The Princes of Cinema

Wes was the beginning of indie for us. He deserves discussion. We are joined by hometown friend (and hero) Matthew Gossett as we cover last year's French Dispatch and the full array of our favorite Wes Anderson films, not limited to but with certain focus on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Is Tim's theory of his slump correct, that he's abandoned good characters and become "dollhouse" in his later works? Will no Renaissance arrive? Tune in for the controversy, for quoted lines, and more. 

Wes was the beginning of indie for us. He deserves discussion. We are joined by hometown friend (and hero) Matthew Gossett as we cover last year's French Dispatch and the full array of our favorite Wes Anderson films, not limited to but with certain focus on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Is Tim's theory of his slump correct, that he's abandoned good characters and become "dollhouse" in his later works? Will no Renaissance arrive? Tune in for the controversy, for quoted lines, and more. 

The Academy Award train rolls onto Northern Ireland, as we discuss Kenneth Branagh's autobiographical boyhood film which won Best Original Screenplay. The man is more than a Shakespearean actor it seems. We are joined on our journey by a guest-friend-warrior-poet, Dan Canders. By virtue of his degree from the University of Notre Dame, he is a perfect expert on the topic people who happen to fight and are also Irish. We discuss: "The Troubles", other pieces of Irish cinema, childhood, and immigration.

Our first episode on music docs. If you know the name Mahalia Jackson or if you don't, this episode is for you. If you want to be a fly on the wall for Metallica's group therapy sessions, this episode is for you. Join us as we cover this year's Academy Award for Best Documentary, Summer of Soul, a work by Questlove on the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. We also review the film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, following the band's dysfunction as they record their 2003 album St. Anger. We also discuss: Bill's workout routines, Stevie Wonder on the drum kit, and the music doc genre itself.

 Aaand we're back. To kick of Season 2 of more princes and more cinema, we invite you to deep dive into an immersive director you all know and love. Join in as we explore Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), and Gladiator (at the dawn of the new millennium). Themes may seem disparate, from outer space to ancient Rome, but we tie it all together with secret insights and visual clues. Join us. 

For the season finale, Crown Prince William must decide if Tim's all-time favorite film can unseat La Dolce Vita from the top of the podium. They are joined in conversation by Jessica Sweeney of the Collegium Institute in Philadelphia and John O'Brien of the Aquinas Forum in Denver. The aim: Explore themes universal and particular in Terrence Malick's 2011 film, which won the coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes and which Wikipedia dubs "an American epic experimental drama film." What more could we add? Journey with us to the childhood streets of Waco, TX and all the way to the Big Bang itself. As Malick's screenplay says, using images gives a sense of scope: "A child; the similarity in form between the shape of his ear and that of an oyster shell, between the cowlick at the crown of his head and a galaxy."

The Princes welcome to their court Connelly, Dane Connelly - a veritable encyclopedia of all things Bond. We discuss luxury watches, jet skis, Goldeneye for n64, and so much more. We dig into the early, fun Connery films like From Russia with Love and compare them with the newer, more psychological Craigs. Join us for an episode that's shaken, not stirred, even though it dilutes your martini too much.

This week the Princes are joined by a bonafide King: Shawtane Bowen (Astronomy Club, Netflix, and, of course, former UCB Harold team Fluffty). We discuss two Hitchcock + Jimmy Stewart classics: Rope, a murder-mystery stage production innovatively translated to film via long takes & Rear Window, an ode to voyeurism, close ups of Jimmy Stewart, and Grace Kelly's charm. Come for a double-helping of Jimmy Stewart, stay for the minor audio issues and adorable dog guest appearances. 

Does this film need any explanation? We discuss whether American's favorite shark movie is a "great" movie. Bill, as always, will decide if this Spielberg character truly has the chomps. 

Today's episode is our first look at the silent films of Charlie Chaplin. We follow Charlie's character “The Tramp” to the nuts and bolts of factory assembly lines, to department stores to nap among fur coats, and to, well, Alaska, to shovel snow. Our two royal hosts snobbishly discuss the nature of comedy itself, attempting to exhaust the genre with their words, words, words. Spoiler alert: Bill and Tim punt on 4th and 1, unwilling to rank these films in their personal pantheon for now. They must watch more Chaplin soon, but he remains in orbit until that day. 

Today's episode celebrates our favorite Transylvanian friends: VAMPIRES. The Princes are joined by pal and confidant Chris Madden to discuss F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu, Carl Dreyer's Vampyr, and, most importantly, Teeth: A Monstrous Musical Comedy - a play Tim, Chris, and Bill wrote together and performed in 2007. Let's be honest. This is a beast of an episode clocking at almost 3 hours long, but we boldly proclaim IT'S WORTH IT. We dig deep into the process of writing and producing a musical and the friendship that was strengthened along the way. We had too much fun recording this insanely self-indulgent episode. Join us, won't you?You can watch the full show by searching Teeth: A Monstrous Musical Comedy on YouTube or go directly to this link: https://youtu.be/d5SoAjEliSA

On today's spooky, Halloween themed episode, we are joined by writer, comedian, and horror aficionado Johnna Scrabis to discuss 1955 Thriller, The Night of the Hunter. Direct by Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum, this highly acclaimed film, #26 on the Sight & Sound Directors Poll, gets a dressing down by The Princes of Cinema. We came to be scared, not watch a well-shot Huckleberry Finn. Join us for a discussion of the point of horror films, what scares us, and how this movie could have been better. Please check out Johnna's hilarious podcast @ MeanBookClub

For the very first time, The Princes of Cinema are joined by a guest, NY Comedian Patrick Keene, to discuss Ingmar Bergman's 1957 classic film, The Seventh Seal. Join us for a lighthearted romp into the world of the Black Plague, fully living life despite the fear of impending death, and existential questions about the silence of God. Let's party!Follow Patrick on twitter at @doo_kee

We are please to present the debut episode of The Princes of Cinema. We have fittingly rebranded as royalty and are discussing Jean Renoir's 1939 satirical French film about aristocrats living frivolously on the brink of WWII. Once booed, now praised as one of the greatest films ever made, The Rules of the Game is basically Downton Abbey about the French in the 30s. Remember: "The awful thing about life is this: everyone has their reasons."

This is our maiden voyage into the ocean of classic film. We discuss Italian director Federico Fellini's 1960 film about night life, paparazzi, and all things Rome. Benvenuto!