Our Latin American journey leaves the South American mainland behind this week, and dips into Caribbean cinema with a 2007 film from the Dominican Republic, YUNIOL. After some reviews, we talk about class differences, telling multiple stories, and how this is not an ‘uneven’ film. Recent Media ALL OR NOTHING: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (2021): Rob Worsoff, Kyle Dubas, Will Arnett STRANGER THINGS S4 (2022): Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Winona Ryder Recommendations HEROES (2007–09): Tim Kring, Jack Coleman,...
Aug 01, 2022•31 min•Season 5Ep. 8
The most recent film on our Latin American odyssey is the Venezuelan MY STRAIGHT SON (2012). After reviews — some more fervent than others — we talk about drama, found families, and whether or not we might have a Eurocentric view of this film’s politics. Recent Media GOLDENEYE (1995): Martin Campbell, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean REACHER (2022–): Lee Child, Nick Santora, Alan Ritchson Recommendations THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012): Stephen Chbosky, Logan Lernan, Emma Watson BEAUTIFUL THING ...
Jul 25, 2022•33 min•Season 5Ep. 7
After something of a hiatus: we’re back! With the award-winning 2015 Colombian film EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT. After some reviews, we dive in with a reference to Rob’s favourite theatrical director, as well as exploring why it’s good that this film was made and how it might be important that some people don’t get on board with it. Recent Media THE HARDER THEY FALL (2021): Jeymes Samuel, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz ENCANTO (2021): Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Stephanie Beatriz THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS (202...
Jun 06, 2022•31 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Another Small Batch episode, looking at the the 2021 horror film, Titane Find Us On Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-prestige-417454 Follow Us - https://www.twitter.com/prestigepodcast Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete Archive on Kaiju.FM - https://www.kaiju.fm/the-prestige/...
Mar 15, 2022•6 min
The next stop on our journey through Latin America is 2005’s MADEINUSA. After some reviews, we talk about how this film is itself a disturbing experience for the viewers, to what extent it presents the main character as a ‘ femme fatale ', and why it works as a complete disruption of the ‘white saviour’ myth. Next Up The next film in our Latin American Odyssey is Colombia’s EL PASEO (2010). Recent Media MIDNIGHT MASS (2021): Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford SQUID GAME (2021): Hwang Dong-...
Mar 07, 2022•Season 5Ep. 5
The title for this episode comes from something Rob says towards the end of this chat, which I think sums up this film brilliantly. After reviews (spoilers: we loved it), we talk about a number of things to do with the incredible artifice of this film, and its brutality, and (strangely enough) its use of architecture. Next Up Our next Latin American film is the Peruvian drama MADEINUSA, from 2005. Recent Media MONEY HEIST (2017–21): Álex Pina, Úrsula Corberó, Álvaro Morte MALIBU HIGH (1979): Irv...
Oct 26, 2021•Season 5Ep. 4
Our film this week is the slacker comedy/drama 25 WATTS, from Uruguay. Post-reviews, we talk about movies with which this shares obvious roots, as well as how this captures the experiences of disenfranchised youth, and some borderline-colonial-tourist-y speculation about why this was such an important touchstone in Uruguayan film. Next Up The next film on our cinematic journey through Latin America is the 2002 film CITY OF GOD. Recent Media KATE (2021): Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Mary Elizabeth Wins...
Oct 19, 2021•Season 5Ep. 3
After something of a hiatus from the main feed, this week the band is back together with our look at (the most recent, Rob) THE ACCUSED. We talk about how this film undercuts expectations, what it has to say about the experiences of children as opposed to adults, and the in some ways chilling ending of the movie. Next Up The next film on our Latin American road trip is 2001’s 25 WATTS from Uruguay. Recent Media EMPIRE RECORDS (1995): Allan Moyle, Anthony LaPaglia, Maxwell Caulfield THE SUICIDE S...
Sep 19, 2021•35 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Another Small Batch, this week talking about FREE GUY and the return to the cinema! Find Us On Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-prestige-417454 Follow Us - https://www.twitter.com/prestigepodcast Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete Archive on Kaiju.FM - https://www.kaiju.fm/the-prestige/...
Aug 30, 2021•11 min
Another Small Batch episode, looking at the cinematic twins of White House Down and Olympus Has Fallen Find Us On Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-prestige-417454 Follow Us - https://www.twitter.com/prestigepodcast Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete Archive on Kaiju.FM - http://www.kaiju.fm/the-prestige/...
Aug 16, 2021•16 min
The first of our brand new Small Batch episodes, this week looking at the Pirates Of The Caribbean, all the from The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003) all the way to Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). As with the smaller shows, also smaller show notes, so enjoy! Find Us On Podchaser - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-prestige-417454 Follow Us - https://www.twitter.com/prestigepodcast Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete...
Aug 10, 2021
We launch into Season 5 (FIVE!!! madness, I tell you) and our ‘world tour’ with a film from the country at the southernmost tip of the Americas, Chile, and Pablo Larraín’s 2019 film EMA. After expressing awe at the visuals of the film and the impact that it had on us as viewers, we discuss the idea of new growth (‘seeds’ to be sown after fire, in a central metaphor of the film), the plan that Ema has, and how underestimating this is something that is not only done by Gael Garcia Bernal’s charact...
Aug 03, 2021•Season 5Ep. 1
Some six years (not five, Rob! we’ve been doing this aaaaages) after our first episode — and fourteen years after the…’discussion’ that prompted us to start doing this podcast (eventually), we’re revisiting Zach Snyder’s 2007 epic 300. After we read through that fourteen-year-old transcript, we talk about how our views of the film have changed, its roots in Spartan propaganda, and the aesthetics of a piece that were very much of its time. Next Up Next, we begin Season 5 — watch this space! Recen...
Jul 19, 2021•50 min
The final film in our Disney-animation-and-remakes sub-season is the 2020 iteration of MULAN. After some reviews, we delve into discussions of Disney ‘humanisation’ (sometimes, you just want bad guys to be bad guys), the fact that this movie is aimed at a very different audience from the original, the changes that are made to make this more of a human film, and how honour and ch'i (two big concepts here) mean very different things for different (gendered) characters. Next Up The next episode is ...
Jun 14, 2021•Season 4Ep. 50
Our final Disney film is 1998’s MULAN. After some reviews, we talk about the ways in which this film starts from a position of naivety, but grows into a much more adult movie: which leaves us both intrigued as to what the reboot will be like. Next Up Next time, for the last time, we turn to the live-action version of a Disney animation, with the 2020 MULAN. Recent Media SAFE (2012): Boaz Yakin, Jason Statham, Catherine Chan NOMADLAND (2020): Chloé Zhao, Jessica Bruder, Frances McDormand Recommen...
May 27, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 49
This week, after some...reviews of Disney’s most recent take on THE LION KING, we talk about how colour and contrast can make or break a film, the importance of myth to the original movie, and what it means to consider style versus substance when the film is as hyperrealistic as this one. Next Up The final film in our Disney mini-season is 1998’s MULAN. Recent Media TED LASSO (2020–): Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudekis, Hannah Waddingham PARKER (2013): Taylor Hackford, Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez Rec...
May 03, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 48
Our film this week is the 1994 award-winning classic THE LION KING. After the usual reviews, we talk about Sam’s changing ideas about the film, how it may or may not be about the growth of a character, and what it says about the role of royal privilege (not, this week in particular, an entirely irrelevant topic!). Next Up It’s remake time! Next up is the 2019 version of the film. Recent Media LINE OF DUTY (2012–): Jed Mercurio, Martin Compston, Vicky McClure COLD LASAGNE HATE MYSELF 1999 (2020):...
Apr 12, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 47
This week’s offering is the re-make of ALADDIN. After…mixed reviews, we talk about the ‘clean’ visuals, what it feels Disney wants from a re-make, and how watching this involves something of the same pretence shown by the characters themselves. Next Up Our next Disney film is the 1994 original version of THE LION KING. Recent Media THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN (1933): Frank Capra, Barbara Stanwyck, Nils Asther INTERIOR DESIGN MASTERS WITH ALAN CARR (2021): Diccon Ramsay, Emma Taylor, Alan Carr ...
Mar 29, 2021•31 min•Season 4Ep. 46
This time, our focus is on the 1992 Disney film ALADDIN. After some reviews, we discuss how this is a movie about people pretending to be something they’re not; we talk about what ‘diamond in the rough’ means (both to a 10-year-old Rob, and today); and we think about media depictions of class, from country-house dramas to inner-city soap operas. Next Up Next time (sticking to the format!), our focus turns to the 2019 live-action remake of ALADDIN. Recent Media THE DAWN WALL (2017): Josh Lowell, ...
Mar 09, 2021•34 min•Season 4Ep. 45
This week our focus is he 2017 live-action version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. After some…contrasting reviews, we talk about how this film is a lot darker and more serious than the original, how it has a lot more to it (both good and bad), and how it might be a different sort of fairy tale to the 1991 film. Next Time Next in line for our Disney focus is he 1992 version of ALADDIN. Recent Media HORTON HEARS A WHO! (2008): Theodor Seuss Geisel, Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (2019):...
