This week on Podcast Like It’s The 2000s, Phil and Emily begin their deep dive into Mike Nichols’ monumental HBO miniseries, Angels in America with special guest Adam B. Vary (Variety).

Together, they unpack Tony Kushner’s sweeping adaptation of his Pulitzer Prize winning play, exploring how Nichols brought the AIDS crisis, politics, and spirituality to television with raw emotional power. From Meryl Streep’s transformative performance to Al Pacino’s chilling portrayal of Roy Cohn, the trio explores the artistry, ambition, and legacy of a project that redefined what prestige TV could be.

They also discuss how Angels in America marked the pinnacle of HBO’s early 2000s dominance, bridging the era between The Sopranos and Six Feet Under and setting the tone for the next two decades of prestige television.

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This week on Podcast Like It’s The 2000s, Phil and Emily welcome writer Emily Hughes to discuss Paranormal Activity — the micro-budget phenomenon that redefined horror for a generation. Together they dig into the film’s scrappy origins, the ingenious use of found footage to build dread, and how Oren Peli’s minimalist approach reshaped studio thinking about what a blockbuster could be.

From its DIY filmmaking roots to its massive cultural impact, the conversation examines why Paranormal Activity remains one of the most effective and influential horror movies of the 2000s — and how it kicked off a wave of imitators that could never quite match its eerie simplicity.

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This week on Podcast Like It’s The 2000s, hosts @pmiscove and @emilystjams kick off a brand new Halloween miniseries, Somebody Scare Phil, with guest Louis Peitzman (Chasing Amy Adams). Together, they dive into the bloody brilliance and DIY spirit of James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s 2004 indie phenomenon Saw a film that reshaped horror on a shoestring budget and gave rise to a genre-defining franchise.

The trio break down Saw’s grimy aesthetics, moral puzzles, and the line between psychological thriller and full-blown torture horror. Plus, Phil reveals how the franchise both terrifies and fascinates him (and why Emily might just make him watch all nine sequels).

Recorded as part of the Somebody Scare Phil miniseries where Emily forces Phil to face his horror movie blind spots this episode’s a twisted treat for cinephiles who love a good scream and a good think.

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Phil and Emily continue their deep-dive into Mike Nichols’ work from the 2000s with Wit , the acclaimed HBO adaptation of Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play. Joined by writer and producer Eliza Clark (Y: The Last Man, Animal Kingdom), they explore how Nichols recalibrated his directorial voice after What Planet Are You From? with this intimate, emotionally devastating story of a scholar facing terminal illness.

The conversation digs into the film’s powerful performances led by Emma Thompson and the delicate balance Nichols strikes between theatricality and cinematic storytelling.

Together, they unpack Wit’s themes of mortality, intellect, vulnerability, and humanity, while tracing how this project set the stage for his monumental follow-up, Angels in America.

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Phil and Emily kick off a brand-new miniseries exploring the films and television of legendary director Mike Nichols in the 2000s. First up: the notorious 2000 sci-fi romantic comedy “What Planet Are You From?”, starring Gary Shandling, Annette Bening, and John Goodman.

Joined by critic and returning guest Emma Stefansky, the trio dive deep into this infamous box-office bomb unpacking its chaotic tone, lack of internal logic, and bizarre premise about an alien sent to Earth to impregnate a woman. They discuss how the film reflects a turning point for Nichols, why it derailed Gary Shandling’s movie career, and what it reveals about Hollywood’s early-2000s obsession with “blank check” comedies.

From alien sex jokes to comedy-career implosions, this episode is a hilarious, insightful breakdown of one of the strangest films of the decade and the perfect start to our Mike Nichols retrospective.

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Phil and Emily wrap up their Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups mini series with Joel and Ethan Coen’s Burn After Reading. They’re joined by Brooke Solomon and Jordan Gustafson, from the podcast The Queer Quadrant, to dig into this razor-sharp dark comedy that skewers espionage, bureaucracy, and human foolishness in equal measure.

From the Coens’ tonal whiplash to the film’s biting satire of post-9/11 paranoia, the conversation unpacks the brilliance of a story where no one really knows what they’re doing but the chaos still matters. Along the way, they revisit the stacked ensemble of Clooney, Pitt, McDormand, and Malkovich, while situating the film within the Coens’ endlessly inventive career.

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Phil and Emily continue their Oscar-Winning Best Director Follow-Ups miniseries with Ang Lee’s provocative espionage drama Lust, Caution. Joined by Danette Chavez (Editor-in-Chief of The A.V. Club), they dig into the film’s bold mix of eroticism, politics, and moral ambiguity, exploring how Lee followed Brokeback Mountain with a risky and divisive project that tested both audiences and censors. From the performances of Tony Leung and Tang Wei to the film’s place in Lee’s eclectic career, this conversation examines the ways Lust, Caution both fulfills and defies the expectations of a “prestige” follow-up.

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Phil and Emily continue their mini series on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups from the 2000s with Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers. Joined by Mitchell Beaupre, editor and podcast host at Letterboxd, they dig into Eastwood’s haunting take on the Battle of Iwo Jima and the myth making around Joe Rosenthal’s famous photograph of soldiers raising the flag.

The conversation unpacks Eastwood’s bold decision to explore both the battlefield and the uneasy homefront tours, the fractured narrative structure, and the film’s relationship to its companion piece, Letters from Iwo Jima. Along the way, they discuss Eastwood’s casting instincts, his recurring themes of masculinity, guilt, and heroism, and how the movie reflects broader questions about American war films and cultural memory.

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Phil and Emily continue our Patreon mini series on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups from the 2000s with Peter Jackson’s ambitious epic King Kong. Joined by critic, screenwriter, and podcaster Drew McWeeny, they revisit Jackson’s sprawling remake of the 1933 classic and unpack how the film reflects both his greatest strengths and his boldest excesses in the wake of The Lord of the Rings.

From Naomi Watts’s luminous performance to the groundbreaking visual effects that brought Kong to life, they discuss how Jackson poured his lifelong obsession into a film that feels both deeply personal and unwieldy in scope. The conversation explores Kong’s emotional depth, the film’s place in mid-2000s blockbuster culture, and why its mix of grandeur and messiness makes it one of the most fascinating entries in Jackson’s career.

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Phil and Emily continue their mini series on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups from the 2000s with Oliver Twist (2005), Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic. They’re joined by writer and producer Bryan Cogman, who may be one of the few people to have actually seen the film in theaters.

The conversation dives into Polanski’s unexpected choice to follow The Pianist with this family-oriented Dickens adaptation, why it feels strangely muted compared to both the director’s darker films and other Dickens adaptations, and how Ben Kingsley’s nuanced turn as Fagin stands out amidst an otherwise flat production. Together, they unpack Dickens’ enduring influence, the many Oliver Twist adaptations across history, and how this version fits into Polanski’s complicated legacy and the cinematic landscape of 2005.

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Phil and Emily continue their miniseries on Oscar winning Best Director follow ups from the 2000s with Ron Howard’s The Missing. With guest Patrick Cotnoir (The George Lucas Talk Show), they revisit this overlooked Western thriller starring Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones.

The discussion explores Blanchett’s powerful performance, Jones’ turn as an estranged father, Daniel Craig’s early role, and why the film faded from memory despite prestige ambitions after A Beautiful Mind. They also look at Ron Howard’s career pivots and the awards landscape of the early 2000s.

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Phil and Emily continue their miniseries on Oscar winning Best Director follow ups from the 2000s with Road to Perdition, Sam Mendes’ ambitious second feature after American Beauty. Joining them is film journalist and podcaster Blake Howard (One Heat Minute Productions), who helps unpack the film’s technical brilliance, subdued emotional core, and unique place in early 2000s cinema.

Together, they dive into Mendes’ leap from stage to screen, the film’s striking cinematography from Conrad Hall, and how Tom Hanks’ against type performance reshaped audience expectations. The conversation explores Paul Newman’s final live action role, Jude Law’s scene stealing menace, and Daniel Craig’s early career turn as one of cinema’s most dangerous nepo babies. They also debate Thomas Newman’s Oscar nominated score, the film’s release strategy, and how it stands among Mendes’ eclectic career from Jarhead to Skyfall and beyond.

With insights ranging from Jude Law’s underrated presence to the legacy of Paul Newman and Tom Hanks’ evolving star persona, this episode is both a reconsideration of a Depression era gangster story and a reflection on the pressures of following up an Oscar winning debut.

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Phil and Emily continue their miniseries on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-ups from the 2000s with Steven Soderbergh’s effortlessly cool Ocean’s 11. Joined by screenwriter Liz Hannah and producer Brian Millikin, they unpack how this slick, stylish remake redefined the modern heist film. From its razor-sharp script and effortless ensemble chemistry to Soderbergh’s precision, tonal balance, and inventive production choices, the discussion explores how Ocean’s 11 rose above formula to become a timeless crowd-pleaser. Along the way, they dive into character dynamics, behind-the-scenes decisions, and the film’s lasting place in early 2000s cinema—all while celebrating the undeniable charm of Clooney, Pitt, and company.

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We are kicking off a brand new miniseries on Oscar-winning Best Director follow-up films from the 2000s, starting with Steven Spielberg’s bold and deeply divisive “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.” TV critic and Vulture writer Roxana Hadadi joins Phil and Emily for a wide-ranging conversation that digs into the movie’s legacy, Kubrick’s influence, and how the film hit differently post-Oscars and post-9/11.

They dive into the unique collaboration and friendship between Kubrick and Spielberg, how “A.I.” bridges fairy tale and sci-fi, and what it means for love, grief, and humanity to be filtered through the eyes of a robot boy. The group explores how the film’s themes of artificial intelligence, the uncanny valley, and the pursuit of parental love feel even more relevant today in a world grappling with AI and rapid technological change.

Other topics include Haley Joel Osment’s incredible performance, Jude Law’s scene-stealing Gigolo Joe, the eerie brilliance of Teddy, and why this film has remained both underappreciated and deeply beloved by fans. They also talk about the Oscars’ resistance to science fiction, the film’s release in a world still haunted by 9/11, and the surprising emotional impact the film has had on different audiences, including its resonance with the trans community.

It is a deep dive into one of Spielberg’s most complex and haunting films, a movie that still raises questions about love, loss, technology, and what it means to be human.

Follow Roxana Hadadi on Instagram: @roxana.z.hadadi

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#PodcastLikeIts2000s #AIArtificialIntelligence #StevenSpielberg #RoxanaHadadi #FilmPodcast #MoviePodcast #PodcastRecommendation #SpotifyPodcasts #SciFiMovies #Kubrick #OscarWinners #HaleyJoelOsment #JudeLaw #Vulture #FilmDiscussion #Cinephile #BehindTheScenes #PatreonExclusive #MovieCommunity #FilmHistory #PodcastSpotlight

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Emily and Phil close out their “Films of the Todds” mini series, spotlighting the distinct visions of Haynes, Phillips, Solondz, and Field, with a thoughtful conversation about Todd Solondz’s darkly comic Life During Wartime (2009). Joining them is film critic and podcaster Chris Feil, who brings sharp insight to this follow-up to Happiness and its meditation on forgiveness, trauma, and the ways the past lingers in the present.

They explore Solondz’s unique approach to recasting characters, the film’s blend of biting humor and discomfort, and how Life During Wartime stands apart in the landscape of late-2000s indie cinema. The episode also reflects on what this film reveals about Solondz’s legacy, and why the “Todds” mini series is such a fascinating journey through some of the boldest voices in American film.

Thank you for joining Emily and Phil on this mini series ride.

#PodcastLikeIts2000s #LifeDuringWartime #ToddSolondz #ChrisFeil #FilmPodcast #IndieFilm #2000sMovies #FilmDiscussion

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Emily and Phil continue their “Films of the Todds” mini series, exploring the work of Haynes, Phillips, Solondz, and Field. This week, they take a look at Todd Phillips’ culture-shifting comedy The Hangover. Joining them is writer and cultural critic Jude Ellison Doyle, who brings a sharp, thoughtful perspective to one of the 2000s most talked-about comedies.

Together, they discuss how The Hangover redefined studio comedy, the film’s wild storytelling and breakout performances, and how its humor and reputation have aged in the years since its release. They dig into the movie’s massive box office impact, the rise of the “wolf pack,” and how Todd Phillips’ sensibilities changed the direction of mainstream comedy.

Whether you love or cringe at its legacy, this conversation breaks down what made The Hangover such a phenomenon and what it tells us about the era it came from.

#PodcastLikeIts2000s #TheHangover #ToddPhillips #JudeEllisonDoyle #ComedyMovies #FilmPodcast #2000sMovies #FilmDiscussion

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Emily and Phil continue their “Films of the Todds” mini series as they take on Todd Haynes’s ambitious and unconventional biopic I’m Not There. They are joined by film critic and podcaster Ryan Marker for a conversation about this multi-layered portrait of Bob Dylan, identity, and the myth of American celebrity.

Together, they break down the film’s innovative structure, discuss Cate Blanchett’s acclaimed performance and the daring decision to cast six actors as different facets of Dylan, and examine how Haynes’s storytelling approach turns biography into a surreal and poetic experience. The episode also explores the film’s music, visual style, and its place in both Haynes’s career and the larger tradition of rock and roll cinema.

#PodcastLikeIts2000s #ImNotThere #ToddHaynes #RyanMarker #BobDylan #CateBlanchett #FilmPodcast #2000sMovies #MusicFilms #MovieDiscussion

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Emily and Phil continue their “Films of the Todds” mini series, spotlighting the work of Haynes, Phillips, Solondz, and Field, with a deep dive into Todd Field’s haunting suburban drama Little Children (2006). Joining them is writer and producer Libby Hill, who brings sharp insight into the film’s complex characters, morally murky relationships, and the atmosphere of quiet desperation that runs through Field’s vision of American suburbia.

Together, they explore the unforgettable performances by Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, and Jackie Earle Haley, the film’s commentary on judgment and repression, and how Little Children solidified Field’s reputation as one of the most nuanced directors of the 2000s. Whether you’re revisiting the film or watching for the first time, this conversation sheds light on why Little Children remains one of the decade’s most quietly powerful films.

#PodcastLikeIts2000s #LittleChildren #ToddField #LibbyHill #2000sMovies #FilmPodcast #DramaMovies #MovieDiscussion

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Emily and Phil continue their “Films of the Todds” mini series—highlighting the work of Haynes, Phillips, Solondz, and Field—by revisiting Todd Phillips’ under-the-radar 2006 comedy School for Scoundrels.

They break down the film’s blend of mean-spirited humor and underdog charm, its place in the landscape of mid-2000s comedies, and how Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder play off each other as mismatched teacher and student. Phil and Emily also explore what this film says about the Todd Phillips formula and how it fits alongside the more famous hits of his career.

Whether you’re a die-hard Phillips fan or discovering School for Scoundrels for the first time, this episode offers a fresh look at a forgotten entry in the 2000s comedy canon.

#PodcastLikeIts2000s #SchoolForScoundrels #ToddPhillips #EmilyAndPhil #2000sMovies #ComedyFilms #FilmPodcast #MovieDiscussion

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Emily and Phil continue their mini series on the films of "The Todds" Haynes, Phillips, Solondz, and Field with a deep dive into Todd Solondz’s challenging and provocative Palindromes (2004). Joining them is filmmaker and returning guest Simon Ennis, who brings thoughtful insight into one of Solondz’s most controversial and layered films.

They explore the film’s shifting lead actors, its exploration of identity, morality, and adolescence, and how Solondz pushes the boundaries of discomfort in his storytelling. They also discuss how Palindromes fits within Solondz’s larger body of work and the early 2000s indie film landscape.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

#PodcastLikeIts2000s #Palindromes #ToddSolondz #SimonEnnis #FilmPodcast #IndieFilm #2000sMovies #EmilyAndPhil #FilmDiscussion

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