Watch With Jen™ (Jen Johans)

A film critic for publications & companies such as LA Weekly, New York Magazine, Vulture, The New York Times, The Criterion Collection, & formerly, The Village Voice, the brilliant Bilge Ebiri is one of my favorite journalists working today. Reuniting with Bilge to celebrate & evaluate the filmography of the great actor Russell Crowe, in this warm, chatty conversation, we look back at the movies that made Crowe a star along with some of his most legendary turns, including PROOF, ROMPER STOMPER, THE INSIDER, GLADIATOR, CINDERELLA MAN, & THE NICE GUYS.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/2/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/117182519

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This week on Watch With Jen, we have a very special guest and the man behind one of my favorite shows in recent memory. The TV writer, director, producer, showrunner, and co-creator of Halt and Catch Fire, which, along with The Americans, Succession, and Better Call Saul, is easily one of the best series of the 2010s, Christopher Cantwell is here to tell us all about the cult favorite AMC show that you can watch in its entirety right now on Netflix. (And you should totally do that and then come right back to listen to the podcast!)

In addition to his TV work, which also includes co-executive producing Lodge 49 and Paper Girls, Chris has been very active as of late in the world of comic books, where he is currently writing Marvel's monthly Iron Man series, as well as his own original titles in collaboration with some truly fantastic artists and imprints such as Vault Comics' The Blue Flame, Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body from Boom Studios, She Could Fly, Volume 3 from Berger Books and Dark Horse. You can find the latest issues of these titles on comic book store shelves throughout the month.

Running the length of a feature film, in this epic episode (which serves up some details about the critical favorite that have never before been revealed), Cantwell shares the funny and fascinating behind-the-scenes saga of Halt and Catch Fire from its initial idea to its eventual series run on AMC. Here you'll hear about the casting process including the way that the actors informed their characters, as well as the decision to constantly shift the show's setting and power dynamics each season, along with production stories, Halt's pitch-perfect use of music, and so much more.

As a fan of the series from the very beginning and someone who greatly enjoyed chatting with Chris's brilliant wife Elizabeth about horror movies earlier in the year as well, this conversation was a true honor and a pleasure and I'm thrilled to share the story of Halt and Catch Fire with all of you all.

Originally Posted on Patreon (11/16/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58774714

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Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds.

For the penultimate finale of MIDNIGHT RUN-THROUGH, Blake & I were joined by two of our dearest & most hilarious friends whose voices longtime listeners of both Watch With Jen & One Heat Minute Productions undoubtedly know very well by now. Returning to the airwaves after he joined me late in '23 to cover some of Robert Altman's most under-discussed movies, we have the Boston-based WBUR film critic Sean Burns & the very funny impressionist, cinephile actor-writer-producer Rob Belushi. It's the kind of sprawling, at times stream-of-consciousness inspired chat that you can only have with people with whom you're close. Press play & you'll hear ex-smokers Rob, Sean, & Blake celebrate Robert De Niro's screen love affair with cigarettes (& the '80s as a smoke-filled decade in general), express wonderment at the way that nobody does phone acting better than Bobby, relish in the reaction shots of Charles Grodin, & laugh as Rob slides into his Chicago accent to give us a little bit of Dennis Farina. This episode is a good one! Enjoy.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/7/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99926294

We don't cover TV very often on Watch With Jen so you know that when my guests & I dedicate an entire episode to a television series, it's something we wholeheartedly recommend you seek out. (In fact, THE AMERICANS, COLUMBO, TERRIERS, HALT & CATCH FIRE, MR. INBETWEEN, & SUCCESSION are among the few exceptions to this film-centric show in over 200 podcast installments.)

As the opposite of a true crime buff who usually avoids serial killer stories in entertainment (except ZODIAC), this season, my good buddies, actor-producer Rob Belushi & the prolific podcaster Blake Howard challenged me to watch & discuss Netflix's critically lauded series MINDHUNTER, produced by David Fincher. Although I warned them at the beginning of the experiment that if I started having nightmares, they'd get a phone call no matter what time it was, I soon found myself fully hooked on the marvelous series about the start of the FBI criminal profiling unit, starring Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, & Anna Torv.

Coming together to hash everything out in this surprisingly rollicking, enlightening, & story-filled analytical chat, we investigate MINDHUNTER, bond over our affection for McCallany as Bill Tench (as well as the rest of the amazing cast), enjoy Rob's impressions, share some experiences from my life that scare the boys, & more. While unfortunately, we can't deliver the third season of the show so many of you want, we hope you'll consider this appreciation of MINDHUNTER the next best thing to tide you over.

Originally Posted on Patreon (10/14/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/114006176

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In this very special episode, The Black List's Director of Community Kate Hagen returns to the podcast to help me welcome one of our all-time favorite filmmakers to Watch With Jen. A Los Angeles based independent writer-director who's won both a MacArthur Genius Grant along with a Peabody Award, Allison Anders' acclaimed films include her terrific debut "Border Radio" (co-directed with UCLA classmates Kurt Voss and Dean Lent), "Gas Food Lodging," "Mi Vida Loca," "Grace of My Heart," "Things Behind the Sun," and more.

Although we'd mainly planned to come together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her award-winning sophomore feature "Gas Food Lodging," soon our richly free-flowing conversation opened up to span the beloved director's entire career. Whether she's describing her time spent inspiring Harry Dean Stanton's performance on the set of "Paris, Texas" while working as a PA for Wim Wenders, directing Brooke Adams on "Gas Food Lodging," collecting Greta Garbo's records, or appearing in Paul McCartney's liner notes, Anders' stories will delight film students, buffs, and professionals alike. Filled with laughter, great advice, and creative inspiration, this is one of our best episodes so far.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/4/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63342725

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This week, I was so pleased to welcome a new friend to the podcast. An actor and an acting teacher in his native Canada, Robert Bellissimo has appeared in numerous television shows, feature films, commercials, and plays. Two recent credits include PRIVATE EYES starring Jason Priestly and ROBBERY, which starred Art Hindle as well.

A passionate cinephile for twenty years, in his late twenties, he realized he wanted to explore storytelling in a more in-depth way. When the Covid-19 lockdown began in March of 2020, he took advantage of his free time and created his high-quality YouTube Channel Robert Bellissimo at the Movies. Reviewing and introducing viewers to some of cinema's greatest films, over the past two years, he's interviewed many industry professionals who work in and around theatre, TV, and/or film, including yours truly who's been honored to appear on the channel twice - the first to discuss Scorsese's GOODFELLAS and more recently, returning to tackle Hitchcock's NOTORIOUS as well.

Joining me to discuss the life and career of his favorite filmmaker John Cassavetes, in this in-depth feature-length episode, we focus on the beginning, middle, and end of Cassavetes' oeuvre in the form of SHADOWS, A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE, and LOVE STREAMS. Additionally sprinkling in throughout our conversation some of the director's thoughts on filmmaking, acting, men, women, and life in general, this is an episode that I hope Cassavetes devotees will love.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/17/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/70659691

This week, I'm honored to welcome back my favorite crime writer working today. Novelist Megan Abbott is the Edgar-winning author of such acclaimed, rich works as Give Me Your Hand, You Will Know Me, The Fever, Dare Me, Queenpin, and more. Her newest title The Turnout was released on August 3rd and became not only a Today Show "Read with Jenna" book pick but also a New York Times bestseller as well.

An impressive film buff who is as delightful as she is intelligent, I loved hearing Megan's fresh perspective on Martin Scorsese movies at the start of our 2021 season and was so thrilled to have her back to talk about the incredible Judy Holliday for this podcast today. Essentially discussing all of her movies, we focused mainly on The Marrying Kind, It Should Happen to You, Phffft, and The Solid Gold Cadillac. In the process, we take a look at what Holliday brought to these films, how with a 172 IQ, she was so much more than the stereotypical "dumb blonde" synonymous with her Oscar-winning performance in Born Yesterday, and also considered how she might have been gray-listed after cleverly refusing to name names during a HUAC hearing in 1950.

Clocking in at under an hour, this celebratory yet thorough chat is as quickly paced as one of Holliday's deliciously brisk films. And the result is an episode that classic movie fans, in particular, will be sure to love!

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Originally Posted on Patreon on 8/31/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55580653

This week, I was honored to welcome back my gifted friend and an official friend of the show. William Boyle is the acclaimed novelist of such books as Gravesend, The Lonely Witness, A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself, City of Margins, and the upcoming Shoot the Moonlight Out.

A knowledgeable film buff and a bard of Italian-American New York life, especially in the era he came of age in the 1990s (which I love since we're roughly the same age), in the past, Bill appeared to discuss the career of David Morse along with critic Nell Minow, and stopped by twice last year to chat including once about actor Mickey Rourke.

This time, he joined me to discuss five of his favorite underrated, overlooked, and/or largely forgotten Italian-American films, including Fatso (1980), Mac (1992), Household Saints (1993), Angie (1994), and Two Family House (2000).

In this delightfully breezy yet reflective chat, we shared some of our own family tales, our thoughts on the movies, and agreed that since we have no idea how to pronounce a few of the gorgeous Italian names, we'd say them multiple ways to ensure we were right at least once. So pull up your chair, prepare and plate some pasta, and enjoy it along with a hearty sauce and this rich conversation.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/7/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/54636577

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.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (3/27/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/80618553

A podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. In the fifth episode, we finally bring MIDNIGHT RUN superfan & BOOGIE NIGHTS director Paul Thomas Anderson fully into the mix with our terrifically knowledgeable guests, author & Cinephile Game creator Cory Everett & the man who wrote the book on PTA via author Ethan Warren.

Originally Posted on Patreon (1/24/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/97117158

Insightful, hard-working, and incredibly prolific, Brian Tallerico is the editor-in-chief of the prestigious RogerEbert.com website and the president of the Chicago Film Critics Association. A friendly and thoughtful writer and engaging conversationalist, it was an honor to talk to Brian about growing up with a love of movies, his advice to up-and-coming writers, as well as his background passionately covering everything from film to books to music to television from a very young age.

Originally Posted on Patreon (8/17/20) with links to people & items discussed here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40559183

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This week, I was thrilled to welcome Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell back to the podcast for the first time since he joined me for an epic discussion last May on '90s duality in the films "Zero Effect" and "Fight Club." A reporter at BBC Talk Movies and a guest lecturer at Smithsonian Associates, Noah is also a freelance contributor at such notable outlets as The Atlantic, The Ringer, The Guardian, Polygon, and The Economist.

In this fast-paced contemplative episode, he joins me to take a closer look at one of the most creatively fertile periods in the life of our favorite wild and crazy guy - Steve Martin. A comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, musician, magician, and Mensa level genius, Steve Martin is a man who has worn a number of hats throughout his fifty-plus year career but for the purposes of our conversation, we decided to zero in on Martin in the mid to late 1980s as he began embracing his career as an actor.

From his supporting turn as a sadistic dentist in "Little Shop of Horrors" to his great ensemble studio comedies "Three Amigos!" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" to his surprisingly sweet, sexy, and sophisticated "Cyrano de Bergerac" adaptation "Roxanne," in this 52-minute discussion, Noah and I evaluate all sides of the Martin persona from the fully absurd to the downright horny.

One of the world's most beloved entertainers you've heard discussed on Watch With Jen in past installments on David Mamet (for "The Spanish Prisoner"), Physical Media - Part 3 (for a new edition of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"), and '90s Romcoms (for "Father of the Bride") while this is our first episode dedicated to the actor, it's safe to say, it won't be our last.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/8/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63509809

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This week's films explore the joy of puzzles, Elijah Wood with throwing stars, the British invasion, a Dickensian fairy tale, & marriage at first sight.

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This week, I happily welcomed Beth Ann Gallagher to the podcast. A very talented film writer and the mother of one of the most photogenic and adorable babies you'll ever see in your life, she is the founder of the classic film blog Spellbound with Beth Ann which has been running since 2008.

Last year, we were both honored to contribute essays on film noir to the dazzling Columbia Noir 4 Blu-ray box set from the UK boutique label Indicator and Beth Ann's writing has also appeared in such diverse publications as Turner Classic Movies' Backlot Site, Discover Rio Vista Magazine, and various film festival programs as well. Additionally, a former president of the Sac Town Classic Movie Club, she also co-founded the Luso World Cinema Blogathon, which is a celebration of the Lusitanic people and their impact on cinema.

After asking her about both her site and her great Luso blogathon, the recent first-time mom shares her perspective on parenthood in the classic movies Bachelor Mother (1939), Penny Serenade (1941), and Never Too Late (1965) in this breezy free-flowing conversation.

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Jen Johans jumps as far back as 1939 for her first film recommendation today & then jumped back into the 21st century with 4 others that she hopes you'll love. Topics discussed include: Netflix over-choice, Ginger Rogers, Bill Pullman and Rufus Sewell's onscreen luck with the ladies, that sometimes it's okay to just say no to Christopher Nolan movies, Alfonso Cuaron can tackle Dickens (damn it!), what Brian Wilson and the Minnesota Twins have in common, that time when Hannibal scared Jen's brother into hanging up drapes, Drew's Script-o-Rama, why Grady Tripp is her spirit animal, sometimes you need over a dozen drafts to get it right, her fear of cruise ships, why workaholics are not the enemy (& no, not every woman in a movie needs love), and a reminder that there is no crazier place than the diary entries of Jen's Letterboxd account.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/30/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/35441910

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Peckerwood novelist and Hardboiled Wonderland blogger Jed Ayres returns to the podcast this week for a two-hour extravaganza devoted to the man famously dubbed "the poet laureate of wild assholes with revolvers," Mr. Elmore Leonard. One of the godfathers of contemporary crime fiction and an influence on every single writer working in the genre today (whether they realize it or not), Jed and I investigate the western genre that launched the Navy vet lovingly nicknamed Dutch.

Revisiting a few films you've heard discussed on Watch With Jen in the past, including 3:10 TO YUMA and THE TALL T (both from 1957), we then explore some of the revisionist westerns made from his books or penned directly for the screen by Leonard in the late '60s and early '70s, including HOMBRE, THE MOONSHINE WAR, VALDEZ IS COMING, and JOE KIDD.

A perfect way to kick off Noirvember since these are indeed works of Western noir, after these films were released at the end of the genre's heyday, Elmore Leonard moved to crime fiction. Fans of the author's work won't want to miss what is likely just the first of multiple eps devoted to Leonard.

Originally Posted on Patreon (10/30/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/91886163

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A marketing and social media manager at Turner Classic Movies, you can see the work of today's wonderfully delightful guest Diana Bosch on the network's social accounts creatively spreading the joy of classic movies with fans around the globe. Diana's love of old Hollywood and the classics can be traced back to TV's I Love Lucy and the film noir that's similarly one of my favorites, Laura. Additionally, one area of her research and expertise is on the actor William Holden, which comes in very handy this week as we take a closer look at the life and career of Audrey Hepburn in honor of Paramount's new seven-film Blu-ray collection, and discuss the movies Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Paris When it Sizzles (the latter two of which co-star Holden).

Originally Posted on 11/13/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58635625

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Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. This week, I was delighted to introduce Blake to the hilarious & insightful author Adrian McKinty, who's penned the award-winning, internationally bestselling Sean Duffy detective novels plus THE CHAIN, & THE ISLAND.

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Episode 5 brings two dear friends, brilliant authors, & frequent Watch With Jen guests in the form of BEWARE THE WOMAN novelist Megan Abbott & SHOOT THE MOONLIGHT OUT author William Boyle onto the podcast. In this lightning-fast conversation where two duos from two Pandemic Movie Clubs come together, you'll hear Abbott & Boyle celebrate the heyday of HBO & also dissect the film as a screwball romcom.

Originally Posted on Patreon (1/31/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/97569122

Jen joins her brother from another Illinois mother - actor, writer, Second City teacher, and Game Show Network Get a Clue & Daily Draw host Rob Belushi - for a fun Heat, Tombstone, and Scorsese movie quote filled wide ranging discussion about their mutual film obsessions, unputdownable books and the authors who wrote them, the great Joe Pesci, creative friends, Kurt Russell, and Rachel Maddow.

Note: Originally posted on Patreon (4/16/20) with links here.

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Jen first encountered talented writer-director Paul Osborne while reviewing his 2009 documentary Official Rejection, which explored the wild world of film festivals as experienced by independent filmmakers & we soon became friends. Particularly skilled at crafting twisty low-budget character-driven thrillers like her personal favorite Favor, she'd been looking forward to bringing him on Watch With Jen & Friends from the very beginning and just minutes into this chat - which finds Paul telling one intuitive, funny, and analytical story after another - it becomes clear why. So pull up a chair, listen, and have no fear: Paul's brother from another mother, Blayne Weaver will be appearing on a similarly entertaining episode very, very soon.

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Returning to the podcast once again, we have my very talented friend and an official (and very popular) friend of the show. William Boyle is the acclaimed novelist behind such titles as Gravesend, The Lonely Witness, A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself, City of Margins, and the brand new Shoot the Moonlight Out. In addition to crafting these wondrously humanistic Lumet-like character-driven ensemble crime epics, Bill is also quite a pop culture buff and one hell of a good movie trivia game player as well.

One of the biggest things we have in common, beyond just a real love for film in general (of course), is our great affection for character actors - especially when it comes to the true "actors' actors" we grew up watching onscreen in the '80s and '90s. In past episodes, we tackled the careers of Nicolas Cage, David Morse, and Mickey Rourke, and today, we're adding another incredibly talented performer to the roster.

In this very comprehensive and celebratory two-hour conversation, we zero in on the prolific, staggeringly great, and endlessly inventive early to mid-'90s work of actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. Delving into the films Rush, The Hudsucker Proxy, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, Georgia, and Kansas City, we take a look at her power, range, vulnerability, and courage in these vital performances and reference her other films as well.

Note: In citing a shockingly funny anecdote involving our subject giving a very gritty audition for a romcom, I said a certain word that I thought might not be appropriate for audiences listening with their children so am marking the box for "Explicit" on this one out of an abundance of caution.

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Originally Posted on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/68321241

One of the most prestigious and well-respected film journals on the web, Bright Wall/Dark Room is dedicated "to exploring the relationship between movies and the business of being alive." Over the past month, I was fortunate enough to speak with seven members of its editorial staff (including Bright Wall founder and editor-in-chief Chad Perman) about their favorite comfort movies and why they personally relate to and endorse each one.

Comprised of seven separate conversations that play surprisingly well together, this super-sized, feature-length episode gives you the chance to hear from the passionate, articulate people who've written and/or edited some of the magazine's most moving pieces. I want to thank Chad Perman, Kelsey Ford, Ethan Warren, Carrie Courogen, Elizabeth Cantwell, Spencer Williams, and Travis Woods for their time, insight, and for trusting me enough to bring Bright Wall/Dark Room to the pod waves. Enjoy!

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Originally Posted on Patreon (3/8/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48499124

A prolific crime writer, Nikki Dolson's work has been published in such well-respected places as Shotgun Honey, Tough, Thuglit, and Bartleby Snopes. Additionally, the author of what she affectionately describes as "a novelish thing" called All Things Violent, Nikki has also released a short story collection entitled Love and Other Criminal Behavior.

With outstanding taste in not only crime movies but all film, Jen's greatly enjoyed following her on Twitter and couldn't wait to bring her on the pod to discuss some of her favorite underrated heist movies.

In this all-encompassing chat, they discuss the weird noises you hear in old desert homes, the polite British murderers of Hitchcock, three stellar heist movies where the real draw is everything besides the heist, finding movie treasure in clearance bins, & their love of Sam Rockwell as a dancer. In fact, Nikki and Jen were so in sync throughout that if you took a shot for every time Jen exclaimed, "I know" you'd be dead in roughly five minutes flat. (So maybe don't do that!) Just be sure to listen with a notepad as this episode feels like it doubles as a new installment of her solo film recommendation pod Watch With Jen.

Originally Posted on Patreon on 9/17/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41714366

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As witty as she is articulate, Diana Drumm is a critic, historian, researcher, and self-described "full-time nerd." An assistant editor at Cineaste Magazine, which is America's leading magazine on the art and politics of cinema, Diana is also the marketing coordinator at Quad Cinema, New York's first small four-screen multiplex theater. Additionally, she is assisting in the production of the upcoming memoir of the late movie theater owner and film distributor Dan Talbot of New Yorker Films and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas. She also runs the Female Film Critics Twitter account, amplifying women and gender nonbinary voices in film on social media.

