This time out, we're discussing The Front, written by Walter Bernstein and directed by Martin Ritt, about an unambitious man asked to work as a "front" for several blacklisted writers in the 1950s. The film stars Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, Michael Murphy, Herschel Bernardi, and Andrea Marcovicci.

Our guest this episode is Melanie Anagnos, author of the crime novel Nightswimming, set in 1979 Paterson. Discussed: the greatness of Zero Mostel, the parallel universe where Woody Allen became a character actor, what we can learn from blacklist narratives today, and more.

The Front is available to rent digitally from most major platforms; there's also a region-free Bluray with some interesting-looking special features.

On the latest episode of Framed and Bound, host Tobias Carroll and guest Kerri Sullivan revisit the 1996 film Harriet the Spy.

Subjects discussed in this episode: how to tell when a movie set in NYC was not shot in NYC; a Kids in the Hall connection; the number of Tony Award winners involved with this film; Diane Duane's novels about wizards; the comic book Friday; childhood journals; the movie Quills; general Monmouth County lore.

Kerri Sullivan is the proprietor of Jersey Collective and organized the New Jersey Bookstore Crawl.

After an unexpected break, Framed and Bound returns with a new episode focusing on writer-director Robert Towne's 2006 adaptation of John Fante's novel Ask the Dust!

Joining host Tobias Carroll for this episode is Constance Squires, author of Low April Sun, available wherever books are sold.

Discussed this episode: the ideal director to adapt John Fante; when you cast the right actor at the wrong age; The Brutalist; The Committments; Saul Bellow; the hard-living literary dude canon; David Peace; Modernist literature....and so much more.

In this episode of Framed & Bound, host Tobias Carroll and guest Lee Matthew Goldberg discuss the 1990 film Misery, an adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. It's also the third King adaptation to be covered on this podcast. One of these days, we'll get to Secret Window.

Discussed in this episode: the greatness of Kathy Bates, Rob Reiner's suspense chops, the challenges of adapting Stephen King, Tobias's issues with season one of Castle Rock, Misery and toxic fandom, and when bestselling writers have bizarre subway ads.

As discussed in the episode: reviews of the graphic novel Parasocial and the documentary King on Screen. In two weeks, Constance Squires stops by to discuss another literary adaptation about the life of a writer: Ask the Dust. Our logo is by Mack V.

The first Framed & Bound episode of 2025 is, appropriately enough, about one of the wintriest movies ever made. This time out, Tobias Carroll and guest Jesi Bender discussed the 1980 film The Shining, an adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. It may be the sole cinematic podcast in which you'll hear both The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Top Gun: Maverick invoked.

Also discussed this episode: Elizabeth Hardwick's cameo appearance, when bad CGI happens to good ideas, the perennial appeal of Stephen King, the role of room decor in this film, and whether a prequel to this would be a good idea.

Jesi Bender's latest book is Dangerous Women. This time out, we mentioned past episodes focusing on Wolf and Bag of Bones. Next up: another discussion of a literary Stephen King adaptation. Which one? Well, you'll have to listen in to find out. Our logo is by Mack V.

After a brief delay due to, well, current events, there's a new episode of Framed & Bound. This time out, Drew Buxton joins Tobias Carroll to get very metafictional as they discuss 2022's Adaptation, featuring two of Nicolas Cage's best performances.

Discussed: writing about wrestling, Brian Cox's agelessness, Charlie Kaufman's work as a director, the challenges of adapting unadaptable books, and the greatness of Wojciech Has.

Drew Buxton's So Much Heart is available directly from the publisher and wherever books are sold. If you've ever been curious to read The Orchid Thief, it's available from Bookshop and your local bookstore. Shout Factory's blu-ray of the film can be ordered here. Tobias wrote about another Charlie Kaufman adaptation for Literary Hub. Our logo is by Mack V.

Framed & Bound is back with a look at the 1987 film Barfly, directed by Barbet Schroeder and written by Charles Bukowski. Host Tobias Carroll and guest William Lessard discuss the pros and cons of Bukowski adaptations, Mickey Rourke's career, and the Stallone family.

You can find out more about William Lessard on his website. Our new logo is by Mack V.

On the sixteenth episode of Framed and Bound, David James Keaton joined host Tobias Carroll to discuss the 1987 film Best Seller, starring Brian Dennehy and James Woods. Turns out we were not the only ones to find the end credits song to be a little bit stylistically jarring, as this review makes clear.

You can find Keaton at his website; his latest book is the novel Shallow Ends. And if you enjoyed hearing these guys talk about movies and books, there are more interviews where that came from.