

The MovieFilm Podcast
Zaki Hasan & Brian Hall
Join film critic Zaki Hasan and television writer Brian Hall as they engage in hilarious and insightful conversations on all the latest out of Hollywood, including news, reviews, and interviews with some of the biggest names in movies!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 10, 2026 • 1h 43min
Commentary Track: Tommy Boy
For our first commentary track of 2026 we take a fond look back at 1995's TOMMY BOY! Listen separately or watch along as we talk through the gut-busting comedy classic starring SNL alums Chris Farley and David Spade, with plenty of behind-the-scenes stories and hilarious digressions! Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Jan 3, 2026 • 26min
Bonus Show: Stranger Things Finale Discussion
As a special bonus show, we hopped on mic to discuss the super-sized finale to Netflix's STRANGER THINGS. Listen for our thoughts on how the show wrapped up its ten-year run and whether we think it lived up to expectations!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Dec 31, 2025 • 14min
Bonus Show: Avengers: Doomsday & The Odyssey Trailers
In this bonus episode, we unpack the latest trailers for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY and the new look at Christopher Nolan's THE ODYSSEY. Plus: reflectons on cord cutting and much more!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Dec 31, 2025 • 2h 24min
Ep. 333: Anaconda / Marty Supreme
(00:00:00) Closing out with Holiday Stories and Mariah Carey Musings
(00:08:48) Diving Deep into Pluribus and a Fan's Albuquerque Tour Offer
(00:14:31) The Magic of The Holdovers and Stranger Things Social Media Discourse
(00:22:41) Exploring Unique Premises with Dust Bunny and Eternity's Afterlife Dilemma
(00:34:37) The Pit's Success and the Future of Streaming Release Strategies
(00:40:46) Re-evaluating The Shining's Performances and Kubrick's Directorial Style
(00:58:31) The Enduring Debate on Temple of Doom's Violence and Spielberg's Evolution
(01:04:35) Avatar's Dominance and Disney's Mixed Bag of Box Office Results
(01:16:25) Mission Impossible's Budget Woes and Sony's Smart Budget Wins
(01:28:51) Universal's Remake Successes and Warner Bros!' Mixed Bag of Results
(01:37:22) Paul Rudd and Jack Black's Anaconda Reboot: Fun, Adequate, and Disposable
(01:57:11) Unpacking the Unlikable Charm and Kinetic World of Marty Supreme
(02:11:48) Marty Supreme's Emotional Ending and the Pursuit of Legacy (Spoilers!)
(02:21:10) Final Thoughts, Listener Engagement, and Exclusive Patreon Content
The MovieFilm boys close out 2025 with a look at the winners and losers among the big Hollywood studios, plus in-depth discussions on the comedy reboot ANACONDA and the quirky drama MARTY SUPREME! Plus: Listener Letters, recent watches and much more!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Dec 24, 2025 • 1h 34min
Commentary Track: Toy Story
(00:00:00) Celebrating 30 Years of Pixar's Toy Story
(00:03:41) Toy Story: The First Fully Computer Animated Film
(00:08:47) Tom Hanks' Brilliant Performance as Woody the Cowboy
(00:14:57) The Iconic Voice Cast and Buzz's Existential Journey
(00:19:48) The Genius of Randy Newman and 'Falling with Style'
(00:24:35) The Early Woody-Buzz Dynamic and Character Development
(00:31:24) How Pixar's 'Black Friday' Saved Toy Story
(00:41:10) Navigating Pizza Planet and the Horrors of Sid's Room
(00:45:20) Pixar's Camera Philosophy and Buzz's Existential Moment
(00:52:51) Buzz's Breakdown and the Lightyear Movie Controversy
(00:55:39) From Snappy Animation to Pixar's Evolving Legacy
(01:01:05) Debating the Perfect Trilogy Versus an Ongoing Franchise
(01:03:27) Reliving Childhood Play and the Toys' Unique Perspective
(01:09:26) The Thrilling Climax: Sid's Plan and Falling with Style
(01:19:13) The Perfect Ending and Toy Story's Enduring Quality
(01:27:13) Jim Varney, Listener Memories, and Holiday Greetings
Pixar's classic TOY STORY turned 30 this year, and we thought it was a perfect pick for our final commentary track of 2025! Listen separately or watch along as we regale to the first adventure of Woody, Buzz and Co. We hope you'll stick with us to infinity...and beyond!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Dec 20, 2025 • 16min
Bonus Show: Supergirl & Disclosure Day Trailers
Here are some thoughts on the first trailers for 2026's superhero opus SUPERGIRL and Steven Spielberg's alien invasion pic DISCLOSURE DAY. Plus: What is JIMMY? And the joys of physical media.Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Dec 20, 2025 • 2h 18min
Ep. 332: Avatar: Fire and Ash
(00:00:00) Episode Introduction and Exciting Patreon Updates
(00:03:09) Correcting Pronunciation and Revisiting Film Classics
(00:09:36) Reviewing Hamnet and the Power of Sincere Films
(00:17:02) Powerful Premises and Heartfelt Musical Journeys
(00:26:52) Animated Fun and Post-Apocalyptic Adventures Continue
(00:35:02) Noah Wyle's Career and Shifting Cultural Dominance
(00:48:04) Detroiters, Dial of Destiny, and Fast Saga Debates
(01:00:42) A Tribute to Buck Rogers and His Final Message
(01:06:03) Reflecting on a Legend's Life and Heartbreaking End
(01:15:55) Celebrating a Filmmaker's Unforgettable and Diverse Work
