'Blue Moon': Brilliant or a waste of space? episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 26, 2026 · 55 MIN

'Blue Moon': Brilliant or a waste of space?

from The Reel Schmooze · host The Times of Israel

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. In today's Oscar-themed episode, movie maven Hoffman begins with a rant against the cynical social media uproar over a misstepped statement made at the Berlin Festival. We then hear about the 2025 hit "Blue Moon," which portrays a pivotal night in the life of master lyricist Lorenz Hart. The film is up for two Academy Awards, but one of our team would not give it the time of day again.  Next, we turn to a 14-minute animated film called "Papillion," which captivated the pair. It is a painterly immersive dive into the life of Alfred Nakache, who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Nazi Germany, only to end up in Auschwitz that is one of five films competing for best short animation. Check out the "oy," the "meh" and "not bad" marks given to these films in this week's The Reel Schmooze. The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NOW PLAYING

'Blue Moon': Brilliant or a waste of space?

0:00 55:48

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Reel Schmooze?

This episode is 55 minutes long.

When was this The Reel Schmooze episode published?

This episode was published on February 26, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. In today's Oscar-themed episode, movie maven Hoffman begins with a rant...

Can I download this The Reel Schmooze episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!