Noah Gittell
Film Critic, Author of Baseball: The Movie, and Unofficial Mets Morale Officer
Noah Gittell lives at the intersection of America’s two great pastimes: baseball and movies. A frequent contributor to The New York Times, The Ringer, The Guardian, Slate, GQ, and many others, Noah brings thoughtful, sharp cultural analysis to everything from Michael Bay chaos (Armageddon) to modern Westerns (Gran Torino). He’s a regular face on BBC’s Talking Movies and the author of Baseball: The Movie, a deep dive into how the sport shaped American film history. On Film & Whiskey, Noah’s appearances are as wide-ranging as his bylines—equal parts blockbuster nerd-out and deep character insight.
11
Oct. 17, 2025
American Beauty (1999) / Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky
Bob and Brad revisit Sam Mendes’ American Beauty, a film once hailed as a masterpiece and now one of Hollywood’s most divisive Best Picture winners. With guest critic Noah Gittell, they unpack Kevin Spacey’s complicated legacy, late-’90s suburbia, and whether the movie’s satire still works in 2025. The pour: Crown Royal, a whiskey as polarizing as the film itself. (01:04) Brad’s Big News (and chaotic baby-dad energy) (07:11) Brad Explains – a one-minute recap of American Beauty (12:53) S...
Guest: Noah Gittell
25
March 11, 2025
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019) / Eagle Rare 17-Year Bourbon (2024) ft. Noah Gittell
Bob and Brad are joined by author and critic Noah Gittell to dive deep into Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. Then, our hosts shift gears to review one of the most anticipated bourbon releases of the year: Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon, a staple of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). (0:00) Intro (04:21) Brad Explains (06:23) Themes, Influences, and Whether the Movie Works (40:23) Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old (2024) Review (54:45) Two Facts and a Falsehood, P...
Guest: Noah Gittell
May 10, 2024
Baseball: The Movie - An Interview with Author Noah Gittell
In this special episode of Film & Whiskey, hosts Bob and Brad sit down with Noah Gittell, noted film critic and author of the new book "Baseball: The Movie." This deep dive explores the rich intersection of America’s pastimes: baseball and film. Gittell shares insights from his comprehensive study of baseball films, highlighting how these films have shaped and reflected the American Dream.
Guest: Noah Gittell
11
March 19, 2024
Armageddon / Down Home Toasted Barrel Finish Rye ft. Noah Gittell
Buckle up for a cosmic ride as we dive into the 1998 space epic, "Armageddon." Joined by renowned author and critic Noah Gittell, Bob and Brad tackle Michael Bay's blockbuster that sees Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler grappling with an asteroid threatening Earth. We discuss performances, the film's notorious effects, and its lasting legacy amidst the disaster movie genre. In the second half, the spotlight turns to an earthbound spirit, the Down Home Toasted Barrel Finish Rye. This ar...
Guest: Noah Gittell
3
April 18, 2023
Gran Torino / Benchmark Single Barrel ft. Noah Gittell
Bob and Brad are joined by special guest Noah Gittell, a film critic and journalist, to discuss Clint Eastwood's 2008 drama "Gran Torino." The movie follows an aging Korean War veteran named Walt Kowalski, played by Eastwood himself, who becomes involved with a Hmong family in his neighborhood after witnessing a gang initiation ritual. Meanwhile, they sip on Benchmark Single Barrel, a new $25 whiskey from Buffalo Trace. They review the bourbon and share their tasting notes, as well as some interesting information about its production and aging process.
Guest: Noah Gittell