Talking Pictures

We talk about what we learned discussing race and movie genres and peak into what's coming up next!

We conclude Season 1 of our series "Genre Busters" on race and film genres with a look at your submissions on our two questions   1. Name a science fiction movie where the main character is a person of color   and   2. Name a sciente fiction movie where the cast is muli-ethnic just because not intentionally so.    Also, previews of season 2! 

We end our Genre Busters series on race and movie genres looking at Science Fiction and cinematic visions of the future. Here on earth, the future, neigh the present, is multi-racial and multi-colored. Why doesn't it appear that way onscreen?  This week's challenge: A two parter. Name a science fiction movie where the cast is multi-ethnic and that fact is NOT crucial to the story. It's just because.    OR Name a Science Fiction movie where the lead character (must be human) is not white. Anything already mentioned in this episode (The Force Awakens, iRobot) is disqualified.    Have at it!

We look at the results of the question we posed to the Talking Pictures Community:    "Can you name the persuer (i.e. cop/FBI Agent etc.) in a crime movie who is played by a non-white actor?" "Crime Movies" = movie where the criminal is the main character. See "American Gangster," "New Jack City" etc.     

We look at race and crime movies and issue the next listener challenge. Can you think of 3 crime movies where the persuer, the cop, the "good guy" isn't white? And you can only use one Denzel Washington, Will Smith or Wesley Snipes movie. 

Two-Part Listener Challenge! We asked you to either name a movie set in the historical past where the main character isn't white or to recast your favorite period movie with non-white actors. Here are your answers...

In this ep. Dave and Kevin discuss movies set in the historical past and what race means in your favorite movies with flowing dresses and best costume Oscar nominations. 

Can you name a romantic comedy where the leads aren't white but live in a racially diverse world? Answers to our listener challenge in this episode!

We asked you to name 5 action movies where neither the hero nor villain are white.    We got some great answers from the Talking Pictures Community. 

Wherein Dave and Kevin look at Hitch, Clueless, Top Five, My Best Friend's Wedding and other romantic comedies where everyone doesnt' need to be the same color.    This episode's challenge: "Can you name three romantic comedies where the lead character is not white but every other supporting character isn't also the same color as them?"     

For our new series on Talking Pictures, Dave and Kevin discuss your favorite movie genres (Action, Romantic Comedy, Crime Movies etc.) through the lens of race.   For each genre we'll look at....   I. What are the moving parts of that genre   II. What are the expectations we movielovers have for that genre in terms of race   III. What movies upset those expectations?   We finish each episode with a challenge.: For action movies the challenge is...   "Can you name 5 action movies where neither the hero nor villain are white?" Only two may be from countries besides the US.     

Kevin and Dave return for a short, end-of-year roundup, favorite movies of the year from each, best film trends of 2015, and hopes for the year in cinema to come. 

Yes, someone mentions the new Star Wars movie and some obscure German avante guarde film called The Avengers. But there's plenty more here to queue up/put on the calendar for the coming year in movie watching. We break it down on this episode of Talking Pictures. 

Wherein Kevin and Dave discuss how to see maximize Award-Nominated-Best-of-List movies in the last month of the year. 

Kevin, Dave, and special guest Justin Sondak discuss movies that go against their genre preferences, but they still like anyway.

In which our heroes discuss movies that they know they're supposed to like, but really, really don't.

Wherein we discuss the year 1989 in movies, the great films from that year and how several things happened that meant movie going would never be the same again. 

Live from SXSW Interactive/Film, Kev and Dave give you their best tips for getting into the wild and crazy world of film festival attendance. 

Dave puts forth a modest proposal for making the Oscars less of an end-of-the-year spirit and more of a year-long movie love fest. No Academy members or badies are eaten in the process.    Talking Pictures is hosted by Filmmaker David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit) and Author Kevin Smokler (@weegee). Discussion of current and past episodes happens on our Facebook Page. Join us!

In this episode, we reboot Talking Pictures with a new format, shorter length, and a discussion about whether or not it makes sense to distinguish between movies and other forms of talking pictures like television shows and web series.

In which we mourn the passing of a great actor and look at the world of films that aren't told from the default point of view. 0:50 - R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman 8:40 - Box Office: Wolf of Wall Street = One long beer commercial. Also, Frozen and the high returns on Bechdel Test-friendly cinema. 23:40 - Feature Segment: Movies about a culture where the main character is actually a part of that culture. Why so rare? 44:05 - Overlooked Gems: It's Dave's turn to pick a documentary. Kevin picks a quiet film from a director more recently known for broad comedy. Also, here's the Alyssa Rosenberg we keep talking about this episode. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

Who's doing the good writing about film these days and how do you find it? 2:42 - Box Office: Lee Daniels gets in on Tyler Perry's marketing tactics. 24:30 - Feature Segment: What kind of writing about film is exciting us these days? What do we look for in good film writing? 40:25 - Overlooked Gems: Kev's pick makes Dave nostalgic for Fametracker, Dave's pick casts new light on a tired genre. Also, here's the Spielberg Face video essay we mention at the end as well as Los Angeles Plays Itself. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

Movies you think you'd hate, but won't. Live from Chicago with special guest Justin Sondak. 3:30 - Box Office: Does release date really matter anymore? 17:50 - Feature Segment: "Better than you thought." Movies that surprised us, from action to romcom to whatever the hell Spiceworld was. 40:30 - Overlooked Gems: Dave sings the praises of Michael Shannon, Kevin sings the praises of vets, Justin sings the praises of lo-fi sci-fi. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit), with special guest Justin Sondak (@jaysondak).

The year to come, cinematically speaking... 2:17 - Box Office: The depressing barren month known as January.  17:58 - Feature Segment: Movies we're looking forward to in 2013.  40:47 - Overlooked Gems: Kevin on the greatest Cold War/Age of Information cusp movie ever. Dave on possibly the most depressing (and best) movie set in a junior high school.  Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

Yeah. We went with the obvious topic. 1:19 - Box Office: The success of Skyfall. Crazy early Oscar favorites. 21:38 - Feature Segment: The year in Joss Whedon, disintermediation, and new responsibilities for filmmakers. 53:05 - Overlooked Gems: Dave picks the Oscar-nominated tort flick that's not Erin Brockovich. Kevin picks a sophomore effort that's anything but a slump. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

How do film festivals evolve (or not) to meet the needs of the modern filmgoer? 1:05 - Box Office: There's just nothing going on, is there? 17:36 - Feature Segment: The disconnect between film festivals and modern viewing habits. 41:39 - Overlooked Gems: Kevin loves birds and Dave loves Shane Black. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

What is the most appropriate way to look at an artist's career when they pass away? Is it disingenuous to ignore their less artistically successful work? 2:19 - Box Office: Kevin has a shocking confession. 25:36 - Feature Segment: A tweet about Nora Ephron starts a conversation about how to talk about an artists work when they pass away. 40:58 - Overlooked Gems: Dave returns to his childhood and Kev finds one of the best. casts. ever. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

In this special episode recorded in Chicago, special guest Justin Sondak helps us discuss the role location plays in modern cinema. 1:05 - Box Office: Prometheus and the role of mystery in marketing. 16:52 - Feature Segment: Three kinds of location in film. Would Raising Arizona work in Florida? 29:30 - Overlooked gems: Justin goes sports, Dave goes Russian mob, and Kev goes quirky cop. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit). This week's special guest was Justin Sondak (@jaysondak)

Kev and Dave try to figure out how future generations will find out about movies that came out before, you know, right now. 1:47 - Box Office: We mix some metaphors and talk Hunger Games. 30:20 - Feature Segment: How we discovered older films and how future generations might. 57:40 - Overlooked gems: Dave tries to convince Kev of the merit of political movies whilst Kev picks a film that, by all merits, he should hate. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

Kev and Dave single-handedly solve the problems of film funding, film distribution, SOPA, and PIPA. You're welcome. 0:16 - We steal a bit from the Filmspotting podcast. 4:11 - Box Office: Just how well does Star Wars hold up? 18:41 - Feature Segment: We talk about the problem of what it means to own and sell content in a digital age...and then kind of solve it maybe. 43:39 - Overlooked Gems: Johnny Depp gets you high and spelunking gets you killed. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

Those little quirks that tie a director's work together and what they say about the artist. 5:20 - Box Office: The Twilight Generation vs. The Muppets Generation. 21:29 - Feature Segment: Director's trademarks, from Tarantino to Brooks. 49:11 - Overlooked Gems: You'd better sit down. Kev picked a documentary. Also, Dave gets 80's nostalgic with a movie from the 00's. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

Our special guest Jason Govern takes us through the wild, wooly world of web series.  Also, Kevin gets eaten by bears. 2:15 - Box Office: (For 10/7/11) - The Circle of Disney 14:35 - Feature Segment - What the hell are web series and how are us old fogeys supposed to keep track? 29:25 - Kevin gets eaten by bears (which is to say his internet connection breaks and we go on without him). 51:37 - Overlooked Gems - Tom Hooper before The King's Speech and Charlton Heston before, um, Charlton Heston. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit). Our special guest this week was Jason Govern (@jgovern).

1:08 - Dave complains about the weather on two coasts. 2:40 - Box Office: What if all romantic comedies were cast with apes? 19:30 - Feature Segment: What happened to cinematic artistry in comedies? 34:52 - Once again we attempt to psychoanalyze Kevin's deep-seated hatred of Judd Apatow. 48:00 - Overlooked Gems: A Salt Lake City film without any Mormons and a Danny Boyle film you've never heard of. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

0:50 - We very slowly get around to introducing our special guest, Justin Sondak. Plus, marsupial trivia. 3:08 - Box Office: No alarms and no surprises. 13:32 - Feature Segment: When all else fails, actors that can save your movie. 34:33 - Overlooked Gems: An Ebert favorite, a headbanger with a pilot's license, and a good version of You Got Served. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit). This week's special guest was Justin Sondak (@jaysondak).

0:29 - Box Office: The plague of "blockbuster lite" movies. (Also, Kevin's sound suddenly gets worse for no reason.) 10:19 - Feature Segment: What is transmedia and why should Kevin care?  (Also, Kevin's sound suddenly gets better for no reason.) 35:34 - Overlooked Gems: You can't make Christina Ricci ugly and getting nostalgic for a medium that's making a comeback. Talking Pictures is hosted by Kevin Smokler (@weegee) and David Dylan Thomas (@movie_pundit).

0:17 - Dave and Kev talk about their Oscar plans. 5:30 - Box Office. In which we try to explain the success of Justin Bieber and Black Swan. 27:51 - Feature Segment: What having 10 Best Picture nominees tells us about the history and future of the Oscars. 41:51 - Overlooked Gems: A current best screenwriter nominee's early work and a documentary on an unlikely subject.

1:19 - Box Office: How Alice in Wonderland will usher in an era of fanfic. 23:50 - Feature Segment: Where all the black movies at? 34:50 - Dave's two-year-old makes a guest appearance. 42:43 - Overlooked Gems: The dark side of Ben Stiller, and Paris without the clichés.

0:35 - Bad Movie Title Puns, Inc. 3:38 - Box Office: Harry Potter masks Tangled's success. 18:51 - Feature Segment: How do we find out what's in theaters in the age of the DVR? 41:28 - Overlooked Gems: Dave picks a movie you probably can't see and Kevin picks a title you probably can't define.

In which Kevin and Dave discuss the pros and cons of Aaron Sorkin. 0:50 - A discussion of film festivals that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the podcast. 16:10 - Box Office: Dave commits film geek heresy. 38:00 - Feature Segment: Is there anything left to say about The Social Network?  Probably not, but that never stopped us before. 1:07:20 - Overlooked Gems: Two unlikely but entertaining options for your Halloween viewing pleasure.

In which Kevin and Dave confess which movies they just don't like for no reason whatsoever. 0:25 - And now, apropos of nothing, the Great American Songbook 2:15 - Box Office: A protracted discussion of the Robert Rodriguez milieu. 18:30 - Feature Segment: What types of movies do you just not watch even though you probably should? 30:30 - Overlooked Gems: The ultimate Michael Cera film and the last hurrah of Dave Chappelle.    

00:16 - Kevin didn't like Inception! I know, right? 04:15 - Box Office: Kevin is mystified by The Other Guys. 19:41 - Feature Segment: Worst. Summer. Ever.  Or was it?  30:50 - Overlooked Gems: What's an eight-letter-word for "competition doc" and the Citizen Kane of movies you haven't seen.

The problem isn't that there aren't any good movies; it's that there are too many. 00:25 - Box Office: Inception is awesome.  Let me say that again.  Inception is awesome. 18:57 - The Great Sort: How do we find movies that we love in such a great sea? 25:25 - Dave goes off on a rant about what movie theaters need to do to survive and how the studios should help. 32:22 - We somehow get back on topic. 42:45 - Overlooked gems: Kevin meets a celebrity and the documentary that inspired "Vogue".

This summer ain't looking great for movies. We say stay at home or take up jetskiiing. 2:00 Weekly Box Office. Shrek triumphs (modestly), Sex and the City 2 hangs on despite itself. Prince of Persia matters who to what now? 23:45. "Beige" movies and actors i.e. you don't care enough to hate or love. The worst criticism imaginable. 42:20. This week's "Overlooked Gems" Churchy Documentaries and "A Very Long Engagement."  

After many (maybe two) years, Talking Pictures is back with a look at Summer Movies. 02:00. - Box Office Wrap-Up: Not even a fair fight. 15:00 - Summer Movies, what did we ever do to them? 25:50 - Overlooked gems, Sam Rockwell and Robert Duvall FTW.