Why This Film?
In this podcast, host Ron leads expert-driven conversations about individual films from the Criterion Collection. Each episode features film historians, critics, filmmakers, and scholars discussing a single movie, exploring its artistry, cultural significance, and historical context. The show covers a wide range of cinema, from French New Wave masterpieces to American westerns and experimental shorts. It aims to provide thoughtful analysis for Criterion collectors, film students, and anyone interested in cinema history. New episodes are released one to two times per month.
Episodes
Deep Cover (1992, Bill Duke) with Michael B. Gillespie - Criterion Collection Spine #1086
"There was a great moment in the 90s with noir films, and I think Deep Cover should always be a part of that consideration."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by film scholar Michael B. Gillespie to explore Deep Cover, Bill Duke's 1992 noir thriller.Deep Cover follows Russell Stevens, a Cincinnati police officer recruited by the DEA to go undercover at "John Hul
Matewan (1987, John Sayles) with Jack Ryan - Criterion Collection Spine #999
"You walk out taking away an awful lot of knowledge of American history that you were never told."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by film scholar Jack Ryan to explore Matewan, John Sayles's 1987 masterpiece and Criterion Collection Spine #999.Matewan follows Joe Kenehan, a union organizer sent to a small West Virginia mining town in 1920 to bring together workers
The 39 Steps (1935, Alfred Hitchcock) with Sid Gottlieb - Criterion Collection Spine #56
"See how far the truth gets you."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by, film scholar, Sid Gottlieb to explore The 39 Steps, Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 masterpiece thriller and a Criterion Collection essential, the film where Hitchcock became definitively Hitchcock.The 39 Steps follows Richard Hannay (Robert Donat), an ordinary Canadian accused of murder he didn't c
Birth (2004, Jonathan Glazer) with Carlos Aguilar - Criterion Collection Spine #1298
"It captures an uncanny feeling that relates to grief, that there's something after, the hope we could get more time with someone we love."In this episode of Why This Film?, Film critic Carlos Aguilar joins me to explore Birth, Jonathan Glazer's 2004 psychological thriller and Criterion Collection Spine #1298.Birth follows Anna, a widow living a comfortable Manhattan life who h
La cérémonie (1995, Claude Chabrol) with Girish Shambu - Criterion Collection Spine #1199
"It's an incredibly rich film."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by film critic and scholar Girish Shambu to explore La cérémonie, Claude Chabrol's 1995 masterpiece and Criterion Collection Spine #1199.La cérémonie follows Sophie, a withdrawn live-in maid hired by the welcoming Lelièvre family at their country estate. The family is pleasant. The job is fine. An
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022, Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson) with Caleb Tyson - Criterion Collection Spine #1201
"It's a perfectly imperfect film."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by film editor Caleb Tyson to explore Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022), the Academy Award-winning stop-motion feature and Criterion Collection entry that reimagines one of the world's oldest stories through an entirely new lens.Set in Mussolini's fascist Italy, del Toro's Pi
Kagemusha (1980, Akira Kurosawa) with Michael Repsch - Criterion Collection Spine #267
"Is our identity predetermined or something we can create?"In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by Michael Repsch, President of Dark Star Pictures, to explore Kagemusha - Akira Kurosawa's sweeping historical epic and Criterion Collection Spine #267.Released in 1980, Kagemusha follows a thief who is spared execution because of his uncanny resemblance to the powerful war
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001, Wes Anderson) with Chris Cook - Criterion Collection Spine #157
"To me, it's a perfect film."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by assistant director Chris Cook to explore The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Wes Anderson's meticulously crafted family drama and Criterion Collection Spine #157.Released in 2001, The Royal Tenenbaums follows the once-brilliant Tenenbaum siblings - Chas, Margot, and Richie - whose early promise has long
The Thin Red Line (1998, Terrence Malick) with Jared Frederick - Criterion Collection Spine #536
"I think of it as Saving Private Ryan for thinkers."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by historian, author, and educator Jared Frederick to explore The Thin Red Line (1998), Terrence Malick's philosophical World War II epic and Criterion Collection Spine #536.Released in 1998 after a 20-year hiatus from filmmaking, The Thin Red Line marked Malick's long-awaited
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985, Tim Burton) with Jesse Thorn - Criterion Collection Spine #1293
“The regular world still has something special for someone who is weird.” In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by comedian, broadcaster, and Maximum Fun founder Jesse Thorn to explore Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), the feature film debut of Tim Burton and one of the most unique comedies of the 1980s.Released in 1985, Pee-wee's Big Adventure follows Pee-wee Herman, played b
Repo Man (1984, Alex Cox) with James Chestnut - Criterion Collection Spine #654
"Otto is Forrest Gump."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by assistant director James Chestnut to dive into Repo Man (1984), Alex Cox's punk-rock, sci-fi, anti-Reagan cult classic that refuses to sit still or make sense in a conventional way.Released in 1984, Repo Man follows Otto, a disaffected LA punk who stumbles into a world of car repossession. He soon finds him
Winchester '73 (1950, Anthony Mann) with Brady Crytzer - Criterion Collection Spine #1248
"The gun really doesn't mean anything until people start obsessing over it."In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by historian and author Brady Crytzer to explore Winchester '73 (1950), Anthony Mann's landmark Western starring James Stewart. Released as Criterion Collection Spine #1248, Winchester '73 helped redefine the Western genre by shifting focus fr
After Hours (1985, Martin Scorsese) with Sheila O'Malley - Criterion Collection Spine #1185
"It's such an important film in his [Scorsese's] filmography. I'm so happy people are discovering it and Criterion decided to focus on it."In this episode of Why This Film?, Ron is joined by critic and writer Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com to discuss After Hours, Martin Scorsese's dark comedy and anxiety-driven odyssey through late-night SoHo. Sheila also wrot
The Breakfast Club (1985, John Hughes) with Ciara Moloney - Criterion Collection Spine #905
In episode 3 of Why This Film?, Ron is joined by Ciara Moloney to discuss The Breakfast Club, John Hughes's defining 1980s teen film.Together, they walk through the film scene by scene, talking about why these characters still resonate 40 years later. They discuss the film's use of archetypes and how it reveals we are often more alike than we may seem on the surface.Along the way, they u
Touchez pas au grisbi (1954, Jacques Becker) with Ginette Vincendeau - Criterion Collection Spine #271
"If retirement means you're in a lovely flat in Paris and your fridge is full of foie gras and champagne - I'm okay with that."In episode 2 of Why This Film?, Ron discusses Jacques Becker's Touchez pas au grisbi (1954) with Ginette Vincendeau, one of the most influential scholars of French cinema working today.Together, they explore how Grisbi reshapes the gangster genre t
La Jetée (1962, Chris Marker) with Dr. Dennis Weiss - Criterion Collection Spine #387
“The past is dead!”In the premiere episode of Why This Film?, I sit down with Dr. Dennis Weiss to explore Chris Marker's La Jetée (1962), a groundbreaking French science fiction short film that redefined what cinema could be. Released as Criterion Collection Spine #387, this 28-minute masterpiece is composed almost entirely of still photographs, creating a meditation on memory, time, and huma
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