A Very Good Year

In what has become an annual tradition, we welcome back our good friend, New York Times film critic Alissa Wilkinson, to look back at the movie year we just finished — without the benefit of hindsight! Hear Alissa and Mike geek out about “Eno,” our conversation on the first-person camera of “Nickel Boys,” everyone falling for “Anora,” and more.  

After 2 years and 100 episodes we're retiring A Very Good Year and coming back in 2025 with a whole new show. In the meantime we're looking back at some of our favorite guests and favorite movies, by decade.In this episode we're looking at a decade that some people consider a dead zone: the 1950s. As you'll hear it was a great decade for movies. Ever heard of a guy named Hitchcock? I rest my case.Featuring the talents of Sheila O'Malley, Glenn Kenny, James Urbaniak, Beatrice Loayza, Aisha Harris, and one of the best to ever do it, Mr. Phillip Lopate.Thank you for listening!

After two years and 100 episodes we're taking a look back at A Very Good Year with highlights from some of our favorite guests. In this episode we're going way back to the 1940s, we're getting into some of the classics and a few pictures that might not be on your radar.This episode features Stephanie Crawford, Jill Blake, Stephanie Zacharek, April Wolfe, Raquel Stetcher and recent Pulitzer Prize winner Justin Chang.Thank you for listening!

Hello, and welcome to the wrap party.After two years and 100 episodes we're taking a look back at A Very Good Year with highlights from some of our favorite guests. In this episode we're going way back to the 20s & 30s, we're getting into silents, talkies, and the transition. We cover the big names everyone knows and get into some hidden gems that have been buried deep in the vault. "He Who Gets Slapped", anyone? This episode features our very first guest, Alex Winter, and a murderers row of great film minds including Dana Stevens, Sarah Bea Milner, Megan Abbott, Jessica Pickens, Monica Castillo, Marya Gates, Catherine Stebbins and the king, Leonard Maltin.Thank you for listening!

Mac Welch is an actor, cartoonist, filmmaker, and podcaster, but more importantly, he’s been friends with Jason and Mike nearly as long as they’ve been friends with each other. Join us as we talk about the movies we all saw together in 2000, AND ALSO where we’ll be taking the show as we reformat for our next season.

Author, historian, and professor Kevin M. Kruse joins us to walk through the very eventful year — historically and cinematically — of 1974, including the take-no-prisoners energy of “Foxy Brown,” the grimy perfection of “The Taking of Pelham 123,” and a double-barreled shotgun blast of Mel Brooks.

Film and television critic, author, and essayist Kristen Lopez joins us to discuss her book “But Have You Read the Book,” the TWO books she’s working on next, and the movies of 1996, from the teen-girl dream of ‘Romeo + Juliet” to the drive-in pleasures of “From Dusk Till Dawn” to the hilarity of “The Birdcage.”

Screenwriter (“Heathers,” “Demolition Man,” “Batman Returns”) and encyclopedic cinephile Daniel Waters joins us to discuss 2008—a key year for him as a filmmaker and film lover, thanks to the likes of “Synecdoche, New York,” “Love Exposure,” and “The Dark Knight.” 

Catherine Stebbins is intimately acquainted with the year of 1930 - because it was the subject of the most recent of her year-by-year movie ‘zines, which makes her an ideal (and overdue) guest. Join us as she discusses the nutty “King of Jazz,” the heartbreaking “City Girl,” the sublime “People on Sunday,” and more.