Clare and Alaina discuss the Oscar nominations for the 2023 Academy Awards. Come listen to us break down the major categories. The categories this year are jam-packed with talent, and artists at peak performance. Major stand-outs for us this year include Paul Mescal's nomination in AfterSun, Barry Keoghan in Banshees, and Stephanie Hsu in EEAO. Come listen to our predictions in prep for awards night!

Clare and Alaina reflect on the best 2022 releases. 2022 was the year of horror, multiverses, and hit blockbuster sequels. For the first time, Clare and Alaina have one movie in common on their top 5 list. Listen as we break down our movie statistics for the year and find out what films we deem the best. Are you still trying to catch up on your 2022 watches? Start here to find the movies you may have missed!

*Correction: Alaina says the wrong title for her 5th movie, it is “Good Luck to you, Leo Grande” not “Good Luck, Leo Grande”

Movies Mentioned:

#5- 4.39-11.23

Clare’s Pick: Avatar Way of Water

Alaina’s Pick: Good Luck to You Leo Grande

#4- 11.23-16.20

Clare and Alaina’s Pick: The Batman

#3- 16.20-22.12

Clare’s Pick: Dual

Alaina’s The Fablemans

#2- 22.12-29.50

Clare’s Pick: Bones and All

Alaina’s Pick: Nope

#5- 29.50-36.01

Clare’s Pick: Top Gun Maverick

Alaina’s Pick: Aftersun

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

Clare and Alaina discuss movie news, early Oscar predictions, and the most anticipated films of 2023. Hear our thoughts on the DC Extended Universe as we learn that Wonder Women 3 is no longer moving forward. Additionally, we talk about the Sundance 2023 lineup and the directorial debut of Taylor Swift. As we roll into Oscar season, we discuss the current front runners for Best Picture, Actor, and Actress. Making Sense of Movies has you covered so you don't miss any of the important movie news.

After a short hiatus, Clare and Alaina are back to explore the world of trickery, scamming, and disguises. You guessed it- we’re diving into the best movies about con artists. A con- artist is a person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that isn't true. Some films are about real-life con artists, like Lee Israel (Can You Ever Forgive Me?), who forged more than 400 letters from deceased writers and actors. We also talk about Frank Abagnale Jr (Catch Me If You Can), known for 2.5 million dollars worth of check forgeries and impersonating a Pan Am pilot. We also talk about con artists we wish were real, like Bunty and Babli (Bunty Aur Babli). Not only are Bunty and Babli stellar tricksters, but they also dress better, sing better, and dance better than any other con artist out there. Listen to us talk about these movies and so much more!

Movies Mentioned

Corpus Christi- 1:47-19:21

The Lady Eve 19:21-32:05

Bunty Aur Babli 32:05-48:42

Catch Me if You Can 48:42-1:05.05

Can You Ever Forgive Me 1:05.05-1:19.40

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

*Note: In the Podcast when talking aboutThe Lady Eve Alaina gets the main character’s name wrong, She keeps saying Gina when her name is Jean. Alaina also misnames the last movie, she says it is called Can’t you ever forgive me when it is actually called Can you ever forgive me

In this latest episode of Making Sense of Movies, Clare and Alaina discuss movies about obsession. Since this can be a broad category, we specifically focus on characters obsessed with being the best at their profession or personal project. Hear us talk about the juggernauts of this category, Whiplash, and Black Swan. We compare the journeys between the two protagonists, focusing on the abuse of power, social isolation, and descent into insanity. When we meet Nina (Black Swan) and Andrew (Whiplash) they’re both fighting upward to prove themselves to a person of seniority within their prospective fields. In the other movies, we focus on, Rope and The Skin I live In; we are introduced to characters who are already at the top of their fields and abuse their position of power. On a lighter note, we also talk about hidden gems like Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a documentary that centers on 85-year-old Jiro Ono and his goal of perfecting the art of sushi making. Join us as we rank these movies and much more!

Movies Mentioned

Jiro Dreams of Sushi: 1.30-14.53

The Skin I live in: 14.53-37.30

Rope: 37.30-54:05

Black Swan: 54:05-1.18:26

Whiplash: 1.18:26-1.47:03

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

In this latest episode, we focus on the oldest form of conflict: humanity vs the natural world. These stories have similar beats, like surviving on limited resources, conflict over strategy, and acclimating to harsh weather. We examine what each movie does to rise to the top within the survival genre. Some focus on realism as we see in Alive (1993) and Meek's Cutoff (2010), which are inspired by real-life events. On the flip side, Crawl (2019) shows student-athlete Haley Keller out-swim alligators (after being bitten numerous times) during a category 5 hurricane. While Haley shows herself to be an “apex predator” we also meet characters who fumble through their situations, like the titular character Stephen Meek, who refuses to acknowledge he has led his party weeks off-course. Listen to us critique the placement of black boxes on planes, and how they always get separated from the survivors. We also discuss how well we would fare if put in the same situations. Do you have what it takes to survive bear traps, cougar attacks, avalanches, rock slides, and floods? If you said “yes” to more than one, we are thrilled to have you as a listener, Bear Grylls, welcome to Making Sense of Movies with Clare and Alaina.

Movies Mentioned

Alive: 1.27-17.13

Meek’s Cutoff 17.13-30.29

Tunnel 30.29-43.20

The Mountain between us 43.20-54.46

Crawl 54.46-1:11.16

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

Clare and Alaina make sense of the Oscar nominations!! With less then a week away from the award show, the race is between CODA and Power of the Dog for best picture. Come listen to us speculate over what will win, and remorse over Denis Villeneuve not being nominated for best director. We also discuss ABC’s decision not to present 8 awards during this year's live broadcast. While some categories like supporting actress and visual effects have locked wins, this year is particularly difficult to predict in categories like best actress, best film editing, and screenplay. Join Making Sense of Movies, with Clare and Alaina as we truly try to make sense of why some of these movies (@ Don't Look Up) were nominated.

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

What time is it? Time for a follow-up episode of Disney Original Movies. In this fabulous episode, we discuss classics like Cheetah Girls, High School Musical 2, and Wendy Wu. Listen to us evaluate the central friend/family dynamics within each movie. We found that HSM2’s gave secondary characters more room to breathe in a less Troy and Gabrilla focused movie. In Wendy Wu, we were able to appreciate the cultural impact Shen had on each member of the Wu family. Finally, in Cheetah Girls, we questioned why Aqua’s character arc is being brave enough to take the subway, while the others are given closure to layered family problems. Is your taste in Disney Originals more niche? Fear not, we can work this out. If you like the more off-the-beaten-path movies, we spend time unraveling the enigma that is Minutemen. Finally, we do a deep dive into the surprisingly philosophical movie Pixel Perfect, about the band Zetta Bytes who hit it big when Loretta, a holographic AI, joins the band. When Loretta has an identity crisis, she decides she’s gotta go her own way and disappears into the internet before a big gig. Come join Clare and Alaina as we discuss these movies, and so much more!

Movies Mentioned

The Cheetah Girls: 1.28-21.06

Pixel Perfect: 21.06-39.11

Wendy Wu Homecoming Warrior: 39.11-53.05

High School Musical 2: 53.05-1:23.59

MinuteMen: 1:23.59-1:41.25

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

As the year comes to an end, Clare and Alaina reflect on the best movies that have been released in 2021. We also take time to assess how Covid-19 has impacted the box office this year. Despite steady covid numbers, we saw movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Shang-Chi top the box office. This is also a year that indicates streaming and the theater-going experience can coexist. As for the quality of movies, Clare and Alaina agree that it's been an incredible movie year. With so many good movies out, Clare and Alaina have no movies that overlap in their top 5 list. Come listen to Clare and Alaina discuss their favorite movies. Find out how many movies from our list you’ve seen. If you haven't seen any, you may find yourself discovering a new favorite! Stay safe, and Happy New Year from your pals, Clare and Alaina.

Movies Mentioned

#5

Clare’s Pick: CODA: 3.24-5.48

Alaina’s Pick: Psych 3: This is Gus: 5.48-9.53

#4

Clare’s Pick: The Novice: 9.53-12.41

Alaina’s Pick: Judas and the Black Messiah: 12.41-17.06

#3

Clare’s Pick: Spencer: 17.06-21.35

Alaina’s Pick: Pig: 21.35-27.50

#2

Clare’s Pick: The Rescue: 27.50-34.43

Alaina’s Pick: Shiva Baby: 34.43-41.41

#1

Clare’s Pick: Tick, Tick. . . Boom!: 41.41-44.48

The Power of the Dog: 44.48-51.00

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

One reason classic literature is taught in high school is because of their literary themes that have withstood the test of time. While it may be hard to relate to stories of war or mythical prophecies, everyone can still relate to themes of love, coming of age, and survival (especially in high school). This is why classic literature has become such a popular sub-genre within teen movies. In this episode, Clare and Alaina discuss this sub-genre and break down which movies have become classics in their own right, and which ones may have Shakespeare rolling in his grave. While some of these movies have honored their predecessor, others extremely diverge from their source material. We also ask the hard-hitting questions, like: “Does sushi belong at a high school party?”. Come listen to us discuss this, and so much more! This is Making Sense of Movies, with Clare and Alaina.

Movies Mentioned

Valley Girl- 1.01-23.06

The half of it 23.06-48.11

Easy A 48.11-1:07.41

O 1:41.35-1:39.45

Clueless 1:39.45-1:57.40

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008

Movies Mentioned

Valley Girl- 1.01-23.06

The half of it 23.06-48.11

Easy A 48.11-1:07.41

O 1:41.35-1:39.45

Clueless 1:39.45-1:57.40

Intro and outro music:

Kevin MacLeod. "Dark Hallway". 2008