Episode 129: Flights of Fancy [Birdman; The Theory of Everything; Enemy]
Episode 129: Flights of Fancy
It’s Episode 129 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.
In this episode, we turn our attention to the awards race, as this week sees the release of two films vying for Oscars, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s meditation on the theatre, “Birdman,” and spirited Stephen Hawking drama “The Theory of Everything”. We also take the opportunity to discuss the Producers Guild Award nominations and the winners from the National Society of Film Critics’ annual round of voting, touching (lightly) upon a victory for Jean-Luc Godard, and speculating about the Oscar chances of Timothy Spall, Marion Cotillard, and Rene Russo among others. Elsewhere, Pete’s improvable opinion of Denis Villeneuve is tested when Jake Gyllenhaal takes on a double role in “Enemy” and last year’s Norwegian Foreign Language Oscar entry “Kon-Tiki” finally made British shores, while some disappointing controversy about the latest Nicholas Cage film, “Dying of the Light,” threatens to overshadow the review. Meanwhile, there’s news of upheaval for the Factor and Range, Cal’s latest reading material provides a window into the Best Picture Oscar race of 1967 and Rex Harrison’s bad behaviour, and Felicity Jones’ sixties attire may finally have won over her childhood cohort.
- Mark Schultz turns his back on “Foxcatcher”
- Producers Guild Award nominations are announced
- National Society of Film Critics winners
[2:40 – 14:45]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- The Theory of Everything
- Kon-Tiki
- Dying of the Light
- Enemy
[26:00 – 1:03:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “Birdman,” discussing the Best Picture race, and our favourite films about the theatre!
[1:03:15 – 1:22:45]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: The National, “All the Wine”
Episode 107: The Four Percent Rule [Boyhood; Begin Again; How To Train Your Dragon 2]
Episode 107: The Four Percent Rule
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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
- 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]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, “When Your Mind’s Made Up”
In the Mood for Podcast 
