The Good Robot Andys: Recent Episodes
The Good Robot Andys
A movie and tech discussion podcast featuring "clueless" Andy Balaam and "expert" Andy Cockerill.
Andy Balaam hasn't seen most of the films, but that doesn't stop him trying to guess their plot from the titles.
Andy Cockerill sets him straight, talks through the plot, and discussion ensues.
Many diversions are had, usually into discussing films that are are at best tangentially relevant.
Discussion (with spoilers) of Abigail. Andy B hasn’t seen it, but it sounds right up his street: Andy C explains it’s a fairly gruey horror comedy that is properly scary and a joy to watch.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Priscilla. Andy B genuinely thinks it’s a Disney movie, but Andy C encourages him to overcome his aversion to biopics to watch this highly engaging movie about the alarmingly young girl who was plucked from her home by Elvis and eventually married him.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of The Iron Claw. Andy B thinks it’s a sequel to The Iron Giant, and is less than enthusiastic when Andy C explains it’s ANOTHER wrestling film, this time Professional Wrestling. Andy C attempts to explain its appeal as an intense and ultimately uplifting story about someone who manages to escape an oppressive and abusive relationship, but there is devastating damage along the way. Content warning: the plot involve multiple suicides.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of The First Omen. Andy B might be tempted to think it’s not worthy of the prestigious Omen name, but Andy C says it’s surprisingly good, with a great performance from the lead actor and some very memorable gruey scenes.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of The Holdovers. Andy B thinks it’s National Lampoons for the 2020s, and he’s not 100% wrong, just maybe 98%: Andy C explains it’s a comedy drama that surprisingly won an Oscar for its old-fashioned story of someone learning to move on from bitterness to life by being forced to be in close proximity with humans.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of The Artful Dodger. AndyB falls asleep when he hears it’s a costume drama, but wakes up a little as AndyC explain it’s a genuine rollicking Disney adventure!Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
AndyB is extremely excited to introduce AndyC to Karen SandlerLinks are at https://www.artificialworlds.net/goodrobotandys/2024/04/23/s11e08-karen-sandler-on-taking-back-control-through-software-freedom-the-good-robot-andys/
AndyC asks AndyB “What is a programming language?” AndyB rambles on about some stuff, with heckling from AndyC, before they conclude that it’s really a community of people or something.That Alien: Romulus trailer is at youtube.com/watch?v=GTNMt84KT0k.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Fleishman Is in Trouble. AndyB has unexpectedly seen this, meaning the two AndyC has a co-enthuser. Both Andys loved this empathy-expanding series that starts out looking like a typical male-point-of-view wish fulfilment exercise and ends up teaching us a little empathy.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
So-called AI is constantly in the news, but Andy C wants to know whether we should stop researching it because of the risk of a Terminator-style army of killer robots. Andy B explains his belief that real intelligence is very very far away, but there is plenty to worry about in the meantime, from a overwhelming flood of spam, loss of customer service jobs, hallucinations, copyright violations all the way to the very real prospect of ordinary, non-sentient killer robots. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Evil Dead Rise. Andy B fails to get through the intro without falling apart, but Andy C rescues him to explain that this episode of the Evil Dead series captures the unhinged comedy/fear of the original The Evil Dead movie, and brings lots of fresh fun with different characters and setting. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
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Discussion (with spoilers) of Knock at the Cabin. Andy B thinks it’s an indie horror starring Angelina Jolie, but Andy B explains it’s one of the better M. Night Shyamalan movies in which four apocalyptic figures try to get a family to save the world by making an unbearable sacrifice. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of M3gan. Andy B forgets how to do the podcast completely, so doesn’t make any guess based on the title what it is, but Andy C explains it’s a fun sci-fi horror comedy about the dangers of AI and tech bros.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Living. Andy B thinks it might be a clean, New York rom-com, but it’s really a moving and brilliantly-played poignant drama featuring Bill Nighy on top form.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Audio Player00:0201:05:20Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.Podcast (mp3): Play in new window | DownloadAudio Player02:1701:05:20Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.Podcast (ogg): Play in new window | DownloadDiscussion (with spoilers) of Bodies Bodies Bodies. Andy B thinks it might be a lost 80s dance classic, but Andy C educates him: it’s a black comedy horror about some nasty people meeting nasty ends.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Barbarian. Andy B thinks it’s a conversion of the classic DOS game, which is a bit like Rambo, but Andy C explains it’s a truly unnerving horror movie with themes of sexual abuse.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Avatar: The Way of Water. The Andys are together in person again, having just returned from the IMAX cinema. They quite enjoyed it, despite it fulfilling their expectations. What they didn’t expect were the clunky switches between different shots. (They discovered later that this may have been caused by changes in frame rate.)Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of The Walking Dead, season 11 tranche 3 – the final tranche. They still love it, but Andy B felt a little disappointed with the anti-climactic ending. Andy C is largely OK with it.Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
A tech episode where Andy C questions Andy B about what Mastodon is, why you might want to go there instead of Twitter, and how to get started with choosing a server and finding people to follow.
