Episode 141: The Sprinkler of Sadness [Cinderella; Get Hard; Seventh Son]
It’s Episode 141 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 reviews include medieval fantasy adventure “Seventh Son,” the latest incarnation of the fairy tale “Cinderella,” and Argentinian Oscar nominee “Wild Tales,” which is courting controversy in the wake of some bad release timing. Elsewhere, we discuss comedy caper “Get Hard,” which already had preconceptions reeling from Tim Robey’s assault on its homophobic tendencies, plus we chat about the horrendous title of Russell Crowe’s upcoming directorial debut feature, and the bizarre nature of Jeff Bridges’ vocal work. Meanwhile, the memory of Marlene Dietrich lives on the attire of one of this week’s performers, Ed Sheeran’s Australian exploits has Pete hoping he’ll stay there, and why is nobody mentioning the Grimm brothers’ glaring plot hole? Cal’s off to New York next week, so we’re taking a fortnight hiatus, but hopefully we’ll return with news of Pete’s first four-star film of the year.
The week’s news
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Seventh Son 17:41 – 29:26
- Get Hard 29:27 – 40:50
- Wild Tales 40:51 – 48:22
- Cinderella 48:23 – 1:00:32
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Episode 134: The Muttley Snigger [Selma; Jupiter Ascending; Miss Julie; Shaun the Sheep]
It’s Episode 134 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 discuss the various Oscar races in the wake of the BAFTA winners, touching upon Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s amusingly reduced moniker at the ceremony, the best of the speeches, and the closeness of the Boyhood vs. Birdman Best Picture tussle. It’s a week of mixed expectations on the podcast, as we review the ethereal Jessica Chastain’s latest passion project “Miss Julie,” helmed by Pete’s favourite actress and female director Liv Ullmann, while buzz was in the gutter for the Wachowski siblings’ “Jupiter Ascending,” which Cal managed to catch this past weekend. Meanwhile, Pete’s decision to venture out for the “Shaun the Sheep Movie” was the talk of the workplace, and we finally get around to digging into the controversies surrounding Ava DuVernay’s “Selma,” starring an Oscar-snubbed David Oyelowo. It’s fair to say that the plot rundown of the week’s sole Science-fiction effort didn’t exactly go smoothly, while Pete underwent a Punjabi plight at one of this week’s screenings, and Ernest Borgnine’s infamous Brokeback bigotry gets dragged up for another airing.
- Ziyi Zhang receives a grandiose marriage proposal
- Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu wins the DGA
- BAFTA winners
[2:45 – 20:35]
Reviews of:
- Jupiter Ascending 32:40 – 44:33
- Shaun the Sheep Movie 44:34 – 54:32
- Miss Julie 54:33 – 1:06:10
- Selma 1:06:11 – 1:22:00
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Episode 131: The Oxford Issue [American Sniper; Whiplash; Wild]
It’s Episode 131 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 was so jam-packed that we had to cut the entire news segment, but don’t worry, we’ll get around to that in our next episode. Instead, we react to last week’s Oscar nominations with theories on everything from the race row, to the surprise Marion Cotillard inclusion, to the unexpected haul for “American Sniper”. We also review Clint Eastwood’s latest delight, as well as other nominated films, including musical drama “Whiplash,” and soul-searching adventure “Wild,” starring Cal’s favourite, Reese Witherspoon. We’re on board with a wine-quaffing Kevin Kline in Parisian jaunt “My Old Lady,” and Pete dishes all on Alicia Vikander’s received pronunciation in wartime romance “Testament of Youth,” which featured too much Oxford reverence for his liking. Elsewhere, Bradley Cooper’s fuller face is up for scrutiny, there’s an unexpected bit of advocacy from Jane Fonda, and Sienna Miller’s dark locks threaten to steal the gold in The Pootsition.
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- American Sniper 10:40 – 22:24
- Whiplash 22:25 – 37:21
- My Old Lady 37:22 – 45:50
- Testament of Youth 45:51 – 54:40
- Wild 54:41 – 1:07:23
Closing Segment: Our reaction to the Oscar nominations, featuring discussion of the snubs, the race row, and the quality of the nominees as a whole!
[1:07:24 – 1:27:12]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Kristina Train, “Dark Black”
Episode 124: The Gay in Engaging [The Imitation Game; The Drop; Life Itself]
Episode 124: The Gay in Engaging
It’s Episode 124 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 the beer is flowing, and so is the innuendo, as Pete finally has the keys to his brand new house. This forces Cal into a distillation of jukebox classics, before we review the new releases, which include Michael Roskam’s “The Drop” and Roger Ebert documentary “Life Itself,” which prompts Pete to recite some of Roger Ebert’s more baffling reviews. In the wake of Alan Turing biopic “The Imitation Game” we get chatting about our favourite gay characters and icons of cinema, featuring discussion of Oscar Wilde and Billie Holiday, while Cal discloses some of the recent films he’s caught up with from earlier in the year, including a horror film about an urban archaeologist. A hefty news segment sees us discuss Angelina Jolie’s adoption of Derbyshire dialect, plus Eddie Redmayne’s fuckability sees a boost, and Fashion Police finally found a replacement for Joan Rivers. Elsewhere, the cast of Downton Abbey are out in force this week, Cal is feeling guilty for leaving Matthias Schoenaerts in the lurch, we float the possibility of a Tallulah Bankhead biopic starring Cate Blanchett, and Pete recounts a regretful dancefloor moment set to the music of Vanilla Ice.
- Chris Hemsworth voted People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive”
- Angelina Jolie’s Derby Moment
- Kathy Griffin announced as Joan Rivers’ replacement on Fashion Police
- The trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s “Cinderella” is out
[4:15 – 23:10]
Reviews of:
- The Drop
- Life Itself
[30:25 – 52:15]
Closing Segment: Our take on Oscar-tipped Alan Turing biopic “The Imitation Game,” and discussing LGBT heroes of the film world!
[52:20 – 1:13:00]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: This Mortal Coil, “Holocaust”
Episode 121: The Porky Cheese Story [Fury; Serena; The Babadook]
Episode 121: The Porky Cheese Story
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It’s Episode 121 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 might have been delayed this week, but we’re back with four new releases, including the highly-anticipated horror film “The Babadook,” the trailer of which has been amusing us for weeks. Cal was the only one in the queue for Susanne Bier’s delayed period drama “Serena,” starring everyone’s favourite ballroom duo, while we both caught Bille August’s slow-burning mystery “Night Train to Lisbon,” although Cal saw it over a year ago! We end by discussing World War II drama “Fury,” which leads us onto calamitous film scores and the wonder of Terrence Malick. Elsewhere, we chat about the Best Picture races of 1998 and 1945, the Hibs vs. Celtic debate from our “Under the Skin” review is finally settled, and a listener question forces us to address the temperament of a certain female tennis player. We discuss why it doesn’t pay to be a fan of Ed Sheeran, Melanie Laurent is plagued with Huston problems, Pete manages to diss Carey Mulligan twice, and a sixty year-old sexpot has the potential to upset Elizabeth Olsen next week.
The Week’s News:
- Stephen Daldry’s “Trash” wins Best Film at the Rome Film Festival
- Harvey Weinstein calls for a change to production credits
- Gotham Film Award nominations are announced
[3:20 – 16:50]
Listener question: Favourite Serena Williams match? [Ibbi]
[16:55 – 22:50]
Preconception Corner
- The Babadook
- Night Train to Lisbon
- Serena
- Fury
[30:25 – 1:09:35]
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range
Episode 112: Plenty of Fish [Lucy; Two Days, One Night]
Episode 112: Plenty of Fish
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It’s Episode 112 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 returning late from a rather heavy Bank Holiday weekend, with reviews of two films featuring mega Hollywood actresses. Luc Besson’s “Lucy” is the latest film in a prolific spell for the delectable Scarlett Johansson, while Marion Cotillard returns to her world cinema roots in the Dardennes brothers’ “Two Days, One Night,” which sees us getting personal about our own ethics. Elsewhere, we discuss the career of Richard Attenborough, some encouraging news for Scandinavian cinema, and Pete reveals his decision-making behind the decoration for his new house, a quarter of which features work by perennial podcast favourite Wong Kar-Wai. The week’s digressions include a brief lament over Amy Adams’ patchy filmography, Faye Dunaway’s destructive diva period, and Andie MacDowell’s bizarre behaviour on Twitter. We talk about the popular Ice Bucket Challenge (which we’re both snubbing), the Naomi Christie accent controversy rumbles on, and the Joe Wright rant of the week features some far from encouraging words for the men of Belgium.
