"Bugonia" is the fourth collaboration between director Yorgos Lanthimos and actor Emma Stone. If you've seen any of their earlier films, such as "Poor Things," you know that strange is the norm for this duo. HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano share their mixed reaction to the sci fi-themed "Bugonia" in this podcast episode. They're careful to avoid any plot spoilers, but it's safe to assume that weird things lie ahead. Marie and Mike also discuss "The Baltimorons," whose co-writer and star, Michael Strassner, grew up in Baltimore and returned there with director Jay Duplass to make this comedy about an alcoholic improv comedian looking to sober up and maybe even find romance. Marie loves this film and Mike does not, so tune in and listen to them spar.

In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano acknowledge that director Paul Thomas Anderson lives up to his reputation for making audacious films with "One Battle After Another," in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays a middle-aged former revolutionary who now lives as a recluse in the northern California woods. Loosely inspired by a Thomas Pynchon novel, this lengthy, densely plotted movie constantly jumps between the present and events from 16 years earlier. Although Marie and Mike have various reservations about the film, they admire every performance and especially Sean Penn as a military guy who has to be seen to be believed (or disbelieved). Look for this film to clean up with year-end awards recognition.

Marie and Mike also talk about "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey," a magical realism clunker in which Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell discover doorways that serve as portals to the past. The terrible script gives us flat characters and will have you looking for the doorway out of the theater.

As self-professed film nerds, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano were primed to see "Highest 2 Lowest," director Spike Lee's reworking of the classic 1963 Akira Kurosawa film "High and Low." In this podcast episode, Marie and Mike talk about what's the same and what's different in the two versions. Although they often agree to disagree on the merits of the new version, they agree that Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright give strong performances in the central roles. Marie and Mike also talk about director Ethan Coen's "Honey Don't," a hectic film noir-ish comedy in which Margaret Qualley plays a detective with plenty to investigate. Our critics think the busy storyline mostly falls flat, but the lead performance is entertaining. Listen to more episodes of At The Movies here Now available on YouTube!