Lass is More with Josh Lasser
262 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsFocusing on the media, "Lass is More" sits down with the individuals who make the movies and shows that people are, or will be, talking about. The things we watch are not created in a vacuum, but rather as responses to far larger thoughts and issues. From why someone took a role to what it means to them to where they’re going next, we put the pieces of the puzzle together. The "Lass is More" podcast gets to the core of the issue, offering perspective on both the people involved in a project, and the project itself.
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Episodes
Meanderings #180: "Dark Waters" and the End Times
March 02, 2020 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.1 MBAs the Mark Ruffalo-starring "Dark Waters" is all too happy to tell us, companies don't care about us, they care about the bottom line. Not only that, they care about the bottom line to the point where they will allow people to die to protect it. No, it's not science fiction, it's disturbing fact and we're talking about it today.
Meanderings #179: "Frozen II" Leaves us Cold
February 25, 2020 13:00 - 6 minutes - 7.46 MBThe original "Frozen" is spectacular. So, how can "Frozen II" be such a disappointment as it's nearly the exact same? And there, right there within the question, lies the answer: because it's nearly the exact same. Let's take a look at what might have been, what shouldn't have been, and see if we can't freeze future mistakes in their track.
Meanderings #178: Movies that Mess with our Perception
February 11, 2020 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.83 MBSome of the best movies out there are ones that completely throw our perception of what is taking place out the window. This week we're looking at two movies that do that beautifully, "Shutter Island" and Parasite," and one film that takes low brow teenage monster/alien pregnancy comedies to new heights, "Snatchers."
Meanderings #177: Jesus Figures in with Comedy & Horror
February 04, 2020 13:00 - 6 minutes - 6.95 MBSetting aside your religious views, it is undeniable that Jesus figures appear in a multitude of films. This week we're going to discuss possible such individuals in "The House that Jack Built" and "Playing with Fire."
Meanderings #176: "Dark Fate" or "Double Tap"
January 28, 2020 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.21 MBLast year saw yet another "Terminator" movie hit screens along with a sequel to "Zombieland." Now they are out on Blu-ray. Both franchises are about the apocalypse and involve much mayhem, and both have behind the scenes work from "Deadpool" alums (even if Wernick and Reese, did original "Zombieland" well before "Deadpool), but only one of the films seems to be having any fun with it all. Just where did "Terminator: Dark Fate" go wrong when "Zombieland: Double Tap" went right?
Meanderings #175: Mirroring as Gimmick vs. as Moviemaking
January 21, 2020 13:00 - 6 minutes - 7.49 MBAlthough a cold may have affected Josh's voice, he's back this week to discuss "Gemini Man" and "I See You," both of which offer a certain sense of mirroring. One does this to great effect, while the other... well, the effect is not great at all.
Episode 47: Writer-Director Andrew Desmond of "The Sonata"
January 14, 2020 13:00 - 19 minutes - 22.3 MBAndrew Desmond stops by the podcast today, at least telephonically, to talk about his feature directorial debut, "The Sonata." A horror film based in classic music and secret societies, "fun" may not be the right word to describe it (torture not being fun), but it's certainly engaging and interesting. Desmond offers us his thoughts on the process and what it takes to write about a piece of music without being able to write music.
Meanderings #174: Changing our World
December 17, 2019 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.24 MBHere are two movies about doing something to change the world. One does it in fairy tale format, while the other is much more a drama. Both, however, have something to say on the desire to make a change, even if they're not quite sure from where that desire may emanate, or the resulting ramifications.
Meanderings #173: "The Fly" and Social Media
December 10, 2019 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.47 MBScream Factory has released a great new boxed set of "The Fly" movies. All five of them are included and, as often happens with sci-fi works, they are ruminations on mankind's trouble with technology. Just for fun--and the sheer terror of it--we equate them a little with social media today.
Episode 46: "Grand Isle" Screenwriter Iver William Jallah
December 03, 2019 13:00 - 17 minutes - 19.7 MBIver William Jallah has now had a screenplay turned into a movie. That movie, "Grand Isle" comes out this Friday and stars Nicolas Cage and Kelsey Grammer. What exactly is it like to get a movie made -- what compromises took place and what was it like to be on set? Jallah tells us all.
Meanderings #172: "Official Secrets" and Trump's Whistleblower
November 26, 2019 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.49 MBSometimes it takes a movie to remind us that which we already know. If we as a people are to hold the moral high ground, we have to act like we deserve it. That means being able to listen to people even if we don't like the message being delivered. Yes, "Official Secrets" may take place in England, but the story has lots of relevance for us in the States today.
Meanderings #171: "Dora and the Lost City of Gold" is... the map
November 19, 2019 13:00 - 4 minutes - 5.47 MBWhat does it mean to be an adventurer and why is it that such films resonate year after year? After two weeks off, the "Lass is More" podcast returns with a new episode contemplating the great adventure that is life and why "x" may sometimes mark the spot.
Meanderings #170: "Badland" and Ticking the Trope Boxes
October 29, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.38 MBThis week we're talking about the movie "Badland," a new western film out this Friday. It has all the elements you'd expect from a western, but maybe not all in the best order, or examined in the right fashion. So, is ticking the box for all the various tropes enough to make a good movie or is something more required?
Meanderings #169: Worthwhile Spins vs. "The Lion King" (2019)
October 22, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.21 MBThere is nothing inherently wrong with Disney remaking every single animated film they've ever done as something closer to live action. What is wrong is their not being a new take on the movie except for "well, it's closer to live action now." We compare and contrast 2019's "The Lion King" with the completely wonderful "Galaxy Quest" on today's podcast.
Meanderings #168: The Power of the B Movie Thriller
October 15, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 5.96 MBThere are some movies which clearly wish to be thought of as "Important." There are other movies that just want the audience to enjoy themselves. This week, we're looking at two of the latter as "Crawl" and "Night Hunter" have arrived on Blu-ray. Neither is likely to win any sort of award, but they both pull you in and don't let go until the credits roll.
Episode 45: "1917" Cast and Crew on Their One-Shot Film
October 08, 2019 12:00 - 15 minutes - 17.5 MBSam Mendes, Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, and Roger Deakins were at New York Comic-Con this year to talk about their upcoming World War I movie, "1917." We got the chance to talk to the four men about the process of preparing for and filming this movie meant to look like a single shot. And, because this movie comes out on Christmas and we talked to these people at NYCC, we also throw in a good word for "Anna and the Apocalypse" which is newly out on DVD.
Meanderings #167: "Mean Girls" is Still so Fetch
October 01, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.83 MBThe brilliant comedy "Mean Girls" has a new 15th anniversary edition out and that is as good a reason as any to talk about what makes the film so successful even now, a decade and a half after its original release. So, that's exactly what we do in this week's episode.
Meanderings #166: On the Greatness of Genie Will Smith
September 24, 2019 12:00 - 4 minutes - 5.56 MBWhatever issues the movie may have, whatever problems appear along the way, the new live-action "Aladdin" from Disney has one huge thing going for it, and that's Will Smith as the Genie. Smith takes on the role voiced so wonderfully by Robin Williams and creates something tremendous. This week's podcast ruminates on Smith's decision and the results.
Episode 44: Michael Waltrip on life and changes in the "Blink of an Eye"
September 17, 2019 12:00 - 17 minutes - 20.3 MBAt one point during his NASCAR racing career, Michael Waltrip was 0-462. He did get that first win and did so in one of the biggest races of the year, but that same race saw the fatal crash of his boss/friend/mentor, Dale Earnhardt. It was a great and terrible day for Waltrip and his story has now been turned into the documentary, "Blink of an Eye." Waltrip talks about the movie, the book it's based on, and the events as he visits the podcast today.
