Jason and the Movienauts: Recent Episodes
Jason Sacks
This time in our look at the films of Paul Schrader, Blaize and Jason get obscure and controversial.
First they look at Schrader's decidedly different Adam Interrupted, which stars Jeff Goldblum as a former popular German entertainer who is sent to a Nazi concentration camp - and the trauma that camp visits upon him. It's a very Goldblum type of performance, as the guys discuss.
Then they get to the notorious The Canyons, a kickstarter-funded LA noir starring rehabbing Lindsay Lohan and abusive porn star James Deen. It's an odd film for all those reasons, and many more which the guys argue and debate about in detail - this is one of the episodes in which the guys disagree the most.
We think this is a very interesting 100 minute (!) chat and well worth your time!
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This week Carl Smith of Becoming Valiant: A Valiant Comics Podcastjoins Jason to talk about one of the more oddball intriguing stories of comics-to-film.
You might never have heard of Valiant Comics, but it's possible that if COVID had never happened, Valiant would be a household name these days. See, their big-screen debut, Bloodshot, hit just as Coronavirus shutdowns hit the world. That means nobody ended up seeing the film and that caused the Valiant Cinematic Universe to die before it was ever born.
Carl and Jason talk Bloodshot along with a fan-produced Valiant film, and try to decide which one is better: the ultra-cheap YouTube vid or the longform, expensive Vin Diesel film from Sony.
Umm, we might have telegraphed the answer to that question, but we think you'll enjoy this episode.
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For the last two weeks on this podcast, we've been discussing David Lynch films. So what better topic to discuss to follow up on the Lynch analysis than to talk about a director whose work reminds many of Lynch? Chris joins Jason again as the guys try to make sense of Beau is Afraid, Hereditary and Midsommar - and they come up with some interesting conclusions. We think you'll enjoy this one on the day after Mother's Day as Chris and Jason dig into dysfuctional families, subjective vs objective storytelling, and the bizarre acting skills of one Joaquin Phoenix.
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Shawn and Paul join Jason once again to discuss the biggie of all the David Lynch films: Mulholland Drive. Ofte called one of the best - if not the best - film of the century - the guys attempt to examine why the film is so well loved, what the heck it's all about, and just who was lying dead in that bed anyway?
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Shawn and Paul join Jason once again to discuss the biggie of all the David Lynch films: Mulholland Drive. Often called one of the best - if not the best - film of the century - the guys attempt to examine why the film is so well loved, what the heck it's all about, and just who was lying dead in that bed anyway?
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Eric and Jason are back talking about the films of Masahiro Shinoda, this time discussing three films with bizarre emotional triangles of a sort: Our Marriage, Gonza the Spearman and The Petrified Forest.
The guys are surprised how emotionally satisfying Our Marriage is despite its brief 66-minute running length. The film captures a specific moment in Japanese history with a brilliant sort of all-encompassing eye... hopefully a listen to this pod will convince you to check out this vastly under-known film.
Which is not to say that Gonza and Forest are not excellent films. As Eric and Jason explore, they both are satisying in that particular sort of massive dark way Shinoda often delivers. Each is a fascinating, deep insight into human nature and well worth a listen and a watch.
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Blaize and Jason are now getting towards the later section of Paul Schrader's complex career. This time they get to a couple of really pretty intriguing films by him.
Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist is one of those films which has a backstory as compelling as what viewers see up on the screen. Blaize gets into all of the amazing backstory here, exploring how Schrader opted to go back to work for the studios, how his Exorcist prequel was taken away from him, and how that prequel was ultimately released.
Even with all that backstory, Dominion is a complex, fairly interesting film with a surprising amount of depth, and the guys find a lot in the fulm to make it compelling.
The Walker, Blaize and Jason agree, is kind of a lost classic. It features a fantastic performance by Woody Harrelson in an excellent character study that adroitly explores late 00s Washington DC, full of decadence and betrayal and even murder.
Both films are worth searching for and we think you'll enjoy this discussion.
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Keith and Jason have been wanting to discuss a pair of films for a long time, a pair of films which seem perfectly in dialogue with each other: Jean-Pierre Melville's brilliant Le Samouraï (1967), the story of a lone assassin, and David Fincher's great The Killer (2023), the, umm, story of a lone assassin.
Keith and Jason compare and contrast, considering which protagonist is cooler, the differerence between French and American films, and whether being an assassin for hire is an inherently corrupting job.
Lots to consider in this one!
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So Eric and Jason got to talking about Steven Spielberg's movie The Fablemans and they got to pondering... is this the finest movie ever directed by th film master? Okay, probably not, but where does it rank in his films, and what makes it so compelling? Join the guys as they discuss these interesting topics.
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Shawn and Paul are back to talk David Lynch films with Jason. This time they have a split decision on Wild at Heart and dig deep into possible meanings in Lost Highway. The Lost Highway discussion goes deep and complex, which means this is a long, wonderful listen we hope you will enjoy.
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Eric and Jason are back to continue their looks at the brilliant films of Masahiro Shinoda. This time they look at two films which present intriguing, contrasting views of childhood in wartime and post-War Japan, MacArthur's Children and Takeshi: Childhood Days. The films are a great pair for each other and for any study of Japanese post-War cinema, and we think the discussion of them makes for a great listen!
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Blaize and Jason are back to continue their look at the films of the great Paul Schrader. This time in their chronological review, they're looking at the justifiably obscure Forever Mine and the fascinating, odd, kinda brilliant Auto Focus.
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Seijun Suzuki was one of the finest directors of the Japanese New Wave. Eric and Jason thought this was a good time to look at perhaps Suzuki's most famous works, Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill, and have a great time talking about why these are such special and fantastic films.
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Eric is back, and he and Jason are in for a marathon session discussing the film work of one of the most underrated, popular directors of the 1970s - George Roy Hill. Hill is best known for his work on such smashes as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and Slap Shot, but the guys dig deep into his catalog to find a few more interesting works - can you say Funny Farm?
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Frederico Fellini's 8½ seems to have dropped off of many lists of the greatest films of all time. Is that a sign of its lack of quality or of something else? Keith and Jason discuss this amazing film and say - it's the audience and not the film because this is a brilliant, kaleidoscopic, recursive masterpiece in which the truth about people slowly seems to emerge from a structure that leaves the viewer breathless.
Join us for an hour-plus chat about one of the most transcendent films of all time!
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If there's one project David Lynch is best known for, one project that's emerged into legendary status, it has to be Twin Peaks. So Paul, Shawn and Jason take on the daunting task of looking at the show in a mere 90 minute timeslot. And yeah, despite their best efforts and despite a whole lot of great insights, it's 90 fun minutes of scratching the surface. But it's a fun listen and the guys have unique takes on the show, and we think it will add to your love of the show.
Please be sure to add your comments!
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This week Blaize and Jason continue their look at the films of the singular Paul Schader with a look at two films by him which are adapted from novels. And what opposites they are. Touch, adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel, feels listless and unfocused. But Affliction, adapted from the Russell Banks novel, continues Schrader's focused on the Lonely Man archetype, getting deep inside the heads of a family whose toxic masculinity becomes a generational trauma.
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As Eric and Jason are learning, Masahiro Shinoda is a director who delivered many sui generis works. And though his second movie, the rebel-without-a-clue Youth in Fury is pretty straightforward (though complex, for reasons we get into), Shinoda's third movie, Killers on Parade is an odd surrealistic semi-masterpiece, semi-WTF exploration of... what in particular, we're just not sure.
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Chris and Jason felt it was time to pay tribute to one of the true film masters, Fritz Lang, with a look at two of the most well-filmed and transcendent films ever made, M and Metropolis. The guys struggle at times to find the words for these films, particularly the amazing sound design of M. If you haven't seen either or both of these, they are so worth a watch before listening to our pod!
