It seems that people are often quick to locate themselves firmly on one or the other end of the following spectrum: “podcast person” or “definitely not a podcast person.” But, if you are a movie person (and I imagine you are, if you’re reading this), I promise the medium has much to offer. Podcasts about movies are a huge genre within podcasting, with its own ecosystem and sub-genres. For instance, if you want to find a show featuring a group of comedians talking about bad mo

Title: Colossal (2016) Genre: The film's IMDB page lists action, comedy, drama, fantasy, and sci fi, which are all accurate, but I'd say that the film is mainly a drama with a sci-fi premise. Director: Nacho Vigalondo Stars: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson, Dan Stevens Grade: A- In a Nutshell: Following a difficult break-up and a career downturn, NYC party girl Gloria (Anne Hathaway) returns to her hometown to live in her abandoned childhood h

Emma Greenleaf 1) Master of None (2015-2017) - I've been trying to space out the episodes of this Aziz Ansari helmed Netflix original, but they are just so easy to watch. I loved the first season and how it delved into topics which previously haven’t been explored on TV, and taught valuable life lessons in a way that avoids all clichés. This second season has really stepped up its game. With the first two episodes taking place in picturesque Italy, Ansari has combined the ind

The 2014 film John Wick is full of contradictions. The action is (rightfully) praised for the high-degree of verisimilitude that it becomes hyper-stylized. The revenge narrative is motivated not so much by the much talked about puppy scene, but by what that represents – the last connection a grieving man has to the woman who likely saved his life. Even the trophy of traditional masculinity – the 1969 Mustang stolen from Wick – is revealed to have a deeper meaning. Hidden dept

Title: Raw (2016) Genre: Horror/Drama/Comedy Director: Julia Ducournau Stars: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Naït Oufella Bias: I am only a very casual horror fan, so some of Raw’s generic reference points may be lost on me. But the film has a lot of elements I tend to go for, such as its general artsiness. Grade: A- In a Nutshell: Raised in a family of vegetarian veterinarians, 16-year-old Justine (Garance Miller) is about to embark on her own veterinary training at a

Matt Linton 1) What We Do in the Shadows (2014) – Director Taika Waititi directs, co-writes, and co-stars in this hilarious mock-umentary detailing the lives of immortal vampires sharing a house in New Zealand. The film works as a send-up of both vampire tropes and reality TV, and features a brilliant performance by co-writer and co-star Jemaine Clement. 2) Sicario (2015) - Denis Villeneuve is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors, with the one-two punch of this film

Some cult movies are loved for being bad and campy. Others are celebrated for breaking taboos and creating controversy. Many more were ignored and forgotten in their own day, and have only been appreciated years after their original release. Cult movies are often strange and unique . Sometimes, as in the five examples here, the backstories behind cult movies are just as weird and fascinating as the movies themselves. 5. Snuff Sparked A Snuff Movie Panic Made on an extravagant

Title: Dr. Strange (2016), Blue-ray Genre: Superhero/Adaptation/Fantasy/Action Director: Scott Derrickson Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, and Chiwetel Ejiofor Bias: I am a Marvel fanboy. Whether it’s the comics or the films, I’ve been a fan of Marvel superheroes for most of my life. Grade: B In a Nutshell: Dr. Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch), a brilliant and arrogant neurosurgeon, suffers permanent nerve damage to his hands after surv

Shelby Cadwell This weekend I plan to continue to watching the animated show Gravity Falls on Hulu. The series features voice acting from Jason Ritter, Kristin Schall, and Linda Cardellini, among others (and some notable guest appearances from big names like Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Stephen Root, Nathan Fillion, and Will Forte). Gravity Falls follows the story of twin siblings - Mabel and Dipper Pines - who are spending the summer with their Great Uncle Stan, who runs a "mystery

Ah horror, one of the most maligned genres. For good reason, too. Simply put, the modern era has not been kind to this film style. The majority of what’s out there are remakes of remakes, or they rely too heavily on special effects to do the work, oftentimes both. One of the benefits of the recent rise in digital filmmaking is the new life that’s been breathed into this genre. When filmmakers have a small budget to work with, they are forced to get creative and find ways to s