This time around Bob and Mark lean right into the pretentiousness and discuss the French cinema they enjoy. (For the title we decided to go for the middle choice of "films;" seems midway between "cinema" and "movies.") We do less spoiling than usual, but you should still beware. The dreaded SPOILER may rear its head at any moment in our podcast. 00:10 Intro 03:45 Le Samourai 07:01 Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai 11:26 Disorder (Maryland) 18:39 Au Revoir, Les Enfants 24:28 My Dinner With Andre 26:5...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 5 min
This episode we catch up to 1985 and evaluate the 5 films from 1984 nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. It's been a while since the last episode, but to make up for it, it's a bit longer than usual? Anyway, this will be the last decade in series that we look at for now since we've already done an episode on the Best Picture nominees from 1995 , 2005 , and 2015 . As always, beware of the fearsome spoiler that lurks throughout, and enjoy! 00:10 Introduction 04:27 A Soldier's Story 18:25 Plac...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 5Ep. 69
So...there were some challenges with this one. We do apologize for the slow release pace, but in this case the audio required a lot of work to tune up. We're talking Best Picture for the 47th Academy Awards (films from 1974). SPOILERS abound, as always. 00:10 Intro 00:57 A good year? 03:21 The Conversation 12:25 Gene Hackman interlude 13:35 (Yes, yes; we were thinking of A Few Good Men ) 18:14 The Godfather Part II 34:53 Chinatown 48:53 Lenny 55:07 The Towering Inferno 1:02:34 Digression about f...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 5Ep. 68
It's been a little while, but we've jumped another 10 years closer to the present with an episode on the best films of 1964. Unfortunately for filmgoers it was a bit of a fallow year, but it does make for some good conversation. We mostly talk about the 5 Best Picture nominees, but a few more films come in for a mention in passing. As ever, we SPOIL the endings, middles...everything really about these movies without regard for what you might not have seen, so be warned . Watch the films first if...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 67
Bob finally gets busy and edits this episode wrapping up the past calendar year. It's a bit out of date, but then most of the episodes are too since we're almost always looking at films from years earlier. Not too many spoilers this time round, but be wary; one never knows when they may strike! 00:10 Intro 04:53 Favorites watched for the podcast 07:27 Movies from 2024 17:53 Bob and Indian cinema 20:25 Rowdy. Rowdy Rathore . ( trailer ) 21:57 How Bob sees films; film volume 25:09 First time watch...
Feb 22, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 66
00:10 Intro 02:04 The White Parade , copyright, and availability 09:02 Which ones did we watch? 10:45 It Happened One Night 11:53 It was the Valentine's Day episode about rom-coms in 2022 15:10 Bob's a little off; Miami was 110,000 in 1930, up from less than 30,000 in 1920 20:05 Bob did! See above. 20:57 The end of the Pre-Code era 23:23 Cleopatra 28:13 Imitation of Life 33:18 Flirtation Walk 38:05 The Gay Divorcee 45:06 The Thin Man 49:25 Drunks on film 53:37 Of Human Bondage 59:06 And the Winn...
Dec 15, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 65
This week we talk about the films of Ralph Fiennes. We haven't seen all his movies, but we have seen a goodly number. If you're afraid of the sneaky and nefarious SPOILER , you probably ought to be cautious since we fear it not. 00:10 Intro and the topic 02:40 Fiennes and the theater (theatre?) 06:11 Bob attempts to categorize Fiennes' films 07:05 Bob's very wrong about Macbeth being on streaming 08:00 The bulk of Fiennes' movies 13:37 Fiennes as villain 16:03 The Avengers (1998) Bob will be wro...
Sep 28, 2024•58 min
Bob jumps straight into the topic this episode with SPOILERS from the very start. This episode we assume that you have at least a familiarity with the basic plot of the Terminator films even if, like Mark, you've never seen them. We discuss the first three films and ignore the latter three (which neither Bob nor Mark has seen). Enjoy! 00:10 Intro 00:45 Mark had not seen The Terminator ; cultural significance and Schwarzenegger 05:37 Evolution from conclusive to open-ended 08:42 The Terminator 12...
Sep 07, 2024•59 min
We return triumphantly with...a filler episode! Okay, they can't all be about timeless classics. This episode we look back at what we've seen so far and what is on the horizon. Mostly it's not great, but there were a few gems and several films which augur well. Minimal spoilers too! Enjoy! 00:17 Intro (and the brief return of the clicky pen!) 04:32 Bob's Top 5 of 2024 (so far) 08:32 Mark's movie-going (or lack thereof) 11:34 Bob raves about Perfect Days 13:58 What *should* movies be about? Are w...
Aug 19, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 62
00:00 Intro 04:54 Starting the topic 06:55 What's the key understanding? 12:10 A role departure for Denzel Washington 15:57 Mark's choice for a unique Washington role 22:20 Another, similar, actor 23:52 It's not necessarily bad... 26:10 Glory 29:02 Comparing to Tom Cruise 31:51 Man on Fire vs The Equalizer 36:02 (It was from Sicario. -Ed.) 36:29 Noble self-sacrifice 39:42 Roman J. Israel, Esq. 41:40 Inside Man 43:00 Training Day 43:22 Mojo Jojo ? 45:45 Wrapping up? No, of course not quite yet. 4...
Jul 10, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 61
Back this episode to talk about Jane Austen adaptations. There are many, but we only have time to watch and discuss a handful. At first Bob and Mark seem to be on the same page, but by the end...well, you'll hear. As ever, SPOILERS , but really, these stories are 200 years old. If you don't know them already, that's on you. 00:00 Introduction 2:28 Austen adaptations 7:25 Pride and Prejudice ( 1995 and 2005 ) 14:30 Bob compares it to Ozu, because of course he does, and we discuss the stories as a...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 1 min
This time it's the back half of a pair of episodes on Kurosawa. As ever, we're talking about the films with the assumption that you'll have seen them, so beware the fearsome SPOILER. Mark picked the movies for Part I and Bob has picked the films for Part II. We also talk a little about Shane and A Fistful of Dollars. Enjoy!00:10 Intro to Part 207:37 Yojimbo10:36 A Fistful of Dollars11:12 Accounts vary about exactly how much Kurosawa received, but he did win his lawsuit14:41 "Gamblers" as...
May 04, 2024•1 hr 12 min
First of a pair of episodes about the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Mark is dipping into his ouevre for the first time and Bob is revisiting many of his favorite movies. Featuring SPOILERS throughout, but also the return of the clicky pen! Listen at your own risk.00:10 Episode introduction04:08 Seven Samurai19:50 Wrong, Bob; three left20:10 Wrong again; 4 of 720:34 (Seems to be an audio error in the original recording dropping a fraction of a second...)25:14 The ending of Seven Samu...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 4 min
This is as close as we get to jumping on the bandwagon of popular, recent films. We talk most about the Villeneuve Dune movies, but we also touch on the other iterations. No spoiler warnings in the episode, because the whole podcast is composed of SPOILERS!00:10 Intro - What's going to be covered and not04:50 There is no such thing as "spoiling" a 70 year old story; no spoiler warnings this podcast06:05 Dune, the novel13:35 The story from the novel changes in the transition to film15:55 ...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Bob finally stopped being lazy and got this edited. Wrapping up our discussion of the Coens and their films along with theme Mark thinks he's sussed out of their movies. As ever, SPOILERS!02:00 Why are we doing two episodes on the Coens?04:15 Blood Simple10:15 Spoilers begin in earnest16:49 Subscribers only (unfortunately): https://www.criterionchannel.com/videos/bill-hader-on-blood-simple21:17 The Big Lebowski23:59 Raymond Chandler33:50 Mark's thesis35:02 Inside Llewyn Davis42:24 Comparing O...
Mar 08, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Another two part episode (at least two; we haven't recorded any more than this so far) this time around, but looking at a selection of Coen Brothers movies chosen by Mark. We discuss four of their films in this episode and plan to discuss four more. SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!Enjoy!00:43 Mark's flu podcast01:46 Introducing the topic04:10 Raising Arizona (SPOILERS BEGIN)20:55 M. Emmett WALSH (Bob apparently has football on the brain, he'll make the mistake again later too)24:26 Miller's Crossing42:48...
Feb 03, 2024•1 hr 12 min
First episode of the new year is...finishing the topic we started at the end of last year. We're thinking about maybe tackling some smaller topics this year, but the best laid plans, etc. As ever with our podcast SPOILERS ABOUND! Listen at your own risk.00:10 Intro04:42 The Artist10:18 Would it work as a true silent movie?12:55 Mark doesn't like the title character16:32 Bob loves this movie27:24 The Descendants29:15 Connection to Sideways30:57 George Clooney32:29 The Artist vs The Descendants...
Jan 13, 2024•1 hr 9 min
This time around we decided that since the 2012 Best Picture had 9 nominations, we'd split the discussion into two parts so we didn't have to either run very long or skim over films without discussing them. So 4 this episode, 5 next time.00:10 Intro and beard discussion03:47 Podcast topic - 2012 Best Picture06:05 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close08:25 SPOILERS BEGIN!18:58 Hugo31:10 Midnight in Paris39:26 "Bougie" interlude40:39 Back to the film42:10 Owen Wilson, wow!42:47 Moneyball45:16 The...
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Another movie that's (loosely) connected to the story of Jesus. We didn't plan it that way, but there it is. The other four films all have some connection to World War II, which at the time was still fresh in the mind for many people. We do have SPOILERS, but not so many as in other episodes? Listen at your own risk; as always we tend to talk about the films with the assumption that our listeners have seen them.00:10 Intro1:24 Monty Python boys3:31 Old films, color vs black and white fil...
Oct 07, 2023•1 hr 13 min
Wrapping up the Indiana Jones trilogy this time around. Hope you enjoy it, SPOILERS, of course! We're not going to talk about the latter two films; at least, not for the foreseeable future. Never say never, though!0:10 Opening salutations1:13 "The jewel of Southeast Asia"4:45 Synopsis8:50 Is Indy actually searching for the Holy Grail?12:51 Comparing the three films: villains19:06 Donovan vs Belloq20:55 How does the Grail actually *work*?27:53 Nit-picking minor gripes29:46 Schoolboy adven...
Aug 26, 2023•1 hr
Installment number two in our evaluation of the Indiana Jones franchise. (Ugh, it feels a little dirty saying "franchise.") We'll at least get the the third, but no promises about anything further. Very, very mild spoilers for The Sixth Sense (trailer level), and of course SPOILERS! for Temple of Doom. Enjoy! 00:10 Episode 50!03:05 Thinking about Temple of Doom differently after watching it this time05:00 The Sixth Sense (very mild) spoilers05:35 End of The Sixth Sense spoilers09:11 Deliber...
Aug 12, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Still taking our sweet time in this sleepy summer, we return with a (relatively) in-depth look at a single film. Obviously, spoilers, but c'mon. If you've not seen this, then I don't even feel sorry for you being spoiled. It's your own fault for avoiding such a good movie for this long.00:10 Intro1:27 Recapping the lost first attempt3:07 The deliberate homage to serial films6:08 An Alfred Molina discursion7:18 The good stuff12:24 Museum nostalgia14:36 Film as icon; sequels17:20 Moichandising!...
Jul 29, 2023•49 min
It's been a bit slower because...it's summer. Yeah, that's it. Summer, that's the ticket. But we're back again with another episode, this time talking about 1944 and Bing Crosby's big year winning Best Actor in the Best Picture, Going My Way. Talking about it and the other Best Picture nominees we discuss MANY SPOILERS! You have been warned.00:00 Intro - Heat and the 4th05:38 Going My Way20:25 Double Indemnity31:16 Gaslight40:52 Wilson47:35 Since You Went Away56:54 Other films in 19...
Jul 08, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Slowly getting back into the swing of things; we're back with another timely episode talking about movies from nearly 70 years ago. It's almost silly, but SPOILER WARNING! We're going to spoil them all, insofar as that's possible, since some of them really aren't traditionally spoil...able? Enjoy!00:10 Intro and desultory chit-chat02:45 The nominees04:05 They're how long?!04:41 Around the World in 80 Days10:43 Palin's Around the World in 80 Days14:32 The cameos!17:47 Could it have been shorte...
Jun 17, 2023•1 hr 12 min
The year is 1997. The category is Best Picture. Who will win? Well, as is unsurprising at this period in history, it's the film pushed by the Weinsteins. But perhaps it ought not to have? We discuss the movies from 1996 that might should have been considered the Best Picture when the awards season rolled around in the first part of 1997. SPOILERS AHOY! No timestamps because Bob was in a hurry, but if you're a regular listener you have the advantage of knowing which movie Bob chose f...
May 20, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Oh, hey, it's an old episode that Bob forgot to edit and upload. Let's draw a veil on that and we can pretend that it didn't quite happen that way. Spoilers abound for a variety of films old and new in this episode where your two hosts run down lists of movies they dislike, but with which the world seems to be enamored. In addition to the movies on our lists, we also spoil (a little) La La Land and Rogue One.Spoilers, spoilers everywhere!00:00 Wait, what?02:15 How did we choose (bad but...
May 13, 2023•1 hr 2 min
It's a bit late (Bob's fault), but we're working to at least stay close to our intended schedule. This episode we talk about The Whale and clearly our conversation predated the Oscar awards (a bit interesting to hear our predictions after the fact). As always SPOILERS ABOUND! (We even spoil The Wrestler.)00:10 Dudes chatting01:45 The Whale02:59 Plot synopsis06:00 Aronofsky's interest in individuals in forms of isolation08:43 The movie is not about justifying characters or them ...
Mar 11, 2023•58 min
Keeping it rolling with a single Oscar nominated film. This week is Tár, a film about an orchestra conductor that changes jobs. It's worth seeing, though it's definitely a movie for people who really get into movies. Next episode The Whale! We're sorry we missed an episode, but this is how it goes at this price point.00:10 Intro and idle chatter02:34 Chinese food in Vancouver03:37 No one sees the teapot04:23 Tár plot summary and what is the movie about? 11:01 SPOILERS BEGIN!12:35 Is the movi...
Feb 27, 2023•55 min
We're a bit tardy with this upload, for which we apologize. Bob has been having some troubles with his computron.This episode we discuss (most of) the movies from Martin McDonagh. His latest, The Banshees of Inisherin is up for a fair few Oscars this year and it seemed like a good jumping off point to talk about his work. Mark had only seen one of his films before while Bob is familiar with them all to a bit greater degree. SPOILERS FOR ALL HIS MOVIES! Which, if you're new here, app...
Jan 28, 2023•58 min
Now in their 3rd calendar year, Bob and Mark return from a long holiday hiatus with a recap of 2022. Fewer spoilers than usual, but not spoiler-free! LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK!0:00 Intro and Holiday Recap3:10 Geography Lesson6:19 2022 Notable Movies10:57 Maverick as the 2022 movie with lasting cultural effect12:25 Cinema philistines13:19 Was 2022 a good year in film?15:01 Regal (not sponsored) Unlimited15:52 What we thought about the 2022 movies we saw18:09 (Bob has it backwards: Cate Blan...
Jan 15, 2023•1 hr