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Paul, Shawn and Jason get together again to talk about the films of David Lynch, this time chatting about perhaps the craziest pair of back-to-back releases ever to hit cinemas. Dune is a giant WTF film, and although it can be enjoyed as spectacle and a grant attempt at something great, it's a big swing and a miss. Blue Velvet, OTOH, is a perfect film - a point all three guys agree about - and so they geek out over what makes Blue Velvet so special.
"I Don't Know If You're A Detective Or A Pervert"
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Blaize and Jason are back on their Schader watchlist with movies 9 and 10 Schrader directed. And you couldn't ask for a more diverse pair of films. Light Sleeper is a potent, powerful instance of the Schrader lonely man lead, while Witch Hunt is a charming little goof of a film. But both are actually pretty great, and well worth celebrating.
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You might think there's not a ton of similarities between one of Robert Altman's earliest, most anarchic films (Brewster McCloud) and his final, magesterial film (A Prairie Home Companion ), but Jason and Eric find a surprising amount to compare and contrast in these two fascinating films.
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John Cassavettes' films are unlike the films of any other movie maker. They're raw, feel real, explore deep and complex human emotions in the way no other films do. Eric and Jason are both fans of the man's films, so they felt like it was about time for them to review a couple for this podcast. So for this week' show they reviewed Opening Night and Love Streams. Both are amazing films, featuring astounding perfomances by Gena Rowlands in films which lacerate, bruise and provide deep insight into humanity.
Join us as we dig deep into the complex contradictions of the human soul and wonder... what does it take to make an actor truly great?
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Jason's been talking with Gideon and Janice Marcus about 2001: A Space Odyssey quite a bit recently as they were part of the team covering the film for the amazing site Galactic Journey, where we cover media from 55 years ago. We figured we might as well capture some thoughts about the movie together, including some fairly controversial ideas about whether viewers have everything they need on the surface to really make sense of the film, whether HAL goes crazy or in fact is obeying his orders, and what the ultimate goals are for the monolith.
We think this is a must-listen for anyone who loves this classic film - or who loves a fun, thoughtful chat about movies in general.
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Eric and Jason love their Shinoda films, so they jump back into the filmography of the great, little-appreicated Japanese master with a look at A Flame at the Pier and The Ballad of Orin. At first glance these two films - one a noir about Japanese labor unions and the other about a traveling blind performer - have little in common. But in fact, they're both of a common type and provide a great contrast with each other. Please tune in to our latest exploration of the work of this underappreciated filmmaker.
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Eric is back with Jason to talk about the films of Japanese master Masahiro Shinoda, this time talking about Double Suicide, The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan and Sharaku. All three are good films, but one of them is a classic, one of the finest films of its era as well as a cracking good film noir. Join the guys as they debate, twist and turn these movies to get a clear view into greatness and what it means to fall short. Great or near-great, Shinoda is always worth a good talk.
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Paul and Shawn are back to start a new series with Jason. This time, fresh off of Jason attending a Lynchfest, the trio begin looking at the films of the one and only David Lynch. Join then for a 90 minute chat in which they see the DNA of many of Lynch's subsequent films in Eraserhead, and debate whether the success of Elephant Man lies in it not being Lynchian.
It's always a good conversation when these three get together, and this is no exception.
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Blaize and Jason weren't sure what to expect when they got to Patty Hearst and The Comfort of Strangers in their Schrader watchlist. So both of them were excited and suprirsed to find that these two movies were terrific films, filled with emotional and intellectual complexity that was unexpected. And beyond the fact that both star Natasha Richardson, there are many parallels to be drawn between the films, parallels which make for an interesting and insightful discussion.
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Chris is back to hang out with Jason, this time talking the films of Wong Kar Wai. And while Jason is a big WKW fan, he's shocked to learn Chris just didn't love the films the guys selected. Come join Jason and Chris as they answer the shared question... is WKW a great filmmaker or is he annoying to watch?
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Since Asteroid City is out and drawing positive reviews, Jason and Keith thought this was a good time to take a look at two other Wes Anderson films. Join the guys for a look at The Darjeeling Limited and The Grand Budapest Hotel - and hear their hot take of why Darjeeling is not-so-secretly great!
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Jason has been wanting for Michelle and Bryant to join him on the Cavlacade for a while. Finally his wish is fulfilled and the three of them come togetehr to discuss the fascinating films of Jacques Demy, with a special focus on Michelle's favorite film, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The three film fans discuss the bittersweet but beautiful nature of this and Demy's other films, and why they still are so gorgeously compelling after all these years.
It's a great conversation we hope you enjoy.
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Blaize joins Jason again for part three of their look at the films directed by the singular Paul Schrader. This time they look at the film generally considered Schrader's most ambitious film, Mishima, and one of his most forgotten films, Light of Day. Blaize and Jason discuss whether Schrader's ambitions outpace his abilities in Mishima, as well as discussing the fascinating way Schrader tells multiple stories all in one compressed narrative. And they agree that Light of Day, a generally forgotten film starring Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett as Ohio rockers with family issues, deserves to be dusted off the junk heap and reassessed as an intriguing, damning take on Reagan's America.
This is a long episode, but we get into some complex topics and we think the episode is worth the listen. Hope you do too.
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Dom and Eric join Jason again for the next episode of Kurosawa-cast, this time looking at two films he made based on Russian literature, The Lower Depths and The Idiot. Both films came out during Kurosawa's greatest period, but both don't quite match his absolute greatest achievements. Join the guys as they break down what makes these films great and the things which unfortunately hold them back. As always when these three get together, this is a great listen for any Kurosawa fan.
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Eric joins Jason to continue their look at the films of Masahiro Shinoda, this time with a different approach. We look at Shinoda's version of the classic Japanese novel Silence and compare his version with the Martin Scorcese version. This provides one of the richest, most thoughtful conversations we've ever done on Movienauts - one of those chats where we seem to get to deeper and more thoughtful levels of insight which allow us to appreciate these films even more. We think this is a good listen, even if you haven't watched either version of Silence.
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Blaise is back to talk to Jason about Paul Schrader. This time they dig into Schrader's final two mainstream Hollywood studio films, American Gigolo and Cat People. Both films caused minor sensations when they were released in the early 80s, but do they shock and delight today or do they feel dated? Well, is it fair to say both things are true? Blaise and Jasone explore the odd, contradictory elements of these films which both linger in the brain long after they are watched.
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Chris joins Jason again this week to discuss two of the greatest and most mystifying science fiction films of all time: 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris. These two films are definitively in conversation with each other, with Solaris director Andrei Tarkovsky stating he made choices in style and character which influenced the direction he took with his film. Chris and Jason dig deep into the similarities and differences, batting around questions about character, complexity and humanity in worlds created by unknowable aliens.
We think it's a good listen and hope you'll agree!
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Wrapping up the series about David Cronenberg, Paul, Shawn and Jason rank all 19 of Crnenberg's features - and have several (friendly) arguments along the way. What is the most Cronenberg of all the Cronenberg films? Find out this week!
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Eric and Jason are back looking at the cinematic work of Masahiro Shinoda with a look at three of his most mysterious and beautiful films, Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees, Himiko and Demon Pond. These complex dives into Japanese history provide the guys with fertile ground to discuss the role of nature in the Japanese tradition, female independence, and the terror of mass murder along with much, much, much more. Really, dear listener, Shinoda's films are absolutely fascinating and we hope we tap into even a small amount of what makes them so terrific.
