Crooked Table Podcast

It ends tonight. Yup, it's time for part 2 of our discussion on The Matrix sequels. Jackson Smith is back to talk The Matrix Revolutions. After the Matrix-y hijinks of its predecessor, this third chapter takes a more "real world" approach. But does it deliver a satisfying close to the trilogy? We'll get to all that -- and Hugo Weaving's hammy AF performance -- in the ultimate The Matrix Revolutions discussion. SYNOPSIS In a dystopia overrun by robots, Neo (Keanu Reeves), mankind's greatest hope, is trapped in a limbo world. Meanwhile, the majority of the planet's population remains in a state of suspended virtual reality. The few humans who are cognizant of the grim realities of the world desperately try to hold off their mechanical enemies long enough for Neo to escape and save the day, but things turn disastrous when all-powerful computer program Smith (Hugo Weaving) arrives in the flesh. SHOW NOTES Join the Crooked Table Patreon: Patreon.com/CrookedTable Subscribe to the Crooked Table Podcast on Ap

As we catch up with the remaining chapters of The Matrix trilogy, it seemed like the perfect time to share a bit of bonus content. This episode features a collection of outtakes recorded during our two-part, 100th episode extravaganza on The Matrix with guest Freddy Yaniz. Until now, this bonus episode was only available to Patreon subscribers. But now as a holiday season treat, we provide it here in the main feed. Stay plugged in for more bonus content in 2021, and check back soon for part 2 of our discussion on The Matrix sequels, covering The Matrix Revolutions. SYNOPSIS Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes an elusive figure named Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) can answer his question: What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life. SHOW NOTES

The Matrix has you (again). In this first half of our two-part discussion on the sequels, Jackson Smith -- our own Agent Smith, so to speak -- joins the show to examine The Matrix Reloaded. We'll cover whether the movie is a smooth transition from the first film, its wild action sequences, and why even its haters need to pay The Matrix Reloaded a revisit now. SYNOPSIS Freedom fighters Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) continue to lead the revolt against the machine army. The trio unleash their arsenal of extraordinary skills and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation. In their quest to save the human race from extinction, they gain greater insight into the construct of the Matrix and Neo's pivotal role in the fate of mankind. SHOW NOTES Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over at Patreon.com/CrookedTable Subscribe to the Crooked Table Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that you never miss a moment! Lis

It all ends (finally). But now Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 has brought the saga of The Boy Who Lived to an appropriately epic conclusion. Guest Ryan McQuade returns to the show to help us bid farewell to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and She-Who-Must-Not-Be Named with our very last episode on the Harry Potter series. Coming in 2021: we enter the ring with Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, and the Rocky franchise! SYNOPSIS A clash between good and evil awaits as young Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) prepare for a final battle against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Harry has grown into a steely lad on a mission to rid the world of evil. The friends must search for the Horcruxes that keep the dastardly wizard immortal. Harry and Voldemort meet at Hogwarts for an epic showdown with the forces of darkness. SHOW NOTES Listen to our Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone episode featuring Bri Azmoudeh of Geeky Girl Gab! Check out our Harry Potter and

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has to be one of the most adapted literary works of all time. But the story of Ebenezer Scrooge has never been told quite like this. Bill Murray leads a "modern" take on Dickens' work in 1988's Scrooged. And Kim Stock Foster brings the holiday classic to the Table to explain why the movie's poignant message and comedic sensibility makes Scrooged her favorite Christmas movie. SYNOPSIS In this modern take on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life, Claire Phillips (Karen Allen). But after firing a staff member, Eliot Loudermilk (Bobcat Goldthwait), on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and right the wrongs of his past. SHOW NOTES Donate to Stand Down this holiday season: https://standown.org/ Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over

Nowadays, martial arts feel like a distinct part of the fabric of Hollywood action movies. But that wasn't always the case. In fact, if not for Bruce Lee and his iconic 1973 hit Enter the Dragon, the state of the entertainment industry might look a whole lot different. Robert Dean joins the show to take a look at how Enter the Dragon has held up since its release. We'll discuss how influential the movie has proven to be, how it captures Lee's own personal philosophy, and whether it would have kicked off a movie series if Lee had lived longer. So grab some nunchucks and brace yourselves for the virtuosity of Bruce Lee in his most famous role, the unforgettable Enter the Dragon. SYNOPSIS Lee (Bruce Lee) is a martial artist determined to capture the criminal whose gang caused his sister's death. Lee enters a kung fu competition, attempting to fight his way to the dealer's headquarters with the help of some friends. SHOW NOTES Join the Crooked Table Crew by becoming an official patron over at Patreon

2020 is nearing a close. And with it, the Crooked Table Podcast is almost finished with its ill-timed deep dive into the Harry Potter franchise. In 2010's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, the stakes have never been higher. We knew a fresh perspective was required to deliver the exciting, frank conversation this series of episodes needs. And so Lyndsey Cole joins the show to break down whether this penultimate Harry Potter adventure achieves the epic scope it aims for. We'll discuss which young star is actually the weakest of the three actors, how Deathly Hallows Part 1 emphasizes character over action, and what sequence is perhaps the best bit of filmmaking in the entire series. The ultimate battle of good and evil -- or at least the lead-up to it -- is afoot. So pull a chair up to the Table and join us for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. SYNOPSIS Without the guidance and protection of their professors, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) b

When the podcast relaunched in December 2018, it did so with the goal of bringing new voices -- and therefore a wide range of movies -- to the forefront. That's certainly the case with this episode, which highlights the unjustly forgotten 1954 release Salt of the Earth. The movie has since fallen into the public domain and is available to watch on YouTube. Rosa Parra of Latinx Lens joins the show to discuss why Salt of the Earth is such a vital part of cinema history. We'll discuss how the movie involved real-life miners in the production, why its feminist perspective is still progressive by today's standards, and whether the film suffers because it is not directed by a Latin filmmaker. So fill out the blind spot you didn't even know you had by checking out director Herbert J. Biberman's Salt of the Earth. SYNOPSIS At New Mexico's Empire Zinc mine, Mexican-American workers protest the unsafe work conditions and unequal wages compared to their Anglo counterparts. Ramon Quintero (Juan Chacón) helps orga

Even though we just covered Hamilton in our first-ever Crooked Roundtable, we're not quite ready to move on from musicals just yet. So this episode, we're discussing one of the most beloved big-screen musicals of all time: 1952's Singin' in the Rain starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Ryan McQuade returns to the show to help us break down why Singin' in the Rain is such a joyous and unforgettable experience. We'll discuss the behind-the-scenes drama, how the film comments on real-life cinema history, and -- of course -- the indelible music, many of which debuted in earlier films. So put your dancing shoes on, grab an umbrella, and get ready to tap your way through that shower with Singin' in the Rain. SYNOPSIS When silent films begin to transition to "talkies," everyone has trouble adapting. Don (Gene Kelly) and Lina (Jean Hagen) have been cast repeatedly as a romantic couple. But when their latest film is remade into a musical, only Don has the voice for the new singing part. Aft

We were willing to wait for it. Now the time has finally come to cover the Disney+ release of Hamilton. But how best to commemorate the "ten-dollar Founding Father without a father"? Surely, with the pop cultural impact of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical, we wouldn't be satisfied with just another regular episode. Instead, we assembled a panel of epic Hamilfans to blow our listeners away. In our first-ever Crooked Roundtable discussion, Michael Hinman, Candace Kaw, Mandy Lake, and The Lady-Wan talked non-stop about everything Hamilton. We'll discuss whether Aaron Burr (sir) is really the show's villain, how Miranda turned the world upside down with an introduction to hip hop history, and why we're all helpless to stop ourselves from obsessing over this epic musical. So strap in for a two-part deep dive into how Miranda used rhyme and American history to tell a moving tale of legacy and created a phenomenon in Hamilton. SYNOPSIS Filmed from the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York, the origina

