Movie Reviews—1950s-1990s Episodes

Alex and Nick end season 1 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project with Alan J. Pakula's Paranoid Thriller Trilogy. KLUTE, THE PARALLAX VIEW, and ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN are three of the best New Hollywood films. The guys break down each film, Pakula’s career, Gordon Willis’ astonishing work as a cinematographer, the current state of journalism, Watergate, “Deep Throat,” JFK, sex work, and so much more. Part 10 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Instagram / Letterbo...

John Badham’s “Saturday Night Fever” is so much more than a fun disco movie. Alex and Nick break down the film’s hilarious dinner conversations, John Travolta’s thrilling dance scenes, and the movie’s unexpected sequences of real life. Early in the episode, Alex shares his radical theory about “Pulp Fiction” that he’s been afraid to share for years. Part 9 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Instagram / Letterboxd / X Send mailbag questions to whatareyouwatchingpodc...

The WAYW New Hollywood Film Project continues with a ‘70s classic, Sidney Lumet’s “Serpico.” Alex and Nick discuss Al Pacino in his first starring role, Lumet’s 50-year career, police corruption, whistleblowers, roast beef sandwiches, the real Frank Serpico, the maniac who co-wrote the screenplay, and much more. For WAYW, the guys briefly review new films from Benny Safdie, Guillermo del Toro, Richard Linklater, and Yorgos Lanthimos. Part 8 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project. Follow @WAYW_...

“Hey, listen, baby, I'm a star.” Alex and Nick discuss the ‘70s hangout movie masterpiece, “Shampoo.” Alex explains why star/writer/producer Warren Beatty set the film on Election Day 1968, before the guys break down the film’s production design, costumes, and hair, the unique charms of Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, and Jack Warden, how the great Lee Grant was blacklisted from Hollywood and came back to win an Academy Award for the film, and much more. Part 7 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Proje...

“Well, to tell ya the truth, I lied a little.” Alex and Nick break down one of the essential films of the New Hollywood movement, Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown.” The guys discuss their favorite Jack Nicholson performances, Polanski’s infamous career, Faye Dunaway’s disturbing performance, John Huston as one of the best movie villains of all time, Robert Towne writing one of the best screenplays of all time, and much more. Part 6 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twit...

There are no spoilers in this episode. Alex breaks down the opening segment of Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece, “High and Low,” before bringing Nick on to review Spike Lee’s remake, “Highest 2 Lowest.” The guys discuss Spike’s post-“Inside Man" career, seeing Denzel Washington in “Othello” on Broadway, other remakes of Kurosawa’s work, Matthew Libatique, Dean Winters, Jules Dassin, and much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter / Instagram / Letterboxd Send mailbag questions to whatareyouwatchingp...

This is the weekend they didn’t play golf. Alex and Nick break down John Boorman’s masterpiece, “Deliverance.” The guys have an extended discussion on the horrifying attack sequence in the film, and the resulting impact it had on cinema and the culture. They also discuss Burt Reynolds’ breakout role, the film’s expert use of staging, how well Jon Voight plays drunk, Ned Beatty’s career, one of the most iconic music themes in movie history, and so much more. Part 5 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film...

Alex is watching John Carpenter’s “Halloween” once a week for all of 2025. In the latest installment of the WAWY New Hollywood Film Project, Alex and Nick discuss Alex’s crazy challenge, the film’s use of sound, cinematography, and editing, why “Halloween” is their favorite horror film, and how in the hell John Carpenter was able to write, direct, and score one of the most iconic films ever made with very little money. Totally. Part 4 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project. Follow @WAYW_Podcast...

It’s showtime, folks! As Alex and Nick break down Bob Fosse’s masterpiece, “All That Jazz,” the guys discuss Fosse’s career, autobiographical films, accepting death, Roy Scheider, “Fosse/Verdon,” the 1979 Oscars, “Vanilla Sky,” and much more. At the end of the episode (01:33:24), Alex does a solo review of the “Mission: Impossible” film franchise, including spoiler-free thoughts on “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” Part 3 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project. Follow @WAYW_Podcast ...

Is it safe? Alex and Nick break down one of the best paranoid thrillers ever, “Marathon Man.” Stray topics include the remarkable careers of Dustin Hoffman, Roy Scheider, Laurence Olivier, and William Devane, 1976 in film, John Schlesinger’s best movies, William Goldman’s brilliant source novel, watching “Jaws” for the first time, and debunking the infamous “Why don’t you try acting, darling?” story. Part 2 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram an...

Welcome to the first official episode of the What Are You Watching New Hollywood Film Project, where we examine films of the New Hollywood era, with a primary focus on 1970s classics. In this episode, Alex and Nick break down Bob Rafelson’s “Five Easy Pieces.” The guys discuss Rafelson’s career, BBS Productions, a struggling B-movie actor/writer/director named Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, The Monkees, chicken salad sandwiches, and one of the best endings in all of cinema. Part 1 of the WAYW Ne...

