Unspooled Reel Confessions: Sarah Marshall
Jan 19, 2026
Sarah Marshall, a podcaster and cultural critic known for her shows You're Wrong About and The Devil You Know, joins the conversation with Paul and Amy to discuss her cinematic insights. They delve into the charm of comfort watches like Newsies, the allure of horror fandom, and how movies can surprisingly teach history. Sarah shares her thoughts on the communal experience of cinema, including etiquette debates and snack preferences. There’s also a pitch for a compelling film about the Radium Girls, reflecting on labor struggles.
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Defending Newsies' Charm
- Sarah Marshall defends Newsies despite its historical inaccuracies and revisionist ending.
- She appreciates its charm, pro-union message, and teen-oriented appeal that later found life on Broadway.
Musicals Rewrite Historical Feeling
- Musicals free filmmakers from realism and let them remake history into clearer, more dramatic stories.
- Paul and Amy note Grease and Dead Poets Society as examples where musical or stylized film reshapes public memory.
Wandering Between Screens
- Sarah and Paul recount walking out of films and wandering between screens as memorable theater experiences.
- Sarah recalls leaving Troy for inaccuracies and Paul describes stumbling into Babel high on an edible.
