Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael turn the firehose on the 1974 disaster movie "The Towering Inferno." We praised the movie's stellar special effects and stunt work, as well as its suspenseful set pieces, while acknowledging that the acting and dialogue were perhaps not the best. We also talked about our favorite disaster movies, explored why people flock to theaters to see terrible things happen, and discussed how nostalgia plays such a fundamental role i...
Dec 03, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Send us a text This week on "That '70s Movie Podcast," Jonathan and Michael knocked on the door of the 1973 revisionist Western, "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." We talked at length about James Coburn's astonishing performance as Pat Garrett and why this film is Sam Peckinpah's definitive statement on the Old West (we weren't shy, however, about addressing Peckinpah's problematic legacy). We explored the themes of generational change and the haunting specter of death in the frontier West, eviden...
Nov 20, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael had a worry-free conversation about the 1975 Robert Altman classic, "Nashville." We were joined by Northwestern University Communications Studies professor Heather Hendershot, who is the author of a recent BFI book on the movie. While Jonathan and Heather had nothing but praise for a film widely considered Altman's masterpiece, Michael took issue with "Nashville's" slow pacing and languid plotting. Where we did agree is on...
Nov 10, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Michael and Jonathan go to the bank on the 1973 classic "The Friends of Eddie Coyle." We had nothing but praise for this film's naturalistic feel, top-tier location work, razor-sharp pacing, and outstanding acting performances. In particular, we loved Robert Mitchum's lead role, but also went to bat for Richard Jordan and Peter Boyle. We talked about the enduring influence of Eddie Coyle on other filmmakers and wondered whether the reason this...
Oct 30, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Michael and Jonathan put on their platform shoes, don their favorite sequined shirts, and turn on the strobe lights for a spirited conversation about the 1977 film "Looking For Mr. Goodbar," starring Diane Keaton (RIP). In this episode, we heap praise on Keaton, not only for her bravura performance in this film but also for her courageous artistic choices and growth as an actor. We reached less consensus on Looking For Mr. Goodbar's occasional...
Oct 24, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael are joined by Tom Schaller, political scientist and movie nerd, for a conversation about the 1974 mystery thriller "The Conversation." We talked about why this movie is perhaps the prototypical 1970s New Hollywood film. We discussed Francis Ford Coppola's A+ directing, but also his uneven movie career. We touched on Gene Hackman's GOAT-level filmography, the extraordinary sound design of this movie, and the metaphor that i...
Oct 16, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and Michael bring to life the 1974 comedy classic "Young Frankenstein." In this episode, we discussed our favorite film comedies and why, in general, comedy often doesn't receive the same critical respect as other genres of film. We praised the performances of Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, and, above all, Gene Wilder. We also talked about the sometimes uneven movie output of director Mel Brooks - and why ...
Oct 07, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Michael and Jonathan take the plunge on the 1974 paranoid thriller, "The Parallax View." We discussed the brilliance of the movie's look and feel, its expert direction and cinematography, but also its occasionally glaring plot holes. We critiqued Warren Beatty's performance in the lead role, talked about whether we're more unsettled by the Parallax Corporation's personality test or its film montages, and asked if the film's hired killers are t...
Sep 29, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Send us a text In this week's episode, Michael and Jonathan dived into the 1975 paranoid spy thriller "Three Days of the Condor." We talked about Robert Redford's extraordinary legacy as an actor and movie star, lavished more praise on Faye Dunaway, discussed the often cryptic dialogue in this movie, asked if Max Van Sydow's "Joubert" is a GOAT-level bad guy, and explored the decline in national trust that forms the backdrop for Condor. So open the door and get in the car for "Three Days of the ...
Sep 24, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathon and Michael get mad as hell about the 1976 classic "Network." We discuss whether this is the best-acted movie of all time, Sidney Lumet's place in the pantheon of great American directors, and Faye Dunaway's ranking among the best actresses of her generation. In addition, we explore Network's continued cultural relevance and how a movie with too many words and too many themes seems to work so well. So get up out of your chair and give...
Sep 12, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Send us a text This week, Michael and Jonathan go all-in with the 1979 Bob Fosse-directed classic "All That Jazz." We discuss whether this semi-autobiographical film is an act of self-flagellation by Fosse or a cry of defiance. We also talked about the brilliance of Roy Scheider's performance, the burden of perfectionism, and whether "All That Jazz" is the best movie ever made about the artistic process. So put on your dancing shoes and pull up those leg warmers because ... "It's Showtime."...
Sep 04, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Send us a text This week, Jonathon and Michael land the plane on the 1973 neo-noir classic "Charley Varrick." We discuss whether this is the prototypical 70s film. We ask if Walter Matthau is an underrated sex symbol, and we unpack the meaning of the movie's tag line, "the last of the independents." So get on board and join us as we burn this film to the ground!
Aug 27, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Send us a text This week on That '70s Movie Podcast, Jonathan and I get on board with the 1974 classic "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3." Is this a great film, a terrific film, or is it a miracle? Is it the best New York City movie ever? We also talk about the 2009 remake and ask, "Should great movies ever get remade?" So bring your Kleenex, set your watches, and stand clear of the closing doors!
Aug 13, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Send us a text In our latest episode, Jonathan and I discuss "Five Easy Pieces" and ask: Is this the prototypical 70s movie? Is Bobby Dupea a loner or just a fraidy cat? Is this Jack Nicholson's best performance? Come join us, and please bring your own toast because we don't have any here!
Aug 08, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Send us a text Michael and Jonathon dig deep on one of the classics of American cinema, 'Taxi Driver," and ask how much of what we see in the movie is real ... or is happening in the mind of Travis Bickle.
Aug 08, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Send us a text Check out the inaugural episode of That '70s Movie Podcast as we dig into one of the great movies of the decade -- "All The President's Men."
Aug 01, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 1
