Film Optimists

Film Optimists
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  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Film Optimists is a joyful podcast about all things film. The hosts, Megan Tierney Flores and Seth Boyd, believe film is a beautiful and vital artistic medium. They are optimistic about film in general and each episode brings this optimism to an in-depth discussion on a particular film subject.

  1. MAR 30

    The Gospel According to Saint Matthew

    Happy Spring Everybody! To celebrate the season we have an early Easter episode with The Gospel According to Saint Matthew. Why are a couple of nonbeliever's talking about a religious movie? That can be answered in three words. Pier Paolo Pasolini. The vastly influential, and controversial, Italian filmmaker directed the Gospel According to Saint Matthew. The film finds Pasolini at perhaps his most tranquil and reflective while he explores what he referred to as a "nostalgia for a belief". Casting non actors in all the roles, Pasolini brings Matthew's gospel to life in inspiring and mesmerizing fashion. Don't take our word for it, take the Vatican who referred to the film as the best film on Christ ever made.

    57 min

  2. FEB 18

    Top 5 of 2025

    Its time for our annual top 5 episode! We'll be discussing the top 5 movies we each saw last year, not necessarily movies that came out last year. We'll also be discussing the Oscar nominees, who want to win and who will most likely win. Let us know some of your favorite watches from last year in the comments!

    1h 14m

  3. 12/03/2025

    King of Comedy

    Its been a long time coming, but we're finally doing a Martin Scorsese episode. With a career that spans over 6 decades and includes several masterpieces, we had plenty of options to choose from. We went with one we consider underrated, yet deeply influential. The King of Comedy from 1982. The film stars Robert De Niro (in one of his ten collaborations with Scorsese) as a self proclaimed comedian named Rupert Pupkin. Rupert is obsessed with a late night host named Jerry Langford, played by the one and only Jerry Lewis. Rather than become a star through the usual routes, Rupert is convinced that Jerry will offer him his big break. When that doesn't happen, Rupert takes matters into his own hands. If the plot involving a failed comedian and a late night host sounds an awful lot like a certain movie that came out a few years ago, you aren't wrong. Hear us to discuss that and much more!

    1h 7m

  4. 10/31/2025

    Weapons

    Happy Halloween, Optimists! In light of the holiday, our obligatory horror episode is dedicated to one of the most anticipated releases this year, Zach Cregger's second feature film Weapons. A town is riddled with anxiety and fear when an entire classroom of students willingly run away from their homes at 2:17am, leaving behind one teacher and student. Dubbed a "must watch" by Megan, we discuss whether this underdog film lives up to its hype (no tricks here: it does).

    1h 2m

  5. 10/14/2025

    Jurassic Park ft. Adam Melster

    We are joined once again by artist and author Adam Melster of ACM Designs to discuss Jurassic Park directed by Steven Spielberg. There is a strong case to be made that Jurassic Park is the perfect blockbuster. It's at times frightening and at times funny. It discusses important and interesting ethical questions. It does this while remaining family-friendly and well paced. The special effects are outstanding, the music is perfect, and, in case you didn't know, there's dinosaurs. The cast is led by Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, and Samuel L. Jackson. In addition to discussing the film, Adam chats with us about his latest graphic novel entitled "S****y Wizard". Adam has described the book as, "an amusing, fantastical, and illustrative comic tale explaining why S****y Wizard is so s****y.” https://acm-designs-mke.square.site/product/-s****y-wizard-graphic-novel/TJQ5XSIIBH7K4HANVZUWLTLK?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false

    1h 26m

  6. 08/24/2025

    Hundreds of Beavers

    We covered blockbusters and Hollywood classics in the last couple of episodes, so it's time for another hidden gem. Gems don't get much more hidden than Hundreds of Beavers. Hundreds of Beavers is an indie film, shot in black and white, with nearly no dialog. Sound serious? It's not. It's a ridiculous slapstick comedy that hearkens back to silent comedies like those made by Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin. It's more than a mere homage to silent comedies though. Adding some modern influences, and their own unique sensibilities, filmmakers Mike Cheslik and Ryland Tews made a hilarious film truly unlike anything you've ever seen before. Made on a shoestring budget and self distributed, the film managed to be both a critical and commercial success, ending up on many critics high-praise lists.

    56 min

  7. 07/30/2025

    The Truman Show

    We're back revisiting the director that started it all for the pod, Peter Weir, and a film that attuned listeners have heard before: The Truman Show. A stylistic favorite for Megan and Seth, the 1998 cult classic stars Jim Carrey in a career-defining dramatic role. We unpack the film’s eerie foresight into reality TV, surveillance culture, and the blurred line between authenticity and performance.

    53 min

  8. 06/18/2025

    Master and Commander ft. Jeremy Blandin

    We're joined by friend and film buff Jeremy Blandin to discuss the historical war drama, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. The film stars Russell Crowe as the captain of a Royal Navy brigade that quickly becomes ensnared in a game of cat and mouse with an enemy vessel during the Napoleonic Wars. The stakes are high but the humanity is surprisingly present. The film is one of the last directed by one our favorite directors, Peter Weir. The incredible sets, sound design, costumes, and more make Master and Commander feel in many ways more authentic than some of its contemporaries. As the late film critic Roger Ebert said in his review of the film, "It achieves the epic without losing sight of the human."

    1h 10m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Film Optimists is a joyful podcast about all things film. The hosts, Megan Tierney Flores and Seth Boyd, believe film is a beautiful and vital artistic medium. They are optimistic about film in general and each episode brings this optimism to an in-depth discussion on a particular film subject.

Information

  • Creator
    Film Optimists
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Film Optimists
  • Show Website
    Film Optimists

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