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Ryan Coogler puts everything, and we do mean everything, into SINNERS, his first film post-”Black Panther.” Adam and Josh have a review, plus ANDREI RUBLEV, THE LEGEND OF OCHI, and the Filmspotting Madness: Best of the Century Final. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:27) Review: “Sinners” (00:02:28-00:32:07) Filmspotting Family (00:32:08-00:36:34) Review (JL): “The Legend of Ochi” (00:36:35-00:40:48) Next Week / Notes (00:40:49-00:44:23) Filmspotting Madness Final (00:44:24-00:52:02) Tarkovsky #2: “Andrei Rublev” (00:52:03-01:32:13) Credits / New Releases (01:32:14-01:36:42) Links: -Chicago Critics Film Fest https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/ -Filmspotting Madness https://www.filmspotting.net/madness -Scott Tobias and Keith Phipps on “Andrei Rublev” https://thereveal.substack.com/p/67-tie-andrei-rublev-the-reveal-discusses Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net. -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and complete archive access. http://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts (and more) on sale at the Filmspotting Shop. https://filmspotting.net/shop Follow: https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting https://twitter.com/filmspotting https://facebook.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm https://twitter.com/larsenonfilm https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The seventh episode of our special retrospective 20th season looks back to the awesome movie year of 2003 with the second of our producer Dave's three picks, Michael Bay's Bad Boys II. Directed by Michael Bay and starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Gabrielle Union and Jordi Molla, Bad Boys II was one of the highest-grossing movies of 2003.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bad-boys-ii-2003), A.O. Scott in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/18/movies/film-review-hot-cars-burning-rubber-and-guys-good-and-bad.html), and Scott Tobias in the AV Club (https://www.avclub.com/bad-boys-ii-1798198792).Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen's Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod.You can also follow us all on Letterboxd to keep up with what we've been watching at goforjason,
Welkom bij Herwaarns Verwikkeld! Dit is een variant op de Herwaarns podcast waarbij Merel en Wessel niet beginnen bij een thema, maar bij een centraal cultureel object. Van daaruit bekijken we verbanden met andere culturele objecten om een intertekstueel web te weven en daarmee het central object te onderzoeken. Je wordt ingewikkeld geprikkeld in Herwaarns Verwikkeld! Met in aflevering 1: Jurassic Park. Om de dertigste verjaardag van de film Jurassic Park van Steven Spielberg te vieren, bekijken we de inspiraties en geïnspireerden van de klassieke dinofilm. Wil je een object aandragen voor een Herwaarns Verwikkeld? Neem contact op. Bronnen: Jurassic Park. 1993. Regie: Steven Spielberg. Michael Chrichton. Jurassic Park. 1990. Bronnen van Merel Voor Jurassic Park: Mary Shelley - Frankenstein, or the modern prometheus. 1818I, Robot. dir. Alex Proyas. 2004. (ja er is ook het verhaal, dat ken ik niet >< De Jurassic World films: Jurassic World. dir. Colin Trevorrow. 2015 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. dir. J.A. Bayona. 2018 Jurassic World: Dominion. [kijk die naam!] dir. Colin Trevorrow. 2022 The Meg. dir. Jon Turtletaub. 2018. Meg 2: The Trench. dir. Ben Wheatley. 2023. (de intro hiervan is een ode aan JP btw) (niet genoemd, maar wel verwant: 65. dir. Scott Beck & Brian Wood. 2023.) Douglas Adams. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 1979 Yann Martel. Life of Pi. 2001 De dierentuin als concept James Gurney. Dinotopia. 1992. [dus een jaar voor JP!] Stephen Fry. https://youtu.be/c0Ody- (DWDD) en https://www.youtube.com/ (uit "The Origins Podcast" van Laurence Krauss) Bronnen van Wessel Jurassic World Lego: https://www.lego.com/nl-nl/themes/jurassic-world Godzilla, King of the Monsters. 1956. Regie: Terry O. Morse and Ishirō Honda. Dinosaur. 2000. Regie: Ralph Zondag and Eric Leighton. Walking With Dinosaurs. 1999. Created by Tim Haines. The Land Before Time/Platvoet. Regie: Don Bluth. Productie door George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Splice. 2009. Regie Vincenzo Natali. Magic the Gathering: Ixalan. 2017. Wizards of the Coast. Lindsay Ellis. Jurassic Park Turns 30. 2023. https://nebula.tv/videos/lindsayellis-jurassic-park-turns-30 Liga koek dino plaatjes. 1993? Jurassic Park: Trespasser. 1998. Shamus Blackly. (Over Jurassic Park Trespasser: Errant Signal. “Children of Doom: 1998.” Vanaf hier: https://youtu.be/Zz4uppst-7I?si=H9fRzafSbqiLp_a0&t=2717 ) Scott Tobias. “Jurassic Park at 30: Spielberg's sleek blockbuster remains a grave warning.” 11-6-2023. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/11/jurassic-park-at-30-spielbergs-blockbuster-warning Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs. DinoPark Tycoon. 1993. Manley & Associates. Dino Tycoon. Monte Cristo. Dino Music. Wie Gaat Er Mee Naar Dinoland? 1993.
'Lost In America' was Albert Brooks' 3rd film as a writer/director/star and remains probably the most broadly-appealing of his films. It's one of two of his films to have been given the Criterion stamp of cineaste approval, the other being the often-underrated 'Defending Your Life', and now, and perhaps even more important, it's the first of his films to be given the Full Cast and Crew treatment. Links: Albert Brooks: Famous School For Comedians Hilarious clips from Lost In America Criterion essay by Scott Tobias on Lost In America
This week on the podcast we're trying our hand at the greatest radio format of all time. Lily does her best (very bad) Kirsty Young impression as James' delivers his top 3 Desert Island DVDs. He also, of course, details his preferred AV set-up for shipwrecked screenings - think monkeys in tuxedos.ReferencesThe lowdown on Cargo Cults'The rise (and Inevitable fall) of Citizen Kane as the Greatest Movie Ever Made' by Bilge Ebiri for vulture.com'What's so good about Citizen Kane?' by Nicholas Barber for BBC Interesting article on the battle for writer's credit on Citizen Kane by Richard Brody for the New Yorker'Citizen Kane' a masterpiece at 50', by Roger Ebert'Realism for Citizen Kane' by Gregg Toland for theasc.comGene Kelly and Cyd Charisse's sexy dance routine in Singin' In the Rain'Why Singin' in the Rain Is an Almost Perfect Musical' by Jeanine Basinger for The Atlantic'Beyond the Frame: Singin' in the Rain' by David E. Williams for the asc.com 'Shooting In Color Caused Some Problems Behind The Scenes Of Singin' In The Rain' by Whitney Seibold for slashfilm.comLucasfilm's J.W. Rinzler Talks About The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by for Vanity Fair'The Empire Strikes Back at 40: did the Star Wars saga peak too early?' by Scott Tobias for The Guardian'In Hindsight, Empire Strikes Back Director Irvin Kershner Would've Helmed One of the Prequels' by Mike Ryan for Vanity Fair Film Pharmacy recommendationsCeline & Julie Go Boating (1974) dir. by Jacques RivetteShowgirls (1995) dir. by Paul Verhoeven-----------If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review!Produced and edited by Lily AustinMusic and sound by James BrailsfordLogo design by Abby-Jo SheldonFollow usEmail us
Today on the Young Conductors Podcast, we welcome Dr. Scott Tobias (from West Virginia University) to discuss ideas around rehearsal triage. Dr. Tobas shares his background and some strategies for conductor-teachers who may feel overwhelmed when in front of an ensemble.Follow us on Instagram @young.conductors - we'd love to hear from you!
We understand why Dennis Quaid wanted to do 2007's Battle For Terra; it's unclear why BFT wanted him. The star-studded, labored comment on corruption and colonization -- you know, for kids! -- doesn't maximize Quaid's talents (or screentime), and while it's better than a lot of animated kiddie content, neither of us is planning to watch a bunch of retro-3D'd sperm with forehead jewelry fighting to survive again. Davey & Goliath exposition, broadly modular dialogue, how you get a G rating with a Mount Weather reference, cricket/manatee collabs, and the grudging admission that the big eyes worked, in the latest episode of QIF. Overall score: 5.25 QQQ score: 1.5 Days since a lost Kuffs accident: 405 SHOW NOTES Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/quaidinfullpod) Get EVEN MORE Qontent (...sorry) at our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/quaidinfull) Roger Ebert's review (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/battle-for-terra-2009) Scott Tobias's at AV Club (https://www.avclub.com/battle-for-terra-1798206143) S02E10 #neverforget (https://quaidinfull.fireside.fm/19)
This week we discuss timelessness. How certain films manage to capture that elusive quality, through the look, characterisation and storytelling. Films referenced: Casablanca (1942) dir. by Michael CurtizMemento (2000) dir. by Christopher NolanDune (2021) dir. by Denis VilleneuveDune (1984) dir. by David LynchBound (1996) dir. by the WachowskisThe Matrix (1999) dir. by the Wachowskis Tar (2022) dir. by Todd FieldWe Need To Talk About Kevin (2011) dir. by Lynne RamsayRatcatcher (1999) dir. by Lynne RamsayYou Were Never Really Here (2017) dir. by Lynne RamsaySources and resources:Casablanca at 80: a golden age classic that remains impossible to resist by Scott Tobias for The GuardianMemento at 20: Christopher Nolan's memory thriller is hard to forget by Scott Tobias for The Guardian‘Dune' Cinematographer Greig Fraser on Denis Villeneuve's Sci-Fi Epic by Scott Roxborough for the Hollywood ReporterA Deep Dive Into the Visceral Cinematography of ‘Dune' | Vanity Fair by David Canfield for Vanity FairTruth in the Image: Greig Fraser by Jay Holben for American CinematographerDune: Fear is the mind killer by Jay Holben for American CinematographerHow Dune's Costume Designers Created the Definitive Sci-Fi Fashion Fantasy by Janelle Okwodu for Vogue.com‘Dune' vs. ‘Dune': Why David Lynch's Version Is a Lot More Fun Than Denis Villeneuve's by Eric Kohn for IndieWire‘Dune' vs. ‘Dune': A comparison of literary source material and cinematic adaptations by Neil Hughes for The Hollywood NewsUmberto Eco on CasablancaThe mesmerizing masterpiece "Memento" by Omar Moore for rogerebert.com-----------If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review!Produced and edited by Lily AustinMusic and sound by James BrailsfordLogo design by Abby-Jo SheldonFollow usEmail us
Scott Tobias - the legend of “The AV Club” and “The Dissolve,” currently of “The Reveal” and “The Next Picture Show” podcast - joins us for our first foray into the 1950s. It's a decade regarded by many as something of a dead zone for cinema, a notion that Mr. Tobias is here to push back on, with vigor, as he tells us why 1955 was such an extraordinary year for movies here and abroad. Become a member for Bonus Episodes, personal stories of working in the industry, and yes - EVEN MORE MOVIES. https://plus.acast.com/s/a-very-good-year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 9, 2022 is: bilious BILL-yus adjective Bilious has several meanings, including "angry or bad-tempered" and "sickeningly unpleasant to look at." Its earliest use describes things that are "of or relating to bile." // The actor has come under fire for his bilious commentary. // The new homeowners immediately painted over the bilious color scheme. See the entry > Examples: "Inserting a character inspired by Big Daddy Pollitt in Tennessee Williams's 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' into a scenario patched together from three William Faulkner works, Orson Welles so thoroughly dominates 'The Long, Hot Summer' as Will Varner, the bilious magnate of Mississippi small town, that the other actors struggle to make themselves known." — Scott Tobias, The New York Times, 11 Oct. 2022 Did you know? Bilious is one of several words whose origins trace to the old belief that four bodily humors (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood) control temperament. Just like phlegmatic ("of a slow and stolid phlegm-driven character"), melancholy ("experiencing dejection associated with black bile"), and sanguine ("of a cheerful, blood-based disposition"), bilious suggests a personality associated with an excess of one of the humors—in this case, yellow bile. Such a personality may also be described as unreasonable, peevish, or ill-tempered, as typified by Charlotte Brontë in her 1849 novel, Shirley: "These two men, of hard, bilious natures both, rarely came into contact but they chafed each other's moods."
For this October's theme, Leah and Bri are covering some 1980's vampire classics! This week, we're chatting about Kathryn Bigelow's vampire-Western Near Dark (1987). This episode is marked explicit for a few f-bombs, as usual.Show Notes/Supplemental Reading: Sarah Welch-Larsen for Bright Wall/Dark Room on how the film engages with the myth of individualism and the history of settler colonialism in the American West: https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2022/08/03/youre-gonna-give-me-back-my-spur/ Scott Tobias on Near Dark for his former column "The New Cult Canon" over at the old AV Club: https://www.avclub.com/the-new-cult-canon-near-dark-1798215134 John Squires for Bloody Disgusting, writing about Bill Paxton's indelible performance in Near Dark on the occasion of the actor's death: https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3426304/near-dark-highlighted-everything-special-bill-paxton/ And a brand new one! Eric Hehr for Aquarium Drunkard's Videodrome column, on how Near Dark handles exposition: https://aquariumdrunkard.com/2022/10/19/videodrome-near-dark-1987/ Sound effects credits: “Creaking door.wav” by visualasylum of Freesound.org (https://freesound.org/s/322377/) "Door, Wooden, Close, A (H1).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org (https://freesound.org/s/411791/) Support the show
With his first two films, 2017's "Columbus" and the new AFTER YANG, director Kogonada has established a meditative style of filmmaking that rewards close attention. "After Yang" takes place in a near-future that's populated by techno-sapiens, clones, and self-driving cars, but its characters struggle with all too familiar things like death, grief, and the meaning of life. In his conversation with the director, Adam asks about Kogonada's preoccupation with grieving, the quiet, non-confrontational style of his films, and the origins of "After Yang"'s thrilling title sequence. We also share a recent review of "Yang" from our sister podcast, The Next Picture Show, hosted by Tasha Robinson, Scott Tobias, Genevieve Koski, and Keith Phipps. Plus, the championship round of Filmspotting Madness—Best of the '70s. 0:00 - Billboard 0:58 - Interview: Kogonada Mitski, "Glide" 47:15 - Next Week / Notes 51:39 - Filmspotting Madness—Best of the '70s 1:00:12 - The Next Picture Show: "After Yang" 1:27:44 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are classic horror movies, and there are classic horror movies. "Black Sunday" is the latter. Even after 62 years, its gothic chills and trend-setting cinematography still chill and thrill. Also, we highlight inbound Shudder drops "See For Me" and "Subspecies." Motion Picture Terror Scale: 3 (Marcus & Grady) / 2 (Melissa). Quality: 5 (Marcus) / 4 (Melissa & Grady). Enjoyment: 5 / 4 / 3 Articles mentione in this episode: "Black Sunday," by Scott Tobias for the AV Club
On this week's episode, Sonny talks to Keith Phipps about his new book, Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career. Looking at the trends of Hollywood through the lens of Nic Cage's various personae—as an oddball actor catching the tail end of the 70s auteur wave; transitioning to a “normal guy”; hitting action star peaks in the 1990s; and settling into a series of more-interesting-than-they're-given-credit-for turns on VOD—the book is a useful glimpse at the changing tastes in Hollywood. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to check out Keith and Scott Tobias's Substack, The Reveal. And share this with a friend!
On this week's episode, Sonny talks to Keith Phipps about his new book, Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career. Looking at the trends of Hollywood through the lens of Nic Cage's various personae—as an oddball actor catching the tail end of the 70s auteur wave; transitioning to a “normal guy”; hitting action star peaks in the 1990s; and settling into a series of more-interesting-than-they're-given-credit-for turns on VOD—the book is a useful glimpse at the changing tastes in Hollywood. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to check out Keith and Scott Tobias's Substack, The Reveal. And share this with a friend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is Joel Coen's new THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH the most by-the-letter, scrupulous adaptation of Shakespeare's play ever put to screen, or a series of subtle but surprising decisions applied to an extremely familiar text? We're a little divided on that question this week, as we're joined once again by David Chen, host of the Culturally Relevant podcast (among many other projects), to parse what distinguishes this approach to The Scottish Play, how it plays within the Coen filmography, and whether every other Coen film is also, in fact, Macbeth. Then we bring Akira Kurosawa's THRONE OF BLOOD back into the conversation to compare the two films' chicken-or-the-egg prophecies, their minimalist/maximalist styles, and the shared motivation to adapt this story in the first place. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about THRONE OF BLOOD, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net. We may respond to it on our Patreon (patreon.com/NextPictureShow), where you can also find bonus episodes, a weekly newsletter, recommendations, and more. Works Cited: • “In the Coen brothers' punishing world, morals are everything,” by Tasha Robinson (thedissolve.com) • “The Tragedy of Macbeth Is Pretty Much Just One Phenomenal Denzel Washington Performance,” by Alison Willmore (vulture.com) • “Dialogue: Macbeth and the Movies,” by Scott Tobias and Keith Phipps (thereveal.substack.com) Next pairing: NOTTING HILL and MARRY ME Outro Music: “Fair Is Foul & Foul Is Fair” by Babes In Toyland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Zack Handlen joins us for 2000's Soderbergh Oscar magnet Traffic, which at least one of your co-hosts forgot Dennis Quaid was even in, much less that he played a sleazy Mob-fixer lawyer whose wardrobe erodes really weirdly over the 2.5-hour runtime. Is Quaid miscast? Is this the last time we'll contend with Topher Grace on this podcast? Which plotline is the weakest here, and does Traffic suffer from breaking ground we've seen covered a thousand times since thanks TO Traffic? All these questions, plus '50s-pulp scaremongering, 17-year-old dickheads who read too much, who "invented" Mexico As Yellow, and making our peace with the word "propulsive." Crank us up to jam the bug: it's an all-new Quaid In Full. Overall score: 8.5 QQQ score: 5 Days since a lost Kuffs accident: 91 SHOW NOTES Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/quaidinfullpod) Get EVEN MORE Qontent (...sorry) at our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/quaidinfull) Can YOU get past the first 27 seconds of The Dennissance? (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dennissance/id1503394153) Zack Handlen at The AV Club (https://www.avclub.com/author/zackhandlen) Zack on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/zhandlen) Zack's book with Emily St. James, Monsters of the Week (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Monsters_of_the_Week/xoFnDwAAQBAJ?hl=en) Roger Ebert's Traffic review (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/traffic-2001) Scott Tobias's for AV Club (https://www.avclub.com/traffic-1798192572) Special Guest: Zack Handlen.
This month Donna and Kris put on their dancin' waders to slosh through the gooshy New French Extremity film, “Inside” (2007), a heart-warming tale of a pregnant woman's sleepy Christmas Eve in which nothing bad at all happens. We wish.CONTENT WARNINGS: Pregnancy, Car Accident, Spousal Death, Home Invasion, Stalking, Animal Abuse/Death, Fetal Trauma, Improvised Caesarean, Fetal Abduction, Gore, Mutilation, Blood; Allusions to: Stillbirth, Police Violence, French EthnocentrismGot questions, comments, stories, or movie suggestions? Hit us with them at info@shtlstpod.com! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @shtlstpod for all your gross movie updates!SHOW NOTES:Watch “Inside”: Prime, Apple TV, Youtube, Vudu“Inside (2007),” IMDB.“Inside (2007 film),” Wikipedia.“INTERVIEW: JULIEN MAURY,” Shaun Davis, SciFiNow, October 10 2009.“Inside,” Scott Tobias, AV Club, August 18 2011.“[TIFF Review] ‘Inside' (À l'intérieur) is a Work of Art, Painted in Blood,” Brad Miska, Bloody Disgusting, September 10 2007.“Film Review: Inside (À l'intérieur) (2007),” Adrian Halen, HorrorNews.net, May 10 2011.“Harry took a look INSIDE at Fantastic Fest and his water broke!!!,” Ain't It Cool News, September 26 2007.“Mom-to-Be Says She Had to Kill Attacker,” ABC News, July 29 2009.“Fetal abduction,” Wikipedia.
In our latest episode, we're sensing the ghostly presence of a child. We watched The Haunting of Julia and The Others! Sources: The Haunting of Julia (1977) "An Interview with Colin Towns" by Kier-La Janisse, Spectacular Optical Strong Language & Violent Scenes Podcast - Episode 123: The Haunting of Julia (with Sam Zimmerman) The Others (2001) "The Others at 20: The Haunted House Movie that Reinvigorated the Genre" by Scott Tobias, The Guardian "A Look Inside The Others", featurette "An Intimate Look at Director Alejandro Amenabar", featurette
On this week's episode, Sonny talks to Scott Tobias, formerly of The AV Club and The Dissolve, about his new Substack endeavor with Keith Phipps, The Reveal, as well as the evolving world of film criticism. With so many local newspapers cutting back on movie reviewers for budgetary reasons and so many websites merely hitting the most popular of topics to generate clicks, it's interesting—and, frankly, heartening—to see Substack using their Pro program to help critics like Tobias and Phipps (along with Ty Burr and Jerry Saltz) stand up their own newsletters to chase their own idiosyncratic interests. Can the “Thousand True Fans” theorem save the world of interesting film writing?
Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, reports that 20% of 113 surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating was 4.20/10. The critical consensus states: "A nonsensical plot and an absurd amount of violence make this revenge pic gratuitous and overwrought." The film has a score of 36 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 24 critics, indicating "Generally unfavorable reviews". Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2+1⁄2 stars out of 4. He compared Death Sentence to the Death Wish films starring Charles Bronson, saying: "In the Bronson movies, the hero just looked more and more determined until you felt if you tapped his face, it would explode. In Death Sentence, Bacon acts out a lot more." Ebert called Death Sentence "very efficient", praising "a courtroom scene of true surprise and suspense, and some other effective moments", but concluded that "basically this is a movie about a lot of people shooting at each other". Scott Tobias of The A.V. Club contends the film is "certainly never boring"; he felt that director James Wan was "too busy jamming the accelerator to realize that his movie's spinning out of control." Matt Zoller Seitz of The New York Times said, "Aside from a stunning three-minute tracking shot as the gang pursues Nick through a parking garage, and Mr. Bacon's hauntingly pale, dark-eyed visage, Mr. Wan's film is a tedious, pandering time-waster." Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly felt that "[t]he morality of revenge is barely at issue in a movie that pushes the plausibility of revenge right over a cliff." Conversely, Justin Chang of Variety called the film "well-made, often intensely gripping". Similarly, Bill Gibron of PopMatters felt the film was "a significant movie" and "a wonderfully tight little thriller". Darren Amner of Eye for Film also gave the film a positive review, praising Bacon's performance in particular: "[H]is portrayal is emotional, sympathetic and highly aggressive. As a father he is touching and as a stone-cold killing machine he is even more convincing." Author Brian Garfield, who wrote the novel the film is loosely based on, said of the film: "While I could have done with a bit less blood-and-thunder, I think it's a stunningly good movie. In the details of its story it's quite different from the novel, but it's a movie, not a novel. In its cinematic way it connects with its audience and it makes the same point the book makes, and those are the things that count." He also liked that, like his novels, but unlike the Death Wish film series, it does not advocate vigilantism. Garfield further explained in an interview: "I think that, except for its ludicrous violence toward the end, the Death Sentence movie does depict its character's decline and the stupidity of vengeful vigilantism," adding, "As a story it made the point I wanted it to make."
Our recent pairing of Michel Gondry's ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MINDS with Lisa Joy's REMINISCENCE was actually a second-choice selection forced by the ongoing unavailability of the film we initially thought of as a slam-dunk companion to Joy's new film: Kathryn Bigelow's 1995 thriller STRANGE DAYS, another noir-inflected science-fiction story concerned with the intersection of technology and memory. But that film is nearly impossible to find these days (at least through official channels), which prompted this off-format discussion in which we spend some time digging into why STRANGE DAYS feels like a “missing piece” in our modern-day discussion of both Bigelow's career and cinema overall, particularly its daring racial and sexual politics and visceral violence. Then we widen the lens a bit to consider the overall phenomenon of impossible-to-find movies in the streaming era, and what it says about our past and present attitudes toward film preservation. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about disappearing movies, STRANGE DAYS, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Show Notes Works cited: • “The convenience trap: What the changes at Netflix reveal about an insidious trend,” by Sam Adams (avclub.com) • “Film preservation 2.0,” by Matthew Dessem (thedissolve.com) • “Song of the South: the difficult legacy of Disney's most shocking movie,” by Scott Tobias (theguardian.com) Outro music: “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” by U2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell on September 11, 2001, New York City was changed forever: its skyline, its people, its mood. And its films were changed as well – some more immediately than others, as filmmakers struggled to determine how to deal with the now ghostly presence of the towers in films completed but not released before 9/11. Some films edited them out, some digitally removed them. But Brooklyn's own Spike Lee went the opposite direction, adding the tragedy into his film “25th Hour,” which was slated to shoot in the city that fall and winter. In doing so, he ended up crafting what we now consider the definitive post-9/11 New York movie. We'll hear archival audio of Lee and star Edward Norton explaining that decision and that process, and we'll break down the film that resulted, with the help of film critics Roxana Hadadi, Keith Phipps, and Scott Tobias, as well as filmmaker Jennifer Westfeldt (“Kissing Jessica Stein”). Content warning: From 3:36 to 7:41, you will hear audio of news reports from 9/11.
The Calisota Division finals have arrived! Returning players Dave, Kari, and Kevin have all brought their A-game to this playoff match. After stranding their champions on a desert island, we identify title groups from movies and TV by the actors who played their members. Then, in round two, we test the scientific accuracy of our favorite pop culture properties through the lens of which got the Mythbusters treatment. Another close lightning round closes out an absolute nail-biter! NOTES ⚠️ Inline notes below may be truncated due to podcast feed character limits. Full notes are always on the episode page.
The Calisota Division finals have arrived! Returning players Dave, Kari, and Kevin have all brought their A-game to this playoff match. After stranding their champions on a desert island, we identify title groups from movies and TV by the actors who played their members. Then, in round two, we test the scientific accuracy of our favorite pop culture properties through the lens of which got the Mythbusters treatment. Another close lightning round closes out an absolute nail-biter!Support Us On Patreon
Logan and Trevor discuss last week's news that Ubisoft has "made minimal changes" following last year's abuse allegations. 00:00 - Intro 00:31 - Main topic: Ubisoft, One Year Later "Ubisoft has reportedly made minimal changes following abuse allegations," by Marie Dealessandri, GamesIndustry.biz https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-05-18-ubisoft-has-reportedly-made-minimal-changes-following-abuse-allegations "Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says 'considerable progress has been made' since abuse allegations," by Jeffrey Rousseau, GamesIndustry.biz https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-05-24-ubisoft-shares-update-to-allegations-made-last-summer 18:21 - Shoutouts: "Twitch Adds Over 350 New Tags Like 'Black', 'Transgender' And 'Disabled'" by Luke Plunkett, Kotaku https://kotaku.com/twitch-adds-over-350-new-tags-like-black-transgender-a-1846952407 "No Need To Wait: Fans Made Their Own Version Of Overwatch 2" by Ash Parrish, Kotaku https://kotaku.com/no-need-to-wait-fans-made-their-own-version-of-overwat-1846959041 "Shhhrrreeekkkk," by Polygon https://www.polygon.com/movies/22434538/shrek "Shrek at 20: an unfunny and overrated low for blockbuster animation," by Scott Tobias, The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/may/17/shrek-20-unfunny-overrated-low-blockbuster 24:39 - Outro Support on Patreon: patreon.com/thatnerdysite Follow the Nerds: Logan: @LeftyLoggy Trevor: @TrevorJStarkey That Nerdy Site: @thatnerdysite
Do you all realize what a metaphysical can of worms this podcast opens up? I was joined by Allie Mahai, a true Kaufman-head (in the sense that she’s a fan of his, and NOT that she’s found a portal into his head and is controlling him), to open that can and let the worms flow all over the place. We talked about identity, gender, and celebrity in the hilarious and haunting ‘Being John Malkovich,’ which is maybe the most bonkers movie ever made. 7 films down, 393 go. Or should I say…7 and 1/2 films down! (This was a reference to the movie, you had to be there.) Listen and subscribe on Spotify Subscribe to us, rate us, and review us on Apple Podcasts Follow us on Twitter @PodBestOriginal We’re also available on Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or wherever else you listen to all your silly little shows Best Original Podcast is a proud member of Light Switch Podcasts. Follow us on Twitter @LightSwitchPod, and be sure to check out the other outstanding shows we have to offer: Half Asian Half Hour, Popcorn Restaurant, and Long Live King Bitch Link to Lindsay Zoladz article “Do ‘Get Out’ and ‘Being John Malkovich’ Exist in the Same Universe?” Link to Rob Harvilla article “Make the Case: ‘Being John Malkovich’ Was a Head Trip Masterpiece—and the Best Film of 1999” Link to Ryan Lattanzio article “John Malkovich Initially Thought ‘Being John Malkovich’ Should’ve Been ‘Being Tom Cruise’” Link to Scott Tobias article “Being John Malkovich at 20: why the surrealist comedy demands a rewatch”
It’s rare that a new film suggests a historical comparison point as strongly as David Fincher’s new MANK does, so we’re taking the bait and putting it in conversation with the film that is its raison d’etre: Orson Welles’ towering 1941 directorial debut, CITIZEN KANE. Is there anything new to say about a film frequently hailed as the form’s crowning achievement? Perhaps not, so in this half of the conversation we dig into KANE’s legacy as much as the film itself, to consider how the film plays in the context of everything it inspired, whether it’s a useful dividing point in film history, and the ways it still manages to surprise us after all this time. Plus, Scott Tobias presents an abbreviated 2020 edition of his annual “Movies to See” checklist, covering all the films you need to see to be conversant in this past year in film. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about CITIZEN KANE, MANK, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Outro Music: The White Stripes, “The Union Forever” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you’re seeing double--do not adjust your set. Paul and Arlo, podcasting’s own dynamic duo, have done a Geek Challenge involving dos doppelganger dramas. Well, drama might be a strong word for such a picture as Peter Medak’s 1981 spoof Zorro, The Gay Blade, starring George Hamilton as Don Diego Vega and his brother Ramon Vega, who are charged with taking up their father’s mantle of El Zorro. That’s Paul’s challenge to Arlo, of course--and Paul’s challenge to himself (listen and find out!) is Krzysztof Kieslowski’s 1991 film The Double Life of Veronique, a mysterious and possibly supernatural film featuring Irène Jacob as Polish singer Weronika and French music teacher Veronique, who share an indefinable connection. Get ready to swash some buckles and contemplate some existences! NEXT: after a week off, it’s that time again. Leaves are on the ground and blood is on the screen. It’s time for Gobbledyween. Greg Sahadachny joins us to discuss The Autopsy of Jane Doe. BREAKDOWN 00:00:32 - Intro / Guest 00:07:20 - Zorro, The Gay Blade 00:57:25 - The Double Life of Veronique 01:58:41 - Outro / Next LINKS “In ‘Joker’ Do We Think The Wayne Family Enjoyed ‘Zorro, The Gay Blade’?” by Mike Ryan, Uproxx “The Double Life of Véronique: Through the Looking Glass” by Jonathan Romney, The Criterion Collection “The dizzying hall of mirrors that is The Double Life Of Veronique” by Tasha Robinson, The Dissolve “Fantasy, emotion, and the unsolved mysteries of Double Life of Veronique” by Noel Murray, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, and Scott Tobias, The Dissolve “The Depths of What We Cannot Know: On ‘The Double Life of Véronique’” by Jessica Ritchey, RogerEbert.com “Behind the Curtain: The Double Life of Véronique” by David Braga, Bright Wall/Dark Room “Have you ever felt strangely as if you were somewhere else?” by Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com MUSIC “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, It Takes Two (1988) “I Think I’m a Clone Now” by Weird Al Yankovic, Even Worse (1988) GOBBLEDYCARES Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/
Could you kill your best friend? What would you say if a cruel, repressive regime forced you into a bloody deathmatch with your classmates? This week, the gang slashes through cult favorite "Battle Royale," a dense gorefest about the raw horrors of adulthood and authoritarianism. Also, who would you rather be your sidekick in a battle royale? Motion Picture Terror Scale: 4 (Marcus) / 1 (Melissa) / 3 (Grady). Quality: 5 / 4 / 4. Enjoyment: 4 / 4 / 5 Articles mentioned in this episode: "Kinji Fukasaku • Retrospective" in Timeout "'Battle Royale' wins the game for hungry fans," by Andrew Lee in The Japan Times "Dangan-rompa Interview Discuses Character Design And Battle Royale," in Siliconera "How 'Battle Royale' Became a Cult Hit and Capitalized on 'The Hunger Games'" by Steve Erickson in The Atlantic "The Real Hunger Games: “Battle Royale”" by Joshua Rothman in The New Yorker "The New Cult Canon: Battle Royale" by Scott Tobias in the AV Club
Dear NPS listeners — we’ve been forced to make some changes to our schedule, which means our previously announced pairing of DOGTOOTH and KAJILLIONAIRE has been postponed a few weeks, and we’ll be back next week with the first part of our pairing of DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD and F IS FOR FAKE. In the meantime, though, we’re offering you a sneak peek behind the Patreon paywall, a bonus episode of our quick-reaction post-viewing series The Lobby, wherein noted Disney live-action skeptics Genevieve Koski and Scott Tobias talk over Disney’s new take on MULAN. Enjoy, and if you like what you hear, consider becoming a $5-a-month Patreon supporter, which will net you regular access to all of our bonus episodes, at patreon.com/NextPictureShow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join Dani and Nick for the ninteenth episode of KINOTOMIC.In Episode 19 we will be discussing 'Gold Diggers Of 1933', starring Joan Blondell and Warren William; along with 'Team America: World Police', directed by Trey Parker.We discuss the puppets, politics, humour and musical numbers.Scott Tobias on 'Team America: World Police': https://film.avclub.com/team-america-world-police-1798216617Leave a rating and a review, and THANK YOU for listening!!Twitter: @kinotomicContact us: kinotomic@gmail.com
We continue our shelter-in-place film series with a pair of films featuring magazine-perfect housewife archetypes struck by mysterious illnesses that are inextricably linked to their oppressive environments: Todd Haynes’ 1995 feature SAFE and Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ debut film SWALLOW. In this half we dig into the many shifting metaphors at play in SAFE, how they reflect both the film’s era and our current moment, and how they’re all held together by Julianne Moore’s remarkable central performance. And what to make of that ending? Is there any sense of optimism or closure to be drawn from Haynes’ film? All that, plus some feedback that uses specific movies as jumping-off points for some big, sprawling questions about film. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about SAFE, SWALLOW, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Show Notes Works Cited: • “Todd Haynes on the unsafe world of Safe,” by Scott Tobias (thedissolve.com) • “Safe: Nowhere to Hide,” by Dennis Lim (criterion.com) Outro Music: Tom Lehrer, “Pollution” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE, Céline Sciamma became the first woman director to win the Queer Palm at Cannes, an embarrassingly belated milestone reminiscent of Jane Campion becoming the first woman director to win the Palme d’Or in 1993 with THE PIANO. And while these two films have much more in common than their directors’ gender, as we discover when we put them in conversation this week, both Sciamma and Campion bring a distinct point of view to their respective stories of repressed desire in repressed times that feels inextricably tied to ideas about womanhood and an oppressive patriarchy. We get into how that point of view colors the two films in their expression of desire and consent, the artistic gaze, and the function of myth and legend. Plus, Your Next Picture Show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your cinematic radar. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about THE PIANO, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Show Notes: Works Cited • “French filmmaker Céline Sciamma on looking, longing and falling in love in Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” CBC Radio • “Portrait of a Director on a Hot Streak,” by Scott Tobias (theringer.com) Your Next Picture Show • Genevieve: Céline Sciamma’s GIRLHOOD • Scott: Jane Campion’s IN THE CUT • Keith: David Lynch’s WHAT DID JACK DO? • Tasha: Christopher Landon’s HAPPY DEATH DAY and HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U Outro music: Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 2 in G Minor (The Four Seasons, “Summer”) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We return to the trenches of the first World War to consider Sam Mendes’ 1917 within the greater history of World War I films generally, and as a companion to Peter Weir’s GALLIPOLI specifically. Following some debate over whether 1917’s continuous shot gimmick makes it more or less emotionally affecting, and an attempt to parse the film’s attitudes about war, we look at these two films in tandem to consider what they have to say about the failures of leadership in wartime, their respective depictions of young male friendship and communication, and to what extent each registers as an anti-war film. Plus, Your Next Picture Show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your cinematic radar. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about GALLIPOLI, 1917, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Works Cited • “‘Full Metal Jacket’ Seduced My Generation and Sent Us to War,” by Anthony Swofford (The New York Times Magazine) • “Before 1917: Revisiting the greatest first world war movies,” by Scott Tobias (theguardian.com) • “The 50 Greatest War Movies Ever Made,’ by Keith Phipps (vulture.com) Your Next Picture Show • Scott: King Vidor’s THE BIG PARADE and Lewis Milestone’s ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT • Genevieve: John Chester’s THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM • Tasha: Sergio G. Sanchez’s MARROWBONE, Sebastian Schipper’s VICTORIA, and Makoto Shinkai’s WEATHERING WITH YOU • Keith: Francis Ford Coppola’s THE COTTON CLUB Outro music: “Wayfaring Stranger,” performed by John Stirratt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Inspired by this year’s surprise Oscar favorite 1917, we’re digging down into the trenches and slogging through the mud and blood of World War I, with two films centering on young soldiers delivering crucial messages that decide the fates of thousands of other young men. First up this week is Peter Weir’s 1981 film GALLIPOLI, which stars a shockingly young Mel Gibson as one half of a pair of Australian mates who join the war effort out of a mixture of patriotism, pride, and recklessness; we dig into the emotional effects of film’s unusual structure, which saves the wartime action for its final moments, how its Australian provenance makes it stand out among other WWI films, and how it indulges Weir’s affinity for wide open spaces and historical authenticity. Plus, we tackle a listener question about ideal movie-watching conditions whose response may prove the undoing of Scott and Keith’s long and amicable relationship. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about GALLIPOLI, 1917, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Show Notes Works Cited: • “Before 1917: revisiting the greatest first world war movies,” by Scott Tobias (theguardian.com) • “The 50 Greatest War Movies Ever Made,” by Keith Phipps (vulture.com) • Strange Stars: How Science Fiction and Fantasy Transformed Popular Music, by Jason Heller Outro music: “Adagio in G Minor” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can one film be a cliche romcom, a shocking zombie horror and unashamed fan fiction all at once? This week, Marcus and Melissa head back to the Winchester for a pint and Shaun of the Dead, which has almost as much behind the scenes mythology as Apocalypse Now. Along the way they nerd out about tracking shots and Queen. Also, Melissa makes an arcane distinction between slow zombies and fast "rage virus" victims and Marcus finds himself in a throwaway line at the end of Happy Death Day. Quality: 5/5. MPTS: 2+ (Marcus), 3 (Melissa). Did my future wife watch this movie? Yes! She did! Articles mentioned in this episode: Shaun of the Dead: An oral history of the horror-comedy zombie classic, by Clark Collis in Entertainment Weekly Interview with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, by Alexandra Griesmer for the Alamo Drafthouse Shaun of the Dead, by Scott Tobias in The AV Club
We went on the road again, this time to Nashville where Rob was getting ready for his Dive Bar Saints Tour with Home Free. While we were in the Music City we were lucky enough to meet up with the extremely talented, @LisaCimorelli!!!Before we chatted with Lisa we discussed what movies we've watched recently, what we've been streaming and our tastiest meals we could remember. Lisa Cimorelli loves 17 Again and we had never seen it before. It just so happens to be celebrating it's 10th Anniversary so that seemed reason enough to chat about this Zac Efron Classic! You'll want to listen to our takes on this one!We ended this episode with our Blast From the Past Movie Game and Lisa was nice enough to stick around and do our Top 3 Favorite Movies With A Number In The Title Draft for our Patrons!Lisa has her own YouTube channel and a new book that she's written with her sisters from the extremely popular @cimorelliband called Believe In You: Big Sister Stories and Advice On Living Your Best Life. It's out on October 15th, you should all check it out!Enjoy this episode on 17 Again with Lisa Cimorelli!1:14 The Clapper2:30 Balto3:54 She's Funny That Way5:49 Glow Season 37:30 Fenwick's 300 http://fenwicks300.com/8:26 Minnesota Vikings US Bank Stadium Suites10:37 Plugarooni's 11:25 www.patreon.com/theavidindoorsmen13:00 Coming Attractions: Death Star Diaries - Episode 1: The Phantom Menace13:57 @LisaCimorelli 14:45 Believe In You: Big Sister Stories and Advice On Living Your Best Life. A new book out on 10/15. www.youtube.com/LisaCimorelli16:50 17 Again Plot Synopsis17:12 Rotten Tomatoes18:06 Justin Chang from Variety18:30 Scott Tobias from The AV Club19:12 Buegs' Hot Take21:05 Rob's Hot Take25:15 Lisa's Hot Take29:10 The Dude Award32:20 The Tucci Award40:40 The Dingus46:50 Show Me The Money51:15 Buegs' Boo Hoo Moments53:30 Movie Trivia55:50 Judgement Day57:50 Blast From the Past Movie Game1:15:17 Top 3 Movies With A Number In The Title Draftwww.patreon.com/theavidindoorsmen www.theavidindoorsmen.comwww.facebook.com/theavidindoorsmen Twitter: @AvidIndoorzmenInstagram: @TheAvidIndoorsmen
Our look at musical films that willfully straddle the line between fact and fiction brings in Martin Scorsese’s newest effort for Netflix, ROLLING THUNDER REVUE: A BOB DYLAN STORY, to see how it applies that MO to a documentary format, where Todd Haynes’ VELVET GOLDMINE applied it to a narrative one. After debating to what extent ROLLING THUNDER REVUE tells us anything about its slippery subject, we bring these two films together to see how they each play with ideas about alter-egos and disposable identities, what they have to say about art and commerce, and how each reflect their 1970s setting. Plus, Your Next Picture Show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your cinematic radar. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about VELVET GOLDMINE, ROLLING THUNDER REVUE, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. SHOW NOTES Works Cited: • “Truth and Legends: The Extraordinary Documentaries of Martin Scorsese,” by Scott Tobias (theringer.com) Your Next Picture Show: • Keith: Larry Charles’ MASKED AND ANONYMOUS • Scott: Martin Scorsese’s GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD • Genevieve: John Cameron Mitchell’s HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Outro music: Bob Dylan, “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall [Live]” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The latest chapter in the JOHN WICK saga, the new PARABELLUM, follows its assassin hero on a long perilous journey through hostile territory, a setup that brought to mind Walter Hill’s controversial hit turned cult classic THE WARRIORS. In this half of our pairing of violent journeys through the night, we examine Hill’s film in the context of the director’s late-’70s/early-’80s hot streak, to discuss how its rain-slicked streets and stylized version of New York gang culture came to typify a certain strain of ’80s action filmmaking, and debate whether its portrayals of masculinity and romance work in the context of Hill’s bare-bones approach to storytelling. Plus, the UNDER THE SILVER LAKE feedback keeps rolling in. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about THE WARRIORS, JOHN WICK 3, or anything else film-related by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Works Cited: • Primer: Walter Hill, by Scott Tobias (avclub.com) Outro music: Pop Will Eat Itself, “Can U Dig It?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The 70 year-old French director of "Beau Travail," "35 Shots of Rum" and last year's "Let the Sunshine In" is having a moment. After 30 years of critically-acclaimed work, Claire Denis remains largely unknown in the U.S. That could change with her latest, HIGH LIFE, an existential sci-fi film starring Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche. Denis was in Chicago for a recent screening of the film, giving Adam and guest host Scott Tobias a rare chance to sit down with Denis and talk about how "High Life" fits into her sensuous and provocative body of work and how, among other things, Stephen Hawking's writing contributed to the universe she created on screen. She also plays along with the Filmspotting Five, where she admits to loving ok-maybe-not-your-least-favorite-Wes-Anderson-movie-but-few-people's-favorite (not even Josh's). Also on the show: Adam and Scott join the chorus of critics - and moviegoers - who have found themselves surprisingly charmed by the DCEU's SHAZAM. Plus, the crowning of the 2019 Filmspotting Madness champion. 0:00-1:17 - Billboard 1:17-28:22 - Interview: Claire Denis Bad Bad Hats, "Wide Right" 29:04-32:53 - Next week / Notes 32:53-48:48 - Madness: Champion / Polls 48:48-55:56 - Review: "Shazam" Bad Bad Hats, "Dunno Why" 56:49-1:15:08 - Review: "High Life" 1:15:08-1:19:00 - Close Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're back with the first of our last run of episodes, and today's episode is a two-for-one deal: we mostly discuss Terry Gilliam's 1996* time travel thriller 12 MONKEYS, with Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt, and weave throughout discussion of the 1962 French featurette that inspired it, LA JETÉE. Discussed in this episode: how does time travel work (or not) in these movies? What do we think happens after the events of 12 Monkeys? Is there anything La Jetée does better? What lessons do these movies have for modern audiences? Did you find all the character actors from The Wire in 12 Monkeys? How about the Nas Illmatic posters? And, what are we to make of Terry Gilliam's career overall? Episode links: 12 Monkeys on IMDb 12 Monkeys on Wikipedia La Jetée on IMDb La Jetée on Wikipedia Roger Ebert 1996 12 Monkeys review Scott Tobias 12 Monkeys appraisal for New Cult Canon Scott Tobias review for Criterion release of La Jetée Vulture essay on 12 Monkeys' continued relevance Den of Geek essay revisiting 12 Monkeys in 2012 Criterion essay on La Jetée by Jonathan Romney Little White Lies on 12 Monkeys, La Jetée and Vertigo Uproxx trivia tidbits about 12 Monkeys Philly and Baltimore locations from 12 Monkeys Tour of Port Richmond Power Station Lebbeus Woods lawsuit against 12 Monkeys The Devil's Advocate re-edit for similar reasons Time Travel at the Movies, by Isaac M Steinholz Novikov self-consistency principle on Wikipedia Show links: Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Discuss: ETV Podcast Club Follow: Facebook + Twitter Archive: enterthevoid.fm
We're back with the first of our last run of episodes, and today's episode is a two-for-one deal: we mostly discuss Terry Gilliam's 1996* time travel thriller 12 MONKEYS, with Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt, and weave throughout discussion of the 1962 French featurette that inspired it, LA JETÉE. Discussed in this episode: how does time travel work (or not) in these movies? What do we think happens after the events of 12 Monkeys? Is there anything La Jetée does better? What lessons do these movies have for modern audiences? Did you find all the character actors from The Wire in 12 Monkeys? How about the Nas Illmatic posters? And, what are we to make of Terry Gilliam's career overall? Episode links: 12 Monkeys on IMDb 12 Monkeys on Wikipedia La Jetée on IMDb La Jetée on Wikipedia Roger Ebert 1996 12 Monkeys review Scott Tobias 12 Monkeys appraisal for New Cult Canon Scott Tobias review for Criterion release of La Jetée Vulture essay on 12 Monkeys' continued relevance Den of Geek essay revisiting 12 Monkeys in 2012 Criterion essay on La Jetée by Jonathan Romney Little White Lies on 12 Monkeys, La Jetée and Vertigo Uproxx trivia tidbits about 12 Monkeys Philly and Baltimore locations from 12 Monkeys Tour of Port Richmond Power Station Lebbeus Woods lawsuit against 12 Monkeys The Devil's Advocate re-edit for similar reasons Time Travel at the Movies, by Isaac M Steinholz Novikov self-consistency principle on Wikipedia Show links: Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Discuss: ETV Podcast Club Follow: Facebook + Twitter Archive: enterthevoid.fm
We continue our examination of stop-motion animals conspiring to escape captivity by bringing in ISLE OF DOGS, Wes Anderson’s new Japan-set homage/provocation, to see how it stacks up against Aardman Animations’ 2000 feature CHICKEN RUN. After weighing the controversy that’s arisen around ISLE OF DOGS against our own reactions to the film, we dig into what unites these two tonally distinct features, from their deployment of cinematic reference points to their ideas about human/animal interaction to their respective death machines. Plus, Your Next Picture Show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your cinematic radar. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about CHICKEN RUN, ISLE OF DOGS, or both by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Your Next Picture Show: • Tasha: Sergio G. Sanchez’s MARROWBONE• Keith: Plane viewing via the Starz app• Genevieve: Jeff Baena’s THE LITTLE HOURS• Scott: Christian Nemescu’s CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ SHOW NOTES: Works Cited:• “Wes Anderson’s ‘Isle of Dogs’ is often captivating, but cultural sensitivity gets lost in translation” by Justin Chang (latimes.com)• “Orientalism Is Alive And Well In American Cinema” by Allison Willmore (buzzfeed.com)• “Unpacking the Akira Kurosawa References in Isle of Dogs” by Charles Bramesco (vulture.com)• “Wes Anderson Explains Hayao Miyazaki’s Influence on ‘Isle of Dogs’” by Zack Sharf (indiewire.com)• “Stream These 12 Great Films From Romania” by Scott Tobias (nytimes.com) Outro Music: Cat Stevens, “I Love My Dog” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We’ve been compiling this episode for about 6 months now and we’ve conducted interviews in New York, Bristol, The Shetland Islands and via Skype. We hope our delve into film criticism is worth the wait. Thank you firstly to our participants, so generous with their time and thoughts. A huge thank you also to our roving reporter Charlotte Crofts for the amazing interview with Tara Judah featured in the episode, and others we couldn’t manage to get in. Thank you finally to our listeners who suggested this episode. The wealth of material we got was overwhelming so look out for all the interviews being uploaded in January while we are on our winter break. That should keep you going in the cold winter months. Participants Tara Judah https://tarajudah.com/ @midnightmovies Sam Fragoso http://talkeasypod.com/ @SamFragoso Simran Hans https://www.theguardian.com/profile/simran-hans @heavier_things Ashley Clark http://www.bfi.org.uk/people/ashley-clark @_Ash_Clark Violet Lucca https://www.filmcomment.com/author/vlucca/ @unbuttonmyeyes Mark Kermode https://www.theguardian.com/profile/markkermode @KermodeMovie Prof. Linda Ruth Williams https://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/film/staff/lwilliams/ @lindaruth1 Tom Shone http://tomshone.blogspot.co.uk/ @Tom_Shone Roll of Honour All the critics given shout outs across our interviews... Sophie Mayer, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Cerise Howard, Emma Westwood, Thomas Caldwell, Josh Nelson, Jack Sargeant, Dana Linssen, Kees Driessen, Rüdiger Suchsland, Adrian Martin, Catherine Grant, Cristina Alvarez Lopez, Kevin B. Lee, Michael Wood, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Robin Wood, Victor Perkins, David Bordwell, Kristin Thompson, Hadley Freeman, Marina Hyde, Ren Zelen, Christina Newland, Molly Haskell, Ashley Clark, James Baldwin, Graham Greene, Cahiers Critics, Bogdanovich & Schrader, Toby Hazlet, Violet Lucca, Doreen St. Felix, Jia Tolentino, Vinson Cunningham, Hilton Als, Wendy Ide, Simran Hans, Guy Lodge, Pauline Kael, Kim Newman, Roger Ebert, Andrew Sarris, Alan Jones, J Hoberman, Anne Billson, Kate Muir, Kay Austin Collins, Ira Madison, Alyssa Wilkinson, Scott Tobias, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robertson, Tim Grierson, Anjelica Jade, Nathan Heller, Jeremy O’Harris, Hunter Harris, Wesley Morris, Nick Pinkerton, Eric Hynes, Badlands Film Collective, AO Scott, Anthony Lane, David Edelstein, Elvis Mitchell, Amy Taubin, Christian Lorentzen, Senses of Cinema, Four Columns and Reverse Shot. The incidental music for this episode is from Giorgio Gaslini's score for Antonioni's La Notte.
This week on Promoter 101 Featuring Voice Media Group's C.E.O. Scott Tobias teaching us how in the face of a shirking print market, they were able to pivoted to a bigger digital footprint. APA's Bruce Solar talks about the history of the business and what it takes to break and discover talent. Tour Bus Driver Les Ingram gives us a bird's eye view from road, plus Cheryl Bunce plays 3 Questions, and Dan and Luke catch us up on the News of the Week. Email: steiny@promoter101.net Tweet the Guys: https://twitter.com/Promoters101 Tweet Dan: https://twitter.com/TheJew Tweet Luke: https://twitter.com/wlukepierce Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steinypromoter101/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/promoter101 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/promoter101 Website: http://www.promoter101.net/ itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/promoter101/id1163910658?mt=2 Google Music: https://is.gd/onEmSt Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/promoter101?refid=stpr Tumbler: http://promoter101.tumblr.com/ Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/user/promoter101 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/promoter101
This week on Promoter 101 Featuring Voice Media Group's C.E.O. Scott Tobias teaching us how in the face of a shirking print market, they were able to pivoted to a bigger digital footprint. APA's Bruce Solar talks about the history of the business and what it takes to break and discover talent. Tour Bus Driver Les Ingram gives us a bird's eye view from road, plus Cheryl Bunce plays 3 Questions, and Dan and Luke catch us up on the News of the Week. Email: steiny@promoter101.netTweet the Guys: https://twitter.com/Promoters101Tweet Dan: https://twitter.com/TheJewTweet Luke: https://twitter.com/wlukepierceFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steinypromoter101/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/promoter101Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/promoter101Website: http://www.promoter101.net/itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/promoter101/id1163910658?mt=2Google Music: https://is.gd/onEmStStitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/promoter101?refid=stprTumbler: http://promoter101.tumblr.com/Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/user/promoter101YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/promoter101
Hey, friends! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and Josh and Scott are once again talking about a film celebrating a big anniversary this year. This time around, they're discussing the Spike Lee joint 25th Hour, starring Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Pepper, and more. The intense drama celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and in spite of the film being widely lauded online as one of the best films of the new century, it's the source of some spirited debate this week! Josh and Scott are joined by return guest Scott Tobias of NPR and the New York Times to talk about Lee's career, the film's connection to Martin Scorsese, its liberal usage of 9/11 imagery, the infamously profane monologue in the early going (earmuffs, folks), and more. So don't wait--listen to the new show now!
One might not expect much from a film festival right in the dead center of America's Heartland, but for thirteen years, True/False has been changing the way to think about the micro-film festival as well as the form of cinema in major ways. In this dispatch from Columbia, Missouri, Peter sits with critics Sam Adams, Tim Grierson, and (eventually) Scott Tobias to look at how the documentary-oriented festival puts aesthetics into the conversation while remaining politically engaged. While the subjects can be galvanizing—the US prison system, delinquent teenage girls in Tehran, Chinese miners, the fall of Iraq—the films continually break the mold for how one thinks about the format by exploring the relationship between the filmmaker and their subject. Plus, a discussion about Concerned Student 1950, a student-made documentary addressing the issues of the University of Missouri protests in 2015, and what its premiere could mean for the future of the festival. 0:00-2:50 Opening2:50-8:00 Concerned Student 19508:00-49:35 True/False Favorites50:47-54:16 Sponsorship Section55:05-1:19:05 True/False Favorite Scenes1:19:08-1:20:47 Close
The 2015 box office has been dominated by the usual spectacle – JURASSIC WORLD, THE AVENGERS and now THE FORCE AWAKENS – but there is less consensus than usual on the best films of the year. And that includes our Top 10 Films of 2015 roundtable. For the first time in the nine years that Scott Tobias and Michael Phillips have been dropping by for Filmspotting's year-end countdown, no single film made it onto all four lists. This week, the Top 5 of 2015, plus Massacre Theatre and more. This episode is brought to you by MUBI , Harry's (code FILMSPOTTING) and Vermont College of Fine Art MFA. 0:00-3:16 - Billboard / Sponsors3:16-47:01 - Top 10 of 2015 (#5-3)"The Times," Carol47:51-51:23 - Squarespace / Vermont MFA36:10-1:02:30 - Notes / Massacre Theatre1:02:30-1:43:15 - Top 10 cont. (#2-1)1:43:15-1:46:41 - Close MUSIC - Carter Burwell, Carol NOTES - MT Winner: Zak Santucci, Queens, NY LINKS - 2015 Wrap Party Live tickets - Full top 10 lists with guest picks - Scott Tobias (Full Top 10) - Michael Phillips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
End of year movie talk is usually dominated by a few prestige pictures, but does anyone care about prestige with a new STAR WARS in theaters? Sure you do. Michael Phillips and Scott Tobias join Adam and Josh for the Top 10 Films of 2015 roundtable - and ok, a little Star Wars talk. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (code FILM), Vermont College of Fine Art MFA and MUBI. 0:00-3:57 - Billboard / Sponsors 3:57-33:54 - Top 10 of 2015 "Rohan," The Assassin 34:57-36:10 - Squarespace 36:10-47:57 - "The Force Awakens" / Notes 47:57-55:38 - Polls "We Used To Dance," While We're Young 56:08-57:49 - VT MFA 57:49-1:37:44 - Top 10 of 2015 cont. 1:37:44-1:41:40 - Close MUSIC - Doudou N'Diaye Rose / James Murphy LINKS - Michael Phillips - Scott Tobias (Full Top 10) - 2015 Wrap Party Live tickets - Golden Brick Finalists - Village Voice Critics Poll - Indiewire Critics Poll - Chicago Film Critics Winners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
'Tis the season to be jolly, to make merry, to welcome friends into your home to celebrate the holidays. And on Mousterpiece Cinema, 'tis the season for holiday-themed episodes of the podcast! And now that we're all Santa Clause-d out on the show, it's time get a bit naughty. A bit...bad, you might say. So what better film to discuss this week than Bad Santa? Yes, this 2003 comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton as a low-down-and-dirty thief who dresses up as a mall Santa is from the Walt Disney Company, so it's on the docket this week. Josh and Gabe welcome Scott Tobias back to the program to debate...well, not that much! Spoiler alert: we're all big fans of this movie, just as we're not very big fans of the idea of the impending sequel. But hey, even when we're all agreeing, the spirit of the season demands that you listen. So...you know what to do!
The Next Picture Show's discussion of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and SPOTLIGHT continues with the group Forum discussion. In this half, Scott Tobias, Tasha Robinson and Keith Phipps talk about the films' respective approaches to journalism, the cities of Washington, D.C., and Boston, and visual style. Plus, Your Next Picture show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your cinematic radar. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about "All The President's Men," "Spotlight," or both by sending an email to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to The Next Picture Show, a movie of the week podcast devoted to a classic film that has shaped our take on a new release. With director Tom McCarthy's SPOTLIGHT getting lots of acclaim for its treatment of the Boston Globe's investigation into the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, Scott Tobias, Tasha Robinson and Keith Phipps devote their debut show to arguably the Fourth Estate's finest couple of hours on celluloid, the 1970s classic ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN. Part of the Filmspotting Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former Dissolve Managing Editor Genevieve Koski joins Scott Tobias for week #2 of The Dissolve's Filmspotting residency. It's also week #2 of putting a positive spin on the end of their former online home... Scott and Genevieve get optimistic with their Top 5 Exciting Movie Trends. Plus, a review of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION and some thoughts on the new indie THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT. This episode is brought to you by MUBI. :00-2:32 - Billboard / MUBI 2:32-28:44 - Review: "M:I – Rogue Nation" Heartless Bastards, "Gates of Dawn" 30:05-39:12 - Notes / Polls 39:12-52:57 - Review: "Stanford Prison Exp." Heartless Bastards, "Journey" 54:22-1:10:35 - Top 5: Exciting Movie Trends 1:10:35-1:13:32 - Close LINKS - "Jurassic World" and high heels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As this episode posts, the Oscars are just two days away, and everybody’s talking about who’ll win. So we decided to skip the prognostications and talk about what we hope the winners will say and do, and what we hope for from Oscar speeches in general. Then Hot Tub Time Machine 2 gets us digging into the worlds of sequels that lost key personnel from the original film: What we expect from them, what we get, and what can redeem them. This week’s game, also about Oscar speeches, lets Scott Tobias again prove his lightning speed at identifying audio clips, and we close out with an unexpectedly close-to-home (and yet far, far away) edition of 30 Seconds To Sell.
- 10-9-8-7-6... It's part one of Filmspotting's Top 10 Films of 2014 countdown, featuring special guests Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune and The Dissolve’s Scott Tobias. Plus, Mr. Brick himself, Rian Johnson, announces the winner of this year’s Golden Brick award. :00-2:28 - Billboard / Donations 2:28-31:15 - Top 10 of 2014: #10-9 "Canto At Gabelmeister's Peak," Grand Budapest... 31:47-45:09 - Polls / Golden Brick Winner "The Rest Of My Life," Mood Indigo 46:19-1:26:21 - Top 10 of 2014: #8-6 1:26:21-1:29:28 - Close MUSIC - Scores curated by Sam Smith BONUS CONTENT - Worst Movies of 2014 LINKS - Michael Phillips - Scott Tobias - Melissa's "Under the Skin" theory - Sam Smith's posters podcast - Slate's 25 Best Podcast Episodes - Golden Bricks Page - Scott on "Wolf of Wall Street" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Despite diminished box-office grosses, laments about Hollywood’s addiction to sequels and remakes, and portents of doom from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, Dissolve podcast host Scott Tobias had a really good time at the movies this summer. But what of the other Dissolvers? On this week’s podcast, we discuss the hits and misses of Summer 2014 and cast an eye on the future. And with the site heavy on Elmore Leonard coverage—namely, our Movie Of The Week, Steven Soderbergh’s Out Of Sight, and Life Of Crime, a new adaptation of Leonard’s The Switch—we thought it would be a good time to reflect on the author’s fascinating legacy on screen. The game this week asks our panel to differentiate between Troy McClure movies, straight-to-video movies, and made-up movies, and we wrap it up as usual with our quick-fire recommendation segment, 30 Seconds To Sell.
There are few things more associated with summer in America than our national pastime of baseball. So there's no better time for Walt Disney Pictures to release a baseball drama based on a true story, right? Well, while that may be true in theory, in execution, their latest film, Million Dollar Arm, is missing the right stuff. At least, according to Josh and Gabe as well as this week's guest, Scott Tobias of The Dissolve. In fact, this trio spent far more time wondering what could have been. Would a story about the two young Indian men Jon Hamm's J.B. Bernstein finds to play American baseball have worked? Or what about a story featuring their coach, played here by Bill Paxton? How about a loose romantic comedy with Hamm and Lake Bell? Ah, perchance to dream. But even if you haven't seen Million Dollar Arm, you should check out this week's episode. Come for the Mad Men references and stay for the in-depth Jerry Maguire discussion!
TASHA ROBINSON, film critic at The Dissolve, and formerly of The A.V. Club, joins me to talk about the road that led to her becoming one of the best in the industry. During our talk, we also touch on Bob Hoskins' passing, the Star Wars Episode 7 casting announcement, Tasha's VHS film education, the odd jobs she had just out of college, publication editing, aggregate scoring with Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, misogyny and trolling on comment boards (with focus on Anita Sarkeesian and "Feminist Frequency"), the state of women in film, Paul Greengrass' "Captain Phillips," what is wrong (and right) with her colleague, Scott Tobias, and we end on her coverage of the Tribeca Film Festival 2014. It's a jam-packed conversation, and I know you'll have a great time listening!The DissolveTasha on TFF 2014Tasha on twitterbitchsandwichWhy Doesn't America Read Anymore?Music on this podcast:"Soma" - Frankie Rose - Stereogum Presents… STROKED: A Tribute To Is This It"Uhuh" - DVA - HUCopyrights are owned by the artists and their labels. No money is made from this podcast.
