Critically Important

Episodes

1. 25

   Critically Important: So What Have We Missed?

   Summer Blockbuster March Madness: Jaws or E.T.? Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark? Inception or Mad Max: Fury Road? In the style of a March Madness-style bracket, Jason, Mallory Espo pit some of the greatest summer blockbusters ever against each other until they determine a consensus pick for...

   Apr 1, 2022

   1h 32m
2. 24

   Critically Important: It's Been Awhile

   We're back! Yes, we know it's been awhile, but life got in the way for all of us for a bit. But now that things have settled down, we sit down to discuss the latest news in Hollywood, some of the latest shows and movies we've watched that we want to rave about, and play a fun game of "One Gotta Go"!

   Oct 29, 2021

   1h 15m
3. 23

   Critically Important: Movie Movie Game Edition!

   Going to the Movies Post-COVID: Espo, being the first of the three of us brave enough to return to the cinema post-COVID vaccine, reports of what it was like to go back to the theater for the first time in 15 months, how the experience changed as CDC guidelines were updated and mask mandates were...

   Jun 25, 2021

   48m
4. 22

   Critically Important: The Summer Blockbuster Tournament!

   THE GREAT SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER TOURNAMENT: To celebrate the (hopeful) arrival of summer movie season (unless COVID decides to wreak havoc on us with a third wave), and the box office success (by pandemic standards) of Godzilla vs. Kong, Jason and Espo are joined by Elise Hernke of Inglorious...

   Apr 23, 2021

   2h 02m
5. 21

   Critically Important: The Second Annual Critically Important Awards!

   The Second Annual Critically Important Awards: The year 2020 was a chaotic, uncertain, frustrating and at times downright depressing one for both the movie industry and life, in general. However, despite the apocalyptic feel that last year often had, it still offered plenty of films and...

   Mar 5, 2021

   1h 22m
6. 20

   Critically Important: King or No King?

   The State of the Movie Industry, Continued: As COVID begins to mutate into new variations and infect people across the globe, the number of cases continue to rise, and studios have continued to postpone their biggest blockbusters as a result, the gang debate what this means for theaters, as well…

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   Feb 1, 2021

   1h 22m
7. 19

   Critically Important: It's Game Time!

   Movie Studios and Their Upcoming Film Slates - Now What?: With Warner Bros. announcing that their entire slate of planned 2021 movies will be released day-to-date in both theaters and on HBO Max, and Disney making a slew of content announcements (both film and Disney+ related), Jason, Mallory and...

   Dec 18, 2020

   1h 06m
8. 18

   Critically Important: Court is in Session!

   The State of the Movie Industry: As we hit yet another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we discuss how both movie studios and movie theaters can (hopefully) rebound from prolonged postponements and closings, and what it should do about upcoming blockbusters like Wonder Woman 1984. Things We're...

   Nov 20, 2020

   1h 08m
9. 17

   Critically Important: As if 2020 Wasn't Horrifying Enough...It's Halloween Season!

   Tenet vs. Mulan: Well That Was Anti-Climactic: So after discussing last episode which studio's release strategy would fare better, it appears that the results for both were incredibly underwhelming, to say the least. With this leading to other major tent-pole movies being delayed even further (in...

   Oct 9, 2020

   1h 36m
10. 16

    Critically Important: Is it Safe to Come Out Yet?

    R.I.P. To a King: Jason, Mallory and Espo pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, whose passing was first reported the evening before this episode was recorded. They discuss the legacy that he leaves behind, the battle he was facing as he was making some of his biggest and greatest films, and their...

    Aug 31, 2020

    56m
11. 15

    Critically Important: The Podcast is Alive with the Sound of Us Debating Musicals

    R.I.P. Summer Movie Season 2020: Jason, Mallory and Espo discuss the latest movie postponements that were announced the day before this episode was recorded, and reflect on what a lack of a summer movie season this year could mean for movie theaters and the movie industry. Pulling Episodes from...

    Jul 27, 2020

    1h 38m
12. 14

    Critically Important: Movies in a Time of Turmoil

    Going Back to the Movies? - Most of the major movie theater chains, including AMC, Regal and Cinemark, are planning to open back up for business in mid-July, just in time for Mulan and Tenet to hit big screens all across the country by the end of the month. And until AMC got absolutely…

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    Jun 22, 2020

    1h 31m
13. 13

    Critically Important: Let's All Simmer Down Now

    AMC vs. Universal and the Future of VOD: With the current war of words raging between Universal and AMC (and Regal) over the future of VOD releases and how they can potentially affect the future of movie-going, the gang discusses the viability of releasing new movies on VOD (both temporary and...