The guys review a film Alex has been obsessed with for decades, and Nick just watched for the first time. William Friedkin’s “The French Connection” won Best Picture and helped kickstart American ‘70s cinema. Stray topics include the film’s influence on the art form, picking your feet in Poughkeepsie, Friedkin’s career, the dearly departed Gene Hackman, the most infamous car chase in cinema history, and much more. Rest in peace, Gene Hackman. We love you, we miss you. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on T...

"Are you a businessman or are you a newsman?!" Alex and Nick break down one of Alex’s favorite films, Michael Mann’s “The Insider.” Topics include the current state of journalism, corporate confidentiality agreements, tortious interference, poor communication skills, “60 Minutes,” all-timer performances from Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, and Christopher Plummer, and so much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Send mailbag questions to whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.c...

Alex and friend-of-the-pod Dan enter the Black Lodge to discuss David Lynch's “Twin Peaks.” In this loose episode, the guys break down the show’s original two seasons, the prequel film “Fire Walk with Me,” and the 25-years-later follow-up season, “Twin Peaks: The Return.” Stray topics include Kyle MacLachlan, Mark Frost’s dossiers, BOB, “Part 8: Gotta Light?,” emphysema, Frances Bay, and who killed Laura Palmer. Later in the episode, Nick and Alex invite a new guest on the pod to discuss his per...

Fifty years ago, Francis Ford Coppola made one of the best paranoid thrillers ever, “The Conversation.” A movie about a guy who can’t let it go. Alex and Nick discuss Gene Hackman, John Cazale, young Harrison Ford, Watergate, favorite movies about surveillance, Top 5 Coppola, Top 5 Hackman, anticipating “Megalopolis,” and much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Sen...

Alex reviews Tim Burton’s classic film, “Beetlejuice,” and its 36-years-later sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Later, he lists his favorite Tim Burton films and highlights some new Oscar movies to look out for this fall. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mailbag questions at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com

It’s the wonder of nature, baby! Alex and Nick discuss all things “Twister(s),” first by sharing their general thoughts on Lee Isaac Chung’s new film, “Twisters” (00:30). Next, the guys have a spoiler-filled conversation about the polarizing end of “Twisters” (23:10). Lastly, they close with a deep dive into Jan de Bont’s legendary blockbuster, “Twister” (58:50). Final warning: The end of the new film, “Twisters,” will be spoiled from 23:10–58:50 in this episode. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter ...

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark! Alex, Nick, and friend of the pod, Dan Bracey, ramble about John McTiernan’s cult classic, “Last Action Hero.” The guys discuss the film’s troubled production, which movie they would enter into, favorite McTiernan films, Arnold’s best roles, scene stealer Charles Dance, McTiernan’s stint in prison, the 21st President, “3 Ninjas,” “Irreversible,” and getting yelled at for watching “Wedding Crashers.” At the end of the episode, Alex recommends a handful...

This is a podcast about “Sleepers” that runs deeper than blood. Alex and Nick discuss their favorite Barry Levinson film, “Sleepers.” Stray topics include the film’s quick pacing, childhood trauma, the timbre of Jason Patric’s voiceover, Robert De Niro as a good guy, Dustin Hoffman as a fumbling drunk, and Kevin Bacon as one of the vilest characters in movie history. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at ...

Alex and Nick break down their favorite Spike Lee joint, "He Got Game." The guys discuss the film’s all-timer setup, Aaron Copland’s powerful music, Denzel Washington’s best roles, Ray Allen as a debut actor, Milla Jovovich’s controversial role, great basketball scenes in film, the most awkward movie-going experience Alex ever had, the poetic finale, and so much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at...

Alex and Nick drive deep into the heart of podcasting to discuss their favorite Ridley Scott film, “Thelma & Louise.” The guys talk about the development of the film (four people were cast as Thelma & Louise before Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis!), Ridley Scott’s depiction of Americana, Hans Zimmer’s perfect score, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, the film’s wild Oscar stat, and Alex explains why Christopher McDonald as Darryl is the funniest performance he’s ever seen. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twi...

In this loose hangout episode, Alex and friend of the pod, Dan, discuss their favorite movie together, Joe Dante’s “Gremlins 2: The New Batch.” The guys talk about movie sequels, watching Joe Dante movies high, Dick Miller, Rick Baker’s practical effects, embracing cult classic B-movies, Robert Prosky, and much more. Throughout the episode, the guys have extended conversations about many Joe Dante classics, including "The Howling," “Explorers,” “Matinee,” “Small Soldiers,” and “Looney Tunes: Bac...

Three years of podcasting and 100 core episodes have led to this — a deep dive on Alex’s favorite movie of all time, Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver.” Nick and Alex discuss what Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Paul Schrader each brought to the film, Travis Bickle’s unreliable backstory, Bernard Herrmann’s score, repurposing plot points from John Ford’s “The Searchers,” and how a simple shot of Travis Bickle talking on a payphone completely changed how Alex and Nick look at movies. HERE IS… Follow @...

“The Deer Hunter” is the only movie Alex and Nick share in their top 10 films of all time. In this episode, the guys discuss Michael Cimino, blue-collar towns, the wedding scene, post-Vietnam America, responding to active trauma, fractured masculinity, Vilmos Zsigmond, De Niro, Walken, Cazale, Streep, and much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mailbag ques...