The Sleepless Cinematic Podcast
Emilio, Madeline, and Julian love music, and spend their afternoons and evenings working for and teaching at a music school in midtown Manhattan. But they also really love movies. A lot. So when they're done teaching, they stay up late and discuss a movie, sometimes a few, that they've all agreed to see recently. Opinions, musings, personal stories, and sincere film enthusiasm ensue.
Episodes
80 episodes
Dolls in Toyland: 'Tangerine" (2015) with Edo Choi
Madeline, Emilio, and Julian wrap up their cycle of Unorthodox Holiday Movies with a film befitting of a Christmas Eve episode - Sean Baker’s “Tangerine”, released in 2015. Joining Emilio as a first-time-watcher is Edo Choi, Film Programmer at ...
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Episode 79
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1:45:55
The Criterion Disc Holiday Share
This week, Emilio, Madeline and Julian make good on something that has been in works for over two years - a conversation about the movies they gifted each other back in 2023! To be specific, these were discs from The Criterion Collection,...
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Episode 78
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1:51:58
There You Are Peter!: 'Hook' (1991) with Rob McClure
Bangarang! Emilio, Madeline, and Julian fly, fight, and crow their way through this next "Unorthodox Holiday Movie" suggestion, and this is a special one, a movie suggested to them by multiple guests - "Hook", Steven Spielberg's take on t...
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Episode 77
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2:07:04
'Wicked for Good' (2025) Reactions with Down The Yellow Brick Pod and Courtney Iventosch
This week, Madeline, Emilio and Julian discuss the recently released 'Wicked For Good', the second part of a pair of films that together have brought the beloved Broadway musical to the big screen. After chatting a bit themselves, the co-...
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Episode 76
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1:39:48
'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999): Escapade, Cavalcade, Masquerade
Madeline, Emilio, and Julian continue their seasonal cycle of Unorthodox Holiday Movies with a discussion about "Eyes Wide Shut," Stanley Kubrick's enigmatic final feature from 1999. Marking their first discussion about a Kubrick film, the trio...
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Episode 75
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1:50:55
Dads, Daughters, and the Revolution: "One Battle After Another" (2025) with Brendan McDonald
Julian, Madeline, and Emilio are rejoined by Brendan McDonald, former producer of the iconic podcast WTF with Marc Maron, for a bonus episode about Paul Thomas Anderson's latest masterpiece, One Battle After Another. Kicking off with a check-in...
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Episode 74
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2:31:41
The Worst Noel: 'Black Christmas' (1974) with James Codoyannis
To kick off the latest cycle of "Unorthodox Holiday Suggestions", Emilio brings the original 'Black Christmas', Bob Clark's other holiday themed masterpiece from 1974, to the group just in time for spooky season. Joining the usual three c...
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Episode 73
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1:49:48
Found Footage Evolution with Shaun Seneviratne: 'The Blair Witch Project' (1999), 'Creep' (2014), and 'Searching' (2018)
For their Audience Interrogation cycle "Close Up" episode, Emilio, Julian and Madeline hit record and explore a genre that they are, admittedly, not as familiar with: Found Footage Films. They are joined by writer/director/teacher/m...
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Episode 72
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1:50:41
Movies That Scarred Us
If you're a lover of movies, there is, without a doubt, a disturbing movie (or several) that you saw when you were too young to process it. With imagery and scenes that have lodged themselves in your brain. And since the memory of t...
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Episode 71
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2:06:02
Pursuing the Money Shot: 'Nightcrawler' (2014) and 'Civil War' (2024) with Michael Cramer
Julian, Madeline, and Emilio continue their episode cycle on Audience Interrogation with a "Two-Shot" on Dan Gilroy's "Nightcrawler" (2014) and Alex Garland's "Civil War" (2024), and are joined for the conversation by Michael Cramer, professor ...
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Episode 70
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2:04:58
Rock and Roll Re-Creation: 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' (2025)
As a bonus this week, Julian, Emilio, and Madeline gear up for Spinal Tap’s reunion in the new release “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues”. Released 41 years after the previously discussed “This Is Spinal Tap” (1984), this legasequel catches up ...
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Episode 69
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1:39:44
Spike Lee's 'Bamboozled' (2000) at 25 with Idris Goodwin
For the "Audience Interrogation" cycle's Suggestion Box episode, Emilio, Julian and Madeline go with a pick that's been a long time coming: 'Bamboozled', Spike Lee's unapologetically confrontational satire from 2000 about racial stereotypes and...
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Episode 68
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2:09:06
Rerelease - 'This is Spinal Tap' (1984)
With 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' arriving to theaters this week, England's "loudest band" is coming back to the big screen! If you haven't yet listened to it, or would love to remind yourself of what makes the original film such a ...
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1:33:33
Hindsight is 2020: 'Eddington' (2025) with Mariquita Reese
Continuing their episode cycle discussing films related to "Audience Interrogation", Emilio, Julian and Madeline strap on their masks, observe social distancing guidelines, and harken back to the recent past with 'Eddington', Ari Aster's darkly...
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Episode 67
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1:58:31
In Dreams, You're Mine: "Blue Velvet" (1986) with Lily Desmond
Julian, Madeline, and Emilio begin a new episode cycle focusing on Audience Interrogation in film with a "View-nanimous" discussion on David Lynch's 1986 masterpiece "Blue Velvet," and are joined by returning guest, multi-talented musician and ...
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Episode 66
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1:47:12
Goin' Out West: Tom Waits on Film in 'Down By Law' (1986), 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' (1992), and 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' (2018)
Julian, Madeline, and Emilio wrap up their cycle of Musicians on Film by diving into the filmography of Tom Waits, once dubbed a "performer, singer, actor, magician, spirit guide, changeling" by the great Neil Young. Joined by Madeline's dad Ri...
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Episode 65
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2:08:08
Big Feminist Swings: "A League of Their Own" (1992) and "Don't Worry Darling" (2022) with Emilio's Sister!
For our Musicians-Turned-Actor cycle "Two Shot", Madeline, Emilio and Julian are swinging for the fences with an unexpected pair of films - Penny Marshall's 1992 baseball classic 'A League of Their Own' and Olivia Wilde's 2022 release 'Don't Wo...
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Episode 64
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2:03:05
In the Moon for Love: 'Moonstruck' (1987) with Jamie Homs
Julian, Madeline and Emilio pop some Asti Spumante and welcome back social media maven and podcast favorite Jamie Homs to talk 'Moonstruck', the beloved 1987 romantic comedy directed by Norman Jewison. A "Suggestion Box" entry from Madeli...
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Episode 63
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1:49:52
Intergalactic Man of Industry: 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' (1976) with Michaela Brady
Madeline, Julian, and Emilio welcome back past guest and Julian's longtime friend Michaela Brady to continue discussing films with Musicians-Turned-Actors, and this time it's a "Mise-Unseen" on Nicolas Roeg's 1976 film "The Man Who Fell to Eart...
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Episode 62
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1:54:30
'Jaws' (1975) at Fifty with Mike Duquette
This week, Emilio, Julian and Madeline set sail with pop culture writer and Spielberg aficionado Mike Duquette aboard to take on 'Jaws', the landmark film that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer. The group discuss what makes ...
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Episode 61
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1:51:32
'Licorice Pizza' (2021): Life Plans and Stick Shift Vans
To kick off a new cycle featuring musicians turned actors, Julian, Madeline and Emilio rewatch 'Licorice Pizza', Paul Thomas Anderson's 2021 film and love letter to the San Fernando Valley circa 1973. Populated with memorable turns from B...
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Episode 60
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1:38:08
Marriage Gory: 'Possession' (1981) with Sylvie Dranoff
Madeline, Emilio, and Julian are joined by Julian’s oft-mentioned cinephile cousin Sylvie for a standalone discussion about Andrzej Żuławski’s singular film “Possession” (1981). Distinctly mixing a drama of romantic turmoil with elements of bod...
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Episode 59
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1:57:51
Owen Roizman's New York Cinematography, with Special Guest Brendan McDonald: 'The French Connection' (1971), 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three' (1974), and 'Network' (1976)
Julian, Madeline, and Emilio are joined by Brendan McDonald, the producer of 'WTF with Marc Maron,' to finish off their cycle of New York City movies with a "Close-Up" on the works of legendary cinematographer Owen Roizman. A versatile visual t...
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Episode 58
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2:23:29
Outer Borough Scrambles: 'Good Time' (2017) and 'Anora' (2024) with Mariquita Reese
For our "Two Shot" episode featuring New York City movies, Emilio, Julian and Madeline welcome on Mariquita Reese, fellow cinephile and cohost of Post Film Clarity, to talk two recent NYC based films about late night desperation that sends char...
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Episode 57
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2:00:59
A "Wedding Banquet" (1993) Companion with NYU Film Professor Zhen Zhang
For a bonus episode this week, Emilio goes solo for a (mostly) spoiler free talk about a film he really loves, Ang Lee's "The Wedding Banquet". It was a successful and critically acclaimed independent film back when it was released in 199...
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Episode 56
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1:00:15