The Criterion Connection

Ian & McKenzie
  • 5.0 (11)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Two friends explore the Criterion Collection by connecting the iconic films to each other through the greater tapestry of cinema.

  1. 121 - SAVING FACE (2004)

    FEB 2

    121 - SAVING FACE (2004)

    We're back to our regular schedule and we're starting 2026 off with a favorite of both of ours! We both jumped with joy when Alice Wu's Saving Face (2004) was added to the collection because so few romantic comedies come close to the perfection that is this gem. We also chat a little bit about Todd Haynes and Steven Spielberg up top before we get deep into our love and admiration for Alice Wu's mesmerizing film. NEXT TIME: CROSSING DELANCEY ---- McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Above The Line⁠⁠⁠⁠. ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1h 16m
  2. 120 - EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)

    JAN 20

    120 - EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)

    At long last, Ian and McKenzie return to finish out their Kubrick Double feature with his final film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999). On our long delayed episode, we discuss how little we both actually like this film and further excavate our mixed feelings on a filmmaker so many revere as a cinematic genius. We chat about the odd performances in this movie, some different interpretations of the themes, and try to unpack why it feels so cold and distant. NEXT TIME: SAVING FACE ---- McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, ⁠⁠⁠Above The Line⁠⁠⁠. ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1 hr
  3. 119 - BARRY LYNDON (1975), plus Criterion Collection Announcements for February 2026

    12/08/2025

    119 - BARRY LYNDON (1975), plus Criterion Collection Announcements for February 2026

    Ian and McKenzie begin a double feature focused on the cinema of Stanley Kubrick. First up? Barry Lyndon (1975). They discuss their opinions on the filmmaker himself and how they go somewhat against the grain when it comes to their opinions of his body of work, the majesty of Barry Lyndon's compositions, the performances that work and don't work for each of them, and how funny the film can be. Also discussed, Ian and McKenzie run down what they got at the bi-annual Barnes & Noble 50% Criterion Collection sale and what is coming to the Criterion Collection in February 2026. NEXT TIME: EYES WIDE SHUT ---- McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, ⁠⁠Above The Line⁠⁠. ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1h 21m
  4. 119 - NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021) with Christian Gutiérrez⁠⁠

    11/25/2025

    119 - NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021) with Christian Gutiérrez⁠⁠

    Ian and McKenzie, for the second time in a row, welcome back their friend ⁠Christian Gutiérrez⁠ to bring Noirvember to a close! This time we are talking about the 2021 version of Nightmare Alley. We chat the differences in this adaptation, the black & white director's cut exclusive to The Criterion Collection, the stellar cast, neo-noir, as well as the craft of master filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. We also chat a little bit about what we've been watching this Noirvember. NEXT TIME: BARRY LYNDON ---- Follow Guti at ⁠Finite Cinema Dreams⁠ and on ⁠Letterboxd⁠. Also find his recently published article ⁠"Noir or Not: Los hermanos Del Hierro" in Noir City Magazine No. 44⁠. McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, ⁠Above The Line⁠. ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1h 19m
  5. 118 - NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947) with Christian Gutiérrez

    11/10/2025

    118 - NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947) with Christian Gutiérrez

    Ian and McKenzie welcome back their friend Christian Gutiérrez to usher in a special double feature for Noirvember. This month we are all about Nightmare Alley as IP. On this episode, we discuss the original film adaptation from 1947. We chat Tyrone Power, how Nightmare Alley differs from typical film noir, as well as talk about film noir more generally. McKenzie and Guti also briefly talk about what they have watched noir-wise so far this month. NEXT TIME: NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021) with Special Guest Guti ---- Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:58) What we've been watching (00:15:36) Nightmare Alley (01:09:34) Final thoughts ---- Follow Guti at Finite Cinema Dreams and on Letterboxd. Also find his recently published article "Noir or Not: Los hermanos Del Hierro" in Noir City Magazine No. 44. McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, Above The Line. ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1h 18m
  6. 117 - HOUSE (1977), plus Criterion Collection announcements for January 2026

    10/27/2025

    117 - HOUSE (1977), plus Criterion Collection announcements for January 2026

    On this special one off episode, with no connection, we bring you our one piece of spooky programming this Halloween season: cult classic and Criterion favorite House (1977). We talk about the films themes, backgrounds, special effects, and our differing levels of enjoyment. Ian give a brief review of the new Apple TV series, Mr. Scorsese and McKenzie updates us on her John Carpenter journey. We also discuss what is coming to the Criterion Collection in January 2026 as well as the channel next month (November 2025). ---- Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:16) What we've been watching (00:14:12) Criterion Collection announcements for January 2026 (00:21:59) Criterion Channel additions for November 2025 (00:28:37) House (00:55:10) Final thoughts (00:59:39) Listener Messages (01:07:13) Next week ---- Follow our NEW Podcast! ⁠⁠Above the Line⁠⁠, a film podcast about about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical movie-going experience. ---- McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- NEXT WEEK: NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947) with Special Guest Guti ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1h 11m
  7. 116 - SORCERER (1977)

    10/13/2025

    116 - SORCERER (1977)

    This week we finish a double feature by watching the "remake" of the film we covered last week - William Friedkin's best-picture follow up and cult classic, Sorcerer (1977). Also on the show: Ian tells McKenzie about watching a horror behemoth for the first time and McKenzie finally watched a movie Ian recommended to her maybe a year ago on the podcast(?). ---- Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:06:06) What we've been watching (00:21:08) Sorcerer (00:59:47) Final thoughts (01:04:00) Next week ---- Follow our NEW Podcast! ⁠Above the Line⁠, a film podcast about about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical movie-going experience. ---- McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- NEXT WEEK: HOUSE (1977) ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1h 9m
  8. 115 - THE WAGES OF FEAR (1953)

    09/29/2025

    115 - THE WAGES OF FEAR (1953)

    This week on the show we start a new double feature about Men trying to get explosives through a jungle. We kick it off with the seminal 1953 French thriller, The Wages of Fear (1953). Whatever will we pair it with next? We also make a very special announcement at the top of the episode! ---- Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:45) Announcing Above the Line - a new film podcast! (00:07:24) What we've been watching (00:19:38) The Wages of Fear (00:51:27) Final thoughts (00:58:10) Next week ---- Follow our NEW Podcast! Above the Line, a film podcast about about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical movie-going experience. ---- McKenzie on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Austin Danger Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ian on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- NEXT WEEK: SORCERER (1977) ---- Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com ---- The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Two friends explore the Criterion Collection by connecting the iconic films to each other through the greater tapestry of cinema.

Information

  • Creator
    Ian & McKenzie
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    116
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ian & McKenzie
  • Show Website
    The Criterion Connection