Cinema on Tap

S3E19 Baseball: Field of Dreams (feat. Henrique DaMour)

It’s been too long since we had a month dedicated to sports movies here at Cinema on Tap. So, grab a hot dog and a beer, pull out your scorecard, and settle in to the bleachers, because May is Baseball Month!

We’re starting with a classic baseball movie: Field of Dreams. Our hosts break down how weird the movie is, Kevin Costner’s performance, and what Field of Dreams is really about. Plus, we’re bringing in new friend of the show Henrique DaMour, a longtime baseball fan and sports commentator/esports caster.

What’s your favorite baseball movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E18 Bonus: SLOIFF, Summer Box Office, All About Eve, Sing Street

We’re taking a break between monthly themes for a bonus episode! Christian and Lalo tied to win our Oscars prediction game, so we have both of their movie picks: All About Eve and Sing Street! Two wildly different movies, but movies we all recommend.

Before that, we’re kicking off a new game to determine a bonus episode: the Summer Box Office game. The boys take 21 upcoming summer movies and rank them from highest-grossing blockbuster to biggest bomb. Whoever gets the most correct list picks a bonus episode later this year.

Plus, Scott shares his thoughts on the 31st San Luis Obispo International Film Festival! We’ve got a packed show, but a good show.

Got any thoughts on today’s episode? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E17 Modern Spies: Spy Recommendations

Our Modern Spies month concludes as we talk about two new releases and a bunch of streaming recommendations! We’re starting with Black Bag and The Amateur, then moving on to some movies you can watch from the comfort of your own home. We’ve got comedies, action movies, animated spies, and a John le Carre adaptation to recommend, so we’re certain we’ll recommend something that you’ll like!

Plus, our introductory thoughts on Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a movie that will certainly be returning to the show on one of our best of 2025 episodes.

Got a spy movie you’d recommend? Send us an email to cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E16 Modern Spies: Casino Royale

Modern Spies month continues as we look at the most famous movie spy of them all: James Bond. This week, we take a look at Daniel Craig’s first outing, Casino Royale.

Casino Royale is not only one of the best reviewed Bond movies that Craig appeared in, it’s one of the best reviewed Bond movies of all time. Our hosts are rewatching and introducing Producer Lalo to his very first James Bond movie! How does it hold up? Is it really one of the best Bond movies? Listen on to find out our thoughts.

Plus, our thoughts on Alex Farland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare!

What’s your favorite Bond movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E15 Modern Spies: The Bourne Identity

Modern Spies month continues as we go from Ethan Hunt to Jason Bourne. The Bourne Identity was credited with shifting the aesthetics of spy films for the 21st century, not only moving away from gadgets and one-liners but utilizing handheld cinematography and fast editing in its hand-to-hand fight sequences. Christian and Scott will consider whether these innovations still play well over 20 years later.

Plus, some thoughts on the box office success of A Minecraft Movie & the state of movies in 2025 so far.

How do you feel about the Bourne franchise? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E14 Modern Spies: Mission: Impossible

It’s a new month, and our new theme is inspired by a couple of new releases: Modern Spies. In appreciation of Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag and the upcoming The Amateur, our hosts are looking back at some of the most influential spy movies of recent history. First up - Mission: Impossible.

We’ve looked at Fallout and Dead Reckoning on the show, but it’s time to go back to Tom Cruise’s first outing as Ethan Hunt. With a mission gone wrong, hilarious mid-90s internet usage, and exploding chewing gum, the original impossible mission is still a delight. We break down the Langley Heist and discuss the original film in relationship to the rest of the franchise.

Plus, if you dig this movie, stay tuned for a couple suggestions inspired by some narrative connections.

What’s your favorite movie in the Mission: Impossible series? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E13 90s Spielberg: Ranking 90s Spielberg (and Hook + The Lost World: Jurassic Park + Amistad)

This week, we conclude our month long look at Steven Spielberg’s run in the 90s. While he directed some incredible films during these years, he made 3 others with varying reputations: Hook, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Amistad.

Our hosts share their brief thoughts on each film before revealing their ranking of Spielberg’s 90s films. Plus, our Top 5 Spielberg scenes of the 90s!

Stay tuned to hear about our plans for April.

What’s your favorite Steven Spielberg movie? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E12 90s Spielberg: Saving Private Ryan (with Keenan Culler)

This week, we take a look at what could be Steven Spielberg’s third 90s masterpiece as we talk about Saving Private Ryan. Old friend of the show Keenan Culler joins to discuss his favorite movie of all time.

Saving Private Ryan was lauded at the time for its graphic but realistic violence and stirring patriotism. The film marked the first collaboration between Spielberg and Tom Hanks, garnering the director his second Oscar win and the actor his fourth nomination. We discuss the story of how the film was made, its historical significance, and whether or not it holds up (spoiler alert: it does).

That’s three 90s Spielberg movies down. Stay tuned to see how the other three will show up next week.

What’s your favorite Steven Spielberg movie? Let us know at cinemaontapodcast@gmail.com

S3E11 90s Spielberg: Schindler's List

Our look at 90s Spielberg continues as we stay parked in the year 1993. Last week, we talked about his box office behemoth, Jurassic Park. This week, we’re talking about his Best Picture winner: Schindler’s List.

 

The Holocaust drama tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over 1,000 Jewish people by employing them in his factories. While there has been considerable debate over the past 30+ years about the narrative’s use of melodrama, Schindler’s List has generally been acclaimed as not only one of Spielberg’s best films, but one of the best films to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

 

Christian is crossing the film off of his watchlist and Scott revisits it for their conversation. Join us as we break down the performances of Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, consider the film’s use (or avoidance) of melodrama, and discuss the film’s historical value.

 

What’s your favorite Spielberg decade? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com

S3E10 90s Spielberg: Jurassic Park

It’s a new month, and in honor of the Oscars, we’re talking about one of the Academy’s most recognized filmmakers of all time: Steven Spielberg. By the 90s, Spielberg had become one of Hollywood’s preeminent entertainers. He arguably reached his apex in 1993, when he directed the highest-grossing film of all time and a Best Picture winner in the same year. We’re starting with the box office behemoth: Jurassic Park.

Christian and Scott are revisiting this rewatchable classic to talk about dino danger, Spielbergian themes, and how hot Jeff Goldblum is. Plus, we’re still talking about Industrial Light & Magic, whose 1982 output gave us our January theme this year. With ground-breaking effects, Jurassic Park was one of the most influential films of the 90s, but does it hold up? Well, that’s maybe a dumb question. So, how much *does* it hold up?

And, after talking for 3 hours about the our thoughts on the Oscars (whoops), we share our thoughts on Anora’s big night.

What’s your favorite decade of Steven Spielberg’s career? Let us know at cinemaontappodcast@gmail.com