Escapist Delights

Escapist Delights — Episode 26 w/ Jim Mercurio

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome filmmaker and editor Jim Mercurio to discuss Fantastic Four, the best movies of the 21st century, and John Wick’s improbable world of assassins. They also compare Memento and Inception, revisit Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and debate Pixar’s lasting impact.

Originally published July 30, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-68d

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 25 w/ Philip Ogley

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Philip Ogley to discuss The Big Lebowski, endlessly rewatchable comfort movies, and why musicals can divide an audience. They also revisit Titanic, irreverent comedy, and the gap between critics and moviegoers.

Originally published July 24, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-a1d

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 24 w/ David Grover

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome filmmaker David Grover to discuss The Warriors, making ambitious films on small budgets, and practical effects that bring disintegrating memories to life. They also talk running, meditation, and David’s work with breathing and ice baths.

Originally published July 17, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-711

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 23 w/ Simon Dillon

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Simon Dillon to discuss Superman, the strengths and limits of practical effects, and when to go “full Nolan.” They also debate CGI, John Williams’s film scores, Succession, and the mystery thrillers that shape Simon’s writing.

Originally published July 15, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-fef

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 22 w/ Dash MacIntyre

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Dash MacIntyre of The Halfway Cafe to discuss The Odyssey, independent cinema and creative freedom, and the low-budget sequel tradition of sending everything into space. They also discuss satire, AI filmmaking, and the search for better streaming choices.

Originally published July 10, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-ba1

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 21 w/ Lawrence Winnerman

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Lawrence Winnerman to discuss Hacks, generational nostalgia, and Minecraft as a meditative escape. They also compare comedy and cringe, Nathan Fielder’s reality experiments, and the appeal of unsettling horror.

Originally published June 26, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-63c

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 20 w/ Abby Paradis

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Abby Paradis to discuss Her and AI that no longer feels so far-fetched, the pull of true-crime and cult documentaries, and why smells can bring back memories more powerfully than music.

Originally published June 20, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-a38

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 19 w/ Peter Murphy

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome back Peter Murphy to discuss Tim Robinson’s comedy, the movies that make us walk out, and the pleasures of James Bond’s clothes and locations. They also debate Christopher Nolan, Joker, and unfinished Game of Thrones stories.

Originally published June 13, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-d60

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 18 w/ Cory Gerlach

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Cory Gerlach to discuss leaving work for a sailing adventure with his husband and cat, Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, and the relationship between art and freedom. They also explore musical biopics, writing’s flow state, and Stanley Kubrick.

Originally published June 5, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-060

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe

Escapist Delights — Episode 17 w/ Brandon Ellrich

Ben Ulansey and Walter Rhein welcome Brandon Ellrich to discuss queer representation in Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, the liberating spectacle of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and separating artists from their work. They also find comfort in the reliable spectacle of Tom Cruise running through another action movie.

Originally published June 1, 2025.

https://www.thegenzreport.com/p/escapist-delights-in-a-crumbling-025

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegenzreport.com/subscribe