Follow us on @goodrobotandys@mastodon.social! Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Elvis. Andy B is not really interested in Elvis but Andy C manages to persuade him that this intense biopic with amazingly charismatic musical sequences is worth putting on his list. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
A tech takeover this week with special guest Fran Buontempo talking about Cellular Automata – a cool techie toy for exploring the links between computation, complexity and life, or at the very least a sort-of interesting way of generating some moving patterns.
Those promised links:
How to code your way out of a paper bag – Fran’s book on all kinds of AI stuff Cellular automaton on Wikipedia. Also check out Conway’s Game of Life. Cellular Automata at Stanford – very in-depth CA info Wolfram’s Cellular Automata page – nice diagrams of 1-d CAs Interactive Conway’s Game of Life – Andy B’s smolpxl game Crowd Your Way Out of a Paper Bag – video of Fran’s recent talk on this stuff
Discussion (with spoilers) of Sorry to Bother You. Andy B thinks it’s a 50’s comedy with Buster Keaton, but Andy C explains it’s a surreal, political, funny sci-fi that goes straight onto Andy B’s must-watch list. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Last Night in Soho. Andy B thinks it’s an arty film with glass and candles or something, but Andy C explains it’s a surprisingly grown-up psychological horror from Edgar Wright. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion of the films of Paul Thomas Anderson. If you’re new to them, Andy C recommends starting with Boogie Nights, and recommends that Andy B should watch Punch-Drunk Love.
Those promised links:
The Last Days of August – Podcast by Jon Ronson Vim for Fun – talk by Andy B about his favourite text editor
Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of The Walking Dead Season 11 “tranche 2” (episodes 9-16). Andy B mostly rants about things he didn’t like but Andy C convinces him it was still pretty pretty good, and better than tranche 1. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Malignant. Andy B resisted the temptation to suggest it was a rollicking Disney movie, and went for a creepy horror with insects. Actually, Andy C explains, it is a relatively big film for us, which is an increasingly unhinged horror film about someone who has visions of scary things happening, which then turn out to have happened in real life.
Content warning: discussion of a film featuring domestic abuse, miscarriage and mental illness. Please make sure you are with people who can look after you if those topics are going to cause you trouble, or feel free to just skip this episode. Look after yourself; you are worth looking after. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Promising Young Woman. Andy B was convinced it was a costume drama but Andy C explains it’s a really (really) dark comedy revenge thriller.
Content warning: discussion of rape and suicide. Please make sure you are with people who can look after you if those themes are going to cause you trouble, or feel free to just skip this episode. Look after yourself; you are worth looking after. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of First Cow. Andy B yet again guesses it’s a rollicking Disney adventure, but Andy C explains it’s a pleasurable Slow Cinema ride through an authentic-feeling historical Oregon. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of Censor. Andy B thinks it’s an adult animation about two losers who go viral, but Andy C explains it’s a British psychological horrow that starts off in the real world of the BBFC offices, and ends up in a weird fantasy/exploitation movie scenario. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of In the Earth. Andy B thinks it’s a mockumentary about worms that turns supernatural, but Andy C explains it’s an excellent folk horror/psychedelic horror with foot grue and amazing sound design. And maybe it says something about our fearful and combative relationship with nature. Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque
Discussion (with spoilers) of The Matrix Resurrections. It’s hard to over-state how important The Matrix was to AndyB at an influential age – how will this episode hold up? Were there enough exploding helicopters to keep AndyC happy? Creative Commons LicenceThe Good Robot Andys podcasts and web site by Andy Balaam and Andy Cockerill are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque