Ian and McKenzie begin a double feature focused on the cinema of Stanley Kubrick. First up? Barry Lyndon (1975).
They discuss their opinions on the filmmaker himself and how they go somewhat against the grain when it comes to their opinions of his body of work, the majesty of Barry Lyndon's compositions, the performances that work and don't work for each of them, and how funny the film can be.
Also discussed, Ian and McKenzie run down what they got at the bi-annual Barnes & Noble 50% Criterion Collection sale and what is coming to the Criterion Collection in February 2026.
NEXT TIME: EYES WIDE SHUT
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, Above The Line.
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
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The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
Ian and McKenzie, for the second time in a row, welcome back their friend Christian Gutiérrez to bring Noirvember to a close!
This time we are talking about the 2021 version of Nightmare Alley. We chat the differences in this adaptation, the black & white director's cut exclusive to The Criterion Collection, the stellar cast, neo-noir, as well as the craft of master filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
We also chat a little bit about what we've been watching this Noirvember.
NEXT TIME: BARRY LYNDON
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Follow Guti at Finite Cinema Dreams and on Letterboxd. Also find his recently published article "Noir or Not: Los hermanos Del Hierro" in Noir City Magazine No. 44.
McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, Above The Line.
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
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The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
Ian and McKenzie welcome back their friend Christian Gutiérrez to usher in a special double feature for Noirvember.
This month we are all about Nightmare Alley as IP. On this episode, we discuss the original film adaptation from 1947. We chat Tyrone Power, how Nightmare Alley differs from typical film noir, as well as talk about film noir more generally.
McKenzie and Guti also briefly talk about what they have watched noir-wise so far this month.
NEXT TIME: NIGHTMARE ALLEY (2021) with Special Guest Guti
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:58) What we've been watching
(00:15:36) Nightmare Alley
(01:09:34) Final thoughts
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Follow Guti at Finite Cinema Dreams and on Letterboxd. Also find his recently published article "Noir or Not: Los hermanos Del Hierro" in Noir City Magazine No. 44.
McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
Listen to Ian & McKenzie's other show about contemporary cinema, Above The Line.
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
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The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
On this special one off episode, with no connection, we bring you our one piece of spooky programming this Halloween season: cult classic and Criterion favorite House (1977). We talk about the films themes, backgrounds, special effects, and our differing levels of enjoyment.
Ian give a brief review of the new Apple TV series, Mr. Scorsese and McKenzie updates us on her John Carpenter journey. We also discuss what is coming to the Criterion Collection in January 2026 as well as the channel next month (November 2025).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:16) What we've been watching
(00:14:12) Criterion Collection announcements for January 2026
(00:21:59) Criterion Channel additions for November 2025
(00:28:37) House
(00:55:10) Final thoughts
(00:59:39) Listener Messages
(01:07:13) Next week
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Follow our NEW Podcast! Above the Line, a film podcast about about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical movie-going experience.
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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NEXT WEEK: NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947) with Special Guest Guti
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
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The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we finish a double feature by watching the "remake" of the film we covered last week - William Friedkin's best-picture follow up and cult classic, Sorcerer (1977). Also on the show: Ian tells McKenzie about watching a horror behemoth for the first time and McKenzie finally watched a movie Ian recommended to her maybe a year ago on the podcast(?).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:06:06) What we've been watching
(00:21:08) Sorcerer
(00:59:47) Final thoughts
(01:04:00) Next week
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Follow our NEW Podcast! Above the Line, a film podcast about about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical movie-going experience.
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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NEXT WEEK: HOUSE (1977)
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week on the show we start a new double feature about Men trying to get explosives through a jungle. We kick it off with the seminal 1953 French thriller, The Wages of Fear (1953). Whatever will we pair it with next?
We also make a very special announcement at the top of the episode!
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:45) Announcing Above the Line - a new film podcast!
(00:07:24) What we've been watching
(00:19:38) The Wages of Fear
(00:51:27) Final thoughts
(00:58:10) Next week
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Follow our NEW Podcast! Above the Line, a film podcast about about contemporary cinema, film culture, and the theatrical movie-going experience.
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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NEXT WEEK: SORCERER (1977)
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
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The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
We're home!! This week we conclude our double feature surrounding the lives of sex workers in cinema. We discuss Sean Baker's Palm d'Or winning screwball dramedy that also went on to win five Oscars including Best Actress for its star, Mikey Madison, and Baker every award he was personally nominated for. We're talking Anora (2024).
We also discuss some great films we watched during our accidental hiatus as well as what is coming to the Criterion Collection in December 2025 & the Criterion Channel in October 2025.
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:38) What we've been watching
(00:18:05) Criterion Collection announcements and Criterion Channel additions
(00:32:50) Anora
(01:09:40) Final thoughts
(01:20:02) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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NEXT WEEK:
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we start a new double feature centered around the lives of sex workers with two films that look past the sensational and gaudy tendencies that these stories tend to have and attempt to have a more empathetic and realist view. We begin with Lizzie Borden's slice-of-life drama Working Girls (1986).
We also discuss the new Ethan Coen/Tricia Cooke film Honey Don't as well as have a spoiler filled discussion, albeit brief, of the 1955 film Bad Day at Black Rock (20:42-26:26).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:03) What we've been watching
(00:28:53) Working Girls
(01:06:48) Final thoughts
(01:13:14) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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NEXT WEEK: Anora (2024)
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we continue our stay in Belle Epoque France with a film that we are surprised is not more widely talked about - Jacques Becker's Casque d'or (1952).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:40) What we've been watching
(00:16:05) Criterion Collection additions for Nov 2025 + Criterion Channel additions for Sept 2025
(00:32:40) Casque d'or
(00:56:20) Final thoughts
(01:00:34) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we journey back to the mid century in France with a film set even earlier at the turn of the century. We discuss Max Ophüls's stunning masterpiece, The Earrings of Madame de... (1953).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:40) What we've been watching
(00:24:18) The Earrings of Madame de...
(00:54:28) Final thoughts
(00:58:19) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we discuss one of the few concert films in the criterion collection. We chat 1960s countercultural figures and the ending of an era of rock'n'roll as we discuss Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz (1978).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:00) What we've been watching
(00:26:14) The Last Waltz
(00:58:40) Final thoughts
(01:06:49) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
----
Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we welcome friend of the show, Scott, to chat all things Sondheim, 19-hour marathon recording sessions, and Documentary Now! parodies as we discuss D.A. Pennebaker's seminal 1970s musical theater documentary Original Cast Album: Company (1970).
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Thanks to our friend Scott for coming to chat with us!!
Follow him on Letterboxd & Blusky.
Listen to his podcasts Big White Elephants & This Is The Greatest Song I've Ever Heard In My Life.
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:15) Getting to know our guest - Scott
(00:16:28) Original Cast Album: Company
(01:05:54) Final thoughts
(01:14:00) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we journey from Mexico to Spain to discuss another film about political turmoil, this time though, seen through the big wide eyes of a child - Victor Erice's The Spirit of the Beehive (1973).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:00) What we've been watching
(00:26:04) Criterion Collection additions for October 2025
(00:33:52) The Spirit of the Beehive
(01:01:34) Final thoughts
(01:13:00) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
----
Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we journey to Mexico with 2018's Oscar-winning semi-autobiographical drama from acclaimed auteur Alfonso Cuarón - Roma (2018).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:00) What we've been watching
(00:25:00) Roma
(01:03:10) Final thoughts
(01:13:24) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
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The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
Last week we talked about one clown, Monsieur Hulot. This week we discuss another. McKenzie & Ian go back almost a hundred years into cinema's past to chat about The Tramp in his last appearance, Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times (1936).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:26) What we've been watching
(00:25:16) Modern Times
(00:53:57) Final thoughts
(00:57:48) Listener Messages
(00:59:32) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we start a new double feature featuring famous clowns. First up, we tackle Criterion Collection staple Jacques Tati and his famous clown character (Monsieur Hulot) with Playtime (1967).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:23) What we've been watching
(00:07:18) Criterion Collection additions for September 2025 & Criterion Channel additions for July 2025
(00:32:13) Playtime
(01:00:05) Final thoughts
(01:07:05) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
This week we tackle another film about Private Investigators delving into the criminal underbelly of the disillusioned 70s with Alan J. Pakula's Oscar winning neo-noir, Klute (1971).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:04:30) What we've been watching
(00:26:20) Klute
(00:58:38) Final thoughts
(01:06:34) Listener Messages
(01:08:08) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
----
Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
On this episode, we welcome back dear friend Brandon Ulrich to discuss the recently added Night Moves (1975).
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:45) What we've been watching
(00:24:33) Night Moves
(01:16:00) Final thoughts
(01:28:55) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
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Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
On this episode, we chat about our first John Cassavetes film - Opening Night (1977). We also talk about the recent news that Wes Anderson's first 10 features are being remastered in 4k for The Collection via a beautiful collector's box set.
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:57) What we've been watching
(00:32:50) Opening Night
(01:08:39) Final thoughts
(01:14:39) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
----
Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.
Our journey to 100 is over, but the show doesn't stop. We start a new double feature by discussing one of McKezie's all-time favorite films and Pedro Almodóvar's first appearance on The Criterion Connection with 1999's All About My Mother.
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Chapters
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:04:25) What we've been watching
(00:22:23) All About My Mother
(01:02:39) Final thoughts
(01:10:00) Next week
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McKenzie on Austin Danger Pod, on Letterboxd
Ian on Letterboxd
----
Send us your emails and voicemails to have them read/played on the show to thecriterionconnection@gmail.com
----
The Criterion Connection is edited & mixed by Ian.