This week we're talking genres! What are the genres, how do they work, or why do they matter? Plus listener questions and deep dives into Nia DaCosta's Candyman and the 1947 film, Nightmare Alley.

The Dames teach a master class in film criticism, including:

• How to read a film beyond the plot and dialogue
• When critics should take a step back
• Historical and cultural context and subtext
• Subjectivity and objectivity

Plus! The Matrix Resurrections trailer and our reactions to James Wan's Malignant. 

This week!

• How are people getting things so wrong?
• Why do we love movies?
• Is Taxi Driver more of a Paul Schrader film than a Martin Scorsese film?
• Stuff we've been watching like Theater of Blood, Sunset Boulevard, and What We Do in the Shadows - Season 3 is finally here!

The Dames provide their most whiplashy of whiplash episodes, discussing:

• Disney films and cultural context
• Why you're all wrong about the current season of Ted Lasso
• Horror films based on urban legends
• Nia DaCosta's Candyman

Catch a clip of our August bonus episode, a deep dive into the joy and wonder of the 1988 Oscar-winning movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Supplemental Reading: 15 Things You Might Not Know About Who Framed Roger Rabbit 

This week the Dames talk about the wonderful world of animation for grown ups! 

Plus:

• The ongoing "theatrical experience" debate 
• Jurnee Smollett and Misha Green are getting their Black Canary movie!
• Brief reviews of The Green Knight and The Night House
• And Listener Questions!

For further reading:

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/08/film-critics-challenge-studios-in-person-screenings-1234653798/

The Dames discuss the term "Hitchcockian" in celebration of Alfred Hitchcock's upcoming birthday! What does "Hitchcockian" mean? Why is it so overused? And why does Brian De Palma suck so hard? Plus:

• Why are superhero directors so obsessed with Martin Scorsese?
• James Gunn is a dingbat, and
• Our feelings about The Suicide Squad

This week we're talking!

• Ghostbusters: Afterlife trailer and nostalgia
  https://twitter.com/mattzollerseitz/status/1420064165381558273
• David Ayer defends his Suicide Squad:
  https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/suicide-squad-david-ayer-warner-bros-1234990360/
• Scarlett Johansson vs. Disney: https://www.thewrap.com/disney-to-black-widow-star-scarlett-johansson-20-million-is-plenty/
• Listener Questions!
• And what we've been watching lately

The Dames discuss:

• Female directors and blockbusters: https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2020/05/09/box-office-the-25-highest-grossing-movies-ever-directed-by-women/?sh=6d5354355e7c
• Roadrunner, Anthony Bourdain, and the ethics of documentaries: https://twitter.com/futurecanon/status/1415714075267448836
• Julia Ducournau's historic Cannes win for Titane: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/cannes-film-festival-2021-palme-dor-titane-julia-ducournau-highlights-spc-intl/index.html
• Nicolas Cage's turn in Pig
• and whether Fear Street 1666 sticks the landing. 

Fear Street 1666 discussion starts at 58:00 and ends at 1:08:30, so skip if you don't want spoilers!

In this grab bag episode, the Dames discuss what we've been watching lately (Zola! Fear Street! Black Widow!), more Twitter kerfluffles, and some great listener questions about Guys and Dolls, Oscar nominations, and best comedies by decade.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @citizendamepod and Letterboxd @citizendame.