Episode 138: Bemoaning the Mullet [Chappie; White Bird in a Blizzard; Kill the Messenger]
It’s Episode 138 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 our 138th effort, we managed to keep this episode to a reserved sixty four minutes, allowing for discussion of Gregg Araki’s latest take on adolescence, “White Bird in a Blizzard,” Jeremy Renner as a crusading journalist in “Kill the Messenger,” while Cal revealed whether “Chappie” is as bad as the trailer (and most of the reactions to the film) suggests. It’s fair to say that this week’s slate of films leave a lot to be desired, but we try and find the positives as best we can. Elsewhere, the UK’s Eurovision entry fails to get us excited, we discuss the litany of queer roles for the actors of 2005, Neill Blonkamp’s recent fascination with female villains leads to an unexpectedly crude remark about Jodie Foster, and Hugh Jackman’s radical hairstyle rocks the Gauge.
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- White Bird in a Blizzard 12:07 – 24:50
- Chappie 24:51 – 35:18
- Kill the Messenger 35:19 – 46:42
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Episode 63: Puzzling Downfalls [Elysium; Lovelace; We’re the Millers]
Episode 63: Puzzling Downfalls
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It’s Episode 63 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.
Peroni comes out to play in this week’s episode, as Pete prepares for his impending flight to Venice by cracking open a bottle or two and lays into some usual suspects, including Nicolas Winding Refn and Kate Hudson. Cal saw Jennifer Aniston bare all in “We’re the Millers” and Amanda Seyfried get it all out in “Lovelace,” and reveals a risqué podcast game to test Pete’s knowledge of steamy film scenes. We review Nell Blonkamp’s sci-fi spectacle “Elysium,” which features some remarkable performances, and welcome Julianne Moore’s return to the podcast in “What Maisie Knew.” All that, plus an epic news segment, some banter about Glenn vs. Sigourney in 1988, and discussing how nobody can quite remember what Ruby Dee’s two lines were in “American Gangster.”
The Week’s News, featuring discussion of Miley Cyrus’ performance at the VMAs, the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman, and the death of Julie Harris, among other things! [1:55 – 15:10]
Reviews of:
- Lovelace (plus a game!)
- What Maisie Knew
- We’re the Millers
[21:40 – 1:03:00]
Closing Segment: Our take on Nell Blonkamp’s “Elysium,” starring Matt Damon, and summarising this past Summer in film! [1:03:05 – 1:19:50]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Alice Russell, “Drinking Song Interlude”
Episode 60: Sobriety Is a Virtue [The Conjuring; The Heat; Only God Forgives]
Episode 60: Sobriety Is a Virtue
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It’s Episode 60 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 peroni-less podcast sees Pete on his best behaviour when confronted with a listener question that dares to approach the subject of Keira Knightley (see, we will answer questions about literally anything!) and when forced to tackle “Paris-Manhattan,” a French love letter to Woody Allen. Cal shows less resistance when he reviews “Only God Forgives,” before we unite for reviews of the week’s Hollywood fare, buddy-cop comedy “The Heat,” star-studded action sequel “Red 2,” and spooky box-office smash “The Conjuring.” We’ve also got this week’s Red Light District, which handily ties into Joe Wright’s filmography, and part one of our 2009 Venice retrospective, featuring comment on “I Am Love” and “White Material,” among others. Tune in to find out which country Pete is jetting off to this week, which film’s marketing annoys Cal, and whether Kristin Scott-Thomas’s embodiment of a famous fashion personality bests Helen Mirren’s channeling of Bette Davis. It’s diva overload!
The Week’s News
Listener Question: Is Keira Knightley the Queen of period films? [Zed] [8:15 – 13:00]
Opening Segment: This month’s Red Light District (pimped films include “Letter Never Sent” and “Romancing in Thin Air”) and part one of our 2009 Venice Diaries! [13:05 – 32:30]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- The Conjuring
- Red 2
- Paris-Manhattan
- Only God Forgives
[37:45 – 1:04:05]
Closing Segment: Our take on Paul Feig’s feminist comedy “The Heat,” and discussing memorable buddy/cop movies! [1:04:10 – 1:16:50]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Holly Valance, “Down Boy”
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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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 48: Low on Charm [I’m So Excited; Dead Man Down; 21 & Over]
EPISODE 48: Low on Charm
[1:22:43]
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It’s Episode 48 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 a week where we bring out our monthly Red Light District segment we see precious little positives from the crop of new releases at the cinema. First up to the plate is Hangover-style comedy “21 & Over,” which Cal snubbed at the last minute, before “Dead Man Down” raises the pulse with a casting revelation. Pete has to jog his memory to recount what on earth happens in “The Eye of the Storm,” while we lament Vinessa Shaw’s recent career in our review of Mexican horror film “Come Out and Play.” And then we get onto Pedro Almodovar’s “I’m So Excited,” which at least ensures activity on the Factor and Range, as its bevy of hunks impresses Cal and Pedro’s styling of Paz Vega outrages Pete. We also take time to answer a listener question involving Caroline Dhavernas, before pitching an idea for her next project.
News about the Oscars’ rule change regarding the Foreign Language Film Oscar, and responding to a listener question [2:50 – 9:40]
Opening Segment: This month’s red light district, in which we ‘pimp’ recent viewings. Films pimped include: “Inch’allah,” “Intruder in the Dust,” “Must Have Been Love,” “Pennies from Heaven,” “The Red and the Blue” and “Starlet” [9:45 – 22:50]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “21 & Over”
- “Dead Man Down”
- “The Eye of the Storm”
- “Come Out and Play”
[28:30 – 1:00:30]
Closing Segment: Our take on Pedro Almodovar’s “I’m So Excited” and discussing films set on board an airplane. [1:00:35 – 1:10:20]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: Nelly Furtado, “Big Hoops (The Bigger the Better)”
In the Mood for Podcast 