Exploring the intersections of cinema
Alex and Jonathan reflect on 8 1/2 years of recording the Filmlings Podcast. If you're new here, this is an invitation and guide to explore the back-catalog, even though we are not currently recording new episodes. If you've been around, thanks for listening and supporting the show over the years! Keep an eye on the… Continue reading The Retrospective
As we bring our discussion of the history of comedy to the modern day, Alex and Jonathan look at three comedy films from the past two decades: Mean Girls (2004), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and The Fall Guy (2024). We discuss the facets of wit as a mode of humor, the way wit has… Continue reading Ep 172. COMEDY CINEMA 5: The Wit’s End
Moving from the absurd to the irreverent, today Alex and Jonathan look at three films which encompass a subset of comedy in which the characters are under the influence in some form or fashion: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), The Big Lebowski (1998), and The Hangover (2009). We discuss the glorification and justification of… Continue reading Ep 171. COMEDY CINEMA 4: The Stoners
After the collapse of the Production Code, filmmakers now had the ability to put anything and everything in their movies, so they did. Today Alex and Jonathan discuss three films which take comedy beyond rational proportions and talk about The Producers (1967), Airplane! (1980), and The Mask (1994). We discuss the history of absurdist comedy,… Continue reading Ep 170. COMEDY CINEMA 3: The Absurdists
With the arrival of sound in Hollywood, a new subgenre of comedy arose, so today Alex and Jonathan discuss the history of the "screwball comedies" while looking at Trouble in Paradise (1932), His Girl Friday (1940), and Some Like it Hot (1959). We talk about how screwballs differed from standard romantic comedies, the emphasis on… Continue reading Ep 169. COMEDY CINEMA 2: The Screwballs
To kick off a new series on the history of American comedy films, Alex and Jonathan travel back to the early days of cinema and look at the physical comedy of the early film clowns in Safety Last! (1923), City Lights (1931), and Duck Soup (1933). We discuss the transition from live performances in theater… Continue reading Ep 168. COMEDY CINEMA 1: The Clowns
This course is an inexhaustive journey through some of the major trends in American comedy films from the early days of narrative filmmaking to the present. It should provide both an understanding of where modern comedy comes from, and some useful categories for thinking through different styles of comedy represented in cinema no matter the… Continue reading AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF COMEDY IN AMERICAN CINEMA: Course Syllabus
To wrap up the tragedy series, Alex and Jonathan look at three films characterized by the ways in which the characters' difference of perspectives causes the primary conflict in part or whole: A Woman Under the Influence (1974), The Elephant Man (1980), and The Farewell (2019). We discuss whether or not the term "tragedy" is… Continue reading Ep 167. TRAGEDIES of Misunderstanding
As we move into stories of interpersonal tragedies, today Alex and Jonathan discuss three films which deal with themes of betrayal as it applies to family relationships, as in Tokyo Twilight (1957), romantic relationships, as in In the Mood for Love (2000), and friends/allies, as in RRR (2022). We discuss Aristotle's concept of discovery, the… Continue reading Ep 166. TRAGEDIES of Betrayal
In one of the saddest episodes of the show (besides Episode 105), Alex and Jonathan look at films in which the protagonists struggle to navigate circumstances outside of their control with three tragedy classics: Ikiru (1952), Grave of the Fireflies (1988), and Titanic (1997). We discuss Aristotle's conception of the reversal of fortune – known… Continue reading Ep 165. TRAGEDIES of Fate
From power to societal marginalization to prejudicial greed, in this episode Alex and Jonathan talk about three films in which the subject characters are faced with various forms of injustice: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Umberto D. (1952), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). We discuss the ways tragedy films evoke feelings… Continue reading Ep 164. TRAGEDIES of Injustice
The downfall. The tragic flaw. Today Alex and Jonathan kick off a new series about tragic cinema with three stories where the protagonist is ultimately responsible for their own misery: The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), Brief Encounter (1945), and Tár (2022). We discuss Aristotle's six elements of tragedy, why tragedy doesn't necessarily have to have a… Continue reading Ep 163. TRAGEDIES of Self
In contrast to comedy, which tends to have maximum effectiveness within a specific time and place, tragedy is universal and timeless. This course presents five categories through which to view the ways tragic stories can be told based on the way the tragic conflict or antagonist affects the protagonist. The antagonists being namely: self, power,… Continue reading AN OVERVIEW OF TRAGIC CINEMA: Course Syllabus
The last of the Cahiers du Cinéma critics-turned-directors to discuss is Jacques Rivette. Alex and Jonathan take a look at his films Paris Belongs to Us (1961), L'amour fou (1969), and Céline and Julie Go Boating (1974) and discuss Rivette's obsession with the individual aspects of cinema, his blend of cinematic instinct and collaborative improvisation,… Continue reading Ep 162. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Jacques Rivette
One of the less well-known of the Cahiers contributors, but also one of the first to break into directing, Claude Chabrol is the subject of this week's deep dive in which Alex and Jonathan talk about his films Le beau Serge (1958), Les cousins (1959), and Les bonnes femmes (1960). We discuss Chabrol's role in… Continue reading Ep 161. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Claude Chabrol
François Truffaut, known as "The Gravedigger of French Cinema" during his time as a critic, is the focal point of this episode and the turning point of our series on the French New Wave. Alex and Jonathan discuss three of his many films, Shoot the Piano Player (1960), Jules et Jim (1962), and Day for… Continue reading Ep 160. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: François Truffaut
Author, critic, teacher, moralist, and editor of Cahiers du Cinéma, Éric Rohmer is this month's featured director from the French New Wave. Alex and Jonathan look at three of the six films Rohmer directed based on a series of his own short stories called the "Moral Tales" – My Night at Maud's (1969), Claire's Knee… Continue reading Ep 159. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Éric Rohmer
As we begin our dive into the directors of the French New Wave, Alex and Jonathan take a look at one of the primary disrupters from this heavily disruptive period of cinema history, the singular Jean-Luc Godard. Through three of his classic films – Vivre sa vie (1962), Band of Outsiders (1964), and Pierrot le… Continue reading Ep 158. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Jean-Luc Godard
Here's a list of some great resources for studying the films and key figures of the French New Wave. These will be helpful for anyone following along with our current podcast series. Watching The Criterion Channel You can find many films from the French New Wave in various collections and with great special features on… Continue reading French New Wave Study Material
In this course Alex and Jonathan will be diving deep into the French New Wave, focusing on the major figures of the Cahiers du Cinéma staff who became some of the most influential filmmakers of all time. While identifying and examining the styles and techniques which make each of these directors unique, we will also… Continue reading CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Course Syllabus
For the final episode of the fairy tale series, Alex and Jonathan take a look at three films that transpose classic fairy tale stories onto the setting of the modern day: The Red Shoes (1948), Ponyo (2008), and Undine (2020). We discuss how fairy tale elements can help us look at the ordinary parts of… Continue reading Ep 157. FILMS OF FAERIE 5: Fairy Tales in the Modern Day
Today Alex and Jonathan look at three of the common ways that fairy tales are modified from their original setting to fit various modern sensibilities. We talk about the fairy tale mashup through the lens of Shrek (2001), the science fiction angle via A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), and the misunderstood villain as portrayed in Maleficent… Continue reading Ep 156. FILMS OF FAERIE 4: Fairy Tales with a Twist
For as long as fairy tales have been recorded there has been a debate about whether or not they should be modified for children, so today Alex and Jonathan take up the negative side of the discussion with a look at three films with fairy tale elements that are not Disney's idea of kid-friendly: Beauty… Continue reading Ep 155. FILMS OF FAERIE 3: Fairy Tales are NOT for Kids
When it comes to fairy tales on film, the elephant in the room has a name: Disney. So today Alex and Jonathan go through the history of fairy tale films as told by the Walt Disney Animation Studios, starting with the first feature length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), through the… Continue reading Ep 154. FILMS OF FAERIE 2: Fairy Tales are for Kids
To kick off our new series about fairy tales in cinema, Alex and Jonathan do a deep dive into three adaptations of the story of Pinocchio: Pinocchio (1940), Pinocchio (2019), and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022). We discuss the history of fairy tales, the variations of focus in each of these adaptations, and how fantasy… Continue reading Ep 153. FILMS OF FAERIE 1: The Podcast that Laughed and Cried Like a Child
Fairy tales are some of the oldest and most streamlined forms of storytelling that we have, so for the next several months Alex and Jonathan will be taking a look at a variety of ways that these classic tales have been translated into the cinematic medium. Hopefully by the end of the series you will… Continue reading FILMS OF FAERIE: Course Syllabus
To wrap up our Westerns 101 series, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the current state of the western genre through Rango (2011), Slow West (2015), and Hell or High Water (2016). We talk about ways to take the tropes of an established genre and exaggerate them for comedic effect, how to take the… Continue reading Ep 152. WESTERNS 101: Modern West
A huge portion of the modern idea of what a western is can be traced back to an Italian director with an appreciation for samurai films, Sergio Leone. Today Alex and Jonathan look at his influence on the spaghetti western sub-genre with For a Few Dollars More (1965), Once Upon a Time in the West… Continue reading Ep 151. WESTERNS 101: Sergio’s Spaghetti
As we continue our journey through the history of the western genre, Alex and Jonathan take a detour to Japan to discuss an era of chanbara (samurai) films that bridge the gap from classic westerns to spaghetti westerns. We're talking about Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954), Sanjuro (1962), The Sword of Doom (1966). We discuss… Continue reading Ep 150. WESTERNS 101: Westerns of the Rising Sun
When discussing the history of the Western genre, there is no escaping the name or work of John Ford, so today Alex and Jonathan dive in to three of Ford's landmark films: My Darling Clementine (1946), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). We talk about the ways Western films elevate actual… Continue reading Ep 149. WESTERNS 101: John Ford’s Golden Era
In the first of a new style of episode series we're dubbing "Filmlings Courses," Alex and Jonathan will be exploring the development of the Western genre as we know it today. What started as a convenient story trope to a newly created film industry in Hollywood eventually became one of the most dominant box office… Continue reading WESTERNS 101: Course Syllabus
To kick off a new series of episodes that will give an overview of the history of the western genre, Alex and Jonathan start off by talking about three early western films from the pre-sound era: The Testing Block (1920), Sky High (1922), and The Iron Horse (1924). We discuss the development of both the… Continue reading Ep 148. WESTERNS 101: The Silent Era
January kicks off a five episode series that will be focused on the evolution of the Western genre. This month we'll be looking at some of the earliest Western films from before the sound era: The Testing Block (1920) Sky High (1922) The Iron Horse (1925) Join us on Discord for on-going film discussions!
For the winter wrap-up episode to close out the year, Alex and Jonathan talk about four films that focus on the ways that people have to survive in freezing and desperate situations: Touching the Void (2003), The Grey (2011), Everest (2015), and Arctic (2018). We discuss ways to tell a true story through documentary and… Continue reading Episode 147. The Icepod Cometh
Throughout the month of December we'll be looking at films about surviving extreme situations in the extreme cold: Touching the Void (2003) The Grey (2011) Everest (2015) Arctic (2018) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here is an extended watching list of films that… Continue reading The December Marquee: Frozen Survival
From the very first photographs of motion, horses have been integrated with the cinema, so today Alex and Jonathan talk about different ways horses can be used to drive a story in The Black Stallion (1979), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), Seabiscuit (2003), and War Horse (2011). We discuss horses as both thematic metaphors… Continue reading Episode 146. The Equestrisode
Throughout the month of November we'll be looking at films which prominently feature the unique bond between humans and their equine companions: The Black Stallion (1979) Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) Seabiscuit (2003) War Horse (2011) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here… Continue reading The November Marquee: Horses
To fill some time while Alex and Jonathan are on break, we're releasing a commentary track for Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) which was recorded in 2018. Going scene-by-scene through the extended edition of the film allows us to break down some of the details and nuances of the filmmaking techniques, as… Continue reading Special Episode: The Fellowship of the Ring Scene-by-Scene
Taking a step behind the curtain of classic movie magic, today Alex and Jonathan discuss the techniques and creatures brought to the screen by VFX pioneer Ray Harryhausen in Mighty Joe Young (1949), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), and Clash of the Titans (1981). We discuss the evolution of… Continue reading Episode 145. History According to Harryhausen
Throughout the month of September we'll be looking at films filled with the imaginative creatures of animator and pioneering VFX artist Ray Harryhausen: Mighty Joe Young (1949) The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Clash of the Titans (1981) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't… Continue reading The September Marquee: Ray Harryhausen
We are all interested in the future, which is why in this episode Alex and Jonathan take a look at some prominent entries into the time travel sub-genre of science fiction, specifically: Time After Time (1979), Back to the Future (1985), Groundhog Day (1993), and Tenet (2020). We discuss the various mechanisms for implementing time… Continue reading Episode 144. A Podcast’s Guide to Time Travel
Throughout the month of August we'll be looking at films centered around the concept of time travel in a variety of ways: Time After Time (1979) Back to the Future (1985) Groundhog Day (1993) Tenet (2020) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here is… Continue reading The August Marquee: Time Travel
Another legend of Hollywood's Golden Age is the spotlight for this episode as Alex and Jonathan talk about some of the classic works of Otto Preminger: Laura (1944), Bonjour Tristesse (1958), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), and Bunny Lake is Missing (1965). We discuss how Preminger builds character driven narrative through visuals, his real and… Continue reading Episode 143. Pugnacious Preminger
Throughout the month of July we'll be looking at the works of Golden Age director, Otto Preminger through some of his most notable films: Laura (1944) Bonjour Tristesse (1958) Anatomy of a Murder (1959) Bunny Lake is Missing (1965) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films… Continue reading The July Marquee: Otto Preminger
Sit back and enjoy the ride as Alex and Jonathan talk through the road-trip style films of Abbas Kiarostami in Where Is the Friend's House? (1987), And Life Goes On (1992), Through the Olive Trees (1994), and Taste of Cherry (1997). We discuss the way Kiarostami blends truth and fiction, how he uses long takes… Continue reading Episode 142. Kiarostami’s Koker
Throughout the month of June we'll be looking at the renowned Iranian director, Abbas Kiarostami and his overlapping thematic trilogies the "Koker Trilogy" and the "Precious Life Trilogy": Where Is the Friend's House? (1987) And Life Goes On (or Life, and Nothing More) (1992) Through the Olive Trees (1994) Taste of Cherry (1997) (Click on… Continue reading The June Marquee: Abbas Kiarostami
This month Alex and Jonathan fly to a mythical Nordic world and discuss the recent animated trilogy How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019). We discuss a brief history of dragons, ways to incorporate high stakes and family into… Continue reading Episode 141. How to Train Your Podcast
Throughout the month of May we'll be looking at the recent animated film trilogy, How to Train Your Dragon: How to Train Your Dragon (2010) How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing… Continue reading The May Marquee: How to Train Your Dragon
When it comes to acting, few names loom as large in the recent history of stage or screen as that of Laurence Olivier. Alex and Jonathan discuss his contributions to the film medium through his roles in Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), Richard III (1955), and Marathon Man (1976). We talk about his growth as… Continue reading Episode 140. One and Only Olivier
Throughout the month of April we'll be looking at the career of the legendary actor Laurence Olivier through his powerful representations of some of literature's greatest characters: Wuthering Heights (1939) Rebecca (1940) Richard III (1955) Marathon Man (1976) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth,… Continue reading The April Marquee: Laurence Olivier
The epic drama and action of director John Woo carries us away this month as Alex and Jonathan talk about The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992), Face/Off (1997), and Red Cliff (2008). We talk about his pioneering of the "Honorable Bloodshed" genre, his distinct stylistic and thematic trademarks, and his continuing legacy on many modern… Continue reading Episode 139. The Dove Says Woo
Throughout the month of March we'll be looking at the films, foreign and domestic, made under director John Woo's singular vision: The Killer (1989)Watch Hard Boiled (1992)Watch Face/Off (1997) Red Cliff (2008) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here is an extended watching list… Continue reading The March Marquee: John Woo
Watch your back because in this episode Alex and Jonathan, talk about the history of American gangster films through four classic and contemporary tales within the genre: Scarface (1932), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), Scarface (1983), and Goodfellas (1990). We discuss the origins of gangster stories being pulled from the contemporary headlines, how the genre… Continue reading Episode 138. Wise Guy Gangsters
Throughout the month of February we'll be looking at the gangster genre as it has evolved over time in American cinema: Scarface (1932) Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) Scarface (1983) Goodfellas (1990) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here is an extended watching list… Continue reading The February Marquee: Gangsters
Kicking off season 6 of the podcast, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the films and careers of two oft-paired star performers: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. We look at their films The Gay Divorcee (1934), Shall We Dance (1937), and The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), and discuss the history of each performer, the… Continue reading Episode 137. Rogers-Astaire
Throughout the month of January we'll be looking at the charming performances of the classic dancing duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers: The Gay Divorcee (1934) Shall We Dance (1937) The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here is an… Continue reading The January Marquee: Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
To wrap up Season 5 of the podcast Alex and Jonathan talk about another one of the hard-working directors of Hollywood's Golden Age, William Wyler. We're looking at four of his post-war films, The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Roman Holiday (1953), Ben-Hur (1959), and The Collector (1965) and discussing how Wyler's war experience… Continue reading Episode 136. Wyler, Not Wilder
Throughout the month of December we'll be looking at the delightful and timeless films of Golden Age director William Wyler (not to be confused with Billy Wilder): The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) Roman Holiday (1953) Ben-Hur (1959) The Collector (1965) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be… Continue reading The December Marquee: William Wyler
Today Alex and Jonathan ask "How did Billy do it?" as we dive into the work and career of Golden Age director Billy Wilder through his films Sunset Boulevard (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Sabrina (1954), and The Apartment (1960). We discuss the way Wilder turns a mirror back on Hollywood, the influence Ernst Lubitsch and… Continue reading Episode 135. Wilder, Not Wyler
Throughout the month of November we'll be looking at the delightful and timeless films of Golden Age director Billy Wilder (not to be confused with William Wyler): Sunset Boulevard (1950) Stalag 17 (1953) Sabrina (1954) The Apartment (1960) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth,… Continue reading The November Marquee: Billy Wilder
