x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

56:32

Kai Yaniz 2 / Office Space

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/04/15

Anyone who has ever worked in corporate America knows exactly the kind of gold that writer/director Mike Judge struck when he released his 1999 comedy Office Space on the world. But 1999 audiences (who loved films like American Beauty and The Matrix) sure didn't, as the film was a box office flop. A lot has changed in the two decades since we all discovered TPS reports and suffered through the agony of being named Michael Bolton in the 1990s. So, this episode, financial guru and author Kai Yaniz —

en

01:24:35

Shazam!, Aquaman and Amending the DCEU (with Freddy...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/04/08

Just in time for the release of Shazam!, Freddy Yaniz joins us to talk about the state of the DC Extended Universe. After a rocky start marked by such divisive releases as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, DC's finest superheroes look to be finally getting their due. We'll dig into how James Wan's Aquaman fits into all this before launching into a full-on review of director David F. Sandberg's Shazam! Shazam! synopsis, courtesy of Warner Bros.: We all have a superhero inside

en

58:12

Jefferson Grubbs / mother!

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/04/01

In the past few years, few films have been as controversial as writer/director Darren Aronofsky's mother! So, this week, Jefferson Grubbs of the recently launched Oscar site Thin Gold Line joins us for a deep dive into the divisive psychological horror film. Love it or hate it, mother! — which stars Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem — is a rich cinematic experience loaded with possible interpretations. We'll get into how the film functions as both a Biblical allegory as well as a

en

01:02:37

Zach Mathews / Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/03/25

This week, Zach Mathews of the Proper Gentlemen Podcast stops by to marvel at Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the ninth entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Released in 2014, the film marked directors Joe and Anthony Russo's entrance into the franchise and solidified Chris Evans' Steve Rogers as one of the series' most beloved. With less than a month until the pivotal events of Avengers: Endgame, we'll discuss how The Winter Soldier factors into the Captain America trilogy (and the greater

en

01:01:59

Nguyen Le / Shoplifters

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/03/18

On this week's episode, Nguyen Le (of the Houston Chronicle and beyond) joins the Crooked Table Podcast to discuss writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest release, Shoplifters. The Japanese family drama triumphed at the Cannes Film Festival — winning the Palme d'Or — and competed as the nation's submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, ultimately losing to Roma. We'll discuss how Kore-eda's film, in some respects, fares better than Alfonso Cuaron's hit as a

en

01:32:45

Captain Marvel and the Feminist Ideal (with Kerri Jones)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/03/11

It's taken 21 movies, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe finally has its first solo female superhero. And Brie Larson's Captain Marvel has certainly been causing quite a splash in the lead-up to her big-screen debut. Now that she's here, we take it upon ourselves to investigate whether the film actually succeeds in bridging the Earth and cosmic sides of the MCU, how it plays into Avengers: Endgame and all that sweet, sweet 1990s nostalgia. Kerri Jones returns to the show to help us break down the

en

24:33

March 2019 Movie Preview

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/03/04

With several high-profile releases mere weeks from hitting the big screen, Rob decides to test a new concept in this week's episode. Rather than bringing on a guest to discuss a film of their choice, as normal, we take a look at the films hitting theaters throughout March 2019. It's that weird compromise between the relative dead period of the beginning of the year and the thick of the summer movie season (which, these days, really starts in late April). This month, Captain Marvel is set to take

en

45:22

Oscars 2019 in Review

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/02/25

Less than 24 hours after the 91st Academy Awards took place, Rob takes to the mic to vent/celebrate the Oscar wins. It was a big night for films like Green Book, Black Panther and Bohemian Rhapsody, much to many people's delight/dismay. But the evening also marked major wins for Roma, The Favourite, BlacKkKlansman and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. All in all, it was a rollercoaster ride of exciting moments (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's performance, Best Actress) and groan-inducing turns (oh,

en

01:05:19

Will Ashton / Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/02/25

In this week's episode, Rob welcomes Will Ashton, co-host of Cinemaholics, to the show to talk Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Based on the Roald Dahl book, the 1971 musical classic gave Gene Wilder the opportunity to embrace both warmth and mania and, in the process, created a cinematic icon. Not to mention one of the most ubiquitous memes the internet has ever seen. Despite being a box office disappointment, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has emerged as one of the most celebrated

en

51:27

Rodrick Colbert / Psycho

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/02/18

When it comes to cinema history, few filmmakers compare to Alfred Hitchcock. This week, Robert Yaniz Jr. and guest Rodrick Colbert (producer of the upcoming 2nd annual Sigmund Freud Film Festival) discuss Hitchcock's seminal 1960 classic Psycho. The film boasts not only one of cinema's most notorious twists but essentially serves as the original slasher film. Listen in as Rob and Rodrick talk about how the story of Norman Bates changed the industry and why it has stood the test of time. After nearly

en

54:14

Freddy Yaniz / The Matrix (PART TWO)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/02/11

In the second half of our milestone celebration, Robert Yaniz Jr. and Freddy Yaniz continue their deep dive into everything about The Matrix. Follow as we journey into the film's latter half, in which Neo and company embark on a perilous journey to save Morpheus from the sweat-sniffing machinations of Smith. Also, can Rob possibly stop himself from constantly referencing the sequels? Perhaps he can even convince Freddy to reload his opinion on the trilogy as a whole? So, bid farewell to the woman in

en

51:02

Freddy Yaniz / The Matrix (PART ONE)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/02/05

In Episode 100 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. welcomes back original podcast cohost Freddy Yaniz back to discuss their mutual favorite film of all time, The Matrix. The landmark 1999 film by The Wachowskis inspired both men to fall head over heels with cinema and remains one of the most significant science fiction films of all time. Are you ready to begin tumbling down the rabbit hole with us? Toss back that red pill and enter The Matrix. Welcome to the reel world. Stay tuned for

en

01:15:24

Jackson Smith / Eighth Grade

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/01/28

In Episode 99 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. welcomes Jackson Smith of Screen Fever to the show to discuss one of our favorite films of 2018 (no, really), writer/director Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade. Anchored by an all-too-real performance by Elsie Fisher, the film chronicles the final days in the life of your average middle-school girl. In his debut film, Burnham captures the terror and tragedy of being 13 in a coming-of-age drama like no other (and one that was recently robbed of

en

50:41

Oscars 2019 Nominations Reaction

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/01/25

In Episode 98 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. takes a break from the show's regular format for a BONUS on this year's crop of Oscar nominations. As always, the Academy snubbed many of the year's best films, while focusing their energies on less deserving, though more "Oscar-friendly," fare. But the fun of awards season is that anything can happen. The 91st Academy Awards is still roughly a month away, but this year promises to be unlike any ceremony in recent memory. With several

en

01:01:28

Kerri Jones / The Grandmaster

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/01/21

In Episode 97 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. brings Kerri Jones onto the show to discuss Wong Kar-wai's acclaimed 2013 action drama The Grandmaster. Based on the life legendary martial arts master Ip Man, the film stars Tony Leung as the man who would ultimately change the course of history by training a young Bruce Lee. The Grandmaster explores the events that led Ip Man to this destiny as well as his complicated relationship with Gong Er (Zhang Ziyi of Crouching Tiger, Hidden

en

58:32

Ashley Grant / Confidence

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/01/14

In Episode 96 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. welcomes writer and photographer extraordinaire The Famous Ashley Grant to the show. The longtime friends, former co-workers and fellow content creators discuss director James Foley's (Fifty Shades Freed) 2003 heist thriller Confidence. Edward Burns stars as a veteran confidence man who must pull off an impossible job when he and his team run afoul of a notorious crime boss, played gleefully by Dustin Hoffman. Released in the wake of

en

59:00

My Favorite Films of 2018

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/01/07

In Episode 95 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. sets aside the show's regular format to mark the end of 2018. The year in cinema has been jam-packed with tons of highlights, from the big studio fare to low-budget gems that many moviegoers may have missed. So join Rob as he reveals some of his favorite 2018 films. Thanks in part to the 2018 Holiday Binge, many strong contenders emerged for both Rob's top 10 as well as his honorable mentions. However, here is the rundown of a bunch of

en

01:02:23

Michael Hinman / American Beauty

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2019/01/01

In Episode 94 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. brings Michael Hinman — host of Alpha Waves Radio — onto the show to discuss his all-time favorite film, 1999's comedy/drama American Beauty. Winner of five Academy Awards (including Best Picture), the Sam Mendes-directed film is emblematic not only of the kind of fearless filmmaking that rarely breaks into the mainstream these days but also of the landmark year in cinema that was 1999. Kudos to screenwriter Alan Ball, whose work still

en

01:04:55

Jeannine Yaniz / White Christmas

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2018/12/24

In Episode 93 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. recruits his mom, Jeannine Yaniz, for her podcast debut, as they discuss the joys of the holiday season as well as the latter's long-standing love of the 1954 musical White Christmas. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, the film capitalizes on not only the enduring appeal of its four stars but the iconic titular song. As directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca), White Christmas is emblematic of the heyday of

en

01:19:36

Adam Barnard / Looper

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2018/12/17

In Episode 92 of the Crooked Table Podcast, Robert Yaniz Jr. brings Adam Barnard of Screen Fever back to the show to discuss writer/director Rian Johnson's 2012 sci-fi thriller Looper. After winning indie cred with Brick and The Brothers Bloom but before he became a target of online vitriol for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Johnson brought a wholly original vision of the future to life. Set in a grimy underworld where time travel has become primarily used by criminals looking to cleanly dispose of their

en

227 results

Similar Podcasts

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Nerd Culture - A Gamekings Podcast

Blammo Media

UPodcast

UPodcast

The Writers Hangout

Sandy Adomaitis

The Sarah Fraser Show

Sarah Fraser