Few films released in the 21st century have as universal a reputation as David Lynch's 2001 thriller Mulholland Drive. Returning guest Albert Lanier lays out what he believes to be the "Lynch pin" to understanding the film. We'll discuss our interpretations of the film's final act, address its origin as a TV pilot, and attempt to decipher one of cinema's most inscrutable minds.

Come one, come Al! After 2020, things were bound to get weird. So we kick off 2021 with the only logical episode: "Weird Al" Yankovic's one and only big-screen starring role, 1989's cult comedy UHF. Lauren Carey of the Beer'd Al Podcast joins the show to talk about the film's legacy, its impact on Al's career, and whether UHF is an effective entry point for new fans. So don't change the channel. And don't touch that dial. This week, the Crooked Table Podcast has got it all on UHF.

It ends tonight. Yup, it's time for part 2 of our discussion on The Matrix sequels. Jackson Smith is back to talk The Matrix Revolutions. After the Matrix-y hijinks of its predecessor, this third chapter takes a more "real world" approach. But does it deliver a satisfying close to the trilogy? We'll get to all that -- and Hugo Weaving's hammy AF performance -- in the ultimate The Matrix Revolutions discussion. Join the Crooked Table Patreon: Patreon.com/CrookedTable

As we catch up with The Matrix trilogy, it seemed like the perfect time to share a bit of bonus content. This episode features a collection of outtakes recorded during our two-part, 100th episode extravaganza on The Matrix with guest Freddy Yaniz. Stay plugged in for more bonus content in 2021, and check back soon for part 2 of our discussion on The Matrix sequels, covering The Matrix Revolutions. Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over at Patreon.com/CrookedTable

The Matrix has you (again). In this first half of our two-part discussion on the sequels, Jackson Smith -- our own Agent Smith, so to speak -- joins the show to examine The Matrix Reloaded. We'll cover whether the movie is a smooth transition from the first film, its wild action sequences, and why even its haters need to pay The Matrix Reloaded a revisit now. Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over at Patreon.com/CrookedTable

It all ends (finally). But now Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 has brought the saga of The Boy Who Lived to an appropriately epic conclusion. Guest Ryan McQuade returns to the show to help us bid farewell to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and She-Who-Must-Not-Be Named with our very last episode on the Harry Potter series. Coming in 2021: we enter the ring with Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, and the Rocky franchise!

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has to be one of the most adapted literary works of all time. But the story of Ebenezer Scrooge has never been told quite like this. Bill Murray leads a "modern" take on Dickens' work in 1988's Scrooged. And Kim Stock Foster brings the holiday classic to the Table to explain why the movie's poignant message and comedic sensibility makes Scrooged her favorite Christmas movie. Donate to Stand Down this holiday season: https://standown.org/

Now martial arts feel like a part of the fabric of Hollywood action movies. But that wasn't always the case. In fact, Bruce Lee's iconic 1973 hit Enter the Dragon made a huge impact on the industry. Robert Dean joins us to discuss Enter the Dragon. We'll cover how influential it has been, how it captures Lee's own personal philosophy, and what Lee might have done if not for his tragic death. Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over at Patreon.com/CrookedTable

2020 is nearing a close. And so is our ill-timed deep dive into the Harry Potter franchise. In 2010's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, the stakes have never been higher. Lyndsey Cole joins us for this penultimate Harry Potter adventure. We'll discuss which is the weakest of the three actors, how the movie emphasizes character over action, and what sequence is among the best in the entire series. Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over at...

When the podcast relaunched in 2018, it did so with the goal of bringing new voices -- and therefore a wider range of movies -- to the forefront. That's certainly the case with this episode, which highlights the unjustly forgotten 1954 release Salt of the Earth. Rosa Parra of Latinx Lens joins the show to discuss why the movie is so vital to cinema history. We'll discuss how the movie involved real-life miners, its behind-the-scenes representation, and why its feminist perspective is still...

Even though we just covered Hamilton in our first-ever Crooked Roundtable, next we're discussing one of the most beloved big-screen musicals of all time: 1952's Singin' in the Rain starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Ryan McQuade returns to the show to discuss the behind-the-scenes drama, how the film comments on real-life cinema history, and -- of course -- the indelible music, many of which debuted in earlier films. So put your dancing shoes on and grab an umbrella.

We were willing to wait for it. Now the time has finally come to cover the Disney+ release of Hamilton. So we assembled a panel of epic Hamilfans to blow our listeners away. In our first-ever Crooked Roundtable discussion, Michael Hinman, Candace Kaw, Mandy Lake, and The Lady-Wan talked non-stop about everything Hamilton. So strap in for a two-part deep dive into how Miranda used rhyme and American history to tell a moving tale of legacy and created a phenomenon in Hamilton.

Saw is one of the most influential horror films of the 2000s. In addition to seven (soon-to-be eight) sequels, the 2004 film kickstarted James Wan's directorial career long before Aquaman. But is Saw disposable "torture porn" like so many of its imitators? Lucy Buglass helps us discuss how Saw launched Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man), whether its legacy is upheld by its sequels, and the question everyone has been wondering for the better part of 20 years: did Saw invent escape rooms?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince may opt for love-potion hijinks over grim flashbacks. But the movie still gives audiences a taste of the Harry-Dumbledore buddy movie we could have gotten instead. Kai Yaniz returns to the show to discuss how director David Yates adapts the series' sixth novel. We'll cover Draco Malfoy's moral dilemma, Voldemort's dark past, and how Half-Blood Prince keys up the epic two-part conclusion to this magical saga.

Christian Bale's real superpower as an actor is his ability to play cold, emotionally detached characters such as American Psycho's Patrick Bateman. And building off of that iconic performance, Equilibrium thrusts Bale into dystopian sci-fi. But with "gunkata." Returning guest Jon Cohorn brings writer-director Kurt Wimmer's 2002 film Equilibrium to the Table. And for a film most moviegoers have never even heard of, it has a hell of a lot of relevance to today's world.

Long before Liam Neeson let the world know about his "very particular set of skills" -- before he wielded a lightsaber or faced Batman even -- he was Darkman. Kevin Smith joins the show to discuss the 1990 cult classic from director Sam Raimi. We'll discuss why Darkman is such a well-kept secret, where it fits in Raimi's career, and why Hollywood should revive it. We'll also cover Oscar winner Frances McDormand, the late great Larry Drake, and that infamous pink elephant.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is very much a political allegory. So guest Amy Otero and I did our very best to stay focused on the movie at hand. Neither of us realized just how relevant director David Yates' first Harry Potter movie would be. We'll talk about how Dumbledore's Army speaks to today's world, why Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge is worse than Lord Voldemort, and what Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) brings to the group.

What comes to mind when you think of John Carpenter? We're willing to bet few would name Starman. Starring Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen, the 1984 release remains, according to this episode's guest, the ultimate comfort movie. JC of Screen Fix joins us to discuss why Starman is a forgotten gem of the 1980s. We'll get into where the unlikely film fits in Carpenter's career, the chemistry between Bridges and Allen, and -- of course -- why Starman shines so very bright in today's world.

After spending all of 2019 covering the Star Wars saga, we finally crack the whip on George Lucas' other beloved creation. With Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford, Lucas created one of cinema's most iconic action heroes in Indiana Jones. Craig Price of Matinee Heroes joins the show to discuss 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. And along the way, we'll discuss everything else about the Indiana Jones series too, including director James Mangold's (Logan) upcoming fifth entry.

Great Scott! We don't need money, fame, or even a flux capacitor to travel through the space-time continuum to discuss Back to the Future. In fact, while we have the Delorean all fired up at 88mph, we'll even look back at director Robert Zemeckis' entire trilogy. Vanessa Taylor from The Geeky Waffle helps us tackle the 1985 original and its sequels. We'll talk about why the movie is so special, explore whether it's problematic now, and reflect on how Zemeckis and co-writer Bob Gale crafted...

After nearly 30 years, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return for Bill and Ted Face the Music. Having previously covered Reeves' The Matrix and John Wick, there's no way we were going to pass up this most triumphant opportunity to pull off a Keanu hat trick. With the help of Chris Scalzo of The First Run podcast, we travel all the way back to 1989 to discuss Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Then, before heading out of the Circuits of Time, we stop off at 1991's Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey....

This month, we're taking a look at the fourth entry in the Harry Potter series, 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. As fans know, this is the entry where the stakes really kick into gear, propelling towards the inevitable conclusion. Original Crooked Table Podcast co-host Freddy Yaniz helps us break down this pivotal chapter. We'll discuss the film's many shocking twists, why the relationship drama matters, and what's really going on at the Triwizard Tournament.

After decades in the industry, Danny Trejo finally landed his first leading role in 2010's Machete. Based on a fake trailer for 2007's Grindhouse, the movie leans into exploitation and politically incorrectness with reckless abandon. Sandro Falce returns to the show to talk about not only Machete and the whole Grindhouse phenomenon. We'll also cover Robert Rodriguez's even more insane 2013 sequel, Machete Kills, and share our undying hopes for Machete Kills Again... in Space!

A full decade after their 2007's 'There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis reunited for 'Phantom Thread.' The 2017 movie tells the story of a meticulous dressmaker (Day-Lewis) and the woman (Vicky Krieps) who changes his life. Ryan McQuade of InSession Film joins the show to discuss why Phantom Thread is one of his favorite films. We'll discuss the movie's version of romance, its sense of humor, and if it will truly be Day-Lewis' final big-screen performance.

Over the years, Kai Yaniz has endured Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Room, and -- most infamously -- Cats. Now Rob finally makes time for our long-awaited Crooked Commentary of Can't Hardly Wait. The 1998 teen comedy was written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. And it also happens to be the perfect encapsulation of the late 1990s. Join Kai, Rob, and an ensemble cast of up-and-coming young actors for one wild and crazy night. It's Can't Hardly Wait!