feminist film critics

Episode 250: John Woo - Dame/Off

This week we're celebrating 250 episodes with a lively chat about John Woo. With a career spanning five decades, we narrow down our discussion to three movies: Hard Boiled (1992), Face/Off (1997) and Mission: Impossible II (2000).
 
We also have thoughts about Vanity Fair's glorious First Look images from the new season of Our Flag Means Death. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/08/our-flag-means-death-season-2-first-look

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 247: Dames of Future Past

The Dames talk older films set in the future...that is now the past! It makes sense when you hear it. This week we cover the iconic 2001: A Space Odyssey, the neon-tinted recent past of Back to the Future Part II, and dire environmental predictions in Soylent Green.

Bonus Episode - Barbie (2023)

The Dames go into a (spoiler-y) discussion of Greta Gerwig's 2023 feminist polemic Barbie! Topics include why we love Allan and The Speech that America Ferrera gives. Everyone can listen now, because Barbie is for everyone!

Episode 246: A.I. in the Movies — Dame-n Seed

The Dames are back with an all new episode. This week we're talking artificial intelligence in movies. Dating back to as early as Metropolis in 1927, A.I. is an oft explored theme in movies. We discuss the cautionary tales of machines run amok (Demon Seed, 1977), corporate greed and exploitation (Johnny Mnemonic, 1995), and the quest to understand humanity (After Yang, 2022).

Episode 244: Marilyn Monroe - Dames Prefer Blondes

This week! Join us for a chat about Marilyn Monroe and three very different films from her career: Don't Bother to Knock (1952), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and The Misfits (1961).

Episode 242: Stephen King - The Dame-ing

For this week's episode, we're commemorating the release of The Boogeyman with a chat about Stephen King adaptations. Specifically, Carrie (1976) and The Shining (1980), with a healthy dose of both versions of IT, and why is Christine (1983) so dumb?

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 240: Anna May Wong - Dame of Shanghai

This week we're talking all about the incredible Anna May Wong, and we specifically dive into two of her notable films: Piccadilly (1929) and Shanghai Express (1932).

Episode 239: Star Wars - May the Dame Be With You

On the anniversary of Return of the Jedi, The Dames have a whole lot to say about Star Wars, both the film and the original trilogy. Come for the fandom energy, stay for us explaining what a little dork Luke Skywalker is. 
And, as always, Han shot first. 

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 236: Dames Reunited

Hello! After a few weeks away, the Dames are back! This week we're catching up on all the good stuff that came out while we were off, including CREED III, season 2 of YELLOWJACKETS, the Netflix limited (?) series BEEF, and RENFIELD.
We're also chatting about the latest news around Roman Polanski (https://variety.com/2023/film/news/roman-polanski-wife-interviews-rape-victim-samantha-geimer-defend-director-1235583690/)
and the arrest of Jonathan Majors (https://apnews.com/article/jonathan-majors-arrested-3ccf23bb407f5e6d2441ccc536b254f2).

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!

Episode 234: Michelle Yeoh — Yes, Ma Dame!

This week's episode is all about Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh! We talk about her career, with YES, MADAM!, SUPER COP, and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, and take a look at all of the work that led to her historic Oscar nomination and win.

Episode 233: Dames Talking

Happy International Women's Day! The Dames discuss female screenwriters, sexism, and the Oscars, focusing on The Piano, Sense and Sensibility, and Women Talking. Plus! Karen gives us her thoughts on a bear that does cocaine. 

Episode 232: Dame on a Hot Tin Roof

This week, we are celebrating the birthdays of two very important dames, our own Karen Peterson, and most especially Elizabeth Taylor. Join us as we chat about Father of the Bride (1950), A Place in the Sun (1951), and of course, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). Plus we spend a few minutes talking about the very non-Liz Taylor movie, M3GAN.

Episode 231: Screwy Dames

The Dames have an in-depth discussion about screwball comedy, sexual politics, and if snakes are necessary, focusing on It Happened One Night, His Girl Friday, and The Lady Eve. Plus:
Phil Lord doesn't understand context: https://twitter.com/philiplord/status/1626391261749055490?t=OIu4aQ54pmZaoK7TWx1O0w&s=19
Andrea Riseborough has thoughts on her Oscar nod: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/andrea-riseborough-interview-oscars-nomination-to-leslie-1235325509/

Episode 229: Sundance 2023

Hello! We are back with all the scoop from Sundance 2023! Karen is fresh off the mountains of Park City to share all the details of the best movies coming out of Sundance and into your theaters. We're also chatting a bit about the Oscar nominations, particularly that who Andrea situation.
Supplemental Reading:
From Clayton Davis at Variety: https://variety.com/2023/awards/awards/black-women-andrea-riseborough-grassroots-campaign-oscars-1235510862/
From Robert Daniels at the LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-01-25/oscars-nominations-2023-academy-awards-season-black-women-commentary

Episode 228: The Movies that Made the Dames

This week we're sharing the movies that made us! Everyone has those particular movies that sparked something in them. Whether it was your love of movies, a new outlook on the world, or some other passion, movies can have a profound impact on the people we are. Here are (some of) the movies that made us.

Episode 227: And Then There Were Dame

Happy 2023! The Dames return this year to talk about whodunits, with spoilery analyses of And Then There Were None (1945), The Last of Sheila, and Clue!