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Blaize joins Jason to kick off a new series for Movienauts, this time looking at the films directed by the great Paul Schrader. Schrader is one of the most interesting directors ever to get behind a camera, and Blue Collar is one of the finest debut films of all time. It's a gritty, smart look at the lives of three auto workers at the end of the 1970s and has some piercingly great moments the guys discuss. Hardcore seems a little more from the heart for Schrader, a semi-autobiographical piece about a conservative, religious man whose daughter is seduced into the world of pornography, and the way the dad's investigation changes him.
Both are powerful films, and we hope you enjoy our discussions of them!
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Paul and Shawn are back with Jason to wrap up the main part of our look at all the feature films directed by David Cronenberg. Yes, we've finally reached the film that more or less prompted us to take on this effort, 2022's Crimes of the Future along with 2014's Maps to the Stars. This time we have a bit of diagreement about the films. Shawn really disliked Maps, while Jason thought it pretty spectacular on second watch... tune in to hear how that discussion goes and how they deliver a thoughtful pan to Crimes.
And the next time Shawn and Paul join Jason, we'll be doing a ranking of Cronenberg's films, so keep watching this feed...
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Eric and Jason continue their look at the films of Masahiro Shinoda, this time looking at two films, Samurai Spy and Assassination, which promise on the surface to be standard samurai films. Instead, Shinoda subverts expectations and delivers two films which veer far away from what we expect, and present smart, deeper looks at the nature of the spy art in Japan. Along the way, Shinoda and his team deliver some stunning visuals and captivating characters.
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Eric and Dom are back for the latest deep dive into Kurosawa films, this time looking at two films which might not seem like they have a lot in common but which in fact resonate deeply with each other. I Live in Fear, Kurosawa's follow-up to Severn Samurai, is perahaps the most downbeat movie of his career, a real tragedy about a deeply flawed man whose life spirals out of control when he becomes obsessed with the idea of nuclear war. Well, maybe his life spings more out of control, as we explore here. Dreams, one of Kurosawa's final films, is a chronicle of several of the film master's most interesting dreams, and contains some stunning color photography and some deeply thoughtful meditations on Japanese society as seen through his eyes.
Both movies are underrated masterpieces, and we think you'll enjoy our conversations about them.
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In the wake of Robert Downey Jr.'s beautiful film about his dad, Sr., Chris and Jason thought it was time to look at some of Robert Downey Sr.'s movies, especially his two most famous films, Greaser's Palace and Putney Swope. Chris and Jason disagree on both films, which we think makes a great listen. Hope you enjoy, and then give us feedback on what you think!
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Paul, Shawn and Jason move to two of David Cronenberg's later works, both of which show the great director's wandering eye for compelling stories and his passion for taking on all the rules of cinema, as they talk Cosmopolis and A Dangerous Method.
A Dangerous Method is the story of the friendship of Freud and Jung, its ups and downs and how that friendship changed the world in some most interesting ways. As usual, Cronenberg listens to his own muse in this one and doesn't create a traditional biopic.
Cosmopolis is Cronenberg at his most experimental, adapting Don DeLillo's famously unfilmable 2003 pseudo-postmodern novel, with Robert Pattinson as its lead character.
Come hear what the guys have to say about these brilliantly challenging films!
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All movie podcasts are obligated to discuss TÁR in 2023, but we aren't obligated to discuss the movie in the same way. Keith joins Jason for a discussion of the themes in TÁR as contrasted with the themes of Richard Rush's 1980 film The Stunt Man. Join the guys as they discuss megalomania, truth, and how much Jason and Keith both like Barbara Hershey. It's an hour of great listening which we think brings unique insights into one of this year's most discussed films.
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Masahiro Shinoda is one of the finest directors of Japan's Nouvelle Vague period, but his work is often overlooked when discussing the great filmmakers of the 1960s and '70s. Eric is a big fan of Shinoda, so he persuaded Jason to begin a look into the great man's films, starting with Pale Flower and With Beauty and Sorrow. And what a beginning it is! These two films are powerhouses, smart genre work which has a real energy and strength that makes them stand out. They are indeed overlooked masterpieces. Join the guys for 90 minutes' discussion about these overlooked gems - both of which are available on Criterion Channel.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and tell a friend!
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In the never-ending quest to cover movies nobody else discusses (and to drive down our number of downloads), Eric and Jason continue their look at the films of Robert Altman with looks at two of his hardest-to-find films, HealtH and A Wedding. Coming at the end of Altman's magical '70s, and containing his famous massive casts and deep improvisation, the guys discuss whether these films are actual classics or if they fall short of the mark, Hint: both films are worth hunting down.
Please join us for 70 minutes or so of great movie talk about one of the great directors.
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Dom, Eric and Jason continue their look at the films of the brilliant Akira Kurosawa with a look at probably his most studied film, Rashomon, and perhaps his most underrated film, The Hidden Fortress. Though Fortress is often called "merely" an adventure film, the guys discuss its surprising depth and the deep and often dark insights into the human condition which are masked inside its jolly exterior. Rashomon delivers its enigmas and mysteries, and the team discuss the film's dark insight into its era in Japanese history, the elusive question of perspective, and ponder why they didn't connect to Rashomon on an emotional level in quite the same way they have to other Kurosawa films.
It's a fun and fascinating listen we hope you will enjoy.
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Shaun and Paul are back again for the latest discussion of David Cronenberg films, this time celebrating the sublime depths of A History of Violence and Eastern Promises. Both movies read like standard action thrillers on the surface, but some quick digging revels how these films display the dark violence that lurks just below the surface of everyday life. Both films also feature the astonishing range of Viggo Mortensen, who does a brilliant job bringing Cronenberg's ideas into reality.
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Keith joins Jason and they have an awesome, spirited conversation as always, this time discussing three dead-on classics about the Old West by the movie master, Ride the High Country, The Ballad of Cable Hogue and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. The guys agree: all three films are great, deeply flawed and fascining as hell as depictions of Peckinpah's inner life, the decine of the Old West, and the ways the perception of heroism evolves and changes over time. We think it's a great listen; hope you agree.
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Eric and Jason dig back into the work of their favorite director, Robert Altman. This time they pair up two of Altman's most heroic antiheroes, Popeye and Buffalo Bill and the Indians. What do these 70s films have in common with each other? How do they celebrate or critique America's bicentennial? And are they good movies in their own right? Join us for a thoughtful and fun discussion of those and many more questions.
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Jason is a huge fan of the film Local Hero, so he suggested to Chris that their next watch should be two Bill Forsyth films: the aforementioned classic along with Gregory's Girl. Chris gave them a watch, didn't quite like them as much as Jason did, and that triggered this wonderful, fun conversation we think you will enjoy.
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Eric, Dominic and Jason delve into their earliest Kurosawa films so far with two intruging medical dramas, Drunken Angel and A Quiet Duel. The films are an interesting contrast to each other in the ways they explore the medical trade, post-WWII Japan, inner and outer corruption and the way ambitions play into characters' lives. They also represent a restive and brilliant artist beginning to find his footing in his favorite trade, and delivering some of the most beautiful scenes of his career. Please join us for an interesting 68-minute discussion of early work by a master filmmaker.
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We're now at the turn of the millennium with David Cronenberg, and also watching films which really build on Cronenberg's personal pivot from physical horrors to emotional horrors. eXistenZ, despite its odd and slightly dated title and graphics, is an intriguing look at true reality and created reality - and the fine lines between. And Spider is a deeply moving internal dialogue about mental illness. Paul, Shawn and Jason have an interesting time digging into these complex and often brilliant movies and make connections to help trace these back to some of David Cronenberg's earliest films. We think this is an interesting 79-minute listen and hope you agree.
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Eric and Jason are both huge fans of the films of Robert Altman, so they decided this was the right time to start a new series looking at some of Altman's most notable films. This week they start with the sublime McCabe and Mrs. Miller and the intriguingly flawed Thieves Like Us. Plus the guys talk about why they like Altman so much, and break down their top 5 Altman films. It's a great listen, we think, so we hope you enjoy the whole series.
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George Clooney stars in Michael Clayton and Three Kings, and Jason and Keith break down why his performances in these films are such star-making roles while also considering the complicated political politics of Three Kings and the complicated corporate politics of Michael Clayton. Also: why we like Mark Wallberg and why Tilda Swinton is one of the greatest living actors.
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Chris joins Jason again to look at two movies by a director they love, as the guys discuss "The Master" and "Licorice Pizza." Both are challenging, often unusual films which have real power. Jason and Chris dig deep into the thematic power and resonances in "The Master", finding some real power in its real-life echoes. But Jason and Chris disagree about "Licorice Pizza", the nature of its plot and of course the relationship between the two lead characters.
It's a one-hour conversation we hope is as interesting and entertaining as Anderson's films!
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Paul and Shawn are back again for the latest look at David Cronenberg films. This time they dig into his most morally complex films yet, M. Butterfly and Crash. Both films have a lot to say about gender, sexuality, fear, and the embrace of the unknown. Cronenberg tackles those ideas from radically different directions in these two films, which helps give this conversation a real spice and energy. So does our chat, so please tune in, listen and let us know what you think of our respective takes!
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Paul is back to talk with Jason about the new Hellraiser, why it's both better and worse than the original Hellraiser, and why Hellbound: Hellraiser II is one of the best horror sequels!
If you enjoyed, please rate, review and subscribe to this podcast!
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Eric and Jason wrap up their exploration of the films of Iwao Takahata with a look at his last, and possibly greatest film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya. This is an amazing, transcendent movie, and Jason and Eric enjoy digging into its greatness. It seemed appropriate to pair this film with Miyazaki's final film, The Wind Rises, and to catch the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness which details the behind-the-scenes efforts to create these films. Please join us for this fascinating exploration of the final films of two great directors.
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Eric and Dom are back to talk Kurosawa films with Jason. They dig into the excellent medical drama Red Beard, which is as much about humanity as it does about medicine, and Kagemusha, a film with beautiful cinematography but which kind of baffles our guys, with its obscure plot and confusing details.
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Paul and Shawn are back for Cronenberg-cast, and this time the guys look at two Cronenberg films, Dead Ringers and Naked Lunch, which are level-ups but also more surreal than he delivered before. As always seems to happen when they get together, Jason, Shawn and Paul find a lot to discuss in these most amazing and complicated films.
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Eric and Jason have now come to the part in their Takahata reviews where they have to wrestle with the whole question of how to think about magical raccoons and their even more magical testicles, as they discuss Pom Poko. There's a lot to say about the film, with its commitment to ecological themes, its oddly despairing tone and its suitability next to Takahata's other films, but wow, those testicles are just so strange.
Then they discuss My Neighbors the Yamadas, a kind of polar opposite film but also famously one of Studio Ghibli's few financial failures. Does the film's unique art style and quirky commitment to magical realism work for Eric and Jason? Well, they certainly have some thoughts...
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Jason is a huge fan of Charlie Kaufman movies, so when Chris suggested they should discuss I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Jason was excited. Excited, that is, until he actually watched the film and was completely baffled and annoyed. Chris talks Jason off that metaphorical ledge, then the two get into a conversation about Kaufman's other films, especially Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which is compromised Kaufman but still pretty great.
It's 42 minutes of straightforward conversation about some surreal films, and we hope you enjoy.
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Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday are probably two of Isao Takahata's best known and most acclaimed films. Eric and Jason dig deep into the films and don't just talk about how effectively they work, but also into why they seem to work so well. We think it's a fascinating 75 minute discussion and hope you agree.
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Everybody loves Akira Kurosawa's samurai films, but his films set in current day Japan also rank as some of the greatest movies ever made. This time Eric, Dom and Jason discuss two of Kurosawa's darkest, most noir films: Stray Dog and The Dead Sleep Well. The trio find these films to be fascinating, amazing works of cinematic art definitely deserving a 90 minute discussion time.
Please enjor, and if you do please rate us on iTunes, subscribe and tell your friends!
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After a movie like Videodrome, it might be fair to call The Dead Zone and The Fly commercial sellouts. But as Shawn, Paul and Jason discuss, these two films show the brilliant David Cronenberg style on full display with their fascinating plots whch reveal as much abiout human nature as they do about, well, what happens when a man fuses with a fly.
As usual, the group find a lot to discuss both in these two movies and in topics far and wide. It's a great 90 minute listen.
As always, if you enjoy, please subscribe and leave feedback on iTunes.
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Keith and Jason have never been afraid of plunging into the question of separating the art from the artist. So why not jump into that rhetorical pool again by looking at two films by cinematic master Woody Allen. Annie Hall almost seems like a rough draft of Hannah and Her Sisters, or maybe an earlier version of themes Allen would explore more fully in Hannah, as both films mine similar territory but with a different level of maturity, empathy and depth.
The guys spend 83 minutes talking about these and more films (watch Broadway Danny Rose!), and try to give some context on why they can justify watching films by a man who is so problematic.
Please do let us know how we did.
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Chris joins Jason to discuss two Alejandro Jodorowsky films, El Topo and The Dance of Reality. Both men are fascinated by the brilliant, fantastical worlds Jodorowsky creates in those films, and by the haunting images and spectacles presented by the master director.
Please join Jason and Chris for a thoughtful examination of two of the more unique movies we've discussed here on the pod!
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Eric and Jason continue their chronological exploration of Isao Takahata's feature films with a look at Gauche the Cellist and The Story of Yanagawa’s Canals. One is a short animated feature; the other is a long and fascinating documentary. Both are true Takahata creations and show many of the hallmarks of his best work.
Join them for 50 minutes of scintillating conversation about these relatively obscure works by the anime master.
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Isao Takahata is one of the two great creative forces behind the brilliant animated films of Studio Ghibli. Eric had seen a few of Takahata's films, but Jason hasn't seen any of them. So what better filmmaker to inspire a new series of podcasts than Takahata? This time Eric and Jason explore his first two standalone films, the primitive but wonderful Horus Prince of the Sun and the delightful Chie the Brat. Join the guys for 78 minutes of scintillating chat about one of the world's finest but most underrated filmmakers.
If you enjoyed this pod, please rate, review and share with your friends!
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Continuing our sequential series of reviews of David Cronenberg films, Paul Brian McCoy and Shawn Hill join Jason to discuss three films which show how rapidly the filmmaker became great: The Brood, Scanners and Videodrome, three late '70s and early '80s classics that elevate the state of filmed horror in North America. (Jason also discusses Cronenberg's non-horror film of the era, FastCo). It's 90 minutes of smart fanboy gushing about a great trio of films.
Please enjoy, and subscribe and leave feedback on iTunes!
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By 1970, Akira Kurosawa'a career had reached a low ebb. During the 1970s he only directed two movies released that decade, Dodes'ka-den and Dersou Uzala. Both films are hugely unconventional - and hugely entertaining. Join Dom, Eric and Jason as they discuss perhaps Kurosawa's most idiosyncratic masterpieces, films definitely worth a serious watch.
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Jason's been fascinated by the new HBO series Irma Vep, So Keith proposed to Jason they watch several other great Olivier Assayas films, including Personal Shopper, Summer Hours and Clouds of Sils Maria, each a more stunning work of comic art than the one that came before it. Give a listen to the guys rhapodize about some of the finest films of the millennium.
