Episode #450: 'You, Me & Tuscany' with Dory Benford

It’s MaxFunDrive! We need your support, and want you in our club! Head to MaximumFun.org/join to become a member or increase your pledge. And THANK YOU! David Lowery’s is back in his ethereal bag (or is it a dress? defo there's a ghost though...right?) with MOTHER MARY, a look at art, soul, collaboration, and self, through the relationship of a mega popstar and her once-and-future fashion queen. Then, we do a movie quiz about pop star cinema! What’s Good Alonso - Pop Tarts Super-Stuffed Drea - MTV Rewind Kevin - LA Times Festival of Books ITIDICGen Z Going to the MoviesCinemaCon Recap Staff Picks Alonso - The Serpent’s Skin Drea - Phantom Thread Kevin - The Five Heartbeats  Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

It's MaxFunDrive. And here, for the first time, we give you an exclusive look (well, listen) at the craft of podcasting: presenting Casters on Casters. For MaxFilm! listeners, we're kicking off the MaxFunDrive with a DOUBLE FEATURE of Casters on Casters. Both Alonso Duralde and Drea Clark participated in two separate recordings of this incredibly important podcasting event. The first episode you'll hear features Alonso chatting with Ben Blacker (Dead Pilots Society) and Hal Lublin (Tights and Fights & We Got This with Mark and Hal). In the second episode, the Queen of the Midwest chats with Ella Hubber (Let's Learn Everything!) and Allan McLeod (Walkin' About). In other words, we're bringing you six different podcasting perspectives in one big super episode. You'll hear name dropping, podcast origin stories, ruminations on the art form, listener contributions to the show and what makes Maximum Fun a great place to have a show. All this, and more! If this glamorous, in-depth journey into what makes your favorite hosts tick inspires you, support them by joining as a member at maximumfun.org/join. Produced by Laura Swisher for Maximum Fun. Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

A rom-com is going to rom-com, but YOU, ME, & TUSCANY is actually doing at least one thing that feels pretty unique. We talk about this new movie from Kat Coiro and producer Will Packer (starring Halle Bailey & Regé-Jean Page) with All the Feels podcast’s Dory Benford. What’s Good Drea - friends coming by and doing helpful stuff Dory - Easter candy Alonso - chocolate pound cake ITIDICOver 1000 Big Hollywood Names Sign Letter Opposing Paramount/WB Merger Elaine May’s MIKEY & NICKY to get 50th Anniversary Theatrical RereleaseMario Bros. Sequel Sets Record…for Smallest Popcorn Bucket Staff Picks Drea - French Kiss & Only You Dory - Bull Durham Alonso - Yes This episode was edited by Gabe Mara.   Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

What’s the drama behind director Kristoffer Borgli’s new film, THE DRAMA? And, unlike Mary J. Blige, do we want said drama? We unpack all that with film critic Ariel LeBeau, and then talk about some movies that were secretly darker than advertised.   What’s Good Alonso - Flossing first Drea - Artemis II Ariel - soft boiled eggs for breakfast (6m) Kevin - rediscovering Billy Joel ITIDIC Writers Guild Reaches Tentative 4-Year Deal with Studios “It’s Not Your Imagination: Movies ARE Getting Longer” Staff Picks Alonso - Marc by Sofia Drea - The Christophers Ariel - Dogfight Kevin - One Hour Photo this episode edited by Gabe Mara Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Ryan Gosling is on a one-man mission to save the universe...but he's not alone. We've got film critic Rendy Jones with us to discuss PROJECT HAIL MARY from directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Then we share some of our favorite science fiction concepts from cinema. What’s Good Alonso - Free airplane Wifi Drea - skin flooding Rendy - taking time to rest Kevin - taking down Christmas decorations ITIDICK-Pop Demon Hunters 2 Is a Big Payday for Its DirectorsLord and Miller to Produce Murder She Wrote Film With Jamie Lee Curtis Staff Picks Drea - Europa Report Alonso - UFOria (available on 4K UHD) Rendy - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Kevin - Warrior Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

