Getting swept up in the stylish pageantry, big or small, of a wedding grabs audiences consistently and well. Curiously, My Mother’s Wedding unfurls as a dramedy where the nuptials in question might be the most inconsequential part of the movie. That’s not a bad thing, as it has happened before in celebrated wedding movies, so long as the film has more to say or is interesting elsewhere. Actress Kristen Scott Thomas’s directorial debut generously tries its hand at offering more than just pure ceremony.

PODCAST: Episode 207 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 207th episode, two long-driving film critics, two short-putting dads, and two gold jacket-wearing teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan have kept returning guest, Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front and Film Obsessive, to talk about one more summer entertainment target. They bit the nostalgia bug to experience Netflix's Happy Gilmore 2, celebrating the return of comedy legend Adam Sandler to one of his most hallowed characters. The trouble was the 10 pounds of cameo-rich, checkbox-filling sugar that was stuffed in a 5-pound bag.

PODCAST: Episode 206 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 206th episode, two invisible film critics, two rocky dads, and two stretchy teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, visit Marvel's next summer blockbuster, the hotly anticipated The Fantastic Four: First Steps. They are not along, either. The hosts welcome back frequent guest, Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front and Film Obsessive, to weigh in on all of the family dynamics and kitschy period-era style. They were ready for a no-homework Marvel movie

PODCAST: Episode 205 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 205th episode, two mask-pulling film critics, two special agent dads, and two stuntman teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, return for their second of four retrospective episodes discussing the Mission: Impossible franchise. Covering the next two, this episode breaks down the J.J. Abrams entry, Mission: Impossible III from 2006 and the Brad Bird live-action graduation of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol from 2011.

PODCAST: Episode 204 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 204th episode, two heroic film critics, two hopeful dads, and two cape-wearing teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, vault their podcast up in the sky to address the hotly anticipated and hot button summer blockbuster, Superman, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet in the tights and spectacles. Our hosts are unafraid to celebrate the movie and address the so-called controversies.

PODCAST: Episode 203 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 203rd episode, two list-making film critics, two highly ranked dads, and two Top 100 teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, take this new episode as an editorial chance to talk about the hubbub created in the cinephile world recently when The New York Times asked for public input to create a master list of the Top 100 films of the 21st Century so far (never mind that there's still six months of 2025 left, but I digress). The hosts highlight their official Top 10 submissions, comparing similarities and differences, and seeing which of their picks made the final list.

MOVIE REVIEW: Finally Dawn

Finally Dawn hinges on the collision between fandom and stardom. Even being set far before today’s times of social media-driven celebrity access and a massive cycle of multi-pronged tabloid coverage, the matinee stars of cinema still carried a hold over awestruck commoners. Their mere public presence added to their legend. Finally Dawn grants a fan a night with her idols, a scenario that radiates with potential dream fulfillment.

MOVIE REVIEW: Eternal

When done well, the emotional catharsis of human stories within peril can be just as impactful as the escapism and heroics, all without sacrificing the heady science fiction of the premise. The Danish film Eternal, enjoying a limited theatrical release after a run on the festival circuit, has this particular sort of ambitious aim.

2023, 2025, Foreign Film, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, 3 STARSDon ShanahanJuly 10, 2025EternalComment

PODCAST: Episode 202 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 202nd episode, two sneak-attacking film critics, two camoflauged dads, and two warrior teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, draw their swords and pistols on the frequently-mentioned Predator franchise on the podcast. In June, Hulu released the stunningly animated Predator: Killer of Killers, which continues the new stewardship of writer-director Dan Trachtenberg, who put Predator back in the intimating and scary side of cinema with Prey a few years ago.

PODCAST: Episode 201 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 201st episode, two mask-pulling film critics, two special agent dads, and two stuntman teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, begin a group of retrospective episodes reflecting on the recently finalized Mission: Impossible franchise. Taking them a pair at a time, this first episode covers Brian De Palma's Mission: Impossible from 1996 and its wild 2000 sequel M:I-2 from director John Woo. Will and Don are united in praising these two standalone adventures that flaunted what made Tom Cruise and this series interesting and cool before the larger and increasingly overinflated arc would take over later.

PODCAST: Episode 200 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their historic 200th episode, two detective-minded film critics, two dream theory dads, and two noir-loving teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome Chicago-based film critic and artist Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists to compare two examples of poisonous Hollywood settings separated by decades and mere blocks of postal addresses. Our trio compares the dangerous and pervasive themes to be found in David Lynch's revered 2001 fever dream Mulholland Drive versus Billy Wilder's salaciously seminal 1950 dark comedy Sunset Boulevard.

PODCAST: Episode 199 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 199th episode, two altruistic film critics, two anagram-loving dads, and two hacker school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, tuck themselves into the warm sheets of the 1990s with the steady 1992 hit, Sneakers. Directed by Field of Dreams director Phil Alden Robinson and top-lined by the Oscar-winning duo of Robert Redford and Sidney Poitier, this little pre-internet cyber caper has charm for days, topics that have held up in 30+ years, and perfect ensemble cast.

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