Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast
By: COTC Team
Language: en-us
Categories: Tv, Film, History, After-Shows
A weekly podcast brought by the team that brings you cupofteacritiques.com, the site that encourages critical viewing of film so you can decide for yourself if they’re your "cup of tea." Reading the tea leaves of the film industry is challenging. Each week on the podcast, the team peels back the layers on a movie genre or industry trend to offer aspiring filmmakers some clarity and guidance on what is often rough and indecipherable terrain that is the film and television industry. So, grab a deep brew for a deep look and some hilarious moments. Music by Julian Har...
Episodes
Yes Repeat No—Wait, What? A Conversation with Filmmaker Michael Moshe Dahan
Jan 07, 2026We often think about our identities as multilayered (Black, White, Italian, Mexican, man, woman), but rarely do we think of them as intersectional, or even that others might view them as clashing or contradictory. Imagine, for instance, that you were both Palestinian and Israeli. Michael Moshe Dahan’s film, Yes Repeat No, is based on the experiences of a person who didn’t just imagine this, but who lived it. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we talk to Michael about his motivations for and the challenges he encountered with pulling together Yes Repeat No, whic...
Duration: 00:36:13Home Alone or Die Hard: Just what exactly is a Christmas Movie?
Dec 17, 2025It’s that time of year again where we gather the family together and pull out the holiday movies. What are some of your favorites to watch? Home Alone? Jack Frost? Maybe A Charlie Brown Christmas is an absolute must for you. Film professors say we watch Christmas movies because we need to feel close to loved ones this time of year. The romance, predictable stories, and even the bright costumes worn by the characters in most of these movies induce a sense of lightness. But what about movies that only have Christmas as a backdrop (i.e, Die Ha...
Duration: 00:41:56From Casino to Forrest Gump to Bad Boys: why do we quote movies?
Dec 09, 2025What are some of the funniest movie lines that come to mind for you? Now think of one or two of your favorites that were more serious than funny. There are a host of reasons cinema quotes stay with us for years and sometimes decades after we have seen the movie in theaters. Often, the quotes are sources of humor for us. Other times, they carry a sense of nostalgia or provide a link for forging relationships with new people. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we discuss movie quotes and the varied functions they...
Duration: 00:39:24Avatar in IMAX 3D? Nah, it’s time for 4DX and beyond!
Dec 03, 2025Seen a movie on a rooftop? In a park? How about a cemetery? Yes, it is a thing. But hey, they say don’t knock anything until you try it. How we watch movies in theaters has changed over just the last fifty years or so. We have gone from drive-in theaters and walk-in auditorium style venues to advanced ticket purchasing and immersive experiences with 4DX technology and Cosm shared reality. These dramatic changes have undoubtedly enhanced our movie-watching experiences, making them more engaging than we ever could have imagined. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as...
Duration: 01:00:30Do concert films like Renaissance and The Eras Tour provide a solution to box office woes?
Nov 18, 2025Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour were undoubtedly huge successes, and the decision to transform them into concert films was genius. For about forty years, live concerts by superstar artists have been plagued with exorbitant ticket prices. Concert films just might be a solution to this misery, since the cinematized productions remove the ticketing barriers for fans who dream of seeing their favorite artists. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we discuss the growth of concert films.
Send us a comment to let us know which music artist y...
Duration: 00:30:05Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere and the Recent Biopic Craze
Nov 11, 2025Did you enjoy A Complete Unknown, Fade to Black, and Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere? These and similar productions have enjoyed theatrical releases over the last several years. What do you suppose is motivating the industry to produce biopics of music artists, and what does their continual release suggest about our appetites for cinema on the lives of our favorite musicians. Join us on this week’s Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we discuss the recent phenomenon of movie biopics of music artists.
Send us a comment to let us know which music artist you would lik...
Duration: 00:24:00The Inglourious Basterds Experience: Dubbing or Subtitles?
Nov 04, 2025Remember the old Godzilla and Gamera movies from the 1970s, where the dialogue you heard was perpetually out of sync with the character’s lips on screen? Or have you watched a French film with English subtitles and the characters appear to say more than the captions suggest? If you said yes to either of these, then you probably appreciate how much your viewing experiences have been enhanced with improved dubbing and subtitling over the last few decades. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast, where we delve into the intricacies of dubbing and subtitling, consider how fa...
