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Pivotal Film

by Films, Beers, Talking with Mario and Tom

TV 241 episodes with searchable transcripts

Mario Ponzio and Tom Nolan have each made a list of their 100 most pivotal films. Each week they will discuss another pair and break-down how they influenced them as film-goers and as people until they get to number 1. They will also tackle just released, under-the-radar, and bad films, all while drinking different tasty local beers every week. Films, Beers, Talking.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Sep 5, 2026. Source feed.

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Episodes

  1. Top 5 of the first half of 2026

    NOTE - THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED IN JUNE BUT TOM'S COMPUTER WAS DEAD SO IT IS BEING POSTED NOW CAUSE HIS COMPUTER IS NO LONGER DEAD Mario, Tom and Andy talk about their favorite films of the first half of 2026. Includes a long conversation about Obsession (45:20).

  2. The Best Movies of 2025, Part One: The Categories

    The Best Movies of 2025, Part One: The Categories by Films, Beers, Talking with Mario and Tom

  3. The Best Movies of 2025, Part Two: The Ten Best Lists

    The Best Movies of 2025, Part Two: The Ten Best Lists by Films, Beers, Talking with Mario and Tom

  4. Marty Supreme, Train Dreams, Primate, and the Worst Movies of 2025

    Train Dreams (4:00), Wake Up Dead Man (11:30), Marty Supreme (22:30), Primate (41:45), the Worst Movies of 2025 (50:15)

  5. Fall Film Review - One Battle After Another, The Long Walk, Bugonia, Frankenstein, and more

    The Smashing Machine (3:45), Die, My Love (14:45), Frankenstein (24:45), Bugonia (52:15), The Long Walk (1:12:45), Predator: Badlands (1:30:45), One Battle After Another (1:44:30)

  6. Puzzle Me Pivotal

    A far. far late episode which was recorded a week before the Switch 2 announcement. Andy and Mario discuss the new Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco album "I Said I Love You First" and Japanese Breakfast album "For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women). Then they discuss some video games with…

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  7. Where Were You When You First Saw a Joystick?

    A little late on the upload, but Mario and Andy are back for their #9 games. First, they recap the Oscars and maybe moan a bit about the state of film criticism. Then, they review Lady Gaga's new album "Mayhem", talk some more about Obsidian's "Avowed", and Mario shares his thoughts on Tape 1 of...

  8. The Heart of the Matter

    Mario and Andy are back with their top 10 Pivotal Games. Before then, they review Tate McRae's So Close To What (2:00), Obsidian's new Action RPG Avowed (8:40), and two films Paddington in Peru (27:30) and The Monkey (36:30). Then they dig into their number 10 video games (49:40). Music credits…

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  9. Pilot

    Mario and Andy present the continuation of the Pivotal Film Podcast entitled Pivotal. The two of them review the newest television, music, literature, video games, and, yes, film. This episode sees a discussion of FKA Twigs' Exsexua and The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow in music... Luck Be a…

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  10. The Best Movies of 2024, Part Two: The 10 Best Lists

    Mario Tom and Andy wind down the podcast talking about their 10 favorite movies of 2024

  11. The Best Movies of 2024, Part One: The Categories

    Mario Tom and Andy close out the year and the podcast by talking about the best in movies in 2024.

  12. Wallace and Gromit, Top 5 Animated Movies of 2024, and The Best of Other Media

    Wallace and Gromit in a Vengance Most Fowl (3:30) Top 5 Animated Movies of 2024 (10:00) Best of Other Media (42:15)

  13. The Brutalist, Nickel Boys, Queer, and Our Most Anticipated Movies of 2025

    Queer (5:45) Nickel Boys (25:45) The Brutalist (52:30) Most Anticipated (1:41:35)

  14. Nosferatu, A Complete Unknown, Sonic 3 and The Order and The Worst Movies of2024

    Sonic 3 (3:55) A Complete Unknown (16:15) The Order (50:50) Nosferatu (1:23:45) The Worst Movies of the Year (2:00:50)

  15. A Real Pain, Juror #2, The Piano Lesson, Memoir of a Snail, Gladiator 2, Flow, Y2K

    y2k (3:55) Flow (12:55) Gladiator 2 (18:15) Memoir of a Snail (32:45) The Piano Lesson (49:05) Juror #2 (1:13:35) A Real Pain (1:36:25)

  16. Special Episode - Tom's Kid's Top 5 Movies of 2024

    Tom's kids talk about their top 5 movies of 2024

  17. Wicked, Emilia Perez, Blitz, Anora

    Wicked (5:00) Emilia Perez (21:00) Blitz (51:00) Anora (1:19:00)

  18. Smile 2 and Conclave with Its Whats Inside, Woman of the Hour, and My Old Ass

    Mario Tom and Andy talk about movies: Its Whats Inside (3:15), Woman of the Hour (14:15), Saturday Night (29:15), My Old Ass (46:15), Smile 2 (1:04:45). and Conclave (1:37:45)

  19. Megalopolis, The Wild Robot, Kinds of Kindness

    Mario, Tom and Andy talk about some non-horror, non-spooky films: Megalopolis (1:30), The Wild Robot (11:45), and Kinds of Kindness (34:45)

  20. Terrifier 3, Beetlejuice 2, V/H/S Beyond, Speak No Evil, Strange Darling, and The Substance

    Mario, Tom and Andy get into Terrifier 3 (:20), Beetlejuice 2 (10:15), VHS Beyond (18:00), Speak No Evil (41:15), Strange Darling (1:00:15). The Substance (1:16:45).

