PopaHALLics

PopaHALLics #169 "Raise Your Voice"

It's time to speak up: Ted Lasso for AFC Richmond's new female soccer team; the "Ride or Die" friends for reach other; a son of 1960s radicals for himself; even a killer robot for herself (itself?). And we talk protest songs too.

Streaming:

• "Ted Lasso," Apple TV. Once again Ted (Jason Sudeikis) returns across the pond to coach soccer in Richmond, this time for the new women's team. Returning are...

PopaHALLics #168 "Blast(s) From the Past"

We discuss writer/director Christopher Nolan's epic take on Homer's nearly 3000-year-old poem "The Odyssey." Kate's back too, talking about old—and new—favorites she watched while recovering from surgery.

Theaters:

• "The Odyssey." Greek warrior Odyssey spends 10 hard yeasr trying to get home after the Trojan War. Plagued by the gods, or just needing GPS? Starring Matt Damon as O...

PopaHALLics #167 "Alien in Heartland"

Five people trapped in a house during what may or may not be an alien invasion begin to suspect one of them is a shape-shifting alien. That's the "Twilight Zone"-like premise of "Alien in the Heartland," an independent film made in Indiana and available to rent or buy on Prime Video. We interview writer/director Eric Pascarelli and four of the five key actors:

• James Tackett, who plays Thomas,...

PopaHALLics #166 "Lost and Found"

This episode's all about discovery: Finding a space villain's kidnapped son, rescued puppies and true love in NYC, a way to keep your creative spark against autism, and, yes, even creepy monsters hidden in the walls of a retirement community.

Theaters:

• "The Mandalorian & Grogu." In the latest "Star Wars" big-screen release, the masked gunfighter (Pedro Pascal) and his adorable sidekic...

PopaHALLics #165 "Baaaad People?"
If a shepherd is kind to his sheep but combative with humans, is he still a good person? When Iggy Pop rolled around in glass, was he just embodying the spirit of punk rock? And then there's the husband who suddenly abandons his 20-year marriage and his wife and kids ... We discuss all of them, and more, on this episode.

Theaters:

• "The Sheep Detectives." When a devoted shepherd (Hugh J...

PopaHALLics #164 "Damaged Goods"

Damaged people make for good pop in this episode, from a Neil Diamond tribute band with trouble at the door to a widow keeping busy to cope with her son's disappearance over 30 years ago in "Remarkably Bright Creatures."

Streaming:

• "Remarkably Bright Creatures," Netflix. This movie adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt's novel stars Sally Field as a night shift aquarium worker who forms a bond with a curmu...

PopaHALLics #163 "Pop-ping up Everywhere"

Buckle up, kids! On this episode, we zoom around from deep space to 1998 New York to Palestine to Ireland to a Mormon community in Utah to Elle Fanning's bedroom. Note: Three of the trailers below open with someone waking up gasping. Prepare to be breathless!  

Theaters:

• "Project Hail Mary." In this huge sci-fi hit, a high school science teacher (Ryan Gosling) must reluctantly sa...

PopaHALLics #162 "Many (Happy) Returns?

People come back on this episode—to the past, to gangland trouble in the present, to a murder that keeps occurring, and to home.

Theaters:

• "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." When Princess Rosalina gets kidnapped by Bowser Jr., Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach are on the case. With the voices of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and more.

Streaming:

• "Peaky Blinde...

PopaHALLics #161 "All in the Family"

Family runs through this episode, whether it's a crime family with a manipulative matriarch, a family of animals (dinosaurs)  or a homeless-looking guy trying to build a "family" from hostages to stop technology from taking over the world.

In Theaters:

• "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die." In this sci-fi action comedy with crazy visuals, a man claims to have come from the future to prevent dan...

PopaHALLics #160 "It's Time to Light the Lights"

From Kermit the Frog to the KGB, from Bad Bunny to "Eternity," we are all over the pop culture landscape. There's even a short review of Oscar-nominated shorts.

Streaming:

• "Eternity," Apple TV. After a woman (Elizabeth Olsen) dies in this romantic comedy, she must choose who she wants to spend eternity with: Her longtime husband (Miles Teller) or her husband who died young (Callum T...

PopaHALLics #!59 "Train Dreams and Wonder Men"

We discuss the Oscar-nominated "Train Dreams," Marvel TV series "Wonder Man," the latest "Bridgerton," and more! Plus Resident Kid Expert (age 10) reviews "KPop Demon Hunters."

Streaming:

• "Train Dreams," Netflix. A logger (Joel Edgerton) struggles with the meaning of life in this Best Picture nominee. With Felicity Jones and William H. Macy.
• "His and Hers," Netflix. Estranged spouses (...

PopaHALLics #158 "Pop Goes the Globe!"

We look at two movies with Golden Globe awards—"One Battle After Another" and "Marty Supreme"—as well as the movie "Life of Chuck," the rom-com "People We Meet on Vacation" and Tulsa-set crime comedy drama series "The Lowdown."

In Theaters:

• "Marty Supreme." Timothee Chalamet won a Golden Globe (best actor, musical/comedy) by playing a talented jerk determined to be a world-champio...

PopaHALLics #157 "Ho Ho Pop"

On our last episode of 2025, we discuss new movies including the latest "Knives Out" and "Hamnet," and books including a great take on the Lennon-McCartney relationship. Plus Kate looks back at "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"!

In Theaters:

• "Hamnet." Academy-Award winning director Chloe Zhao and author Maggie O'Farrell explore how the loss of a son inspires William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Starring Jessie Buc...

PopaHALLics #156 "Scott of the Bells"

In this on-location episode, Steve interviews Scott Soltermann, who plays, records, and programs the carillion (bells) at Butler University in Indianapolis. Steve and his wife often hear the bells in their neighborhood and began wondering about the anonymous player. 

Scott, a former music and special needs teacher, also listened to the bells while growing up in Indianapolis. When he returned...

PopaHALLics #155 "Breaking Good"
Can one unhappy woman save the world from "hive mind"? Why does Kate think motherhood is an important theme in the new "Frankenstein"? And Alicia Silverstone may be "Clueless" about her feelings in a new holiday movie.

Streaming:

• "Pluribus," Apple TV.  In the new sci-fi drama from the creator of "Breaking Bad," can the most miserable person on Earth (Rhea Seehorn) save the world from happi...

PopaHALLics #154 "It's Alive!"

In this mini-episode, Steve's solo with his review of Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" and the book "Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run," by Peter Ames Carlin. Kate provided rapid-fire reviews of new albums by female artists.

Streaming:

• "Frankenstein," Netflix. Del Toro's version of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel is visually gorgeous, solidly acted, and really comes to life when the Creat...

PopaHALLics #153 "Popping Up Secrets"
Dad and daughter dish on Lily Allen's "divorce album," the new seasons of "Slow Horses" and "The Diplomat," a late-to-the-party discovery of TV's "Interview with a Vampire," a funny, wise novel called "I See That You've Called in Dead"—and more!

Streaming:

• "Sisu: Road to Revenge," Hulu, Prime. In this John Wick-ish Finnish action thriller, Nazi soldiers steal gold from an old prospe...

PopaHALLics #152 "Guinness, Ghosts, and Valley Girls"

Dad and daughter dish on "House of Guinness," about a family struggle for control of the brewery; "Presence," a ghost story told from the ghost's POV; variety show host Ed Sullivan and civil rights; and more! Plus the duo likes looking back at "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion." Me too!

Streaming:

• "House of Guinness," Netflix. In this historical drama from the creator o...

PopaHALLics #151 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW (Part Two)"

Steve's almost month-long "retirementmoon" in the Pacific Northwest continues! In this episode: A whirlwind trip to Canada, Bainbridge Island, and Seattle. The Aquarium, the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Fremont Troll, Jimi Hendrix's grave—and more! Join us.

Some memorable places and experiences:

• Silver Falls State Park, Salem, OR. The Trail of Ten Falls,...