Aspect Radio

Running through 20 categories (not including the shorts)! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

It has been too long- but we're back now! The two of us bring on our first ever guest, Ryan, as we talk about our backgrounds in film and dig into a variety of topics. We hope you stay with us for the rest of the year, the next episode scheduled for December! Find us on Letterboxd: Maggie: https://letterboxd.com/maebrando/ Sam: https://letterboxd.com/samuelaspect/ Ryan: https://letterboxd.com/atomcrazed/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

Yes, I am alive. I have returned to briefly discuss my picks for the 93rd Academy Awards, which will be happening April 25th! This is one of the most chaotic races. Listen to me pretend to know what I'm talking about for thirty minutes. As always, we appreciate our listeners and sponsors. Cheers. Follow me on letterboxd for recent activity: maebrando -OR- instagram: @cinemamae --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

We witnessed one of the most terrible yet entertaining movies of the 80's. It's basically a rip off of E.T and it shows. A movie that was entirely funded by McDonalds. A weird alien that befriends an obnoxious child. So hang out with us as we laugh about everything in this wild ride. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

Hello lovely listeners! It's Maggie; this week I am doing a solo episode on the latest film from Charlie Kaufman, I'm Thinking of Ending Things. What started out to be a mind bender quickly turned into my favorite film of the year. As I attempt to make truth out of what I experienced, I analyze the characters' motivations and the reality that what we perceive in the mind's eye is separate from reality. This film is full of existential dread, life's greatest questions, and experiencing the passing of time.  Closing Music/ danielhcomposer: youtube.com/danielhcomposer If you're interested in being in an episode or bringing up ideas for a future episode be sure to submit a response to the link in bio.    --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

This week, we split up the commentary and each expressed our opinion for a film that wasn't quite working for us. Nolan has taken a step backward with this film, Tenet (2020). Stay safe out there if you're thinking of venturing to your local theater for this one- or take our word and wait until it comes out on blu ray. Trust me, you'll need those subtitles. TIMESTAMPS: Sam's Commentary- 1:26 / updates- 21:31 / Maggie's Commentary- 22:00 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

Jimmy Stewart stares out his apartment window at unsuspecting residents uttering nonsense, being miserable, and saying "now wait a minute" for 112 minutes. You know and love his name! That's right- it's Hitchcock's greatest achievement in film. One of our better analyses. Rear is such a wacky word though isn't it? Let's not sideline the mesmerizing Grace Kelly and sassy Thelma Ritter, as they act in this swirling thriller of intrigue, murder, and conflicting relationships. "Intelligence. Nothing has caused the human race so much trouble as intelligence."  Excuse the ranting, we have been known to get off topic. But hey, if you can laugh at it than even better.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

You must've heard of Rob Reiner's quotable cult classic- get ready for an overly energetic synopsis and some of our favorite moments. We relive the witty humor at play, mentioning many many times how cool Westley is, and lots of tangents this week. Shout out to our Ireland gang! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

It's a solo episode this week. Sam expresses his love for this classic horror film that shaped his eventual love for cinema. Uncover the practical effects behind the iconic villain, the badass MacReady, and so much more packed into the conspiracies behind that final scene.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

Have you often revisited films to discover more underlying meanings? Tired of your family? Can't stop typing the same thing over and over again on your typewriter? Welcome to the first episode where we will be discussing the theories and countless moments we noticed within Stanley Kubrick's 1980 psychological thriller: The Shining. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aspectradiopodcast/support

Did we find the Time stone and bring Aspect Radio back?! Kind of… Ben and Corey reunite to talk about ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ CLICK HERE TO LISTEN/DOWNLOAD

Ben and Corey talk out their thoughts on “Suicide Squad,” the latest from DC and Warner Bros. that critics mostly hate. Is it nearly as bad as the Twitter hype machine insists? One thinks it’s a bigger disaster than “Batman v Superman,” while the other saw some bright spots. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN/DOWNLOAD!!!

Ben and Corey finally talk about Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,” the big blockbuster opener to the summer 2016 movie season. They both loved it, but Ben points out one or two quibbles he had with its themes and some other geeky nitpicks. The guys then look ahead to the rest of the summer movie […]

Ben and Corey square off on Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” the latest from Warner Bros. and DC Comics. One hates it, one likes it. They get into specifics and also talk about the general backlash over the movie and where the studio might go from here. Since it’s been a while […]

It’s once again time to share with you my favorite movie music of the year. 2015 had a lot of really, really good music from some of our greatest living composers including legends like John Williams and even Ennio Morricone. I still haven’t seen every movie, but I’ve sampled pretty much all I can of […]

Ben and Corey look back at summer 2015 and look ahead to the busy fall and winter 2015. They break down their favorite moments and films from a solid summer season that brought “Inside Out,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Tangerine,” “Mad Max Fury Road” and so much more. They break down their most anticipated movies for […]

Our friend Ben Stark’s new short film “Dead Saturday” stars Oscar-nominee Eric Roberts (“Inherent Vice,” “The Dark Knight,” “Runaway Train”) as Pastor Malcolm and Kurt Krause (“True Detective”) as troubled youth Jimmy, who interprets a loophole in the Bible as a free pass to sin without consequence on the Saturday before Easter. Acclaimed young Shoals-area […]

Ben and Corey dive back into the summer to catch up on the latest, some of them record-breaking, releases like “Jurassic World,” “Inside Out” and “Terminator: Genisys.” The guys see eye to eye on Pixar’s latest, calling it one of the studio’s best to date, and mostly agree they didn’t really care for “Jurassic” or […]

Ben and Corey catch up via phone to recap the 2015 summer movie season so far, including huge releases like “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Spy.” They did most of what they’ve seen so far, but are split on titles like “Tomorrowland,” “San Andreas” and “Entourage.” Corey also recommends a few […]

Corey recaps his visit to the 2015 Nashville Film Festival where he saw a handful of  fantastic movies including John Maclean‘s western “Slow West” starring Michael Fassbender. Other notable films included Rick Alverson’s “Entertainment,” Bill Pohlad‘s “Love & Mercy” and Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher K. Walker‘s “Welcome to Leith.“ CLICK HERE TO LISTEN/DOWNLOAD!!! Music […]

Joined by producer Andrew Richardson, the guys nerd out even more over the second teaser trailer for “Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens.” CLICK HERE TO LISTEN/DOWNLOAD!!! Music heard in this AR Nugget: John Williams – “Duel of the Fates” (as heard in “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace”)

The guys finally sit down to analyze the second teaser trailers for “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” which stirred one or two emotions within before watching it 20 more times. They also discuss the “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” teaser, shockingly disagreeing on its merits and potential. Also on tap are Jared […]

AL.com Birmingham news manager and deliriously hapless Chicago Cubs fan Alex Walsh joins Ben to explore the best examples of the baseball movie genre, as we list each of our top three favorite films set on or around a diamond. Warning: We will leave out a couple that we know you hold near and dear […]

Ben and Corey finally discuss once-beloved writer/director Neill Blomkamp’s latest sci-fi action flick “Chappie,” which somehow found itself met with vitriol from most fans including those who loved his first film “District 9.” The guys also preview the summer movie landscape of 2015, running through the full calendar of major release on the horizon. They […]

Just in time for this weekend’s Oscars, Ben and Corey finally say goodbye to 2014 by sharing their top 10 favorite films from another year to remember. There is even some overlap with their lists, including a few of the usual suspects you’ve heard them babble on about in recent episodes. We also hear from […]

Ben and Corey sift through the high praise and backlash for “American Sniper” to determine whether Clint Eastwood has his best movie in years, or if the film’s perceived lack of nuance on important issues costs it any integrity. The guys do the same for Ava DuVernay’s historical drama “Selma,” which has its own equal […]

While I’ve still got a handful of movies from last year I still want and need to see, all or most of the music from the 2014 film year remains accessible. So I’m not ready to make a top 10 list of my favorite movies, but I do feel good about this list of my […]

Ben and Corey jump right into the melee known as the Oscar season to analyze the races and prediction the nominations in the major categories for the 2014 film year. The nominees will be announced on Jan. 15, but the guys think they mostly know what to expect. But that doesn’t mean you won’t hear […]

Ben and Corey hop aboard Christopher Nolan’s deep space opus “Interstellar” starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain. The guys get into only slight spoiler territory as they break down Nolan’s latest and perhaps most ambitious blockbuster and determine whether it lived up to their lofty expectations. They also discuss writer/director Dan Gilroy’s Los […]

Ben and Corey dive into David Fincher’s latest film, the adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s popular novel “Gone Girl,” starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. The guys both dig it, one more so than the other, and insist Fincher stays true to form, at least for the most part. Note: We mostly avoid spoilers in this […]

Ben and Corey break down the fall/winter movie season, which brings a bevy of highly anticipated films from some of our favorite directors. David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Paul Thomas Anderson and others have new work to share this year, and those three alone could get the job done themselves. But it happens that movies like […]

Ben and Corey finally find their inner children and dive into Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” the long-gestating experimental film chronicling 12 years in the life of a boy and his family in Texas. Like pretty much everyone else, they liked it quite a bit. Later in the episode, they also each share their five favorite Richard […]

Ben talks to Sidewalk Film Festival lead programmer Rachel Morgan about what people can expect from the Birmingham-based event in its 16th year. Morgan talks about how the festival has changed after nearly two decades, what films people should not miss and how the the less-seasoned moviegoer can enjoy a festival format. Read more about […]

Upon hearing the tragic news of the great Robin Williams’ untimely death, Ben and Corey reflect on the man’s career, on which each of them grew up. The four-time Oscar-nominee and best supporting actor-winner for “Good Will Hunting” brought an unparalleled energy to the big screen and pioneered aspects of comedic performance in films like […]

Ben and Corey dive into Marvel’s slightly more obscure but highly ambitious property “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which both guys mostly dig quite a bit. They also wonder if “Guardians” has legs as Marvel’s next big franchise on or near the level of “Iron Man” or “Captain America.” The guys also talk the release date […]

Ben and Corey talk “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” their favorite movie of the summer, plus its chances of reigning supreme at the box office during a weekend with weak competition. The guys also offer praise to motion capture pioneer Andy Serkis, who steps his game up here and paves the way for […]

Ben and Corey list their favorite films from 2014 so far, and they definitely aren’t disappointed with the output through June. Fantastic new films from Wes Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, James Gray, plus strong work from new directors like Jeremy Saulnier set a great standard for the rest of the year. Wonder Mill Films’ Ben Stark […]

Ben and Corey break down the summer movie landscape of 2014, singling the ones they won’t miss along with those they might avoid. From Gareth Edward’s monster revival of “Godzilla” to Richard Linklater’s highly ambitious Sundance favorite “Boyhood,” there’s a lot to anticipate this season, even if most of the crop looks less than stellar. […]

Ben and Corey took four years to do it, but they finally reached their 100th episode with “Aspect Radio,” with the help of friends and family. To mark the occasion, the guys look back on the podcast they began in February 2010 and recognize the many key contributors that really made the show go. We […]

Ben talks to AwardsDaily.com owner and Oscar pundit Sasha Stone to break down the 2013 Oscar race as it grinds to a screeching halt this weekend. Stone confirms the best picture battle remains a little too close to call between “12 Years a Slave,” “Gravity” and even “American Hustle,” which she says could play spoiler […]

Ben and Corey call ’em like they see ’em, folks. And this year looks too close to call. At least best picture does, anyway. The guys are joined by AR and FilmNerds contributors Matt Scalici, Graham Flanagan and Craig Hamilton to predict this year’s Oscar results and talk about what they’re anticipating about this year’s […]

Ben and Corey pay tribute to the late and brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman and his unparalleled acting catalog. This particular loss stings for film fans, especially considering Hoffman died at the young age of 46. But he leaves a legacy of masterful work on film, collaborating with directors like Joel & Ethan Coen, Bennett Miller, […]

Ben is joined by his brother and Business Insider producer Graham Flanagan and Huntsville filmmaker Ben Stark to debate the merits of the “enhanced viewing experience” of IMAX. The talk stems from Graham’s recent BI video report analyzing whether or not the premium moviegoers pay on top of the existing ticket price to enjoy the […]

Ben talks briefly with Tuscaloosa-born and New York-based photographer Miller Mobley who shot the above portrait of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who passed away at 46 on Sunday. Mobley reflects on the shoot, which took place last February when Hoffman was doing press for his film “A Late Quartet,” along with co-star Christopher Walken. The […]

Ben is joined by show contributor Craig Hamilton to talk about the 2013 Oscar nominations, just announced Thursday morning. Surprises include Christian Bale and Jonah Hill scoring acting nominations, while snubs include Tom Hanks and Robert Redford in the best actor category. The two also offer an early breakdown of who will win what come […]

Ben and Corey recap the Golden Globes Awards, which saw one or two surprises that could very well shake up the Oscar race. The best actor category is wide open, with roughly 10 worthy performances vying for five nominations come Thursday when the Academy announces who will make the cut. Most of the other acting […]

The 2013 film year didn’t disappoint, and neither did its soundtracks featuring beautifully composed original scores and brilliantly chosen songs to accompany the films. Take a look back at some of the shrewdest choices the filmmakers made and the unexpected collaborations between them and many of the best composers in Hollywood, including the likes of […]

Ben and Corey are delighted to talk to AwardsDaily.com’s Sasha Stone about the state of the 2013 Oscar race. Stone is arguably the best Oscar tracker and pundit in the industry after about 15 years of remaining plugged into movie awards races and staying as a solid early predictor of the outcomes. If you have […]

Ben and Corey play a little catch-up since their last show, talking about four big releases folks should catch before they leave theaters. More than any perhaps, folks should see Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity,” which the guys agree is a landmark film in special effects but blockbusters in general. They also hop aboard Paul Greengrass’ “Captain […]

Ben and Corey finally discuss Woody Allen’s latest drama “Blue Jasmine,” starring Cate Blanchett in what could prove another Oscar-worthy turn. Both consider it one of Allen’s best in recent memory, even better than the likes of “Match Point” and “Midnight in Paris,” thanks in large part to Blanchett’s performance and the longtime directors willingness […]