I Was There Too

Film critics Amy Nicholson & Jen Yamato join Matt to talk about what it’s like to be a critic in today’s film climate. They discuss everything from their approaches to criticism to the hardest movies to review. Plus, we’ll hear about how they manage relationships and conflicts of interest, the problem with review aggregators, and the weirdness of Walmart’s film festival before they get into their film critic diets.

Trumpet player/banjo player/composer Jordan Katz (Drop the Mic) joins Matt and guest co-host Mark McConville to discuss being one of the students in the climactic school scene in 1992’s Scent of a Woman. Jordan talks about his experience watching Al Pacino reaching peak Pacino, getting scouted for the scene by someone’s mother who knew an agent in Long Island, and watching Philip Seymour Hoffman telling a whole room of teenagers to be quiet. Plus, Jordan shares why he was ultimately told to leave the set during the week of shooting.This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: WASTHERE) and Mubi.com.

Actress Amy Landecker joins Matt and guest co-host Amanda Lund to discuss her almost entirely cut role as an anesthesiologist in the 2016 Marvel film Doctor Strange. Amy describes what she expected from the project, the confusion that led to her character essentially being cut, and the one line of hers that made it in. Plus, she talks about working with the Coen Brothers on A Serious Man, bonding with the cast and crew of Transparent through “The Box,” and voice doubling for Julia Roberts.This episode is sponsored by  Mack Weldon  (code: IWTT).

Screenwriter and co-host of Scriptnotes podcast John August joins Matt to discuss the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 2003 film Big Fish. John talks about how he hadnt seen the 1971 Willy Wonka movie before writing the script, Johnny Depps original Alfred Hitchcock take on the Wonka character, and how his collaboration with Tim Burton started. Plus, John shares his process of method writing which helped him get in the right mindset while writing his new book Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire. This episode is brought to you by Mubi.com (www.mubi.com/WasThere).

Actress Riki Lindhome joins Matt to discuss her role as Mardell Fitzgerald in the 2004 Best Picture winner Million Dollar Baby. Riki talks about what it was like to work with Clint Eastwood as both an actor and a director, her origins with The Actors Gang, and the amazing food on set. Plus, Riki discusses her other projects such as The Last House on the Left and Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well as finding success through casting director workshops. This episode is sponsored by MUBI.

Actor Noah Segan returns this week and joins Matt to discuss his role as Kid Blue in the 2012 film Looper. Noah talks about how he ended up in the film, the origin of his nick name Kid Blue which existed before the film, and the story behind dropping his gun while twirling it. Plus, we hear about the incredible makeup work that went into Joseph Gordon-Levitts transformation into Bruce Willis. This episode is brought to you by Mubi (www.mubi.com/WasThere).