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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 characters.

• First up is one of his earliest roles in the Academy Award-winning film Scent Of A Woman.

• Next, Hoffman lights up the screen with an uncomfortable amount of energy, charisma, and tension in the juicy 1999 mystery The Talented Mr. Ripley.

• Finally, we get to explore Hoffman's outstanding comedic chops as he portrays Brandt in the cult classic The Big Lebowski.

Also, our producer Sonja Mereu discusses one of Philip’s lesser-known films, Pirate Radio (aka The Boat That Rocked).

Please let us know your thoughts on this episode and our entire Philip Seymour Hoffman series.

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Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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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 synergy. Hoffman appeared in five of Anderson’s films, shaping some of his most iconic works and forming one of the most significant director-actor partnerships in modern cinema.

From their five brilliant collaborations, Bella and Nick have selected three standout films showcasing Hoffman’s extraordinary range:

• First up is Boogie Nights, where Hoffman plays Scotty J, the kind but awkward and vulnerable crew member in Anderson’s dark, raunchy, and wildly entertaining 70s period piece.
  
  
• Next, we dive into Magnolia, one of Anderson’s most acclaimed films, with Hoffman delivering a touching performance as Phil, a compassionate hospice caretaker with a heart of gold.
  
  
• Finally, we arrive at The Master, a masterpiece in both filmmaking and acting. Hoffman shines as an enigmatic cult leader in his final collaboration with Anderson, cementing their remarkable legacy.

Also! Our producer Sonja Mereu brings you an incredible and heartwarming edition of Sonja's Movie Minute. In this episode, she reflects on the generational continuation of this creative legacy with Philip Seymour Hoffman's son, Cooper Hoffman, who stars in PTA’s Licorice Pizza.

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the episode—send us your feedback and enjoy!

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Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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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 leading performances.

• First, we have Sidney Lumet's swan song, the gripping 2008 crime thriller Before The Devil Knows You're Dead. In this one, Philip Seymour Hoffman takes his acting to new, intense heights.

• Next, we attempt to dissect the dense masterpiece Synecdoche, New York. In what may be his most enigmatic roles, Hoffman knocks it out of the park as the troubled stage director Caden Cotard.

• Finally, we discuss the intricacies of Philip Seymour Hoffman's Academy Award-winning performance as Truman Capote in Capote.

In this episode, Bella and Nick analyze Hoffman's portrayal of vulnerability in all of his characters and its effect on the audience.

Stay tuned for more episodes highlighting the work of Philip Seymour Hoffman in the coming weeks.

Support the show

Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

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You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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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 Twisters, Thelma, Princess Cyd, Flipside, Imagine Me and You, Run Lola Run, and The People's Joker.

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You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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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, all collaborating with her creative partner/husband, John Cassavetes.

• The boozy, gripping, mid-life crisis-induced Faces.
• The enigmatic fever dream called Opening Night
• Gena’s Academy Award-nominated performance in Gloria

Our producer, Sonja Mereu, also discusses perhaps her most famous role in A Woman Under the Influence in a segment we call Sonja’s Movie Minute.

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Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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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 addition to these incredible films, the group discusses Taylor Swift, Bill Clinton, and Nick recounts the best career advice he ever received.

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Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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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 last half-century.


The episode will cover the following concert films:

• Michael Jackson's This Is It
• The Last Waltz
• Our audience pick, Madonna: Truth Or Dare

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Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

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 recommendations for this episode include:

• Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987)
• Sam Mendes' Jarhead (2005)
• Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker (2009)

Throughout the episode, Matt provides in-depth history lessons on each war depicted in the films we discuss, allowing us to analyze them not only within their historical contexts but also considering the cultural climate in which they were released.

Together, we break down the elements we appreciated in each film while also reflecting on our own contradictions in grappling with the allure of war movies.

And, of course, we dive into whether these films really hit the mark with their anti-war message or miss it entirely.

Expect equal praise and criticism of these iconic films! We can't wait to hear your thoughts, so send us your takes and let us know what you think of ours!

Support the show

Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.