Soldiers of Cinema - Exploring the Works and Philosophies of filmmaker Werner Herzog

Embrace of the SerpentHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterThis week we discuss the 2015 international film, Embrace of the Serpent, directed by Ciro Guerra. This beautifully shot black and white film was inspired by the travel diaries of Theodor Koch-Grünberg and Richard Evans Schultes and tells the story of two journeys made thirty years apart by the indigenous shaman Karamakate in the Colombian Amazonian jungle, one with Theo, a German ethnographer, and the other with Evan, an American botanist, both of whom are searching for the rare plant yakruna.TrailerDirector: Ciro GuerraStarring: Jan BijvoetNilbio TorresAntonio BolívarSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

FrenzyHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterThis week the discussion revolves around Alfred Hitchcock's penultimate feature film, 1972's Frenzy! Cullen discusses Hitchcock's influence on him growing up and why he felt it was overdue to talk about Hitch, and Clark remarks on the intriguing thought of what Hitchcock's work would have turned into had he lived longer.Frenzy TrailerDirector: Alfred HitchcockStarring: Jon FinchBarry FosterBarbara Leigh-HuntSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Pather PanchaliHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterAn adaptation of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's 1929 Bengali novel of the same name, 1955's Pather Panchali marked Satyajit Ray's directorial debut and features a non-professional cast laid on the backdrop of the authentically filmed Indian countryside. Clark and Cullen discuss the film's wider importance and the trajectory of many of those involved's careers.Pather Panchali TrailerDirector: Satyajit RayStarring: Kanu Bannerjee, Karuna Bannerjee, Subir BanerjeeSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

SorcererHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterBack for the new year, Clark and Cullen discuss William Friedkin's 1977 psychedelic man vs nature drama Sorcerer. Cullen discusses why he chose the film and Clark chimes in on the way the film portrays the brutality of the jungle.Sorcerer TrailerDirector: William FriedkinStarring: Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco RabalSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

The New WorldHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterThis time we discuss Clark's pick, Terrence Malick's The New World! Clark and Cullen chat about how long it's been since their previous Malick discussion, how this movie asks you to not worry about standard story conventions, and dares you to trust your feelings!The New World TrailerDirector: Terrence MalickStarring: Colin Farrell, Q'orianka Kilcher, Christian BaleSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

KoyaanisqatsiHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterJoin us for an in depth discussion about Cullen's pick Koyaanisqatsi - Godfrey Reggio's 1982 experimental film! A film made up of mesmerizing timelapse photography, montage and beautiful landscapes of both natural wonders and cities, Reggio pairs these elements with a groundbreaking and iconic score by Philip Glass.Koyaanisqatsi trailerDirector: Godfrey ReggioCinematography: Ron FrickeMusic: Philip GlassSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Raising ArizonaHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterThis week, we're diving into the Coen Brothers' 1987 film Raising Arizona! As their second feature, this film delivered their distinctive blend of offbeat humor and eccentric storytelling. With a standout cast led by Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter, Raising Arizona tells the hilariously chaotic tale of a couple's quest to build a family, only to find themselves entangled in a series of misadventures.Raising Arizona trailerDirector: Joel Coen, Ethan CoenStarring: Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey WilsonSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Do the Right ThingHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterThis week, we're discussing Spike Lee's 1989 film “Do the Right Thing”! While not Lee's debut feature, his third film made concrete much of the style that he would become famous for and brought together an ensemble cast to tell a story of which's cultural relevance continues to grow.Do the Right Thing trailerDirector: Spike LeeStarring: Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby DeeSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Eyes Wide ShutHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterBack from a brief hiatus due to some summer travel, Clark and Cullen discuss Cullen's pick “Eyes Wide Shut”! Stanley Kubrick's final film, and one enveloped in an air of mystery and conspiracy, this 1999 flick takes you on a dream-like journey over the course of a single night in the hyper-elite underbelly of New York City.Eyes Wide Shut TrailerDirector: Stanley KubrickStarring: Tom Cruise, Nicole KidmanSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

In the Name of the FatherHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterThis week Clark and Cullen talk about the 1993 historical drama In the Name of the Father. Set in Northern Ireland and England during the troubles and following the story of the Guilford Four, director Jim Sheridan focusses on Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his relationship with his father (Pete Postlethwaite), and their struggle to prove their innocence.In the Name of the Father TrailerDirector: Jim SheridanStarring: Daniel Day Lewis, Pete PostlethwaiteSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Film School and More with Chloe LeisHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterOn this special episode of SoC, we chat with Chloe Leis, a young filmmaker starting her career after finishing film school (and who happens to be Clark's niece)! Chloe talks about her experience at Chapman University, growing up with a passion for filmmaking, and working her first major gig on Mario Van Peebles' Outlaw Posse.Socials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Phantom ThreadHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterClark and Cullen are back to discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread! Daniel Day Lewis' final on-screen performance is an incredible show of talent as he portrays the eccentric, intensely passionate 1950's Fitzrovia dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock. A visually stunning, small-scale film, the discussion covers everything from our own personal experiences with the film to the technical details of how it was made.Phantom Thread TrailerDirector: Paul Thomas AndersonStarring: Daniel Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Leslie ManvilleSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)Hosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterClark and Cullen discuss Tobe Hooper's 1974 horror masterpiece The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Arguably the godfather of the slasher genre, this low budget flick still holds its weight, and with a new watch even pulls some welcome surprises from its sleeve.The Texas Chainsaw Massacre TrailerDirector: Tobe HooperStarring: Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Gunnar HansenSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Benjamin Koppin InterviewHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterToday Clark and Cullen sit down with writer/director Benjamin Koppin to discuss his upcoming film “Pastor's Kid”, as well as his career as an independent filmmaker.Pastor's Kid WebsiteSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Star Wars: Attack of the ClonesHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterClark and Cullen take a different approach to today's episode, instead covering a film unlike most others they've discussed. Both from a critical perspective and from the history of the film industry itself, Attack of the Clones changed how movies were made, ushering in the dawn of digital, VFX heavy blockbusters that still dominate the box office today.Attack of the Clones TrailerDirector: George LucasStarring: Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregorSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

The Last Temptation of ChristHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterIn this episode, Clark and Cullen discuss current Oscar nominee Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, a controversial and profound film which interrogates the humanity at the centre of the story of Jesus Christ, played brilliantly by Willem Dafoe.Special thanks to today's sponsor, Magic Mind! Go to https://magicmind.com/JANsoldiersofcinema and use promo code CINEMA20 to get 20 percent off on top of Magic Mind's January discount as well one month free on a three month subscription!The Last Temptation of Christ TrailerDirector: Martin ScorseseStarring: Willem Dafoe, Harvey KeitelSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

MaestroHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterIn this episode, Clark and Cullen discuss Bradley Cooper's new film Maestro. A hot topic as we enter into awards season, the discussion focusses on the technical, performance and the wider conversation of biopics and their potential pitfalls.Special thanks to today's sponsor, Magic Mind! Go to https://magicmind.com/JANsoldiersofcinema and use promo code CINEMA20 to get 20 percent off on top of Magic Mind's January discount as well one month free on a three month subscription!Maestro TrailerDirector: Bradley CooperStarring: Bradley Cooper, Carey MulliganSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

The Empty ManHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterCullen and Clark discuss David Prior's The Empty Man - the 2020 cosmic horror film released without any marketing budget, causing it to fly under many people's radars and flop at the box office. Since releasing, it's garnered a cult following, and Clark and Cullen discuss the merits of that as well as Cullen's experience seeing the film with the director in attendance!Special thanks to today's sponsor, Magic Mind! Go to https://magicmind.com/soldiersofcinema and use promo code CINEMA20 to get 20 percent off one time orders of Magic Mind and up to 50 percent off of subscription orders!The Empty Man TrailerDirector: David PriorStarring: James Badge Dale, Marin IrelandDavid Prior Short Film AM1200Socials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Die HardHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterJoin us as we spend some time discussing our creative process and the challenges that we've got to overcome when it comes to developing an idea and writing. Then, we dive into the feature for the episode - Die Hard! We discuss at length how the action genre has changed, why John McClane makes for a great protagonist, and much more!Special thanks to today's sponsor, Magic Mind! Go to https://magicmind.com/soldiersofcinema and use promo code CINEMA20 to get 20 percent off one time orders of Magic Mind and up to 50 percent off of subscription orders!Die Hard TrailerDirector: John McTiernanStarring: Bruce Willis, Alan RickmanSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Episode - 070 - The Old Man & the GunHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterMost of what follows is true! Join Clark and Cullen as they discuss David Lowery's 2018 film The Old Man & the Gun, the (mostly) true story about bank robber Forrest Tucker who was described as “well, kind of a gentleman”. Cullen discusses his experience attending the premiere of the film, why he feels it's underrated, and Clark remarks on the melancholic nostalgia he felt during the movie.The Old Man & the Gun TrailerDirector: David LoweryStarring: Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Casey AffleckSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Episode - 069 - Drugstore CowboyHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterJoin us for another discussion, this time about Gus Van Sant's 1989 indie Drugstore Cowboy! Clark discusses his history with the film and emotional connection to it, Cullen remarks at his enjoyment with the spots of humor in the film and much much more!Drugstore Cowboy TrailerDirector: Gus Van SantStarring: Matt Dillon, Kelly LynchSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

A Very Toronto Episode with Mike Wood and Adam ThornHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterJoin us for a very special episode, recorded live in Toronto at Eyesore Cinema! Clark and Cullen are recording live and in person for the first time, and are joined by Mike Wood (They Might Be Movies) and Adam Thorn (Terriblefest, Riot At The Movies) to discuss Canadian/Toronto film culture, underground cinema, putting on festivals and screenings and much, much more.October Insidious Screening Trailer/infoThings TrailerAdam Thorn's Amityville OuthouseCocaine Crabs from Outer Space TrailerHuman Nature TrailerOpen Doom Crescendo TrailerSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Episode - 068 - TitanicHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterJoin us in the smoking lounge for brandy, cigars and a discussion (fittingly, our longest yet) about James Cameron's unsinkable* Titanic! Clark and Cullen discuss the wider impact of the film on cinema, James Cameron's filmmaking style and motivations for the project, and the state of the theatre-going experience at large! *Potentially sinkable.Titanic TrailerDirector: James CameronStarring: Leonardo Dicaprio, Kate WinsletSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Episode - 067 - La La LandHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterDrama! Intrigue! Spectacle! Clark and Cullen finally disagree with each other in an exciting new episode of the podcast, this time covering Damien Chazelle's La La Land. Who will be victorious in this nuclear battle of the minds? Listen to find out!La La Land TrailerDirector: Damien ChazelleStarring: Ryan Gosling, Emma StoneSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Episode - 066 - On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterPerhaps an appropriate title switch to “Secret Agents of Cinema” might be in order as we cover our first James Bond film - 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service! Join Clark and Cullen as they discuss the flick and the culture surrounding James Bond at large, as well as their own personal experiences with the franchise.On Her Majesty's Secret Service TrailerDirector: Peter R. HuntStarring: George Lazenby, Telly SavalasSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

Episode - 065 - They LiveHosts: Clark Coffey & Cullen McFaterClark and Cullen chat about the 1988 John Carpenter cult classic "They Live". Join us as we put on the sunglasses, run out of bubblegum, and find out what's under the hood of this flick while we walk through the things we love - and maybe a bit of stuff we don't!They Live TrailerDirector: John CarpenterStarring: Roddy Piper, Keith DavidSocials:FacebookTwitterInstagram

In this episode, Clark and Cullen chat about the 2022 horror film Barbarian and compare and contrast it to Cullen's very own suspense thriller, Daylight Again. Its rare we cover current films on our show, and so we don't usually include spoiler alerts - well, we will here! If you haven't seen Barbarian, we want to warn you that there will be spoilers in this episode. We also encourage you to watch Cullen's film before listening, which you can do for free at https://youtu.be/EdZ8zNM02bs

We chat about Clark's pick and an early inspiration, Kevin Smith's 1994 film Clerks! Clerks marks the beginning of what would become Kevin Smith's mini-media empire and is an important part of the impendent film golden era of the late 80's through the 90's.

Clark and Cullen chat about Cullen's pick - the 1977 classic, A Bridge Too Far. Stuffed with almost every male star of its era, this epic was one of Cullen's favorites growing up but this was Clark's first viewing. We discuss the epic-ness of the film and laugh at the sometimes hysterical sound mixing!

Clark and Cullen recover a once thought lost episode! Originally, this was going to be our 36th episode but we experienced some technical difficulties and we thought this episode would never see the light of day - but it was found and we present it here for your enjoyment! In this episode, we discuss Clark's pick, James Foley's 1986 drama starring Sean and Chris Penn, Christopher Walken, and Mary Stuart Masterson.

Clark and Cullen discuss Spike Jonz's 1999 film. Written by Charlie Kaufman and starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Keener, with John Malkovich, this film was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Clark and Cullen sit down with the first guest in the history of the podcast, the wonderful Billy DaMota! Billy got his start in the industry in 1985 in casting. He's worked on such films as Predator, The Running Man, and The Three Amigos, and Dennis Hopper's Colors. He became an independent casting director with the gem of a film, Miracle Mile. Since then, he's cast hundreds of films, tv shows, and commercials, casting a lot of actors at the start of their careers, including James Franco, Cameron Diaz, and Brad Pitt. Billy spends more than two hours with us sharing stories from his almost 45 years in the industry - so sit back and enjoy!

Clark and Cullen discuss Cullen's pick, Ridley Scott's 1979 horror/sci-fi masterpiece, Alien. Written by Dan O'Bannon and starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt, this episode's film highlights the power of visual story telling and is an art and production design powerhouse. Enjoy as we break it all down!

Clark and Cullen discuss Clark's pick, the 1987 Charles Bukowski penned and Barbet Schroeder directed Barfly. This hidden gem of a movie stars Mickey Rourke, Fay Dunaway, and Frank Stallone and was shot on location in LA in and around the MacArthur Park area.

Clark and Cullen discuss Cullen's pick - John Huston's 1972 sports drama Fat City. This film, shot on location in good ol' (and stinky) Stockton, CA, stars Stacy Keach, an extremely young Jeff Bridges, and Susan Tyrrell (who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Sit back and relax as we discuss this hidden gem of a flick!

Clark and Cullen discuss Clark's pick, The Deer Hunter (1978). Directed by Michael Cimino, starring Robert De Niro, John Cazale (his final film), Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep.

Clark and Cullen discuss Cullen's pick, director Michael Mann's 1995 crime drama, Heat. The film stars Al Pacino, Robert De Nero, and Val Kilmer and features what was at the time an extremely hyped first scene between both Pacino and Di Nero. Our discussion is just in time for the release of the sequel in novel form. Enjoy!

Clark and Cullen discuss Clark's pick, the 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction. Quintin Tarantino's sophomore effort was a huge critical and commercial success and made the director a household name. The film helped make Miramax a powerhouse studio and brought John Travolta's career back from the dead. The film was the Palme d'Or winner at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and both Tarantino and Roger Avery won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Sit back and enjoy as we break the record for our longest episode discussing this fascinating film.

Clark and Cullen discuss Cullen's pick, the 1988 animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli. We chose to watch the English version of the film starring Dakota and Elle Fanning

Clark and Cullen breakdown Clark's pick Milos Forman's 1984 masterpiece and eight-time Academy Award wining film, Amadeus, starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, and Elizabeth Berridge.

Clark and Cullen celebrate 50 episodes by sharing their top 5 films with each other.

This week Clark and Cullen discuss Cullen's pick - the 1994 Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp, Bill Murray, Martin Landau, and Sarah Jessica Parker - Ed Wood!

This week Clark and Cullen discuss Clark's pick, Three O'Clock High, the 1987 teen cult classic directed by Spielberg protégé Phil Joanou.

Clark and Cullen discuss Cullen's pick, Enemy, the 2013 Canadian psychological drama film directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Clark and Cullen break down Martin Scorsese's (underrated, in Clark's opinion) 1986 film, The Color of Money starring Paul Newman, a feisty young Tom Cruise, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

Clark and Cullen discuss and dissect David Cronenberg' s body-horror classic! Prepare to be Cronenberged!

Cullen and Clark discuss Clark's pick - Gus Van Sant's 1991 film My Own Private Idaho starring one of Clark's childhood inspirations, River Phoenix, and Keanu Reeves.

In this episode, we follow up with Cullen and the production of his first feature film, the Hitchcockian thriller, Daylight Again.

In this episode, we luxuriate in the joy that is Paul Verhoeven's 1987 (dare we say it) masterpiece, Robocop. We discuss darn near every aspect of this film - a film that punches well above its weight and ended up a much better film than it had any right to be.

In this episode, I grill Cullen about his experiences in pre-production and the first day of shooting on his first feature film, the Hitchcockian thriller, Daylight Again..

In this episode, we discuss Robert Altman's 1973 neo-noir film, The Long Goodbye, starring Elliot Gould, Nina van Pallandt, and Sterling Hayden.