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 brea...

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 ...

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 sa...

“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...

“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, Pola...

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 p...

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 ha...

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, cinematograph...

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...

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, Jo...

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 dow...

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 inc...

"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, tortiou...

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-la...

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,...

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. Fo...

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 abou...

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 wou...

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’...

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...

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 Sara...

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, R...

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...

“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 tra...