Exploring the intersections of cinema
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Friend of the podcast Jason Harden joins the show once again to talk with Alex and Jonathan about the animation of Don Bluth in The Secret of NIMH (1982), The Land Before Time (1988), and Anastasia (1997). We discuss Bluth's beginnings with his short film Banjo the Woodpile Cat (1979), the darker tone in his… Continue reading Episode 98. The Bluthian Blues Feat. Jason Harden
In the spirit of Halloween, Alex and Jonathan look at the works of John Carpenter, one of the most iconic names in the contemporary horror genre. We watch Halloween (1978), Escape from New York (1981), and The Thing (1982) and discuss the origins of modern horror tropes, world-building, and stellar practical effects. https://youtu.be/ByIWMC9i000?si=aM2BkPqPeoMeTV16 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DTuqTLf5rdfATTmuY6Yqo?si=dVrMLM07S_Sx2qNGNEk3Iw Also… Continue reading Episode 97. Creepy Carpenter
Heavens! Today Alex and Jonathan wrap up the Films de Femmes series and look at the varied career of the well-rounded filmmaker and entertainer Elaine May in her films A New Leaf (1971), Mikey and Nicky (1976), and Ishtar (1987). We talk about her background in improvisational comedy, her range of directing styles from comedy… Continue reading Episode 95. Films de Femmes Trois: Elaine May
The grand human dramas of Golden Age director John Huston are the topic today as Alex and Jonathan look at The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), and The Man Who Would Be King (1975). We talk about how Huston incorporates real life experience into his writing and directing, how he… Continue reading Episode 94. Huston’s Hollywood
Jonathan sits down with Hayden Chauffe today to discuss the career of the modern filmmaker's filmmaker, Quentin Tarantino, in the films Reservoir Dogs (1992), Inglourious Basterds (2009), and The Hateful Eight (2015). We talk about Tarantino's literary story structure, the controversies that tend to follow his films, and the way he breaks various rules of… Continue reading Episode 91. Quintessential Quentin Feat. Hayden Chauffe
Continuing our series focusing on female filmmakers, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the narrative and documentary career of French New Wave pioneer Agnes Varda in her films Le Bonheur (1965), The Gleaners & I (2000), and Faces Places (2017). We talk about Varda's capacity for biting social commentary, her empathy for her documentary… Continue reading Episode 89. Films de Femmes Deux: Agnes Varda
Alex and Jonathan trace the ever-maturing career of Peter Jackson through his films Bad Taste (1987), Heavenly Creatures (1994), and They Shall Not Grow Old (2018). We discuss the potential that young filmmakers can show in early, low-budget films, how Jackson adds his fantasy flare to a true-crime story, and the evolution of his dramatic… Continue reading Episode 88. Jackson’s Journey
In the first of a series of episodes focusing on the cinematic contributions of female directors, Alex and Jonathan look at the career of Sofia Coppola in The Virgin Suicides (1999), Lost in Translation (2003), and The Beguiled (2017). We talk about Coppola's atmospheric style, the way she presents the relationship between men and women… Continue reading Episode 83. Films de Femmes: Sofia Coppola
According to our recent poll for our Patrons, today Alex and Jonathan discuss the ridiculous filmography of British comedy group Monty Python: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983). We discuss the hallmarks of Monty Python's comedy, various ways to create sketch-based films around a… Continue reading Episode 82. Mighty Preposterous Monty Python
Benjamin Angrisano joins Alex and Jonathan once again, this time to take a look at one of the most famous of all film trilogies: The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974), and The Godfather: Part III (1990). We talk about the thematic resonance of the series, the ways the third film differs from the… Continue reading Episode 81. An Episode You Can’t Refuse Feat. Benjamin Angrisano
In a special video episode, Alex and Jonathan discuss the highly stylized and thematic films of Krzysztof Kieślowski, specifically his Three Colors Trilogy: Three Colors: Blue (1993), Three Colors: White (1994), and Three Colors: Red (1994). We talk about conveying emotion through visual rhetoric, connecting films through theme rather than narrative, and movies that stick with you long after the fade to… Continue reading Episode 74. Kolorowy Kieślowski [Video]
In proper Halloween spirit, Alex and Jonathan invite Jason Harden back to the podcast to talk about some of the darker films by director Tim Burton: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007). They discuss the way Tim Burton blends dark and whimsical tones, the evolution of Johnny Depp's… Continue reading Episode 72. Bloody Burton Feat. Jason Harden
When it comes to post-sound era physical comedy, Jacques Tati's character Monsieur Hulot is an inspiration that still resounds today. Alex and Jonathan take a look at the complex scenarios created in Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953), Playtime (1967), and Trafic (1971). We talk about traits of the Hulot character, how Tati built a miniature city, and how he is… Continue reading Episode 70. Tricky Tati
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's directing team known as "The Archers" is the topic of discussion today as Alex and Jonathan take a look at The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), A Matter of Life and Death (1946), and Black Narcissus (1947). We talk about the way the Archers formed and resolved to make films, how they blend… Continue reading Episode 68. The Artsy Archers: A Portrait of Powell and Pressburger
Returning guest Benjamin Angrisano joins Alex and Jonathan to discuss the early film collaborations between director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert DeNiro in Mean Streets (1972), Taxi Driver (1976), and Raging Bull (1980). We talk about the American New Wave, recurring themes in Scorsese's work, and DeNiro's ability to adapt to different roles. https://youtu.be/QQfcqkttOAo?si=DvtBhc3n5x8vLvEK https://open.spotify.com/episode/62J5HieIjzVbVkBsdRACn0?si=AI5gsDxZQQe1JfdNaTFlog Also on… Continue reading Episode 66. Shooting Scorsese Feat. Benjamin Angrisano
From the frost-bitten landscape of Russia, to the sand-swept dessert of Arabia, David Lean takes Alex and Jonathan across the globe today as we talk about The Bridge on the River Kwai (1959), Lawrence of Arabia (1965), and Doctor Zhivago (1965). We discuss the dichotomy of intimate character studies in grand political settings, using film technique to convey… Continue reading Episode 65. Lengthy Lean
One of the biggest names in film history is the subject of today's podcast as Alex and Jonathan discuss the ups and downs of the career of Orson Welles and look at Citizen Kane (1941), Chimes at Midnight (1965), and F for Fake (1973). We talk about the legacy of Citizen Kane, the many controversies Welles' was involved in,… Continue reading Episode 61. Wunderkind Welles
Aaron Johnson, the podcast's inaugural guest, joins Alex and Jonathan again today to discuss the parodical world of Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles (1974), Young Frankenstein (1974), and High Anxiety (1977). We talk about Brook's way of parodying different forms of film, using meta-humor, and his split love for directing and performing. https://youtu.be/l40qYhFTzO4?si=nC-a8_9Rgx5-8Vv8 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oJRfqwRHXzSB2tZYTTiQL?si=7kq8nqTvScG1AkYLobeZFw Also on iTunes Skip… Continue reading Episode 59. Bonkers Brooks Feat. Aaron Johnson
The listeners responded to our latest Twitter polls to decide what films Alex and Jonathan should discuss starring Katharine and Audrey Hepburn, and the result was two films both directed by George Cukor: The Philadelphia Story (1940), and My Fair Lady (1964). We discuss what it means to be a "woman's director," how Cukor approaches various romantic… Continue reading Episode 58. Hepburn vs. Hepburn: Round 2 – The Cukor Corner
Alex and Jonathan are entertained this week by the wide variety of genres that Ridley Scott has been able to tackle as we watch Blade Runner (1982), Gladiator (2000), and Black Hawk Down (2001). We talk about how Scott incorporates themes into blockbuster entertainment, his technical fingerprint across genres, and his continuing body of work and influence. https://youtu.be/Jt62Na5Rm9k?si=xk6a-LUumREfmce9 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XapyzvXgDo80nbtAxxvSW?si=IZIe-9UHSsuxu3gtpzDc7g Also on… Continue reading Episode 57. Scott’s Scope
Last week's Bringing Up Baby (1938) was a big influence on this week's director spotlight, Peter Bogdanovich. Alex and Jonathan take a look at his three major hits The Last Picture Show (1971), What's Up Doc? (1972), and Paper Moon (1973). We discuss Bogdanovich's early communication and friendship with the great directors of the Golden Age, creating a modern screwball… Continue reading Episode 49. Bibliographic Bogdanovich
Friend of the podcast, Hayden Chauffe, returns to talk with Alex and Jonathan about the feature film works of one of his biggest influences, Jim Henson: The Great Muppet Caper (1981), The Dark Crystal (1982), Labyrinth (1986). We talk about the history of Henson's puppet work, building fantasy worlds in miniature, and the modern use of muppets and… Continue reading Episode 45. Happy Henson Feat. Hayden Chauffe
As Halloween approaches, Alex and Jonathan return to the shadowy films of German Expressionism with Fritz Lang's Destiny (1921), M (1931), and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933). We talk about the influence of German fairy tales on German Expressionism, the introduction of sound in Lang's films, and how Lang crafts social commentary over time. https://youtu.be/6YAlBhmBPe4?si=SVftTT2Bv2_rpEHV https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Mje5t6TcoWJVT0dRZIX8P?si=NHgl9rRIQnuvDbkKijhXew Also… Continue reading Episode 42. Legendary Lang
In the first episode to circle back to the World Tour series, Alex and Jonathan give a closer look to the work of legendary Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky with the films Ivan's Childhood (1962), Solaris (1972), The Mirror (1975). We discuss how Tarkovsky uses textured images and sound to make his worlds feel true to life, approaching filmmaking with… Continue reading Episode 40. Trancing Tarkovsky
Follow us into a meticulous and colorful maze of cinema this week as we talk about the unique works of Stanley Kubrick: Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1965), The Shining (1980). We discuss Kubrick's demanding directing style, his various approaches to story adaptations, and atmospheric versus plot-centric… Continue reading Episode 39. Kinaesthetic Kubrick
Charlie Chaplin won our most recent Twitter poll about the silent film stars of Hollywood, so Alex and Jonathan take a look at three of the Tramp's most iconic appearances: The Gold Rush (1925 & 1942), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940). We talk about the universality of physical comedy, Chaplin's technical innovations, and how he… Continue reading Episode 38. Charming Chaplin
Words, words, words.–Hamlet (Act II, Scene II) Some of the most famous words in history are the basis of the films Alex and Jonathan are looking at today as we get into Kenneth Branagh's adaptations of William Shakespeare's Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), and Hamlet (1996). We talk about directing from an acting background, adapting… Continue reading Episode 37. Branagh and the Bard
Benjamin Angrisano, long-time friend of the Filmlings and Coen Brother's enthusiast, joins Alex and Jonathan to talk about some of the Coen's darker films: Blood Simple. (1984), Fargo (1996), and No Country for Old Men (2007). We talk about infusing humor into darker themes, opposing mindsets and worldviews of characters, and how ambiguity can make a film more… Continue reading Episode 36. Body Count Coen Brothers Feat. Benjamin Angrisano
Back in America after a long series abroad, Alex and Jonathan look at the life and work of all-American director Frank Capra with It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). We talk about the limitations and creativity that came from the Hays Code, innovations Capra made in directing… Continue reading Episode 34. Classic Capra
Guest Andrea Millard joins Alex and Jonathan this week to talk about the career of writer/director Nancy Meyers with Baby Boom (1987), The Parent Trap (1998), and The Intern (2015). We talk female protagonists, growing from a writer to a director, and refining development of themes over time. https://youtu.be/zFIXbsq_7-c?si=VZgm2yzlp4CJePyK https://open.spotify.com/episode/5p2FKKg2TVpci9ibYk1gAQ?si=KIOWE0AJQb22xi2-Wl1Q4Q Also on iTunes Skip to: Baby Boom (7:45), The Parent Trap (27:41), The Intern (53:47), Overall (1:17:35), Coming… Continue reading Episode 19. Maternal Meyers Feat. Andrea Millard
This has all been pre-recorded. Bringing last week's surrealism discussion into the modern day, Alex and Jonathan take a look at three films by contemporary surrealist David Lynch: Eraserhead (1977), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001). We discuss the Lynch's use of color and sound, varying degrees of surrealist influence, and atmospheric storytelling. https://youtu.be/KEX2VSgZN0E?si=7o51_oScPuCN_878 https://open.spotify.com/episode/35I65LJCuyFJEkpJOJUSOW?si=jUhKQfn7RKOzRtF1zlwlCw Also on iTunes… Continue reading Episode 18. Lying Lynch
Social conventions are broken and non-sequiturs abound in our movies this week as Alex and Jonathan discuss Luis Buñuel's L'Age d'or (1930), The Exterminating Angel (1962), and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), with Un Chien andalou (1929) thrown in for good measure. We talk the social temper tantrum of the Surrealists, scene-driven plots, and the ripple effect of… Continue reading Episode 17. Bougie Buñuel [Video]
Grab some ice cream and switch off with us this week as Alex and Jonathan talk through Edgar Wright's Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy: Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World's End (2013). We talk blending genres, what makes a "thematic trilogy," and comedy with layered dimensions. https://youtu.be/no0w-st8P1w?si=dlz_9i82y66d6GvQ https://open.spotify.com/episode/6EpcADKbhhdFs0UeKsHrgv?si=MQ8uSiNURg2lWlwAjQgzQw Also on iTunes Skip… Continue reading Episode 15. Cornetto Crash Course
Let us be your vehicle to escape your problems this week as Alex and Jonathan talk through three of John Hughes' high school films: Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). We discuss how comedy ages, use and critique of stereotypes, and unique character dynamics in a high school setting. https://youtu.be/t_5sJRhqxTQ?si=D2zwSVq6OCeIUGwX… Continue reading Episode 12. The High School Hughes
In our first exclusively animation episode, friend of the podcast Hayden Chauffe joins Alex to talk about three films by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki: My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), and The Wind Rises (2013). We discuss the unique possibilities of animation, children's entertainment that doesn't sugar coat the world, and reflection of Miyazaki's life in his… Continue reading Episode 10. Mystical Miyazaki Feat. Hayden Chauffe
Wes Anderson takes a perfectly framed center-stage this week as Alex and Jonathan talk Rushmore (1998), The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), and Moonrise Kingdom (2012). We discuss self-aware storytelling, how style can divert criticism, and the recycling of iconic art. https://youtu.be/SegPA0QxRWk?si=IxW2352l9ECaegdX https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OYVsgkQPFzcUuQvsbIQC7?si=Ew4f77vBRzywtutjZ_58ug Also on iTunes Skip to: Rushmore (6:36), The Life Aquatic (24:18), Moonrise Kingdom (43:10), Overall Notes (57:46), Coming… Continue reading Episode 9. The Whimsy and Woe of Wes Anderson
Alex and Jonathan are watching closely this week as we examine Christopher Nolan's technique and themes in Following (1998), The Prestige (2006), and Interstellar (2014). We discuss Nolan's "temporal cross-cutting" technique, obsessive characters, and how he ranks with other top directors. https://youtu.be/4hLxEDOeM4s?si=sSgqlFYvISyvcThW https://open.spotify.com/episode/1SuhQcIYhvUdQo6Wrn5RAP?si=g7Rd6pVEQ2C61Exs81nYjw Also on iTunes Resources referenced in this episode: Christopher Nolan on Following Interstellar Timeline Infographic Christopher Nolan Interview with Newsnight… Continue reading Episode 5. Nothin’ But Nolan
This week on the Filmling's podcast Alex and Jonathan watched, and rewatched, the only two films directed by Shane Carruth: Primer (2004) and Upstream Color (2013). Both films are available on Netflix so go watch them before listening. In the episode we talk about cinema that engages the full attention of the audience, narrative that implies the plot… Continue reading Episode 3. Carruth’s Cerebral Cinema
We made it to week two of the podcast. This week we talk about the Jim Jarmusch films Stranger than Paradise (1984) and Broken Flowers (2005). https://youtu.be/Hvi0pudzVVY?si=_uZJ8Xz47XQUoSKB https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FHtRE1qw7JdyGO5JtyeSr?si=yLsR7m1vT8mr4j8aj46vqg Also on iTunes Here are resources we mentioned in the podcast: Film Comment Interview with Jim Jarmusch Alfred Hitchcock Explains Kuleshov Patterson Trailer Jonathan's Twitter: @JSSatchell Alex's Twitter: @AlexGeringer Next week's films… Continue reading Episode 2. Jumping into Jarmusch
Welcome to the first episode of The Filmlings Podcast! This is a brand new auditory adventure that I am undertaking with my long-time friend Alex Geringer. This podcast will be a way for us to explore and discuss cinema in all its dimensions. Here's how it works. Each week we will be watching two or… Continue reading Episode 1. Starting with Spielberg
The Filmlings 