It’s time to talk Víctor Erice. It’s time to talk bees. On this episode, we examine this legendary spanish film’s reputation and the filmmakers that influenced ‘70s dream cinema, and we consider what the Frankenstein and beehive metaphors have to say about social rigidity and childhood fluidity. In addition, we dive into some albums coming out in 1973, from funk to krautrock to reggae, and everywhere in between.

2:20 - Spirit of the Beehive discussion

57:10 - Zach’s 5 albums to check out from ‘73

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Intro music by hetchy

Early 1971, young upstart director Francis Ford Coppola, who had already founded his own independent production company to sidestep studio meddling and had recently produced George Lucas’s debut feature THX 1138, was weighing the offer to direct the adaptation of Mario Puzo’s bestselling novel, a project that was ostensibly Paramount’s, and particularly the vainglorious Robert Evans’s, baby. It was exactly the for-hire scenario Coppola didn’t want to be in, but good friend Lucas, after his film financially flopped, encouraged Coppola to cash them checks and ensure their future projects. Coppola took the job, and the rest is history.

In this discussion, we share perspectives on toxic masculinity and the fandom of the franchise, the origins of the modern mob/crime drama and why this film took the world by storm in ‘72, and what the story says about capitalism and american assimilation.

Next week: Spirit of the Beehive (1973) by Víctor Erice

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy

We react LIVE to the 2026 Oscar Nominations, giving you our honest, unauthorized opinions on all the nominated films and the shameful snubs.

Next episode: The Godfather (1972) by Francis Ford Coppola

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young.

EndadaYear! Hosts Zach Domes and J Brooks Young reveal each of their Top Ten Films of 2025, and the 1st ever cumulative Some Like It Unauthorized Top Ten Official Official Best Films of the Year. In a year of aliens and monsters, political radicals and ping pong players, which film will be crowned the totally not arbitrary best of the best? Listen to find out! Or watch on youtube!

Additionally, we revise our chronological watchlist of 485 films from cinema’s history by selecting the final 15 films to round off the list at 500. Our project, which has been ongoing for over two years, is for both of us to watch every single film on this list, and upon completion, become Experts in Film History. Listen in to hear what we decide must be watched to better understand the medium of film, whether it’s an unsung cult masterpiece or Wolfgang Peterson’s Das Boot, and hear what each of us, movie draft style, is gonna force the other sibling to watch.

1:37 — Top Ten Countdown

44:00 — Honorable Mentions

55:55 — Movie Draft of the final additions to our History of Film list

Next episode: The Godfather (1972) by Francis Ford Coppola

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy

The year ended not with a bang, but with the ping and the pong of that little ball of energy Timmy Chalamet bouncing across the silver screen in Josh Safdie’s new film. Topics include: the rise of the Safdie/Bronstein anxiety wave of films, the adoption of these films by the awards voters, and a segue into the 60s avant-garde and what radical filmmaking looks like today.

Next episode: Top Ten Lists of 2025, and a Movie Draft to round out the History of Film list

… and then …

THE GODFATHER (1972) by Francis Ford Coppola

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy

Filmmaking was a mid-life discovery for Sarah Maldoror: she made her first short film at the age of 39, after making waves in Paris as part of a black theater troupe, advocating abroad for african independence and supporting the fight in places like Algeria and Angola, and crucially, studying film in the USSR before assisting on The Battle of Algiers. As she witnessed Gilles Pontecorvo’s film become an international rallying cry for anti-imperialists everywhere, she knew without question that she had to bring the tools of cinema to the fight against portuguese occupiers in Angola, the birthplace of her husband.

Her first feature-length film, Sambizanga, began to be shown (outside Angola, where it was banned) before independence was won. 50 years later, it made its first appearance on the Sight and Sound Top 250. And on this episode, we’re excited to discuss how this boldly modern film took us by surprise on first watch, and unpack the ways it stands apart in film history.

Next time: Marty Supreme (2025) by Josh Safdie

Watch the trailer for our short film

Suggest a film to be added to our Film History watchlist

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy

We’re joined by Werner Herzog to discuss his early career film imagining the search for El Dorado by the spanish conquistadors, starring Klaus Kinski, and we explore post-colonial art, unexpected comedy, and the legacy of white dudes making their own epic jungle movies.

Next week: Sambizanga (1972) by Sarah Maldoror

Watch the trailer for our short film

Suggest a film to be added to our Film History watchlist

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy

Garbage man John Waters witnessed the explosion of specialty theaters in the 60s that offered all manner of forbidden fruit, from nudie european films to gross-out gore films, and with natural business savvy, he catered to that growing audience with his own ultra out-there amateur films. He made out with a nice profit, but his films really persisted in public consciousness because of their smart satire, and because they felt like a coming out party for a whole community of interesting, self-sustaining freaks. On this episode, we share our two differing reactions to seeing the film for the first time, go deep on the film’s place in history, and celebrate that incredible cast headed by the one and only, Divine.

3:33 - Pink Flamingos discussion

1:00:25 - Zach’s 5 albums to check out from 1972

Next week: Aguirre, Wrath of God (1972) by Werner Herzog

Watch the trailer for our short film

Suggest a film to be added to our Film History watchlist

UnauthorizedPod.com for more. Hosted by Zachary Domes and J Brooks Young. Music by hetchy