Episode 110: Past the Magenta [Guardians of the Galaxy; Welcome to New York; Lilting]
Episode 110: Past the Magenta
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It’s Episode 110 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.
Pete’s antics in Ibiza are over, so the podcast returns from a fortnightly break, bringing with it five films, and some extremely early news of Foreign Language Oscar submissions. The French are represented well this week, led off by Agnes Jaoui’s fairytale-inspired “Under the Rainbow” and followed up by Michel Gondry’s eccentric “Mood Indigo,” but did the fantasy aspects of both films draw us in or have us running for the hills? Life is far from a fairytale in Abel Ferrara’s political drama “Welcome to New York,” in which we see far too much of Gerard Depardieu, while the presence of a famous cinematic villain of the past in gay drama “Lilting” ensures that it isn’t just The Ben Whishaw Show. All that, plus we finally catch up with Marvel’s mega financial and critical hit “Guardians of the Galaxy,” with all eyes on one guy in particular. Elsewhere, Pete dares to liken a Larry Olivier film to the Twilight series, we discuss how Colin Firth’s eagerness towards a certain leading lady was wholly inappropriate in the context, and one of the reviews inexplicably leads us to reminisce about the days of Craig David and S Club 7. No, really.
- Directors rally around the cause of film
- First Foreign Language Oscar submissions of the year: Turkey, Poland, and Hungary announce their picks!
[3:20 – 12:40]
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Lilting
- Under the Rainbow
- Mood Indigo
[21:40 – 58:40]
Closing Segment: Discussing Abel Ferrara’s French political drama “Welcome to New York,” and discussing films that are thinly-veiled assaults on public figures!
[58:45 – 1:14:50]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: The Vengaboys, “We’re Going To Ibiza”
Special Episode: Best of the Podcast, Year Two
Best of the Podcast, Year Two
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Welcome to a special episode 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.
Here’s our second compilation episode! The following snippets are from episodes in the past year, and include reviews of “Diana” and “White House Down,” discussion of Greta Gerwig, James Gandolfini, Amy Adams, and Faye Dunaway, many of Pete’s colourful stories, and much much more! Enjoy.
Podcast Music: Jack Penate, “Second, Minute, or Hour”; Theophilus London, “Why Even Try?” (RAC Remix); Beyonce, “Diva”; Dr. John, “Getaway”; Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Episode 87: The Myth of Socrates [Top Tens of 2013; Monuments Men; BAFTA winners]
Episode 87: The Myth of Socrates
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It’s Episode 87 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’s episode sees the return of previous podcast guest Irini M, who helps us discuss George Clooney’s World War II caper “Monuments Men” and ponder some latest film news, featuring a death, a coming-out, and a Supporting Actress tragedy. And then we all reveal our top tens of 2013 (which takes a while), but it proves difficult for some to bite their tongues about each others’ picks. Listener questions instigate a Greek history lesson, but our guest remains coy throughout the interrogation, meanwhile we discuss one of Gregory Peck’s more bizarre performances, which films should have replaced “Before Sunset” and/or “Before Midnight” in the romantic trilogy, why one of Cal’s top ten was lucky to have seen the light of day, and which of Irini’s inclusions she had to apologise to Pete about. We have some audio issues in the early part of the podcast, but the last hour recorded well, and we end with Jennifer Lawrence’s karaoke favourite.
The Week’s News:
- The death of Shirley Temple
- Ellen Page comes out
- BAFTA winners
[2:40 – 15:05]
Preconception Corner
- Monuments Men
[25:35 – 32:55]
Closing Segment: Our top tens of 2013, featuring discussion of “The Grandmaster,” “Her,” and much more, plus our favourite performances of the year!
[33:00 – 1:25:00]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Wings, “Live and Let Die”
Episode 77: To Seydoux Or Not Seydoux [Saving Mr. Banks; Blue Is the Warmest Colour; Catching Fire]
Episode 77: To Seydoux Or Not Seydoux
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This week’s episode is particularly risque, as controversial erotic French drama, “Blue is the Warmest Colour,” hits UK screens. Both of us were taken aback by the sapphic desires, but did its all-girl relationship work for us? We had dramatically different opinions of Brian De Palma’s “Carrie,” but Cal caught Kimberley Peirce’s remake and had some choice words to say about it, while a review of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” forces Pete to ponder questionable costume designing. We discuss the mythologising in Disney’s factually dodgy “Saving Mr. Banks,” before chatting about our favourite films about authors. Tune in to hear us re-introduce the Cage Scale, joke about vagina and side-boob shots, and reveal which of the week’s films channels “Mommie Dearest.” All that, plus an epic news segment concerning the latest critics awardsfoils Pete’s plan for an hour-long episode. Maybe one day we’ll get there.
The Week’s News:
- Smooth FM’s Top 500
- Tom Daley comes out of the closet
- The death of Paul Walker
- Peter O’ Toole comes out of retirement
- Oscar Documentary Shortlist announced
- New York Film Critics winners
- National Board of Review winners
[2:10 – 26:25]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- Blue Is the Warmest Colour
- Carrie
[31:35 – 1:04:25]
Closing Segment: Our review of Disney’s “Saving Mr. Banks,” and discussing our favourite films about real-life authors!
[1:04:30 – 1:24:05]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: The Temptations, “Treat Her Like a Lady”
Episode 76: The Threesome [The Family; Parkland; Short Term 12] with Special Guest Irini M.
Episode 76: The Threesome
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It’s Episode 76 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 week’s episode we’re joined by special guest and friend of the podcast Irini Markogiannaki, who helps us discuss the new releases at UK cinemas and chimes in with thoughts on eventful news items from the past few days. Some minor audio issues should mostly have been ironed out in the editing process, so you can enjoy our reviews of Luc Besson’s mafia comedy “The Family,” and Peter Landesman’s JFK assassination movie “Parkland” in relatively audible splendour. Cal and Irini reveal whether indie critics darling “Short Term 12” lives up to the hype, and there are verdicts on angst-ridden baby swap drama “Like Father Like Son” and black and white mumblecore offering “Computer Chess.” We ponder Leeds Film Festival’s audience favourites, conduct a rather epic
The Week’s News:
- 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who airs
- The first explicit trailer for Lars Von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac” is released
- Jason Statham calls for an Oscar to be introduced for stuntmen
- Leeds Film Festival reveals its top 20 audience favourites
[2:10 – 24:15]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Parkland
- Short Term 12
- Like Father, Like Son
- Computer Chess
- The Family
[34:15 – 1:13:10]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Cat Power, “The Greatest”
Episode 75: Pillow Talk [The Counsellor; The Butler; Don Jon]
Episode 75: Pillow Talk
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It’s Episode 75 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’s episode sees the return of the French quarter, as Pete ventured to a local film festival to catch his beloved Daniel Auteuil’s recent double-feature, “Marius” and “Fanny,” as well as Juliette Binoche in “Camille Claudel 1915.” Elsewhere, we’re discussing the joys of this week’s mainstream releases, including Scarlett Johansson’s womanly prowess in sexed-up comedy “Don Jon,” and the varying degrees of raunch Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz bring to Ridley Scott’s brutal thriller “The Counsellor.” We ponder the difference between BAFTA and Oscar, discuss whether voice performances should vie for awards, while a listener question forces us to address the mediocrity of some of the Academy’s Supporting Actress winners from years gone by. There are huge preconceptions about Lee Daniels’ “The Butler,” but can its depiction of the civil rights movement survive our scrutiny and mark a mature step forward for the director? Listen to find out, and enjoy musings on the absurdity of John Cusack’s fake nose , how Zooey Deschanel might have ruined one of the week’s offerings, and why Cuba Gooding Jr. and Jane Fonda really need to hang out more.
The Week’s News:
- The Honorary Oscars have been handed out
- Scarlett Johansson wins Best Actress at the Rome Film Festival for “Her”
- There’s going to be a sequel to “It’s a Wonderful Life”
[2:25 – 13:25]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- The Counsellor
- Don Jon
- Marius / Fanny
- Camille Claudel 1915
[36:40 – 1:04:55]
Closing Segment: Our take on Lee Daniels’ “The Butler,”* and discussing historical inaccuracies in films! [1:03:50 – 1:23:40]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Rhye, “Hunger”
Episode 74: The Single Life [Gravity; Gloria; The Nun]
Episode 74: The Single Life
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It’s Episode 74 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 episode sees the belated return of the Red Light District, after it had to be excised from last week’s epic 100+-minute recording. Cal is the only one bringing glad tidings, with discussion of a Coen brothers classic, and a semi-positive take on one of Nicholas Cage’s stranger efforts. It’s the week of the singletons, as we caught up with Paulina Garcia’s free-spirited “Gloria,” while Sandra Bullock finds herself alone and stranded in awards juggernaut “Gravity.” It’s safe to say that one of us was rather unimpressed by the space-set adventure, which prompts a brief discussion on films that failed to convince us, including an Ashton Kutcher vehicle and a recent sci-fi hit. Pete’s back from the Leeds Film Festival having seen Serbia’s submission for the Foreign Language Film Oscar, “Circles,” and a concert marred by technical debacles. Listen as we discuss the year’s latest batch of nominations, Isabelle Huppert’s lustful imposition, and Pete’s lament over the lack of viable romantic options among women over thirty. Violins at the ready!
