Like the proverbial Christmas miracle, the BTTM crew is back just in the (Saint) nick of time for a holiday-themed final episode of 2024. At the behest of Natalie Freeman and Allison Woodnutt (who you may remember from last year's A HAUNTING IN VENICE episode), Justin, Allan, and Tyler braved the cold to wave down THE POLAR EXPRESS, an illustrated children's book by Chris Van Allsburg (JUMANJI) and a film directed by Robert Zemeckis (BACK TO THE FUTURE). Natalie and Allison were not available for in-studio recording but provided plenty of (possibly not 100% sober) voice notes for the fellas to talk to. This movie is bonkers, and everyone has thoughts.  

It's America, dude, learn the rules! Chris Andersen (Your Favorite Bad Movie Podcast) joins the BTTM crew to discuss the 2001 adaptation of the Daniel Clowes graphic novel GHOST WORLD, directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Bad Santa). They discuss how one can grow up relating to a disaffected teen girl played by Thora Birch and find themselves an alienated physical-media-obsessed adult, played by Steve Buscemi. Also: lots of comics talk.

Ace interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis sits down with Lili Anolik to discuss Anolik's new book Didion & Babitz. Anolik talks about the complicated relationship between authors Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, their unique perspectives on the Feminist Movement, and how they were each consumed by and motivated each other. Anolik also tells the fascinating story of how she discovered the complexity of this relationship to begin with. If you're a fan of either author, this isn't an episode to miss!

Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck! The Piano Wire

What Price Vincent? Writer and improviser Mark Rennie (The Big Gay Movie Spreadsheet, Eat Pray Dunk) returns for a second appearance on BTTM, just in time for Spooky Season. Under discussion is the Edgar Allan Poe classic "The Masque of the Red Death," adapted to film by director Roger Corman and star Vincent Price in 1964. 

THIS... IS... JEOP-BUZZY! Jeopardy! champion Buzzy Cohen (Baby Got Facts: Totally 90s Trivia) drops in to talk about John Cheever's small slice of suburban surrealism, "The Swimmer." Burt Lancaster headlines the 1968 film adaptation, scripted by Eleanor Perry (Diary of a Mad Housewife) and directed by Frank Perry (Mommie Dearest). This is Better Than the Movie's first short story discussion, so Buzzy and the BTTM crew also discuss other notable short story adaptations to film.

Premier fiction interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis is back in conversation, this time with the amazing Danzy Senna, to talk about Senna's new novel Colored Television.

In this episode, Senna reads from her book, followed by an amazing talk about multicultural identity, Senna's relationship to humor, and who she would choose to soundtrack the novel.

Listen in and then stop by Skylight Books on Wednesday, September 4 to see Senna read in person!

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Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck the Piano Wire

The Better Than the Movie boys are hosting a screening of TANK GIRL (1995) on August 24, 2024, as part of American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest 2024 podcast film festival. So here is a free-floating (read: CHAOTIC) chat about this underground comic-turned-quirky Hollywood movie, including another of Allan's absurd trivia competitions. If you're in LA, pick up a ticket for more of this insanity: SKYLIGHT BOOKS PRESENTS TANK GIRL  

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert are arguably the most influential American film critics of the 20th Century. Clips from their movie review TV show continue to circulate on social media and Youtube to the delight of new viewers and old fans alike. In his book OPPOSABLE THUMBS, film writer Matt Singer looks at the history of these film critics, the TV show opportunity that brought them together and brought them fame, and their lingering fingerprints on the media landscape. Skylight's Tyler Austin talks to him about the book, about Siskel and Ebert's relationship, and about the team's advocacy for cinema. 

We've got a classic on BTTM today that's all killer. DJ and bookseller Elisa Garcia selected PERFUME, the 1985 German novel by Patrick Süskind that was originally deemed unfilmable. But co-screenwriter and director Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN, BABYLON BERLIN) surely got the job done in 2006. Elisa joins Allan, Tyler, and Justin to discuss the best bits of the book, the genius of Ben Whishaw's lead performance, and... whatever Dustin Hoffman was doing. Smells like a great episode! 

It's a golfing extravaganza as Geoff Shackelford joins Skylight's Tyler Austin to discuss his book Golf Architecture for Normal People! Together, they talk golf course design, the economic and ecological impacts of a golf course that people don't often think about, and how golf as a game is becoming more accessible to lower-class players. 

It's a great episode about golf...for normal people!

Produced by Mick Kowaleski and Tyler Austin

Music by Duck, the Piano Wire