Play It Again, Kyla

Our third installment in our extra special Natalie Portman birth-week extravaganza! Listen as host Kyla and frequent contributor Denise (AKA Kyla's mom) discuss Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium! What makes this movie work well for both children and adults? How is Molly Mahoney like J. Alfred Prufrock? Why for the love of mustard are there never enough hot dog buns? And can Denise stump Kyla in a game of Six Degrees of Natalie Portman? Anything can happen... Tune in to find out! 

The second installment of our extra special Natalie Portman birth-week extravaganza! Listen as host Kyla and guest Kyle  (AKA Kyla's dad) discuss Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! Why does this film work so well as a spoof? What makes it such a hilarious cult classic? And can you really play Six Degrees of Natalie Portman? Tune in to find out!

Welcome to our first episode of our extra special Natalie Portman birth-week extravaganza! Listen as host Kyla and frequent contributor Denise (AKA Kyla's mom) discuss Michael Mann's Heat. Why is this film one of the most beloved among American men? Is this the greatest ensemble cast of the 1990s? And why is this film such an important entry in Natalie Portman's filmography? Listen to find out!

Listen as host Kyla and special guest Madison discuss the 2003 romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days! What makes a romcom a romcom? Why does every mom have a crush on Matthew McConaughey? And are our romcom math skills up to snuff? Listen to find out!

Essential romcom checklist:
1. Ridiculously good-looking leads
2. Plucky, comic relief best friend(s) who steals the show
3. Lead(s) has unconventional relationship with their boss
4. The location/city is central to the story
5. A memorable soundtrack
6. A scene of singing (even though this is not a musical)
7. An older, veteran actor who is not particularly known for their work in the romcom genre appears 
8. A ridiculous degree of suspension of disbelief is required for the premise to work
9. The lead(s) has somewhat of an unusual job
10. Most of the presented social life of the lead(s) revolves around work
11. An obstacle to the relationship occurs as the couple falls deeply in love
12. There is a race against the clock for a romantic reunion
13. A line or action during the emotional climax hearkens back to a previous moment of bonding for the central couple

Listen as host Kyla and special guest Shea discuss Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice! What makes this adaptation of Austen's novel stand out? Did Keira Knightley deserve the Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennett? And how does Matthew McFadyen's Darcy rank on Shea's scale of Darcy Punch-ability? Tune in to find out!

This is part two of our weekend rehashing the Best Actress race from the 78th Academy Awards. For part one, listen to our Walk the Line episode. 

Join host Kyla and frequent commentator Denise (AKA Kyla's mom) as they discuss the 2005 musical biopic Walk the Line. What makes this film one of the most successful musical biopics of all time? Is his performance as Johnny Cash the best of Joaquin Phoenix's career? And did Reese Witherspoon truly deserve the Oscar for her portrayal of June? Tune in to find out the answers to these questions and many others!
Link to John’s to-do list: http://www.openculture.com/2012/09/johnny_cashs_short_and_personal_to-do_list.html

This is also the first of two episodes dedicated to rehashing the 78th Academy Awards. Check out our next episode for further discussion on the subject!

Join host Kyla and extra special guest Mary as they discuss the cult classic Spice World! Think you know your Scary Spice from your Sporty Spice? How about your Two Become One bridge from your Viva Forever chorus? How does this film break all the typical rules of movie making? Is this movie absolutely perfect without really being any good at all? Listen to put your Spice Girls knowledge to the test and find out the answers to all of the above!

Listen as host Kyla and special guest Josh discuss Christopher Nolan's Interstellar! What are the most memorable shots from this film? How does Nolan manage to keep such an otherworldly picture so firmly rooted in humanity? Does the commitment to scientific realism detract from the creativity of the film? Listen as Kyla and Josh tackle these questions and many more!

Listen as host Kyla and special guest Madison discuss The Sound of Music! What makes this film so beloved? Is this the best movie musical of all time? And what makes The Lonely Goatherd so darn catchy?? Tune in to find the answers to these questions and many more!

Listen as host Kyla and special guest Jennifer discuss the romantic comedy You've Got Mail! What makes Nora Ephron movies so special? What makes this such a beloved, comforting film? Is this the first modern romance of the digital age? Listen to hear answers to these questions and many more!