the arc.fm

The massive, hardcore science fiction is now a fun, compact buddy comedy in space that stars Ryan Gosling and which is "very, very different" from the film and novel "The Martian" starring Matt Damon. Pengun Random House interview with Andy Weir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H_srBMz4JQ

The scariest thing about Sinners isn't the Vampires...Robby loves horror movies, and he's loved rooting for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar ever since he was in high school. Jaclynn loves allegory, loves metaphor, and hates institutionalized evil so this was the perfect story for her. Cole loves technically complicated storytelling and cinematography so he has things to say as well. .You know who has even more to say about his movie? Ryan Coogler!Below are links to full length interviews with the writer, himself, that the episode uses a few quotes from:Hanna Flint - Ryan Coogler talks Sinners, Vampires, and CapitalismOn Film - with Kevin McCarthy - Autumn Durald Arkapaw talks Sinners, Cinematography, IMAX, and more.

In the grand tradition of this show, we watched this out of order in order to celebrate springing forward for Daylight Savings Time so true fans of "Back To The Future," please, be nice in the comments section because we have nothing but love for the genre (yes, "Back To The Future" is a genre unto itself).

Jaclynn made the most viral reel about our friendship, and Robby has never seen Instagram until now- this is a GREAT (all caps0 episode) about telling a story in less than thirty seconds. The view count is over half a million as we are editing this episode.Watch the reel here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR-C6OWieXl/?igsh=YXU4b2J1OWJnZjMwSound Attribution: S: Beach Dance - EDM Dance Cinematic Party Eletro Chill Happy 120bpm Music - EQ Mastered.wav by szegvari | License: Creative Commons 0

Lynch is the master of the eery, absurd, surreal dream film, but he himself says that his most "experimental" film is "The Straight Story," a film that's ostensibly about a kind, elderly gentleman slowly riding his lawn mower across the country to see his brother.Maybe for David Lynch this was experimental though because he had none of his usual tools of insanity and chaos to draw from?CREATIVES:Director: David LynchWriters: John Roach and Mary SweeneyProducers: Mary Sweeney and Neal EdelsteinComposer: Angelo BadalamentiCinematographer: Freddie FrancisEditor: Mary SweeneyCAST:Richard Farnsworth as Alvin StraightSissy Spacek as Rose StraightHarry Dean Stanton as Lyle StraightJane Galloway Heitz as DorothyJoseph A. Carpenter as BudDonald Wiegert as SigEd Grennan as PeteJack Walsh as AppleJames Cada as Danny RiordanWiley Harker as Verlyn HellerKevin Farley as Harald OlsenJohn Farley as Thorvald OlsenAnastasia Webb as CrystalBarbara Robertson as Deer WomanCREW:Production Designer: Jack FiskCostume Designer: Amy StofskyCasting: Johanna Ray and Elaine J. HuzzarArt Direction: Christy WilsonSet Decoration: Barbara HaberechtSound Design: David LynchSOUND DESIGN (FOR PODCAST) ATTRIBUTION: S: cinemato.wav by jlozano | License: Attribution 3.0S: Starbucks barista saying ''Two Capuccinos...Espresso...''.wav by Halfofthesky | License: Attribution 4.0S: Coffee Pour.wav by loganrando | License: Creative Commons 0S: stove top coffee espresso.wav by Alex_hears_things | License: Creative Commons 0

Everything you need to know about David Lynch's style in five minutes! You really should watch the whole film eventually, but a five minute scene that appears fifteen minutes into David Lynch's masterpiece "Mulholland Drive" is all you really need.That said, you really should also know about Lynch's producer, editor, and sometimes screenwriter of twenty years, Mary Sweeney!Please, note: this scene is a little bit scary, but aren't almost all thing David Lynch?LINKS TO FULL INTERVIEWS WITH MARY SWEENEY: Director's Club - "Editor of Lost Highway"The Third Story - 2018The Third Story - Mary Sweeney ReturnsDePaul University - David Lynch's ProducerCREATIVES: Director & Writer: David LynchProducers: Neal Edelstein, Tony Krantz, Michael Polaire, Alain Sarde, and Mary SweeneyComposer: Angelo BadalamentiCinematographer: Peter DemingEditor: Mary SweeneyProduction Designer: Jack FiskCostume Designer: Amy StofskyCAST: Naomi Watts as Betty Elms / Diane SelwynLaura Elena Harring as Rita / Camilla RhodesJustin Theroux as Adam KesherAnn Miller as Coco LenoixMark Pellegrino as JoeRobert Forster as Detective McKnightDan Hedaya as Vincenzo CastiglianeMonty Montgomery as The CowboyLee Grant as Louise BonnerBilly Ray Cyrus as GenePatrick Fischler as DanMelissa George as Camilla RhodesMichael J. Anderson as Mr. RoqueRebekah Del Rio as HerselfBonnie Aarons as The BumSOUND DESIGN ATTRIBUTION:S: Cicadas_20200531-145928.mp3 by rabban625 | License: Creative Commons 0