The Week’s News:
- Lynne Ramsay is being sued by the producers of “Jane Got a Gun”
- Judi Dench and Harvey Weinstein fight the MPAA
- European Film Award nominations are announced
- British Independent Film Award nominations are announced
[3:35 – 20:55]
Opening Segment: This month’s Red Light District, featuring comment on “Blood Simple,” “Knowing,” and “Mouchette”
Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- Gloria
- Circles
- The Nun
[36:40 – 1:04:55]
Closing Segment: Our take on Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity,” and discussing films we struggle to find convincing! [1:05:00 – 1:22:10]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Ugo Tozzi, “Gloria”
Episode 73: Smooth Digressions [Philomena; Enough Said; Turbo]
Episode 73: Smooth Digressions
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It’s Episode 73 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.
We’ve got plenty of material for you this week, as we bring you five films, a healthy news segment, and an epic Preconception Corner. Having already achieved the Sheppard seal of approval, Cal caught up with Stephen Frears’ “Philomena,” plus we tackle the Romanian Oscar hopeful “Child’s Pose,” and well-received animated film “Turbo.” As Awards Season hots up, we assess where the finalists for the Best Animated Feature Oscar all stand, and look at the nominees for France’s distinguished Louis Delluc prize. There’s a mini faux-pas regarding James Gandolfini during this week’s review of “Enough Said,” while only one of us managed to sit through all of booze-filled comedy “Drinking Buddies.” Listen to hear which former Oscar nominee’s family member contacted Cal this week, which sitcom scarred Pete’s early cinema-going days, and how anticipation of cartoon snails somehow evolves into a rant about a certain British radio station. You couldn’t make it up.
The Week’s News:
- Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” will open next year’s Berlin Film Festival
- “Renoir” snubbed by the Louis Delluc Prize committee
- Pete’s going to another film festival
- Cal has a story about a former Oscar nominee
[2:30 – 15:40]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- Philomena*
- Enough Said*
- Child’s Pose
- Drinking Buddies
[25:00 – 1:02:00]
*Listener questions are addressed at the end of each review
Closing Segment: Our take on Dreamworks’ “Turbo” plus a discussion of the finalised list of entries for the Animated Feature Oscar, and an analysis of the race! [1:02:15 – 1:20:25]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Santana feat. Rob Thomas, “Smooth”
Episode 67: Advanced Iconography [Diana; 42; The Call]
Episode 67: Advanced Iconography
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It’s Episode 67 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 asking ourselves whether this is the real life or just fantasy, as biographical dramas about two very different people hit cinema screens in the UK. As self-confessed baseball fans, the Jackie Robinson movie “42” was very high on our agenda, while Olivier Hirschbiegel’s heavily derided “Diana” gave us uneasy preconceptions. From there, Cal tackles serial-killer thriller “The Call,” and Pete caught coming-of-age tale “The Way Way Back” and Arabian drama “Winter of Discontent.” A modest news segment turns into a lengthy discussion about Foreign Language Oscar nominees of the past (like that’s never happened before) and we launch into digressions involving the measure of Marcello Mastrioianni’s Oscar nominations, the patriotism of the French, and some huge concerns about next week’s releases.
The Week’s News:
- Foreign Language Oscar submissions: Hong Kong submit “The Grandmaster,” France submit “Renoir,” and the UK submit “Metro Manila”
- “Grace of Monaco” and “Wolf of Wall Street” pushed to 2014
- Terrence Malick is counter-suiting the people suing him for the “Voyage of Time” debacle
- Quentin Tarantino to star as Roger Corman in a biopic directed by Joe Dante
- Sofia Coppola directing the next Phoenix video
- Abdellatif Kechiche hits back at criticism
[2:15 – 20:15]
Reviews of:
- 42
- The Way, Way Back
- The Call
- Winter Of Discontent
[29:30 – 1:02:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on Olivier Hirschbiegel’s “Diana,” and assessing just how much of a disaster it is for those involved! [1:02:15 – 1:17:55]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: D:Ream, “Things Can Only Get Better”
Episode 65: Preferential Pork [About Time; Blackfish; Any Day Now]
Episode 65: Preferential Pork
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It’s Episode 65 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.
Festivals are on the brain this week, as we discuss the unexpected winners from Venice’s Bertolucci-headed jury, and what to expect from the London Film Festival in October. Cal saw a rare film outing for Alan Cumming, in gay adoption drama “Any Day Now,” and braced the bloody horror “No One Lives,” while Pete opted for killer whale documentary “Blackfish.” We have a review of the academic “Museum Hours,” and Richard Curtis’ “About Time,” which Cal only saw a quarter of, due to some terrible projection incompetence in Hammersmith, and the Red Light District returns with films from the 1940s and 1980s. All this, plus our usual digressions, in which we launch into tangents on the prospect of a Liv Ullman comeback, the benefits of “Certified Copy,” and why Charles Laughton’s ham is more tolerable than Philip Seymour Hoffman’s.
The Week’s News, featuring discussion about this year’s honourary Oscars, Meryl Streep’s Oscar category reversal, Germany’s Foreign Language Oscar submission, and some “Blue is the Warmest Colour” controversy [3:00 – 12:20]
Opening Segment: Discussing the winners from this year’s Venice Film Festival, and the recently announced lineup for the London Film Festival! [12:25 – 22:10]
Reviews of:
- Any Day Now
- About Time
- No One Lives
- Blackfish
- Museum Hours
[25:45 – 1:10:00]
Closing Segment: This month’s Red Light District, featuring discussion about “Barfly,” “Flying Lessons,” “The Suspect,” and “World War Z” [1:10:05 – 1:18:40]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Cat Power, “The Greatest”
Episode 53: Rolling Back the Years [After Earth; Behind the Candelabra; The Iceman]
EPISODE 53: Rolling Back the Years
[1:19:12]
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Download MP3
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It’s Episode 53 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’s episode sees some fairly interesting cosmetic changes, as Winona Ryder and Matt Damon roll back the years to star in 70s-set dramas, while the facial hair burdened upon the actors in “The Iceman” gets Cal’s dander up. We review the gangster drama, as well as Steven Soderbergh’s Liberace movie, “Behind the Candelabra,” of which only one of us is counting as movie eligible. Pete sat it alone (literally) for Viggo Mortensen showcase “Everybody Has a Plan,” but we both caught the Smith family outing “After Earth,” which gets us talking about famous film families, among other things. We also take time out to discuss Werner Herzog’s distinguished career, while pondering what prompts Sir Christopher Doyle’s outspoken nature, and whether Munich will take kindly to Abdelatif Kechiche’s Lesbian Palme d’Or winner. Cal struggles to control himself when divulging the plot of a recent Chloe Moretz movie, before we pledge to watch it for next week’s episode.
Opening Segment: The week’s film news, plus a discussion of Werner Herzog’s work, in the wake of the BFI’s two-month retrospective [2:35 – 16:40]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- The Iceman
- Behind the Candelabra
- Everybody Has a Plan
[22:10 – 51:00]
Closing Segment: Our take on M. Night Shyamalan’s “After Earth,” starring Will and Jaden Smith, and discussing on-screen partnerships between famous parents and their offspring [51:05 – 1:05:25]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: The Orb, “Little Fluffy Clouds”
Episode 51: False Advertising [Epic; The Moth Diaries; White Elephant]
EPISODE 51: False Advertising
[1:16:20]
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Download MP3
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It’s Episode 51 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 forced to address the issue of movie titles which bear no relation to their content, when new animated film “Epic” underwhelmingly proves not to be. World cinema is out in force this week with films from Belgium, Sweden, and Argentina, in “Our Children,” “White Elephant,” and the joyously-named “Snabba Cash.” Pete spent most of “The Moth Diaries” jotting down notable quotes, but will this be yet another high point for Mary Harron? And we open by discussing the winners from this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the festival’s high and low points, and the politics behind choosing who gets which prize. The temptation to have another dig at Tarantino proves too great for some, while a late digression involving Li Gong reveals our fondness for bitchy supporting turns. It’s all in the delivery…
Opening Segment: Discussing the winners of prizes at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, discussing the high points in the festival’s history, and some major injustices [2:15 – 16:45]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “The Moth Diaries”
- “Our Children”
- “Snabba Cash” aka “Easy Money”
- “White Elephant”
[21:35 – 56:25]
Closing Segment: Our take on Fox’s new animated film “Epic,” and discussing movie titles which are confusing or irrelevant, given their subject matter [56:30 – 1:09:15]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: Dana International, “Diva”