    May 4, 2020

    2h 14m
14. 12

    Critically Important: What Day is It?

    Tiger King Dream Cast: Since we wouldn't be doing our duty as a podcast if we didn't discuss the most talked about pop culture phenomenon of 2020, Jason, Mallory, Espo and guest co-host Elise Hernke debate who they'd like to see cast in various roles if Hollywood decides to make a feature film...

    Apr 12, 2020

    1h 20m
15. 11

    Critically Important: Where Do We Go Now?

    The Fast Three: To start off the episode, we get to know Ryan by asking him a few rapid fire movie questions. Where Do We Go Now?: During this great time of uncertainty in the movie industry, we discuss what we think will happen to some of the releases that were postponed due to the Coronavirus…

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    Mar 23, 2020

    1h 07m
16. 10

    Critically Important: Getting to Know You

    10 Movies to Know Me: Since this was going viral in the week leading up to this podcast recording, Jason, Mallory and Espo created their own 10 Movies to Know Me lists with films that define them and/or reveal more about who they are. Group Consensus - Romantic Comedies: Before co-hosting...

    Mar 2, 2020

    1h 06m
17. 9

    Critically Important: The First Annual Critically Important Awards

    We weren't content on doing a simple "best of 2019" lists for an end of the year episode. So we're officially proud to announce the launch of the 1st Annual (or hopefully annual, we should say) Critically Important Awards! We sent out ballots to our movie-loving friends and writers that we know…

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    Jan 31, 2020

    1h 10m
18. 8

    Critically Important: The Best of the Decade!

    The Master. Marriage Story. Interstellar. Paddington 2. These are some of the movies that Jason, Mallory, Espo, and The Bucket Up Podcast's Ty Doyle claim are the best of the decade. But who put what on their list? And where do these (and other movies) rank? Listen to this week's episode and find...

    Dec 18, 2019

    1h 39m
19. 7

    Critically Important: 12 Movies of Christmas - The Musical

    The Streaming Wars: With the launch of Disney+ happening since the last episode, we discuss its launch, what we've watched since its debut (and what we hope to watch), and fawn collectively over The Mandalorian. We also discuss how the many streaming service launches that are scheduled over the...

    Nov 25, 2019

    1h 35m
20. 6

    Critically Important: This Ain't No Joke

    Intro: The podcast begins with a recap of movies that the crew have seen over the past month. In particular, you'll see that Jason and Espo have completely different (and incredibly passionate) opinions on the quality of the eagerly anticipated Joker movie. Careers in Need of a Renaissance: It's...

    Oct 14, 2019

    1h 22m
21. 5

    Critically Important: TIFFed About Movies

    Emotionally Unstable Movies: in our first segment, we talk about movies that gave us a powerful, visceral reaction. Whether they made us laugh, cry, or go into a fit of rage, they absolutely left their mark. For Espo, Silence invoked a crisis of faith; for Jason, Deep Blue Sea gave him one Hell…

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    Sep 20, 2019

    1h 34m
22. 4

    Critically Important: The Fantasy Movie Draft Extravaganza!

    Intro: The Critically Important crew are joined by the podcast's first guest host, Ty Doyle of The Bucket Up Podcast (http://hyperurl.co/BucketUp). Unfortunately, Mallory was not able to participate in this episode due to a horrible migraine (which are NEVER fun and are ALWAYS the worst), so Ty...

    Aug 24, 2019

    1h 43m
23. 3

    Critically Important: Problematic Movies and Wars Involving Stars

    Co-Host Hot Takes: After last week's episode where listeners bared their souls with their hot takes, Jason, Mallory and Espo share some of their own personal hot takes, including a love for the '80s cult classic Earth Girls Are Easy, an opinion that Tropic Thunder couldn't be made in 2019, and a...

    Jul 26, 2019

    1h 36m
24. 2

    Critically Important: Hot Takes and Summer Blockbusters

    Hot Takes: The Critically Important podcast team put out the call for movie-related hot takes, and boy did our listeners deliver! Jason, Mallory and Espo debate sift through them all and decided which takes truly are scorching hot, which ones make them physically ill in disgust, and which ones…

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    Jun 18, 2019

    1h 24m
25. 1

    Critically Important: The Pilot Episode!

    Great Expectations: The crew discuss recently released trailers and whether or not they managed to raise or lower their expectations for such movies as "Joker," "Always Be My Maybe," and "Sonic the Hedgehog with the Horrible Teeth and Overly Muscular Legs." Interrogation: Mallory and Espo look...

    May 28, 2019

    1h 31m