Exploring the intersections of cinema
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
Continuing through our exploration of WWII, Alex and Jonathan turn the focus to the civilian level in Europe and look at the dramatic films Paisan (1946), Army of Shadows (1969), and Schindler's List (1993). We discuss the uniqueness of films being made in the immediate aftermath of the war, the difference in tone between war… Continue reading Episode 104. WWII: Drama
In the third installment of our World War II series we finally get to the films showing the actual conflict across the various fronts of the war in The Great Escape (1963), Come and See (1985), and The Thin Red Line (1998). We talk about how WWII action films present the horrors of war from… Continue reading Episode 103. WWII: Action
Moving from propaganda to three stories of the decision makers in WWII, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the biopics Patton (1970), The King's Speech (2010), and Darkest Hour (2017). We talk about how each film balances the politics with the subject, the evolving style of biopics, and why biopics from WWII seem to… Continue reading Episode 102. WWII: People and Politics [Video]
Season 4 of the podcast is kicking off with a deep-dive into the cinema before, during, and after World War II. For the first installment Alex and Jonathan look at the propaganda of the war in Triumph of the Will (1935), Why We Fight: Prelude to War (1942), and Momotaro, Sacred Sailors (1945). We talk… Continue reading Episode 101. WWII: Propaganda
To end the fourth season of the show Alex and Jonathan talk about three films that relate to Christmas but might not be considered your traditional "Christmas movie:" Gremlins (1984), Lethal Weapon (1987), and Hook (1991). We talk about what really makes a Christmas movie, how formerly niche genres have slowly crept into the mainstream… Continue reading Episode 100. Not Quite Christmas
After nearly a hundred episodes, Alex and Jonathan finally get around to some of the biggest films in cinema history, specifically in the romance genre. We take a look at Gone with the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1942), and West Side Story (1961) and discuss the effect of the studio system on large budget productions, elements… Continue reading Episode 99. You’ve Probably Heard of this One Before
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
Our Patrons voted on which silent film star we should cover, so today Alex and Jonathan look into Mary Pickford's incredibly influential career in front of and behind the camera. We watch The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917), Sparrows (1926), and Coquette (1929) and discuss the "little girl" persona often portrayed by Pickford, the extent… Continue reading Episode 96. Pickford’s Power: The First Queen of Hollywood
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
Our Patrons voted recently on what film remake they'd like to hear more about so Alex and Jonathan get into the weird world of Roger Corman's sci-fi classic The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) and Frank Oz's musical remake Little Shop of Horrors (1986). We talk about the way Roger Corman mixes comedy and horror… Continue reading Episode 93. Little Shop of Remakes
The swashbuckling genre takes Alex and Jonathan from medieval England to the Caribbean to a galaxy far far away as we look at The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). We talk about the… Continue reading Episode 92. Swashbucklin’ Cinema
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
After the studio system ended in the 1960s a new era of American cinema was born known as the American New Wave. Today Alex and Jonathan take a look at three milestones of that era: Bonnie and Clyde (1967), The French Connection (1971), and The Deer Hunter (1978). We talk about how Bonnie and Clyde… Continue reading Episode 90. The American New Wave
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
Resident animaniac Aaron Johnson joins Alex and Jonathan today to talk about a very particular period in the history of Disney animation in The Black Cauldron (1985), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), and The Little Mermaid (1989). We talk about how The Black Cauldron almost killed Disney, the homages and innovations of Who Framed Roger… Continue reading Episode 87. Disney Doesn’t Die Feat. Aaron Johnson
Our Patreon family has come together to choose the topic this week, so Alex and Jonathan are looking at just that, family, in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), The Incredibles (2004), and The Road (2009). We talk about dysfunctional families, the way films help us to open up and become closer to our family, and the… Continue reading Episode 86. Family Feud [Video]
Revenge is a universal motivator and today Alex and Jonathan take a look at how it also works to create great stories in Lady Snowblood (1973), Memento (2000), and The Revenant (2015). We talk about the various conclusions about revenge in each movie, creating films that transcend gimmicks, and revenge as an "archegenre" that can… Continue reading Episode 85. Wreaking Revenge
As a follow up to last season's episode on classic film noir, Alex and Jonathan travel through the evolution of the modern subgenre of neo-noir in The Long Goodbye (1973), L.A. Confidential (1997), and Drive (2011). We discuss ways that noir themes cross over into neo-noir, the ways neo-noir uses violence, and the changing aesthetics… Continue reading Episode 84. The New Noir
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
For the first episode to focus on an actor as such, Alex and Jonathan look at three influential leading roles played by Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun (1961), A Patch of Blue (1965), and In the Heat of the Night (1967). We discuss how acting becomes highlighted in a film which is adapted from the stage, the ways that Poitier's roles reflect his own… Continue reading Episode 80. Poised Poitier
For the final installment of the Serious Series, Alex and Jonathan talk about three films of the Pink Panther comedy franchise: The Pink Panther (1963), A Shot in the Dark (1964), and The Pink Panther (2006). We discuss about how the focus of the franchise changed with the reception of the first film, the way the character of Inspector Clouseau becomes more distinct… Continue reading Episode 79. SERIOUS SERIES 4: Precocious Pink Panthers
A true giant of film history is our focus this week as Alex and Jonathan take on three films from different eras of the Godzilla franchise: Godzilla (1954), Godzilla vs. King Ghidora (1991), and Godzilla (2014) (with a special shoutout to Shin Godzilla (2016)). We talk about the post-war fears in the themes of the original film, the campy… Continue reading Episode 78. SERIOUS SERIES 3: Gargantuan Godzilla Generations
Alex and Jonathan are thrown into the madhouse world of Pierre Boulle's Planet of the Apes this week as we look at three reboots of the popular franchise: Planet of the Apes (1968), Planet of the Apes (2001), and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014). We talk about how the original series balanced spectacle and thematic weight, where the 2001 adaptation misses the mark, and how the most… Continue reading Episode 77. SERIOUS SERIES 2: Primate Planet Pandemonium
To kick off Season 3 of the podcast, Alex and Jonathan are starting a series of episodes about some of cinema's most influential and long-last film series. First up is the James Bond franchise with From Russia with Love (1963), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), and Skyfall (2012). We talk about the origins of the James Bond character, the consistent elements… Continue reading Episode 76. SERIOUS SERIES 1: Being Bond, James Bond
As the holidays approach and the second season of The Filmlings Podcast comes to an end, Alex and Jonathan take a look at three different adaptations of Charles Dickens' classic story in A Christmas Carol (1951), Scrooged (1988), and A Christmas Carol (2009). We discuss adaptations driven by performance, shock value, and graphics appeals, why each of us love different versions… Continue reading Episode 75. A Charles Carol
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]
"Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles..." This week Alex and Jonathan discuss three movies about the act and importance of storytelling: The Princess Bride (1987), Big Fish (2003), and The Fall (2006). We discuss the various ways that stories impact our lives, crafting a plot structured around a story-within-a-story, and creating a visual… Continue reading Episode 73. Tall Tales
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
Diving into maybe the darkest genre in film-history, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the moral complexity of film noir in The Maltese Falcon (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), and Touch of Evil (1958). We talk about the increasing darkness of the subject matter as the period goes on, common elements like the femme fatale, and the continuing… Continue reading Episode 71. Detectives, Dames, and Deception
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
Alex and Jonathan dive into the history and variety of robot representation in film today. Specifically we're talking about: The Terminator (1984), The Iron Giant (1999), and Ex Machina (2014). We discuss the range of robots from violent villains to compassionate characters, the transition from divinely-inspired to human-made, and how robot stories help us anticipate the future. https://youtu.be/78T6P9U2ggo?si=SX2wUJKXF_PnRWK8… Continue reading Episode 69. A Robotic Retrospective
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
The game is afoot this week as Alex and Jonathan take a look at three adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), The Sign of Four (1987), and Sherlock's "A Study in Pink" (2010). We discuss the different personality traits of Sherlock Holmes that are emphasized in each… Continue reading Episode 67. Hundreds of Holmes
The Filmlings 