Her Screen Thoughts - Movie & TV Reviews

In this episode I take a deep dive into The Reluctant Fundamentalist, a film that should have been front-row center but never got its moment. I talk about Riz Ahmed’s extraordinary performance, the quiet brilliance of Mira Nair’s direction, the music that pulls you into another cultural syntax, and the way the film exposes America’s post-9/11 blind spots without shouting. It is a story about identity, belonging, and the small humiliations that shape a life. And maybe more than anything, it’s a reminder that no one becomes a fundamentalist in a vacuum — and we should stop pretending otherwise. - Hollister Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merser and Wilder could not wait to unpack Season Three of The Diplomat, which Merser calls “the best of the three, by a diplomatic mile.” After a quick walk through Seasons One and Two, they dive into the complex and ingenious storytelling that defines this season. You cannot talk about The Diplomat without invoking The West Wing and Homeland, and Debora Cahn, who wrote for both, shows how to fuse the best of those worlds while making something singular in The Diplomat. The plot is a high-stakes global crisis, personal entanglements that complicate every choice, and a quieter script that lets tension build in the spaces between lines. In a world on edge, this story lands close to home and makes for must-watch TV. Spoilers ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"May December," featuring a star-studded cast including Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, is much more than the torrid story of a seventh-grade teacher who ensnared her student, went to prison for it, and married him upon her release. It transcends that narrative, offering a profound exploration of complex themes. Don't miss the discussion on the film's production, including the techniques employed by Todd Haynes. His interpretations consistently delve deeper than the obvious. JI5Ugqcy89Ve5vHa6ABf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christine Merser AKA Hollister has nothing but praise for Jesse Eisenberg from the start of this week's episode, as she dives into his latest film, A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. Starring alongside Eisenberg is Kieran Culkin, as the two portray mismatched Jewish-American cousins traveling to Poland to honor their late grandmother—taking us on a heartfelt, funny, and emotional journey.In a surprising first, Christine places another writer on the same pedestal as Aaron Sorkin. While we won’t give too much away about the title, we absolutely love it—and we think you will too after watching the film. While we encourage you to see it in theaters if it's still playing in your area, A Real Pain is now streaming on Hulu, and we’d love to hear your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christine Merser aka Hollister has a solo episode for us after watching and being left speechless by Netflix's new documentary, Martha, about Martha Stewart. Christine marvels about Martha being our first real influencer and first female self-made billionaire, her sense of excellence and what that sometimes means for the people around her, and concludes with a heartfelt apology. And, at the end Who should watch this? Any woman in business. Or maybe just any woman. What we took away? Learn something new every day. We start tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices