In Episode 78 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. takes a long, hard look at Deadpool 2 and whether the Merc with the Mouth actually serves as the perfect opportunity for Fox, Marvel or both (depending on how Disney's acquisition of Fox turns out) to finally launch into the long-rumored top-to-bottom reboot of the convoluted and splintered X-Men film franchise. After all, Ryan Reynolds' anti-hero is already the biggest audience draw within the X-verse. So it stands to reason that he w...
May 21, 2018•28 min
In Episode 77 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. considers why director Fede Alvarez and star Jane Levy should reunite for Evil Dead 2, the sequel to their 2013 reboot of the classic horror franchise. With Ash vs. Evil Dead canceled by Starz and the fanbase hungry for more, could Alvarez's follow-up bridge the gap between Bruce Campbell-led TV series and the most recent big-screen installment in the iconic horror/comedy saga? We’re excited to hear your feedback as the Crooked Table P...
May 13, 2018•25 min
In Episode 76 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. and Kai Yaniz take the time to discuss Avengers: Infinity War, the 19th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But this isn't just any Marvel film. Finally, Earth's Mightiest Heroes from across the MCU unite to face the tyrannical power of Thanos. With an epic battle extending into space and beyond, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther, the Guardians of the Galaxy and others must fight to sa...
Apr 30, 2018•1 hr 57 min
In Episode 75 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. and Kai Yaniz devote an entire SPOILER-filled episode to review Black Panther, the 18th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the final one to hit theaters before Avengers: Infinity War changes the MCU forever. The film marks the first Marvel Studios film featuring an African-American actor in the lead and is poised to shift the movie business itself with a cultural phenomenon of Wonder Woman proportions. But does director Ryan Co...
Feb 20, 2018•1 hr 8 min
In Episode 74 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. and Freddy Yaniz pop into the world of Netflix for a discussion of what they've been watching on the ubiquitous streaming service, including principally an in-depth review of surprise sequel The Cloverfield Paradox. Ten years after the franchise started with a found-footage monster movie, the J.J. Abrams-produced space horror show makes it way into subscribers' homes immediately following the conclusion of the Big Game. But is the mark...
Feb 14, 2018•1 hr 15 min
In Episode 73 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. unpacks the 2018 Academy Award nominations. Will Meryl Streep (The Post) and/or Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread) snag a fourth statuette? Will beloved newcomers like Jordan Peele (Get Out) and Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) win big? And will Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water be able to fend off Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to take it all? Let's take a closer look at this year's crop of nominees and prepa...
Jan 24, 2018•38 min
In Episode 72 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. reveals his approach to film criticism, detailing the various criteria that he considers when giving a film a rating of one to five stars. That's right, folks! It's another edition of Let's Talk About SIX! We’re excited to hear your feedback as the Crooked Table Podcast continues to evolve. As usual, the show does feature explicit language and, as such, is best considered NSFW. Thanks for listening! SHOW NOTES Previously on the Crooked...
Jan 24, 2018•22 min
In Episode 71 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. shares some of his favorite films of 2017. In this second of two parts, he discusses his top ten films of the year, the ones that resonated with him the most. It may have been a crazy year in many ways, but it was an incredible one at the movies. Here are some of the best examples of why. We’re excited to hear your feedback as the Crooked Table Podcast continues to evolve. As usual, the show does feature explicit language and, as such,...
Jan 12, 2018•34 min
In Episode 70 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. shares some of his favorite films of 2017. In this first of two parts, he reveals his honorable mentions -- i.e., the films that almost made his top ten of 2017 -- giving them the praise and recognition they deserve. It may have been a crazy year in many ways, but it was an incredible one at the movies. Here are some of the best examples of why. We’re excited to hear your feedback as the Crooked Table Podcast continues to evolve. As us...
Jan 04, 2018•30 min
In Episode 69 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. bids farewell to 2017 with reviews of several of the biggest films arriving in theaters this holiday season. Listen in as he shares his thoughts on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Coco, The Disaster Artist, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Lady Bird. We’re excited to hear your feedback as the Crooked Table Podcast continues to evolve. As usual, the show does feature explicit language and, as such, is best considered NSFW. Thanks...
Dec 30, 2017•38 min
In Episode 68 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. returns to the DC Extended Universe once more for Justice League, the culmination that brings together some of the biggest heroes from DC Comics. Following the success of Wonder Woman and the divisiveness of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, can director Zack Snyder's latest superheroic epic overcome production issues and problematic facial hair (?) to emerge as the DC equivalent of the Avengers phenom...
Nov 23, 2017•34 min
In Episode 67 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. leaves the Marvel Cinematic Universe behind to delve deep into the DC Multiverse (yeah, we're starting that now). First, he revisits the film that started the franchise with an in-depth review of Zack Snyder's 2013 film Man of Steel before launching into an epic discussion of the entire DC Films slate thus far, all leading up to the highly anticipated release of Justice League. So, before the league comes together, let's retrace our st...
Nov 14, 2017•1 hr 1 min
In Episode 66 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. heads over to Asgard for his review of Thor: Ragnarok, the 17th (!) entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and shares his brief thoughts on Sean Baker's The Florida Project. We’re excited to hear your feedback as the Crooked Table Podcast continues to evolve. As usual, the show does feature explicit language and, as such, is best considered NSFW. Thanks for listening! SHOW NOTES 0:00 - Intro/The Florida Project review 5:55 - Thor: Ragn...
Nov 09, 2017•34 min
In Episode 65 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. spends his All Hallow's Eve on a Halloween-timed retrospective of A Nightmare on Elm Street (and its sequels). Wes Craven (RIP) created such an indelible pop cultural icon in Freddy Krueger, and bolstered by Robert Englund and Heather Langenkamp's performances and a killer (pun intended) premise, his 1984 classic lives on as one of the most beloved horror films of all time. But does its reputation still hold true 33 years after audienc...
Oct 31, 2017•51 min
In Episode 64 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. gushes about the new trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi and shares his thoughts on Denis Villeneuve's sweeping sci-fi epic Blade Runner 2049. Harrison Ford's shadow is sure to loom large on both films, but will these two sequels live up to the hype? In the case of the latter, let's investigate if Ryan Gosling's turn as the titular replicant hunter stands up to the 1982 Ridley Scott classic. We’re excited to hear your feedback as the ...
Oct 19, 2017•53 min
In Episode 63 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. finally weighs in on some of September 2017's most heavily discussed films, namely the record-breaking Stephen King adaptation IT, the divisive Darren Aronofsky thriller mother! and the outrageous comic book sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Will Rob fall hook, line and sinker for Aronofsky's allegorical tale? Will he be dying for a third Kingsman? And will he ever sleep with the lights off again, for fear that Pennywise will deliver...
Oct 11, 2017•47 min
In Episode 62 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. and Freddy Yaniz stroll down the dark alleys of Hell's Kitchen for their long-awaited in-depth discussion of Marvel's The Defenders. Which Marvel Netflix show is their favorite one to date, and how does this team-up miniseries build upon the narrative threads and character journeys set forth in Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist? We'll get into all that and so much more, including where we're hoping to see the Netflix br...
Sep 30, 2017•1 hr 1 min
In Episode 61 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. shares his reaction to the first two episodes of Amazon's new series The Tick, based on the popular comic book. Then he reviews the new Steven Soderbergh heist comedy Logan Lucky, which sees Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) recruit James Bond (Daniel Craig) to rob a major NASCAR event. Does this stripped-down Ocean's Eleven riff work as a satisfying caper, or does it feel like a road too often traveled? Let's disc...
Aug 31, 2017•35 min
In Episode 60 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. visits the way-back machine to discuss two phenomena of his youth or, more specifically, the year 1987. As cult classic and perennial Halloween favorite The Monster Squad celebrates 30 years since its initial theatrical release, Disney XD launches its much-anticipated reboot of popular animated series DuckTales ("Woo-oo!"). It's as if 1987 is some kind of focal point, connecting the entertainment of the past to the present in some mean...
Aug 31, 2017•34 min
In Episode 59 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. closes the book on the 2017 summer movie season with some arbitrary awards. The past few months have brought an interesting blend of franchise and original fare, with surprising standouts emerging on both sides. So, as The Dark Tower looms essentially as the last big tentpole of the season, let's review some of the films that had critics and audiences talking since May. With any luck, the rest of 2017 will offer just as much to break d...
Aug 05, 2017•31 min
In Episode 58 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. finally catches up with the critically acclaimed new film from writer/director Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, James D'Arcy, Cillian Murphy, Harry Styles (yes, that Harry Styles) and Mark Rylance. With rich subject matter and his usual flair behind the camera, Nolan could be poised to add another classic to his already impressive resume following ...
Jul 31, 2017•35 min
In Episode 57 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. sifts through mountains of Judd Apatow-produced films to find the very best of the bunch in a new edition of Let's Talk About SIX. From The 40-Year-Old Virgin to Trainwreck, Apatow has directed some of the best comedies of the 2000s, but his producing credits reach even deeper than his directorial efforts. His latest, The Big Sick, is becoming one of the most talked-about films of the year, but does the Michael Showalter film, starring...
Jul 25, 2017•33 min
In Episode 56 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. and Freddy Yaniz catch up some popular recent releases, namely writer/director Edgar Wright's pseudo-action musical Baby Driver and Illumination Entertainment's latest Minion-fest Despicable Me 3. Then, it's on to the battle between humans and apes in the trilogy-capping War for the Planet of the Apes. Andy Serkis reprises his lead role as ape leader Caesar -- thanks to the miracle of motion-capture technology -- as the character faces...
Jul 15, 2017•1 hr 43 min
In Episode 55 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. welcomes Freddy Yaniz back to the show after a lengthy hiatus to talk (of course) the latest chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Listen in as they talk all things Spider-Man and celebrate the webslinger's full emergence as a central figure in the MCU with Spider-Man: Homecoming. The Jon Watts-directed film -- which sees Tom Holland return to the role of Peter Parker opposite Michael Keaton's The Vulture -- marks the sixth Spider-...
Jul 07, 2017•1 hr 45 min
In Episode 54 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. takes a trip down memory lane to discuss the concept of "birthday movies" and pop cultural anniversaries. Then, he launches into a new edition of Let's Talk About SIX, centering on the Spider-Man films. Check back next week for his review of Spider-Man: Homecoming, featuring guest co-host Freddy Yaniz . Go, web, go! We’re excited to hear your feedback as the show continues to evolve. As usual, the podcast does feature explicit language...
Jul 02, 2017•34 min
In Episode 53 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. collapses into a pile of piping-hot movie news, including the latest on the untitled Han Solo Star Wars movie, Jurassic World 2, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe. It's hard to believe so much news has come out in just the past few days, but fear not, the Crooked Table Podcast is here to break it down for you. Nostalgia continues to rear its profitable head on the big screen, as once-dormant franchises like Saw...
Jun 23, 2017•55 min
In Episode 52 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. uncovers director Alex Kurtzman's new take on The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella. The film is, of course, intended to kick off Universal's monster-centric Dark Universe. We'll investigate whether The Mummy provides a solid foundation for what's to come as well as how it stacks up against the 1999 edition, which saw Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz bring the classic tale to the modern age. Also: Rob reviews A24's latest, d...
Jun 18, 2017•1 hr 8 min
In Episode 51 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. finally reunites on the show with Kai (along with their infant daughter) to discuss director Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman film starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. Will the film finally mark a decisive win for the DC Extended Universe after films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, or will it prove to be an underwhelming attempt to deliver a successful female-led comic book film? After all, between Supergirl, Catwom...
Jun 09, 2017•1 hr
In Episode 50 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Rob leaves the movie reviews aside for a reflective look back at the show's history. Don't worry, Wonder Woman will take center stage next week, but for now, let's mark the Crooked Table Podcast's 50th episode with a review of its tumultuous history, some of Rob's favorite episodes and the lessons he's learned along the way. All that, plus a glimpse into what might be next for CTP in the coming months. Pull up a chair for Crooked Table's 50th podcast. ...
Jun 04, 2017•45 min
In Episode 49 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. takes to the high seas for his review of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. But first he looks back at star Johnny Depp's most surprising roles with another round of Let's Talk About SIX. So, is Jack Sparrow better the fifth time around? Listen for yourself. Yo ho, yo ho and all that... Film synopsis, courtesy of Disney: Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in...
May 27, 2017•39 min