Content & Trigger Warning: this episode discusses sexual assault in the film and in real life.Episode Summary: this episode does eventually become "a very special episode" because the subject matter is difficult and portrays the evils of humanity and current human society, but prior to that it's pretty fun to discuss a film that arguably has "no plot" beyond women going into a barn to talk.The background is that the women of a self-secluded community have been violently sexually assaulted for years, but some of the male perpetrators have finally been caught by the women and so the women have been given two days to decide if they should do nothing, stay and fight, or leave the community.The plot is that a vote was taken between the three options, and the vote was essentially tied, so three families are chosen to talk through the three options.They are though talking about an enormously important and emotional question: do nothing, stay and fight, or leave?FULL INTERVIEWS WITH SARAH POLLEY: "Making Women Talking: Sarah Polley explains why laughter was key to adapting Miriam Toews's novel" Q with Tom Power"Sarah Polley unpacks Women Talking" Now TorontoSOUND DESIGN ATTRIBUTION: S: drumroll_for_ceremony_long.mp3 by Heigh-hoo | License: Creative Commons 0

Carol takes place in the "liminal space" that floats between Christmas and the start of the new year, and it occupies the space held for best films ever made that didn't win and weren't even nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards... possibly because it is a classic story told in a slightly unconventional manner or because of the same conscious or unconscious prejudices that the characters in the story itself must live through.You can and should watch this film any (and arguably multiple) times per year: once for the holidays, once for the visual story, and once for every time you you want to feel like you're falling in love but it's complicated.If you love the film already, then please, also listen to Subtextual's episode about "Carol" because they do an even longer breakdown and find it to be a warm Christmas hug and they're one of the best film review podcasts in general as well!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holiday-rerun-carol-2015/id1597822346?i=1000589808456https://www.instagram.com/subtextualpod/CREATIVES:Director: Todd Haynes (Known for Far from Heaven, I'm Not There, May December)Screenwriter: Phyllis Nagy (Based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith)Producers: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine VachonCinematographer: Edward Lachman (Shot on Super 16mm film)Composer: Carter Burwell (Known for his work with the Coen Brothers)CAST:• Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird (Known for Blue Jasmine, Elizabeth, Tár)• Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet (Known for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Women Talking)• Sarah Paulson as Abby Gerhard (Known for American Horror Story, Ratched)• Kyle Chandler as Harge Aird (Known for Friday Night Lights, Manchester by the Sea)• Jake Lacy as Richard Semco (Known for The White Lotus, Girls)• John Magaro as Dannie McElroy (Known for Past Lives, The Big Short)AWARD NOMINATIONS88th Academy Awards (Oscars)• Best Actress: Cate Blanchett• Best Supporting Actress: Rooney Mara• Best Adapted Screenplay: Phyllis Nagy• Best Cinematography: Edward Lachman• Best Original Score: Carter Burwell• Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell73rd Golden Globe Awards• Best Motion Picture – Drama • Best Director: Todd Haynes• Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Cate Blanchett• Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Rooney Mara• Best Original Score: Carter Burwell69th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)• Best Film • Best Direction: Todd Haynes• Best Actress in a Leading Role: Cate Blanchett• Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Rooney Mara• Best Adapted Screenplay: Phyllis Nagy• Best Cinematography: Edward Lachman• Best Production Design: Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler• Best Costume Design: Sandy Powell• Best Makeup and Hair: Jerry DeCarlo, Patricia ReganOther Notable Awards• Cannes Film Festival: Palme d'Or (Rooney Mara WON Best Actress; also WON Queer Palm) • New York Film Critics Circle: Best Film (WON), Best Director (WON), Best Screenplay (WON), Best Cinematography (WON) • Independent Spirit Awards: Best Cinematography (WON) • National Society of Film Critics: Best Director (WON), Best Cinematography (WON) • Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Original Score (WON) • Dorian Awards (GALECA): Film of the Year (WON), Director of the Year (WON), Screenplay of the Year (WON), LGBTQ Film of the Year (WON), Film Performance of the Year – Actress for Cate Blanchett (WON)Sound Design Attribution: S: Sfx_Cigarette_Int_Putting out Cigarette by Group39 | License: Creative Commons 0S: OSS Expiration cigarette by Blowtape | License: Creative Commons 0S: LightingAJoint.mp3 by shelbyshark | License: Creative Commons 0

We love the Muppets, Michael Caine deserved an Oscar, and Robby drops the biggest pun in the history of the show, but there is so much more to talk about here.

Woe to all who took Vine for granted, and WATCH the Vine we discuss HERE. Because as Jaclynn says, in this episode "we didn't know what we had." In this episode we look back and break apart what Cole would argue was the best Vine of all time, "The" GameCube Vine. What we consider the best is baked into the start of the episode (and it plays twice on purpose), but a compilation of all of the rest can be found here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzqXoZSN5jYIf aliens arrive to our rummage through our digital bones, let them see this creativity so that they might know what it is to be human.SOUND DESIGN CREDITS: S: CRWDReac_Crowd Groan In Disagreement_ShaneVincent_GSC24_FUMA-AmbeoVR.wav by ShangusBurger | License: Creative Commons 0S: sitting in a desk chair.wav by nickrave | License: Attribution 4.0S: Office Chair.wav by AndreaBezuidenhout | License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0S: Indoor adult murmur, large group.wav by SpliceSound | License: Creative Commons 0S: Rolling Office Chair by SduggySounds | License: Creative Commons 0S: Boo 3 surprised.wav by jayfrosting | License: Creative Commons 0S: Ambience Empty Office Hallway (Stereo) by Sheyvan | License: Creative Commons 0S: tokyo narita.wav by milton. | License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0S: Elevate with BossaNossa: Hypnotic Minimal Synth Track by kjartan_abel | License: Attribution 4.0S: ScratchingBeard.WAV by busymaxvictor | License: Creative Commons 0S: Beard Scratching.wav by Wihan98 | License: Creative Commons 0

Robert Weinstein, our far too humble host and resident storytelling teacher has written yet another play, which was performed by the Barrow Group, and we get to talk about it, celebrate it, and accidentally tear into it. Read the play here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O_pb-vqXSIgZY2o9UsmZRMpkdBG1STGN?usp=sharing

EPISODE DESCRIPTION & SHOW NOTESThis episode is all about Jaclynn's only note... the only note she ever gives... ad nauseam to the point that it has (nearly) ruined friendships. That note is "write three FULL episodes and throw them out." This is "how" Phoebe Waller-Bridge made the "perfect" television season/series, and Jaclynn gives us a full breakdown of the glorious ways in which two hours of screen time was turned into what is essentially a 5 minute montage! And sorry, it's obviously more than a montage, but that's the idea that needs to be conveyed if you're trying to decide whether or not to listen to this episode!. CHAPTERS & CAN'T MISS MOMENTS00:00 - Cold Open02:15 - Jaclynn's Only Note Ever04:18 - Phoebe Waller-Bridge Wrote Three Full Episodes & Threw Them Out06:43 - Jaclynn Taking Her Own Note10:57 - Why Cole Was "Sent Over The Edge"16:09 - Beat-By-Beat Breakdown25:49 - Robby's Practical Side33:20 - Robby's Quotes Cuomo & Predicts Mamdani's Victory Speech35:13 - Outro - Robby Tries & Fails To Be MeanCREATIVES:Writer: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (also known for Killing Eve and Crashing)Director: Harry Bradbeer (also known for Killing Eve and Enola Holmes)Executive Producers: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Harry Williams, Jack Williams, Harry Bradbeer, Lydia Hampson, Joe LewisEditor: Gary Dollner (Emmy-winner for Fleabag S2, Ep 1; known for Killing Eve and Veep)Cinematographer: Tony MillerCAST:Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Fleabag (Creator and star of Fleabag and writer of Killing Eve)Sian Clifford as Claire (Fleabag's Sister; known for Quiz and Life After Life)Andrew Scott as The Priest (Known for playing Moriarty in Sherlock)Olivia Colman as Godmother (Oscar-winner for The Favourite; known for The Crown and Broadchurch)Bill Paterson as Dad (Known for Doctor Who and Outlander)Brett Gelman as Martin (Claire's Husband; known for Stranger Things)Maddie Rice as Needy Waitress (Guest appearance in the episode)Awards Won and Nominated For:Won: Emmy Award – Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series (Gary Dollner)Nominated: Emmy Award – Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Tony Miller)Nominated: British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) – Best Scripted Comedy (Series)Sound Design Attribution for The Arc.fm Ep 11: S: CRWDReac_Crowd Mmm In Agreement 01_ShaneVincent_GSC24_SpacedOmni-MK012.wav by ShangusBurger | License: Creative Commons 0S: CRWDApls_Snapping 02_ShaneVincent_GSC24_XY-AKG214-96k.wav by ShangusBurger | License: Creative Commons 0S: Podcast 27_Crackle by PodcastAC | License: Attribution 4.0S: Drift - Minimal by PodcastAC | License: Attribution 4.0S: plucked seq by hello_flowers | License: Creative Commons 0