Particularly knowledgeable when it comes to classic British cinema and the filmography of James Mason, in a lively two-hour conversation, Diana and I dissect the Sinister Men of The Wicked Lady, Marnie, Inside Daisy Clover, Smooth Talk, and Baby Driver. From Face/Off to the psychology of Hitchcock to our own misadventures in the dating world and beyond, this is one often hilarious, wide-ranging discussion you won't want to miss.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (4/9/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49837807

And now for something completely different... featuring one of past guests & fellow authors Ace Atkins, Megan Abbott, & William Boyle's dearest friends. The first half of this week's episode with Oxford, Mississippi based ADVENTURE TIME & SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS screenwriter, voice actor, & author Jack Pendarvis is a freewheeling anything goes conversation about writing, shovels, William Faulkner cosplay, hitchhiking with butter knives, Saint Augustine, showers, & anything else that popped into our heads. Taking a look at two films about the creative process in the more classically Watch With Jen formatted second half of this discussion, we investigate two of Jack's favorite movies in director Anthony Mann's classic musical biopic THE GLENN MILLER STORY & one of Pedro Almodovar's greatest masterworks, PAIN AND GLORY. This season, I'm aiming to sprinkle in some more casual conversations with artists of all backgrounds into our traditional friendly analytic approach because right now, it feels like we're all so isolated, stressed, & wary that I'm hoping these occasional offbeat episodes might spark a little joy, discovery, & creativity for you along the way as well.

Originally Posted on Patreon (4/7/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126066237

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A gifted, in-demand composer of film, television, theater, and dance scores, Tony-nominated and Drama Desk award-winner Grant Olding is often brought onboard projects early on to help shape the narrative as well as craft the music.

Impressed with his musical contributions to the animated 2013 musical Saving Santa with Tim Conway and Tim Curry, I first met Grant on Twitter after I reviewed the film and learned that he actually started his career as a child actor and dancer in the 1980s.

Cast in Jim Henson and Frank Oz's The Dark Crystal at the age of seven, which was the same year that he appeared onstage in Danton's Death at the National Theatre in London, Grant continued acting and played a number of roles in high-profile West End productions, opposite such co-stars as Daniel Day-Lewis, Brian Cox, and Judi Dench. Leaving school at sixteen, he performed in the original West End production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods and went on to study acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Always playing, writing, and working on music in the background (whether with a band or solo as a singer-songwriter), when he performed in his now frequent collaborator Nicholas Hytner's original production of Miss Saigon, he wrote his first musical and stopped acting to concentrate on composing full time.

Most famous for the smash hit One Man, Two Guvnors - for director Nicholas Hytner and starring James Corden - that ran for over three years in the West End, on Broadway, and played internationally, Grant has written dozens of scores since for The Royal Shakespeare Company, the BBC, and others.

As funny and personable as he is sincere, it was a joy and a privilege to speak with Grant about all of this and more - including some of his favorite composers and film scores - in this fascinating episode.

Note: As September has proven to be exceptionally busy, I've had to delay new episodes of my solo film recommendation pod Watch With Jen for a moment but with such engaging and diverse guests, I know you'll enjoy these conversations on Watch With Jen & Friends as much as I have.

Originally Posted on Patreon (9/12/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41534060

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Behold our final episode of not only this 3-part holiday bonus special, but also the final episode of Season 3. For fun last night, I used a calculator to add up the number of installments of Watch With Jen that have been uploaded in the show's history so far & was stunned to discover that this one is number 170! That's A LOT of conversations about film, you guys, & I want to thank you so much for digging it & joining us along the way. I hope you will return for what is shaping up to be a thrilling Season 4!

Today's episode involves a handful of larger-than-life figures that most of us in the past few generations grew up loving in the form of Tennessee Williams, Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr, John Huston, Elvis Presley, & Angela Lansbury. Joining me to discuss the newly released & remastered edition of THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, we have my very good friend & one of the show's most frequent guests, author William (Bill) Boyle, plus one of the greatest film writers & Elvis experts working today, the wondrous Sheila O'Malley on BLUE HAWAII.

Sheila & I had a ball tackling the scandalous world of sexy, violent pre-code Hollywood midway into the second season & I was so honored to have her back once again to cover a topic she's so passionate & knowledgeable about. Both Bill & Sheila will be back in Season 4, as will all of the other guests you heard this week, & I know you'll get a kick out of this chatty, celebratory, funny, & eye-opening roughly 52-minute episode.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/22/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/watch-with-jen-76243968

In this highly-requested feature-length episode, dear friends and past guests Jed Ayres, Rob Belushi, and Blake Howard join me to explore the critically acclaimed, award-winning FX Australia series Mr. Inbetween, which ran for three seasons from 2018-2021. Created and written by the show's charismatic lead Scott Ryan, the series finds the actor starring as muscle, debt-collector, hitman, and Underworld-Jack-of-All-Trades for-Hire Ray Shoesmith, whom Ryan's fans will recall was the same character he portrayed in his 2005 Australian independent feature film The Magician.

Beginning like a traditional episode of Watch With Jen where we serve up a roughly forty-minute analytical overview and appreciation of the growing word-of-mouth cult favorite series, from there we move into an extended conversation the four of us were fortunate enough to recently have with the funny, disarming, and kind Scott Ryan.

Covering everything from how much he hates "raw" sandwiches to his love of writing believable dialogue that isn't solely dependent on moving the plot forward, Ryan discusses the pros and cons of TV vs. film, celebrates his gifted co-stars, along with series director Nash Edgerton, and lets us in on what he's hoping to do next. A spoiler-filled installment that's best appreciated after you've seen Mr. Inbetween, we hope you'll enjoy it, and recommend both Ryan's series and this podcast to others to help spread the word.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (2/27/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/72500093

One of the hardest working women behind-the-scenes of a major brand, Annie Jung is the marketing manager of DVD Netflix (which amazingly, is a team of one) and is constantly coming up with great ideas for engagement both for the site's official blog as well as through a variety of fun DVD Chats on Twitter. Additionally, a lover of good books, with - under normal circumstances - a passion for travel, Annie enjoys quality scotch, fine cheese, and finding new films to add to her DVD Netflix queue.

Eager to explore her great affection for period pictures, in this entertaining overview of five of her favorites, we discuss everything from American Girl Dolls and the treasures waiting for you at Goodwill to memorable film scores and the surprising amount of agency women have in period vs. modern fare.

Originally Posted on Patreon on 12/7/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44775370

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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.

Visiting today to tell us all about her titillating new season of You Must Remember This that's devoted to Erotic Cinema of the '80s and '90s when we both came of age, in this fast-paced, fact-filled, funny episode, we take a closer look at the films "American Gigolo," "Nine 1/2 Weeks," "Fatal Attraction," and movie sex in the era.

Note: Although not terribly explicit, I've checked the box for content for this episode due to the maturity of our subject matter. The last new episode of the podcast for a few weeks as Watch With Jen goes on a short hiatus, have no fear for the future as more terrific installments will be planned and recorded during this break and the season will soon be resuming in June at full strength. You'll also learn more about whom and what you can expect to hear when we return at the start of this episode.

Originally posted on Patreon (5/16/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/66500288

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A Los Angeles based film critic, journalist, podcast host, and event moderator, the witty and wonderful Katie Walsh reviews weekly film releases for the Tribune News Service and The Los Angeles Times.

Additionally, a frequent guest host of the Maximum Fun podcast Switchblade Sisters and one half of Miami Nice (which is the video podcast she hosts alongside our friend Blake Howard), Katie's work has been published by Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Playboy, The Playlist, Slate, Indiewire, Women & Hollywood, Town & Country, and more.

In this lively exchange, she serves up some of the pearls of wisdom she shares with her students at Chapman University, where she works as a part-time lecturer teaching the Film Studies course Practices of Writing About Film. And whether she's championing some of her favorite female filmmakers (shout-out to Allison Anders, Kathryn Bigelow, & Karyn Kusama, among others) or talking about RuPaul's Drag Race, Katie is a woman who always entertains.

Originally Posted on Patreon (9/8/20) with links to items & people mentioned here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41387832

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Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Roses are red, violets are blue, & on Valentine's Day, you'll hear writer-producer Bryan Cogman & Screen Drafts podcaster Clay Keller on Midnight Run-Through. An engaging, wide-ranging celebration of a movie we love, settle in for a conversation that could've easily lasted twice as long.

Originally Posted on Patreon (2/14/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/98475143

This week, I'm proud to welcome back one of my dear mates (as he would say), Mr. Blake Howard. A podcaster extraordinaire, Blake is the man behind One Heat Minute Productions. Recent acclaimed podcasts you can find from him include All the President's Minutes, Josie and the Podcats, Increment Vice - hosted by our good friend Travis Woods - and the new Zodiac Chronicle. Additionally, Blake is a very insightful film writer and has recently launched a cool column on heist films at Vague Visages.

Couple this with the fact that he's a devoted husband and father of two adorable young children and is also going back to school to become a teacher, and he's one of the busiest men I know. (He's also one of the nicest!) And as someone lucky enough to chat with him nearly every week in our Pandemic Movie Club, I was thrilled to have him back on the podcast to discuss three masterful Irish Mob Movies: Miller's Crossing, Road to Perdition, and The Departed in an energetic, upbeat (save for a few risky opinions), and very entertaining feature-length chat.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (7/9/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53504215

A Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and journalist who writes for "Variety" and Fresh Fiction TV, this week's guest Courtney Howard is also a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, as well as Critics Choice, and the Online Film Critics Society.

Holding an informal meeting of the cinematic Gen X Babysitter's Club with me this week to tackle the late '80s-early '90s studio comedies "Adventures in Babysitting," "Three Men and a Baby," and "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," Courtney's return to the podcast marks a lighthearted change of pace from some of the more dramatic epics and crime movies you'll frequently hear discussed on Watch With Jen.

Along the way, we recall our earliest experiences with these movies, serve up fascinating behind-the-scenes information about the making of and reaction to each film when they were released, and reference a number of others that would create the perfect lineup for an impromptu Babysitting Film Festival.

