Watch With Jen™

Just in time for the holidays, here's a new episode of Watch With Jen where I'm recommending not just five but - thanks to one trilogy - seven fun ensemble films for you to track down. From a foreign comedy to a globe-trotting screwball romantic comedy action movie to two modern adaptations of a classic play to an epic '70s puzzle, there's bound to be something here for every type of film fan.

Originally Posted on Patreon on 11/25/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/44310048

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Witty, singular, and iconoclastic, Iranian-American feminist pop culture writer Roxana Zivar Hadadi is a film and television critic who's been published by RogerEbert.com, The A.V. Club, Crooked Marquee, Vulture, The Playlist, and Bright Wall/Dark Room. A bright light on Twitter with her fresh perspective and bold humor, the Baltimore based Roxana – who holds a Masters in Literature – is a member of the D.C. Area Film Critics Association, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, the Online Film Critics Society, and is a contributing, approved critic to Rotten Tomatoes.

I couldn't have been more excited when Roxana suggested Sofia Coppola's filmography as the topic of this episode. Coppola is not only one of my very favorite directors and someone whose work I've written about multiple times, but oddly enough, she also inspired my film school nickname of "Sof," which was bestowed upon me by a guy who insisted I looked like the gorgeous filmmaker, despite my arguments to the contrary.

In this super-sized episode, which runs the length of Lost in Translation, Roxana and I embark on a chronological journey through each one of Coppola's seven feature films. Offering an insightful, entertaining, and in-depth analysis of what these movies mean to us, we discuss recurring themes in Coppola's work and the way that her films reflect both the female experience as well as her own unique point-of-view.

A must-listen for Sofia Coppola fans and/or a conversation that will hopefully inspire you to take a closer look at her filmography, it was a joy and a privilege to chat with Roxana in what is easily one of my favorite episodes of Watch With Jen & Friends so far.

Originally Posted on Patreon (11/12/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43828132

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Award-winning novelist and cinephile William Boyle returns to the podcast for a terrific hour dedicated to some of the most overlooked films and performances of gifted, tough but tender character actor Mickey Rourke, including Rumble Fish, Homeboy, Year of the Dragon, Johnny Handsome, among others.

Yet while a bulk of the episode is dedicated to Rourke, the wide-ranging conversation eventually veers into musical territory as they chat about their mutual love of Tori Amos, before closing things out by discussing the Halloween (and everyday) horrors that await viewers in the work of David Lynch.

Originally Posted on Patreon (10/30/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43334046

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I'm joined once again by the highly entertaining, encyclopedic film critic and lawyer Nell Minow of MovieMom.com and RogerEbert.com for a timely episode on fall and Halloween movies you're sure to enjoy.

Fast-paced and fresh, whether she's discussing the vacations taken by Alan Alda and Carol Burnett in The Four Seasons, Haynes at his most Sirkian in Far From Heaven, the nonsensical joys of Hitchcock's The Trouble With Harry, or those geniuses at Laika studios, Nell delivers great film insights with a friendliness that makes her both a must-listen and a must-read.

Originally Posted on Patreon (10/24/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43110692

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The founder and editor-in-chief of the prestigious online film journal Bright Wall/Dark Room, Chad Perman first started the site on Tumblr in his living room in 2009 after years spent wondering if there was a way to talk differently - more emotionally, more humanly - about movies.

Almost four years (and 220,000 followers) later, he decided to expand things and launched a magazine/journal version of BW/DR in June 2013 with a small staff of friends and collaborators devoted to looking at movies in unique ways. Together, they've put out a new issue every single month for the past 7 years and worked to create a vibrant and inclusive community of writers, readers, and supporters.

Having earned a B.A. in English and Cinema Studies from the University of Washington, Chad received a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from PLU. Additionally, a practicing mental health therapist, Chad has worked in the field for over 15 years. Currently in private practice and working with both individuals and couples, he specializes in treating writers, artists, and other creatives.

In this rich, fascinating episode, I was honored to talk to the friendly, contemplative Chad Perman about not only the start of BW/DR (and the talented collaborators that helped him get it up and running) but also his own background with and relationship to film.

Featuring multiple shout-outs to colleagues and friends (especially past guests Brianna Ashby and Travis Woods) as well as a celebration of late '80s fare, this hour-long discussion touches on everything from Scarecrow Video to Chad's advice for creatives working in a pandemic. Available to listen to in this post, you can also find Watch With Jen wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.

Originally Posted on Patreon (10/12/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42674486

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This week's films explore the joy of puzzles, Elijah Wood with throwing stars, the British invasion, a Dickensian fairy tale, & marriage at first sight.

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This episode's 5 streaming recommendations bring you a moving family drama, a Hitchcockian thriller, an acclaimed concert film, the statistics side of baseball, and a '90s comedic mystery that's a throwback to classic noir.

Originally Posted on Patreon (on 8/7/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40222139

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This week's 5 film recommendations deliver a revisionist western, a Thomas Hardy romance, a twisty French thriller, a dystopian romcom, & a hitman's high school reunion.

Originally Posted on Patreon (7/24/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39680144

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This week's 5 streaming recommendations include Jen's favorite films from Whit Stillman & Lynn Shelton, a French psychological thriller, plus a little Robert Altman in the '70s, & Alan Rickman starring in a period movie set in the '70s.

Originally Posted on Patreon on 7/9/20 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39159624

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Let's get lost. Specifically, let's get the hell out of 2020. While we're waiting for the technology that lets us do just that, we can live vicariously through a great group of time travel movies in this special topics episode, inspired by Jacob Rivera, a $10 patron on "The Right Stuff" tier who sent Jen 5 excellent ideas that led her to create this week's installment.

Touching on several movies - including a few that might not be perfect but are well worth the watch - Jen gives you a brief overview of each title but doesn't spend too much time on them since this genre is Spoiler City & she'd hate to hinder your enjoyment of any of the films. With that in mind, buckle up, & let's take off. Next stop: anywhere but here!

Originally Posted on Patreon (6/26/20) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38659753

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