At the Flicks: Recent Episodes
At the Flicks
Come and join us At The Flicks. Three friends of a certain age who still enjoy the movies would like to share their passion with you. With the benefit of their advancing years, they are reviewing films new and old, to prove there is really nothing in cinema that hasn’t been seen before?
In episode 294 Declan, Graham and Jeff looked at what the streaming landscape could look like in the near future given all the recent amalgamations, such as Paramount and HBO. At the end of that show, Declan posed the question “what about YouTube”? The answer is this latest show. We brought that same team back together to look at the very successful phenomenon that is YouTube to examine its success, and what does it offer that other, more conventional streaming platforms do not.With the excellent timing you would expect from At The Flicks, our discussion became very topical. 2 films created by people who essentially refined their craft on YouTube, were proving to be big hitters in this Summer’s movie season. Obsession comes from writer / director Curry Barker (26 years old) and has become the most financially successful film ever to be made for less than one million dollars. Then there is Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons (20 when he made the film), another massive hit. We talk about both and how their YouTube channels contributed to their respective successes.Going beyond the YouTube content creators, we also discuss how people of all ages use the platform. From the How To videos to the finding of “lost” 70’s movies (have a guess who that person is). All of this is the fun aspect. There is the darker algorithm side, with its potential for addiction. Also covered here. Finally, we look at the possible alternatives to YouTube which are either now available or still in development.Not our usual type of show, however it’s one we think you will find interesting. Declan will return later in the year with a new Carry On Streaming in the normal format. Until then see you At The Flicks.
It’s Summer and the At The Flicks team are avoiding the heat / rain by going as often to the cinema as they can!On one of these trips, the team watched the first Star Wars film for 7 years – The Mandalorian and Grogu. This spin off from the Disney+ TV series (ok the plot outline was originally designed for season 4), has plenty of action, horrific creatures and the lovable baby Yoda or as he is better known, Grogu. They were so impressed they felt they had to talk about it.Joining Jeff and Graham for this pop-up review show is Gloucestershire reporter and Star Wars enthusiast Steve Knibbs. Being a big fan of the Star Wars universe, Steve can bring to light the nuances that our two regulars often miss (not difficult at their respective ages). However, before we talk Star Wars, Steve was asked about another event that is watched around the world – his reporting on the famous Gloucester Cheese Rolling which recently took place on Cooper’s Hill.To find out Steve’s thoughts on this landmark event and of course The Mandalorian feature film, you will have to check out this current episode. We believe this is worth your time – a half hour well spent in great company.More Summer reviews will follow when we do our usual wrap up show of the season with Phil The Bear. Expect fireworks in that one as I am sure Jeff and Phil will have different opinions on what they watch.Until then, maybe we will see you At The Flicks this Summer?Bye for now.
Welcome to a special streaming show. Of course, the usual streaming gang are all here, Declan, Graham and Jeff, however this time the content is a little bit different.Dec has his special recommendations, we wouldn’t change that and we would urge you to catch up with them. Shows like Small Prophets and Lord Of The Flies – a diverse pair, well produced by The BBC and a couple of gems from Apple. To find out what we enthuse over on that streaming channel, you will have to listen to the show. That’s our bit of mystery done!But all that is just the Appetiser. We said this was special. For this episode we are looking at the changing landscape of the streaming show. With HBO launching in the UK and the Warners / Paramount deal still dragging all on, what does it mean to you the consumer? Will it be more or less choice and, perhaps more importantly, could it cost you more for less?This fascinating and topical discussion takes in all of those questions. Now, we will admit that we recorded it over a month ago, but in reality little has changed since we spoke . Who said the streaming world moves fast?However, what really surprised us where we ended up and what had not been considered when planning the show. The rise of the short form platforms, like YouTube or TikTok. Indeed, with the success of movies like Obsession and Backrooms, it seems those platforms may, ironically, be a saviour of the cinema. That is something this same team is going to look at in another show in the near future.Until then, we look forward to seeing you, watching these YouTube inspired movies, At The FlicksBye for now
In our previous show we interviewed director Sam Pope about his latest documentary The Little Cinema In Gloucester.For this edition of the podcast Jeff and Graham bring in At The Flicks regular Declan to review the short film. As well as discussing this charming documentary, Declan also discusses the importance of independent cinema.Not much more to say other than please check out our review.See you At The Flicks
At The Flicks loves cinema. We are not just talking films here, our passion extends to the buildings (cathedrals to us), they are screened in.Last year we explored that passion in detail when contributors and friends of At The Flicks told their stories of the cinemas they remember with fondness. If you haven’t heard those episodes, please go back and check them out, you will not be disappointed.So, you can imagine our pleasure when friend of the pod, writer and director Sam Pope from Imaginary Man Productions, shared his latest short film with us. Called The Little Cinema In Gloucester, it’s a documentary celebrating the independent cinema The Sherborne based in Gloucester in the UK. A relatively recent cinema which was created by Mark Cunningham as a local alternative to the multiplexes. While it has been a tremendous boon to the community, Mark has encountered problems along the way, namely COVID and the closure of all cinemas at that time. Sam’s film examines the recover from that dire period and in particular focuses on the Summer of 2023 – when two films ruled the box office – Barbie and Oppenheimer. That pivotal moment is keenly captured here, along with interviews with Mark and some of his staff. Mark’s love of film stock over digital is something we at At The Flicks wholeheartedly support, even if it’s not practical these days.The other aspect of The Little Cinema In Gloucester that touched our heart was the nostalgic set up of the box office and the concession stand. It sounds almost like an aside, but getting your tea or coffee (reasonably priced) in a mug is such a rare treat these days!At present, this short film is on the festival circuit. We would recommend you to scan the details of your local film festivals and if The Little Cinema In Gloucester is playing, then it is well worth the effort to view – you will not be disappointed.One final comment. It is such a wonderful documentary that we encouraged one of the At The Flicks team to prepare a review for you, our listeners. That review is the subject of our next show. So if you need further encouragement to track this film down, wait until you hear what Declan has to say.That show will be coming very shortly from At The Flicks. Bye for now.
Please take a seat at our table. We trust you are hungry for both food and films because for this show both are on the menu.It’s a combination worthy of its own special Michelin star, a feast for the eyes. Yet have you ever wondered if it looks too easy on screen to be part of a kitchen preparing high quality food? It’s been a topic of conversation at At The Flicks for quite some time. So, for this episode, after much debate, we have selected for tasty offerings and ask the question, do they reflect reality? Obviously, we are not best judged to answer that question as the nearest Jeff and Graham get to fine dining is reaching the front of the queue at MacDonalds. To help in that regard, we have brought in someone with insider knowledge.Say hello to Ian Jones (remember that surname, it’s quite important in the show), a high-quality chef who will guide us through our four selections and tell us what’s right and wrong about each one. Just what are the four films I hear you cry, well, they are these - Boiling Point – A single take feature that proports to show one evening service in the life of a London restaurant (and for added value we talk about the short-lived BBC spin off series)- Burnt – Bradley Cooper plays a Gordon Ramsey style chef who is trying to overcome his destructive qualities- Chef – Jon Favreau writes, directs and stars in a movie that examines both social media and street food. A filling combination.- Who Is Killing The Great Chefs Of Europe – One from the 1970’s (Jeff’s choice of course) — a comedy murder mystery set in the world of high-end cooking – and just wait until you hear what the budget for the food was in this feature! We think these four features cover the range from tension to comedy and all show a real love for the food being offered on screen. If anyone listening to this show thinks they can prepare food as good as the chefs working in these features, then please send samples to the At The Flicks offices, we will gladly taste test them for you.Also, if you are a food lover and ever visit Stroud on a Saturday for its world-famous Farmers Market, make sure you visit Ian at the Stroud Smokehouse – his food, as we discuss on the podcast, is out of this world. That’s thumbs up from all of us.All that remains to be said is, prepare your favourite food, go to your most relaxing chair and listen to one of our finest podcast episodes (worthy of two Michelin stars on its own).Enjoy and we will see you soon At The Flicks
Just before Hollywood rolls up the red carpet for another year, the At The Flicks team steal it away for their review of the awards show.It’s like a Danny Ocean moment without any of the glamour, although Jeff and Graham are around the same age as the stars of those movies (if wider and shorter). But like all great heist movies, they bring in a reluctant member of the team. Yes, it’s Phil, brought in for his correct guessing skills as he worked out most of these awards in advance (and he tells us without cheating).Settle in for some team hijinks. Of course, if you’ve seen the recent Academy Awards ceremony, you will know that One Battle After Another was the big winner. Three awards, but only two rants from Jeff. Why only two, well, he has something positive to say about one of its award wins (hint – it’s not Sean Penn’s win). Just to be clear, the team don’t discuss all the awards, they just focus on:- Best Supporting Actress- Best Supporting Actor - Best Actress- Best Actor - Best Director- Best Film And of course as we have Jeff, there has to be a comment on the music win. That’s it – the awards season is over for another year, but you can relive the glory time and time again by playing our show on repeat! Enjoy and we will see you At The Flicks.
And so to our final show looking back at the best of 2025 (at least in our opinion).Yes, for this At The Flicks show, Graham and Jeff go head to head to reveal to you their favourite top five films of last year (at least we released it before the Oscars, although there is no chance of any of Jeff’s picks ever getting nominated for Best Film – they are all in English).Once again, no trailers or clues as to what is about to be revealed. Please check out the show and tell us what you think.We look forward to catching up with you At The Flicks, or at least what little of the year of 2026 is left!Bye for now.
We return with another of our roundups of last year. For this episode we have a very entertaining discussion about the films of 2025 with Niall Browne, the creator of Movies In Focus. Yes, Graham and Jeff are chatting with the man on the film pulse to find out what was worth seeing last year. The beauty of this conversation is, Niall goes beyond the norm (in both his film watching and his excellent interviews which you can find on moviesinfocus.com). Once again, we don’t have any links or film titles to go with these show notes. To find out Niall’s top five countdown you will have to check out the show. Our next show will be our final look back at 2025, the one where Graham and Jeff go head to head on their respective film lists.Until then, see you At The Flicks.
Continuing our review of 2025, we talk to Phil The Bear about his film choices of the year.I guess you are not too surprised to hear that Jeff and Phil got into something of a heated discussion about some of Phil’s choices. Regular listeners will probably guess which film makers cause this upset between the two contributors. However, what may surprise you is that there is one film in Phil’s top five which was also in Tessa’s (see previous show). Graham and Jeff have now promised faithfully to watch this movie. After discussing / arguing about Phil’s top five, the team then discussed what they are looking forward to seeing in 2026. Amazingly, there much agreement between Phil and Jeff – mainly because Marvel wasn’t mentioned! As before, we will give no clues as to what Phil’s top choices are – we will leave that for you to discover for yourselves. Please let us know what you think – are you team Phil or team Jeff? Another 2025 roundup from a top film critic is coming shortly.Until then, see you At The Flicks.
Today’s pick is an animated feature that was produced by an all woman team in the 1980's.Can you guess what it is yet?
The writer / director wrote this romantic Christmas comedy specially for the four leads in the movie.Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s pick could only have come from Emma At The Movies!!Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s pick became a Christmas favourite because of a copyright error.Can you guess what it is yet?
Who needs a Christmas Radio Times double issue when you have the At The Flicks carry on streaming podcast? We unleash Dec who picks the best and ignores the rest! That’s right, he tells us what we must watch and should avoid.Included in our star-studded line up this episode are the following· A new Julia Donaldson animated feature The Scarecrow’s Wedding· This year’s Ghost Story on BBC2 – The Room In The Tower· The heartwarming Finding Father Christmas on Channel 4· Amongst the films there is the excellent Michael Caine / Glenda Jackson movie The Great EscaperAnd looking further ahead· The Night Manager Season 2· Plus more TraitorsAs an added bonus, Dec will reveal his favourite five movies of 2025, and reveals the film he is most looking forward to watching in 2026.Whatever you pick to watch, have a great Christmas and may all your selections be wonderful.
Listener Frank cites this as his favourite movie sequel of all time, and unlike the first film in the series, features snow.Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s pick is acclaimed by many as the ultimate Christmas film.Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s pick includes clips from Angels With Filthy Souls.Can you guess what it is yet?
John Lasseter introduced this Japanese animated film to American audiences. While not a seasonal feature as such, it has many of the values we expect from Christmas movies.Can you guess what it is yet?
Seth Rogan and Joseph Gordon-Levitt star in this heartfelt Christmas comedy.Can you guess what it is yet?
Compliments of the season to you from the At The Flicks crew.If you are like us, then you will be watching at least one James Bond film this Christmas. Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice and Live And Let Die are choices very popular with this team. All classics.However, with James Bond somewhat cold at present and Amazon seemingly muddling through with the franchise, we have to ask the question – is the age of James Bond as we know it, over? And that is the subject of the At The Flicks Christmas lecture for this year. It’s a weighty subject, so we have to call on an expert to help address this question. Bond fan Niall Browne from Movies In Focus joins Jeff and Graham to discuss how did we get here and Amazon’s current handling of the James Bond legacy (clue, it’s not off to a good start).Of course, a screenwriter and director have been allocated to a new Bond project. We talk about both and assess if they are the right people for the job or is Amazon “front loading” with talent over ideas? Being life long James Bond aficionados, we also offer some advice on what could or should be next for the superspy – that is, we talk about what we would like to see. Also, we consider the right attributes for the next actor to play James Bond, and of course, like everyone else, we throw in some names. Some of which may be controversial.So, before you settle down with your Christmas Pud (British reference there) to watch Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig, why not give us a listen? And if you have ideas about Bond which are not being talked about, please let us know for a possible future follow up show as I am sure the James Bond story is going to change a lot during 2026.Until then, have a great Christmas. We will be back at year’s end to share our top films of the year with you.LinksGoldfinger Trailer
Today’s pick was inspired by two short films from the same director.Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s pick has a young woman searching for her brother, who is about to become Santa Clause.Can you guess what it is yet?
Todays pick is an animated film, featuring a dark alternate Santa.Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s darker seasonal selection was remade in 2006 and 2019.Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s pick went by another name when first shown on American TV.Can you guess what it is?
The director does not believe that today’s choice, a 1970 set school comedy / drama is a Christmas film (we disagree).Can you guess what it is yet?
Today’s pick explains how all the presents are delivered in one night. Can you guess what it is?
Welcome to an At The Flicks short pod. Back in October the prestigious Bath Film Festival took place. Tessa, someone closely associated with the festival, joins us to talk through some of this year’s highlights.Included in those highlights were:- A surprise guest talking about his long career. We’ll give you a clue, a couple of his films, including The Invisible Woman were shown over the 10 days.- Some wonderful retrospectives, including the original Godzilla feature- Some highly acclaimed features which should reach your local screens over the next few months, including Rose Byrne’s electric performance in If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You.All in all, another winner from Film Team Bath.Why not check out their website for yourselves and follow our recommendation of signing up for their regular and impressive newsletter.See you at the flicks where we might join you to watch some of the new recommendations in our upcoming Movie Advent Calendar
Velcome to the second part of our Dracula show.In part one we looked at the tortious route from book to screen. Now we examine the films that resulted from all that work. .The English language Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. Here we talk about:- Lugosi’s performance.- The odd journey to the UK (and why it looks speeded up)- Dwight Frye’s performance as Renfield- The censorship cuts - The director controversy- And much more Then to the Spanish language version which is 30 minutes longer. But is it better? We discuss in detail.Finally, we talk about the 1970’s revival of the original play and how that led to the Frank Langella version in 1979.So, if you are a fan of Dracula or indeed vampires, then this show is for you. Enjoy and have a very happy Halloween.
The At The Flicks team proudly present for your Halloween entertainment, a show six years in the making. In fact, it’s so big we have split the story over two podcasts.We are talking Dracula. Not just any story about Dracula, the story behind the famous Universal release in 1931.Here in part one we investigate what happened between the book’s publication in 1897 and the film going into production just over 30 years later. In part two, coming tomorrow we look at the making of the film – both the English and Spanish language versions. This will of course Jeff’s unique review of both movies (as strange and unusual as you have come to expect).Getting into the weeds of this story took a lot of time to verify the facts – especially the events leading up to the film going into production. That’s why it took 6 years to script and record (also being old we occasionally forgot what we were making, and there was sleep, much of it). As a tease, in this part, we will reveal to you:- The famous event that over shadowed Bram Stoker’s death- When Universal studios were first lobbied to make a big budget version of Dracula - How the makers of Nosferatu revealed a detail they shouldn’t have at the German premiere (and as a result were successfully sued by Stoker’s widow Florence)- The facts behind the creation of the stage play (which went on to be more inspirational on the film version than the novel)- Who first played Dracula on stage - How the Universal film actually saved Nosferatu for future generations - Who was originally considered to be the best actor to bring the character of Dracula to life (clue – it wasn’t Bela Lugosi)And much, much more….This was a great deal of fun to put together – the research proved to be very revealing.To all those who helped with the facts, both directly and indirectly, thank you very much.We hope you enjoy this labour of love from the At The Flicks team and look forward to your thoughts on both this episode and part two which follows tomorrow.Bye for now.
Hello and welcome to our spooky season. This year we have four shows for you.First up we have a short Carry On Streaming Halloween special. Short because we have one major TV streaming recommendation for you. It is It: Welcome To Derry. Yes, Pennywise is back! For the 8 part series we travel back in time to 1962 where Pennywise (once again played by the excellent Bill Skarsgard) is up to his old tricks of terrorising the town of Derry. This TV show, the first of three planned series, also includes the character of Dick Halloran who later became the chef in that other classic King tale The Shining. Don’t worry this isn’t a case of cramming in as many Stephen King references as they can into one show, Dick Halloran was actually in the original IT novel, in a very scary flashback story.Dec has high hopes for this one, and Jeff cannot wait to see it in all it’s horror glory. As for Graham, well, I’m afraid his horror leanings stop at something called Kpop Demon Hunters. No idea what that is, but I suspect it’s not going to be a sort of modern day Exorcist reboot.For those that want more horror for their Halloween, we do discuss some old favourites like Midnight Mass and some up to the minute movies like Clown In A Cornfield and Black Phone 2.Something for everyone there (even Graham). Enjoy this seasonal special and we will see you tomorrow for the next in our Halloween offering.Bye for now.
Welcome into another of our series of cinema memories. Up to now we have concentrated on contributors and guests based in the UK – which considering is where we broadcast from, is understandable. However, for this episode we venture across the pond.Yes, Graham travels to America to interview American relative Nick, who has a very interesting story to tell. Hopefully Graham did not put this trip on his At The Flicks expense account. Anyway, Nick tells us about his early cinema experiences in Michigan, his time in the Navy and how he now watches films with a young family.Along the way Nick tells us about:· The importance of video stores to his generation· The experience of watching the Star Wars prequels while in the services (an amazing story)· Watching movies on an aircraft carrier· The worst film of all time (in Nick’s opinion)And much more…So here it is, our first venture outside of the UK for cinema memories. If you have a story you want to tell about your cinema life, wherever you live, please get in contact with us, we would love to hear it.Until then, we look forward to seeing you At The Flicks.Bye for now.
Our Autumn Carry On Streaming show has finally arrived, or you may know it as Fall if you live in America! Not just a show, more life counselling guidance. Host Declan is back, giving you something to be entertained by as the nights draw in and the constant rain dampens everyone’s mood. To make this selection, Dec spent his Summer wading through hours of TV to make sure we only recommend the very best. From shows you may have missed we discuss:Dept Q Shardlake The Studio The Last Of Us Season 2And then there are the upcoming shows – the ones not to be missed this season like Alien Earth Peacemaker Season 2Mr Scorsese Welcome To DerryThe HackThat’s something for everyone there and that’s just a taster of what we discuss. And if all this isn’t enough, Dec’s Halloween streaming selection is coming very shortly.Bye for now.
And that’s a wrap – of the Summer.Which means the big blockbuster season, lasting seemingly for ever, is over for another year. However, we couldn’t let this moment pass without having our say on some of the key movies of the hot months. For this discussion we have unleashed Graham, Jeff and Phil to do the honours. Phil of course watches just about everything with the other two rather in his wake. We made sure that for the main four films included in this review, all three lads have cast their critical gaze over them.Only four films I hear you say? Look, at our combined ages getting to see even four was pushing it! But seriously, we wanted to focus on four of the hits and try to remain positive. In fact, it’s all so positive Jeff and Phil hardly disagree on this show! So what are the four films:F1: The Movie – Apple finally have a monster hit on their hands, but in amidst all the sports cliches and the stunning IMAX visuals, is it any good? Jurassic World: Rebirth – Forget the end of the last movie, a new dinosaur age is about to dawn. Are we all dinosaured out or does this movie bring fresh thrills to old fossils? Superman – The Man Of Steel is back, this time under the auspices of James Gunn and new Superman star David Corenswet. Just how does it compare to the Zack Synder films and Rochard Donner’s 70’s classic? Fantastic Four: First Steps – Speaking of Superheroes returning with new actors and a new premise. Marvel promises that this one is different – is it? And as an added bonus, Phil and Jeff discuss (spoiler free) Weapons. Needless to say Graham won’t watch it unless someone pays for his dry cleaning! Was it a great Summer? Box office takings may have been down and there may have been too many sequels or reboots, but was the all-important quality good? We will give you our answer in the show. As always please tell us what you think.For now, we are getting our notebooks out for the Fall (Autumn) season. Watch out for us scribbling At The Flicks.Bye for now.
That fooled you! Yes, yesterday’s show only covered Jo’s choices from 10 to 5. Here is the second half, where Jo tells us her favourite musical films of all time.Enjoy, and remember to check out Jo’s excellent podcast Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe.Cheers
For this episode we are joined by Jo Durrant, creator of the amazing podcast Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe (and I am not just saying that because we are frequent guests on it). Jo’s podcast deals mainly with all things science. However, those of you that listen to Jo know also she is a keen musical watcher. We thought it would be great to have Jo as a guest and talk about her favourite top ten musicals. Jo agreed, and now we have our Summer special – a fun show that’s a little different for us. It even got Graham singing along! If you know what Jo’s fantastic musical selections are, you’ll have to give the podcast a listen. To help, here are a few advance clues as to some of the films included· A film Jeff really hates (and one that has been discussed on Jo’s podcast, so has some science attached to it).· One that has never gone out of fashion or favour since its release in the 1970’s· A remake that proves a musical can raise important social points · Includes a film which again Jeff didn’t like (does he like any) but conceded he might be wrong and agreed to rewatch (check out the skies for the second coming).Do you agree with Jo’s choices? Please let us know.Enjoy and see you At The Flicks
Throughout 2025 we have been bringing you shows where people share their memories of picture palaces. We have a few more of these planned for the year, however for this show in that unofficial series we have something a little different for you.Lyn Williams is a life long film fan, and film music aficionado, who also happened to be, for many years, a cinema manager. In this podcast Lyn shares with us his love of films, some of his earliest memories in wonderful cinemas now sadly long gone, and some incredible stories of his time managing cinemas.You will be entertained by Lyn’s tales about:- Working late in a haunted cinema- How to stop a fight between rowdy patrons on a cinema stage- How he avoided serious injury when part of a building collapsed- How not to bring a generator into a cinema.- And much, much more! You may also detect another voice in the background. That is Lyn’s wife Merril, who gives some lovely pointers to make sure we stay on message. Indeed, meeting people face to face is something we don’t do that often in these days of computer teams linking. It was an absolute pleasure to meet them and thank you very much for feeding us. And as if that is not enough, Lyn, who still goes to the cinema a couple of times a week, gives us his views on some of the 2025 releases.So, if you are a listener in South Wales and you are a regular cinema goer, you well see Lyn At The Flicks.Until next time….
There is a saying that the At The Flicks management live by – it’s “better late than never”. Actually, it’s more of a reality than a motto! Take this show. We were lucky enough to get Tessa to join us to give us her views on the Academy Awards and her impressions of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival. And then what happened – we took our time in releasing it! However, it might be late, but it’s still great. It’s a show of two halves. In the first part we dissect the Oscar winners and talk about what gems from 2024 were left out or ignored. In the second half Tessa speaks about some of the impressive films she saw at the Glasgow Film Festival. Movies such as The Return, On Falling, Ebony And Ivory and the very powerful From Hilde, With Love. Check it out, we think you’ll enjoy it. Until next time, see you At The Flicks
Welcome to the latest edition of At The Flicks. Back by popular demand is another of our Carry On Streaming episodes, hosted by the very knowledgeable Declan (and his two bickering assistants Jeff and Graham).So, if you plan to spend Easter in front of the TV catching up on what you’ve missed since Christmas or looking for something new, then this is the show for you. And what an exciting line up Declan reveals.You can catch up with such recommendations as:Adolescence – As this is the show everyone from the Prime Minister down is talking about, we have to have our say.Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – A handsomely mounted BBC production – but was it underfunded?Toxic Town – Another powerful Netflix series and Jeff and Graham reveal a connection to the real story which is set in CorbyWhile coming soon:The Studio – Love movies – then this Seth Rogan show is for youThe Last Of Us Season 2 – Will it be as good as the first season?Murderbot – Graham goes on and on and on about this one – clearly he’s a fan, but will you be? Something for everyone there. Also, Declan reveals some of his movie highlights of the year so far.All that remains for us to say is have a very happy Easter. Relax and enjoy and we look forward to seeing you At The Flicks.
Welcome to At The Flicks and another in our cinema memories series. If you haven’t caught up with this series yet, check out episodes 260, where Jeff and Graham talk about their favourite picture palaces and episode 264, where Declan reminisces.For this episode we chat to another team member. This time it’s Darren. From first films, to his local cinemas and along the way there’s a very surprising revelation. Darren also takes the conversation in a fascinating direction with his memories of video stores and the wild west that was video rental in the 1980’s. We go from classics to those must-see cult movies that found a life thanks to the wonders of the now long gone video cassette.So, sit back and wallow in the nostalgia of double bill cinema features and trips to the mecca that was the video store.Enjoy.We are currently planning a show where we talk to a cinema manager from that era – coming soon as they say. Until then we look forward to seeing you At The Flicks.Bye for now.
It’s one of those shows again! Phil and Jeff meet for a review face off.Regular listeners to the show will know by now that Phil and Jeff have very different tastes in films and constantly clash on these pop up reviews. In fact we have been told it’s why some people listen to the show, to hear these two bicker! This one, true to form, will be brutal. In fact, it is The Brutalist, that epic about life in America for immigrants just after World War 2. It’s an epic in all senses, from length, to the the themes and a remarkable use of Vistavision. For once Graham hasn’t seen the film in advance. His plan, so he revealed to us, was to listen to the two very opposing views and then decide if he would watch the film or not. Who is he kidding? There is no way that Graham is going to listen to Jeff’s view, he will follow whatever Phil says. After all, we still have Graham denying Thank God It’s Friday for the masterpiece it truly is because Jeff likes it.As the two dissect The Brutalist, they cover such topics as:· The film’s length and themes· Comparing to another story of power in America – the James Dean film Giant· The performances – who stood out for whom· Daniel Blumberg’s music scoreAn epic chat for an epic film. And that’s not all! Recently all three of the team have seen Captain America: Brave New World, so we round out this show with a brief movie review. Yes, it’s the Marvel fan boys against the serious film watcher (as long as it’s not subtitled).More pop up reviews – probably pitting Phil against Jeff, are coming soon.Until then, we will see you at the flicks – and if we do, please forgive us for yelling at one another when the movie starts!
Welcome to a different At The Flicks.In this show Graham, Jeff and Phil give their predictions for the 2025 Academy Awards. Hang on I hear you say, that event is now in the past. Quite correct, and we held back on this so that you can laugh at their floundering or be amazed at how mystic they believe they were. Don’t worry, we don’t cover every award. The team talk about the top six awards – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. After that each of them talked about another award they are especially interested in. These are: Graham : Visual EffectsJeff : MusicPhil: CinematographyOf course it wouldn’t be an At The Flicks podcast without at least one bizarre rant from Jeff. There were two, but one, around the lack of representation for A Real Pain had to be removed for legal reasons. The other we will leave you to discover as the show progresses.Awards season is over for 2025 (although we have another show on the subject coming shortly) and we hope you enjoy this one.Until next time see you At The Flicks where you may well catch at least one of the team recapping the Oscar movies.Bye For Now
Welcome to the At The Flicks archive. This one is a real blast from the past! Recently Graham was rummaging around in the At The Flicks vault and fell over some old recording cans that had been left on the floor. Luckily Graham had been drinking that day, or he might have swerved passed them by and this show would still be sitting there! After swearing and moaning about his now sore leg, Graham checked the cans and realised it was an unreleased edition of our very popular Rediscovering the classic with Elijah series. It is our discussion about the classic historical epic El Cid (1961).Apart from Jeff and Graham, the team for this episode comprised, of course Elijah, and a voice we miss on the show. Neil.For those of you not familiar with the film, it stars Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren and is a bio pic about legendary Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (aka El Cid), a knight who lived in the 11th Century. Normally it is Elijah who is discovering the film for the first time. Not here, this time it’s Jeff and Graham who are seeing it with fresh eyes for the first time (although both have seen it before – don’t worry it’s all explained in the show).Other things discussed in this podcast:- Why the main stars didn’t like each other- What film director Anthony Mann got fired from just before this (and also Jeff initially getting his facts wrong)- Miklos Rozsa’s score and the use of trumpets- Herbert Lom not being politically correct - Correlation to DuneIt’s fascinating to hear the old team back together again. Who knows, there may be more life in rediscovering the classics to come.Until then bye for now and see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to an exciting show for Graham. Yes, it’s the latest from The Mel.Sadly, Mel Gibson is only behind the camera for this one, but that’s enough for Graham.For such a special event, Niall Browne from Movies In Focus joins to discuss the action thriller Flight Risk. Now most reviews have put down this exciting movie. Not here, here you will find a discussion which includes our thoughts on:- Were there religious reasons behind Mel Gibson selecting this project?- Would this work as a theatre piece? - Is this one for the fans of Downton Abbey? - Is there a Trumpian dislike of authority on show here? All of these, and many other questions you haven’t thought of are answered in this show. Niall also talks about his recent interview with Michael Polish about his film Alarum. A jammed packed and exciting show – just like Flight Risk itself! We hope you enjoy and look forward to seeing you At The Flicks Bye for now.
Welcome to an At The Flicks pop up review show.Listeners will know that the best way to annoy Jeff is to make him watch a subtitled film. And that’s exactly what we do here.While there were legitimate reasons for picking this feature, upsetting Jeff is always an added bonus. The film in question, Declan’s suggestion. Is director Hirokazu Koreeda’s follow up to Shoplifters called Monster. No, this is not a horror film (at least not in the conventional sense), it’s a powerful study of prejudice, abuse and misunderstanding. In our discussion we cover:- The Rashomon film making style employed- How the different perspectives of the characters fit together to a cohesive whole- Ryuichi Sakamoto’s wonderful music score (his final one). We use a very brief selection from it for our intro and outro music to the show.- What the ending means (so it is advisable to watch the film before listening to the show)- Why Dec believes this is a film we all should be watchingOne final comment. The film deals with domestic abuse, so it is important that you are aware of that fact before deciding to watch Monster (in part where the title comes from).If you have seen Monster please let us know what you think. As always, we are look forward to your comments.Until next time, see you At The Flicks.
Well, At The Flicks episode 260 certainly made an impression with you guys.Our reflection on the cinemas that moulded Graham and Jeff generated much comment from listeners, and we hope to bring some of those stories to your attention in the future. One listener who wanted to talk about his cinematic experiences was At The Flicks team member Declan. As a result we have devoted this whole show to him to tell us about the cinemas of his youth (starting with his sneaking in, underage, to what has now become a Christmas classic), up to his current favourite cinemas.These favourite cinemas are very special. They are independently run by people who have a love of movies and want to give that extra special something to their patrons. After all, if you have a bad experience, especially in your youth, are you more likely to go back to a movie palace? These cinemas (and see the links below for their names – please try to visit if they are local to you) do go that extra mile, from membership deals, to special seating to event movies. Dec reveals some fascinating insights into these wonderful places.As if that isn’t enough, Dec also tells us what films have impressed him so far in 2025. We are deep in awards season to thankfully superhero films are in short supply as the adults (briefly) take over. What have been your standout films of the year so far? Please let us know.If you are a regular filmgoer, I am sure we will see you, during this special time of year, At The Flicks.Bye for now.
Welcome to the second of our shows looking at key franchise films from the Summer of 2024. This episode we go all dark, scaring Graham along the way, as we discuss Alien Romulus.The team of Graham, Jeff and Phil don their spacesuits and boldly go into foreboding places to talk in hushed tones about the latest Alien film. Amongst the aspects of the film they talk about:- The original plan Disney had to make this for their streaming service - Is Fede Alvarez the right director for the job?- The controversial use of the likeness of an actor from the very first Alien film- The actor in the cast who impressed everyone in the review team- How Alien Romulus fits into the overall Alien seriesSurprisingly, the reviewers (with minor carping from one of the team and I am sure you can guess who that pedantic person is) all enjoyed the film. Sorry about that Phil’s brother!!! What did you think of Alien Romulus? Please let us know.Until the next time, see you At The Flicks
Welcome to the start of an At The Flicks double bill.Enough time has passed for us to look back sensibly (well as sensible as we can be) at the franchise films that revitalised their brand in the Summer season that was 2024. This first one and subject of this show is Deadpool & Wolverine. Here we will shock you, so be prepared. It’s like listening to something from one of those alternative dimensions. Jeff actually defends the superhero movie while Phil, with an almost Trumpian rage, wants this movie burned at the stake. Perhaps Phil has been exposed to the radiation that is Marvel films for too long and has now turned into some sort of intellectual Hulk, while Jeff is responding to Graham’s mental torture where he constantly repeats “Marvel is good, Marvel is good”! Other than taking opposite sides of an argument, here is what else you can expect in this episode:- Has Marvel over extended with this film?- Can you watch this without knowledge of other Marvel products? - Why does Phil hate Matthew Macfadyen?- Does Graham, who initially liked the film, always change his mind this often?- Where now for Marvel?So, take a chill pill, sit back, relax and enjoy the latest from At The Flicks.The second part of this Summer 2024 review is coming very shortly. Who knows the team might actually agree on that choice.Until then, see you At The Flicks
The last show in our series looking back at 2024.In this show long time contributor and friend of the Pod Phil discusses the state of cinema in 2024 and his three favourite films of the year.Long time listeners will know that Jeff and Phil have very different views on what makes a good film. This show is no different with both of them arguing about:- Civil War- Challengers- All of Us StrangersSo grab your popcorn and let battle commence!
Welcome to one of the most personal At The Flicks podcasts.It was 50 years ago, on 10th January 1975 that I, Jeff, went to a vampire double bill in my home town of Pontypridd that changed my life. Up to that point I had always had a fascination with cinema and TV (TV in the 60’s for a child was amazing, but that’s another story). However after that visit I resolved to try to once a week and learn as much about cinema as I could.50 years later I couldn’t always keep to the once a week rule, life and work sometimes got in the way, but overall was fairly successful. As for my knowledge on cinema, without blowing my own trumpet, I would say it’s pretty good. So in this podcast Graham and I reminisce about the past and that most holy of holies – the cinema buildings themselves. We talk our favourite cinemas and how things have changed over the decades. Give us a listen and please let us know your cinema memories, we would love to hear them.However this isn’t just a nostalgia kick – it’s the start of a year of celebration. We will be looking back at some of our favourite films from the 1970’s and discussing them in detail, hopefully bringing something fresh for you to hear.So settle back and join us in some very personal memories.Enjoy and we will see you to discuss these further at the flicks.
Welcome to the second At The Flicks year end show.For this edition Graham and Jeff are joined by Tessa Williams, a person far more knowledgeable on film than the two of them combined. Tessa is not only a prolific film watcher, she is also contributes to film selections for local festivals. Tessa reveals to us her favourite films of 2024 and talks about some of the upcoming movies for 2025 she is most looking forward to watching. To say any more would spoil some of the surprises in this every entertaining show, especially when Jeff talks about the 1970’s (again) and Graham reveals his dislike of horror movies (again).However the star of the show is Tessa who makes some fascinating choices.Check this out and enjoy.Our final year end show is coming very shortly.
A very Happy New Year from At The Flicks.Another year over and we are leaving 2024 in style with a discussion about the films of the year with Niall Browne, the creator of Movies In Focus. Yes, Graham and Jeff are chatting with the man on the film pulse to find out what was worth seeing in 2024. The beauty of this conversation is, Niall goes beyond the norm (in both his film watching and his excellent interviews which you can find on moviesinfocus.com). Sharp eyed listeners will also note that we don’t have any links or film titles to go with these show notes. That’s because for this and the next films of the year podcast we are keeping them as a surprise.The next one you say? Yes, we have some other people who have shared their films of the year with us and that is on a podcast coming very shortly.Check that out and for all At The Flicks listeners, we say have a great 2025 and we are sure to see you At The Flicks.
Today’s pick is an animated feature that was produced by an all woman team in the 1980's. Can you guess what it is?
The writer / director wrote this romantic Christmas comedy specially for the four leads in the movie.
Today’s pick is acclaimed by many as the ultimate Christmas film. Can you guess what it is?
In times past, the various members of the At The Flicks team would wait with excited breath for the Christmas Radio Times double issue.Not anymore. Now we have a Declan. He tells us what we must watch and should avoid. Yes, Carry On Christmas Streaming is back for 2024, so that Dec can tell you, our listeners, what is worth your time over the festive season.Included in our star-studded line up this episode are the lowdowns on the following- The new Dr Who and his Christmas Day episode- Wallace And Gromit return in a full length feature – on BBC and Netflix in the New Year- The finale of Gavin And Stacey (where Jeff relives his past) - A classic ghost story from Mark Gattis – this time based on an Edith Nesbit tale- More horror from Stephen King’s son Joe Hill- A festive tale from Sky called Bad Tidings - And many, many more Also, Dec will reveal his favourite five movies of 2024, including one that gets a very strong reaction from Jeff! Whatever you pick to watch, have a great Christmas and may all your selections be wonderful.See you At The Flicks.
Today’s pick has a young woman searching for her brother, who is about to become Santa Clause. Can you guess what it is?
“I’m too old for this…” is a line from this festive set film. Can you guess what it is?
Todays pick is an animated film, featuring a dark alternate Santa. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick went by another name when first shown on American TV. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick could have been inspired by many Christmas shopping trips. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick became a Christmas favourite because of a copyright error. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is the first film to use one of the best selling Christmas songs of all time. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is a family gathering which turns into a comic horror. Can you guess what it is?
And so our short Halloween season draws to a close. Before we return to our crypt, we have one more treat for you.Niall Browne from Movies In Focus joins us to discuss what would make his perfect Halloween triple movie bill. He selects a very diverse and entertaining trilogy of vampire films.We have - Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Terror – probably the vampire film that started it all. Niall talks about a very special screening he attended last year which featured an orchestra accompaniment - Dracula Prince Of Darkness – Hammer’s Dracula sequel which brought back Christopher Lee. Why this one out of all the canon of Hammer movies? Niall relates a very personal story as to why he made this selection.- John Carpenter’s Vampires – A film that is like a fine wine. It gets better each year. John Carpenter’s style, James Woods acting and of course Carpenter’s excellent music score. What’s not to like?All that remain for us to say is have a very happy Halloween and we will see you At The FlicksBye for now.
Recently Graham and Jeff recorded a podcast about the science fiction films of Stephen King. That podcast will shortly be available as part of Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe series – thanks Jo for inviting us to participate.One of the comments made during the recording was “you’re wrong” (frequently said to us) “Stephen King is horror not science fiction”. On such statements worlds turn. We thought it would be an interesting idea to turn the discussion 180 degrees. Are Stephen King’s science fiction stories actually horror ones in disguise? An even better idea was to turn that into a podcast for At The Flicks as part of this year’s Halloween series.That’s it, a novel way to reuse our ideas but from a different perspective.Now for the sake of clarity we would say we have not duplicated Jo’s show, this is just a subset of titles told in a very different way. We talk about the following- Carrie- The Dead Zone- Firestarter- The Running Man- The Lawnmower Man- The StandGraham and Jeff discuss each of these in turn to decide should it be classed as horror or science fiction. The result may surprise you.But what about you, faithful listener, what would you put against each of those titles – a H for Horror or S for Science. Why not set up your own table in advance and check your results against ours. Please let us know your scoring.As for us, we are now off preparing the final Halloween show, the icing on a rather dark cake. Come back soon to find out what that is.See you there or perhaps At The Flicks watching Smile 2
What’s better than one Carry On Streaming a month? You guessed it – two! Velcome to our annual Halloween Carry On Streaming special for 2024. Dec is back to tell us what’s best on the various streaming channels for this spooky channel. And being the second streaming of October it’s only fitting we release this on the second night of our Halloween specials. This year Dec’s selection is mainly scary movies (and who doesn’t love them). Netflix comes out on top with a few original movies that are well worth watching – we rate Don’t Move and Time Cut very highly indeed. Of course, it wouldn’t be Dec if he didn’t recommend at least one subtitled TV series to annoy Jeff, so this year he picks two. Of the two we think Don’t Come Home is truly terrifying. But we don’t stop at streaming – there are also a few radio recommendations for you. Danny Robins has a special Uncanny for the season and Jeff tells us a real-life ghost story connected to that show. You’ll have your light on all night after listening to that tale.Even Graham gets into the spirit and watches a horror film which he actually enjoyed (at least that what he’s telling us). We hope this helps in your Halloween planning. Come back tomorrow for another in our short Halloween season. Bye for now.
Welcome to the start of our annual Halloween season.Halloween is famous for its tricks and treats. So, for regular listeners to the show, we start off with a treat, a Phil and Jeff movie review. It’s the box office hit of the season, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which has just been released on streaming (and is still showing in cinemas if you fancy the big screen experience).Before you check out this comedy horror, why not give our spoiler free review show a listen? A note of caution, it proved to be too scary for Graham who refused to go into the cinema.As you would expect from a Jeff and Phil review, there will be extreme viewpoints, ramped up to 11, for this show. Phil believes Tim Burton is a sell out and this is just another commercial example, while Jeff calls it a 2024 masterpiece and Tim Burton’s most personal feature in years. In fact, Jeff acclaims this sequel as better than the original. Those are fighting words in some circles!Apart from talking about the film itself, the fatigued duo also discuss Tim Burton’s career. Phil continues with his sell out theme for recent years and Jeff, while praising the director, makes the startling discovery concerning which films of Mr Burton’s back catalogue he has missed.After that, all three challenge each other to come up with a triple Tim Burton movie evening for Halloween. To find out what everyone picked you’ll have to listen to the show. However, dear listener, what would your pick be – what would make the perfect Tim Burton triple bill, please let us know what your thoughts are.We hope this review starts your Halloween season with a smile. Come back tomorrow for another in our short Halloween season.Bye for now.
Our Autumn Carry On Streaming show has finally arrived! Not just a show, more life counselling guidance. Host Declan is back, giving you something to be entertained by as the nights draw in and the constant rain dampens everyone’s mood. To make this selection, Dec spent his Summer wading through the mire to make sure we only recommend the very best. Shows you may have missed from earlier in the year such as Ripley, The Gathering and Dark Matter. Or, if you are up to date, what’s hot for the season. There’s BBC’s excellent comedy drama Ludwig starring David Mitchell or the latest Slow Horses from Apple TV with Gary Oldman once again on top form. And that’s just a taster of what we discuss. How about that for a starter? And if all this isn’t enough, Dec’s Halloween streaming selection is coming very shortly.At The Flicks – we only recommend the best. See you very shortly for our spooky spectacular.
Way back in episode 220, we spoke to American novelist and journalist Jared Feldschreiber about his excellent novella Reckless Abandon.One of the strengths of the story is how it weaves real life and fictional characters together in its tapestry. One of those real-life characters who crosses the pages is legendary actor Dustin Hoffman. It is well known that Dustin Hoffman is something of a perfectionist, always looking to attaining excellence in his work, and driving others to do the same. This has led to some critics calling him difficult to work with, yet his technique has produced incredible performances in such films as Rainman, The Graduate and Midnight Cowboy. It’s also true that not everything he has done has been successful; that’s what happens when you take risk. Some of those less successful films contain some incredible Dustin Hoffman performances that are sadly not as well known as that found in his more successful work.Recently we have been talking to Jared about this very topic and collectively thought it would be interesting to create a short series of shows to highlight some of those now forgotten films and the work Dustin created for them. Our aim is to bring these movies to your attention and perhaps encourage you to give them a second chance (or even a first chance if you haven’t seen any of them before).First up and the subject of this show is Billy Bathgate. This is a 1991 feature based on the acclaimed book by E L Doctorow about the influence 30’s gangster Dutch Schultz has over a young impressionable teenage in the Bronx during that tough decade. Sadly, the feature was a box office disappointment for Touchstone pictures on first release and has been overshadowed by other more acclaimed gangster films from the same period, such as Goodfellas and Bugsy. During our discussion about Billy Bathgate we will talk about:· The production problems· Was Dustin Hoffman miscast?· Is this Shakespearean in approach?· Bruce Willis’s performance· The real Dutch Schultz· The positive qualities of the movieAnd more besides…..Have you seen Billy Bathgate? If so what did you think about the film – do you think it is worth revisiting?Please let us know.Until our next visit to Dustin Hoffman lost classics, we’ll see you At The Flicks
The At The Flicks team have often been referred to as Brats (ok, just one member in particular), so when Darren suggested we review a movie called Brats, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.It is not however our origins story. Instead, it is a documentary about the mid 80’s movie brat generation, told by one of their own. Actor turned director Andrew McCarthy (who appeared in St Elmo’s Fire and Less Than Zero), felt that the term movie brats, as coined by writer David Blum, was something of a put down. While it’s certainly true that the article that coined that term was less than flattering about that unique generation of actors, for many of us at that time, a “movie brats” movie was something to seek out and savour. For Andrew McCarthy, both the director and essentially on-screen narrator, Brats became a voyage of self-discovery as he revisited both the past and other members of the so called Brat Pack. He chats to Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore and Ally Sheedy amongst others. What emerges is a fascinating study of youthful American movies of the period coupled with a satisfying self-reflection story.As for the At The Flicks team, things we learnt in our discussion were:· The Breakfast Club and The Cotton Club are not related.· Why we believe Anthony Michael Hall wasn’t referred to· Why Molly Ringwald didn’t appear in the documentary· Why Graham and Darren hate the music video of John Parr’s song Man In Motion (Jeff on the other hand loved it)· Which one of the participants gave the most insightful reflection on the pastOh, and the team all realised they dislike the author of the original article, who is interviewed by Andrew McCarthy later in the documentary.So, if you have an interest in 80’s cinema then this is a documentary you really don’t want to miss. We all gave it a thumbs up, which means Phil wasn’t in the review group!See you for the next gonzo review show or At The Flicks Bye for now
The hot horror movie ticket this Summer has been Longlegs, a film directed by Osgood Perkins (son of Anthony), which stars Maika Munroe and Nicolas Cage. For those of you who haven’t seen it, it’s a serial killer movie (which becomes something much darker as it progresses), set in the early 1990s. Ah, I hear you say, doesn’t that sound like the Oscar winning Silence Of The Lambs? Indeed, there are some similarities. To investigate this connection further and of course review the movie, we sent in our intrepid FBI team. There’s agent Jeff, the cynical one whose seen it all before, then there’s agent Phil, certainly our Fox Mulder and finally there’s agent “let’s hide under the bed as it’s too scary”, or as we know him, Graham. Yes, Graham had decided even though this is a pop-up review show, there is no way he was going to pop up from behind the sofa to watch this! That left Phil and Jeff, who you will not be surprised to learn had very different opinions on this one (do they ever agree?). Their mission, apart from discussing the movie, was also to persuade Graham to check it out. Get out from behind that furniture and press play! As for what Phil and Jeff thought, Phil, who loves many modern horror films, loved its bold take on storytelling and scares. Jeff, who mainly can leave modern horror films, hated it. I believe his words were “all marketing and no content”. Check out our review show for two very different takes on what has proved to be a box office smash, although there was one surprising moment when they both praised an aspect of Longlegs. There was only that one brief moment of agreement After all that, do you think Phil managed to talk Graham into watching Longlegs? Check out the show to find out, but don’t be too surprised by the answer! Until the next pop-up review, coming sooner than you think. Bye for now and see you At The Flicks
It’s been a long time since we revisited the classics with Elijah (the last one was show 174 where we talked 60’s Bond). It’s way past time we returned to that fascinating series and our return is SUPER.Yes, we are talking Superman The Movie (1978) starring the late, great Christopher Reeve. A film so big we also had to bring in the talent that is Niall from Movies In Focus. Not only is Niall a fan of this film, he has previously discussed it with the film’s legendary director Richard Donner. So, we have three fans in Niall, Graham and Jeff and newbe Elijah who had never seen it before (but, in an interesting contrast, is a fan of Zack Synder’s take on the story).The scene is set for a fascinating discussion on a superhero from yesteryear.Just what will you learn listening to this podcast:- Who else was up for the role of Superman- How Brando jokingly described how he was going to play the role to Richard Donner- Who else was in the frame to write the music which has gone on to be one of John Williams most recognisable scores- Which one of the team thinks Margot Kidder is the ultimate Lois Lane (and how all the others then disagreed)- The original endings for Superman The Movie and Superman II.A podcast which like the film is big, full of fascinating points of view and facts. Even Jeff doesn’t go off on one this time!Please let us know what you think – if you enjoy it, we will bring our version of the Justice League (and Graham’s super villain) back to discuss Superman II.Until then, see you at The flicks, perhaps standing in line with Elijah for the James Gunn take on the caped crusader.Bye for now.
On previous episodes we have spoken to Phil Foster aka Phil The Bear about his fascinating series of director profiles. That’s where Phil watches all of the films linked to a major director and writes an in-depth article analysing both their career and their output. Following the article being published, we at At The Flicks then bring a small team together to discuss the work and the director in question with Phil.That approaches changes with this profile.Rather than take that holistic approach, we asked Phil to rate his top five Martin Scorsese features based on his rewatches. We wanted a top five and that’s what we got. So over six upcoming episodes we will discuss those five top selections. Wait, I hear you say, why six shows for five films? Well, after talking about the five (in reverse order) we will have our usual show to discuss the director and their career.So, who is the first director for this new format? It is the colossal talent that is Martin Scorsese, and, trust me listener, it was a tough choice to get Phil to get his favourites down to five for this series. Also, they are not obvious selections – take this first one, number five in Phil’s list – The Color Of Money.Yes, Phil has selected what many thought at the time (mid 80’s) as Scorsese sellout to commercialism movie, starring acting legend Paul Newman and up and coming new kid on the block Tom Cruise. It is also a sequel to a film (The Hustler) that was not made by him.We talk about all of that in our entertaining podcast as well as:- Who offered the project to Martin Scorsese- Female characters in his movies- If The Color Of Money can be classed as a sports film- What other roles members of this cast could have played in future Scorsese features- Was Paul Newman’s Best Actor Oscar deserved- And much morePlease come with us on our Martin Scorsese journey – and think about this, if The Color Of Money is number five, what could possibly be number four?The answer is coming in a few episodes time – until then, stay safe and we’ll see you At The Flicks.Bye for now.
Let’s start with a big thank you to you, all our listeners.The previous show, our rather explosive Challengers review, has proven to be a great download success. The confrontation between Jeff and Phil has proven so popular we have made the controversial decision to go back into our archives and expose a review we thought we couldn’t release.Asteroid City.Regular listeners know that Phil and Jeff very rarely agree, especially when a Wes Anderson film is involved. This one got so heated we thought we could not inflict it upon you. However, after the feedback we have received from our Challengers show and some extremely clever editing from Graham (resulting in a few nights without sleep), we present to you our latest review show.As you will expect, Phil is once again championing the talent that is Wes Anderson, while Jeff is fully hyped ready to attack what he calls self-indulgence. In fact, he didn’t say just use that expression, he also said ** *, words we cannot print, let alone broadcast without at least three lawsuits coming our way (one of which from team member Neil).But this one is not just the Phil and Jeff show. The whole team are here – Darren, Declan, Graham and Neil. Sometimes they can even get a word in above the shouting. Just who is for and who is against this one? Check it out, you may find it surprising when one member of the team reluctantly agrees Jeff might be right this time. I stress that word “reluctantly”.If you haven’t seen Asteroid City yet, and our review encourages you to do so, then it can be rented from most streaming channels. Please let us know your views on this one – are you team Phil or team Jeff?Coming soon is the start of a new At The Flicks series, until then see you At The Flicks
Welcome to our new format At The Flicks review show. The big change is that we now concentrate on one film per show, not five. Don’t forget, we are mainly senior citizens and reviewing five at a time was just proving too much for us in our advanced state! Especially when you factor in all the toilet breaks we have to have when watching in the cinema (except Neil who has his own catheter).Also, these shows are going to be far more random (who said, “what’s new there”?). So we are calling them pop up review shows – you never know what film we will review next – a new release, a classic or something you have never heard of or when. Some months we could have three reviews, other times none.Apart from the shows being a lot shorter, we want to do something other movie review shows don’t. We will sometimes bring in an expert on the subject matter of the movie we are discussing for their take, or we may want to emphasis some aspect that most reviewers are missing, or, and most likely, where we have very different perspectives. That last category applies to this show, our review of Challengers.Challengers. The recent film about tennis starring Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor (local lad to us). Phil and Graham loved it, Jeff hated it (nothing new there). Welcome to our own take on Challengers – Phil against Jeff (although no kissing is involved here).Please accept our apologies in not being able to pronounce the director’s name!After listening to the show, are you team Jeff or team Phil, please let us know. For those interested in Phil’s original non interrupted review, please see the link below..Finally, if anyone wants to join us for one of these pop reviews (and remember it doesn’t have to be a new release you may want to talk about), then write to us with your suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you.Until then, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to the second of our shows which discuss the James Bond films of the 1960’s – a time when the ever-innocent Neil thought Pussy Galore was a gang of catsAs a reminder back in 2020 we had a number of episodes with our American friend Elijah discussing these very Bond films. Elijah had never seen a Bond film before we started that series and it was interesting to get his perspective of a series of films that are over 50 years old. Judging from the correspondence we received, those shows were a hit with you, our listeners. To conclude that series we were going to bring in a James Bond aficionado to give us his view on those auspicious beginnings for James Bond. A big thank you to Jon Yates for his time and knowledge in the episodes which follow.In this second episode, we talk John Barry, Ken Adam and George Lazenby. We also give Jon a challenge to design his personal choice of a 60’s Sean Connery Bond film that never was.Like the films we hope our sometimes-irreverent talk amuses and entertains you.A brief word about Mr Jon Yates. Not only is he a James Bond superfan, he is also a novelist. His first novel Subliminal Roots, a murder mystery, poses the fascinating question “How can one man kill two other men in the same way in different places at the same time?” Check it out, a link for the novel is below.Also below is a link to Q The Music who provided the music you hear throughout the podcast. Q The Music are on tour again this year and well worth going to see.Thank you Jon and Warren. And to everyone else, see you on the next show or At The Flicks
Welcome to the first of a two part discussion about the James Bond films of the 1960’s – a time when Graham was young.Followers of the show may remember that back in 2020 we had a number of episodes with our American friend Elijah discussing these very Bond films. Elijah had never seen a Bond film before we started that series and it was interesting to get his perspective of a series of films that are over 50 years old. Judging from the correspondence we received, those shows were a hit with you, our listeners. To conclude that series we were going to bring in a James Bond aficionado to give us his view on those auspicious beginnings for James Bond. A big thank you to Jon Yates for his time and knowledge in the episodes which follow.In this first part of our analysis, we talk the beginnings of the James Bond franchise, Sean Connery and the wonderful ladies who became the Bond girls.Like the films we hope our sometimes-irreverent talk amuses and entertains you.A brief word about Mr Jon Yates. Not only is he a James Bond superfan, he is also a novelist. His first novel Subliminal Roots, a murder mystery, poses the fascinating question “How can one man kill two other men in the same way in different places at the same time?” Check it out, a link for the novel is below.Also below is a link to Q The Music who provided the music you hear throughout the podcast. Q The Music are on tour again this year and well worth going to see.Thank you, Jon and Warren. Come back tomorrow for the second part of our James Bond spectacular.
Welcome to the latest edition of At The Flicks. Back by popular demand is another of our Carry On Streaming episodes, hosted by the very knowledgeable Declan (and his two assistants Jeff and Graham).So, if you plan to spend Easter in front of the TV catching up on what you’ve missed since Christmas or looking for something new, then this is the show for you. And what an exciting line up Declan reveals.You can catch up with such recommendations as:Mr Bates Vs The Post Office – which Declan called out as unmissable in our Christmas show, and how right he was.Blue Eyed Samurai – an adult animated series on Netflix, and not, as Jeff says, “for the kids”.The Rise And Fall Of Boris Johnson – Relive the Conservative party glory days, with a very satisfying endingWhile coming up at Easter or just after: Dark Matter – another highly acclaimed Apple TV sci fi show The Tattooist Of Auschwitz – A powerful true story from World War IIRipley – Netflix have produced the latest screen version of Patricia Highsmith’s anti hero, this time played by the excellent Andrew Scott Something for everyone there. Also,if you want some of Declan’s famous and legal tips to get bargains from the various Streaming Services then check out episode 236, our Christmas streaming show, as many of those options still stand.All that remains for us to say is have a very happy Easter. Relax and enjoy and we look forward to seeing you At The Flicks shortly.
Welcome to the latest edition of At The Flicks – this is one where we try something different for our movie reviews.Regular listeners to the show will know that contributor Darren is a wrestling aficionado, what he doesn’t know about the sport isn’t worth knowing. As for the rest of us, you could write our knowledge on the back of a 2nd class postage stamp. The exception to that is of course Neil, who is often seen about town in a series of flamboyant costumes some of the more outlandish wrestlers would wear. However, fighting is the furthest thing from his mind when he is in his gear! I digress and apologise for the image I have now imparted. Back to the show and Darren’s challenge. He asked (well, instructed), Graham and Jeff to go watch The Iron Claw without reading anything about it beforehand. After which he could chat to us about Von Erich family and their unique story. The dynamic duo followed Darren’s instructions (not easy for this pair of overage lefties) and went to see the film “cold”.As you will find out in this intriguing review show, it was an experience for both of them, fascinating and shocking at times. Although Jeff, having not read any film news for a week to ensure he learnt nothing about The Iron Claw was annoyed when the UK certificate card, giving trigger warnings, spoilt three important plot points before the movie even started. As Jeff says, enough with the woke sign posting – we never had it in my day.Thankfully after that, and a pacifying bucket of popcorn, Jeff settled into the spirit of the viewing. We will not reveal any further details of the plot here. Suffice to say, please watch The Iron Claw before listening to this podcast. Not only do the three At The Flicks members discuss the film in detail, Darren uses his encyclopaedic knowledge to enhance the experience, such as addressing the questions What were the Von Erichs really like? What does the movie leave out? What impact did the tragedies that befell this family have on the local wrestling scene?All of these questions and many more fascinating facts are provided by Darren. So, if you are a fan of movies or wrestling, or both, then this episode is definitely for you.What do you think listeners of our new approach to reviewing movies? As always please write to let us know.Who knows, we might all meet up at the flicks for the next wrestling feature. Bye for now.
Welcome to our first “official” show of 2024 – the one where the review team look back on the year that was, picking out their personal favourites.Remarkably for such a show, most of the lists are very different. Let me elaborate by team member:- Phil – picked a list he knew would mostly annoy Jeff (and it worked)- Neil – Found his way to the cinema this year, or at least to his remote to watch his selection on streaming- Jeff – A different list to most of the others – and where no subtitles allowed- Graham – A considered list with a very left field entry included- Declan – A smorgasbord of subtitled entries- Darren – A very different list to the others (although regular listeners of Darren’s video store shows shouldn’t be surprised)How do you top that? Simple – the combined At The Flicks films of the year. This year there are 7 films in the list (because Jeff, who compiled the selection wanted to make sure he had at least one of his choices there).Regular listeners to the show should have no trouble in guessing the top film of the year as voted for by the team – but what about the runners up? Some of those may surprise or possibly anger you.Please let us know what you think of our choices. Do you think there is anything missing? As always, we look forward to your comments. Next time we finally arrive in 2024. See you there or at the flicks.
Welcome to the 2023 year end show. 2023 I hear you say, we’ve almost reached Spring 2024! And that is true. However, the At The Flicks team are like a vintage wine. We reflect on our recordings and take time with the editing – our aim is to give you the best listening experience we can create. Alternatively, being of a certain age, time moves differently for us. Think of At The Flicks as the podcast equivalent of the movie Interstellar. You remember the sequence when the crew are on the water planet and find out, when they return to the spaceship, what was minutes to them was years for everyone else. That’s us. Unfortunately, when you get to our age (especially Graham’s), time has no way of slowing back down, regardless of what measures you take. So, what we think of as the end of December, is Easter for you guys! Either of the above alternatives are better than the spurious allegations that we let life get in the way of show preparations. Baseless falsehoods put about by the younger members of the team. All we have to say in reply is, don’t worry you will start having those senior moments soon enough! Enough preamble. Let’s tell you, dear listener what is contained within this slightly delayed extravaganza.As it is the first of two year end shows (don’t worry the second will be coming very shortly, honest), we have a couple of pleasant surprises for you:1) Journalist Paul Rincon, who specialises in science and technology, is joining us to talk about the science fiction (and in one case, fact) films released during 20232) The Jeff and Phil feud over Billy Wilder vs Wes Anderson reaches new heights as they both give their views on Fedora (1978) and the Wes Anderson Netflix shorts. There was little room for Christmas or even New Year cheer in this Sunak v Starmer slugfest that gets down and dirty! The second half of the show, the At The Flicks film choices of 2023, is coming very shortly. We promise to deliver this before the end of the year (notice I am not saying which year).Until then, see you At The Flicks
Once again, your At The Flicks team bravely go where no other podcasters dare to follow. For this mission we take on that mightiest of topics – the history of the DISCO MOVIE! Yes, Jeff and Graham are in their element talking once again about the 1970’s. This time they have brought a friend. BBC reporter and disco expert Steve Knibbs.You may well ask how did the team prepare for this one? Graham puts on his 70’s disco suit once again (that’s the decade and not his age), Jeff waxes lyrical about his favourite Thank God It’s Friday (he tells anyone who listens that it won an Oscar) and Steve adds some fascinating facts plus amusing stories about the music.Apart from a burning desire to get out the Saturday Night Fever album for an urgent relisten, this show will tell you :- Which film was considered the first disco movie, but only in retrospect- The reality of the story that inspired Saturday Night Fever- The forgotten film in John Travolta’s early career- What sport took disco to its heart The team also discuss what happened to the disco movie once the craze was over. What films since have been inspired by the life and times of the music? As you can guess, this is a comprehensive chat which we hope is as much fun for you to listen to, as it was for us to record.So, put on your boogie shoes, stop jive talking and prepare to catch some night fever.We’ll see you at the disco or At The Flicks
Today’s pick is an animated feature that was produced by an all woman team in the 1980's. Can you guess what it is?
he writer / director wrote this romantic Christmas comedy specially for the four leads in the movie.
Welcome back dear customers, it’s time to reopen Darren’s virtual video store.If you put on the special headset we have provided, you can marvel at the 1980’s decadence of sticky carpets, dodgy cardboard displays and video tapes that have not been rewound (and we as employees – at 1980’s pay rates – hate that). Walk up to the counter and ask if we have any video nasties under the counter. Once we have confirmed you are not special branch, we’ll be glad to help you. After all, we haven’t paid the fine for the last infringement and Darren is refusing to do anymore orders of community service. In his view keeping the shop open is doing his bit for the community, even if his rental charges are a little above the norm.Anyway, we can’t stand around here chatting to you all day, we have to push our product on the punters (sorry, I mean customers), or Darren will dock our meagre wages. So, if you would care to step over this way, we can reveal to you some of our top rentals this month, all come with Darren’s seal of approval- In the musical section we have Greatest Days, a very moving film featuring the songs of Take That. Darren says this will bring a tear to your eye. - Step over to the Foreign Language section, an area of the store not well travelled in these parts, where you will find almost unrented tapes for The Three Musketeers : D’Artagnan and the violent actioner Sissu. There isn’t much dialogue in the latter so that is starting to shoot up our violent rental charts.- Perhaps the horror section is more to your liking – it’s the one area of the store Graham fears to go. Here you will find Becky. No, she’s not a YTS employee, instead a teenager out for vengeance after her family are kidnapped. Actually, she could well be a local YTS trainee in this area. - As a more discerning customer we can offer you access to our under the counter section. Here we have the comedy Rosaline. Withdrawn by our competitors, Neil’s Video Boutique, because of copyright infringement. We have a few copies which weren’t returned to the distributor and are well worth checking out.- There is also a TV section where you will find a very impressive documentary called Muscles And Mayhem, which lifts the lid on the scandals associated with an old American TV series.There you have it – something for everyone.What’s that? You want to see the manager. Sorry not possible today as he is back in court defending the business after the heavy-lidded returns slot went wrong, again. I don’t see what the fuss is about – surgery these days mean most limbs can be reattached with little unsightly scarring! I hope you enjoy your visit to Darren’s video store. If we don’t see you here, we hope to see you At The Flicks.
Today’s pick is acclaimed by many as the ultimate Christmas film. Can you guess what it is?
In times past, the various members of the At The Flicks team would wait with excited breath for the Christmas Radio Times double issue.Not anymore. Now we have a Declan. He tells us what we must watch and should avoid. Yes, Carry On Christmas Streaming is back for 2023, so that Dec can tell you, our listeners, what is worth your time over the festive season. Included in our star-studded line up this episode are the lowdowns on the following- The new Dr Who and his Christmas Day episode- A double bill of animated cat shorts – one on BBC , the other on Channel 4- More from Jack Reacher, Slow Horses and The Crown- A classic ghost story from the pen of Arthur Conan Doyle - A new true life drama starring Toby Jones about the Post Office scandal.- And many, many more Also, Dec will reveal to you ways to get some great (and legal) bargains for streaming services membership. Look on that as a Christmas present from the At The Flicks team to you. Of course, that is only available for listeners in the United Kingdom.Whatever you pick to watch, have a great Christmas and may all your selections be wonderful.See you At The Flicks.
Today’s pick was inspired by two short films from the same director. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick has a young woman searching for her brother, who is about to become Santa Claus. Can you guess what it is?
Todays pick is an animated film, featuring a dark alternate Santa. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick went by another name when first shown on American TV. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick could have been inspired by many Christmas shopping trips. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s darker pick was one of the reasons for the creation of the PG-13 certificate. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is the first film to use one of the best selling Christmas songs of all time. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is a family gathering which turns into a comic horror. Can you guess what it is?
The At The Flicks hugely popular advent calendar returns with some new additions for 2023.Over the 24 days of December leading up to Christmas Eve, the At the Flicks team will publish a short Podcast every day containing a Christmas movie recommendation. Some of these movies you will have seen and some you may not. We have included some old films, some new ones, some silly, and some down right bizarre movies in the calendar to ensure that there is something for everyone.We hope you enjoy our selection and we wish all our listeners, contributors and friends of the Podcast, a very Merry Christmas. Without you dear listeners we would just be a group of old guys sitting in a pub talking to themselves, waiting for someone to buy them a mulled wine and nobody wants that?
And so to our third show for this year’s Halloween specials.No tricks, this all treats. The At The Flicks team talk to Paul Scott about his love for Hammer films and his friendship with main Hammer scriptwriter Anthony Hinds.Hammer films. The makers of some of the best horror movies of the 60’s and 70’s. Quintessentially British, gothic, with high production values (although cheap to make) and starring such luminaries as Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. And the creatures they gave life to. Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Werewolf, Zombies and numerous other horror creations besides. Then there is Anthony Hinds. The scriptwriter and driving force behind so many of the classics they created.Yes, this is an in depth look at Hammer horror, with personal reminiscences. We talk to Paul about the character actors Hammer frequently employed, such as the late great Michael Ripper. The leading ladies (of course) such as Ingrid Pitt and Veronica Carlston. All of this spiced up with various behind the scenes making of stories. Finally we chat about their amazing composer James Bernard. For those of a certain age, this is a big trip down memory lane – anyone remember the late night horror double films the BBC used to put on during the Summer months? Yes, when we were growing up Hammer films were the company that terrified us and why it has such a huge cult following today. We hope you enjoy the show as much as we enjoyed speaking to Paul about all things Hammer.All that remains to be said is have a very happy Halloween and see you At The Flicks.
I bid you Velcome to the second of this year’s At The Flicks Halloween specials.That rather odd introduction, with its mid European intonation, does contain a big clue as to the subject of this fearful show. Vampires. For this horrifying edition, Graham and Jeff are joined by radio presenter Jo Durrant. Normally you will find Jo, (and occasionally the other argumentative pair) on her own highly acclaimed science podcast called Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe. If you haven’t checked it out yet, we whole heartedly urge you to do so (and we have put a link to it at the bottom of these notes). Jo has many informative interviews on her shows and an abundance of all things factual. That being the case, it makes you wonder why is Jo on our podcast talking about mythical creatures of the night.As Jo reveals, she has had a fascination with these bloodsucking fiends for many years. Knowing Jo is such a big fan, we just had to invite her onto the show to tell us what her favourites are. Welcome to Jo’s top five vampire films and TV shows. There are some classic choices, and maybe the odd one that might surprise you. We are not going to reveal the films in these notes, you will have to listen to the show to get the complete list. Of course, there are a couple of clues in the links below, we wouldn’t lead you on without giving you a little “nip”. While Jo’s selection makes for a very entertaining show, there is something more for you to get your teeth into. Jeff gives Jo a challenge. Would she watch three of Jeff’s recommendations? Will Jo take the challenge and watch them? What may surprise you and which certainly surprised Jeff, is that Jo has actually seen some of them, and there is one where she would rather watch the remake of Jeff’s selection! So, we have a full blooded show for you to check out. Have you seen Jo’s top five or indeed Jeff’s three recommendations? If you have, please let us know what you think of them. We know our Neil won’t watch them, while listener Frank has already revealed to us that biting is one of his favourite hobbies.Ah well, to each his own – especially at this spooky time of year.Tomorrow we will be back with our final Halloween show of the year. Until then, boo for now!
Halloween is fast approaching and as usual, your At The Flicks team have a few treats for you.Coming your way is a trilogy of terror, no, not Jeff, Graham and Neil, instead three epically scary shows. The fun starts with this spooktacular Halloween party from another member of the team. It’s a big treat as Declan is allowing us into his Halloween home. Beamed direct from Declan’s haunted mansion is the scary time we all want at Halloween (not counting Graham and Neil of course).This is a special building, designed for seasonal excitement. There are three sections in this massive gothic structure. The first is the movie hall where Dec will unveil five thrills of the season for you. No clues as to what they are, except to say most of them sent Graham’s fear factor up to 11 – even though one of them was in black and white. Mind you there was an equal scare for Jeff when it was revealed one of them had subtitles. Luckily, he remembered there was a passable American remake!Then it’s a small walk to the next part of the crumbling abode to the TV section. Of course, Dec is the expert on all things streaming and the choices here are excellent – although once again Graham is refusing to come out from under the covers to watch any of them. That sheet was so tightly wrapped around him we thought it was a ghost impression! Despite that, Jeff even offered to hold his hand through some of the scary bits, but sadly that was also met with refusal.Finally, we came to a section that Graham was happy to visit. Dec gave us five music tracks that will be on repeat for the evening. From the classic to the modern and thankfully no rap to scare Jeff!Now if you are really lucky you will be getting your black card invite through the post for this amazing event very shortly. Forget Universal’s Horror Nights, this is the place to be seen this year – although the evil spirits that abide there do claim likeminded souls to join them. Funnily enough, no one has seen Neil or Listener Frank since their recent visits.Once Halloween is over, Declan will be preparing for his next big event. The planning of this year’s Carry On Christmas Streaming.Meanwhile, please come back tomorrow for another of our Halloween specials.See you then or at the flicks.
Welcome to an At The Flicks show that is different to anything we have done before.For this show Jeff and Graham interview a director and a star in front of a live audience. Not something we have ever done before. However, the topic we moderated was for a worthy cause. It was for an upcoming documentary feature called Black Dog Way.Sam Pope, who we have worked with previously, asked us to get involved, for us to interview him and the star of the documentary Steve Gower. You may be thinking what is it that got us involved. Quite simply the subject matter is of important relevance, not only in the UK, but also in many of the countries in the world today. To explain what Black Dog Way is about, here is the synopsis as written by Sam Pope for the official website.“In the winter of 2016, Steve found himself homeless aged 49, in the wake of a family tragedy. His story is like many others. 219,000 in England alone, every single year. Steve was a victim of circumstance and a man suffering from his memories. He became trapped moving through the support system, trying and failing to navigate his way back. Experiencing the system from the inside, he saw it as fundamentally broken. After getting himself back on his feet, he vowed to ensure others wouldn’t go through the same experience. He became a homeless advocate, helping people and asking for nothing in return. In doing so, he became a voice for those in need. He remained determined in the belief that things could and should be better. Steve set out, along with many others in the city of Gloucester, to do just that. This is Steve’s story.”A link to the trailer is shown below. As for the film itself, some work is required to complete the editing. That was the other reason for the live event, to raise funds for the film. If after listening to the show you would like to contribute to this work in progress, please see the link below for the crowdfunding page. As always we look forward to your feedback.One of our more typical shows will be coming shortly. Until then, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome back to At The FlicksIn yesterday’s show (episode 231) we set out the rules for our new review show (a bit like Fight Club, with the main difference being we encourage you to talk about it).If you followed that layout, then you know that this episode features our three remaining reviews. They are:Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 – yes a Marvel film, and we all know Jeff’s view on them. Surprisingly, one of the converted (or infected) also turns on Marvel this episode. His excuse? He went to see it with Jeff. Clearly that de-programming works!Spider-Man Across The Spider Verse – If you thought Jeff’s extreme superhero views were at high volume in the last review, they are off the charts for this one! Trouble starts when someone else calls it one of the films of the year. A good job we deal with our reviews remotely or this could have ended in a hospital visit for one of them!The Swimmers – A Netflix drama based on a true story. A much more serious discussion about a very powerful film.And there you have it – the first double header review show.What do you think? Please let us know.In the meantime we will hope to see you At The Flicks
Welcome to the At The Flicks early Summer review show.Early Summer I hear you say, as everyone prepares for Halloween. Ah, but the At The Flicks team are like fine wine, we age well (other than referring to someone in the present tense who passed away after we completed the show!). And just to compound that delay, this is only half of the show! The other half will be released tomorrow.Trust me, there is method behind the madness of that split. With our extended team of excellent reviewers (and Jeff), we are having more in-depth discussions on our chosen movies these days. We tried to edit them down, however, to be honest we just didn’t know what to cut out. Although we all panicked when Graham started brandishing one of Elijah’s excellent swords! But we argued, we just cannot drop a two hour review show on our listeners. Not even Jeff’s wife wants to hear him whittering on for that length of time. So, we had to come up with another solution. The answer is to split these shows in two now and in the future. In future the format will beShow one - A topical movie discussion then two film reviews (and from next time a special something just for listeners).Show two - three in depth reviews. And we promise you that show two will always be released the day after show one. There’s too much stress in the world as it is, we don’t want to keep you waiting any longer than we have to for you to hear your favourite reviewer. Now that’s an idea, maybe we can have a poll to decide who that is – no, strike that, Graham will just get his extended family to vote for himself multiple times.Now that’s sorted, let’s talk about our “topical” discussion from a couple of months ago as featured in this edition. Since the recording, an aspect of the discussion is now out of date. Mainly because the director we referenced, William Freidkin, has sadly passed away since we recorded this episode. A great loss to cinema – and certainly to 1970’s cinema. The Exorcist, The French Connection and the incredibly under rated Sorcerer – three of the best films of the decade. A magnificent talent, a sad loss.Coming back up to date as this recording will allow, there are two extended reviews for you here, and they couldn’t be more differentAir : The story of the Michael Jordan shoe. Now in the previous review extravaganza, Darren blew everyone’s mind with his alternate take on Tar. This time he does it again with Air. Listen to what he says and how everyone reacts to that. We have all had to watch this superior movie again.Fast X : Jeff, the ultimate Fast and Furious fan leads this review. Is he mocked by the rest of the reviewers (wouldn’t be the first time) or do they humour him as he calls it one of the best action films of all time? Check out our review to find out. Don’t judge to harshly, remember he is still receiving treatmentTomorrow, we release the second half of the show which has reviews of Guardians Of The Galaxy 3, Spiderman Across The Spider Verse and The Swimmers.Find out what the team think of that motley crew. See you then.Bye for now.
Welcome to an At The Flicks interview show. To be more precise, a face-to-face recorded discussion, the first one we have done for years (thanks Covid).
The person who honoured us with his presence is Simon Taylor. For years Simon worked in that most frightening of environments – Live TV. Amongst his many accomplishments are his work on The Big Breakfast, Johnny Vaughn Tonight and The Paul O’Grady show. Don’t worry if you live in locales that have never heard of any of those shows, they are very British institutions, however I am sure you will recognise the stresses and euphoria of such work regardless of wherever you live.
So it was that Graham and Jeff had to try to remember how to set up the mics and recording equipment for the session. Not forgetting a glass of wine for each of us, including our guest (more on that later). You can be judge of whether they accomplished a successful transition from Zoom to Room. As for our chat with Simon, we managed to answer the following questions:
- How did you do guest research before the internet?
- Who were your favourite guests?
- Which item brought onto The Frank Skinner show surprised Jamie Oliver?
- What was unusual about the Juliette Binoche interview conducted for The Big Breakfast?
- What does go on behind the scenes of The Antiques Roadshow?
These questions and many more about that toughest of all TV challenges will be answered in this fascinating, informative and often very funny interview.
We also briefly chatted about life after Live TV. Since leaving that pressure cooker life, Simon now works in the world of wine, and we even got to talk to him about wine recommendations – which almost caused Graham to end the interview early so he could go and sample them!
If you live near Stroud, why not go and say hello to Simon in the Stroud Wine Company Shop – a wonderful fellow and very knowledgeable on the subject of wines, and of course, Live TV.
Before we forget, please see the link to the Stroud Wine Company website below.
If we don’t see you there, then we will catch up At The Flicks.
Bye for now.
It’s been a long time since we chatted to Phil aka Phil the Bear about his famous director retrospectives. We put that right this episode as we talk about his article on Paul Thomas Anderson (not to be confused with British director Paul W S Anderson, although we are sure Phil has written something about him as well).
Like an early ensemble Paul Thomas Anderson movie, we have brought the band back together for this one. There is Neil (the one with the dark hidden past), Graham (the one with the current guilty secret), Phil (the man in charge who has demons of his own), Dec (the sage like one) and Jeff (too many secrets and a not so hidden anger). Phil is our guide through the career of the great man, and who keeps order when there is dissent, and trust me, there is plenty of dissent, although not always from the quarter you would expect.
Now, the sharp eared amongst you will realise that this show has not been recorded recently. In fact, it is part of our huge batch of lockdown recordings we have yet to edit and release for your entertainment. This show was recorded in the first half of 2021. So, when you listen to it and hear the complete nonsense, we say about the film that was eventually released as Licorice Pizza, just remember that was all anyone outside of the production knew at the time. If you want to know what we thought of the film after its release, check out episode 196 for our review of Licorice Pizza.
Similarly, if you want our more detailed thoughts on 'There Will Be Blood', please check out the review teams comments of that movie in episode 96.
As for this episode, we address such tantalising questions as:
Why didn’t Burt Reynolds like Boogie Nights? What was it about watching the trailer for Magnolia on repeat that made it an unmissable film for Phil? Which member of the team really hated The Master? How many of Paul Thomas Anderson’s films has Neil actually taken the time to watch? Which of Paul Thomas Anderson’s films has a possible connection to the legendary Midnight Run? The answers to all of these are given in the show, along with the usual team banter you have come to expect from us. So, sit back, relax, and think back to those lockdown days when we recorded this.
The new format At The Flicks review show returns.
Our more chatty approach seems to be a hit with you – and as always thank you for the feedback. Also, returning for this show is Phil aka Phil The Bear. We are hoping for Neil to return for the next one, currently all of his time is spent filling in his application form for the Conservative Party. I have given him a new set of crayons so maybe this time they will accept him!
You may notice that this selection of films is a couple of months old. It means that if you haven’t seen them as yet, you have the opportunity to catch them on VOD or streaming before listening to our thoughts about them. Which means Graham, you can catch up on the one you have so far missed.
For this show we review:
John Wick Chapter 4 – One reviewer thinks this is the action film of the year. Do the others agree?
The Whale – Brendan Fraser won the Oscar for his performance. Did we think he deserved it?
Pearl – Finally the prequel to X arrives on our shores. Was it worth the wait?
To Leslie – Another controversial Oscar contender. Just how good did we think Andrea Riseborough’s performance was?
65 – B movie or just cheap movie?
From Oscar worthy to horror. I think we have covered all the basis this month.
Do you agree with our opinions? Please let us now.
Until next time, see you At The Flicks.
At The Flicks welcomes you to Darren’s video store.
A new quarterly show that is designed to bring minor gems to your attention while recreating the video store experience of the 1980’s, but without the fuss of having to travel there! Store owner Darren will take you around the various sections of the store, pointing out what’s hot and what’s best avoided. With him are his trainees Graham and Jeff (who are working for below minimum wage, another recreation of the 1980’s).
Of course there are no longer any video or even DVD rental stores (and some of you probably are saying all this was a bit before your time). Luckily, all of Darren’s recommendations can be found on various streaming platforms. While it’s a shame you can’t have the full shop experience, at least you can check out the wares.
But we are a positive show (so Jeff tells me) and we want to concentrate on the highlights:
- From the drama section there is the excellent Catch The Fair One, about a former female boxer’s hunt for her missing sister. Tough, compromising and not to be missed.
- From the Apple Store section, there is the movie Tetris, which the three of us give a seal of approval to.
- From the TV section, check out Daisy Jones and The 6, where you can relive the experience of the 1970’s music scene.
- And many others.
A warning, listening to this show may cause a nostalgic flashback to those of you over a certain age. You will experience again that head spinning moment when there was so much choice you didn’t know what to pick. With so much to choose from, you won’t leaving home for a while.
If you do get a chance to leave home, hopefully we'll see you At The Flicks
Welcome to the first ever At The Flicks appeal.
This one is very personal, and I will hand over to Leslie to explain what the appeal is for and its importance.
Thank you for reading.
“Hi, my name is Leslie. I am and have been a passionate nurse since qualifying in 1981. I want to give back to nursing by promoting the well-being of nurses as well as the projects they are initiating to improve the health and well-being of their patients.
In 2023 I am raising funds for a project in Cape Town named Robin Trust. I founded it 30 years ago as a Non Profit Organisation (Charity) which came out of my own daughter’s illness. Sadly my daughter had a genetic illness, Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), resulting in profound disabilities and limiting her life.
I was a single mother so used my nursing knowledge to train a carer to provide Robyn with the help she needed while I was at work as a nurse. It worked well for me and the carer. I had intentionally looked for someone who was loving but due to circumstances did not have a job. The amazing person who filled the role came from Khayelitsha – a poor township near cape Town. To my surprise I started to get calls from carers wanting to work and from people needing a carer.
From a small beginning Robin Trust has grown and 30 years later it is an established charity offering home-based care, dementia and frail care, step-down (sub-acute) care and trains carers.
From the beginning the carers have been the main beneficiaries.
Unemployed and previously disadvantaged people are trained as carers undertaking their theory and practical course at the training school at the Robin Trust. On completion of their 3 month programme some are employed by Robin Trust or other Care Agencies, Frail Cares or in private homes. This provides much needed employment in Cape Town, where the unemployment is 26.9%. Currently the home-based service alone employs approximately 200 carers.
At Robin Trust most income is generated by the services provided with the surplus going back into the service as well as a bursary fund which subsidises students training as carers.
Therefore for new developments it is necessary to raise the required funds.
Currently fundraising is required to develop a facility to provide palliative care. Robin Trust would like provide two beds funded by the Robin Trust for people in financial need near the end of their lives. Care provided will include excellent, compassionate nursing from the trained registered nurses and care team, pain relief and respite for families. I learnt during Robyn’s illness how vital this service is and the support it gives to the individual as well as their family. This will benefit students training at the organisation giving them valuable experience in palliative care while extending the services provided by the Robin Trust. To offer this needed service Robin Trust requires the funding to renovate and kit out two rooms to the standards required by the registering health authority. Once this is done the on-going costs will be met by the Robin Trust. The set-up cost per bed is £3,000.
I will be running in my second event on the 3 September 2023 and extending my distance to 10km. Please support me by donating to the Robin Trust project to equip two beds for individuals requiring end of life care.”
Welcome to the first At The Flicks review show of 2023 – not bad considering the year is about to reach it’s midpoint!
Don’t worry, our review shows are like buses, a few more are coming along very shortly.
So why the delay? The truth is, thanks to you, dear listener, and your comments on our review shows, we have been working on the format. As a result, we have changed just about everything. Gone is the rather stodgy format of one person after another reviewing the same film, instead we have brought more focus to our selection.
Each member of the At The Flicks review board now selects one film they want to review. It can be a cinema release, something currently streaming (both Disney deletes it), or a classic. The only rule is, every other member of the team must be able to find and watch it. This immediately ruled out many of Neil’s mid European stick figure animation features (sorry Neil).
So, the new format is, after a brief synopsis of the film in question, the reviewer tells us what they thought of their choice. At any point in their review, another person can interject with their comments on the movie, leading to, we hope, a more natural discussion.
You of course are the judge as to whether this fundamental change to the format has worked. All feedback welcomed.
As for the review team on this occasion, there are some changes. Neil and Phil are not with us this month, both need more time to figure out the format changes. Don’t worry lads, you’ll get there! Instead, joining Darren, Graham and Jeff is our streaming king Declan. He does such a great job we have immediately promoted him to the review team. He already has one advantage over Neil, he knows how to find a cinema.
So that’s the format, but what’s the content. There are four films being reviewed and, due to the delay of the show, all are now available on streaming, meaning you can watch them and then tell us if you agree with our diverse opinions on them (OK, it’s Jeff that’s diverse, the others are usually in agreement). The four films are:
Plane (Darren’s choice) – Yes, I was also surprised that a film from the Gerard was not automatically selected by Graham. He did try to take the lead on this, but Darren was just too fast for him. One member of the team never got to see this in the cinema, and on the strength of what everyone else said, has now decided he needs to see it (obviously that’s not Graham, who was there opening night).
Tar (Dec’s choice) – One of the most acclaimed films of 2022, with a spellbinding performance from Cate Blanchett. Some interesting views on this film and almost everyone of our team realised they would have to go watch it again to spot all they missed the first time. Even Jeff, when he has calmed down over the Jerry Goldsmith comments made in the movie.
The Fabelmans (Graham’s Choice) – Steven Spielberg’s semi autobiographical feature and a love letter to the movies. Surprisingly comments were more mixed on this one than on Plane! Also, did you know how played John Ford in the film? None of us did before Jeff stumbled over it on the internet.
All Quiet On The Western Front (Jeff’s Choice) – A streaming selection this month. Amazingly for Jeff he selected a foreign language film – although thankfully Netflix had the option to watch a dubbed version! Again, another highly acclaimed film, but does it cut the mustard for the At The Flicks team?
Here then is the show for your listening pleasure. Our new format – what do you think? Please let us know, after all it was based on some very helpful feedback from you that led to these changes.
Thank you so much, and if we see you At The Flicks we will buy you a popcorn (small, of course).
Bye for now.
Welcome back to the continuing adventures of the At The Flicks team as they talk Star Trek movies and boldly go where no man has gone before.Since we completed the first part of this series – the films with the original Star Trek crew – we have had some extended shore leave from the series. Well, now we are back as we start the next section, the Next Generation features.What better place to start than with the cross over episode – where old meets new. It’s a captain face off, as Captain Kirk (William Shatner) meets the new guy in town, follicly challenged Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart). Guiding us through this space adventure is our captain Darren (after all it was his idea), backed up by his science officer Graham who will be looking at some of the more technical aspects. Jeff is playing the crew member who develops a God complex – well, he certainly talks a lot about religion at various points in the show. But what else do we talk about?For Star Trek Generations our away team boldly go on to tackle such subjects as:Did the writing of this script and the final episode of the TV series Next Generation cause confusion with the writers?Just what is wrong with those uniforms?Why didn’t the rest of the original cast appear in the prologue?Was Soran (the great Malcolm McDowall) a villain to match Khan?Just what is the Nexus?All joking aside, why does Jeff keep talking religion?There really are two camps for this film – those that love it and the one who has to be different. Take a wild stab in the dark as to who that is. In keeping with the series, I guess his counter would be to the others that they are Highly Illogical!So, pick a side, then prepare to boldly go, enjoy, and listen to At The Flicks as it returns to Star Trek.See you At The Flicks
Welcome to the At The Flicks Awards show.What, I hear you cry – not another one. Ah, but this is not just any awards show. This is the At The Flicks ALTERNATIVE Awards show. It’s like the Razzies except we don’t pick on children – although Jeff sees everyone else as fair game, especially Neil! Be afraid, as we let Jeff write the script again this year. That’s why the show is late being delivered to you. You see, we had to run it past our lawyers first. It took months for them to check over the details, which resulted in some of the awards having to be removed from this recording and put in the At The Flicks vault, never to be heard again (although Graham has said we can be bribed). During the consultation period, things got so tense with our team of lawyers, one left us to work for Donald Trump instead. His parting words were “Trump is sane compared to you lot”!As we said, Jeff wrote most of the script for these awards, with one exception. That exception is the one Graham insisted on writing and presenting. It is of course, his most look forward to moment on the show – the annual Mel Gibson Movie Of The Year award. To be fair, this year there were many options. Although it went a bit far when Graham said he wanted to present The Mel with an award for each of the nominations, as he couldn’t pick just one film. When we told him that wasn’t possible, Graham initially stormed off the red carpet, almost tripping over his little Gucci creation as he went. Luckily, we were able to get him back by waving a signed copy of Braveheart near him. I guess if we had known this show would be coming out around Easter, we could have used The Passion Of The Christ instead.As for the other awards we are allowed to share with you, they are:- The Star Wars Award For The Most Pointless Sequel- The Braveheart Award For The Most Annoying Re-Writing Of History- The Hobbit Trilogy Award For The Most Gratuitous Cash-In- The Heaven’s Gate Award For The Most Embarrassing Failure- The Steven Seagal Award For The Actor You Don’t Want To See Next Year – this year awarded to a previous winner, with the warning of three strikes and you’re out- The Boris Johnson Award For The Family Film Of The Year - The Frank Die Hard 2 Award For The Most Unbelievable Plot DevelopmentsAll other awards have been removed to prevent lengthy court cases.Tune in to find out who was nominated and who won. Sadly, no one turned up to collect their award in person. Neil took them away promising to send them on. We are still waiting for proof of sending.As an added bonus, we also reveal to you what our review team are most looking forward to seeing at the cinema this year. There are a couple of surprises in that list.What about you dear listener, what are you most looking forward to seeing in what is left of 2023? Please drop us a line and tell us. Who knows, if your film list corresponds with ours, we might see you At The Flicks.
It’s the first holiday of the year (well, it is if you are in the UK). Easter is upon us.Raining, cold and the added benefit of the kids home from school. No point going away for the holidays as most of the time will be spent in a queue waiting to show your new blue passport! What to do? How about staying home and watching some quality TV?That’s all very well I hear you say, but how do I know what’s good and what’s not? Luckily, we have an expert to guide you. Yes, Declan returns to advise you on what’s worth seeing – either on catch up on and or something new for the holiday period.Amongst the highlights we talk about are:The Gold (BBC iPlayer) – 6 part series about the search for the villains and the missing gold after the 1983 Brinks Mat robberyGreat Expectations (BBC iPlayer) – A new version of the Charles Dickens story, made in a gritty style thanks to writer Steven KnightA Town Called Malice (Now TV or Sky Atlantic) – A crime thriller set in the 1980’s as a London gang relocate to the Costa Del SolTed Lasso Final Series (Apple TV) – Ted and the gang are back for one last season. Hilarious and heartwarmingThe Power (Prime Video) – A new science fiction series which we discussed years ago with Kirk DomanThe Cleaner Season 2 (BBC iPlayer) – the latest from Greg DaviesAnd many morePlenty for everyone, unless you are our Neil. His viewing is just one show – The West Wing, on constant repeat. We have now had to explain to him a number of times that it is not a documentary and the Trump years really did happen. Hopefully we will make the breakthrough we are all praying for and his viewing return to normal shortly.For everyone else, have a great Easter and happy viewing, whether on the small or large screen.See you At The Flicks
Welcome to the first of our two At The Flicks year start shows.Year start I hear you ask, but it’s almost Easter! A fact we cannot argue with (although Neil tried). However, our shows, like the At The Flicks team, can be compared to a fine wine. Aged to perfection and a perfect accompaniment to your film going menu. Of course, some members (or bottles if you prefer), have aged more than others and come in smaller containers.Now you, dear listeners, might say we are simply late. And that is the subject of the show – the late obituaries that held special meaning for the At The Flicks team from 2022. Normally this would just be part of the year start show. However we had so much to say, so much eulogising of our heroes, that we did not want to trim down any of our comments. So, we made it a special show in its own right.Just who are we talking about:• Philip Baker Hall• Raymond Briggs• Robbie Coltrane• Mike Hodges• Ray LiottaEach member of the team made a selection that was personal to them.As well as those illustrious names, we have our own roll call of greats and some of their achievements.In short, this show is the At The Flicks tribute to some of the great names that passed in 2022. Enjoy our celebration of their lives.Until part 2 of our year start show, which we promise to deliver before Christmas, we’ll see you At The Flicks.
In this episode of At The Flicks, your team of Graham and Jeff are talking to novelist and journalist Jared Feldschreiber. Jared has written an evocative novella called Reckless Abandon.What’s it about, I hear you ask. Here is the description of Reckless Abandon from the Tree Of Film website“Reckless Abandon. depicts an up-and-coming playwright who deals with the toils of assembling a “dream project” involving Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, and Dustin Hoffman, and is set in the summer of 1984.”Reckless Abandon gets the thumbs up from the team because of its realisation of a time and place along with its insight into the creative process. We were very fortunate to be able to talk to Jared about his book and his intentions (please note there are no spoilers here, our aim is to encourage you to read his superior work). As well as discussing the novella, we talk to Jared about his time covering cinema for various publications and the festivals he has attended. He is truly a globe hopper, from his formative years in New York and then to other parts of America, spending time in Israel to where he is now currently living, Poland.He has some fascinating stories which he shares with us. During the course of the show as well as discussing Reckless Abandon at length we also get the opportunity to talk about the current world focus on Eastern Europe from the Poland based Jared. At The Flicks hasn’t done an in-depth interview on this scale for a while. We certainly enjoyed talking with Jared and we hope you enjoy it too, and that it encourages you to purchase a copy Jared’s excellent novella Reckless Abandon (links below). As always, we look forward to our listener feedback.See you At The Flicks
The title for the show is Darren’s Dash : Found Footage. It’s already upset Jeff he’s always wanted to make an At The Flicks found footage film, there was even a script for it – it’s called The Scare Neil Project. However, let’s forget Jeff’s dreams (and Neil’s nightmares) and return to this show. Why that title? Well as Graham explains at the front of the show, it was recorded during the hottest day of the UK Summer 2022. Present for that recording were Darren, Phil, Emma (from Emma At The Movies) Jeff, Graham and Neil. A crowded house. Thankfully they were not all together – that would have made it unbearable. All done remotely. Which created its own problems and ultimately led to the delay. There were drop outs, near router melt downs, biker dramas and quite possibly a house fire! And you thought all the excitement is in the show. However, there is also plenty of that. There is also an upside to all of this. Given that we are so late in delivering this entertainment to you, you now have the added bonus of being able to watch all of Darren’s selections on the various streaming platforms. Just what has he picked I hear you ask. Well, we have :Men – The Jesse Buckley / Rory Kinnear horror movie from A24. You can now watch this as part of your Amazon Prime SubscriptionDog – Channing Tatum and his canine friend. A warm hearted drama which is also on Amazon PrimeWolfwalkers – An animated tale set in a mythic Ireland. This one is on Apple TV.Everything Everywhere All At Once – The fantasy film with plenty of Oscar nominations. Currently available to rent on most streaming services.As well as that you get some excellent TV recommendations from Darren. This is the last Darren’s Dash in this format. We are moving to a new style show which will be uploaded every quarter. The team are currently refining and testing the new format and it is expected the first show will be out before Easter (but we are not telling you which year). That is, unless Graham stores the test tapes under his Easter joint back in that rapidly filling freezer.Until the next time, when we return to more regular formatting,See you At The Flicks.
The ramblings team of Elijah, Graham and Jeff are back for another random walk through the world of the movies.As a special treat, this is one we have been saving for you as it relates to our year end show. In that show we revealed that the At The Flicks film of the year was Top Gun Maverick. Why did we think it was so good? Our ramble gives you some insight into our thinking. We talking excitement, Tom Cruise and fast planes. Interesting show fact, did you know Tom Cruise is one film star that our Graham has to look up to?After we have waxed lyrical on Top Gun Maverick we also speak about another big hit from last Summer – Jurassic Park Dominion. I won’t tell you our thoughts on that one, you can discover that pleasure when you listen to the show. Finally on the ramble we give a hint to the next ramble. Elijah’s favourite subject. The Rings Of Power, Amazon’s big series from last Autumn. This only scratches the surface of what Elijah has to say (being the huge Tolkien fan that he is) as there is a lot more coming in the next one. So much that it is less of a ramble, more of a trek.See you on the next ramble or At The Flicks.
And that’s a wrap. Another film going year ends as At The Flicks brings it to a stylish close with an all star cast.In fact, if this was a movie, the case would read something like thisNeil “can you help me find the cinema”Graham “Mel’s number 1 fan”Jeff “the grumpy one”Darren “Dazza”Phil “The Bear”And guest starringKelly “horror queen”Elijah “the ring bearer”Declan “streaming king”Steve “number one Star Wars fan”As for the film choices, we have some incredible recommendations for you. Both Darren and Phil have some interesting left field choices for you while Graham and Steve pick the same top movie of the year (and one to watch at next year’s Oscars). Kelly has fascinating horror selections, including one she recommends you do not watch!After all that, Jeff combines the main team’s choices to come up with the definitive At The Flicks top five of 2022. Enjoy the show and thank you all so much for your company during 2022. We promise to have more top movie shows for you in 2023, including rambles, reviews, interviews and the continuation of our Star Trek movie series.Until then, a Happy New Year to all our listeners. Stay safe and we will see you At The Flicks.
Today’s pick is an animated feature that was produced by an all woman team in the 1980's. Can you guess what it is?
As 2022 progressed, our review shows became less and less. We were concerned that after a brilliant Summer start, the quality of releases dropped off substantially. As a result, we concentrated on the classics rather than the new releases (see our show 214).Finally, as the year started to come to a close, some films we thought worth reviewing were released. From a Halloween ending to a potential Oscar winner, we just had to check them out and give you our views. Well, that is four members of the team. Unfortunately, one person lost his magic map and sadly could no longer find his way to the cinema. Rest assured we have all had a whip round and hopefully Neil will get his tracker back up and running for the new year.So, I hear you ask, what films did you think were worth checking out. Glad you enquired – here’s what we checked out :Black Adam – Dwayne The Rock Johnson as an anti-hero superhero. This one split the team – not hard to figure out who liked it and who didn’t. Very much along Marvel / DC supporting linesThe Banshees Of Inisherin – Is there anyone out there who didn’t like this movie? There is always someone in the At The Flicks team who is different. Does that rule apply this time, check out our review to be sure.The Woman King – An old-fashioned epic, but not old fashioned enough for Neil who thought a female fighting force is a silly idea so he didn’t watch it. As for the rest of us, again we had differing opinions.Halloween Ends – At least it lived up to the title. You might find some of our comments on this one surprising. We also asked At The Flicks Horror Queen Kelly for her views on the potential last outing for Michael MyersSpeaking of Kelly, she has a new slot on the show – a horror film column. Find out what’s coming early 2023.So for our final review show, so you think we picked the right movies to chat about? Please let us know.See you next time or At The Flicks
Today’s pick explains how all the presents are delivered in one night. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick became a Christmas favourite because of a copyright error. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is acclaimed by many as the ultimate Christmas film. Can you guess what it is?
The At The Flicks team don’t reach for a TV guide at Christmas. We reach for the phone and ask Declan what we should watch.Yes, Carry On Christmas Streaming is back, so that Dec can tell you, our listeners, what is worth watching over the festive season. This year the emphasis is very much on the BBC. If you are not in the UK you may have to wait a little longer to catch up with these amazing entertainments, however it will be worth it. There are thrillers, real life spy dramas and ghost stories. Everything for that traditional Christmas.Whatever you pick to watch, have a great Christmas and may all your selections be wonderful.
Today’s pick was inspired by two short films from the same director. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick has a young woman searching for her brother, who is about to become Santa Claus. Can you guess what it is?
Todays pick is an animated film, featuring a dark alternate Santa. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick went by another name when first shown on American TV. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick could have been inspired by many Christmas shopping trips. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s darker pick was one of the reasons for the creation of the PG-13 certificate. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is the first film to use one of the best selling Christmas songs of all time. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is a family gathering which turns into a comic horror. Can you guess what it is?
Welcome to our Summer special. We know what you are thinking dear listener, At The Flicks, late again. You might be right, or we might be early for Summer 2023, you decide, we couldn’t possibly comment.Don’t go looking at the films under review to work out if they are released 2022 or 2023. It’s not that type of review show. This is a classic movie review show. To be honest, we haven’t been that impressed with many of the movies released recently, so we set a challenge for the review team. Pick a highly acclaimed movie you have never seen, then we would all review it. The selection process made for some very interesting choices. Now, we aren’t going to tell you who picked what film, you will have to listen to the show to find that out, however we will tell you what films were selected, and they are as follows:The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari. The classic silent German film from when way back in 1921, when even our Graham was young. This film has received much renewed attention as a talking point in the Nicholas Cage feature The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent. Check this out to find out if the review team rate it as highly as Nicholas Cage.Sunset Boulevard (1950). Billy Wilder’s acidic take on Hollywood turned out to be a marmite film for the review team. Listen in to find out who liked it and who didn’t.Inherit The Wind (1960). Spencer Tracy and Frederic March star in this court room drama based on the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trail. The one that some in the team had not heard of but all of enjoyed. Also prompted a fascinating discussion about the relevance of the movie in today’s society.My Fair Lady (1964). Pardon me. What, the Oscar winning British musical based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw? Is this a mistake? Not at all, although everyone thought the person who selected this had picked it for mischievous reasons, which I guess is a good clue as to who selected it.Vertigo (1958). The classic Hitchcock thriller and Sight & Sound’s selection for the greatest film of all time. Do the review team agree with Sight & Sound – check out our discussion.Five great films for which we give our views. Let us know what you think, if the show is a success, we will pick another five classics in the near future (or will that be the near past?).Oh, one final comment, if you listen closely, you will find out how reviewer Darren got his name. A great story.Until the next time, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to At The Flicks, where this episode there is no hiding from the darkest of TV “entertainments”.
Yes, carry on streaming is back and our expert Dec returns to tell us what is worth watching for Halloween. But there’s more. Horror queen Kelly returns to add her thoughts on what is worth watching this season. Dec, Kelly and Jeff all with their separate takes on the ghoulish, no wonder Neil wouldn’t turn up and Graham has a crucifix in front of him!
What is included in the show that is so terrifying you may ask? Well, Dec gives us the details and recommends (amongst many others), the following
- Dahmer – Monsters : The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
- Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities
- The Midnight Club
- The Bastard Son Of The Devil Himself (great title)
- The School Of Good And Evil
- The Witch Farm
And many, many more
As an added bonus, Kelly tells you all you need to know about the streaming service Shudder.
All these recommendations are far too much to get in over Halloween. In fact, it is more than enough to keep you going over the few short weeks to Christmas. Don’t worry if you run out of things to watch before that season is upon us, Dec will be back in December to give us his unmissable recommendations for the end of the year. We will be going from Happy Halloween to Merry Christmas before you know it!
Until then, stay safe and hopefully, if you are not watching TV, we will see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to the first of two Halloween specials from your At The Flicks team.
In this first show we introduce to you, horror queen Kelly. Kelly certainly knows her horror movies and has a tremendous knowledge on the subject. To prove this, we set her a challenge. We asked Kelly, if you were creating a Halloween movie marathon, what movies would you include.
I am very pleased to say, the challenge was accepted and the result is the show you are about to hear. The movie marathon consists of five classic films that never get old. We are not going to reveal the titles here, as that would be a spoiler (although the eagle eyed amongst you will see two of them in the trailer section below). However, this is not Kelly just giving us five titles. Oh no, there is much, much more here. Kelly tells us why she made the choices she has, why they are personal to her and some fun facts about each of the movies. Jeff tries to trade some of his stories, but quite frankly, this time he has met his match!
And speaking of meeting people, you will not be surprised to learn that Neil is nowhere to be seen during this Halloween count down of horror. His natural aversion to scary movies once again kicked in, plus he is still in mourning for the loss of his hero. Yes, Neil is missing his very own scream queen, the one and only Liz Truss.
Let’s forget Neil and return to the show. As an added bonus from Kelly, she has set a Halloween quiz for you. At the start of the show she will give you five questions relating to horror movies. How many can you get? Answers are at the end of the show.
So settle back, dim the lights and enjoy the first of our Halloween spooktaculars for 2022. Kelly will return as a guest on our next show as Declan talks us through the Halloween streaming events worth looking out for this year.
Enjoy your trick or treating and we will see you for a spooky movie At The Flicks.
Our early Autumn Carry On Streaming show has finally arrived! Not just a show, host Declan makes this a public information spectacular, turning him into our version of Martin Lewis!
Apart from the usual subject of the streaming shows, telling you what’s best on offer, we also have another offer for you. Dec will tell you how to get the best value from the various streaming services around in the UK. Want to save money on the high profile streamers – then come on in! How about finding out the best services that are available for free – yes, we have found those as well. At The Flicks, not only great listening, it’s also wonderful value for your pocket. If you know of any other money saving tips for streaming services, please let us know and we will pass them on in future episodes.
Having said all that, great value streaming services are no good if the content isn’t worthwhile. Luckily, we have found some gems for you. Classics on BBC iPlayer like Inside No 9 (although Jeff will be a bit more weary of showing this entertainment to unsuspecting members of his family in future – full story revealed on the show), and other BBC gems you might have missed like Avoidance and Life After Life. From Sky / Now TV we all rave about Peacemaker, James Gunn on top form, the latest version of The Midwich Cuckoo’s (especially heartening for Graham who is a big John Wyndham fan) and the latest series of Barry, which Jeff called the highlight of the year so far.
There is just so much quality entertainment out there on all the streaming channels, from Slow Horses (Apple), The Boys (Prime), The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix) to She-Hulk (Disney). Then there is the burning question – are you team Dragon or team Rings? The big fantasy shows go to head to head. Get our verdict here.
How about that as a starter? There is much, much more available on the show. And this can be seen as a warmup. Dec’s Halloween streaming selection is coming very shortly.
At The Flicks – we only recommend the best. See you very shortly for our spooky spectacular.
Back in episode 57 (that’s all the way back to 2019, remember that time, the happy, pre Covid days?), we spoke to regular film goer Dingle about going to the cinema during the 1940’s.
In this episode we speak to another regular cinema goer, Tony, who tells us what life was like in British cinemas during the 1950’s. On this fascinating trip down memory lane, you will learn
- How many cinemas Tony could choose from in his local town
- All about double bills and newsreels
- The unexpected impact of smoking in cinemas
- How much it cost for a trip to the cinema
- Tony’s favourite films of the period
- Where you could go to watch foreign language movies in the 1950’s
As an added bonus, Tony tells us about attending the cinema during World War II as a child, as well as a fascinating perspective on the American forces in his town just before D Day.
A genuine trip down memory lane. We hope you find it as informative as we did. It was a real honour and a privilege to talk to Tony.
See you next time or At The Flicks.
Welcome to the latest show from the At The Flicks team. In this episode we speak to filmmakers Mark Brown and Laura Rees.
Mark has directed and Laura has produced an upcoming thriller called Dead On The Vine, which was made on a vineyard during the Covid lockdown period. We have held this show back for a long period. The reason for that is, we chatted to the talented pair just after they completed principal photography and we all felt the show would have more impact just prior to release.
Well, that later date has arrived, as Dead On The Vine is to receive it’s world premiere this November at Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Film Festival. This is big news. On the basis of what we have seen of the film, we believe Dead On The Vine is going to be a winner.
As a bonus Mark also talks about his previous comedy film Guardians (trailer below) which you can watch on Amazon Prime. We loved it and the script crackles with hilarious one liners.
Finally just a heads up. There are some slight sound issues with this interview, however we believe you will find this an entertaining chat with two very talented people.
Enjoy.
See you At The Flicks.
The ramblings team of Elijah, Graham and Jeff are back for another random walk through the world of the movies.
At least we start off on an agreed course, talking about the latest Thor movie with member of the Marvel Taliban Graham. The discussion takes an early left turn when Jeff brings in Waterworld to highlight his concerns about Thor Love And Thunder.
We stay with superheroes to give our thoughts on the now shelved Batgirl movie and the potential future of HBO Max.
Finally, both Elijah and Graham have an in-depth discussion about the new Netflix series, The Sandman.
After that it’s back home for tea and scones, relaxing after another satisfying ramble.
See you on the next ramble or At The Flicks.
Bye for now.
It’s been a quiet Summer (at least in the cinema), which means we have taken our time in preparing this review show for you. The good news is, in the time we have taken in getting the show out, all of the films reviewed are now on streaming or available to rent on demand. (For some of the other Summer releases, please check out our new rambling series).
With this extra time, did we pick titles that perhaps we were all in agreement are future classics? Or they have some import into the human condition? Nope (and that isn’t a clue to one of the films), with one exception there were arguments galore in this episode. In other news, at least we have a quiz for you to start the show. Nice one Darren, although not too happy with the individual who won it and who is still parading around the At The Flicks office like a Gladiator winner.
Let’s draw a discrete veil over that ungainly sight and focus on the not quite great movies under review. They are:
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness – I am sure you can guess whose Marvel prejudices come to the surface for this film. Although as a fan of Sam Raimi, he had to tone down some of his commercialist Marvel attacks. As for the others, well you might find a few surprises in their usually prejudiced views for this one.
Father Stu – Graham now has it in his contract that we MUST review anything new in cinemas starring The Mel. Luckily that doesn’t happen very often as they usually come straight to streaming. No prizes for guessing how much Graham fawns over this one starring his hero. But are the others in agreement?
Firestarter – A remake of the Stephen King story. It is the one film we are all in agreement about. I’ll leave that there….
The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent – This one has cult Nicholas Cage written all over it. Perhaps an odd choice for the main review show, maybe a better fit for Darren’s Dash?
That’s the show, plenty of argument here, especially as Graham defends The Mel.
Join us for more reviews on the upcoming Darren’s Dash.
Until then, see you At The Flicks.
The ramblings team of Elijah, Graham and Jeff are back for another random walk through the world of the movies.
At least this time we try and start at a current point – we discuss the finale of the Jurassic films – Jurassic World : Dominion. There is a lot of plot to try to tie up this six film series. Does it work? What do the ramblers think? Check the show to find the answer.
We ramble so we found we couldn’t just focus on one dinosaur film. We drifted into talking about what films from earlier decades have influenced and entertained us. Do you have any favourite dinosaur movies? If we don’t mention them in our ramble, please let us know what they are.
Of course, as we have Elijah and Graham on the show, it was only a matter of time before we drifted onto the subject of Lord Of The Rings. This episode has some good (The War Of The Rohirrim) and some not so good (The Rings Of Power).
There were some other movie points before Elijah revealed to us the secrets of scabbard making – yes I said scabbard making!!!
So, if you are looking for a bite sized and eclectic podcast, look no further. Very different to our usual shows.
See you on the next episode or At The Flicks
The show that has been years in the planning has finally arrived.
Mel superfan Graham has been dropping hints for a long time that we should be putting together a tribute to the great man. The balance has always been trying to be objective alongside Graham’s excessive and sometimes frightening fandom.
Then the idea struck us. Rather than look back, let’s look forward. What if we take two of Mel’s more recent films – films with merits but for some reason went direct to streaming?
Having had agreement on that approach (initially reluctant from Graham), the next step was to find two films which were suitable for what was being called Mel Day.
The choice was made, and a viewing day was chosen. First up was our morning’s entertainment – Force Of Nature. The Mel plays a retired cop refusing to leave his apartment home when a big storm strikes. The other problem is that the building is also under siege from vicious criminals. Graham relates to this as, after all, he lives in Cheltenham. But back to the film, Force Of Nature promises non stop action – did it deliver and how did the Mel perform? Check out the show to find out.
How do we top that?
The answer was an afternoon with the 80’s set political action film Panama. American involvement in a country being torn apart by unscrupulous leaders and on the edge of revolt (checks notes to make sure I am not talking about the UK). Listen to what we have to say to see if Panama captures those crazy times and if Mel is good in the movie.
Obviously Graham is a man for whom the Mel can do no wrong, no balance there then. So, we had to bring in level-headed support for the day. Thank you, Niall, the man behind the amazing Movies In Focus (links below) with an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of Mel Gibson and this type of B movie, who came to our aid
Recording this show was a blast. We only hope you have fun listening to it and that it encourages you to broaden your Mel viewing list (in fact Graham insists on it).
We are already preparing Mel Day 2.
See you there or At The Flicks.
Having now passed our 200th episode, we from the At The Flicks show would like to say a big thank you to our listeners all over the world. It is thanks to you and your continued to support that we are constantly inspired to find new ways to inform and entertain you about the crazy world of the movies.
This is why we take a slight pause with this episode to talk about some of our achievements from the team in the year to date. We talk about the festivals we have attended and our work behind the scenes.
So the focus of this show is on one of our proudest moments, being invited to the opening gala of this year’s Cheltenham International Film Festival. Jeff attended the gala as Graham was too busy planning an upcoming special he has arranged called “Mel Day”. Graham has been working on that for years and the planning had reached a delicate stage that he was unable to take any time off (we believe he didn’t leave his technical room for a week while he put the finishing touches to the show and all food was slid under his door on a tray. At The Flicks rule – never interrupt Graham when he has the “Unless You Are The Mel, Leave Me Alone I’m Busy” sign on his door).
I digress. Jeff reports back on the event and his very positive views on the film being screened, The Good Boss starring Javier Bardem. While Jeff loved it, he couldn’t help but draw a parallel to current British comments (as expected as Graham and his love of The Mel). To get his full no spoiler review, you will have to check out the show.
Unfortunately, there are no current plans to release The Good Boss in UK cinemas. So, get a heads up here on the movie and let us know if it is something you would be interested in seeing.
Until next time, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome back to the continuing adventures of the At The Flicks team as they talk Star Trek movies.
In episode 199 we discussed the disappointment that was Star Trek V. Thankfully, that didn’t put an end to the series and the original crew reunited one final time in 1991. We ask the question - was this a good send off for the pensionable crew?
Guiding us through this discussion is our captain Darren (after all it was his idea), backed up by his science officer Graham who will be looking at some of the more technical aspects. Jeff is playing the crew member who develops a God complex and Neil is wearing the red shirt marking out the dispensable crew member who is not normally named in the credits.
In this show our away team boldly go on to tackle such subjects as:
- How much of the story mirrored real life events of the time?
- Why was Sulu the only crew member who ever earned a promotion?
- Why Kim Cattrall’s mind meld sequence is even more upsetting by today’s standards
- How much did the on-screen signatures at the end film cost?
- Which member of the At The Flicks team had never seen this film before and probably never knew it existed?
All these points and others are addressed in our fascinating discussion on the film which brings to an end the first phase of the Star Trek movies.
As always in these shows, the At The Flicks team can be divided into two camps. Darren and Graham are devoted Star Trek fans while Neil and Jeff are casual viewers who assume I’m giving her all she’s got captain, is a term from a 70’s porn movie.
So, prepare to boldly go, enjoy and listen to At The Flicks.
Regular listeners will know that the main At The Flicks team are old (some older than others – not looking at you Graham). So, we don’t always keep as up to date with such things as reviews like other podcasts. We might be old, we might be slow, but we are always coming up with ideas . Therefore, as part of our OAP fightback, we are trying out a series of pod shorts, something to at least try to keep up with the kids!
Our secret weapon on many of these will be to bring in our twentysomething reviewer Elijah. We will start talking on a theme or a film but, given our age, we will soon go off on random topics as we remember the “old days”, or, in Graham’s case “when Mel was king”. Take this episode, we planned to talk all about The Batman, but we went off track and also included Paramount plus, Halo and Star Trek!
If you are looking for a bite sized and eclectic podcast, look no further.
This is a new format we are trying and if you have any comments please let us know. Other wise we will see you At The Flicks
Welcome to another Darren’s Dash, where we hand over the lead to reviewer Darren to give us his pick of the movies you may well have missed. And from this month there is a bonus, Darren will be providing a round up – a hyper dash if you like – of TV shows and streaming services of note. Included this month is Darren’s first excursion into Apple TV. What are his views and what does he recommend? Check out the show to get all the details.
Ah, I hear you ask, but what about the movies, the main reason we listen to the Dash? What are Darren’s choices for this month? Fear not, there are four great ones, including one so scary that Neil had to miss the recording because he is still having the therapy for watching it. The films are:
Boiling Point – A one take feature about a high-pressure night in a London restaurant.
Slaxx – Why are there not more movies about killer jeans?
Fresh – We convinced Neil that this is “safe” entertainment on Disney. It isn’t and he is still quivering!
The Phantom Of The Open – The incredible true story of golfer Maurice Flitcroft (as played by Mark Rylance)
There you have it - four films you may have missed. Are they worth catching up with? Check out the latest episode of Darren’s Dash to find out. As always, if you have any comments on these movies, or anything talked about on the show, please let us know.
Until next time, Darren says “see you at the flicks”
The team are back and what a surprise, some of the reviews are very contentious. Like the berserkers in The Northman, some members of the team really go to town attacking certain films, while other, more courageous reviewers defend them. Let’s identify the warriors (or film watchers as others call them). Jeff goes full hatchet, Phil uses a broadsword, Darren comes in with the sly attack, Neil joins forces with everyone except Jeff and Graham puts on blue woad so he can become The Mel in Braveheart!
Yes, it’s that type of show.
To add more fuel to the fire of disagreement, requests have been made to bring back the quiz and drop the film news. These may have been random requests, or an orchestrated attempt from one of the team. Check out the allegations in the show and we leave that to you to decide the truth.
As for the films being reviewed this month:
The Northman – Robert Eggers – visionary director or a case of emperor’s new clothes? We have both opinions here. From claims of utter brilliance to just a show reel for a potential remake of Revenge Of The Sith. What side of the argument are you on?
Morbius – Jared Leto won one of our year review awards. Some of our reviewers say this film proves why he deserved that acolyte, while others say he is now redeemed. Amazingly for our review, those that defend superhero movies go on the attack, while others who don’t normally like them present the case for the defence. If this review doesn’t scramble your brain, nothing will.
Operation Mincemeat – An incredible true story from the annuals of World War II. This is the nearest the team got to a consensus this month, although there are little niggles from the usual suspects about these “safe older people movies”. Listen out for those comments from the youngest member of the team.
The Bad Guys – An animated selection for our animation expert who couldn’t even be bothered to see it! Apparently, he was so turned on by watching The Northman earlier in the day that no other film could measure up for him. As for the rest of us – check out the show to see if you agree with our views
That’s the show, plenty of argument there. Look we are old, arguing is one of the few pleasures we have left in life.
Join us for more reviews on the upcoming Darren’s Dash.
Until then, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome back after a warp factor break, to the continuing adventures of the At The Flicks team as they talk Star Trek movies.
After the huge success of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (At The Flicks episode 169), someone decided it was time for William Shatner to direct the next films. As we are about to discover that was to prove a huge mistake for so many reasons.
Guiding us through this production is our captain – Darren (after all it was his idea), backed up by his science officer Graham who will be looking at some of the more technical aspects. Jeff is playing the dispensable member of the crew and Neil the dangerous alien with the oversized gun (I was going to say weapon but Neil would clearly misread that).
So with a full crew we tackle such subjects as:
Why was William Shatner allowed to both direct and come up with the story idea? Who is this God character they all keep talking about? What happened to humour in the future? Does anyone give a good performance? Why should TV evangelists of the 80’s be upset by this movie? As always in these shows, the At The Flicks team can be divided into two camps. Darren and Graham are devoted Star Trek fans while Neil and Jeff are casual viewers who assume dilithium crystals are left after a toilet is badly flushed.
So, prepare to boldly go, enjoy and listen to At The Flicks.
Have you been wondering where Declan has been since our Christmas Carry On Streaming?
Don’t worry, he has been in full viewing mode. A few days ago he emerged back into the sunshine to tell us he is ready to give us his recommendations for Easter. A British Easter of course – as it is a holiday when it always rains. So, if you are stuck inside with nothing to do, fear not, we have the perfect viewing menu for you. Love dramas, we have plenty for you, from The Responder to Slow Horses. Perhaps documentaries are more your thing – then maybe you would like to try Four Hours At The Capital. Or, especially if you have children also stuck inside and are “borrred”, then try animation – from Superworm to Bladerunner : Black Lotus (that last one for older children only).
Thanks to Dec our show is packed with recommendations. Oh, and there is a mistake contained within. When Graham, yes Mel supporting Graham, mentions a show called Incredible, he actually means Invincible. Jeff, not wanting to correct Graham on air, has a quiet word with him after the show to put this right. The result, Graham, in editing madness, cuts out a wonderful speech from Jeff all about the nostalgia linked with past Dr Who's. It was powerful and unforgettable and would have brought a tear to your eye. Sadly, in a moment of epic revenge, Graham has cast it into editing hell. A shame as you, dear listeners, would have loved it.
Never mind, there are still plenty of gems on the show. We even find some time to talk about the potential changes coming to Channel 4 (luckily editor Graham kept that in).
As they say, something for everyone here.
Meanwhile Dec has gone back to his hermit existence to watch more shows to make sure we only tell you about the best that’s out there. Like James Bond, Dec will return.
Until then, keep watching your TV and follow Dec’s recommendations.
After a few months break, Darren’s Dash returns. And what a return. Darren has picked four films guaranteed to get you viewing and discussing. They are:
Belle: A stunning Japanese anime feature to rival the best from Disney and Pixar Encounter : Riz Ahmed stars in this intriguing science fiction feature Titane : A powerful French body horror feature The Eyes Of Tammy Faye : Jessica Chastain won the Oscar for her role in this true story. But is it any good? Find out what Darren has to say.
Once again Darren picks an excellent and varied selection for the Dash. As always, if you have any comments on these movies, or anything talked about on the show, please let us know.
Until next time, Darren says “see you at the flicks”
It’s a big welcome back for the At The Flicks review show! For the first of our 2022 review shows we discuss films from four masters of the craft, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kenneth Branagh, Guillermo Del Toro and Roland Emmerich. All of them famed in their particular fields.
All back with superior works, which are
Licorice Pizza – At The Flicks are not afraid to tackle the controversial issues surrounding movies head on. We discuss the big talking point of Anderson’s latest – what’s the difference between California Valley Girls and South Wales Valley Girls?
Belfast – One of our reviewers was also growing up in Belfast during the film’s time period. We offer something unique in our discussion – a personal perspective on that time and place.
Nightmare Alley – Why did this film noir flop at the box office? We ask our own Geek if Nightmare Alley has suffered an unkind fate. If only he could remember….
Moonfall – Controversial opinions rule once again. To some it was a typical, overblown Emmerich disaster feature, to other more discerning reviewers it is the spiritual sequel to 2001. Who is right (hint, the clue might be with the word discerning)?
As well as reviews we have the latest alternate film news. So alternate that some of the team suspect one of the items is “fake news” (it’s not). Also, something to keep our Graham happy, yes, there is more news about the Mel including where he likes to eat!
Finally, or first as it leads the show, we talk about another superior local trader. The Stroud Smokehouse and the amazing treats it sells. There is a link about the enterprise below.
It’s good to be back with reviews. We hope you have as much fun listening as we did recording the show. To follow on from this, a Darren’s Dash is coming soon.
Until then, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to the latest show from the At The Flicks team. In this episode we speak to young filmmaker Archie Shiels.
Archie is an up-and-coming talent who is currently honing his craft. He spent some time recently talking to us about his first documentary short feature The Blue Flash.
The Blue Flash is about an iconic sculpture – Blue Flash Power Box And Meshchips which a few years was threatened with demolition. Happily that situation is now changed and The Blue Flash as it is more locally known, will be preserved for future generations. The sculpture was designed by artist and arts educator John Gingell. Archie’s film is as much about the man as the image.
We talk to Archie about what inspired him to make the feature (the answer may surprise you – it certainly did us!), and what does the preservation mean for John’s family. In fact, the heart of the documentary is about legacy – both external, to the city of Cardiff and internal, to his daughter Zoe. That is a hell of a lot to pack into four minutes, and Archie does it in style.
Thanks to Archie, we have a link at the bottom of the show notes to The Blue Flash. Check it out, it is well worth it.
Archie Shiels, we believe this is a young man with a big future. You heard it from At The Flicks first.
See you At The Flicks.
Yes, we know a couple of months have gone by since the start of 2022 (although given recent world events it seems longer). However, after months of arguing, the At The Flicks team are now ready to unveil their latest creation on the world.
The 2022 year start show.
This is our annual look back at 2021 and a sneak peak of what 2022 has in store film wise (unless Putin presses that big red button on his desk). But before all that, Jeff has a new show section he wants to reveal (maybe Putin’s button isn’t the worst option this year). No, not his be nice to Marvel New Years Resolution (which lasted 10 minutes), it is his latest film news section. Film news off the beaten track. In this section you can learn why residents in Glasgow didn’t get a lot of sleep at the beginning of the year and what is Samuel L Jackson’s favourite food. Oh, and there is some actual film news as well.
Then we come to the sombre part of the show – our obituary section, where each of the five contributors to the show, Darren, Graham, Jeff, Neil and Phil talk about someone whose passing had an effect on them. There is an addition to this section this year, when Niall from Movies In Focus joins us to talk about the late, great Richard Donner, who Niall interviewed a few years ago.
After that we give out our annual movie awards. As with last year, Graham pushes to the head of the class to give out his award for the Best Mel Gibson film of the year. After that you can find out the winners of such awards as The Heaven’s Gate Award for the biggest failure of 2021 and The Boris Johnson family film award.
Finally, we have our shout out for films we want to see this year. Funny how things change, when we had this section last year, we spoke about Covid and the closure of cinemas. Now we have to worry about war. As they say, we live in interesting times. Hopefully these films will be released on one platform or another, and they will take your mind off other events – at least for a couple of hours.
Next month we return to our normal review show, however I can already promise you one argument amongst the team for one of the early releases in 2022. Until then, stay safe and we will see you At The Flicks.
The Stroud Film Festival returns for 2022 with some exciting films and live events. To get the lowdown on what is happening this year, we spoke to Co. Director of the Festival, Andy Freedman.
The festival launch is Friday 4th March at the Stroud Subscription Rooms (check out the link to the programme below). After that, you will find an event on most days up to the closing night of Sunday 27th March.
In this podcast we talk about some of the highlights that make this festival such a unique experience. Amongst the films are a number relating to film music, including Sisters With Transistors (with a Q and A with director Lisa Rovner), The Tape, after which star and director Martha Tilston will perform a set and an event where local young musicians will perform new soundtracks they have written to classic silent films, including A Trip To The Moon. Other events to look out for are special screenings of Napoleon Dynamite and The Greatest Showman and a screening of Chasing Mandela’s Rainbow where your very own At The Flicks will be running a Q & A with director Gary Janks after the film (For more on this special movie, check out our show 98).
If you have an interest in cinema then the Stroud Film Festival, which runs until 27th March is a festival you will not want to miss.
Check out the full festival programme here and get your tickets before they all go.
Up until now, probably the biggest scandal around lost tapes involved the BBC and the Beatles recordings they misplaced. That scandal has now been surpassed as we reveal to you the even more shocking story of the At The Flicks lost tapes.
OK, the reality is not that they were not lost per se, they were just irretrievable for almost two months thanks to one of our own. Like all great calamities it started simply, Neil was intrusted to put the recordings of our November review show in a safe place. These tapes were special – we had just spent a day and a half recording our reviews of some of the most acclaimed movies of the year – Dune, The French Dispatch and the latest from Sir Clint, Cry Macho.
All Neil had to do was place them inside the usual vault. We all trusted him. Unfortunately, that trust was horribly misplaced. Instead of just placing them where they normally go, he managed to time lock them inside the safe, sealing them for six weeks.
This meant two things, you, our listeners have had to wait far too long for this very special show and Neil ended up on the naughty list when the Christmas presents were handed out.
Given the extra time it has taken to get this show to you, a number of controversies have grown up around it. There have been whispers that the reason you haven’t heard it is because of one or maybe all of the following:
• One reviewer resulted in subterfuge to hide his true feelings about one of the big movies
• A reviewer had to admit he liked a film from a director he has been dissing for years
• One reviewer missed out on a review because of a capitalist conspiracy
• Another reviewer has suddenly discovered a strange love of horror movies
- A Marvel film might actually be good and (say it quietly) a number of reviewers confirm that
Could these things be true? There is only one way to find out – you will have to listen to the lost tapes episode and judge for yourself. Remember once you have heard it, you will never be able to forget the shocking details revealed.
So, enter at your own risk.
And whatever happens, we will see you at the flicks.
So that was 2021. A year we are all pleased to wave goodbye to (just like Neil’s relatives after his extended Christmas stay). But what was it like for movies? In part one of our end of the year show, we spoke to some very special people about what films they liked. Now it is the turn of our review panel.
Yes, our normal review panel of Darren, Graham, Jeff, Neil and Phil, have gathered to cast their critical eye over what happened in the film world and give their top five. Then Jeff, through a combination of magic, science and quantum mumbo jumbo collates everyone’s list and comes up with a group top five. As you will hear, at least one member of the team is not happy with that and asked for the Video Assistant Referee to review the decision. As with football, we are still awaiting the result of their deliberation. However, we just couldn’t keep you waiting any longer, so here is the show.
You will find it no surprise to learn that this turned out like one of our standard review show. Neil admits he needs to watch more films, Darren reveals his extensive film list, and as an added bonus, tells us his Dash film of the year. Phil and Jeff finally agree to disagree over their tastes in movies while Graham came very close to following his true nature and picking a Mel Gibson film as one of his top five movies.
You may be pleased to hear that this is a shorter show than is our norm. Jeff cut it short prior to his quick getaway, when he heard that listener Frank (the butt of many of his jokes this year) had flown in from America to have a little “talk” with the presenter. Hopefully Jeff is now well on the road to recovery and will be back in time for the next show – our year start spectacular, where it is not a good look to hand out awards when strapped in bandages and your jaw is wired together.
That’s it – a wrap for 2021.
As we move into 2022, we at At The Flicks would like to say thank you to our listeners for staying with us this year, as we argued and championed various movies. We hope you have enjoyed the shows and we look forward to bringing you more next year in what we believe will be happier movie going times.
For now stay safe. We will be there for you with an incredible schedule of shows in 2022 and beyond.
It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2021. Overall, not the best of years, but what was it like at the movies? With cinema closed for much of the first half of the year, and most watching done online, did that mean a drop in film quality? Or was 2021 a classic film year?
To answer that question we have spoken to three friends of the show. We did cheat and also ask them to give us their top five movies and tried not to outstay our welcome when we asked what they are most looking forward to seeing in 2022.
First up we spoke to Emma (and if you haven’t subscribed to her excellent film newsletter, may I take this opportunity to do so – the link is below). Emma is a serious film watcher (easily rivalling At The Flicks reviewers Darren and Phil with her seen amount for the year), and has wonderfully eclectic tastes. Her top five is original and well worth tracking down. Then there is Elijah, our American reviewer. Again, another first rate selection and one Graham almost completely agrees with. After that we have top BBC reporter Steve Knibbs, with his take on the year. Once again, an excellent selection.
As we move into 2021, we at At The Flicks would like to say thank you to our listeners for staying with us this year, as we argued and championed various movies. We hope you have enjoyed the shows and we look forward to bringing you more next year in what we believe will be happier movie going times.
For now stay safe. We will be there for you with an incredible schedule of shows in 2022 and beyond.
Today’s pick explains how all the presents are delivered in one night. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick became a Christmas favourite because of a copyright error. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is acclaimed by many as the ultimate Christmas film. Can you guess what it is?
Christmas is almost upon us (unless Bodger stuffs up the holidays rather than the turkey). The At The Flicks household is buzzing with that pre Xmas excitement. Graham is demanding we screen his Lethal Weapon box set (again), Neil continues to tell us tales of his golf round with Santa (who he said held a grudge and gave him no presents that year) and Jeff is hoping for a soapbox in his Christmas stocking!
One thing we all agree with is the TV will be permanently on for the holidays. But what to watch? Luckily this podcast has the answer. We brought in TV expert Declan for this special Carry On Christmas Streaming episode. As much an annual treat for our listeners as Morecombe and Wise. Dec also tells us about some shows we have missed over the last few weeks which may well be worth catching up with following our turkey dinner excesses. This might even be the time to binge watch Downton Abbey (which Neil assures is how he used to live until he fell on hard times and had to stay with the likes of us).
That will be after we get through some of Dec’s recommendations. Indeed, to make sure he has everything covered, Dec has subscribed to Disney Plus. Is there no end to this man’s sacrifices? If like Dec, you are a fan of Scandi dramas, you are in for a treat this Christmas. Also, and not giving too much away there is a Royal Scandal (what another one!), a wonderful remake of a Jules Verne classic, some fantastic documentaries, an M R James treat and some animated shorts which are destined to become classics. For more you will have to listen to the show to find out what has been recommended – that is our air of Christmas mystery.
So if you have the same problem as we do in deciding what to watch, then check out Dec’s recommendations. It may be a cliché, however we believe there his selection has something for everyone.
Whatever you watch, have a great Christmas and may all your selections be wonderful.
Today’s pick was inspired by two short films from the same director. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is a British musical – but not for all the family. Can you guess what it is?
Welcome to the final Darren’s Dash of 2021. Despite all of Darren’s recommendations throughout the year, we have saved the best for last, with some cracking reviews of films you really need to see.
After last month’s spectacular explosion, there is only one minor meltdown this month, surprisingly, not from the usual suspect. This particular movie is loved by all except one, who has some rather harsh and controversial things to say. To find out which film and who had the meltdown, make sure you check out the show.
As for the films reviewed
Pig: Nicolas Cage is after the people who kidnapped his pig. Nicolas Cage and an odd premise. You might think that is true to form, however Pig will take you in an unexpected direction. A film so good it may well turn up in some of the At The Flicks reviews films of the year.
Gunpowder Milkshake: Think John Wick with a female cast.
The Trip: A Norwegian comedy thriller about a couple who want to murder each other, but pick the wrong place to do it. It sounds so good most of the reviewers put it on their to watch list. Only Jeff was hesitant when he heard there were subtitles.
The Toll: Although Jeff was full attention for this Welsh selection from Darren (also known as Tollbooth). Another darkly comic feature and one in which Jeff doesn’t need subtitles
Riders Of Justice: Mads Mikkelsen revenge thriller. The two members of the team who have seen it were raving about it (although for different reasons)
Once again Darren picks an excellent and varied selection for the Dash. As always, if you have any comments on these movies, or anything talked about on the show, please let us know.
Darren’s Dash will return
in February!
Today’s pick went by another name when first shown on American TV. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick could have been inspired by many Christmas shopping trips. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s darker pick was one of the reasons for the creation of the PG-13 certificate. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is the first film to use one of the best selling Christmas songs of all time. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is a family gathering which turns into a comic horror. Can you guess what it is?
Merry Christmas and welcome to the At The Flicks advent calendar. Everyday from 1st December, up to and including 24th December, we will be giving you a recommendation for a Christmas film to watch to get you in that festive mood. Some will be films you know, some you won’t. We hope there is something for everyone in our Festive Film Advent Calendar. Merry Christmas from; Graham, Jeff, Neil and special Christmas guest presenter Emma.
Neil cannot unfortunately be with us this month, but the show must go on. The regular team shuffle in for the reviews continue.
As always we have the quiz and this time Jeff amazes the rest of the team (there is a first time for everything) with his Bond knowledge. Our Bond guests over the years have taught him something, or maybe he is the only one that listened?
For film reviews this month we have :
No Time To Die : Daniel Craig’s final outing as Bond gets the thumbs up from us
The Last Duel : Ridley Scott is back, but is he too old for this type of historical epic? Listen in to find out our verdict
The Green Knight : The film which caused dissention. Three people loved it, one hated it – can you guess who that was?
Halloween Kills : Not much in support of this one
Venom Let There Be Carnage : More superhero nonsense?
As usual there is much to say about these movies and some people who just won’t shut up. Do you agree? Please let us know what you think.
Darren’s Dash, the normally sane part of the review show, is coming shortly.
And while you are waiting, see you At The Flicks.
Belated compliments of the season to you, faithful listeners.
Our carry on streaming expert Dec returns to tell us what is worth watching in this darkest of seasons. True not all the selections are horror, however, most have unsettling notes to them. Like that glass of thick red wine even Graham won’t drink!
What is included in the show you may ask? Well, Dec gives us the details and recommends (amongst many others), the following
· The Cleaner
· The North Water
· Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm
· The Trail Of Oscar Pistorius
· Inside The President’s War Room
· Midnight Mass
And many, many more
More than enough to keep you going over the few short weeks to Christmas. Don’t worry if you run out of things to watch before that season is upon us, Dec will be back in December to give us his unmissable recommendations for the end of the year. We will be going from Happy Halloween to Merry Christmas before you know it!
Until then, stay safe and hopefully, if you are not watching TV, we will see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to Darren’s Dash, the show where Jeff reluctantly let’s go of the reins and hands control over to Darren. That is a harder act for him to do than you might imagine. It takes three weeks of the right type of pills to get him back to normal (or what is classed as normal for him) after one of these shows.
Even better, Darren has selected a film which has managed to cause a Jeff meltdown although Graham still refuses to watch that movie. See if you can work out which one it was from the list of five films reviewed
Censor : A film censor sets out to solve a mystery in this highly acclaimed movie. Also highly acclaimed by the two people in the show who watched it!
The Last Movie Star : Burt Reynolds plays an aging movie star who has to face up to his advancing years. Again, there are positive takes on this feature.
Malignant : The horror film that splits the review team. Some loved it, one didn’t, and Graham hid under the bed!
Herself : A powerful story of domestic abuse. Wise words from Darren and Phil on this one
Our Ladies : A British comedy feature that is, according to the team, well worth a watch.
Once again Darren picks an excellent and varied selection for the Dash. As always, if you have any comments on these movies, or anything talked about on the show, please let us know.
Until next time, Darren says “see you at the flicks”
In the always bustling At The Flicks news room we sometimes joke about other shows we listen to where critics are “phoning in” their reviews. Well, this month the joke is on us. Neil has gone off on holiday (again) and phoned in his reviews (or more accurately musings) along with his answers to last month’s extremely complicated quiz. Where did he go in this Covid infected world you may well be asking? It was supposed to be a secret (because of some of the company he has been keeping), but we decided to spill the beans. If you wonder why Neil never knocks disgraced public figures on the show, you are about to find out why. All we can say is, it is a good job that Jimmy Saville never enjoyed a game of golf!
So while Neil is away and drunk prank calling us with his rambling reviews (which actually make more sense than usual), the rest of the team continue to take the show seriously. Upcoming this month are reviews of such major movies as:
G I Joe : Snake Eyes: The G I Joe franchise has been revived, but was it worth the effort?
Reminiscence: Hugh Jackman stars in this dystopian future movie crossed with film noir. The film bombed in cinemas – did it deserve better?
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings: Or as Jeff calls it, Feng Shui, much to the annoyance of everyone else. Is he just saying it to disguise a new love of marvel or just to mock as usual?
Copshop: The Frank and The Gerard in one movie. Graham was in his element, but what did everyone else think?
Candyman: A horror film – from the At The Flicks team? No surprise that some of the team avoided it, one even going off golfing so that he could miss it.
A varied bunch of movies there. And of course there is Darren’s Dash to come – it will only be a few more days, trust me!
As always, Darren’s Dash is well worth the wait.
And while you are waiting, see you At The Flicks.
WARNING : Podcast takeover alert : WARNING
For this show the old ones who usually run things have been given a rest as the young team of Emily and Kieran take over. Earlier this year Emily and Kieran were working as students on the Cheltenham International Film Festival. On this podcast they talk to various people connected with the festival. They speak to festival founder Leslie Sheldon, the team who created and shaped this year’s festival, some of the director’s whose films were in competition and people who watched the features. In short this is a beginning to end trip through how a festival is organised to how it is delivered to the public. A fascinating journey for which our two young friends are your guides.
Emily and Kieran have put together an excellent podcast – in fact if I were one of the old guys who normally appear on here talking about how much better things were in the past, I would be worried.
Finally, if you enjoy this podcast and wished that you had attended the festival, then worry not. In October the second half of this year’s Cheltenham festival takes place and you can actually sit in a cinema to watch some of the movies. Check out the Cheltenham International Film Festival website (https://2021.cheltfilm.com/) for further details.
We hope to return you to our normal team for the next podcast – unless you would rather it was run by Emily and Kieran. While you decide, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to our spin off review show – Darren’s Dash.
Regular listeners to our shows will know that Darren’s Dash used to be a regular feature in our monthly review round up. In that section, Darren would talk about four films most of the other members either never got out of their chair to watch or were unable to view because of limited release. The Dash has become so popular that we have now decided to give Darren his own monthly slot. But wait, that’s not all. Because of the extra time we have in the new slot, the number of films being reviewed has been increased from four to five. As always there is a challenge to the rest of us to see if we can watch them before they are reviewed by our Northern contributor. Not much of a competition as we expect Phil to win this hands down every month.
For this first show, we have managed to annoy Jeff (a relatively easy thing to do) with not one but two foreign language movies. As for the films being reviewed they are
Jolt: Starring Kate Beckinsale and can be found on Amazon Prime
Another Round: Starring Mads Mikkelsen (and in Dutch)
Guns Akimbo: Starring Daniel Radcliffe and can be found on Amazon Prime
The Forever Purge: Starring Ana De La Reguera and can be found on Video On Demand
Minari: Starring Steven Yeun (and in Korean and English)
I am sure you will agree that this is an excellent and varied selection. As always, if you have any comments on these movies, or anything talked about on the show, please let us know.
Until next time, Darren says “see you at the flicks”
A warning for all listeners. Maybe against our own best judgement, we have allowed Neil to present his own quiz. A little-known fact about Neil. In real life there has been many a time Neil when he has been mistaken for Jeremy Paxton. Until this quiz we were unaware of much he wanted to emulate his doppelganger. This can be the only reason why Neil has created a movie quiz in the style of University Challenge! Yes, it is a strange listening experience. Good luck to any listener trying to answer the random questions, and well done to the rest of the team for not trying to kill him while going through this painful experience.
After the quiz (yes, it does eventually end), we have our reviews. As usual we almost completely fail to agree – except for one movie. This month we have been very privileged to get a sneak peak at Swedish director Jimmy Olsson’s new short film Notes. Watch out for this one during the upcoming awards season. This incredible and uplifting film has real power – it certainly united the team in praise of it.
As for the rest of the reviews:
Old: M Night Shyamalan returns with another story that could have dropped out of the Twilight Zone. Did it work for our reviewers and what phobia did it invoke for one of the panel?
Boss Level: Graham insisted so we had to include the latest from The Mel. But is it any good?
The Last Mercenary: Jean Claude Van Damme’s latest is showing on Netflix. It certainly split the review team, although only one went full Brexit and insulted most European nations
Jungle Cruise: Who would have thought that a family adventure from Disney could have brought the team to near blows?
The Suicide Squad: James Gunn returns and is almost universally liked. Well, except by one reviewer who seems to have a grudge against superhero movies.
As packed and controversial as always.
Wait I hear you cry, where is Darren’s Dash? Well, that segment has now becomes so popular we have decided to promote it to its own show. Check us out in a few days’ time for the new, revamped Darren’s Dash, or even better, why not subscribe to the At The Flicks show. You won’t be disappointed.
Trust us, Darren’s Dash is well worth the wait.
And while you are waiting, see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to the At The Flicks review show, no film is too good or too bad for this motley team.
Although, it is safe to say never had a show where the team disagree as strongly as they do here about some of the films discussed. Two of the reviews are the subject of hot debate, as is one of those under discussion for Darren’s Dash. In fact, Jeff, hated one film so much, it has forced him to change his whole philosophy on the world of movies! Needless to say, Neil takes the opposite position to Jeff (as always). Although, we do find out in this episode that Neil has a prejudice. A prejudice so bad, the rest of the team have to shame him. Just in case you think Graham is quiet this episode, then wait until he discusses the physics deployed in one of the films we talk about.
And just what are these films up for review this month?
Luca : The latest from Pixar. Is it any good and why was it just sent to straight to streaming?
Black Widow : A new Marvel to review – Jeff’s wish comes true.
In The Heights : A new musical – Graham, the musical hater’s wish comes true.
America : The Motion Picture : The latest animation from Netflix. This review / rant has to be heard to be believed.
F9 : The Fast Saga : The latest in the series and more split opinion.
And an added film this month
Brighton : In show 172 we interviewed Brighton writer / director Stephen Cookson. Now the team (with one exception) has seen it. Our view? You will have to listen to find out.
After that we have the legendary Darren’s Dash, which this month includes Freaky, Dinner In America and The Tomorrow War. I bet you can’t work out which one led to a violent disagreement within the team.
With all this split opinion I guess it is time for you, our listeners, to pick a side. Is it Team Jeff or Team All The Rest? You decide. Please let us know which side you pick, we would love to hear from you.
Until next time, see you At The Flicks.
Steve Knibbs is the top BBC reporter in Gloucestershire (certainly in our opinion). A very busy man who was able to squeeze in some time to talk to your At The Flicks team.
You see, Steve is a huge film fan. When we found that out we just had to chat about his favourite movies. It turns out Steve is a MASSIVE Star Wars fan. In the interest of fairness and the generally annoying way At The Flicks works, we excluded that immediately from Steve’s top five. What then followed was a wonderful conversation about movies in general, film watching during Lockdown and why Steve selected these particular five favourites. Check out the show and tell us what you think of the choices. As for us, we are still in awe at this excellent crop of movies.
But of course we couldn’t leave Steve without talking about Star Wars. Check out his stories and also the interview Steve did with Oscar winner Norman Reynolds about Star Wars which we link to below
As well as a fascinating discussion about movies, Steve also spoke to us about magic and music. If you check out some of links below, you will Steve’s musical talents as part of Swimming With Alice.
We hope you have as much fun listening to this show as we had making it.
Enjoy and see you At The Flicks.
Welcome to the At The Flicks review show, with a show this good, why would you ever need anyone else?
This month Jeff goes all Welsh on us in not one but two movies! Darren believes we sent him to review one movie as a joke, Phil gets very worried when he starts agreeing with Jeff, Graham does the quiz and Neil is, well, Neil. So the usual mayhem prevails and we only get serious when we talk movies. This month our reviews are
- A Quiet Place Part II : Yes!!! We got Neil to a horror film – what did he think of it, especially as he was too scared to watch part 1?
- Army Of The Dead: We got Neil to another horror – and by that I don’t just mean Dave Bautista’s acting. Have we scared Neil for life?
- The Father: A very serious discussion for a very serious film. Did you think Anthony Hopkins deserved that Oscar?
- Dream Horse : Jeff’s dream karaoke soundtrack and something we all surprisingly enjoyed
- Peter Rabbit 2 : Never review a film based in Gloucester with Cheltenham snobs!
Oh, but there’s more. An excellent Dash from Darren this month including Oxygen, Cruella and Nobody. Great movies all. In other news, Neil, so overawed by the Welsh nature of some of the films, tries to claim he is Welsh. Also one of our favourite people is listener of the month. No shark movies though.
Let us know if you want to be a future listener of the month.
As always we hope you enjoy (even if you don’t agree with) our take on some of the big hitters released in the last few weeks. Please let us know what you think, as we do like to hear from you.
Until next time – see you at the flicks.
Welcome to the June edition of At The Flicks movie news.
This month :
Graham gives us an update on David Cronenberg’s latest film
Neil tells us what is coming from the world of animation.
Enjoy
The first decade of our James Bond retrospective comes to a close as we discuss the last of the 1960’s films – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Given the gravity of this episode, Elijah, Jeff, Graham and Neil have all turned up in their tuxedos. Together they give their views on the film and the new actor playing James bond. Yes, Sean Connery has left the role and been replaced by newcomer George Lazenby. This was his one and only time of playing Bond. Was he any good? Why only one? We have views on both of these questions which, even if Goldfinger’s laser was hanging over us, we are not afraid to share.
Neil has also turned up to the discussion with his bumper book of James Bond facts as every now and again he throws, grenade style, another one in. So prepare to be challenged by fact checker Neil on this episode.
Things we and fact checker Neil will answer for you
· Did George Lazenby and Diana Rigg get on during filming?
· Who was the second Avengers actress in the movie (the TV series not some overblown film series)?
· Why was some of the back projection so out of control?
· What happened to the great Ilse Steppart who played Irma Bunt?
Just some of the many things we discuss on a James Bond film, which has often wrongly been perceived as a financial flop – it was in fact one of the most successful films of 1969.
As I said at the beginning, with this show, we conclude our look at the James Bond films of the 1960’s. Coming soon – the 1970’s. Before that we have one more special Bond surprise for you. In an upcoming episode we will be talking to a James Bond expert about how the super spy defined that decade.
Until then, see you at the flicks.
Welcome to the At The Flicks review show, the only review show you will ever need. Our batch of films were mainly selected before that joyous day when cinemas reopened. Not that this is a reflection on our selection. Most are given high praise from the team. Even Jeff seems sane until his meds faded out and then he goes full straight jacket for his last review. Don’t worry listeners, we have him back under full control now. In fact, we have even given him a day out to the cinema – more on that next time.
For this month, here are the movies being reviewed:
Godzilla Vs Kong: Big creatures, big review and possibly our most divisive film of the month. The Mauritanian: Great cast and a powerful true story, so why did it fall short for some of our reviewers? Promising Young Woman: Powerful film which certainly had an impact on this review team. We recommend watching the film first before listening to this review. Nomadland: The winner of the Best Film Oscar recently. A worthy winner? Check out what the team think. Sound Of Metal: Another highly praised feature and the one where Jeff has a meltdown. Oh, but there’s more. An excellent Dash from Darren this month including Mitchells Vs The Machines, The Counterfeiter and Stowaway. Great movies all. In other news, Darren takes over the quiz, and catches out a number of the team with his questions, and we have a very special shout out for our listener of the month.
Let us know if you want to be a future listener of the month.
As always we hope you enjoy (even if you don’t agree with) our take on some of the big hitters released in the last few weeks. Please let us know what you think, as we do like to hear from you.
Until next time – see you at the flicks.
Stephen Cookson’s excellent film Brighton is the closing film at this year’s Cheltenham International Film Festival on 5th June.
The At The Flicks team were given the opportunity of interviewing Stephen about his film, which is based on the play Brighton Beach Scumbags, written by Steven Berkoff. This is a powerful slice of life as a group of 4 sixty somethings return to Brighton, the place where they all met in the 1960’s. The seaside town has changed, but the attitudes of this group has not, setting up the dramatic core of the movie.
Stephen tells us about bringing together his fantastic cast of Lesley Sharp, Marion Bailey, Larry Lamb and Phil Davis. How filming a Summer set movie caused problems when production was in February as well as the hilarious story of when and where he was first told the story by Steven Berkoff.
For us, Brighton is a must see and we have already booked our tickets for the showing at the Cheltenham International Film Festival. As this is an online festival, the film will be available to screen at home from 5th June for 7 days. Also if you book using your At The Flicks discount code of ATF25, you can get 25% off the cost of the screening. A bargain for a brilliant British feature.
See you at the flicks.
Welcome to the May 2021 edition of At The Flicks movie news.
This month we are calling the show our exclusive edition, as most of the news is indeed, exclusive. The team have split their original assignments accordingly
- Jeff talks to Last Chancers director Phil Stubbs about his new project
- Graham speaks to Cheltenham International Film Festival director Leslie Sheldon about the delights of the upcoming 2021 on line festival
- Neil talks horror (nice one Jeff, getting him to do that!). He looks at some of the horror movies currently filming around the UK and gives the first reveal on the horror short Tea With The Reaper.
Plenty of new and original content there. A shame that can’t be said about Jeff’s jokes. That aside his recommendations this month includes a blast from radio past that everyone should be checking out.
So, if you want to keep up to date in the world of the movies then you should be listening to At The Flicks. It is indeed your one stop shop for movie news, as this episode proves.
If you have half as much fun listening to this as we did putting it together, then you will be enjoying a real treat.
We look forward to your views on the episode and hope to catch you on the next one.
Bye for now.
In this special episode of At The Flicks, the team talk to award winning sports journalist Jon Palmer about his favourite sports movies.
I have had both the pleasure and the privilege of knowing Jon for over twenty years. He is dedicated and impassioned about his craft. Jon is currently, amongst other things, the football writer for Gloucestershirelive.co.uk. Those that know Jon, are very aware he is a passionate Cheltenham Town football follower, which is mentioned once or twice. A little note for our listeners not in Europe – that is “football” not “soccer”, whatever that is.
It was, therefore, a big moment for the At The Flicks team when Jon was able to take time out of his very busy schedule to talk to us about his top five favourite sports films. These included both dramas and documentaries. A link to the trailer for one (a movie none of the team have seen) is below. To preserve the mystery and suspense of the show, all of the other choices, with Jon’s reasons for selection, are only mentioned in the show.
We had a blast talking to Jon, learning much about films we haven’t caught up with yet. But then, when you are talking to an expert in his field, you are always going to come away informed and entertained.
One final post-match (interview) review.. During the show, we mentioned Cheltenham Town a couple of times. Jon told us that while the team had been promoted in the football league before, it had always been via the play off route. This time Jon hoped that they could get an automatic promotion. Since the recording of the show, not only did Cheltenham achieve that, they finished top of the league. Go Cheltenham Town!
We hope you, the listeners, cheer this show in the same way!
Welcome to the continuing adventures of the At The Flicks team as they talk Star Trek movies.
After the modest success of Star Trek III : The Search For Spock (At The Flicks episode 152), there was to be one more medium budget movie to complete a trilogy. This was a Star Trek film which went in a very different direction than the movies that proceeded it. It went backwards. In time that is. Yes, the crew of the Enterprise return to the San Francisco of the mid 1980’s.
Guiding us through this production is our captain – Darren (after all it was his idea), backed up by his science officer Graham who will be looking at some of the more technical aspects. The good news is Jeff got the transporter working and Neil has been returned to us. He doesn’t look quite the same, due to a Fly like malfunction with the transporter equipment, so we can class him as a Star Trek alien for this episode. It was our fault for letting someone as technically inept as Jeff loose with computers!
With the full crew, sort of restored, we have an in depth discussion on one of the most fun Star Trek movies. We will be talking about such things as:
- How Eddie Murphy was almost cast in a key role
- Why a very funny improvised line of dialogue was said to pay a parking ticket
- Why there is no humour in the future
- How Jeff gets confused between Whales and Wales
And many other fascinating production facts you didn’t realise you needed to know.
As always in these shows, the At The Flicks team can be divided into two camps. Darren and Graham are devoted Star Trek fans while Neil and Jeff are casual viewers who assumes live long and prosper is a Jeff Bezos mantra.
So, prepare to boldly go, enjoy and remember in these difficult days, stay safe and listen to At The Flicks.
In this show we catch up with Caz, the creator of the excellent Let’s Go To The Movies website.
One of Caz’s articles really caught our eye and imagination. It was her list of 50 favourite films. Now, there is nothing we love more at At The Flicks than reading personal top movie lists. You go down the list and pick out matches. Favourite movies that connect you with another person, another person who shares your passion for film.
Some of the titles in Caz’s wonderful list are inspirational films to us. We just had to talk to her about her choices. This show is the result of that chat. A talk with another film lover, about films that mean something, hopefully to all of us.
We talk Rocky, Chicago, The Wrestler, It’s Complicated, Remember The Titans, Titanic and many, many others.
So if you are a fan of movies – and what are you doing reading this if you are not, then join us on this show as we talk to Caz about some of her favourite films and, as an added bonus some of the movies which didn’t quite make the cut.
If after listening to this episode you start to compile your favourites, why not share them with us. We would love to hear from you.
Bye for now.
Welcome to the At The Flicks review show, the only review show you will ever need. This month the team discuss some big hitters and there is agreement for many of them.
To prove that statement, here are the movies being reviewed:
- Jack Snyder’s Justice League : Our big review of the month. So big in fact, we had to bring in Elijah from America for his comments.
- The Little Things : No, not a reference to Graham’s height. This is the latest from all round superstar Denzel Washington.
- Palm Springs : A sort of update on Groundhog Day. Also sort of Jeff’s worst nightmare – reliving day after day with co-presenter Neil.
- Six Minutes To Midnight : Eddie Izzard’s latest feature split the team. However you won’t be able to hear much of Jeff’s incisive wit and perception as Graham cut it. Jealousy is a terrible thing.
- The Kid Detective : Adam Brody stars in this mystery which proves to be more of a character piece.
Oh, but there’s more. An excellent Dash from Darren this month including The Columnist, Love And Monsters and The Owners. There is also dissension in the ranks as the quiz is taken over by Phil this month. Many say it is better than the ones Jeff has been providing. Many, but not all….
Are you the listener of the month? Check out the show to find out. If not, maybe next time.
As always we hope you enjoy (even if you don’t agree with) our take on some of the big hitters released in the last few weeks. Please let us know what you think, as we do like to hear from you.
Until next time – take care and stay safe.
Welcome to this month’s movie news. In short : Jeff talks festivals, Graham waxes lyrical for a new hero and Neil nips to the bookies.
For those that listen to our show on a regular basis (and for that, thank you), you will know we have been following the progress of a wonderful animated feature coming from GB Entertainment Ltd called Louisa An Amazing Adventure. Expect to be able to see that feature later in the year. However, for those of you Stateside who want to get an early viewing of Louisa, then you should listen closely to the breaking news section of the podcast.
Jeff reveals which online American film festival has included Louisa in competition. If you act fast you may still be able to get a ticket to see it. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.
Jeff also gives first details of this year’s Cheltenham International Film Festival and the role the At The Flicks team are having with this prestigious event. There will be much more to say on this festival over the next few months, including a word from its director Leslie Sheldon about some of the delights in store.
After those reveals, we have another one for you. Graham talks candidly about a new friend. A man who has worked with The Mel, The Gerard and The Bruce (that is the friend, not Graham). Who is this person who has got Graham so excited he almost cannot speak at one point in the show (listen carefully and you will hear a series of high pitched squeaks – oh, as a warning, please do not play that section of the podcast anywhere near bat colonies)? Check out the show for the reveal of this actor.
Finally there is Neil, who having won a few bets on the Grand National and Cheltenham Races, fancies himself as a hustler! He predicts which English actor is going to win next year’s Best Actor Oscar, and for which film. To be fair, the rest of the team think he may be right. Yet again to find out who we are talking about, you are going to have to listen to the show.
When you do, please let us know if you think Neil is right or not. Should he continue his new betting lifestyle or just go back to crazy golf?
Your thoughts are, as always, very welcome.
Enjoy and stay safe.
Lockdown might be easing, however, the recommendation is still to stay at home as much as possible. If we follow the rules, how do we pass the time?
There is always TV. But what do you chose to watch amongst the myriad of channels And shows? What is good and what is best avoided? Luckily we have an expert on hand. Our Dec returns to help. He goes through the channels picking out what is best so you can concentrate on the cream.
His unmissable picks include :
- The Pembrokeshire Murders
- Bridgerton
- Line Of Duty
- The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
- It’s A Sin
- Cobra Kai
- Challenger : The Final Flight
- Call My Agent
- Yonderland
- And many, many more.
So much TV, so little time. Yes, it’s a good job we have an expert on hand to help. Think of us as one of those Government briefings with Dec as the Jonathan Van Tam of the streaming world. Of course that makes Neil our Boris Johnson, something none of us really want to consider…
Perhaps it best we all forget that last statement and concentrate on Dec’s picks. Please let us know if you enjoy our selections.
Until the next time, enjoy and stay safe.
Our Stephen King journey concludes for the time being with this episode. In this show we discuss David Cronenberg’s version of The Dead Zone starring Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen.
We are very pleased to have a new voice on the show for this episode. Val Thomas of The Big Screen Biograph (excellent podcast, well worth tracking down) has joined us to talk Stephen King.
As you meet John Smith in The Dead Zone (please don’t shake his hand – for reasons far worse than catching Covid), you will learn:
- Why David Cronenberg agreed to make such a departure from his usual fare
- Why Christopher Walken flinches when he has his “visions”
- The possible hidden story within The Dead Zone
- Why Jeff wimped out on four pages of the Stephen King book
Now the sharp eared amongst you may have noticed that Neil is not in the main discussion. The reason for that was, it took Neil a lot of time to build up the courage to watch the movie. The result he wasn’t ready for the main recording session. However, as he did eventually watch The Dead Zone, and surprisingly enjoy it, we just had to let him have his chance to give his views. Which is why there is a little coda, for Neil, at the end of the podcast.
Finally, As we said in the previous show notes, we are bringing new people in to give their view on Stephen King over the course of this series.
So, if you have a favourite Stephen King film or TV series and want to join us to talk about it, please drop us a line at Jeffattheflicks@gmail.com. We aren’t recording the next batch until August, so please get in touch, we always love to hear from our listeners.
Stay safe and read King.
Our Stephen King journey continues. In this episode we discuss the 1983 movie Cujo, where a rabid St Bernard dog stalks Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro.
Returning to speak Stephen King with us is Niall from Movies In Focus. Niall certainly knows his Stephen King, and that comes across in this discussion with Graham and Jeff. By the way, Niall now has his own excellent podcast and a link to it can be found below.
Where’s Neil you might ask? He’s still in the car outside the recording studio. The movie did scare our Neil and now he sits outside in the car terrified that a Welsh St Bernard is waiting to devour him!
So we had to record the show without him. Neil’s review would have been “too scary for me”
Despite the team being a member short, a lot of interesting things were discussed in the show about Cujo, such as:
- Who the original director was and why he was fired
- Why the film is like some sporting events – a game of two halves
- Why almost all the story elements that linked this story to The Dead Zone were removed
- The bizarre plans for a remake
Interestingly, it soon becomes apparent in our discussion that not everyone is a fan. In fact only one of us liked it. Guess which one?
If you have a favourite Stephen King film or TV series and want to join us to talk about it, please drop us a line at jeffattheflicks@gmail.com. We aren’t recording the next batch until August, so please get in touch, we always love to hear from our listeners.
See you tomorrow for the last of this batch of King as we talk The Dead Zone.
After the success of our Stephen King shows last Halloween, we are back to give you a treat of three more movie discussions.
We move into the 1980’s and start with the knock-out collaboration of Stephen King and George A Romero for Creepshow. This was the novelist’s first original work for the cinema, a five story anthology in the style of the EC Tales From The Crypt comics from the 1950’s. Although you King fans out there will know that two of the stories are based on early short stories, which are very hard to track down.
Joining us for this episode is Andy @Jabbah2000. Andy certainly knows his Stephen King as his contribution to the episode shows (puts the team of three to shame!). Although it was easy to do that for two of the team members. You see,for non horror fans Neil and Graham it was a first watch. Let the betting begin as to how many nights Neil had to sleep with a light on after watching.
As we turn the pages of the Creepshow comic book, you will learn :
- Which story scared Neil the most
- The original ending to the Ted Danson / Leslie Nielson story “Something To Tide You Over.
- Which George A Romero film Stephen King acted in before this one
- A hint as to how they caught the real life bugs used for the segment “They’re Creeping Up On You” (the full details are twoo disgusting to broadcast)
- How many versions of Creepshow film Andy has in his collection
An in depth and fun discussion, with the added bonus of making Neil and Graham watch horror. Result.
As we said in the previous show notes, we are bringing new people in to give their view on Stephen King over the course of this series.
So, if you have a favourite Stephen King film or TV series and want to join us to talk about it, please drop us a line at jeffattheflicks@gmail.com. We aren’t recording the next batch until August, so please get in touch, we always love to hear from our listeners.
See you shortly to talk Cujo.
Until then stay safe and read King.
Last Halloween the At The Flicks team, with the help of a few friends, talked about the first Stephen King movies and TV shows.
The good news is, we are coming back over Easter to talk about the next three films – all made in the early 80’s. The even better news is we are introducing it with this tongue in cheek advert.
You know how these little promos work. Jeff torments Neil while telling you, our listeners, about some upcoming At The Flicks event. Well, this time Neil turns the tables on Jeff and gets his revenge. Or does he?
Here, in advance of our short season, an introduction which we hope will make you smile.
Enjoy.
Happy Easter
Welcome to the At The Flicks review show, the only review show you will ever need. The good news for our listeners is, this month’s film selection is a major improvement over last time. There are films here that even Jeff likes.
To prove that statement, here are the movies being reviewed:
One Night In Miami : A gathering of “friends” back in the 1960’s - a party we would all like to crash. Well, except one of the reviewers. News Of The World : Tom Hanks in a Western. We are all in for this, and at least it isn’t anything like Damsel which we all reviewed (OK, attacked), last month. The Art Of Self Defense : Jesse Eisenberg playing a neurotic (at least to start with). Strange and quirky and with more than a passing resemblance to an 80’s favourite. Willy’s Wonderland : Nicholas Cage in a weird movie. There’s something different (not), although it was too weird for one of the reviewers! I Care A Lot : Highly praised by many on the show. One had to be contrary and amazingly, it is not Jeff this time. Who is this and why?
Oh, but there’s more. An excellent Dash from Darren this month including White Tiger, Moxie and White God.
Then there is the return of Jeff’s thought provoking quiz. Will the team score high like they did last month (or not do very well because they scored high in other ways)? Listen carefully and you will hear a familiar voice join us to help Graham out with a question he gets stuck on.
We also start a new feature where we give a shout out to our listener of the month. Are you the first listener of the month? Check out the show to find out. If not, maybe next time.
As always we hope you enjoy (even if you don’t agree with) our take on some of the big hitters released in the last few weeks. Please let us know what you think, as we do like to hear from you.
Until next time – take care and stay safe.
Our James Bond retrospective, as part of our series Rediscovering The Classics With Elijah, continues with You Only Live Twice. Which can be subtitled The Destruction Of Jeff’s Childhood.
This was the first James Bond film Jeff saw in the cinema. He recounts in incredible starry eyed detail the circumstances of where he saw it and its impact on him. Coming back to it all these years later for this podcast and he realises he is no longer the optimistic youngster he once was. Elijah is sympathetic to this realisation, while Graham and Neil just mock.
Yet oddly, while You Only Live Twice may not have stood the test of time, it is the Bond film of the 1960’s which has the most influence today. Why? Listen in and find out.
Also check out this podcast to learn the following
- Why Sean Connery was unhappy filming in Japan
- What Little Nellie shouldn’t have done
- Why a cat wrangler sued the producers
- Why living in the shadow of a fake volcano can be upsetting
As always, the most important aspect of the show is, what did Elijah think of it, coming to the movie for the first time? Did he have Jeff’s initial optimism or was he more measured in his approach?
For an added bonus to this episode, check out the opening section of the show where the battle of the older Bonds begin. Jeff, Graham and Neil pit their wits against one another, and discover three half (wits) do not make a whole! The reason for this? Who should be the next Bond. Graham Hills joins us to judge or perhaps finally give up on the pointlessness of this competition.
What do you think – who should go forward to the next round and eventually replace Daniel Craig. Please let us know your thoughts.
Enjoy and stay safe.
Our James Bond retrospective, as part of our Rediscovering The Classics With Elijah series, continues with Thunderball.
Our previous show on this subject was a double bill discussion of From Russia With Love and Goldfinger way back in episode 102 (Bond Is Back), initially released September 2020. The reason this is mentioned now (other than it might be an episode you want to revisit before listening to this one), is because of the opening remarks in the show notes. We started them by saying, in typical At The Flicks jokey style, we were anticipating the release of No Time To Die very shortly.
All these months later and we are still anticipating the same! There is a good chance we will have finished the Elijah / James Bond retrospective before it is finally released! After all, we only have 20 more to get through.
So, once again, while we all await the release of the latest James Bond offering, let’s talk about the old adventures of the super spy. This time the focus is on Thunderball. In this episode we talk about :
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The scene between James Bond and a female co-star which made Jeff uncomfortable (and that is a very low bar).
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Sean Connery’s increasing dissatisfaction with the films and one aspect of them in particular.
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Which members of the cast are dubbed
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Why did Jeff think something was wrong with his TV when watching the action scenes
And of course, the key question and reason for the podcast. Did Elijah like it? What is his view of a film now approaching 60 years old?
All the answers are here in our discussion about the 1960’s epic that is Thunderball. Or as we have subtitled the show, the one Neil prepped for.
If you are enjoying our Bond analysis, then the good news is, another one is coming in a couple of days time. Watch out for You Only Live Twice, which includes a very special announcement.
Enjoy and as always, stay safe.
Back in episode 145 (The Future Of Cinema), we put a panel together to get different views on what the future of cinema will look like in the post COVID world.
It certainly generated a lot of comment.
One thing we promised in that episode was to widen the view and look at what is happening in America. We have now fulfilled that promise. Andy is back to give us his view from across the pond. It also allows us to refine our predictions as more decisions are being made.
During the course of the show we look at such topics as
- The future of physical media
- What would get the panel back into a cinema
- What approach each studio is planning or already has in place
- The potential future of the streaming services
Big topics to be sure. We also address another serious point – how did a cinema visit with Neil cause the bad luck which has resulted in most movie houses worldwide closing?
In short this is a wide ranging conversation which is also a little more optimistic than our previous one. Who knows, when we get to our next talk on this subject, cinemas could be open and it is back to business as usual.
Here’s hoping.
If you have any comments on this topic please let us know, we are always pleased to hear from you.
Stay safe and see you on the next show.
Listeners with long memories may remember back in the pre-COVID days, we used to provide an irreverent movie news column for our mid month show.
When film production essentially stopped, we decide to mothball news as, to be frank, there wasn’t any, other than movie postponements. It was just too depressing.
Now we are back and like the rest of your At The Flicks shows, bigger and bolder than ever. Each month we have set a target to get you the best movie news. Our aim is to try to get you an exclusive on a movie production, as well a humorous piece and something potentially prestigious.
This month, for our first stand alone movie news show, I am sure you will agree we have met all of those targets. Writer / director Max Van De Banks tells us about his new film Mudlark which starts production at the end of March. Max talks about the idea, the locations and the casting. In fact, all the info you need to convince you this is a must see short feature.
After Max, we let Graham loose to tell us all about what his favourite actor has been up to during lockdown. He certainly has been busy, and Graham gets very excited explaining that to you. Then Neil tells us what Rebel Wilson is about to start filming in the UK. I bet you are thinking zany comedy – you could not be more wrong! Neil reveals all he has found out about this worthy movie.
Lastly, Jeff sneaks on to tell us about a soundtrack he has been listening to on hard rotation since Christmas. It is a remarkable piece of work from a composer who is not as well known as he should be.
Here it is listeners, our new movie news format. What do you think? Please drop us a line to let us know your views. Your thoughts are, as always, very welcome.
Enjoy and stay safe.
It’s back! The At The Flicks team return to review whatever films we can find.
Yes after two months off, during which time we looked at the best of 2020 (there’s an oxymoron) and presented our official awards show, we are back talking movies. Unfortunately, not the best new movie selection we could have picked. Jeff complains about the majority of them. Nothing new there you might think, however on this show Darren and Graham try to outdo him in that department.
What could have sparked such an outcry? Surely not Pixar’s latest, Soul, about the afterlife, or Mank, a black and white feature about the Golden Age of Hollywood? Was it perhaps another black and white feature, Malcolm & Marie, (for Neil it has to be colour or nothing)? Maybe it was the British farce Blithe Spirit (Jeff goes on and on about his views on British farce) or the quirky comedy western Damsel (It gave Graham saddle sores). Even Phil, our most mild mannered of reviewers starts to lose it with a couple of them (the films that is, not the At The Flicks team).
Thankfully we have a great Darren’s Dash to rescue us. This works especially well for Graham as it includes something from his movie paladin, Mr Gerard Butler.
Continuing with the great news. How well did you do at last month’s quiz? Check in for the answers and also listen out for 4 new questions, three of which can amazingly this month, be answered by the team (did Jeff slip them the answers in advance so as not to embarrass them – you decide). Can you answer the elusive fourth question? Please let us know.
Finally we talk briefly to Val over in New Zealand about what cinema life is currently like there at the moment. Prepare to be envious. Just remember that with God’s will and a fair wind that could be us in a couple of month’s time.
Until then follow the rules, stay safe and we will all come out of this fit and well.
Take care and see you on the next show.
Welcome to another podcast in our occasional series (very occasional as it’s been over a year since the last one)– Director on Director.
Writer / Director Phil Stubbs (Last Chancers) joins us again, to talk about another of his favourite directors, this time it’s Richard Donner.
Before we talk about the content of the show, we have an apology to make to you, the listener, about the sound quality. There were some technical issues with the show. Believe me when I tell you that it was questionable whether we were even going to be able to release this one. However, technical maestro Graham worked non stop for three days and nights to get the show to a listen-able standard. Don’t cheer him too loudly though, as he is now trying to get some sleep!
One problem that did amuse Graham is Jeff dropping out of the show at one point. Oddly it was just as they were starting to talk about Mel Gibson! Graham insists this was a complete fluke, however Neil did take some possible incriminating photos. Do they show Graham smiling as he pulls out wires that disables Jeff’s connection to the show? You be the judge – for the right fee Neil will send them on to you.
As for the show itself, well, Richard Donner is an incredible character – still planning to direct at 90 years of age! In fact he didn’t direct his first major film until he was 46 years old (although there was one in the lead up to that I bet he wishes everyone would forget now – but don’t worry Jeff remembers it and spills the beans all about it).
Be amazed as Phil tells some incredible stories about the making of The Omen and the first two Superman series. Find out why Ladyhawke causes a difference of opinion and also why is Inside Moves so elusive to find? It is just a shame Jeff wasn’t there to discuss the Mel and rein in Graham as in his praise for his favourite actor he once again reacted in an immoderate way.
Overall, a fascinating discussion about a fascinating film maker, led by a quality film maker. A promise. We will not wait so long for the next director on director discussion – the name of the next director is even revealed at the end of the show.
How do you rate Mr Donner, please let us know, as always we would love to hear from you.
Finally if you want to read a fascinating interview with the great man himself then go to moviesinfocus.com and check out their interview section. Well worth your time.
Loyal listeners, we have been through much together. Our rambleshackle early days, Neil's musings and COVID. For sticking with us, we have a treat in store for you. This show is an extract from our security recording from the Vault room under At the Flicks Manor as we review our plans for 2021 and beyond. Our gift to you. Enjoy and as always, stay safe.
Welcome to the continuing adventures of the At The Flicks team as they talk Star Trek movies.
After the success of Star Trek II : The Wrath Of Khan (At The Flicks episode 146), it was inevitable that there would be another movie. But how could there be a search for a character who (spoiler alert) didn’t make it to the end of the previous film. Indeed, it was rumoured that Leonard Nimoy didn’t want anything more to do with Star Trek. As we will discover in our show, that statement was not true. Leonard Nimoy enthusiastically came back as both actor and first time movie director.
Guiding us through this production story and many others is our captain – Darren (after all it was his idea), backed up by his science officer Graham who will be looking at some of the more technical aspects.
There is no Neil this time around. Jeff was let loose on the transporter controls. Don’t worry I am sure we will find Neil one day!!! In fact Jeff more than makes up for Neil with his views on Star Trek III. Shall we say they are very different to those held by Darren and Graham.
As a somewhat reduced crew we will be talking about such things as why
- Kirstie Alley did not come back and who replaced her?
- Nicholas Meyer did not return.
- Jeff believes this to be a religious and anti science movie (an idea shot down like a flaming Enterprise by the other two).
And many other facts and opinions you didn’t realise you needed to know.
As always in these shows, the At The Flicks team can be divided into two camps. Darren and Graham are devoted Star Trek fans while just Jeff this time is a casual viewer who assumes 1701 is only remembered for the passing of the Act Of Settlement.
So, prepare to boldly go, enjoy and remember in these difficult days, live long and prosper.
Today your At The Flicks team are honoured to be talking to writer / director Randy Gordon-Gatica about his festival winning feature The Magic Bomb.
The Magic Bomb is about an innocent caught up in a plot to detonate a nuclear device in New York City. Randy has taken a high concept idea and dipped it in the paranoia one would have found in many of the classic thrillers of the 1970’s. It is both exciting and tense, full of intelligent ideas about our conspiracy fueled current society.
One of the fascinating features of The Magic Bomb is, as Randy says, it was made for “zero dollars”. You heard right, what could easily be the plot line for a franchise Hollywood movie is made at New York street level at zero cost. Which gives the film a real passion – not only from Randy, but also his cast and crew.
In the interview Randy talks about his passion for his film, and his influences – both life and cinematic. It is a fascinating insight into the film making process.
You will notice we have only given the broadest outline of the plot – that is because The Magic Bomb is a film well worth discovering without knowing too much about it. So we would urge you to use the links below to check out the trailer and then rent the movie.
Enjoy and until the next time, continue to stay safe.
Welcome to our push-me, pull-you show. The one where we have our final push back at 2020, as it disappears in the rear view mirror, and our pull forward to what is coming in 2021.
We start off with something new and something you, our fantastic listeners can get involved with. A quiz, but no ordinary quiz. Here you pit your wits against the might of the At The Flicks team (my money is on you listeners).
After that we have some sadness and fun with 2020 (yes we know there isn’t much fun to be found there, however thankfully we did manage to uncover some buried near Neil’s almost forgotten sense of humour).
The sadness is our obituary section, where each of the five contributors to the show, Darren, Graham, Jeff, Neil and Phil talk about someone whose passing had an effect on them.
After that we give out our annual movie awards. As with last year, Graham pushes to the head of the class to give out his award for the Best Mel Gibson film of the year. By doing this he still hopes to get a part in The Mel’s next movie.
Then we look forward as we talk about the movies we want to watch (hopefully in a cinema) during 2021. Since we recorded the show, there have already been films which have been rescheduled. Life moves pretty fast. So while we are confident some of our choices being released, we wouldn’t bet our GameStop shares on everything opening.
W couldn’t have a month end show without a Dash from Darren. Just a couple this time because of everything else we are fitting in. One of which is so memorable Graham and Neil have sworn never to watch it, despite glowing reviews from Darren and Phil.
Next month we will return to our normal format. We have even found some films to review. Until then, settle down with our latest show, in which both tears and laughs flow freely.
Enjoy and stay safe.
Howdy partners, it’s been a while since we last met up on our Western trail. Why not saddle up again and join Jeff The Kid, Itchy Trigger Finger Graham and Snake Eyes Neil? We are going to ride along and jaw about The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Clint Eastwood has made some great Westerns, with The Outlaw Josey Wales arguably being his greatest (and trust us, Graham does try to argue the case for another Eastwood Western). For those that don’t know it, the film is set mainly in the immediate years after the end of the American Civil War.
It is a story which starts with revenge, however ultimately is about reconciliation and redemption. We look at three aspects of that – within the film itself, the time period the film was made and now. Which is fascinating when you consider the source material came from a member of the Ku Klux Klan!
As well as looking at the themes of the movie, we talk about its production. This includes explaining why the original director was fired and the far reaching implications of that move for the whole American film industry.
As an added bonus, listeners are treated to Graham’s impression of a character from Deliverance! You don’t get that level of entertainment just anywhere – you have to come to At The Flicks for it!
So, stop being a hifer (yes Neil that means you) and ride along for this rip roaring adventure. We enjoyed making it and hope you enjoying listening to it.
Let us know and we may let you ride the trail with us for future episodes of Rustlers’ Roundup.
See you next time amigos, in the meantime, stay safe.
One of the highlights of our 2020 Halloween season was our chat with American contributor Andy about his love of horror films (episode 107).
We are pleased to say Andy now returns to talk another film genre – Westerns. As you know from our series Rustler’s Roundup, the At The Flicks Team love Westerns. Pure American history, yet those tales of heroes and villains set in breathtaking vistas, resonate around the world. Graham and Jeff totally understand this with their Celtic backgrounds, although it was more difficult for our version of English Bob (Neil) to grasp.
Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and Kevin Costner, some of the big names associated with these movies are discussed at length. Classics such as Unforgiven, Shane and The Outlaw Josey Wales (soon to be the subject of the next in our Rustler’s Roundup series), are also put under the microscope.
An interesting aspect we uncover is how flexible the genre is – possibly more than most. It has been successfully cross bred with musicals, horror and science fiction, among many others. The Western also works when using modern day trappings, in such movies as No Country For Old Men and Hell Or High Water.
You may start listening to this podcast thinking “I am not a fan of Westerns”, however I am sure you will come out the other side with the realisation that it does hold something for you.
As always we would love to hear from you and your views on the genre under discussion. As for next time with Andy, we come right up to date for a special one off on the state of the American film industry.
We hope you can ride along with us, until then, where ever you are, take care and stay safe.
Welcome to the world of Christopher Nolan. Or it could be goodbye, depending on how the great man has decided to play with time and space this time.
Yes, to tie in with another great retrospective from Phil The Bear aka Phil Foster, we have brought together the team to discuss The Films Of Christopher Nolan. Joining us for this discussion is our very own Carry On Streaming expert, Declan.
You will not be surprised to hear that we are in full agreement on the greatness of many of his films. Sadly, not everyone had seen Tenet when we recorded this show, so a major disagreement between Jeff (who else?), and the rest of the panel is avoided. We saved you from a rant there listeners – never say we don’t have your best interests at heart. In its place we have a minor disturbance in the space / time continuum when we talk about Interstellar. Jeff, (who else?), disagrees with everyone on this feature as well.
Many of Mr Nolan’s films have enigmatic endings and we will be discussing our interpretations of these at length. So please make sure you have checked out his back catalogue before listening, especially after we blew a few minds with our theory of the meaning of The Prestige back in episode 96.
So, sit back and prepare to enter the dreamscape of Christopher Nolan. Enjoy. If you listen carefully you can hear Phil typing as he prepares another retrospective on a key director.
We will return for that talk in the near future, or, if this was a Christopher Nolan film, you may have already heard it, and if you have please let us know what it was like.
See Graham, I can also set up a paradox!
What is the future of cinema in the post Covid world?
This is a question the At The Flicks team are going to be asking throughout 2021. In fact we think it is so important a topic we have made it the subject of our first show of the year.
Graham and Jeff from the At The Flicks team bring in two special guests to address this issue. We have Declan (our streaming expert) who talks about the role of the streaming companies during these changing times. Dec also talks about his love of both cinema and theatre and what is needed for their survival.
Our other guest is Paul who has analysed the changes and raises the financial concerns about the survival of the cinema industry – both in terms of production and distribution.
Make no mistake, we are at a pivotal moment. Yet, as you will hear, there is hope for the future. Things may change, however, there will always be a love for films and that unique communal way of watching them.
After listening to the show, do you think the conclusions we come to are fair? Please let us know what you think and there may well be an opportunity for you to join us for one of our other shows on this topic. We would love to hear from you.
While the show looks at the global cinema scene, the people involved in this podcast are all from the UK. Coming soon we have the views of someone from America who has been involved in the distribution and screening of movies. Will their view be radically different? Keep listening to find out.
In the meantime, as always, stay safe.
Postscript: This episode was recorded before Christmas and even in that relatively small period, things changed. As an add on to the episode, Jeff and Graham discuss Warner Bros decision to release all of their 2021 films jointly in cinemas and on streaming.
That’s the end of 2020. Thankfully.
Join the At The Flicks review team as we look back at the wreckage of the year to see if anything movie wise was worth salvaging.
Before we do that, we have the cinematic equivalent of the last of the mince pies as we give Graham a late present. Rather than the excitement we expected, Graham’s reaction to reviewing the latest from The Mel is a tad disappointing for the rest of the team. Baffling even. Until Jeff reveals all and how close Graham got to meeting the great Mel himself, before being badly let down by Mel’s agent.
With that cracker well and truly pulled, we move on to the team’s personal reminiscences of the cinema year that almost wasn’t. Don’t expect any top tens – this is more of a heartfelt journey through troubled times.
For some there were highlights to be found as we bounced between cinema and streaming. For others, the loss of cinema had a profound effect. Given those statements, you will not find it surprising to learn that each of the five reviewers had a very different take on the year – from the very moving to the amusing.
Each take is worthy of your consideration. Do you agree? Please contact us to let us know.
To end the show Darren reveals which of his dash films from 2020 is the one you must see. Is his reveal a surprising choice? Check it out and let us know.
So that’s it. Our take on this most miserable of years. We hope you agree that even in a time best forgotten, there were movies and moments that are worth preserving.
As we move into 2021, we at At The Flicks would like to say thank you to our listeners for staying with us this year, as we argued and championed various movies. We hope you have enjoyed the shows and we look forward to bringing you more next year in what we believe will be happier movie going times.
For now stay safe. We will be there for you with an incredible schedule of shows in 2021 and beyond.
Today’s pick explains how all the presents are delivered in one night. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick became a Christmas favourite because of a copyright error. Can you guess what it is?
Christmas is almost upon us and like every family, the ‘At The Flicks’ team will be in our bubble in front of the TV. There will of course be the usual arguments - Jeff will no doubt be demanding the TV remote, Neil will refuse to hand it over and Graham will be quietly getting drunk and wondering why he put’s himself through this year after year!
Once all those disputes are settled, the question will then be “what shall we watch next”. Luckily this podcast has the answer. We brought in TV expert Declan for this special Carry On Christmas Streaming episode. Dec tells us about some shows we have missed over the last few weeks which may well be worth catching up with following our turkey dinner binge. This might even be the time to catch up with the latest series of the Crown (we could even persuade Graham it is a documentary which has replaced the Queen’s speech this year).
If we are too lazy for a retrospective selection, then maybe it is time for some “live” TV and watching some of the very impressive output for this unusual festive season. There is an interesting reworking of Black Narcissus, a Dr Who special with The Daleks and for Neil, plenty of animation, including Zog and The Clown. So much to choose from and all discussed by Dec here.
So if you have the same problem as we do in deciding what to watch, then check out Dec’s recommendations. It may be a cliché, however we believe there his selection has something for everyone.
Whatever you watch, have a great Christmas and may all your selections be wonderful.
Today’s pick is acclaimed by many as the ultimate Christmas film. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick was inspired by two short films from the same director. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick went by another name when first shown on American TV. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick could have been inspired by many Christmas shopping trips. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s darker pick was one of the reasons for the creation of the PG-13 certificate. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is the first film to use one of the best selling Christmas songs of all time. Can you guess what it is?
Today’s pick is a family gathering which turns into a comic horror. Can you guess what it is?
Advent Calendar Day 1 Today’s pick is a British black & white classic. Can you guess what it is?
A very special announcement from At The Flicks for the Christmas season. We tell you all about our special podcast advent calendar. Oh and also another opportunity for Jeff to torment Neil until it all ends in tears.
See below for more advent fun.
This is our way of saying thank you to all our listeners
Happy a very happy Christmas
https://calendar.myadvent.net/?id=3c5df46f6c943cf1d4a3d5e4c3a8d0c7
Welcome back for our second Vox Pops show, where our listeners and contributors tell us their favourite Christmas films.
This is as much fun as the first was, with more traditional and controversial selections. Oh and that Christmas hate movie which has now been mentioned in our last two shows, appears again. This time Phil really lays out why people don’t like this very successful movie. What is it? Listen to the show to find out.
As for our guests for this second show, we have two double acts :
Ultimate Christmas fan Sam and her son Isaac, who become perturbed when they learn the “best Christmas film ever” has not been selected for the At The Flicks advent calendar. An upset Jeff quickly passes to Graham,
Reviewers Phil and Darren with their views on what makes a great Christmas film and sharing with us some of their seasonal traditions. All this before Phil goes full “roasting” mode!
After all the big build up of these last two shows, tomorrow we reveal just what the At The Flicks team are doing for their big festive spectacular. Come back then for an earlier Christmas present for all our listeners.
Until then stay safe and try to get that star on the tree without tipping the whole thing over.
Bye for now.
In a few days time, the At The Flicks team will start to reveal some of their favourite Christmas movies.
Before we begin that controversial voyage (very controversial with some of Neil’s choices), we thought it would be a great idea to find out what our listeners and fellow contributors consider their favourites. Did they match ours, were there any ideas we could steal, will this be useful reminder for Neil that Christmas is actually coming etc?
It was so great talking to everyone that Graham forgot to turn off the recording (makes a change from forgetting to start the recording – more on that in our end of year reveal) and we ended up with enough material for TWO shows. We did try to edit it down to one, but Jeff insisted we have to let him speak – you know what divas are like! So you lucky listeners get two vox pops shows. One today and the other tomorrow.
In this first show we have
BBC presenter Jo Durrant telling us her favourites along with some of her food associations for Christmas
Elijah (from revisiting the classics with Elijah) surprising us with a favourite we did not know and also telling us unusual places he has spent the Christmas holidays
Rich (from Cindemics Nerds Podcast) tells us about a Christmas Eve film watching tradition so good Jeff plans to copy it this year (well he did until Rich placed a copyright notice on it!!!).
In the previous show, Em from Verbal Diorama revealed a Christmas film she does not like. It seems there is no love for this British movie as it is mentioned in a negative light again today. What is it? You will have to listen to the show to find out.
Tomorrow we will have Vox Pops show 2. More great guests and more of Jeff loving the sound of his own voice.
Until then stay safe and at least think about putting up that Christmas Tree.
Bye for now.
“Ho Ho Ho, I have a machine gun”.
You just have to love any show that starts like that! On today’s episode the wonderful Em from Verbal Diorama joins Graham and Jeff to talk Christmas movies.
We investigate what are the elements that make a great Christmas film, before discussing Em’s favourites with her. Oh and there will be mention of one pet hate – we won’t mention it here, only saying it will bring a smile to Phil The Bear’s face!
One film that does get a positive mention in the show is Arthur Christmas. If you want more details about that film, please check out Verbal Diorama episode 27, trust me, it is worth it.
As for the rest of the movies, we will leave you discover that in the show. Apart from one for which we include the trailer below.
Thank you Em and have a great Christmas.
Welcome to the latest At The Flicks review show.
We are honoured this month to be joined by a special guest. The real life Neil has managed to turn up. That said, judging by our postbag it appears a lot of you were fooled by the excellent impression a fellow cast member provided, and many have asked if this could be a permanent replacement. Neil, nonplussed by all this attention, has said that he may want the impersonator to stand in for him when he is required to play in golf competitions. So it sounds like Neil will never miss another show.
We do start proceedings on this show on a sombre note as we reflect on the life and career of Sir Sean Connery. Each member of the review panel has their say on what the actor meant to them and what were some of their favourite Connery movies.
This was a rare moment of unity for the team. Oddly, there was another one later in the episode as everyone was in agreement regarding what the film of the month was. We won’t say what that is here, you will have to check the show out to identify the movie that created a rare moment of accord amongst the panel.
Don’t worry, unity doesn’t last long with this bunch. There had to be one film which caused an argument and this month that film was The Lie, one of the Blumhouse films now on Amazon Prime. A dark tale of a family in crisis, which was a remake of a German feature from a few years ago. Some thought it slow and ponderous, while other, more open minded reviewers, saw that it was at least the equal to the best work of the Coen Brothers.
Also on the review schedule this month was an 80’s vampire movie retrospective – a nod to what the reviewers were watching over Halloween. We have the classics Vamp and Fright Night to discuss. Phil makes the interesting point that they would have been even better if they had swapped casts!
Finally there is the always informative Darren’s Dash. This month in another flashback to Halloween, Darren reviews include Vivarium, Girls With Balls (which greatly interested one member of the team) and the childhood destroying The Banana Splits Movie (complete with sound effects as Graham and Neil decide to have a singalong of the theme song – a moment more horrific than the movie itself).
Our next review show, with the same team of Grumpy Graham, Naughty Neil, Juvenile Jeff, Punchy Phil and Dicey Darren, is our year end special. Given the year cinema has had, this could be a very interesting or a very short show!
See you then. Stay safe and wear a mask.
The best laid plans….
During March 2020, the At The Flicks team met with talented film makers Phil Haine and Tim Willrich (at the time of writing these notes, this was our last face to face interview). They had joined us to talk about their careers and in particular, their next project which was due to film in Gloucestershire during the Summer of 2020.
That project is Harmony, a ghost story built around music. Our intention was to air the interview in July as the film entered production.
We hadn’t factored on how much COVID-19 was going to disrupt everyone’s life.
Sadly, the production had to be moved and we thought it best to hold the interview until we could release it with good news. That good news is here. Pre-production is now well underway on Harmony, with plans to film in the originally planned locations during March and April 2021. On hearing that wonderful update, we thought the time was right to share our chat with Phil and Tim with you.
Apart from revealing a few tantalising bits about Harmony, we also talk about their award winning short films. One of the films we discussed, Stained, is an astonishing piece of work, and we include a link to it at after these notes. Please do not watch if you are eating!!!!
Phil and Tim, two great film makers who you will be hearing a lot about in the years to come. People, like all of us, who can’t wait for the world to change so we can go back to normal movie making and movie watching.
Enjoy the show and if you have any comments please feed them back to us.
Stay safe.
Our Stephen King journey concludes for the time being with this episode. In this show we discuss Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 version of The Shining starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall,
Joining us for this episode are Rich and Lewis from Cindemic Nerds Podcast. This turns out to be a much more critical look at the movie than was expected.
As you stay in the Overlook (best do it in the Summer and even then stay out of Room 237), you will find out:
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What Jack Nicholson did to get himself in the mad mood required
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Who came up with the idea of Danny talking to his finger
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What the “snow” actually was
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How the changes to Stephen King’s novel impacted on the Dr Sleep movie sequel.
As we said in the previous show notes, we are bringing new people in to give their view on Stephen King over the course of this series.
So, if you have a favourite Stephen King film or TV series and want to join us to talk about it, please drop us a line at jeffattheflicks@gmail.com. We aren’t recording the next batch until January, so please get in touch, we always love to hear from our listeners.
Stay safe and read King.
Our Stephen King journey continues. For this episode we discuss the 1979 TV version of Salem’s Lot, starring David Soul and James Mason.
The genre name that stand out amongst the credits however, is director Tobe Hopper. Yes, the man who directed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is making TV horror! This was a fact we never told Neil, because if we had he would never have watched it.
Joining us for this episode is Niall from Movies In Focus. Niall certainly knows his Stephen King as his contribution to the episode shows (puts the team of three to shame!).
As you travel through the town of Salem’s Lot (best do it in the day), you will find out:
Why this was the costliest mini series ever made for TV up to that point in time How writer Paul Monash also links to Carrie (the subject of the previous episode) What the panel thought was missing from this three hour version Why Jeff never drinks red wine while watching horror movies
As we said in the previous show notes, we are bringing new people in to give their view on Stephen King over the course of this series.
So, if you have a favourite Stephen King film or TV series and want to join us to talk about it, please drop us a line at jeffattheflicks@gmail.com. We aren’t recording the next batch until January, so please get in touch, we always love to hear from our listeners.
See you tomorrow to talk The Shining.
Before Covid 19 (if you can remember that far back), Lucy and Jeff discussed aspects of Stephen King’s work in general terms.
That resulted in much positive feedback from our listeners. It proved so popular that it lead to the At The Flicks team having a socially distanced planning session to discuss how we could take the idea further. Jeff, always fanciful with his ideas, suggested inviting Stephen King onto the show. An idea so outlandish and expensive, it caused Graham to almost choke on his beer. Ultimately it was Neil who brought it back down to earth, when, after his fifth or sixth pint said “I know, let’s do a series where we devote each episode to a top King movie or TV show”.
Graham and Jeff looked on in amazement and asked Neil to repeat that idea. It was too late by then, as Neil had fallen asleep.
But the idea stayed.
And so, our new series begins. Over the next few days we shall be talking Stephen King movies and TV mini series as our journey begins. To start, we are proud to present Carrie to you. Stephen King’s first novel and coincidentally, the first film based on his work.
To discuss Brian De Palma’s excellent movie, we have put the band back together. Lucy joins Graham, Neil and Jeff. The result - what a show! We go in-depth on the making of the film, the differences to the book, its meaning and the characters. Along the way you will find out:
- Why Pretty In Pink reminded the team of Carrie
- How the casting took place alongside that of Star Wars
- Which part Brian De Palma originally wanted Sissy Spacek to play
- What impact did that shocking ending have when the film first released in cinemas
We think our discussion could almost be a film commentary track!!!
One other idea we had with this series was to mix up the voices you hear on each show. We are bringing new people in to give their view on Stephen King over the course of this series, as you will hear in the next upcoming episodes.
So, if you have a favourite Stephen King film or TV series and want to join us to talk about it, please drop us a line at jeffattheflicks@gmail.com. We aren’t recording the next batch until January, so please get in touch, we always love to hear from our listeners.
See you tomorrow to talk Salem’s Lot.
Horror franchise – You’re joking, not another one! You’re joking, not another one, is a quote made famous by Brenda from Bristol about another election. Brenda could also be talking about horror film sequels. Sequels that come so often they turn into that word “franchise”. Are they any good, or are they just a Xerox copy of the original template. To make sense of it all, Lucy, Jeff, Graham and Neil discuss this horror film legacy. OK, so just Lucy and Jeff discuss it while Graham fiddles with the volume control and Neil hides behind that a mysterious crate in a corner of the room. Lucy and Jeff each bring a favourite to the party and asks “where did it all go wrong”. Lucy has Saw and Jeff has Halloween. It’s not all negative as we talk about some themes that can actually work when played out over a series. Finally we ask, what horror films could do with a franchise – their scope just far too limited with one movie. The answers to this might surprise you. If we have missed your favourite horror series off this list, please let us know. As always, it would be great to hear from you. Take care and stay safe – at least until the next Halloween show.
How could we have a series of Halloween specials without a Carry On Streaming?
Unthinkable.
Having agreed that, how do we make our special special? Well, we bring in our streaming expert Declan, and Jardiel from Pulp Cereal to talk about one of the more intriguing shows of recent months. We are referring to Showtime network’s Penny Dreadful : City Of Angels.
Hang on, I hear you say, isn’t this just a sequel to Penny Dreadful from a few years ago? What is so special about that? Firstly, it is not a sequel. Actually, apart from the name it has no connection. The story is set in 1930’s Los Angeles, whereas the original was set in Victorian England.
Secondly, it is a stylish detective series with a strong cast and a monster (or God) or two.
It is also a show which creates strong opinions. There are those on this podcast who didn’t warm to the show, while others loved it. Only one person sat on the fence – and surprisingly it wasn’t Neil.
What did you think Penny Dreadful : City Of Angels? Are you team for or team against? As always please let us know your views and we will include them on future episodes.
So, if you are thinking of binge watching this series for Halloween, let us help you make your mind.
Staying in watching this will probably be a lot safer than going out trick or treating this year.
Enjoy and stay safe.
Welcome to the start of At The Flicks’ spooky season. How better to start our series of shows than with a discussion which embraces classic horror movies. Not to be left out, wWe also look at modern horror films and ask the question – which is better – the old or the new. To join us for this discussion is a new voice to At The Flicks. Andy comes on board for semi regular chats about movie genres and will give us his opinions on what is worth watching or avoiding in the movie world. Here Andy gives us his views on horror movies. Can Andy persuade Neil and Graham to watch some of his excellent choices? Neil maintains he has previous watched some of them, but offers no evidence to refute his claim while Graham maintains the best ones are actually science fiction and therefore rationalised his viewings. So come with us as we talk The Exorcist, The Blair Witch Project, Get Out and many others. If any of your favourites are missing from this fascinating discussion, please let us know. And if you like this, listen out for our next Halloween treat coming very shortly. Take care and stay safe
A very special announcement from At The Flicks for the spooky season. Oh and also another opportunity for Jeff to torment Neil
Welcome to the latest movie review show from your At The Flicks team.
The first thing you will notice is there is no Neil this month. Luckily, at great expense to the team (it’s coming out of your wages Neil), we were able to get an expert impressionist at short notice to stand in for him. For the most part all he had to say was “I agree with Graham”, so I don’t think anyone will notice the difference.
Where was Neil I hear you ask? Great question. It appears Neil had checked his Grinch diary and found he had doubled booked the evening. In classic Green Misery style Neil told us, “sorry I have booked an evening meal with myself today, I just can’t cancel that again”. The conspiracy theorists amongst you will start to suspect that this is all part of Neil’s not so subtle ploy to drive Jeff insane. A charge Neil has yet to respond to without laughing.
Luckily, the rest of the team, Graham, Phil, Darren and Jeff were all on hand to discuss the films they had seen. In fact this show is the nearest to a full cinema review episode we will have for at least 4 months. The show includes reviews of
Tenet – A film that earned much praise from some and derision from others (ie Jeff). Neil’s view “I agree with Graham”.
The Broken Hearts Gallery – Where Jeff’s incisive review was heavily censored by the new James Ferman, or as we call him, Graham. Neil’s view “I agree with Graham”.
Our streaming reviews this month include
Enola Holmes – One of those rare films we are all in agreement on. This is good when you consider Neil’s view “I agree with Graham”.
As an added bonus this month, we had the chance to review festival favourite The Magic Bomb. This is an A list Hollywood plot made on a minuscule budget. We are hoping to have an interview with director Randy Gordon-Gatica in an upcoming episode. Check out our initial thoughts on the film.
Finally there is Darren’s Dash, which this month includes Bill & Ted Face The Music and the controversial Netflix film Cuties.
We hope you enjoy the show and also hope you take part in our poll of who should be on the next review show – Neil or his excellent impersonator. When told about the poll, Neil said “I agree with Graham”.
See you next time and make sure you stay safe.
Welcome to the At The Flicks take on the Star Trek films. Over a podcast series we will be talking about the movies and what they mean to us.
As this was an idea from Darren, he gets to sit in the captain’s chair guiding us through each of the adventures. Tech guy Graham becomes science officer Spock (are those ears real Graham?), making the technical decisions which each month will get an episode on air or delivered to a black hole. It is 50/50.
For the part of the grumpy doctor there was only ever one person who could take on that role. Jeff. Shame he passes out at the sight of blood. Apart from that, being miserable and constantly moaning about “universes” is something he a world leader at.
As for Neil, he will be wearing the red shirt and will not be a named character. That means his chance of surviving each podcast episode is as low as Donald Trump showing humility. Especially if Jeff can get him to walk by the air lock (either Neil or Trump). With the crew in position it is time to start up the Jerry Goldsmith music which hopefully will give us a clue as to what direction we are setting off in. Listen in with us as we talk about :
Why isn’t the first Star Trek film very good?
How many different versions of the same film can there be?
Did the director Robert Wise know what Star Trek was about?
What is it about the transporter room accident that unnerves Darren?
All of this and more in a podcast which combines fun facts about the film with some very personal memories from the At The Flicks crew.
Enjoy and remember in these difficult days, live long and prosper.
It’s time to say goodbye to Sylvester Stallone’s character 'Rambo' as we discuss the film and the politics of Rambo : Last Blood. In this movie Rambo comes home to America. A country very different to one he left when he went back to Vietnam in Rambo First Blood Part II. Ronald Reagan was President then and Donald Trump now. Which is quite fitting for a film where the Mexican border plays an important part in the story. Once again we discuss the politics of the film while also giving our views on the movie itself. Along the way we tackle such questions as: What did First Blood author think of this latest (final?) instalment of the Rambo series? Has Sylvester Stallone become the John Wayne of our age? Is the Rambo character a tragic hero figure forever doomed not to have a happy ending? Is the film right wing propaganda or something more subtle? Why does Neil confuse the Mexican / American border with a house boundary? Why is Graham besotted with the director – is it because of his past associations? All of these questions are addressed in our frank examination of the movie. As usual with the At The Flicks team, there are disagreements about the movie. The battle lines are drawn between two members of the team akin to Rambo against the Russians. Finally we would like to give thanks to At The Flicks contributor Elijah for telling some very powerful family stories over the course of this series. It is really appreciated. If you have any comments about this show, or any others in the series, please let us know. We always love to hear from you.
The name’s Flicks – At The Flicks, and welcome to our James Bond special.
In anticipation of the opening of No Time To Die in the near future (fingers crossed), the team look back at the early days of the James Bond films. Team member Elijah has a special 'Rediscovering the Classics' as he talks about two movies. From Russia With Love and Goldfinger. Which stands the test of time better and how do they stack up against Dr No (you can find our thoughts on that film in episode 64)? Listen in to find out.
As an added bonus, Warren Ringham, the creator of the excellent 'Q The Music', joins us to talk about the music of the early James Bond films. We go from Monty Norman’s score for Dr No through to John Barry’s score for Goldfinger. Even Jeff, our film music specialist, learnt quite a bit listening to Warren. So, put on your tuxedo, make yourself a vodka martini (shaken not stirred, of course), and settle down for a wonderful At The Flicks special.
Welcome to the latest movie review show from your At The Flicks team.
The first thing you will notice is that there are very few cinema reviews included in the show. No, it’s not because we are worried about going back to our local picture houses, it’s because Jeff had a theme for this show. Getting him to change his mind is like trying to get one of those old, rusty oil tankers to turnaround. It happens but veeerrry slowly. Don’t worry, we will be back at the movies for our next review show. If however, you are after some cinema films, listen out on this episode for Darren’s Dash.
As for the theme for this show, it is, guilty pleasure movies. Five reviewers and five personal choices for us to discuss. Before that however, we managed to persuade Jeff to include 2 relatively new movies to streaming. Well, for one film Graham got a 100,000 signature partition to prorogue the show for the inclusion of the latest Mel movie, The Professor And The Madman. Even though we are sure the repeated Mel Gibson signature is fake, we allowed it to be included. While discussing the film put Graham in a good mood, what did it do for the rest of the reviewers? We leave that for you to discover.
Also worth discovering are the guilty pleasures from the team
Darren choose the sequel to one of the greatest films of all time. All was going well until Jeff launched into a bizarre rant about one of the younger more innocent characters potentially becoming a serial killer.
Graham choose the first in a series of vampire vs werewolf films. We are sure that this selection had nothing to do with the tight fitting clothes the star was wearing.
Phil picks a childhood favourite. Neil, clearly getting old and his hearing fading, manages to review the wrong film!
Neil picks the right film for his review. However no one is certain how this can be called a guilty pleasure.
Finally there is Jeff. We are not certain if this is a guilty or a shameful pleasure. Please let us know, dear listener, what you think of his pick (or any of the others you care to comment on).
So there it is – our guilty pleasure film list. Next month it is back to social distancing and masks – and that is just for cinema planning meeting with Neil!
See you at the cinema and make sure you stay safe.
Bye for now.
Our examination of the politics of Rambo continues with the fourth in the series, simply titled Rambo. Uniquely, this film steps away from American involvement in foreign conflicts to look at the struggles of the Karen people in Myanmar.
In reality it is a brutal struggle and that is certainly reflected in the film. Without question. it is the most violent of the series. The team and Elijah look at why and along the way address some of these questions
- Why are the team watching different versions of the film?
- Who were the original directors short listed to make the movie and why did Sylvester Stallone ultimately take on that role?
- What are the penalties for watching this film in Myanmar?
- What line of dialogue from the film became a rallying cry for the Karen freedom fighters?
All of this and more interesting facts are addressed on the podcast. However as usual in these discussions (especially since we never meet face to face any more), we broaden our discussion to other related topics – more simply put, we talk about weaponry and hunting. Please bear us during these sections – we need this social interaction!
On a more serious note, Elijah tells us some real stories about missionaries and some of the hardships and dangers they have to face.
Despite its political relevance, Rambo is a film that split the team. What are your thoughts on this feature, please let us know.
Thanks for listening and as always, stay safe.
The Summer is almost over. Holidays are complete and your 14 day quarantine is about to begin.
What to do with that unexpected time at home? Obvious answer is turn on the TV. Next question, what is there to watch? And that is where we come in, or that is where you listen to our sage TV expert. Declan will guide you through all the channels and tell you what’s hot and what’s not.
So, if you have been caught in Johnson’s moving lockdown game, Dec recommends the following to you to pass the time:
The Salisbury Poisoning The Rise Of The Murdoch Dynasty Sunderland Till I Die Young Wallander Mrs America Ted Lasso Perry Mason
and many others…
Listen out as we also discuss the upcoming shows of the next few months.
Think of us as a public service announcement. We have your best interests at heart, which is more than can be said for this Government
We are proud and honour to present to you our latest podcast.
A few weeks ago, we talked to retired school teacher and first time film maker Gary Janks (proving you are never too old). His film, Chasing Mandela’s Rainbow is an examination of the modern day South African education system. At the heart of the film is the question – were Nelson Mandela’s very high education ideals realised?
Gary answers that question through three very different students :
Phendulani – a high achiever, both in the classroom and on the sports field. A potential future leader, but will the system give him the intellectual skills he needs?
Andile – Keen to learn. Unfortunately the poor rural area where she goes to school may not have the funds or skills to develop her education.
Mahlatse – A complex boy. He has the knowledge but will his extra curricular activities hurt his schooling?
It is a deeply moving and thought provoking film. If you are interested in watching this incredible movie, a link to rent it is below. Also, below are more details on the film and the various film festivals it has appeared in.
This was a revealing interview for the At The Flicks team. Chasing Mandela’s Rainbow opened up a whole new world for us and we were all deeply moved. As the Toronto Times said about the film, “Life in Mandela’s South Africa has been an unrelenting struggle against utopian hope – and painful reality”.
If you watch the film, please let us know what you think. If you have any questions for Gary, we can forward those on for you.
Howdy partners, it’s been a while since we last met up on our Western trail. Why not saddle up again and join Jeff The Kid, Itchy Trigger Finger Graham and Snake Eyes Neil? We are going to ride along and jaw about True Grit.
The version we are discussing is the 1969 version for which John Wayne won the Best Actor Oscar. Indeed, his performance as the mean no nonsense lawman who likes to bend an elbow has been a role model for our Jeff all his life.
True Grit came out just a year after the release of Charles Portis’ original novel and became one of the top ten highest grossing films of 1969.
We look at why it was successful, what is it about the movie that appeals to your At The Flicks team and why it still retains such a high reputation today. What you may find surprising, as we did, is how troubled the production was. Some of the original casting choices walked before filming started, or asked for so much money the budget couldn’t accommodate their request. Then there were the on set arguments and the refusal of some stars to work with director Henry Hathaway ever again. All this detail and more can be found here.
As an added bonus, we talk about the real life inspiration for Rooster Cogburn and below you will find a link to an old silent movie called The Bank Robbery in which he appears. So, stop being a coffee boiler (yes Neil that means you) and ride along for this rip roaring adventure. We enjoyed making it and hope you enjoying listening to it.
Let us know and we may let you ride the trail with us for future episodes of Rustlers’ Roundup.
See you next time amigos.
And we're back!!! It has been a long month as we desperately looked around for films to review. With just the odd one on Prime and Netflix, we had to have a team meeting to come up with a review idea. Such meetings drag on when Neil says "it must be foreign language". So Jeff swore at him in Welsh. Meeting abandoned.
