Munsons at the Movies

Ep. 125 - Nia Long (feat. Edward Chaja)

The Munsons welcome special guest Ed Chaja as we shine the spotlight on the eternally cool and effortlessly iconic Nia Long. From her early breakout roles in Boyz N the Hood and Friday to her unbelievable influence on pop culture—especially in music—Nia’s presence is undeniable. We marvel at her shockingly consistent audience scores, laugh at the clueless casting directors who once called her “too sophisticated” for certain roles, and celebrate how she’s always made sophistication look exactly right.

Her soulful turn in Love Jones reminds us she could have dominated the romantic drama genre as the rare unicorn who captivates both male and female audiences alike. We track her first crossover into mainstream Hollywood with Stigmata, recognize her as the first actor we’ve covered with a legitimate connection to the Willennium, and applaud her recent SKIMS campaign for nearly breaking the internet at age 54. And of course, we take a moment to call out just how much of an idiot Ime Udoka was for ever letting her go.

It’s a celebration of elegance, longevity, and straight-up star power—Nia Long deserves her flowers. How does she rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 124 - Robert Forster (feat. Dan Craig)

The Munsons shift gears from one of Hollywood’s biggest stars to one of its most grounded character actors—Robert Forster. After Kyle recounts a run-in with Thomas McKenzie (and maybe the Bird Lady, Brenda Fricker?), we dive into Forster’s remarkable and often overlooked career. The box office spreadsheet shows a stark contrast from Harrison Ford—going from first to nearly last—but Forster’s story is anything but small. Entering Hollywood completely naive, he built a career on perseverance, a little luck (as he himself admitted), and an unshakable authenticity.

We unpack the tragic and surreal story of his mother’s self-immolation, his complete comfort with full frontal nudity on screen (respect), and his uncanny ability to ground films—whether they were good, bad, or somewhere in between. Was he one of the few actors who could have brought Max Cherry to life in Jackie Brown? The Munsons think so. Along the way, we discuss his repeated turns as law enforcement officials, debate whether “perfectly cromulent” defines his acting style, and reflect on his late-career roles before his passing from a brain tumor in 2019.

This episode celebrates a man who may not have been a box office titan, but was the quiet engine behind some truly great films.  Where does Robert Forster rank on the Munson Meter?  Listen and find out.  

Ep. 123 - Harrison Ford (feat. Lauren Hopkins Price)

In this episode, the Munsons take flight with one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars—Harrison Ford, and hope he doesn’t take the plane down with us. With two animal species named after him and a box office career that towers over our box office snapshot spreadsheet, we dig into every angle of Ford’s legendary run. How much does Case really hate him, and how will that play into his final score? We weigh the burden of carrying roles like Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Rick Deckard, and Jack Ryan, and debate whether being born during World War II influenced his knack for fighting Nazis on screen. We look at his real-life, death-defying stunts as a pilot, the impact of Han Solo as the first in a line of action-hero archetypes, and whether Indiana Jones paved the way for the Gates family in National Treasure. The crew dissects his comparison to Jake Gyllenhaal in Presumed Innocent, relives The Fugitive (and our collective hatred of PlutoTV), and questions why Ford took a voice role in The Secret Life of Pets—and if there’s more animated work in his future. Plus, we talk about his long-overdue Razzie nom in 2020.

How does he rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 122 - Tim Robbins (feat. Laura Bennecke)

The Munsons take on the towering, eclectic career of Tim Robbins—actor, director, activist, and, depending on who you ask, an unofficially blacklisted MLB Hall of Fame figure. We explore Robbins' deep New York sports fandom—Mets, Rangers, and maybe Jets?—and revisit his Quarterback Princess days to assess whether he’s believable as a 6’5 high school QB. James weighs in with a definitive take on whether Robbins could ever convincingly pull off a frat bro, while the rest of the crew debates if he carries enough charisma to be a true leading man.

We trace a recurring theme in his filmography: playing the broken husband, and dive into his Oscar-winning turn in Mystic River—should he have won over two former Munsons? Plus, we’re all surprisingly intrigued by the dystopian mystery series Silo on AppleTV, and wonder if it might be Robbins’ next great chapter.

How does he rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 121 - Chris Pine (feat. Chip Hessenflow)

The Munsons assemble to break down the career of Chris Pine, Hollywood's soulful blue-eyed heartthrob who may just be the most charismatic of all the Chris’s. We dive into how he stacks up against the likes of Hemsworth, Pratt, Rock, O’Dowd and others—and what makes him stand out in a crowded field of cinematic superheroes and leading men. From his plastic-perfect fame in the Barbie/Ken doll universe to his raw and gritty turn in Hell or High Water (which we absolutely fawn over), Pine continues to defy expectations. We discuss the surprising insights he’s shared about his career in interviews, his impressive pipes as a singer, and his natural ability to command the screen no matter the role. Kyle successfully converts the crew into Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves fans, and we share our reactions to the fun, fantasy-packed adventure. We also explore whether Poolman is just the beginning of Pine's journey toward becoming a prolific Hollywood director.

How does he rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 120 - Lorraine Toussaint (feat. Cam Sully)

In this episode, the Munsons are joined once again by veteran guest Munson, Cam Sully, for a deep dive into the unparalleled career of Trinidadian-American actress Lorraine Toussaint. A Juilliard graduate with over 30 years in film, TV, and theater, Toussaint consistently delivers powerhouse performances, making even small roles unforgettable. We explore her impactful work in Selma, her iconic turn as Vee in Orange Is the New Black, her underrated brilliance in Nightjohn, her chilling role in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, her ongoing presence as Vi in The Equalizer, and her latest performance in Better Sister. Plus, we revisit the classic Dangerous Minds to see if it still holds up. How does she rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 119 - André Holland (feat. Josh Outing)

In this episode, the Munsons are joined by first-time guest Munson, Josh Outing, and take a deep dive into the career of Andre Holland, an actor whose project choices are as calculated as his performances are captivating. With a filmography that spans critical darlings and cult TV favorites, Holland’s career showcases a fascinating contrast: sky-high critic and audience ratings paired with head-scratching IMDb scores and minimal box office returns. We break down this odd trajectory and explore how he’s still managed to carve out a niche as one of the most compelling actors of his generation.

From his commanding presence in The Knick and Castle Rock to the emotional resonance of Exhibiting Forgiveness, we marvel at Holland’s control of pacing, tone, and subtlety. We also settle the battle once and for all between DJ Jazzles and DJ Request. How does he rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 118 - Rosario Dawson (feat. Krystal Clark)

In this episode, the Munsons dive deep into the career of the effortlessly cool and endlessly talented Rosario Dawson. We explore her humble beginnings on the Lower East Side of NYC, where early family struggles and imposter syndrome in film school shaped her unique path to stardom. From the moment luck literally knocked on her doorstep, Dawson's journey has been anything but typical. We discuss how Prince once dubbed her the voice of a generation at just 19, and her frequent appearances in music videos through the years.

Her pop culture impact is undeniable, thanks to standout roles in Rent and Josie and the Pussycats. We were seriously impressed by her work opposite Denzel Washington in He Got Game, and we share our frustration over Rob Zombie cutting her from one of his films. Throughout her filmography, one thing remains constant: Rosario always classes up the joint. We also unpack her fascinating dating history, her inspiring decision to adopt her daughter at age 12, and her commitment to her political and philanthropic impact.

How does she rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out

Ep. 117 - Daniel Day-Lewis (feat. Dames Marvs)

In this episode, the Munsons are joined by guest Munson, Dames Marvs, to dive into the elusive, mesmerizing world of Sir Daniel Day-Lewis. We cover it all—stories from off the screen that are just as legendary as his performances, the mystery behind why he’s so selective with his roles, and how he seemingly gives up being himself while on a set.

We marvel at the bizarre twists of fate that shaped him: the schoolyard bullies, the carpenter who turned him down, and the wild journey that followed. We talk about the time he learned a foreign language for a film that wasn’t even in that language, speculate if Tarantino may have accidentally saved his life by passing on him for Pulp Fiction, and ponder the possibility of home videos of his kids asking why dad is dressed like Hawkeye from The Last of the Mohicans. Finally, we look ahead to the inevitable day Sir Daniel will defend the crown using every survival skill he's gained from decades of full-immersion acting.

Do we have a new #1 rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 116 - Aidan Gillen (feat. Matti Groll)

In this episode of Munsons at the Movies, we're joined once again by guest Munson, Matti Groll, to dive into the fascinating and unpredictable career of Aidan Gillen. From his Irish roots and struggles with auditions to his pinball-like journey through film and television, we leave no stone unturned. We rave about the impact of Sing Street, marvel at Gillen breaking Case’s box office snapshot spreadsheet, and debate whether Gillen truly nails his accents. We notice an unmistakable trend of his portrayals of small-time villains in films and explore his performances in memorable shows like Queer as Folk, Game of Thrones, The Wire, and Peaky Blinders. 

How does he rank on the Munson Meter? Will the Munsons drive it like they stole it? Listen to find out.