Ep. 34 - Losing the great Gene Hackman (with special guest Jonathan Wayne)

Ep. 34 - Losing the great Gene Hackman (with special guest Jonathan Wayne)

Alan and Jonathan discuss the loss of Gene Hackman and why he was such a great actor. *Since the time of the recording an official cause of death has been released. They discuss Hackman, who was known for playing Lex Luther in "Superman" a stubborn submarine commander in "Crimson Tide" opposite Denzel Washington, as well as a tough as nails FBI official in "Mississippi Burning" looking to find out who killed James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman. They discuss how he was able to be so consistently good in many different films and many roles.

Ep. 33 - Oscar Predictions

Can "Anora" upset "The Brutalist?" Can Demi Moore take home the Oscar for Best Picture? Alan goes through the major nominations and goes through his predictions, and wonders if there will be any upsets. Timothy Chalamet is in two Oscar nominated films-"A Complete Unknown" and "Dune II." How much value will voters place on his great singing impersonating Bob Dylan. He also goes over some odd choices and laments that there is only one good song nominated for Bes Original Song-and will not win.

Ep. 32 - Why Demi Moore is Unforgettable in 'The Substance'

We take a look at a dark film that asks if we are wrong to place so much value on physical beauty as Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, who injects herself with a substance so that a youynger, more beautiful version of herself will emerge. Part Black Mirror, part The Twilight Zone, The Substance is one of the best films of the year. We also take a look at Anora in which Mikey Madison stars as a sex worker who thinks she might have met her husband but is in for a nasty surprise. Both are nominated for Best Picture and Moore or Madison should win Best Actress.

Ep. 31 - Is Emilia Perez as Bad As Everyone Says It Is?

"Emilia Perez" has 13 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. It is a musical, in a manner of speaking and stars Zoe Saldana as a lawyer and a male drug lord Manitas who becomes a woman-Emilia Perez. Alan gives his thoughts on the widely divisive film that also stars Selena Gomez and Karla Sofia Gascon. Alan doesn't mince words.

Ep. 30 - Why 'A Real Pain' Is A Pleasure (featuring Nike Silberstein)

Alan talks about the new film "A Real Pain" starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as Jewish cousins who reconnect on a trip to Poland where they will visit a death camp as well as the house in which a grandmother lived. Alan explains why the movie worked so well and is joined by Nike Silberstein, who talks about her own "March of the Living" trip when she was in high school. They discuss whether or not it is ethical to take selfies and certain places where tragedy took place and they examine the dynamic between the two characters who are jealous of each other. Alan asks Nike if she feels more pressure to live a meaningful life because she is the grandchild of survivors. They also discuss Jennifer Gray, of "Dirty Dancing" fame and whether or not something about her character is implied. They also discuss how this may be a Holocaust movie that is not a Holocaust movie as it instead focuses on how the next generation processes the past.