We tried again a few days later. That meeting started well. Graham said let's look at the film's of Christopher Nolan (as Tenet "almost" opened around that time). Then Phil threw in "I have a foreign language film idea". Jeff accused him of being brainwashed by Neil and the meeting once again descended into chaos and abandonment once again.
Third and final meeting. Graham, the peacemaker, said let's all pick a film we always meant to see but never got around to. It meant Graham could have a Nolan film, Neil and Phil could have foreign language and Jeff and Darren could make their own choices.
Time to put the flags out. Lockdown, for the moment at least, is coming to an end. Life slowly is beginning to return to normal (whatever that means).
Now the question can be asked, just how did you spend you time at home during these last few months? Well, we know exactly what our streaming expert Declan was doing – watching TV so that he could inform you what is worth your time on terrestrial and streaming TV platforms. So, when the rains come (and let’s face it, if you are in Britain, that is our Summer) you know what to check out.
There is the latest season of Killing Eve, or if you are Jeff, all three seasons of Killing Eve (and The Sopranos, The Wire etc). Then there is the amazingly violent Gangs Of London, Harley Quinn, Little Fires Everywhere and State Of Happiness. All highly recommended from our TV and boxset expert.
Also if you want to catch up on an old favourite, there is Buffy The Vampire Slayer being shown from the beginning on E4. Neil once threatened to watch the whole thing, but only made it half way through the credits of episode 1 – yes it is that scary, but then, so is Neil!
After we talk TV we have a general discussion on what is to happen in the future – can there be social distancing TV, when will cinemas actually reopen and is Tenet real or just a Christopher Nolan time puzzle? All of these tough questions and more will be answered (well attempted) in this latest edition of Carry On Streaming.
Finally we give a sneak peak into something very exciting coming soon. We are planning a Streaming special on the hit TV show Penny Dreadful : City Of Angels with some special guests. Stay tuned for more details.
Until then enjoy the show and stay safe, wherever you are.
In our latest episode Jeff and Graham are speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter Jo Durrant. Jo hosts a wonderful science themed show called Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe. It should therefore come as no surprise for the theme of this show to be all things science. We talk both fact and fiction, as Jo reveals some of her favourite films. For fiction we talk about ET and 2001 (be aware, we speak at length about the enigmatic ending of that latter film as we try to work out exactly what it meant!). Then there are the powerful fact based dramas First Man and Apollo 13. That leads us neatly onto talking about space travel in general, returning again to documentaries (our big love at the moment – see also show 93). Graham and Jeff bombard Jo with such questions as What is it like to wear a space suit? How dangerous are space missions? How do you respond to people who say the moon landings did not take place? And many others.
So if you, like us, are missing the Beautiful Universe show, then come along with us and catch up with the wonderful Jo Durrant. Thanks for listening.
Lockdown may be easing for many people, but home entertainment remains extremely important (just when are those cinemas going to open?). By now you have probably exhausted all the TV box sets and “must watch” films you have been putting off for many years. This is where At The Flicks once again performs its civic duty for you, our listeners. Why not try documentaries? We speak to documentary film maker Sam Pope about some of the best documentaries out there. As you would expect from Sam, he has some amazing choices. From Errol Morris’ The Thin Blue Line to Ken Burns’ The Vietnam War, he discusses some unforgettable films (and series) to watch. A top ten list put together for you. This is something the team discuss at length with Sam, although as usual when Slenderman is mentioned, Graham and Neil are nowhere to be found. Guys, despite all you have heard, it is not real. Many of our selections are powerful and we urge you not to binge watch. For less disturbing viewing, why not check out Behind The Curve or The Cave Of Forgotten Dreams? That said, whatever you pick from the films we discuss, we are sure you will find it fascinating viewing. As always we would love to hear from you and your thoughts on our selections. Are there others you would have included? Please let us know. Enjoy and stay safe.
Howdy partners, and welcome back to the trail. I would move in closer if I were you, as you are standing too close to where Snake Eyes Neil let the horses roam after eating. Be warned, this trail is a little darker than the last one. OK a lot darker. We talk about Ralph Nelson’s powerful and shocking Western Soldier Blue. For two thirds of its length this is a violent survivalist story. The last third is a recreation of the infamous Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 when the third Colorado Cavalry brutally butchered most of the inhabitants of a Native American village. Tough stuff indeed and made even tougher by the parallels the film makers drew to the My Lai massacre which had happened in Vietnam a couple of years prior to the release of this movie. We talk at length about the climax of Soldier Blue, its initial impact, the extraordinary preview cut which almost got some of the film makers attacked and the censor cuts which have taken place since the film’s initial release. If you have 20 minutes to spare why not listen in to hear the shocking tale of Soldier Blue, Have you seen it? Do you think it should be classed as one of the great Westerns? Let us know and we may let you ride the trail with us for future episodes of Rustlers’ Roundup. See you next time amigos. Until then stay safe.
Welcome to the latest At The Flicks review show. Regular listeners will notice a few changes this month, the biggest being that, thanks to lockdown, there aren’t many new movies to review! Which is of course a problem for a review show. However before we talk about our sneaky approach to that problem, let’s look at our new expanded team. Let’s start with the regulars “Oracle” Jeff “I make my film selections to annoy Jeff” Neil “If I could edit Jeff out of the show I would” Graham are now joined every month by the following ultra keen film goers (when cinemas are open) “I will never side with Jeff” Phil “Just who is this Jeff person anyway” Darren What a team. It’s like the magnificent seven but with only five! So just what are our team up to with a scarcity of new releases. Well luckily they found two, one thanks to Netflix. Other than that Graham came up with an excellent idea, although both Jeff and “Tory boy” Neil tried to claim credit for it. Graham’s plan was to pick movies that had been released during the month of April in previous years. Each member of the team could pick one film, and the choices were, shall we say, unique * Darren picked a good old fashioned World War II adventure film, although with a subject like this, the Brexiteers will never watch it! * Phil picked a Welsh actor’s finest hour * Graham picked a true classic and has redesigned his garden following his viewing * Jeff has picked a film with right wing police credentials. He continues to live the dream * Neil spent his time listening to the others and picked a film designed to annoy Jeff to his very core. Something so bad that Phil almost, and I stress almost, had to side with Jeff. However decency and taste did eventually stop him from making that bold step. Check us out and let us know what you think of our choices. Also what criteria should we be applying for film picks in the lockdown months ahead. All ideas welcome unless they come from Jeff.
Our continuing and popular series on the politics of the Rambo films has the team journeying to Afghanistan to talk about the most expensive film of the series, Rambo III. Note that there is no more mention of First Blood in the title. This time our own Rambo style native warrior Neil (no knife, all golf club) joins us as the battle lines of discussion are drawn. During the course of this in depth discussion we answer these questions: * Why was this such a troubled production? * Who was the original director? * What weapon, designed by the Americans during the 1980’s (and prominently shown in Rambo III) was first used in this conflict? * Did John Rambo actually support the Taliban?
These, and many other questions you didn’t know you wanted, or cared enough to ask. As with every other men on a mission flick, there are disagreements within the team. Nothing new there are Jeff and Neil disagree on many aspects of the film and each thinks they are right. Meanwhile Elijah and Graham talk around them, making sensible and enlightening points about the movie.
We trust that you will want to join us on our journey and learn more about the film and the politics of the time. Enjoy and we look forward to catching up with you next month as we talk more Rambo.
Last Year Jeff had a rant (nothing new there) about Disney + and their staggered release pattern. He said it would be a disaster outside of America. Well, COVID proved him wrong as the UK had a record number of subscribers when lockdown hit.
What else was he wrong about? Find out on our Disney + podcast discussion. On this podcast Phil the bear (a subscriber) joins the team to talk about the release and impact of Disney+. Neil and Graham have also signed up. Jeff hasn’t, apparently this is a protest as one of the Disney classics has not been added to the service. Oh, and Jeff, it never will…
Despite that one omission, many of the great Disney and Pixar movies can be found here. Plus (so that’s what the + stands for), you can watch the Star Wars films, the Marvel movies and The Simpsons. Great value for money – or is it, we talk about that as well.
Also under discussion are such topics as what is happening with the Fox library, can Disney show the more adult content from their own and the Fox libraries and what shows & films are coming later this year? A wide ranging conversation with some intriguing facts thrown in along the way.
Despite all that, Jeff still hasn’t signed up for the service – maybe he is waiting for Neil to get him an annual subscription for a birthday present.
The Witcher, Daredevil, The Punisher and Hannibal are some of the most highly praised and watched TV shows of recent years.
They have all had episodes directed by our guest on this show – Marc Jobst. This special episode is devoted almost exclusively to Marc talking about his career, from his early stage days to the heights of being one of the most sought after directors working today .
Marc talks in depth about the shows he is most famous for and also answers some of our listeners questions put to him about his work. As a sneak peek, he gives us advanced notice about a new show coming to Netflix later this year called Jupiter’s Legacy,
As if that isn’t enough, Marc also talks to us about his movie in development, a UK based project called Home.
I am sure you will agree, this specially extended episode is a fascinating insight into the film maker’s craft.
On top of that we have our latest film news. Neil tells us about Fishermen’s Friends 2 (and we hope to have some exclusive news on that film in an upcoming episode), Graham has found a new “pal” during lockdown and Jeff talks about film music.
Please let us know what you think about an episode we are all very proud of.
Enjoy and stay safe during these difficult times
Ain’t lockdown a bitch?
The At The Flicks team can’t get out to go into a cinema. Can’t go to a bar to get that beer Neil owes us. We are all stuck in our respective properties having to decide what to watch next. Jeff has to make sure he avoids anything Marvel, Graham is stuck in an endless cycle of Mel and Gerard movies while Neil has to work out how to turn the TV on.
Even after you get to your channels or downloads, how do you know what is going to be any good? It is bad enough having to be stuck inside for weeks, without having to waste your time watching rubbish. Luckily we can help.
Our two resident experts Emma and Declan are on hand to tell you what is worth watching and what is best avoided. Emma tells you about films that you may not be aware of that are worth a watch. This is certainly a wide ranging list, from acclaimed foreign language features, creature features (many creature features) and movies with top stars that sneaked past most of us. If you enjoy the films half as much as we enjoyed talking to Emma, then you will have a great time.
Later in the show, Declan returns as we discuss what is worth using your TV catch up options on. Some new shows you may have missed, some recent favourites and also some classic TV that you might have put off to watch on a rainy day. Trust us, it’s raining cats and dogs now! After talking to Dec, our to watch list has been extended to unprecedented levels. Witty and knowledgeable, it is always fun to talk to Dec – and his special recommendation to Graham is priceless.
We hope these recommendations help pass the time for you. Please let us know what you think.
As always, enjoy and stay safe.
Howdy Partners. Don’t stand so far away, come closer to the campfire, grab some beans and coffee while its still hot and settle back as the At The Flicks team talk Westerns.
Welcome to the first in a series of podshorts from the At The Flicks western team. While you help yourself to the food, we’ll introduce ourselves. There’s Jeff the Kid, Itchy Trigger Finger Graham and Snake Eyes Neil (don’t stare – he doesn’t like that). We have selected 20 films between the years 1960 – 2020 to talk about, which we consider great movies of the genre. Why those dates? Two reasons
1) Many say the great Westerns had all been made by 1960 – we beg to differ. Here are 20 which are worth anyone’s time. If you disagree we will see you on Main Street at noon, and you had better have your colt six shooter with you (that’s COLT Neil).
2) All the films come from within the team’s lifetime. We have grown up and become saddle sore with many of the films we are proud to talk about.
So, where do we start? Why not with a fun Western? El Dorado was made in 1966, however it is also a throwback to the films of the 1950s. In many ways the plot resembles the classic Rio Bravo, which was also directed by the man behind El Dorado, Howard Hawks. Is it a remake – listen to our tale, the answer to the question is not as simple as you might think.
This old fashioned and fun Western, starring John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, found itself in competition with the newer tougher West, as portrayed in such movies as Nevada Smith and A Fistful Of Dollars. Both films which had a newer, tougher breed of Western hero as portrayed by Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood respectively. How could this film compete? Again, ol’ timer Graham has the answer.
So if you have 20 minutes to spare, join us for the tale of El Dorado.
Have you seen it? Do you think it should be classed as one of the great Westerns? Let us know and we may let you ride the trail with us for future episodes of Rustlers’ Roundup.
See you next time amigos. Until then stay safe.
Dec and Phil join the team to pick two films each that were personal disappointments. The complete list of all ten films can be found in the show notes for this episode. Attheflicks.co.uk
Welcome to our end of month show, slightly late, but then everything is crazy at the moment!
We hope you are all coping well with whatever lockdown is taking place in your country and are following all the social distancing rules. To keep you entertained here is our review show for March. Most of these we were able to watch in cinemas (remember them?)
Like everyone else we have no idea when cinemas will open again, however our shows and reviews will continue. We will shortly reveal to you our film review criteria for the end of April, keep listening to the shows and all will be revealed shortly.
Stay Safe
Jardiel from Pulp Cereal joins us to ask a very important couple of questions.
Who is Roger Corman? What is his importance in the history of cinema? Without giving too much detail away – we don’t want to spoil your enjoyment of the show – we will just say, that without Roger Corman, cinema would not be as we currently know it. Well known names such as James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorsese and Jack Nicholson were given major opportunities by Mr Corman.
We discuss all aspects of Roger Corman’s prolific career with Jardiel. His early directing efforts in the 1950’s, his producing skills, the boundary pushes, bringing world cinema to America, the legendary Edgar Allan Poe features and, now in his nineties, his plans for making more entertainment for us! A man who should be spoken of in the same breath as Walt Disney.
And as an added bonus, there is Jeff’s much repeated story (to the rest of the team to the point of boredom), of how he thought he was going to die when he once watched a Roger Corman film. However, centre stage this episode is Jardiel, who has a tremendous knowledge on this subject. But then Jardiel has a fantastic knowledge of all things Pulp – check out the links to his sites below. So, sit back and listen to the story of one of the true geniuses of cinema.
Enjoy.
After the success of episode 72 (The Politics Of Rambo), we return to one of Sylvester Stallone’s most famous characters as we critique Part II. In preparation for this, your jungle team of Elijah, Graham and Jeff put on their bandanas, get out their bows and arrows and journey into the undergrowth.
The undergrowth of politics that is. We examine why the second Rambo film, the most successful of the series, made such an impact when it was released in 1985. Culturally and politically this became one of the films to see that Summer. Even President Ronald Reagan was talking about!
During the course of this in depth discussion we answer the questions: * Why was the movie so successful when the idea had already been used in many similar features? * Were there really American POWs still in Vietnam in the mid 1980’s? * What involvement did James Cameron have in the production? * How did the aftermath of the Vietnam war assist in the downfall of the Soviet empire? * Is it true John Travolta almost played Sylvester Stallone’s sidekick?
And many other questions you didn’t know you wanted to ask. As with our first podcast on the subject, we have access to stories about the Vietnam conflict and its aftermath which have never been documented. We will give a minor podcast spoiler alert here, towards the end there is some very graphic detail being discussed.
We hope you agree with us that this is a journey worth taking and that, regardless what you think of Rambo : First Blood Part II, agree it left a huge mark on 1980’s culture.
See you at the next Rambo reunion.
Enjoy.
The world around you may seem to be going mad as everyone enters lockdown phase, however don’t worry, the At The Flicks team are there for you. We have more content stored than Neil’s toilet roll collection and it is of better quality.
Yes, throughout this crisis we pledge to deliver to you shows on a regular basis. You may not agree with our views (no one ever agrees with Jeff), but we hope to keep you informed about all aspects of movies and also to try to keep you smiling. Take this show, our mid March spectacular. We have two top quality interviews and a batch of movie news more infectious than the coronavirus! First up in our interviews is Ashley, the top sound engineer on Cape Town’s morning show Expresso. Jeff recorded this interview with Ashley when he was in Cape Town recently and says he wishes he was back there now – so do we Jeff. Ashley talks us through a typical day and tells us about sound recording techniques that make Graham jealous.
After that we have an interview with Swedish film director Jimmy Olsson. Jimmy has recently made a powerful short film called Alive, which is about to go on the festival circuit. We have seen it and our collective view is that it is a winner and well worth looking out for. Jimmy talks to us about the making of Alive and also about his previous film 2nd Class which is equally powerful. Remember the name – Jimmy Olsson, you are going to be hearing it a lot more in the future.
Finally we have our popular movie news. Jeff runs through a fascinating slate of movies that actor Willem Dafoe has lined up and Neil gives us the lowdown on a new British war film called Operation Mincemeat. As for Graham, well he threw out the highbrow news written for him just so he could talk about one of his heroes, the great Gerard Butler. Graham believes Gerard should be in every movie where a hero is required to save the Earth, and sets out to prove why it should be so.
Gerard, we could do with your world saving attributes at the moment. Finally, a shout out for Bianca Garner and a wonderful piece she has written on the “one shot” film. Not sure what that means? Check out the link below and Bee will explain all.
As usual any feedback on the show please let us know.
I know it may be difficult at the moment, but keep smiling, the At The Flicks team are there for you.
Until next time – take care out there.
The last, the longest and the wittiest awards show review of the year. As we are so late to the party, the At The Flicks team approached this assignment like a Quentin Tarentino movie.
The usual suspects are here, however for this one we had to go bigger and bring in some extra Reservoir Dogs. Like every great Tarentino movie we break the action down into chapters, such as the Controversies and the movies the award winners would rather forget! We cover all the big awards with Tarantino wit and violence (well that always happens when Neil and Jeff are together).
As the team sit around the table reviewing the action, let’s for fun, cast them with Tarentino regulars.
Brad Pitt plays Jeff (because Jeff wrote this and had first pick)
Uma Thurman plays Neil (again because Jeff wrote this)
Samuel L Jackson plays Graham (the sage, quick to violence when Marvel or Mel are mentioned too many times)
Michael Madsen plays Phil aka Phil the Bear (a quiet type but never mention Green Book around him when he has a razor in his hand)
Tim Roth plays Darren (a cool operator and always able to make money out of award schemes)
Together they are the Kosher Boyos. Always ready for action when Jeff sorry Brad runs down 1917 (the film and the time Neil has to be home by).
So if you wants an awards review show that doesn’t take itself too seriously check out the latest from the At The Flicks sorry Kosher Boyos team.
After all, the only thing better than this podcast is a Royale With Cheese
Enjoy.
In podcast 78 “Is it too early for Sherry” we had so many reviews that we had to split the show into two parts. This Podcast is the second part of our End of month Review show.
This show contains reviews of Bad Boys for Life, The Rhythm Section, Emma, While you were sleeping, Slenderman, 71, The Buddy Holly Story and a review of the first six Studio Ghibli movies that aired on Netflix in February. We hope you enjoy this show.
Welcome to our end of February show. It might be the shortest month, yet paradoxically it has the biggest show. So big in fact that we have had to split it in two! We could have edited some of the content out, but if we did that we would have to put up with another Jeff rant as to how he was being censored. This seems a good compromise, and as an added bonus, if you have to self isolate in the weeks ahead, well, you now have plenty to listen to. In fact if you are sealed in, then the first item on the show is essential. Dec’s guide to streaming (carry on streaming) returns. There are some excellent shows on here, although Jeff cannot let his love of Gavin and Stacey go! Yes we know it was the biggest hit on TV over Christmas, now move on. Dec, like Graham and Neil, ignores Jeff and provides some series well worth streaming, especially if you unexpectedly find yourself all alone for a couple of weeks. By the way, if you want to get tips on how to survive alone, send your questions to us and we will ask our resident expert Neil. Back to the show. We have some in-depth reviews on this show, including The Personal History Of David Copperfield and Parasite. Check out also Darren’s Dash, as Darren clearly takes this film watching far more seriously than the rest of the team do. After the reviews we say hello again to Emma. Emma will be with us every other months to tell us about the films she is looking forward to seeing in the cinema. This new section is called Emma’s Picks. Emma has her finger on the pulse far more than we do, and she has come up with some excellent recommendations. To find out what they are you will have to listen to the show. That’s it for part one of the end of month show. Check back in tomorrow for the rest of the reviews show. Enjoy.
The “it’s back” episode. It’s back to great interviews, it’s back to movie news and it’s back to Elijah who is once again re-discovering the classics.
It’s also back to Jeff’s rants, Neil’s confusion and Graham’s unnatural obsession for all things Mel.
Put that from you mind as we tell you about our big interview. Our first interview of the year and we start with a bang. Kirk Doman is a major movie art director in South Africa. It didn’t start out that way for Kirk who tells us how he got involved in the film world, firstly as a movie prop supplier and then as an art director. Jeff was fortunate enough to get some of Kirk’s very busy time when he was over in Cape Town recently. He also got to spend time wandering through Kirk’s company called prop art, which he co-owns with Barry Coetzer, where some amazing props are on display. Check out the link below to their website and also below are some of the amazing pictures Jeff’s wife took when they were there.
Jeff conducted the interview in the very busy prop house store, as you will probably guess from all the work you can hear going on around him. Seeing work being done must have been something of a shock for Jeff! As well as talking about the fascinating props, Kirk also told us about his fascinating career working on such movies and TV series as Blood Diamond, Doomsday, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, Breathe, The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society and The Crown. Listen out for some wonderful and heart warming stories about Kirk’s encounters with the likes of Luke Perry, Andy Serkis and Tom Cruise.
After Kirk we have our first movie news column in months. As this is something of a reunion we gave each of the At The Flicks team to talk about something they love. Jeff spoke about films being made in Wales (much to the amusement of the other two), Neil has some astonishing Studio Ghibli news and Graham had a choice. OK he didn’t. We set up a listener poll to ask should we allow Graham to talk about a film he would like to see or the latest Mel Gibson news. 95% picked … no, not here – you will have to check out the show to find out what happened.
After that amusement, Elijah returns with a new classic. A fortuitous one – Spartacus. It was selected and recorded before the recent sad departure of Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas. Even so we think it is a fitting tribute to one of the great man’s finest movies.
Let us know what you think of the our classic selection or anything else that you hear on the show. As always we would love to hear from you.
Enjoy.
On this Podcast short special we talk to director Marc Jobst about his latest in development project Home.
Marc will be bringing a concept performance from the film, a movie “pitch” if you like, to this year’s Stroud Film Festival. As the Festival guide explains the event “ Home is a multi generational dance musical about three young homeless people who meet on the streets of Bristol. Researched in Gloucester and Bristol, it’s being pitched in the UK and Hollywood.”
After the event Marc will be chairing an open discussion with the audience about their ideas on thoughts on Home. If you have ever wanted a chance to influence a Hollywood movie, this is your time.
To be part of this amazing opportunity, you can get tickets for the event via the Stroud Film Festival website – check out the link below. Hurry though there are only a few days to go and you do not want to miss out on getting tickets for this one.
The At The Flicks team will see you at the event.
The 2020 Stroud Film Festival starts with a lead in event on 21st February and to discuss the programme for this year we sat down with Co. Director of the Festival, Andy Freedman.
In this podcast we talk about the films, venues, competitions, events and workshops that make this festival such a unique experience.
If you have an interest in cinema then the Stroud Film Festival, which runs until 28th March is an event you will not want to miss.
Check out the full festival programme here and get your tickets before they all go.
In the last few years film fans have complained that the movie industry was churning out nothing but Sequels, Reboots and Remakes. What exactly are these modern phenomena? In 2019 we had more Avengers, another John Wick, Godzilla back again, Pets continuing to be secret, X-Men doing the Phoenix saga again, the return of the Toy Story crowd, yet more Annabelle and a further helping of the Men in Black. Where is the originality?
In this Podcast we are joined by regular contributor Phil Foster to discuss the sequel, reboot, remake phenomena. We look at some of the best and worse in each category. Warning: this gets very messy, very quickly.
Welcome to our first end of month review show of the year.
It has been a few months since our last reviews show, so we start with a little catch up. Star Wars fan Phil Foster aka Phil the Bear joins us to discuss Star Wars : The Rise Of Skywalker (or as Jeff has cynically named it – Star Wars : The Death Of A Saga). It is a film which has divided audiences as much as it has done for our panel. Whatever your view on the film, I am sure you will agree that proved to be an odd end for a story which started a long, long time ago.
More up to minute reviews include 1917, JoJo Rabbit and Bombshell. While discussing releases, we could not pass up the opportunity to talk about Cats. Generally reviled, however one member of the team speaks up in its defence. I wonder who would be that contrary to go against what most people are thinking? I will give you a clue, he is Welsh and annoys Neil a lot!
Joining us for the reviews is Darren from @dazzalovesmovies. Darren puts us to shame with regard to movie watching, and his much missed section Darren’s Dash returns where he tells us about such films as Little Women and Waves.
Away from reviews, the At The Flicks team are delighted to be talking to Bianca Garner about her website In Their Own League. This wonderful site celebrates women in all aspects of the film industry, something which is definitely required, as the lack of recent Award nominations have shown. Bianca, also known as Bee, tells us about how quickly the site has grown, her amazing team of writers and her future ambitions for the site.
After that we chat to Steve Wright, our friendly Cineworld manager who has had a very busy Christmas, and who looks like having an incredibly busy 2020. With hits like 1917, Little Women and The Personal History of David Copperfield, I think it will be some time before Steve gets a break!
That’s the show. I think you will agree that we have something for every movie palate in this episode. As always please let us know what you think.
Enjoy.
Welcome to the first of a limited series looking at the Rambo films. While that might seem an odd series for At The Flicks to go into such detail on, it is something that has been on political Jeff's mind since watching Rambo Last Blood. What this series will hopefully achieve, is a critique of each film and the political times in which it was made. Each film will get its own episode.
What better place to start than at the beginning, so we begin with First Blood (1982). Without doubt one of Sylvester Stallone's best films and one that tackles the important issue of what happens to people after combat. Especially, as in the case of Vietnam, where the war was lost.
As the At The Flicks team are British and John Rambo is very much an American hero, we have brought in one of our American contributors for the series. Elijah will be joining us for each episode, to give his view on both the film and the politics. This first episode has a particular meaning for Elijah because of a personal connection to the Vietnam war. Something very different for us and we look forward to your feedback to know if this venture works for you or not. Enjoy.
After the last couple of shows which have focused on listeners and contributors favourite films of 2019, it is now time for the At The Flicks team to put theirs together.
It wasn’t easy!
The period of creating and comparing the three lists ended up in Game Of Thrones style intrigue. Jeff threatened to release incriminating photos unless his picks were selected. This plan backfired when he realised Neil and Graham actually had even more incriminating photos of him. The one of him sitting there in his Marvel Pjs, watching the Marvel film cycle on repeat will now not be published. At least, not yet….
After all that, we finally agreed on a top ten – here it is. We would love to hear your opinion about this list.
But wait, that is not all. We have also included in our review of the year show the following:
Obituaries : 6 key obituaries from 2019 that had an impact on the team. Awards : Want to know which movie won the Mel Gibson award of the year and what won the Heaven’s Gate award for the most embarrassing failure – then check out this show. 2020 – We give our take on what is coming which cannot be missed in 2020.
Relax, enjoy the show and have a great movie going 2020.
On New Year's Eve we released episode 69 (Neil's favourite episode) where some of our contributors and guests revealed their top films of 2019.
Following some fantastic feedback, we now have, for you, the second half of the show. Once again, guests and contributors tell us what their favourites were.
For our guests and contributors we have an equally strong list:
Declan - Who takes a break from watching TV for Carry On Streaming to tell us his top picks from the movie world
Nick - All the way from across the pond to tell us about the movie year Stateside
Elijah - Staying in America, our classic film reviewer also reveals his best films.
Lucy - Lucy takes a break from preparing some fascinating discussions for her State Of The Movie feature to tell us what she considers great from 2019.
Zayn - A new listener to the show from sunny Cape Town who has some very interesting choices
Ashley - A sneak peak as Ashley tells us what impressed him during 2019. We have a more detailed interview coming with this incredibly talented sound engineer in a couple of months.
In the next show the At The Flicks founder members reveal their top ten of the year. Expect disagreements, the odd tantrum and tears. After which we will calm Neil down with a nice soothing cup of tea.
A very happy New Year to all our listeners.
What would the start of a new movie going year be if you didn’t have a close look back at the one that has just passed? If you had a good New Year’s Eve, then your hangover time should be spent assessing what was good and bad in 2019. Trust us, that is what we will be doing!
We thought we would ask some of our contributors and listeners what their views on 2019 were. In the end we had so much good material that we put The Irishman’s length to shame (although the de-aging process that worked there, sadly didn’t help our Neil in any way). As a result and because of an executive decision (well, our Graham told us it would happen this way), we have split the show into two. One for New Year’s Eve and the other a few days later, when we have sobered up enough to complete the editing.
So, welcome to Part One where you will find
Regular columnist Phil aka Phil The Bear with his extremely knowledgeable cinema assessment. That said, there is a very interesting “discussion” around his top pick of the year. Yes, our Jeff goes off on one again. You have to remember Jeff – this is NOT your list, if you behave that will come!
Dingle (from show 57 – Saturday Morning Cinema In The 1940’s) who applies his lifetime of cinema knowledge to list his favourite films of the year. This includes one title that very pleasantly caught us by surprise.
Our fellow reviewer Darren joins us to talk to us about his top films. For someone who watches as many films as Darren, it unsurprisingly includes some great titles. Listening again to Darren’s views, it is no wonder we are proud to have him as one of our monthly reviewers.
A welcome back to Jardiel from Pulp Cereal (episode 64 Wolfman To Dr No) who gives us some fascinating choices. It is a list so intriguing that Jeff had to go out and buy one of them on blu ray to check it out for himself. He is pleased to report that it proved to be a very worthwhile purchase.
Last, but certainly not least for this half of the review, Emma is back (episode 63 "24 Films In 10 Days"). Emma sets the record for the most number of films seen in a year. Once you hear that total, you know this list is going to be good, and Emma does not disappoint.
That takes you to half way and time to take a break and maybe grab an ice cream, or if you were in an up market cinema, a glass of wine and prepare yourself for part two which is coming very shortly. Listen out for some of your other favourite contributors.
Enjoy and have a great movie going 2020.
Christmas is coming and like every family, the 'At The Flicks' team will be settled in 'Silent Night' fashion in front of the TV. Well, it is better than talking to one another. Anyway, by that time we would have fallen out, Jeff will no doubt be complaining about who ate the last roast potato, Neil will be hyper after his annual glass of wine and Graham will be trying to get us all to stand for the Queen’s speech!
Once all those disputes are settled, the question will then be “what shall we watch next”. Luckily this podcast has the answer. We brought in TV expert Declan for this special Carry On Christmas Streaming episode. Dec tells us about some shows we have missed over the last few weeks which may well be worth catching up with following our turkey dinner binge. This might even be the time to catch up with the Crown (we could even persuade Graham it is a documentary which has replaced the Queen’s speech this year).
If we are too lazy for a retrospective selection, then maybe it is time for some “live” TV and watching some of the very impressive output the BBC has for the festive season. There is an interesting and adult take on A Christmas Carol, a new Dracula and for Jeff, time to return to his homeland for the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special. So much to choose from and all discussed by Dec here. So if you have the same problem as we do in deciding what to watch, then check out Dec’s recommendations. It may be a cliché, however we believe there his selection has something for everyone.
Whatever you watch, have a great Christmas and may all your selections be wonderful.
Welcome to another podcast in our occasional series – Director on Director. Writer / Director Phil Stubbs (Last Chancers) joins us again, to talk about another of his favourite directors, Tim Burton.
Join us on a journey that starts with Tim's early days at Disney and ends with .... Tim's recent time at Disney. This is a journey that starts with imaginative characters set in fantastical worlds and gradually, over the years devolves into corporate pleasing, sequels and soulless remakes. During our discussion we draw a line in Tim Burton's filmography where we think things started to go stale. The journey ends on a "bit of a downer" but the masterpieces of the 80's and 90's are discussed in full.
A unique talent whose many films include such classics as Beetlejuice, Batman, Ed Wood and Mars Attacks.
How do you rate Mr Burton, please let us know, as always we would love to hear from you.
Podcast regular Darren, joins the At the Flicks team to discuss our favourite foreign language films. Jeff's language skill are found lacking, as he tries to introduce each film in it's native tongue! For this Podcast we each select two films (8 in total) that are personal favourites of ours. By the end of the show, we all had at least a couple of gems that we wanted to watch. Our selection of foreign language movies cover a broad spectrum of genres, from a couple of martial arts masterpieces to a animated classic, a much maligned vintage Swedish tour-de-force and an 80's French noire thriller. As usual the detailed technical analysis quickly goes off the rails with Jeff insisting that a Indonesian action movie is in fact, Welsh. Darren describes the movie that brought John Woo and Chow Yun Fat to the notice of western film fans. Neil returns to his "safe space" with a beautiful Japanese animated classic and Graham describes his selection of an 80's French thriller as a "one hit wonder"! We hope you enjoy this show as much as we did making it. As always, we would love to hear what you think of this, or any of our shows. Enjoy!
In this show, we chat to fellow Podcaster Em from Verbal Diorama about female superheroes. We discuss the portrayal of female heroes in movies past, present and future. Em in her signature chatty style, regales the team with her views of the TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She even has some positive thoughts on the much maligned 1992 movie of the same name.
We talk about the role of the incredibly powerful women in the X-Men franchise. Em confesses to watching "Arnie" movies under age and the effect Brigitte Nielsen's, Red Sonja had on her, growing up.
As this is a show featuring three movie nerds, the conversation sometime veers wildly off topic and we end up discussing Logan and drawing comparisons with Joker. Em gets side tracked by the Iron Giant and Jeff details why he needed three toilet breaks during Captain Marvel. Other topics are the theory that Em's cat might actually be a Flerken! The correct drink to have before Em discusses Buffy and the only good thing in the Fantastic Four movie?
After many twists and turns we finally get the show back on course and look forward, with optimism, to the female led movies coming out over the next few years.
Thanks Em, for being such a great guest and hope our listeners enjoy the show.
Welcome to our mid month show, which is as usual packed with a variety of goodies for you.
We chat to Jardiel the creator of the film distribution company Pulp Cereal, which deals in films and TV with pulp fiction roots. Learn – as we did – about such classic serials as Flash Gordon, The Shadow and The Tiger Woman.
Elijah is also back as we start the first of a long running series of chats on the films of James Bond. Where better to start than at the beginning as we focus on Dr No.
Amazingly we also have time to squeeze in a little movie news. Jeff talks film music (again) and Graham reflects on an anticipated sequel coming next year which was filmed locally.
The local comment is interesting as while the show will continue weekly, or thereabouts, for the next few weeks, the At The Flicks team will be anything but local. Sorry listeners the prospect of another British election run by the cast of a Carry On movie is enough for us to jet off to the sun.
We have put some shows together for you and clever Graham has arranged for their weekly release until we return when the dust settles. Or given this lot, wiped the custard pies from their faces, that’s the politicians, not us.
In the interim, Jeff will be in South Africa interviewing people connected to the South African film industry, Graham will be in America celebrating Thanksgiving with his family and Neil is on a golfing holiday with his big orange golfing buddy (who cheats, allegedly). We will be back to bring you some year end specials as soon as this current farce ends.
In the meantime, enjoy the At The Flicks content coming your way.
We have a very special double bill for you in this episode. First up, we speak to Emma who attended the London Film Festival for the first time this year. Emma tells us the highlights she saw there. If you are anything like us, your 'what-to-watch' list is about to explode, as you add some of these fantastic titles. From a new person on the show, we then catch up with Declan who has a round up of what is hot or not on the various streaming services. Oh, and he also throws in some interesting titles on the BBC for good measure. Another packed show for you. Enjoy.
Welcome to our monthly review show. Sorry, it's a little late this month. The reason is explained in our "Next Month" segment. This show features reviews of Joker, The Irishman and many others. New team member Darren returns to detail his favourite four films of the month for his segment, Darren's Dash! Regular contributor Steve Wright from Cineworld details all of the films that you can catch at your local multiplex from now until Christmas.
You asked for it - you now have it!
There was much debate with our listeners over show 52, Actors Of Our Generation. Some of our choices were questioned - "Why don't you like Ryan Gosling?", "Surely Matt Damon should be on the list?" and, perhaps most telling of all, "Where is Rebel Wilson?"
Now we have broadened the debate. Let's look at the actors of the previous generation. Do you agree with our choices - is there anyone we have missed?
Please let us know your thoughts?
On this show, Jeff admits he's wrong! It doesn't happen often (well, never) so listen out for it.
As for the rest of the show, we have an interview with young South African film composer Daniel Gadd. Make a note of that name, he is a talent to watch. Daniel talks about his musical roles on some very big British films and the documentaries he has been involved with. Listen out for his excellent score to “Bruce Lee and The Outlaw”.
Lucy returns, with some very interesting news! This is a piece we recorded in the Summer, over too many glasses of wine as we tried to put the film world to rights and make sense of the year so far. Lucy speaks sense, Jeff rants on about comic book movies, Neil wonders where he is, and Graham desperately tries to keep order. In short, we all had fun and we hope you do to.
Finally, we have the movie news. This month Neil brings us a scoop from our American Reporter about one of the big ones currently filming in Augusta Georgia. Jeff talks about another TV character moving from the BBC to the big screen and Graham once again hijacks the movie news to speak about one of his heroes. Something for everyone there. Have fun with us as we ramble on about movies.
Enjoy
"I love the smell of a podcast in the morning, it smells like victory"!
With those words ringing in your head, it's time to go back into the jungle.
The helicopter blades are whirring and Ride Of The Valkyries is queued up ready to play. All of this can only mean one film - Apocalypse Now. Or to be more specific, Apocalypse Now : Final Cut.
Film maker Sam Pope, a huge fan of the Francis Coppola's masterpiece, guides your At The Flicks team up the river, deep into a discussion of the film and its meaning.
On the journey we will discuss whether the resurrection of the French plantation sequence adds anything to the film, the performances of Robert Duvall and Marlon Brando, Francis Coppola's direction and the genius that is Walter Murch. At no time are the words "the horror, the horror" spoken.
Part way through the journey we will stop to take in the landscape of 1970's cinema which gave birth to Apocalypse Now.
If you think you know this film or are only just discovering it for the first time, then why not join us? There is always room on Mr Clean' s boat and we would love to hear your thoughts on what this movie, which famously brought its creator to the edge of madness, means to you.
Enjoy
Regular listeners to the show know what a stickler for detail our Neil is. He has to review and approve everything before we are allowed to upload each podcast. Unfortunately the end of September also clashed with the annual Tory party conference, for which Neil has a season ticket. So we had to wait for his return before we could get his seal of approval and then put the show out.
Sorry about that.
To make up for it, our reviews show is more packed than ever. Neil and Graham joined Jeff and Darren for such treats as It Chapter Two, Crawl and Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. Only kidding, they were of course no where to be seen when any of the above were showing. Luckily Jeff and Darren made sure they were covered for your spooky listening pleasure.
Amazingly Graham also missed the latest from his hero Gerard Butler. Yes only Neil and Jeff were there for Angel Has Fallen. What did they think of it? Indeed what did our reviewers name as their film of the month? Listen in to find out, although it will come as no surprise to learn there were disagreements within the team.
This month we are also proud to introduce a new feature. Darren, who sees many more films than the retired slackers, has his own section called Darren's Dash. This is a quick journey through the movies he has seen the others haven't.
As if that isn't enough for you, Elijah is back with another retrospective. This month : The Lion In Winter. Check out this historical drama which was dealing with royal political intrigue decades before Game Of Thrones, and, as an added bonus, it is true (sort of).
Sit back, get out your cinema to-see list and match that against this, our most detailed reviews show to date.
Please let us know what you think.
Enjoy
For the 2019 International Day of Older Persons, the At The Flicks team invite you to meet Dingle. Dingle, who is now in his leisure years, looks back on his love of films, which comes from his youth. The particular focus of our discussion is his visits to Saturday Morning cinema in the late 1940's. Prepare to be enthralled as Dingle describes his typical Saturday, which revolved around his mid morning visit to his local cinema in the hope of seeing a couple of great Western movies. It was a real honour to chat with this entertaining local resident and we hope to be able to bring you more cinema memories in future podcasts. For now, prepare to sing-a-long with an exuberant audience, enjoy some old fashioned entertainment and then gallop home. Dingle, thank you, it has been a blast.
This month the At The Flicks team speak to Phil Foster aka Phil The Bear about his latest director retrospective. Welcome to the fast talking, blood splattered world of Quentin Tarantino. For this very special discussion, we are joined by film maker Sam Pope, who is also a Tarantino fan. In a sense this podcast is the young against the old. Phil and Sam are like the Vega twins in cool suits and snappy dialogue. Graham, Neil and Jeff don the shades to become the Reservoir Old Dogs (although Jeff reckons Neil fits better as an Inglourious Basterd, spelling optional!). This age difference is quite important when we get to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, as the At The Flicks team use their experience to talk about that TV and film culture first hand. Before discussing Tarantino's latest, we go through the classics. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight are all mulled over in detail. Along with our thoughts on the man himself. We ask the question, has Quentin Tarantino changed over the years and if so how? Check it out to see if you agree with our conclusion. Other things we question on the way
What role would James Woods have played in Reservoir Dogs if his agent hadn't turned it down (Woods fired him for that)!
Would Warren Beatty have made a better Bill than David Carradine?
Is From Dusk Till Dawn a horror film?
Our thoughts on all of these and much, much more are contained within this action packed and wise cracking podcast. There is of course the occasional over the top violence, but what else would you expect when Neil and Jeff get together? After you have listened to our rambling, please let us know about your thoughts on Quentin Tarantino, we would love to hear from you.
The 'At The Flicks' team are proud to present our latest and a very special podcast. Special because this month we are actually ahead of the curve, interviewing and reporting on landmark films that are coming in the future. First up we have an interview with Stefen Harris, whose excellent thriller Blue Moon is currently winning awards on the festival circuit. Stef gives us a fascinating insight into the world of low budget film-making and how that really can achieve results. The link to the Blue Moon trailer is below and if it comes to a film festival near you, we urge you to check it out, you will not be disappointed. Going further ahead, we also include this month an 'on set' report from the drama Falklands Square, which we first reported on back in July. Graham and Jeff travelled to Portsmouth on a blistering hot day in August to watch the film being made. Whilst on set we interviewed the cast, including writer and star Russ Meyers, along with the director Miles Petford. Neil missed out on this real treat thanks to golf and an Apollo 11 moment (the podcast explains all). We hope you enjoy what we believe is one of our best podcasts. Please let us know if you agree. Enjoy. A very special thank you to Dave Reynolds of Great British Entertainment for his help in making this episode possible.
For this podcast short Neil dares to be different.
In a bold move, he seized control of the order paper making Graham and Jeff listen to him for the entire day. Luckily we were able to distil that working day down to its most interesting parts as Neil tells us over and over again, about his love for foreign films.
In a vein effort to get Jeff to watch more cultured films, Neil compares foreign language classics to their English remakes. He waxes lyrical on the beauty of Infernal Affairs, Let The Right One In and Oldboy. Jeff talks about The Departed, Let Me In and, oh yes, Oldboy!
Rather than our usual banter, this is a much more cultured affair with some fascinating points about different film cultures, remakes and language. Perhaps we should let Neil take over more often, what do you think?
We hope you enjoy this rather different pod short from your At The Flicks team. Please tell us where you stand in regard to this interesting discussion.
Our apologies for the delay in releasing our end of month show. We were all set to upload then suddenly Neil used his veto to prorogue the podcast. Neil felt he should be in charge and have final say, and there should be less comments about him from Jeff.
Needless to say, the others joined forces in a loose collation to bring back power for the people. Thankfully, sense prevailed and the proroguing was deemed unlawful. With court procedures now over, here is the end of August podcast for you to vote on.
Will Dec's choices in our Carry On Streaming section meet with your approval? We think you will vote to hear more about such shows as The Society, Dark Crystal : Age Of Resistance and Love, Death and Robots.
Then there is the At The Flicks equivalent of question time as we have a committee to discuss our reviews of the month.
Darren joins us again for our reviews of The Lion King and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Lucy is also on the show as she casts her votes on whether such films as The Highwaymen, Hobbs and Shaw and Yesterday deserve to be unleashed on the public.
We hope you enjoy the show and, if there is a public vote, you give your say on this latest episode of At The Flicks.
Thank you very much for listening.
Who are the Actors of our generation? This is the question we tackle with the aid of regular guest Phil Foster.
Each presenter picks two actors, one male one female and argues why they think their particular picks will be remembered in fifty years as the actors of this generation. The only stipulation for inclusion in the list, is that the actor has to be born after 1973!
The team discuss the qualities necessary for legendary status, the movies they have been in and the directors they have worked with. With over 140 movies referenced in the discussion be ready for a barrage of film information!
The list of actors is: Jessica Chastain, Emily Blunt, Brie Larson and Emma Stone. For the male actors we discuss, Ryan Gosling, Tom Hardy, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale!
At the Flicks would not be complete without some of Jeff's madness. In this show he argues that one of the key attributes of great acting talent is be Welsh! This single attribute also allows Welsh actors to perform better in Westerns! For more of Jeff's particular brand of crazy listen to the show.
It's holiday time! Yes, even for us. Your At The Flicks team are off to the coast while listening to the classic Cliff Richard track Summer Holiday on repeat to annoy Jeff.
Before we go, we have prepared a unique and very entertaining mid month show for you. The team aren't on it which in itself some of you might find a blessing. Instead we have an interview and the latest from Lucy on the state of the movies.
Our interview is with young Theo Hogben, an up and coming film maker who already has been involved in some impressive projects. The main focus of our discussion is Theo's latest, which is currently on the film festival circuit, called A Most Savage Beast. Theo has very kindly provided us with a special offer just for At The Flicks listeners. If you are interested in seeing this quality short, then send us your details and we will pass them onto Theo. He will try and make a screener available to you. Thank you Theo for your generosity.
Also on the show, Lucy returns and talks to Jeff about her favourite Stephen King films. Some great choices and much to Graham and Neil's relief, not all horror films. Do you agree with the films selected under the banner of the greatest Stephen King films? Let us know, we would love to hear from you.
OK, the car's packed and time to travel. If you hear a car pass with Summer Holiday on repeat and the sounds of not another bloody comic book movie, you know we are coming your way!
Enjoy the rest of the Summer and we will be back later in the month
To mark our 50th Show; Jeff, Neil and Graham sit down to reminisce about the audio journey from our first show 18 months ago, right up to this one and onto our plans for the rest of this year.
We talk about Jeff's idea of starting a Podcast! His original idea of capturing and sharing our post cinema discussions, or as Jeff so eloquently put it: "three old codgers, in a pub, talking bollocks about movies". Now there's a mission statement!
We also talk about the growth of the show; the migration from a review centric format, to a more magazine type show, filled with interviews and regular contributors. Our constant struggle with the review format and finally "where to next?"!
This show is a pause in our hectic schedule to thank all out listeners, contributors and guests and to talk for a few moments about our past, our hopes and our aspirations for the future.
Thanks again to everyone and enjoy the show!
This week friend of the show Darren joins us as a guest reviewer. He starts in fine style reviewing Spider-Man : Far From Home. Like Darren, Neil and Graham find much to like in this latest outing from the web slinger. As for Jeff, he has another comic book hero rant, until we manage to find his meds and calm him down!
Other films reviewed this month include Midsommar, Yesterday, Apollo 11 and Cabin In The Woods. Yes, you read that right, Graham has taken Em's advice and watched this comedy horror flick. Did he like it? Check out the show to find out.
Apart from wall to wall reviews, we manage to find a corner for Steve to return to give us the lowdown on what is coming to Cineworld. As well as the film list, Steve gives us a Jaws story which hopefully will not prove to be a little too close for comfort!
If you think this all sounds very professional, don't worry, Jeff tries out a new interview technique on us, with unexpected consequences for him.
The At The Flicks podcast the perfect tonic for Summer, with only the occasional deluge provided by Jeff.
Enjoy
Think you know your Coen Brothers? Think again? This month, Phil Foster of Phil the Bear's Blog, talks us through his incredible retrospective article on the Coen brothers filmography. From Raising Arizona parenting tips, to looking after cats with Llewyn Davis, it's all here. In this absorbing, funny and informative episode, Phil details the five Coen Brothers movies that he thinks are modern masterpieces. We discuss the significance of the hat in Miller’s Crossing, roles for Robert Redford in O Brother, Where Art Thou, devils and angles and the sheer diversity of their back catalogue. Screwball comedy, film noire or intense drama, the Coen's can do it all and have, many times. If, after listening to this episode, you want to have your say on this topic, please drop us a line. We would love to hear from you. Our contact details are on our Website attheflicks.uk you can email us at show@attheflicks.uk and you can always find us on Twitter at @AttheFlicksPod
We at the At The Flicks team love our show. However we don't exclusively listen to ourselves speaking (Jeff being the exception). There are some great movie podcasts out there that we love to check out.
One such podcast is Verbal Diorama (yes, you read that right; the explanation for that fascinating title is revealed during the interview). Verbal Diorama is the brainchild of Em. The reason we liked it and just had to talk to her? Em focuses on one film per podcast and it usually is a movie which didn't get the recognition during its original release. Her retrospectives are delivered in an enthusiastic and knowledgeable way.
After listening to the wonderful Em and her motivations and ideas, we are sure you, like us, will become big fans of the show.
Speaking of voices we like, this episode Elijah returns. This month our rediscovering the classics with Elijah focuses on the original Planet Of The Apes from 1968. We couldn't leave it there of course, as our science fiction expert Graham made sure we covered the entire Apes universe! The discussion is so much fun our Neil wishes he had an Apes type time machine to go back to the 70's to watch them when they were released; you don't need that Neil, just a good streaming service!
As if that isn't enough, we have a scoop for you in our movie news. No, not Mel Gibson, although of course Graham just can't resist talking about him. We tell you about an important British film called Falklands Square which starts shooting this Summer. Find out what it is about and why it is very relevant in our movie news section.
A packed show for you.
Enjoy
The “At the Flicks” team are very proud and honoured, to bring you a very special podcast which concentrates on a single short film. Stroud's Secret Suffragist: The Film This film was one of the highlights of the 2019 Stroud Film Festival. This local film gives a fascinating insight into the life of Margaret Hills. One hundred years ago, Margaret was a leading member of the Suffragist movement. Over the years, however, the achievements of this remarkable woman have faded from public view. Until now! Thanks to an amazing creative team, Margaret's story is told in this powerful short film. We talk to the researcher who whilst digging through local council archives discovered the story. We then talk to the talented writer, who took these research fragments and brought them to life as a dramatic live street performance in Stroud. We also managed to interview the actor who played Margaret in that live street performance. Finally, we move onto the team who created the film, based on all this work. We talk to the young film maker/director/editor and her producer, about the long and difficult development process in the production of the film. On this podcast you can follow the journey of that team through the film's creative process. We have been kindly allowed to use original music from the film during the podcast. We would like to thank the whole creative team for sharing this astounding woman's life with us and our listeners.
Our traditional end of month show is a little late. Two reasons for that 1) A new review format which took a little bit of tinkering with. Don't worry though, it might be a new review format, but it is the same old men (thanks for pointing that out Phil) 2) A July 4th treat for our American listeners! Yes we have shaken up the review format and even woken Neil up in the process! Our reviews are shorter and there are more of them. This means we have finally fulfilled a promise from our very first show. Some of our reviews are retrospectives of older and classic films. We can now answer the question, are they still good after all this time and, given our ageing brains, do we still remember them. Listen out for Jeff realising Who Framed Roger Rabbit is part animation and Graham shocked at the use of an electric chair in The Green Mile! As if that isn't enough for you, we have added a new feature called Carry on Streaming. New contributor Declan will be joining us every other month to reveal what are the best shows out there on the streaming and iPlayer platforms, as well as what is worth looking out for. Something for everyone to enjoy as you gather around your barbecues as long as it doesn't
This month in our monthly catch up with Phil, we tackle the big one. Bigger than what's the meaning of life, bigger even than why does Graham like Mel Gibson so much. It is Cinema Vs Streaming where are we and what is the future? Can cinema compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime? It was such a big topic that we had to bring in reinforcements. Joining the team for this show (and hopefully coming back for future visits) is Paul. Paul brings his knowledge of what happened to the music industry to show some interesting comparisons. It is a fascinating and occasionally eye opening discussion as we look at where we currently are, what changes are on the horizon and where could we be in a few years time. If listening to this you want to have your say on this big topic, please drop us a line. We would love to hear from you.
We are honoured this month to have an interview with music producer and composer Rupert Christie. As a composer, Rupert scored the very successful British movie Fisherman's Friends and also, as a producer, was responsible for their phenomenal chart topping success.
Rupert talks in detail about his involvement on the film and his work on other features with Michael Kamen such as Open Range.
Composers feature a lot in our show this month as the our "Rediscovering the classics with Elijah" film of the month is Psycho. There is no way we could talk about this Hitchcock classic without reference to Bernhard Herrmann's famous score.
Of course as Psycho is horror, Graham and Neil became very unsettled talking about that genre. So, to calm them down, in our movie news slot, I had Neil talk about a horror film being made locally and Graham talk about horror films in general. Although Graham believes all of his film news pieces are horrific!
We hope enjoy this special show which we are all very proud of.
A special thank you to Fred Clifton from A&R records for permission to use some of Rupert's excellent score from Fisherman's Friends. The score can be purchased from Amazon or can be found on your music provider of choice.
Recently the At The Flicks team had to hold an emergency meeting. The Summer movie season was about to start, Neil was worried there would be no highbrow films, Jeff was annoyed there would be weekly superhero features and Graham was fuming as no Mel Gibson movies were in the lineup.
What were we to do?
Suddenly the answer became clear. The first ever Cheltenham International Film Festival was taking place in Cheltenham (obviously) at the end of May. We had to be a part of this. So we volunteered to help (well, two of us did), while we carefully planned which films in the excellent line up we were going to watch.
If you are still reading it will come as no surprise to you that this is not an official Cheltenham International Film Festival podcast, just the At The Flicks memories of this wonderful event captured for our listeners.
Follow us through four days of the festival as we help in various capacities, meet some very interesting people and watch some great and some not so great films.
Thank you to everyone who organised and participated in this first Cheltenham International Film Festival. We are already looking forward to the second.
Just to be clear, this podcast is not affiliated with the Cheltenham International Film Festival and all reviews and opinions are from the At The Flicks team only.
Enjoy.
Nothing separates the men from the boys in the At The Flicks podcasts more than the subject of superheroes.
Graham and Neil constantly try to use logic and fandom to give weight to their point of view. Then there is Jeff. No logic, no fandom, no sense (most of the time)! A podcast to discuss Marvel Vs DC and the current state of the superhero could be seen as risking total meltdown within the team. Luckily, Elijah is on hand to restore balance to the universe (whether Marvel or DC) as we chat about superheroes on TV and cinema.
Special thanks also to Elijah for suggesting this comparison as a subject for a show. His idea, turned out to be a very informative and fun discussion despite Jeff's belligerent attitude.
In fact it goes so well we are promising an update later in the year when The Joker is released. Do you agree with our views? Are you more DC than Marvel? Or more Marvel than DC? Please let us know by eMail at show@attheflicks.co.uk or tweet us at @attheflickspod.
We are back to business as usual! After a month of detailed work on a large podcast project we are planning to release soon, we return to our classic end of month movie review show. This month Jeff and regular contributor Lucy discuss "strong female leads" in movies based on the books of Stephen King. We review Avengers Endgame with friend of the pod Phil Foster. The Tolkien biopic, imaginatively titled "Tolkien" and the much maligned comedy "The Hustle". We end on our 'What else have we been watching" feature where we talk about Rocketman, Game of Thrones, The Wandering Earth and a radio version of 70's British TV classic 'The likely lads'!
This month we have a high water mark where we talk about our nomination at the British Podcast Awards and a low water mark (well, Graham does) as we review Dragged Across Concrete. A Mel Gibson review was always going to be trouble, but who would have thought our three intrepid reviewers would almost come to blows over Mel! There are other more standard reviews - Shazam and Hellboy, for those who think all we do is fight over our movies. Elsewhere in the show, Jeff and Lucy talk all things Pet Sematary, kicking off a short season of Stephen King discussions. Finally we have our usual “what else we have been watching” section. We hope you enjoy the show more than Graham did when we was dragged across Bristol to see Dragged Across Concrete.
In this month’s “Phil’s view of the movies”, Phil and the team discuss the three main movie awards of this year: The Golden Globe, The BAFTA’s and of course, The Oscar’s. We rate the winners and talk about who in our opinion should have won the major awards. We also discuss this year’s biggest snubs and go back to the 1980’s to discuss the relative merits of Ordinary People versus Raging Bull. This podcast has chapters for each award so you can skip to your favourite award show.
For our mid month show we interview animator Ken Blakey about his work on Louisa An Amazing Adventure and the incredible true story behind the film.
Also Elijah returns for “Rediscovering the Classics with Elijah”. This month we are in the Tron universe to talk Tron and Tron Legacy. We decide which one we like the best and go off topic for a brief talk about film music in fantasy movies.
Finally there is the ever popular film news. Neil goes cultured to discuss a new screen version of Emma, Jeff provides an update on Sam Mendes World War One film 1917 and Graham finds a new hero when he discusses Bruce Willis’ recent slate of movies.
The name is Q – Q The Music. They are the world’s leading James Bond Tribute Band. For this podcast special, we have an interview with the band’s founder and manager Warren Ringham.
Warren tells us how this very special tribute band came into being, where its name come from, their very special night playing at Sir Roger Moore’s memorial event and much more besides. As a special treat to our listeners, Warren has very kindly given us permission to use some tracks from their live show on the podcast. So, sit back, relax and listen to some great conversation and fantastic music.
Buckle up for part two of the great Vice / Adam McKay debate as Jeff brings up the subject of The Big Short with Lucy and Josh. Let’s hope there isn’t as much drink flying around! Our main reviews this month are Fisherman’s Friends, Captain Marvel and Us. In case you are thinking – what Graham and Neil made it to a horror film. Nope. Jeff and Lucy discuss this because the other two were in hiding in a well lit room at the time. As well as our usual “what else we have been watching” section, we invite listeners Nick and Rich onto the show to tell us what they have impressed with. After all of that there is Jeff’s movie quiz. This month test your knowledge about Jan-Michael Vincent.
Welcome to a new series of monthly podcast shorts – Phil’s Look At The Movies Friend of the show Phil Foster (aka Phil The Bear) will be talking to us about aspects of the movies which interest him. For our inaugural episode, we chat with Phil about the films he is most looking forward to in 2019. Yes we know that we are now a quarter of the way through the year, however you may well be surprised by the amount of potentially excellent movies still to come. Phil will be your guide through a fascinating list.
For our mid month show we interview the very knowledgeable Philip Raby – the creative director of the Bath Film Festival. We introduce a new contributor, Elijah, who joins us with a new feature called “Rediscovering the Classics with Elijah”. For our first talk, the focus is on Bladerunner, a film that's viewed very differently by Philip and Elijah!
Writer / Director Phil Stubbs (Last Chancers) joins us again, to talk about another of his favourite directors. For this show we talk to Phil about director Stanley Kubrick. From ‘Paths of Glory’ to ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, we discuss in depth the career of a director that some critics say is the greatest of all time!
his month Jeff manages to miss one of the three films reviewed (slacker), and we travel to London to meet Lucy. The meeting went very well until we started talking about Adam McKay’s movie Vice. What happened next makes for interesting listening as the pros and cons of Vice are discussed. This discussion was of course enhanced by the amount of alcohol consumed and the result makes a fascinating addition to our regular feature Lucy’s State Of The Movies. There was a much more sedate conversation with Phil Foster who joined us for what our listeners have been watching. As for our reviews, listen carefully for a clever new feature Graham has added this month. Enjoy!
The 2019 Stroud Film Festival starts on the 9th March and to discuss the programme for this year we sat down with Andy Freedman who is a Co. Director of the Festival to talk about the films, venues, competitions, events and workshops that make this festival such a unique experience. Please be aware there is a brief spoiler in this show relating to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes back.
This month we have a BIG interview - Midge Ferguson, one of the top British location managers. You may not have heard of him, however you have all been impressed by the results of his work. Merlin, Atlantis, The Man From UNCLE and King Arthur : Legend Of The Sword. Midge was involved with all of those and many more. In fact, we recorded the interview just before Midge's latest hit series Sex Education was released on Netflix. So, if you were wondering where that very funny show was filmed, we have the answer for you.
One of our regular features, the movie news, moves to this mid month slot. This month Jeff is talking about the expanding Kingsman cinematic universe and Neil has some interesting information about Paramount pictures. As for Graham, I am sure regular listeners will guess the subject of his news.
Welcome to a new pod short monthly series – Director on Director.
Writer / Director Phil Stubbs (Last Chancers) will be joining us to talk about some of his favourite directors. For this first edition we talk to Phil about director Peter Jackson. From Bad Taste to They Shall Not Grow Old, we discuss in depth the career of New Zealand’s most successful film director.
We start the New Year looking forward to the Movies that we hope will delight us, even though Jeff gets one wrong! Lucy joins us to discuss the trends we hope to see in 2019. Forget the Oscars, as we introduce our very own Awards Ceremony. We get details on what's coming up from Cineworld Manager Steve. We review our first three Movies of the year and unanimously agree on which one is our movie of the month. We also have our regular features: Movie News, What else have we been Watching and Jeff's Quiz! This month a guest joins us for the recording of the show.
Our regular At the Flicks feature “What else have we been watching” has become a surprise hit with our listeners. So much so, that we decided to ask some of our Listeners what else have they been watching?. In this short. We phoned three friends of the Pod, Katie and her Dad Steve in the UK and then travelled over the pond to the US to talk to long time listener Nick, to find out what had caught their eye this month.
In this Podcast Short, Jeff leads the team in a discussion of how films in the UK came to be regulated by the BBFC. We discuss the advisory nature of the certification and the gulf between certificates in the UK and US. We ask the question, "why is the BBFC so frightened of Horror Movies"?
A final present for you in this festive season - our last podcast of the year. Jeff and Neil fight over the last mince pie as we introduce you to the Blaenau Gwent Film Academy. Also there is Lucy's top five films of the year and a report on the recent London Korean film festival. In the movie news Graham, after too much whiskey, goes on and on about Mel Gibson, and we also get an update from Phil Stubbs as to the editing progress on Last Chancers. Finally, over a glass of fine red wine we tell our our combined top ten movies of the year (without too much family squabbling).
A happy new year to all our listeners and thank you for all your support.
As we look back on 2018 one of the most gratifying developments of the year has been the community of listeners and movie enthusiasts, that have come together to support our Podcast? The listener feedback that has been the most satisfying and fun element of the year. Providing a lot of that feedback are the duo of Phil Foster, from the Phil the Bear’s film review site, and Friend of the Pod Declan Shiels. As two of our most engaged listeners, we decided to give this podcast over to them to discuss their top five movies of the year.
In this Podcast SHORT we are returning to a recoding we made back in September with Nick Wilkes. Nick is the playwright in residence at the Malvern Theatre. We had such a great time interviewing Nick that we ended up with a lot more material than we could ever possibly use in our main show. So we decided to split the interview into two parts. The parts relating to his cinema memories we included in our October podcast and Nicks stories and recollections about his time in the theatre have been collected into this short. We hope you enjoy this second helping of the wit and wisdom of the Malvern Bard as much as we did.
Nicky Price of BBC Radio Gloucestershire hosts a Friday afternoon show called "Classic Film Friday". Jeff and Graham have been guests on this show and in this short we turn the tables on Nicky and interview her about the inspiration behind the show and future plans.
In this months packed show we interview writer director Phil Stubbs about his movie "Last Chancers", currently in post production. Lucy talks about the joys and horrors of London's FrightFest. We review Slaughterhouse Rulez, Peterloo and Widows. Our Movie News features new projects from Sam Mendes, Neil Marshall, and Mel Bloody Gibson. We get an update from Steve Wright on movies for the Christmas holidays and a festive fun movie quiz from Jeff.
This short is a review of the latest version, of the World War I film "Journey's End". The team discuss the impact this powerful movie had on them following a team evening out at the Stroud Film Society. At this showing Jeff stood up and delivered an introductory speech on the growing reverence for this particular conflict.
In this months show we have an interview with actor and playwright Nick Wilkes who has some fascinating stories about some famous Hollywood names. Lucy takes on Jeff over his dismissive view of Hereditary. Our movie news is a real scoop as we report back from the set of a movie which recently filmed in Cheltenham
Our regular At the Flicks feature “What else have we been watching” has become a surprise hit with our listeners. So much so, that we decided to turn the tables and ask some of our listeners the question “what else have they been watching?” In this podcast short, we phoned three listeners; Dec, Sarah and Rich, to find out what had caught their eye this month at the cinema and on the small screen.
In this SHORT the At the Flicks team travelled to a country pub near Newbury to interview friend of the Pod, Phil Foster, AKA, Phil the Bear, about his retrospective on the career of legendary director Wes Anderson.
A packed show this month. Local author Adam Baker talks about the sadly, now demolished Cheltenham Odeon. Our new contributor Lucy joins us for the first time, to discuss horror movies. Cineworld Manager Steve tells us what’s showing over the next three months. We have our usual irreverent take on Movie News. Reviews this month are; The Happy Time Murders, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Crazy Rich Asians.
In this Short Jeff and Graham interview Leslie Sheldon, who is currently working to establish a Film Festival for Cheltenham. Leslie and his team are at the very early stages of planning the festival and we took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about his hopes and aspirations for the Cheltenham Film Festival. This is a very exciting project and we will endeavour to keep all of our listeners, in the Cheltenham area, updated as and when we receive news on the project.
In this Episode of the, At the Flicks Podcast, Jeff argues that SPORTS MOVIES don't work. Neil defends the sports movie and Graham referees. Things get heated before the final whistle. Pick your side and enjoy the audio action. This months movie reviews are Christopher Robin, The Equalizer 2 and Ant-man and the Wasp. In Movie News, Jeff returns to Wales, Neil has breaking news on David Copperfield and Graham checks his Star Wars update for hidden Mel news.
In this Sort, Graham & Jeff discuss, the time before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A time when the majority of Superhero movies lost money and ruined careers. We discuss the Origin Story of Superheroes from Print comics in the 30s to the importance of radio in the 40s to TV in the 50s and finally to the Silver Screen. We also play a game of “Bargepole or Belter” where Jeff lists 25 pre MCU Superhero movies and asks Graham which of these movies should not be touched with a BARGEPOLE and which are BELTERS and well worth a watch.
In this At the Flicks Short, Jeff returns to his favourite movie genre, Horror. He goes back to the very beginning of Cinema to look at the origins of the horror movie in the silent era.
This latest horror podcast short has Jeff discussing the highly acclaimed horror feature Hereditary with Neil and Graham. In his own unique wayJeff answers the following questions ; is it worth seeing, what are its merits and could Jeff persuade the horror phobic duo to check it out?
For the July Podcast (Whitney Tags the Incredibles), we recorded an interview with musical arranger Robin A. Smith. Due to time constraints we could not include all of the material we recorded with Robin. In particular there was an outtake about the legendary singer Elvis Presley, that we felt we just had to share with our listeners.
This months show features two interviews. We review Incredibles 2, Tag and Whitney. In News, Graham talks "Mel Gibson", Jeff muses on ice cream photos in Wales and Neil gives us his Best Actor predictions for next years Oscars.
Welcome to the very first At the Flicks, “Short”. Shorts, are created by the At the Flicks team as additional movie related material, that did not fit into the format of the main monthly Podcast. These Shorts, are brief single topic discussions on subjects that are very close to our movie going hearts. Unlike the monthly podcast there is no set delivery date for Shorts. As we think of an idea for a Short we will record and publish it on our SoundCloud page as soon as possible. We hope you enjoy this first short, in which Jeff tries to to convince Graham and Neil that they really should see more Horror films. Jeff uses the 1973 movie “The Legend of Hell House” as an introduction to the genre. We hope you enjoy our new venture into more spontaneous Podcasting.
In this month’s, "At The Flicks", we conduct our very first interview. We sit down with Phil Cook, former manager of the now, sadly demolished Odeon Cinema Cheltenham. Phil recounts details of his time as front of house manager, in the 90's and early 2000's! He talks about the technical challenges of projecting movies from reels of actual Celluloid! Meeting the cast of Harry Potter and a number of humorous stories detailing the complexities of running a cinema and dealing with the cinema going public. Listen out for his hilarious run in with the local newspaper, over enhancements to the art-deco sculptures that adorned the front of the cinema. We hope you enjoy the interview as it moves from, Area 51 alien conspiracy theories, to management outrage at putting women in boxes and ends with a confused, time travelling cyclist materialising at the start of a feature presentation? We had a lot of fun recording this feature and we hope you find it an enjoyable listen. The "At The Flicks" team would like to thank Phil for his time and for letting us use him as our interview guinea pig!
In this month’s At The Flicks, the team discuss some of their favourite cult Movies. At least one of them is a choice you wouldn’t expect! Our cult movies cut a meandering path through time and genre, from 70’s disco, via 80’s French noir thrillers to end up at a 21st century animated Japanese bath house. We hope you enjoy the journey? Our reviews this month are Avengers Infinity War, Deadpool 2 and Breaking In. This months Podcast is a superhero laden show, which upsets at least one of our presenters! Also included are our recommendations of what else is worth watching if you enjoyed the three Movies under our microscope.
As usual, our Movie news section takes a rather irreverent look at what you can expect to see in cinemas next year. This month’s News section includes a scoop, before we finish with another tough Movie question for you.
This month, At The Flicks asks, (and answers), the weighty question, "What is the future of cinema"? Our reviews this month are Ready Player One, A Quiet Place and Isle Of Dogs. New this month are our recommendations of what else is worth watching if you enjoyed the three films under our review microscope.
In this show, we discuss the decline and fall of the Summer Blockbuster season. What caused it, who we blame and what is the future for the traditional Summer Movie Season. Our Movie reviews are Peter Rabbit, Tomb Raider and I, Tonya. Following the positive feedback on our caustic look at Movie news last month, we continue this month with three more news items that fell under our cynical gaze.
We give the answer to the quiz question we set last month, and Jeff set another annoying brain teaser for this month to test your movie knowledge, or patience.
In our latest show, we discuss who we would nominate for awards this season and give our reviews of Early Man, Black Panther and The Shape of Water. This month we introduce our News Section, commenting on the latest stories from the Movie Industry.
Given the popularity of the last quiz, (last months answer is given at the start of this show) we have set another small quiz at the end of show to test your movie knowledge.
In our first show, we discuss movies we are looking forward to in 2018 and give our reviews of The Post, Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Blade Runner 2049. We've even put together a small quiz at the end of show to test your movie knowledge.
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