Consider This with Scott Mantz

Consider This: "A Private Life" w/ Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster has always been extremely selective about the the kinds of movies she will commit to, and for good reason -- At this stage of her career, she only wants to play characters that challenge her, and she always wants to give it her very best. Foster's latest film lives up to her high standards. In "A Private Life," the 2-time Oscar-winner plays a psychiatrist who suspects that one of her clients has been murdered, and when she starts to investigate, she goes down a rabbit hole in which starts to lose her grip on reality. I had a great time talking with Foster on the latest episode of "Consider This" -- I wish it could have gone on longer, but I'll take whatever time I get get with a Hollywood legend of Foster's caliber, and I hope you enjoy the conversation too!

Consider This: "Dead Man's Wire" w/ director Gus Van Sant

I'm so excited to be joined on "Consider This" by director Gus Van Sant, whose latest film "Dead Man's Wire" is one of the very best movies of the legendary director's incredible career -- and that's saying a lot coming from the director of classics like "Drugstore Cowboy," "To Die For," "Good Will Hunting" and "Milk" (among many others). "Dead Man's Wire" is based on the true story of a hostage crisis that unfolded on national TV in 1977, and it features a high wire act performance from Bill Skarsgard that has to be seen to be believed. "Dead Man's Wire" played in theaters in NY and LA towards the end of 2025 to qualify for Oscar consideration, and it absolutely deserves to be nominated in many categories, including Best Actor, Screenplay, Director and (yes!) Best Picture! I hope you enjoy my conversation with Gus Van Sant on "Consider This," and be sure to spread the word to see "Dead Man's Wire" in theaters now!

Consider This: "Train Dreams" w/ director Clint Bentley

"Train Dreams" is an exquisite & beautiful film about a logger & railroad worker (played by Joel Edgerton) trying to make the most of the American Dream during the last days of the American frontier. After premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, it was acquired by Netflix (where it is streaming now), and by the end if the year, it was nominated for two Golden Globes and five Critics Choice Awards (with presumably more awards nominations on the way). I had a fascinating conversation about the making of this extraordinary film with writer-director Clint Bentley on the latest episode of "Consider This" -- Watch it here & be sure to stream "Train Dreams" on Netflix!

Consider This: "Rental Family" w/ director Hikari

In the film "Rental Family," Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser plays an underemployed American actor living in Tokyo, where he is hired by a rental agency to play the father to a young girl of a single mother. "Rental Family" is an exquisite, beautiful and heartwarming film that sneaks up on you, casts a spell and really stays with you, and I had an amazing conversation with writer/director Hikari about the inspiration behind the story, working with Brendan Fraser and filming all over Tokyo and Japan. Watch my lively and fascinating conversation with Hikari on "Consider This," and be sure to see "Rental Family" in theaters now!

Consider This: "Highest 2 Lowest" w/ director Spike Lee!

SPIKE LEE is one of the very greatest filmmakers of all time, and he's been one of my personal favorite directors ever since I first saw his feature directorial debut with "She's Gotta Have It" in 1986! Since then, he has continued to top himself with the likes of "Do The Right Thing," "Malcolm X," "The 25th Hour," "Inside Man" and "BlacKkKlansman" (to name a few), not to mention powerful documentaries, like "4 Little Girls" and "When the Levees Broke." So to say that "Highest 2 Lowest" -- Lee's 5th collaboration with Denzel Washington -- is one of his very best films is a very bold statement indeed, and it was an absolute honor to do a deep dive with him about the making of this excellent movie. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Spike Lee for "Consider This," and please spread the word about "Highest 2 Lowest," which is streaming now on Apple TV! And spread the word about "Consider This" too!