- The death of Richard Attenborough
- Susanne Bier’s “Serena” to hit UK cinemas in October
- Pete’s decoration of film stills
[1:35 – 23:40]
Red Light District: This month’s pimping session, featuring discussion of “Coherence,” “Philomena,” “Symptoms,” “Thirteen At Dinner,” and “What’s Up Doc?”
[24:50 – 34:10]
- Lucy
- Two Days, One Night
[39:30 – 1:12:35]
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range
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”
Episode 80: The Tale of the Two Redheads [American Hustle; Walter Mitty; All Is Lost]
Episode 80: The Tale of the Two Redheads
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It’s Episode 80 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 is dominated by Amy Adams, whose plunging necklines in “American Hustle” ruffled Pete’s feathers, but did we both think her strangely-accented performance was up to scratch? After Pete dismantled the plot mechanics of Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity,” seaboard adventure “All Is Lost” is the latest solo star vehicle to face the podcast’s scrutiny, while a parody of a certain film in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” had us both on the floor. Elsewhere, we discuss the regular topic of the Foreign Language Film Oscar, in the wake of the recently announced shortlist, and reveal films from world cinema that are technically eligible for bigger prizes. We’re giving our brief thoughts on the year in film before our top ten lists are announced next month, plus there are extensive thoughts on the severity of Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar-tipped performance, and some choice words about Robert Redford’s vanity.
Opening Segment: Discussing the nine-film shortlist for the Foreign Language Oscar, general observations about Foreign Films’ troubles with eligibility, and which under-seen films are Oscar eligible this year!
[2:55 – 19:40]
Preconception Corner
- All Is Lost
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
[26:15 – 48:15]
Closing Segment: Our take on David O. Russell’s “American Hustle,” discussing 2013 films we’ve been catching up on, and our overall view of the cinematic year!
[48:20 – 1:10:30]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Taylor Swift, “Red”
Episode 45: Greek Tragedies [Oblivion; Place Beyond the Pines; Promised Land]
EPISODE 45: Greek Tragedies
[1:24:32]
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It’s Episode 45 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 sees a reprise of our infamous Divide & Conquer week, as we go it alone for six of the seven films showcased. Cal was forced to abandon Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines” due to illness, so Pete handles the Ryan Gosling vehicle himself, as well as dishing the dirt on Greek themed Brit film “Papadopoulos & Sons.” After Cal highlights the dated politics in Gus Van Sant’s “Promised Land,” he has to stem a tirade of abuse for Paul Dano with some kind words about the actor’s performance in “For Ellen,” while Pete represents for world cinema with takedowns of the Olivier Assayas-directed “Something in the Air” and Polish drama “Closed Circuit.” We finally unite for a discussion of Tom Cruise sci-fi flick “Oblivion,” in which Andrea Riseborough is besmirched, Melissa Leo’s southern drawl is mimicked, and The Huston Problem rears its ugly head. Why Olga? Why?!
Opening Segment: Discussing what constitutes an “acclaimed” film, the issue with Rotten Tomatoes, and the importance of critics [2:25 – 14:05]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “The Place Beyond the Pines”
- “Promised Land”
- “Papadopoulos & Sons”
- “For Ellen”
- “Something in the Air”
- “Closed Circuit”
[20:20 – 1:01:40]
Closing Segment: Our take on Joseph Kosinki’s “Oblivion,” starring Tom Cruise, and discussing age-gap relationships on film [1:01:45 – 1:17:05]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: Whitesnake, “Still of the Night”
