Movie Reviews

316 — Suburbia (1983)

We continue our Penelope Spheeris series with her first narrative feature, Suburbia.
Plot summary:
Suburbia is director Penelope Spheeris's study of the Los Angeles punk rock scene in the early 1980s. Evan and his younger brother leave their broken home in an attempt to escape their alcoholic mother. They find family in a group of punks who live as squatters in an abandoned house by the side of the highway.

Episode 313 - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

This week we continue our David Lynch series with Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the prequel film to the remarkable series.
Trigger warning for discussion of sexual abuse/incest.

Episode 311: Blue Velvet (1986)

We're back and better than ever! After a brief hiatus while Karen was at Sundance, the Dames return to discuss some of the must-sees of the festival, followed by a deep dive into David Lynch's 1986 masterpiece Blue Velvet, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, and Laura Dern.

308: Catching Up With the Dames

Welcome to 2025! As we gear up for a new year of exciting episodes and so many movies to talk about, we take a little look back at some of the films we have been watching lately, from Lauren's Hitchcock Year to Will & Harper and Wallace & Gromit, this wide-ranging conversation covers a lot of recent and upcoming releases as well as some of our favorite rewatches.
End clip: Demi Moore wins the Best Female Actor - Motion Picture Musical/Comedy award for The Substance at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes. Courtesy of the Golden Globes.
Check out Karen's interview with Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham.

306: Carol (2015)

This week, we celebrate the season with Todd Haynes' 2015 holiday romance, Carol. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara star in this adaptation of the 1952 Patricia Highsmith novel.

Episode 305: The Bishop's Wife (1947)/The Preacher's Wife (1996)

The Dames do a double-feature this week with The Bishop's Wife and The Preacher's Wife, in which we try to determine whether Cary or Denzel is the hottest angel committed to film.
Jury's still out.

299: Rosemary's Baby (1968)

The Dames interrogate one of the more controversial of the great horror films: 1968's Rosemary's Baby, starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes, and directed by Roman Polanski.
A complicated, multi-faceted film that's not always easy to talk about, both for its content and the feelings surrounding its director, there's no doubt that we have a lot to say about this one...including whether it might, maybe, be feminist (or not).
We'll be back next week with Episode 300, talking The Babadook with a special guest!

296 - Jojo Rabbit (2019)

This week, the Dames wrap up Fall Festival season with Taika Waititi's Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit. From (Fox) Searchlight, the film was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. With so much humor and heart, we explore the brilliance of this World War II film told through the perspective of a 10-year-old Nazi.

Episode 295: The Shape of Water

The Dames go deep (hehe) on Guillermo del Toro's glorious magical realist fable (and Best Picture winner) The Shape of Water, and its deceptively simple narrative that combines fairy tale, biblical allegory, and transcendental love into something that is truly unique. Is this just the "fish-fucking movie" or is it so much more?
Next week, we'll be discussing Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit, so get ready for that!

Episode 289: Shelley Duvall - 3 Dames

In honor of the great Shelley Duvall, the Dames discuss three films she made with Robert Altman: Nashville (1975), 3 Women (1977), and Popeye (1980). We maybe didn't know exactly what some of these meant, but man were they fascinating!
Our Criterion giveaway is still running, so let us know what one Criterion disc you would love to own! We'll pick a winner on July 25!

Episode 287: Tom Cruise Part Deux - A Few Good Dames

We're back with a second part of our ongoing series "Karen Loves Tom Cruise (and Lauren Thinks He's Neat)"! This time, we're chatting about three very different thrillers from three very different directors, all starring Mr. Cruise: A Few Good Men (1992), Minority Report (2002), and Collateral (2004). How many of these should Tom have won an Oscar for? The answer may surprise you.
Next week, we'll be chatting about some Criterion Channel films that one or both of us have overlooked: Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), Targets (1968), and Thelma and Louise (1991).

Episode 267: Sundance 2024 - Hit Dames

We're back, and we have a special guest! Karen returns from the Sundance Film Festival with Cortland Jacoby of Punch Drunk Critics in tow. Join us for a discussion of the best parts of the festival this year, why Netflix is snapping up all the films, and how Lauren shouldn't be left alone for so long...
You can read all of Karen's Sundance reviews here: https://citizendamepod.com/
And Cortland's here: https://punchdrunkcritics.com/category/reviews/cortland/

Episode 264: Holiday Rom-Coms - The Dame Around the Corner

For our last episode of 2023, we chat about some holiday rom-coms (or not-quite-rom-coms) that give us all the feels: The Shop Around the Corner, The Holiday, and the unfairly maligned Last Christmas.
Happy holidays and we'll see you all in 2024!

Episode 259: Barbara Stanwyck - Sorry, Wrong Dame

The Dames kick off Noirvember by discussing fast-talking, fast-living dame Barbara Stanwyck in three iconic roles: Baby Face, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, and Sorry, Wrong Number. No man stands a chance. 

Episode 253: Kindergarten Dames

We carry on with our back-to-school discussing some movies set in kindergarten, including Kindergarten Cop and Little Monsters. 
Plus, some more Garbage People we hope we don't have to talk about again:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/sep/16/russell-brand-accused-of-sexual-assault-and-emotional-abuse
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkaqvn/tim-ballards-departure-from-operation-underground-railroad-followed-sexual-misconduct-investigation
 

Episode 251: Amy Heckerling - Fast Dames at Ridgemont High

We're back this week to discuss the back-to-school films of Amy Heckerling! Heckerling is responsible for some generation-defining movies: Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Clueless, and Loser. 
Plus: Danny Masterson is going to jail for a long, long time.  

Episode 249: Dame-bolique - A Grab Bag Episode

The Dames take some time to catch up on all the things we've been watching, including:
Dracula Boat! Or: The Last Voyage of the Demeter
Diabolique
Dial M For Murder
What We Do in the Shadows
Good Omens 2
Blue Beetle
And many more! 
Come for the trenchant commentary, stay for the correct pronunciation of Demeter.

Episode 241: Vincent Price - The Dame and the Pendulum

We have many things to say about birthday boy Vincent Price, including discussions of his life, career, amazing voice, and a few of our favorite horror movie performances.
Plus! We chat about Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret and women getting to tell their own coming-of-age stories.

Episode 237: Erotic Thriller - The Dame Seduction

The Dames return to discuss the totally not controversial and complicated subgenre of Erotic Thrillers. Films include Body Heat, The Last Seduction, and Jade, so be sure to watch these first if you don't want them spoiled! 
Plus:
Some updates on the David Choe problem: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/beef-stars-defend-david-choe-casting-internet-reaction-is-not-great
Jonathan Majors's issues go from bad to very bad: https://variety.com/2023/film/news/jonathan-majors-more-alleged-abuse-victims-cooperate-with-da-office-assault-1235588870/

Episode 235: Italian Romances - Much Ado About Dames

The Dames are back to talk about people gettin' sexy in Italy, with discussions of A Room with a View, Much Ado About Nothing (1993), and Only You. 
Plus! Karen gives us her backstage impressions of this year's Oscars!