Archives

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:23:02 — 73.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS

That’s what Lester Burnham tells us in AMERICAN BEAUTY, and may also describe some people’s reaction to this Best Picture winner from 1999, which is a mite more controversial in the wake of the #MeToo movement — and allegations of sexual misconduct by its Oscar-winning lead.

When We Were Young invites you to “look closer” at the stunning cinematography, the innovative editing, the memorably melancholy score, and, of course, Alan Ball’s sharp-tongued screenplay, which follows a doofy dad through a particularly fatal midlife crisis and satirizes upper middle class suburbia. There’s plenty to cherish here, from the darkly comedic performances of Annette Bening, Mena Suvari, and, yes, even Kevin Spacey — but what about its approach to gender and sexuality in the 90s? Is this a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing youth in your middle age, or is watching Spacey lust after a teenager in 2019 just too… icky?

Does American Beauty hold up like a plastic bag on a blustery day? Or is the bloom off the rose? Find out in our newest episode!

When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!

Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:04 — 100.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS

Don’t snub our latest episode! It’s awards season, so the When We Were Young podcast is taking a hard look back at the Academy Awards from 1999, which saw a battle royale between Steven Spielberg’s knockout WWII epic SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and the Harvey Weinstein-backed costume rom-com SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.

First, the hosts reminisce about their earliest Oscar memories and relive some of the telecast’s worst dance numbers. Then, we travel back to D-Day with Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and a whole lot of bullets and explosions to see if Spielberg’s gritty drama is still as harrowing and awe-inspiring as it was back in 1998. And, more importantly — should it have defeated Shakespeare In Love as the year’s Best Picture?

For Your Consideration: relive one of the 90s most memorable Oscars telecasts, when Roberto Benigni leapt onto the seats and into our hearts, Gwyneth Paltrow tearfully accepted her Best Actress award in an iconic pink Ralph Lauren dress, and host Whoopi Goldberg channeled Queen Elizabeth. The When We Were Young podcast would like to thank our agents, husbands, kids, pets, landlords, therapists, and… hey, stop playing that music, we aren’t finished yet!

When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!

Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.