Why This Film?

Why This Film?
  • 5.0 (11)
  • FILM INTERVIEWS

 🎬 Exploring the Criterion Collection, one spine at a time. In each episode, I sit down with film historians, critics, filmmakers, and scholars for in-depth conversations about a single film from the Criterion Collection. I'm Ron, and I guide these expert-driven discussions examining the artistry, cultural significance, and historical context of classic and contemporary cinema. From French New Wave masterpieces to American westerns, from experimental shorts to beloved classics, we unpack what makes these films essential viewing. Whether you're a longtime Criterion collector, a film student, or simply curious about cinema history, Why This Film? offers thoughtful analysis and engaging conversations about the movies that shaped filmmaking. New episodes release 1-2 times monthly. Subscribe to join me for deep dives into the Criterion Collection.

Episodes

  1. Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985, Tim Burton) with Jesse Thorn - Criterion Spine #1293

    4D AGO

    Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985, Tim Burton) with Jesse Thorn - Criterion Spine #1293

    “The regular world still has something special for someone who is weird.”  In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by comedian, broadcaster, and Maximum Fun founder Jesse Thorn to explore Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), the feature film debut of Tim Burton and one of the most unique comedies of the 1980s. Released in 1985, Pee-wee's Big Adventure follows Pee-wee Herman, played by Paul Reubens, as he embarks on a cross-country journey to recover his stolen bicycle. What begins as a simple quest unfolds into a surreal road movie through a hyper-stylized version of America filled with bikers, truck drivers, cowboys, movie sets, roadside attraction dinosaurs, and unforgettable characters (any Large Marge fans out there?).  Jesse Thorn brings his perspective as both a lifelong Pee-wee fan and a comedy writer to the conversation. He helps unpack how Paul built one of the most unusual personas ever to reach mainstream audiences. Jesse wrote the essay for Criterion's release of the film. We discuss: Jesse's experience with the character Pee-wee Herman and the man Paul Reubens.How Tim Burton's first feature film established aesthetics that would define his careerThe film's blend of genresThe morality, sexuality, and ambiguity of Pee-weeWhy Pee-wee's Big Adventure deserves its place in the Criterion CollectionWhether you grew up quoting the movie or are discovering Pee-wee Herman for the first time, this conversation explores how a film that feels completely ridiculous is also surprisingly precise. You can find more from Jesse Thorn below: Maximum Fun Pee-wee's Big Adventure: Why Don't You Take a Picture by Jesse Thorn Follow Jesse Thorn - Instagram Send a text Hollywood ManeStays - Not a pin, not a clip. Just Better. Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod YouTube

    1h 22m
  2. Repo Man (1984, Alex Cox) with James Chestnut - Criterion Spine #654

    FEB 9

    Repo Man (1984, Alex Cox) with James Chestnut - Criterion Spine #654

    "Otto is Forrest Gump." In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by assistant director James Chestnut to dive into Repo Man (1984), Alex Cox's punk-rock, sci-fi, anti-Reagan cult classic that refuses to sit still or make sense in a conventional way. Released in 1984, Repo Man follows Otto, a disaffected LA punk who stumbles into a world of car repossession. He soon finds himself caught up in conspiracies, aliens, the government, and the "lattice of coincidence." The film moves with deliberate disorientation, treating genre, narrative, and meaning as things to be challenged. James brings a filmmaker's perspective to the conversation, helping unpack how Repo Man was made, why it looks and feels the way it does, and how its low-budget ingenuity, location shooting, and practical effects reinforce its punk nature. Together, we talk about Los Angeles as a character, the film's embrace of randomness, and why its refusal to explain itself is exactly the point. We discuss: Alex Cox's collaborative approach to filmmakingThe mix of punk culture, science fiction, and political satireHarry Dean Stanton's unforgettable monologues and personal philosophy overlapping with the filmHow Repo Man uses confusion as a feature instead of a flawWhy this film belongs in the Criterion CollectionIf you've ever watched Repo Man and thought, "I don't know what I just saw, but I loved it," this conversation is for you. You can also follow James's new YouTube project, One Man's Trash (linked below), where he documents cleaning up his Los Angeles neighborhood, one block at a time. One Man's Trash Send a text Hollywood ManeStays - Not a pin, not a clip. Just Better. Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod YouTube

    1h 14m
  3. Winchester '73 (1950, Anthony Mann) with Brady Crytzer - Criterion Spine #1248

    JAN 25

    Winchester '73 (1950, Anthony Mann) with Brady Crytzer - Criterion Spine #1248

    "The gun really doesn't mean anything until people start obsessing over it." In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by historian and author Brady Crytzer to explore Winchester '73 (1950), Anthony Mann's landmark Western starring James Stewart. Released as Criterion Collection Spine #1248, Winchester '73 helped redefine the Western genre by shifting focus from frontier justice to obsession, revenge, and moral ambiguity in postwar America. Directed by Anthony Mann, Winchester '73 centers on a prized rifle known as "the gun that won the West" as it moves from person to person, leaving violence and obsession in its wake. Set against the backdrop of the American Centennial and the aftermath of the Civil War, the film uses the rifle as a symbolic object of desire, revealing how fixation and mythology shape both individual lives and national identity. Brady Crytzer brings his expertise in American frontier history to the conversation, helping unpack the historical realities behind the film's mythology. Together, we examine how Winchester '73 blends real historical figures with fiction, how it reflects changing American attitudes after World War II, and why James Stewart's performance marked a turning point in his on-screen persona. We discuss: The myth of the "gun that won the West"How the Western frontier functioned as a place of cultural blending, not just conflictJames Stewart's wartime experience and its influence on his postwar rolesThe film's exploration of the themes of revenge, masculinity, and obsessionHow Winchester '73 helped modernize the Western genreWhy this film belongs in the Criterion CollectionWhether you're revisiting Winchester '73 or encountering it for the first time, this conversation explores why Anthony Mann's Western remains a crucial turning point in American film history. You can find more from Brady from the links below: The National Road: George Washington and America's First Highway West Whiskey Rebellion: A Distilled History of an American Crisis Brady Crytzer Send a text Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod YouTube

    1h 8m
  4. After Hours (1985, Martin Scorsese) with Sheila O'Malley - Criterion Spine #1185

    JAN 3

    After Hours (1985, Martin Scorsese) with Sheila O'Malley - Criterion Spine #1185

    "It's such an important film in his [Scorsese's] filmography. I'm so happy people are discovering it and Criterion decided to focus on it." In this episode of Why This Film?, Ron is joined by critic and writer Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com to discuss After Hours, Martin Scorsese's dark comedy and anxiety-driven odyssey through late-night SoHo. Sheila also wrote the essay for Criterion's release of the film. Together, they walk through the film scene by scene, tracing how the evening spirals out of Paul's control. The poor guy just wants to go home. The discussion goes from Scorsese to Hitchcock to Kafka to Mr. Softee. And as always, Sheila answers the central question: Why is After Hours included in the Criterion Collection, and why does it still matter today? You can find more from Sheila from the links below: The Sheila Variations RogerEbert.com Archive Frankenstein by Sheila O'Malley Send us a text Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod Send a text Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod YouTube

    1h 22m
  5. The Breakfast Club (1985, John Hughes) with Ciara Moloney - Criterion Spine #905

    12/26/2025

    The Breakfast Club (1985, John Hughes) with Ciara Moloney - Criterion Spine #905

    In episode 3 of Why This Film?, Ron is joined by Ciara Moloney to discuss The Breakfast Club, John Hughes's defining 1980s teen film. Together, they walk through the film scene by scene, talking about why these characters still resonate 40 years later. They discuss the film's use of archetypes and how it reveals we are often more alike than we may seem on the surface. Along the way, they unpack the film's emotions, its humor, its blind spots, and why it continues to connect with audiences who didn't grow up in 1980s American suburbia. And, as always, Ciara answers the central question: why is this film included in the Criterion Collection and why does it still matter today? You can find more from Ciara from the links below: Bluesky https://ciaramoloney.net/ _______________________________________________________ Send a text Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod YouTube

    1h 8m
  6. Touchez pas au grisbi (1954, Jacques Becker) with Ginette Vincendeau - Criterion Spine #271

    11/24/2025

    Touchez pas au grisbi (1954, Jacques Becker) with Ginette Vincendeau - Criterion Spine #271

    "If retirement means you're in a lovely flat in Paris and your fridge is full of foie gras and champagne - I'm okay with that." In episode 2 of Why This Film?, Ron discusses Jacques Becker's Touchez pas au grisbi (1954) with Ginette Vincendeau, one of the most influential scholars of French cinema working today. Together, they explore how Grisbi reshapes the gangster genre through efficient storytelling and the routine life away from violent action. They move through the film's pacing, its focus on aging and friendship, and the authority of Jean Gabin's performance. Ginette brings her expertise to questions of women's roles in French cinema and society, masculinity, and filmmaking of this period. And as always, Ginette answers the central question: Why is this film included in the Criterion Collection and why does it still matter today? Send a text Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod YouTube

    1h 13m
  7. La Jetée (1962, Chris Marker) with Dr. Dennis Weiss - Criterion Spine #387

    10/06/2025

    La Jetée (1962, Chris Marker) with Dr. Dennis Weiss - Criterion Spine #387

    “The past is dead!” In the premiere episode of Why This Film?, I sit down with Dr. Dennis Weiss to explore Chris Marker's La Jetée (1962), a groundbreaking French science fiction short film that redefined what cinema could be. Released as Criterion Collection Spine #387, this 28-minute masterpiece is composed almost entirely of still photographs, creating a meditation on memory, time, and human longing. Directed by Chris Marker and starring Jean Negroni, La Jetée tells the story of a man sent back in time. Shot in black and white with a photomontage technique, the film influenced Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys and continues to challenge our understanding of cinematic storytelling. Dr. Dennis Weiss is a retired philosophy professor and curator of the long-running Philosophy, Drinks, & Film series in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He brings his expertise in philosophy and film theory to our conversation. Together, we examine how La Jetée uses form, sound design, and narrative structure to create emotion without traditional cinematic techniques. We discuss: Why Marker chose still images over conventional filmmakingThe film's exploration of memoryIts influence on science fiction cinemaThe philosophical questions it raises about time and fateWhy this film is included in the Criterion Collection.Whether you're discovering La Jetée for the first time or revisiting this experimental classic, this conversation offers fresh insights into one of cinema's most innovative works. Send a text Support the show Follow the Podcast: Instagram: @whythisfilmpod YouTube

    47 min
  • 7 Episodes

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

 🎬 Exploring the Criterion Collection, one spine at a time. In each episode, I sit down with film historians, critics, filmmakers, and scholars for in-depth conversations about a single film from the Criterion Collection. I'm Ron, and I guide these expert-driven discussions examining the artistry, cultural significance, and historical context of classic and contemporary cinema. From French New Wave masterpieces to American westerns, from experimental shorts to beloved classics, we unpack what makes these films essential viewing. Whether you're a longtime Criterion collector, a film student, or simply curious about cinema history, Why This Film? offers thoughtful analysis and engaging conversations about the movies that shaped filmmaking. New episodes release 1-2 times monthly. Subscribe to join me for deep dives into the Criterion Collection.

Information

  • Creator
    Why This Film?
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Why This Film?
  • Show Website
    Why This Film?

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