Checkout Cinema

Checkout Cinema 015: Mutually Assured Destruction (WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 2026)

Thanks for listening to Checkout Cinema, a podcast where two librarians check out movies! In this episode, we discuss "WUTHERING HEIGHTS" (2026), Emerald Fennell's reinterpretation of the Emily Brontë novel starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. While some celebrated this film for its heightened sexual tension between the leads, we found the exploration of this psychosexual relationship to fall flat. We also discuss some recently watched films like HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971) and UMA MUSUME: PRETTY DERBY - BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA (2024). We apologize for the gap in uploads. We had some computer issues preventing editing and uploading, but we recorded several episodes regardless meaning you'll be getting a lot more Checkout content coming your way! Thanks to Darrell Winfree for editing this episode. Support your local library!

Checkout Cinema BONUS 003: Movie Making Factory

It's Oscars season baby! 2025 had some great films, and it's time to pick the best of the best (well, from the local perspective). Amelia and Janine discuss the Oscars and the nomination process before diving into the most anticipated category: Best Picture. There are ten films nominated, so there's a lot of ground to cover! Janine and Amelia didn't watch all of the films on the list, but that has almost never stopped them from having an opinion. We have our clear front runners for the winner... what's your favorite film of 2025? Did we miss any films we should have checked out? Let us know! P.S. Darrell's computer died so Janine had to edit this one. Sorry for the lack of cool sound effects. ---- 00:00 Intro / Oscars discussion 5:52 What makes a "best picture?" 10:04: Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos) 12:52 F1 (Joseph Kosinski) 14:52 Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro) 19:20 Hamnet (Chloé Zhao) 22:45 Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie) 29:10 One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson) - Be sure to listen to our episode [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eCiVYulmiJM41TCM0Cu7Z?si=e0d36e29926d4839] on it for our full thoughts! 30:30 The Secret Agent (Kleber Mendonça Filho) 33:14 Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier) 36:24 Sinners (Ryan Coogler) 44:50 Train Dreams (Clint Bentley) 51:00 Outro

Checkout Cinema 014: Chekov's Gazpacho (WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, 1988)

Thanks for listening to Checkout Cinema, a podcast where two librarians check out movies! This week we're discussing our first foreign films: Pedro Almodóvar's WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (1988) starring Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, and Julieta Serrano. This absurdist dark comedy follows actress Peppa (Maura), a woman determined to understand why her lover Ivan (Fernando Guillén) has abandoned her with little explanation. In her frantic search to track Ivan down before he skips town, her story twists with those around her, including her friend's terrorists troubles and Ivan's past relationships coming to light. Almodóvar brings light and color to the screen in a way that truly brings these women's bombastic personalities and stories to life, making this film a real treat to experience. Read Elvira Lindo's essay on the film here: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/4438-women-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown-a-sweet-new-style Thanks to Darrell Winfree for editing this episode. Support your local library!

Checkout Cinema 013: Hot and Insufferable (WHEN HARRY MET SALLY..., 1989)

Thanks for listening to Checkout Cinema, a podcast where two librarians check out movies! This episode, we watched WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... (1989), directed by Robert Reiner and starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as the titular characters. Arguably the blueprint for all romantic comedies, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY explores the time old question: can men and women be friends? The always-opinionated Harry argues it's impossible, but soon a true friendship with Sally blooms and grows into something more. What a better way to close out the old year and ring in the new year than with this film with its classic NYE scenes! Plus, it's one of Janine's all-time favorites. Watch the iconic diner scene here: https://youtu.be/J_lEs4FYkhs Thanks to Darrell Winfree for editing this episode. Support your local library!

Checkout Cinema 012: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)

Thanks for listening to Checkout Cinema, a podcast where two librarians check out movies! This week, we were joined by our editor and producer Darrell Winfree to discuss TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962), which we all saw on 16mm. Directed by Robert Mulligan, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD stars Gregory Peck in his most celebrated role: Atticus Finch, an attorney in the Jim Crow South. Based on the book by Harper Lee, the film is told from the perspective of Scout (Mary Badham), a six-year-old girl. The film follows Atticus as he defends a Black man unjustly accused of sexually assaulting a white woman. Celebrated as one of the best films of all time, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of Darrell's favorites -- which is why we all decided to check this one out! Support your local library!