Midday Movies
Welcome to the Midday Movies podcast, provider of fun, funny, and thoughtful media reviews 2-3x a week. Streaming on @radiotacoma101.9 every Tues/Thurs/Sat at 3pm.
Episodes
In this episode, Laura introduces the Cinemax series “The Knick” (now streaming on HBO & Hulu), which stars Clive Owen and is set in a 1910s San Francisco public hospital named The Knickerbocker. The show is praised for its historical accuracy, having been based off a real-life pioneering surgeon with a substance use disorder, and covers themes like pioneering surgical procedures, drug addiction treatment, and societal issues o...
Laura and Stephen continue their podcast 'Midday Movies' by discussing Collider's list of the 28 Best Back-to-School Films, focusing on the top 14. They highlight timeless John Hughes classics, influential comedies, and heartwarming stories of academic excellence. Films like 'School of Rock,' 'Rushmore,' 'Grease,' 'Footloose,' 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High,' '10 Things I Hate About You,' 'Akeelah and the Bee,' 'Election,' 'Legally ...
In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' hosts Laura and Stephen discuss part one of Collider's list of the 28 best back to school films. Spanning beloved films from the eighties, nineties, and early 21st century, the hosts delve into classic school-centric narratives that bring nostalgia, laughter, and contemplation about the role of teachers. The episode features discussions on films like 'Kindergarten Cop,' 'October Sky,' '16 Candles...
In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' Laura and Stephen conclude their Summer of Love series with a discussion on “The Worst Person in the World,” Norway's 2021 entry into the Oscar Best International Film Race. Set in Oslo, the film follows protagonist Julie as she navigates career changes, relationships, and self-discovery. Julie's journey highlights the challenges faced by modern generations, such as economic pressures and the fre...
Join Laura and Stephen as they continue their Summer of Love series with a deep dive into the 2015 period romance film “Carol.” Directed by Todd Haynes and starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, this episode explores the emotionally rich and visually stunning story of a transformative romance in the conservative era of 1950s America. Through their analysis, they discuss the sociopolitical context of the time, character dynamics, ...
In this Midday Mini episode, hosts Laura and Stephen engage in a whimsical discussion about assigning astrological signs to the main characters from Pixar's 2008 film, WALL-E. They explore the traits of characters like WALL-E, Eve, Mo, and others, correlating their characteristics with Aquarius, Capricorn, Virgo, and more. The hosts analyze the signs using their extensive astrology knowledge and humor, providing listeners with an e...
Laura and Stephen continue their "Summer of Love" series with a deep dive into Pixar’s 2008 masterpiece, WALL·E. They explore the film’s themes of love, corporatocracy, climate collapse, and the power of being yourself—even if you’re a robot. The hosts discuss the film’s visual storytelling, its critique of convenience culture, and why WALL·E stands out as one of the greatest robot romance films of the 21st century.
Key To...
Laura and Stephen discuss FX's new series, “Alien: Earth,” a prequel set two years before the original 1979 Alien film. Streaming on Hulu, the series depicts a dystopian world of 2120 controlled by five corporations, including Weyland-Yutani, and a new player called Prodigy. Prodigy, led by the young trillionaire Boy Cavalier, focuses on turning terminally ill children into synthetics. The show explores themes of corporate dystopia...
In this episode of Midday Movies, Laura and Stephen delve into Paul Thomas Anderson's 2017 film “Phantom Thread,” starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps. As part of their 'Summer of Love' series, they explore the complex relationship between a fastidious 1950s fashion designer and an iron-willed waitress. The discussion extends to themes of power dynamics, method acting, and the transformative nature of love. Highlights include...
In this episode, Laura and Stephen delve into “Materialists” (2025), a film written and directed by Celine Song, centered around a New York matchmaker named Lucy, played by Dakota Johnson, who finds herself in a love triangle with two men, John (Chris Evans) and Harry (Pedro Pascal). Through this exploration, the hosts discuss the film's deep themes about love in the 2020s, questioning societal pressures, and the impact of capitali...
