Omaha: A Conversation With Director Cole Webley

Omaha: A Conversation With Director Cole Webley

Director Cole Webley joins All Those Moments to discuss his devastating and deeply human film, Omaha, starring John Magaro. Benji talks to Cole about growing up in Central Washington, making movies while raising a family, depicting scarcity on screen, and the emotional ending of Omaha. They also discuss working with child actors and how this movie explores humbling experiences of parenting while quietly celebrating the kindness of strangers. The conversation also explores masculinity, grief, and what it means to ask for help. It's one of our favorite conversations we’ve had on the podcast. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Introducing Omaha & Cole Webley 2:27 - Audience reactions & emotional responses to the film 11:51 - John Magaro, family, and Cole Webley’s filmmaking background 25:47 - Spoiler discussion begins: road trip structure & a hidden destination 39:24 - A controversial scene, judgment, and parenting 56:10 - The ending of Omaha explained: “I’m going to need some help.” 1:08:00 - Kindness, Masculinity, & Asking for Help -- Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 ⁠https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe⁠ [https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe] Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/]

Mother Mary: Art, Trauma, & Collaboration

In this episode of the show, we dive into Mother Mary, David Lowery's allegorical character study about creativity, betrayal, and the ghosts we carry with us. We discuss Lowery’s maximalist approach, the central relationship between Mother Mary and Sam, and why this director's ninth feature film plays more like a black box love story than a horror film. Along the way, we explore the meaning of the red “ghost,” the role of performance and religion, and how the film turns trauma into art and art into healing. CHAPTERS: 00:00 First reactions & what the movie tried to do 03:49 Setup: logline, key cast & Lowery’s approach 14:11 Mary & Sam: tension, staccato / legato dialog, a broken creative partnership 25:25 The musicless dance sequence 30:50 The red ghost and shared trauma 38:22 The ritual & the meaning of the red dress 43:09 Ending explained & Mary's final performance 45:11 Audience reactions & interpretations 54:25 Lowery’s films as “ghost stories” 56:42 Final thoughts Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe [https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe] Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/]

Project Hail Mary: A Peak Movie Experience

Project Hail Mary is part sci-fi blockbuster and part screwball comedy that still observes the hard science source material from Andy Weir. In this episode of All Those Moments, we talk about why this movie is an antidote to our cynicism, how its dual-timeline structure keeps the story moving, and why the relationship between Grace and Rocky becomes the emotional and intellectual core of the film. Along the way, we break down the astrophage premise, the science behind the mission to Tau Ceti, and how the movie pulls off one of the most effective buddy movies in all of Lord & Miller's filmography. Yes, including Benji's favorites, 21 & 22 Jump Street. We also get into the tonal balancing act between the comedy and the existential stakes, the decision to use practical effects for Rocky (and why that might have been a billion dollar decision), the agency and ethics of Grace's big decision, and whether the ending actually works. 0:00 Episode Setup 2:55 First Impressions 6:00 The Sci-Fi Premise Explained 12:10 Earth Timeline & Backstory Discovery 22:00 First Contact at Tau Ceti 33:00 Meeting Rocky 48:30 Solving the Astrophage Crisis Together 1:01:00 The Ending, Sacrifice, and Final Thoughts Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man - The Best and Worst of Netflix

In this episode of All Those Moments, we dive into the bloody waters of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man including its themes, performances, and whether we think it lives up to the legacy of the series.We also explore how this changes the trajectory of Tommy Shelby’s story (especially when compared to how the show concluded), the historical and political backdrop shaping the narrative, and whether or not we think the overall project was a success. Is this a fitting continuation for the Peaky Blinders or is Netflix going to spin this thing off into something else entirely?Along the way, Benji and Luke discuss:The evolution of Tommy Shelby as a characterThe movie compared to the BBC / Netflix seriesKey moments that land (or don’t)This episode should be useful whether you’re a longtime Peaky Blinders devotee like Luke or someone who enjoyed the show but stopped after two seasons like Benji. Hosts: Benji Wade Luke Baumgarten Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/] Thank you to Mitch Davis for the artwork and Lucid Terminal for the theme song.

The Voice of Hind Rajab: Imperfect, But Essential

The story of Hind Rajab can never be ignored and it should never be forgotten. Kaouther Ben Hania's film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, is an imperfect but essential document that turns the details of what has happened to more than 20,000 children in Gaza since the end of 2023 into an intimate rendering of human anguish. Benji and Luke watched this movie during the week that Neil Patrick Harris talked about being "interested in things that are apolitical." The Voice of Hind Rajab, conversely, provokes conversations about the role of politics in art and cinema. After all, isn't art without politics just decoration? Or, as Ben Hania put it recently, "Cinema is not just image laundering." Benji and Luke start their conversation with an introduction to the filmmaker, Ben Hania, and her previous work with Four Daughters (2023) as well as its similarities to The Voice of Hind Rajab. They then describe key moments from the movie and react to the filmmaking, narrative structure, and the real life events depicted in the story. They finish the podcast with their thoughts about recent developments as America and Israel have started a war against Iran and the implications for an ongoing genocide in Gaza. Hosts: Benji Wade Luke Baumgarten -- Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/] Thank you to Mitch Davis for the artwork and Lucid Terminal for the theme song.