Hanging with Becky

Becky D'Anna
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

Join movie studio marketing veteran, Becky D'Anna each week as she talks the latest movie release with one of her amazing friends and then puts them through a custom Becky Challenge

  1. 1d ago

    When a Perfect Movie Gets a Sequel — THE SOCIAL RECKONING with Jacob Rivera | The Becky Challenge: Go the Distance

    Becky welcomes her good friend and longtime podcaster Jacob Rivera to talk about one of their most anticipated movies of the year: THE SOCIAL RECKONING, Aaron Sorkin's follow-up to THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Jacob is the ideal guest for this conversation. He's a massive David Fincher fan who considers THE SOCIAL NETWORK a perfect movie, and in 2020 he joined Leanne Kubicz on Film 89 for an episode celebrating its 10th anniversary. Becky feels just as strongly about the film — it was her favorite movie of 2010 and her favorite movie of the entire 2010–2019 decade. So what happens when you make a sequel to something both of them consider nearly flawless? Becky and Jacob went into THE SOCIAL RECKONING with enormous expectations — and both walked away disappointed. They break down why the film's important subject matter still makes them glad it exists, even as they wrestle with a script they feel never finds the emotional center that made THE SOCIAL NETWORK so powerful. They discuss the story of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, the platform's algorithms and their role in amplifying extremism, the shadow of January 6th, and the frustrating reality that years after these revelations, the real-world consequences feel far less definitive than the movie's title might suggest. The conversation inevitably turns to the original film and why it remains such a masterclass. Becky and Jacob compare its sharply drawn characters, kinetic dialogue, David Fincher's direction, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' unforgettable score and the emotional vulnerability Andrew Garfield brought to Eduardo Saverin with what they feel is missing from the new film. For both of them, THE SOCIAL NETWORK made even difficult or unsympathetic characters feel fully human; THE SOCIAL RECKONING too often feels like it is explaining events rather than allowing the audience to experience them through its characters. That doesn't mean there aren't moments they admire. Becky singles out a terrific sequence in which a Facebook team presents its findings to Mark Zuckerberg, only to have him rapidly tear through their carefully prepared slides. It's a scene that, for her, briefly captures the tension, character and crackling energy she hoped to find throughout the movie. They also talk about Jeremy Strong's take on Zuckerberg, Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White, Aaron Sorkin as both writer and director, the difference a great film score can make, whether this story might have worked better as a documentary, and the difficult question of whether some movies simply don't need sequels. The conversation expands beyond the film into their own relationships with social media — the connections it can create, the negativity it can amplify, and why something capable of bringing people together can just as easily bring out the worst in us. Jacob also makes the case for seeing movies for yourself and forming your own opinion, even when critics, friends or the internet tell you otherwise. And then it's time to step into the ring. Boxing is Jacob's favorite sport. He's attended more than 60 live boxing events, appeared multiple times on the Pound4Pound Boxing Report, and counts ROCKY, RAGING BULL and MILLION DOLLAR BABY among his favorite films. So for The Becky Challenge: Go the Distance (1:05:53), Becky gives him 25 questions combining boxing movies, legendary fighters, rules, terminology and the sweet science itself. Can Jacob make it through all five rounds and become the Undisputed Champion? Step into the ring... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: Jacob Rivera Producer: Kyle Reardon Produced and Edited By: KPR Media Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky BlueSky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow Jacob Rivera Letterboxd: @jratm23 Follow Becky D'Anna: Instagram: @thebeckydanna Twitter: @hwoodminotaur Bluesky: @hwoodminotaur Letterboxd: @hwoodminotaur Listen to Jacob celebrate THE SOCIAL NETWORK on Film 89: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-55-the-social-network-2010/id1332493155?i=1000491859754 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vwT8tuv0kESzp1UdJ0N0z

  2. 6d ago

    Behind Closed Doors — THE SCOUT with Kyle Reardon | The Becky Challenge: The Night He Came Home

    Becky welcomes back Hanging with Becky producer, Kyle Reardon to talk about a smaller film they're especially excited to champion: THE SCOUT. Written and directed by Paula González-Nasser, THE SCOUT follows Sofia, a New York City location scout played by Mimi Davila, as she travels from apartment to apartment searching for the perfect spaces for a television pilot. Along the way, she gets brief glimpses into the private lives of the strangers who open their doors to her — while quietly beginning to question the direction of her own life. Kyle is the perfect person to join Becky for this one. In addition to being a filmmaker, he has worked extensively in film and television locations, giving him firsthand experience with everything from scouting spaces and working with property owners to figuring out how an entire production can move into a real location and leave it exactly as it was found. And according to Kyle, THE SCOUT gets that world remarkably right. Becky and Kyle dig into the film's beautifully observed encounters between Sofia and the people she meets — an older woman missing her grown children, an uncomfortable new father, a stranger eager to break into the film business, an old friend, and a fish store owner who turns a desperate location search into one of the movie's funniest and most awkward detours. They explore how those seemingly small interactions become the heart of the film, revealing entire lives through apartments, conversations and fleeting moments between strangers. Kyle also shares what location work is actually like — from convincing people to let a film crew invade their homes to protecting those spaces once dozens of cast and crew members arrive. The conversation also gets into the less glamorous realities of working in film: impossible schedules, parking tickets, changing plans, demanding bosses, the pressure to solve problems that technically aren't in your job description, and the expectation that you give so much of yourself to making someone else's project happen. For both Becky and Kyle, that makes Sofia's journey surprisingly universal — whether you've ever worked on a movie set or simply found yourself wondering what comes next in your own career and life. They also celebrate THE SCOUT as an intimate New York character study and a reminder that some of the most rewarding movies don't need enormous stakes — sometimes a day spent driving around a city, meeting strangers and looking through their doors can reveal something profound about the human experience. Becky and Kyle both agree that this is exactly the kind of independent film they're happy Hanging with Becky can help champion. And then the doors close, the sun goes down... and the boogeyman comes home. With Halloween just a few weeks away, Kyle takes on The Becky Challenge: The Night He Came Home (46:01) — 25 questions covering Michael Myers, Laurie Strode, Dr. Loomis, Haddonfield, filmmakers, sequels, alternate timelines and nearly five decades of HALLOWEEN franchise history. Kyle has already established himself as one of the strongest Becky Challenge competitors. Can he survive Halloween night and earn the ultimate title of The Shape? Open the door, watch for the boogeyman... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: Kyle Reardon Producer: Kyle Reardon Produced and Edited By: KPR Media Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky BlueSky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow Kyle Reardon Letterboxd: @kylereardon Follow Becky D'Anna: Instagram: @thebeckydanna Twitter: @hwoodminotaur Bluesky: @hwoodminotaur Letterboxd: @hwoodminotaur

  3. Sep 29

    When Justice Becomes Entertainment — PRIMETIME with Jon Laubinger | The Becky Challenge: This Is Jeopardy!

    This week, Becky welcomes back her amazing friend Jon Laubinger for a very different kind of conversation about PRIMETIME, Lance Oppenheim's first narrative feature and a provocative look behind the scenes of Chris Hansen and To Catch a Predator. Jon is a filmmaker, writer and podcaster — and Becky's former co-host on Director's Take: A Sony Pictures Podcast — as well as someone she trusts deeply to approach difficult material with thoughtfulness, empathy and nuance. That made him the person she wanted beside her for a movie that raises uncomfortable questions without offering many easy answers. Neither Becky nor Jon were regular viewers of To Catch a Predator when it originally aired, but both remember its enormous cultural presence. Watching PRIMETIME gives them a window into a world they largely experienced from the outside — and into the complicated machinery that turned predators, sting operations and public humiliation into primetime entertainment. They dig into Robert Pattinson's unsettling portrayal of Chris Hansen, Merritt Wever's terrific performance as producer Andie Bender, the haunting innocence of Decoy Dan, and the movie's claustrophobic, almost nightmarish visual style. They also talk about the unexpected flashes of dark humor running through a film that left both of them fascinated, deeply uncomfortable and very certain they never need to watch it again. The conversation goes deeper into ambition, ratings, performative justice and the moral compromises that can happen when journalism becomes entertainment. Jon draws on his legal background to question the methods behind the original show, while he and Becky explore the film's refusal to provide simple heroes or villains — and the unsettling way nearly everyone involved begins to feel changed by what they're doing. They also discuss the film as a portrait of the early 2000s media landscape, the line between confronting disturbing material and exploiting it, and why challenging art doesn't necessarily have to make an audience feel good to be worthwhile. And after all of that... Jon desperately needs a palate cleanser. So naturally, it's time for The Becky Challenge: This Is Jeopardy! (39:21) The last time Jon visited the show, he scored an incredible 22 out of 25 and earned the title of Trivia Titan. This time, Becky brings him even closer to his dream of someday competing on Jeopardy! with 25 clues spanning world history, science, geography, literature, movies, art and general knowledge — complete with Daily Doubles, Final Jeopardy! and Jon's very own signaling device. Can Jon prove that he's truly Ready for the Podium? Get ready for primetime... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: Jon Laubinger Producer: Kyle Reardon Produced and Edited By: KPR Media Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky BlueSky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow Jon Laubinger Instagram:@jonjamesdt Twitter: @jonjamesdt Follow Becky D'Anna: Instagram: @thebeckydanna Twitter: @hwoodminotaur Bluesky: @hwoodminotaur Letterboxd: @hwoodminotaur Listen to Becky and Jon's episodes of Director's Take: A Sony Pictures Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/directors-take/id1840753945 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ek5Lzhi95Jk0YhWrQu1DB Website: https://directorstakepodcast.com/

  4. Sep 22

    One Very Bad Night — RESIDENT EVIL with Martin Kessler | The Becky Challenge: Enter Survival Horror

    This week, Becky welcomes back her incredible friend Martin Kessler for a movie they've been waiting a very long time to talk about: RESIDENT EVIL. Martin is a longtime fan of both the games and movies — so much so that when Becky first dreamed up Hanging with Becky, he was one of the first guests she booked because she already knew he was the person she wanted to talk with when the new RESIDENT EVIL film was released. For Becky, the anticipation was just as high. After loving BARBARIAN and naming WEAPONS her favorite film of 2025, Zach Cregger's take on RESIDENT EVIL became her most anticipated movie of the fall — and after seeing it twice, she's thrilled to say it delivered. Becky and Martin dig into the film's wonderfully strange combination of horror, action and comedy, Austin Abrams' hilariously vulnerable performance as Bryan, and the decision to tell a completely self-contained story rather than simply recreate characters and plots from the games. They break down the movie's relentless 90-minute journey through one escalating nightmare after another — including the farmhouse, mutant creatures, disastrous attempts to use guns, locked doors that stubbornly refuse to behave like action-movie doors, and a protagonist who keeps trying to do the right thing even as everything around him goes completely off the rails. The conversation also gets surprisingly thoughtful as Martin reads the horrors Bryan encounters as manifestations of his fear about becoming a father — from domestic life to children to the movie's wildly grotesque maternity ward — while Becky sees a parallel emotional journey in Bryan's growing realization of what his girlfriend and future family mean to him. Their different interpretations lead to one of the episode's most interesting discussions about how much of a filmmaker's thematic intent is deliberate and how much an audience brings to a movie themselves. And somehow, Becky and Martin also find time to mount an enthusiastic defense of RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY, compare this new film to earlier entries in the franchise, talk about Zach Cregger's comedy background, and celebrate all the little game references hiding throughout the movie. Then it's time to see whether Martin can survive another Becky Challenge (1:23:23). After tying the all-time record with an incredible 24 out of 25 on Going Ape, Martin returns for The Becky Challenge: Enter Survival Horror — 25 questions spanning the RESIDENT EVIL games, live-action movies, Raccoon City, Umbrella, monsters, characters and franchise lore. Survive the night... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: Martin Kessler Producer: Kyle Reardon Produced and Edited By: KPR Media Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky Bluesky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow Martin Kessler: Twitter: @MovieKessler Bluesky: @MovieKessler Instagram: @moviekessler Follow Becky D'Anna: Instagram: @thebeckydanna Twitter: @hwoodminotaur Bluesky: @hwoodminotaur Letterboxd: @hwoodminotaur Celebrate ADAPTATION with Becky and Zach Cregger on Director's Take: A Sony Pictures Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zach-cregger-adaptation/id1840753945?i=1000729183843 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6H16LiwpgrEPQ8uhHE3FRU Website: https://directorstakepodcast.com/

  5. Sep 15

    The Thrill of the Unknown — HOPE with James Hancock | The Becky Challenge: The Magnificent Welles

    This week, Becky welcomes back her longtime friend Jamie Hancock, host of Wrong Reel and creator of Geekin' with James Hancock, to Hanging with Becky for the show's first-ever international film: Na Hong-jin's South Korean sci-fi action epic HOPE. Becky and Jamie are also fresh off their recent Fall Preview collaboration, which brought their movie conversations together across both of their YouTube channels. They dive into a movie that absolutely blew them away for much of its epic runtime — from its breathtaking cinematography and practical stunt work to its relentless action, gnarly creature design, dark humor and a remote village near the Korean DMZ that becomes the setting for some of the most electrifying genre filmmaking they've seen this year. They also explore the film's surprisingly layered ideas about fear, morality and perspective — including a reveal that reminds Becky of her favorite STAR TREK episode — and discuss how HOPE pushes South Korean genre filmmaking into an even larger-scale blockbuster space. But neither of them can ignore the movie's divisive final stretch, as an exhilarating experience takes some very unexpected turns and leaves them wondering how something so spectacular could become so frustrating in its final minutes. Even with those reservations, both agree that HOPE is a must-see theatrical experience for genre fans — one filled with jaw-dropping imagery, memorable characters and some of the most exciting action of the year. Then Jamie gets exactly what he asked for. When Becky gave him the choice between being quizzed on something he knew absolutely nothing about or facing brutally difficult questions about something he truly loves, she chose the latter — and built a 25-question challenge around his favorite director, Orson Welles. In The Becky Challenge: The Magnificent Welles (1:02:37), Jamie faces questions covering Welles' films, acting career, radio and theater work, collaborators, troubled productions and some genuinely nasty deep cuts. Can one of Becky's most knowledgeable movie friends survive her hardest Welles questions and earn the title of Mercury Theatre Master? Embrace the unknown... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: James Hancock Producer: Kyle Reardon Edited By: Bill Scurry Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky BlueSky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow James Hancock: Subscribe to Geekin' with James Hancock on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@geekinwithjameshancock Twitter: @colebrax

  6. Sep 8

    The Case for Wile E. Coyote — COYOTE VS. ACME with Kevin Maher | The Becky Challenge: Lost in Albert Brooks

    This week, Becky welcomes her brilliant friend Kevin Maher — Emmy-nominated comedy writer, comedian, creator of Kevin Geeks Out and recently published New Yorker humorist — to Hanging with Becky for the show's longest conversation yet! And there may not have been a more perfect movie to finally bring them together. Becky and Kevin dig into COYOTE VS. ACME, the hilarious, unexpectedly moving Looney Tunes courtroom comedy that was nearly shelved forever before finally making its way to audiences. Becky shares her experience attending the film's Los Angeles premiere and draws on more than 25 years in movie marketing for a deeply personal conversation about what it means when a studio chooses not to release a finished film, the years of work that go into making movies, and why she believes filmmakers and their work deserve the chance to find an audience. They also explore what makes COYOTE VS. ACME work so beautifully as both comedy and character story — from the timeless humiliation at the heart of Wile E. Coyote to Will Forte's wonderfully earnest performance and the surprisingly emotional dimension the film finds in the Coyote and Road Runner's relationship. Kevin breaks down how the movie preserves the rules and rhythms of classic Looney Tunes while still finding room for genuine character growth, and Becky reveals the moment that unexpectedly brought her to tears. The conversation ventures far beyond ACME as Kevin traces the film back to Ian Frazier's original New Yorker humor piece and considers the surprisingly small world of movies adapted from magazine humor. That connection is especially fitting now that Kevin himself has had a humor piece published in The New Yorker — leading, naturally, to comedy, cartoons, AI, corporate satire, movie history and more than a few tangents along the way. And then it's time for a Becky Challenge that has been more than a decade in the making. (1:40:14) Albert Brooks helped start Becky and Kevin's friendship after Kevin heard Becky discussing MODERN ROMANCE on her very first podcast appearance, and the two later reunited for an epic exploration of Brooks' career. Now Kevin faces The Becky Challenge: Lost in Albert Brooks — 25 questions spanning MODERN ROMANCE, LOST IN AMERICA, DEFENDING YOUR LIFE, REAL LIFE, BROADCAST NEWS, his comedy albums, SNL shorts, family history and some seriously deep Brooks cuts. Can one of Becky's most formidable Albert Brooks friends survive Judgment City — or will he end up working as a crossing guard for eternity? Beep beep... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: Kevin Maher Producer: Kyle Reardon Produced and Edited By: KPR Media Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky Bluesky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow Kevin Maher: Instagram: @kevingeeksout Website: https://lovekevin.com/

  7. Sep 1

    Finding Hope After the End — THE DOG STARS with John Arminio | The Becky Challenge: One Quiz to Rule Them All

    This week, Becky welcomes her wonderful friend John Arminio, co-host of the Popcorn Eschaton podcast, to Hanging with Becky to talk Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic drama THE DOG STARS. John has previously welcomed Becky onto Popcorn Eschaton for deeply personal conversations about THE SEVENTH SEAL and DEFENDING YOUR LIFE, but this time the roles are reversed as Becky finally gets to host John for a conversation of their own. Becky and John dig into THE DOG STARS and its surprisingly quiet, introspective approach to the end of the world — from Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley's tender relationship to a story about grief, vulnerability, trust and whether it's possible to let yourself love again after unimaginable loss. They also talk about Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce's very different approaches to survival, the film's gorgeous cinematography and score, and an ending that finds hope in community, music and the possibility of happiness after everything has fallen apart. And because this is still a Ridley Scott movie, things eventually get considerably less quiet. Becky and John break down the film's explosive night-vision attack, its wild airplane escape and its deeply unsettling stop at Grand Junction — while John traces some very familiar post-apocalyptic DNA back to 28 DAYS LATER, MAD MAX and FALLOUT. Then it's time to leave the apocalypse behind and travel to Middle-earth for The Becky Challenge: One Quiz to Rule Them All (1:08:03). John faces 25 questions covering Peter Jackson's THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy — characters, actors, creatures, locations, dialogue, battles and plenty of details worthy of a true Tolkien fan. Can John prove himself worthy of the halls of Gondor — or will Becky be forced to tell him that he shall not pass? Hold onto hope... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: John Arminio Producer: Kyle Reardon Produced and Edited By: KPR Media Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky Bluesky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow John Arminio: Instagram: @quasarsniffer Bluesky: @quasarsniffer

  8. Aug 25

    From Bergman to the Further — INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER with Dave Eves | The Becky Challenge: Through a Quiz Darkly

    This week, Becky welcomes her very good friend and fellow #BergmanBuddies4Life, Dave Eves to Hanging with Becky for something surprisingly long overdue: their first podcast together devoted to a horror movie. Becky originally discovered Dave through his horror conversations on the Wrong Reel podcast, but over the years the two ended up recording episode after episode together about Ingmar Bergman. Now, after a long podcasting hiatus for Dave, they finally get to bring their shared love of horror to the microphone with INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER.  Becky and Dave dig into the sixth installment of the Insidious franchise, what makes the original film so effective, the strange rules and dream logic of the Further, the new mythology surrounding Gemma's abilities, and why this sequel manages to expand the series without compromising what makes it work. They also get into the movie's most effective scares — including the claustrophobic pillow-fort sequence and a dental-hygienist scene so disgusting that Dave considers it a selling point.  Then it's time for The Becky Challenge: Through a Quiz Darkly (50:57), as Becky puts her longtime Bergman Buddy through 25 questions covering Bergman's films, characters, performers, collaborators and deep cuts.  Enter the Further, face your existential dread... and come hang out with Becky! Host: Becky D'Anna Guest: Dave Eves Producer: Kyle Reardon Produced and Edited By: KPR Media Subscribe to Hanging with Becky on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingwithBecky Follow Hanging with Becky: Instagram: @hangingwithbecky Twitter: @hangwithbecky Bluesky: @hangingwithbecky TikTok: @hangingwithbecky Letterboxd: @hangwithbecky Follow Dave Eves: Bluesky: @cinemavsdave

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5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Join movie studio marketing veteran, Becky D'Anna each week as she talks the latest movie release with one of her amazing friends and then puts them through a custom Becky Challenge

Information

  • Creator
    Becky D'Anna
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Hanging with Becky

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