Duration: 00:44:20Horror Movies: Why do we like to be scared?
Oct 28, 2025Are you a fan of horror? Some people watch movies in the genre year-round, others only during holidays like Halloween. Some people avoid the genre altogether. After all, the movies are often dark, ghoulish, and intensely violent in surreal ways. In other words, horror movies are designed to scare us. But why would we want to subject ourselves to feeling scared? We found some research to answer this question. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we peel back the layers on why we like to be scared.
Send us a comment to let u...
Duration: 00:43:53Changing Lanes: What are the risks and benefits of being typecast in film?
Oct 21, 2025It is fun being in your comfort zone as an actor, you know, when you’re getting roles in your established specialty (i.e. comedy, rom‑com, action). But what if you wanted to break the mold, try something in a different genre or as a different type of character? What are the risks and benefits of making such a bold career move? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we discuss the pros and cons of being typecast.
Send us a comment to let us know which actor or actress you would like to se...
Duration: 00:42:32Why do we love and hate blaxploitation films?
Oct 14, 2025Despite spanning only five years in the mid‑1970s, the blaxploitation era of filmmaking left an indelible mark on the film industry and in the hearts and minds of many in the Black community. While some insist the movies contributed to what were already entrenched negative views of Black people, others feel they presented some of the freshest, coolest characters onscreen, accompanied by soulful soundtracks from artists like Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes. Despite being fifty years removed from the era, present‑day filmmakers borrow elements from these movies, proving that the films, despite their flaws, had great value then...
Duration: 00:39:49What makes a good (or bad) villain? [Replay]
Oct 07, 2025Darth Vader. Thanos. Lucy van Pelt! What are the qualifications for a villain in your story? Does it even need to be human? Maybe your villain is something more abstract. What villains are your cups of tea? Write us a review and share some of your faves!
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Drop us a line and tell us your favorite movie villain and why.
For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the li...
Duration: 00:48:21Horror or Thriller: What's the Difference? [Replay]
Sep 30, 2025Was Heretic more of a thriller than a horror movie? What's the difference? Check out our article on the Cup of Tea Critiques Crumpets page, and join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast for a lively discussion on the distinctions and similarities between horrors and thrillers.
Send us a comment to let us know which is your cup of tea: horror or thriller?
For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates on all things COTC, subscribe to our website using the link belo...
Duration: 00:35:28How does an actor pull off two roles in the same film?
Sep 23, 2025One of many challenges an actor can embrace is playing multiple roles in the same production. But what goes into the preparation and execution? What elements raise or lower the degree of difficulty? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we discuss both recent and long-ago examples of actors playing twins, clones and doppelgangers in film and television. We highlight some of the methods they utilize as well as some of the technical tricks that directors and production teams implement to pull off the illusion of two different people. Lastly, we pick some actors we would...
Duration: 00:42:37Just how important are costumes and props in film?
Sep 16, 2025Have you ever considered how much research is needed to ensure the style and fit of a character’s outfit matches the period of the film? What about something as benign as the badge on a police officer’s uniform, the walker a character uses, or just a clock on a living room wall? Now imagine watching a film from the Capone era where a microwave inadvertently appears in a kitchen scene. Talk about an anachronism! Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we dive into costumes and props used in film, and gain a deep appr...
Duration: 00:57:28How do boxing movies stand out from their sports counterparts?
Sep 09, 2025There is no doubt that studios produce movies like Rocky, Creed, Cinderella Man, and Ali primarily for entertainment. What boxing movies like these typically have in common, though, is a hyperfocus on flawed characters—individuals struggling with emotional, familial, or social challenges that are visually battled if not pummeled in the boxing ring. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we dive into the distinctiveness of boxing movies and the enduring appeal of this subgenre.
Send us a comment to let us know your favorite boxing movie.
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Duration: 00:53:14Why are Today's Cartoons More Heavy than Funny? [Replay]
Sep 02, 2025Remember when you watched cartoons as a kid? These times are likely some of your fondest childhood memories; you still recite some of the lines even today. A fair number of shows were centered around animals, and then later with people. Think Looney Tunes, Tiny Toons, Garfield, Heathcliff, Doug, Hey Arnold!, and Charlie Brown. Animals or people, these were engaging, colorful, and hilarious presentations. But the cartoons in recent decades are heavier than the ones that made us fall on the floor laughing. It's as if the days of mindlessly enjoying light and funny animated television stories have gone b...
Duration: 00:51:23Creating a Buzz: What are some of the most extraordinary movie marketing campaigns?
Aug 26, 2025We are familiar with the usual teasers, posters, and trailers that are par for the course in movie promotions. But what about the ad campaigns that go beyond these and show thinking way outside the box, like the one for Smile that sat people in the front row at baseball games showing a creepy smile for nine innings? Or the one for It where advertisers tied red balloons to sewer grates in various cities? Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we dive into these creative movie marketing campaigns and consider just how much they grab...
Duration: 00:39:56The Countless Menagerie of Doomsday Films
Aug 19, 2025Let’s say you’re not a vegan and there is suddenly no meat available because the animals were stricken by a virus and died. We recently saw a screening of director R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres that presents such a scenario and gives us a glimpse of what could happen when we don’t have something we have taken for granted. This got us thinking about how other films have imagined post‑apocalyptic existence and how some of the stories (perhaps many of them) seem quite conceivable. Join us on this week’s episode of the Cup of Tea Critique...
Duration: 00:44:03The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Plot Twists in Cinema
Aug 12, 2025Have you ever felt invested in a movie’s characters and had a pretty good idea of the plot’s trajectory less than halfway through the story? How did you feel when things shifted? A main character who had won your heart got whacked; the story suddenly grew darker, leaving you disoriented; or the character you thought you knew well revealed their identity as someone entirely different. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we dive into plot twists and discuss why some work well, some fail miserably, and still others can be quite problematic.
Se...
Duration: 00:34:06Why are Today's Cartoons More Heavy than Funny?
Aug 05, 2025Remember when you watched cartoons as a kid? These times are likely some of your fondest childhood memories; you still recite some of the lines even today. A fair number of shows were centered around animals, and then later with people. Think Looney Tunes, Tiny Toons, Garfield, Heathcliff, Doug, Hey Arnold!, and Charlie Brown. Animals or people, these were engaging, colorful, and hilarious presentations. But the cartoons in recent decades are heavier than the ones that made us fall on the floor laughing. It's as if the days of mindlessly enjoying light and funny animated television stories have gone b...
Duration: 00:51:23What is the Cultural Impact of Physical Media’s Decline?
Jul 29, 2025The emergence of high-speed internet has led to shrinking DVD and CD sales over the last fifteen years or so. As seen in what we still refer to as our monthly “cable bill,” technological advances have expanded the options for watching movies and television shows and listening to our favorite music. But while the ease and convenience of streaming channels and digitized media add a level of convenience, they quietly and painlessly chip away at values we once held dear. Join us on the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast as we dive into the decline in physical media and its...
Duration: 00:43:26The Short Films that Led to Long Careers
Jul 22, 2025For decades, aspiring filmmakers have used short films as tools for learning their craft. Constrained by tiny budgets, small casts, and limited options for shooting locations, they produce complete stories ranging from five to thirty minutes in length. Visually, the films present like rough cuts. But artistically, they reveal the tendencies of these future auteurs. You might have heard of a few of them: George Lucas, Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino, Jean‑Luc Goddard. In this episode, we explore the short films of famous directors, so you can appreciate the humble beginnings of these filmmaking giants.
Have you ma...
Duration: 00:46:58Where’s Hollywood’s Sense of Adventure?
Jul 15, 2025You may remember movies like The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. These family‑friendly films incited a sense of adventure and stirred the imagination. So, what happened to them? They seem to have disappeared from the movie landscape over the last generation or so. In this episode of the podcast, we take a deep dive into adventure films and explore the demise of this exciting subgenre on the big screen.
Be sure to leave us a comment about your latest adventure!
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Duration: 00:47:33Post‑Apocalypse Now!
Jul 02, 2025Let’s say you’re not a vegan and there is suddenly no meat available because the animals were stricken by a virus and died. We recently saw a screening of director R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres that presents such a scenario and gives us a glimpse of what could happen when we don’t have something we have taken for granted. This got us thinking about how other films have imagined post‑apocalyptic existence and how some of the stories (perhaps many of them) seem quite conceivable. Join us on this week’s episode of the Cup of Tea Critique...
Duration: 00:44:03Happy Anniversary Jaws!
Jun 25, 2025Did it make you afraid to go into the water? Maybe you remember the frenzy around the blockbuster movie, Jaws. This month is the 50th anniversary of its release, and we are celebrating with personal remembrances and our thoughts on Jaws’ contribution to both movie and mainstream culture. Grab and brew and join us. Don’t worry; you won’t have to go into the water!
Leave us a comment with the title of your favorite shark movie.
For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen. For email updates on all things Cup of...
Duration: 00:41:59The Joy of Hate Watching!
Jun 17, 2025Ever hear of “hate-watching?” It is the tendency to watch movies and television shows that do not appeal to you. Some go beyond lacking appeal to making you cringe every time you see them. Indeed, occasionally you watch the shows just for the sake of mocking them. Psychologists say that this strong negativism makes us happy and even strengthens bonds among friends and community. In this week’s episode of the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast, we take a deep dive into “hate-watching” and passionately discuss the shows we have a strong disdain for but watch anyway!
Leave us a...
Duration: 00:35:29Where are all the Action Movie Heroines?
Jun 10, 2025Have you seen the new John Wick movie, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina? Ana de Armas plays the lead and she is a badass in the film! It got us thinking how rare it is to see women presented as the lead in action movies. While they are prevalent in ensemble casts of action productions like Fantastic Four, X-Men, Game of Thrones, and name any Avengers feature you like, women are rarely featured as the focal point in these releases. Also, where we brand productions as “the next Tom Cruise movie,” the new Vin Diesel flick,” or even “...
Duration: 00:35:00What Makes a Production a Classic?
Jun 03, 2025Consider for a moment your go-to movies or television shows. You know, the ones you stream decades (or perhaps just a year or two) after their release and they still make you laugh, make you cry, or just stir something inside you. Would you consider these works to be “classics” and, if so, why? The answers often spur intense debate because the subject is personal. In this episode, we discuss what makes a classic and expound on it with plenty of cinema that exemplifies it.
So, what are your criteria for a film industry classic? Send us a not...
Duration: 00:41:42How throwback films take you waayyy back!
May 20, 2025Last fall, COTC reviewed the Peacock series, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, starring Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Don Cheadle. The series is based on a true story about a robbery that occurred at a party after the Muhammad Ali‑Jerry Quarry fight in Atlanta in 1970. Big afros, platform shoes, and even plaid suits abound in this story. Seeing the eight‑part series took Terry and I back to our days as children, and Brandon and Chris began to reminisce on films that reminded them of their own childhoods. In this episode, we d...
Duration: 00:33:52Where are all the Sports Movies?
May 15, 2025Remember movies like Little Big League, Any Given Sunday, Mighty Ducks, Major League, and Sandlot? From the 1990s to the early 2000s, the film industry released about four sports movies like these every year. But in recent years, we’re lucky to see two such films in theaters. What happened? Why have sports movies all but disappeared from the big screen? Join us as we discuss several contributing factors.
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... Duration: 00:44:38Sinners and the Mystique of Vampirism
May 06, 2025Ryan Coogler’s recent hit movie, Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, has sparked a lot of buzz. What is the appeal of vampires and what adds credibility to a vampire production? In this episode, we dive into the mystique of this century-long cinematic spectacle. After sharing our thoughts on the new blockbuster, we discuss the classic vampire movies, like Dracula and Nosferatu, as well as the contemporary hit shows, such as Buffy and The Vampire Diaries.
Send us a note to let us know your favorite vampire production. Also, if there’s a topic you would like us t...
Duration: 00:49:39When the Industry Goes Reel!
Apr 30, 2025In this episode, we delve into cinema on difficult topics and social issues. Be aware that samples of these works and some aspects of our discussion may be triggering for some listeners. Many movies and TV series mirror real‑life circumstances and experiences. When handled deftly, the works often resonate with us or at minimum inform our perspectives about aspects of life or life encounters that are unfamiliar to us. We hope you find our talk on these issues affirming, comforting, and informative. Below, we have compiled a list of hotlines obtained from endcan.org and psychiatry.org should yo...
Duration: 00:57:12Who the Heck is Alan Smithee — and Why Should You Care?
Apr 22, 2025Have you ever wanted to remove your name from something that turned out badly? Maybe it was a group project, a paper you wrote, or a decision with an undesirable outcome. A little-known pseudonym adopted by the Directors Guild of America has allowed its members to do just that when their films don’t turn out as planned. In this episode, we dive deep into the Alan Smithee moniker, exploring its history and debating its merits. The question at the core of Alan Smithee is ‘should we really disown our mistakes?’
What is your Alan Smithee moment? Text to...
Duration: 00:37:48Can Film Thrive without Music?
Apr 15, 2025Music can certainly exist outside of movies, but do you think movies can thrive without music? Have you ever thought about the crucial role that music plays in film? Or is music so integrated into film today that it is tough to think about the latter without the former? In this show, we take a deep dive into the undeniable value of music in film, beginning with early movie industry strategies to blend the two art forms to the contemporary and varied methods of scoring films. After listening, think of your favorite films without the music. Do you enjoy...
Duration: 01:01:36Movie Ratings: Are They Meaningful and Relevant Today? (Part 2 of 2)
Mar 31, 2025Do you consider the rating of a film before deciding if you will go to the theater to see it? While they may be useful now, those seemingly benign letters that make up the ratings carry a lot of historical weight. For much of the 20th century, they were used as a means of defining morality for the movie-going public while suppressing freedom of speech and expression for filmmakers. Based on the Cup of Tea Critiques article, “A Clash of Knuckles,” which can be found in the Crumpets section on cupofteacritiques.com, this podcast continues our discussion of the Moti...
Duration: 00:41:36Movie Ratings: Are They Meaningful and Relevant Today? (Part 1 of 2)
Mar 24, 2025Do you consider the rating of a film before deciding if you will go to the theater to see it? While they may be useful now, those seemingly benign letters that make up the ratings carry a lot of historical weight. For much of the 20th century, they were used as a means of defining morality for the movie-going public while suppressing freedom of speech and expression for filmmakers. Based on the Cup of Tea Critiques article, “A Clash of Knuckles,” which can be found in the Crumpets section on cupofteacritiques.com, this podcast covers the history of the Moti...
Duration: 00:28:11Public Domain and ... Winnie the Pooh?
Mar 17, 2025In 2023, filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield set off a frenzy when he released his film, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, which presents the iconic cuddly bear as something more repulsive than inviting. His transformation of Pooh was enabled by the character’s recent release into the public domain archives. Public domain is a category of creative works that are unprotected by intellectual property law. In some cases, the work was never protected, and in others, the term of protection for said work has expired. In this episode, COTC explores public domain, viewed by some as a treasure trove and others as...
Duration: 00:36:56What makes sequels and serials work?
Mar 10, 2025Can you distinguish between a sequel and a serial? In this episode of the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast, we define and explore the two concepts, with examples of familiar films from past and present. We also delve into the question of whether our expectations for a sequel/serial influence our positive or negative evaluation of it. What are some of your favorite sequels and multi-part franchises? Which ones disappointed you? Leave us a review and share your thoughts!
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Duration: 00:53:54Shot on Film or Shot on Digital?
Mar 03, 2025After watching a film, consider for a moment how it looked and just as important, how it made you feel. If you stay past the movie’s credits, you get an indication of just how the filmmakers were able to achieve these effects, because they provide details about the cameras that were used during the shoots. After listening to the podcast, think about which film gauge has produced the most movies that are your cup of tea: 8, 16, 35, 70? Write us a review and share your preference!
Reference
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/how-digital-conversion-is-killing-independent-movie-theaters-89265/
... Duration: 00:44:10What is the Goal of a Short Film?
Feb 24, 2025Many talented filmmakers lack the resources to produce expansive projects that can gain the attention of influential representatives or studios. So, what’s the best use of the underdog’s modest means? Many go the route of what’s known as a “short film.” Check out our article on this topic on the Cup of Tea Critiques Crumpets page. What short film is your cup of tea? Write us a review and share some of your favorites!
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Duration: 00:37:00What Makes a Good (or Bad) Villain?
Feb 17, 2025Darth Vader. Thanos. Lucy van Pelt! What are the qualifications for a villain in your story? Does it even need to be human? Maybe your villain is something more abstract. What villains are your cups of tea? Write us a review and share some of your faves!
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Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our... Duration: 00:48:21Horror or Thriller: What's the Difference?
Feb 10, 2025Was Heretic more of a thriller than a horror movie? What's the difference? Check out our article on this topic on the Cup of Tea Critiques Crumpets page. Which is your cup of tea: horror or thriller? Do you feel there’s a difference? Write us a review and share your opinion!
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