Meanderings #165: The Beauty and Horror of "Apocalypse Now Final Cut"
September 10, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.81 MBFrancis Ford Coppola has given us another cut, allegedly a "Final Cut" of "Apocalypse Now." The film is currently out in 4K in a fantastic six disc set with both the original cut and the "Redux" one as well. On today's podcast we look at this effort to tweak films and our changing perception of the practice.
Meanderings #164: "Rocketman," "The Banana Splits Movie," and History
August 27, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 4.37 MBWhat is it to tell your story? What is it to lie when you tell your own story or to make a new lie based upon an old truth? On this week's podcast we examine truths that come from lies, lies that come from truths, and just why either might matter. "Rocketman" and "The Banana Splits Movie" may not look like they have anything in common, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Meanderings #163: The Beach Wine that is "The Hustle"
August 20, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.04 MBA remake of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (itself a remake), 2019's "The Hustle" puts Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson front and center as con-women out for a big score and the humiliation of each other. It may have a solid pedigree, but it isn't a good movie and on today's podcast we're going to talk about how maybe that's not so bad.
Meanderings #162: The Audacity of "Avengers: Endgame"
August 13, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 7.03 MB"Avengers: Endgame" is now out on Blu-ray. We're not convinced it's a great movie, but it certainly is a great deal of fun and we all love it. There is an audacity to the film. This is a movie that wraps up a story that has played out over nearly two dozen films and does it with an incredible sense of nostalgia. It is weird and wild and wonderful and thoroughly enjoyable... but maybe not a great movie.
Meanderings #161: Binge-Watching ("Saw") Movies
July 23, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 7.68 MBIn the our last episode, Josh talked about how he had seen one "Saw" movie and would inevitably watch more. In this sequel, Josh announces that he's seen all eight via the wonder of binge-watching. Now he's here to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of that process.
Meanderings #160: On Process
July 16, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 7.51 MBWe live in a world that moves exceptionally fast. This often causes us to miss the most fascinating things; to just accept that which is miraculous... or at least super complicated. This week we're talking a little bit about process and just how it is truly an amazing thing to think about.
Meanderings #159: "Dumbo," "Pet Sematary," & Evoking Emotion
July 09, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 7.4 MBThe year 2019 has seen new versions of both "Dumbo" and "Pet Sematary." Both films are now out on 4K & Blu-ray, but the similarities don't stop there. Both of these movies put kids and animals in harm's way to evoke an emotional response from the audience. It is within each film's reason for evoking this response that they are different, and that's what we're talking about today.
Episode 43: "Sides of a Horn" and the Nuance of Rhino Poaching
June 25, 2019 12:00 - 21 minutes - 24.2 MBIt is often said that there are two sides two every story, but those two sides aren't always apparent. Up on today's podcast is writer-director Toby Wosskow, a man who has made a short film about rhino poaching and how it may currently be beneficial to some. Where did he learn about the issues surrounding rhino poaching and how did he get this movie made? Wosskow is here to tell us. Official blurb about the film: The short film, written and directed by Toby Wosskow, from Executive...
Meanderings #158: Just Call her Captain Marvel-ous
June 18, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 7.04 MBWith "Captain Marvel," the MCU finally put a woman front and center on the big screen. By no means the worst movie in the franchise, it is also not the best. But, does the film offer a look at this new hero who might just become the new face of the MCU and the greatest character they've put on screen?
Meanderings #157: "For the Birds" is Anything but
June 11, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 5.84 MBFor this film, director Richard Miron follows Kathy Murphy for five years. Over the course of that time he captures the explosion of the bird population at her house... the birds she keeps and takes care of. He follows the massive issues that causes in her life. He offers looks at things one can't imagine he knew was coming when he started. It is, in a word, incredible.
Meanderings #156: Is Amazon's Jack Ryan Really Jack Ryan
June 04, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.47 MBWith season two and three on the way, Amazon's version of Tom Clancy's analyst turned super spy, Jack Ryan, is finally available on Blu-ray. The series stars John Krasinski in the title role, but is the man from "The Office" and "A Quiet Place" the Jack Ryan we have all come to know and sometimes love. And, moreover, does it matter?