EPISODE DESCRIPTION: People (meaning like tourists visiting a major city, network television sitcom comedy writers living in a major city, or people watching network television sitcoms anywhere in the US) associate improv with "whacky" "games" that are treated as something like "comedy sports." But to us, and especially to our guest, improv is long-form theatre, a way of thinking, and if it's not too pretentious to say so... a philosophy of thought: does your mind expand or contract the ideas it's presented with, and do you support your fellow humans along the way or not? The film "Don't Think Twice," is ostensibly about improv, but our conversation would argue that it's about much more, such as, jealousy, capitalism, and whether or not life is fair. Our guest is Sophie Long, who is from Sydney, Australia but has lived in and studied in Chicago (the "birthplace" of "comedy") and spent extensive time in New York so, yes, this conversation does at times talk about improv, but overall, it's more about philosophy and how the characters in this film treat their "friends." The premise of the film is extremely true to life and everyone who was a part of this conversation has lived through something similar: there's an improv troupe who has two members audition for (basically) Saturday Night Live, and when one of them actually makes it on the show, the entire dynamics of the group change– drastically. As always, you do NOT have to have watched this film/story/show to enjoy the conversation, but we bet that five minutes into the episode, you'll at least want to give it a shot. CREATIVES: Director & Screenwriter: Mike Birbiglia (also known for Sleepwalk with Me)Producers: Mike Birbiglia, Miranda Bailey, Amanda Marshall, Ira Glass (creator of NPR's This American Life)Cinematographer: Joe AndersonCAST: Keegan-Michael Key as Jack (Known for Key & Peele)Gillian Jacobs as Samantha (Known for Community, Love)Mike Birbiglia as Miles (Known for his stand-up and storytelling)Kate Micucci as Allison (Known for Garfunkel and Oates, The Big Bang Theory)Chris Gethard as Bill (Known for The Chris Gethard Show)Tami Sagher as Lindsay (Known for writing on 30 Rock and Inside Amy Schumer)Cameos: Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Pete HolmesAwards Nominated For: Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy (a significant nod for an independent film)Accolades: Universal critical praise (100% on Rotten Tomatoes during initial release).The Film’s Legacy:Don't Think Twice is a defining piece of 21st-century independent cinema, celebrated not just as a comedy, but as a painful meditation on friendship, capitalism, and the human desire for validation. While ostensibly about improv, its true legacy is its raw, unblinking look at what happens to a tight-knit family unit when the brutal, zero-sum logic of the entertainment industry (personified by the "Weekend Live" audition) enters their lives. It is noted by artists for authentically exploring jealousy among friends, forcing characters and viewers alike to confront whether one can truly support a friend's success when it highlights one's own failure. The film's philosophical core should have been backed by the belief that improv's "Say Yes" philosophy must extend off-stage to navigating an often-unfair life, but instead it explores a capitalist reality that that philosophy may not extend to real life.

EPISODE SUMMARY: This episode is a discussion of whether we are talking about a "film" or a "movie" (one is "better" than the other) and there is talk about whether or not it is too problematic to re-watch, but we all agree that it's kind of, sort of an early 2000s classic– despite the fact that only one of us has seen it before. If you know, have worked with, or have heard of any of the three of us already, then this is a must-listen because it becomes an extremely personal story for everyone. TIME STAMPS & MUST LISTEN MOMENTS: 00:27 - What You Need To Know Before Watching01:39 - What Robby, A Storytelling Teacher Thinks08:12 - Is "Freaky Friday" A Film or a Movie?18:18 - When Did We We All Cry? 23:30 - Does Money Buy Happiness + Sketch27:41 - Serious Question: What Is Communication?31:04 - The Big Takeaway: Chad Michael Murray35:03 - Jaclynn's Love of BRITNEY SPEARS38:22 - Robby's Way Too "Sexy" Britney Spears Summer In Italy42:33 - Favorite LinesEXTENDED EPISODE NOTES: We begin by trying to set the scene for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie — Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis at their absolute peak, body-swapping chaos, a soundtrack that could only exist in 2003. From there, we start drifting between Jaclynn's nostalgia and critique. Robby, our resident storytelling teacher, treats the film like a case study in structure and theme, breaking down how body-swapping becomes a metaphor for communication (and miscommunication). Jaclynn admits it's a movie, not a film, but Cole argues that it’s film because of its cinematography. When we finally circle back to the “film vs. movie” debate, it becomes an ongoing bit for the rest of the episode. Is Freaky Friday high art or just a comfort watch? Does it matter if something makes us feel seen even if it’s “just” a teen comedy? Still, somewhere in the middle of all the laughter, we accidentally hit something real. Around the time we start talking about the mother-daughter storyline, everyone admits they cried — sometimes for personal reasons that have nothing to do with the movie. There’s a moment where one of us says, “This isn’t about Lindsay Lohan anymore,” and it’s true. We realize the film’s message about not understanding each other across generations lands harder as adults. It’s suddenly less about comedy and more about empathy — and maybe that’s what keeps us coming back to movies like this. The conversation takes a turn into whether money buys happiness (spoiler: it doesn’t, but it does buy time to make bad art), and we somehow end up doing an impromptu sketch that only sort of makes sense in context. That’s the rhythm of this episode — moments of real insight followed by moments of complete absurdity. By the time we get to “What is communication?” the tone shifts again. We start half-joking, half-serious, about how body-swapping might actually be the most honest depiction of failed communication in families. After that, things devolve gloriously. Jaclynn admits her lifelong love of Britney Spears, and Robby starts talking about his “sexy Britney Spears summer in Italy." Everyone’s laughing, half out of disbelief, half because this is exactly why we do this podcast — to have these weirdly intimate, unserious-but-serious talks about pop culture that feel like group therapy disguised as conversation. We end by sharing our favorite lines from the movie, and it becomes this collective realization that even though we came into the episode pretending to analyze, what we were really doing was remembering — remembering what it felt like to be teenagers, to want to be understood, to watch something silly and feel like it meant something. We all agree that Freaky Friday isn’t a perfect film or even a perfect movie, but we can't help but find meaning in it anyway.CREATIVES:Director: Mark Waters Screenwriters: Heather Hach & Leslie Dixon Based on Novel by: Mary Rodgers (1972) CAST: Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman/Anna Coleman (in Tess’s body)Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman/Tess Coleman (in Anna’s body)Mark Harmon as Ryan Volvo, Tess' fiancéHarold Gould as Alan, Tess' father and Anna's grandfatherChad Michael Murray as Jake, Anna's love interestStephen Tobolowsky as Mr. Elton Bates, Anna's high school English teacherChristina Vidal as Maddie, Anna's bandmateRyan Malgarini as Harry Coleman, Tess' son, Anna's younger brother and Alan's grandsonHaley Hudson as Peg, Anna's other bandmateRosalind Chao as Pei-Pei Chiang, a Chinese restaurant managerLucille Soong as Mrs. Chiang, Pei-Pei's motherWillie Garson as Evan, Tess' patientDina Waters as Dottie Robertson, Tess' bossJulie Gonzalo as Stacey Hinkhouse, Anna's former friendMarc McClure as BorisMary Ellen Trainor as Diary Reading PatientCayden Boyd as Harry's friendAwards Won and Nominated For:Won:BMI Film Music Award to composer Rolfe Kent for the film’s score. MTV Movie Award – Best Breakthrough Performance (Lindsay Lohan) Teen Choice Awards – Choice Breakout Movie Star (Female, Lindsay Lohan) & Choice Hissy Fit (Lohan) Phoenix Film Critics Society – Best Live Action Family Film Nominated:Golden Globe – Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) for Jamie Lee Curtis WikipediaSaturn Awards – multiple nominations including Best Fantasy Film, Best Actress, Best Younger Actor, Best Writing Critics’ Choice – Best Family Film (Live Action) The Film’s Legacy:The 2003 version of Freaky Friday holds up as a quietly influential early-2000s teen comedies. It turned body-swap shenanigans into something bound with real emotional stakes — not just laughs but genuine feelings around family, identity and understanding. Although it wasn’t treated as “serious” cinema at the time, we argue that it should be thought of that now.Sound Design Attributions:S: Common Loon 210708.wav by Robert.Crosley | License: Attribution 4.0S: Frogs.wav by juskiddink | License: Attribution 4.0S: REMORSE male.mp3 by Zypce | License: Creative Commons 0S: Disembodied Voice 2 by SilverIllusionist | License: Attribution 4.0S: Low, Retro, Downwards Noise by IndyTheCringeMaster | License: Creative Commons 0S: Northern California Crickets by ellie.vanderlip | License: Creative Commons 0

