With the season finale of The Rings of Power coming out today, it felt like a perfect time to talk about the legacy of the Lord of the Rings movies, and some initial feelings about the show thus far. There are a few digressions in the conversation here and there, and we probably spend way too much time talking about the Irish accent of the Harfoots. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guests: Stuart Wilson, Chris McKenzie
The movie that changed the face of horror movies for an entire generation. Scream has endured as a classic for so long because it successfully does two things. Firstly, it delivers on the basic level of a teen slasher. The characters are fun to hang out with. The killer is creative and fresh. Secondly, it is a brilliant send up of all the horror movie tropes that had become boring and tired by the time Scream was released. You can go back many times and pick up new references or hints that Crave...
Starting the October Horror Miniseries with the movie that redefined horror movies for my generation. The found footage trend was certainly around before The Blair Witch Project, but definitely not in the way it would be afterwards. However, I think that movie often gets lumped in with the cheap imitators who took all the wrong lessons. One movie that did learn the right lessons from The Blair Witch Project though was Neil Marshall's claustrophobic creature feature The Descent. Host: Ciaran Vall...
What is the best way to tackle a biopic? Is there an obligation to be factual and true, or should the filmmakers get a little more wiggle room to explore themes and ideas within the framework of telling someone's life story? I've grown extremely tired of movies literally just playing the hits from someone's life (mostly done for musicians or bands). The new Netflix movie based on the fictionalized version of Marilyn Monroe certainly pushes boundaries and asks these questions, but if this is the ...
Perhaps the most talked about movie that no one had seen for many years, Don't Worry Darling opens wide this week, and we were there to see it for ourselves. The best sci-fi movies ask probing questions, and reflect our reality in a way that make us think about issues in a new and fresh way... Don't Worry Darling doesn't really do any of that. We breakdown the many controversies, what we liked and didn't like, the performances, and try to answer some of the questions we were left turning over in...
If you're gearing up for October and horror movie season, then I've got you covered to get an early start. There have been a lot of really great and fun horror movies so far this year, whether it's the latest Scream sequel, the Gen-Z paranoia of Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, or the horror of politeness that is Speak No Evil. But in this recommendation episode I wanted to look at a couple movies that are using our expectations of the horror genre against us, and delivering something pretty unique....
Another year, another festival. another slightly deranged lineup of pre-movie sponsor advertisements. Welcome to the Toronto International Film Festival! With my ever trusty TIFF partner, we breakdown the movies we wanted to see but couldn't, the movies we want to see now after successful festival runs, and finally our Top 4 movies that we did see. This is our favourite time of the year, and despite the ticket mishaps, the long lines, and I can't understate how bafflling those sponsor ads get, w...
The coming of age movie is something that has been around since Hollywood realized teenagers and young adults have an abundance of disposable income. However, every once and a while a filmmaker wants to do something a little different with the genre, and these two movies are great examples of a filmmaker taking a tried and true formula but giving it a little twist (with a bonus discussion about Greta Gerwig who might be the best filmmaker at doing that currently working). Host: Ciaran Vallely Gu...
This week is all about the gangster movie, and when talking to my Irish cousin it was probably best to keep things focused on Irish gangsters. One movie is set in Boston, the other set in New York. One gave its filmmaker his greatest ever success, the other has been completely lost to time. However, both are filled with lots of alcohol, cigarettes, and famous actors! Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Bryan Wilson
I love animated movies, especially animated movies that take full advantage of the medium and shows us things that we wouldn't be able to see otherwise. Both of the movies this week achieve that in their own unique ways despite their very different approaches to style. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Clara Wilson
Stanley Kubrick is often the boring answer to the question "Who is the greatest filmmaker of all time"...but sometimes the boring answer is boring because it is the right answer. Beside his reputation, his movies are rarely similar from one another, and that makes uniquely great to talk about on this podcast where I hope people check out more movies because I truly believe there is something for everyone. This episode was supposed to come out sometimes around July 26th, but my ability to procras...
Back with another few things worth watching. Little bit of everything, so there should be something for everyone. HBO/Crave - Industry, Shiva Baby Movie Theatre - Bodies, Bodies, Bodies Netflix - Day Shift, Look Both Ways, Set It Up
While on the face of it these two movies may not seem like a perfect 1 to 1 comparison. One is a whimsical, globetrotting story of a young conman on the run, and the other is a confined, gritty bank robbery. Their respective filmmakers certainly have a different outlook on humanity and life. One stars an actor who is about to make a major shift in his career, and the second sees an experienced duo team up once again to deliver the goods. I think I've just talked myself out of this recommendation...
The entire point of the podcast is to recommend and talk about new movies. But with so much stuff always coming out, certain movies inevitably get left by the wayside. So why not shout out a few, and more importantly where people can find them to make things even easier.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Alejandro Iñárritu are two of the most acclaimed and beloved filmmakers of the last 30 years. However, as young men, both favoured the interconnected, multiple storyine technique...to varying results. Sometimes the recommendations don't always work Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Kunga Sagar
I find that currently most big budget movies just want to be TV shows, and most TV shows probably should have been movies. But 25 years ago, two movies tried to bridge the gap between the mediums and comment on the ever shifting landscapes of modern entertainment. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Dean Labute
The dust has settled, the votes have been counted, and a coin has been flipped, but the winner of the Ultimate Summer Movie Bracket has been selected. As with all great democracies, New Favourite Movie turned to an impartial third party for help with selecting the winner, and I think a worthy movie came out on top. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Melissa Criminisi
What has happened to the mainstream RomCom? Once so reliable at the box office has now been relegated to poor content on streaming services. Still, once upon a time this genre stood tall, proud, and confident enough to have characters pitch "Frost Yourself" as a viable marketing campaign to the world's largest diamond sellers... Fool's Gold Recipe: 1 Loaf of Italian Bread (must be white) 2 Tablespoon's of Butter 1 lb of lean cooked bacon (must be lean!) 1 Jar of Smooth Peanut Butter (sorry all y...
Documentaries have never been more popular or accessible. Every week all of the streaming services seem to release a new batch of (mostly True Crime) docs. But with that influx, what makes something stand out from the crowd? The two movies this week certainly do that through their stories, and more importantly, the way they tell them. This is a recommendation filled episode, so get a pen and paper ready!
Children of Divorce unite! Both movies this week explore the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of being a parent and going through the end of a marriage. But cheer up, it's not all doom and gloom, as any CoD knows, that just means two Christmases, two Birthdays, and two parents who will stop at nothing to win over your love and affection... Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Tannaz Keshavarz Tannaz's movie 2035 , and can be found on YouTube...
Do you prefer the harder, dirtier, guitar heavy rock n' roll of the 1970's, or the sweeter, dancier tunes of the 80's MTV era? Either way, the two movies this week will have you covered. Warnings for any Genesis/Phil Collins fan though. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Alycia Kosonic
What happened to the Action/Adventure genre? This week we look back at two of the enduring movie franchises that came to define the late 90s early 2000s movie landscape. Unfortunately Sam Worthington does catch a couple stray shots towards the end for some reason. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Ali Weavers
I take the hot seat and answer your burning questions. Hopefully I don't bore people too much. Desert Island picks, pet peeves, and the eventual slow collapse of the movie theatre experience are all discussed. So you know, the light stuff. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Kate Vallely Every Frame a Painting: David Fincher - And the Other Way is Wrong
Listen, we all love movies, but there is a much discussed, and documented darker side to Hollywood, particularly when it comes to actresses. The two movies this week tackle that issue in their own ways, and try to shine a light on the fact that all that glitters is not gold, especially in Tinseltown. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Nick La Rocca Some images to show what the hell Nick and I were talking about: https://i.imgur.com/lL4YYFl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/JPkT74d.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vJJOyDY...
Listen, we all love movies, but there is a much discussed, and documented darker side to Hollywood, particularly when it comes to actresses. The two movies this week tackle that issue in their own ways, and try to shine a light on the fact that all that glitters is not gold, especially in Tinseltown. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Nick La Rocca Some images to show what the hell Nick and I were talking about: https://i.imgur.com/lL4YYFl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/JPkT74d.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vJJOyDY...
After much internal debate, my brother-in-law Chris finally landed on Disney's animated take of the Arthurian legend. In response, the fantasy/action/adventure of Ron Howard and George Lucas' Willow seemed like the perfect recommendation. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Chris McKenzie
Some people are willing to go a lot further in the pursuit of fame than most of us. I am willing to start a movie podcast with friends, but if I was asked to murder them I'd probably have to take a second to think about it. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Tom Costie
A post-Mother's Day Special! This was the first episode recorded, and what better way to start than to talk with your mother about debilitating diseases and long distance relationships. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Caroline Gill
When I started this podcast I thought it would be a fun way to talk to my friends about the movies they love and maybe introduce them to something that wasn't on their radar. However, what are you supposed to do when someone knows you for so long that they not only know what you do and don't like, but actively take joy in making you a little miserable. With friends like these... Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Melissa Criminisi
The most obvious recommendation for the adaptation of a seminal sci-fi classic set on a far off planet is to look backwards in history to the story of a would-be king set in the far off country of Scotland. Host: Ciaran Vallely Guest: Stuart Wilson