Meanderings #155: Tick Tock, "John Wick"
May 21, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.47 MBWith "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" sitting atop the box office, this week's podcast takes a look at just what has made the film franchise so successful. Could it be that John Wick is just a super-violent James Bond? Could it be the blood? Could it just be Keanu?
Meanderings #154: A Lamentation on Lacking Hot Water
May 14, 2019 12:00 - 4 minutes - 4.88 MBRather than following our usual "let's see what Josh is obsessing about movie-wise this week" format, today's episode features an entirely different obsession from our host -- his love of hot water for showers and dismay when he doesn't have any such water. Is he able to tie this back into movies? Of course he is. Please listen, enjoy, and forgive this week's digression.
Meanderings #153: Would you Want to Know "What Men Want"
May 07, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.13 MB"What Men Want," the Taraji P. Henson starring spin on Mel Gibson's "What Women Want" is now out on Blu-ray. While the movie does some things very well, it does others in disappointing fashion. Not to worry, we're here to break it all down for you and help you decide whether you should bother putting in the time.
Episode 42: "Scheme Birds" and Spending Years on a Documentary
April 30, 2019 12:00 - 17 minutes - 19.9 MBDirectors Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin have spent years putting together the documentary, "Scheme Birds." The piece is showing this year at the Tribeca Film Festival and follows a young woman, Gemma, who is growing up in a housing project in Scotland. What does it take to spend years on such a project not knowing the outcome? Why follow this particular woman? What's next? The directors clue us in.
Meanderings #152: Car Trips with "The Kid who Would be King"
April 23, 2019 12:00 - 6 minutes - 7.02 MBWe were trepidatious about buying a car with a Blu-ray player, our kids already have enough devices on car trips, but last week a road trip using the Blu-ray player reminded us just how wonderful an experience movies can be when shared. We watched our child watch "The Kid who Would be King," and saw the beauty of emotions playing across his face.
Meanderings #151: "Holmes & Watson" and a Lack of Funny
April 09, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.15 MBWill Ferrell and John C. Reilly are both funny men. They are funny together and they are funny separately. Spoofs can be very funny. Sherlock Holmes is a character ready to be spoofed (and he has been spoofed before). That said, these two funny men with what could be a very funny idea for a movie end up delivering something... less than funny in "Holmes & Watson."
Meanderings #150: "Bumblebee," the Good Transformers Movie
April 02, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.44 MBIt took six tries for them to finally make a good Transformers movie, but with "Bumblebee," the franchise finally got it right. On this week's podcast we chat about just where "Bumblebee" succeeds where the others fail and what we want out of the future of the franchise.
Meanderings #149: "Mary Poppins Returns" and She's Practically Perfect
March 19, 2019 12:00 - 4 minutes - 5.25 MBThere is a magic to "Mary Poppins Returns," but there is a question to it as well -- does some of the magic emanate from how the movie purposefully apes moments from the original? On this week's podcast we take a good look at the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious sequel and discuss just what works and what doesn't and whether it's worth your time.
Meanderings #148: What we can Learn from "The Ox-Bow Incident"
March 12, 2019 12:00 - 5 minutes - 6.14 MBThere is something to be said for not succumbing to a mob mentality, for not going off half-cocked before the facts are in... or just ignoring the facts entirely. "The Ox-Bow Incident" may be more than 75 years old, but its message is just as relevant today as it ever was. Take a listen to this week's episode as we urge listeners to watch the movie and to have the courage to do the right thing in the face of those who would do the wrong one.
Meanderings #147: Falling in Love with "Instant Family"
March 05, 2019 13:00 - 6 minutes - 7.06 MBImagine putting out there a comedy where a childless couple decide to foster (in order to then adopt) not one, not two, but three kids. Imagine the comedy then attempting to deal with the difficulties that parents and children face in such a situation. Imagine it being done with humor and heart and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of respect for the issues. "Instant Family" does just that, and we're talking about it on today's podcast.
