"If my fanny squirms, it's bad. If my fanny doesn't squirm, it's good" with Dana Stevens | The Movie Racket
Summary
Michael Phillips and guest Dana Stevens explore Harry Cohn’s “fanny squirm” test for judging films, discussing how physical reactions indicate engagement. They analyze modern distractions, compare their responses to *Oppenheimer* and *The Odyssey*, and debate the reliability of visceral cues like laughter versus tears. The episode also touches on streaming’s impact on attention spans and the importance of entering screenings with an open mind.
Topics discussed
Intro and Ad Breaks: Prep Wisdom, LEGO, and Home Depot
The Origin of Harry Cohn's 'Posterior Test' for Movies
Mankiewicz's Retort and the Birth of a Hollywood Rule
Analyzing Cohn's Visceral Criticism vs. Modern Films
Slow Cinema, Boredom, and the Psychology of Squirming
Reviewer Etiquette: Watch Checking and Press Screening Manners
Ad Breaks: ResortPass, LinkedIn, and T-Mobile
Critics vs. Audiences and the Netflix Streaming Model
Nobody Knows Anything: Audience Desire and Medium Budgets
Case Study: Oppenheimer's Ending and Audience Reactions
Trusting Physical Reactions: Laughter, Tears, and Gasps
Pre-Screening Rituals and Entering with Renewed Innocence
Trivia: Cohn in The Godfather and Mankiewicz on Wizard of Oz
Outro, Credits, and Podcast Trailers
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