Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

We've got a bonus installment of the Film Fest—with special guest Adam Scott! In addition to his work on Severance, Parks & Recreation, Party Down, and so much more, he's just a genuinely thoughtful and kind person, so we are thrilled to have him back on the podcast. We're discussing the 1992 film Bob Roberts, a satirical mockumentary by Tim Robbins. Tim Robbins on SNL - October 3, 1992 (via Peacock) Tim Robbins 2017 interview in Entertainment Weekly Tim Robbins post on X - July 14, 2024 You can find The West Wing Weekly lapel pin, t-shirts, and more at thewestwingweekly.com/merch. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We're trying to savor the Capra-esque quality of this experience by wrapping up with Mr. Smith.Supplemental materials: James Taylor - You've Got a Friend Mr Deeds Goes to Town trailer Sokovia Accords debate from Captain America: Civil War Thank you so much for joining us again for this series! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Kevin Kline. This one was a Patreon subscriber pick!Additional materials: an article about the making of Dave Kevin Kline plays Mr. Fischoeder in Bob's Burgers "clever" as an insult in Fight Club  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Is The Candidate, in fact, the anti-West Wing? A political story that ends not with a bang, but with a question of existential dread. Interview with screenwriter Jeremy Larner in Brooklyn Magazine The trailer for Downhill Racer (1969) Jerry Seinfeld on Letterman: "You're rooting for clothes." Let us know what you thought of the film! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Did this movie predict Trump back in 1957? We discuss the film debut of Andy Griffith in a role so dark, anyone who knows the Andy Griffith show might experience some uncomfortable dissonance.Some goodies that came up in our conversation: The dance of joy from "Perfect Strangers" This essay about the film on the Criterion website Albert Brooks and Holly Hunter in a great scene from Broadcast News The 'ten-word-answer' scene from The West Wing What did you think of the film, on a scale of 1–10 grains of inert matter? Let us know! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, we dive deeper into the role of the fourth estate, as we discuss Network, the Oscar-winning film that was meant to be a wild satire at the time it was released, but ended up uncannily predicting the future.Some additional reading material:Mad As Hell, Dave Itzkoff's book about NetworkDirectors' Guild of America post about Sidney Lumet at a 2003 screening of NetworkVanity Fair article on the legacy of Network (which includes thoughts from Aaron Sorkin) Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, we're discussing the 1998 film Bulworth, which features a rapping Warren Beatty, a young Josh Malina, a few problematic moments, and some wonderful and strange ones, too.For a real treat, watch the music video for Ghetto Supastar, which also features a young Josh Malina!What did you think of Bulworth? Join the conversation over on our Patreon and let us know on a scale of 1–10 forced calls! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

What's more terrifying in Martin Sheen's depiction of J. Edgar Hoover—the racism, or the makeup?! We discuss ALL the important aspects of this cat-and-mouse thriller, which was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Daniel Kaluuya.For additional viewing: The Lucas Brothers William O'Neal's full interview for Eyes on the Prize II Hoover and Sheen-as-Hoover, side by side:What did you think of Judas and the Black Messiah? Let us know on a scale of 1–10 simultaneously played saxophones over on our Patreon page, patreon.com/thewestwingweekly. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, we're discussing the hilarious — and terrifying—Dr Strangelove.A few goodies: An interview with title designer Pablo Ferro "Are We the Baddies?" from That Mitchell and Webb Look George C Scott side-by-side with Tim Robinson (from I Think You Should Leave)Let us know what you thought of the film, on a scale of 1–10 precious bodily fluids! Join the conversation on our Patreon at patreon.com/thewestingwingweekly. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, we're discussing the razor-sharp dialogue and side-splitting comedy of In the Loop (2009), one the greatest political satires. Here are footnotes for some of the stuff outside of the film that came up in the conversation: A tiny clip from the unaired pilot of "Legally Mad" The stateroom scene from the Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera" The Roy Kent chant Join us on Patreon to let us know what you thought of the film, on a scale of 1–10 Lemons Difficult.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices