Moviewallas

Moviewallas

film review podcasts + banter

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 590 – Best Movies of 2025 / Oscars Reactions

    Moviewallas is on YouTube! Welcome back to Moviewallas, your weekly dose of film reviews, movie news, and movie-lover banter — in theatres, on streaming, or in the back of an airplane. In this episode, Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi dive into their favorite movies of 2025, comparing personal Top 10 lists and highlighting the films that surprised, moved, and stuck with them throughout the year. From bold international cinema and indie discoveries to major studio releases and festival favorites, the conversation covers a wide range of standout films from the past year. Along the way the team discusses everything from emotional storytelling and memorable performances to unexpected genre hits and films that sparked passionate debate. In the final segment, the Moviewallas turn their attention to the 2025 Oscar nominations, sharing reactions to the biggest categories — including Best Picture, Best Director, the acting races, and International Feature — and talking through what surprised them, what made sense, and what they’ll be watching closely on awards night. If you’re looking for great movie recommendations or want to hear a lively discussion about the year in film, this is the episode for you. Like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy smart film conversations with a bit of humor and strong opinions. Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi Watch on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas www.moviewallas.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Start 00:02:45 – Personal Top Tens 00:03:24 – Resurrection 00:05:15 – The Perfect Neighbor 00:06:44 – F1: The Movie 00:08:41 – Sentimental Value 00:11:53 – Zootopia 2 00:13:02 – Bugonia 00:16:23 – The Secret Agent 00:18:21 – The Voice of Hind Rajab 00:20:16 – One Battle After Another 00:22:27 – A House of Dynamite 00:24:55 – All That’s Left of You 00:27:39 – Sovereign 00:31:04 – Marty Supreme 00:33:12 – No Other Choice 00:35:03 – Black Bag 00:36:58 – Roof Man / A Nice Indian Boy / The Ballad of Wallis Island 00:38:03 – The Materialists 00:40:57 – It Was Just An Accident 00:41:54 – The Left Handed Girl 00:42:46 – M3GAN 2.0 00:45:16 – Sinners 00:51:28 – Predator: Badlands 00:54:16 – Twinless 01:02:59 – Moviewallas Discuss the Oscar Nominations 01:03:48 – Best Picture 01:05:06 – Best Director 01:07:13 – Best Actor 01:09:18 – Best Actress 01:10:59 – Best Supporting Actor 01:11:31 – Best Supporting Actress 01:12:54 – Best Foreign Language Film #Hashtags #Moviewallas #BestMovies2025 #Top10Movies #OscarNominations #MoviePodcast #FilmPodcast #MovieReviews #FilmDiscussion #CinemaLovers #MovieRecommendations #IndieFilms #InternationalCinema #PredatorBadlands #M3GAN2 #Zootopia2 #TooManyMoviesTooLittleTime

    1h 19m
  2. FEB 21

    Episode 589 – “Wuthering Heights” / Pillion

    Moviewallas is on YouTube! Welcome back to Moviewallas, your weekly dose of film reviews, movie news, and general banter – in theatres, on streaming, or in the back of an airplane. This week, Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi tackle two wildly different cinematic experiences: the provocative indie Pillion and Emerald Fennell’s lush, divisive adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Snack check: Mango-chili dark chocolate straight from Mexico City sets the tone – bold, unexpected, and a little dangerous. Much like the films we’re reviewing. Streaming Picks – “I Can’t Find Anything to Watch…” Undercurrent (Ullozhukku) – Netflix A flood traps a grieving family in this intense Malayalam drama we first saw at IFFLA. Claustrophobic, emotionally charged, and unforgettable. Triangle of Sadness – Netflix (Feb 21) Ruben Östlund’s razor-sharp satire finally lands on Netflix. Gender politics, class warfare, and one dinner scene you’ll never forget. Bridgerton Season 4 (Part 1) – Netflix Lavish, romantic, and gloriously anachronistic. If you’re in the mood for swooning and scandal, Netflix has you covered. Pillion This one sparked serious conversation. A shy young man is pulled into the world of a dominant biker, and what unfolds is funny, uncomfortable, emotional, and surprisingly layered. Anchored by fearless performances from Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgard, Pillion is bold filmmaking that refuses to play it safe. It’s not for everyone – but it’s undeniably memorable. “Wuthering Heights” (2026) Emerald Fennell brings maximalist style to Emily Brontë’s classic tale of destructive love. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, this adaptation leans heavily into mood, sensuality, and striking visuals. We debate whether the passion translates, whether the characters earn their tragedy, and whether style can carry a story this iconic.   Like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy smart, spoiler-light film discussions with strong opinions and zero pretension. Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi Watch on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas www.moviewallas.com   Timestamps 00:00 – Start 03:44 – Streaming Picks 04:07 – Undercurrent (Ullozhukku) 06:02 – Triangle of Sadness 09:35 – Bridgerton Season 4 11:25 – Pillion 25:39 – Wuthering Heights

    52 min
  3. FEB 20

    Episode 588 – Scarlet / The Moment

    Moviewallas is on YouTube! Welcome back to Moviewallas – your weekly dose of film reviews, movie news, and general banter (in theaters, on streaming, or in the back of an airplane). This week Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi are fueled by Costco mango cakes, working through a few new mic-setup quirks, and diving into two very different watches: Scarlet and The Moment. Plus, we’re back with “I Can’t Find Anything to Watch on Video On Demand” – three non-Netflix picks to rescue your queue. Snack check + production note Yazdi brings individually wrapped mango cakes (dangerously addictive), and Joe shares a quick update on the podcast audio setup as the team tweaks the new recording gear. Streaming Picks – • Just Like Heaven (Paramount+) – Rashmi revisits this warm, early-2000s comfort watch with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo – “like a hug,” and it still holds up. • The Librarians (KPBS on YouTube) – Yazdi recommends this timely documentary about banned books and the librarians caught in the middle, including the very real threats some have faced.    • Banned Books and the Librarians Caught in …   • Die My Love (MUBI) – Joe champions Lynne Ramsay’s polarizing, visceral fever-dream starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson – a film that’s less about plot and more about impact. (Even if you don’t love it, the performances are the reason to watch.) Scarlet A new animated feature from Mamoru Hosoda (director of Mirai), Scarlet delivers absolutely stunning visuals – the kind you want to pause and frame – with a story that sparked debate. The group agrees the animation is breathtaking, but wrestles with pacing, mythology, and how well the emotional beats translate. If you love ambitious animation (and don’t mind a little chaos in the world-building), you’ll want to hear where everyone lands. The Moment A mockumentary-style satire set in the pop-music machine, The Moment wins the room with its humor, self-awareness, and industry-side-eye. Even coming in with mixed familiarity on Charli XCX, all three hosts get pulled into the absurdity – with major shout-outs for the comedic timing, the supporting cast, and how sharply it skewers the push-pull between “art” and “commerce.” This one surprised us, and we break down why it works even if you don’t know the pop world it’s playing in. Like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy spoiler-light film talk with strong opinions, snack tangents, and the occasional tech gremlin. Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi Watch on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas www.moviewallas.com ⸻ Timestamps 00:00 – Start 03:11 – Streaming Picks 04:41 – Just Like Heaven 05:58 – The Librarians 07:52 – Die My Love 12:42 – Scarlet 23:17 – The Moment ⸻ #Moviewallas #MoviePodcast #Scarlet #TheMoment #StreamingPicks #JustLikeHeaven #TheLibrarians #DieMyLove #MamoruHosoda #CharliXCX #FilmPodcast #MovieReviews #TooManyMoviesTooLittleTime

    38 min
  4. FEB 14

    Episode 587 – Shelter / 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

    Moviewallas is on YouTube! This week on Moviewallas, Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi dive into survival, rivalry, obsession, and bone-crunching dystopia. From intimate indie drama to franchise horror spectacle, Episode 587 covers it all — plus a few streaming picks you won’t want to miss. Snack check: We kick off with Spanish olive-oil tortas (cookie-meets-cracker perfection) and some very questionable peanut-butter choices by Joe. Streaming Picks Heated Rivalry (HBO) – Yazdi brings the steamy Canadian hockey romance that somehow evolves from “wait, what is this?” into genuinely moving TV. He makes the case that the third (and especially the fifth) episode is elite-level television – if the sauciness doesn’t scare you off. Dhurandhar (Netflix) – Rashmi recommends this sprawling, hyper-violent underworld saga with a killer soundtrack and a serious macho streak. The group discusses its intensity, and why a 3.5-hour runtime may be best tackled across two nights. Skyscraper Live / Free Solo (Netflix) – Joe explains why the live Alex Honnold Taipei 101 climb is perhaps more stressful than enjoyable, then re-recommends the actual classic: Free Solo. This week’s Movies: Shelter A remote Scottish island, a rescue that changes everything, and Jason Statham in full lone-wolf mode. Shelter is exactly the kind of tense, brooding action-thriller premise that sounds like perfect weekend viewing – and it sparked a fun debate for us about what works, what doesn’t, and what we wish the movie leaned into more. If you like Statham, isolated settings, and movies that invite “wait… hang on” moments, you’ll want to hear where we landed. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple The rage-virus universe expands again – this time with a different directorial voice and a very specific kind of intensity. Only one of us saw The Bone Temple, which made for a great, spoiler-light breakdown: what the sequel is aiming for, how it shifts the tone from the previous film, and why it’s clearly going to be a big conversation-starter for fans of the franchise. If you’ve been following this series, the podcast chat is the safest way to decide if it’s your kind of entry. Plus: Oscar-season confusion (as always), travel colds that won’t quit, and the tease of an upcoming special on the 2025-2026 awards season and your annual “Muggies.” ⸻ Timestamps 00:00 – Start 04:27 – Streaming Picks 04:37 – Heated Rivalry 08:45 – Dhurandhar 13:58 – Skyscraper Live / Free Solo 18:15 – Shelter 29:33 – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple #Moviewallas #MoviePodcast #Shelter #28YearsLater #BoneTemple #HeatedRivalry #Dhurandhar #FreeSolo #FilmReview #StreamingPicks #TooManyMoviesTooLittleTime

    39 min
  5. JAN 1

    Episode 585 – Ella McCay / The Housemaid

    Moviewallas Episode 585 Welcome back to Moviewallas — your weekly fix for smart, spoiler-free movie reviews and cinephile banter. In Episode 585, Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi return to a two-feature format, covering a buzzy new political dramedy from James L. Brooks and a genre-bending psychological thriller from Paul Feig. Along the way, they catch up on trailers, discuss new clip mics, and celebrate the San Diego Film Critics Society awards season. Full list of winners now live at https://www.sdfcs.org     Ella McCay Written and directed by James L. Brooks, Ella McCay is a 2025 political dramedy about a rising political star (Emma Mackey) navigating public scrutiny, personal relationships, and generational conflict in the run-up to an election. With an ensemble that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Jack Lowden, Ayo Edebiri, and Albert Brooks, the film blends wit, idealism, and emotional nuance — marking Brooks’ return to filmmaking after a 13-year hiatus. The Housemaid From Paul Feig comes an unexpected turn into psychological suspense. The Housemaid is a dark, stylized thriller set in a glossy Manhattan high-rise, where a seemingly docile domestic worker gradually upends the life of her wealthy employer. With echoes of Single White Female and Parasite, Feig’s latest blends social satire and tension into something uniquely disquieting. Like, comment, and subscribe if you love film conversations that go beyond the press release. Have thoughts on Ella McCay or The Housemaid? Let us know in the comments. Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi Watch on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas www.moviewallas.com Timestamps 00:00 – Start 06:06 – Streaming Picks 06:56 – Relay 09:00 – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery 11:59 – Caught Stealing 15:40 – Ella McCay (dir. James L. Brooks) 26:21 – The Housemaid (dir. Paul Feig) #Moviewallas #MoviePodcast #EllaMcCay #JamesLBrooks #EmmaMackey #TheHousemaid #PaulFeig #PsychologicalThriller #SDFCS #SanDiegoFilmCriticsSociety #StreamingPicks #FilmDiscussion #TooManyMoviesTooLittleTime

    45 min
  6. 12/20/2025

    Episode 584 – Marty Supreme / The Testament of Ann Lee

    Moviewallas Episode 584 Moviewallas is on YouTube! Welcome back to Moviewallas, your weekly home for thoughtful film reviews, movie news, and lively banter. In Episode 584, Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi cover two feature films — one a hyper-stylized period sports drama, the other a spiritual documentary — along with three standout shorts and a few offhand streaming picks. Streaming Picks Quick takes on what’s worth checking out when you’re short on time but craving something new. Left-Handed Girl A haunting, understated movie about isolation and subtle power shifts. Quiet but potent. Bad Shabbos A funny, chaotic, culturally specific film that mines family tension for full cringe and full laughs. The Thinking Game An elegant, intimate documentary from DeepMind about human-AI collaboration and the nature of thought itself. Watch it here: Marty Supreme Directed by Josh Safdie, this highly stylized table tennis drama stars Timothée Chalamet as a rising sports star in 1950s New York. Between its dazzling craft and period detail, it raises great conversation about competition, image, and identity. The Testament of Ann Lee This meditative documentary explores the history and philosophy of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers. With a calm pace and introspective tone, the film looks at belief systems, community, and control. PLUS… Movie-watching marathons in hotel rooms Rashmi’s full immersion strategy Why Joe taps out after movie #3 Yazdi channels Roger Ebert Like, comment, and subscribe if you love smart, spoiler-free film conversations with genuine banter and discovery. Seen The Thinking Game? Let us know what you thought! Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi Watch on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas www.moviewallas.com Timestamps 00:00 – Start 02:32 – Streaming Picks 03:14 – Left-Handed Girl 04:37 – Bad Shabbos 06:17 – The Thinking Game https://youtu.be/d95J8yzvjbQ 09:59 – Marty Supreme (dir. Josh Safdie) 22:16 – The Testament of Ann Lee #Moviewallas #MoviePodcast #MartySupreme #JoshSafdie #TimotheeChalamet #TestamentOfAnnLee #ShortFilms #TheThinkingGame #DeepMind #DocumentaryFilm #AIandCreativity #FilmReview #TooManyMoviesTooLittleTime

    32 min
  7. 12/11/2025

    Episode 583 – The Running Man / Eternity / Jay Kelly

    Moviewallas is on YouTube! Welcome back to Moviewallas, your weekly home for film reviews, movie news, and unscripted banter. In Episode 583, Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi return with three eclectic films — a genre classic, a melancholic sci-fi indie, and a striking festival discovery. The Running Man The team revisits this 1987 sci-fi action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, based on a novel by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman). With dystopian satire, over-the-top set pieces, and prophetic media commentary, this one sparks discussion about tone, influence, and whether it’s aged like fine cheese or fine wine. Eternity A meditative sci-fi indie that blends time travel with grief, memory, and philosophical introspection. The group discusses structure, pacing, and how smaller films use sci-fi not for spectacle but to explore human emotion and existential questions. Jay Kelly A Tribeca 2024 entry featuring a breakout performance and a quietly bold visual style. The hosts examine what makes this intimate drama stand out, especially among recent indie debuts, and how character and form can create lasting impact. PLUS… Joe shows off his San Diego FC pride A few bonus thoughts on the season’s streaming backlog Like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy passionate, spoiler-free film conversations with deep dives and laughter. Let us know in the comments: what’s a genre film that’s grown on you over time? Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi Watch on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas www.moviewallas.com

    39 min
4.7
out of 5
16 Ratings

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film review podcasts + banter

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