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  • We watched a ton of movies this year, but some of the most exciting ones weren't new. In a special holiday episode, Anne and Ryan discuss a handful of older films that fascinated them in 2024, from first-time discoveries of underseen gems to reexaminations of all-time classics. From noir to gothic horror, from Brando to Bogart, these are some of the film experiences that felt most vital to us in the past year.

  • Anne and Ryan discuss Luca Guadagnino's new drama QUEER starring Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Jason Schwartzman, and Lesley Manville. Based on the William S. Burroughs novella of the same name, QUEER follows an American writer living in 1950s Mexico City, pursuing a romance with a recently discharged Navy man. As the pair travel to South America in search of a mysterious drug, the story takes on a dreamlike aura in its depiction of longing and wanderlust. Join us for this discussion of Guadagnino's directorial follow-up to this year's Challengers, as well as diversions into James Bond, AMC theaters, Melancholia, the Babygirl trailer, Black Narcissus, Derek Jeter's gift baskets, Under the Volcano, The Agency and much, much more!

    QUEER is currently in theaters.

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  • Writer/director/actor Courtney Davis returns to the podcast to discuss the newly-released NIGHTBITCH starring Amy Adams and Scoot McNairy. Marielle Heller directed this adaptation of Rachel Yoder's novel about an artist struggling with the monotony of stay-at-home motherhood. As her frustrations worsen by day, she transforms into a canine at night. Released in time for the holidays, is NIGHTBITCH the feisty underdog of awards season, or is this feminist fable for the dogs? Delve into our discussion of NIGHTBITCH that goes into some off-leash diversions on Miranda July's All Fours, Whole Foods, The Fly, Bob Dylan, Queer, and much, much more!

    NIGHTBITCH is currently in theaters.

  • Anne and Ryan enter the arena of discussion for the newly-released epic GLADIATOR II starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. Ridley Scott directs this sequel to his Oscar-winning GLADIATOR, which finds Marcus Aurelius's grandson, Lucius (Mescal) captured and enslaved by the Roman General Acacius (Pascal). After an impressive gladiatorial performance, Lucius is recruited by a conniving stable master to win matches for an opportunity at revenge. Timed for Thanksgiving release, GLADIATOR II performed admirably at the box office, but how does this sword and sandal spectacle compete against Scott's original? Join us for an action-packed analysis of GLADIATOR II, along with diversions into Normal People, Jude Law, Déjà Vu, Ralph Finnes, La Chimera, Metallica, Barabbas, Adam Somner, and much, much more!

    GLADIATOR II is currently in theaters.

  • Anne and Ryan discuss JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Todd Phillips directed this follow-up to 2019's stratospherically successful JOKER, which finds Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) confined to Arkham State Hospital and pursuing a romance with the mysterious inmate Lee (Gaga). As Arthur stands trial for his crimes, he mentally escapes the threat of punishment through imagined juke box musical numbers. Critically reviled and box office flop, JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is one of 2024's most high profile failures, but is all the hatred justified? Listen to our takes on JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX, along with diversions into the Arclight, House of Gucci, The Band Wagon, holiday commercialism, Now, Voyager, Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, and much, much more!

    JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX is currently available for streaming rental and launches on Max on December 12th.

  • Anne and Ryan discuss Sean Baker's Palme d'Or winner, ANORA starring Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn. When Brooklyn stripper Ani (Madison) meets and impulsively weds the mega-wealthy Ivan (Eydelshteyn), a madcap adventure ensues as Ivan's family desperately attempts to annul the marriage. ANORA finds Baker executing his gritty style at a larger and more accessible scale than before, resulting in a near-unanimously praised awards contender. But does Mama Needs a Movie ador-a ANORA, or do we think ANORA is a snore-a? Listen to our discussion of Baker's latest along with with diversions into Woman of the Hour, Milk Money, Last Night in Soho, Kenji Mizoguchi, the Safdie brothers, the Duplass brothers, the Coen brothers, and much, much more!

