Monday Morning Critic Podcast

Episode 462
"Heat" | "The Last of the Mohicans" | "Manhunter"
Cinematographer: Dante Spinotti.

Dante Spinotti was born in Tolmezzo, Udine, in the northeastern Italian Region of Friuli. He began his career at RAI (Italian TV), before that he spent lot of time in Kenia as cinematographer for his uncle. In 1985, producer Dino De Laurentiis offered him a chance to work in USA for the firs...

Episode 461.
"Joker" | "The Dark Knight Rises" | "The Long Game" 
Actor: Brett Cullen.

You can currently find Brett Cullen in "The Long Game". 
In 1955, five young Mexican-American caddies, out of the love for the game, were determined to learn how to play, so they created their own golf course in the middle of the South Texas desert.

Brett is simply superb as Th...

Episode 460.
"Warrior"
Actor: Chelsea Muirhead.

Chelsea Muir portrays Yan Mi in the Max Original "Warrior".

Chelsea was so much fun to speak with. She's refreshingly honest, funny, kind and a wonderful actor to boot.

Chelsea Muirhead is a Filipino-Scottish actor from Toronto. After discovering her love of acting in high school, performing as Columbia in "Rocky Horror...

Episode 459.
The Gentleman, The Covenant and Wrath of Man.
Composer: Chris Benstead.

Chris Benstead and Guy Ritchie have made one hell of a team the last few years. Academy and BAFTA award winner Chris Benstead, is a British composer with a distinct and captivating voice. His remarkable career spans a multitude of noteworthy projects. Collaborating extensively with director Guy Ritchie, Chris composed the score ...

Episode 458.
 "PIG"
Actor: David Knell.

 David can be seen as Chef Derek Finway in "Pig," opposite Nicolas Cage, answering the question, "Who has my pig?" Best known for his roles as a goofy, callow youth in films like Spring Break, Splash, Total Recall, and Turner and Hooch, David is a veteran in the industry with a career that spans over four decades. He appeared on Broadway in his ...

Episode 457
"American Rust"
Showrunners: Dan Futterman and Adam Rapp.

Dan Futterman is a two time Academy Award nominated writer. Having been nominated in 2006 for #capote and again in 2015 for #foxcatcher As an actor he has appeared along side #robinwilliams in #thebirdcage and #angelinajolie as  Daniel Pearl in "A Might Heart"

Adam Rapp is an excellent writer who is a big part of Amer...

Episode 456.
Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney.
"American Rust"

Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney stop by to talk about the gritty, intense world of "American Rust" (Prime Video).

I think Maura Tierney offered me a job as a writer on "American Rust" for Season 3. I might take her up on it.

Maura also talks about her work in The Iron Claw, Jeff touches on Dumb and Dumber and...

Episode 455.
Toy Story 3
Actor: Emily Ricks.

Emily and I talk about the impact of Toy Story 3, Playing Bonnie, Why Toy Story 3 hits hard and so much more.

Get ready to dive into the magical world of Disney with actress Emily Ricks in this exclusive interview discussing Toy Story 3! 🌟 Watch as she reveals her passion for acting, unforgettable moments on set, and the secrets behind the Pixar masterpiece. Fr...

Episode 454.
"5lbs of Pressure"
Director: Phil Allocco.

Filmmaker Phil Allocco is a feature film and commercial writer/director. His work has garnered over 60 awards and nominations. He was one of the short-listed directors picked by Steven Spielberg from a world-wide search of over 12,000 directors for his US TV series ‘On the Lot’ for FOX TV. His feature film ‘The Truth About Lies,’ was released theatri...

Taking a look at the 96th Academy Awards, Al Pacino having no time for nominees, Why is the Academy continuously forgetting people during In memoriam,  Jimmy Kimmel's obsession with Donald Trump, Danny Devito, Arnold, John Cena, Lily Gladstone was completely ripped off, Why would anyone want to host an awards show, the biggest snubs in Oscar history, why Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey have been penalized for being comedic actors,...

Episode 452.
Father and Son: Mario and Mandela Van Peebles.

Legend Mario Van Peebles joins me to talk about his newest film "Outlaw Posse", New Jack City, his father and legend Melvin Van Peebles.

We also joined by Mario's son, Mandela who is a wonderful actor in his own right who co-stars with his dad in "Outlaw Posse" Mario talks about how #whoopigoldberg casting herself, making a we...

Episode 451.
Actor: John Carroll Lynch.

John Carroll Lynch is simply put, one of the best actors on the planet. His work as Twisty the Clown in #americanhorrorstory #ahs #fargo #thefounder and my personal favorite as Eastman in #thewalkingdead #twd put him in a catagory not occupied by many.

I love this man and his work has meant so much to me. I am so very lucky to have had John on to talk about those project...

Episode 450.
"Stranger Things"
Actor: Ted Chrest.

Actor Ted Chrest joins me to talk "Stranger Things" and some of his other amazing credits.

Ted is a United States Veteran (Air Force), Marshall University Graduate (BFA) and an LSU Graduate (MFA).

Some of the things we discuss...

1. Filming Season 5 and did I guess a plot point? Vecna has plans for Nancy.

2.  ...

Episode 449.
"Ordinary Angels"
Director: Jon Gunn

Director Jon Gunn (American Underdog, Jesus Revolution, I Still Believe, The Case for Christ) talks his newest project "Ordinary Angels"

Based on a remarkable true story, ORDINARY ANGELS centers on Sharon (Hilary Swank), a fierce but struggling hairdresser in small-town Kentucky who discovers a renewed sense of purpose when she meets Ed ...

Episode 448.
"The Dynasty: The New England Patriots. 
Director Matt Hamachek.

Matt Hamachek is a talented director who has also directed "Tiger" (2021). The Dynasty: New England Patriots takes us inside the franchise’s 20-year journey, from the unique chemistry that fueled six Super Bowl wins to the internal strife that sparked a turf war. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft, and key players reve...

Episode 447.
Welcome Home, Franklin.
Craig Schulz (Charles's Son) , Robb Armstrong and Raymond Persi.

Sparked by the assassination of Martin Luther King, Franklin Armstrong was born in the Peanuts Universe on July 31, 1968. With the hope of promoting tolerance- Harriet Glickman a teacher contacted Peanuts creator Charles Schulz.

The origin story for one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters, Franklin, ...

Episode 446.
"The Shawshank Redemption"
Actor: Don McManus.

Don and I talk Seinfeld (Duncan Meyer), Dexter, The Shawshank Redemption,  Vice and  his most recent film Joker: Folie à Deux.

A veteran character actor on some of TV's most quirky series, Don McManus got his first recurring role playing Erick Reese Hillman, the first gay character to marry his boyfriend on television, on the critic...

Episode 445
"Scambled"
Actor, Director and Writer: Leah McKendrick.

Leah McKendrick is a Latina American multi-hyphenate filmmaker and actress from San Francisco. Her directorial debut, SCRAMBLED, which she also wrote and stars in, premiered at SXSW 2023 and is based on Leah’s real journey through egg freezing and 30-something singledom.


McKendrick has multiple projects in various stages of ...