Is it the greatest film ever about film making? Is it as relevant today as it was in 1963? Is Marcello Mastroianni the epitome of cool? The Classroom Critics say yes, yes, and yes. What do you think?

Prying eyes, loss of privacy, revealed secrets––these fears are not new. Hitchcock explores these and much more in his 1954 classic, Rear Window. Part thriller, part murder mystery, this film has the Master of Suspense at the height of his powers.     

Sometimes the truth is so absurd, one must choose to laugh or weep. Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove is a satirical gut-punch, perhaps because the film’s absurdity may not be as much of an exaggeration as we would like.  “Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that.”        John Lennon 

Frank Capra's It Happened One Night is so much more than your run-of-the mill "opposites attract" screwball comedy. Not since Shakespeare has fictitious love been expressed with such simultaneous humor and depth.   

This week in the Classroom, the Critics discuss Mudbound, a tale of two families whose fates are interconnected by history, war, hatred, and love. 

A tale of two versions. Both adaptations have their flaws and strengths while still conveying the power of the Charles Portis novel.  

With "Shark Week" coming up, the Classroom Critics discuss Jaws, often cited as film history's first summer block buster. Join us as we delve below the surface and discover this film's surprising relevance to the many non-aquatic horrors we are facing today.is

This week, the Classroom Critics discuss one of the more unique and compelling horror films of recent years.

Is it a masterpiece or a mistake? Is it underrated or perhaps unnecessary? To this day, The Godfather Part 3 remains one of the more enigmatic sequels of all time. The Classroom Critics, however, are taking time during this week's episode to get to the bottom of Coppola's third chapter of the Godfather saga.

What scares us? The unknown? Uncontrollable forces? Evil itself? One thing is for certain: The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin, still scares the devil out of the Classroom Critics. 

Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard is a film that explores some of the darkest areas of humanity by confronting themes of self-delusion, deception, and the deceitful practices of the film industry. From start to finish, the film is a devastating statement that shows us that some things never change.  

Action, romance, laughs, melting faces...Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark has it all. For this episode, we thought we'd have some fun (not that we don't always have fun) and discuss a film that influenced at least one Classroom Critic's career path. 

A film beyond words, Buster Keaton's The General helped moved cinema into a new era. At the time, it was the most expensive film ever made, and is as epic now as it was then. Join The Classroom Critics as we discuss this timeless masterwork.

The Classroom Critics review this year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, Parasite.

After decades of waiting, Orson Welles' "lost masterpiece" was finally completed and released. But is it really a masterpiece?   

Join the Classroom Critics as they discuss the much anticipated film, The Irishman by Martin Scorsese.

Most of Woody Allen's films––both the funny and the serious––are bleak musings of the human experience. Match Point, his 2005 neo-noir drama, is particularly somber, offering little in the way of hope and meaning. So, then, what is life's essential ingredient for good fortune and happiness? Luck.    

After a long break, the Classroom Critics are back. In this episode, we'll discuss Francis Ford Coppola's epic tale of revenge and betrayal, and whether or not it deserves to be called the greatest sequel of all time.