Welcome to my new podcast series "Consider This with Scott Mantz!"
On each episode of "Consider This," I'll be interviewing actors and filmmakers from the latest awards season contenders, as well as past film and TV classics.
After interviewing the biggest names in Hollywood for more than 30 years, doing my own interview series has been a dream that has finally come true -- I hope you'll subscribe to my podcast series and keep checking back for the latest episodes!
Jodie Foster has always been extremely selective about the the kinds of movies she will commit to, and for good reason -- At this stage of her career, she only wants to play characters that challenge her, and she always wants to give it her very best.
Foster's latest film lives up to her high standards. In "A Private Life," the 2-time Oscar-winner plays a psychiatrist who suspects that one of her clients has been murdered, and when she starts to investigate, she goes down a rabbit hole in which starts to lose her grip on reality.
I had a great time talking with Foster on the latest episode of "Consider This" -- I wish it could have gone on longer, but I'll take whatever time I get get with a Hollywood legend of Foster's caliber, and I hope you enjoy the conversation too!
13 Jan 2026
Consider This: "Dead Man's Wire" w/ director Gus Van Sant
I'm so excited to be joined on "Consider This" by director Gus Van Sant, whose latest film "Dead Man's Wire" is one of the very best movies of the legendary director's incredible career -- and that's saying a lot coming from the director of classics like "Drugstore Cowboy," "To Die For," "Good Will Hunting" and "Milk" (among many others).
"Dead Man's Wire" is based on the true story of a hostage crisis that unfolded on national TV in 1977, and it features a high wire act performance from Bill Skarsgard that has to be seen to be believed.
"Dead Man's Wire" played in theaters in NY and LA towards the end of 2025 to qualify for Oscar consideration, and it absolutely deserves to be nominated in many categories, including Best Actor, Screenplay, Director and (yes!) Best Picture!
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Gus Van Sant on "Consider This," and be sure to spread the word to see "Dead Man's Wire" in theaters now!
9 Dec 2025
Consider This: "Train Dreams" w/ director Clint Bentley
"Train Dreams" is an exquisite & beautiful film about a logger & railroad worker (played by Joel Edgerton) trying to make the most of the American Dream during the last days of the American frontier.
After premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, it was acquired by Netflix (where it is streaming now), and by the end if the year, it was nominated for two Golden Globes and five Critics Choice Awards (with presumably more awards nominations on the way).
I had a fascinating conversation about the making of this extraordinary film with writer-director Clint Bentley on the latest episode of "Consider This" -- Watch it here & be sure to stream "Train Dreams" on Netflix!
27 Nov 2025
Consider This: "Rental Family" w/ director Hikari
In the film "Rental Family," Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser plays an underemployed American actor living in Tokyo, where he is hired by a rental agency to play the father to a young girl of a single mother.
"Rental Family" is an exquisite, beautiful and heartwarming film that sneaks up on you, casts a spell and really stays with you, and I had an amazing conversation with writer/director Hikari about the inspiration behind the story, working with Brendan Fraser and filming all over Tokyo and Japan.
Watch my lively and fascinating conversation with Hikari on "Consider This," and be sure to see "Rental Family" in theaters now!
20 Nov 2025
Consider This: "Highest 2 Lowest" w/ director Spike Lee!
SPIKE LEE is one of the very greatest filmmakers of all time, and he's been one of my personal favorite directors ever since I first saw his feature directorial debut with "She's Gotta Have It" in 1986!
Since then, he has continued to top himself with the likes of "Do The Right Thing," "Malcolm X," "The 25th Hour," "Inside Man" and "BlacKkKlansman" (to name a few), not to mention powerful documentaries, like "4 Little Girls" and "When the Levees Broke."
So to say that "Highest 2 Lowest" -- Lee's 5th collaboration with Denzel Washington -- is one of his very best films is a very bold statement indeed, and it was an absolute honor to do a deep dive with him about the making of this excellent movie.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Spike Lee for "Consider This," and please spread the word about "Highest 2 Lowest," which is streaming now on Apple TV!
And spread the word about "Consider This" too!
18 Nov 2025
Consider This: "Eyes Wide Shut" w/ Cinematographer Larry Smith
What an absolute thrill to dive into the Criterion Collection's new 4K Restoration release of Stanley Kubrick's final film "Eyes Wide Shut" with Cinematographer Larry Smith!
"Eyes Wide Shut" is one of my very favorite movies, and it's also the first movie I ever reviewed, so it changed the course of my life and career. I loved it immediately when I saw it for the first time on July 16, 1999, but I have definitely grown to appreciate it even more over these years -- and so have many Kubrick fans and movie lovers.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Larry Smith for "Consider This," and be sure to pick up the new 4K restoration of "Eyes Wide Shut" from the Criterion Collection!
4 Nov 2025
Consider This: "Nuremberg" (with writer/director James Vanderbilt)
"Nuremberg" is a fantastic film about a World War II psychiatrist (played by Oscar & Emmy-winner Rami Malek), who is assigned to analyze a top Nazi official (played by Oscar-winner Russell Crowe) before the Nuremberg trails.
I was honored to be joined by writer/director James Vanderbilt for an incredible conversation about the making of this powerful film. In addition to providing fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into the filming of the high-wire scenes between Rami Malek, Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon, Vanderbilt also discusses the powerful relevancy of the film to the world today.
See "Nuremberg" in theaters, enjoy my conversation with James Vanderbilt, and thank you for supporting "Consider This with Scott Mantz!"
8 Oct 2025
Consider This: "Good Boy" w/ director Ben Leonberg & producer Kari Fischer
Just when you think you've seen it all when it comes to horror thrillers, along comes "Good Boy," a haunted house story told from the unique point of view of Indy the Dog!
In addition to being a very effective, scary & intense thriller, "Good Boy" is also very inventive, clever and emotionally engaging -- quite simply, it's one of the best movies of the year, and I was thrilled to get into the making of this incredible independent movie with writer/producer/director Ben Leonberg and producer Kari Fischer (with a special appearance from Indy the Dog)!
Enjoy the conversation, see "Good Boy" as soon as possible and spread the word!
19 Sept 2025
Consider This: "The Blair Witch Project" with Directors & Producers!
When "The Blair Witch Project" had its world premiere at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival before opening later that year on July 30, the movie world had never seen anything like it -- not before, and certainly not since. Love it or hate it (and I love it!), it changed the moviemaking game on so many levels!
That's what makes my conversation with directors Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sanchez and producers Gregg Hale & Mike Monello so absolutely fascinating. If you love movies as much as I do (and I know you do!), then this is one conversation you won't want to miss!
Enjoy!
20 Aug 2025
Consider This: "American Beauty" w/ director Sam Mendes
So far on "Consider This," I've been focusing on the films of 1999, which I strongly consider to be the best year ever for movies. And this latest episode features the big one: "American Beauty," which won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture!
I was incredibly honored to have a fascinating conversation with Sam Mendes, who won the Oscar for Best Director (and for his very first feature). It's an incredibly revealing conversation, so I hope you "look closer" and enjoy!
12 Aug 2025
Consider This: "Eyes Wide Shut"
"Eyes Wide Shut" was Stanley Kubrick's final film, but it was also his most misunderstood. It opened in theaters on July 16, 1999 -- four months after Kubrick's sudden passing on March 7 -- and it was greeted with mixed reviews from critics and public indifference. Quite simply, people didn't know what to make of it.
But like most of Kubrick's movies, "Eyes Wide Shut" took repeated viewings and perspective for it to catch on, and it has since come to be regarded as another in a long list of Kubrick masterpieces. That's what makes my conversation with Robert P. Kolker (Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland) and Nathan Abrams (Professor in Film, Bangor University in Wales) so incredibly fascinating. They're the authors of the book "Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick and the Making of His Final Film," and they provide so much insight that even diehard fans of Stanley Kubrick will find it essential.
I hope you enjoy this deep dive conversation about "Eyes Wide Shut" on "Consider This with Scott Mantz!"
4 Aug 2025
Consider This: "The Iron Giant"
I have always felt that 1999 was the best year ever for movies, and "The Iron Giant" is one of the (many) reasons why. But when the film -- directed by Brad Bird and based on the book by Ted Hughes -- was first released on August 6 , it got lost in the shuffle due to the unfortunate timing of opening the same day as "The Sixth Sense," which became a cinematic phenomenon.
But over the years, "The Iron Giant" has come to be regarded as one of the greatest animated features of all time, and it was an absolute pleasure to interview producers Allison Abbate & Des McAnuff and actor Eli Marienthal (who voices young "Hogarth") for "Consider This" about the making of this beloved classic.
I hope you enjoy the conversation!
28 Jul 2025
Consider This: "The Virgin Suicides" w/ Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett & Sofia Coppola
On Episode 2 of "Consider This with Scott Mantz," I interviewed writer-director Sofia Coppola and actors Kirsten Dunst & Josh Hartnett about "The Virgin Suicides," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999.
Though it was overlooked with it was first released in U.S. theaters in March of 2000, "The Virgin Suicides" has gained a considerable amount of stature and popularity over the years, and it was fascinating to hear Coppola, Dunst & Hartnett look back on the making of the film with some great stories and a fresh sense of perspective.
Enjoy and thanks for listening!
23 Jul 2025
Consider This: "Election" w/ Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick & Alexander Payne
On the first episode of "Consider This with Scott Mantz," I interviewed actors Reese Witherspoon & Matthew Broderick and writer-director Alexander Payne about "Election," their brilliant film from 1999 that has gained a passionate following and even greater relevancy over the years.
It was such a thrill to be able to interview the 3 of them together, and it became quickly obvious that "Election" is a special film that's close to their hearts. I learned so much about the making of this all-time classic, and I hope you will too!
Pick Flick and enjoy!
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