Shows
The Worst Part of My Favorite Movie1986 - Aliens (with Katie Walsh)Film critic Katie Walsh (Tribune News Service, Los Angeles Times) braves facehuggers, chestbursters, and hordes of xenomorphs to talk about James Cameron's "Aliens." We discuss the evolution of Cameron's storytelling as his movies have become more ambitious, examine producer Gale Anne Hurd's role as "Cameron Whisperer" during the early phase of his directing career, and reflect on what makes "Aliens" such a satisfying sequel. Plus, we debut a brand new segment called Good Movie/Bad Movie! (Special thanks to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation for sponsoring this episode.)2025-06-2554 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite Movie1985 - After Hours (with Roxana Hadadi)Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi joins the podcast to discuss Martin Scorsese's "After Hours," and helps us trace the film's journey from once being considered a minor effort to now being viewed as one of the most pivotal movies in Scorsese's career. She also names the Scorsese film she'd most like to see added to the Criterion Collection, and offers her theory as to why Scorsese's work is often more fully appreciated a decade after the fact.2025-03-051h 04The Worst Part of My Favorite Movie1984 - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (with Bilge Ebiri)New York Magazine and Vulture film critic Bilge Ebiri offers wide-ranging insights into the career of Steven Spielberg, helps put American cinema of the 1980s into proper perspective, and discusses why he thinks "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" might be Spielberg's best-directed film. Truly, anything goes!2025-01-221h 06The Worst Part of My Favorite Movie1983 - Terms of Endearment (with Chris Feil)Film journalist and podcaster Chris Feil (This Had Oscar Buzz) discusses the Best Picture winner of 1983 — James L. Brooks' "Terms of Endearment." Is it a comedy that makes people cry or a drama with some amusing bits? Is emotional manipulation in movies something to be feared? Is the book always better than the movie? Should the fictional Aurora Greenway be an EGOT winner? These are exactly the kinds of questions you want Chris Feil to answer on your podcast!2024-10-1659 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite Movie1982 - The Thing (with Matt Singer)Author Matt Singer (Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever) stops by to discuss the 1982 sci-fi horror classic "The Thing," as well as John Carpenter's status as a pantheon filmmaker. Plus, a new world record is set for how many times the words "gloopy" and "gloppy" are said in a single podcast recording!2024-08-0758 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite Movie1981 - Reds (with Isaac Butler)Author Isaac Butler (The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act) discusses "Reds," his favorite movie of 1981. Must a director be as obsessed and relentless as Warren Beatty? Does on-set friction result in better movies? Is "Ishtar" deserving of its reappraisal? Isaac has all of the answers and more! Would you believe the Architect from "The Matrix Reloaded" also shows up at one point? It's all true!2024-06-2654 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite Movie1980 - The Empire Strikes Back (with Christopher Schneider)Cinematographer Christopher Schneider (The Volunteer, Love Type D, Lost Colony) discusses his favorite movie of 1980, The Empire Strikes Back. Along the way, we reminisce about freezing our action figures, recommend a few unheralded gems from director Irvin Kershner, and offer up dueling pronunciations of actor George Segal's last name. Oh, and if you thought Barbara Walters wouldn't make an appearance in this episode, you were dead wrong.2024-05-1500 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieHeat (with Max Silvestri)Comedian and writer Max Silvestri (Killing It, Human Resources, Big Mouth) discusses his favorite movie, Heat.2023-03-071h 21The Worst Part of My Favorite MovieThe Social Network (with Fran Hoepfner)Film critic Fran Hoepfner discusses her favorite David Fincher movie, The Social Network.2023-02-2148 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieZodiac (with Sean McElwee)Cinematographer Sean McElwee (Little Fish, Horse Girl, Room 104) discusses his favorite David Fincher movie, Zodiac.2023-02-0750 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieClueless (with Aaron Katz)Director Aaron Katz (Gemini, Land Ho!, Cold Weather) discusses his favorite teen movie, Clueless.2023-01-2450 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieScream (with Whitney Anne Adams)Costume designer Whitney Anne Adams (Freaky, Happy Death Day 2U) discusses her favorite slasher film, Scream.2023-01-1049 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieSpeed (with Kris Tapley)Writer and journalist Kris Tapley discusses his favorite action movie, Speed.2022-12-2748 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieThe Breakfast Club (with Jen Chaney)Film and television critic Jen Chaney discuss her favorite John Hughes movie, The Breakfast Club.2022-12-1345 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieMeet Joe Black (with Chad Hartigan)Filmmaker Chad Hartigan (Little Fish, Morris from America) discusses his favorite movie, Meet Joe Black.2022-11-2948 minThe Worst Part of My Favorite MovieAll That Jazz (with Matt Zoller Seitz)Film and television critic Matt Zoller Seitz discusses his favorite movie musical, All That Jazz.2022-11-1553 min