In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Labyrinth, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

The BTS team discusses the Kaufman/Jonze approach to absurdist comedy, how the swift pacing energizes the film, and why thematic... more

The BTS team discusses the Coen Brothers' first comedy outing, how the film's themes and character work ground the larger... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Mulholland Drive, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

The BTS team discusses the use of symbols, early Spielberg's approach to filmmaking, and how the harrowing third act left... more

We're launching our fall season, "Fall Favorites" with a new episode releasing every Friday! Each of us is bringing two... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Garden State, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

The BTS team discusses the film's attempt to connect multiple facets from the Alien franchise, the design and motivations of... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Alien 3, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

In this episode pulled from Patreon "Vault," the BTS team shares their thoughts on Avatar: The Way of Water. Originally... more

Part of the BTS team is joined by Ed Vega and Sven Pape to discuss the latest entry in the... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Twisters, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

The BTS team discusses focusing on character in a high concept blockbuster, the film’s kinetic pacing and energy, and how... more

The BTS team discusses the character design of Sam and Eric, the film's place as a prequel, and why a... more

The BTS team discusses the film's episodic structure, the design and goals of the three central characters, and the gloriously... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Inside Out 2, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the... more

We're launching our summer season, "Sequel Summer" with a new episode releasing every Friday! We'll be focusing on sequels (and... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on GoldenEye, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

The BTS team discusses how the final installment in the Bourne trilogy continues the fun spy games of the first... more

The BTS team discusses how Paul Greengrass continued what Doug Liman started, the theme of acceptance, and why the character... more

The BTS team discusses the style and tone The Bourne Identity brought to the action genre, how the plot and... more

We're launching our spring mini-season, "Spy Spring" with a new episode releasing every Friday! We're focusing on the Bourne trilogy,... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on The Talented Mr. Ripley, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to... more

The BTS team discusses how Christopher Nolan brings his unique filmmaking style to the biopic genre, when structural complexity can... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Fargo, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

The BTS team discusses the spectacle of a Denis Villeneuve cinematic experience, the film's structural choices, and what we might... more

The BTS team discusses the film's strong tone, how its structure invests the audience in both sets of character relationships,... more

The BTS team discusses what makes a good performance, the different styles of acting, actor-director relationships, and what kind of... more

The BTS team discusses the control of information, the constant raising of stakes and urgency, and question how exactly the... more

The BTS team discusses all things Bella—from her character journey, her evolution, and of course her masterful portrayal by Emma... more

The BTS team counts down our favorite films of the 1970s, discusses how the decade forever changed the cinematic landscape,... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Chinatown, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

We're launching our winter season, "Best Picture Winter" with a new episode releasing every Friday! We're going to examine some awards... more

The BTS team launches their "What We're Watching" series on True Detective: Night Country! For future episodes, head to the... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Home Alone, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

The BTS team discusses epic battle sequences, character motivations, accents, and whether or not the imminent director's cut can help... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Prometheus, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

The BTS team discusses Fincher's signature look and feel, attempts to unravel the film's themes, and examines the value of... more

The BTS team discusses Sofia Coppola’s ability to capture a feeling, how restraint can make small moments feel powerful, and... more

The BTS team discusses Sofia Coppola's focus on character and emotion, the choice to view the Lisbon girls through the... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Killers of the Flower Moon, the BTS team shares their initial reactions... more

The BTS team discusses the film's infamous twist, when the web of mysteries works and when it doesn't, and how... more

In our season premiere, the BTS team discusses David Fincher's place as one of our greatest modern auteurs, how Se7en... more

We're launching our fall season, "Auteur Autumn" with a new episode releasing every Friday. We're going to examine some of our... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Rear Window, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Dazed and Confused, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the... more

In our season finale, the BTS team discusses the juxtaposition between Barbieland and the real world, the similar conflict between... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, the BTS team shares their... more

The BTS team discusses how Christopher McQuarrie redirected the franchise, when the extreme in-camera action sequences work best, and what... more

The BTS team discusses what works and what doesn't work about Indy's final ride, how James Mangold's directing style pays... more

The BTS team discusses how J.J. Abrams and Brad Bird helped cement the look and feel of the franchise, the... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Asteroid City, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

The BTS team discusses the film that launched a multi-billion dollar movie franchise—Brian De Palma's stylish direction, the paranoia and... more

The BTS team discusses the film's gorgeous visual and sonic palette, the core themes and character arcs, and the meta-narrative... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Speed, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

We're launching a special summer season called "Summer: Impossible" with a new episode releasing every week, a deep dive into... more

The BTS team is joined by VFX Supervisor Alex Wang to discuss how The Last of Us blends practical and... more

In this episode pulled from Patreon "Vault," the BTS team shares their thoughts on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of... more

The BTS team discusses Paul Thomas Anderson's heavily stylized filmmaking, the function of the interwoven character web, the surreal conclusion,... more

The BTS discusses the contradictory nature of the central characters, the ever-present themes of home and reality, and the differences... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the BTS team shares their initial... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Spotlight, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

The BTS team counts down our favorite films of the 1980s, discusses the strange turn pop culture took during this... more

The BTS team discusses the film's roots in Martin McDonagh's history as a playwright, the story's strong thematic undercurrent, and... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on 10 Things I Hate About You, the BTS team shares their initial... more

The BTS team discusses how the original Rocky started it all by ensuring character comes first, how Creed rebooted the... more

The BTS team discusses The Breakfast Club's archetypal-yet-three-dimensional cast of characters, the antagonist handoff at the film's midpoint, and the... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Little Miss Sunshine, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the... more

The BTS team discusses Fincher's take on the original Swedish novel and film, how it efficiently delivers story and character... more

The BTS team discusses Rian Johnson's satire on new money, how and when the story reveals information, and of course,... more

In this episode pulled from Patreon "Vault," the BTS team shares their hot takes on Top Gun: Maverick. Originally released... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Avatar: The Way of Water, the BTS team shares their initial reactions... more

The BTS team discusses how Elf delivers on its premise, the pacing and structure of the character beats, and why... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to... more

The BTS team discusses Avatar's astounding technical achievements, how it challenges the traditional hero's journey, and the disconnect between the... more

John Truby (author of one of our favorite screenwriting books, The Anatomy of Story) joins us to talk about his... more

The BTS team discusses The Truman Show's steady reveal of information, the design of the protagonist—by both the filmmakers and... more

The BTS team discusses the complex character web, the shared theme present in each character's arc, and the early days... more

The BTS team discusses the design of the central characters, the film's masterful use of setup and payoff, and which... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Saving Private Ryan, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the... more

The BTS team discusses 28 Days Later's stylized aesthetic, how the alternate endings help contextualize the theme, and how the... more

The BTS team discusses the enigmatic character design of Andy Dufresne, the film’s vignette story structure, and the devastating one-two... more

The BTS team discusses Lady Bird's vignette format and pacing, the characters' complicated relationships, and how a 350 page script... more

The BTS team discusses how Ridley Scott's masterpiece manages to work despite ignoring several common screenwriting rules, the unforgettable tone... more

Part of the BTS team is joined by Tom Van der Linden and Thomas Flight, co-hosts of the podcast Cinema... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Nope, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen to... more

The BTS team discusses the design of the film's dual protagonists, the escalation of the stakes and pacing, and the... more

The BTS team discusses Jordan Peele’s use of horror genre expectations, examines the film’s many setups and payoffs, and manages... more

The BTS team discusses Thor: Ragnarok's place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, how its themes explore colonialism and family dynamics,... more

The BTS team discusses the film's frenetic pacing, the use of voiceover narration, the design of the central characters, and... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Top Gun: Maverick, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the... more

The BTS team discusses the ambitious premise, filmmaking, and story web, the design of the central characters, and how the... more

The BTS team discusses Contact’s strong themes, the fairytale-like quality to Robert Zemeckis’ films, Jodie Foster’s amazing performance, and the... more

The BTS team discusses Top Gun’s high-octane story world, the incredible flight sequences, and of course, why we all love... more

The BTS team discusses the movie's insane action sequences, the character design of the Parr family, and how The Incredibles... more

The BTS team discusses the film's episodic nature and what makes it still feel cohesive, the simple yet complex themes,... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on Starship Troopers, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

The BTS team discusses the kinetic direction and screenwriting of the pilot episodes, the dimensionality of the show's many characters,... more

The BTS team discusses Memento's place as a modern noir mystery, its careful control of information, and of course, the... more

The BTS team discusses Mirabel’s character design, the function of the memorable musical numbers, and how a story with low... more

The BTS team discusses the film's place in history, the character design of the story's central love triangle, and what... more

The BTS team discusses CODA's masterful character web, how the execution gives the film an elevated feel, and—as the episode... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on The Batman, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the film. Listen... more

The BTS team discusses the ways in which Steven Spielberg's remake borrows from the 1961 film, how the filmmaking and... more

The BTS team pulls an episode from the Patreon vault—their discussion of No Time To Die, the conclusion to Daniel... more

The BTS team explores the film's rich character web, the plot's constantly building tension, and how the story explores the... more

The BTS team explores J.J. Abrams' ambitious reboot/sequel/prequel of the Star Trek franchise: the emotionally charged opening sequence, the recasting... more

The BTS team answers questions in celebration of hitting 1,000 Patrons! How do you maintain aesthetic cohesion in a script?... more

The BTS team discusses the film's strong theme, how the character web is designed to challenge the belief systems of... more

The BTS team discusses Paul Thomas Anderson's dream-like filmmaking style, how the film responds to traditional romantic comedies, and the... more

The BTS team discusses the long history of the Star Wars saga: its origins, the multiple changes the series has... more

The BTS team discusses Michael Corleone's redemption arc, Vincent and Mary's clunky romance, the joys of a good revenge sequence,... more

The BTS team discusses Vito’s and Michael’s dual character arcs, the film’s labyrinthine plot and ambiguous ending, and how The... more

The BTS team discusses The Godfather's complex plot and deliberate pacing, the film's iconic midpoint, and why Michael Corleone's arc... more

The BTS team launches their third "What We're Watching" series on the Disney+ show, "The Book of Boba Fett." 🎬 Join... more

The BTS team pulls an episode from the Patreon vault—their discussion of the 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. 🎬 Join... more

In this preview of our patron-exclusive episode on The Matrix Resurrections, the BTS team shares their initial reactions to the... more

The BTS team discusses how Die Hard changed action movies, why Hans Gruber is such a compelling antagonist, and what... more

The BTS team discusses what went wrong, what went right, and what can be learned from this third chapter in... more

The BTS team talks about the challenges that come with sequels, the successes of the car chase scene, and why... more