  21. Rebel Ridge, Oddity and Tuesday

    Mario and Tom talk about some new and recent releases; Tuesday (3:00), Oddity (11:15) and Rebel Ridge (28:00).

  22. Maxxxine, Longlegs, The Bikeriders, Twisters, Deadpool and Wolverine

    Mario, Tom and Andy talk about all sorts of stuff: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. (1:00), Inside Out 2 (5:30), Maxxxine (15:45), Longlegs (33:45), The Bikeriders (54:00), Twisters (1:15:00), Deadpool and Wolverine (1:41:30).

  23. The Best of the First Half of 2024...Movies, Video Games, Books, TV, Music and more!

    Mario, Tom and Andy talk about their favorite movies (1:00), followed by their favorite non-film media from the first half of 2024 (1:10:35).

  24. Last Stop in Yuma County, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, In a Violent Nature, Hit Man

    Mario, Tom and Andy discuss some new flicks: Last Stop in Yuma County (1:00), Bad Boys: Ride or Die (7:30), In a Violent Nature (15:30), and Hit Man (41:00).

  25. Challengers, The Fall Guy, I Saw the TV Glow, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

    Mario, Tom, and Andy talk about some May movies: Challengers (3:30), The Fall Guy (21:00), I Saw the TV Glow (37:00), and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (52:00).

  26. Loves Lies Bleeding, Abigail, Monkey Man, and Civil War

    Mario, Tom and Andy jump onto a zoom and talk about some of the new flicks they've seen: Love Lies Bleeding (2:00), Abigail (16:30), Monkey Man (36:10), and Civil War (51:35).

  27. Road House, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Godzilla x Kong, Immaculate, Society of the Snow

    Mario and Tom catch up on some new, and newish flicks: Road House (20:15), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (34:30), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (44:45), Immaculate (1:07:00), Society of the Snow (1:32:45). But first the imbide a first for this show - a home brew! Winston, a pale ale by Chris…

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  28. Occupied City, Dune Part 2, Driveaway Dolls, and All of Us Strangers

    Sorry about the audio on this one!!! I will come back to tag later this evening.

  29. Orion and the Dark and The Zone of Interest

    Mario and Tom talk about the new Charlie Kaufman penned movie on Netflix, Orion and the Dark (8:00) and Jonathan Glazer's newest, The Zone of Interest (26:30).

  30. The Best Films of 2023, pt. 2: The Top 10 Lists

    Mario, Tom and Andy start this show off by briefly discussing the Oscar nominations before talking about their 10 Best/ Favorite Movies of 2023 (9:00).

  31. The Best Films of 2023, part 1: The Categories

    Mario, Tom, and Andy start by talking about their favorite moments in 2023 (1:00), before going deep into the following categories: Supporting Actress (37:45), Supporting Actor (46:45), Sound (59:00), Visual Effects (1:07:15), Costume Design (1:12:30), Hair and Makeup (1:22:00), Original Song...

  32. Ferrari, Maestro, Saltburn, Dream Scenario, Anatomy of a Fall, The Iron Claw, Poor Things

    Mario, Tom and Andy Catch up on some of the years most anticipated releases: Ferrari (5:00), Maestro (14:15), Saltburn (27:45), Dream Scenario (47:15), Anatomy of a Fall (1:10:45), The Iron Claw (1:29:15), and Poor Things (2:05:00).

  33. The Worst Films of 2023

    Mario, Tom and Andy talk about their highly subjective choices for the worst films of 2023.

  34. May/December, Godzilla Minus One, The Boy and the Heron and worst parts of good flicks

    For the fun of it Mario, Tom and Andy open the episode by talking about the worst parts of otherwise good movies (8:45), before getting into May/December (29:45), Godzilla Minus One (47:30), and The Boy and the Heron (1:09:45).

  35. Thanksgiving, Please Don't Destroy, Rustin, Napoleon, and The Holdovers

    Mario, Tom and Andy talk about Thanksgiving (2:00), Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (11:00), Rustin (26:45), Napoleon (40:30), The Holdovers (58:30).

  36. Five Nights at Freddy's and Dark Harvest

    Mario, Tom and Andy continue to try and keep up with movie culture by talking about some recent horror releases: Five Nights at Freddy's (11:55), and Dark Harvest (31:45). Please note - this episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago.