    ANORA is currently in theaters.

  • Anne and Ryan discuss the new released comedy-drama, A REAL PAIN starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Written and directed by Eisenberg, A REAL PAIN follows two estranged cousins on a tour through Poland as they attempt to connect with the memory of their recently deceased grandmother, their cultural heritage, and each other. Featuring a standout performance from Culkin, A REAL PAIN is just the kind of dialogue-driven character study perfect to kick off MNAM's tour of this autumn's most intriguing releases. We hope you'll join us for this discussion that also includes a few detours into the 2024 election results, The Sixth Sense, The Odd Couple, Sunshine, Thomas Jefferson, Unstrung Heroes, Woody Allen and much, much more!

    A REAL PAIN is currently in theaters.

  • Our political thriller series comes to an exciting Election Day conclusion with writer and actor Dan Chamberlain (Have I Got News for You) joining to discuss John Frankenheimer's THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury and Janet Leigh. Based on Richard Condon's novel, this 1962 classic concerns a Korean War veteran Raymond Shaw (Harvey), who is brainwashed by communists to become an unwilling killer in an international conspiracy. One of the defining films of the Kennedy-era Cold War, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE has earned a reputation as the quintessential political thriller, but can its dark paranoid fantasy possibly outdo the tension of the current political moment? Find out on a special 2024 Election Day episode of Mama Needs a Movie that also takes diversions into The Ghost Writer, James Carville, libertarianism, Brian Wilson, the Nixon Library, Joycelyn Elders, Parade Magazine, Queer, Conclave, and much, much more!

    THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE is currently streaming for free on Tubi, PlutoTV, Kanopy, Hoopla, and the Roku Channel.

  • Our political thriller series reaches a fever pitch as writer Jack Allison (author of Kill the Rich) joins to discuss Oliver Stone's JFK starring Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, and many, many more. This 1991 Oscar-nominated drama relitigates the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy through the probing lens of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Costner). Overflowing with equal parts historical information and conjecture and expertly edited to achieve an anxiously breathless pace, JFK is the quintessential conspiracy film- but what does that mean in a culture where online political conspiracies currently dominate America's fringes? We'll try to solve the mystery of JFK along with some diversions into the current election, January 6th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, American Tabloid, The Irishman, and much, much more!

    Order Jack Allison's novel KILL THE RICH from Clash Books:

    https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Rich-Jack-Allison/dp/1955904855

  • As the 2024 election draws near, we can't get enough political thrillers, this week looking at Steven Spielberg's Cold War tale, BRIDGE OF SPIES starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance. Scripted by Matt Charman, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, the film tells the true story of James B. Donovan (Hanks), a New York City lawyer called upon to defend a recently arrested spy for the Soviets, Rudolph Abel (Rylance). Donovan develops a surprising respect for his stoic client, eventually fueling his motivation to attempt an historic prisoner exchange in East Germany just as the Berlin Wall is going up. A rare espionage suspense story that's focused more on diplomacy than violence, BRIDGE OF SPIES has garnered a dubious reputation as the quintessential Speilberg/Hanks "Dad movie", but it's time for MAMA to cross this BRIDGE, stopping for a few diversions into Christopher Nolan, The Man Who Knew Too Much, nepo babies, Munich, Henry Fonda, The Great Gatsby, The Negotiator, The White Ribbon, nuclear war and much, much more!

  • Our season-long Political Thriller obsession continues with Sydney Pollack's THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR starring Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway. This 1975 suspense classic centers on a CIA researcher who returns from his lunch break to discover his co-workers are murdered and he's on the run for his life. Featuring an unconventional romance between Redford and Dunaway and a villainously scene-stealing turn by Max von Sydow, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR typifies the post-Watergate paranoid thriller as we know it. Join our discussion as we take flight on CONDOR, with occasional diversions into Michael Mann, William Castle, August Wilson, The Conversation, Out of Sight, The Los Angeles Times, and much, much more!

    THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR is currently available to stream with subscription to Paramount Plus.

  • Our Political Thriller season continues with writer and actor Jon Millstein joining to discuss the 1985 espionage true story THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. Directed by John Schlesinger, the movie tells the fact-based tale of two disillusioned friends who embark on a dangerous hustle selling United States security secrets to the Soviet Union. With a whip smart script by Steven Zaillian (his first-ever produced) and revelatory performances from Hutton and Penn, THE FALCON AND SNOWMAN received decent reviews upon release, but was only a muted box office success. In recent years, FALCON has yet to catch a second wind, but is due for a critical reappraisal. Listen in on our discussion of this underrated espionage classic that takes diversions into Megalopolis, the Vice Presidential debate, Alfred Tennyson, Skibidi Toilet, Levitated Mass, Boss Baby, the Winter Soldier and much, much more!

    THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN is currently available to stream for free on Hoopla and PlutoTV.

  • Our season of political thrillers continues with guest Kayla Bates (host of ScreenVomit) joining to discuss Mary Harron's AMERICAN PSYCHO starring Christian Bale, Chloë Sevigny, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Samanta Mathis and Reese Witherspoon. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, this turn-of-the-millenium satirical thriller delves into the psyche of Patrick Bateman, a status-obsessed investment banker leading a double life as a sadistic serial killer in 1980s Manhattan. Anchored by an audacious performance from Bale, AMERICAN PSYCHO had much to say about Trump-style materialism and dehumanization long before Trump entered the political arena. As both a slyly feminist work and an oft-misinterpreted staple of filmbro canon, it's only grown in esteem as a darkly fascinating film to watch and discuss. Join us as we go nuts for AMERICAN PSYCHO, taking diversions into Blink Twice, The Dark Knight, Serial Mom, Chris Hansen, Gloria Steinem, Caligula, and much, much more!

    Support Kayla's recovery from surgery here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-kaylas-recovery-from-surgery

    AMERICAN PSYCHO is currently available to stream with subscription to Netflix.

  • Writer Ally Hord (Late Night with Seth Meyers) joins our Political Thriller series to discuss Alan J. Pakula's 1974 paranoia-fest, THE PARALLAX VIEW starring Warren Beatty, Hume Cronyn, and Paula Prentiss. Beatty stars as an investigative newspaper reporter uncovering a sinister shadow organization that specializes in political assassination. Released in the wake of several real life political assassinations and the Watergate scandal, THE PARALLAX VIEW typifies the stylish disillusionment of '70s era cinema, soberly shading an outlandish premise with cinematographer Gordon Willis's low-light moodiness. Join us as we contrast our different views on PARALLAX, along with diversions into Donald Trump, Home Improvement, the Burbank airport, The Paper, Harrison Ford, Glenn Close, and much, much more!

    THE PARALLAX VIEW is currently available to stream for free on Kanopy and PlutoTV.

  • Just in time for election season, we're kicking off our Political Thriller series with IN THE LINE OF FIRE starring Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich and Rene Russo. Wolfgang Petersen directed this 1993 suspense actioner about a Secret Service agent trying to thwart a would-be assassin targeting the U.S. President. Upon release, IN THE LINE OF FIRE was a critical and commercial hit, garnering Oscar nominations for Malkovich, screenwriter Jeff Maguire and editor Anne V. Coates. From now until Election Day, Mama Needs a Movie will delve into paranoia-driven political thrillers, starting with this pulse-pounding episode on IN THE LINE OF FIRE which contains the premiere of a new segment, Poetry Corner, the return of Let's Talk Physical, and diversions into Law & Order, the Olympics, Dermot Mulroney, incels, the 2024 election cycle and much, much more!

    IN THE LINE OF FIRE is available from most streaming rental platforms and can also be streamed with a subscription to MGM+.

