Monthly Archives: July, 2014

Episode 109: All About the Bantz [Hercules; Joe; The Films of 1977]


Episode 109: All About the Bantz

[1:40:21]
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It’s Episode 109 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
 
This week we let the reviews take a back seat, as we focus on festival fare and classic cinema. Podcast stalwart Irini M. is back with us to discuss the line-up for this year’s Venice Film Festival (which she will be attending) but abandons us after half an hour, forcing Pete to turn to poetry for consolation. We take (a lot of) time out to discuss the year that was 1977, talking about the year’s critics prizes, Oscar winners, and our personal top tens, leading to digressions about a classic catfight between Shirley MaClaine and Anne Bancroft, and a disappointing gay denial from Cal’s student days. Elsewhere, we chat about David Gordon Green’s “Joe,” sci-fi adventure “Earth to Echo,” and mythological action film “Hercules,” which Pete’s piano pupil was conspicuously absent from. Tune in to discover which Hong Kong director (no – not that one) got Pete and Irini excited, how the approach to casting of Luis Bunuel and Pier Pasolini was beyond liberal, and why the party island of Ibiza will force a mini-podcast hiatus.


The Week’s News:
  • The trailer for Liv Ullmann’s “Miss Julie” is released

Opening Segment: Discussing the recently-announced lineup for this year’s Venice Film Festival, featuring films from Roy Andersson, Ramin Bahrani, and Andrew Niccol!

[3:55 – 20:40]

Listener Questions [Ibbi]

[20:45 – 29:35]

Preconception Corner

Classic Segment: Discussing our favourite films and performances from 1977, touching upon films by William Friedkin, Paul Verhoeven, and Fred Zinnemann,  and performances by Richard Burton, Vanessa Redgrave, and Quinn Cummings! Plus much more!

[38:35 – 1:16:55]

Reviews of:
  • Joe
  • Earth to Echo
  • Hercules

[1:17:00 – 1:34:05]

Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range

Outro Music: Miley Cyrus, “Party in the U.S.A”

Episode 108: Behind the Vicarage [Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; The Films of 1948]


Episode 108: Behind the Vicarage

[1:34:49]
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It’s Episode 108 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
 
With a serious dearth of new releases this week, we’ve decided to go back in time to the cinema of 1948, giving our top tens, favourite performances, and disappointments from the year, which drags out the episode to a typically strenuous length. Meanwhile, there’s a trio of deaths in the film world, and a Franco double bill, which includes nuclear romance “Grand Central” and Fanny Ardant in bourgeois drama “Bright Days Ahead.” Pete’s rundown of the latter of those threatened to be as candid as the film itself, but you’ll have to listen to find out whether its boldness had us weak at the knees, or reaching for the sick bowl.  The week’s big movie is “Dawn of the Planet of Apes,” which neither of us were looking forward to, but which does give us time to ponder Mark Wahlberg’s ascent to leading man status, Gary Oldman’s recent career choices, and the absurdity of internal ape politics. Elsewhere, discover how Frieda Pinto gets the raw end of the deal, why Manohla Dargis is the Queen of the fake allegory, and why what happened behind the vicarage in Sutton Park remains a mystery.

The week’s news: 

  • The death of James Garner
  • The death of Elaine Stritch
  • The death of Tom Rolf
  • “The Imitation Game” will open this year’s London Film Festival
  • “Gone Girl” will open this year’s New York Film Festival

[5:15 – 15:20]

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:
  • Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
  • Bright Days Ahead
  • Grand Central

[23:30 – 52:55]

Closing Segment:Discussing our favourite films and performances from 1948, touching upon films by Alfred Hitchcock, Roberto Rossellini, and John Ford, and performances by Olivia De Havilland, Walter Huston, and Laurence Olivier!

[53:00 – 1:24:45]

Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range

Outro Music: Madonna, “Lucky Star”

Episode 107: The Four Percent Rule [Boyhood; Begin Again; How To Train Your Dragon 2]



Episode 107: The Four Percent Rule

[1:32:12]
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It’s Episode 107 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
 
This week we turn our attention to the upcoming Venice Film Festival, discussing the just-announced opening film for 2014, and the recent history of openers at the festival, which include two Steven Spielberg films and a derranged noir effort from Brian DePalma. Change is on the horizon, as the World Cup is over and Pete is now a home owner, but he still couldn’t pluck up the courage to experience Keira Knightley’s vocal tones in John Carney’s “Begin Again,” leaving Cal all alone with some awkward preconceptions about Adam Levine. Meanwhile, we discuss animated Sequel “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” becomes the longest review on the podcast since… Richard Linklater’s “Before Midnight,” but did our lofty hopes for it get answered? Elsewhere, we talk about our personal experiences of open mic nights, and there’s an epic preconception corner, featuring an infamous slur by John Wayne on Barry Norman, and a major sexual indiscretion by the Maroon 5 front-man concerning everyone’s favourite tennis pro.


