In light of the dismal Disclosure Day (2026), we return to two films that show Spielberg tackling alien visitation (or invasion) stories while at the height of his powers. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and The War of the Worlds (2005) are decades apart, yet united by a single image and devotion to their audiences. The first is as Disneylike as Pinocchio; the second conjures memories of 9/11. Both show domesticity under great strain as families and infrastructures break down; one ends with hope while the other simply stops.
Incredible bumper music by <a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/">John Deley</a>.
The War of the Worlds is based on H. G. Wells’s 1898 novel, which you can <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-war-of-the-worlds-h-g-wells/d1eab4de922e2303?ean=9780141441030&bkshp-astro=t">purchase here</a><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-war-of-the-worlds-h-g-wells/d1eab4de922e2303?ean=9780141441030&bkshp-astro=t">.</a>
Please subscribe to the show and consider leaving us a rating or review. You can find over three hundred episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the show <a href="https://letterboxd.com/15minfilm/">on Letterboxd</a> and email us any time at fifteenminutefilm@gmail.com with requests and recommendations. Check out Dan Moran’s substack, <a href="https://pagesandframes.substack.com/">Pages and Frames</a>, where he writes about books and movies, as well as his many film-related author interviews on <a href="https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/arts-letters/film">The New Books Network</a>. Read Mike Takla’s substack, <a href="https://miketakla1.substack.com/">The Grumbler’s Almanac</a>, for commentary on offbeat topics of the day.

In light of the dismal Disclosure Day (2026), we return to two films that show Spielberg tackling alien visitation (or invasion) stories while at the height of his powers. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and The War of the Worlds (2005) are decades apart, yet united by a single image and devotion to their audiences. The first is as Disneylike as Pinocchio; the second conjures memories of 9/11. Both show domesticity under great strain as families and infrastructures break down; one ends with hope while the other simply stops. Incredible bumper music by John Deley. The War of the Worlds is based on H. G. Wells’s 1898 novel, which you can purchase here. Please subscribe to the show and consider leaving us a rating or review. You can find over three hundred episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the show on Letterboxd and email us any time at fifteenminutefilm@gmail.com with requests and recommendations. Check out Dan Moran’s substack, Pages and Frames, where he writes about books and movies, as well as his many film-related author interviews on The New Books Network. Read Mike Takla’s substack, The Grumbler’s Almanac, for commentary on offbeat topics of the day.

In light of the dismal&nbsp;Disclosure Day&nbsp;(2026), we return to two films that show Spielberg tackling alien visitation (or invasion) stories while at the height of his powers.&nbsp;Close Encounters of the Third Kind&nbsp;(1977) and&nbsp;The War of the Worlds&nbsp;(2005) are decades apart, yet united by a single image and devotion to their audiences. The first is as Disneylike as&nbsp;Pinocchio; the second conjures memories of 9/11. Both show domesticity under great strain as families and infrastructures break down; one ends with hope while the other simply stops.
Incredible bumper music by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Deley</a>.
The War of the Worlds&nbsp;is based on H. G. Wells’s 1898 novel, which you can&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-war-of-the-worlds-h-g-wells/d1eab4de922e2303?ean=9780141441030&amp;bkshp-astro=t" rel="noopener noreferrer">purchase here</a><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-war-of-the-worlds-h-g-wells/d1eab4de922e2303?ean=9780141441030&amp;bkshp-astro=t" rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a>
Please subscribe to the show and consider leaving us a rating or review. You can find over three hundred episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the show&nbsp;<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15minfilm/" rel="noopener noreferrer">on Letterboxd</a>&nbsp;and email us any time at fifteenminutefilm@gmail.com with requests and recommendations. Check out Dan Moran’s substack,&nbsp;<a href="https://pagesandframes.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pages and Frames</a>, where he writes about books and movies, as well as his many film-related author interviews on&nbsp;<a href="https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/arts-letters/film" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New Books Network</a>.&nbsp;Read Mike Takla’s substack,&nbsp;<a href="https://miketakla1.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Grumbler’s Almanac</a>, for commentary on offbeat topics of the day.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The War of the Worlds

Robert Benton’s 1979 interior drama turned out to be one of the biggest films of the 70s. While we might appreciate Dustn Hoffman now more often than we watch his movies, this marked another example of him owning the decade. It’s his movie, despite the attempt to give balance to the two Kramers fighting for the legal and moral right to raise their son. If you haven’t seen this since it played in theaters for months and then became a cable-TV staple, it’s worth rewatching; if you’ve never seen it, give it a look. Either way, be sure to listen to our conversation (and debate) about it once you finish.Kramer vs. Kramer was adapted from Avery Corman’s bestselling novel, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/kramer-vs-kramer-avery-corman/626944?ean=9781569805381">found here</a>.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm"> X</a> and<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/"> Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by <a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/">John Deley</a>. Also check out Dan’s new Substack site,<a href="https://fifteenminutefilm.substack.com/"> Pages and Frames</a>, for more film-related material.

