Above the Line

Ian and McKenzie
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  • FILM REVIEWS
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted by Ian and McKenzie.

Episodes

  1. Wake Up Dead Man is the best Knives Out movie yet!

    16/12/2025

    Wake Up Dead Man is the best Knives Out movie yet!

    On this episode we are joined by our friend ⁠Josh⁠ to discuss the newest in Rian Johnson's Knives Out series. Wake Up Dead Man is, in our opinion, without question the best of these films yet and we love just about everything about it. Listen for our spoiler-filled conversation as well as some much-needed Diane Warren chat. *Also contains spoilers for Murder on the Orient Express (an almost 100 year old story!) ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    46 min
  2. Hamnet shows us what Jessie Buckley can do!

    10/12/2025

    Hamnet shows us what Jessie Buckley can do!

    On this episode we discuss Hamnet and why it works better for some people than it does for others. We talk about Jessie Buckley's powerhouse performance, Paul Mescal's so-so performance. Then, we discuss the film in the context of the 2025 Oscar race. ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    44 min
  3. Jafar Panahi defies censorship with It Was Just An Accident

    01/12/2025

    Jafar Panahi defies censorship with It Was Just An Accident

    Ian and McKenzie give their brief reviews and some thoughts on Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident. McKenzie also reports on seeing the man himself in-person at a Q&A at Chicago's Music Box Theatre. ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    31 min
  4. With Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier shows a maturation of his style and substance

    23/11/2025

    With Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier shows a maturation of his style and substance

    On this episode we are joined by Frankie (@frankiedooodledandy) and Josh (Film Explorers Podcast) to discuss the newest film from Joachim Trier as he teams back up with Renate Reinsve. We discuss the many themes the film tackles, how we see ourselves in the material, and all of its amazing performances from its four central characters. ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    52 min
  5. Frankenstein (2025) lives or dies on your relationship to the source material

    19/11/2025

    Frankenstein (2025) lives or dies on your relationship to the source material

    On this episode we are joined by Christian Gutiérrez (Finite Cinema Dreams, Reel Latinos Podcast) to chat about the latest from Guillermo del Toro. We discuss his adaptation of the classic novel by Mary Shelley, what we liked and didn't like about his choices, as well as the performances and themes that run through the production. ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    42 min
  6. Bugonia is a movie for the moment!

    17/11/2025

    Bugonia is a movie for the moment!

    On this episode we are joined by Kev (Austin Danger Podcast) to break down the new film from Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Bugonia. We discuss how this movie relates to the current state of the world and political climate, how it made us feel, the performances, as well as several of the below the line players. ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    46 min
  7. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You isn't an Uncut Gems riff! It's better.

    08/11/2025

    If I Had Legs I'd Kick You isn't an Uncut Gems riff! It's better.

    On this episode, Ian and McKenzie review the new film from Mary Bronstein (Yeast, 2008), If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. They get into the autobiographical content, the film's surreal nature, and how some people are reading the film incorrectly. They also briefly chat about the news that Cinemark is refitting some of their IMAX screens with 70mm projection capabilities and read an email from a friend. ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:59) Cinemark 70mm IMAX news (00:08:15) Listener Message (00:12:03) If I Had Legs I'd Kick You ---- ​Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical experience. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzieEdited & mixed by IanSocial media & artwork by McKenzie​Music by Lydia Simmons

    43 min
  8. In Blue Moon, Ethan Hawke & Co. take our breath away...

    04/11/2025

    In Blue Moon, Ethan Hawke & Co. take our breath away...

    On this episode, Ian and McKenzie review the lovely new one location drama from Richard Linklater and frequent collaborator Ethan Hawke about one of the final nights in composer Lorenz Hart's life, Blue Moon. ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Follow the show on ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠⁠The Criterion Connection⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical experience. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    27 min

  9. 20/10/2025

    After the Hunt Has Great Blazers... Beautiful Blazers! + The Kiss of the Spider Woman & Roofman

    On this episode, Ian and McKenzie review the charming new Channing Tatum star vehicle, Roofman. Then, they share their differing opinions on the newest movie musical to his screens, Kiss of the Spider Woman. And for their featured discussion, they get into all of the reasons why After the Hunt didn't really work for either of them even if they thought Julia Roberts shined like the star she is. NEXT TIME: Blue Moon, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, & The Mastermind ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog ⁠here⁠. Follow the show on ⁠BlueSky⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠. Follow Ian on ⁠Letterboxd⁠. Follow McKenzie on ⁠Letterboxd⁠. Listen to our other podcasts: ⁠The Criterion Connection⁠ and ⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠ Send your letters and voicemails to info@abovethelinepod.com ---- Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:06:42) McKenzie shares some development news (00:17:49) Ian's brief reactions to House of Dynamite & Tron: Ares (00:31:23) Roofman (00:47:12) Kiss of the Spider Woman (01:06:55) After the Hunt (01:51:15) Next time ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical experience. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    1h 30m

  10. 06/10/2025

    Is One Battle After Another PTA's Crowning Achievement? + Eleanor the Great & A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

    This episode contains spoilers for A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Eleanor the Great, and One Battle After Another On the first episode of Above the Line, Ian (they/them) & McKenzie (she/her) discuss the new film from Paul Thomas Anderson. They chat about the hype and acclaim that One Battle After Another has received, the performances, and where it falls for them in their rankings of the filmmaker's entire body of work. They also spend some time discussing a few of the buzziest titles coming out of the fall festivals as well as give their reviews of both Kogonada's A Big Bold Beautiful Journey and Scarlett Johansson's Eleanor the Great. NEXT TIME: Roofman, After the Hunt, & Kiss of the Spider Woman ---- Visit our website to keep up with us and read our blog here. Follow the show on BlueSky, Instagram, and YouTube. Follow Ian on Letterboxd. Follow McKenzie on Letterboxd. Listen to our other podcasts: The Criterion Connection and Austin Danger Pod Send your letters and voicemails to ianandmckenzie@gmail.com. ---- Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:06:42) Telluride/Venice/TIFF (Fall Film Festivals) (00:17:49) New York Film Festival (00:31:23) A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (00:47:12) Eleanor the Great (01:06:55) One Battle After Another (01:43:39) PTA Rankings (01:51:15) Next time ---- Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical experience. Hosted & produced by Ian & McKenzie Edited & mixed by Ian Social media & artwork by McKenzie Music by Lydia Simmons

    1h 53m

  11. 28/09/2025

    Above the Line - Trailer

    Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical experience. Hosted by Ian & McKenzie. Follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, and YouTube. Check out our website - https://abovethelinepod.com/ Our theme music is by Lydia Simmons. Check out our other podcast, The Criterion Connection.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Above the Line is a film podcast about contemporary cinema & film culture. Hosted by Ian and McKenzie.

Information

  • Creator
    Ian and McKenzie
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ian and McKenzie
  • Show Website
    Above the Line

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