All Those Moments

Third Rate
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Semiweekly

Connecting social, political, or cultural moments with moments from our favorite movies.

  1. Sep 23

    Isabel Hagen & On A String

    Isabel Hagen joins Benji for an in-depth conversation about her career as a performing artist and her debut movie, On A String. From Juilliard-trained violist to standup comedian and now filmmaker, Hagen will complete the year 2026 with her first feature film as well as her first comedy special, Live At The Bitter End. Benji talks with Isabel about growing up in a musical family in Lower Manhattan, attending Juilliard, discovering stand-up comedy, and turning her experiences as a working violist into the narrative spine of On A String. They also get into the influence of films like Happiness, Frances Ha, and Inside Llewyn Davis. Other topics include the realities of the gig economy, the film’s depiction of women enduring insecure men, and the balance between comedy and classical music that runs throughout Isabel’s work. Later, they dig into some of the film’s best moments, including Dylan Baker’s connection to Happiness, Jamie Lee and the infamous sheet scene, Fred Weller’s guitar performance, the quartet’s climactic escape, Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, and the real-life encounter that inspired the film’s final scene. Spoiler warning: The second half of the conversation discusses specific scenes and the ending of On a String. -- CHAPTERS 00:00 Isabel Hagen and On a String 04:48 Juilliard, stand-up and growing up in Manhattan 14:22 How On a String began 24:01 The gig economy of a working classical musician 28:45 Women, insecure men and dating in New York 35:41 Todd Solondz's Happiness, Dylan Baker, and the film’s influences 41:37 Carl, the guitar and “plausible deniability” 55:14 The true story behind the film’s final scene -- Watch Isabel Hagen's comedy special, Live At The Bitter End Cover photo: Arin Sang-urai -- Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 ⁠⁠https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Isabel Hagen & On A String

  2. Sep 11

    Tony (2026): A Hilarious & Profound Bourdain Origin Story

    When we first saw the trailer for Tony, expectations were low. It looked like a biopic-by-numbers movie about “the coming of age of a future celebrity.” Instead, it's a deeply human portrait of a chapter in Bourdain's life constructed with humor, love, and collaborative invention from director Matthew Johnson. In this episode, we break down Johnson’s evolution as a filmmaker, Dominic Sessa’s performance as a young Anthony Bourdain, and a movie built around self-invention and pathological lying all in the pursuit of finding meaning (and trade and family and purpose). We also compare Tony to Johnson's previous feature, BlackBerry (2023). And finally, Benji tells the story of meeting Anthony Bourdain in Livingston, Montana, in 2009. CHAPTERS: 00:00 First reactions to Tony 06:07 Dominic Sessa as a young Bourdain 12:56 Matthew Johnson, BlackBerry and the filmmakers behind Tony 25:16 The real Anthony Bourdain, Nancy, and Kitchen Confidential 31:36 Tony as a pathological liar 40:55 The Flagship, Sal, and Bourdain wielding nunchuks 48:59 The Lying Montage 55:26 Kitchens, male culture, and malevolent bonding 58:48 Benji meets Anthony Bourdain 01:05:51 The legacy of Bourdain 01:10:42 Another excellent coming of age movie: This Boy’s Life (1993) -- Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 ⁠https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe⁠ Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Tony (2026): A Hilarious & Profound Bourdain Origin Story

  3. May 12

    Omaha: A Conversation With Director Cole Webley

    Director Cole Webley joins All Those Moments to discuss his devastating and deeply human film, Omaha, starring John Magaro. Benji talks to Cole about growing up in Central Washington, making movies while raising a family, depicting scarcity on screen, and the emotional ending of Omaha. They also discuss working with child actors and how this movie explores humbling experiences of parenting while quietly celebrating the kindness of strangers. The conversation also explores masculinity, grief, and what it means to ask for help. It's one of our favorite conversations we’ve had on the podcast. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Introducing Omaha & Cole Webley 2:27 - Audience reactions & emotional responses to the film 11:51 - John Magaro, family, and Cole Webley’s filmmaking background 25:47 - Spoiler discussion begins: road trip structure & a hidden destination 39:24 - A controversial scene, judgment, and parenting 56:10 - The ending of Omaha explained: “I’m going to need some help.” 1:08:00 - Kindness, Masculinity, & Asking for Help -- Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 ⁠https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe⁠ Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Omaha: A Conversation With Director Cole Webley

  4. May 5

    Mother Mary: Art, Trauma, & Collaboration

    In this episode of the show, we dive into Mother Mary, David Lowery's allegorical character study about creativity, betrayal, and the ghosts we carry with us. We discuss Lowery’s maximalist approach, the central relationship between Mother Mary and Sam, and why this director's ninth feature film plays more like a black box love story than a horror film. Along the way, we explore the meaning of the red “ghost,” the role of performance and religion, and how the film turns trauma into art and art into healing. CHAPTERS: 00:00 First reactions & what the movie tried to do 03:49 Setup: logline, key cast & Lowery’s approach 14:11 Mary & Sam: tension, staccato / legato dialog, a broken creative partnership 25:25 The musicless dance sequence 30:50 The red ghost and shared trauma 38:22 The ritual & the meaning of the red dress 43:09 Ending explained & Mary's final performance 45:11 Audience reactions & interpretations 54:25 Lowery’s films as “ghost stories” 56:42 Final thoughts Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Mother Mary: Art, Trauma, & Collaboration

  5. Apr 10

    Project Hail Mary: A Peak Movie Experience

    Project Hail Mary is part sci-fi blockbuster and part screwball comedy that still observes the hard science source material from Andy Weir. In this episode of All Those Moments, we talk about why this movie is an antidote to our cynicism, how its dual-timeline structure keeps the story moving, and why the relationship between Grace and Rocky becomes the emotional and intellectual core of the film. Along the way, we break down the astrophage premise, the science behind the mission to Tau Ceti, and how the movie pulls off one of the most effective buddy movies in all of Lord & Miller's filmography. Yes, including Benji's favorites, 21 & 22 Jump Street. We also get into the tonal balancing act between the comedy and the existential stakes, the decision to use practical effects for Rocky (and why that might have been a billion dollar decision), the agency and ethics of Grace's big decision, and whether the ending actually works. 0:00 Episode Setup 2:55 First Impressions 6:00 The Sci-Fi Premise Explained 12:10 Earth Timeline & Backstory Discovery 22:00 First Contact at Tau Ceti 33:00 Meeting Rocky 48:30 Solving the Astrophage Crisis Together 1:01:00 The Ending, Sacrifice, and Final Thoughts Also available on all podcast platforms 🎧 https://www.allthosemomentspod.com/subscribe

    Project Hail Mary: A Peak Movie Experience

  6. Mar 3

    The Voice of Hind Rajab: Imperfect, But Essential

    The story of Hind Rajab can never be ignored and it should never be forgotten. Kaouther Ben Hania's film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, is an imperfect but essential document that turns the details of what has happened to more than 20,000 children in Gaza since the end of 2023 into an intimate rendering of human anguish. Benji and Luke watched this movie during the week that Neil Patrick Harris talked about being "interested in things that are apolitical." The Voice of Hind Rajab, conversely, provokes conversations about the role of politics in art and cinema. After all, isn't art without politics just decoration? Or, as Ben Hania put it recently, "Cinema is not just image laundering." Benji and Luke start their conversation with an introduction to the filmmaker, Ben Hania, and her previous work with Four Daughters (2023) as well as its similarities to The Voice of Hind Rajab. They then describe key moments from the movie and react to the filmmaking, narrative structure, and the real life events depicted in the story. They finish the podcast with their thoughts about recent developments as America and Israel have started a war against Iran and the implications for an ongoing genocide in Gaza. Hosts: Benji Wade Luke Baumgarten -- Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to Mitch Davis for the artwork and Lucid Terminal for the theme song.

    The Voice of Hind Rajab: Imperfect, But Essential

  7. Feb 17

    No Other Choice: No Better Movie From 2025 | Deep Dive Podcast

    Benji and Luke start the show with describing their expectations for the movie No Other Choice based on their familiarity with Park Chan-wook's previous work. They then begin the spoiler-filled section of their conversation with audience responses to the movie and an introduction of the themes of No Other Choice, including its critique of neoliberalism, large language models, and the role of the Moloch theory as a way of understanding the phrase 'no other choice.' They also give breakdowns of key scenes, the incredible performances from Son Ye-jin and Lee Byung-hun, and exchange personal anecdotes that relate to the storytelling. Hosts: Benji Wade Luke Baumgarten -- Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AllThoseMomentsPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to Mitch Davis for the artwork and Lucid Terminal for the theme song.

    No Other Choice: No Better Movie From 2025 | Deep Dive Podcast

  8. Jan 21

    A 'Supreme' Year For Movies: Industry News, Looking Back at 2025, and Ahead to 2026

    Benji and Luke start season two of the podcast by catching up on news from the movie industry, including the announcement of Jess Walter's bestselling novel So Far Gone coming soon to Netflix. They also discuss an essay from A.S. Hamrah in the New York Review of Books on the state of contemporary film criticism. Then, they look back at the nine movies they've covered on the podcast in 2025 before catching up on all the movies they watched to close out the year, including a lengthy discussion of Marty Supreme. Finally, they preview the year ahead for the podcast and announce the first movie they will feature in 2026. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro of the podcast and a preview of the episode 03:54 - Industry news including Jess Walter's book coming to Netflix, A.S. Hamrah's excellent piece on film criticism and how that relates to the silly discourse around One Battle After Another 28:25 - Benji and Luke review the nine movies from the first year of the podcast and the reception and discourse surrounding movies like Marty Supreme and One Battle After Another 35:00 - Benji and Luke revisit the movies seen since recording the last episode: Bring Her Back, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Worst Person in the World, Materialists, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Jockey, Sing Sing, Zootopia 2, Wake Up Dead Man, Jay Kelly, and Sentimental Value 49:10 - An extensive discussion of Marty Supreme, its reception, and rumors of director Josh Safdie's alternative ending - A VAMPIRE?! 1:05:24 - Benji and Luke preview 2026 for the podcast and announce the first movie they will screen and discuss for season two Hosts: Benji Wade Luke Baumgarten -- Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/allthosemomentspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AllThoseMomentsPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to Mitch Davis for the artwork and Lucid Terminal for the theme song.

    A 'Supreme' Year For Movies: Industry News, Looking Back at 2025, and Ahead to 2026
See All (19)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Connecting social, political, or cultural moments with moments from our favorite movies.

Information

  • Creator
    Third Rate
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Third Rate
  • Show Website
    All Those Moments

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