Criterion Deep Dives

Chelsea Glosser commandeers the mic as guest host to revisit FRANCES HA with Tori Scozzaro and Ali Dickson. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/criteriondeepdives/support

Inspired by the hype surrounding the 2021 box office smash hit Godzilla vs. Kong, Mike Poggi returns to discuss a movie we swore we'd pod about: Destroy All Monsters (1968). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/criteriondeepdives/support

In celebration of the new 4K restoration box set, out today from the Criterion Collection, Dalton and Mike do a full-blown career retrospective on the Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai. We talk about the man himself, his background growing up in Hong Kong, and the themes that pop up again and again in his films. (1:11) Then we go film by film and dig in to what stuck with us most about each. (44:54) Finally, we each rank these films top to bottom, as well as give our personal power rankings for the troupe of actors who make up the WKW experience. (1:47:33) You can watch the video version of this episode here: YouTube - The Films of Wong Kar Wai with Dalton Lee

Previous guests Robby and Logan stop by to, yup, you guessed it, talk about some movies. We start by talking about some current Oscar contenders, including Minari and Nomadland, as well as the pros and cons of virtual screening rooms. (1:04) Then they discuss Park Chan-Wook's South Korean military drama Joint Security Area. (23:13) You can watch the webcast version of this episode here: YouTube - Joint Security Area with Robby and Logan

Tyler Lee comes on the pod to discuss his op-ed concerning the Netflix film Hillbilly Elegy, and what he sees as a poor and misguided attempt to represent his native West Virginia and Appalachia as a whole. (0:36) Then we turn to a different film about the region, Harlan County, USA, to talk about how it continues to resonate today as both a political statement and a model for radical documentary filmmaking. (24:47) You can read Tyler's article here: Netflix's 'Hillbilly Elegy' turns my community's human anguish into Oscar bait - NBC News Think

Mike and Steve turn back the clock to 2018 for Alfonso Cuarón's astonishing and emotional portrait of Mexico City in the early 70s, ROMA. We discuss the director's autobiographical attachment to the film, unique filmmaking methods that make it so memorable, and the film's take on the burden of single parenthood and the true nature of family.

Mike and Tori discuss the directorial debut from the legendary Barbra Streisand - YENTL!

It's a Criterion Christmas! Rod returns to discuss his recent, first-time viewing of the Christmas juggernaut “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1:56) and Mike describes his existential crisis watching this film as a middle schooler. (24:16) Then the two attempt to deck the halls by counting down their top 5 Christmas films! (39:11)

With the arrival of MANK this week on Netflix, we took the opportunity to revisit its source material and the film that is often hailed as the greatest of all time: CITIZEN KANE. Hear why Kane is the Bill Russell of cinema, ‘Mank’ builds on and expand’s Kane’s legacy, and why Nick thinks certain genres are and are not bound to exceed on streaming in 2020.

Pat White brings his knowledge of Italian culture, cuisine and film to this look back at one of the crown jewels of international cinema, BICYCLE THIEVES.

A quick list of recommendations for this uncanny Thanksgiving holiday, so that you can feel like you're with family even if you're spending the holiday a bit differently this year.

Mike is joined by loyal listener Annette Fetter to discuss the 2011 Belgian film THE KID WITH A BIKE and have a nice chat about the merits of subtitles!

Live from Brooklyn, we are joined by Roderick O'Toole, and the delightful French film CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 from the legendary director Agnès Varda.

Mike is joined by architecture enthusiast Caitlin Dippo to discuss the buildings that make up the 1967 film PLAYTIME and the characters that occupy them! Hear them discuss their favorite moments of physical comedy from Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot character as well as other absurd and surreal works of art this film reminds them of.

Dalton and Mike tackle the British folk horror film THE WICKER MAN (the original one, not Nic Cage) and fawn over the incredible iconic performance of (unrelated to Dalton, so we think) Christopher Lee.

Mike and Mimi discuss some modern horror they’ve been watching such as Hereditary and Haunting of Hill House. Then they get into the 1978 Australian creature feature LONG WEEKEND, including all the fun fauna from the Land Down Under! We talk about the environmental message portrayed in this film and how it stacks up to the challenges we face today. Stick around until the end to hear these two try some iconic Aussie cuisine.

Previous guests Steve Vaccaro and Robby Yankush return for a roundtable discussion on a wild film from the mind of David Cronenberg, VIDEODROME!

Mike and Logan discuss their musical collaborations, time spent in film school together - and oh yes, the supernatural stylings of EMPIRE OF PASSION. Don't ghost this episode!

Enter if you dare! We kick off spooky season here at Criterion Deep Dives with an Irish ghost tale starring Orson Welles, Return to Glennascaul! Then we delve into the rest of the Criterion Channel's limited offering of Irish films, including Coda, an animated film that may also give you a little scare, and the 1934 documentary Man of Aran. It's magically delicious!

Mike and Kate DIVE DEEP on Au revoir les enfants and its director Louis Malle! Why do we keep bringing up Quentin Tarantino so much? What would YOU have done in Vichy France in the 1940s? How does this film compare to Dead Poets’ Society? Tune in to hear these thoughts and more.

Mike is joined by esteemed guest Steve Vaccaro to offer their thoughts on a modern Polish version of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid"

Mike is joined by another person named Mike to discuss Akira Kurosawa's classic "Seven Samurai"

Mike and Chelsea sit down to discuss the 1984 film "Stranger than Paradise"

Mike is joined by Robby Yankush to discuss the 1945 British film "Brief Encounter"