Required Reading: A Film Podcast

Eight months to the day we popped out our last podbaby, Required Reading re-returns with a new sense of purpose and a more hopeful outlook. Until February, anyway, when it’ll probably all come crashing down again. So let’s ride this wave of optimism while it lasts and transport ourselves to that cheeriest of places, mid-80s communist Czechoslovakia! No seriously; My Sweet Little Village, from the late, Academy Award-winning director Jiří Menzel is a delightful peek at the lives of a close-knit community in a rural hamlet. Make sure to watch this Oscar-nominated treat on Prime Video before listening in to Alex and Dan’s spoiler-filled reactions. Oh, and bone up on your cinematic canines while you’re at it because there will be a quiz.

It’s the (presumably) long-awaited return of our ‘Blind Spot’ special! As avid listeners might remember, no sooner did Dan choose the Bobby De Niro and Charles Grodin-starring action-comedy Midnight Run almost two years ago, did it mysteriously vanish from VoD. We are men of our word, however, and its eventual resurfacing on Netflix meant that we were duty bound to make good on our promise. Episode 19, then, is the Episode 10 that never was. But, like Jack Walsh’s protracted attempt to bring The Duke to LA, was it worth the effort? Our Mid-Discussion Quiz is back by unpopular demand, and we have a bunch of new telly recommendations, including Joe Pera Talks with You and Stephen King adaptation The Outsider. Double spoiler warning on this episode, as we have a bonus chat about The Mandalorian towards the episode’s close. Why now? Because Alex is the only person in the UK to have waited to watch it legally.

How frustrating that, as the days grow longer and warmer, we’re unable to get together with our friends and loved ones to truly enjoy the great outdoors. So, thoughtful podcast that we are, we decided to pick a film that brings those communal sun ‘n’ fun vibes indoors. Ah, Midsommar, a welcome dose of cinematic sunshine during one of our darkest hours. We maintain the chipper spirit with our other recommendations, including Alex Garland’s new iPlayer/FX series Devs, and Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts, a documentary about the popular RuPaul's Drag Race alumnus. But it’s not all happy, as Alex lowers the mood with a rare warning for what appeared to be a promising TV prospect, and Dan somehow manages to bring up Madeleine McCann. Other than that, though, it’s rainbows all round, so get ready to don your flower crowns and let your ears dance freely around our aural maypole.

In an exciting RR:AFP first, we’ve got a contribution from someone who actually starred in the film we’re discussing. Gosh. That film, as if the episode title and giant image didn’t already give away, is Jonathan Glazer’s genre-muddling Under The Skin, which sees Scarlett Johansson (with a hard ‘J’) sailing far beyond her--and our--comfort zone. It’s a film both Alex and Dan have been putting off viewing for some years, so is it a case of delayed gratification, or do we wish we’d left it to fester in inky black space tar? As ever, there’s an MDQ (what the kids aren’t calling our Mid-Discussion Quiz these days) all about cinematic aliens. If you think you know your Dracs from your Tets, why not see if you can beat Dan’s score?

Alison Brie’s screenwriting debut Horse Girl marks her second collaboration with director (and co-writer) Jeff Baena. Initially positioned as the typical quirky indie fare you’d expect from the Sundance Film Festival--where it made its debut--the film soon takes an unexpected turn down a darker alley, exploring the devastating effects of paranoid schizophrenia (or is it?, etc.) from its protagonist’s increasingly fractured perspective. Does this Netflix Original clear the fence, or is it due a visit to the glue factory? Alex and Dan are of course on hand to deliver their insights, ably assisted by our ever-growing, always eloquent group of Readers, although somehow - somehow! - we completely forget to mention the excellently observed show-within-a-film Purgatory. For shame. Please accept a mid-discussion quiz on actors with foody-drinky names (none of whom are called Geoff Beef) by way of atonement.

PTA reunites with DDL for a film as delicately, intricately and beautifully woven as its protagonist’s highly desirable couture dresses. Phantom Thread is a tale of twisted love, precarious power dynamics, Oedipal grief, all-consuming perfectionism, and excessive breakfast orders, where the devil is most certainly in the detail. If you give even the slightest tinker’s-fucking-curse as to what we—and our listeners--thought of this most curious film, listen on, dear Reader.

Welcome to the latest episode of Required Reading: A Film Podcast! Episode 14 sees Alex and Dan return to a director(s) for the first time ever on the podcast to cover the Safdie brothers’ latest – UNCUT GEMS. We both gave their last film (Good Time - 2017) the coveted ‘McCartney’ meaning two thumbs up. Will lightning strike twice? Listen as we discuss anxiety filmmaking, bejewelled furbies, colonoscopies and John Travolta’s attempt at pronouncing Idina Menzel. Let us know what you thought of the episode and perhaps suggest films from Netflix or Amazon video prime we could cover in the future by tweeting us @alxalxalx and @MrPointyHead  

Hello! Uploading this episode again as we're going to be on Spotify now and in the process Alex managed to delete 2 episodes.  This ep, recorded in late 2018 covers the excellent film 'The Florida project' As always, tweet Dan (@MrPointyHead) or Alex (@alxalxalx) with your thoughts and contributions for future episodes. A x

*Lost Episode* The current favourite joke in the Shaw household is a twist on a classic: “Knock Knock…”“Come In!” Cue laughter as the frustrated joke teller can't deliver the punchline What does that have to do with this podcast? Well, Episode 11 of RR:AFP is all about frustrated comedians as we dissect Martin Scorsese's underrated 1982 gem, The King Of Comedy! LISTEN as Dan and Alex chew over this DeNiro proto-cringe comedy classic, not only linking it to personal experience, but also the most ‘depressing’ of current social media trends and habits. Extras include a Bobby DN quiz, additional insight from James and Chris, as well as a roundup of Robocop and Star Trek news PLUS some additional family-orientated recommendations. Listen, enjoy, tell your friends etc.

Armed with a newfound sense of vigour and purpose, we storm into 2020 with the first Required Reading for over a year. Let’s not dwell on the reasons for our absence and instead celebrate the fact that one our greatest living directors has reunited with some our greatest living actors to add tremendous weight to the argument for streaming services being a legitimate platform for fantastic films. The Irishman, ironically, marks the start of a new era for RR with what’s very much an end-of-an-era epic. Based on the non-fiction work I Heard You Paint Houses, it follows the life of mob hitman Frank Sheeran, widely thought to be the man responsible for Jimmy Hoffa’s demise (although you can’t prove nuthin’, ya hear me?). Did the latest, possibly final Scorsese/De Niro pairing earn the highest RR accolade, the incredibly prestigious McCartney? Only one way to find out. Also: Dan’s first ever quiz and more VoD recommendations than is really necessary.

Two men meet With precise irregularity Two: microphones laptops opinions One: film (Maybe a quiz or news too?) For this episode (ten, in cloying summer heat) A Driver is a driver A man is a town A town is a man A week is two hours And Not musch happens   The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

The first co-winner of our ‘Blind Spot’ vote is Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), which came courtesy of regular Reader Chris Schilling. It also has the honour of being the first flick that both Alex and Dan have already seen, and their joint revisiting of the multi-Oscar winning dramedy proves rich grist for the conversational mill. Does this inventively shot slice of magical realism hold up to a repeat viewing? Required reading for the next episode: Midnight Run (Netflix)   The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

Funny, horrifying and ultimately tragic. Words that could equally be ascribed to RR:AFP as they could our feature film The Wailing. Director Hong-jin Na is already being held up alongside the likes of Chan-wook Park and Bong Joon-ho as the cream of the Korean directing crop, following acclaimed thriller The Chaser. But all the plaudits in the world mean nothing until Alex and Dan have delivered their definitive* verdict on his work. So settle down in your comfiest podcast-listening chair and prepare to be spirited away to a world of two blokes chatting about a film they just watched. Magical. *Not in the least bit definitive.   The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

Yorgos Lanthimos doesn’t like to make things easy or comfortable for his viewers, as evidenced by his at-once surreal, mundane and shocking filmography, including Dogtooth and The Lobster. The Killing of a Sacred Deer, his second collaboration with Colin Farrell, is no different, a devastating tale of revenge livened up by his trademark understated flourish of the fantastical. Alex and Dan dissect this disquieting horror with surgical precision, while also taking time for some insulting trivia and a couple of experimental new features. Next film: The Wailing (Netflix)   The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!    

A horribly misjudged attempt to do the right thing goes predictably awry for Robert Pattinson in the frantic, dangerous and grimy world of Good Time. Acclaimed directing duo the Safdie Brothers have been indie darlings since their 2007 debut The Pleasure of Being Robbed, but can they impress us and, by extension, our fellow Readers (or RR:AFPscallions, as we secretly call you)? There’s also news of the fate of Mad Max, an update on Shane Black’s The Predator and more essential VoD recommendations. Good time? Great time. The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

“Girlfriend in a coma, I know, I know, it's serious.” The true-life travails of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V Gordon’s early relationship inspires The Big Sick, a romantic dramedy that deftly tackles the challenges of interracial and inter-faith love with a welcome dollop of levity. Listen as we completely fail to stay on target as we discuss the state of cinematic comedy, “The Apatow Effect”, disgraced naughty Hollywood men and Cannes snobbery.   The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

Alex Garland’s fascinating rise from author to director continues with the Natalie Portman-starring sci-fi Annihilation. Was the film’s ‘demotion’ from US theatrical release to global Netflix exclusive a portent of a sophomoric duffer, or a sign of a lack of studio faith in quality hard sci-fi after Blade Runner 2049’s box office belly-up? Or both? Join D ‘n A as they reflect (refract?) on their journey beyond the Shimmer and offer up their interpretation of this prismatic headscratcher. PLUS! Some other stuff. The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

Kristen Stewart takes centre stage in this installment's focal flick Personal Shopper. Find out what we make of Olivier Assayas’ enigmatic, genre-skewing portrayal of grief and fabulous haute couture. Come for the detailed critique, stay for the copious deviations (including a mid-analysis quiz), a brief Oscar chat and our other VoD highlights.   The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

Hi there, Alex here :) Welcome to the second episode of Required Reading: A Film Podcast. I thank you personally for downloading this podcast and being part of this book-club-but-with-films idea. I just think that we should look for the opportunity to connect with each other in alternative ways sometimes, and this is my attempt at doing something like that.  Let me know what you thought on twitter @alxalxalx - Dan is there as well @MrPointyHead DOWNLOAD NOW to hear Dan and I react to the jack-in-the-box du jour The Cloverfield Paradox. We also talk Star Wars news and share some of our other VOD picks.   The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto 1. All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video 2. We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch 3. Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss 4. Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it 5. Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!

  The inaug-aural episode of Required Reading: A Film Podcast.   Friends Alex and Dan (attempt to) recreate the quintessential post-film, “So, what did you think?” conversation in podcast form, and invite our fellow ‘readers’ to join in.   The first film to fall under our critical gaze is Paul Verhoeven's 'Elle', starring Isabelle Huppert.    The "Required Reading: A Film Podcast" Manifesto: All main discussion films to be chosen from either Netflix or Amazon Video We’ll let you know via @MrPointyHead & @alxalxalx so you have time to watch Share your thoughts and questions for us to discuss Feel free to suggest our next film – tell us why you chose it Discussion will be thorough, so be sure to watch before you listen!