Close Watch with Robert Yaniz Jr.

It's 2023, and Close Watch has a song in its heart this year. For the next year, we're dedicating this podcast to movie musicals. Every month, the show will feature at least one episode in which Rob and a guest go in-depth on a beloved movie musical. And what better way to celebrate one of cinema's most beloved genres than with a man-eating plant from outer space?!

Film critic Morgan Roberts joins the show to discuss 1986's Little Shop of Horrors starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, and Steve Martin. We'll discuss the elite group of movie musicals the Frank Oz-directed film belongs to, the staggering puppetry that brings Audrey II to life, and explore why some of our favorite movie musicals go to some very dark places.

So shimmy downtown to the little flower shop on the corner for a glimpse at the strange and unusual plant in the window. Just don't feed the plants!

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Shane Black is a name that tends to elicit either unbridled enthusiasm or consternation from moviegoers. Black started out as an actor before hitting it big as the legendary screenwriter of Lethal Weapon. Then in 2005, he made the leap to directing his own scripts. And this episode, Thomas Greene of Movies After Work joins us to discuss Black's directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stars a pre-Iron Man Robert Downey Jr., a post-Batman Val Kilmer, and a star-making turn by Michelle Monaghan. The film's blend of noir subject matter and buddy cop energy turned it into a cult classic for some, despite its box office underperformance. But Thomas and I will delve into how it was a pivotal movie for not only those involved but him as well.

We'll discuss how accurately Black captures the Los Angeles scene, why the movie impacted Thomas' own writing, and which of the movie's three lead performances ultimately steals the movie.

SYNOPSIS Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he's flung into a tangled, murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and hard-boiled private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer).

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The Dark Universe might have been dead on arrival, but 1999's The Mummy remains just as beloved as ever. More than two decades later, fans continue to revisit Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz's sweeping adventure.

On this episode, Catherine Gonzales of Latinx Lens joins the show as we talk about the film's influence on modern blockbusters, its iconic cast of unforgettable characters, and how well it holds up by today's standards.

SYNOPSIS The Mummy is a rousing, suspenseful and horrifying epic about an expedition of treasure-seeking explorers in the Sahara Desert in 1925. Stumbling upon an ancient tomb, the hunters unwittingly set loose a 3,000-year-old legacy of terror, which is embodied in the vengeful reincarnation of an Egyptian priest who had been sentenced to an eternity as one of the living dead.

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Unless superheroes, hobbits, or boy wizards are involved, fantasy films are all too rare these days. But in the 1980s, the genre was thriving on the big screen. Filmmakers coupled state-of-the-art visual effects with puppetry, make-up, and good ol' movie magic to create worlds fans could previously only imagine. Director Ron Howard's 1988 film Willow is one such film.

Featuring a story by George Lucas, Willow was the filmmaker's blatant attempt to tell a story like The Lord of the Rings. And with the new Disney+ sequel series right around the corner, Jeremiah Stewart of the Let's Talk YouTube channel joins the show to remind listeners why they should revisit Willow. We'll discuss how the movie inspired Jeremiah's own interest, the greatness of star Warwick Davis, and what we want out of the new show.

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Throughout 2019, A24 has further cemented its dominance as a safe haven for distinctive creative voices. In just the past few years, the company has given moviegoers releases as diverse as Moonlight, Lady Bird, Hereditary, Ex Machina, and Room. And easily one of this year's A24 highlights — and indeed 2019 cinema, in general — has been Lulu Wang's poignant and hilarious The Farewell.

Sade Glover of the Offscreen Babble podcast joins the show to discuss how Wang's second directorial effort infuses family, grief, and culture with not only powerful commentary but also genuine laughs. We'll discuss how The Farewell makes its tale universally relatable, the film's Oscar chances this awards season, and why it's so important for moviegoers to seek out these smaller, more personal stories.

SPOILER NOTE: While the bulk of our conversation is spoiler-free, we do discuss The Farewell's ending in detail starting at the 49:50 mark. So, if you have not seen the film yet, please do so before you finish the episode. The Farewell is now available on Blu-ray and digital.

Billi's (Awkwafina) family returns to China under the guise of a fake wedding to stealthily say goodbye to their beloved matriarch (Zhao Shuzhen) — the only person that doesn't know she only has a few weeks to live.

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