"Bugonia" is the fourth collaboration between director Yorgos Lanthimos and actor Emma Stone. If you've seen any of their earlier films, such as "Poor Things," you know that strange is the norm for this duo. HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano share their mixed reaction to the sci fi-themed "Bugonia" in this podcast episode. They're careful to avoid any plot spoilers, but it's safe to assume that weird things lie ahead. Marie and Mike also discuss "The Baltimorons," whose co-writer and star, Michael Strassner, grew up in Baltimore and returned there with director Jay Duplass to make this comedy about an alcoholic improv comedian looking to sober up and maybe even find romance. Marie loves this film and Mike does not, so tune in and listen to them spar.

In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano acknowledge that director Paul Thomas Anderson lives up to his reputation for making audacious films with "One Battle After Another," in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays a middle-aged former revolutionary who now lives as a recluse in the northern California woods. Loosely inspired by a Thomas Pynchon novel, this lengthy, densely plotted movie constantly jumps between the present and events from 16 years earlier. Although Marie and Mike have various reservations about the film, they admire every performance and especially Sean Penn as a military guy who has to be seen to be believed (or disbelieved). Look for this film to clean up with year-end awards recognition.

Marie and Mike also talk about "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey," a magical realism clunker in which Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell discover doorways that serve as portals to the past. The terrible script gives us flat characters and will have you looking for the doorway out of the theater.

As self-professed film nerds, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano were primed to see "Highest 2 Lowest," director Spike Lee's reworking of the classic 1963 Akira Kurosawa film "High and Low." In this podcast episode, Marie and Mike talk about what's the same and what's different in the two versions. Although they often agree to disagree on the merits of the new version, they agree that Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright give strong performances in the central roles. Marie and Mike also talk about director Ethan Coen's "Honey Don't," a hectic film noir-ish comedy in which Margaret Qualley plays a detective with plenty to investigate. Our critics think the busy storyline mostly falls flat, but the lead performance is entertaining.

Genre-related questions link the two films discussed by HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano in this podcast episode. Writer-director Ari Aster, best known for the 2019 horror hit Midsommar, blends multiple genres in Eddington, where Joaquin Phoenix portrays a small-town New Mexico sheriff during May 2020. This contemporary Western, pandemic-era story, and political satire explores dark comedy, suspense, and dramatic storytelling—all in a 148-minute cinematic experience.

Writer-director Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck, adapted from a Stephen King novella, stars Tom Hiddleston as a 39-year-old accountant facing a brain tumor. Told in three acts in reverse chronological order, with Nick Offerman as narrator, the film challenges conventional storytelling techniques while exploring drama, emotional storytelling, and psychological themes.

Professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano offer higher education perspectives on film analysis, genre conventions, and narrative structure. Although they share some reservations about both films, they agree these are unconventional, compelling, and often very funny films worth discussing.

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Brad Pitt is a 61-year-old movie star who is still a winner, as he proves in his formulaic Formula 1 star vehicle F1. Although this movie's 2-hour 35-minute run time has more Pitt stops than it really needs, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano agree in this podcast episode that Brad Pitt has lost none of his movie star appeal, and the movie itself really immerses you in the high-speed world of Formula 1 racing.

Marie and Mike also discuss Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, a film packed with visual flair, exquisite production design, whimsical storytelling, and an abundance of celebrity cameos. However, the dense plot centered on a powerful media mogul played by Benicio del Toro ultimately falls short. The hosts wonder whether Anderson might one day apply his considerable stylistic talent to a story with more thematic depth.

This episode of At The Movies with Mike & Marie features thoughtful film analysis, behind-the-scenes insight, and discussion on two of 2025’s most talked-about releases.

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Dragon Media Podcasts is produced by Howard Community College.

Hosted by Marie Westhaver and Michael Giuliano

Tom Cruise is a 62-year-old action movie hero still capable of dangling from airplanes and punching out bad guys. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano talk about "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," and, of course, they wonder if it will indeed be the final reckoning for this venerable franchise. Marie and Mike carp about the 169-minute running time, implausible and formulaic story, stilted acting and other things, but also readily acknowledge that it's an enjoyable popcorn movie. Just make sure you have a big bucket of popcorn to see you through it.

They also discuss a movie that is its polar opposite. "Secret Mall Apartment" is a low-budget, quirky documentary about eight Rhode Islanders who as an art project set up a totally illegal apartment inside a Providence shopping mall and then live in it for four years. This film raises all sorts of interesting questions about the nature of art, commerce, and surreptitious cinderblock construction.

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Director Ryan Coogler already has "Fruitvale Station," "Creed," and two "Black Panther" films to his credit, and so his latest film, "Sinners," was greatly anticipated. As, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano note in this podcast episode, it has been a critical success and major box office hit. Set in Mississippi in 1932, Coogler's fusion of a blues-based drama and a vampire story makes for a very interesting film. Marie, Mike, and millions of others are still talking about it weeks after it's heralded release. They are also joined by producer-host of Campus Drive, Dragon Media Podcasts manager Matt Jackson for the discussion and theater experience recap.

Folk music is at the heart of the second film that Marie and Mike discuss in this episode, "The Ballad of Wallis Island," in which a wealthy eccentric living on an isolated Welsh island invites a well-known musician to give a private performance. It's a quirky character study that's worth watching.

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South Korean director Bong Joon Ho received so much acclaim for "Parasite" (2019) that expectations were high for his English-language, science fiction film "Mickey 17." In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano acknowledge that the film has a nifty premise involving Robert Pattinson as a lowly employee on a distant space station whose dangerous work frequently gets him killed, "reborn" through 3D printing, and sent out on the next dangerous job. Our critics became increasingly impatient with this film, however, owing to its strained comedy and excessive running time.

Marie and Mike also were disappointed by "Snow White." Starring Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot and Andrew Burnap, this is a live-action remake of Disney's 1937 animated classic. The latest version's mix of memorable old songs and mediocre new songs is emblematic of why you would be better off watching the original film again.

Looking back on the 2025 Academy Awards ceremony, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano devote this podcast episode to its two biggest winners. "Anora" won five Oscars: Picture, Director for Sean Baker, Actress for Mikey Madison, Original Screenplay for Sean Baker and Editing for Sean Baker. Marie and Mike agree that the central performance is strong, as is the basic story about a Manhattan stripper forming a personal relationship with a wealthy Russian client. However, they agree that the 139-minute running time is excessive, and the film also is excessive in all sorts of other ways. In short, they think "Anora" is overhyped.

"The Brutalist" won three Oscars: Actor for Adrien Brody, Cinematography for Lol Crawley and Music for Daniel Blumberg. Marie and Mike praise Brody's performance as a Holocaust survivor who resumes his architectural practice in America, and they also admire how beautifully crafted this film is in terms of cinematography, music and production design. The big however here, of course, is that the film has a bloated running time of 3 hours, 20 minutes (plus a 15-minute intermission if viewed in a theater). Marie observes that many scenes go on longer than they need to, and Mike quickly agrees lest he go on too long in their fast-paced podcast.

Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has been adapted to the screen by director and co-screenwriter Ramell Ross, and "Nickel Boys" proves to be as compelling on screen as it is on the page. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano share their admiration for a film that adroitly handles tough subject matter about a notorious Florida reform school that itself was in serious need of reform. Marie and Mike especially like how the director's point-of-view camerawork facilitates sharing the vantage point of the teen characters portrayed by Brandon Wilson and Ethan Herisse.

Marie and Mike also discuss Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's first English-language feature, "The Room Next Door," in which the characters played by Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore evaluate their friendship and mortality-themed issues. Although Marie has reservations about the film's flashbacks, she and Mike agree that it's really nice spending time with these characters in a to-die-for house in the woods.