S.S. Cinephile: Recent Episodes

SS Cinephile

Three film fanatics travel from movie-to-movie exploring the ins-and-outs of writing, composing, and loving cinema.

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Like a hunter who stumbles across 2 million dollars up for grabs we just keep running until life catches up with us all. Join us as we break down one of the all time best neo-western films and an Oscar Best Picture winner No Country for Old Men.

In this episode Andrew, Jacob and Edward explore the moral ambiguity that we all face from time to time, as well as the non-negotiable reality of death. Through the meticulous detail that the Cohen brothers put into the film production, and with the phenomenal acting portrayed on screen; we get an exploration of how one must come to grips with the gritty chaos and unshakable nature of death.

Outline:

  • Intro
  • Tech-specs
  • Synopsis
  • Initial Takes
  • Source Material
  • The Cohens' style
  • The role of comedy
  • Lighting and cinematography How Roger Deakins shot NCfOM
  • What is Neo-western Wisecrack: The Philosophy of: NCfOM & Examples of neo-westerns
  • The Music (or lack there of)
  • BREAK
  • The triptych of characters
  • Ed Bell's character Film Analysis
  • Llewellyn's character
  • Chigurh's character
  • Nerdstalgic coin toss scene breakdown
  • What happened to the money
  • BREAK
  • The ending How this movie respects its audience
  • The theme of the movie Logos Made Flesh essay

Additional sources:

  • Interview the Cohens, Brolin & Bardem
  • Roger Ebert Review

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A new year a new season! In anticipation for the new Batman movie we are kicking off this year by breaking down one of our absolute favorite Batman movies, The Dark Knight.

In this episode Andrew, Jacob and Edward explore the dualities of good vs evil and order vs chaos by dissecting the cast of characters featured in our favorite of the Christopher Nolan Batman movie. Whether your are listing on your stereo, with headphones or through a cowl enjoy our episode.

  • Intro
  • Tech-specs
  • Synopsis
  • Initial Takes
  • Sequel Disclaimer
    • Who is Batman AKA History
    • Source Material (The Long Halloween & The Killing Joke)
    • The Joker Short
    • RIP Heath Ledger
    • Sound Design
    • Cinematography
    • Set Design
    • BREAK
    • Rhythmic Energy
    • Musical Themes
    • The characters or the Triptych
    • Have we seen Bruce Wayne die?
    • The city of Gotham
    • BREAK
    • How is this story told
    • Where is the midpoint
    • Does this movie end too late
    • "The themes drive the plot" (Characters > Plot)
    • Joker is the most honest character
    • What does this movie try to say?

https://www.cbr.com/cut-the-dark-knight-the-editors/

https://emanuellevy.com/review/dark-knight-the-sound-and-music-2/

https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/christopher-nolan-richard-king-sound-design-1202165030/

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-dark-knight-the-legacy-of-heath-ledger-868722.html

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We have one more movie exploration in us for the year. To wrap our first full year of S.S. Cinephile we decided to do a fun one at the request of our audience.

In this episode Andrew, Jacob and Edward explore what makes a good heist movie, by unrolling the blueprint to one the most influential heist movies in the last several decades, Ocean's Eleven. Grab a bowl of popcorn and assemble the crew to listen to our film break down.

Outline:

  • Synopsis
  • Initial takes
  • Differences from the 60s' version
  • BREAK
  • Special effects
  • The digital age and how its shot
  • Neat shots
  • The cast
  • Caravan
  • Clair de Lune
  • Music as a setting homage to the original
  • What does David Holmes actually do?
  • BREAK
  • The three act structure/There is no low point
  • Where is the conflict?
  • How does this movie hold up on re-watches
  • Where is the midpoint
  • Are there protagonists?
  • What's in a heist movie
  • Its influence on modern heist movies

Additional Links:

https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/oceans-eleven-effect-heist-movies.html

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It's that time of year again! It's time for us to face our fears and watch some scary movies to celebrate the Halloween.

In this episode Andrew, Jacob and Edward explore the fears that some have with deep space exploration and alien life forms, in the horror sci-fi classic Alien. Grab a comforting beverage and a warm blanket and join us for this fun conversation about a horror classic.

Outline:

  • Synopsis
  • Initial takes
  • The Art of H.R. Giger As seen in
  • Liminal Spaces
  • BREAK
  • Cinematography
  • First person shooting and the scene
  • Siren lighting and bumping the lamp
  • Filming the alien
  • Space travel and special effects
  • Whats in the soundtrack
  • The instruments
  • Aleatoric music
  • Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima
  • Producing horror music and the nightmare machine
  • Edward's movie
  • The feud over the movie sound track
  • Alien Complete Soundtrack
  • BREAK
  • Where is the midpoint
  • Whats A reversal?
  • Ripley being a strong female character and gender politics
  • Ripley wasn't intended to be a female
  • Characters
  • Jump Scares
  • What kind of movie is this Ridley Scott whats the purpose of the movie
  • Is human life expendable
  • What genre is this movie
  • Two kinds of cheese
  • What does this movie say about humanity

Additional links:

https://www.rogerebert.com/features/the-great-unknown-the-story-behind-jerry-goldsmiths-score-for-alien

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Is music worth it? What does it take to be the best? This week, we try to answer those questions as well as the age old: "WERE YOU RUSHING OR WERE YOU DRAGGING?"

