Critic, podcaster, and Christmas movie expert Alonso Duralde has issued a revised and updated edition of his essential guide “Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas,” so he joins us to discuss one of his unconventional picks: the 1969 Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.”

Scott Eyman is one of the foremost biographers of classic Hollywood, writing essential books on Chaplin, Cary Grant, John Wayne, John Ford, and many more. He joins us to discuss his latest, “Joan Crawford: A Woman’s Face,” and Crawford’s quintessential performance in “Grand Hotel.” 

Author, critic, and filmmaker Scout Tafoya’s most recent book is “The Black Book: An Anthony Mann Reader,” and he joins us to discuss one of Mann’s best-regarded pictures, the James Stewart Western “The Naked Spur.” It’s a spirited discussion!

Few people know their genre cinema like Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, whose many, MANY books, essays, chapters and commentaries have been contextualizing and magnifying horror and exploitation for years now. Today she joins us to discuss Abel Ferrara’s seminal rape-revenge film “MS. 45” — out in a new 4K from Arrow Video, with heavy involvement from Alexandra. 

In his book “Rewinding the ‘80s” (on shelves Tuesday), film historian John Malahy examines — per the subtitle — “cinema under the influence of music videos, action stars, and a Cold War.” He joins us to discuss what may be the quintessential ‘80s movie, and the breakthrough role of the quintessential ‘80s movie star: Tom Cruise in Paul Brickman’s “Risky Business.”

When film critic and podcaster Katie Walsh finally saw the 1981 German sensation “Christiane F” in its 4K restoration reissue this week, she needed to talk about it — and we’re lucky enough that she joined us to do just that. It was also Mike and Jason’s first watch, so listen in as we pick our collective jaws up off the floor over this tough, unsentimental look at life on the fringes of ‘70s-era Berlin.

Nobody but nobody chronicles the making of classic movies as thoroughly and compellingly as Stephen Rebello, author of “Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!,” “A City Full of Hawks,” and the granddaddy of them all, “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho.” He joins us to discuss his latest book “Criss Cross,” and the movie it’s about: Alfred Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train.”

The bestselling author, Pulitzer finalist, and independent bookseller Matt Zoller Seitz takes a break from his very busy schedule to discuss a movie that not many people talk about, right? I mean, when was the last time you heard anyone talk about Stanley Kubrick’s “2001”? Matt also shares some writing tips and talks to us about MZS.press, the online indie arts bookstore.

Edgar award-winning, New York Times-bestselling crime novelist and confirmed cinephile Megan Abbott joins us to chat about her latest hit, “El Dorado Drive,” and her long history with one of Brian De Palma’s most controversial (and metatextual) movies.

The co-host of two of our favorite movie pods, “Die Hard on a Blank” and “48 Hours of Buddy Movies,” joins us to discuss Miloš Forman’s final Czech picture, the sharp-as-a-shiv social satire “The Firemen’s Ball.”

For our first-ever two-guest double-feature show, we’re joined by film historians and “These Fists Break Bricks” authors Grady Hendrix and Chris Poggiali to discuss the two movies that broke kung fu big with American audiences.

Freelance journalist Ilana Kaplan joins us to talk about the experience of writing her first book “Nora Ephron At the Movies,” as well as one of her favorite movies as an angsty teen: John Hughes’s directorial debut “Sixteen Candles.”

Film writer Max Evry spent several years of his life investigating a failure: David Lynch’s 1984 screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic, “Dune.” But was it really a failure? If so, why? If not, why was (and is) it perceived as such? The resultant book, “A Masterpiece in Disarray,” is one of the best of the recent books on single films; he joins us to talk about the book and the film, and what makes it so special to him.

Before recently, we knew John Bleasdale best as one of our favorite podcasters - he hosts, among others, “Writers on Film,” a spotlight on film books, on which Jason has guested twice. Now John has written a book of his own, “The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick,” and joins us to discuss one of Malick’s best, “Days of Heaven.”

Jonathan Rosenbaum is one of the foremost film critics and historians in the world, author of several essential books — including his most recent collection, “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities.” He’s with us to discuss one of his favorite movies, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s indelible “Ordet.”

Marya E. Gates’s wonderful new book “Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors in Their Own Words” includes interviews with 19 groundbreaking women directors — including Susan Seidelman, whose 1985 smash (masterpiece, even?) “Desperately Seeking Susan” is our subject for today.

TCM host and prolific author Alicia Malone joins us to discuss Peter Weir’s contemporary classic “Picnic at Hanging Rock.” She fills us in on the Australian New Wave, the film’s considerable cultural reach in her home country, and her new book “TCM Imports: Timeless Favorites and Hidden Gems of World Cinema,” on shelves Tuesday.

The czar of noir himself, TCM’s “Noir Alley” host Eddie Muller, joins us to discuss Michael Curtiz’s (slightly) closer 1950 adaptation of Hemingway’s “To Have and Have Not.” Hear his thoughts on the various adaptations, the power of its leading man and the counterpoints of its leading ladies, and the new edition of his marvelous book “Dark City Dames,” on shelves Tuesday.

“Hung Up” writer and “Lemme Say This” co-host Hunter Harris joins us to discuss Mike Nichols’s scathing 1971 chronicle of the battle of the sexes. We dig in on the picture’s emotional brutality, theatrical structure, and complicated characters (the women, at least), as well as Hunter’s reason for connection to Art Garfunkel.

Violet Lucca, film critic and author of the new, essential book David Cronenberg: Clinical Trials, joins us to talk about one of Mr. Cronenberg’s early hits, The Dead Zone. Hear us revel in the pleasures of Walken and the various ways critics found to deem the film “tasteful” and “restrained,” and marvel at the silliness of an insane amoral strongman somehow becoming President of the United States.