It's the most terror-filled time of the year. This episode, we're taking a look at one of the most influential horror films of the 2000s: James Wan's 2004 release Saw. In addition to seven (soon-to-be eight) sequels, the film kickstarted Wan's directing career long before Insidious, The Conjuring, Furious 7, and Aquaman. But is Saw just a disposable bit of "torture porn" like so many of its imitators? Lucy Buglass joins the show to help us tear into that very question. We'll discuss how Saw serves as a springboard for not only Wan but also screenwriter/star Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man). And we'll consider whether the first film's legacy is upheld by its sequel. We'll even ask the question everyone has been wondering for the better part of 20 years: did Saw invent escape rooms? So keep your pig mask handy, queue up your creepy puppets, and prepare yourself for a modern horror classic. We want to play a game. And it's Saw. SYNOPSIS Photographer Adam Stanheight (Leigh Whannell) and oncologist Lawre

The end is drawing nearer as our ill-timed Harry Potter series trudges ahead. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince may opt for love-potion hijinks over grim flashbacks. But the movie still gives audiences a delightful turn by Oscar winner Jim Broadbent, potions galore, and a taste of the Harry-Dumbledore buddy movie we could have gotten instead. Kai Yaniz returns to the show after reading the books for the first time just a year ago. And she has some thoughts on how director David Yates adapts the source material. We'll cover Draco Malfoy's moral dilemma, Voldemort's dark past, and how Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince keys up the epic two-part conclusion to The Boy Who Lived's magical saga. SYNOPSIS As Death Eaters wreak havoc in the Muggle and Wizard worlds, Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for students. Though Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) suspects there are new dangers lurking within the castle walls, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is more intent than ever on preparing the young wizard for the fin

Christian Bale might have played the Dark Knight for director Christopher Nolan. But his real superpower as an actor is his ability to play cold, emotionally detached characters such as American Psycho's Patrick Bateman. And building off of that iconic performance, Equilibrium thrusts Bale full-on into dystopian sci-fi. But, y'know, with "gunkata." Returning guest Jon Cohorn previously brought the gun-toting martial arts of John Wick and the underrated sci-fi of Event Horizon to the Table. Now he combines the two with writer-director Kurt Wimmer's 2002 film Equilibrium. And for a film most moviegoers have never even heard of, it has a hell of a lot of relevance to today's world. SYNOPSIS In a futuristic world, a regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions. Books, art, and music are strictly forbidden, and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Christian Bale) is a top-ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist these rules. When he misses a dose of Pr

Long before Liam Neeson let the world know about his "very particular set of skills," he was Darkman. The cult classic from director Sam Raimi even predates Neeson's Star Wars and Batman Begins days. Yet, in many ways, it feels like it belongs to the initial comic book movie boom of the early 2000s. Kevin Smith joins the show to discuss why Darkman is such a well-kept secret, how it's a critical turning point for Raimi's career, and why Hollywood should dust off the franchise. We'll also cover Oscar winner Frances McDormand, the late great Larry Drake, and that pink elephant. He's everyone and no one. Everywhere and nowhere. But this episode, you can call him Darkman. SYNOPSIS When thugs employed by a crime boss lead a vicious assault on Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), leaving him literally and psychologically scarred, an emergency procedure allows him to survive. Upon his recovery, Westlake can find solace only by returning to his scientific work developing synthetic skin, and seeking revenge agai

The real-life political climate bleeds into the Wizarding World this week. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is very much a political commentary. So guest Amy Otero and I did our very best to stay focused on the movie at hand. As it turned out, neither of us realized just how relevant director David Yates' first Harry Potter movie would be. If Year Four represents Harry's loss of innocence, then this next film sees the boy wizard and his friend brave the dark and complex real world for the very first time. We'll talk about how Dumbledore's Army speaks to today's world, why Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge is worse than Lord Voldemort, and what Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) brings to the group. So get ready to be inducted into a secret society of wizard revolutionaries because darkness is on the rise. It's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. SYNOPSIS Now in his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) learns that many in the wizarding community do not know the truth of his encou

What comes to mind when you think of John Carpenter? Most people probably go straight to classic horror films like Halloween or The Thing. Or perhaps cult sci-fi thrillers such as Escape from New York and They Live. The point is, we're willing to bet few would think Carpenter had a romantic sci-fi drama in him. And yet Starman exists. Starring Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen -- who we just covered in our Raiders of the Lost Ark episode -- the 1984 release barely broke even at the box office. Yet, it remains critically beloved and, according to this episode's guest, the ultimate comfort movie during the insanity that is 2020. JC of Screen Fix joins us to discuss why Starman is a forgotten gem of the 1980s. We'll get into where the unlikely film fits in Carpenter's career, the chemistry between Bridges and Allen, and -- of course -- why Starman shines so very bright in today's world. So join us as we hitch our crooked wagon to Carpenter's Starman. SYNOPSIS Answering a NASA message intended, an alien trie

After spending all of 2019 covering the Star Wars saga, we finally crack the whip on George Lucas' other beloved creation finally. Together with director Steven Spielberg and star Harrison Ford, Lucas created one of cinema's most iconic action heroes in Indiana Jones. That's right. This episode, it's all Raiders of the Lost Ark. Craig Price of Matinee Heroes joins the show to discuss that 1981 adventure film. And along the way, we'll discuss just about everything else about the Indiana Jones series too. From the undeniable impact of Raiders itself to whether director James Mangold (Logan) has what it takes to make the fifth -- and presumable final -- entry in the series. So listen in as we discuss the original Indy movie and his subsequent adventures too! SYNOPSIS In this epic tale, an intrepid archaeologist (Harrison Ford) tries to beat a band of Nazis to a unique religious relic which is central to their plans for world domination. Battling against a snake phobia and a vengeful ex-girlfriend (Karen

Great Scott! It's time for the Crooked Table Podcast to go Back to the Future! We don't need money, fame, or even a flux capacitor to travel through the space-time continuum to discuss this classic. In fact, while we have the Delorean all fired up at 88mph, we'll even look back at director Robert Zemeckis' entire trilogy. Vanessa Taylor from The Geeky Waffle helps us tackle the original 1985 sci-fi comedy that introduced audiences to Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). We'll talk about why the movie is so damn perfect, explore whether it's problematic in today's day and age, and reflect on how Zemeckis and co-writer Bob Gale crafted such an influential trilogy. So watch out for lightning storms because things are about to get heavy. This episode, it's all about the Back to the Future trilogy! Even if you aren't ready for this episode yet, your kids are going to love it. SYNOPSIS Back to the Future: In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly (Michae

After nearly three decades away from their breakthrough roles, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return for Bill and Ted Face the Music. Having previously covered Reeves' The Matrix and John Wick, there's no way we were going to pass up this most triumphant opportunity to pull off a Keanu hat trick. With the help of Chris Scalzo of The First Run podcast, we travel all the way back to 1989 to discuss Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Then, before heading out of the Circuits of Time, we stop off at 1991's Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. Finally, we'll talk about what we hope to get out of the Wyld Stallyns' long-awaited third adventure. So be excellent to each other, party on, and get ready a trip to Hell and back with Bill, Ted, and the Crooked Table Podcast. In closing... San Dimas High School football rules! Station! SYNOPSIS Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure: Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are high school buddies starting a band. However, they are about to fail their history class, which mean

It's that time again as we charge through Platform 9 and 3/4 for another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This month, we're taking a look at the fourth entry in the Harry Potter series, 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. As fans know, this is the entry where the stakes really kick into gear, propelling towards the inevitable conclusion. So to help us break down the pivotal installment of Harry's story, original Crooked Table Podcast co-host Freddy Yaniz joins us. We'll discuss how the film's many shocking twists, why the relationship drama matters, and when exactly viewers are supposed to suspect what's really going on at the Triwizard Tournament. So grab your Portkey, steer clear of hedge mazes, and sharpen up your Expeliarmus skills as The Boy Who Lived comes face to face with destiny in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! SYNOPSIS The fourth Harry Potter movie sees Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along with his friends, Ro