Confessions of a Movie Critic

Confessions of a Movie Critic

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Confessions of a Movie Critic is a stream of consciousness from the mind of Spling, a film critic who has been in the game for over 10 years. Talking about movie culture, reviewing films and chatting about celebrities is what this podcast is all about!

Stephen Aspeling


    • Oct 3, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 10m AVG DURATION
    • 39 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Confessions of a Movie Critic

    The Devil's Advocate - 25 Years Later

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 9:47


    It's hard to believe it's been a quarter of a century since The Devil's Advocate was released in 1997... having watched the film for the first time, Spling chats about Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron and Al Pacino and how far they've come.

    Farewell Barry Ronge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2022 17:57


    Barry Ronge was a well-loved South African entertainment journalist who inspired and entertained across radio, television, print and online. An iconic media personality who retired in 2014, Spling pays his respects and discusses the magical viral quality he possessed and how he inspired him to pursue film criticism.

    I Got My First Real Office Cinema

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 9:34


    Spling chats about his modest home cinema and how it's dwarfed by a friend's THX-certified set up.

    "Film" vs. "Movie"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 12:26


    Spling tries to differentiate between the words "film" and "movie", and thinks each word has a different aura and frame of reference.

    Oscars, Celeb and Consumer Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 13:39


    Spling tries to explain why he doesn't watch the Oscars or any awards shows. Gets sidetracked by celebrity culture and today's fragmented media consumption.

    "Watching Movies for a Living"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 9:27


    Being a movie critic may seem like a dream job but...

    Red Notice or Red Alert?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 12:32


    Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot star in Red Notice, a Netflix Original that seems as though it was adapted from a call sheet.

    No Time to Die or Catch Up on Old Bond Movies

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 15:09


    Spling chats about the new James Bond film, No Time to Die, the Bond franchise and laments about not having seen all the 007 films.

    Matrix: Reeveolutions - The Keanu Reeves Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 14:14


    Spling chats about Keanu Reeves, the new Matrix: Resurrections sequel and the actor's career.

    Revelations about He-Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 10:52


    Spling was a child of the '80s and shares some of his excitement about his anticipation around Kevin Smith's animated revival on Netflix, He-Man: Revelations.

    Spling, Review My Script

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 12:43


    Spling chats about the many roles of a movie critic, including one that led to reviewmyscript.com.

    Monty Python & The Holy Grail is One of My All-time Favourite Films

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 11:26


    Spling chats about his favourite three films of all-time, realising it may be high time he added a fourth.

    Emily Blunt and Martin Scorsese Have a Point

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 11:01


    Spling discusses the Marvel superhero and Star Wars craze from the context of recent high profile celebrity comments suggesting it's run its course or lost its sparkle...

    Work Wherever

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2021 10:51


    Spling talks about taking advantage of your city and technology when it comes to choosing a work space that inspires you.

    I Want to Own a David Lynch Original

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 11:02


    After watching the creative origin story documentary David Lynch: The Art Life I have realised I want to own one of his pieces. A talk about the artist, director and legacy of David Lynch.

    Coarse Language in Hollywood

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 9:38


    Spling chats about bad language in film, referencing Malcolm & Marie, The Wolf of Wall Street and The Big Lebowski... where do you draw the line?

    I'm Addicted to Facebook Marketplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2021 9:42


    In this podcast, Spling chats about Facebook Marketplace, the new drive-in culture and how to combat cabin fever.

    The Unnaturally Slow and Painful Death of DVD

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 10:22


    Spling chats about the demise of DVD, his perspective on collecting and why it may just be important to hold onto some of your collection.

    Watching Movies Under the Stars

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020 5:15


    Spling attended the launch of the Galileo Open Air Cinema at Kirstenbosch in Cape Town to watch Into the Wild... here's a snippet.

    Movies That Forced Me to Walk Out....

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 8:52


    These days people can watch 15 minutes of something and then drop it to move into the next thing. When it comes to cinemas... it's a little trickier. Here are a few movies Spling couldn't endure that forced him to walk out. Find out how Spling deals with a walk out.

    Drive Ins and Outs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020 7:28


    Drive Ins Cinemas are making a comeback. This nostalgic throwback to way back when is making it easier to have a night out and watch movies safely. Spling reports live from the opening of Go Drive In in Cape Town where they're screening the ultimate drive in flick!

    Is It Time to Go Back to the Movies?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2020 11:27


    Following the pandemic and lifting of restrictions around public gatherings, cinemas are reopening their doors. It's important to keep movie houses in business and the big screen film industry flourishing... Spling chats about changes over this period, safety protocol and whether he's going back yet or not.

    I Want to Be a Movie Critic When I Grow Up...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2020 10:17


    Spling chats about some of the things that inspired him to become a movie critic...

    I Shook the Hand of an Alien

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 10:47


    Spling and his buddy Tim bumped into District 9's Sharlto Copley at a mall in Cape Town... here's how it happened.

    Chill, Binge or Cringe... Netflix's Greatest Hits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2020 14:11


    Netflix recently released their biggest hits Top 10... detailing their ten most viewed original movies. Spling drops the list with some commentary and speculation.

    Never Show Your Monster Before It's Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 9:16


    Spling talks about horror films, the timing of the big reveal, the temptation to go visual FX crazy and how it takes good drama to create great horror...

    Do Popcorn Like a Film Pro!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2020 14:39


    Spling chats about how he does movie snacks... how much sprinkle, how to shake the popcorn box, why he doesn't take a straw and what he'd be willing to smuggle into a cinema.

    10 Things I Hate About Cinemas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2020 12:32


    Spling discusses his pet hates about cinema-going through his cinema code of conduct... a list of 10 rules he believes should be posted in all theatre and cineplex foyers.

    Social Distancing Also Relieves Misophonia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2020 10:00


    Spling explains how misophonia has affected his life as a film critic to coping with the constant distraction caused by the ongoing condition.

    I Can Confirm Ruby Rose is Real

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 10:49


    The Batwoman star announced she's leaving the TV show, which prompted me to think about her and her film career since meeting her on the set of Resident Evil.

    Movie Trailers Ruin Movies...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 8:59


    Spling talks about watching films free of the marketing clutter, hype, spoilers and expectations that cloud our movie-watching experience.

    The Time We Were Mistaken for Film Producers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 10:41


    My dad and I attended a premiere of a film called Mad Buddies starring local candid comedy mogul, Leon Schuster. He never thought he'd get to have a beer with Schuks himself!

    Cinemas Have Auras

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 10:26


    Spling talks about watching some of his favourite films at the Odeon Cinema in Grahamstown (now Makhanda) and how cinemas frame films and add magic.

    Bingeing with Spling

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2020 7:35


    Spling chats about a brand new SPL!NG series... hosting pre-screenings and getting your movie game on with a watch party during lockdown.

    Milla Jovovich is Really Funny!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2020 10:17


    Spling talks about the time he got to interview Milla Jovovich in her trailer during a set visit of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter while shooting at a quarry near Cape Town.

    Despite All My Rage...

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 9:22


    Spling talks about what bothers him about the new South African horror, Rage... and about his own Rage experience.

    I Am Not Heath Ledger

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2020 7:12


    Spling discusses the biographical documentary, 'I Am Heath Ledger' and what fresh insights he got from watching this soulful chronicle.

    There's Something About Bohemian Rhapsody...

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 8:31


    Spling talks about Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek and Queen and what makes it such a magical and rewatchable music biopic.

    Confessions of a Movie Critic (Trailer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 0:55


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