So, what was your favorite video game from 2013? This week, we discuss The Veronica Mars Movie and the Kickstarter campaign that led to it. We also talk about HBO’s hit miniseries True Detective. We also cover the next films in our remake series, the 1994 Ang Lee film Eat Drink Man Woman and its 2001 remake, Tortilla Soup. Spoilers for The Veronica Mars Movie and True Detective! Show Notes: Hearthstone information and download Gone Home main page | Download on Steam | Download on the Mac App Store Ask Rob Thomas Anything video series | His answer about love triangles James Poniewozik and Scott Tobias on The Veronica Mars Movie A reddit post summarizing many of the more outlandish True Detective theories Episode Breakdown: 0:00 - 14:00 - Favorite Video Game from 2013 14:00 - 45:00 - Veronica Mars Movie 45:00 - 1:06:00 - True Detective 1:21:00 - 1:36:00 - Eat Drink Man Woman / Tortilla Soup Click here to download this episode as an mp3. Or, click here to subscribe in iTunes. Or, enter this URL into your favorite podcast application: http://feeds.feedburner.com/PopCulturalOsmosis We have a new film series! Please check out our updated schedule to check out which foreign film / American remake pairs we’ll be watching. And if you have suggestions for our two Mystery Film slots, tweet us @popculturalosmo or email us at popculturalosmosis@gmail.com.
As home theaters get more and more impressive, studios are fighting back with visually epic films like Gravity, which take the theatrical format to its current limits. Gravity’s huge box-office success and 10 Oscar nominations suggest the renewed focus on scale might work both financially and aesthetically, but what happens when movies made to get people into theaters leave the theaters, and home viewing is the only option? This week, we discuss movies where the presentation might be as important as the content, from Gravity to Jaws 3D. Then we check in with Nathan Rabin and Noel Murray, live from the Sundance Film Festival, for their picks on the best films soon to hit theaters, and their impression of how Sundance has changed since they started attending. We bring back Parental Guidance Suggested, where players have to identify a film from some of its IMDB Parent’s Guide warnings, then have Keith Phipps and Scott Tobias present their dueling recommendations in 30 Seconds To Sell. Spoiler: It’s a really close call this week.
Due to the holiday break, we haven’t recorded a new podcast in a month, but the movies haven’t exactly stopped provoking conversation in our absence. In fact, there’s so much to talk about that we decided to forego our usual game and 30 Seconds To Sell segments just to get to a larger fraction of the topics we had in mind. We start the new year with an argument between podcast hosts Scott Tobias and Tasha Robinson, who tend to disagree a lot, but rarely as fervently as they do on Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf Of Wall Street. From there, an advertisement promoting Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit as “From The Director Of Thor” has us wondering about directors like Kenneth Branagh, whose career seemed to promise one thing, but delivered something else entirely. And finally, we share what movies, new and old, we watched over the holiday break and offer some good recommendations.
4 critics, 20 picks, 79 minutes... it must be time for Filmspotting's Top 10 Films of 2013 roundtable with guests Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and Scott Tobias from The Dissolve. 00-1:47 - Billboard / SVU Promo 1:47-35:46 - Picks #10-8 Music: Lucero, "Mud" 36:56-43:28 - Donations Music: Thomas Newman, "Side Effects" 43:28-50:40 - Massacre Theatre 50:40-54:05 - O'Toole, Fontaine / Notes 54:05-1:17:14 - Picks #7-6 1:17:14-1:19:32 - Close / Outtake MUSIC - Scores curated by Sam Smith NOTES - MT winner: Erin Perry LINKS - Why Spring Breakers is movie of the year - Let The Fire Burn PARTNERS - Fandor.com/Filmspotting - Backstory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The tepid reception from critics and audiences toward Spike Lee’s recent remake of Park Chan-Wook’s dark, stylish 2003 film Oldboy is indicative of some of the problems and preconceptions surrounding American remakes of foreign films. We try to set aside our knee-jerk dislike for such films to discuss what they say about our filmgoing culture, and try to come up with a few successful Hollywood re-imaginings (other than The Ring). In the second segment, host Tasha Robinson talks to Jason Bailey, writer of the new book Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story Of Quentin Tarantino’s Masterpiece, about the film’s genesis, shooting, and impact on the current movie landscape. Then Tasha asks Keith Phipps, Noel Murray, and Nathan Rabin to perform some movie algebra with a new game called Icon Vs. Icon, whose simple-enough name belies a complicated—but fun—premise. Then Noel and Scott Tobias wrap it up with some rapid recommendations in 30 Seconds To Sell. PLEASE NOTE: The Dissolve Podcast is going on hiatus over the holiday break. It will return in January with new episodes.
If restaurant menus worked like cinema seasons, any chef serving chicken in the fall or fish in the spring would be given dubious looks, and face nonstop accusations that his food must not be very good, or he’d be serving fish in fall and chicken in spring just like everybody else. But the division of the film year into “studio dumping ground,” “blockbuster season,” and “prestige season” is a fairly recent, entirely artificial, and not particularly nuanced, and can hurt films like Thor: The Dark World, which appear to be on the menu out of season. So in this edition of the podcast, we discuss the film “seasons,” where they came from, and whether they’re making everything taste like fish all summer long. Then we look at a number of recent documentaries that are pushing a little too hard for an artificial narrative framework, and the recent docs that are doing the exact opposite. Then we return to our “How did that character die?” game, Knife/Gun/Other. And finally, a nervous Scott Tobias and a mocking Keith Phipps square off in our competitive recommendation segment, 30 Seconds To Sell.
The public conflict between the director and actors of Blue Is The Warmest Color has overshadowed discussion of the film, which inspired us to return to a favorite Dissolve topic: how much “extratextual” things like behind-the-scene production stories, directorial intent, or our feelings about a filmmaker should affect how we watch or interpret a film. Then, spinning off the release of Machete Kills, we discuss where neo-grindhouse movies from Black Dynamite to Hobo With A Shotgun are coming from, and what modern audiences get out of all these self-aware retro films. This week’s game is Common Denominator, where players have to identify extremely familiar characters from a list of the actors who played them at various points. Finally, Matt Singer and Scott Tobias throw down in our competitive recommendation segment, 30 Seconds To Sell. (Hint: You owe Matt a life. Yes, you.)
According to Aesop, familiarity breeds contempt, but that doesn’t always hold true. In the case of filmmakers, actors, and other creators with long, well-established careers, familiarity can help us isolate their particular talents and interests. Sometimes, though, Aesop’s right, and seeing too much of someone’s work makes us respect it less. This week, we discuss what the long careers of Danny Elfman, Robert De Niro, and many others have taught us about their work. In a second segment, Scott Tobias and Noel Murray report in from the Toronto International Film Festival via Skype, laying out the best films coming to America soon, and the best films they’ve seen that are still looking for distribution. Our game segment this week is Famous Last Words, in which panelists struggle to identify a film character from the last lines they speak before dying. Finally, Nathan Rabin and Keith Phipps square off in our competitive recommendation segment, 30 Seconds To Sell.
This week, as blockbuster season careens to a close, we discuss blockbuster culture, whether Steven Spielberg’s alarmism is on point, and whether it could all be turned in a more positive direction. Our second segment focuses on the singing-and-dancing party endings of films from Beetlejuice to This Is The End to Despicable Me 2, and asks what these endings accomplish for a film, and which ones make us groan, as opposed to which ones make us chair-dance in the theater. We try out a gory new game that tests the players’ ability to remember how characters die in films, and we let Nathan Rabin unleash his inner moo-cow. Finally, Scott Tobias and Keith Phipps are given 30 Seconds To Sell us with their film-related recommendations: Keith on an iconic soundtrack, and Scott on the concept of negativity, apparently.
Comedian Kurt Braunohler explains his improvised anti-game show, where among other things, comedians are challenged to verbally shame puppies. The comedy group Kasper Hauser will interrupt our entertainment program to bring you a fake news broadcast. And the novelist Walter Mosley on his distinctive brand of detective fiction. Plus the AV Club's Scott Tobias and Nathan Rabin discuss Wes Anderson's new film Moonrise Kingdom and the new stand-up comedy special from Hannibal Buress
We're joined by Keith Phipps, the AV Club's editor and Scott Tobias, the AV Club's film editor to discuss their pop culture picks for April 2011.
This week, Ben and Corey talk to A.V. Club (the arts and entertainment section of The Onion) film editor and critic Scott Tobias about his trip to last month’s Toronto International Film Festival, the best films and performances of 2010 so far and his horror movie picks for the Halloween season. NOTE: Due to some […]
This week, Ben and Corey talk to A.V. Club (the arts and entertainment section of The Onion) film editor and critic Scott Tobias about his trip to last month’s Toronto International Film Festival, the best films and performances of 2010 so far and his horror movie picks for the Halloween season. NOTE: Due to some […]