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Cinephile Hissy Fit Examines Warfare

(Left) Will Poulter in Warfare. Image courtesy of A24 Films.

The hosts of the Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast find director Alex Garland in a tough spot with Warfare, his 2025 co-directorial effort with soldier-turned-filmmaker Ray Mendoza. Last year, Garland attempted his biggest film to date with the edgy political science fiction hit Civil War starring Kirsten Dunst. In that spring box office headliner, he received criticism for being very noncommital and gray about taking political sides in the film (including on our reviews and a previous podcast episode). The question became could he be that neutral again and would that work with something factually-based like Warfare instead of the scathing satire of Civil War. Our show gets into those weeds.

The cover photo of the Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast episode for Sinners

For their 217th episode, two principled film critics, two non-veteran dads, and two warrior teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, return from a short October haitus for the first of two episodes celebrating their Best Member Podcast nomination from the first annual Astra Podcast Awards. The film of choice is Alex Garland’s electric 2025 military thriller Warfare, something Will—a loyal Garland stan—is surprised and maybe even a little ashamed he didn’t see on the big screen. He and Don focus their thoughts the same way the movie focuses on the rescue operation at hand. Come learn more and stay for the mutual love and respect that fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!

Cinephile Hissy Fit is an Astra Award-losing Film Obsessive media podcast, brought to you by the Ruminations Radio Network, and a member of the Critics Choice Podcast Network. Please visit, rate, review and subscribe. If you enjoyed this show, we have more where that came from, with interesting hosts, and wonderful guests. All are available on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you find your favorite shows. Follow the show on Twitter at @CinephileFit and on Facebook. Also, find both Will Johnson and Don Shanahan on Letterboxd as they accumulate their viewings and build their ranks and lists. Lastly, check out their TeePublic store for merchandise options from stickers to t-shirts!

Thank you so much for your captive audience and social media participation! Enjoy our new podcast episode!

Written by Don Shanahan

DON SHANAHAN is a Chicago-based Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic writing here on Film Obsessive as the Editor-in-Chief and Content Supervisor for the film department. He also writes for his own website, Every Movie Has a Lesson. Don is one of the hosts of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast on the Ruminations Radio Network and sponsored by Film Obsessive. As a school teacher by day, Don writes his movie reviews with life lessons in mind, from the serious to the farcical. He is a proud director and one of the founders of the Chicago Indie Critics and a voting member of the nationally-recognized Critics Choice Association, Hollywood Creative Alliance, Online Film Critics Society, North American Film Critics Association, International Film Society Critics Association, Internet Film Critics Society, Online Film and TV Association, and the Celebrity Movie Awards.

Alex GarlandCinephileCritics Choice Podcast NetworkDon ShanahanFilm Obsessive Radiojoseph quinnRay MendozaRuminations Radio NetworkWarfareWill Johnson

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