Watch With Jen™

Around the time that the very first episode of Season 4 was uploaded, I embarked on a months-long journey to prepare & record the podcast's first entry in a new spotlight series devoted to some of the greatest character actors in screen history. Reaching out to good friends & past guests who I knew had a special interest in the life, films, characters, & performances of our first subject, Dennis Hopper, over the course of two months, I interviewed every participant one by one. Kicking off each conversation by inquiring what it was about Hopper that they found most compelling as a viewer (as well as their earliest memories of the actor), I challenged them even further, asking each guest to choose one or more of their favorite roles to dissect with me in a limited amount of time. While most people immediately gravitated to BLUE VELVET, I was thrilled by their willingness to touch on a number of his lesser-known or celebrated works, including some of the films that Dennis Hopper made as a director, & soon wound up with over 3.5 hours of stellar audio, primarily focused on the 1970s-1990s. Knowing that my overly ambitious idea for one episode was best reconfigured as a 3-part miniseries, I cut highlights from these conversations together & incorporated excerpts from interviews with Dennis Hopper I'd discovered in my research & then read them aloud as Hopper to add some variety to our stellar yet mostly masculine* lineup. Today, we're kicking things off a week ahead of Dennis Hopper's birthday with a look at the first part of his career. Although it's primarily set in the 1970s, we take a few forays into his earlier years as an actor & his iconic feature filmmaking debut EASY RIDER, plus flirt briefly with the '80s in order to cover his reunion with APOCALYPSE NOW director Francis Ford Coppola in RUMBLE FISH as well. Along with those titles, you'll also hear us discuss THE LAST MOVIE, THE AMERICAN FRIEND, KID BLUE, & others in Dennis Hopper - Part 1. Boasting a wonderfully insightful roster of contributors, this episode features the following guests in alphabetical order: Mitchell Beaupre, Duncan Birmingham, William Boyle, Elizabeth Cantwell, S.A. Cosby, Jordan Harper, Blake Howard, Mike Miley, & Travis Woods. Following this installment, next week's Part 2 is a must for fans of Dennis Hopper's '80s Renaissance era, including his iconic turn as Frank Booth in BLUE VELVET, & Part 3 will take us to the '90s. I hope you enjoy this long-in-the-works series & if you'd like to encourage the show's efforts to try new things like this in the future, please consider joining our Patreon (HTTPs://www.patreon.com/FilmIntuition) to support our research for as little as $1 per month, if you haven't joined us already, & be sure to recommend Watch With Jen to others to help spread the word. Thank you so much! *Note: our next subject is the remarkable Julianne Moore so I'm hoping that will help balance things out a little! Originally Posted on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/82813775 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Logo: KateGabrielle.com

You've heard Chris and Elizabeth Cantwell on past episodes solo but recently, I was thrilled to be joined by this dynamic duo together for a hilarious & thoughtful conversation about one of their favorite movie stars. The co-creator and showrunner of one of my favorite television series Halt and Catch Fire (which he joined me to discuss in season 2), Chris Cantwell is an incredibly talented & prolific writer working on the TV projects Devil in Silver & Max Headroom, & also writing such comics as Star Trek: Defiant, Hellcat, Briar, Namor, Obi-Wan, Iron Man, Dr. Doom, & Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body. His brilliant wife Elizabeth Cantwell is a poet, teacher, & writer-editor at Bright Wall/Dark Room whose essays on movies & men are always must-reads. Everyone says that their spouse is their best friend but for these two, it's legit! In this wildly funny, rapid-fire banter & tangent-filled celebration of Kurt Russell, we investigate the many eras & sides of the actor in the films SILKWOOD, OVERBOARD, THE COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES, & TOMBSTONE. The perfect listen for a relaxing summer afternoon & our most hilarious installment since our Adrian McKinty conversation on EXCALIBUR & LORD OF THE RINGS released earlier this season, this episode is sure to make you laugh. Originally Posted on Patreon (5/6/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/82606292 Logo: KateGabrielle.com Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

One of our very first guests, this week, I was so pleased to welcome Kristen Lopez back to the podcast. Currently working as the Film Editor of The Wrap, Kristen, who is also the creator of the classic film podcast Ticklish Business, has worked as an entertainment journalist for more than fifteen years. And this year, she's published her very first book in conjunction with TCM dedicated to literary adaptations. Focused on 52 different feature films and the works that inspired them, this cheerily written release, entitled BUT HAVE YOU READ THE BOOK? is now available everywhere, and you should definitely check it out because it's a lot of fun. In this brisk and enthusiastic overview of some of Kristen's favorite screen literary adaptations, we move quickly from Ernest Hemingway to Harper Lee to Cormac McCarthy to Dennis Lehane and more. Focusing primarily on the films TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and THE GREAT GATSBY (2013), while touching on several others, book lovers are sure to enjoy this conversation. Originally Posted on Patreon (5/2/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/82404328 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Logo: KateGabrielle.com

