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

01:09:08

'The Big Lebowski' (feat. Kerri Jones)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/12/17

Call him The Dude, His Dudeness, El Duder, or even El Duderino (if you're not into the whole brevity thing). Whatever you call Jeff Bridge's loveable hipster hero in The Big Lebowski, he's certainly become a cinematic icon. This episode, Kerri Jones joins the show to help us break down the ethos of The Dude, what it has to say about the culture (and counter-culture), and why so many fans seem ready and willing to convert to Dudeism. SYNOPSIS Jeff "The Dude" Leboswki (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken

en

01:12:36

'Time Bandits' (feat. JC from Screen Fix)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/12/16

Who needs parents when there's adventure? That seemed to be the philosophy of fantasy films in the 1980s. And as it turns out, 1981's Time Bandits might be the granddaddy of all those fan-favorite cult classics. JC from the Screen Fix podcast joins the show as we talk about how Time Bandits influenced fantasy-adventure films, what the movie really says about childhood versus adult, and that completely bonkers ending. SYNOPSIS Young history buff Kevin (Craig Warnock) can scarcely believe it

en

01:14:22

'Do the Right Thing' (feat. David Snyder)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/12/15

Spike Lee is without a doubt one of the most essential filmmakers of his generation. And 1989's Do the Right Thing is widely considered his masterpiece. So this episode, we're giving this indelible classic its due. David Snyder joins the show as we discuss Lee's ground-breaking use of hip hop in the film, his stellar ensemble cast, and how Do the Right Thing balances a variety of tones to create something wholly unique. SYNOPSIS Salvatore "Sal" Fragione (Danny Aiello) is the Italian owner of a

en

01:21:21

'The Wicker Man' (1973) (feat. Amy Otero)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/12/14

The Wicker Man has gotten a bad rap in recent years, thanks to the widely ridiculed 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage. But this episode, we're setting aside the "not the bees!" jokes for a closer look at the original 1973 classic. Amy Otero joins the show to go in-depth on The Wicker Man. We'll discuss its representation of pagan culture, how it uses folk music, and its influence on horror. Who is the real villain of director Robin Hardy's movie? SYNOPSIS Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward)

en

01:02:00

'The First Wives Club' (feat. Phoenix Clouden of the...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/10/21

Considering The First Wives Club earned $100 million in 1996, it's remarkable how little people seem to discuss it. This episode, Phoenix Clouden of the Film Code Podcast helps us fix that. As the movie celebrates its 25th anniversary, now is the perfect time to celebrate the iconic performances from Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton. Even as a child, Phoenix found himself drawn into the story of three women of a certain age contending with their duplicitous ex-husbands. We'll discuss

en

01:33:01

'The Crow' (feat. Brian Skutle of Sonic Cinema Podcast)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/10/06

General audiences might remember Alex Proyas' 1994 movie The Crow for the tragic on-set death of star Brandon Lee. Yet, despite that infamous incident -- or, perhaps, in part because of it -- the film -- based on the comics by James O'Barr -- inspired a cult following that endures today. And this episode, Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast helps us discuss why. Normally, The Crow would have been a contender for our sister podcast, Franchise Detours. However, Proyas' film tells a standalone

en

01:20:07

'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (feat. Thomas Greene of Movies...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/09/29

Shane Black is a name that tends to elicit either unbridled enthusiasm or consternation from moviegoers. Black started out as an actor before hitting it big as the legendary screenwriter of Lethal Weapon. Then in 2005, he made the leap to directing his own scripts. And this episode, Thomas Greene of Movies After Work joins us to discuss Black's directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stars a pre-Iron Man Robert Downey Jr., a post-Batman Val Kilmer, and a star-making turn by

en

01:01:28

'Your Name' (feat. Rachel Wagner of Rachel's Reviews)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/08/13

Even some fans of animated films need to brush up on their anime. Such was the case when Rachel Wagner of Rachel's Reviews stopped by the show. A self-professed ambassador of Makoto Shinkai's 2016 film Your Name, Rachel joined us to discuss the film. And the conversation -- just like Your Name itself -- went some unexpected places along the way. Your Name blends comedy, fantasy, romance, sci-fi, and drama into one distinctive subversion of the body-swap concept. Listen in as Rachel and I discuss

en

01:16:00

'Field of Dreams' (feat. Darin Lundberg of...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/08/02

