Crooked Table Podcast

For us pop culture enthusiasts, 2019 was one for the record books. Just on the movie side, moviegoers the finale of Marvel Studios' "Infinity Saga" in Avengers: Endgame and witnessed the end of Skywalker story in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Of course, the year brought a ton of sequels, reboots, and spin-offs of various quality levels. But it also delivered unexpected -- and Oscar-winning -- treats such as Jojo Rabbit, 1917, Marriage Story, and director Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. We already discussed our favorite films of 2019, and with the Academy Awards now officially in the rearview, it's time to look forward to what 2020 has to offer. Although we're now a month and a half into the new year, Tom Chang of Bleeding Cool joins us to break down some of the most exciting movies coming soon. Starting with current box office champ Birds of Prey, both DC and Marvel have several new projects on the way. We have so many questions about what lies ahead, and the answers await. Can DC keep its momentum going str

Foreign films usually make a very limited impact at the domestic box office. At best, they mostly wind up attracting love from critics or perhaps some prestige awards. Almost never do they break into the mainstream the way Parasite has. Co-writer/director Bong Joon Ho's film blends dark comedy, thriller, and horror elements into an irresistible bit of social commentary. Now Sade Glover of Offscreen Babble returns to the show for a deep, spoiler-filled dive into Parasite. The last time Sade was on the show, we discussed the warmth, compassion, and bittersweet hilarity of The Farewell. Now join us as we talk all about the intricate plotting, stellar ensemble cast, and expert tonal balance of Bong's Oscar-nominated Parasite. "Respect!" SYNOPSIS Bong Joon Ho brings his singular mastery home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale. Meet the Park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth. And the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought tog

Event Horizon hits theaters in 1997 to a disappointing box office response. Yet, like so many genre films, the Paul Anderson -- the Resident Evil guy, not the There Will Be Blood one -- sci-fi/horror hybrid has developed a cult following. So, as our first regular episode of 2020, we're taking a look at how the movie has held up and why its combination of Alien and Hellraiser is worth seeking out for those who haven't caught up with it. Jon Cohorn of Modern Horrors -- who previously helped us enter the world on John Wick -- returns for Event Horizon. We'll discuss the ensemble cast led by Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill, the movie's amalgamation of science and faith, and how the movie was almost a whole lot gorier. So join us as we hop aboard the titular ship for a trip through time and space into a hellish new dimension. SYNOPSIS When the Event Horizon, a spacecraft that vanished years earlier, suddenly reappears, a team is dispatched to investigate the ship. Accompanied by the Event Horizon's creator,

Ah, 2019, we hardly knew you. With the passing of another year — and another decade, more or less — it's time again to run through some of our favorite movies from the past 12 cinematic months. So what are our top movies of the year? Last year, Marvel Studios made an incredible showing atop our 2018 retrospective. With three releases in 2019, can Marvel claim a spot in this year's list? We have lots of great stuff planned for 2020, including our Harry Potter series. First, hear Rob reveal the 10 films he loved most in 2019. SHOW NOTES Want to appear on a future episode of the Crooked Table Podcast? Find out how over at crookedtable.com/guest! Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over at Patreon.com/CrookedTable Subscribe to the Crooked Table Podcast on iTunes so that you never miss a moment! Listen to the Crooked Table Podcast on Spotify! The Crooked Table Podcast is also on Stitcher! Reach Robert Yaniz Jr. on Twitter at @crookedtable. Connect with Crooked Table on socia

2019 is about to head off into the sunset, but we can't let the year pass without a Crooked Commentary. For this fourth entry in the series, we follow The Room, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World with the seminal romantic comedy (and underrated New Year's Eve movie), 1989's When Harry Met Sally... Of course, Kai Yaniz returns to watch the film, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. We'll talk about how Nora Ephron's script shaped modern cinematic love stories, why the film's gender politics (mostly) hold up, and the iconic performances by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Before we kick off the film, we'll even share the story of how we met. But before the tale of when Rob met Kai, it's time for When Harry Met Sally... Stay tuned in 2020 for more Crooked Commentary episodes going forward! SYNOPSIS In 1977, college graduates Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a contentious car ride from Chicago to New York, during which they argue about whether

Just as Lucasfilm says goodbye to its own Star Wars saga, so must we do the same. After spending most of 2019 working our way through George Lucas' "galaxy far, far away," we've come to the final installment of our Star Wars series. This week, we'll discuss Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker. To complete this epic journey, Lucasfilm recruited The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams. So, in keeping with that, we've brought back our guest from our original Star Wars episode, Kai Yaniz. We'll discuss the "Reylo" of it all, Palpatine's return, and whether Abrams and his team are able to craft a satisfying conclusion to this 42-year journey. Plus, we'll hear from almost every guest we've had during our Star Wars episode so far. The Rise of Skywalker is proving to, once again, be a divisive chapter in the Star Wars saga. So let's get to it before we lightspeed-skip right into 2020! SYNOPSIS The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more as Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Po

It's the holiday season. So, of course, it is time to bust out all our favorite Christmas movies. We've got White Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut, and — what do we have here? — Gremlins. That's right, folks. That 1984 Joe Dante horror-comedy about a furry little Mogwai with a very particular set of rules is technically a Christmas movie. And we'll take any opportunity we have to revisit a nostalgic favorite. Cristian Garcia of Nerds with Friends joins us to talk about why Gremlins is such a hallmark of the 1980s. We'll discuss the practical effects used to bring the titular creatures, marvel at Mrs. Peltzer's battle skills, and ponder what the long-in-development Gremlins 3 might look like. Remember to stay away from the light, steer clear of water, and — whatever you do — do NOT eat anything after midnight. It's time to talk Gremlins. SYNOPSIS A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son (Zach Galligan) and finds one at a store in Chinatown. The shopkeeper is reluctant to sell him

Even more than most genres, mockumentaries just aren't for everyone. So perhaps — despite The Lonely Island's built-in fanbase — Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping failed to bring in an audience in 2016. In a blatant parody of Justin Bieber or other recent music sensations, the film follows fading pop music icon Conner4Real (Andy Samberg). Sandro Falce of Oldie But a Goodie joins the show to help us spread the word about Popstar's insanely underrated status. We'll discuss how the movie follows the tradition of classic mockumentary films like This Is Spinal Tap, why Samberg's performance grounds the film, and which cameos — there are so, so many — make us laugh the hardest. So grab your "finest girl," "turn up the beef" and listen in as these "2 banditos" share their "incredible thoughts" about one of the best comedies of the past few years. Ladies and gentlemen, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. SYNOPSIS Childhood friends Conner (Andy Samberg), Owen (Jorma Taccone) and Lawrence (Akiva Schaffer) foun

People just love to hate on Adam Sandler. Perhaps the reason behind this is how little his comedic persona has evolved since the days of Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer. Or maybe just not enough moviegoers have seen Punch-Drunk Love. This 2002 romantic comedy/drama from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson marked a surprising departure from Sandler's usual work. Although the film does go for some laughs, it is far more esoteric than Sandler's usual broad style. In fact, the film digs deeper into his performance style than even critics expected. Now Will Ashton of Cinemaholics returns to the show to talk about how Punch-Drunk Love captures social anxiety, the way Anderson leverages Sandler's signature on-screen rage, and why the film is still so underappreciated. Sandler doubters definitely need to check out what is arguably his greatest performance. SYNOPSIS Although susceptible to violent outbursts, bathroom supply business owner Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) is a timid and shy man by disposition, l

Throughout 2019, A24 has further cemented its dominance as a safe haven for distinctive creative voices. In just the past few years, the company has given moviegoers releases as diverse as Moonlight, Lady Bird, Hereditary, Ex Machina, and Room. And easily one of this year's A24 highlights — and indeed 2019 cinema, in general — has been Lulu Wang's poignant and hilarious The Farewell. Sade Glover of the Offscreen Babble podcast joins the show to discuss how Wang's second directorial effort infuses family, grief, and culture with not only powerful commentary but also genuine laughs. We'll discuss how The Farewell makes its tale universally relatable, the film's Oscar chances this awards season, and why it's so important for moviegoers to seek out these smaller, more personal stories. SPOILER NOTE: While the bulk of our conversation is spoiler-free, we do discuss The Farewell's ending in detail starting at the 49:50 mark. So, if you have not seen the film yet, please do so before you finish the episode. The

The year 1999 is the gift that keeps on giving. We're already covered several key releases from that year, including The Matrix, Fight Club, American Beauty, and Office Space. Now, this week, we welcome freelance writer and critic Albert Lanier to the show to discuss Stanley Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut. Released 20 years ago, this compelling thriller is the stuff of legend. A notoriously long shoot, friction with the MPAA, and of course, Kubrick's death soon before it hit theaters. Eyes Wide Shut even received something of a mixed response from critics upon its theatrical run. However, in the years since its summer 1999 release, the film's dissection of sexuality, fidelity, and relationships has become far more appreciated.  Listen in as we touch on everything Kubrick says with his last film, the stellar performances from then-real-life married couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and how Eyes Wide Shut might actually be two films disguised as one. Much like the film itself, this is a conversation un

In the eighth (and penultimate) installment of our retrospective on the Star Wars saga, we take on the most divisive installment. That's right, folks. This week, we're talking Rian Johnson's Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi. Kerri Jones returns to the show to talk about how Johnson's film upends the franchise, its thought-provoking depiction of the Force, and the tantalizing possibility of Reylo. Strap in, Star Wars fans, because this episode probably won't please all of you. Every month for the rest of 2019, we've been discussing another episode of the Star Wars saga, building up to the release of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker in December. Check out our conversation with Kerri Jones about Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, now available to download. Then return for the final installment next month, as we finally discuss The Rise of Skywalker itself. SYNOPSIS Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill) peaceful and solitary existence gets upended when he encounters Rey (Daisy Ridley), a young

  In the seventh installment of our retrospective on the Star Wars saga, we revisit our two-part conversation from 2015 on Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens. The first hour was recorded before Rob and guest Kai Yaniz saw the film, serving as a summary of what came before. Then, part two delves deep into J.J. Abrams' film, its comparisons to A New Hope, and what we hoped to see from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Every month for the rest of 2019, we've been discussing another episode of the Star Wars saga, building up to the release of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker in December. Check out our conversation with Kerri Jones about Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, now available to download. Then return for the final installment next month, as we finally discuss The Rise of Skywalker itself. SYNOPSIS Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his young allies, Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega), face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (A

Some movies land with audiences immediately, while others don't find their fans for years to come. Wet Hot American Summer is one of the latter. Featuring a star-studded cast of comedy talents, director David Wain's film is a quirky ode to '80s "camp" classics (pun intended) and sex comedies. Its popularity grew so much over the years that Netflix ultimately produced two limited series based on the film. David Rosen of the Piecing It Together podcast joins the show to discuss the phenomenon that is Wet Hot American Summer. We'll discuss Wain's bizarre blend of comedy styles, the film's enduring legacy, and speculate about why it was initially maligned by critics. Fans of David's show: we'll even briefly touch on which puzzle pieces pertain to the film. So let's head over to Camp Firewood so that we don't miss tonight's big talent show. *pottery breaking* SYNOPSIS Set on the last day of camp, in the hot summer of 1981, Wet Hot American Summer follows a group of counselors who are each trying to complete their

With the upcoming release of Terminator: Dark Fate, now is the perfect time to reflect on the series. In 1991, Terminator 2: Judgment Day surpassed James Cameron's original classic and set a new standard for blockbuster cinema. Josh Bell of the Awesome Movie Year podcast joins the show to talk about how T2 changed the world of cinema forever. We'll discuss how Cameron was able to successfully build on his own mythos, what the subsequent sequels have missed, and how we hope that Terminator: Dark Fate will finally get the series back on track. Aside from our Star Wars series, we've only covered a few sequels since the format change. But like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Skyfall, Terminator 2: Judgment Day transcends its genre to deliver something far grander. Come with us if you want to listen. SYNOPSIS In this sequel set 11 years after "The Terminator," young John Connor (Edward Furlong) — the key to civilization's victory over a future robot uprising — is the target of the shape-shifting T-1000 (Ro

In the sixth installment of our retrospective on the Star Wars saga, we bid farewell to the pre-Disney era of the franchise. Way back in 1983, director Richard Marquand ended the original Star Wars trilogy with Return of the Jedi. Now, Michael Hinman of Alpha Waves Radio joins us to conclude our coverage of the George Lucas's original three-part vision for the "galaxy far, far away." Every month for the rest of 2019, we'll be discussing another episode of the Star Wars saga, building up to the release of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker in December. We'll be reposting our 2015 review of Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens in a couple of weeks. Then check back in late November as Kerri Jones returns to the show to talk Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi. SYNOPSIS Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) battles horrible Jabba the Hutt and cruel Darth Vader (David Prowse) to save his comrades in the Rebel Alliance and triumph over the Galactic Empire. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Car

In the heart of the Disney Renaissance, the studio that had already back-to-back box office smashes (and Academy Award winners) in Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin unleashed its 32nd animated feature. The Lion King pounced into theaters in the summer of 1994, becoming the highest-grossing animated film ever at the time of its release and spawning a cultural phenomenon. This episode, Danielle Solzman of Solzy at the Movies joins us to discuss the film on its 25th anniversary. Of course, we'll also cover this year's "live-action" remake from director Jon Favreau, how the two versions of the story compare and why the original animated The Lion King serves as a seminal cinematic achievement and veritable turning point for the future of animation. Cue up that iconic Hans Zimmer score, and let's trek on over to Pride Rock for our discussion on The Lion King. SYNOPSIS This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones

Earlier this year, we celebrated our 100th episode by delving into a lengthy two-part discussion about The Matrix. While the Wachowskis' 1999 classic marked a seismic shift for the world of cinema, the filmmakers behind Neo's story have certainly lived up to the narrative and visual ambition of their breakthrough. Case in point, expect to see more coverage on Lilly and Lana Wachowski's filmography in the months ahead, including a look at The Matrix sequels themselves. However, this week, Stephen M. Colbert of Batman v Superman: By the Minute joins us to discuss the Wachowskis' 2008 film, Speed Racer, which brings the candy-colored, high-energy manga and anime to life with surprising success and poignancy. We'll talk about why the film may have underperformed at the box office, how it goes beyond pure spectacle to deliver a satisfying character story and speculate on what we want to see next from the Wachowskis (yes, this was recorded before The Matrix 4 news broke). Here comes Speed Racer. SYNOPSIS Born into

One year ago, the fate of the Crooked Table Podcast was uncertain. Trapped at a creative crossroads, the show was put on what turned out to be a temporary hiatus until it could be refocused to its current premise, in which we "democratize the film criticism conversation." Once that concept was nailed down, Rob unveiled it just in time for International Podcast Day 2019. Now, with the return of this annual celebration of the podcasting medium (Happy International Podcast Day, all!), Rob is back to lay out his plans for the show in 2020. Since the relaunch in December 2018, we've talked about a lot of great films — from Christmas in Connecticut to Avengers: Endgame — and been fortunate to welcome a wide variety of exciting guests to the show. However, in the interest of keeping the show growing and evolving, we're eager to push the show and its mission forward to even greater heights in the year ahead. That means more guests, more films and an overall higher quality product for the listeners. So, join Rob as he

In the fifth installment of our retrospective on the Star Wars saga, we turn our attention to what is arguably the most popular film in the series: director Irvin Kershner's 1980 release The Empire Strikes Back. After the phenomenon that was the original Star Wars, fans hoped the follow-up would expand the world and continue the story in a meaningful way. What they got was one of the best sequels ever made. Candace Kaw of Geeky Girl Gab joins us to discuss why the film has endures, what makes it a standout part of the saga and how it connects to The Last Jedi. Every month for the rest of 2019, we'll be discussing another episode of the Star Wars saga, building up to the release of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker in December. Check back next month as Michael Hinman of Alpha Waves Radio joins us to talk Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi. SYNOPSIS The adventure continues in this Star Wars sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chew