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen discuss the 2019 French romantic drama “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” directed by Céline Sciamma. They highlight the film's historical accuracy, its exploration of 18th-century life, and the profound romantic connection between the characters Marianne and Heloise. The discussion also touches on the movie's mythological references to Orpheus and Eurydice and its strong emotion...
In this Midday Mini, hosts Stephen and Laura discuss their (and the internet’s) latest obsession, “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” the top-ranking 2025 Netflix animated movie. They highlight its unique blend of K-pop, musicals, Korean folklore, and anime elements, praising its captivating songs and relatable characters. Directed by Maggie Kang, the movie integrates beautifully crafted songs into its compelling storyline. The hosts compare th...
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen discuss the top 12 best Netflix original series according to Entertainment Weekly. The podcast covers a diverse range of shows, from cultural phenomena like 'Stranger Things' and 'Bridgerton' to critical hits such as 'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'When They See Us.' They provide insights, fun facts, and personal commentary on each series, aiming to help listeners decide t...
In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' hosts Laura and Stephen review and discuss Entertainment Weekly's list of the 25 best Netflix original series. They start with number 25, 'The Upshaws,' and go through to number 13, 'Midnight Mass,' providing descriptions and personal insights on each show. The hosts aim to help listeners narrow down their Netflix choices among the vast array of original content available. The list includes a mix...
💕 WELCOME TO THE SUMMER OF LOVE — REVIEWING THE BEST ROMANCES OF THE 21ST CENTURY💕
In this episode of “Midday Movies,” Laura and Stephen discuss the Oscar-nominated film “Past Lives,” written and directed by Celine Song. This episode delves into the intricacies of a love story spanning 24 years, focusing on themes of fate (“in-yeon”) , destiny, cultural identity, and the realism of human relationships. Inspired by Song's semi-aut...
💕 WELCOME TO THE SUMMER OF LOVE — REVIEWING THE BEST ROMANCES OF THE 21ST CENTURY💕
In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' Laura and Stephen take a lunch break to discuss Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical masterpiece “Almost Famous” (2000). They delve into the film's journey of a teenage rock journalist following an up-and-coming band, band politics, and unrequited love. They share researched behind-the-scenes insights, including...
💕 WELCOME TO THE SUMMER OF LOVE — REVIEWING THE BEST ROMANCES OF THE 21ST CENTURY💕
In this episode of Midday Movies, Laura and Stephen are discussing the 2017 instant romance classic, “Call Me By Your Name.” Starring Timothee Chalamet in his breakout role and with a script adapted by James Ivory (and for which he won the Oscar), this film follows a 6-week summer romance in Italy between 17 year old Elio and a 24 year old doctoral...
💕 WELCOME TO THE SUMMER OF LOVE — REVIEWING THE BEST ROMANCES OF THE 21ST CENTURY💕
In this episode of Midday Movies, Laura and Stephen discuss the 2004 Charlie Kaufman masterpiece, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet (in an Oscar-nominated role) as lovers so toxic that both have decided to surgically remove the memory of their relationship, this film was voted the 7th best movie of the 21...
In this episode of Midday Movies, Laura and Stephen delve into the incisive themes of Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite," a film that masterfully explores the complexities of social mobility and meritocracy. As they dissect the symbolic elements and narrative structure, they reflect on how the film mirrors societal hierarchies and the elusive nature of the American Dream (or, South Korean Dream). Join them as they unravel the layers of this...
In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' hosts Laura and Stephen count down the top 50 movies of the 21st century, continuing from their previous podcast episode that covered numbers 100 to 51. The list, compiled by the New York Times, reflects votes from 500 industry luminaries. Highlights include Pixar’s 'Up' at number 50, Alfonso Cuarón’s 'Roma' at 46, Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' at 44, and Christopher Nolan’s...
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