Episode 164: Awakenings [The Revenant; The Force Awakens; Spotlight; Carol]
It’s Episode 164 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’re back from a two-month absence with a jam-packed podcast, focusing on the big juggernauts of this year’s awards season, as well as the seventh instalment of a certain sci-fi franchise. We tackle Steven Spielberg’s latest moody historical drama “Bridge of Spies,” claustrophobic double-hander “Room,” and Todd Haynes’ lesbian tale “Carol,” which had to hurdle prickly preconceptions from Pete about one of its main stars. We give our verdict on Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s forest-set revenge tale “The Revenant,” Thomas McCarthy’s journalism drama “Spotlight,” and the biggest film of 2015, “The Force Awakens,” while we may have had a few choice words to say about the use of Margot Robbie in fancied finance crisis comedy “The Big Short.” Elsewhere, we predict this year’s Academy Award nominations (happening tomorrow!), we mourn the death of the great David Bowie, there’s a digression on the films of 1988, and a listener question prompts an upheaval of The Pootsition.
Opening Segment: Discussing the film career of musician, actor, and all-around legend David Bowie, who sadly passed away this week
[1:40 – 9:30]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens 27:40 – 37:24
- Bridge of Spies 37:25 – 45:36
- Carol 45:37 – 51:53
- The Revenant 51:54 – 1:04:14
- Room 1:08:10 – 1:16:41
- The Big Short 1:16:42 – 1:24:12
- Spotlight 1:24:13 – 1:31:46
Closing Segment: Previewing this week’s Academy Award nominations!
[1:31:47 – 1:46:45]
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Outro Music: David Bowie, “Five Years”
Episode 88: The Cheese Connection [Oscar Predictions; The Lego Movie; Only Lovers Left Alive]
Episode 88: The Cheese Connection
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It’s Episode 88 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 this week’s episode we deviate between the worlds of arthouse and animation, as we review critical cartoon hits “The Lego Movie” and “Mr. Peabody & Sherman,” gay murder mystery drama “Stranger By the Lake” and moody vampire tale “Only Lovers Left Alive,” but was everything awesome on all fronts? And then we launch into some Oscar predictions in 21 of the 24 categories, discussing if the year might echo 1972’s Godfather vs. Cabaret tussle, and whether justice can prevail in the Supporting Actress race. We ponder whether anyone will remember what Tilda Swinton won her Oscar for, why Pink might be the hottest colour at the ceremony, Tom Ford’s idealisation of street corners, and the revelation that dwarf-throwing is still prevalent in modern society. Pete’s Dad also makes a brief cameo, although he didn’t get a chance to enlighten us on the virtues of Lindsay Lohan and Dolly Parton.
The Week’s News:
- The death of Harold Ramis
- Performers announced for the Oscars
- Zhang Yimou to helm first English language film
[2:20 – 8:10]
Preconception Corner
- The Lego Movie
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- Stranger By the Lake
- Only Lovers Left Alive
[15:05 – 48:55]
Closing Segment: Our predictions for this year’s Academy Awards!
[49:00 – 1:10:30]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Rihanna, “Russian Roulette”
Episode 87: The Myth of Socrates [Top Tens of 2013; Monuments Men; BAFTA winners]
Episode 87: The Myth of Socrates
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It’s Episode 87 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 the return of previous podcast guest Irini M, who helps us discuss George Clooney’s World War II caper “Monuments Men” and ponder some latest film news, featuring a death, a coming-out, and a Supporting Actress tragedy. And then we all reveal our top tens of 2013 (which takes a while), but it proves difficult for some to bite their tongues about each others’ picks. Listener questions instigate a Greek history lesson, but our guest remains coy throughout the interrogation, meanwhile we discuss one of Gregory Peck’s more bizarre performances, which films should have replaced “Before Sunset” and/or “Before Midnight” in the romantic trilogy, why one of Cal’s top ten was lucky to have seen the light of day, and which of Irini’s inclusions she had to apologise to Pete about. We have some audio issues in the early part of the podcast, but the last hour recorded well, and we end with Jennifer Lawrence’s karaoke favourite.
The Week’s News:
- The death of Shirley Temple
- Ellen Page comes out
- BAFTA winners
[2:40 – 15:05]
Preconception Corner
- Monuments Men
[25:35 – 32:55]
Closing Segment: Our top tens of 2013, featuring discussion of “The Grandmaster,” “Her,” and much more, plus our favourite performances of the year!
[33:00 – 1:25:00]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Wings, “Live and Let Die”
Episode 83: The Drugs Don’t Work [Wolf of Wall Street; Dallas Buyers Club; Oscar Nominations]
Episode 83: The Drugs Don’t Work
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It’s Episode 83 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 is heavy on narcotics, as we discuss the pill-popping patients in Jean Marc Vallee’s “Dallas Buyers Club,” the coke-fuelled antics of the stockbrokers in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and the hallucinogenic charms of indie Chilean adventure “Crystal Fairy.” We give our lengthy verdicts on this year’s Oscar nominations, offering our best and worst picks, speculating which films would have made the cut in the old-fashioned system, and discussing historical low points for the Academy. Tune in to find out how Mary Pickford bought her Oscar, whether Pete managed to finish a film this week, and why next week’s flock of facial hair spells disaster for Melvil.
Preconception Corner
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- Crystal Fairy
- Dallas Buyers Club
[10:40 – 43:10]
Closing Segment: Discussing the recently announced Oscar nominations, and speculating on the various races!
[43:40 – 1:09:20]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Duran Duran, “Hungry Like the Wolf”
Episode 82: This Mortal Coil [12 Years a Slave; The Railway Man; Delivery Man]
Episode 82: This Mortal Coil
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It’s Episode 82 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.
For once we’re getting serious, as the week’s offerings force us into discussions of torture, abortion, and slavery. The tears flowed for both of us (albeit in different films), so listen as we review wartime drama “The Railway Man,” moral dilemma documentary “After Tiller,” and awards juggernaut “12 Years a Slave.” It’s not all depression though, as Petedishes all on Vince Vaughn vehicle “Delivery Man,” while we discuss the weekend’s Golden Globe winners and look ahead to the upcoming Oscar nominations. Tune in for asides involving nomination indiscretions and 2004’s Best Actor race, find out why Pete needs a mocha before reviewing one of the week’s films, and the ranking of Paul Dano’s many crimes against humanity.
The Week’s News:
- Berlin Film Festival Jury is Announced
- BAFTA member criticises nominations
- Golden Globe winners (plus listener question from NW6 film!)
[4:35 – 17:30]
Preconception Corner
- The Railway Man
- Delivery Man
- After Tiller
[24:15 – 47:00]
Closing Segment: Our take on Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave,” plus speculation on this week’s Oscar nominations!
[47:10 – 1:17:50]
The Poupaud Range
In the Mood for Podcast 