  37. Nyad, They Cloned Tyrone, The Killer, Priscilla, Killers of the Flower Moon

    Mario, Tom and Andy talk about a whole bunch of new and recent and interesting flicks: Nyad (3:45), They Cloned Tyrone (16:30), The Killer (41:45), Priscilla (1:07:30), and Killers of the Flower Moon (1:41:45).

  38. BONUS EPISODE! - The Bear, Barry, Inglorious Basterds, Interstellar

    Mario Tom and Andy spend another hour chatting about all sorts of things, like season 2 of The Bear, the final season of Barry, and their re-evaluation of certain flicks like Interstellar and Inglorious Basterds.

  39. Dumb Money, Cassandro, Past Lives, Passages, Bottoms, VHS 85

    Mario, Tom, and Andy try to fill in the part of the year that they missed talking about a whole pile of movies starting briefly with Mario's thoughts on Saw 10, and then Dumb Money (3:30), Cassandro (8:15), Past Lives (19:30), Passages (38:45), VHS 85 (55:15), Bottoms (1:09:45).

  40. M:I -Dead Reckoning, Pt. 1, Talk to Me, Oppenheimer, Barbie

    Mario, Tom, Andy, and JP talk about Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part 1 (9:15), Talk to Me (25:00), Oppenheimer (50:45), and Barbie (1:22:45).

  41. The Films of Cormac McCarthy

    Mario and Tom take a harrowing walk around the American West and pontificate on the films made from the work of Cormac McCarthy: The Counsellor (15:45), Sunset Limited (33:15), The Road (40:15), No Country for Old Men (58:30), and All the Pretty Horses (1:06:15). They even touch on James Franco's...

  42. Asteroid City

    Mario and Tom talk about Wes Anderson's Asteroid City

  43. No Hard Feelings and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

    Mario, Tom, and Andy talk about the new Jennifer Lawrence vehicle, No Hard Feelings (7:00), before turning their attention to the new Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (26:00)

  44. Master Gardener, Beau is Afraid (again), Blackberry, and our Top Five Films So Far

    Mario, Tom and Andy, talk about Paul Schrader's Master Gardener (6:45), we get Tom and JPs thoughts on Beau is Afraid (20:45), and things get contentious when they talk about Blackberry (41:30). Then they talk about their top five films of the year, so far (1:09:00)

  45. "Showing Up," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," and "Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse"

    Mario and Tom and Andy talk about some movies both new and a little less new: Showing Up (5:00), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (28:15), Spiderman; Across the Spiderverse (57:45). Then they finish with a quick review of the absolutely atrocious live-action remake of The Little Mermaid (its not...

  46. "Beau is Afraid," "The Outwaters," and "How to Blowup a Pipeline"

    Mario, Tom and Andy, talk about a whole bunch of movies, both new and slightly less new including, Beau is Afraid (18:00), The Outwaters (45:45), How to Blowup a Pipeline (1:01:45).

  47. "Renfield," "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," and "Super Mario Bros."

    Mario, Tom, and their special guest Andy talk about some new releases: Renfield (7:15), Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongstth Thieves (23:45), Super Mario Bros. (40:00).

  48. "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," "Knock at the Cabin Door," and "Infinity Pool"

    Mario and Tom try and get back into the swing of things by talking about a few recent releases: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (33:30), Knock at the Cabin Door (56:30), and Infinity Pool (1:28:30).

  49. The Best Films of 2022 - Part Two: The Top 10 Lists

    Mario and Tom list their picks for the 10 best films of 2022.

  50. The Best Films of 2022 - Part One: The Categories

    Mario and Tom break down their favorite films of 2022 by category: Moments, Supporting Performances, Sound, Visuals, Writing, and Directing.

View all 241 episodes →

Topics in this show

Bad Films Cinema Insight Film Influences New Releases Podcast Discussion Top 100 Lists Under the Radar

Click any topic to search every transcript on PodParley for moments someone mentioned it.

About this show

Mario Ponzio and Tom Nolan have each made a list of their 100 most pivotal films. Each week they will discuss another pair and break-down how they influenced them as film-goers and as people until they get to number 1. They will also tackle just released, under-the-radar, and bad films, all while drinking different tasty local beers every week. Films, Beers, Talking.

Hosted by

Films, Beers, Talking with Mario and Tom

Produced by Pivotal Film Podcast

Categories

TV Film

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Pivotal Film have?

Pivotal Film has 241 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on September 29, 2026.

What is Pivotal Film about?

Mario Ponzio and Tom Nolan have each made a list of their 100 most pivotal films. Each week they will discuss another pair and break-down how they influenced them as film-goers and as people until they get to number 1. They will also tackle just released, under-the-radar, and bad films, all while...

How often does Pivotal Film release new episodes?

Pivotal Film publishes every two weeks, based on its 241 episodes since July 2018.

Who hosts Pivotal Film?

Pivotal Film is created and hosted by Films, Beers, Talking with Mario and Tom.
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