Episode 41: Mandie Fletcher of "Patrick"
February 26, 2019 13:00 - 15 minutes - 17.2 MBIs it difficult to work with animals? Is it difficult to work in comedy, both on the big screen and the small, for decades? Mandie Fletcher stops by the podcast today in order to tell us about her new film, "Patrick," as well as her work on the "Black-Adder" series and "Absolutely Fabulous." She even offers suggestions for Josh as to how to convince his wife to get a dog.
Meanderings #146: "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Overlord," and Graduate School
February 19, 2019 13:00 - 6 minutes - 6.89 MBJosh wasn't a favorite student amongst his professors when he was in graduate school. Why? Well, there are several reasons why this could have been the case and on today's podcast, using "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Overlord," we're going to take a gander into one of the possibilities.
Meanderings #145: "Nobody's Fool" and Making Lists
February 12, 2019 13:00 - 4 minutes - 5.6 MBThe new Tyler Perry movie, "Nobody's Fool" features a character making a list, a physical list, of things she wants in a relationship. Do people do that? DO they then bring them on dates and check off boxes when someone meets a requirement (not that this last thing happens in the film)? If that's reality, we want to know about it.
Meanderings #144: "Nutcracker and the Four Realms" and Swinging for the Fences
February 05, 2019 13:00 - 5 minutes - 5.94 MBSometimes movies fail, but it is always better to see a movie fail when it goes all out rather than playing it safe. If you're going to fail, fail big, fail huge. Disney's "Nutcracker and the Four Realms" is a completely weird, quite poor, movie. But, at least it tried hard.
Episode 40: Peter Hutchings of "Then Came You"
January 29, 2019 13:00 - 21 minutes - 25.1 MBToday on the podcast we have Peter Hutchings, the director of a new movie with Asa Butterfield and Maisie Williams entitled "Then Came You." About a young woman with cancer and a young man who fears he has it, the movie has to manage to balance both humor and drama, and it succeeds in spades. Hutchings delves into exactly what it takes to make that happen and when he knew that he had succeeded.
Meanderings #143: "Once Upon a Deadpool" & "First Man"
January 22, 2019 13:00 - 6 minutes - 6.89 MBWhat is history? How does it affect our present day? How are we meant to understand it? This week, we're examining that very... or those very questions... as we look at "Once Upon a Deadpool" and "First Man." Sure, the films are very different, but they both have interesting things to say about the past.
Meanderings #142: Digging into the TiVo Archives
January 15, 2019 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.81 MBThere are movies which sit on Josh's TiVo for years. Literally years. He records them and then never thinks about them again. For this week's episode he decided to do the unimaginable and actually watch one. It was a mistake. A massive mistake.
Meanderings #141: "Murder by Death" is Great and Worrisome
January 08, 2019 13:00 - 6 minutes - 6.98 MBA brilliantly funny movie, Neil Simon's "Murder by Death" is not without some moments to make one pause. Chief amongst these is having Peter Sellers in yellowface. Perhaps though the representation is there in order to tear down their very use. Would that make it okay? We examine the issue on this week's podcast.
Meanderings #140: Celebrate the Holidays with Mrs. Maisel
December 18, 2018 13:00 - 4 minutes - 5.45 MBIt is entirely possible, perhaps even probable, that "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" presents an idealized version of the late 1950s as opposed to reality. For our, presumably, last podcast of the year, we argue that it simply doesn't matter. That the series and its star are more than good enough in this bit of escapist fantasy that we should all just enjoy.
Meanderings #139: The Perfection of "The Muppet Christmas Carol"
December 11, 2018 13:00 - 5 minutes - 6.69 MBOne of the best part of the Dickens novel "A Christmas Carol" is the voice of the narrator and no big screen version of the story captures that voice remotely as well as "The Muppet Christmas Carol." But, that isn't the only thing the movie has going for it. This week, we submit to you, that there is no better messenger for the novel than The Muppets.