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, and his incredible career culminated in the rare achievement of an EGOT.

It's no secret that James Earl Jones possessed one of the greatest voices of all time, lending his voice to some truly iconic characters like Star Wars' iconic villain Darth Vader and Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King.

In this episode, co-hosts Nick and Bella celebrate three of the late actor's memorable performances, from underrated gems to unforgettable blockbusters—James Earl Jones truly did it all!

• Starting with The Great White Hope (1970), where Jones earned his first and only Academy Award nomination for his powerful portrayal of Jack Jefferson.
  
  
• Next, we take a trip to a galaxy far far away in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) to discuss Jones' legendary voice work as the ultimate cinematic villain, Darth Vader.
  
  
• And we conclude with Field of Dreams (1989), where we explore his heartfelt performance as Terrence Mann.

Plus, our producer Sonja Mereu returns with another fantastic edition of "Sonja’s Movie Minute," this time highlighting Jones’ brilliant performance as Roop in the 1970s romantic comedy Claudine.

James Earl Jones, thank you for your immense contributions to film, stage, and culture. Rest in peace.

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.

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 Daniel Ott to discuss all three of the high-octane, humanist, genre-bending films of The Cornetto Trilogy (aka The Colours Cornetto).

• We opened with the film that started it all. Part romantic comedy, part zombie film, Shaun Of The Dead still thrills audiences 20 years after its original release.

• Second in the trilogy is the pedal-to-the-metal buddy comedy Hot Fuzz, which happens to be Daniel Ott's favorite film of all time.

• Finally, the most mature and emotional film of the bunch, The World's End, wraps up the trilogy's thematic thread with a wallop of introspection and, of course, some laughs as well.

Let us know what your favorite film of the trilogy is!

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.