The Canon: An Essential Movies Watchlist

Let's go for a ride! Friend of the show, David Cohan, returns to talk about Training Day. There's a lot to explore with this one. Including but not limited to David Ayer's script is tighter than a snare drum, the brilliance of Denzel's Oscar winning performance, and the absurdity of the film's soundtrack. Plus, David talks about working on the Oscar winning K-Pop Demon Hunters and being raised on Chappelle Show.

Follow David on Letterboxd:

https://letterboxd.com/yeetertravers/

A mighty good time! This week we’re exploring German silent cinema, the origins of movie stars, and watching movies on planes. SAW contributor and Canon fave Bryan Loomis is back for his season 7 debut. Bryan breaks down this reclaimed classic about embracing female fun and open expression. Bryan and Raf also talk listening to podcasts at the gym and how Netflix has changed our viewing habits.

Check out Bryan’s author page on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/author/bloomis/

Who’s ready for season 7?!?! The Canon makes its long awaited return with a brave and dangerous mission - discuss what makes Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan one of the most essential movies of all time. Joining Raf for this perilous mission are SAW contributors and first time Canon guests, Tyler Harner and Thomas Riest. Listen to find out which member of the trio recreates the Matt Damon into old man fade.

Check out Thomas and Tyler’s author pages on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/author/triest/

https://screenagewasteland.com/author/tharner6/

Let's get scary, ScreenAgers! SAW's very own Vincent Kane joins to talk about his recent list of the 100 Greatest Female Horror Movie Characters of all time. Kane and Raf talk about characters featured in movies in the Canon, characters from movies that should be included in the Canon, and characters from movies in the Canon missing from the list.

Read the full top 100 here:

https://screenagewasteland.com/tag/the-100-greatest-female-horror-movie-characters/

Happy Valentine's Day, ScreenAgers! SAW's resident rom com expert, Romona Comet joins Raf to talk all things about the genre. How she fell in love with rom coms, her favorite rom com movies, and why the genre doesn't always get the respect it deserves. Plus: Romona and Raf talk pen names at the Wasteland.

Check out Romona's rom com rewind reviews:

https://screenagewasteland.com/tag/rom-com-rewind/

In this very special episode of The Canon Romona, Val, Bryan, and Jacob join Raf to nominate some films from 2025 that they believe to be worthy of entry in The Canon. This episode is part of ScreenAge Wasteland's Best of 2025 series. Check out everyone's Top Films of 2025 and much more in the full series:

https://screenagewasteland.com/tag/best-of-2025/

Read Val's great essay about 'Sorry, Baby':

https://screenagewasteland.com/sorry-baby-and-the-pain-of-moving-on/

Yippee ki yay Screenagers! The Season 6 finale is an action packed one. SAW’s very own, Romona Comet and Val Morreale are here to talk all things Die Hard. Raf and SAW’s leading ladies blast the NFL for having Christmas Day games, celebrate the glory of Nakatomi Plaza, and confirm Die Hard’s standing as the peak of the action genre. Plus: what makes a Christmas movie?

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-die-hard-1988/

This episode goes beyond the infinite! Dave Wilson is back to talk about one of the 3 or 4 most monumental movies ever made - Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Raf and Dave rank the best cinematic Daves and the Knicks winning the NBA cup. But also, what’s the real meaning of the monolith? And is the star child a version of space buddha or cosmic nirvana?

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-2001-a-space-odyssey-1968/

A sweeping epic! An indie passion project! What do these things have in common you may ask! The answer is the conversation between Raf and returning guest Dylan Gantz in this episode. Dylan joins to talk about the latest on his short film project, Liquor Store and David Lean's Doctor Zhivago. Dylan and Raf also talk favorite New York Mets and their hometown hotspots.

Follow the Liquor Store instagram page for updates on the project:

@liquorstorefilm

Bonjourno ScreenAgers! It’s time to explore the wonderful world of Italian neorealism. Bicycle Thieves is the definitive example of the genre. Jason Christian from Cold War Cinema and Felicia Maroni of the Seeing Faces in Movies podcast are back to offer their expertise on one of the greatest films ever made. Plus, Raf botches his Italian intro.

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-bicycle-thieves-1948/

Check out Cold War Cinema and Seeing Faces in Movies:

https://coldwarcinema.com/

https://www.seeingfacesinmovies.com/