Episode Summary: Jaclynn jokes that the real reason we chose to cover Freakier Friday is because she was going to see it no matter what, but honestly we had a great time unpacking this box of "nostalgia cupcakes."The entire episode and the film, itself, are also an active meditation on just how "meta" you can make a story without breaking the story's proverbial Easter eggs.Once we got into it, we realized it's a story about empathy, grief, and growth, and on the technical story side, we had a serious discussion of when the rules of the world of a story matter and when they don't.The episode's closing section, "Favorite Lines," is especially hilarious this week because this was one of the funniest films of the year.CHAPTER TIME STAMPS & MUST-LISTEN MOMENTS: 00:00 - The Cold Open00:21 - Why We Chose It, and Why Disney Made This Movie "Literally for Jaclynn" 01:44 - Old Guy Seeing The Film Alone In The Theater02:40 - Robby Liked It? 03:11 - Jaclynn's Memory of the Original 2003 Film04:50 - The Jane Goodall Theater Experience07:46 - The Unkind Aging Jokes and Constant Yelling in the First Half 08:14 - Jamie Lee Curtis Deserves an Oscar and a Nobel Peace Prize 09:30 - The "Fantastic Four" Problem of Hitting Every Nostalgic Button14:30 - Characters in Pain17:30 - Real World Consequences of the Story & The Rules of the World25:40 - The Almost Questionable Morality of the Story28:00 - MUNA's Cameo30:30 - Favorite Lines Sketch31:40 - Favorite LinesKey Credits & Facts: Freakier Friday (2025):Director: Nisha GanatraScreenplay by: Jordan Weiss (Story by: Elyse Hollander, Jordan Weiss)Based on: Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers (1972)Cinematography: Matthew ClarkProducers: Kristin Burr, Andrew Gunn, Jamie Lee CurtisCast (Returning): Jamie Lee Curtis (Tess Coleman), Lindsay Lohan (Anna Coleman), Mark Harmon (Ryan), Chad Michael Murray (Jake), Rosalind Chao (Mama P), Stephen Tobolowsky (Mr. Elton Bates), Christina Vidal Mitchell (Maddie), Haley Hudson (Peg)Cast (New to Franchise): Julia Butters (Harper Coleman), Sophia Hammons (Lily Reyes), Manny Jacinto (Eric Reyes), Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Ella)Notable Facts:Lohan's Return: The film marks Lindsay Lohan's first leading role in a wide theatrical release in 18 years.Curtis's Influence: The sequel was born out of Jamie Lee Curtis's own push to make the film after realizing the demand from fans while touring for the Halloween franchise.Casting Callbacks: Elaine Hendrix, who played the antagonist Meredith in The Parent Trap (1998), makes a cameo, reuniting her with Lindsay Lohan on screen.Box Office Success: The film achieved the biggest domestic opening for a live-action comedy in 2025.Veteran Comeback: It is Mark Harmon's first non-NCIS related role in a theatrically released film in over a decade.

Let's look at the story of a single, amazing scene in the UK TV Series Crashing. It displays perfect "heightening," and in less than sixty seconds, paints a picture of the whole series. WATCH THE SCENE HERE: https://youtu.be/z4Kx3TiS3ow?si=WxhV-XnxFAbh3btN&t=26Don't ask us why we chose to use a silent scene for a podcast, but we did and we did a sketch making fun of the decision to do so! If you want to get one of the references that's made in the sketch, check out the Wikipedia page for composer John Cage's piece 4'33".The episode itself is of course a short one, but it's a great scene that deserves more attention! Please, leave a comment with other ideas for scenes that are worth a second, deeper look. Crashing (UK, 2016) itself is a pretty great show, and is one of the first public-facing things that Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote. About the Series:What it is: Crashing is a six-part comedy series that follows the lives and loves of six twenty-somethings living together as property guardians in a massive, disused London hospital. The arrangement allows them to pay cheap rent in exchange for keeping the building safe, creating a hilarious and awkward situation where their personal relationships and sexual tensions inevitably collide.Cast:The series stars creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge (best known for Fleabag and Killing Eve) as Lulu, and Jonathan Bailey (known for playing Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton) as Sam.Other key cast members include Damien Molony and Louise Ford.The Creatives:The series was created and written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and it is one of her first public-facing works before the global success of Fleabag.It was produced by Big Talk Productions (known for producing hits like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz).Impact and Legacy:While the series itself did not win major awards, its cultural impact is significant as it launched the TV career of Phoebe Waller-Bridge and introduced the world to her distinct voice, dark humor, and sharp writing, laying the groundwork for the monumental success of Fleabag later that same year.

