Being a "film buff," seems cool but learning about film is difficult. Not sure where to start? Longtime friends, former film students, and wannabe film buffs Hadley and John aren't sure either. So, they're doing it their way. In each episode, Hadley and John decipher what it means to be a film buff, share stories from their experiences in film school and working in the film industry, and flex their movie muscles on the essential films from then and now.
The film buffs have been BAD. They are a couple of disgusting procrastinators who wait until the last minute to do anything and everything - including but not limited to watching, recording, and releasing this episode. This week Hadley and John are getting back into the swing of things and talking about one of the greatest seminal works of documentary filmmaking, Paris is Burning. Released to overwhelming controversy, praise, and critical analysis in 1990, Paris is Burning is a fabulous little glimpse into the world of 1980's drag culture in NYC. Hadley and John talk queerness, realness, RuPaul tea, and apologize profusely for being gone for so long. Enjoy.
Hadley and John are back and discussing the 2003 surrealist French animated comedy, The Triplets of Belleville, written and directed by Sylvian Chomet. Triplets is a French odyssey, an adventure story about a grandmother who will stop at nothing to save her grandson from the clutches of the French Mafia. With the help of an identical trio of 30's cabaret singers, granny Souza embarks on the adventure of her lifetime. Our film buffs discuss the film's many cultural references to race and media and possibly get into a huge fight that ends in battle royale levels of violence and gore. Smash that play button to find out who comes out on top.
In 1995 Richard Linklater released what would come to be considered one of the most unique, exciting, and lovable romance films ever. Before Sunrise watches Celine and Jesse discover themselves while discovering each other. It is a simple film that chronicles a single night spent between these two love birds as they wander the streets of Vienna talking about everything under the damn midnight sun. Hadley and John get drunk and discuss the structure and influence of this seminal piece that spawned two surprise sequels and began Linklater's great cinematic experiment which spans decades.
In 1998 The Truman Show was a revelation. Truman Burbank is living in a simulated reality that revolves entirely around him. He doesn't know it yet, but he's about to find out the hard way that his entire life has been a reality show ingested by the masses. Starring Jim Carrey in a surprisingly poignant turn as Truman, Laura Linney, Ed Harris, and everyone's favorite...Paul Giamatti, The Truman Show packs an emotional punch. Hadley and John are baring their souls and getting deep. They're talking about social media, mental health, race, theology, the allegory of the cave, and they finally answer the age old question...is there a god? and if so...is god Ed Harris? All that and more on the third episode of We Wanna Be Film Buffs.
Trigger Warning: This week, Hadley and John discuss the 1974 Oscar darling Chinatown directed by...whatever, written by Robert Towne, and starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Chinatown is often considered to have one of the greatest scripts of all time. The film follows Los Angeles P.I. JJ Gittes through the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. As he investigates the murder of a local politician he becomes embroiled in web of conspiracy, deceit, and tragic family secrets. In this episode Hadley and John briefly discuss Roman Polanski and ethical film analysis, as well as three and five act film structure and all the juicy juicy details of this weeks film. This episode contains conversation regarding sexual assault and abuse.
In this episode, John and Hadley discuss the 1942...or 1943 classic Casablanca! Directed by Michael Curtiz, this noir-romance-thriller-war drama-melting pot of a movie has been breaking hearts and inspiring generations of auteurs for decades. Considered one of the greatest films of all time, Casablanca tells the story of Rick and Ilse, lovers torn apart by World War 2 and brought back together in Casablanca by a series of life altering and desperate circumstances. John and Hadley discuss their wannabe film buff origins, break down the plot of this timeless tale, and introduce the film being discussed next week on the first episode of WE WANNA BE FILM BUFFS.
We Wanna Be Film Buffs Promo featuring hosts Hadley and John inviting you to listen to new episodes every Wednesday.
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