Movies & Us
Movies & Us is a weekly gathering place filled with conversations about movies, stories, and connection. Our name sums it up: we’re all about movies and the powerful ways we can connect with each other and the world around us. This podcast is about all of us and our shared stories. Join us in conversations about movies and the stories that connect us!
Episodes
Jen and Sarah are joined by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder, the writers and directors of the short film ‘Jane Austen’s Period Drama.’ They share their filmmaking origin stories, discuss their approach to writing and editing this film, and unpack some of the relevant themes in this story.
Watch Jane Austen’s Period Drama on Kanopy and follow them on Instagram @janeaustensperioddrama.
Jen and Sarah review the short film ‘Jane Austen’s Period Drama’ in this spoiler-free review. They discuss the comedic moments, smart writing, and technical components that help bring important and relevant themes to life.
Watch Jane Austen’s Period Drama on Kanopy and follow them on Instagram @janeaustensperioddrama.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Blue...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, the writers and directors of the short film ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva.’ They share about their passion for film, the origins of this powerful story, and the process of bringing this short film to life.
You can watch Two People Exchanging Saliva in The New Yorker’s Screening Room or on YouTube. Learn more about the film, including behind-the-scenes footage, on the...
Jen and Sarah review the short film ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ in this spoiler-free review. They discuss the impressive world-building, the beautiful cinematography and set design, and the important role that art plays in our world.
You can watch Two People Exchanging Saliva in The New Yorker’s Screening Room or on YouTube. Learn more about the film, including behind-the-scenes footage, on their website and on Instagram @two_pe...
Jen and Sarah look back at 2025 by sharing the top 10 films that they watched for the first time. They reflect on another great movie-watching year, what their lists say about them, and what they’re looking forward to in 2026.
Jen’s List:
- Sorry, Baby
- Sinners
- Black Bag
- The Hunt
- DJ Ahmet
- Sing Sing
- Train Dreams
- The Conversation
- How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
- Honeyjoon
Sarah’s List:
- 12 Angry Men
- ...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Sam Henderson, the director, co-writer, and co-producer of the short film ‘ADO.’ They discuss the history and heart behind the story, the process of making this film, and the incredible team that helped bring it to life.
Follow @ado_shortfilm on Instagram to learn more and support this film!
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Blu...
Jen and Sarah review the short film ‘ADO,’ in this spoiler-free review. They reflect on the powerful themes about love, connection, and art, the fantastic performances, and the technical aspects that brought this story to life.
Follow @ado_shortfilm on Instagram to learn more and support this film!
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky @moviesanduspod ...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Kenny Sparks and Zach Goulbourne to review ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash.’ They discuss the impressive visual spectacle and the magic of the movie-going experience, along with some of the themes and character arcs in this film.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~11:41)
Follow Kenny on YouTube and Threads @KennySparksYT and check out his new YouTube Channel, It Could Be Whatever.
Jen and Sarah collaborate to create their own Mount Rushmore of 2025 short films. They discuss the efficient and powerful writing, the important themes, and the beauty of this medium.
Shownotes:
The Singers (~2:50)
Largo (~5:38)
The Second Time Around (~8:19)
ADO (~11:20)
Follow @thesingersfilm and @samdavis on Instagram and check out the website for more information.
Follow @largo.film on Instagram and TikTok for the latest news, ...
Jen and Sarah were selected to contribute to the Cinema Legacy Poll hosted by Tom and Dana of The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast. In this episode, Jen and Sarah guess each other’s number one pick, but there’s a twist! They only have three emojis to use as a hint.
Learn more about the Cinema Legacy Poll and The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast at ronnyduncanstudios.com/gmoatpodcast.
Jen and Sarah were selected to contribute to the Cinema Legacy Poll hosted by Tom and Dana of The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast. In this episode, Jen and Sarah guess each other’s top 2-4 picks, but there’s a twist! They only have three emojis to use as a hint.
Learn more about the Cinema Legacy Poll and The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast at ronnyduncanstudios.com/gmoatpodcast.
Jen and Sarah are joined by Britt Reinholz-Hobson to review ‘The Hunt,’ in this special holiday episode. They discuss the film’s difficult subject matter and the writing that reveals important and human themes. They also reflect on how this is absolutely a Christmas movie.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~17:53)
Check out the podcast 1001 by 1 wherever you get your podcasts and follow them on social media @1001by1. Connect with Britt on Insta...
Jen and Sarah were selected to contribute to the Cinema Legacy Poll hosted by Tom and Dana of The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast. In this episode, Jen and Sarah guess each other’s top 5-7 picks, but there’s a twist! They only have three emojis to use as a hint.
Learn more about the Cinema Legacy Poll and The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast at ronnyduncanstudios.com/gmoatpodcast.
Jen and Sarah are joined by Adam Freed of Movie Archer and Nikko Caruso of Nikko Knows Film to review ‘Hamnet.’ They discuss the powerful emotional moments, the relevant and human themes, technical precision, and the beauty of human stories.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~17:35)
Subscribe to Nikko’s YouTube channel @nikkocaruso and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd @nikkocaruso and TikTok @nikkoknowsfilm.
Check out MovieArche...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Morgan of The Hall of Film and Heather Stewart of The Revisionist’s Almanac to review ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.’ They discuss the characters and the relevant themes, how this compares to the first two films, and what they hope to see next from this franchise.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~18:30)
Connect with Heather on Instagram, Bluesky, and Letterboxd at @heatherjstewart. Follow The Revisionist’...
Jen and Sarah were selected to contribute to the Cinema Legacy Poll hosted by Tom and Dana of The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast. In this episode, Jen and Sarah guess each other’s top 8-10 picks, but there’s a twist! They only have three emojis to use as a hint.
Learn more about the Cinema Legacy Poll and The Greatest Movie of All Time podcast at ronnyduncanstudios.com/gmoatpodcast.
Jen and Sarah are joined by writer and director Lilian T. Mehrel to discuss her latest film, Honeyjoon. They discuss the process of making this film, how these complex and relatable characters came to life, and some of the ways that art can imitate life.
Follow @honeyjoonfilm on Instagram for the latest. You can also connect with Lilian on Instagram @lilianfilm.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Mo...
Jen and Sarah review ‘Honeyjoon’ and discuss the characters’ emotional journeys, the effective mixing of tones, and the importance of humor in this story. They also unpack some of the themes in this incredibly human film.
Follow @honeyjoonfilm on Instagram for the latest. You can also connect with Lilian on Instagram @lilianfilm.
Remember to leave a rating and review of this episode. Connect with Movies & Us on Instagram, Threa...
Jen and Sarah are joined by Klarissa Beckstead of I’ve Seen that One and Sara Shea of Shea Cinema to review Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’. They discuss the stunning visuals, the similarities and differences with Mary Shelley’s novel, and the technical components that brought this story to life.
Shownotes:
Spoilers (~25:31)
For more from Sara, listen to Shea Cinema wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagra...
Jen and Sarah are joined by director, cinematographer, and editor Sam A. Davis to discuss his film, ‘The Singers’. They discuss the process of making this film, some of the roadblocks encountered during production, and some of the powerful themes of this story.
Follow @thesingersfilm and @samdavis on Instagram and check out the website for more information. If ‘The Singers’ is playing at a film festival near you, go check it out, t...
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