Film Optimists

Okay folks, we're a little late to this but, Happy 2024! As usual, we're kicking off the year with our now tradition of listing our 5 favorite films we saw in 2023. These don't have to be films that were released in 2023, just films we saw for the first time in 2023. Hear us countdown our favorites, and let us know yours in the comments!

Happy Holidays, Optimists! We're back with an exciting episode featuring a returning guest, and our first sequel! Special guest Ann Boyd joins us once again for a conversation about our favorite murder solving power couple, Nick and Nora Charles in After the Thin Man. The sequel swaps New York City for San Francisco as our heroes return home for what they hope will be a relaxing New Year's Eve, only to be immediately thrown into another murder investigation. W.S. Van Dyke returns as the director to the stars William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Skippy. The cast is joined by a host of newcomers including a very young Jimmy Stewart.

We're back with another gem from old Hollywood, Casablanca! Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart lead the all star cast in what has become one of the most iconic films ever made. Despite its fame, the film had surprisingly humble beginnings. Hear us discuss the film, it's origin, and how it came to be considered by many to be the greatest film of all time.

Trenton Cressy returns to the pod to talk Being John Malkovich. The film follows John Cusack as a puppeteer who finds a portal into the mind of John Malkovich. The odd film launched the careers of both Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze, both of whom were nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Director retrospectively. This film is strange, funny, haunting, and certainly not for everyone. That's partially why it's part of our Reanalysis series, which feature a guest changeling one or both of us to reconsider a film we've previously dismissed. Who didn't like this film on their first watch, and has their opinion changed? Listen to find out!

Spooky season is still going strong and so are we! We're back with another chilling tale, The Stepford Wives from 1975. The film follows Katharine Ross as Joanna, a woman who recently relocated to the suburb of Stepford from New York City. It's not long before Joanna notices that things aren't quite as idyllic as they seem in Stepford, and that danger may be lurking. The film is filled with commentary on feminism, patriarchy, anti-consumerism, and the clash between suburbs versus city that feels perhaps even more relevant today than nearly 50 years ago.

Horror season is officially here and we're kicking it off with Dario Argento's classic Giallo film, Suspiria (1977). Joining us this episode is friend and world cinema aficionado, Claudio Alberto Cortes. The film follows Suzy, a new student at a prestigious ballet school who encounters a series of bizarre murders of possibly supernatural origins. Hear us discuss the film and its 2018 remake, its impact, Giallo in general, and much more.

It was only a matter of time before we discussed the most optimistic movie of all, The Muppet Movie! Joining us this episode is author and activist, Jamie Metzgar. The first film in the franchise tells the "true story" of how Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the gang came together. In addition to the film we talk to Jamie about her books on grief, Salt & Ash & Honey & Magic and Explorations with Grief: The First Year. We also discuss Jamie's activism through her new line of merchandise, Hey There Sweet Cheeks. Each item is designed by Jamie herself and all proceeds go to important "left of center" causes.

Folks, we're more than halfway through the year already, but some of 2023's most anticipated films are still to come. Rather than focus on a specific film like our usual episodes, we've decided to discuss the films yet to be released we're most looking forward to this year. Listen to hear us each countdown our top 3, and write in with your own picks.

We're back with another film from Werner Herzog's extensive filmography. This time we're tackling one of Herzog's feature films, The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974). The film revolves on the strange true story of Kaspar Hauser, a man who was said to have been raised in isolation and captivity who's captor unexpectedly releases him in his early adulthood into a nearby Bavarian city. Kaspar's struggles adapting to society are filled with biting social commentary. In a characteristically unconventional choice, Herzog cast Bruno Schleinstein, a non professional actor, as his lead.

Folks, you're not gonna want to miss this one. Writer, actor, comedian, and podcasting legend Jordan Morris is on the show! Jordan joins us for a discussion of the 1995 film, Devil in a Blue Dress, as well as to discuss their recent contributions to the Archie Comics Horror Anthology series. Devil in a Blue Dress is a neo-noir mystery staring Denzel Washington. Set in late 1940's Los Angeles the film follows a down on his luck WW2 vet who reluctantly accepts a job to find a missing woman. Camp Pickens, the latest issue in the Archie Horror series, is available now! You can check it out here, or order it through your favorite local comic shop. But don't stop there! Get the first issue in the Archie Horror series, Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe of Horrors while you're at it! Lastly, Jordan is one of the many writers affected by the ongoing WGA strike. In order to ensure a fair deal for writers so they can keep making the movies and shows you love, we need the writers to win this strike. You can help out by contributing to the Entertainment Community Fund which gives financial to those in need during the strike. Click here to donate and learn more.