We chose to unpack The Studio, Episode 02, "The Oner," because basically every line of this story is a Chekhov's Gun waiting to go off, and they all do! This episode is a masterclass in storytelling and filmmaking craft. We try not to talk too much about how we just love it, but we can't help gushing because it truly is that good. The entire episode is structured as a flawless bookend, and we dive into the dense narrative that allows it to achieve this structural triumph.In this episode, we analyze everything from the micro-nuance of the filmmaking to the overarching plot. We dissect the technical aspects, including the use and misuse of "The Oner" (the single, continuous long take), and contrast the artistry with the time wasted on set to create the perfect “oner.” Critically, we look at how the story maintains its narrative perfection even as chaos erupts on set. Our discussion is a full breakdown that covers real-life stories from behind the scenes, the satirical skewering of studio executives, and the mastery of the cast, including the amazing Greta Lee. Join us as we explore why this story was simply too perfect to ruin, even when someone couldn't resist turning Chekhov's Gun from a pistol into a machine gun. CHAPTER TIME STAMPS & MUST-LISTEN MOMENTS: 00:00 - Cold Open00:39 - Sketch: Chekhov's Gun01:17 - The Behind-The-Scenes Magic02:29 - The Bookend Magic Trick & Steering Wheel "Acting"06:40 - Skewering “Oners” As a Concept10:40 - The Characters16:02 - Mastery of Craft19:44 - Pre-Conceived Notions24:25 - Real Life On-Set Story27:27 - References & Greta Lee30:45 - Sketch: Chekhov's Gun + EndingKey Credits The Studio, Episode 02, "The Oner"Directed by: Seth Rogen, Evan GoldbergWritten by: Peter HuyckCinematography: Adam Newport-BerraCast: Seth Rogen (Matt Remick), Ike Barinholtz (Sal Saperstein), Greta Lee (Herself), Sarah Polley (Herself), Catherine O'Hara (Patty Leigh), Keyla Monterroso Mejia (Petra)Awards (Episode Specific):Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Won by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, 2025)Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour) (Won by Adam Newport-Berra, 2025)Awards (Series Overall):The Studio (Season 1) won a record 13 total Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series.Notable Feature: The episode itself is shot to look like a single, continuous long take (a "oner"), satirically mirroring the plot of the fictional movie being filmed within the story.Sound Design Credit Attribution: Chekhov's "Gun" Sketch - Gun Pew Pew Two by OBXJohn -- https://freesound.org/s/365634/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

To celebrate the culmination of Virgo Season, we’re talking about Jaclynn’s kinda sorta favorite film—a visually driven action comedy that at times brings a tear to the eye.Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is a masterclass in visual storytelling, and the episode becomes a bit of a David Leitch Fan Club as we dive into how the director's visual precision goes way beyond just the stunts.This story is so well told that we suspend our disbelief for two straight hours—aside from exactly one shot. We find it completely plausible that The Rock can out-muscle a military-grade helicopter, but we can’t deal with one questionable shot of the sunrise.Stick around to the end because we workshop a new "Favorite Lines" segment, and we provide yet another shout out to an ex.Episode Chapters & Highlights:00:00 - Cold Open & Sample from the Trailer00:26 - Why We're Talking about Hobbs & Shaw00:40 - Sketch: Virgo Season Team Meeting01:38 - The Efficiency of the Storytelling in Hobbs & Shaw03:20 - Directed by David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2)05:12 - The Visual Perfection of Hobbs & Shaw10:10 - What Robby Wanted More Of11:30 - How Quickly The Story Set Expectations of Believability11:50 - Jaclynn's Only Problem With The Story20:26 - Action Movie Voice, What Is "Funny"23:28 - Robby Talks About The "Heat and Weight" of the Story27:37 - Favorite Lines31:05 - Shout Out To An Ex (Discussion & Sketch)

Two of our hosts are Virgos so to celebrate we are watching their favorite film, and breaking down their stories. First up, Robby's favorite film– "My Life As A Dog, which is also Kurt Vonnegut's favorite film! While often remembered for its sweetness and childlike perspective, the film is in fact a darkly introspective work about childhood displacement and resilience. Such a poignant (sad, dark, introspective) story made for an unexpectedly fun episode. Must listen moments include: 00:00 - Cold Open00:28 - Why We Chose To Discuss "My Life As A Dog"02:09 - What You Need To Know Before Watching "My Life As A Dog"13:46 - Did We (Jaclynn) Like It? 17:27 - Sketch: Shout Out To An Ex!19:42 - Why Robby Loves "My Life As A Dog"23:35 - Cole's Reaction & Comparing It To "My Dinner With Andre"27:25 - No One Says "I Love You"28:02 - Sketch: Cathartic Company Holiday Party29:50 - Sexual Content Warning // Discussion31:30 - The Film's Many Metaphors36:19 - Our Favorite Robby Story39:26 - Favorite LinesKey Credits:Director: Lasse HallströmWriters: Lasse Hallström, Reidar Jönsson, Brasse Brännström, Per Berglund (adapted from Jönsson’s novel)Cinematography: Jörgen PerssonCast: Anton Glanzelius (Ingemar), Tomas von Brömssen (Gunnar), Anki Lidén (Ingemar’s mother), Melinda Kinnaman (Saga)Awards: Won Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film (1988); Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay); Winner of Guldbagge Award for Best Film; widely recognized on international critics’ lists.Cultural Impact:My Life as a Dog was a breakthrough moment for Swedish cinema in the 1980s and for director Lasse Hallström, who went on to a long Hollywood career. The film established a model for the “memory movie” subgenre, using a child’s heightened perspective and vivid production design to translate trauma into visual metaphor. Its balance of levity and despair influenced later coming-of-age films, particularly in how stories of childhood can be framed as both whimsical and devastating. The film also broadened international awareness of Swedish filmmaking and remains a touchstone in conversations about resilience, displacement, and the unreliable nature of memory.Episode Summary: We celebrate Virgo season with Robby’s favorite film—My Life as a Dog (1985), directed by Lasse Hallström and adapted from Reidar Jönsson’s novel. With cinematography by Jörgen Persson and a breakout performance by Anton Glanzelius, the film became an international success, winning the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and earning Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.Our discussion frames My Life as a Dog as a “memory movie”: a story told through the lens of a child’s perception, where bright colors and circus-like design choices mirror the distortions of memory. We compare Ingemar’s dislocation to the fate of Laika, the dog sent into space, emphasizing the boy’s sense of being “tossed around” by forces beyond his control. The conversation examines the film’s tonal balance—how it cloaks devastating material in humor—and debates whether Ingemar is a typical child or unusually aware of his difficult circumstances.Finally, we consider the film’s cultural impact. Beyond its role as a breakthrough for Swedish cinema and Hallström’s career, My Life as a Dog continues to resonate as a meditation on powerlessness, resilience, and the search for belonging. Its influence can be traced in subsequent coming-of-age films that weave levity into trauma, and in the enduring discussions it sparks among filmmakers and audiences alike.

What do Marvel movies feel like to people who have never seen a Marvel movie? That’s what two of the three of us find out for you in this episode. Robby has seen every Marvel movie, but Jaclynn and Cole are going in blind.Join us as we take Fantastic Four: First Steps way too seriously– so seriously that it’s hilarious. Honestly, this might be the funniest episode of the year.Memorable moments beyond the typical fun, thoughtful analysis include:• Giving birth in space [00:31:14]• Our first "Pre-tenshy" (Pretentious) Alert: Comparing the Fantastic Four: First Steps to the 9,000 page series of novels, Three Body Problem. [00:04:32]• Our first shouting out ex-boyfriends by name. [00:21:12]Definitely try each of those time stamps , but if you want to know more a full summary of the episode is below!FULL SUMMARY:First Reactions and Expectations[00:00:40] A Fresh Perspective: The hosts express their initial thoughts on the film, with two of the three having no prior experience with Marvel. They discuss their decision to see the film and the unique, potentially "uninformed" perspective they bring to the conversation.[00:01:29] Finding the Flaws: One host (guess who!) admits to falling asleep during the film, attributing it to a tiring day but also expressing a desire to see it a second time to give it a fair chance. They share their core disappointment that the film felt predictable and "flat" from the start.Story Structure and Character Arc[00:07:31] A Critique of Predictability: The discussion delves into the film's structural shortcomings, noting that key plot points, such as the fate of certain characters, felt heavily foreshadowed and lacked surprise. The hosts argue that the story’s predictability drains any meaningful tension.[00:21:46] The Stagnant Hero's Journey: The hosts focus on the lack of character growth and arc within the story. They argue that characters start and end the film as heroes with no significant internal change or conflict. The absence of a genuine hero's journey is highlighted as a core reason for the film’s narrative flatness.Film as Social Commentary[00:24:07] A Retro-Futuristic Utopia: The conversation shifts to the film’s social subtext, describing its setting as a utopian, nuclear family-centric world that feels oddly reminiscent of the 1950s. The host contrasts this with modern societal realities, noting the surprising level of public trust and the lack of systemic problems like poverty or worker unrest.[00:30:10] Birth in Space and Other Surprises: The hosts discuss the depiction of a superhero giving birth in space, praising the film for showcasing a unique and rarely seen aspect of a superhero's life. They also note the surprising, matter-of-fact portrayal of the event, which they see as a bold choice for a major studio film.[00:36:03] Thematic Thesis: The episode concludes by highlighting the core thematic conflict of the film, quoting a character’s line: "I'm not sacrificing my son for this planet, but I won't sacrifice this planet for my son." This is identified as the central thesis of the story, serving as a powerful and rare moment of genuine moral ambiguity.CREDITS & ATTRIBUTIONSSound Design Field Recordings: "Pretentious Alert" [00:04:32]S: Beach Dance - EDM Dance Cinematic Party Eletro Chill Happy 120bpm Music - EQ Mastered.wav by szegvari | License: Creative Commons 0S: Gun Pew Pew Two by OBXJohn | License: Creative Commons 0"Ex-Boyfriend Shout Out" [00:21:12]S: bestdayever.wav by LS | License: Attribution 3.0Artlist.io