Films These Days

What makes for effective satire? How do filmmakers (and authors) address the rise of fascism? How do we physically and visually explore masculinity in film? Is Charlie Chaplin or Brad Pitt more problematic? (well, one of them is dead, so.) In this episode Dylan and Marin talk about Fight Club and Hitler (The Great Dictator).Fighting Fascism Today:Immigrant Defense ProjectACLUJVPKeeping Mental Health in Mind:NAMIMultiplied by One(Sorry this episode is late, Dylan moved and was using all their Executive Function on that.)

Shark Week (Bruhaha)! It might not still technically be Shark Week, but in our hearts Shark Week can be anytime, because we're always down to watch Shark Movies. In this, our Inaugural Megasode we're starting out with the film that got us into Shark Movies, and its very strange sequel: The Meg, and The Meg 2: The Trench. We follow Jason Statham, we mean Jonas Taylor, as he battles multiple big fucking sharks, among other creatures. We talk about science fiction, shark behavior and species, and the Jason Statham Cinematic Universe timeline, and of course, homoerotic tension.Help Real Sharks and Real Shark Research:Shark StewardsThe Shark TrustThe Shark Research Institute

Let's talk about grief, baby! This episode looks at two horror movies that are very much of a "the monster is a metaphor" variety that look into how big issues affect individuals, and how those individuals deal with grief: The Host (2006) and Talk to Me (2022). Content Warnings for discussions of Suicide, Murder, death, violence, grief, self-harm, parent death, child death, addiction, animal death, and related topics during our discussions of these two horror films.South Korean Environmental Orgs:Korea Federation for Environmental MovementKorea Environment InstituteChildren's Grief and Mental Health Orgs:Good GriefActive Minds

How deep can we dig into a DCOM? Deeper Still. This episode, Marin and Dylan are exploring movies that are to varying degrees influenced by classic literature. Or perhaps coming of age movies where the female protagonist should have been sapphic. There's not a real theme this episode, but there's sure a lot to discuss. Support some orgs:Bikers Against Child AbuseDolly Parton's Imagination LibrarySesame WorkshopSurfrider Foundation

What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to almost be human? Are we assimilating or passing? This episode, Marin and Dylan are tackling two iconic sci-fi movies from the 1980s; Blade Runner and John Carpenter's The Thing.Articles to Check Out:Looking into the Void in John Carpenter's The ThingNPR - DRC SlaveryOrganizations to Check Out:AIDS HealthcareAIDS UnitedBlack AIDSDiscovering AntarcticaAntarctic and Southern Ocean CoalitionSave the Children - DRCUNICEF - DRCDoctors without Borders - DRC

More girlboss superheroes! More Spider-heroes! More conversations about what makes a good superhero movie! Also: explorations of gender in superhero films, discussions of implicit/explicit queerness, reflections on the (super)hero's journey, and tropes surrounding female characters. This episode Marin and Dylan discuss Wonder Woman (2017) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).Donate:World Central KitchenSave the ChildrenTrans Continental PipelineOther Links:Don't Call the PoliceWomen and the Men Who Write ThemBorn Sexy Yesterday - The Popculture Detective

Happy Birthday Marin!For Marin's Birthday, Dylan and Marin discuss 2 movies that are EXACTLY as old as Marin! The Love Letter (1999) and Notting Hill (1999). What makes a good romcom? What makes a queer cult classic? Are all movies improved by the addition of a big shark?TW: Discussions of exploitation and sexualization of women, particularly those in the public eye. Support Rosie's PlaceSupport the National Coalition Against Domestic ViolenceFollow us on social mediaTiktok: @filmsthesedayspodInstagram: @filmsthesedays

Stunts! Action! Superheroes! Pointless Romantic Subplots! This week Marin and Dylan are diving into the world of action movies, superheroes, and the people who make them by watching Spider-Man (2002) and The Fall Guy (2024). Be a hero in your neighborhood by protecting the most vulnerable members of your community with these NYC based organizations:Sylvia Rivera Law ProjectImmigrant Defense ProjectSupport the unsung heroes of your favorite movies by checking out these stunt and film crew organizations:Entertainment Community FundBehind the ScenesFollow us on social mediaTiktok: @filmsthesedayspodInstagram: @filmsthesedays

This episode Marin, Dylan and special guest Zariyah (@theonlyzariyah on instagram) dive into historical magical realism and generational curses in Holes (2003) and Sinners (2025). No Kids in PrisonThe Innocence ProjectAAIHS - The Sinners Movie SyllabusHoodoo, Black Spirituality, and BluesThe Untold Story of America's Southern Chinese