The Film Talk

Jett Loe and Gareth Higgins

After a 10 year break they've returned! The Ongoing Conversation about Movies and their Meaning with film critics Jett Loe and Gareth Higgins continues to explore what films are really telling us about our lives and world, what we can learn about life through the eyes of others, and how movies can help us get through hard times - and affirm us in the better ones.

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21 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes21

Newest first

Yesterday · 24 min
Blue Heron and a Short Appreciation of The New Yorker Film Critic Richard Brody
Sophy Romvari's beautiful film new BLUE HERON is available to stream now; Higgins and Loe reflect on it in this episode, as well as have a brief discussion on what makes THE NEW YORKER's film critic Richard Brody so vital. SPOILERS FOR: BLUE HERON, THE ODYSSEY, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, UP IN THE AIR, RONIN, and STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
Friday · 56 min
The Odyssey
THE ODYSSEY: It's important that a film at this scale is speaking to this moment that we're in Dear Listener. In this wide ranging discussion our hosts Higgins and Loe get into why THE ODYSSEY is so thought provoking and important a piece of mainstream entertainment, while along the way enjoining discussions about matters of life and death, one's responsibilities to act, and also completely forget to mention Zendaya's role in the film. Enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
July 17 · 42 min
All of Steven Spielberg's Theatrical Films Ranked - Part 4
We appreciate it's getting ridiculous Dear Listener. Please believe that we genuinely thought we could rank all of Steven Spielberg's theatrical films in one episode. That turned out not to be the case. But in this episode we finally, almost, get there. Hope you enjoy, (and also join us in an appreciation of the wonderful actor Sam Neill who has just left us, he will be missed). Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
July 10 · 44 min
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
What is the moral heft of STAR WARS Dear Listener and where should the franchise go from here? One of many questions asked as we discuss all things STAR WARS and the latest installment in the franchise with educator and STAR WARS expert Dan Zehr of Coffee with Kenobi. Warning: spoilers for THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU as well as MOANA, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, JAWS, ANDOR, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, THE EXORCIST and of course the STAR WARS films. Enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
July 5 · 54 min
All of Steven Spielberg's Theatrical Films Ranked - Part 3
Hello friends, who knew Higgins and Loe would have so much to talk about in regards to the filmography of Steven Spielberg? I suppose we should have realized. In this ep we soldier on and discuss some of our favorite Spielberg pictures, as well as reflect on the magnificent AU HASARD BALTHAZAR, Tom Stoppard's INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE script polish and Gareth's love of WAR HORSE. Enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
June 21 · 41 min
Disclosure Day
Take out the earplugs of your mind Dear Listener and go watch Steven Spielberg's magnificent DISCLOSURE DAY. That is all. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
June 16 · 35 min
All of Steven Spielberg's Theatrical Films Ranked - Part 2
You won't believe where Professor Dr. Gareth Higgins put RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK on this Part 2 episode ranking of all of Steven Spielberg's films Dear Listener, but as Jett Loe says on the show, (referring to Spielberg's DUEL), "...in the absence of reason there's madness". Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
June 14 · 53 min
All of Steven Spielberg's Theatrical Films Ranked - Part 1
How do we apply metrics to art Dear Listener? Well, Higgins and Loe try, as they go though all of Steven Spielberg's theatrically released films and put them in order form worst to best, least to greatest, slightly brilliant to most brilliant? Something like that. Enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
June 7 · 10 min
Backrooms
BACKROOMS is fascinating Dear Listener. The film's nostalgia for the analog seems to be a Trojan Horse that explicates that sinking feeling you feel about our culture when you engage with AI/LLM content. Recommended, with caveats. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk
May 25 · 31 min
Natchez / Exposing the Myth of Southern Charm / Why The Movies Don't Feel The Same Anymore
It's the anti-GONE WITH THE WIND, Gareth's film of the year so far and a picture Loe recommends for everyone. See NATCHEZ folks. Also discussed: Thomas Flight's WHY THE MOVIES DON'T FEEL THE SAME ANYMORE and THE BOYS. Additionally, don't forget, before we act, we must see. Enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
April 22 · 45 min
Field of Dreams
For more than 20 years, on the show and off, Dear Listener, Gareth has been trying to get Jett to watch FIELD OF DREAMS. Well, it's finally happened. Press play to hear this deep dive into the blockbuster fantasy from the last century in which Higgins and Loe discuss fathers and sons, baseball ghosts, how many days Burt Lancaster was on the set, the elimination of the monoculture and whether it's ever too late to make amends to those we've hurt. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
March 30 · 1 hr 4 min
Project Hail Mary
What? Two film critics who may not actually recommend PROJECT HAIL MARY? It's true folks, in this massive episode we go in-depth into the pitfalls PROJECT HAIL MARY falls into and recommend some alternatives, namely: E.T., TITANIC, SILENT RUNNING, THE DAY AFTER (TOMORROW), THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE, LIFEFORCE, MELANCHOLIA, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, SOLARIS, CONTACT, I, ROBOT, DARK CITY, KNOWING and even THE OMEGA MAN. We hope you enjoy. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
March 14 · 55 min
Academy Awards Special
It's time for the the 98th Academy Awards friends! In this episode we talk directors, cinematographers, editors, actors, actresses and a lot more, including all the Best Picture Nominees: Bugonia, F1, Hamnet, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme, Sinners, One Battle After Another, Train Dreams and The Secret Agent. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
February 4 · 24 min
Song Sung Blue
It's a crowd pleaser that didn't find a crowd Dear Listener. In this episode Gareth raves about Song Song Blue while Jett tries not to have a heart attack. Will you like it? Should you see it? Only one way to find out, listen and enjoy, you Sweet Caroline you. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
January 20 · 30 min
MARTY SUPREME / EEPHUS
Is the film exhilarating yet empty? And are we taking about MARTY SUPREME or EEPHUS Dear Listener? Let's find out together. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
January 1 · 40 min
Our Top 10 Films of 2025
It's the end of the year folks, so time for lists! Here's Jett and Gareth's Top 10 films of 2025. Gareth: BLUE MOON, A LITTLE PRAYER, KÖLN 75, THE HISTORY OF SOUND, SENTIMENTAL VALUE, SINNERS, SORRY BABY, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN and TRAIN DREAMS. Jett: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, PLURIBUS, THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME, RIEFENSTAHL, 28 YEARS LATER, SORRY BABY, BUGONIA, TRAIN DREAMS, SINNERS and ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
Dec 22, 2025 · 40 min
Avatar: Fire and Ash
It's The Film Talk's most divisive picture of the year Dear Listener. Higgins and Loe: one saw Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX 3D and one didn't. Will they ever be able to reconcile their opinions, thoughts and feelings? Let's listen in and find out. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
Dec 16, 2025 · 49 min
Rob Reiner / Train Dreams / Sorry, Baby
His movies radiated kindness and empathy no matter the subject matter Dear Listener. We talk about the late Rob Reiner in this episode as well as discussing two of the most beautiful, insightful and sad films of the year, Train Dreams and Sorry, Baby. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
Nov 11, 2025 · 35 min
Frankenstein
What makes this version of Frankenstein, (there's been at least 400 others), necessary Dear Listener? Other than the director's obsessive need to get it to the screen - and is that enough? Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com
Nov 7, 2025 · 6 min
Bugonia
Bugonia is at the pinnacle of its genre Jett Loe believes, but to say what that genre is would be to spoil a stunning aspect of the picture. With that in mind Jett asks that you listen to this short episode only after watching the film. Subscribe on Patreon Apple - The Film Talk Spotify - The Film Talk Facebook.com/TheFilmTalk To contact Jett and Gareth go to: info@thefilmtalk.com