Netflixs new Ripley series has critics musing on why Tom Ripley is such a persistent character in our day and age. Patricia Highsmith created a character that has endured and appeared in many (excell

The Sympathizer is brought to a powerful, if occasionally puzzling conclusion, with the narrator returning to his home country for a series of misadventures. The meaning of Ho Chi Minhs slogan Nothi

Jason Herbert, from the Historians at the Movies community and podcast, joins us to talk about favorite baseball films. We share an uncomfortable moment when Chris learns who Jasons favorite team is

Viet Thanh Nguyens narrator tells us right off the bat that hes a sympathizer. He can see any issue from both sides, he claims, a dubious virtue in the chaotic Vietnamese history following the fal

Theologian Beatrice Marovich reacts to our discussions of Octavia Butlers Parable of the Sower, exploring the relationship between theology and fiction. We talk about her book Sister Death: Politic

The second half of The Sellout does feature a MacGuffin and resolution of sorts, although the plot is minimal compared to the satire and world building. The UMBs struggle to understand the book, but u

Chris and Jesse are thrown into Paul Beatty's 2015 Man Booker Prize Winner The Sellout, because this novel seems to try to take the upper hand with its reader. Our two heroes agree that it's beautiful

A rebroadcast of our Live recap and discussion of Alexander Paynes Sideways (2004). The UMBs admire Miles Saab, la costa perdida, and enjoy the rustically simple cinematography, and marvel at the c

Writer Joshua Mohr joins us to talk shop about his recent book Farsickness. The idea began with watching his daughter and her friends create short dramatic productions for his neighborhood, during COV

The UMBs went in expecting a quietly great film, and their expectations were exceeded. Big Night is at times BIG and LOUD, even though the characters spend much of the film not saying what they mean.