Episode 161: The Chinese Intervention [The Martian; Macbeth; The Intern]
It’s Episode 161 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.
A big congratulations to Pete, as this week he proposed to his other half Jane, prompting the women of the West Midlands to cross him out in their little black books, and the podcast to indulge in a Taylor Swift-inspired celebration. The week’s reviews include “The Intern,” Nancy Meyers’ latest frothy window into the life of a working woman, and “McFarland,” the latest of many sports movies in the lengthy filmography of Kevin Costner. Cal dares to take on William Shakespeare’s story structure in his review of the latest adaptation of “Macbeth,” while many of the plot developments in “The Martian” are up for scrutiny, particularly with regard to the Chinese. Elsewhere, two composers’ birthdays get us discussing their finest works, there’s a sizeable digression about the Best Actress crop of 2003, and Pete can’t help but veer into profanity while ranting about one of the week’s scripts.
The week’s news: The career of the late John Guillermin, plus the week’s birthdays!
[5:40 -13:40]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Macbeth 19:55 – 32:25
- McFarland 32:26 – 43:19
- The Intern 43:20 – 50:54
- The Martian 50:55 – 1:05:40
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Outro Music: Britney Spears, “Oops, I Did it Again”
Episode 132: The Virtues of Ed [A Most Violent Year; Citizenfour; Ex Machina]
It’s Episode 132 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 us catch up on last week’s excised news segment by discussing the line-up for the upcoming Berlin Film Festival, as well as the announcement that the Coen brothers will rule over this year’s Cannes jury. Elsewhere, we offer our thoughts on the shifting Oscar races in the wake of the PGA and SAG winners, before revealing our thoughts on the week’s releases which includes controversial nominated documentary “Citizenfour.” Cal was in the queue for Anna Karenina lovers Domnhall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander’s reunion in sci-fi flick “Ex Machina,” and he also had time to see Mark Wahlberg’s blackjack skills in Rupert Wyatt’s “The Gambler,” while we both settled down for the latest work from podcast favourites Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, in eighties-set drama “A Most Violent Year.” Elsewhere, some random digressions test our film geek credentials, an underappreciated child performance gets us discussing the 2001 Best Actor Oscar roster, and the unexpected cosmetic virtues of a certain whistleblower tickles Cal’s fancy.
- Joel and Ethan Coen to preside over this year’s Cannes Film Festival jury
- The full line-up is revealed for this year’s Berlin Film Festival
- Birdman wins the PGA
- Screen Actors Guild award winners
[1:50 – 23:05]
Reviews of:
- Ex Machina 27:55 – 36:19
- Citizenfour 36:20 – 46:16
- The Gambler 46:17 – 55:17
- A Most Violent Year 55:18 – 1:05:52
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Episode 78: The Nose of the Poots [Nebraska; Frozen; Kill Your Darlings]
Episode 78: The Nose of the Poots
[Or How Everyone Should Join Us in Loving Zack Snyder Being Owned]
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Our latest episode was recorded in two parts due to a technical hitch, but hopefully you won’t be able to tell. The break allowed us to return post-Screen Actors Guild Awards announcement to give a brief run-down of our thoughts, but are we happy with the nominees? Cal had some worrying preconceptions about awards player “Nebraska,” after the (among other things) criminal voice-over in the first fifteen minutes of “The Descendants,” but did its monochrome mumblecore ways win us over? The big questions of the week are where Ethan Hawke’s 73rd film of 2013, “Getaway,” ranks on the dreaded Cage Scale, and whether Selena Gomez can manage to keep her clothes on, while some unexpected female casting in “Kill Your Darlings” threatens to shake up this week’s edition of The Watson Factor. We discuss the virtues of Disney’s “Frozen,” which has us both rapturous about one thing or another, and we take time out to consider the fragility of the Supporting Actor Oscar race, the allure of Imogen Poots’ nose, and revel in Zack Snyder being dealt a body blow by AMPAS.
The Week’s News:
- Woody Allen will not accept his Cecil B. DeMille award
- “Man of Steel” not on Oscar’s Visual Effects shortlist
- European Film Award winners
- British Independent Film Award winners
- L.A Film Critics winners
- Boston Film Critics winners
[3:10 – 17:15]
Listener Question [Alex], plus some anticipation for this week’s Golden Globe nominations
[17:20 – 24:45]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Nebraska
- Kill Your Darlings
- Getaway
[32:00 – 59:20]
Closing Segment: Our review of Disney’s “Frozen,” and discussing yesterday’s Screen Actors Guild nominees!
[59:25 – 1:18:20]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Madonna, “Frozen”
In the Mood for Podcast 
