Knock on Wood

SiftPop editor Robert Bouffard joins the Lenient Critic to discuss a host of recent pop culture happenings, including the release of Pearl, the trailer for Super Mario Bros, and the finale of The Rings of Power.

Did someone say group episode?! A hybrid of new and returning guests join Rowan to discuss box office sensation Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Notice us, Shawn Mendes!

After a brief hiatus, Knock on Wood returns with a new segment/special episode featuring new guest Roni Endres! She and Rowan discuss some of the films they’ve watched lately, including some modern classics, a college paradigm, in addition to the Netflix series that swept the nation one year ago.

Newspaper editor Tim Wood joins the Lenient Critic to discuss some recent releases, including The Sandman, She-Hulk and Three Thousand Years of Longing.

Nick Ferro joins the Lenient Critic to discuss film festivals of their own making, including iconic marathons, cult classics and emotion-fueled selective screenings.

May Honey, writer and filmmaker, joins the Lenient Critic for an in-depth talk about what qualifies as a modern classic, complete with a delve into auteur theory and a friendly reminder about basic kindness.

Mike Hilty, writer and television viewer extraordinaire, joins the Lenient Critic to discuss how summer TV is rapidly becoming on par with its primetime counterparts.

Two new guests, Henrik and Schuyler, join Rowan to break down Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in glorious detail! They discuss Wanda’s arc, Sam Raimi’s horror tendencies, those cameos and much more!

It’s Marvel week here on the podcast, as Alice returns for back-to-back reviews of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2:42) and Moon Knight (50:38). Plus, previews of upcoming releases and more of what we’ve been watching lately.

Jonathan, Heath and Rowan conclude their breakdown of the Friday the 13th series, covering the final six films in the franchise, including a definitive ranking and the potential future of the franchise.

Chris and Rowan stick around to dissect all the gory details in The Northman!

Chris Bakker is Chris back-er (I’m sorry) on the podcast to discuss The Northman and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, two massively bombastic films that definitely aren’t getting enough box office attention. He and Rowan also preview some upcoming blockbusters and talk about what they’ve been watching lately.

I had the opportunity to speak with director John Madden about his new film Operation Mincemeat, which depicts a deception effort to keep the plans for the Allied invasion of Sicily secret during the Second World War. Madden is an English director best known for directing the Academy Award-winning Shakespeare in Love, as well as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its sequel.

I had the opportunity to speak with director Sammi Cohen about her new film Crush, which features an aspiring young artist (Rowan Blanchard), who is forced to join her high school track team, later discovering what real love feels like when she finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate. Cohen is an American director best known for directing thirty-four episodes of CollegeHumor originals and multiple Dropout original series.

Alice is back for some very important discussions on AmbuLAnce, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Guess which won Alice loved! Plus, previews of upcoming releases and what they’ve been watching lately.

In preparation for The Secrets of Dumbledore, Foster returns to the podcast to properly discuss the entire Harry Potter franchise, from 2001 to 2018, and imagine (somewhat nihilistically) what might come in the future.

This is a week of shit, but also a week of excellence! Shane Conto returns to the podcast to discuss the morbid Morbius, the dashing Lost City, the spectacular Everything Everywhere All At Once, the charming Apollo 10½, and the beautiful failure The Bubble. Plus, their top five standalone sequels or spin-offs, and what they’ve been watching lately.

Heath Lynch rejoins Rowan to discuss one of the more interesting Academy Awards in recent years -- but it’s really all because of one moment. Of course, they’ll also discuss the winners, what should have won, if the hosting strategy was successful, and what’s up next.

The metaphors in Turning Red are not exactly subtle, but does that bring down the film? Rowan discusses this with our new guest Robert Bouffard, co-editor of SiftPop! Together, they discuss Turning Red, Netflix sci-fi action The Adam Project, A24 horror X and Deep Water, a film that has somehow not aged well despite only just now being released. Plus, their top five A24 films, and what they’ve been watching lately.

The Batman is the first superhero film of 2022, but it’s been a long time coming, so can it live up to expectations? Rowan assembles a team to give you the answer. Returning guests Alice Ginevra-Micheli and Heath Lynch are joined by Shane Conto, the Wasteland Reviewer, as they break down DC’s monster-sized, three-hour Batman experiment, discussing subtle themes, the cast, the bombastic score and much more.

Is Fresh as good as its title promises? Rowan thinks so, and so does our NEW GUEST this week, Ian Whittington (Behind the Sins, Captain’s Pod). Together, they discuss Fresh, Cyrano, and the coveted new superhero epic The Batman, which everybody (except one particular podcast guest) seems to absolutely love. Plus, their top five loosely-defined superhero solo movies, and what they’ve been watching lately.

Hayden joins Across the Stars co-hosts Rowan and Sebastian to break down the final two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett, including intriguing conversations about fan service, surprise characters, timeline confusion and BOBA FETT RIDING A FREAKING RANCOR!

Does Death on the Nile guarantee continued success with Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot fixation? Rowan seems to think so, and so does this week’s returning guest Heath Lynch! Together, they will discuss Death on the Nile, Uncharted (desperately vying for the title of BEST VIDEO GAME MOVIE), Marry Me (one of the most paint-by-numbers romcoms you will see in the 21st century), and Netflix’s new Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Plus, their top five straight-to-streaming films, and more of what they’ve been watching lately.

Is Moonfall any good? Roland Emmerich’s recent track record may say otherwise, but Foster Harlfinger is here to help give the definitive Lenient Critic review and rating! Foster and Rowan also discuss The Worst Person in the World, a strong contender for Best International Feature Film, and The Fallout, an under-the-radar streaming original about tragedy and emotional trauma. Plus, their top five alliteratively-titled films, and more of the films they’ve been watching.

What is this bizarrely-titled new Netflix show, and why should you watch it right now? Chris Bakker returns to The Lenient Critic to break down The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window, including why you should watch it right now. Seriously.

2022 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years EVER for film and television. Alice-Ginevra Micheli is here to discuss with Rowan what we’re looking forward to this year!

2021 was a big year, and a wide span of releases requires more than one cinephile. Foster Harlfinger and Chris Bakker join Rowan this week to break down their favorite film and TV (and the best performances) of last year!

And, thus, we have entered January, the first of the winter months that sees a string of likely-disappointing film releases. The first is The 355, a movie that has been pushed back multiple times, and for good reason. Then, we try to catch up on missed 2021 releases with C’mon C’mon, a philosophically-minded film from Mike Mills that is in black and white for some reason. Heath Lynch is Rowan’s guest this week, bringing a new perspective to the week’s films, as well as some of the best spy movies out there and a certain horror franchise which has a much-anticipated installment coming up.

There’s a lot of pressure on this week’s films for a variety of reasons. We have legacy sequel The Matrix Resurrections, intending to resurrect the entire franchise; Guillermo del Toro’s new film Nightmare Alley, his first since 2017; a Disney+ series about the only Avenger who had not yet received a solo project; and Being the Ricardos, a fictional film covering a true event from one of the greatest living screenwriters. Rowan is once again joined by his father to break down these three films and one series, and preview some that we will see (which some have already seen!) in the coming weeks!

Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the biggest superhero films of all time, and a super-sized movie deserves a super-sized discussion. Alice-Ginevra Micheli and Foster Harlfinger join Rowan to break down the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe venture, including their Spider-Man nostalgia, favorite fan-pleasing moments, post-credits scenes and much more.

The latest comedic venture from Adam McKay, Don’t Look Up, is preachy and zany in the best possible way. Foster once again joins Rowan in discussing the new Netflix film, from its stellar cast to its Oscar chances, and beyond.

Jesse and Rowan do a post-script on this week’s show, in which they are able to let loose with their discussion on Amazon Prime’s new science-fiction(???) film Encounter.

Does Licorice Pizza live up to the film bro hype and secrecy, and does Diary of a Wimpy Kid rekindle our nostalgia in a positive way? And what the hell is Encounter, a new film from Amazon Prime? In the latest episode of The Lenient Critic podcast, Jesse Garra joins Rowan to review four of the latest films, and preview four that we will see in the coming weeks! They also break down their top five children’s book adaptations and talk about what they’ve been watching recently.

Peter Jackson brings us a new, unfiltered look at the Beatles in the Disney+ documentary Get Back. Tim Wood joins Rowan in breaking down its historical significance, effortless charm and the everlasting weirdness of John Lennon.

Is Ghostbusters: Afterlife a worthy continuation of the franchise, and is House of Gucci a substantial follow-up to The Last Duel? In the debut episode of The Lenient Critic podcast, Foster Harlfinger joins Rowan to review four of the latest films, and preview four that we will see in the coming weeks! They also break down their favorite biopics (a loaded category!) and talk about what they’ve been watching in November, whether it be very good...or very bad.