Robert Benton’s 1979 interior drama turned out to be one of the biggest films of the 70s. While we might appreciate Dustn Hoffman now more often than we watch his movies, this marked another example of him owning the decade. It’s his movie, despite the attempt to give balance to the two Kramers fighting for the legal and moral right to raise their son. If you haven’t seen this since it played in theaters for months and then became a cable-TV staple, it’s worth rewatching; if you’ve never seen it, give it a look. Either way, be sure to listen to our conversation (and debate) about it once you finish. Kramer vs. Kramer was adapted from Avery Corman’s bestselling novel, found here. Follow us on X and Letterboxd–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by John Deley. Also check out Dan’s new Substack site, Pages and Frames, for more film-related material.

Robert Benton’s 1979 interior drama turned out to be one of the biggest films of the 70s. While we might appreciate Dustn Hoffman now more often than we watch his movies, this marked another example of him owning the decade. It’s his movie, despite the attempt to give balance to the two Kramers fighting for the legal and moral right to raise their son. If you haven’t seen this since it played in theaters for months and then became a cable-TV staple, it’s worth rewatching; if you’ve never seen it, give it a look. Either way, be sure to listen to our conversation (and debate) about it once you finish.Kramer vs. Kramer&nbsp;was adapted from Avery Corman’s bestselling novel,&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/kramer-vs-kramer-avery-corman/626944?ean=9781569805381" rel="noopener noreferrer">found here</a>.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;X</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Deley</a>. Also check out Dan’s new Substack site,<a href="https://fifteenminutefilm.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;Pages and Frames</a>, for more film-related material.

Kramer vs. Kramer

If L. A. Confidential (1997) were two degrees campier, it would seem like Dick Tracy–but Curtis Hanson made sure to capture the spirit of James Ellroy’s novel while making its labyrinth plot understandable to viewers. Join us for a conversation about how the film examines the need for heroes yet seems to only offer them in a way to which the movies have made us accustomed. Sunlight may be the best disinfectant, but how much sunlight do we really want illuminating the institutions that hold society together? Do we want to live in Chinatown or on the set of Badge of Honor?If you haven’t read James Ellroy’s novel, you can <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/l-a-confidential-james-ellroy/16434220?ean=9780446674249">find it here</a>, as well as Steven Powell’s new biography of James Ellroy, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-me-fierce-in-danger-the-life-of-james-ellroy-steven-powell/17927450?ean=9781501367311">Love Me Fierce in Danger</a>. You can also listen to Dan’s interview with Steven Powell <a href="https://newbooksnetwork.com/love-me-fierce-in-danger#entry:322597@1:url">here on the New Books Network</a>, as well as <a href="https://pagesandframes.substack.com/p/steven-powell-on-l-a-confidential?r=cjng6">a conversation between Dan and Steven </a>about L. A. Confidential on the page and screen.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm"> X</a> and<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/"> Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by <a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/">John Deley</a>. Also check out Dan’s new Substack site,<a href="https://fifteenminutefilm.substack.com/"> Pages and Frames</a>, for more film-related material.

If L. A. Confidential (1997) were two degrees campier, it would seem like Dick Tracy–but Curtis Hanson made sure to capture the spirit of James Ellroy’s novel while making its labyrinth plot understandable to viewers. Join us for a conversation about how the film examines the need for heroes yet seems to only offer them in a way to which the movies have made us accustomed. Sunlight may be the best disinfectant, but how much sunlight do we really want illuminating the institutions that hold society together? Do we want to live in Chinatown or on the set of Badge of Honor? If you haven’t read James Ellroy’s novel, you can find it here, as well as Steven Powell’s new biography of James Ellroy, Love Me Fierce in Danger. You can also listen to Dan’s interview with Steven Powell here on the New Books Network, as well as a conversation between Dan and Steven about L. A. Confidential on the page and screen. Follow us on X and Letterboxd–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by John Deley. Also check out Dan’s new Substack site, Pages and Frames, for more film-related material.

