Episode 147:The Birdseye Debacle [Tomorrowland; Poltergeist; Return to Sender]
It’s Episode 147 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 much-delayed episode sees us discuss last week’s big releases at the cinema, including Brad Bird’s adventure tale “Tomorrowland,” and horror remake “Poltergeist.” We also had time to chat about Rosamund Pike’s latest twisted thriller, “Return to Sender,” and Cal reveals all about Samuel L. Jackson’s “Big Game,” which had a rather ludicrous plot setup to live up to. Simon Pegg’s recent outspoken antics may have upset comic-book geeks far and wide, but his thoughts on modern blockbusters instigate a lengthy chat about the future of the industry, while the prizes from the Cannes Film Festival dredge up longstanding observations about the festival’s politics. We may only be in June, but tune in to find out which leading performance Cal has already declared the worst of the year, which fishy figurehead Nick Nolte reminded Pete of, and which lesser-known actress emerged as the star of her film.
The week’s news: Discussing some interesting birthdays in the world of film, Simon Pegg’s assault on modern studio filmmaking, and the prizes from the Cannes Film Festival!
[3:10 – 22:00]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Poltergeist 29:28 – 38:21
- Return to Sender 38:22 – 50:07
- Big Game 50:08 – 56:39
- Tomorrowland 56:40 – 1:08:12
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Episode 136: The Abrupt Apology [Blackhat; Cake; Predestination]
It’s Episode 136 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.
Despite Pete’s efforts toward the contrary, this week’s episode is our longest yet, as we dig into our year-end awards, disclosing more than a little about our favourite films and performances. We also react to this past Sunday’s Academy Awards, measuring “Birdman” up against the Best Picture winners of the past and speculating about how its leading man couldn’t also sail to victory. The week’s reviews include time travel thriller “Predestination,” starring podcast favourite Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Aniston’s failed Oscar bid, “Cake,” and Michael Mann’s latest procedural drama “Blackhat,” which one of us walked out on. Meanwhile, Anna Kendrick is – quite literally – a vision, there’s an appearance from Gloria Gaynor, and Pete has an abrupt apology for one of last week’s performers after omitting her from The Pootsition.
- Kristin Stewart makes history with Cesar win
- Birdman wins the Best Picture Oscar (+ other reaction)
[4:00 – 20:53]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Blackhat 28:10 – 38:48
- Predestination 38:49 – 46:55
- Cake 46:56 – 1:00:26
Closing Segment: Revealing our top ten films of 2014, and discussing our favourite performances (in quite a bit of depth)!
[1:00:27 – 1:4]
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Episode 130: Jardiner du Jour [Foxcatcher; Into the Woods; Predicting the Oscar Noms]
Episode 130: Jardiner du Jour
It’s Episode 130 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 only have two films this week, but the episode is jam-packed, thanks to Sunday’s Golden Globe awards and the impending Oscar nominations. We discuss the highlights from the ceremony, and the impact of recent events on all of the major Oscar races, speculating whether Jennifer Aniston can really seal the deal, and if there’s any room for manoeuvre in that seemingly locked Supporting Actress lineup. Elsewhere, negative preconceptions concerning Steve Carell are tested when we review Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher,” and Pete’s far-from-impressed verdict on “Into the Woods” sees Cal and Irini scrambling to defend the Disney musical. The return of the Red Light District sees us chat about the days when Leos Carax was joyful, the banality of Adolf Eichmann, and Jean-Luc Godard’s contempt for iPhones, while Pete has his own bridges to burn with social media, and none of us are quite sure how to pronounce Isabel Coixet’s name.
- The death of Anita Ekberg
- The death of Francesco Rosi
- The death of Samuel Goldwyn Jr
- Isabel Coixet’s new film to open Berlin Film Festival
Opening Segment: Our review of Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, featuring reaction to the winners, the speeches, and of course the fashion!
[7:20 – 27:35]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Foxcatcher
- Into the Woods
[33:50 – 57:10]
Red Light District: Pimping the best films we’ve seen lately, featuring discussion of “Alice in the Cities,” “Beginners,” “Cleo from 5 to 7,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “Force Majeure,” “Goodbye to Language,” “Hannah Arendt,” “Haute Cuisine,” “The Night Is Young,” and “Trial”!
[57:20 – 1:10:50]
Closing Segment: Predicting the upcoming Oscar nominations! Will “Foxcatcher” go the way of “The Master”? Will Amy Adams make it six nominations in nine years? Will Cal have to see “The Judge”?
[1:10:55 – 1:27:15]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Beck, “Devil’s Haircut”
Episode 120: L’entrecôte de Belgique [The Maze Runner; The Judge; Annabelle]
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It’s Episode 120 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 Pete is recovering from the gruelling tasks of running a half-marathon and tackling the Cougars of Sutton, while Cal is exhausted from a week’s worth of screenings at the London Film Festival. We’re braving hit horror prequel “Annabelle,” despite Pete being unable to remember its predecessor, “The Conjuring,” and we both saw futuristic flick “The Maze Runner,” which we only really watched for the presence of the delectable Kaya Scoledario. Pete saw Robert Duvall get his grump on in David Dobkin’s courtroom thriller “The Judge,” while Cal caught the James Franco-penned “Palo Alto,” the plot of which forced Pete into demonstrating his eye-rolls through sound bites. Audio cues continue to invade the episode from then on, so listen as we discuss a history of unappealing subplots involving Vera Farmiga, an 80s cult classic starring David Bowie, and the promise of Val Kilmer’s son Jack. Elsewhere, a certain horticultural film sees much of Matthias Schoenaerts on display, Cal braves the wrath of Irini when he reviews Xavier Dolan’s latest, and anticipation for next week’s “The Babadook” leads to hilarity.
The Week’s News:
- The death of Misty Upham
- The death of Kit Carson
- Neil Patrick Harris to host the Oscars
- Leviathan wins Best Film at the London Film Festival
[4:45 – 12:25]
Opening Segment: Coverage from the London Film Festival, featuring discussion of “A Little Chaos,” “Mommy,” and “Something Must Break”
[12:30 – 22:50]
Preconception Corner
- Annabelle
- The Judge
- Palo Alto
- The Maze Runner
[32:55 – 1:18:00]
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range
Episode 118: The Dangers of Swiping Right [Gone Girl; Life After Beth; Draft Day]
Episode 118: The Dangers of Swiping Right
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It’s Episode 118 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.
To donate to Pete’s half-marathon run, on behalf of the Midlands Arts Centre, follow this link
This week’s episode begins with an apology from Cal for last week’s drunken debacle, plus we plug Pete’s athletic abilities, and Cal tips a couple of worthwhile films playing at this year’s London Film Festival. In the wake of this week’s “Gone Girl” we dig into David Fincher’s chilly and distinguished career, before reviewing his new mystery thriller, but who was the unexpected stand-out of the cast? We tackle zombie comedy “Life After Beth,” before speculating on why The Times critic Wendy Ide may not have taken too kindly to the whole affair, while Pete left Cal to watch NFL procedural “Draft Day” alone, despite him knowing almost nothing (thank you, Mrs. Henderson) about the inner workings of the sport. Elsewhere, we conclude that Blake Lively’s impending arrival spells good news for the entire film community, Ellen Burstyn’s savvy use of social networking is too much for one of us to comprehend, and Ed Sheeran’s lyrical over-sensitivity towards hookups doesn’t go down too well. The bright side? There’s no sing-a-long.
The Week’s News:
- David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” to return for a third season in 2016!
- Steve Martin to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the AFI
- Blake Lively is pregnant
- Films to look out for ahead of this week’s London Film Festival
[6:25 – 16:15]
Opening Segment: In anticipation of “Gone Girl”: A retrospective of David Fincher’s career to date, featuring discussion of all of his films!
[16:20 – 32:45]
Preconception Corner
- Gone Girl
- Draft Day
- Life After Beth
[38:30 – 1:13:15]
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range
Episode 108: Behind the Vicarage [Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; The Films of 1948]
Episode 108: Behind the Vicarage
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It’s Episode 108 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 a serious dearth of new releases this week, we’ve decided to go back in time to the cinema of 1948, giving our top tens, favourite performances, and disappointments from the year, which drags out the episode to a typically strenuous length. Meanwhile, there’s a trio of deaths in the film world, and a Franco double bill, which includes nuclear romance “Grand Central” and Fanny Ardant in bourgeois drama “Bright Days Ahead.” Pete’s rundown of the latter of those threatened to be as candid as the film itself, but you’ll have to listen to find out whether its boldness had us weak at the knees, or reaching for the sick bowl. The week’s big movie is “Dawn of the Planet of Apes,” which neither of us were looking forward to, but which does give us time to ponder Mark Wahlberg’s ascent to leading man status, Gary Oldman’s recent career choices, and the absurdity of internal ape politics. Elsewhere, discover how Frieda Pinto gets the raw end of the deal, why Manohla Dargis is the Queen of the fake allegory, and why what happened behind the vicarage in Sutton Park remains a mystery.
The week’s news:
- The death of James Garner
- The death of Elaine Stritch
- The death of Tom Rolf
- “The Imitation Game” will open this year’s London Film Festival
- “Gone Girl” will open this year’s New York Film Festival
[5:15 – 15:20]
Preconception Corner
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
- Bright Days Ahead
- Grand Central
[23:30 – 52:55]
Closing Segment:Discussing our favourite films and performances from 1948, touching upon films by Alfred Hitchcock, Roberto Rossellini, and John Ford, and performances by Olivia De Havilland, Walter Huston, and Laurence Olivier!
[53:00 – 1:24:45]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Madonna, “Lucky Star”
In the Mood for Podcast 
