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Why This Film?

Why This Film?

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🎬 Exploring the Criterion Collection, one spine at a time.


In each episode, I sit down with film historians, critics, filmmakers, and scholars for in-depth conversations about a single film from the Criterion Collection.


I'm Ron, and I guide these expert-driven discussions examining the artistry, cultural significance, and historical context of classic and contemporary cinema. From French New Wave masterpieces to American westerns, from experimental shorts to beloved classics, we unpack what makes these films essential viewing.


Whether you're a longtime Criterion collector, a film student, or simply curious about cinema history, Why This Film? offers thoughtful analysis and engaging conversations about the movies that shaped filmmaking.


New episodes release 1-2 times monthly. Subscribe to join me for deep dives into the Criterion Collection.


© 2026 Why This Film?
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    Épisodes
    • Repo Man (1984, Alex Cox) with James Chestnut - Criterion Spine #654
      Feb 9 2026

      "Otto is Forrest Gump."

      In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by assistant director James Chestnut to dive into Repo Man (1984), Alex Cox's punk-rock, sci-fi, anti-Reagan cult classic that refuses to sit still or make sense in a conventional way.

      Released in 1984, Repo Man follows Otto, a disaffected LA punk who stumbles into a world of car repossession. He soon finds himself caught up in conspiracies, aliens, the government, and the "lattice of coincidence." The film moves with deliberate disorientation, treating genre, narrative, and meaning as things to be challenged.

      James brings a filmmaker's perspective to the conversation, helping unpack how Repo Man was made, why it looks and feels the way it does, and how its low-budget ingenuity, location shooting, and practical effects reinforce its punk nature. Together, we talk about Los Angeles as a character, the film's embrace of randomness, and why its refusal to explain itself is exactly the point.

      We discuss:

      • Alex Cox's collaborative approach to filmmaking
      • The mix of punk culture, science fiction, and political satire
      • Harry Dean Stanton's unforgettable monologues and personal philosophy overlapping with the film
      • How Repo Man uses confusion as a feature instead of a flaw
      • Why this film belongs in the Criterion Collection

      If you've ever watched Repo Man and thought, "I don't know what I just saw, but I loved it," this conversation is for you.

      You can also follow James's new YouTube project, One Man's Trash (linked below), where he documents cleaning up his Los Angeles neighborhood, one block at a time.

      One Man's Trash

      Send a text

      Hollywood ManeStays - Not a pin, not a clip. Just Better.

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      Instagram: @whythisfilmpod

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      1 h et 14 min
    • Winchester '73 (1950, Anthony Mann) with Brady Crytzer - Criterion Spine #1248
      Jan 25 2026

      "The gun really doesn't mean anything until people start obsessing over it."

      In this episode of Why This Film?, I'm joined by historian and author Brady Crytzer to explore Winchester '73 (1950), Anthony Mann's landmark Western starring James Stewart. Released as Criterion Collection Spine #1248, Winchester '73 helped redefine the Western genre by shifting focus from frontier justice to obsession, revenge, and moral ambiguity in postwar America.

      Directed by Anthony Mann, Winchester '73 centers on a prized rifle known as "the gun that won the West" as it moves from person to person, leaving violence and obsession in its wake. Set against the backdrop of the American Centennial and the aftermath of the Civil War, the film uses the rifle as a symbolic object of desire, revealing how fixation and mythology shape both individual lives and national identity.

      Brady Crytzer brings his expertise in American frontier history to the conversation, helping unpack the historical realities behind the film's mythology. Together, we examine how Winchester '73 blends real historical figures with fiction, how it reflects changing American attitudes after World War II, and why James Stewart's performance marked a turning point in his on-screen persona.

      We discuss:

      • The myth of the "gun that won the West"
      • How the Western frontier functioned as a place of cultural blending, not just conflict
      • James Stewart's wartime experience and its influence on his postwar roles
      • The film's exploration of the themes of revenge, masculinity, and obsession
      • How Winchester '73 helped modernize the Western genre
      • Why this film belongs in the Criterion Collection

      Whether you're revisiting Winchester '73 or encountering it for the first time, this conversation explores why Anthony Mann's Western remains a crucial turning point in American film history.

      You can find more from Brady from the links below:

      The National Road: George Washington and America's First Highway West

      Whiskey Rebellion: A Distilled History of an American Crisis

      Brady Crytzer

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      1 h et 8 min
    • After Hours (1985, Martin Scorsese) with Sheila O'Malley - Criterion Spine #1185
      Jan 3 2026

      "It's such an important film in his [Scorsese's] filmography. I'm so happy people are discovering it and Criterion decided to focus on it."

      In this episode of Why This Film?, Ron is joined by critic and writer Sheila O'Malley of RogerEbert.com to discuss After Hours, Martin Scorsese's dark comedy and anxiety-driven odyssey through late-night SoHo. Sheila also wrote the essay for Criterion's release of the film.

      Together, they walk through the film scene by scene, tracing how the evening spirals out of Paul's control. The poor guy just wants to go home. The discussion goes from Scorsese to Hitchcock to Kafka to Mr. Softee.

      And as always, Sheila answers the central question: Why is After Hours included in the Criterion Collection, and why does it still matter today?

      You can find more from Sheila from the links below:

      The Sheila Variations

      RogerEbert.com Archive

      Frankenstein by Sheila O'Malley

      Send us a text

      Support the show

      Follow the Podcast:

      Instagram: @whythisfilmpod

      Send us a text

      Support the show

      Follow the Podcast:

      Instagram: @whythisfilmpod

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      1 h et 22 min
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