So hit the road, leave your newborn with your boisterous bachelor pals, drop F-bombs only in tandem, lie about going to Vassar on your job application, and enjoy this breezily entertaining chat.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (2/7/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62242290

Award-winning novelist and cinephile William Boyle returns to the podcast for a terrific hour dedicated to some of the most overlooked films and performances of gifted, tough but tender character actor Mickey Rourke, including Rumble Fish, Homeboy, Year of the Dragon, Johnny Handsome, among others.

Yet while a bulk of the episode is dedicated to Rourke, the wide-ranging conversation eventually veers into musical territory as they chat about their mutual love of Tori Amos, before closing things out by discussing the Halloween (and everyday) horrors that await viewers in the work of David Lynch.

Originally Posted on Patreon (10/30/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43334046

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We're back from our short spring hiatus this week with a very special conversation featuring my friend & occasional co-host, the wonderful Senior Vice President of The Black List, Kate Hagen. Joining us today are two of our favorite women & returning guests, the fabulous writer-director, cinephile, & retired professor Allison Anders, & her incredibly in-demand music supervisor daughter Tiffany Anders. Allison, of course, is the great filmmaker behind such contemporary classics as GAS FOOD LODGING, MI VIDA LOCA, GRACE OF MY HEART, & THINGS BEHIND THE SUN, & Tiffany Anders is the tastemaker & music supervisor behind RESERVATION DOGS, PEN15, & BEEF.

Passionate about music - especially rock & its intersection with film - they're here today to tell us all about the upcoming triumphant return of their beloved early aught Los Angeles-based film festival Don't Knock the Rock (aka DKTR), which showcases hard-to-see & overlooked music documentaries & rock classics & boasts Master Classes, Special Guests, discussions with filmmakers, & more. This year's festival is particularly exciting because it has both an in-person component at the American Cinematheque Los Feliz 3, which runs from May 23-27, & a streaming festival hosted by Cineville from May 23-July 31 that everyone can access. Filled with stories about music, movies, records, LA, & more, this breezy, infectiously delightful discussion is a perfect summery weekend listen!

Originally Posted on Patreon (5/18/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/104487153

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Talented freelance writer and notable film critic Candice Frederick returns to the podcast to discuss some of her favorite holiday movies in this engaging, laugh-filled conversation that takes listeners chronologically from classic Hollywood films of the '30s through the animated smash How the Grinch Stole Christmas and all the way up to Elf.

Originally Posted on Patreon on 12/16/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/45120600

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In this episode, host Jen Johans joins one of her oldest Twitter friends, the incredibly talented and delightful podcaster, Indiewire TV editor, and freelance entertainment writer Kristen Lopez for a lively chat about Turner Classic Movies, disability representation onscreen, film books, her podcast Ticklish Business, as well as her work fostering kittens until they're ready for adoption.

Originally Posted on Patreon (4/14/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/36015522

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This week, I welcome one of my dearest friends back to the podcast. A talented freelance illustrator, blogger, and film fan, Kate Gabrielle is the designer of both the season one and two versions of our gorgeous Watch With Jen logo. As a professional artist, she's not only worked with the TCM Film Fest, Netflix, Doubleday, Mental Floss, and more but also runs her own brightly colored, uplifting shop KateGabrielle.com as well.

In her third solo and fourth total appearance on the show so far, Kate returns to discuss four movies starring one of her favorite actors, the gifted Dirk Bogarde. Focusing on So Long at the Fair, Darling, Modesty Blaise, and Accident - all of which she introduced to me - we delve into what makes these titles distinct works of classic British cinema and of course, what Bogarde does so well in all of them.

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Originally Posted on Patreon 9/10/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56012404

In his last appearance, film writer Sean Burns joined me to take a look at Michael Douglas in lothario mode in one of the pod's most hilarious and popular adults-only episodes. And this week, he's back to dissect five films starring one of the podcast's most beloved and covered character actors in the form of Jack Nicholson's turns in Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Shining, Terms of Endearment, and The Crossing Guard. In addition to astute insights and Nicholson storytelling, you'll hear the hilarious Burns bring out my feistier side the deeper we get into the episode. So sit back as we curse like sailors, critique strip club numbers, lovingly poke fun at filmmaking pretensions, and compare the pretty, dull young actors of today to salad dressing. It's another fun conversation indeed!

A film critic for WBUR's Arts & Culture and a contributing writer at North Shore Movies and Crooked Marquee, he was Philadelphia Weekly's lead film critic from 1999-2013 and worked as contributing editor at the Improper Bostonian from 2006-2014. His reviews, interviews, and essays have also appeared in Metro, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, Time Out New York, Philadelphia City Paper, and RogerEbert.com.

A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Burns was a recurring guest on the late David Brudnoy's WBZ 1030 AM radio show, and in 2002, received an award for Excellence in Criticism from the Greater Philadephia Society of Professional Journalists. His writing has been called "jocular but serious, more like a 1940's daily reporter pounding out columns on a manual typewriter than a typical twenty-first-century navel-gazing film critic." Meanwhile, his sisters still tell him that he "swears too much and drive like an old lady."

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Originally Posted on Patreon (9/9/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/71745247

If you're going to go gothic, the best person to bring along is undoubtedly victorian literature and romantic poetry scholar Walter Chaw.

A very good friend and the sharp yet humanistic critic whose work you can and should read at FilmFreakCentral, it's always an honor and a pleasure to talk about film, art, life, writing, sex, gender, and Hitchcock with Walter and today's discussion is no exception.

In this richly philosophical, inquisitively minded, film obsessives only two-hour episode, we take a look at five twentieth-century cinematic classics, including Rebecca, Jane Eyre (1943), My Name is Julia Ross, The Night of the Hunter, and The Innocents (1961). Going deeper into plenty of other movies as well (because this is Walter Chaw and me, after all), we went into so much detail here that this installment was recorded over two separate chats to bring you our very best insights. The perfect accompaniment to running across the moors or investigating a strange noise in a crumbling Cornwall estate on a dark and stormy night, we hope you enjoy this foray into films that are black, white, and gothic all over.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/3/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59472097

From the mean streets of Brazil to life in Witsec in San Diego to a hangout picture from a pissed off Howard Hawks to Janis Joplin almost jumping out of her shoes onstage to a thirteen-year-old witch coming into her own in a Studio Ghibli classic, Jen serves up 5 great films from the HBO Max streaming library for your viewing pleasure.

Originally Posted on Patreon on 9/25/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42030767

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A writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, today's guest Duncan Birmingham was an executive producer and screenwriter for IFC's MARON and also served as a co-executive producer and writer on the Starz series BLUNT TALK as well. Additionally, Duncan's short films have premiered at such festivals as Sundance and AFI, and his screenplay SWINGLES, which was bought by Paramount, was also on The Black List. Recently, his lively, irreverent short-story collection THE CULT IN MY GARAGE was published by Maudlin House in 2021, & last year, he wrapped & released his excellent first feature-length film as a writer-director called WHO INVITED THEM.

Having joined me in 2022 for one of my favorite conversations devoted to director Hal Ashby in the fifth episode of the third season, he's back for the fifth episode of the fourth to discuss writer-director Noah Baumbach's career over the decades & the films KICKING AND SCREAMING, THE SQUID & THE WHALE, GREENBERG, FRANCES HA, & MARRIAGE STORY.

Note: If you hear me blank on things a bit more than usual in this episode, it's because I was battling an unrelenting sinus infection but was determined to power through & have an analytical conversation about outstanding talky indies with Duncan, who was coming off of the tail end of a bad cold himself! 'Tis the season! Nonetheless, it's a very rich discussion for fans of the filmmaker's work wherein we assessed recurring themes, compared the ways in which newer films & characters commented on past ones, & celebrated Baumbach's rich collaborators as well.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (3/16/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/80110999

Quick-witted, loyal, caring, and so very talented - this week, I was thrilled to welcome one of my best pals and honorary brothers back to the podcast. An actor, former host of the excellent Game Show Network series "Get a Clue," and longtime improv teacher at Second City, plus a writer, producer, entrepreneur, and gifted impressionist who regularly turns my voicemail into the funniest comedy club in the world, Rob Belushi is a man who wears many hats.

In the past, you've heard him share his insights as a knowledgeable film lover in his very first episode way back in 2020 and then twice last year as well, first lending his expertise as the host of "Get a Clue" for an episode I did on Game Show Movies, and then later in our season two finale, Rob joined me along with his inspiring, intelligent, and very lovely mother Sandi to tease and interrogate her both about her personal life as well as her passion for her favorite film - Warren Beatty's REDS.

A huge fan of the endlessly innovative Steven Soderbergh's work - particularly his exceptionally clever late '90s period, in this very funny, thoughtful, and emotional episode, which clocks in at well over two hours, Rob and I celebrate and study the films OUT OF SIGHT, THE LIMEY, ERIN BROCKOVICH, and TRAFFIC. Whether he's opening up to reveal his own personal experiences with addiction and recovery or appreciating the humanity we see in the decent outsiders and strong female leads trying to connect and do right in these works, it's an eye-opening, passionate conversation that fans of Soderbergh, in particular, will love.

Originally Posted on Patreon (6/15/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/67815306

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In addition to sharing 5 new titles that just might help liven things up around your house, topics discussed this week include: The Cadillac of microphones, Michelle Pfeiffer using & fighting against her beauty, Neil Simon, an imaginary Michael Haneke film festival, Howard Hawks: Hawksian Women & Men in Love, & digging the flawed side of Denzel Washington. Stay safe and stream on!

Originally published on Patreon (3/16/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/34958634

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It was such a pleasure to reunite with WHAT LIES WEST writer-director Jessica Ellis for this thoughtful, breezy, good-hearted celebration of three films about women's sexuality onscreen. Diving into two very different, boldly inquisitive bright lights of '90s cinema in CHASING AMY & ANTONIA'S LINE, which bookend this conversation, we also explore 2024's lovely, compassionate, surprisingly bittersweet, highly recommended indie MY OLD ASS, which feels like a throwback to the coming-of-age indie films made in that same era.

Originally Posted on Patreon (4/21/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127082687

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A gifted artist, Brianna Ashby's richly humanistic paintings of some of cinema's most memorable moments & famous figures dazzle the pages of the highly regarded online film journal BWDR (which she co-founded).

A joy on social media for her funny, passionate takes on pop culture - including the great records she's adding to her collection - in this episode, Brianna & Jen take on dad rock, Wes Anderson, their love of nostalgia (& especially the '90s), Gilmore Girls, and the soul of art and vintage clothes.

Originally Posted on Patreon (6/30/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38800226

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What better way to celebrate the 100th episode of Watch With Jen than with a Titanic-sized conversation about passionate Titanic filmmaker James Cameron with the ever-passionate Tomris Laffly?

A contributor to Variety, RogerEbert.com, The Playlist, Timeout New York, Filmmaker Magazine, and Vulture, Tomris Laffly is a member of the prestigious New York Film Critics Circle. A noted lover of the director's work (and especially Titanic, which is one of her favorite movies), while we left out The Abyss, True Lies, and his documentaries due to time, over the course of this in-depth two-hour discussion, we take a closer look at the life, career, films, recurring themes, and obsessions of James Cameron.

One of my favorite episodes that I've recorded this summer (though believe me when I say there is some GREAT stuff ahead), you won't want to miss this conversation.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/22/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55207246

This week, I was delighted to be joined by two New York Times best-selling novelists who happen to live right here in Arizona & both of whom I met through Barbara Peters' wonderful world-famous independent Poisoned Pen Bookshop in Scottsdale.

Jenn McKinlay is the award-winning bestselling author of several mystery & romance series & her work has been translated into multiple languages & in countries all over the world. Hard at work on her next books, Jenn's latest releases include LOVE AT FIRST BOOK, FONDANT FUMBLE, & her upcoming holiday-themed mystery A MERRY LITTLE MURDER PLOT is available on October 8.

Paige Shelton had a nomadic childhood, as her father's job as a football coach took the family to seven different towns before she was twelve years old. After college at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Paige moved to Salt Lake City, where she thought she'd only stay a few years, but she fell in love with the mountains & a great guy who became her husband. In 2015, her family moved to Arizona. In addition to the SCOTTISH BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES, she also writes the ALASKA WILD book series which began with THIN ICE. Her other series include the FARMERS' MARKET, COOKING SCHOOL, & DANGEROUS TYPE mysteries. PERFECT STORM, the sixth ALASKA WILD series title will be out on December 3, 2024, & WRITTEN IN STONE, the 10th SCOTTISH BOOKSHOP mystery is coming to stores on April 1, 2025.

Given that not only do Jenn & Paige adore libraries & indie bookstores like Poisoned Pen but they also write mysteries set in bookshops, the idea of doing an episode centered on our love of books, movies, & bookshop movies seemed like a perfect fit! Warm, breezy, funny, & fast-paced, in addition to discussing the films DESK SET, 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD, & YOU'VE GOT MAIL, this wide-ranging episode touches on everything from their love of literature to the writing process itself. I had the best time with the prolific & insightful Jenn & Paige & you're sure to love our conversation as well.

Originally Posted on Patreon (10/2/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/113178419

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The human embodiment of sunshine, Jen joins freelance illustrator, blogger, and film fan Kate Gabrielle for a fun conversation covering a wide variety of topics including Target, the power of perfume, Kate's new classic movie game show Box Office Draw on YouTube, the creative ideas you have in the shower, Dante's Peak, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin movies, the little details you'll find in the films of Truffaut, fan letters, and what Alain Delon has in common with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Note: There were technical difficulties with the recording so format the finished audio isn't quite as polished and clear as the other podcasts you've heard so far. Thank you in advance for your understanding!

Originally posted on Patreon (4/17/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/watch-with-jen-5-36101751

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In the tradition of my collaborative episodes with Bright Wall/Dark Room and the Classic Film Collective, I have another one for you today that is sure to make you see red (in a good way!).

Since 1998, DVD Netflix has delivered more than 5 billion DVD & Blu-ray rentals to movie lovers in every American zip code and to military bases around the world in their famous, iconic red envelopes. With an extensive library of movies from the early 1900s to today and shows from such premium networks as HBO and Showtime, DVD Netflix is a must for physical media lovers. In this fun, chatty episode, we'll go behind the scenes to talk to some of the people behind not only DVD Netflix but also its popular online movie blog.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (8/18/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55055653

Visit FilmIntuition.com to find links to our Patreon and the official Watch With Jen merch shop.

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. In the second episode of MIDNIGHT RUN-THROUGH, Blake & I are joined by veteran film critic & lawyer Nell Minow & the knowledgeable cinephile & essayist Peter Avellino. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds.

Originally Posted on Patreon (1/3/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/95736859

Let's get lost. Specifically, let's get the hell out of 2020. While we're waiting for the technology that lets us do just that, we can live vicariously through a great group of time travel movies in this special topics episode, inspired by Jacob Rivera, a $10 patron on "The Right Stuff" tier who sent Jen 5 excellent ideas that led her to create this week's installment.

Touching on several movies - including a few that might not be perfect but are well worth the watch - Jen gives you a brief overview of each title but doesn't spend too much time on them since this genre is Spoiler City & she'd hate to hinder your enjoyment of any of the films. With that in mind, buckle up, & let's take off. Next stop: anywhere but here!

Originally Posted on Patreon (6/26/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38659753

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If her main podcast Watch With Jen is the studio track with lots of research and a dozen takes to get the right sound, then Jen's sister podcast Watch With Jen & Friends is the fun, live acoustic version where each week, she calls up a friend and they just talk movies and riff.

Today's guest is Jordan Harper. A brilliant author with a quick, fresh wit, really cool taste, and a laid back conversationalist, it's inspiring to hear him wax about everything from MTV's The Challenge to Japanese women in prison films with the reverence most would save for Fellini and Bergman. Definitely a great way to open up this series - Jordan's first visit won't be his last.

Originally published on Patreon (4/5/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/35683689

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This week, I'm so pleased to welcome back to the podcast a very talented, supportive, and funny friend. Currently based in Newark, Delaware, Mitchell Beaupre is not only the Senior Editor at one of my favorite services (via Letterboxd), but they're also the co-host of the Weekend Watchlist and Four Favorites podcasts, which you can find in the stream for The Letterboxd Show. Additionally, a prolific freelance film journalist and stellar interviewer for prestigious outlets such as "The Film Stage," "Paste Magazine," "The Playlist," and "Little White Lies," you can keep up with all of their impressive work on Twitter @ItIsMitchell.

The biggest fan of Willem Dafoe, Mitchell's passion for their favorite character actor shines through in this rich, in-depth feature-length conversation. Zeroing in on TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (which is a legit obsession for both of us), THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, SPIDER-MAN, THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU, 4:44: LAST DAY ON EARTH, and THE FLORIDA PROJECT, we cover everything from the way Dafoe uses his sexuality and spirituality to seduce and captivate to his generosity with other actors and joy just doing the work every day as a self-described restless "nomad."

It's an engaging and thoughtful episode that acting nerds will especially appreciate. And since Mitchell's earlier appearance covering Jim Jarmusch movies was one of the most popular installments of Watch With Jen released this season, I know you'll enjoy this one as well!

Note: There is only one regular episode left of Watch With Jen S3! Next week's Peter Weir discussion with Blake Howard marks our season finale, save for a bonus physical media episode that will drop sometime in December, initially as a Patreon exclusive, in order to thank you for your kind support.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (11/30/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/75311857

A very talented, versatile, and witty performer with more than 150 credit listings on IMDb, as an actor, James Urbaniak has brought to life 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.

Returning for the first time since our fascinating and very fun Charles Laughton episode late last season where he gave me a crash course in the '30s era of the great British actor, it was so great to have him back this time to discuss a character actress of a different decade. In this, our 150th episode of Watch With Jen (yes, really!), we take a look at a woman who is synonymous with the 1970s, in the form of Faye Dunaway.

Focusing on her tremendous turns in notable classics, we begin in the late '60s with Dunaway's breakout turn in Bonnie and Clyde, then move into the '70s with Chinatown, Three Days of the Condor, and Network, and finally wrap things up with the controversial Mommie Dearest in the early '80s, which she considers the end of an era. An engaging and research-filled episode full of great Urbaniak witticisms and observations, devotees of Dunaway, acting, and/or '70s cinema lovers won't want to miss this conversation.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (7/28/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69704390

It was wonderful to welcome back poet, teacher, writer, & scholar Elizabeth Cantwell this week to explore haunted houses both in film & real life, plus the existential, psychosexual, guilt-filled, Freudian, & supernatural realms of THE HAUNTING (1963), THE CHANGELING (1980), POLTERGEIST (1982), STIR OF ECHOES (1999), & more. I always learn so much when I talk to Elizabeth & we laughed far more than one would think going in given the topic, so this episode instantly became one of my favorites. Grab a flashlight & meet us at the top of the staircase, gang, we've got this!

Originally Posted on Patreon (4/13/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/126578705

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As soon as this episode was announced & I began researching it, there was a massive amount of interest from listeners to hear what turned out to be an absolutely hilarious yet still very insightful conversation with author Adrian McKinty. So in that spirit, & because I've recorded a pretty healthy backlog of episodes for the new season so far, I thought I'd upload it early for all of you as a bonus surprise release.

This week, I was so pleased to welcome to the podcast one of my crime writer friends' favorite crime writers & a man whose taste in film, literature, & poetry is an endless source of delight on Twitter. Adrian McKinty was born & raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and then studied philosophy at Oxford University before he moved to Australia & New York. He is the author of more than a dozen crime novels, including his Dagger & Edgar nominated debut DEAD I WELL MAY BE, the critically acclaimed Sean Duffy series, as well as the smash international bestseller & award-winning standalone thriller THE CHAIN. A man whose books have been translated into over thirty languages, Adrian has won the Edgar Award, the International Thriller Writers Award, the Ned Kelly Award (three times), the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Macavity Award, the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award. His latest bestseller THE ISLAND is set to be a Hulu original series & will be hitting paperback soon as well, & he shares more book news in this episode.

In this very lively 87-minute discussion, I join Adrian to embark on a quest & return with elixir, while learning more about a genre about which I am far from an expert! Dissecting two popular fantasy films that he's passionate about as both a writer & cinephile - John Boorman's divisive yet beloved 1981 Arthurian epic EXCALIBUR & Peter Jackson's smash blockbuster adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS - fans of storytelling, film, & McKinty's work are sure to adore this amusing installment. A nice break from traditional deep dives into the careers of filmmakers & actors, I hope this conversation makes you laugh as hard as I did throughout the recording.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/8/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/79754710

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Returning to the podcast this week, we have the witty and wonderful Los Angeles-based writer-director Jessica Ellis. A graduate of UCLA and the American Film Institute who last year made her feature filmmaking debut with the acclaimed coming-of-age movie What Lies West, Jessica is one of the brightest lights on Twitter and never fails to make me smile. Filled with sharp insights into the craft of screenwriting, in taking a closer look at the films The Princess Bride, Joe Versus the Volcano, and Palm Springs, we discuss love and life as it plays out against the backdrop of the fantasy romantic comedy subgenre she's so passionate about.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/28/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64378129

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This week, I was honored to bring one of my dearest friends & fellow "Brunette Dad with Bangs" aboard Watch With Jen for her first-ever podcast appearance. A long-in-the-works collaboration that Priscilla Page & I began planning in the summer of '22, the very first time we hung out as we cruised around to chat & see the lights of L.A. on a summer night, it's only fitting that we made her debut a hangout episode about cars.

More leisurely paced than your typical release, at the start of our discussion, I ask Priscilla about her background as a writer & the date in her twenties that made her first fall in love with cars. Soon, however, we shift our focus to two films & chase scenes starring Tom Cruise that she's written about & adores in writer-director Christopher McQuarrie's JACK REACHER & MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING.

Part 1 of a two-part episode focusing on two filmmakers who've crafted some of the most delightful car sequences in American film, you'll hear us tackle director John Frankenheimer's GRAND PRIX & RONIN next. The perfect accompaniment to your holiday travel & a terrific way to begin to close out this season of the podcast, I'm so delighted to introduce you to one of my favorite people beyond the staggeringly great film essays that she's penned over the years in this wonderful conversation. (Note: You won't have to wait very long for Part 2; it will be dropping earlier than usual as my holiday gift to you.)

Bio: One of the brightest & most popular lights of Film Twitter, Priscilla Page writes about cars, movies, and cars in movies, focusing mostly on your dad's favorites: actioners, thrillers, westerns, etc. Her bylines include Hagerty, Autoweek, Empire Magazine, The Guardian, Polygon, Birth.Movies.Death., and Bright Wall/Dark Room. You can keep up with Priscilla's outstanding work through her Patreon.

Originally Posted on Watch With Jen's Patreon (12/15/23): https://www.patreon.com/posts/94718858

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A friendly, passionate, and impressive Indiana based classic film lover, Julia Ricci is an Emmy nominated documentary researcher and a senior programmer at Heartland Film, which hosts two well-respected film festivals every year.

From a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to run a film festival known for showcasing short films that go on to receive Oscar nominations (and wins!) to her experience introducing a film on TCM with Ben Mankiewicz, this episode is filled with great stories and film chat.

Originally posted on Patreon (8/3/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40053687

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This week's 5 film recommendations deliver a revisionist western, a Thomas Hardy romance, a twisty French thriller, a dystopian romcom, & a hitman's high school reunion.

Originally Posted on Patreon (7/24/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39680144

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This week, I am honored to welcome a dynamic duo of acclaimed bestselling crime writers to the podcast & two women who've both won the Edgar and numerous other awards. Additionally, good friends who've also collaborated on the graphic novel NORMANDY GOLD, it's the wonderful partnership of Megan Abbott & Alison Gaylin. Author of such must-reads as DARE ME, THE TURNOUT, & GIVE ME YOUR HAND, Megan Abbott's latest novel BEWARE THE WOMAN is a modern gothic nightmare that you won't be able to put down. Alison Gaylin is the author of such gripping works as IF I DIE TONIGHT, NEVER LOOK BACK, & THE COLLECTIVE, & her latest title is a brand new Sunny Randall novel, ROBERT B. PARKER'S BAD INFLUENCE.

Joining me to discuss the career of Brian De Palma, one of our most singular yet controversial filmmakers, in this breathlessly paced, contemplative & infectiously fun conversation, the two writers share their thoughts on the director's works, legacy, critics, popular sources of debate, & the films SISTERS, BLOW OUT, & BODY DOUBLE. As a fun bonus for listeners, similar to the way that I wove voice-over into an earlier fourth-season episode with Megan Abbott devoted to Paul Schrader, once again, I've recruited the vocal talents of a friend (today, in the form of past guest Peter Avellino) to read excerpts from past De Palma interviews I discovered & enjoyed during my research.

Originally Posted on Patreon (9/7/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/88932927

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This week, I'm so happy to welcome a fellow podcaster to Watch With Jen. Conrado Falco is a filmmaker, film lover, foodie, soccer fan, and co-host of the excellent pod The Criterion Project along with my good friend Rachel Wagner. Additionally, he's the co-host of the podcast Foreign Invader and co-creator and co-star of the science fiction comedy series Wormholes, which you can find on YouTube by searching for Wormholes: The Series.

Joining me for a thoughtful, celebratory, and humanistic celebration of the actor Owen Wilson, in this fast-paced conversation, we sum up the appeal, strengths, and career of Wilson and the films Zoolander, The Darjeeling Limited, and How Do You Know, in particular.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (7/13/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69050335

BenDavid Grabinski is a television and film writer, director, and producer based out of Los Angeles. His 2010 short film Cost of Living played at festivals around the world and then his first screenwriting credit came with Skiptrace, which starred Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville, and was directed by the great Renny Harlin.

In 2019, he served as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner of the Are You Afraid of the Dark? series reboot, and most recently, he made his feature filmmaking debut with the inventive Happily, which is now playing in theaters, on digital and demand, or any place you can rent or buy a movie on the internet. It will also be released to DVD in May so if you're a physical media fan - and you should be - pre-order yours today!

A film with a remarkable cast (including Kerry Bishé, Joel McHale, Stephen Root, and beyond), Happily is a work that was influenced by many of Grabinski's favorite films and directors. Chief among his inspirations is director Robert Altman.

Altman not only specialized in epic casts, but he also made three incredibly trippy, experimental, female-centric works in the late '60s to the late '70s, which reveal that he could've had quite a career in horror if he would've been so inclined.

In this episode, we take a closer look at Robert Altman's That Cold Day in the Park, Images, and 3 Women. Titles that just don't get discussed enough compared to his universally acclaimed masterpieces from the same era, although they're three distinctly separate works, the movies form something of a thematic trilogy. So pull up a chair, try not to look over your shoulder, and join us as we Happily lead you on an exploration into the scary side of Robert Altman.

Originally Posted on Patreon (4/3/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49584884

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Welcome to the finale of our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, over the past 12 weeks, you've heard us explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. If you've missed previous discussions or are just discovering the show today, you'll find all 12 installments available wherever you get your pods in the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds.

All good things must come to an end & this episode, lovingly edited by Blake Howard sends the show off on a beautiful note with a thoughtful & candid conversation with MIDNIGHT RUN screenwriter George Gallo that's inter-spliced with select excerpts from Charles Grodin's memoirs, performed by the incredible character & voice acting legend, Mr. James Urbaniak. Whether you're listening on a plane, train, bus, car, or running or walking, this is the perfect spring travel partner for you & we want to thank you so much for taking us along with you on your journey. See you in the next life (....or maybe in a future bonus episode).

Note: Since this is our finale, you'll hear the next new episode of Watch With Jen next week!

Originally Posted on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/100356852

As promised, Watch With Jen is back with your second brand-new time-sensitive episode of the week! And my goodness, it's a stellar conversation that writers, book lovers, WWII history buffs, & fans of awesome heroines will love.

Returning to the podcast today, we have the terrific Susan Elia MacNeal. The NY Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope mystery series and the standalone MOTHER, DAUGHTER, TRAITOR, SPY, Susan Elia MacNeal has won the Barry Award & has also been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, Agatha, Left Coast Crime, Dilys, ITW Thriller, & other awards. A Brooklyn resident, where she lives with her husband & son, Susan is back to talk about kickass women & especially her intrepid spy Maggie Hope, since the wonderful final installment of that series, THE LAST HOPE, releases on May 21 (today!).

Consider this the sequel to our lovely, wide-ranging Season 3 conversation about Spy Movies, since it ties in with our topic. Sharing some behind-the-scenes information about researching & writing her beloved WWII Maggie Hope series, Susan also drops some incredible news about an upcoming series that I can't wait to get to dig into, & celebrates three great films about Kickass Women working together - FEMALE AGENTS, WIDOWS, & OCEAN'S EIGHT.

Originally Posted on Patreon (5/21/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/104666818

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Planning to travel? It always helps if you have the right guide. And when it comes to New York City, I have the perfect one for you today, especially if you're a film fan, because he literally just wrote the book on it. That's right, this week on the podcast, I was so honored to have back my talented friend Jason Bailey.

The author of the brand new book Fun City Cinema, in this entertaining and informative episode, Jason tells us all about writing and researching his new critically acclaimed nonfiction work and breaks down a few films along the way. A gifted film writer, critic, and historian who's the editor-in-chief of the site Crooked Marquee, additionally, Jason Bailey is an author of four additional books on film, and a freelance journalist with bylines everywhere from The New York Times to Vulture to The Playlist and beyond.

Tying in with both Jason's book (releasing Tuesday, October 26) as well as the outstandingly diverse New York City collection currently available on The Criterion Channel, in this installment, we zero in on The Garment Jungle (1957), The Incident (1967), The Out-of-Towners (1970), and Little Murders (1971).

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Originally Posted on Patreon (10/23/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/57771748

Back in the '90s, one of Jen's favorite things to do on a Friday night was visit her local mom and pop video store and cruise the shelves, particularly the Staff Recommends section, which more often than not consisted of clever, buried treasure you might've missed on a casual walkthrough.

A crime movie buff with a specific interest in the trashy, low-budget indies we both came of age watching in the '90s, Jen's friend, Edgar award-winning novelist and screenwriter Jordan Harper is someone who you just know would've put together a killer shelf of movie selections had he worked at your local store.

One of Jen's favorite people to watch and talk movies with - which they do so often that he's undoubtedly pretty sick of her at this point - she was so excited to invite Jordan back to Watch With Jen & Friends to share some of his recommendations with you all.

A fast-paced, hour-long overview of some of Jordan's favorite forgotten '90s movies - with a few brief forays into '80s & '90s fare - we know you'll enjoy this freewheeling chat. And hopefully, it's the first of many thematic episodes to come. So put on your headphones (this one isn't for the kiddos) and settle in for the first episode in a series that - taking a cue from the video stores of their youth - we're calling Jordan Harper Recommends.

Originally Posted with Links on Patreon (8/28/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40957291

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An award-winning author from southeastern Virginia, Jen was thrilled and honored that Shawn Cosby - who writes professionally as S.A. Cosby - took the time to chat with her via Skype during what is an insanely busy week for the writer as his critically acclaimed upcoming novel Blacktop Wasteland is scheduled to drop on July 14.

A man who's passionate about the arts, during this wide-ranging interview, Jen talks to Shawn about the music he listens to and the actors he imagines when he writes, the essential crime books he recommends to new genre readers, his Top 10 (or 15) favorite movies, and his idea for an after-credits sequence that would've been perfect for Pulp Fiction.

Note: There was a slight audio delay so Jen apologizes for any small technical glitches in the discussion but thankfully they're pretty minor, plus you'll barely notice them when the funny, kind, and intelligent Shawn starts to share his thoughts.

Originally posted on Patreon on 7/10/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39186267

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Friendly, genuine, and laid-back, Courtney Howard is as easy to talk to in real life as she is on Twitter. Recorded in the last week of May (and before the vital protests and current events began), in this wide-ranging exchange, Courtney discusses her background in film and the interesting road that led her to write about movies as well as some of the films she's currently watching in quarantine.

Veering off-topic for a terrifically fun segment about '80s music, at the end of the episode, Jen took the opportunity to ask the devoted nail polish collector about some of her favorite polishes (including 2 that tie in with film).

Originally Posted on Patreon (6/18/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38377839

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This week on the podcast, we have a woman who truly needs no introduction - 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 Cinematical and The Village Voice as well as the author of Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, and books on George Lucas, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep, Karina Longworth is the historian and podcaster behind the acclaimed, addictive, and utterly fascinating series You Must Remember This, as well as the recent show Love is a Crime with Vanity Fair.

Dropping in to tell us all about the exciting new season of You Must Remember This: Sammy & Dino, in this fun hour-long chat we discuss Dean Martin's film career from 1958-1960. In addition to focusing on the films The Young Lions, Some Came Running, and Rio Bravo, Karina was also kind enough to discuss the resurgence of The Rat Pack nostalgia in the mid-'90s, humor me during a segue about Gen X's two Coreys, and shout-out Clueless as well. You're bound to get a kick out of this one.

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Originally Posted on Patreon (11/1/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/58167211

Enjoy a thoughtful conversation with the always entertaining, warm, passionate, and talented freelance film and TV journalist Candice Frederick. A writer who's contributed to numerous publications including Harper's Bazaar & The New York Times, Candice discusses everything from therapeutic cooking to the joy of comfort movies like Pretty in Pink as well as how she's adapting to quarantine life.

Originally Published on Patreon (4/8/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/35760814

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This week's guest is a terrific character actor with over thirty years in the industry. A veteran of more than seventy Hollywood movies and hundreds of episodes of television, Donal Logue is the beloved scene-stealer of such films as Sneakers, Blade, and Zodiac, and TV series as Grounded for Life, Sons of Anarchy, Vikings, Gotham, and of course, the great Terriers, which Jed Ayres and I celebrated earlier this year in a full episode. Additionally, the recipient of the Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Acting at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival for the indie favorite The Tao of Steve, Donal also has quite the passion and talent for writing.

In 2021, he co-wrote the brilliant New York Times bestseller Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, & Hollywood, along with his good friend Danny Trejo. Currently hard at work on his next book, Donal has just been added to the third season of the popular Queen Latifah CBS series The Equalizer, which I'm looking forward to checking out. Needless to say, he's a very busy guy! Someone I'm honored to have gotten to know after the Terriers episode, Donal has not only become a very good friend but has also consistently given me the best film recommendations, including several that we discuss in this fascinating episode.

In a thoughtful roughly two-hour conversation, Donal shares his affection for the gritty, social realism centric tales of the so-called "angry young men" that took the world by storm in the UK Kitchen Sink Drama movement of theater and film in the late 1950s and early '60s. Focusing primarily on Look Back in Anger, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Billy Liar, This Sporting Life, Kes, A Taste of Honey, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and The Entertainer, this is an episode to listen to with a pen and a pad of paper as masterful films get cited throughout. With sharp insights about acting, filmmaking, and storytelling from his perspective as a film fan first and a professional second, this engaging chat is a treat for cinephiles everywhere. Enjoy!

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Originally Posted on Patreon (10/24/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/73713693

It's finally here! Behold our Season 5 finale episode, which, in true Watch With Jen form is a group chat extravaganza celebrating the best new physical media releases in recent months. In this feature-length compilation, you'll hear thoughtful, articulate, occasionally personally revealing, funny, & fresh spins on NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (with novelist S.A. Cosby), Scarface - 1932 (with critic Sean Burns), THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY & GALAXY QUEST (with novelist Jed Ayres), myself on PAPER MOON, PULP FICTION, & THE SHAPE OF WATER, & A SIMPLE PLAN & PARIS, TEXAS (with novelist William Boyle). Afterward, I've included a special bonus section featuring the official Watch With Jen introduction to the film WHITE PALACE that was recorded live at the American Cinematheque in August of '24 with myself, Kate Hagen, & words by Amy Robinson. I'd dub it an Easter Egg but given the date, let's call it a Holiday Present instead. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your listenership & support this season. 2024 was our biggest year yet & I have a lot of exciting plans for 2025 in store so I hope you'll stay tuned. You'll find more writing & film recommendation videos on our Patreon soon & then the podcast should return in February of '25.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/28/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/118848959

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An ardent film lover and unwavering champion of physical media, the articulate, supportive, and always entertaining Brian Saur has run the well-respected film blog Rupert Pupkin Speaks since 2009. Dedicated to shining a light on forgotten or overlooked movies from decades past, in addition to his blog, Brian co-hosts the acclaimed Pure Cinema Podcast for the New Beverly Cinema and also hosts the Blu-ray centric Just the Discs Podcast as well.

Having been honored to contribute to Rupert Pupkin Speaks a handful of times over the years, Jen was so excited to talk to him about podcast editing, Julie Hagerty, John Heard, the secrets of DVD Netflix queues, Scorsese's After Hours, and so much more in this fast-paced episode.

Originally Posted on Patreon (7/13/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39279095

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The always adorable entertainment writer Kristen Lopez returns to Watch With Jen & Friends for the first time since Episode 3 to talk gorgeous men, formative crushes, the embarrassment that comes with working in a field that puts you in direct contact with the objects of your affection, her fruitless search for hot English majors, and other things that together she and Jen probably shouldn't admit to on air. It's a fun, breezy episode that's guaranteed to make you laugh (and them blush) and the perfect way to turn your Monday around. Enjoy!

Originally Posted on Patreon (8/24/20) with links here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40808191

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Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. In our inaugural episode, you'll hear from filmmaker BenDavid Grabinski & film critic Drew McWeeny. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment on Patreon & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/27/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/95329626

Just in time for the holidays, here's a new episode of Watch With Jen where I'm recommending not just five but - thanks to one trilogy - seven fun ensemble films for you to track down. From a foreign comedy to a globe-trotting screwball romantic comedy action movie to two modern adaptations of a classic play to an epic '70s puzzle, there's bound to be something here for every type of film fan.

Originally Posted on Patreon on 11/25/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44310048

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Friendly, feisty, fresh, and oh, so very funny, Bright Wall/Dark Room staff writer and contributing editor Travis Woods is as passionate about film as he is endearingly supportive of all who love it. The host of the podcast Increment Vice (which takes a look at Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice one scene at a time), host Jen Johans chats with her friend about his obsession with "toxic masculinity in need of redemption" plotlines, devotion to L.A. topography on film, and notorious hatred of writing.

Wrapping up the first round of her Missouri Boys Trio, which began with their pals Jordan Harper and Jed Ayres (both of whom get some major shout-outs in this episode), for Jen, it was an absolute delight to break down movies with Travis and ask him to program a fantasy quadruple feature at the New Beverly Cinema.

A nearly hour-long episode that flies right by - pull up a seat, maybe pour yourself some Johnnie Walker, and settle in for a fittingly Breathless chat you can listen to here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Originally Posted on Patreon (7/6/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39034809

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This week, I was so pleased to welcome back a very dear friend to the podcast. A senior film critic who writes the most soulful, insightful, and humanistic pieces at FilmFreakCentral.net, Walter Chaw's bylines have also appeared in LA Weekly, The New York Times, New York Post, The Washington Post, Criterion, New York Magazine, and more. Additionally, the author of a book about the film MIRACLE MILE, Walter's in-depth critical study of Walter Hill is scheduled to be published by Matt Zoller Seitz's MZS Press before the end of the year.

After serving up an extended behind-the-scenes look at his book on Hill and the discoveries that he made writing it along the way, we spend the rest of this fast-paced roughly hour-long episode dissecting and celebrating the SCREAM franchise, which was launched by director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson in 1996. Releasing it early this week to coincide with the brand new 4K edition of SCREAM 2, it's the perfect listen to get you in the mood for Halloween. (And don't miss last year's episodes on Horror Remakes with Scott Weinberg, Sex, Gender, & Final Girls of Horror with Elizabeth Cantwell, and/or my conversation about the first SCREAM film on the first Adventures in Physical Media episode from Season 2 with Kate Gabrielle.)

Logo: Kate Gabrielle at KateGabrielle.com

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Originally Posted on Patreon (10/10/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/73124925

An accomplished lawyer and a highly readable film critic at her own site MovieMom.com and at RogerEbert.com, where she's also an editor, this week, I was so pleased to welcome back the friendly and wise Nell Minow. The author of over 3,000 reviews since the 1990s, Nell has also written a handful of terrific film books, including 101 Must-See Movie Moments and The Movie Mom's Guide to Family Movies.

Expanding upon a thoughtful, well-researched, and eye-opening article she wrote for RogerEbert.com on "19 Films That Celebrate the Art of Female Friendship," in this episode, we discuss the evolution of women in film over the years. Taking a closer look at the difference between sidekicks, frenemies, and true friendships onscreen, the pros and cons of the Bechdel Test, rebuttable presumption, and the stuffed animals we told all our secrets to as kids, in this fun, freewheeling chat, we focus on the films How to Marry a Millionaire, Steel Magnolias, and Set It Off and serve up plenty of food for thought.

Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Originally Posted on Patreon on 9/24/21 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56568689

Returning to the podcast once again, we have my very talented friend and an official (and very popular) friend of the show. William Boyle is the acclaimed novelist behind such titles as Gravesend, The Lonely Witness, A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself, City of Margins, and the brand new Shoot the Moonlight Out. In addition to crafting these wondrously humanistic Lumet-like character-driven ensemble crime epics, Bill is also quite a pop culture buff and one hell of a good movie trivia game player as well.

A huge fellow fan of great character actors, there seems to be an unspoken rule that whenever Bill and I get together, we're going to champion actors' actors, indies from the '90s, and/or anything Italian American onscreen, and in this episode about the amazing Mr. Nicolas Cage, we did all three.

Clocking in right around the length of Red Rock West, here you'll hear us discuss that movie, plus Valley Girl, Moonstruck, Wild at Heart, and Joe, and offer an overview and appreciation of several other Cage films and roles. One of the most popular actors in the history of this podcast, with past installments covering films like Adaptation, Vampire's Kiss, Mandy, Bringing Out the Dead, Rumble Fish, and more, I'm always happy to discuss Cage and had so much fun doing so with Bill. Releasing just in time for Thanksgiving in the United States (because who isn't thankful for Nicolas Cage), I hope this episode will entertain you and yours over the long holiday weekend.

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Originally Posted with links to films, people, & items discussed on Patreon (11/22/21) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59012566

Join us for "a ride with a trickster and a javelin man to a town down by the sea," in this engaging, analytical feature-length conversation dedicated to FX's 2010 wonderful one-season wonder series "Terriers." A sun-drenched San Diego set comedic crime show about scrappy unlicensed private eyes who are brilliantly brought to life by real-life friends Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James, the series was created by "Ocean's Eleven" and "Matchstick Men" screenwriter Ted Griffin.

Recommended to me almost exactly a year ago by my good friend, Pandemic Movie Club buddy, and "Peckerwood" and "Fierce Bitches" author Jed Ayres, it's only fitting that he chose to focus on "Terriers" for today's chat. The man behind the terrific blog Hardboiled Wonderland, which I've been fortunate enough to contribute to on occasion, there's nobody better suited to breaking down the building blocks, unforgettable characters, and ingenious twists of the whodunnit genre than Jed.

Covering everything from the unbelievable chemistry of the actors and the throwaway lines that tell us so much about the characters they play to the way it cleverly subverts genre tropes and more, this episode was made with not only the show's fans in mind but also for those who, like Jed and me, adore the films, books, and series that helped create this irresistible world. Enjoy!

Originally Posted on Patreon (2/11/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62429171

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Twisty, engaging, & filled with colorful performances, the Soviet paranoia of the Cold War '80s fueled the plotlines of so many first-rate films that New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins & I vividly remember from the Reagan/Bush era. And with the next two books that Atkins is set to release revolving around spies &/or the '80s, it's the perfect time to revisit a quartet of spy-centric releases, including THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN, TARGET, JUMPIN' JACK FLASH, & NO WAY OUT in this inquisitive & nostalgic episode. Touching on several other films along the way & offering great insights into the evolution of both the spy genre & the way that attitudes shifted in audiences & Hollywood from the '60s through the '80s, Atkins fans, Gen Xers, & film lovers will find much to dig into in this sparkling conversation.

Ace's Bio: Ace Atkins is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author who started his writing career as a crime-beat reporter in Florida. Don’t Let the Devil Ride is his thirtieth novel. His previous novels include eleven books in the Quinn Colson series and multiple true-crime novels based on infamous crooks and killers. In 2010, he was chosen by Robert B. Parker’s family to continue the iconic Spenser series, adding ten novels to the franchise. He lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his family. (From AceAtkins.com)

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/8/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99999786

Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

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Jen Johans recommends 5 great films for you to stream this week.

Topics discussed: What Jack Kerouac and Nick Hornby characters have in common; rock star professors; Ethan Hawke as philosophizing preacher or shaggy dog; three Frenchmen who really know how to scare; the female battle with politeness; empowering women in horror; the power of female sexual fantasies; women without men and how that dynamic changes both genders; sex, drugs, and Martin Scorsese directed rock 'n roll; the whole Robbie Robertson controversy; Jen drops the F-bomb twice while quoting Levon Helm; Van Morrison as a high kicking, velvet wearing, scatting god; Anne Tyler novels; William Hurt & Kathleen Turner after Body Heat; how in an ensemble film like The Big Chill, of course Jen's falling for the messed up impotent guy; Lawrence Kasdan's underrated movies; the quarantine impact on The Sower and The Accidental Tourist; and quirky characters.

Originally Posted on Patreon here with links: https://bit.ly/3cueTnK

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It's the season five return of my good friend & longtime Watch With Jen fan-favorite guest, cinephile, Hardboiled Wonderland blogger, & author Jed Ayres. This time, Jed & I journey into stealthy mid-twentieth-century international spy terrain via four noir war films from the masterful British director Carol Reed.

Kicking things off with the incredible classic THE THIRD MAN, we then join the pursuit of James Mason in Reed's expressionistic ODD MAN OUT & THE MAN BETWEEN before we let Graham Greene show us the ridiculous side of espionage in the humorous yet darkly clever OUR MAN IN HAVANA.

A thoughtful evaluation of not only Reed's work as a director but also the way his filmmaking techniques & emphasis on everything from great production design to Dutch angles, even Christian symbolism, surprising musical counterpoints, & trust in his collaborators crafted four remarkable works, this is an episode that classic movie fans will love.

Originally Posted on Patreon (9/4/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/111371653

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After 14 years and 2,500 reviews published on FilmIntuition.com (and thousands of odes to movies on Twitter @FilmIntuition), Jen Johans has kicks off her first podcast - Watch With Jen - where she recommends 5 great streaming movie recommendations each week for you to enjoy.

Originally uploaded on Patreon (3/3/20): https://www.patreon.com/posts/34563654

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In this super-sized celebration of the Muscles from Brussels, three of my dearest friends and your listener-favorite guests return to the podcast to discuss the life and career of action star Jean-Claude Van Damme. Offering an extensive overview of his entire filmography, courtesy of the show's two certified Van Damme experts in film essayist Priscilla Page and novelist Jed Ayres, and with sharp insights on the industry from novelist-screenwriter-producer Jordan Harper, this sunny, research-filled, frequently hilarious, occasionally downright wild conversation is sure to delight film fans. Focusing on some of his most famous movies as well as other titles that illustrate his range and willingness to take risks, in one of the final installments of the fifth season of Watch With Jen: Season 5, we cover BLOODSPORT, CYBORG, LIONHEART, HARD TARGET, SUDDEN DEATH, DOUBLE TEAM, JCVD, and THE BOUNCER.

Note: Today's release coincides with the 18th birthday of my website Film Intuition. While I'm currently sidelined by a nasty case of pneumonia following COVID and unable to record a video or a new full-length episode with a strong voice, I hope to do so soon. In the meantime, I truly want to thank you for your listenership and readership over the years. Your support means the world.

Originally Posted on Patreon (12/9/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/117577434

Last week's launch of Season 6: Episode 1 generated more downloads than we'd received for quite some time & I want to thank you so much for warmly welcoming back the podcast in 2025 in the same week we celebrated its fifth anniversary. A few days ago, I uploaded a new film recommendation video in a supplemental series for patrons that I'm calling Watch With Jen: Bonus Recs & I'm keeping them unlocked to the public for a few months before they'll become strict subscriber exclusives. We've had a huge increase in subscribers to our Patreon at the free level & I hope that will continue & you'll consider supporting the show for as little as $1 per month, which covers our RSS hosting fees, research, equipment, & more.

In this week's brand new installment, we're continuing the conversation we began last week that's devoted to the films of Los Angeles. Paying tribute to a beautiful city that I love & its wonderful spirited people, I'm hoping that these lively, funny, thoughtful chats about some of our favorite films that were shot & set within the city limits will bring a little joy after the devastating fires of early January. Clocking in at a little over 90 minutes, you will hear SAINT OF THE NARROWS STREET author William Boyle on MULHOLLAND DR., film critic Courtney Howard on TROOP BEVERLY HILLS & SPEED, & author Nikki Dolson on TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. (Note: previously announced guest, author S.A. Cosby had a scheduling conflict & will be appearing on another installment soon instead.) I enjoyed all of these discussions immensely & tend to get a little rowdy with my friends (as longtime listeners have noticed) so we go everywhere from recalling our early David Lynch experiences to giving Shelley Long her due to wondering why I find the sequence in TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. where Willem Dafoe makes funny money so intensely erotic. It's a lot... in a good way (& please be aware that there are spoilers galore in that chat).

It's wild, I lost track of how many episodes I uploaded by the end of 2024 because it was a very overwhelming time & in my head, I assumed that we'd be hitting the 250th episode of the podcast closer to summer. This week, I decided to sit down & do the math (twice) & realized that I was completely mistaken. I will actually be hitting the 250th episode of the show next week, which blows my mind. There would be no point in doing this if my generous, talented guests didn't share their time with me & people didn't listen so while this is a one-woman endeavor behind the scenes, its success is a group effort. Your support, enthusiasm, & involvement has kept it going so you're all vital & valued & I hope you'll stay tuned.

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/10/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124000003

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A journalist turned Hollywood screenwriter turned Edgar award-winning novelist, when it comes to writing, David Handler has pretty much done it all. A man Jen Johans first encountered on Twitter sharing his intricate thoughts about old movies (as an avowed fan of Turner Classic Movies), in this fascinating, nearly hour-long discussion, David moves back and forth between storytelling and analysis to deliver great insights about some of Hollywood's most famous legends including his mentor William Goldman, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Humphrey Bogart, and more.

Originally Posted on Patreon (7/17/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39426342

Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive