We are thrilled and disturbed to bring you this episode on Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining! As we continue our tributes to film legends who recently died we thought it fitting to celebrate the life of Shelley Duvall by discussing her most legendary and controversial performance. It is our deepest pleasure to have Michael J. Dougherty back on the show to join in the chat. Topics include: conspiracies, the book vs the movie, and how much the Razzies suck.

Our series of elegies to 70's film heroes we lost last year continues with a discussion on The Great Santini. In this episode we pay respects to Robert Duvall - widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time - by covering one of his most recognizable lead roles, in a movie that is…not so good. Sorry if you enjoy it, but we sure didn’t have much to say about it (sorry Robert! We’ll get ya next time). Topics include: Sam’s high school Film Studies class, Pat Conroy’s parents, and the hotness of Blythe Danner.

To celebrate the life of visionary director David Lynch, we present to you a discussion of his masterpiece of uncanny parental anxiety, Eraserhead. We break down the making of and symbolism associated with this midnight movie classic. We also do a couple of impressions, read through every line of dialogue in the film, and even find the time to rank our favorite pieces of sound design. Topics include: Chucko, Buster, Pete, Bob, and Dan

We've been busy preparing a slate of episodes to pay tribute to some of the giants of New Hollywood who have recently left us. First on the “in memoriam” docket is no less than Robert Redford. Arguably the first true multi-hyphenate, with his directorial debut Ordinary People, Redford established an impressively new take on the “issues film”. Elena and Sam enjoy digging in and trying to untangle its thorny reputation as an Oscar spoiler for Raging Bull and Martin Scorsese. Topics include: the 92nd st Y, the origins of the Brat Pack, and what Mary Tyler Moore is really like.

Another December passes into January on the old calendar and we’re just out here doing the same thing we do every year: counting down our favorite films of the season, as well as our top picks from 50 years ago. That’s right, 2025 and 1975 are the contenders this episode. One is often cited as one of the greatest years in the history of the medium, and the other featured lots and lots of Pedro Pascal! Who will win? Ya gotta listen to the episodeeeee…

Come on in and celebrate with the Kael Your Idols Christmas Crew! Join Sam and Elena, and their special yearly Christmas guest: Ameerah Holliday, as the three proudly break down the current crop of cable/streaming-service-era Christmas-themed romcoms. It’s the REAL reason for the season! Join them as they straighten out the tinsel draped tangle of this special seasonal tradition. For once we’re actually getting the episode out in time for Christmas! Topics include: Shakespeare, the NFL, and depressed dogs.

In our first ever episode dedicated to an actor we train our sights on the man, the myth, the legend that is Jack Nicholson. Specifically our focus is on his four 1975 calendrical releases: Ken Russell’s Tommy, Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Passenger, Mike Nichols’ The Fortune, and finally we top things off with a brief discussion of his Oscar Winning turn in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It’s a fun one! We talk about some weird movies, the hosts certainly get in a few attempts at Jack impressions, and everyone should leave with a little more knowledge of that marvelous year in film that was 1975. Topics include: Nicholson’s house on so-called “Bad Boy Lane”, Elena’s mom’s crush on Roger Daltrey, and the charms of a young Stocking Channard…I mean Stockard Channing.

For Elena’s Birthday this year we decided to break format and discuss the German New Wave classic Kings of the Road. This three hour Wim Wenders film is a quietly meditative look at West German cinema culture seen through the eyes of two aimless men. The hosts have a fun time discussing the history of German film from the 20s through the 70s and even make space to share a couple manifestos with each other. Topics include: Hitler candles, Werner Herzog’s level of self-awareness, and poop on screen.