Ruined Childhoods

Fritz Lang's first sound film may also be his most complex, despite having released Metropolis in 1927 to much acclaim. M is the story of a city that is worked into a frenzy when an elusive child murderer is on the loose and nobody can be trusted. The cops are determined to find the murderer and bring him to justice, but the city's criminal underworld wants to get to him first and serve their own justice so they can back to their life of crime without the cops always on their tail. Dan and Jon come up with fun ways to celebrate the 1931 classic in ways that feel appropriate given this is an important film not just in the world of film, but also when it comes to the rise of the Nazi party.Next episode: North by Northwest (1958)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com

Director Hal Ashby's first film is a clear prototype for what he has to come with films like Being There, Shampoo, & Harold and Maude, all satires with a focus on class inequality. The Landlord is a brilliant portrayal of upper classes whites gentrifying a Black neighborhood in Brooklyn, essentially looking into Prospect Park's actual future. Dan and Jon celebrate its place in cinema history and theorize how it could be reenvisioned today, years after life imitated art.Next episode: M (1931)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifyListen to Micheaux MissionSubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com

Dan and Jon GUSH over the 1971 Alan J. Pakula Neo-noir Klute and they are NOT shy about it! They also celebrate the amazing Jane Fonda, the tactile audio of 70s cinema, and the lost art of a slow pace. They also share their thoughts on how Klute could be revisited in the modern era.Next episode: The Landlord (1970)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com

We've been building up to this one for a few weeks and now it's time to talk about Jack and Jill, Adam Sandler's attempt at a dual role/gender comedy. It may be a disaster and a dark spot on Sandler's filmography, but it gives us one of the great Al Pacino performances.Next episode: Klute (1971)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com

Stellan Skarsgård and Al Pacino each star in their own version of the same story - a talented but troubled homicide detective may be forced to sway the results of an investigation to save his own ass. What makes it even more challenging? They're a fish out of water in a region where the sun never sets. Erik Skjoldbjærg and Christopher Nolan each give their take on Skjoldbjærg's original story resulting in two equally fascinating films. Dan and Jon share Al Pacino anecdotes and admire each film's strengths before chiming in with their own ideas on how Insomnia could be revisited.Next episode: Jack and Jill (2011)Watch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com

Marketed as a dysfunctional family romp, 1995's Home for the Holidays is actually a witty drama focusing on different generations' views on keeping up appearances, generational trauma, and minding your own damn business. Perhaps also overshadowed by a challenging production due to Robert Downey, Jr.'s substance abuse issues, this Thanksgiving film marks Jodie Foster's 2nd directorial effort, showing a strong perspective on family life when you're all the black sheep. Dan and Jon share their thoughts on how this film could be revisited 30 years later.Next episode: Insomnia (1997) / Insomnia (2002) • IWatch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com

In the 1950s, nobody paid too much attention to the films of Edward D. Wood, Jr, but his films hit cult status when they were rediscovered in the 70s & 80s. While some are simply low-budget b-movie schlock, one film is an ultra-personal exploration of his own gender identity. Now, Glen or Glenda is looked upon as an important landmark in queer cinema, specifically for the transgender community. Glen or Glenda also got additional attention after it was featured in the 1994 film Ed Wood, directed by one of Wood's admirers, Tim Burton. Dan and Jon celebrate the aspects of Glen or Glenda that make it special and imagine new ways to revisit this cult classic in the modern era.Next episode: Home for the Holidays (1995) • HWatch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com

The 90s were a golden era for high school movies, defying the standard set by John Hughes a decade prior. But few (if any) high school-set films capture the bizarre nature of student government better than Election, which skillfully weaves in the story of a civics teacher who diverts from his typical routine and lets his personal life interfere with the natural course of the student body. Broderick is back. Witherspoon gets legend status. And welcome to the acting world, Chris Klein, who was plucked from a Nebraska high school to star in his first movie.Next episode: F for Fake (1973) • FWatch this episode on YouTube or SpotifySubscribe to The WALT!Contact us, follow us on social media, or buy some merch at linktr.ee/RuinedChildhoods & RuinedChildhoodsPod.com