Episodes
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Spooky season is still lingering around Film is Lit! Join us for another non-fiction, true-crime installation: Daddy Fincher’s 2007 interpretation of Robert Graysmith’s sprawling investigation, “Zodiac” (1986). Have you encountered a more disturbing story? Is it still unsolved, or have Danny and Laura seen enough evidence to be convinced that the murderer has been identified?
#Zodiac #DavidFincher #RobertGraysmith #JakeGyllenhaal #RobertDowneyJr...
Published 11/26/24
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Film is Lit is wrapping up our series on Vampires (for now!). In our oldest dual coverage yet, we’re diving into Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and F. W. Murnau’s recovered (and plagiarized) 1922 silent film, “Nosferatu.” This Vampire series has allowed us to look back at how much 100 years of cinema has given us. Join us to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve with a NOSFERATU!
#Nosferatu #Dracula #BramStoker #MaxSchreck #CountOrlok #FWMurnau...
Published 10/31/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
Continuing our spooky series on creatures of the night, Laura and Danny cover the O.G.... Bram Stoker's "Dracula." How does the 1931 classic starring the legendary Bela Lugosi compare? Listen to find out!
#Dracula #BramStoker #FilmisLitPod #Vampires #CountDracula #Nosferatu #Dracula #Halloween #Renfield #MovieReview #BookvsMovie #Bookreview #MovieAdaptation #MinaHarker
Published 10/29/24
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A Stephen King vampire story that takes place in Maine? SIGN US UP, AYUH! Today on the pod, we're covering King’s classic novel (and one of his first!), 'Salem's Lot, and its long-delayed film adaptation of the same name. The film was dumped on streaming, but Laura and Danny got the opportunity to see it early in theaters. Ain’t nuttin better than watching a Halloween romp with a packed audience, ayuh!
#SalemsLot #StephenKing #FilmisLitPod...
Published 10/22/24
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Heads are gunna ROLL… on this special crossover episode of Film is Lit! The fine folks at The Revisitors podcast collaborated with us to watch and analyze Tim Burton ’s spooky season classic, “Sleepy Hollow, which is loosely based on the Washington Irving short story of the same name. The Revisitors is a podcast where movie buffs Frank (Laura’s cousin) and Diego revisit the beloved films of childhood to determine whether these "classics" are truly...
Published 10/15/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil's pawn... but not us, we're cool, you can trust us 😎! On today's VERY special episode of Film is Lit, we welcome back Danny's longtime friend and Ape franchise expert, Michael Sciortino, to talk about the sci-fi classic, "Planet of the Apes." Does Pierre Boulle's book have the same iconic ending as the movie? And how many times will Danny mention that he and Laura got married in the exact location where the...
Published 10/08/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
SPOOKY SEASON IS UPON UUUUUS!!!! And we’re diving in with a certified classic: “The Exorcist!” Ghoulish makeup, Black Mass, possession, and desecration…COUNT US IN!!!!
#TheExorcist #FilmisLitPod #WilliamFriedkin #WilliamPeterBlatty #LindaBlair #EllenBurstyn #JasonMiller #MaxvonSydow #LeeJCobb #Movieadaptation #booktoscreen #Devil #TheExorcistReview #MovieReview #DannyGaylord #TheFrenchConnection #moviereviewpodcast #bookreviewpodcast #bookworm...
Published 10/01/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
We’ve wanted to cover this for a long time now…so get ready to hear us discuss “Killers of the Flower Moon!” This true and terrifying story of greed that led to mass murder deserves the attention it got during the 2023 Oscar season. It also deserved some Oscar WINS, which we DEFINITELY have opinions about. Join us for episode 120!
#MartinScorsese #KillersoftheFlowerMoon #LeonardoDiCaprio #LilyGladstone #FilmisLit #RobertDeNiro #DannyGaylord...
Published 09/25/24
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On the season 13 premiere of the Film is Lit podcast, we compare Judy Blume's classic YA novel to its 2023 film of the same name.
#JudyBlume #AreYouThereGodItsMeMargaret #RachelMcAdams #AbbyRyderFortson #BennySafdie #KathyBates #ElleGraham #KellyFremonCraig #FilmisLitpod
Published 09/17/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
YUP, we're certified PAYNE-HEADS! On the season 12 finale of Film is Lit, we're covering Alexander Payne's 2011 Oscar-darling, "The Descendants," based on the book of the same name by Hawaiian author, Kaui Hart Hemmings. Listen to us compare the book to the movie and discuss how George Clooney, the ultimate hunky dad, has the best run in all of cinema. We'll be back this autumn for a very spooky season 13...stay tuned!
#GeorgeClooney #AlexanderPayne...
Published 08/20/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
It's the sequel, so you gotta raise the stakes. On this episode of Film is Lit, we discuss The Hunger Games: ALL STARS! Joining us are our favorite tributes, Noah and Kayla, from the Secondhand Film Critics podcast. They are certified Hunger Games experts, and they were incredibly generous with their time given that Danny is on Team Gale... what the h*ll is up with that, right?! Listen to find out!
#TheHungerGames #JenniferLawrence #JoshHutcherson...
Published 07/30/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
“Poor Things”…love it or hate it, we’re covering it! Welcome to another episode of Film is Lit, in which we discuss 2023’s divisive film based on Alasdair Gray’s 1992’s novel of the same name. The themes are fascinating, the actors are firing on all cylinders, and the production design is…well, Oscar-winning! No matter how much we love it though, the biggest takeaway from this episode is DON’T TELL YOUR PARENTS TO WATCH IT.
#FilmisLit #PoorThings...
Published 07/23/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
The podcast...IT'S ALIIIIIIIIVE!!! Hello, you little freaks, and welcome to today's episode where we cover Mary Shelley's 1818 gothic masterpiece, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus." More than 100 years after Shelley's book, director James Whale would reanimate the material into "Frankenstein," kicking off Universal Studios legendary run of monster movies, which would further kick off decades upon decades of Halloween costumes (Danny went as...
Published 07/09/24
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Welcome to summer, listeners! Beat the heat with a new Film Is Lit episode, covering Robin Moore’s 1969 true crime thriller “French Connection” and the 1971 movie of the same name. We’re back at it!
#TheFrenchConnection #WilliamFriedkin #RobinMoore #GeneHackman #RoyScheider #FilmisLitPod #FilmisLitPodcast #BestPictureWinner
Published 07/02/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
After three long years, Denis Villeneuve's follow-up to his 2021 masterpiece "Dune: Part One," is finally here, and SPOILER ALERT: it's another masterpiece! Joining us for this special episode is returning guest Tim Gaylord, resident Dune-expert and brother to your trusty co-host, Danny. Grab your stillsuit, activate your thumpers, and prepare for a thrilling discussion on "Dune: Part Two" - an epic blockbuster of such massive scale that it's almost...
Published 04/09/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
We're back from our unplanned hiatus to discuss James Ellroy's sprawling neo-noir about the sprawling city of Los Angeles, "L.A. Confidential." Later adapted into a film by Curtis Hanson in 1997, "L.A. Confidential" takes place in 1950s Los Angeles, where three policemen, each with a distinct brand of justice, cross paths after a deadly massacre takes place at a Hollywood diner. This story has everything you could want from a gritty noir - dames,...
Published 04/02/24
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 movie is based on a 1944 short story by Cornell Woolrich? Neither did we…which is embarrassing considering it’s stated in an opening title card! Please enjoy a new episode of Film Is Lit, in which special guest Ryan Burns joins us to discuss how modern and thrilling this classic still is. Is there ANYTHING better than a romance between Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart??
#RearWindow #AlfredHitchcock #FilmisLitPod...
Published 01/30/24
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Kickstarting Film is Lit's latest series on hardboiled noirs, we're covering the 1943 detective novel "Laura," written by the ultimate badass, Vera Caspery. It was adapted a year later into the film of the same name by Otto Preminger, and is widely considered to be one of the most celebrated noirs of all time. Does Gene Tierney live up to the titular character from Caspery's text? You'll just have to listen to find out!
#Laura #VeraCaspery...
Published 01/23/24
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the Film is Lit podcast! On today's festive special episode, we cover Steven Spielberg's underrated classic, "Catch Me if You Can," based on the quasi-non-fiction book of the same name by conman turned FBI agent, Frank Abagnale, Jr. Between opening presents and drinking hot cocoa, listen to us discuss how Spielberg adapted this true story (well, questionably true story) into a hidden Christmas gem starring two of Hollywood's greats,...
Published 12/25/23
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! To celebrate the end of spooky season, we're bringing our four-part series on Stephen King's magnum opus, "IT," to a close! On the finale of Film is Lit's Season of Scares (Alt. Title: "Film is IT"), we tackle director Andrés Muschietti's "It Chapter Two" from 2019, starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Hader. Bill Skarsgård returns as the titular Pennywise to scare up the Losers Club yet again, this time when they're all...
Published 10/31/23
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
Beep Beep, Richie! Another episode of “IT!” Stephen King’s 1,200-page novel deserves this ongoing coverage throughout Spooky Season. On today’s episode, we discuss IT Chapter 1 (2017) and how much it differs from the 1990 adaptation. Do decades of filmmaking advance King’s themes? How successful are the child actors in the new film? Spiral deeper into the Derry sewers with us as your guides!
#BillSkarsgård #StephenKing #Pennywise #JaedenMartell...
Published 10/24/23
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Want a balloon? How about a podcast instead? Hope you're not afraid of clowns, because we'll be talking about Pennywise the Dancing Clown ALL MONTH LONG!!! Welcome to Part One of our FOUR-part series on the various adaptations of Stephen's epic 1,200-page tome, "IT." On today's episode, we cover the first episode of the IT miniseries that premiered on ABC in 1990. Have the VFX and acting aged well?... not particularly, but one thing is for sure, Tim...
Published 10/24/23
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
Pour yourself a hot mug of cider and join us for more coverage of Stephen King’s 1986 classic, “IT!" In this episode, we discuss the highs and lows of Part II of the 1990 miniseries. Do the Losers defeat the monster feasting on Derry’s citizens? Is it fair to judge the entirety of the 3-hour special by the monster’s (anti-climactic) reveal? Your favorite film and literature experts are here to debate this version’s finale!
#IT #StephenKing #TimCurry...
Published 10/17/23
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**
The odds are in your favor this Tuesday, because another episode of Film is Lit is coming to you directly from District 3! The Hunger Games created a MOMENT when we were in middle school. Now that it’s back in the news with a new book and movie, we’re wrapping up our Summer Blockbuster series by revisiting where it all began: Katniss volunteering as tribute. Journey with us through the highs (Lenny Kravitz) and lows (Woody Harrelson’s wig) of this...
Published 10/03/23