If&nbsp;L. A. Confidential&nbsp;(1997) were two degrees campier, it would seem like&nbsp;Dick Tracy–but Curtis Hanson made sure to capture the spirit of James Ellroy’s novel while making its labyrinth plot understandable to viewers. Join us for a conversation about how the film examines the need for heroes yet seems to only offer them in a way to which the movies have made us accustomed. Sunlight may be the best disinfectant, but how much sunlight do we really want illuminating the institutions that hold society together? Do we want to live in&nbsp;Chinatown&nbsp;or on the set of&nbsp;Badge of Honor?If you haven’t read James Ellroy’s novel, you can&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/l-a-confidential-james-ellroy/16434220?ean=9780446674249" rel="noopener noreferrer">find it here</a>, as well as Steven Powell’s new biography of James Ellroy,&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-me-fierce-in-danger-the-life-of-james-ellroy-steven-powell/17927450?ean=9781501367311" rel="noopener noreferrer">Love Me Fierce in Danger</a>. You can also listen to Dan’s interview with Steven Powell&nbsp;<a href="https://newbooksnetwork.com/love-me-fierce-in-danger#entry:322597@1:url" rel="noopener noreferrer">here on the New Books Network</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://pagesandframes.substack.com/p/steven-powell-on-l-a-confidential?r=cjng6" rel="noopener noreferrer">a conversation between Dan and Steven&nbsp;</a>about&nbsp;L. A. Confidential&nbsp;on the page and screen.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;X</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Deley</a>. Also check out Dan’s new Substack site,<a href="https://fifteenminutefilm.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;Pages and Frames</a>, for more film-related material.

L. A. Confidential

An Academy darling that has faded into the background, Broadcast News (1987) still holds up as Network’s little brother. They don’t make ’em like this anymore: light comedy about adults with adult problems. Join Mike and Dan for a conversation about how the film offers something more novel than a love triangle: a talent triangle. They also talk about how the film dramatizes the challenge of people who have friends for too long and therefore can’t becoming romantically involved. When was the last time you saw that in a movie?Brian McNair’s <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/journalists-in-film-heroes-and-villains-brian-mcnair/11590658?ean=9780748634477">Journalists in Film</a> explores how journalists have been portrayed in film, and what these images tell us about the role of the journalist in liberal democratic societies.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm"> X</a> and<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/"> Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by <a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/">John Deley</a>. Also check out the new Substack site, <a href="https://fifteenminutefilm.substack.com/">Pages and Frames</a>, for more film-related material.

An Academy darling that has faded into the background, Broadcast News (1987) still holds up as Network’s little brother. They don’t make ’em like this anymore: light comedy about adults with adult problems. Join Mike and Dan for a conversation about how the film offers something more novel than a love triangle: a talent triangle. They also talk about how the film dramatizes the challenge of people who have friends for too long and therefore can’t becoming romantically involved. When was the last time you saw that in a movie? Brian McNair’s Journalists in Film explores how journalists have been portrayed in film, and what these images tell us about the role of the journalist in liberal democratic societies. Follow us on X and Letterboxd–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by John Deley. Also check out the new Substack site, Pages and Frames, for more film-related material.

An Academy darling that has faded into the background,&nbsp;Broadcast News&nbsp;(1987) still holds up as&nbsp;Network’s&nbsp;little brother. They don’t make ’em like this anymore: light comedy about adults with adult problems. Join Mike and Dan for a conversation about how the film offers something more novel than a love triangle: a talent triangle. They also talk about how the film dramatizes the challenge of people who have friends for too long and therefore can’t becoming romantically involved. When was the last time you saw that in a movie?Brian McNair’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/journalists-in-film-heroes-and-villains-brian-mcnair/11590658?ean=9780748634477" rel="noopener noreferrer">Journalists in Film</a>&nbsp;explores how journalists have been portrayed in film, and what these images tell us about the role of the journalist in liberal democratic societies.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;X</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Deley</a>. Also check out the new Substack site,&nbsp;<a href="https://fifteenminutefilm.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pages and Frames</a>, for more film-related material.

Broadcast News

If we could undergo a procedure that would erase the painful memories from our lives, would we do it? That seems to be the question of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) until we realize that we’re asking the wrong question. The real question this film asks is why wouldn’t such a procedure ever work? Join us for a conversation about Michel Gondry’s mind-bending film that is a completely different experience when you’re 20 versus when you’re 40. Go ahead and give it a listen–then visit Lacuna so you can listen again for the first time.If the passage from Alexander Pope’s Eloisa to Abelard reminded you of Pope’s talent, you may be interested in this <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-major-works-alexander-pope/12042380?ean=9780199537617">quality collection of his verse.</a> You may also want to check out <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-christopher-grau/12582273?ean=9780415774666">this collection of essays</a> about the film.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm"> X</a> or<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/"> Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by <a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/">John Deley</a>.

If we could undergo a procedure that would erase the painful memories from our lives, would we do it? That seems to be the question of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) until we realize that we’re asking the wrong question. The real question this film asks is why wouldn’t such a procedure ever work? Join us for a conversation about Michel Gondry’s mind-bending film that is a completely different experience when you’re 20 versus when you’re 40. Go ahead and give it a listen–then visit Lacuna so you can listen again for the first time. If the passage from Alexander Pope’s Eloisa to Abelard reminded you of Pope’s talent, you may be interested in this quality collection of his verse. You may also want to check out this collection of essays about the film. Follow us on X or Letterboxd–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by John Deley.

If we could undergo a procedure that would erase the painful memories from our lives, would we do it? That seems to be the question of&nbsp;Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind&nbsp;(2004) until we realize that we’re asking the wrong question. The real question this film asks is why wouldn’t such a procedure ever work? Join us for a conversation about Michel Gondry’s mind-bending film that is a completely different experience when you’re 20 versus when you’re 40. Go ahead and give it a listen–then visit Lacuna so you can listen again for the first time.If the passage from Alexander Pope’s&nbsp;Eloisa to Abelard&nbsp;reminded you of Pope’s talent, you may be interested in this&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-major-works-alexander-pope/12042380?ean=9780199537617" rel="noopener noreferrer">quality collection of his verse.</a>&nbsp;You may also want to check out&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-christopher-grau/12582273?ean=9780415774666" rel="noopener noreferrer">this collection of essays</a>&nbsp;about the film.Follow us on<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;X</a>&nbsp;or<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;Letterboxd</a>–and let us know what you’d like us to watch! Incredible bumper music by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.johndeleymusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Deley</a>.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Mike and Dan talk for the first time about Million Dollar Baby (2004). Will they agree or will one end up in the corner spitting into a bucket?Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@15minfilm/videos">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/">Letterboxd</a>. Please rate and review the show on Apple podcasts and contact us at <a href="mailto:FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com,">FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com</a>. Incredible bumper music by John Deley.

Mike and Dan talk for the first time about Million Dollar Baby (2004). Will they agree or will one end up in the corner spitting into a bucket? Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on YouTube, Twitter and Letterboxd. Please rate and review the show on Apple podcasts and contact us at FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com. Incredible bumper music by John Deley.

Mike and Dan talk for the first time about Million Dollar Baby (2004). Will they agree or will one end up in the corner spitting into a bucket?Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@15minfilm/videos" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Letterboxd</a>. Please rate and review the show on Apple podcasts and contact us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com," rel="noopener noreferrer">FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com</a>. Incredible bumper music by John Deley.

Million Dollar Baby

Fifteen Minute Film Fanatics is a podcast in which two friends and film fans talk about movies. Each episode is in three parts: gut reactions, key scenes, and big takeaways. In their first episode, one calls The Irishman (2019) a brilliant encapsulation of Scorsese's career; another doesn't go so far, calling it a film by "director emeritus" Martin Scorsese. Whose side will you choose?Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@15minfilm/videos">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/">Letterboxd</a>. Please rate and review the show on Apple podcasts and contact us at <a href="mailto:FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com,">FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com</a>. Incredible bumper music by John Deley.

Fifteen Minute Film Fanatics is a podcast in which two friends and film fans talk about movies. Each episode is in three parts: gut reactions, key scenes, and big takeaways. In their first episode, one calls The Irishman (2019) a brilliant encapsulation of Scorsese's career; another doesn't go so far, calling it a film by "director emeritus" Martin Scorsese. Whose side will you choose? Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on YouTube, Twitter and Letterboxd. Please rate and review the show on Apple podcasts and contact us at FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com. Incredible bumper music by John Deley.

Fifteen Minute Film Fanatics is a podcast in which two friends and film fans talk about movies. Each episode is in three parts: gut reactions, key scenes, and big takeaways. In their first episode, one calls The Irishman (2019) a brilliant encapsulation of Scorsese's career; another doesn't go so far, calling it a film by "director emeritus" Martin Scorsese. Whose side will you choose?Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@15minfilm/videos" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/15minfilm" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://letterboxd.com/15MinFilm/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Letterboxd</a>. Please rate and review the show on Apple podcasts and contact us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com," rel="noopener noreferrer">FifteenMinuteFilm@gmail.com</a>. Incredible bumper music by John Deley.

The Irishman

Two guys with strong opinions watch films separately, then discuss them on the show for the first time. Can their friendship survive? Join Mike Takla and Dan Moran as they talk about one film each episode, recreating the conversations film lovers have as they walk out of the theater.&nbsp; They often go beyond the fifteen-minute time limit, but never without reason.&nbsp; There are no pauses, pontifications, or politics–just enthusiasm for great movies.&nbsp; Send requests to pagesandframes.com.&nbsp;

TV & Film

Film Reviews

Film History

Two guys with strong opinions watch films separately, then discuss them on the show for the first time. Can their friendship survive? Join Mike Takla and Dan Moran as they talk about one film each episode, recreating the conversations film lovers have as they walk out of the theater.  They often go beyond the fifteen-minute time limit, but never without reason.  There are no pauses, pontifications, or politics–just enthusiasm for great movies.  Send requests to pagesandframes.com. 

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