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Starting a new series here on Movienauts, Jason and Paul will be looking back at the classic filmography of the great David Cronenberg. What better place is there to start than his first two features, Shivers and Rabid. Both have classic Cronenberg hallmarks such as some delightfully bizarre body horror, but both also have a fascinating low-budget Canadian vibe that echoes other classic early '70s horror films.
It's an hour and six minutes of great conversation about a brilliant filmmaker and we hope you enjoy.
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Chris is back, this time to chat with Jason about Werner Herzog, a director Chris has been obsessed about lately. The pair start with a true Herzo classic, the breathtaking Aguirre the Wrath of God, a movie that somehow manages to give a documentary feel to a film about 16th century explorers. They thenm move over to a very different film, the classic Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans starring Nicolas Cage in a very Nic Cage performance.
Listen in and join the Herzog passion!!
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Our discussion of Akira Kurosawa classics continues as Jason, Dom and Eric discuss Yojimbo and Sanjuro, two classic samurai epics highlighted by amazing Toshiro Mifune performances. The guys have a greta conversation about the nature of heroism in these films, the ways the Mifune character is always two steps ahead, and of course the brilliant direction by Kurosawa. We think you'll enjoy this episode - please give it a listen and let us know what you think.
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Gideon and Lorelei Marcus are two of the delightful purveyors of the Hugo-nominated Galactic Journey, a site which explores the world of 55 years ago as if it was happening now. That made them ideal guests to talk about a couple of great films from the mid-60s, The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming and The Flight of the Phoenix. It's a great fun chat we're sure you'll enjoy!
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It's time to throw our reviewers credentials in the trash, because Shawn, Paul and Jason all agree the two Twilight Breaking Dawn movies are kinda... umm... pretty good? Wait, hear us out and give the episode a listen before you completely trash us please. Because we all had a great time and not in an ironic way.
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So Paul McCoy was pondering, as he often does, about the state of supernatural franchises in the world of cinema these days, and he realized the Twilight saga was a major hole in his watching. So Paul asked his friends Shawn Hill and Jason Sacks to watch the five Twilight films with him. We cover the first three films this week and will discuss the last two films next week. So in brief, what did we find this week? A hell of a lot of potential, at least.
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High and Low, directed by Akira Kurosawa, takes place in contemporary Tokyo and tells the story of the kidnapping of a young boy and the police's subsequent efforts to find and free that boy. One of the great police procedurals ever filmed, this movie draws the reader into the many levels of high and low in Tokyo, delivering a blistering take on a deeply compromised society. Eric and Jason dig deep into the astonishing filmmaking and smart decisions Kruosawa makes, look at the social satire at play in this film, and reflect on the controlled but amazing performance by Toshiro Mifune.
Please join us for a fascinating 65-minute listen. If you enjoy, please leave feedback and subscribe.
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Is Moonstruck a five star movie? Jason says "who cares" as Carl and he share their favorite lines from this essential 80s film classic. Join us this week and smile - and be sure to stick around for Jason singing like Vikki Carr... or like Oscar the Grouch.
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Keith joins Jason again and this time they're chatting about love as portrayed in a few movies. They start with the seminal Love Story from 1970, looking at its clever structure, its lovely couple and its very outdated sexual roles. A movie from 50 years ago is an interesting contrast to two 2021 films which present much more complex and nuanced views on the mysteries of human relationships, The Worst Person in the World and Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn. What do these newer, more experimental films reveal about love, and is there a majestic simplicity to the Ryan O'Neil - Ali McGraw classic that makes it worth seeing today?
Spend 70 minutes or so with Keith and Jason and hear their thoughts. And please leave feedback and subscribe.
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Larry Cohen made some brilliant and odd movies in his career, which makes him the perfect filmmaker for Jason and Chris to discuss in this episode of Movienauts. Jason fills Chris in on Cohen's career, based on the recent documentary about Cohen's life, then the guys dig into the cryptic greatness of Bone and the wacky greatness of Q: the Winged Serpant, which is kind of a gritty sideways twist on King Kong.
It's a fun episode we hope you will enjoy. If you do enjoy, please subscribe and leave us a great rating on iTunes.
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Now that Spider-Man: No Way Home is finally out on PPV, it's time to wrap up this round of the Marvelcast with a perfect wrapup. Spider-Man: No Way Home is in some ways a culmination of the Spider-Man films, with all its guest stars and its tight integration with the MCU. Jason and Carlos dig deep into the movie and find a whole lot to enjoy.
Warning: there are spoilers for this movie in the pod.
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The Batman has been getting rave reviews and is bringing people back to theatres. But is it a good watch? Paul and Shawn join Jason to explore the complexity of Matt Reeves's take on Vengeance, with a 90 minute, tangent filled conversation filled with insights, some laughs and some very smart takes.
Please note: there are spoilers in this episode!
If you enjoy the pod, please subscribe and leave a review on Apple or Google.
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Dominick Grace and Eric Hoffman join Jason for another chapter in their ongoing series looking at classic films by the great Akira Kurosawa. This time: his deeply moving and complex film Ikiru, an internal, domestic drama that reveals some astounding truths about the human condition. Join Dom, Eric and Jason for an hour-long exploration of this very special picture.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave feedback on iTunes.
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Harmony Korine has directed some of the most idiosyncratic films of recent years, so who better for Chris and Jason to talk about as they continue their conversations about filmmakers whose work goes off the beaten path. They start by talking about Gummo, which Jason didn't like on a visceral level but appreciated. Chris persuades Jason of its stronger qualities, then both of them groove over Matthew McConnaghey's stoner genius character in The Beach Bum. They also go off on a few tangents about Spring Breakers, another of Korine's uncompromising visions.
It's an hour of fascinating listening we think you will enjoy.
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Eric joins Jason again this week, and as they usually do, Eric and Jason discuss a whole set of movies by one of their favorite directors. This week Hal Ashby gets the spotlight. The guys chat about the acclaimed director of the classics Harold & Maude and Being There (along with many others), discuss how Ashby is an anomaly among classic '70s directors, Ashby's stylistic quirks, and his greatest cinematic moments.
And of course they also do an Ashby top 3, because that's inevitable for these kinds of podcasts.
It's 90 minutes of interesting discussion about an underappreciated director. Please listen and share your thoughts on iTunes or subscribe.
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In many ways, Frenzy and The Trouble with Harry are oddball Alfred Hitchcock films. In the case of Frenzy, it's an anomaly because it includes nudity and explicit violence far beyond anything Hitch ever displayed on film before. In the case of The Trouble with Harry, it's an anomaly because, well, it's a comedy-slash-pastoral piece which has at its center a very disliked dead man.
Keith and Jason look at both films to see where they are similar and different from Hitchcock's other classics, and also try to decide if they feel the stylistic quirks make the films better. Spoilers: it's complicated.
Join us for an intriguing discussion which references many other Hitch films and which ends in the inevitable top 5 lists you knew had to be coming.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate us on iTunes and subscribe!
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This past weekend I had the wonderful experience of facilitating a discussion of Robert Altman's classic Nashville with a group of my friends. 7 or 8 of us dug deep into the film, finding fascinating connections and an intriguing world in this most complex and brilliant movie. It was a treat to host the group and it's a treat to get to share this recording with you. Hope you enjoy.
If you did enjoy, please leave feedback on iTunes or your platform of choice.
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The Marvelcast continues as Jason and Carlos look at The Eternals, a controversial and mostly disliked film. The guys try to find some love for the film, but unfortunately they discover the movie lives down to its reputation. It's a quick and fun 12-minute complaint fest. Is this the worst Marvel movie? Tune in to see what Jason and Carlos say.
