33: Lions For Lambs with Jason Bailey

03/14/25 • 76 min

Phil and Emily continue their Tom Cruise Mini-Series with a deep dive into the 2007 political drama Lions for Lambs. 🎬🔥 Joining them is film critic and author Jason Bailey (Fun City Cinema), who brings his insightful perspective to this star-studded film featuring Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford.

Despite its powerhouse cast and timely themes, Lions for Lambs struggled to make a lasting impact. The trio explores the film's ambitious narrative structure, its commentary on the War on Terror, and how it fits into the broader context of 2000s political cinema. Was it a case of too much star power and not enough substance, or does it deserve a second look?

Tune in as they dissect the film's intentions, its reception, and Tom Cruise's performance as a charismatic senator. 🎧✨

Follow Jason Bailey:

Bluesky: @jasondashbailey.bsky.social
Letterboxd: @jasondashbailey

#LionsForLambs #PodcastLikeIts2000s #TomCruise #MerylStreep #RobertRedford #JasonBailey #PoliticalDrama #2000sCinema #FilmDiscussion #PopCulturePodcast #TomCruiseMiniSeries

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Tune in as they dissect the film's intentions, its reception, and Tom Cruise's performance as a charismatic senator. 🎧✨

Follow Jason Bailey:

Bluesky: @jasondashbailey.bsky.social
Letterboxd: @jasondashbailey

#LionsForLambs #PodcastLikeIts2000s #TomCruise #MerylStreep #RobertRedford #JasonBailey #PoliticalDrama #2000sCinema #FilmDiscussion #PopCulturePodcast #TomCruiseMiniSeries

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

32: Mission: Impossible III with Liz Hannah & Brian Millikin

Phil and Emily continue their Tom Cruise Mini-Series with the adrenaline-fueled Mission: Impossible III! 💥🎭 Joining them are screenwriter Liz Hannah (The Post, Long Shot) and writer/producer Brian Millikin (Quantum Leap, Haven) to break down how J.J. Abrams' 2006 entry changed the M:I franchise forever.

From Philip Seymour Hoffman’s chilling villain to the emotional stakes that added new depth to Ethan Hunt, this film marked a turning point for Cruise as an action star. The group discusses Abrams’ signature storytelling style, the Alias influence, and how M:I-3 laid the groundwork for the franchise’s evolution into the Fallout era.

Was this the Mission: Impossible film that redefined the series? And does it hold up today? Tune in for a high-stakes discussion! 🎧✨

Follow our guests:

Liz Hannah: @itslizhannah
Brian Millikin: @BrianMillikin

#MissionImpossibleIII #PodcastLikeIts2000s #TomCruise #JJAbrams #LizHannah #BrianMillikin #PhilipSeymourHoffman #ActionMovies #MI3 #FilmDiscussion #PopCulturePodcast #TomCruiseMiniSeries

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

34: Tropic Thunder with Chuck Hayward & Kenny Neibart

Phil and Emily continue their Tom Cruise Mini-Series with one of the wildest entries in his filmography—Ben Stiller’s 2008 Hollywood satire Tropic Thunder! Joining them for the ride are writer/producer Chuck Hayward (WandaVision, Ted Lasso) and screenwriter Kenny Neibart, who help break down the film’s razor-sharp commentary, outrageous performances, and Cruise’s unforgettable (and totally unhinged) turn as studio executive Les Grossman.

From method acting mayhem to behind-the-scenes chaos, the crew explores why Tropic Thunder remains one of the most daring (and controversial) comedies of the 2000s. How did Cruise steal the movie with just a few scenes? What still works—and what doesn’t—in 2024? And how did this film even get made in the first place?

Get ready for a no-holds-barred discussion on one of the most talked-about comedies of its time. 🎧🔥

#TropicThunder #TomCruise #PodcastLikeIts2000s #ChuckHayward #KennyNeibart #BenStiller #ComedyMovies #2000sCinema #PopCulturePodcast #FilmDiscussion #LesGrossman #TomCruiseMiniSeries

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.