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PODCAST

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.

Blending pop culture with personal storytelling, Close Watch gives host Robert Yaniz Jr. the chance to get to know guests through the movies they love. From emotional favorites like Field of Dreams and The Crow to beloved cult hits like The Wicker Man, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and The Big Lebowski, each episode offers a thoughtful deep dive discussion into how films both shape who we are and reflect who we’ve become.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

56:14

Justin Beck / Men in Black

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/08/27

More than 20 years ago, Men in Black cemented Will Smith's status as an A-list star. Moreover, director Barry Sonnenfeld's film kicked off a franchise that has been, creatively and financially, much like a starship crashlanding into a farm. Now, with the recent failure of Men in Black International in our wake, we take a closer look at what made that original film such a classic and explore why its follow-ups struggle to reach the same heights. Justin Beck of the Ditsy Comic Podcast joins the show

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01:00:40

Kim Stock Foster / Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/08/20

In the fourth installment of our retrospective on the Star Wars saga, we turn to the film that first introduced the world to the "galaxy far, far away." When Star Wars — excuse us, Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope — hit theaters in 1977, it cemented the concept of the summer blockbuster and has inspired generations of fans and filmmakers alike. Kim Stock Foster joins us to discuss the film's enduring legacy as well her experience seeing George Lucas' vision on the big screen during its initial

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01:10:58

Ashley Grant 2 / Fight Club

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/08/12

Rule-breakers unite! This week, we're going to be talking lots and lots of Fight Club. Director David Fincher's 1999 film didn't exactly set the world on fire during its theatrical run but has emerged as one of that year's most-talked-about releases ever since. Featuring Edward Norton as the unnamed narrator, Brad Pitt as the wily Tyler Durden and Helena Bonham Carter as the woman who gets between them, this adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's novel is both darkly hilarious and harrowing in equal

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01:09:50

Bianca Garner / American Psycho

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/08/05

Can't get a res at Dorsia? Well, you can always settle in with our analysis of director Mary Harron's killer satire American Psycho. Based on the 1991 Bret Easton Ellis novel, the film stars Christian Bale in his breakthrough role as investment banker Patrick Bateman, whose career amidst the excess of the late 1980s may have pushed him to engage in a murderous rampage. Bianca Garner — aka The Film Bee — of Filmotomy joins the show to discuss how the 2000 release brings a distinctive perspective on

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01:11:25

Michael Denniston / The Station Agent

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/07/29

Nowadays, Peter Dinklage may be known as the wily, heavy-drinking Tyrion Lannister he played for eight seasons on Game of Thrones. However, his breakthrough film role — 2003's comedy/drama The Station Agent — showcases a very different side of the actor who "drinks and knows things" throughout Westeros. Written and directed by Tom McCarthy (Spotlight, The Visitor), the film sees Dinklage as a curmudgeonly loner who finds himself thrust into a reluctant friendship with two other outcasts, played

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02:03:27

Jackson Smith 2 / Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/07/22

In the third installment of our retrospective on the Star Wars saga, Jackson Smith of Screen Fever helps out close out our look back at the prequel trilogy with an epic-length conversation about Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. After two films filled with cringe-inducing moments and misguided creative decisions, George Lucas finally explores the immediate events that transformed Anakin Skywalker from Hayden Christensen into the Dark Lord of the Sith everyone loves to hate. We'll delve

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01:03:54

Jeff Johnson / Dark City

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/07/15

Let's travel back to the late 1990s. Think of a sci-fi thriller that expertly wraps big ideas like the nature of reality, identity and human nature into a hyper-stylized environment heavily influenced by film noir. Now set aside your love for The Matrix because this episode we're talking all about Dark City. The 1998 film from director Alex Proyas (The Crow, I, Robot) — which shares some aesthetic and, in fact, production elements with the Wachowskis' release — may have been a box office

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01:30:16

Adam Barnard / Skyfall

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/07/09

Every generation has its Bond, and for today's moviegoers, Daniel Craig bears the iconic 007 code name. Although his four-film tenure (so far) has certainly been a rocky one, there's no denying that Craig's appearance as James Bond in director Sam Mendes' 2012 entry, Skyfall, is among the series' finest moments. From its stirring Adele-performed theme song to Javier Bardem's chilling villain to Roger Deakins' gorgeous cinematography, the film is a visual delight and bursting with rich themes and

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01:10:19

Robert Yaniz Jr. 2 / Who Framed Roger Rabbit (with...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/07/03

It's been a long while since Rob got the chance to take the reins of the Crooked Table Podcast (ever since the new format debuted in December 2018 with our Ace Ventura: Pet Detective episode). Now, with his birthday upon us, Rob — and returning guest Jeannine Yaniz — talk about one of his all-time favorite films, 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Director Robert Zemeckis's live-action/animated hybrid may be a technical feat that still holds up today, but it is also a formative film for our host. From

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01:04:49

Nell Minow / Some Like It Hot

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/06/25

Comedy, as they say, is relative. So it takes a very special film to not only make an impact in its own time but also remain one of the most beloved comedies of all time. Yet, director Billy Wilder struck gold when he assembled Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon for his 1959 comedy hit, Some Like It Hot. Named the best comedy film by the American Film Institute in 2000, Wilder's classic has remained a cinematic landmark, and we were so pleased to have Nell Minow of MovieMom.com and