We’re capping off a month at looking at different films directed by women with Hannah Berryman’s documentary, Spacewoman. Kevin Smokler, author of Breaking the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers joins us to talk about this close look at the stellar career of astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot, and later command, a Space Shuttle mission. What’s Good Alonso - Calm for naps Drea - getting a doctor’s appointment Kevin S. - Memorizing Oscar winners as a sleep aid Kevin A. - 3 hour Celebrity game ITIDIC AI-Generated Val Kilmer Will Appear in Movie Kilmer Was to Shoot Before His Passing April Wolfe/Chloe Okuno Project Bad Hand Lands at Searchlight Staff Picks Alonso - Late Shift Drea - Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Kevin S. - Say Amen Somebody Kevin A. - A Teacher Directors Mentioned in C-Block: Patricia Cardoso Debra Granik Amy Heckerling Anna Boden Rose Troche Donna Deitch Cheryl Dunye Joan Micklin Silver Lizzie Borden Wanuri Kihiyu Melanie Laurent Maggie Gyllenhaal Allison Anders Gillian Armstrong Celine Sciamma Lynn Shelton The Wachowskis Penny Marshall Martha Coolidge Vera Drew Jane Schoenbrun Alice Maio Mackay Mira Nair Věra Chytilová Ida Lupino Dorothy Arzner Alice Guy-Blaché Caitlin Adams Susan Seidelman Nia DaCosta Kathryn Bigelow Julia Hart Dee Rees Catherine Breillat Mary Harron Regina King Dyan Cannon Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

We’re taking a good hard look in the mirror with our guest, actor/writer/director Michelle Krusiec as we discuss SXSW;s 2025 Grand Jury Prize winner, Amy Wang’s darkly comedic body horror, SLANTED. Then we’ll share some of our favorite movies that feature the prom, well…prominently. What’s Good Alonso - Alain Guiraudie Poster for Cannes Critics’ Fortnight (Quinzane des Cineastes) Drea - Jessie Buckley singing Sinead O’Connor’s “Troy” (and the Jessie Buckley rabbit hole) Michelle - not getting kidnapped (taking nothing for granted) Kevin - People who come to FYC events for the buffet ITIDICOscars 2026 Recap- Variety's Coverage- Indiewire's Coverage Letterboxd List of our "PROMinent Features" movies Staff Picks Drea - Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Alonso - It’s Dorothy! and Videoheaven Michelle - All of Us Strangers (also Saving Face) Kevin - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 3/21/26, 7pm: Alonso and Christy’s After Hours Screening at the Gardena Cinema Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

Podcaster and writer Harmony Colangelo joins the gang to track the many movements of THE BRIDE! Then we talk about actors we’d love to see paired up on the big screen.  What’s Good Alonso - matzoh Drea - filing (not clipping!) nails Harmony - definitely NOT Daylight Saving Time Kevin - zero degrees of Kevin Bacon?? ITIDIC Disney Releasing Fully Re-animated ASL Versions of Several Movie Songs Annapurna May Be Back A24 Opening a Vegas Wedding Chapel to Promote ‘The Drama’ Staff Picks Alonso - Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Drea - Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn) Harmony - Baby Assassins Kevin - Promising Young Woman Listen to Harmony and BJ’s show This Ends at Prom Or check out their book, Sleepaway Camp Thanks to Christian Dueñas and Gabe Mara for production support on this episode. Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

March is Women’s History month, and all the movies we cover this month will be directed by women! To kick things off, we’re leaning into the “history” part, and going back to 1953 to cover the most popular film from a truly pioneering director (and prolific actor), the one and only Ida Lupino. It’s The Bigamist, with our special guest, a journalist covering culture and history, Hadley Hall Meares! What’s Good Alonso - Stephen Rebello’s new book Hitchcockian Thrillers Drea - Canada Dry Strawberry Fruit Splash Ginger Ale Zero Sugar Hadley - Jane Fonda’s My Life So Far (for Vanity Fair’s Old Hollywood Book Club) Kevin -  Brand new cast iron skillet ITIDIC Lost Melies Film Found in the Library of Congress Alan Cumming, Bowen Yang, Lena Waithe, Adam Goldman Head New LGBTQ Film Initiative SAG’s Renamed ‘Actor Awards’ Air Live on Netflix Movie Quiz Letterboxd List: “The [Blank}ist” Staff Picks Drea - André is an Idiot Alonso - Micki & Maude Hadley - My Favorite Wife Kevin - Bottoms Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher

The gang's all here to discuss a new black comedy (sorta) where its Glen Powell's Becket Redfellow in a cat and mouse game to the death with his obnoxiously wealthy family -- a modernization of the 1949 Alec Guinness film Kind Hearts and Coronets. What’s Good? Alonso - Slow TV walks through snowy Helsinki Drea - Dog and Pet advocacy from Isabel Klee and the WeRateDogs guy Kevin - getting really into the last little bit of the Olympics (especially speedskating) ITIDIC K-Pop Demon Hunters & GDT Frankenstein Getting Criterion Releases BAFTA Broadcast Bungles Difficult Slur/Tourette’s Situation Sony Exec Confirms Plans to Reboot Spider-Man Villain Movies Check out our list of "Rags to Riches Movies" on Letterboxd. Staff Picks Alonso - River (2023) Drea - The Ladykillers (1955) Kevin - Top Gun: Maverick Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joinmaxfilm Follow us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or LetterboxdWithKevin AveryDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher