We journey up river with Roxana Hadadi (New York Magazine and Vulture) to explore Martin Scorsese's 1991 film, CAPE FEAR! We explore how the film portrays the crumbling of American middle class institutions -- family, religion, law -- from the inside, the experiences of adolescent and middle aged women in this system, fear and desire, and of course masculinity. Come get some TATToos with us!!

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We are joined by many time guest Emily St. James (Yellowjackets) to discuss Frank Darabont's modern Capra film about hope, defiance, cosmic injustice, Stephen King, prison, freedom, and more! Is it crazy to like Forrest Gump more than this film? Look, you probably think that's crazy, but don't let that stop you from tuning in!

Preorder Emily's new book Every Time a Bell Rings!

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We are talking Safdies with Andrew Overbye (The Authorized Novelizations Podcast)! We discuss risking it all to have it all, capitalism, addiction highs and lows, five-way parlays, striving, the Sandman, and much more! In the gem, one can see the universe!

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We sit down with MIT philosopher Tushar Menon to discuss Looper. Does its time travel make sense? What questions does it raise about identity, regret, parenting, and cycles of violence? Would your younger self hate you now? Tune in to find out!

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We discuss Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey with Bilge Ebiri (New York Magazine / Vulture)! We discuss Nolan's sympathetic Odysseus, a man out of time, burdened by guilt and shame, but also a herald of a new age of science and reason. We consider how Nolan made one of the oldest and grandest stories into a deeply personal one, which provides a lens through which we can revisit his entire filmography. We respond to criticisms of the film and explore ways in which it left us wanting more. Join us and rejoice in cinema!!

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Put on your dancin' shoes, it's time to discuss Billy Elliot with Aaron Meskin (Philosophy, U. of Georgia)! We discuss dance movies, dancing, how the film melds British working class drama with fantastical, nondiegetic dance numbers, how conformity perpetuates class structures, how the film portrays masculinity and dance, and more!

Did you enjoy the episode? Leave us a review on your podcast app of choice! Do you like to boogie? Reach out to us at cowspod@gmail.com!

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Join us and Bar Luzon (Philosophy, MIT) to discuss Celine Song's film PAST LIVES. We talk about immigration, love, irresistible freely chosen love, imagination and narrative in self understanding, counterfactual thinking, and never going home...

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The Cows journey to the future, Los Angeles 2019, to run blades with Zed Adams (Philosophy, The New School for Social Research). We discuss eyes, simulation, Hegel, Cavell, Heidegger, rain, tears, pajamas, and who among us is a replicant. Visit cowspod.com for the full schedule and merch!

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Journey with us and Matthias Michel (Philosophy, MIT) beyond the infinite! We discuss humanity's place in the universe, questions vs. mysteries, technology, space food, space toilets, transcendence, isolation, space, HAL9000, monoliths, chess... and what makes this movie so special.

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We take a trip down A24 lane to discuss our first AI movie of the miniseries, Alex Garland's EX MACHINA, with Aaron West (of Cinejourneys.com and The A24 New Wave). Auteurs, tech bros, trophy robot wives/slaves, creations leaving the nest, and more! Also, Justin cut out the bit where he ranted about the film's half-assed invocation of Wittgenstein and Frank Jackson, so don't worry: we just talk about the fun parts!

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We are joined by Tim Smartt (Philosophy, University of Notre Dame at Sydney) to discuss Altman, Coury brand cat food, loneliness, transitions, misplaced loyalties, noir... and more! If a friend asks you to drive him to Mexico at 3am, what should you do?!

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Robbie Kubala (Philosophy, UT-Austin) joins to discuss ENEMY! We discuss the fear of entrapment, performativity, spider femininity, 2 v 1, the difficulties of making Associate Professor... and more!

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We are joined by Dave Baker (Philosophy, U. Michigan) to talk about THE GREY (2012), which is definitely NOT Taken With Wolves! We discuss accepting death, grief, finding meaning in life, theistic and non-theistic readings, dudes bonding over survival scenarios, wolves, Liam Neeson, and more wolves!

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It's time to celebrate the films of 2025! No film can win in more than one of the following categories:

+ Best Supporting Character

+ Movie Most Likely to Grow on Me

+ Hidden Gem

+ Best Music

+ Best Line / Speech

+ Best Antagonist

+ Best Protagonist

+ Best Story

+ Best Picture

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Pick up your paddles, it's time to PONG! Marty Supreme is a 2025 movie directed by Josh Safdie starring Timothy Chalamet about an upstart New York table tennis savant who'll do anything to succeed at the sport and who just wants someone to treat him as seriously as he takes himself. We're joined by Sean Burns (WBUR, Spliced Personality) to explore the movie's manic energy.

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Roxana Hadadi (Vulture / New York Magazine) joins us to discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's BP lock(?) and everything surrounding the film: its structure, violent / non-violent resistance, broader themes in PTA's films... and much more! Is it time to call in a Greyhawk-10?

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Five years out, and it's time to look back on TENET with a replay of our episode from 2021. In it, we talk about parenthood, emotions, time inversion, free will, buddies, why this can't be done in any other medium, and also why the movie kicks butt! If you haven't given Tenet a second shot, now's the time!

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Players, chimes, noir conventions, screenwriting tips, running hot, tacit communication, and horny lawyers can only mean one thing -- we're discussing BODY HEAT! Joining us is Alex Kugelman, writer/director of the new hit film DON'T TRIP (streaming now on Tubi). Can you handle the heat??!?

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To celebrate the life and work of Rob Reiner, we wanted to cover our favorite of his films, which also happens to be a great NEW YEAR'S film! So join us to discuss the mysteries of love, and disagree about how to interpret the interstitial older couple interviews. Here's to 2026!

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Oh no Scott Calvin (maybe) killed Santa Claus and now through the power of legally binding contracts he has to become the Big Man himself! Will the power of belief triumph over police and psychiatry? Who will be crowned champion of the elves-only cocoa-making competition? Who are those puppets hanging out in Santa's room? All this and more!!

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