Feb 15, 2021•37 min•Season 4Ep. 44
This week’s film is one of Rob’s favourite Disney films (so no pressure, there) 1991’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. After some plot summarising and a little light reviewing, we talk about the distinctive way this film looks, its place as a subversive text, and the fact that this is actually two films in one — in a good way, promise. Next Time The next movie in our Disney animation/live action sub-season is the 2017 remake of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Recent Media LUPIN (2021): George Kay, François Uzan, Om...
Jan 19, 2021•Season 4Ep. 43
This week’s film is the Jon Favreau live action/CGI remake of the 1967 film. After some opening reviews (and Sam admitting that he might have given the film too much credit), we talk — in one of our more cerebral chats — about selfishness, understanding, and change, particularly in our reading of the end of the film. Next Time Our next film is Rob’s favourite Disney film, which Sam ( gasp ) hasn’t seen: 1991’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Recent Media FIRST COW (2019): Kelly Reichardt, Jonathan Raymond...
Jan 07, 2021•Season 4Ep. 42
The Best Of The Pandemic Year Follow Sam - https://www.twitter.com/life_academic Follow Rob - https://www.twitter.com/kaijufm Find Our Complete Archive on Kaiju.FM - http://www.kaiju.fm/the-prestige/
Jan 01, 2021•34 min
The first film in our final mini-season of Season 4 (we’re getting old!) is the 1967 Disney animated version of Rudyard Kipling’s THE JUNGLE BOOK. Our discussion ranges from animation styles to PAW PATROL, and anthropomorphism to racial stereotyping; overall, though, we spend the most time thinking about how much this film is about the familial, paternal relationships in evidence here. Next Time It’s déjà vu! Next time we look at Jon Favreau’s 2016 version of THE JUNGLE BOOK. Recent Media THE MA...
Dec 07, 2020•Season 4Ep. 41
The final film in our mini-season of heist film’s is Steve McQueen’s 2018 movie WIDOWS. After (ultimately, to be expected) differing reviews, we talk about ways in which this film deals with a number of different manifestations of loss — doing so even through the cinematography — and ultimately shows a certain amount of escape or relief in the endings of some of the characters. Next Time Our next mini-season will be looking at Disney animations and their recent live-action adaptations, and we be...
Nov 23, 2020•38 min•Season 4Ep. 40
Our penultimate heist film is the 2004 teen movie THE PERFECT SCORE. We talk about how this film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and doesn’t deserve the panning it got from the critics, as well as the idea that this is a mash-up of the heist film genre with teen films about progress of various kinds. Next Time The last movie in our heist season is the 2018 film WIDOWS. Recent Media THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (2018): Mike Flanagan, Shirley Jackson, Michiel Huisman THE NIGHT OF THE HOWLING BEAS...
Nov 02, 2020•37 min•Season 4Ep. 39
Our film this time is Guy Ritchie’s 1998 break-out film, which spawned a host of not-always-successful imitators — even among the work of Ritchie himself! We talk about whether a film sometimes has to do no more than just look cool, what changed in pop culture around the time of the Millennium, and where the heist even is in this film. Next Time The penultimate film in our heist movie season is 2004’s THE PERFECT SCORE. Recent Media CRITTERS I-IV (1986-1992): Stephen Herek, Mick Garris, Kristine...
Oct 12, 2020•42 min•Season 4Ep. 38
This week, we focus on a doubly discredited (director and star) but undeniably classic film: THE USUAL SUSPECTS. After some reviews (and you can guess what they’ll be, with this film), we talk about a fundamental change in the heist genre, how we’re still not sure what happens in this film, and the story of the first time we saw this, over 20 years ago. Next Time Our next offering is Guy Ritchie’s 1998 breakout film, the British gangster movie LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS. Recent Media D...
Sep 30, 2020•36 min•Season 4Ep. 37
This week’s film is an early one from Michael Mann, king of the crime genre: THIEF. After some reviews, we talk about whether Frank’s personal ethics are more like those in PARKS AND REC or OROCHI, as well as discussing the acting successes of Jim Broadbent, and thinking about the BREAKING BAD moments towards the end of the film. Next Time We move into the 90s with our next film — a significant one for us — THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995). Recent Media ZOMBEAVERS (2014): Jordan Rubin, Rachel Melvin, H...
Sep 14, 2020•29 min•Season 4Ep. 36
This week’s film is the 1973 multiple-Oscar-winning classic THE STING. After (certainly not mixed!) initial reviews, we talk about how this film is more about a con not a heist, it’s links to more modern films like John Wick, and the use of obvious artificiality on screen. Next Time The next in our heist mini-season is 1981’s THIEF. Recent Media HAMILTON (2015): Lin-Manuel Miranda, Philippa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr. WE SUMMON THE DARKNESS (2019): Mark Meyers, Alexandra Daddario, Keean Johnson VFW (20...
Aug 31, 2020•35 min•Season 4Ep. 35
