Pop Culture Confidential

A podcast special! In Dec 2022 Christina moderated a live event: 'A Man Called Otto' Masterclass with Tom Hanks & Rolf Lassgård ('Ove' of the Swedish original 'En Man Som Heter Ove') as well as with producers Rita Wilson & Fredrik Wikstrom Nicastro. Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60gIfau_S6A 'A Man Called Otto' is produced by SF Studios and Playtone & distributed globally by Sony. The movie is now in theatres. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are thrilled to welcome back creator/writer/director/exec producer Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, HBO)! Last time Mr Mazin was on Pop Culture Confidential we talked about his masterpiece 'Chernobyl'. He's back with the TV adaptation of the beloved game 'The Last of Us' which fans & critics are already calling -the best tv/film adaptation of a game ever! Join us for this fascinating conversation about the process behind creating T'he Last of Us'. This is part 1 of our conversation. In part 2 we talk, in depth, about the fantastic third episode of The Last of Us. We will release that part of the conversation after HBO has aired epi 3 on Jan 29th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emmy, Golden Globe & Critics Choice nominated for her role on the ABC hit sitcom 'Abbott Elementary', actor Janelle James on Pop Culture Confidential! Ms. James talks to Christina about her incredible performance as Principal Ava, her stand-up career (she's opened for Chris Rock & Amy Schumer) and much more! Photo: ABC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Cocaine Bear, Oppenheimer, Barbie! The Last of Us & Succession! Christina and Matt Neglia (Editor-in-Chief @ NextBestPicture.com) talk about some of their most anticipated films & shows releasing the first half of 2023! Twitter: Matt Neglia @NextBestPicture #meg3n #cocainebear #chevalier #knockatthecabin #infinitypool #barbie #johnwick4 #supermario #flash #guardiansofthegalaxy3 #themarvels #renfield #indianajonesandthedialofdestiny #MissionImpossibleDeadReckoning #scream #astroidcity #mafiamamma #oppenheimer #thelastofus #shrinking #succession #daisyjonesandthesix #pokerface #barry #truedetectivenightcountry  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch Erik Anderson joins us for our end of the year best, and worst, film experiences 2022! Happy Holidays! Twitter: @awards_watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We revisit our episode with icon Dee Wallace & celebrate E.T. 40 years! Ms Wallace talks about her iconic roles, from Cujo to E.T., the Spielberg classic celebrating 40 years this year! Her role as Mary, the kids' mom in E.T., is one of the most heartfelt portrayals of a single mom on screen. The role, and the film, has meant so much to many generations of film lovers! We also talk about her latest book Born, & how to ask for what you want and need from life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Shelia McCarthy (Greta) joins us to talk about the upcoming 'Women Talking', a powerful new film written/directed by Sarah Polley and based on the novel by Mariam Toews. We talk about McCarthys' emotional and compelling performance, unpacking the difficult conversations, the need for humor and love and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A while ago, on episode 304, we dove deep into Steven Spielberg's most personal movies and how his family has so often been a part of his storytelling. Now Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film) joins Christina again to discuss The Fabelmans, Spielberg's autobiographical new film, starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Gabriel LaBelle and Seth Rogan Twitter @ryanmcquade77 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) join us to talk about their excellent, dark satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy. In theatres Nov 18th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Film critic Zoë Rose Bryant joins us to talk about Damien Chazelle's "Babylon", the upcoming epic about 1920's Hollywood starring Brad Pitt & Margot Robbie. Plus a deep dive into the most essential films about Hollywood, from Singin' in the Rain and Sunset Boulevard to Boogie Nights and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Twitter @ZoeRoseBryant Awards Editor: @WeLiveEntmt Writer: @NextBestPicture @Awards_Watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Academy Award winning director Laura Poitras joins us to talk about her urgent and powerful documentary 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed' that portrays the life of groundbreaking photographer & activist Nan Goldin. Godin survived an overdose to fight the opioid epidemic. Her main focus, to take down the billionaire Sackler family and the institutions who take their money. The Sacklers, owners of Purdue Pharma, have donated millions to art institutions around the world Laura Poitras won the 2022 Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for her film Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ , a parody of “based on true story biopics,” has premiered on The Roku Channel and we thought this is was perfect time to revisit our fun conversation with ”Weird Al”! We are thrilled to be joined this week by an icon of American pop culture, the parody king and the coolest man with an accordion, ”Weird Al” Yankovic. He’s sold over 12 million albums, spoofed the biggest artists from Michael Jackson, to Nirvana, to Coolio, to Miley Cyrus. A career that spans four decades. Join us for a conversation about his musical process, capturing the zeitgeist, asking Kurt Cobain and Sir Paul McCartney for permission to parody their music, the pure magic of the accordion, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So feckin' good! Ryan McQuade (Executive Editor Awardswatch.com, Editor/Co-Host InSessionFilm) joins us for a deep-dive into Martin McDonagh's critically acclaimed new feature The Banshees of Inisherin. We talk about the powerful & razor sharp themes of regret and existential crisis, the humor, the tears and the shocking twists. Don't miss! and fyi, SPOILERS! Follow Ryan McQuade on twitter: @ryanmcquade77 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wait is finally over! The second season of The White Lotus, Mike White's Emmy winning,  genius satire about wealth, privilege and class premieres soon. We talk to actor Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean, In the Loop, Pride & Prejudice) who plays Quentin, an English expat vacationing with his friends, and Leo Woodall (Cherry, One Day) who plays his nephew Jack. The White Lotus on HBO Max Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Had a fantastic time talking about the horror genre with film critic & podcast host William Bibbiani (The Wrap, The Critically Acclaimed Network)! We talk about how and why 2022 horror is making a killing at the box office, from 'Smile' to 'Barbarian' to 'Halloween Ends’. How the horror genre can help us process terrifying realities, from misogyny to living through a pandemic. How a studio like A24 and directors like Jordan Peele & Robert Eggers are doing groundbreaking work. Plus William Bibbiani's all time favorite jump scare and so much more! Happy Halloween!! Follow William Bibbiani : on twitter @WilliamBibbiani Critically Acclaimed Network patreon: www.patreon.com/criticallyacclaimednetwork SaltCatSoap (handmade fancy soaps!): www.patreon.com/saltcatsoap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Editor-in-chief Erik Anderson of AwardsWatch.com joins us again to cover the exciting race towards the Oscars 2023! What are this years Oscar-race narratives? We talk Brendan Fraser, Blanchett, Spielberg, love us some Banshees, disagree on a few screenplay predictions, talk about Will Smith and his possible come-back post slap, and the return of the Golden Globes, how will the industry & the stars handle that?! Tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 year old Lane Factor is a rising star! He was only 14 when he auditioned and got the part in the groundbreaking, hit show "Reservation Dogs". We talk about his role as 'Cheese', his Native American background, working with Sterlin Harjo & Taika Waititi, the emotional scenes that were really personal to him, working with Steven Spielberg in his upcoming film 'The Fabelmans' and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Candice Frederick, Senior Culture Reporter @huffpost joins Christina for a discussion on the film 'Blonde', based on a novel by Joyce Carol Oates, directed by Andrew Dominik and starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Daisy Edgar-Jones ('Normal People', 'Fresh', 'Under the Banner of Heaven') joins us to talk about her film 'Where the Crawdads Sing', based on the global best seller. Also, on working with producer Reese Witherspoon, playing survivors, wanting to play the villan, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Revisit our interview with actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach! He joins Christina for an exclusive deep-dive into this summers' TV hit, 'The Bear'! A conversation about his incredible performance, "cousin" Richie, how a frustrating character can fill you with compassion and a whole lot more from Mr Moss-Bachrach, who's career includes memorable roles in Girls, The Dropout and the Star Wars series, Andor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices