Episode 125: Empty and Chortleless [Paddington; Mockingjay Part I; The Homesman]
Episode 125: Empty and Chortleless
It’s Episode 125 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 catching up for lost time with two weeks’ worth of films, and a ton of news, from the sad demise of Mike Nichols to the influx of awards action, featuring discussion of Marion Cotillard’s Oscar prospects and the underachievement of Edward Norton, while Pete is particularly aghast at the NBR’s fondness for “The Lego Movie.” Reviews this week include our take on podcast favourite Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of James Brown in “Get On Up,” the less-than-popular Hilary Swank in Tommy Lee Jones’ maybe-Western “The Homesman,” and the daunting prospect of Michael Bond’s “Paddington” being adapted for the big screen. Elsewhere, Pete found time to see Antipodean vampire comedy “What We Do In the Shadows,” while Cal was the only one queuing up to see Jennifer Lawrence in the latest instalment of The Hunger Games, “Mockingjay Part I.” Meanwhile, there’s a digression about 2006’s Best Actress Oscar lineup, one of Faye Dunaway’s many camp film roles is celebrated, Kevin Spacey’s private life gets an airing, and Pete is seriously torn between allegiance and detest in anticipation for Jason Reitman’s upcoming film, which stars the one and only Judy Greer.
- The death of Mike Nichols
- Cahiers du Cinema announce their top ten
- New York Film Critics Circle awards
- National Board of Review
[2:20 – 20:10]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Get On Up
- The Homesman
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I
- What We Do in the Shadows
[27:00 – 54:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on quirky children’s tale “Paddington” and discussing our favourite cinematic female villains!
[54:15 – 1:05:55]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Lana Del Rey, “Blue Jeans”
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 105: The Twin Peakes [Chef; Arthur & Mike; Run & Jump]
Episode 105: The Twin Peakes
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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
- 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]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Aphex Twin, “Avril 14th”
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 95: The Pullitzer Puzzle [Locke; The Love Punch; Cannes Lineup]
Episode 95: The Pullitzer Puzzle
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It’s Episode 95 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 welcome Irini M back to the podcast to help us discuss the much-anticipated lineup of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, featuring the upcoming works of David Cronenberg, Mike Leigh, and many more European auteurs, some of which fill us with dread. We’re reviewing the Miranda Otto-led lesbian drama “Reaching for the Moon,” British heist comedy “The Love Punch,” and Tom Hardy’s one-man show “Locke,” which divided the camp in its depiction of drama and geography. Cal’s review of psychological horror film “Magic Magic” gets hijacked by Pete’s rant about a certain Pullitzer Prize winner, while Irini had a bone to pick with him about his “failure to understand” the point of Xavier Dolan’s latest delight. There are predictably many digressions, concerning Mr. Potato Head’s liberal use of his lips, Tom Hardy’s neglect of his razor, and Faye Dunaway’s fear of apostrophes, as well as a shocking Hathaway Protocol. It’s a week of regrets, as Irini’s belief in her own festival foresight lost her a fair bit of cash, while Naomi Watts finally bit the bullet and admitted that “Diana” wasn’t all that. Who knew?
Opening Segment: Discussing the recently announced line-up for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, featuring anticipation of films by David Cronenberg, Xavier Dolan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and Andrey Zvyagintsev!
[3:50 – 26:55]
Preconception Corner
- Reaching for the Moon
- The Love Punch
- Magic Magic
[36:00 – 1:00:25]
Closing Segment: Our take on Steven Knight’s “Locke,” and random asides involving Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway!
[1:00:30 – 1:17:05]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Radiohead, “Jigsaw Falling Into Place”
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 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”
