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Surprise! Since next week marks the anniversary of when I started this podcast, I'm dropping this episode a few days early as a thank you for your support & listenership over the years. (Note: I haven't decided how to celebrate the date yet, but I think a good start would be not forgetting it like I usually do, haha.) Season 5 has kicked things off in a wonderfully nostalgic mode so far with several installments I've recorded about films of the '80s & '90s, which I'm hoping casts the same sort of warm, glowy, Gen X memory-filled spell on you that it did on me as I researched & prepped for these episodes. And who better to focus on for a look back at this era than John Cusack whose onscreen alter-ego so many of us grew up alongside?  Returning to the podcast to investigate is filmmaker & author Duncan Birmingham, who started revisiting Cusack's films towards the end of '23 & pitched this terrific idea to zero in on the Quintessential Cusack era from SAY ANYTHING...(1989) to HIGH FIDELITY (2000).  Citing multiple other films along the way, in this appreciative, analytical look back, we focus on his work in three other tremendous films including THE GRIFTERS, GROSSE POINTE BLANK, & BEING JOHN MALKOVICH. Giving plenty of love to his outstanding collaborators & including stories from our own lives & the way our relationships with these characters & films change with age, this is just the thing to queue up & maybe blast from your boombox in some sort of grand romantic declaration as you head into your weekend. Duncan's Bio: A writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, today's guest Duncan Birmingham was an executive producer and screenwriter for IFC's MARON and also served as a co-executive producer and writer on the Starz series BLUNT TALK. Additionally, Duncan's short films have premiered at festivals like Sundance and AFI, and his screenplay SWINGLES, which Paramount purchased, was also on The Black List. Recently, his lively, irreverent short-story collection THE CULT IN MY GARAGE was published by Maudlin House in 2021, & in '22, he wrapped & released his excellent first feature-length film as a writer-director called WHO INVITED THEM. Originally Posted on Patreon (2/23/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99081183

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. It's duos on duos this week on Midnight Run-Through as Blake & I are joined by two of our favorite fellow podcasters from The B-Side in the form of Conor O'Donnell & Dan Mecca, who join us to discuss our favorite duo of Grodin & De Niro in MIDNIGHT RUN. Similar to their past appearances on Watch With Jen, their enthusiasm & passion for filmmaking shines through in this sparkling, briskly-paced conversation. Originally Posted on Patreon (2/21/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/98938487

Although we had an early kickoff to our 2024 season with our episode dedicated to the work of Tom Wilkinson early in January, Watch With Jen listeners can consider this the official start of Season 5. Reuniting with my good friend & the senior editor of Letterboxd, the intelligent & highly articulate Mitchell Beaupre, in this delightful, research-filled feature-length conversation, we take a look at director Francis Ford Coppola's ambitious, messy, underrated, & often misunderstood '80s period, with emphasis on the films RUMBLE FISH, THE COTTON CLUB, ONE FROM THE HEART, & PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED. Mitchell Beaupre's Bio: I'm so pleased to welcome back to the podcast a talented, supportive, and funny friend. Currently based in Newark, Delaware, Mitchell Beaupre is not only the Senior Editor at one of my favorite services (via Letterboxd), but they're also the co-host of the Weekend Watchlist and Four Favorites podcasts, which you can find in the stream for The Letterboxd Show. Additionally, a prolific freelance film journalist and stellar interviewer for prestigious outlets such as "The Film Stage," "Paste Magazine," "The Playlist," and "Little White Lies," you can keep up with all of their impressive work on Twitter @ItIsMitchell. Originally Posted on Patreon (2/18/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/98710804 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Roses are red, violets are blue, & on Valentine's Day, you'll hear writer-producer Bryan Cogman & Screen Drafts podcaster Clay Keller on Midnight Run-Through. An engaging, wide-ranging celebration of a movie we love, settle in for a conversation that could've easily lasted twice as long. Originally Posted on Patreon (2/14/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/98475143

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. This week, I was delighted to introduce Blake to the hilarious & insightful author Adrian McKinty, who's penned the award-winning, internationally bestselling Sean Duffy detective novels plus THE CHAIN, & THE ISLAND.

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Episode 5 brings two dear friends, brilliant authors, & frequent Watch With Jen guests in the form of BEWARE THE WOMAN novelist Megan Abbott & SHOOT THE MOONLIGHT OUT author William Boyle onto the podcast. In this lightning-fast conversation where two duos from two Pandemic Movie Clubs come together, you'll hear Abbott & Boyle celebrate the heyday of HBO & also dissect the film as a screwball romcom. Originally Posted on Patreon (1/31/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/97569122

A podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. In the fifth episode, we finally bring MIDNIGHT RUN superfan & BOOGIE NIGHTS director Paul Thomas Anderson fully into the mix with our terrifically knowledgeable guests, author & Cinephile Game creator Cory Everett & the man who wrote the book on PTA via author Ethan Warren. Originally Posted on Patreon (1/24/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/97117158

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Episode four gave Blake & me the wonderful opportunity to chat with two of our dearest friends, crime writers & frequent Watch With Jen guests Jedidiah Ayres (Peckerwood) & Nikki Dolson (Love & Other Criminal Behavior). Originally Posted on Patreon (1/17/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/96635808

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. In the third episode of MIDNIGHT RUN-THROUGH, we were honored to be joined by two of the biggest fans of the movie that we've met, beloved TCM host Ben Mankiewicz and brilliant "Rolling Stone" critic Alan Sepinwall. This was a truly wonderful chat that I know you'll love! Originally Posted on Patreon (1/9/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/96186078

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. In the second episode of MIDNIGHT RUN-THROUGH, Blake & I are joined by veteran film critic & lawyer Nell Minow & the knowledgeable cinephile & essayist Peter Avellino. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment here & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Originally Posted on Patreon (1/3/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/95736859

Although Watch With Jen: Season 5 won't get into full swing until roughly February, we're returning early with a special episode devoted to honoring the life & career of the great British character actor Tom Wilkinson, whom we sadly lost over the weekend. Getting together for a Zoom on New Year's Eve with the always soulful & analytical Roxana Hadadi, we spent an hour celebrating the films & performances of Wilkinson, with particular emphasis on his Oscar-nominated turn in MICHAEL CLAYTON & the '90s ensemble favorite THE FULL MONTY. It's an ideal conversation to listen to with a pad & pen because Roxana & I reference multiple other movie & television roles throughout its running time. As we all start settling back into our post-holiday daily routines, we hope you enjoy this tribute to a legend, & find some new performances of his to seek out to kick off an inspiring year of viewings. Roxana's Bio: A TV critic with Vulture, who also writes about film & pop culture, previously Roxana was the film editor & a critic with Pajiba, & her reviews, essays, recaps, and other writing have also been published by The AV Club, Polygon, RogerEbert.com, The L.A. Times, Crooked Marquee, The Playlist, Fox Digital, GQ, & Inverse. Originally Posted on Patreon (1/2/24) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/95734421 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless Shop

Welcome to our podcast miniseries devoted to celebrating the 1988 contemporary classic, action buddy comedy MIDNIGHT RUN, written by George Gallo & directed by Martin Brest. Produced & hosted by Blake Howard & Jen Johans of One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen, respectively, each week, we’ll explore the film we first bonded over when we became friends in 2019 by surfing through an incredible roster of guests from journalists to novelists & beyond who love it as much as we do. In our inaugural episode, you'll hear from filmmaker BenDavid Grabinski & film critic Drew McWeeny. Now available wherever you get your pods, each week, you'll find a new installment on Patreon & in both the One Heat Minute Productions & Watch With Jen podcast feeds. Originally Posted on Patreon (12/27/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/95329626