Munsons at the Movies

Ep. 63 - Maggie Smith (feat. Dan Craig)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor. 

In this episode, we explore the career of Maggie Smith. Best known for her roles as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey, Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise, and Miss Jean Brodie (1969), we're going all the way back to the 1950's with our reviews in this episode. Joined for the fifth time by guest Munson, Dan Craig, we discuss her numerous Oscar nominated roles, the buddy action flick we all wished we could see with Maggie & Whoopi Goldberg, we're back in our bag talking gratuitous male nudity in films, and we debate her evolution as a performer over nine different decades. As James says, "This woman was born when Hitler was alive--she's seen some shit." Where does Dame Maggie Smith rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 62 - Halle Berry (feat. Aubrey McKay, Krystal Clark & Dane Mychal)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor. 

In this episode, we explore the career of Halle Berry. Best known for her roles as Leticia in Monster’s Ball (2001), Catwoman (2004), and Sharon Stone in The Flintstones (1994), no one we’ve covered thus far comes close to her pop culture impact on and off screen. For the first time ever, 3 guests join Kyle and Case in this episode: Aubrey McKay, Krystal Clark and Dane Mychal. Together we discuss her challenging upbringing that included homelessness, her constant fight for dirty/gritty roles as a beautiful woman in Hollywood, the enormous impact of the Dorothy Dandridge role on her career, and the impressive feat of winning an Oscar and a Razzie. Where does Halle rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 61 - Anthony Mackie (feat. Mike Van De Voort)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor. 

In this episode, we explore the career of Anthony Mackie. Best known for his roles as Sergeant Sanborn in The Hurt Locker (2008), Sam Wilson/Falcon in the MCU, and Harry in The Adjustment Bureau (2011), the NOLA product has taken Hollywood by storm over the past two decades. Joined by first-time guest Munson, Mike Van De Voort, we discuss how his theater background has helped him on-screen, Mike's story of meeting Mackie at a bar, his ability to intelligently discuss hot topics like race, his entrepreneurial pursuits, and contemplate whether he'll win an Oscar one day. Where does Mackie rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 60 - Hailee Steinfeld (feat. Matti Groll)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor. 

In this episode, we explore the career of H. Lee "Seinfeld" (aka Hailee Steinfeld). Best known for her roles as Mattie Ross in True Grit (2010), Emily in Pitch Perfect 2/3, and Kate Bishop in Hawkeye (2022), Hailee came out the gate on fire with an Oscar nomination for her first major role, and has only continued to impact entertainment since. Joined once again by Matti Groll, we discuss her surprisingly strong box office impact, her propensity to play angsty/quirky/obnoxious characters, the infusion of her musical and acting careers, and ponder when she will make a shift in the types of roles she plays. Where does Steinfeld rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 59 - Dan Hedaya (feat. Jay Ledbetter)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor. 

In this episode, we explore the career of Dan Hedaya. Best known for his roles as Julian Marty in Blood Simple (1984), the dad in Clueless (1995), and Jeff Rabin in The Usual Suspects (1995), Dan Hedaya has built a remarkably long career as a character actor. Joined once again by Jay Ledbetter of the InSession Film Podcast, we discuss Hedaya’s Syrian Jewish upbringing, his iconic chest hair in films like Alien: Resurrection (1997), Jay’s potential long-time grudge against Hedaya, and ponder as a group whether he’s receiving a pension for all the cop roles he’s played over the years. Where does Hedaya rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 58 - Tyler Perry (feat. Cori Wallace)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor.

In this episode, we explore the career of Tyler Perry. Best known for his many roles as Madea, Tanner Bolt in Gone Girl (2014), and his many writing, producing, and directing credits, Tyler Perry is by far the most influential performer we've covered on the podcast. Joined once again by Cori Wallace (stepping in for Geoff Reid at the last minute), we discuss Perry's extremely challenging upbringing, his philanthropic work lifting communities out of generational poverty, our take on the Madea universe, whether we prefer his acting abilities in projects directed by others, and why we might threaten Chris Rock with a class-action lawsuit. Where does Perry rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 57 - Angela Bassett (feat. Mark Gehrke)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor.

In this episode, we explore the career of Angela Bassett. Best known for her roles as Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), Stella in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), and Bernadine in Waiting to Exhale (1995), Bassett is one of the more prominent African-American actresses in entertainment, and for good reason. Joined once again by Mark Gehrke, we discuss her impact on the world of techno, record-setting weekly TV paychecks, ability to play prominent historical women, and propensity to command a scene. Where does Bassett rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 56 - Lena Headey (feat. Tony Gebhardt)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor.

In this episode, we explore the career of Lena Headey. Best known for her roles as Cersei Lanniser in Game of Thrones (2011-19), Queen Gorgo in 300 (2006), and Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-09), Headey was an actor we knew little about before this episode. Joined once again by Tony Gebhardt of the FlicksXRayed Podcast, we discuss her impact on the world of TV villains as Cersei, her many box office bombs, her ability to master accents and non-verbals, and collectively pile on the laughs as a Munson forgets their film review for the first time ever. Where does Headey rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 55 - Jennifer Lopez (feat. Laura Bennecke)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor.

In this episode, we explore the career of Jennifer Lopez. Best known for her roles as Ramona in Hustlers (2019), Karen in Out of Sight (1998), Ricki in Gigli (2000), and her celebrated music career, Lopez is one of the most fascinating performers we'll ever have the opportunity to discuss. Joined once again by Laura Bennecke, we discuss her impact on Google Images, the pop culture backlash to her relationships over the years, how she paved the way for other Latin performers, which of her songs we love, how much we hated Gigli, and her long list of haters. Where does Lopez rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

Ep. 54 - Cameron Diaz (feat. Aubrey McKay)

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor.

In this episode, we explore the career of Cameron Diaz. Best known for her roles as Mary in There's Something About Mary (1998), Natalie in Charlie's Angels (2000), and Princess Fiona in Shrek (2001), Diaz has just about as much pop culture impact of any performer we've covered in 54 episodes. Joined once again by Aubrey McKay, we discuss her high school connection to Snoop, her track record of films making money at the box office, the character she almost played in the Mortal Kombat movie, why she's such a savvy business woman, and how dramatically her early retirement will factor into our scores. Where does Diaz rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.