  • Anne and Ryan delve into the drama of the newly released IT ENDS WITH US starring Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj and Brandon Sklenar. Based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, the movie follows Lily Bloom (Lively), a florist reconciling her father's death, beginning a relationship with a surgeon and reuniting with an old flame. As the story unfolds, darker themes of domestic violence reveal themselves, forcing Lily to make tough decisions about her life moving forward. With the off-camera drama between director Baldoni and the cast threatening to overshadow the film itself, we try to fairly examine the form and function of this modern day melodrama, along with some diversions into Nick Jonas, Douglas Sirk, Parachute, Gena Rowlands and much, much more!

    IT ENDS WITH US is currently in theaters.

  • In this unlocked episode of Mama Needs a Movie's Patreon spinoff podcast, ATTENTION MUST BE PAID (patreon.com/MNAM), Anne and Ryan look back at Lynne Ramsay's MORVERN CALLAR, a 2002 Scottish drama anchored by a haunting performance from Samantha Morton that is worthy of far more attention. Traumatized by the suicide of her novelist boyfriend on Christmas morning, Morvern Callar (Morton), submits his last manuscript as her own, then sets out on a trip to Spain with her best friend Lana (Kathleen McDermont). Following Ramsay's acclaimed debut feature, RATCATCHER, and preceding her more widely-recognized WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN and YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, MORVERN CALLAR is at turns moving, meditative, unsettling, and essential to understanding Ramsay's one-of-a-kind directorial approach.

    MORVERN CALLAR is available to stream for free on Kanopy or Freevee (with ads), or with subscription to The Criterion Channel or Prime Video.

  • Anne and Ryan discuss the newly-released disaster sequel, TWISTERS starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell. Lee Isaac Chung (director of 2020's Minari) helms this fresh follow-up to Jan de Bont's 1996 original. TWISTERS follows meteorologist Kate Carter (Jones) as she re-enters the dangerous world of tornado chasing after a tragedy. When Kate meets Tyler (Powell), a hotshot hillbilly with a storm chasing YouTube channel, she is compelled to resume her groundbreaking scientific research into windy weather. Opening to positive reviews and a record box office debut for a natural disaster thriller, TWISTERS has stirred up a lot of attention, but does the movie itself suck, blow, or soar? Batten down the hatches for a breezy discussion of TWISTER that also takes diversions into the Presidential race, Miranda July, Beetlejuice, Armie Hammer, Normal People, White Christmas and much, much more!

    TWISTERS is currently in theaters.

  • In anticipation of the newly released sequel, Anne and Ryan take a look back at 1996's original TWISTER starring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Jami Gertz, Cary Elwes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lois Smith, Jeremy Davies, Todd Field and Alan Ruck. Director Jan de Bont's disaster spectacular follows a group of amateur storm chasers across Oklahoma, flirting dangerously close with tornados as old flames Jo (Hunt) and Bill (Paxton) flirt with each other. Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin co-wrote TWISTER, which turned out to be the second highest grossing movie of 1996, stirring up $242 million at the box office. As Lee Isaac Chung's remake touches down this week, we look back at the original that started it all, along with diversions off path into The Bear, Jurassic Park, Outbreak, Nightcrawler, Los Angeles Plays Itself, Longlegs, Daddy Longlegs, and much much more!

  • Vroom vroom! Writer Eva Anderson returns to the podcast for a joy ride with THE BIKERIDERS starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Mike Faist. Jeff Nichols wrote and directed this pedal-pumping drama based on Danny Lyon's book of the same name. Based on real figures from 1960s Chicago motorcycle scene, THE BIKERIDERS finds the brooding Benny Cross (Butler) torn between his wife Kathy (Comer) and the reluctant leader of the Vandals bike gang, Johnny (Hardy). Listen to Mama Needs a Movie break down the leatheriest movie of summer along with pit stops into Kevin Costner's Horizon, celebrity tattoos, the Playa Vista Cinemark, method acting, The Box, Poolman, Door Holder Number 3, The First Omen and much much more!

    THE BIKERIDERS is currently in theaters.