Everyone familiar with 1989's Field of Dreams knows that "if you build it, he will come." But is the same true if you podcast about it? Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast helps us test that theory with an in-depth chat about writer-director Phil Alden Robinson's iconic sports film starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, and Burt Lancaster. Field of Dreams has a reputation for being a film that emotionally resonates with its audiences. Listen in as Darin shares the personal

en

01:31:23

'Goodfellas' (featuring Jason from Binge Movies)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/06/29

The era of the Crooked Table Podcast ends with a bang as we discuss Martin Scorsese's 1990 crime drama Goodfellas. Jason from Binge Movies joins the show as we break down the film's legacy, its place in Scorsese's legendary filmography, and Goodfellas' Best Picture loss to Dances with Wolves. Stay tuned in mid-July for the first episode of Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. Or check out our sister show, Franchise Detours, also coming soon wherever you listen to podcasts. SYNOPSIS A young man

en

01:06:08

'Rudy' (feat. Philip Boone of Sports Flix, Just Give...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/06/07

Over the years, cinema and sports have crossed paths countless times. But it takes something very special to stand out in the genre. And for an entire generation, Rudy represents the ultimate underdog story. Starring Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), the film tells the inspiring true story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger. Philip Boone of Sports Flix, Just Give Us Clix joins the show to share his own longtime love for Rudy. We'll discuss why the 1993 movie has become such a classic, whether we would

en

59:44

'Howard the Duck' (feat. Jamie Williams)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/05/31

The final round of Crooked Table Podcast episodes -- prior to the rebranding, at least -- continues. And of course, we had to tap into the red-headed step-child of Marvel Comics movies: 1986's Howard the Duck. The first full-length movie based on a Marvel character, the movie was an infamous box office and critical disaster? But have its feathers been unjustly ruffled? Jamie Williams returns to the show to help us break down Howard the Duck. We'll discuss the movie's reputation, how it affected

en

50:02

INTERVIEW with CinemaSins' Jeremy Scott

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/05/17

For years, CinemaSins has taken the movies to task with its popular videos cheekily tackling "everything wrong with" the movies. However, with billions of views and millions of subscribers, even critics can't deny the success of CinemaSins. Jeremy Scott -- the YouTube channel's co-founder and the "voice of CinemaSins" -- has found the perfect outlet for his passion for cinema. Now fans of Jeremy's irreverent "takedowns" of Hollywood hits discover the story of how he developed his love for movies

en

01:38:05

'Mulholland Drive' (feat. Albert Lanier)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/02/09

Few films released in the 21st century have as universal a reputation as David Lynch's 2001 thriller Mulholland Drive. To that end, a celebration of the film and its 20th anniversary hardly qualifies as "the world of film from a fresh angle." Yet, the movie's surrealistic tone and multi-layered tale likely flew under the radar for some mainstream moviegoers. So listen in as returning guest Albert Lanier lays out what he believes to be the "Lynch pin" to understanding Mulholland Drive. In this

en

01:14:44

'UHF' (feat. Lauren Carey of the Beer'd Al Podcast)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/02/01

Come one, come Al! After 2020, things were bound to get weird. So we kick off 2021 with the only logical episode: "Weird Al" Yankovic's one and only big-screen starring role, 1989's cult comedy UHF. Lauren Carey of the Beer'd Al Podcast joins the show to talk about the film's legacy, its impact on Al's career, and whether UHF is an effective entry point for new fans. So don't change the channel. And don't touch that dial. This week, the Crooked Table Podcast has got it all on UHF. SYNOPSIS

en

01:13:34

'The Matrix Reloaded'/'The Matrix Revolutions' [Part...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2021/01/01

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

en

33:28

'The Matrix' Bonus Material (featuring Freddy Yaniz)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2020/12/25

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

en

01:54:31

'The Matrix Reloaded'/'The Matrix Revolutions' [Part...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2020/12/22

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

en

02:00:53

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2'...

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2020/12/15

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

en

01:12:50

'Scrooged' (featuring Kim Stock Foster)

Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr. ·

2020/12/10

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

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