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Seven Samurai is famous for being one of the greatest movies ever made, but Jason was surprised (on first watch) just how fun it was, and how easy a film it was to watch. Of course, Eric and Dom knew Seven Samurai was a nearly perfect movie, so the three of them chat for about 70 scintillating minutes about why this film is so special.
We had fun recording this, and we think you'll have as much fun listening to it. If you did, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes.
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There are some definite patterns in the Marvel movies. One of them is that many films have a great setup, a mediocre middle, and a flat ending. Jason and Carlos agree that pattern fits Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 7 Rings, which starts out spectacularly, has an interesting middle, and a CGI-vs-CGI ending. But given that, is the movie worth watching? And do the fun elements overcome the boredom? Tune in to see what the guys say.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes!
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The Matrix: Resurrections is due December 22, so this seems like a good time to revisit the original Matrix trilogy to prep and to see if there are themes that will probably run from the original films into the new one. Paul McCoy and Shawn Hill join Jason to discuss the brilliance of the original Matrix, the fascinating philosophy in Reloaded and Revolutions, and some speculation about Resurrections.
It's 80 minutes of great conversation with three guys who are fascinated by these movies.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave feedback.
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Spider-Man and his amazing friends travel to Europe in the latest installment of the Spider-Man Sony/Marvel franchise. But does any of the plot make sense, and do people actually act in ways that any human would actually act? I guess you can tell from the episode title that Jason and Carlos didn't like the seemingly endless waves of dumbness included in this movie. Bummer!
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave feedback on iTunes.
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It doesn't get much better than watching one of the greatest actors in the world in two of his greatest films, so Keith and Jason loved chatting The Last Detail and Chinatown. Both movies don't just include brilliant performances by Nicholson and his supporting cast (especially the astonishing performance of Faye Dunaway in Chinatown) but also clockwork scripts by the great Robert Towne.
Join the guys as they explore what makes these movies great and why you really need to put Chinatown and The Last Detail on your watchlist..
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes!
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Carlos and Jason went into Avengers: Endgame with a sense of dread. The movie is very long, very embedded in MCU continuity, and very tangled. But you'll hear their surprise in this episode when they decide that Endgame was just about the right length, with some good character details and compelling endings to MCU subplots. Somehow, some way, this actually is a pretty good movie which has enough human moments to punctuate its tremendously long length.
Please tune in to listen to the guys discuss this movie, and if you enjoyed the chat please subscribe and leave feedback on iTunes!
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Akira Kurosawa is obviously one of the greatest filmmakers in history, but Jason hadn't seen many of the master's films. That begins to change this week as his friends Dominick Grace and Eric Hoffman join Jason for the first of a multi-part series exploring Kurosawa's classic. This week they discuss Ran and Throne of Blood, two loose Shakespeare adaptations moved to Japan. Ran is famously one of the most beautiful and bleakest films ever made, while Throne of Blood has one of the most famous endings in film history.
Whether you're a Kurosawa expert or still learning your way, we think this episode will give you a lot to think about.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes!
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Chris has been a fan of David Lynch films for a long time, but Jason is a relative newbie. So that made their first watch of Eraserhead a real treat for both of them. Spoilers: they both loved it, and they discuss that appeciation in this very interesting hour-long chat we hope you will enjoy.
If you did enjoy, please rate us on iTunes and subscribe!
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Carlos is back to chat about Marvel movies with Jason, and the next one on their list is Ant-Man and the Wasp. They both entered this watch with... well, medium hopes anyway for something fun and entertaining. Well, yeah, the movie is pretty fun but it's also lacking some real basics with logic and common sense. So join us and listen to the guys trash this movie, then you can skip it on your Marvel movie rewatch!
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It's finally happened. Jason and Carlos have arrived at Avengers: Infinity War in their Marvel movie watch. One of the longest, and absolutely the biggest downer of a Marvel movie, the guys ponder if this movie transcends its sadness with good character moments or if it is finally just too depressing to really enjoy.
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For the first time, I have two guests on Jason and the Movienauts as Paul McCoy and Shawn Hill join Jason to discuss their (relatively easy) thoughts on the 2021 Denis Villeneuve version of Dune and their (much more conflicted) thoughts on the David Lynch version of Dune. This is one of the most fun podcasts I've ever recorded, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
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Nicolas Roeg was one of the most idiosyncratic filmmakers of his generation. Today Jason and Keith look at Roeg's whole career with an emphasis on perhaps his two most popular - and still challenging films, Don't Look Now and The Man Who Fell to Earth. And they have a lot to say about the movies, with a full 90 minutes of fascinating discussion on what it means to be haunted, the existential pain of being an alien, and the horrors of gun sex. Please tune in, and subscribe!
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Jason and Carlos loved Thor Ragnarok when they first saw it, but was it indeed the best Marvel movie, as many critics have said? The guys explore that question, looking in detail at the complex world director Taika Waititi creates in this movie, a world much more complex than it seems to have on a first watch. Is it the best Marvel movie? Jason and Carlos answer that here. It's 42 minutes of some very interesting back-and-forth we think you'll enjoy.
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John Carpenter is one of the most influential and beloved directors of the 1980s and 1990s. Jason and Eric have been binging Carpenter films, including Big Trouble in Little China, Halloween and (Jason's favorite) In the Mouth of Madness. The guys chat about the hallmarks of great Carpenter flicks, the perplexing variety of Carpenter's career, and then list their top 5 favorite Carpenter films of all time. It's a slightly longer episode than usual, at around 90 minutes, but we think this is a great listen.
If you agree, please leave feedback on iTunes and subscribe!
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Dr. Strange is both an oddball entry in the MCU and a completely traditional entry. On one hand, the story takes place in odd dimensions, outside of the world most other heroes experinece, and with a complex and hard-to-grasp cosmology. On the other hand, it's an origin story through and through, a classic kind of Marvel movie.
Carlos and Jason explore the odd contradictions at the heart of this movie and decide it's really a pretty dang good film.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave feedback and subscribe!
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So Chris Wunderlich told Jason that he wanted to talk about Repo Man on the podcast, and asked Jason for a good companion movie for Repo Man. If the guys were reviewing a punk movie, it only stood to reason they should also talk about a new wave movie, so Jason selected the 1982 Australian film Starstruck. But much as the guys loved Repo Man, they also had problems with Starstruck. Those differences make for a 50 minute podcast of very interesting listening.
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Eric Hoffman joins Jason to talk about two amazing neo-noir films, Robert Altman's astounding The Long Goodbye and Wim Wenders's equally brilliant The American Friend. Eric and Jason talk nontraditional narrative, the brilliance of these two directors and some outstanding performances. It's an hour and ten minutes of fascinating listening.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave feedback on iTunes!
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Spider-Man: Homecoming got extremely good reviews on its release, but Jason is full of complaints about it. Is he just being a contrary aspiring hipster or do his points make sense? Carlos tries to sort out Jason's take on the first Spider-Man movie in the MCU. What do you think of his take?
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Chris Wunderlich again joins Jason Sacks to discuss a couple of oddball films. That's Chris's beat for Classic Comics Cavalcade, dontcha know? Today we talk about two classic Canadian oddball films, Guy Maddin's My Winnipeg and François Girard's Thirty Two Short Films About Glen Gould. Chris loves these movies and is delighted that Jason enjoyed both of these films. The guys compare notes about Canadian celebrity, what it means to create an experimental film, and how to capture the fragmented nature of someone's life on film.
It's a great hour-long conversation we think you'll enjoy. If you do enjoy it, please subscribe and leave us good feedback on iTunes!
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Keith Silva joins Jason this week to talk about two of the greatest sports movies of all time. Keith loves Slap Shot and infects Jason with his passion - and Jason finds some stealth greatness in the film as well. As for Hoosiers, well, that movie triggers an interesting debate, which we'd love to hear your opinion about. Oh yeah, and Jason sings in this episode. We're sorry.
It's an hour-twenty of great listening we think you'll enjoy. Well, maybe except for the singing.
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After loving James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy films (especially Book 2), Jason was really excited to watch Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Carlos was excited, too, but not holding his breath. And after watching this new movie, Carlos and Jason are... kind of conflicted. Kind of happy, laughing along, at the same time they're frustrated by the movie. It's an ambivalent 24 minute conversation that we think is good listening. Please let us know what you think.
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This week, Eric Hoffman leads Jason on a discussion of two classic Japanese films directed by the brilliant Kenji Mizoguchi. Sansho the Balliff is a tragic story of a wealthy family separated and the slavery they endure, while Ugetsu tells a very human war story set in the sixteenth century. Eric and Jason chat about the filmmaking style of Mizoguchi and team, their political stance in the post-War period, and the resonances that helped make these essential watches. It's a fascinating hor and fifteen minutes' listen and we hope you enjoy.
If you did enjoy this show, please subscribe and leave feedback on iTunes.
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Yeah, Carlos and Jason both spent the 30 bucks to watch Black Widow on Disney+. But they both agree the expense was worth it because they agree the movie is fun, with some clever character moments and people to root for. Way to go Disney/Marvel! Join us for 20 minutes of happy discussion!
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Long before he became beloved as the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and the forthcoming The Suicide Squad, James Gunn was just another director looking to make his way in Hollywood. Paul McCoy joins Jason to give a rundown on Gunn's history, as well as in-depth reviews of two of James Gunn's previous directoral efforts, the spooky horror film Slither and the bizarre superhero satire Super. Join the guys for an hour and fifteen minutes of interesting and fun conversation about Gunn and his unique creations.
If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and leave positive feedback on iTunes.
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The Marvelcast, our rewatching of the Marvel movies in chronological order, continues with our watch of Captain America: Civil War. Jason expected to love the movie and only kind of liked it. Carlos, on the other hand, has a hot take -- he thought it was pretty awful. Join us for 20 minutes of honest disappointment, a few laughs, and maybe a few signs of Marvel fatigue...
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Carl Smith joins Jason this week to talk about a classic piece of cinema from 1970, Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist. It's a gorgeously photographed movie with some vivid characters -- but the lead character is the least vivid of them all. Join them for an hour long chat in which they explore the complex virtues of this deeply complex film.
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Next up on the great Marvel movie rewatch is Ant-Man, a movie Carlos had never seen and which Jason barely remembered. Did they like it or hate it, or kinda fall inbetween? (Spoiler: bet in inbetween!) This pod is a 28-minute fun listen, so please listen and enjoy!
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Enemy and Under the Silver Lake are two of the oddest films of recent years, but Chris Wunderlich and Jason Sacks were up to the task of trying to make sense of them both. If you've watched them, join us for an hour of us chatting about the films and trying to figure out the puzzles of their deliberately oblique and surreal structures. It's a fun listen and an interesting exploration!
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Yeah, so Avengers: the Age of Ultron isn't the greatest Marvel film but it isn't the worst one, either. Join Carlos and Jason as they dive deep into sentient robots, complicated twins and the pointless destruction of a city in this 30 minute chat.
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Charlton Heston starred in two science fiction classics in the 1960s and '70s, Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green. Both films are deeply pessimistic about the human spirit and show the excellent actingh chops of Heston. Join Paul Moyer and Jason Sacks as they discuss these two great dystopian films that each have outstanding world-building and a surprising sort of tension.
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The Searchers and Once Upon a Time in the West are two classic westerns that are in dialog with each other. The Searchers is more subtle, a character study of John Wayne. He's utterly laconic in John Ford's classic movie, a man from the "greatest generation" whose emotions are sometimes hard to understand. That contrasts with the operatic feel of Leone's classic film, where closeups mean so much and transformation is slow but true.
Join Eric and Jason for almost 90 minutes of fascinating chat about these great films.
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Jason and Carlos knew they'd enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but they weren't ready for how much they enjoyed it. The ended up recording a 35 minute pod all about how fantastic this film was - and you should go watch it right now if you love fun.
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It's hard to find two movies more opposite movies than All That Jazz and Singin' in the Rain. But the two movies can be seen as a kind of yin and yang when it comes to movie musicals. One is light, breezy and charming while the other is heavy, dark and self-lacerating. And yet both are astonishing films, movies that deeply inspite Keith Silva and Jason Sacks. Join them for an hour and twenty minute chat about these two great films.
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Finally Jason and Carlos watch one of their favorite Marvel movies, Guardians of the Galaxy. Both of them love this fun, freewheeling superhero flick, so they trade off in a conversation about why it's so great. Join them for 24 minutes of purely pleasurable chat about a purely pleasurable film!
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Rafael Gaitan joins Jason to talk about two classic films, The Departed, starring a super cast of actors and directed by Martin Scorcese, and The Friends of Eddie Coyle, a classic 1970s crime flick starring Robert Mitchum and Peter Boyle, and directed by Peter Yates. Raf is a real film historian and does a great job of painting a fascinating picture of the world the characters of both movies are facing, pulling out small elements of each film which illuminate their greatness. It's a fascinating hour of listening!
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Paul Brian McCoy joins Jason again to talk about two more of his favrite low-budget films, Blue Ruin and The Battery. Blue Ruin is a smart, intriguing revenge tale while The Battery is a great, low-budget zombie flick. Join us for an hour-long discussion of these mvies that should be on yuour watchlist.
WARNING: There are spoilers for both movies.
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This week Jason starts out saying Captain America: the Winter Soldier is his favorite MCU film so far. But Carlos disagrees with that assertion. He feels it's just not as good as Jason thinks. Join us for 24 minutes of fun debate as well as some bashing of Robert Redford and some praise of Scarlett Johansson.
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Chris Wunderlich joins Jason this time to debate the quality of the notorious Southland Tales. Is this 2006 film the work of an auteurist genius, a crazy sprawling mess, or a mix of both? Chris loved this movie as a "perfect COVID watch, while Jason has to be presuaded of its quality. It's an hour of interesting listening about a baffling movie. We hope you enjoy!
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Is Thor: the Dark World a great movie fantasy or a weird, dull tangent in the Marvel Universe? This time Carlos liked the movie, feeling it was a fun derivate take on Lord of the Rings trilogy, while Jason thinks there's just not a lot there to latch onto. It's 28 minutes of fun argument we hope you'll enjoy!
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When Paul Moyer joins Jason to talk movies, that means it's '70s dystopia times. This time: two different sci-fi visions of the future from the mid-1970s. Rollerball seems prophetic in some ways, a deeply intriguing tale of future sports that imagines a future similar to the one we're living in now. Logan's Run, on the other hand, seems a little half-baked and poorly thought through, a clever idea contained in a movie that can't quite carry it. The discussion makes for an hour of interesting listening we hope you'll enjoy.
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Carlos hated Iron Man 3, but Jason has a hot take on the movie: it's actally not terrible. The guys argue a lot about whether Tony actually grows, if the end battle in this movie is worthwhile, and whether this is an appropriate conclusion to the Iron Man trilogy. They almost break their friendship based on this flick - or at least Carlos threatens that! Join us for a 20-minute chat that will force you to choose sides.
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Jacques Tati directed some of the most wonderfully humorous and charming comedies of all time. Eric Hoffman joins Jason to discuss Tati's short filmography and delight in Tati's meticulous attention to detail, his clashes between urbanism and tradition, and his deep influences on other filmmaking greats. This was Jason's first time watching a Tati film and he was blown away by the experience. It's an hour of great discussion we're sure you'll enjoy.
