Best Bella Efstratis Podcasts (2024)

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45 - Katt Shea Interview (Poison Ivy, The Rage: Carrie 2, Rescued By Ruby) 38:29

15h ago38:29

38:29

Send us a text We round out our weeks-long celebration of female horror directors by revisiting a 2022 interview with the great Katt Shea, one of Nicholas Ybarra's favorite filmmakers. Katt Shea started as an actress and worked her way into the director's chair, starting under the Roger Corman umbrella. Her films Stripped To Kill, Streets, and The …

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44 - Horror Films Directed by Women pt. 2 (feat. Jess McLaughlin) 1:13:53

2d ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Send us a text And we’re back with Part II! In this episode, Nick, Bella, and Jess return to discuss three more brilliant horror films directed by women, each from a different era and offering a distinct twist on the genre. - Jess picked Tiger Stripes (2023), Amanda Nell Eu’s bold coming-of-age body horror. - Nick selected The Slumber Party Massacr…

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43 - Horror Films Directed by Women pt. 1 (feat. Jess McLaughlin) 1:09:40

11d ago1:09:40

1:09:40

Send us a text Are you loving Gimme Three's horror content this month? Well, get ready for even more because we're bringing you six killer horror film recommendations in our newest two-part series: Horror Films Directed by Women! Over the next two weeks, Nick, Bella, and returning special guest Jess McLaughlin have curated a fantastic lineup showca…

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42 - Hispanic Horrors (feat. Felix Martiz) 59:17

18d ago59:17

59:17

Send us a text We kick off our month-long horror film extravaganza by also celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. In this episode (a re-release from a 2020 Film Forward episode), co-host Nicholas Ybarra chats with award-winning filmmaker Felix Martiz, and they each provide three outstanding horror films by Hispanic filmmakers. Ybarra and Martiz discu…

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41 - Jokers Are Wild - Batman, The Dark Knight, Joker 1:24:49

23d ago1:24:49

1:24:49

Send us a text Once again, Joker is the talk of the town. To mark the recent release of Joker: Folie à Deux, Nick and Bella are exploring the history of the iconic character and the tremendous actors who have donned the face paint. We open with the performance that changed the game. Jack Nicholson steals the show in Tim Burton's Batman with his unf…

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40 - James Earl Jones: Deep Voice. Deeper Legacy. 1:15:55

1M ago1:15:55

1:15:55

Send us a text Earlier this month, on September 9th, the legendary stage and screen actor James Earl Jones passed away at the age of 93. Jones made his film debut in 1964 with Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, and continued to grace the screen for nearly 60 more years. Beyond the screen, his brilliance shone on stage, earning him two Tony Awards, …

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39 - The Cornetto Trilogy / Shaun Of The Dead's 20th Anniversary (feat. Daniel Ott) 1:13:26

1M ago1:13:26

1:13:26

Send us a text September 24th, 2024, marks the 20th Anniversary of Shaun Of The Dead's US Release. The forever-fresh cult classic not only launched Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost to mega-stardom, but the film also kicked off a trilogy of brilliant collaborations between the three artists. In this episode, Bella and Nick are joined by Dani…

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38 - Philip Seymour Hoffman In Supporting Roles 1:20:04

2M ago1:20:04

1:20:04

Send us a text This week, we conclude our tribute series to the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman. Nick and Bella spotlight three of Hoffman’s most memorable supporting performances. Philip Seymour Hoffman never needed an exuberant amount of screen time to leave his mark on a film. Often, his supporting roles left as big of an impact as the leading …

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37 - Philip Seymour Hoffman x Paul Thomas Anderson: A Match Made In Heaven 1:25:51

2M ago1:25:51

1:25:51

Send us a text Continuing our tribute to the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman, this week Nick and Bella spotlight three of the most powerful collaborations between Hoffman and visionary director Paul Thomas Anderson. Hoffman and Anderson shared a profound friendship and creative bond, built on deep mutual respect, admiration, and a dynamic artistic…

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36 - Philip Seymour Hoffman In Leading Roles 1:17:56

2M ago1:17:56

1:17:56

Send us a text ANOTHER LEGENDARY ACTOR'S TRIBUTE! This week on the Gimme Three Podcast co-hosts Bella Efstratis and Nicholas Ybarra celebrate the life and career of Philip Seymour Hoffman. As hard as it is to believe, this year marks a decade since Philip Seymour Hoffman's tragic passing. In this episode, the duo discusses some of Hoffman's pivotal…

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🔒 (Bonus) Summer Discoveries w/ Bella Efstratis & Sonja Mereu 53:12

2M ago53:12

53:12

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text In this Bonus Episode (for subscribers only) - Co-Host Bella Efstatis and Producer Sonja Mereu recall some of their favorite film discoveries from this summer. With a blend of brand-spanking new movies and old gems, Bella and Sonja compile a well-rounded list of suggestions. In this episode, they discuss Twist…

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35 - Gena Rowlands Tribute 1:17:49

2M ago1:17:49

1:17:49

Send us a text Earlier this month, we lost one of the most important, innovative, and courageous actors in American cinema, Gena Rowlands. Gena left behind a collection of jaw-dropping performances and an unforgettable approach to her craft. In this episode, co-hosts Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis discuss three of Gena’s memorable characters, …

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34 - Concert Films pt. 2 (feat. Sonja Mereu & Max Sopkin) 50:45

2M ago50:45

50:45

Send us a text In the exciting conclusion to our series on concert films, Nick, Max, and Sonja delve into three more concert films. In this episode, the trio discuss: The Spike Lee and David Byrne collaboration of American Utopia The raucous 75,000+ attended Queen: Live At Wembley Martin Scorcese's gorgeous Rolling Stones film Shine A Light In addi…

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33 - Concert Films pt. 1 (feat. Sonja Mereu & Max Sopkin) 1:07:37

2M ago1:07:37

1:07:37

Send us a text Co-host Nicholas Ybarra returns to the show while Bella Efstratis takes a well-deserved week off. Nicholas is joined by the familiar voices of Sonja Mereu and Max Sopkin. They'll be discussing some conversation-worthy concert films – and not just any concert films, but those featuring some of the most controversial artists of the las…

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32 - The War Within - America's Love/Hate Relationship with War (feat. Matt Cochran) 2:04:25

3M ago2:04:25

2:04:25

Send us a text This week on The Gimme Three Podcast, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by her good friend Matt Cochran, a cinephile and history buff, for a deep dive into America’s complex relationship with war in cinema. Together, they explore three films that arguably blur the line between being anti-war and glorifying it. Matt’s three film recom…

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31 - Denzel Washington Films (feat. Trey Armstrong) 1:22:23

3M ago1:22:23

1:22:23

Send us a text A LEGENDARY ACTOR'S SPOTLIGHT! This week on the Gimme Three Podcast, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by actor, filmmaker, & writer Trey Armstrong to celebrate his favorite actor of all time, Denzel Washington. Trey recommends a brilliant variety of three incredible Denzel Washington films: First, we have Tony Scott's standout 1995 …

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30 - Harry Potter Films (feat. Bailey Katler) 1:43:42

3M ago1:43:42

1:43:42

Send us a text This week marks the birthday of one of the most beloved fictional characters of all time—Harry Potter! To celebrate the Boy Who Lived, Bella Efstratis is joined by her fellow Potterhead bestie, Bailey Katler, for an incredible Harry Potter episode! Introducing our Top 3 Harry Potter Films: First, we go back to where it all began with…

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29 - Spike Lee's First Three (35th Anniversary Celebration of Do The Right Thing) 1:23:23

3M ago1:23:23

1:23:23

Send us a text This week, we are celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Nick’s favorite film, Do The Right Thing (a Spike Lee Joint). Picking a mere three films from Spike’s prolific filmography would be an impossible task. Thus, we’ve decided to explore the jaw-droopingly impressive first three films from Mr. Lee. We open with his audacious and sultr…

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28 - Animated Short Films 1:16:56

4M ago1:16:56

1:16:56

Send us a text The gang is back together again!! Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis reunite to dive into the whimsical world of animation on this week's episode of the Gimme Three Podcast! Join us as we explore six amazing short films that highlight the magic of both stop-motion and 2D animation. Each film offers a unique style and concept, making…

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27 - Brat Pack Films (feat. Ryan Lacen & Adriana Lopez) 1:10:44

4M ago1:10:44

1:10:44

Send us a text The release of Andrew McCarthy's documentary Brats has audiences revisiting and reliving a marquee era for teen cinema. On today's episode, host Nicholas Ybarra is joined by guests Adriana Lopez and Ryan Lacen. Together, they explore how watching these films through an adult lens has shifted their perceptions. Also, prepare yourself …

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26 - Donald Sutherland Tribute (feat. Sonja Mereu) 1:22:29

4M ago1:22:29

1:22:29

Send us a text This week's episode celebrates the late, great actor Donald Sutherland. Apologies to all the Bella Efstratis superfans; Bella is absent this week. However, we are joined by the spectacular PGA producer, Gimme Three producer, and wife of host Nicholas Ybarra: Sonja Mereu. Nick & Sonja discuss three of Donald Sutherland's prominent per…

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25 - Yorgos Lanthimos Spotlight (feat. Michel Eljaiek) 1:42:13

4M ago1:42:13

1:42:13

Send us a text This week on the Gimme Three Podcast, we’re gearing up for Kinds of Kindness with a thrilling Yorgos Lanthimos Spotlight episode! While the brilliant Nicholas Ybarra is off making some movie magic this week, co-host Bella Efstratis is joined by her long-time friend and a true Yorgos aficionado, Michel Eljaiek. For this week’s episode…

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24 - Queer Love Stories pt. 2 50:50

4M ago50:50

50:50

Send us a text In part two of our Queer Love Stories series, Nick and Bella delve into an extraordinarily underrated documentary and two brilliant romcoms that highlight some of our favorite queer love stories in cinema. Nick starts with Peter Friedman's Silverlake Life: The View From Here, a brutally intimate video diary that documents Tom Joslin …

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23 - Queer Love Stories pt. 1 1:08:40

5M ago1:08:40

1:08:40

Send us a text Happy Pride, everyone! In honor of Pride Month, we’re celebrating with a specially curated selection of some of the greatest queer love stories in cinema! Join Nick and Bella as they discuss three of the most celebrated, impressive, and romantic queer love stories ever told. We’re talking all about the visual beauty of these films an…

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22 - Pixar Films pt. 2 (feat. Max Sopkin) 1:04:16

5M ago1:04:16

1:04:16

Send us a text We've finally reached the grand finale of our Pixar Extravaganza! In this episode, Nick, Bella, and Max discuss under-appreciated gems, the groundbreaking evolution of Pixar's animation technology, and the increasingly pertinent "spoonful of sugar" message in Pixar's most sci-fi film. Max starts us off with his second movie pick, Pix…

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21 - Pixar Films pt. 1 (feat. Max Sopkin) 1:24:24

5M ago1:24:24

1:24:24

Send us a text Pixar changed the animation industry forever. As we prepare for this week's release of Inside Out 2, we decided to explore some of our (and your) favorite Pixar films. Our friend and returning guest, Max Sopkin (see our musical episodes), joins us for this episode. We kick it off with the film that started it all, 1995's Toy Story. C…

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20 - Queer Horror pt. 2 (feat. Jess McLaughlin) 1:10:02

5M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Send us a text In the exciting conclusion to our Queer Horror episodes, Nick, Bella, and guest Jess McLaughlin discuss the absurd, the heart-wrenching, the sexy, and the majesty of three marquee movies. The odd but pertinent sequel, A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, kicks off our episode as we do a deep dive not only into the film but …

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19 - Queer Horror pt. 1 (feat. Jess McLaughlin) 1:10:51

5M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Send us a text It’s Pride Month, y’all. And what better way to celebrate than with a smorgasbord of Queer Horror films. Jess McLaughlin, a brilliant writer and horror movie enthusiast, joins the podcast to drop some knowledge on the wonders that are queer horror films. In addition to providing some excellent recommendations, Jess discusses her upco…

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18 - Roger Corman Tribute 1:10:57

5M ago1:10:57

1:10:57

Send us a text Earlier this month, we lost one of the most significant figures in the history of the film industry, Roger Corman. Corman's illustrious career can't be narrowed down to three films, so we opted to pick three of his directorial films that helped shape American pop culture. We start with his 1960 gem Little Shop Of Horrors, the gold st…

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17 - Mad Max Films 1:14:40

6M ago1:14:40

1:14:40

Send us a text In preparation for the release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Nick & Bella go deep into the wasteland of the Mad Max Universe. In this episode, we explore the three best films of the franchise (thus far). We start with the scrappy, earnest Ausploitation film that started all the madness: Mad Max. If indie gems aren’t your bag, but kinky…

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16 - MORE Great Mother Characters 55:37

6M ago55:37

55:37

Send us a text In part two of our Mother's Day Celebration, Nick & Bella discuss three more memorable mother characters. Claudine, starring the legendary Diahann Carroll, was a boundary-pushing film about a mother of six navigating the welfare system. The film also stars a sweaty, studly James Earl Jones. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal knocked it out of…

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15 - Great Mother Characters pt. 1 58:30

6M ago58:30

58:30

Send us a text Happy Belated Mother’s Day! We love our mothers, and we love film. So what better way to celebrate than to discuss three unforgettable mother characters in cinema? In part one of two, Nick & Bella opens the show with a few very heavy but powerful films. Brie Larson’s Academy Award-winning performance in Room is on the docket (yeah… h…

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🔒 (Bonus) March & April Finds '24 52:05

6M ago52:05

52:05

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text Nick and Bella have six film recommendations for you on this exceptional BONUS edition of The Gimme Three Podcast—A Series for Cinephiles. Bella has three gems for you, including the Academy Award-winning short documentary, The Last Repair Shop. Not only does Bella deliver a beautiful review of the film, but w…

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14 - Bonus Episode Preview 1:03:46

6M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

Send us a text A very special episode just for YOU! Get ready for an exclusive preview of some of the bonus content behind our Patreon! Join Nicholas Ybarra as he takes you on an epic journey through the highlights of our bonus episodes, including: Nick and Bella's reactions to Barbenheimer in our MORE Favorites of 2023 episode. An enlightening int…

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13 - Michelle Pfeiffer Spotlight 1:06:27

6M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

Send us a text Join the dangerous minds of Nicholas Ybarra and Bella Efstratis as they discuss one of the 21st century's most fabulous performers, Michelle Pfeiffer. To celebrate Ms. Pfeiffer's birthday, Nick and Bella explore three wildly entertaining films from Michelle's filmography. In this episode, we discuss titillating Dangerous Liaisons, th…

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12 - Ride or Die Films 1:16:41

7M ago1:16:41

1:16:41

Send us a text Buckle up for an unforgettable ride with our latest episode of the Gimme Three Podcast! Join co-host Bella Efstratis and her special “ride or die” guest, Remy Smith, as they dive into the empowering world of Ride or Die films, showcasing some of cinema’s most unforgettable female friendships. From the hilarious escapades of Molly & A…

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11 - Movie Musicals pt. 3 (feat. Max Sopkin) 56:26

7M ago56:26

56:26

Send us a text Our Movie Musicals series reaches its grand finale this week! Join us for the exciting conclusion of this series, featuring our esteemed guest, Max Sopkin, as we explore the unforgettable songs and scenes of our final two picks, Annie and Little Shop of Horrors. Prepare to deep dive into the heart of these timeless classics as Nick, …

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10 - Movie Musicals pt. 2 (feat. Max Sopkin) 1:24:12

7M ago1:24:12

1:24:12

Send us a text We’re so excited to jump into our second week of movie musical recommendations! In this episode, Bella Efstratis, Nicholas Ybarra, and special guest Max Sopkin dive in to a unique lineup of movie musicals that are childhood staples for Bella and Max. This episode features in-depth discussions of Singing in the Rain, Chitty Chitty Ban…

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09 - Movie Musicals pt. 1 (feat. Max Sopkin) 1:11:48

7M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

Send us a text Get ready for two weeks loaded with musical recommendations. In this episode, actor and musical aficionado Max Sopkin discusses some of the movie musicals that helped shape his life: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fiddler on the Roof, and Grease. Co-host Nicholas Ybarra shares three musical picks that shaped his life: Zoot Suit, Ca…

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08 - Dorothy Arzner Spotlight 1:03:03

7M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Send us a text We wrap up our celebration of Women's History Month by honoring the most prolific American female filmmaker in history, Dorothy Arzner. In this episode, we highlight some of Arzner's industry-shaking contributions to cinema. We also deep-dive into three of her films: the 1931 pre-code drama Working Girls, the Joan Crawford film The B…

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🔒 (Bonus) Mollye Asher Interview (2021) 23:08

8M ago23:08

23:08

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text Greetings to our Bonus Content subscribers! If you enjoyed our recent episode spotlighting Chloe Zhao, you'll love this interview with Academy Award-Winning producer Mollye Asher. Mollye produced Songs My Brothers Taught Me, The Rider, Nomadland, and several other incredible projects. In this 2021 interview, s…

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07 - Chloé Zhao Spotlight 55:27

8M ago55:27

55:27

Send us a text We continue our weekly tribute to female filmmakers for Women's History Month. This week, we highlight the first three films of Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao. Songs My Brothers Taught Me, The Rider and Nomadland have each garnered several awards and have helped make Zhao one of the most well-respected filmmakers working t…

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🔒 (Bonus) February Finds '24 58:45

8M ago58:45

58:45

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text We're coming at ya with another Bonus Episode for our subscribers! The real ones. The homies. The gang gang. Whatever the kids say - we love you and we appreciate your support. In this bonus episode, Nick and Bella each talk about three movies that they discovered in the month of February 2024. They may not be…

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06 - Agnès Varda Spotlight (feat. Remy Smith) 1:14:49

8M ago1:14:49

1:14:49

Send us a text Agnès Varda is one the most innovative and boundary-pushing filmmakers in cinematic history. Her impact on the French New Wave and her genre-blending approach has completely changed the game. In this episode, Nick, Bella, and Varda fan Remy Smith (who also happens to be our first guest!) do a deep dive into three of Agnès' most impre…

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05 - Kasi Lemmons Spotlight 1:00:23

8M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Send us a text Kasi Lemmons has injected a distinct style into her films. In this episode, Nicholas and Bella explore the first three films of Ms. Lemmons' filmography: the indie-classic Eve's Bayou, the gritty and ever-surprising Caveman's Valentine, and the powerful biopic Talk To Me. Three very different films from one powerhouse of a filmmaker.…

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04 - Carl Weathers Tribute 1:11:13

8M ago1:11:13

1:11:13

Send us a text On February 1st, 2024, we lost one of our generation's most charismatic and loveable actors, Carl Weathers. In this episode, Nick and Bella discuss three of Mr. Weathers' most memorable roles (it was a daunting task to narrow this down to three films). Apollo Creed makes his second appearance on the Gimme Three Podcast as we discuss …

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🔒 (Bonus) MORE Favorites of 2023 1:09:27

8M ago1:09:27

1:09:27

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text If you loved our episode, which highlighted our favorite films of 2023, then look no further than this deeper dive into the memorable year 2023. In our very first bonus episode, Bella and Nick discuss Barbie and Oppenheimer and a couple of the sexier films from the year, including Saltburn and No Hard Feelings…

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03 - Favorites of 2023 1:13:02

9M ago1:13:02

1:13:02

Send us a text 2023 was a year of cinematic highs and lows. Bella and Nicholas discuss their Barbenheimer experiences, as well as the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. And, of course, each host will provide their three favorites for 2023. Join us as we discuss what we love about Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things, Monster, Past Lives, The Holdovers, …

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02 - The Before Trilogy 1:04:04

9M ago1:04:04

1:04:04

Send us a text To celebrate Valentine's Day, we tackle one of the most innovative and romantic trilogies of all time - The Before Trilogy. Richard Linklater's heavy hitters depict the birth and evolution of a relationship. Over the course of eighteen years, the characters grow and mature... and what's so unique is that the audience grows and mature…

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01 - Films That Define Us 1:31:07

9M ago1:31:07

1:31:07

Send us a text On the very first episode of Gimme Three, Nick and Bella each pick three films that define who they are as cinephiles... and people! Wowza! If you wanna get to know your hostess with the mostess (Bella) and the other guy (Nick), this is a great episode. Leave us a comment and let us know what film(s) define you! Support the show Sign…

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