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

Sisters and the Stars

Olivia Paruk and Emily Paruk

Two young women -- Olivia and Emily Paruk -- share their unique perspective on the film industry through an analytical lens as they break down your favorite films, actors, and the industry.Follow our instagram and jump into the conversation: Instagram: @sistersandthestars Email: sistersandthestars@gmail.com

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

49:38

Unpacking the Depths of Black Mirror Season 1

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/04/02

In this episode, Olivia and Emily explore their personal connections to the series Black Mirror, discussing its impact on their understanding of society and technology. They delve into the first season, particularly the pilot episode 'The National Anthem', analyzing its themes of humanity, societal voyeurism, and the moral dilemmas presented in the show. The conversation highlights the show's ability to provoke thought and reflection on contemporary issues. Later, they delve into the episodes...

en-us

58:19

Happy Pod-iversary: Our 3 Year Podcasting Journey

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/03/25

In this light-hearted celebratory episode marking their third anniversary, Olivia and Emily reflect on their journey as podcasters, discussing their achievements, challenges, and the global reach of their show. They explore the complexities of criticism in the arts, the importance of constructive feedback, and the challenges of navigating opinions in the film industry. They share personal growth experiences, memorable moments, and evolving intentions for the future as well as reflecting on th...

en-us

44:01

The Surprising Hopefulness in 'Mickey 17'

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/03/19

In this episode, sisters Olivia and Emily discuss the film Mickey 17, directed by Bong Joon-ho. They explore their initial expectations, the film's themes such as capitalism, environmentalism, and the search for life's purpose, and the overall impact of the movie. The conversation delves into the complexities of identity, authority, and relationships, while also addressing the film's ambitious narrative and the challenges it presents. Through their sisterly banter, they provide insights into ...

en-us

43:09

Behind the Oscars 2025: A Sisterly Perspective

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/03/11

In this episode, Olivia and Emily discuss their experiences and insights from the recent Oscars. They delve into Emily's early morning adventure at the Dolby Theater, their predictions and results from the awards, and the surprises that unfolded during the night. The conversation also touches on the marketing strategies behind Oscar campaigns, the scrutiny celebrities face, and the importance of cultural sensitivity, especially regarding language barriers. They also reflect on the dynamics of...

en-us

46:02

Casting Calls: The Influence of Instagram on Hollywood

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/03/04

How many Instagram followers do you have? In this conversation, Emily and Olivia explore the complexities of breaking into the acting industry and the influence of social media on casting decisions as in response to Maya Hawke’s statements on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast. They discuss the challenges faced by aspiring actors, the business side of the film industry, and the risks associated with celebrity casting. The conversation also touches on the future of social media and its impac...

en-us

48:41

Bong Joon Ho's Genius: A Look at 'Snowpiercer' and...

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/02/25

In this episode, Olivia and Emily dive into the significance of Bong Joon-ho's work in contemporary cinema with a look back at the film Snowpiercer. The sisters explore its themes of classism, originality in storytelling, and the philosophical implications of society as a prison. They reflect on their first impressions of the film, discuss the adaptation from graphic novel to screen, and analyze the social commentary embedded in the narrative. In addition, they touch on Tilda Swinton's perfor...

en-us

55:09

Revolutionary Cinema: 'Nickel Boys'

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/02/18

In this episode, Emily and Olivia review the film adaptation of Nickel Boys, discussing its storytelling techniques, character development, and the historical context it portrays.They explore the differences between art films and mainstream cinema, the challenges of point-of-view storytelling, and the performances of the actors. Their discussion highlights the film's revolutionary aspects while also critiquing its execution of the film's unique techniques and the implications of its narrative...

en-us

50:35

Oscar 2025 Picks and Predictions

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/02/11

In this episode, Olivia and Emily discuss their predictions for the 97th Academy Awards, covering various categories including Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. They share their thoughts on the films nominated, the performances, and the potential winners, while also reflecting on the importance of representation in the film industry. The conversation flows through their picks and predictions, highlighting their personal favorites and the films they believe have a strong chance of wi...

en-us

41:26

Our Favorite Movies from 2024

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/02/04

In this episode, Olivia and Emily discuss their top favorite movies of 2024 and honorable mentions. They rapid fire through their top ones and give short rationalizations on why they ended up on their lists. Then, the sisters transition into a lively discussion about the recent Oscar nominations, highlighting snubs and surprises, particularly focusing on Daniel Craig, the film Challengers, Luca Guadagnino and Denis Villeneuve. The conversation takes a critical turn as they address the c...

en-us

50:42

'Anora': Subverting the Modern Fairy Tale

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/01/28

This week, Olivia and Emily discuss the film Anora directed by Sean Baker. They delve into the fairy tale elements, classism, and the portrayal of sex work, while also analyzing the characters and emotional depth of the story. The sisters explore the role of improvisation in the film, highlighting both its successes and pitfalls. They then talk about their admiration of the artistic cinematography and how its manipulation created raw emotions and touch on the film’s make or break ending. The ...

en-us

50:16

Babygirl is a Coming of Age Film

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/01/22

In this conversation, Olivia and Emily delve into the film Babygirl, discussing its themes of feminism, power dynamics, and sexual repression. They delve into the meaning of 'baby girl' across generations, their expectations for the film, and the complexities of Nicole Kidman's character, Romy. The sisters also discuss how the film portrays women in power and its subversion of traditional gender roles. They also touch on the film's flawed characters and the complexities of human relatio...

en-us

48:51

Bob Dylan is 'A Complete Unknown' and Maybe That is...

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/01/14

In this week’s episode, Emily and Olivia review the biopic A Complete Unknown, which focuses on Bob Dylan's life and artistry. They discuss their initial expectations, the film's portrayal of Dylan as an enigmatic figure, and the challenges of biographical storytelling. The sisters also delve into the film's editing choices, sound design, and the performances of the actors and if any will lead to potential for award. They also analyze the film's story arc and climax, ultimately questioning th...

en-us

58:16

'Nosferatu': A Tragic Love Story

Sisters and the Stars ·

2025/01/07

In this episode, Olivia and Emily dive into their first horror movie review, focusing on Robert Eggers' Nosferatu. The sisters share their personal experiences with horror films, discuss their expectations for the movie, and how their perspectives of horror were turned upside down. They discuss the transformative process actors undergo, the emotional journey of grieving a character, and the performances of key actors like Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen, and Nicholas Ho...

en-us

50:24

The Beauty and Power of Raw Storytelling in ‘A Real...

Sisters and the Stars ·

2024/12/31

Could this be their favorite film of the year? Olivia and Emily reflect on how this film resonates with their own experiences and the importance of personal storytelling in cinema. In this conversation, Olivia and Emily delve into the themes of authenticity in character portrayal, the immigrant experience, the role of side characters, as well as the costuming, sound, and cinematography choices. They explore the mental health aspects presented in the narrative, emphasizing the importance of ho...

en-us

53:56

Melting into You: Exploring Repression and Desire in...

Sisters and the Stars ·

2024/12/24

In this episode, Olivia and Emily delve into the film Queer, directed by Luca Guadagnino, exploring its unique storytelling, visual artistry, and the complex themes of repression and desire within the LGBTQ+ community. They discuss their first impressions, the significance of visuals versus dialogue, and the autobiographical elements of the source material by William S. Burroughs. The conversation also touches on the symbolism of centipedes and the intertwined nature of love and loathing in q...

en-us

55:53

The Wonderful World of 'Wicked' with Sisters Who Watch

Sisters and the Stars ·

2024/12/10

In this episode, Olivia and Emily welcome their first guests on the pod, Shelby and Laura Holland from Sisters Who Watch, to discuss the new hit movie Wicked! The group of sisters dig into their first impressions of the movie, notable moments, the stand out Jonathan Bailey and the stunning production design. They also touch on the diverse casting and real life implications of the story as well as some more divisive scenes like the dance between Galinda and Elphaba. Check out the companion sho...

en-us

47:08

Remakes, Adaptations, and Squels–Oh My!

Sisters and the Stars ·

2024/12/03

In this episode, Olivia and Emily delve into the current state of the film industry, focusing on the prevalence of remakes, adaptations, and sequels. They discuss how industry trends have led to a sense of underwhelming experiences for moviegoers, the risk-averse nature of Hollywood, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on film production. The sisters reflect on nostalgia's role in cyclical trends within the industry and share insights from Emily's acting school experience. In addition, th...

en-us

50:46

'Gladiator' – Exploring the Legacy

Sisters and the Stars ·

2024/11/19

In this episode of Sisters in the Stars, Olivia and Emily delve into the classic film Gladiator, exploring its legacy, Russell Crowe's impactful portrayal of Maximus, and their personal connections to the film. They reflect on their first impressions as children watching the movie for the first time, the emotional impact of the story, and the significance of the action sequences. They also explore the implications of the upcoming sequel and express their concerns for it and ponder if a ...

en-us

63:17

'Gladiator II' –– An Unfortunate Copy and Paste

Sisters and the Stars ·

2024/11/12

In this episode, Olivia and Emily (much to their dad’s chagrin) give their brutally honest takes on Gladiator II expressing their frustrations with the film industry and the lack of originality in sequels, and generally wondering why was this film even made? The sisters dive deep into the character developments, the self plagiarized storytelling and confusing moments that define the film. They also analyze Denzel Washington's mismatched tone and the missed opportunity of underutilizing Connie...

en-us

43:10

Comfort Films That Feel Like a Hug!

Sisters and the Stars ·

2024/11/12

In this cozy episode of Sisters in the Stars, Olivia and Emily explore the concept of comfort films, discussing their personal definitions and the emotional resonance these films hold. They share their top comfort film picks, emphasizing the nostalgia and warmth these movies bring, while also touching on the importance of music and emotional connections in film. The conversation flows through various themes, highlighting the subjective nature of comfort films and the diverse genres that can e...

en-us

84 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