The Sleepless Cinematic Podcast

1d ago

This week, Emilio, Madeline and Julian make good on something that has been in works for over two years - a conversation about the movies they gifted each other back in 2023! To be specific, these were discs from The Criterion Collection, acquired during Barnes and Nobles summer 50% Criterion sale. Madeline gifted Emilio 'House' , Nobuhiko Obayashi's wild inventive horror/comedy from 1977. Julian gifted Madeline 'Being John Malkovich' , Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman's breakout film from 1999. Emilio gifted Julian 'Ikiru' from 1952, Akira Kurosawa's influential meditation on life and imminent mortality. The group gets a chance to talk spolier free about these three films, what motivated their decision to give what they did, some details and themes that stick out to them about each film, and what kind of cinephile would be ideal recipient of these films. They also take a moment to reflect on their year in podcasting, and gift each other a new Criterion disc to discover in 2026! Happy holidays listeners, thanks for a great year! If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on YouTube, IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Dec 10

Bangarang! Emilio, Madeline, and Julian fly, fight, and crow their way through this next "Unorthodox Holiday Movie" suggestion, and this is a special one, a movie suggested to them by multiple guests - "Hook", Steven Spielberg's take on the story of Peter Pan, released in 1991 starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts and more. The group welcomes back Tony-nominated performer, teacher, father, and "Hook" enthusiast and suggester Rob McClure to discuss this film from all angles. How do you square your experiences with the film as a kid versus revisiting it as an adult? Does Spielberg have good reason to dislike it? How much Peter Pan background is needed to fully enjoy 'Hook', or does it stand alone? The group discusses Spielberg's knack for getting great performances from children, Robin Williams' incredible range, Rufio's undeniable appeal, the elaborate sets, John Williams' underrated score, and its messages related to parenthood. Rob even brings a robust background in the J.M. Barrie's original text (and a collectible trading card) to the conversation, and even pulls out his highlighted copy to try to get to bottom of a pressing question. It's a great discussion about one of the 1990s most rewatched VHS tapes, and more beloved childhood favorites. Rob McClure has earned Tony nominations for his roles in the Broadway productions of Mrs. Doubtfire and Chaplin, and has also appeared in Something Rotten!, Mary Poppins, Hello Dolly, Beetlejuice, and many more productions On- and Off-Broadway. You can follow him on Instagram @mcclurerob If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Dec 3

This week, Madeline, Emilio and Julian discuss the recently released 'Wicked For Good', the second part of a pair of films that together have brought the beloved Broadway musical to the big screen. After chatting a bit themselves, the co-hosts invite back their guests from last year’s conversation about 'Wicked Part 1' - EmKay and Tara from the popular Oz-themed podcast Down The Yellow Brick Pod, and Courtney Iventosch, a Broadway performer with years of experience in the cast of the stage musical of 'Wicked'. How does this film stack up against Part 1? What do we make of the new songs? Standout performances? Disappointing moments or takeaways? What moments and small details are particularly captivating? And what other musical would they like to see get the spare-no-expense theatrical treatment? Hear us talk 'Wicked Part 1' with Down the Yellow Brick Pod and Courtney here!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2269866/episodes/16231889 Hear us talk about John Waters' 'Desperate Living' and 'Wizard of Oz'! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2269866/episodes/15109178 Hear us talk early 'Wicked' thoughts and 'Crazy Rich Asians' here! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1172138/episodes/15117944 If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Nov 26

Madeline, Emilio, and Julian continue their seasonal cycle of Unorthodox Holiday Movies with a discussion about "Eyes Wide Shut," Stanley Kubrick's enigmatic final feature from 1999. Marking their first discussion about a Kubrick film, the trio take an appropriately late-at-night stroll journey through the many layers of EWS, including its touches of dream logic, commentary on class and wealth, and what the film has to say about observation and participation in potential acts of transgression, romantic and otherwise. Also along the way are nods to the film's admirable fake New York City, musician-specific considerations about gigs akin to one taken by character Nick Nightingale, and a shout-out to friend-of-the-show Jamie Homs, originally slated to be the guest for this episode. If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Nov 12

Julian, Madeline, and Emilio are rejoined by Brendan McDonald, former producer of the iconic podcast WTF with Marc Maron, for a bonus episode about Paul Thomas Anderson's latest masterpiece, One Battle After Another. Kicking off with a check-in on Brendan's life following WTF's end this past October, the group roll through the many hills of PTA's new film, including its roots in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, numerous thematic and aesthetic connections to his greater filmography, and its balancing of political commentary and the personal struggles that coincide. Much time is also spent praising of the film's phenomenal cast, be it Leonardo DiCaprio delivering comic and dramatic beats with equal prowess, Chase Infiniti commanding the screen with her evocative breakout performance, or Teyana Taylor using limited screentime to maximal effect, among other examples. Keeping track of the time and remembering the password, with or without format punch-cards, the group draw from their many combined viewings to highlight a film that truly shines like a beacon with its expansive worldview, sincerity, and attention to detail in the uncertainty-laden present of 2025. Listen to the WTF archives and look back on the podcast's legacy at wtfpod.com. If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Oct 30

To kick off the latest cycle of "Unorthodox Holiday Suggestions", Emilio brings the original 'Black Christmas', Bob Clark's other holiday themed masterpiece from 1974, to the group just in time for spooky season. Joining the usual three cohosts is James Codoyannis, fellow cinephile and editor for film/TV who worked on the well-received, recently released indie film "We Strangers". The group digs into this proto-slasher classic, highlighting the way this movie is in such great control of its tone and atmosphere, the changing nature of the POV shots, at iconic atonal piano sound design/score, the amazing voice acting work by Nick Mancuso as Billy, and much more. The group also discusses the many ways 'Black Christmas' intersects with and diverges from John Carpenter's 'Halloween', the much more popular and influential slasher film from the 1970s, and discusses the filmmaking decisions that implicate Peter as the killer, and whether or not it works for building suspense. It's a great conversation about what makes 'Black Christmas' such a important entry in the horror canon! Follow James on his socials: INSTAGRAM: @codboyannis LETTERBOXD: jcodoyannis BLUESKY: @codboyannis.bsky.social WE STRANGERS now available on rent & buy at AMAZON , APPLE TV , and other places Follow @westrangersthefilm on INSTAGRAM SEAWEED STORIES now available to watch on Leo DiCaprio's YouTube Channel If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Oct 22

For their Audience Interrogation cycle "Close Up" episode, Emilio, Julian and Madeline hit record and explore a genre that they are, admittedly, not as familiar with: Found Footage Films. They are joined by writer/director/teacher/musician Shaun Seneviratne, a fellow cinephile whose been historically lukewarm on Found Footage films, but enthusiastic to dive in and open minded to the ways this filmmaking style can tell unique, cinematic stories. The group selects three representative films from different eras. First, they unpack 1999's 'The Blair Witch Project', considered the codifier of the genre, and note how the film balances a growing sense of unease with naturalistic, improvised acting and dialogue. Then they discuss Patrick Brice's 2014 film 'Creep', its unavoidable connection to mumblecore, and the ways it intentionally plays with long-standing horror tropes. They complete the conversation digging into 'Searching', Aneesh Chaganty's 2018 screen life thriller that concerns itself with the finding of footage, and manages to capture emotion and intention through computer use in surprisingly effective ways. Shaun Seneviratne can be found and followed on the socials at thebrownshaun His feature film 'Ben and Suzanne: A Reunion in 4 Parts' is streaming now on Fandor and available for rent on digital. If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Oct 15

If you're a lover of movies, there is, without a doubt, a disturbing movie (or several) that you saw when you were too young to process it. With imagery and scenes that have lodged themselves in your brain. And since the memory of the discomfort that movie brought you is still there somewhere, it changed us in a small but meaningful way. For this bonus episode, Julian, Madeline and Emilio decide to spend some time digging into those movies, and what kind of relationship we have with them now. What movie, ostensibly OK for kids, did not sit well with Madeline? What dark and depraved movie did Emilio mistakenly believe was going to be an action movie? And to end the episode, Julian delves deep into the moment he was subjected to a horror movie he was way too young to see, and unpacks the ripple effects of this premature screening that are still with him today. The cohosts asked several of their recent guests to chime in too: - Mariquita Reese @keeta_babe - fellow Criterion Kid and cohost of Post Film Clarity @postfilmclaritypod - Michael Cramer, Film History professor at Sarah Lawrence College - Lily Desmond @lilygoddamndesmond - mutli-talented musician known for her work with the band Sloppy Jane and as a solo artist. - Idris Goodwin @idrisgoodwin - whose new book "King of the Neuro Verse" is available wherever they sell books NOW! - Shaun Seneviratne @thebrownshaun - musician, film teacher, and filmmaker, with his first feature film "Ben and Suzanne: A Reunion in 4 Parts" available on demand later this month! - Emily Kay Shrader, cohost of the go-to podcast about all things Oz, Down The Yellow Brick Pod @downtheyellowbrickpod They also weigh in on the responses they received from our listeners on social media - if you wrote to the pod via our socials, it's here! If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats