Interzone Asylum Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jake McBrearty
After almost a year, Jake and Breton return to tackle a film related topic from a different angle, discussing amateur internet film critics' commentary on the Star Wars prequels, from the rabid, nitpicking hate of Redlettermedia to the apologetics of Rick Worley and Style Is Substance, and hopefully finding a middle ground in the process.
Jake and Breton tackle the discography of one of the most acclaimed, yet niche, bands in rock music history, the Velvet Underground. In particular, the focus is on their legendary debut with the iconic (now cliche) Andy Warhol banana cover, The Velvet Underground & Nico, and their 2nd record, the trailblazing, original noise rock White Light/White Heat, with shorter overviews of the band's final 2 records with the original members, the self-titled album and Loaded. Also, don't mind the changed opening, now bits of Sister Ray have replaced the usual.
Jake is joined by old guest Breton Campbell to discuss 3 films that form a trilogy of influence building on each other, beginning with Michelangelo Antonioni's Blowup (1966), succeeded by Francis Ford Coppola with The Conversation (1974) and ending with Brian De Palma's Blow Out (1981).
Jake, and his guest for this occasion David Scrieciu, discuss all 3 films of the Three Colors Trilogy, the great mid 1990s European art film trilogy from the late great Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski.
The original trio of this podcast, Jake, Sam & Phil reform to discuss the first 2 Terminator films, the only ones directed by James Cameron and the only ones in the whole franchise that actually matter.
Another new guest, Koyuki, joins Jake to discuss two decade defining works of popular horror from James Wan, "Saw" (2004) and "The Conjuring" (2013). Do they hold up? What was it about them that resonated so much in their particular time? Is there a real evolution in the craft and concerns of James Wan himself? Also, for those who know what the phrase "wan" means, you can maybe guess some of the tone and criticism of this episode from the title.
Phil returns after months to talk with Jake about 6 episodes of the growingly popular Community sitcom, divided by discussions of 3 popular episodes and 3 least popular episodes. 2 seasons are not represented, which you can guess is the reason for the title. This episode will lean more on the positive, and even the negative doesn't get us so rallied up.
Episodes discussed:
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The Art of Discourse (Season 1, Episode 22)
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Abed's Unctrollable Christmas (Season 2, Episode 11)
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Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (Season 2, Episode 14)
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Remedial Chaos Theory (Season 3, Episode 4)
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Economics of Marine Biology (Season 4, Episode 7)
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Intro to Felt Surrogacy (Season 4, Episode 9)
Jake and his new guest Nate, in what will be a 2-parter, tackles the film adaptations of Stephen King's It, beginning with the 1990 TV miniseries starring Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Also, a different opening for this episode. If you've seen the miniseries, you can maybe guess what it is.
Jake is joined by a new guest, Jelena, to discuss two significant works of two American film auteurs of the New Queer Cinema, Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" and Gregg Araki's "Mysterious Skin". Both deal with LGBT sexuality, and take very daring, unconventional approaches to their subject matter, however different. Content warning, as these films deal with sensitive topics such as sexuality, poverty, abuse and trauma. Also, spoliers ahead.
For Halloween, Jake and Breton tackle two films, one of which could be argued as horror and not the other not at all. Both are works in debt to history, philosophy and art of the past. They are made by distinguished American independents. And they feature vampires. The films are Abel Ferrara's The Addiction (1995) and Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive (2013). Commonalities exist between them (vampires as observers of history/philosophy), but there are differences in theme, intent and overall quality. Have a listen for our thoughts.
For the October season, Jake is joined by Breton Campbell, of Phone Calls from Dad and Winkie's Diner, to discuss Rob Zombie's dual take on the Halloween franchise. Whatever we say about them, we cannot claim they gave us nothing to speak of. Slight spoiler, one is better than the other, which could arguably fit this into the Winkie's catalog, as well.
Warning, spoilers for both films, discussions of vulgarity and violence, and a music sting at around 0:58.
The first season of the now 14-year-old Dexter TV series is discussed by Jake & Phil. Does the show hold up under scrutiny? Its premise is illogical, but can it work within a ludicrous pulpy framework? Does the show truly have vision and coherent perspective? Listen for our thoughts. Obvious content and spoiler warning, discussion of serial killer activities, albeit ones framed as just and not connected to reality. Discussion of the second season may or may not come shortly soon.
Episodes tackled in the second part are the post golden-era episodes:
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Behind the Laughter (Season 11, Episode 22)
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Trilogy of Error (Season 12, Episode 18)
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Bart-Mangled Banner (Season 15, Episode 21)
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24 Minutes (Season 18, Episode 21)
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Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind (Season 19, Episode 9)
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Holidays of Future Passed (Season 23, Episode 9)
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Barthood (Season 27, Episode 9)
This belated episode, we tackle 14 episodes of the Simpsons, pitting the best episode from each season of the show's 7-year golden period of seasons 2-8, and an individual episode from 7 later seasons and see how the Simpsons has aged and if at best, still holds a candle to the classics.
Episodes discussed in part 1 are from seasons 2-8:
Lisa's Substitute (Season 2, Episode 19)
Flaming Moe's (Season 3, Episode 9)
Last Exit to Springfield (Season 4, Episode 17)
Cape Feare (Season 5, Episode 2)
Treehouse of Horror V (Season 6, Episode 6)
Bart Sells His Soul (Season 7, Episode 4)
Homer's Enemy (Season 8, Episode 23)
(Originally aired May 30 2020). First episode, in which we make a statement by tackling the two most Lynchian features of the eponymous director's early features. Spoilers, of course, in addition to descriptions of macabre violence, sexuality and plain surreal sequitors.
Time Stamps:
After intro
6:15 - Eraserhead
1:07:25 - Break
1:19:30 - Blue Velvet