The Minimum Commitment: Film Theory in Small Doses
Hosted by Donn Lawler, this podcast explores film theory one movie at a time. Each episode breaks down a single film—no jargon, no lectures—just sharp analysis in under 10 minutes. Noir, sci-fi, horror, dystopias… every story says more than you think. New episodes weekly. Minimum Commitment. Maximum Meaning.
Episodes
Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman isn’t just another gangster movie—it’s a quiet reckoning. We look at how the film reframes the genre with distance, regret, and finality. We also examine the risks behind its prOduction and why Netflix backed a $160 million slow burn that most studios passed on. What happens when a legendary director writes his own elegy?
Beneath the flash and swagger, Goodfellas is a study in performative masculinity. In this episode, we explore how Scorsese uses cHarm, violence, and control to show how gangster life is built on fear and illusion. What looks like power is actually a mask—and once it slips, everything falls apart.
The Godfather isn’t just a crime saga—it’s a story about family, ritual, and the quiet machinery of control. In this epiSode, we look at how Coppola’s masterpiece reshaped the gangster genre through restraint, symbolism, and mythic scale. What does it mean to inherit power? And what do you lose when you finally claim it?
Before we jump into the films, here’s what this podcast is all about.
What to expect, how it works, and why film theory doesn’t need to be intimidating—or long. Whether you’re a lifelong cinephile or just film-curious, this is your quick guide to what The Minimum Commitment offers: short episodes, sharp insights, and a love for movies that say more than they seem.
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