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Jason and Carlos have made it to the end of Phase 1 of the MCU as they discuss The Avengers, which stars just about everybody in an awesome special effects blockbuster. Carlos was frustrated by the sketchiness of this movie, while Jason enjoyed the spectacle of it. Come spend 28 minutes listening to Carlos grouse and Jason kinda sounds happy about this flick.
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Keith Silva joins Jason Sacks again to talk about two celebrated films about drinking. First they discuss the cult classic Withnail and I, which Jason doesn't quite get but which Keith is persuasive about. Then they discuss the Academy Award-nominated Another Round, which both agree is extraordinary and special. It's an hour-twenty of great conversation we're sure you'll enjoy!
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SPOILER WARNING for this episode!
Paul Brian McCoy joins Jason this week to talk one of Paul's favorite movies, Russ Meyer's classic from 1965, Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill!. Jason has never seen this movie before but was blown away (appropriate term!) by the great lead characters, the film's fascinating mood, and the energy of the story being told. Paul talks about some behind the scenes facts that just make this movie better than you think it is. The guys then move over to a new movie, Bad Girls, which is kind of a spiritual successor to Faster Pussycat. Directed by Christopher Bickel, this movie is a drug and sex crazed trip across a bizarrely distorted America. It's full of energy and power and both Paul and Jason loved the film. But note THERE ARE SPOILERS for both these movies.
It's an hour of great listening that we hope will encourage you to check out both these movies.
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Finally a movie we love! Thor is animated by great performances by Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, and directed with gravitas by Kenneth Branagh. Carlos and Jason agree Thor is a delight, with a smart plot that doesn't take itself too seriously, some good supporting characters, and some great godly battles. Join us for a 27-minute listen in which the guys are mostly happy for most of the show (well, alight, they do have questions about Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba and Rene Russo, but not necessarily in a bad way...)
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Daniel Elkin, editor at the outstanding indie comics website Solrad, joins Jason to discuss two fascinating recent documentaries. Weiner tells the story of the rise and fall of Anthony Weiner, a politician undone by his own lusts. Jason and Daniel debate the Jewishness of Weiner's scandal, the dichotomy between public and private personas, and whether Weiner is a tragic hero. Feels Good Man tells the story of Pepe the Frog, turned from an innocent comic character into a symbol for right-wing politics and a deep internet subculture -- a background that creator Matt Furie tries to redeem.
It's an hour of fascinating conversation we think you'll enjoy.
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Next up in our rewatch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is perhaps the low point, at least so far: The Incredible Hulk, from 2008, a film that just doesn't quite work on any level and just ends up making Carlos and Jason fewel frustrated. And just for fun, they also look at Ang Lee's Hulk, from 2003, which also doesn't work, but doesn't work in a very different way. Despite our frustration, we think this pod is a great listen so please check it out.
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This week Eric Hoffman joins Jason to talk about two 1970s films that take on the idea of a pandemic in very different ways. In George Romero's The Crazies, a virus is loose in a small Pennsylvania town that makes all its residents crazy. Jason loves the low budget, handmade feel of the film while Eric was frustrated by its amateurishness. But Eric and Jason agree on No Blade of Grass, a heavy downer of an ecological fable directed by Cornel Wilde. Whether you've seen these movies or not, we think the pod is worth a listen. And of course, there are SPOILERS aplenty!
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Welcome to week four of the Marvelcast. Every week Jason and Carlos watch a Marvel movie in chronological order by the timeframe of the film, then have a quick conversation about the movie. This week: Iron Man 2 (2010). Yow, what a POS! Hear Jason get all worked out by how stupid this movie is, and hear Carlos try to like it and (spoilers!) fail. Give this 20 minute pod a listen and let us know what you think.
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Paul Moyer joins Jason to discuss two paranoid thrillers of the 1970s. The Parallax View and All the President's Men are dark looks at America's secret, terrible underbelly. Both directed by the great Alan J. Pakula in the early '70s, these films are just as spooky and compelling today as the day they were first made. Join Jason and Paul for an intriguing 50-minute, SPOILER FILLED look at these classic movies.
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Welcome to week three of the Marvelcast. Every week Jason and Carlos watch a Marvel movie in chronological order by the timeframe of the film, then have a quick conversation about the movie. This week: Iron Man (2008). Carlos and Jason feel that the character of Tony Stark hasn't quite aged well, but that at least the scenes set in Afghanistan are interesting enough. Give this 20 minute pod a listen and let us know what you think.
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Keith Silva joins Jason again to talk about two crime classics. Point Blank is a dizzyingly intriguing and complex crime thriller, directed by John Boorman and starring Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson and Keenan Wynn, and One False Move, directed by Carl Franklin and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Cynda Williams and Bill Paxton. These are both outstanding, novelistic films which provide a fascinating contrast to each other. Keith and Jason dig into both movies and find them to be even better than they appeared at first glance. It's an hour and ten minutes of great listening.
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Welcome to part two of the Marvelcast. Every week Jason and Carlos watch a Marvel movie in chronological order by the timeframe of the film, then have a quick conversation about the movie. This week: Captain Marvel. It's kind of a controversial movie in the Marvel series. Some people love the themes of the film, and love Brie Larson's portrayal of Carol Danvers. Other hate the confusing and slow first 30 minutes and feel the structure is confusing. We kind of represent both poles of the discussion here in this 25 minute quick chat.
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Eric Hoffman joins Jason to talk about one of Alfred Hitchcock's classic films, the 1934 version of The Man Who Knew Too Much. You may be familiar with the 1950s version of this film starring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day, but the earlier movie is actually better than th remake, with more complex characters, more clever scenes and a more satisfying climax. Eric and Jason explore what makes the earlier film better as well as how it fits into Hitchcock's long career. It's a fast paced hour long conversation we think you will enjoy.
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Paul Moyer joins Jason Sacks for the first of a series of discussions of 1970s dystopian cinema. This time: George Lucas's THX-1138 and Douglas Trumbull's Silent Running. Join Jason and Paul for a thoughftul and (we think) fascinating discussion of alienation, ecological collapse, the trauma of the 1960s, and the impact of loneliness in these two fascinating films. It's an hour of so of great listening.
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Introducing a new series of shows as part of Jason and the Movienauts: the Marvelcast. Every week Jason and Carlos watch a Marvel movie in chronological order by the timeframe of the film, then have a quick conversation about the movie. This week: Captain America: the First Avenger. Neither of them had watched the movie in a few years, so it was interesting to revisit it and see the connections to the Marvel Universe. It's a tight, quick chat we think you will enjoy!
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Paul Brian McCoy joins Jason this week to talk about the amazing and mind bending films of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, including Synchronic, The Endless, Spring and Resolution. This gives them a nice opportunity to talk about the state of indie film in 2021, speculate on the work Benson & Moorhead will do in the future Moon Knight TV series, and chat a bit about WandaVision. It's 61 minutes of very interesting listening we think you'll enjo!
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Carlos Rodela joins Jason this time to talk about a terrifically fun indie action film, Willy's Wonderland, starring Nicolas Cage. We discuss the film's wacky but predictable plot, its resemblance to popular video games and speculation on just what the heck is up with Nic's character. We also discuss the price of indie downloads and the state of indie distribution in the time of COVID. It's 35 minutes of smart, interesting conversation we think you'll enjoy!
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Keith Silva joins host Jason Sacks for a fun, interesting and lively discussion of two very different yet very similar films: Klute, from 1971, directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Jane Fonda, and "She Dies Tomorrow", from 2020, directed by Amy Seimetz and starring Kate Lyn Sheil and Jane Adams. It's a great kickoff to this podcast, and we think a fascinating listen.
WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS FOR BOTH FILMS!
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