New Hollywood Film Project 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...

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...