In this episode, Jacob, Andrew, and Edward practice their rudiments with the indie film Whiplash. They discuss the pace of the plot, the musical themes, and the exploration of a human being’s breaking point. This film delivers a character study of a musician, Andrew Neiman, doing whatever it takes to become the best.

Me too movement

Outline:

  • Discussing origin of the film

  • Discussing the music/setting

  • Editing and cinematography

  • BREAK

  • Where is the midpoint

  • The big scene

  • Characterization of Andrew

  • BREAK

  • Characterization of Fletcher

  • Do the ends justify the means

(exploration on the setting)

  • How does it end

  • What is the theme

(additional source)

Bonus: fun gif

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Turmoil, Turbulence, and Tumultuous Toons!

As Eddie Valiant investigates the murder of Marvin Acme, Jacob, Andrew, and Edward investigate the 1988 classic, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

While they discuss the intricacies of the film’s production and the abundance of cartoon identities, they’ll uncover something sinister beneath the facade of a family-friendly flick: the murder and manipulation of LA’s true, dark history.

Outline:

  • Source Material

  • Cartoons cameos

  • IP considerations

  • Production

  • Adding cartoons to real life

  • Sound mixing ADR

  • Music

  • Rodger & Eddie (is this a noir movie?)

  • Jessica Rabbit

  • Judge Doom

  • What is the genre

  • Conversation of Race Article

  • Speaking to that period of LA Article

  • Is this a kids movie

  • Why is Judge Doom a toon

Link to us:

https://anchor.fm/admin-sscinephile

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What do you get when you cross a classic film with three film nerds? A lengthy discussion on Indiana Jones and his split personalities.

In this episode, Jacob, Andrew, and Edward go in search of the lost antagonist as they discuss Raiders of the Lost Ark. We uncover clues, dig through hidden meanings, and eventually stumble upon something rather unique as they discover a peculiar complexity to an otherwise simple film.

Outline:

  • James Bond's influence on the writing of movie.

  • Fan edit of the movie in B&W

  • Parallels between Jones and Bond

  • Who is Indiana Jones

  • Why doesn't Indy blow up the Ark

  • Who is the antagonist

  • Marion's Character and her role as a "damsel in distress"

  • What a great score!

  • Understanding John Williams attention to detail when scoring this movie

  • Let's understand his use of Leitmotif

  • Understanding the 4 act structure of this movie

  • Where is the midpoint

  • What is the theme of this movie

  • What happens in the scene on the mountain

Link to us:

https://anchor.fm/admin-sscinephile

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Three different people. Three different films.

Well, sort of...

Jacob, Andrew, and Edward tackle the sci-fi epic Blade Runner as they each watch a different version of the film that has gone through multiple changes since its original release in 1982.

They discuss how the film differs from the original idea of the book as they try to decipher the many renditions of this genre-flexing behemoth.

Cuts of the film researched based on this article

Outline:

  • Based on a Philip K Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

  • The Theatrical release (The one with the voice-overs)

  • 30MM Budget

  • 26MM summer box office

  • Directors cut

  • Final cut (Where can I see the two Zhora death scenes side by side)

  • What is Film noir

  • Is Film noir a format defining genre

  • Famous Film noir (Chinatown, The Maltese falcon, The Dark Night, Winter Soldier)

  • The world-building in 2019 LA

  • How the soundtrack lead to a very specific aesthetic

  • Breakdown of the final scene and the final monologue

  • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

  • Is Deckard a replicant?

  • Why do we care? Is this a good movie?

Further reading:

https://screenrant.com/blade-runner-movie-multiple-versions-explained/

https://bladerunner.fandom.com/wiki/Versions_of_Blade_Runner

Link to us:

https://anchor.fm/admin-sscinephile

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In this episode, Jacob, Andrew, and Edward geek out to one of their favorite movies of all time: Back to the Future.

They talk through the film’s production, history, and unique filmmaking style. They also discuss if a movie that once thrived on the premise of time has survived the test of time itself.

Outline:

  • How does this movie make us feel (What a great adventure movie)

  • Early on in a long list of sequel and remakes

  • An early "Summer Blockbuster"

  • Link to John Mulaney bit

  • Discussing the uniqueness of the sound track and being a mix of pop music and orchestral score (Andrew's white paper)

  • A cool use of diegetic into non-diegetic sound For Reference

  • Robert Zemeckis first project with Spielberg setup for future partnerships

  • Discussing the exposition that is provided just with the opening long take

  • How it sets up the science of the film

  • Would this movie be PG today?

  • Did this movie age well?

  • The use of the DeLorean as the time travel vehicle

  • Fun time travel conversations, and what that has to do with the theme of the movie

  • Perfect example of the three-act structure

  • Talking about the actors and their characters

  • The trope's influence on pop culture like Rick & Morty

  • Acting through the trilogy

  • How the consequences of time travel show themselves thought the movie

  • How did they come up with some of the beats of the movie

  • Discussing the promotion

  • Let's talk about how some of the cinematography made you feel like your in the world

  • The shooting of the first time travel moment

Link to us:

https://anchor.fm/admin-sscinephile