Category Archives: Episodes

THE IRON CLAW (2023)

We are joined by Fran Hoepfner (BW/DR, Fran Magazine) to experience the triumph and tragedy of the Von Erich family. We discuss wrestling (duh), Zac, brothers, fathers, bodies, cults, the American political circus, all while trying to figure out our wrestling names and signature moves. Tonight, I walk with my brothers. Kerry Von Erich

ANATOMY OF A FALL (2023)

Take the plunge with us and Veronica Fitzpatrick (BW/DR, Brown University) as we explore the moral complexities of narratives, relationships, and justice. Justice for Sandra? Justice for Samuel? Tune in to find out! What you say is just a little part of the whole situation. Sandra

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (2006)

We’re joined by two philosophers of art to discuss how they’ve helped each other come to a greater appreciation for this quirky but lovable entry into the Fast and Furious franchise. We discuss how art can change depending on the context in which it is embedded, and the ways the franchise could have gone afterContinue reading “THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (2006)”

FRED CLAUS (2007)

Join us and ⁠Emily St. James⁠ to discuss Fred Claus (streaming now on Max)! We marvel at the film’s strange and unnecessarily complicated backstory about the cosmology of sainthood, discuss Santa Claus’s moral epistemology, elf-yourself levels of CGI, why everyone deserves a second chance, and somehow spend five minutes discussing the phenomenon of “ugly hot”.Continue reading “FRED CLAUS (2007)”

LA CONFIDENTIAL (1997)

Time to get HUSH HUSH with Blake Howard (⁠One Heat Minute Productions⁠). Noir, moral compromise, postwar LA, the American Dream, police, the LAPD, Dante FREAKING Spinotti, and MORE! Don’t start tryin’ to do the right thing, boy-o. You haven’t the practice. Cpt. Dudley Smith

JOE VS THE VOLCANO (1990)

Joe is going to die. But he has a chance to be a hero, and live like a king. Only, that means he’ll have to jump into a volcano. Is Joe’s story all of ours? We sit down with Chad Perman (founder of ⁠Bright Wall / Dark Room⁠) to dig into what makes this zany,Continue reading “JOE VS THE VOLCANO (1990)”

24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE (2002)

“The smaller the audience, the bigger the history.” So, at least, said Tony Wilson, co-founder of Factory Records and larger than life character at the center of Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 punk pseudo-music-doc, our topic today! We are joined by Professor of Italian Studies at Boston College to explore the pull of nostalgia, anticipated retrospection, howContinue reading “24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE (2002)”

ALIENS (1986)

James Cameron’s terrifying and overwhelming sequel ALIENS is a rollercoaster that Roger Ebert called “absolutely, painfully and unremittingly intense.” We sit down with ⁠Brendan Hodges⁠ to explore the film’s power over us, what all that goo and slime means, the film’s anti-bureaucratic “strong individualist” conservatism and second wave feminist ideology, its use of space inContinue reading “ALIENS (1986)”

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES (1999)

It’s just us for our one hundredth episode talking Sophia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides! We hit all the good stuff: suburban malaise, fear, control, parenting, childhood, Trip Fontaine’s hair, memory, privacy, the joys of human connection, first loves, and Kathleen Turner! Obviously, Doctor, you’ve never been a 13-year-old girl. Cecilia