicago's Wrigley Field. Eli explains what he likes about Pitt and Hill's performance while Alan asks if Lebowicz minds that the film does not include such starts as Miguel Tejada, and ace pitcher Barry Zito. Alan asks why there aren't more good baseball movies and whether or not it's a good thing that "Moneyball" is one of the few films in which Pitt has no love interest.
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    41 mins
  • Ep. 28 - The Music Editor Who Is Killing It
    Sep 24 2024

    Alan speaks with Music Editor Micha Liberman who was nominated for two Emmy's for his work on the Hulu hit "Only Murderers In The Building" and Netflix's "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Liberman, who won an Emmy for his work on the pilot of HBO's Deadwood explains what it's like to have his work involve such stars at Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. He explains how he plays numerous instruments, how he went to Austria where an 80-piece orchestra and choir that had to go with action sequences in "Avatar: The Last Airbender." With great humor and humility, Liberman talks about what it's like to be a music editor on such prestigious projects. Alan asks Micha if he would rather hire a talented person with an attitude or a slightly less talented person who is easier to work with. Micha shares one time he had a disagreement with someone. Stick around as he closes with a funny story about Martin Short.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Ep. 26 - "Titanic" Debate (featuring Irina Tsukerman)
    Sep 3 2024
    "Titanic" starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is one of the highest grossing films of all-time. It won the Oscar for Best Picture with James Cameron winning Best Director. Alan, a fan of the blockbuster, talks about the famous film with Irina Tsukerman, a human rights and national security attorney, who has become known for astute political analysis. Irina critiques the love story of Jack and Rose. So why was "Titanic" one of the highest grossing films of all time? Is it possible to fall in love in one or two days? Should owner J. Bruce Ismay be blamed for getting on a lifeboat when only women and children were supposed to? Irina answers whether or not she had a crush on Leonardo Dicaprio when the movie came out and she was 12. They discuss whether or not the movie would be as big a hit if it came out today, Celine Dion's theme song, and whether or not the film influenced anyone to date someone of a lower socioeconomic class. Would Jack have been able to fit on the door? They also discuss whether society places too much emphasis on clothing, noting the scene where Jack is seemingly more respected when he is dressed in a tuxedo. Lastly, the discuss if people are simply obsessed with tragedy, or if there is some other appeal.

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    56 mins