Episode 168: The Garrel Grievance [Cannes Film Festival Line-Up]
News from the Croisette lures Irini and Cal back to the microphone, as we discuss yesterday’s announcement of the 70th Cannes Film Festival lineup, featuring (among others) new films from Andrey Zvyagintsev, Lynne Ramsay, Todd Haynes, and podcast favourite Sofia Coppola. We’re also catching up with news we haven’t discussed since the last episode, chief of which is *that* infamous Oscar mix-up, plus we touch upon the surprise smash hit “Get Out” and dig into some seriously juicy female-led TV shows. Elsewhere, Irini shamelessly flaunts some national pride when we discuss one of the festival’s entries, we vehemently disagree on the virtues of the Safdie brothers, and Cal tests Irini’s patience by taking a pop at Xavier Dolan and all but killing off Michael Haneke.
News Catch Up:
- Oscars catastrophe
- Oscar rule changes
- Get Out
- Big Little Lies / Feud
[1:51 – 11:53]
Listener Question [ibbi]
Cannes Film Festival:
- Discussing the line-up for this year’s Cannes Film Festival in May!
[16:20 – 56:25]
Intro Music: Alma, “Requiem”
Outro Music: Loreen, “Statements”
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 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 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 109: All About the Bantz [Hercules; Joe; The Films of 1977]
Episode 109: All About the Bantz
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It’s Episode 109 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 let the reviews take a back seat, as we focus on festival fare and classic cinema. Podcast stalwart Irini M. is back with us to discuss the line-up for this year’s Venice Film Festival (which she will be attending) but abandons us after half an hour, forcing Pete to turn to poetry for consolation. We take (a lot of) time out to discuss the year that was 1977, talking about the year’s critics prizes, Oscar winners, and our personal top tens, leading to digressions about a classic catfight between Shirley MaClaine and Anne Bancroft, and a disappointing gay denial from Cal’s student days. Elsewhere, we chat about David Gordon Green’s “Joe,” sci-fi adventure “Earth to Echo,” and mythological action film “Hercules,” which Pete’s piano pupil was conspicuously absent from. Tune in to discover which Hong Kong director (no – not that one) got Pete and Irini excited, how the approach to casting of Luis Bunuel and Pier Pasolini was beyond liberal, and why the party island of Ibiza will force a mini-podcast hiatus.
The Week’s News:
- The trailer for Liv Ullmann’s “Miss Julie” is released
Opening Segment: Discussing the recently-announced lineup for this year’s Venice Film Festival, featuring films from Roy Andersson, Ramin Bahrani, and Andrew Niccol!
[3:55 – 20:40]
Listener Questions [Ibbi]
[20:45 – 29:35]
Preconception Corner
Classic Segment: Discussing our favourite films and performances from 1977, touching upon films by William Friedkin, Paul Verhoeven, and Fred Zinnemann, and performances by Richard Burton, Vanessa Redgrave, and Quinn Cummings! Plus much more!
[38:35 – 1:16:55]
- Joe
- Earth to Echo
- Hercules
[1:17:00 – 1:34:05]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Miley Cyrus, “Party in the U.S.A”
Episode 98: Winners & Losers [Bad Neighbours; The Wind Rises; Next Goal Wins]
Episode 98: Winners & Losers
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It’s Episode 98 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 starts out sporty, as we look ahead to next month’s World Cup, and celebrate the release of new underdog football film “Next Goal Wins” by revealing our favourite documentaries about sports. After that, we get onto the week’s other releases, which include the amusingly re-titled comedy “Bad Neighbours” and Hayao Miyazaki’s period swansong “The Wind Rises,” which prompts a discussion of the greatest biopics ever made, and a face-off between “The Pianist” and “Schindler’s List”. With only three films, we have plenty of time to anticipate next week’s double-dose of Elizabeth Olsen, and venture on a host of digressions, discussing the quality of the cinema of 2004, and what exactly constitutes a “performance piece.” Elsewhere, Pete uncorks a rather vicious burn on Hailee Steinfeld, Zac Efron makes Cal feel guilty and shallow, and there’s a proposed overhaul of the segments which may see Emma and Melvil banished from the podcast. Scandal!
Opening Segment: Discussing our favourite sports documentaries, and high benchmarks for sports films in general!
[8:45 – 16:55]
Preconception Corner
- Next Goal Wins
- Bad Neighbours
[24:20 – 47:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on Hayao Miyakazi’s “The Wind Rises,” and discussing our favourite biopics, with some other random asides!
[47:15 – 1:16:00]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Conchita Wurst, “Rise Like a Phoenix”
Episode 96: Pfists & Trysts [Transcendence; Amazing Spider-Man 2; Labour Day]
Episode 96: Pfists & Trysts
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It’s Episode 96 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 is especially sweet for Pete, as Rebecca Hall features in two very different releases: Wally Pfister’s ambitious Sci-fi project “Transcendence,” and Patrice Leconte’s reserved romantic drama “A Promise.” Despite general dread at the prospect of Jason Reitman’s “Labour Day,” Cal managed to catch it, but did he find something of worth besides an appreciation for Diane Lane’s taste in men? We both saw “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” of which there are fairly lengthy preconceptions, and elsewhere we discuss some relationship news, an odd piece of casting, and the eclectic competition jury for this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Tune in to find out why Cal is on particularly grumpy form, how many times Pete had to recount the plot of “Transcendence” in order to perfect it, and our potentially epic plans for our upcoming 100th episode!
The Week’s News:
- Jodie foster marries her female partner
- George Clooney gets engaged
- Jessica Chastain cast as Marilyn Monroe
- A new Dad’s Army film to be made
- Cannes jury is announced
[4:45 – 16:10]
Preconception Corner
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2
- A Promise
- Labour Day
[28:05 – 59:15]
Closing Segment: Our take on Wally Pfister’s “Transcendence,” discussing debut screenwriting feats, and cinematographers-turned-directors!
[59:20 – 1:20:40]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: The National, “Bloodbuzz Ohio”
Episode 38: Collaboration & Couture [Oscar Reaction; Cloud Atlas; Mama]
EPISODE 38: Collaboration & Couture
[1:22:39]
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It’s Episode 38 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 finally put awards chat to bed (any bets on when that vow will end?!) when we discuss the winners and losers from Sunday’s Academy Awards, and at least one nominee is on show as Jessica Chastain’s foray into Horror, “Mama,” gets the ‘mood for’ treatment. Pete goes it alone with choral cancer flick “Song for Marion,” before we go all world cinema on you with reviews of the Australian “Lore” and the Japanese “I Wish.” We tackle the long, puzzling, and divisive “Cloud Atlas,” and then Pete sinks his teeth into Tarkovsky’s “Andrei Rublev,” which Cal made him watch as a forfeit. Perhaps the moral of this week’s podcast is “patience is a virtue”?
Opening Segment: Our reaction to this year’s Oscars: we discuss the ceremony, the fashion, and of course the winners! [2:00 – 20:15]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “Mama”
- “Song for Marion”
- “Lore“
- “I Wish”
[25:40 – 56:45]
Closing Segment: Discussing the big-budget adaptation of “Cloud Atlas,” directed by Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis, and offering our favourite projects by collaborative directors [56:50 – 1:10:40]
Bonus Review: Pete dishes all on Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Andrei Rublev,” which Cal made him watch as a forfeit for losing their last Oscar contest [1:10:41 – 1:14:05]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Intro Music: New theme music!
Outro Music: The Deadly Syndrome, “It’s a Mess”
In the Mood for Podcast 
