Shows / Midday Movies
Midday Movies
Welcome to the Midday Movies podcast, provider of fun, funny, and thoughtful media reviews 2-3x a week. Streaming on @radiotacoma101.9 every Tues/Thurs/Sat at 3pm.
Episodes
Midday MoviesEp 340: “Hocus Pocus” (1993) The Bewitching Halloween Classic with Salem Witch Trial History
In this enchanting episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen wrap up their spooky season coverage with a nostalgic look at the 1993 Disney classic…
Midday MoviesEp 339: “The Wicker Man” (1973) Devout Christianity and Devout Paganism Clash in this Unholy Classic
In this thrilling episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen, along with special guest Bryon Kershaw from Spirits and Monsters of Old Seattle, dive into…
Midday MoviesEp 338: “Blood on Satan's Claw” (1971) The Haunted Children of Britain’s Unholy Trinity of Horror
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen (and their guest Bryon) continue their spine-chilling journey through spooky season with a deep dive…
Midday MoviesEp 337: “The Witchfinder General” (1968) English Folk Horror Classic Set in Civil War
In this chilling episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen kick off their Halloween folk horror coverage with a deep dive into the British classic…
Midday MoviesEp 336: “Farewell, My Concubine” (1993) Epic Masterpiece About Love & Opera in 20th-Century China
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen wrap up International Cinema Month with a profound exploration of the Chinese language epic, Farewell…
Midday MoviesEp 335: Movie Archer Special - Picking the Best Films of 2026 (So Far)
International Cinema Season is back next week! Today, we want to introduce you to some friends of ours. In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and…
Midday MoviesEp 334: “2046” (2004) Sci-Fi Sequel to Wong Kar-wai’s Masterpiece & Love Letter to 1960’s Hong Kong
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their celebration of International Cinema Month with a deep dive into Wong Kar Wai's…
Midday MoviesEp 333: “The Handmaiden” (2016) Park Chan-wook Adaptation of Fingersmith is a Puzzle-box of Passions
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their celebration of International Cinema Month with an in-depth exploration of the modern…
Midday MoviesEp 332: “Seven Samurai” (1954) International Cinema Month Begins with Akira Kurosawa’s Masterpiece
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen kick off International Cinema Month with a thorough examination of Akira Kurosawa's monumental film…
Midday MoviesEp 331: “Punch Drunk Love” (2002) Off-Beat LA Rom-Com Concerning Phone Sex, Pudding, and First Love
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen conclude their captivating Summer of Love series with a deep dive into Paul Thomas Anderson's…
Midday MoviesEp 330: “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011) Midlife Crisis Rom-Com about Divorce, Dating, and Coming of Age
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their Summer of Love series with a delightful exploration of the contemporary romantic…
Midday MoviesEp 329: “Challengers” (2024) Teen Romance, American Tennis, and a Punishing 13-Year Love Triangle
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their Summer of Love series with a thrilling exploration of the contemporary romance film…
Midday MoviesEp 328: “The Age of Innocence” (1993) A Gilded Age Love Triangle that Censures New York Society
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their enchanting Summer of Love series with a deep dive into Martin Scorsese's The Age of…
Midday MoviesEp 327: “Before Midnight” (2013) Love in the Forties, Life After Divorce, and Maybe a Greek Tragedy
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen wrap up their deep dive into Richard Linklater's Before Trilogy with the emotionally charged film…
Midday MoviesEp 326: “Before Sunset” (2004) 30-Something Angst, Divorce, and the Lovers’ Reunion on the Seine
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their exploration of the captivating Before Trilogy with the poignant film, Before Sunset…
Midday MoviesEp 325: Prestige Romance “Before Sunrise” (1995) A Whirlwind Night of Love and Philosophy in Vienna
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the enchanting world of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise, a 1995 romantic classic that…
Midday MoviesEp 324: “The Apartment” (1960) Romance in the Time of Organizational and Sexual Politics
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their exploration of romance in cinema with the Billy Wilder classic, The Apartment…
Midday MoviesEp 323: “It Happened One Night” (1934) How This Classic Swept the Oscars and Invented the RomCom
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their intrepid trek through classic romance with the iconic screwball comedy, It Happened…
Midday MoviesEp 322: “Sabrina” (1954) A Love Triangle, a Parisian Makeover, and a Long Island Cinderella
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on a charming journey through the classic romance of the 1954 film, Sabrina. Starring the…
Midday MoviesEp 321: “Heated Rivalry” (2026) The Game-Changing Romance Series that Started a Booktok Revolution
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the sizzling world of romance and rivalry with the international hit series, Heated…
Midday MoviesEp 320: “Off Campus” (Prime, 2026) Summer of Love Kicks Off With Hockey’s Hottest (Straight) Romance
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take a delightful plunge into the world of romance and hockey with Prime Video's hit series, “Off…
Midday MoviesEp 319: “Blade Runner” (1982) A Dystopian Exploration of Humanity and Identity in a Neon-Soaked Future
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen are joined by siblings Shay and Jason, co-hosts of the Rainy Day Rabbit Hole's History Unhinged…
Midday MoviesEp 318: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018) A New Vision of Spider-Man [Hopeful Sci-Fi]
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen swing into action as they explore the groundbreaking animated film, Spider-Man: Into the…
Midday MoviesEp 317: “Arrival” (2016) When a Friendly Alien Invasion Reveals Underlying Human Chaos
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take a deep dive into the thought-provoking 2016 sci-fi film, Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve…
Midday MoviesEp 316: “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022) A Multiversal Odyssey of Family & Philosophy
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on an exhilarating exploration of the Oscar-winning sci-fi masterpiece, Everything Everywhere…
Midday MoviesEp 315: “The Fifth Element” (1997) An Unhinged Sci-Fi Future Where Love & Fabulousness Conquer Evil
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on a vibrant journey through the cult classic sci-fi film, The Fifth Element. Released in 1997…
Midday MoviesEp 314: “Foundation” (AppleTV, 2021- ) Asimov’s Masterpiece of Empire, Revolt, and Humanity’s Future
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive deep into the expansive universe of the Apple TV series Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov's…
Midday MoviesEp 313: “Project Hail Mary” (2026) The Film, The Book, and the Little Rocky Who Could
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on an exhilarating journey through the cosmos with the blockbuster film Project Hail Mary…
Midday MoviesEp 312: [Guest Episode] Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Presents Unhinged History: The WA Tylenol Murders
Midday Movies is taking a break this week to work on some new and exciting projects that we are not yet legally allowed to share; but, in the meantime, we are…
Midday MoviesEp 311: [Guest Episode] Spirits and Monsters of Old Seattle | Interlude II — House Call
You're listening to Midday Movies. We're taking a short break — a week or two — to step back, recharge, and build some new things we think you're going to…
Midday MoviesEp 310: Reviewing "Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere" (2026 Netflix) & Predatory Online Spaces
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take a deep dive into the thought-provoking Netflix documentary "Louis Theroux: Inside the…
Midday MoviesEp 309: Reviewing "F1: The Movie” (2025): A Tale of Mavericks, Underdogs, and Near-Reality Racing
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen rev up the excitement as they dive into the adrenaline-fueled world of "F1," the latest blockbuster…
Midday MoviesEp 308: Reviewing "Vladimir" (Netflix, 2026): Academia, Obsession, and the Depths of Midlife Crisis
This week we're diving into Vladimir, the Netflix limited series based on Julia May Jonas's acclaimed 2022 debut novel. It's eight episodes of obsession…
Midday MoviesEp 307: Reviewing "Hamnet" (2025): Romance, Grief, and Magical Realism (Oscars 2026)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen wrap up their coverage of the 2026 Oscar nominees with an in-depth exploration of Chloe Zhao's…
Midday MoviesEp 306: Reviewing "Young Sherlock" (Prime, 2026) Guy Richie’s Punchy Teen Sherlock Takes on Oxford
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen delve into the thrilling world of Amazon's new series "Young Sherlock," a fresh take on the iconic…
Midday MoviesEp 305: Reviewing "The Secret Agent" (2025): Corruption, Carnivale, and the Shadows of Dictatorship
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their exploration of this year's Oscar-nominated films with a captivating discussion on…
Midday MoviesEp 304: 2026 Oscar Predictions & Picks in Advance of the 98th Annual Academy Awards
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen gear up for the 98th Academy Awards with an exciting preview of their Oscar picks and predictions. As…
Midday MoviesEp 303: Reviewing “Sentimental Value": Trauma, Artistic Alchemy, and Echoes of WWII (Oscars 2026)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the emotional depths of Joaquim Trier's "Sentimental Value," a poignant exploration of…
Midday MoviesEp 302: Reviewing “Train Dreams": Love, Grief and Alienation on the American Frontier (Oscars 2026)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen continue their Oscar best picture nominee coverage with a deep dive into Clint Bentley's "Train…
Midday MoviesEp 301: Reviewing “Raging Bull" (1980) An American Tragedy and the Best Film Editing Of All Time
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen delve into the cinematic brilliance of Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull” (1980), a film often hailed as…
Midday MoviesEp 300: Top 10 Films You Must See For the Editing (“Filmmaker’s Book of Ten” by Steven Bernstein)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen wrap up their film school series by diving into the essential topic of editing through the lens of…
Midday MoviesEp 299: Reviewing “One Battle After Another” and the Ongoing American Revolution [2026 Oscar Movies]
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the decades-spanning revolutionary narrative of Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After…
Midday MoviesEp 298: Reviewing “Bugonia”: Bees, Conspiracies, and the Battle of Ideologies [2026 Oscar Movies]
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on a critical discussion about the first Best Picture nomination for 2026, Yorgos Lanthimos'…
Midday MoviesEp 297: Reviewing “Fallout: Season 2” (2026) Factions, Family Struggles, and the Fight for New Vegas
In this thrilling Midday Mini, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the post nuclear world of Fallout: Season 2, a series that continues to capture their hearts…
Midday MoviesEp 296: Unpacking the 2026 Oscar Nominations: Documentaries, Animation, and Best Picture Contenders
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive headfirst into the exhilarating world of this year's Oscar nominations! With excitement in the…
Midday MoviesEp 295: Reviewing “The Beauty” (Hulu, 2026) A Ryan Murphy Style Parable of the Fountain of Youth
In this exciting Midday Mini, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the wild world of Ryan Murphy's latest television creation, "The Beauty." This midday mini…
Midday MoviesEp 294: Reviewing “Days of Heaven” (1978, Terrence Malick) Sin and Sunset Cinematography
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on the visually iconoclastic journey through Terrence Malick's 1978 masterpiece, "Days of…
Midday MoviesEp 293: Top 10 Films You Must See For Cinematography (“Filmmaker’s Book of Ten” by Steven Bernstein)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take you back into their January Film School Series, diving into the 10 must-see masterpieces…
Midday MoviesEp 292: [Guest Episode] Mysterious PNW discusses the Seattle Death Museum
In this special episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen present a captivating feature from the Umbrella Podcast Collective's own Mysterious PNW. Join…
Midday MoviesEp 291: Reviewing "The Sweet Smell of Success" (1957) and the Dark Art of Dialogue
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen delve into the 1957 film noir masterpiece, "The Sweet Smell of Success," a film that transformed from…
Midday MoviesEp 290: Top 10 Films You Must See For Screenwriting (“Filmmaker’s Book of Ten” by Steven Bernstein)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen are taking you back to Film School, diving into the essential 10 films aspiring screenwriters must…
Midday MoviesEp 289: Reviewing “Paris, Texas” (1984, dir. Wim Wenders) and the Sublime Ruins of America
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen embark on a deep dive into the 1984 cinematic masterpiece "Paris, Texas," directed by Wim Wenders and…
Midday MoviesEp 288: Top 10 Directors Whose Work You Must See (“Filmmaker’s Book of Ten” by Steven Bernstein)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take listeners on an enlightening journey through the world of cinema by exploring the…
Midday MoviesEp 287: 25 Motivational Films to Kickstart Your 2026 New Year’s Resolutions (Part 2)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen ring in the New Year with part two of Rotten Tomatoes' list of the 25 most inspirational films. They…
Midday MoviesEp 286: 25 Motivational Films to Kickstart Your 2026 New Year’s Resolutions (Part 1)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen celebrate New Year’s 2026 by exploring Rotten Tomatoes' list of the 25 most inspirational films. They…
Midday MoviesEp 285: Reviewing “Die Hard” (1988) The Ultimate Classic Christmas Action Film
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen dive into the 1988 action classic 'Die Hard', starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. They discuss…
Midday MoviesEp 284: Reliving “A Christmas Story” (1983) AFI’s Classic Holiday Movie in 2025
Join Laura and Stephen on 'Midday Movies' as they continue their holiday guide exploring AFI's greatest holiday movies with the timeless classic, 'A Christmas…
Midday MoviesEp 283: Reviewing Hulu’s Holiday Hit, “Happiest Season” (2020)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen analyze 'Happiest Season,' a 2020 Hulu rom-com written and directed by Clea DuVall. Set against the…
Midday MoviesEp 282: Reviewing “An American Tail” (1986) AFI’s Favorite Holiday Movie About Coming to America
In this episode of Midday Movies, Laura and Stephen kick off their 2025 holiday film coverage by diving into the animated classic “An American Tail” (1986)…
Midday MoviesEp 281: Top 10 Holiday Movies According to American Film Institute (AFI)
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen take a lunch break to delve into the American Film Institute's (AFI) Holiday Movie Guide, covering…