Movies & Us
Movies & Us is a weekly gathering place filled with conversations about movies, stories, and connection. Our name sums it up: we’re all about movies and the powerful ways we can connect with each other and the world around us. This podcast is about all of us and our shared stories. Join us in conversations about movies and the stories that connect us!
Episodes
Jen and Sarah are joined by Amir Zargara, the co-writer and director of the short film ‘Vital.’ He shares how he got into filmmaking, the heart behind this story, and the process of bringing this powerful short film to life.
Follow Vital on Instagram @vitalshortfilm for the latest updates, including upcoming screenings! Connect with the director, Amir Zargara, on Instagram @amirzargara.
Jen and Sarah review the short film ‘Vital’ and discuss the empathetic characters, the hauntingly beautiful visuals, and the effective writing that immerses viewers in this world.
Follow Vital on Instagram @vitalshortfilm for the latest updates, including upcoming screenings! Connect with the director, Amir Zargara, on Instagram @amirzargara.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies &am...
Jen and Sarah celebrate 500 episodes by reviewing ‘Mulan.’ They first reflect on the past 500 episodes and wonder what could be next. Then they dive into this childhood classic, discussing the fantastic pacing, the emotionally rich story, and the characters that you want to root for.
Shownotes:
Review (~8:22)
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and B...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Eric of E Squared Reviews to review ‘The Social Reckoning.’ They discuss this very safe film and wonder who this sequel is for. They also dive into some of the weak elements of the screenplay and offer some potential rewrites.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~18:24)
Connect with Eric on Instagram and Threads @esquared_reviews.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies &a...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Kristen from The Film Maven to review ‘The Social Network.’ They discuss the excellent performances, the effective writing and directing, and the struggle to separate the film from the real-life events surrounding it.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~13:44)
For more from Kristen, follow her on Instagram and Threads on @kristenlopez88 and on TikTok and Bluesky @kristenklopez. Check out her writing at the...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Alexis from Trashwire to review ‘Digger.’ They discuss the bold creative choices, the meta-narrative of the story, the larger-than-life characters, and the polarizing reviews of this film.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~7:29)
For more from Alexis, check out trashwire.com and follow on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Letterboxd @trashwire.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect ...
Jen and Sarah dive into the ‘You’re breaking up with me?’ scene in ‘The Social Network.’ They discuss the fantastic writing, the powerful performances, and the cinematography that immerses the audience in this iconic scene.
Click here to watch this scene.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at...
Jen and Sarah are joined by William and Sara from Shea Cinema to review ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.’ They discuss the themes that are still relevant today, the visuals that intentionally create unease, and the place this holds in film history.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~23:30)
For more from William and Sara, listen to Shea Cinema wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram and Threads @sheacinema.
Jen and Sarah are joined by Adam and Nikko of Movie Archer and Laura and Stephen from Midday Movies to share a very special announcement! Then they draft their top 2026 movies… without any repeats!
Shownotes:
Movie Draft (~3:40)
Listen to Midday Movies on Spotify and follow them on Instagram @middaymoviespod for more great movie conversations, including their Summer of Love series! Follow Stephen on Instagram @stephen...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Reggie from Movie Postmortem to review ‘There Will be Blood.’ They discuss the complex characters, the relevant themes, and how the score and cinematography help immerse the audience in this anxiety-inducing world.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~14:19)
For more from Reggie, check out Movie Postmortem on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify and follow the show on Instagram @moviepostmortempodcast and on Bluesk...
Jen and Sarah review ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ and discuss the fantastic screenplay, the grounded and relatable characters, and some of the ways that this iconic film subverts the rom-com genre.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~8:33)
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at moviesanduspod@gmail.com.
Check out andusmedi...
Jen and Sarah dive into the scaling the Burj Khalifa scene in ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.’ They discuss the impressive stunt, the effective score, and the engaging cinematography that help make this scene so memorable.
Click here to watch this scene.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at moviesandus...
Jen and Sarah review ‘Widows’ and discuss the electric performance from Viola Davis, the creative choices that bring important themes to life, and some of the expectations that come with certain genres.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~11:16)
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at moviesanduspod@gmail.com.
Check out andus...
Jen and Sarah celebrate their eighth podcast birthday in this special episode! They share some reflections and pick their favorite episodes and moments from the last year of podcasting. Listen and celebrate!
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at moviesanduspod@gmail.com.
Check out andusmedia.co for the latest on Movies &a...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Nikko Caruso to review ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day.’ They discuss Spider-Man lore and how this builds on previous films. They also reflect on the great writing choices, emotional performances, and the thrilling set pieces that help this film stand out.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~16:41)
Subscribe to Nikko’s YouTube channel @nikkocaruso and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd @nikk...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Laura and Stephen from Midday Movies to review ‘The Last House.’ They discuss some of the more interesting character dynamics, reflect on the real-world experiences that influenced the story, and rewrite some elements of the film that didn’t land well.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~12:01)
Listen to Midday Movies on Spotify and follow them on Instagram @middaymoviespod for more great movie conve...
Jen and Sarah review ‘A Crime Across Four Landscapes’ and discuss the creative nature of this short film, the stunning visuals, and the immersive soundscapes. Then they are joined by the director, Aidan Weaver, to dive deeper into the making of this film, what drew him to this story, and more!
Shownotes:
Review (~1:19)
Interview (~20:34)
Watch A Crime Across Four Landscapes on Vimeo. You can also watch Good Boy on YouTu...
Jen and Sarah dive into the hallway fight scene in ‘Inception.’ They discuss the incredible production design, the fantastic editing, and the powerful score that helps this scene hold up years after its release.
Click here to watch this scene.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at moviesanduspod@gmail.com.
Jen and Sarah review ‘Lucky Grandma’ and discuss the fantastic premise, stylized set pieces, and important themes in this hilarious action-adventure film.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~8:28)
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod or by email at moviesanduspod@gmail.com.
Check out andusmedia.co for the latest on Movies & Us and TV...
Jen, Sarah, and some film friends take a closer look at ‘The Odyssey’ by discussing some of the film’s most epic scenes. Enjoy taking a deeper look at some of this film’s most iconic moments!
Shownotes:
Eric Ekwueme from E Squared Reviews (~8:38)
Kenny Sparks from It Could Be Movies (~13:53)
CeCe Clemons (~18:46)
Michael Burgett from the Screen Nerds Podcast (~21:26)
Heather Stewart from the Revisionist&rsqu...
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