(01:24:12) The Academy Awards' Big Leap to Digital Streaming
(01:29:39) First Thoughts on James Cameron's Latest Epic
(01:40:01) Exploring Emotional Impact and Visual Spectacle
(01:51:53) Unpacking Spider's Unique Arc and Pandora's Air
(01:55:18) Analyzing Antagonists and Complex Character Relationships
(02:04:12) Discussing the Ending, Kiri's Powers, and Eywa
(02:12:49) Last Thoughts on the Film and Episode Wrap-Up
James Cameron's latest AVATAR epic is now in theates, and we have plenty of thoughts on FIRE AND ASH in this super-sized episode! Plus: The Oscars move to YouTube! Remembering Rob Reiner and Gil Gerard! Listener Letters! Much more!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Dec 12, 2025 • 2h 51min
Commentary Track: Avatar
(00:00:00) Setting the Stage for the Avatar Commentary
(00:02:49) Revisiting the Box Office Behemoth's Cultural Impact
(00:06:18) Analyzing the Opening and Jake's Character Development
(00:10:08) Why Avatar Demands a Big Screen Experience
(00:12:30) The Unforgettable Villain and Immersive Pandora Experience
(00:19:31) The Film's Enduring Message on Nature and Youth
(00:25:57) Assessing Avatar's Visuals and Key Performances
(00:28:51) The 'Avatar' Title and James Horner's Enduring Music
(00:39:01) Inside Cameron's Meticulous World-Building and Filmmaking
(00:51:12) The 48 FPS Controversy and Jake's Character Arc
(00:58:13) Crafting the Na'vi Language and Neytiri's Portrayal
(01:04:47) Unpacking Cut Scenes and the Legacy of 3D Cinema
(01:15:52) The Ikran Scene and Avatar's Narrative Roots
(01:20:11) Examining Hollywood's Originality and Avatar's Tropes
(01:23:30) The Emotional Weight of Pandora's Destruction
(01:31:37) The Villain's Role and the 'Unobtainium' Debate
(01:38:47) Avatar's Environmentalism and Realistic Cinematography
(01:47:27) The Power of Performance Capture in Avatar
(01:55:00) James Cameron's Activism and Immersive Universe
(02:04:37) The Power of Fandom and Human Connection
(02:11:37) From Abyss to Avatar: Cinematic Evolution
(02:15:38) Cameron's Vision: Tech, Al, and Sci-Fi History
(02:23:01) The Emotional Battle and Performance Capture's Artistry
(02:32:56) SNL's Papyrus Sketch and Cameron's Editing Decisions
(02:41:08) Reflecting on Avatar's Unprecedented Box Office Legacy
(02:48:33) Final Thoughts and Listener Engagement
The MovieFilm boys traveled to Pandora for their latest commentary track, settling in for an in-depth talk-through of James Cameron's AVATAR! With the latest Na'vi sequel around the corner, we thought it was the perfect time to revisit the 2009 box office behemoth and see how well it stands the test of time!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Dec 6, 2025 • 2h 2min
Ep. 331: Netflix Buys WB?
(00:00:00) Reflecting on a Good Year for Movies
(00:03:00) Tim Robinson's Chair Company and Binge-Watching Debates
(00:08:50) Mixed Feelings on the Wicked Sequel
(00:12:13) Nuanced Human Drama in Sentimental Value
(00:17:59) Brendan Fraser's Sweet Dramedy, Rental Family
(00:23:15) Zootopia 2: A Solid and Iconic Sequel
(00:26:37) The Final Season's Popularity and Mythology
(00:35:20) The Importance of Googling Pop Culture Facts
(00:42:38) Moana's Popularity and Filmmaking Nostalgia
(00:45:38) The Evolving Look of Movies and Modern Gems
(00:55:57) Our Favorite Holiday Films and New Classics
(00:58:57) The Decline and Evolution of TV Opening Credits
(01:03:14) The Enduring Power of Timeless Cinema
(01:07:35) A Tribute to an Iconic Character Actor
(01:10:43) Quentin Tarantino's Insufferable Comments on Actors
(01:18:29) Donald Trump's Push for Rush Hour 4
(01:28:33) Vin Diesel's Ego and Fast & Furious Future
(01:39:13) The Future of Theatrical Releases Under Netflix
(01:53:56) The 50th Anniversary of Star Wars in Theaters
(02:00:44) Final Thoughts and Listener Engagement 02:00:44 ...
The big news this week is Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. and we have thoughts and details on this seismic news! Plus: FAST & FURIOUS problems, Donald Trump wants RUSH HOUR 4, Quentin Tarantino is a jerk, and much more! Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Nov 28, 2025 • 2h 18min
Commentary Track: GoldenEye
(00:00:00) GoldenEye's 30th Anniversary and Bond's Evolution
(00:06:03) Diving into GoldenEye: Opening Logos, Bungee Jump, Music
(00:10:33) Pierce Brosnan's Journey and GoldenEye's Title Origin
(00:21:21) Xenia Onatopp, ‘90s Tropes, and Movie Pacing
(00:33:09) MI6, Cameos, and the Bond Identity Debate
(00:45:56) GoldenEye's Lasting Effects and Bond's Reinvention
(00:55:00) Q's Legacy, Felix Leiter, and Bond's Elastic Timeline
(01:14:48) Trevelyan's Betrayal, Helicopter Escape, and GoldenEye 64
(01:26:50) Campbell's Action Direction and Bond's Product Placement
(01:44:17) Pacing Issues, Xenia's Demise, and Trevelyan's Motivations
(01:56:55) Pen Bomb, Satellite Dish Battle, and Movie Tropes
(02:12:43) GoldenEye's Enduring Impact and Podcast Wrap-up
The James Bond opus GOLDENEYE turns 30 this month and we thought it was a perfect time to revisit fan fave Pierce Brosnan's 007 debut! Listen separately or watch along as we talk through the 1995 smash directed by Martin Campbell and examine if it still leaves us shaken and stirred!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast


