The Complete Podcast

For the fourth episode, Matt and Travis cover the epic and extraordinary Paranoia Agent, Kon’s 13-episode television series. The first and only thing Kon did for TV began as a combination of many of his smaller ideas and story concepts that didn’t have a home but eventually morphed into something more ambitious and far-reaching. We … Continue reading The Complete Kon 4 – Paranoia Agent →

For the third episode, Travis and Matt discuss the magical comedy adventure Tokyo Godfathers, Kon’s third feature. We discuss the vividly rendered central characters, the small details and recurring motifs that Kon layers into his work, and the departure from the reality/fantasy merging of his two previous films. We wanted to get this out for … Continue reading The Complete Kon 3 – Tokyo Godfathers →

In this episode, Matt and Travis cover Satoshi Kon’s second feature, Millennium Actress. In many ways a reworking of the themes and techniques Kon explored in his debut, the film is nevertheless an entirely different viewing experience: an uplifting and deeply moving exploration of a woman’s life in movies and her quest to find the … Continue reading The Complete Kon 2 – Millennium Actress →

On the first episode of our fourth season, Matt and Travis begin to work through the catalog of Satoshi Kon, our first Japanese filmmaker and the first to work in the medium of animation. We talk about Kon’s life and anime before diving into his debut feature, Perfect Blue. One of the great animated thrillers, … Continue reading The Complete Kon 1 – Perfect Blue →

On the final episode of the season, we reflect on the films we’ve watched over the past two years and the legacy of Kieślowski. We also cover films produced after his death that were associated with him through scripts and other connections, plus the books we’ve enjoyed along the way. We end with our final … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 19 – Wrap Up →

For the last of our episodes on Kieślowski’s final work, the Three Colors trilogy, we are joined again by Ericca Long, co-host of The Magic Lantern Podcast to discuss Red, the director’s final work before retiring and soon after passing away from complications during heart surgery. We discuss the film’s depiction of its female protagonist … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 18 – Three Colors: Red →

For the second of our episodes on Kieślowski’s final work, the Three Colors trilogy, we are joined again by Ericca Long, co-host of The Magic Lantern Podcast to discuss White, the second film in the series. A surprising departure in a number of ways from the director’s previous two films, White represents a return to … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 17 – Three Colors: White →

For the first of our episodes on Kieślowski’s final work, the Three Colors trilogy, we are joined by Ericca Long, co-host of The Magic Lantern Podcast to discuss Blue, the first film in the series. The second film Kieślowski made with international financing, Blue is another towering work of European arthouse cinema, yet remains surprisingly … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 16 – Three Colors: Blue →

For the first post-Dekalog episode, Travis and Matt welcome Dave Eves and Becky D’Anna, a couple of cinephiles and Bergman experts, to discuss The Double Life of Veronique. This film was Kieślowski’s first partially French-financed movie, and the first after his newfound international fame. It was also his first movie since the fall of the … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 15 – The Double Life of Veronique →

For our final episode on the Dekalog, Travis and Matt welcome Michał Oleszczyk, a film critic and scholar based in Poland who has contributed to outlets such as Fandor and rogerebert.com. He recently curated a Kieślowski film festival at the director’s archives in Sokołowsko, Poland, and we were thrilled to have him on to discuss … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 14 – Dekalog Wrap-Up with Michał Oleszczyk →

To close out our 6-part miniseries covering the individual episodes of the Dekalog, Matt and Travis welcome Daisuke Beppu, who hosts a wonderful YouTube channel covering the Criterion Collection and other film and home media topics. We discuss episodes 9 and 10 of the series, which stand out in distinctive ways. For episode 9, we … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 13 – Dekalog 9 & 10 →

For part 5 of our 6-part miniseries on Kieślowski’s monumental Dekalog television series, Matt and Travis welcome friend of the show and chief admin of the Criterion Considered group on Facebook Tim Leggoe. We discuss the next two episodes in the Dekalog, 7 and 8, which both focus on a pair of female characters and … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 12 – Dekalog 7 & 8 →

Matt and Travis are joined by David Blakeslee of the invaluable Criterion Reflections podcast to discuss the second Dekalog episode that was expanded into a feature, episode six, which would be titled A Short Film About Love in its feature version. We discuss the morally sticky nature of both the story and the film itself, … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 11 – Dekalog 6 & A Short Film About Love →

Matt and Travis welcome Cole Roulain, cohost of The Magic Lantern podcast and cohoncho of The 25th Frame, to discuss the fifth episode of Dekalog and the first to be adapted into a feature-length film. The episode is a significant departure from the family dramas and moral dilemmas of the first four episodes in the … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 10 – Dekalog 5 & A Short Film About Killing →

Matt and Travis move on to parts 3 and 4 of Kieślowski’s epic television series Dekalog and bring on Keith Enright of the now defunct Criterion Completion website and pod-on-permanent-hiatus. This is part 2 of our 6-part series on the anthology film that catapulted Kieślowski into international fame. Unlike the gut-punch of the first film … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 9 – Dekalog 3 and 4 →

Matt and Travis are excited to kick off our first multi-part series on one work: Kieślowski’s legendary Dekalog television miniseries. For the first episode, we welcome Josh Hornbeck, host of the forthcoming Criterion Channel Surfing podcast, to discuss the first two episodes in the series. Initially intended to be directed by separate up-and-coming directors through … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 8 – Dekalog 1 and 2 →

Matt and Travis welcome Caitlin, the host of Her Head in Films, to discuss Kieślowski’s final film before creating the internationally acclaimed Dekalog series for Television, 1985’s No End. Released in the wake of a two-year period of martial law in Poland that marked the end of the Solidarity breakthroughs of 1980-81, the film was … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 7 – No End →

Matt and Travis are joined by Martin Kessler of Flixwise and Flixwise Canada to discuss Kieślowski’s shelved 1981 theatrical feature Blind Chance. Like Short Working Day, Blind Chance was never shown publicly before being withheld from circulation, a victim of the crackdown that culminated in martial law at the end of 1981. Only after Kieślowski … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 6 – Blind Chance →

Matt and Travis welcome Matt Schlee from Cineccentric to discuss the fifth feature in Kieślowski’s filmography, Short Working Day. In 1981, Kieślowski made two films that would be immediately shelved and go unreleased for years: the theatrical feature Blind Chance (which was also censored even its eventually released version) and the made-for-Television feature Short Working … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 5 – Short Working Day →

Matt and Travis welcome Will Remmers to the show to discuss Kieślowski’s second theatrical feature and four feature overall, 1979’s Camera Buff. After The Calm was shelved, Kieślowski carried on with his documentary work, producing I Don’t Know (which he voluntarily shelved to protect the subject), From a Night Porter’s Point of View, and Seven … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 4 – Camera Buff →

Matt and Travis welcome the all-powerful voice and cinematic insight of Mr. Mark Hurne, co-host of Close-Up and regular on Criterion Now, to discuss Kieslowski’s second full-length made-for-TV feature and third overall feature, The Calm. The Calm was made almost immediately on the heels of Kieślowski’s debut theatrical feature in 1976 for Polish Television. However, … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 3 – The Calm →

Travis and Matt welcome Jon Laubinger, host of fellow 25th Frame show Film, Baby, Film, to discuss The Scar, Kieślowski’s second feature-length film. The Scar was Kieślowski’s first feature film for theaters, as Personnel had been made for television. Although it was fairly well-received, including two awards at the Polish Film Festival, Kieślowski was extremely … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 2: The Scar →

Season three of The Complete begins with the first full-length film made by Krzysztof Kieślowski, the made-for-TV 72-minute feature Personnel. We begin by discussing the director’s reputation and give a brief overview of his early life, time at the Łodz film school, and early documentary work. We also discuss the short narratives he made prior … Continue reading The Complete Kieślowski 1: Personnel →

Matt and Travis close out the season with May’s final film, an hour-long profile of Mike Nichols’s career. We start by discussing the special and Nichols’s career before closing out the season with a discussion of May’s films and her legacy. Mike Nichols: An American Master Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Letterboxd … Continue reading The Complete Supplemental Elaine May →

Matt and Travis tackle one of the most notorious “debacles” in Hollywood history, Elaine May’s Ishtar. We discuss the sad history of a modest film buried under a legendary backstory, along with the surprisingly entertaining product actually at the center of it all. Ishtar Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Letterboxd/Criterion Considered Travis … Continue reading The Complete Elaine May 4: Ishtar →

Travis and Matt discuss Elaine May’s first Criterion Collection entry, set to be released on blu-ray in January. We discuss the film’s shaggy filmmaking, the central performances from Falk and Cassavetes, and its place in both May’s filmography and the gangster genre. Mikey and Nicky Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Letterboxd/Criterion Considered … Continue reading The Complete Elaine May 3: Mikey and Nicky →

Travis and Matt take on Elaine May’s second film, the anti-romantic comedy The Heartbreak Kid. We talk about the film’s emphasis on character and how the movie upends conventions that had barely been invented yet. We also compare it to May’s former partner’s best-known movie and the atrocity that is the Farrelly brothers’ remake. The … Continue reading The Complete Elaine May 2: The Heartbreak Kid →

Matt and Travis kick off the new season of The Complete with Elaine May’s debut film. We talk about the tragic underrepresentation of women in the director’s chair during Hollywood’s “golden” and “New” eras, along with May’s unique path to her own career as a filmmaker, before discussing the many charms and sophisticated execution of … Continue reading The Complete Elaine May 1: A New Leaf →

To wrap up the first season, Matt and Travis cover books and documentaries about Kubrick, while also touching on his unproduced films and their big takeaways from watching Kubrick’s work in chronological order. The Supplemental Kubrick Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Letterboxd/Criterion Considered Travis – Twitter/Letterboxd

For Kubrick’s final film, Matt and Travis are joined by Trevor Berrett of The Mookse and the Gripes and The Eclipse Viewer. We discuss the film’s remarkable relevance in America today, along with its dual themes of marriage and power. Introducing Sociology: A Review of Eyes Wide Shut by Tim Kreider Eyes Wide Shut Listen … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 13: Eyes Wide Shut →

Matt and Travis are joined by Doug McCambridge of Good Times, Great Movies to discuss Kubrick’s final war film, 1987’s Full Metal Jacket. We explore Kubrick’s larger purpose beyond the Vietnam War and the complicated moral landscape of the film. Full Metal Jacket Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Letterboxd/Criterion Considered Travis – … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 12: Full Metal Jacket →

Matt and Travis welcome Aaron West, host of Criterion Now, to discuss Kubrick’s most popular movie, The Shining. We discuss the film’s use of cinematic technique to explore fear and the film’s many mysteries, both real and imagined. The Shining Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Letterboxd/Criterion Considered Travis – Twitter/Letterboxd Aaron – … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 11: The Shining →

Matt and Travis welcome cinema samurai and man-about-Twitter Dave Eves to discuss Barry Lyndon. We discuss the film’s uncanny reproduction of 18th Century Europe and the film’s thematic depth, along with the many mysteries of Barry and Ryan O’Neil’s performance. Barry Lyndon Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Letterboxd/Criterion Considered Travis – Twitter/Letterboxd … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 10: Barry Lyndon →

Matt and Travis welcome author and film scholar Kenneth James to discuss Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. We discuss the film’s many thematic and aesthetic elements as well as the film’s notoriety both on release and in its legacy as one of Kubrick’s thorniest films. A Clockwork Orange Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 9: A Clockwork Orange →

Matt and Travis welcome David Blakeslee of Criterion Reflections and CriterionCast to discuss his favorite film of all time, 2001: A Space Odyssey. We go through each of the film’s four sections and discuss the film’s significance in both world history and our own journeys through cinema. 2001: A Space Odyssey Listen on iTunes The … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 8: 2001: A Space Odyssey →

Matt and Travis are joined by Jon Laubinger of Film Baby Film to discuss Dr. Strangelove. We focus on the film’s relevance in today’s political climate and Kubrick’s decision to make a satire rather than a straight thriller. Dr. Strangelove Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Twitter/Letterboxd Travis – Twitter Jon – Twitter/Film … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 7: Dr. Strangelove →

Matt and Travis welcome Ericca Long of The Magic Lantern Podcast to the show to talk Lolita. We talk about the choices Kubrick made in adapting the book and discuss the controversial subject matter and its treatment by the director. Lolita Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Twitter/Letterboxd Travis – Twitter Ericca – … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 6: Lolita →

Matt and Travis welcome Martin Kessler of Flixwise to the show to talk Spartacus, Stanley Kubrick’s first for-hire directorial project. We talk about the overt and covert elements of the movie and why this is both the most and least important film in Kubrick’s career. Spartacus Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Twitter/Letterboxd … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 5: Spartacus →

Matt and Travis turn to Kubrick’s first masterpiece, Paths of Glory. They discuss why the movie still speaks to us so strongly today and break down the elements that make this feel like the first major Stanley Kubrick work. Paths of Glory Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Twitter/Letterboxd Travis – Twitter

Matt and Travis welcome Cole Roulain from the Magic Lantern Podcast to discuss Kubrick’s first professional picture, The Killing. They go into detail on the film’s complex structure and cover the noir elements that help the film stand out in Kubrick’s catalog. The Killing Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Twitter/Letterboxd Travis – … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 3: The Killing →

Matt and Travis dive right into Killer’s Kiss, with further discussion of Kubrick’s depiction of women and his preference for adapting literary sources. Killer’s Kiss Listen on iTunes The Complete Twitter Matt – Twitter/Letterboxd Travis – Twitter

The first season kicks off with Stanley Kubrick’s Fear and Desire (1953). Matt and co-host Travis Trudell start by talking about their own histories with Kubrick’s movies and how the director is perceived before diving into his debut. S01E01 – Fear and Desire Listen on iTunes Fear and Desire review in the New York Times … Continue reading The Complete Kubrick 1: Fear and Desire →

This brief introduction lays out the basic concept of the show and features a little background on the host (me). The Complete Introduction