In a Place Like This: Recent Episodes
Chris Michael Smith
A positive space to discuss the movies we love. A no-gatekeeping zone, feel free to sit back, relax, and have a fun discussion to geek out.
A look back at some of our favorite films of 2023!
Guest: Dave Demarest of the Dollar Theater Podcast (@wasitthatbadpod)
Rotating Segment: Taglines
Special Guest Krista Roman (@kristaaaak on Instagram) and I discuss some of our favorite and recent Movie Musicals, and the weird trend of hiding the fact that movies are Musicals.
Rotating Segment:
Wrong Answers Only, where we guess the plot of Manborg (2011) by looking only at its poster (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2060525/mediaviewer/rm3940851968/?ref_=tt_ov_i)
Joined by guest Johnny Rome (@ItsJohnnyRome on all Socials), we make a case in favor of 2004's Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and why it deserves a new appraisal from today's lens.
Rotating Segment: Double Feature, and since it's been a while, we have a Five-Double-Feature Special!
Joined once again by Edmundo Sanchez Jr. (@edworld15 on Instagram, @ed_world15 on Twitter), we discuss some of our favorite Holiday movies: Home Alone 1&2, Klaus, Love Actually, The Holiday, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Joined once again by friend of the show, filmmaker and host of the incredible new podcast "One Season Wonders" (@oneseasonpod on all the Socials) Shane Anderson, we take a deep dive into Film Noir, its influence, versatility and staying power.
Recurring Segment: Reappraisals! Shane and I discuss the 2013 Comedy The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and why it deserves a second chance.
Show Notes:
Shane quoted this incredible article, give it a read: https://fugitives.com/introduction-of-film-noir-explained-martin-scorsese-2022-filmmaking/
In today's episode, I discuss with Edmundo Sanchez Jr. (Instagram: @edworld15) this year's Box Office phenomenon, Barbenheimer!Rotating Segment: Taglines!
In today's episode, I asked Izzy Ruiz (Instagram: @izerial) what his favorite scary movie was, and from that we discussed Ridley Scott's Alien (1979)!
Rotating Segment: Wrong Answers Only! (http://www.impawards.com/1987/miami_connection.html)
Show Notes:
Francis Bacon's "Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion (https://artuk.org/discover/stories/capturing-bestial-humanity-francis-bacons-three-studies-for-figures-at-the-base-of-a-crucifixion)
"Your Lonely Nights Are Over" by Adam Sass now available wherever books are sold!"The
Three-Body Problem" by Cixin Liu also available wherever books are sold!"
Sonos", the brand new Horror short by Friend of the Show Shane Anderson will be playing as part of the Shorts Block at Screamfest LA! Playing on Sunday, 10/15/2023 at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres at 4:15pm (6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028). Tickets on sale now!
I go through my list for the first half of 2023, and briefly touch upon the future of the podcast.
Topic: Skinamarink, the sleeper experimental Horror hit from earlier this year by Kyle Edward Ball of Bitesized Nightmares. We discuss the unsettling, terrifying, mysterious, and divisive nature of experimental Horror in general and deep-dive into the fascinating ways this film affected us.Guests: Carlos Frank-Estrada (@KarlosTheFog on Twitter, @karlos.the.fog on Instagram), Taylor B. (@handbasketzine),Recurring Segment: Double Feature!
A SPOILER-HEAVY discussion on Dungeons & Dragons - both the notorious 2000 version AND the new film, Honor Among Thieves (which is a spoiler-heavy discussion). We discuss the Nat 1's and Nat 20's in D&D's adaptation History, our love for the game and these movies, and so much more. Did I mention this episode contains lots and lots of spoilers? Featuring returning guest Justin Garrett (@adorkablejay on Instagram) and new guest Jeremiah Morris (@colt3ninjas on Instagram).SHOW NOTES:3D-printed USS Starship (https://flic.kr/p/2ovf2BN)D&D Minis in Action (https://flic.kr/p/2ovf2C9)The Gaming Table on which we recorded today's episode: (https://flic.kr/p/2ovk43X)
It's great to be back (sorry for the delay), but joined by Shane Anderson (director of Red Curtain Hell, host of the brand new One Season Wonders podcast), we share some of our favorite films of 2022!
On today's episode, we discuss multiple film adaptations of Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera: 1925, 1943, 1962, 1989 (sort of), 2004, Phantom of the Paradise (1974), and Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge (1989). Join us as we discuss the many distinct ways each generation tackled their own version of the story, and how they each brought something new and exciting to it.
Special Guest: Clark Silva (Follow him on Instagram: @artofclarksilva!)
Rotating Segment: Taglines! Clark tries to guess the title of a film based solely on its taglines.
Join myself and Matt Curione (@TheRealMattC on all socials, co-host of the Monsters Never Die podcast - which I highly recommend for fans of our show) as we discuss some of our favorite Horror Comedies!
On this episode I am joined by Ralph Esparza (Instagram: @this_is_ralph) to discuss the films and legacy of John Hughes!
Rotating Segment: Wrong Answers Only!
Ralph and I try to guess the plot of Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) simply by looking at the poster!
Along with Michelle St. Claire (Twitter: MichelleStClare), co-host of the incredible Rating Descending Podcast, we discuss some of our favorite "Bad" movies and why we gravitate towards them.
My guest Christian Ramirez (Casually Christian Podcast, Facebook: The Late Hour, Stories for the Insomniac) and I recount fond memories of Summers at the movies.
Rotating Segment: Reappraisals: Christian and I make a case (mainly to the masses) for the 2002 Documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture!
Joined by guest Rico Mott (Twitch: @ricoco__, Instagram: @cup.of.ricoco) to discuss Pokémon! Specifically:
Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (1999)
Pokémon 3: The Movie - Spell of the Unown (2000)
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)
But also the video games, the anime, Pokémon as a franchise,
Rotating Segment: Wrong Answers Only! Rico and I look at a poster for A Boy and His Dog (1974) and try to guess what it's about using only what's available on the poster. Play along!
On the halfway point of the year, I briefly go through my favorite films so far, look ahead to the month of July, and announce the next full episode!
The second half of my conversation with Carlos Frank-Estrada (@KarlosTheFog on Twitter, @karlos.the.fog on Instagram), contributor to Handbasket Zine (@handbasketzine on Instagram AND Twitter), as we discuss LGBTQ+ films in the modern era, the evolution of language, and the unrealistic pressure of each film to "check all the boxes". Films discussed include:
Bound (1996) - Prime Video, Paramount+
The Matrix (1999-2021) - HBO Max
(Also, various other films by the Wachowskis)
Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Peacock
Moonlight (2016) - Showtime, Kanopy
Love, Simon (2018) - Freevie (thru Prime)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - Video on Demand
Dog Day Afternoon (1975) - HBO Max
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) - Video on Demand
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) - Peacock, Tubi
The Danish Girl (2015) - Netflix
Tangerine (2015) - Netflix, Prime Video, Hoopla, Tubi, Kanopy, PlutoTV, Plex
Transamerica (2005) - Peacock, Hoopla, Vudu, Kanopy
The Crying Game (1992) - Showtime, Tubi, HBO Max, Max Go
Disclosure (2020) - Netflix
Lingua Franca (2020) - Netflix, Tubi
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) - Hulu, Kanopy
Fire Island (2022) - Hulu
The Wedding Banquet (1993) - Video on Demand
Howard (2018) - Disney+
Rotating Segment: Drunk Movies!
After taking a little bit of wine, Carlos and I summarize the 1999 film But I'm a Cheerleader (available on Peacock, Hoopla, Vudu, and Kanopy)!
A very special Pride Month episode featuring guest and contributor to Handbasket Zine (handbasketzine.carrd.co) Carlos Frank-Estrada (@karlos.the.fog on Instagram, @KarlosTheFog on Twitter). A topic and discussion so big, it had to be split into two parts. Part 1 focuses on the History of LGBT+ stories on film from the very beginnings of cinema throughout the Hays Code and beyond, touching on various films along the way.
If we missed anything, one of two things happened: Either it was recorded and you'll hear it on next week's episode, or we missed it entirely because this was a massive subject and we'll just have more to discuss next Pride Month.
Films discussed on today's episode include (Streaming services will be mentioned if available (as of this posting) - if not, YOU can always jusT check yoUr local liBrariEs - though some of these entries are difficult to find):
Latter Days (2003) - Kanopy/PlutoTV/Tubi
In & Out (1997) - Paramount+/MaxGO/Epix
The Dickson Experimental Sound Film (1894)
A Woman (1915)
Behind the Curtain (1916)
Different from the Others/Anders als die Andern (1919)
Salomé (1922)
Wings (1927) - Kanopy
Morocco (1930) - HBO Max
Mädchen in Uniform (1931) - KinoNow (Rent or Buy for less than $5!)
Bringing Up Baby (1938) - Video on Demand
The Maltese Falcon (1941) - HBO Max
Double Indemnity (1944) - Criterion Channel
Rope (1948) - Video on Demand
Rebel without a Cause - HBO Max
Ben-Hur (1959) - Video on Demand
The Queen (1968) - Kanopy
Paris Is Burning (1990) - Criterion Channel, HBO Max
The Gay Deceivers (1969) - Tubi
La Cage aux Folles (1978) - Video on Demand
The Birdcage (1996) - HBO Max
My Own Private Idaho (1991) - Hoopla
Elephant (2003) - Video on Demand
Milk (2008) - Peacock
I join Giulia Oprea (giuliaoprea@utexas.edu) we explore the recent sleeper hit After Yang from an academic perspective, Kogonada's flipping-of-the-script prompted discussions on Techno-Orientalism and how Science Fiction is inextricably intertwined with both History as well as the modern societal perspective. Join us for this informative and fascinating discussion, which does NOT require (though we both highly recommend) seeing the movie - which can currently be found on Showtime, and is also available for purchase on various Video on Demand platforms.
Sources cited in discussion suggested for further reading:
“After Yang Review: Kogonada’s Futuristic Family Drama is a Meditation on Memory and Technology” by Caroline Tsai
“After Yang Intentionally Subverts Sci-Fi’s Fetishistic ‘Hollow Asian’ Trope” by Leo Kim
“Where the Future Is Asian, and the Asians Are Robots” by Jane Hu
"There's no Yellow in the Red, White, and Blue": The Creation of Anti-Japanese Music during World War II” by Krystyn R. Moon
“Race at the Center: The History of American Cold War Asian Adoption” by Catherine Ceniza Choy
Techno-Orientalism: Imagining Asia in Speculative Fiction, History, and Media. Edited by David S. Roh, Betsy Huang, Greta A. Niu.
The American Robot: A Cultural History by Dustin A. Abnet
Rotating Segment: Wrong Answers Only!
With only the poster as a reference point, we try to guess the plot of a movie! Click here to play along!
http://www.impawards.com/1976/futureworld.html
A look into films being released in June, from Jurassic World: Dominion, to Lightyear, to The Black Phone and Baz Luhrmann's Elvis! Also, I briefly discuss Alex Garland's Men, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and more! Full episodes coming next month!
I briefly discuss the films I have watched in May so far, from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to Firestarter!
In today's episode, I tell you a little bit about myself, discuss my excitement over the Teaser Trailer that was just released for Avatar: The Way of Water, and announce my next full episode!
In this shortest of short episodes, I briefly discuss upcoming films that I'm excited for - including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Top Gun: Maverick, Bob's Burgers, and more!
Along with filmmaker Shane Anderson (Red Curtain Hell), we discuss what is sure to be one of 2022's finest films (and quite possibly an all-timer), Everything Everywhere All at Once!
Follow us!
Twitter: @InAPodLikeThis
Instagram: @InAPlaceLikeThisPodcast
Follow Shane!
Twitter: @ShaneM_Anderson
Watch Red Curtain Hell today!
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/redcurtainhell
And obvi, if you haven't yet, watch Everything Everywhere All at Once ASAP!
I discuss various films I watched this month, and I make other various recommendations throughout.
This week, I sat down with Logan Bolitho and discussed three different visions of Dune, how they hold up, and how they match up with the books.
My reaction to the Oscars, an announcement on the next Mini-Sode, and Justin Garrett (IG: @adorkablejay & @merman_tempest) returns to finish our previous discussion on Batman movies!
Along with this week's guest Justin Garrett (Instagram: @adorkablejay & @merman_tempest), a deep-dive into the storied History of Batman movies with some of our favorite moments.
Special Segment: REAPPRAISALS - Join Justin & I as we offer our defense of 2005's Fantastic Four!