One of the masters of world cinema, Japanese director Masaki Kobayashi, is the focus of today's episode as Alex and Jonathan talk through his epic trilogy The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959), The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959), and The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961), as well as his… Continue reading Episode 134. Master Masaki
Throughout the month of October we'll be looking at the epic films of Japanese director Masaki Kobayashi: The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959) The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959) The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961) Kwaidan (1964) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't… Continue reading The October Marquee: Masaki Kobayashi
From skateboard videos to high-budget science-fiction drama, today Alex and Jonathan track the career of Spike Jonze through his feature films Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation. (2002), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), and Her (2013). We talk about the building of themes and structure in meta filmmaking, what makes interesting protagonists, and the variety… Continue reading Episode 133. Surreal Spike
Throughout the month of September we'll be looking at the career of the director known as Spike Jonze: Being John Malkovich (1999) Adaptation. (2002) Where the Wild Things Are (2009) Her (2013) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here is an extended watching list… Continue reading The September Marquee: Spike Jonze
The combined creative talents of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is one of the biggest forces in the animation industry at the moment, so today Alex and Jonathan take a look at four films they have had a hand in bringing to the big screen: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), 21 Jump Street… Continue reading Episode 132. Lord & Miller’s Laughs & Mischiefs
Throughout the month of August we'll be looking at the directing and writing works of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) 21 Jump Street (2012) The Lego Movie (2014) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these… Continue reading The August Marquee: Lord & Miller
One of the greatest physical performers of recent filmmaking, Jackie Chan is the focus of today's discussion as Alex and Jonathan look at Drunken Master (1978), Police Story (1985), Police Story 3: Supercop (1992), and The Foreigner (2017). We talk about Jackie Chan's journey finding his on-screen persona in the wake of Bruce Lee, the… Continue reading Episode 131. Channeling Jackie Chan
Throughout the month of July we'll be looking at the career of action-comedy star Jackie Chan: Drunken Master (1978) Police Story (1985) Supercop (1992) The Foreigner (2017) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And although we won't be discussing these films in-depth, here is an extended watching list of films that will relate… Continue reading The July Marquee: Jackie Chan
Alex and Jonathan take to the open seas today and follow the films and life of French explorer and documentarian Jacques Cousteau. We're talking about his documentaries The Silent World (1956), World Without Sun (1964), Voyage to the Edge of the World (1976), and the more recent biopic of his life The Odyssey (2016). We… Continue reading Episode 130. Cousteau Curieux
Throughout the month of May we'll be looking at the feature films produced by the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The four films we'll be looking at on the podcast are: The Silent World (1956) World Without Sun (1964) Voyage to the Edge of the World (1976) The Odyssey (2016) (Click on a poster to… Continue reading The June Marquee: Jacques Cousteau
Highlighting one of the most innovative animation studios producing content today, Alex and Jonathan look at the four feature films produced by Irish studio Cartoon Saloon: The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), The Breadwinner (2017), and Wolfwalkers (2020). We discuss the unique art style, the various cultural influences, and the ongoing… Continue reading Episode 129. Cartoon Saloon’s (mostly) Celtic Saga
Throughout the month of May we'll be looking at the feature films produced by the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The four films we'll be looking at on the podcast are: The Secret of Kells (2009) Song of the Sea (2014) The Breadwinner (2017) WolfWalkers (2020) (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) And… Continue reading The May Marquee: Cartoon Saloon
Travelling back to the Golden Age, Alex and Jonathan take a look at one of the early masters of the budding film medium, Ernst Lubitsch, through his films Ninotchka (1939), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), To Be or Not to Be (1942), and Heaven Can Wait (1943). We discuss Lubitsch's history as a German… Continue reading Episode 128. Long Live Lubitsch
Throughout the month of April we'll be looking at the works and career of Golden Age director Ernst Lubitsch. The four films we'll be looking at on the podcast are: Ninotchka (1939) The Shop Around the Corner (1940) To Be or Not to Be (1942) Heaven Can Wait (1943) (Click on a poster to watch… Continue reading The April Marquee: Ernst Lubitsch
We all know those movies that are so bad you just have to watch them, and today Alex and Jonathan are talking through the history of these terribly good films with Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957), Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010), Sharknado (2013), and The VelociPastor (2018). We discuss the role intention plays in… Continue reading Episode 127. So-Bad-It’s-Good
Throughout the month of March we'll be exploring a range of films that have gained notoriety for their accidental or intentional departure from the cinematic standards of quality. The four films we'll be looking at on the podcast are: Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010) Sharknado (2013) The VelociPastor (2016)… Continue reading The March Marquee: So-Bad-It’s-Good
For the first episode of season 5, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the many and on-going adaptations of the works of Jane Austen. The specific adaptations we'll be talking about are Sense and Sensibility (1995), Northanger Abbey (2007), Love & Friendship (2016), and Emma. (2020). We discuss the changing style of period pieces,… Continue reading Episode 126. Adapting Austen
To kick off our new podcast season we'll be exploring the works of Jane Austen through various film adaptations. The four adaptations we'll be looking at on the podcast are: (Click on a poster to watch a trailer) Sense and Sensibility (1995) Northanger Abbey (2007) Love & Friendship (2016) Emma. (2020) And although we won't… Continue reading The February Marquee: Jane Austen
Hey fellow Filmlings, We've got lot's going on this year and a few changes to the structure of the podcast that we wanted to make everyone aware of. One of our goals with these changes is to give more time for the study and research that goes into each episode and to do that we'll… Continue reading Season 5 Updates
To wrap up the fourth season of the Filmlings Podcast Alex and Jonathan take a look at three films taking different angles on the downfall of the world as we know it in 28 Days Later... (2002), Children of Men (2006), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). We discuss apocalyptic worldbuilding, themes inherent to the… Continue reading Episode 125. The End of the World
For the final installment of the Silver Screen Sports series Alex and Jonathan look at three documentaries that cover a range of sports: Tokyo Olympiad (1965), Hoop Dreams (1994), and Senna (2010). We discuss three different approaches to the creation of a documentary, the difference between fictional and non-fictional representation of sports, and the appeal… Continue reading Episode 124. Silver Screen Sports: Documentary Dreams
In another deep dive into a fairly narrow sub-genre, Alex and Jonathan crack the code on heist films by looking at Rififi (1955), Ocean's Eleven (1960), and Inception (2010). We talk about the origins and draw of heist films, the way the activity of a heist lends itself to storytelling, and how to modify the… Continue reading Episode 123. One Last Job
As a contrast to the majority of Indian film covered on the podcast so far, today Alex and Jonathan look at the works of Satyajit Ray in Pather Panchali (1955), Charulata (1964), and Nayak: The Hero (1966). We discuss what makes Ray stand out from other Indian films we've covered, how Ray is able to… Continue reading Episode 122. Subtle Satyajit
The Patrons voted on what contemporary female director we should talk about and the winner was Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay! So today Alex and Jonathan talk about her films Ratcatcher (1999), We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), and You Were Never Really Here (2017). We discuss Ramsay's very personal and close-to-home debut feature, the… Continue reading Episode 121. Rueful Ramsay
In a long-time-coming episode, Alex and Jonathan talk about the two existing film adaptations of Elmore Leonard's short western story '3:10 to Yuma': 3:10 to Yuma (1957) and 3:10 to Yuma (2007). We discuss differences and similarities in the story between the two, ways the two films indicate changing cinematic sensibilities over fifty years, and… Continue reading Episode 120. 3:10 2 3:10 to Yuma
One of the more behind-the-scenes members of the Monty Python group takes the spotlight today as Alex and Jonathan take a look at Terry Gilliam's "Imagination Trilogy": Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). We talk about Gilliam's larger-than-life approach to fantasy, when his story structure lives up to the… Continue reading Episode 119. Gallant Gilliam
The seemingly small but poignant movement of the Taiwanese New Wave is in the spotlight today as Alex and Jonathan take a look at A City of Sadness (1989), Eat Drink Man Woman (1994), Yi Yi (2000). We discuss the atmospheric tone of the films, the introduction of humor to the second Taiwanese new wave,… Continue reading Episode 118. Taiwanese New Wave
Following up on Episode 109 about team sports, Alex and Jonathan step into the ring and tackle three films about individual sports: Rocky (1976), Chariots of Fire (1981), and The Rider (2017). We discuss what makes an underdog story so powerful, when a sports movie falls short of being greater than the sum of its… Continue reading Episode 117. Silver Screen Sports: Individual Glory
Our Patrons voted on which of the directors we touched on in our Season 1 World Tour we should do a deep dive on and the winner was the essential Japanese director Yasujirô Ozu. We look at his films Late Spring (1949), Floating Weeds (1959), and An Autumn Afternoon (1962). We talk about the common… Continue reading Episode 116. …Ozu
The inexplicable draw towards the dark and twisted psyche of serial killers is the focus today as Alex and Jonathan talk about three films revolving around killers real and fictional, The Night of the Hunter (1955), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), and Zodiac (2007). We discuss elements that give depth to an otherwise sensational… Continue reading Episode 115. Killing in Serial
Near the end of the American New Wave a group of filmmakers burst on Hollywood with a distinct style and they have since been named "The Movie Brats." Today Alex and Jonathan discuss three films from this group: Jaws (1975), Apocalypse Now (1979), The Untouchables (1987). We talk about how Golden Age Hollywood and the… Continue reading Episode 114. The Movie Brats and the Modern Blockbuster
Music and movies have always been linked, but today Jason Harden joins the show once again to talk with Alex and Jonathan about three films which detail the life of three modern music legends, What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), Ray (2004), and Love & Mercy (2014). We talk about when depicting a… Continue reading Episode 113. Music and Manipulation Feat. Jason Harden
From acting, to starting her own production company, to directing both film and television, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the extensive career of Ida Lupino in Hollywood's golden age through her work in High Sierra (1941), The Hitch-Hiker (1953), and The Trouble with Angels (1966). We discuss her popular acting persona as the… Continue reading Episode 112. Mother Lupino
Dorothy Arzner is one of the largest names in the history of Hollywood's female directors, so today Alex and Jonathan look at the themes and relationships in her films Get Your Man (1927), Merrily We Go to Hell (1932), and Dance, Girl, Dance (1940). We talk about how romance differs in Arzner's films from other… Continue reading Episode 111. Dorothy Arzner’s Due
Our Patrons voted on what silent film star we should cover and chose the great Buster Keaton! We look at three of his classic films: Sherlock Jr. (1924), The General (1926), The Cameraman (1928) and talk about the way Keaton melds comedy into various genres, hallmarks of Keaton's characters and techniques, and ways we still… Continue reading Episode 110. Blank-Face Buster
To kick off a new mini-series of podcast episodes this season, Alex and Jonathan look at how various team sports are portrayed in the films Field of Dreams (1989), Remember the Titans (2000), and Invictus (2009). We discuss the ways sports are used in film to bring people together on various levels, the effectiveness of… Continue reading Episode 109. Silver Screen Sports: No I in Team
There haven't been a lot of movies about pandemics, yet, but today Alex and Jonathan take a look at the various ways they have been done in the past, specifically in Outbreak (1995), Contagion (2011), and Flu (2013). We talk about the ways pandemic movies suffer from not having a defined genre, what they might… Continue reading Episode 108. Pandemic Panic
Friend of the podcast Aaron Johnson joins the show today to talk about three animated films from Europe about various animals: Watership Down (1978), The Plague Dogs (1982), and Felidae (1994). We discuss how animals are used to depict very mature thematic stories, the distinction between Martin Rosen's animation style and the classic Disney look,… Continue reading Episode 107. Brutal Beasts Feat. Aaron Johnson
Our Patrons recently voted on what two oft-paired actors we should cover and decided on Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan! Alex and Jonathan talk about the only three films starring the two: Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You've Got Mail (1998) and discuss the evolution of romantic comedies in the… Continue reading Episode 106. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and Meg Ryan and Meg Ryan
As the WWII series comes to a close Alex and Jonathan take a very somber look at three documentaries looking back on the war — specifically in the areas of the Holocaust and the atomic bombing of Japan — in Night and Fog (1956), Shoah (1985), and White Light/Black Rain (2007). We discuss the different… Continue reading Episode 105. WWII: Reflection
The Filmlings 