Opening Segment: 
Discussing the recent history of opening films at the Venice Film Festival, in the wake of the announcement that Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “Birdman” will open this year’s event!

[4:00 – 24:50]

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:
  • How to Train Your Dragon 2
  • Begin Again

[39:10 – 1:04:20]

 

Closing Segment: Our lengthy take on Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” featuring a small discussion of films founded upon gimmicks!

[1:04:25 – 1:24:10]

Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range

Outro Music: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, “When Your Mind’s Made Up”

Episode 106: Cute, Amusing, and Cringe [Tammy; Cycling with Moliere; Cold in July]



Episode 106: Cute, Amusing, and Cringe

[1:22:40]
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It’s Episode 106 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
 
This week we’re splitting the American releases down the middle, with Cal opting for raucous Melissa McCarthy comedy “Tammy,” and Pete settling down for moody thriller “Cold in July.” Cal’s fondness for musicals led him to colourful Aussie flick “Goddess,” featuring the vocal talents of none other than Ronan Keating, while France is represented in our review of “Cycling with Moliere,” which (spoiler!) has very little to do with actual cycling. Elsewhere, our crop of films in this month’s Red Light District features an unconventional biopic and a sports documentary, plus there’s an unexpected rant about “Out of Africa,” and an extremely short discussion of Kelly McGillis’ career. This week’s episode is a badly behaved one, as Pete uncorks the C word within the first half an hour (albeit in a quote), while other bouts of innuendo involve Vinessa Shaw and lucrative webcam placements, and some honest family nostalgia leads to rash likenesses between Melissa McCarthy and canines.

Opening Segment: This month’s Red Light District, in which we “pimp” films we’ve seen in the last month. This month’s crop includes “King & Country,” “Mahler,” “One Night in Turin,” and “They All Laughed”

[4:50 – 21:55]

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:
  • Tammy
  • Cold in July
  • Goddess

[30:15 – 58:10]

 

Closing Segment: Our take on Philippe Le Guay’s “Cycling with Moliere,” starring Fabrice Luchini and Lambert Wilson, and discussing cinematic bromances!

[58:15 – 1:13:15]

Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range

Outro Music: Banks, “Goddess”

Episode 105: The Twin Peakes [Chef; Arthur & Mike; Run & Jump]



Episode 105: The Twin Peakes

[1:18:20]
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It’s Episode 105 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
 
With the Summer release schedule awash with unappealing blockbusters and unobtainable world cinema, we’re left with three small dramas to review for you this week. Understated Irish film “Run & Jump” has us singing the praises of one actor in particular, while Cal’s usual appreciation for Emily Blunt’s chemistry is challenged in “Arthur & Mike,” a chronicle of identity crisis which also stars Cal’s neighbour Colin Firth. It’s going to be a job for Pete to overcome the troubling preconceptions he has for Jon Favreau’s “Chef,” (including about the man himself) but will the film’s culinary delights and road trip format win us over? Meanwhile, there’s a ton of news, including two deaths, a controversial interview with a former Oscar nominee, and a discussion of the latest crop of cinematic “talent” invited to join AMPAS. Listen as we encounter digressions involving debut performances of the 1950s, the many virtues of Eric Stoltz, Barbra Streisand’s vanity, and a hysterical pitch for a sequel to a Juliette Binoche film. 

The week’s news: 

  • Cal watched “Calvary”
  • The death of Eli Wallach
  • The death of Paul Mazursky
  • Gary Oldman’s Playboy interview
  • AMPAS invites new members

[1:50 – 22:05]

Preconception Corner

Reviews of:
  • Run & Jump
  • Arthur & Mike

[29:30 – 50:10]

Closing Segment: Our take on Jon Favreau’s “Chef,” discussing films about food, and some other random asides!

[50:15 – 1:05:50]

Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range

Outro Music: Aphex Twin, “Avril 14th”
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