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01:13:35

Pete Langhelt / Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/06/17

In the second installment of our retrospective on the Star Wars saga, Pete Langhelt of The Pete & Fran Podcast helps us separate the pains and joys that lie within Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones. As the middle chapter in the divisive prequel trilogy, this entry remains one of the most polarizing among fans. But, aside from its romantic subplot, does George Lucas' 2002 space opera hold up? Shake off your sand, and let's hop onto the nearest speeder. Begun the Clone War has. Every month

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01:13:21

Jon Cohorn / John Wick

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/06/10

In recent years, few action film franchises have proven to be as intense or as fascinating as John Wick. Fifteen years after Keanu Reeves unplugged from The Matrix, he found the role of a lifetime as an ex-assassin compelled back into an intricate criminal underworld governed by rules and consequence. We didn’t need a marker to lure Jon Cohorn, writer for Modern Horrors, on to the show to share his love for the 2014 film and its sequels, the latter of which is now currently in theaters. We’ll talk

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56:58

Dane Mychal / Sing Street

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/06/03

We've covered some HUGE films on the Crooked Table Podcast, but every once in a while, we like to shine the spotlight on those under-seen gems that have escaped the attention of mainstream audiences. And Sing Street is the perfect example of that. Written and directed by John Carney (Once), the film earned just over $3 million at the domestic box office but is still considered the best film of 2016 for both Rob and guest Dane Mychal of the CF3 Podcast. This 1980s-set coming-of-age story uses music

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01:03:55

Jamie Williams / Man on the Moon

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/05/27

We all think we know what to expect from Hollywood biopics. But every once in a while, a film distinguishes itself enough to break out, at least in part, from the mold that this genre usually adheres to. One such release came in 1999 with the release of director Milos Forman's Man on the Moon. Starring Jim Carrey as divisive actor and performance artist Andy Kaufman, the film takes a look at Kaufman's life and legacy, chronicling his rise and fall in Hollywood. That may seem like standard biopic

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01:29:47

Kimberly Cook / Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/05/20

On the tail of the film's 20th anniversary, Kimberly Cook — social media editor and writer for Monkeys Fighting Robots and Pop Axiom, respectively — hyperspaces onto the show to discuss Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. Thanks in large part to young Jake Lloyd and a certain bumbling Gungan, the film remains one of the most divisive entries in the saga. We discuss the film in depth, marking the beginning of our epic journey back into a "galaxy far, far away." Every month for the rest of

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59:56

Karen Peterson / Bridget Jones's Diary

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/05/13

This week on the show, Karen Peterson — co-host of the Citizen Dame Podcast and The Watch and Talk — joins us to discuss director Sharon Maguire's Bridget Jones's Diary. The 2001 romantic comedy, based on Helen Fielding's best-selling book, not only made Renee Zellweger a bonafide leading lady but earned the actress her first Academy Award nomination. We'll discuss what makes the titular character (and Zellweger's performance) so memorable, how Maguire's film cleverly reinterprets Jane Austen's

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02:15:34

Avengers Gonna Avenge (Avengers: Endgame SPOILERS...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/05/06

If you haven’t seen Endgame yet, see it this weekend. The spoiler ban lifts on Monday! Check out @GMA for the full video... pic.twitter.com/gGrvUgLL6k — Russo Brothers (@Russo_Brothers) May 2, 2019 Well, who are we to argue with the directors of Avengers: Endgame? After seeing the latest Marvel Studios epic at Thursday night previews, Rob and guest Kai Yaniz just had to share their in-depth — and SPOILER-filled — thoughts about the film. After all, much has been said about how Avengers: Endgame

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01:14:38

Angela Betancourt / The Wife

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/04/29

For decades, Glenn Close has turned in one acclaimed performance after another, but Oscar has continually eluded her. At last year's Academy Awards, that nearly changed. Close narrowly lost the Best Actress statuette for her tour-de-force performance in The Wife. Although Close herself earned critical praise, the film itself fell beneath the radar, earning less than $10 million at the domestic box office. Today we take a closer look at what The Wife has to offer. Angela Betancourt, host of 5 Things

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53:51

Avengers: The Beginning of the Endgame

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/04/27

We're in the Endgame now. So, before we launch into our lengthy, spoiler-filled conversation about Avengers: Endgame, Rob briefly runs through his thoughts on the previous 21 films (!) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From the original Iron Man to the groundbreaking success of this year's Captain Marvel, the folks over at Marvel Studios have created a cinematic achievement like no other. Eleven years ago, no one thought that it was possible to create an interconnected web of narratives, wrapping

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53:33

Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker Title...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/04/22

Listeners to the show — or, really, anyone within earshot — already know how much of an affinity Rob has for the Star Wars saga. The intergalactic battles and "space opera" melodrama of the Skywalker family have been attracting audiences for more than 40 years. So the fact that the franchise has long ranked among Rob's personal favorites shouldn't be much of a surprise. Over more than 40 years, George Lucas's "galaxy far, far away" has spawned countless films, television series, novels, comic

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227 results

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