Episodes

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
    Dec 3 2024
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
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    51 mins
  • Dave
    Nov 26 2024

    Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Kevin Kline. This one was a Patreon subscriber pick!

    Additional materials:

    • an article about the making of Dave
    • Kevin Kline plays Mr. Fischoeder in Bob's Burgers
    • "clever" as an insult in Fight Club
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    50 mins
  • The Candidate
    Nov 19 2024

    Is The Candidate, in fact, the anti-West Wing? A political story that ends not with a bang, but with a question of existential dread.

    • Interview with screenwriter Jeremy Larner in Brooklyn Magazine
    • The trailer for Downhill Racer (1969)
    • Jerry Seinfeld on Letterman: "You're rooting for clothes."

    Let us know what you thought of the film!

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    53 mins
  • A Face In The Crowd
    Nov 12 2024

    Did this movie predict Trump back in 1957? We discuss the film debut of Andy Griffith in a role so dark, anyone who knows the Andy Griffith show might experience some uncomfortable dissonance.

    Some goodies that came up in our conversation:

    • The dance of joy from "Perfect Strangers"
    • This essay about the film on the Criterion website
    • Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter in a great scene from Broadcast News
    • The 'ten-word-answer' scene from The West Wing

    What did you think of the film, on a scale of 1–10 grains of inert matter? Let us know!

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    52 mins
  • Network
    Nov 5 2024

    This week, we dive deeper into the role of the fourth estate, as we discuss Network, the Oscar-winning film that was meant to be a wild satire at the time it was released, but ended up uncannily predicting the future.

    Some additional reading material:

    Mad As Hell, Dave Itzkoff's book about Network

    Directors' Guild of America post about Sidney Lumet at a 2003 screening of Network

    Vanity Fair article on the legacy of Network (which includes thoughts from Aaron Sorkin)

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    1 hr
  • Bulworth
    Oct 29 2024

    This week, we're discussing the 1998 film Bulworth, which features a rapping Warren Beatty, a young Josh Malina, a few problematic moments, and some wonderful and strange ones, too.

    For a real treat, watch the music video for Ghetto Supastar, which also features a young Josh Malina!

    What did you think of Bulworth? Join the conversation over on our Patreon and let us know on a scale of 1–10 forced calls!

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    Oct 22 2024

    What's more terrifying in Martin Sheen's depiction of J. Edgar Hoover—the racism, or the makeup?! We discuss ALL the important aspects of this cat-and-mouse thriller, which was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Daniel Kaluuya.

    For additional viewing:

    • The Lucas Brothers
    • William O'Neal's full interview for Eyes on the Prize II

    Hoover and Sheen-as-Hoover, side by side:

    What did you think of Judas and the Black Messiah? Let us know on a scale of 1–10 simultaneously played saxophones over on our Patreon page, patreon.com/thewestwingweekly.

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    51 mins
  • Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
    Oct 15 2024

    This week, we're discussing the hilarious — and terrifying—Dr Strangelove.

    A few goodies:

    • An interview with title designer Pablo Ferro
    • "Are We the Baddies?" from That Mitchell and Webb Look

    George C Scott side-by-side with Tim Robinson (from I Think You Should Leave)

    Let us know what you thought of the film, on a scale of 1–10 precious bodily fluids! Join the conversation on our Patreon at patreon.com/thewestingwingweekly.

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    49 mins