A talented film critic, photographer, & podcaster based in England, Leslie Byron Pitt has written for Set the Tape & Empire Magazine, & has also been published on Vodzilla, Film Stories, & Little White Lies online. Additionally featured on Inside Cinema for the BBCi Player, when he isn't writing, doing expressive photography, or creating new pieces for print, Leslie can be found on the erotic thriller podcast Fatal Attractions. A returning guest from early in Season 2, when we did a really thoughtful episode devoted to three unique tales of human connection onscreen, in this terrific, fascinating conversation that's filled with research & rich insights, Watch With Jen continues its exploration into erotic cinema & the films of Paul Schrader this season with an in-depth look at Richard Gere's early breakout role in AMERICAN GIGOLO. Recently captivated by the way Gere skyrocketed to fame while taking on very daring roles that dealt with sexuality & questions of masculinity, Leslie & I move from GIGOLO to director Taylor Hackford's Oscar winner AN OFFICER & A GENTLEMAN, & then take a sharp left into Jim McBride's neon, rock 'n roll, comic book, & sex soaked remake of Jean-Luc Godard's BREATHLESS, which was a major influence on Quentin Tarantino. Jen's Note: I greatly respect and enjoy the level of analysis & research that Leslie brings to film discussions, & I know you'll enjoy this episode! However, while it isn't terribly explicit, due to the subject matter, much like the Schrader & Erotic '80s and '90s discussions, it's still one you should listen to without the kids. Originally Posted on Patreon (4/26/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/82090309 Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

In the middle of the pandemic, I was invited by my friends at The B-Side Podcast - past guests Conor O'Donnell & Dan Mecca - to play with them as part of Team The Film Stage vs. Team Letterboxd on a Cinephile Game Night. I had so much fun playing that game & making new friends that night that I couldn't wait to start throwing my own virtual game nights with a close group of crime writer & film writer pals, & it's become a near-monthly thing that we've done since the summer of 2021. While some nights, we wind up just telling stories & catching up, the Cinephile card game has been a mainstay & a source of so much fun that we wound up picking up expansion packs to bring in new actors to shake things up. It was both a pleasure & an honor to bring the creator of the game Cory Everett onto the podcast this week. A writer with bylines at IndieWire, & a contestant on the short-lived IFC show ULTIMATE FILM FANATIC, Cory lives in Los Angeles with his wife & two sons. As kind as he is creative, in addition to that wonderful game, in this spirited, upbeat conversation, Cory & I discuss his new cinephile books for kids, MY FIRST FILM NOIR, MY FIRST FRENCH NEW WAVE, & MY FIRST GIALLO HORROR, as well as A IS FOR AUTEUR. Delving into a trio of excellent film examples of Noir, New Wave, & Giallo, in the last half of this hour-long chat, we take a closer celebratory look at Stanley Kubrick's THE KILLING, Jacques Demy's THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, & Dario Argento's DEEP RED. Originally Posted on Patreon (4/20/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/81797373Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Note: As you may have already heard, this week it was announced that our podcast sponsor (& my current main home for my writing) DVD Netflix will be closing in September. A great loss for movie buffs & fans of physical media, Watch With Jen is proud to remain sponsored by the service until the end & you should consider taking advantage of their incredible library of titles before it's too late.

A very talented, versatile, and witty performer with more than 150 credit listings on IMDb, as an actor, today's guest James Urbaniak has brought to life such memorable characters as Dr. Venture on Adult Swim's The Venture Brothers, the scene-stealing Arthur (who was my favorite character) on Hulu's Difficult People, and Grant on Comedy Central's Review. Additionally, he's also a podcaster in his own right and the creator of the scripted shows Getting On With James Urbaniak, A Night Called Tomorrow, and I Will Never Lie to You. Reuniting with James for the first time since I was lucky enough to hang out with him in Los Angeles (which occurred shortly after we recorded the podcast's 150th episode devoted to actress Faye Dunaway), this time, James and I take a look at the fascinating life and career of the gifted yet today, largely overlooked filmmaker George Stevens. Analyzing the groundbreaking classic films GUNGA DIN, THE MORE THE MERRIER, A PLACE IN THE SUN, SHANE, and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, in this eighty-minute episode, you'll hear us discuss not only the recurring themes and motifs we see throughout his oeuvre but also pay particular attention to key scenes, riveting performances, & memorable directorial choices that make them work so extraordinarily well. Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Logo: KateGabrielle.com Originally Posted on Patreon (4/13/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/81476122

Returning to the podcast this week, we have a woman who needs no introduction and one whose voice is or should be - especially if you're a cinephile - her own introduction. A film writer I remember reading as far back as her days at "Cinematical" and "The Village Voice," as well as the author of "Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes' Hollywood," and books on George Lucas, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep, the wonderful Karina Longworth is the historian and podcaster behind the acclaimed, addictive, and utterly fascinating series You Must Remember This and the recent show Love is a Crime for "Vanity Fair" as well. Having joined us in the past two seasons for episodes about Dean Martin and Erotic '80s titles, I was so happy and honored to have her back once again to tell us all about the new season of You Must Remember This devoted to the Erotic '90s. Taking time out of her busy schedule, in this fast-paced, jam-packed conversation, Karina not only gives us a sneak preview of what's to come on her show but also helps dissect the popular early '90s films PRETTY WOMAN, THELMA & LOUISE, and INDECENT PROPOSAL. Originally Posted on Patreon (4/7/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/81181158Logo: KateGabrielle.com Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

This week, I was the luckiest host because shortly after both Rob Belushi and Jordan Harper dropped into Phoenix separately this year, I was once again able to reunite on the pod with not one but two of my favorite guys. The closest you can get to know what it's like to hang out with Rob and Jordan in real life, I was honored to have them join me for a long, funny, vulnerable, surprisingly philosophical conversation about God, addiction, acting, and the highs and lows of gambling movies, including OWNING MAHOWNY, MISSISSIPPI GRIND, and ROUNDERS. So double down or split your aces and settle in because this is one of the richest and deepest season four episodes we've released so far. Bios: An actor, former host of the excellent Game Show Network series GET A CLUE, longtime improv teacher at Second City, plus a writer, producer, entrepreneur, and gifted impressionist, Rob Belushi is a loyal and caring friend, husband, father, son, and a man who wears many hats. In his last two appearances on Watch With Jen, Rob joined me to help cover the FX series MR. INBETWEEN and also went back in time to discuss a handful of Steven Soderbergh's best films from his late '90s, early aught heyday. And returning alongside Rob, we have Jordan Harper, who was the podcast's very first guest, the Edgar award-winning author of SHE RIDES SHOTGUN, LAST KING OF CALIFORNIA, and EVERYBODY KNOWS as well as the screenwriter and producer of such series as THE MENTALIST, GOTHAM, and HIGHTOWN. Although you've heard him on a wide variety of episodes so far including ones devoted to David Mamet, Preston Sturges, and others, most recently, we discussed the Hong Kong INFERNAL AFFAIRS series on the second to the last physical media episode in Season 3, and also the topic of Crime Families as well. Originally Posted on Patreon (4/1/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/80884212 Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

At the end of classic 007 pictures, the words "James Bond will return" filled the screen. And although there is no actual screen available on Watch With Jen because it isn't a video podcast, James Bond has indeed returned for the second time in our series run so far, following the success of our very popular Roger Moore episode in season two. And once again, my lovely, funny, crackerjack guest Julia Ricci is back. A Film Programming Manager at Heartland Film in Indianapolis, Indiana, which organizes the Heartland International Film Festival, and the Academy Award-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Julia has been part of the programming team since 2018. Selecting films for the festival's shorts, features, and retrospective slates, she has programmed 17 short films that went on to become Oscar nominees and winners in the Live Action, Documentary, and Animated Short categories. Prior to Heartland Film, Julia was a researcher for Turner Classic Movies and The Criterion Collection's former streaming platform FilmStruck, and appeared on TCM as a Guest Fan Programmer. She has a degree in History from Ball State University and is a regional Emmy nominee for the documentary short LEGACIES OF PERFECTION: AUBURN, CORD, DUESENBERG, from 2013. While we will definitely continue these conversations about James Bond with the latest man to wear the suit in the form of Daniel Craig in the future, we decided to have some fun traveling back in time to the '90s to when Pierce Brosnan picked up Timothy Dalton's shaken-not-stirred martini in what can best be described as the second Roger Moore era. Taking a look at every single Brosnan entry, in this lively hour-long conversation, join us as we dive deeply into the actors, the action, the songs, and the way the franchise has evolved in the films GOLDENEYE, TOMORROW NEVER DIES, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, and DIE ANOTHER DAY. Logo: KateGabrielle.com Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Originally Posted on Patreon (3/27/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/80618553

Joining me this week is Jason Carney, who is not only a colleague and friend but also, the incredibly hard-working Executive Director of the Phoenix Film Festival, which is a fun, filmmaker-friendly nationally acclaimed, impressive event that has run for 23 years. Held at the wonderful Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theatre, this year's festival is set to open on Thursday, March 23 with Ray Romano's directorial debut SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS, and will run through Sunday, April 2nd with director Chris McKay's RENFIELD, starring Nicolas Cage, which is slated to close down the festivities.Taking time out of his busy schedule to chat with me about the history of the festival, its humanistic mission as a non-profit, and all of the incredible plans they have this year, Jason offers great insights that filmmakers and fans of film festivals will find fascinating. A passionate movie lover, which obviously goes with the territory, in this brisk, infectious forty-five-minute conversation, he also zeroes in with me on a few favorites that have played there over the years including ANDREW JENKS - ROOM 335 and SING STREET, along with additional shout-outs to a mutual favorite THE MERRY GENTLEMAN as well.Originally Posted on Patreon (3/23/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/80435799Logo: KateGabrielle.comTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive