Episode 167: The Life of Pablo [Oscar Nominations Reaction; Top Ten Films of 2016]
In the wake of the Oscar nominations, Cal and Irini are back to discuss the exciting inclusions and dastardly snubs from this year’s crop, dishing our opinions on an unfortunate Amy Adams and a crowded Best Actress race, conceding to the power of Michael Shannon, and generally shaking our heads in disapproval at Mel Gibson. Elsewhere, we each give our top ten films of 2016, which includes those from Korea, Germany, Argentina, and more! Plus there’s a lot of love for Pablo Larrain, and one of Irini’s favourites receives a less-than-enthusiastic response from Cal.
Oscar Nominations:
- Our reactions to this year’s nominees!
[1:35 – 21:00]
Top Ten Films of 2016:
- Our favourite films and performances from the year!
[21:05 – 56:55]
Intro Music: Lady Antebellum, “American Honey”
Outro Music: “Drive It Like You Stole It” (From Sing Street)
Episode 158: The Glastonbury Flashback [Ricki and the Flash; 45 Years; American Ultra]
It’s Episode 158 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 turn our attention to a flurry of recent awards news, as the recipients of this year’s Honorary Oscars were announced, and several countries have submitted their entries for this year’s Foreign Language Film contest. We pay tribute to the late great Wes Craven, while Cal uncorks a trio of European classics in the latest edition of the Red Light District, featuring discussion of Francois Truffaut and Vittorio De Sica. The week’s reviews include Andrew Haigh’s tense marital drama “45 Years” and Jonathan Demme’s rock star romp “Ricki and the Flash,” while Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart were reunited in action comedy “American Ultra,” and Jafar Panahi managed to get another film made (“Closed Curtain”) despite being a prisoner in his own home. Elsewhere, we discuss Charlotte Rampling’s incredible decade-and-a-half, Kristen Stewart’s hair dye does the trick, and there’s trepidation for double-Tom Hardy in next week’s Krays film.
The week’s news: Featuring a retrospective of Wes Craven’s career, plus we chat about the recipients of this year’s Honorary Oscars, and the first submissions for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar!
[2:30 – 24:14]
Opening Segment: This month’s Red Light District, featuring discussion of “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” “The Marquise of O,” and “Stolen Kisses”!
[24:15 – 29:35]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Ricki and the Flash 42:20 – 51:40
- American Ultra 51:41 – 1:02:10
- Closed Curtain 1:02:11 – 1:07:15
- 45 Years 1:07:16 – 1:24:38
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
Outro Music: The Platters, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”
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 125: Empty and Chortleless [Paddington; Mockingjay Part I; The Homesman]
Episode 125: Empty and Chortleless
It’s Episode 125 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’re catching up for lost time with two weeks’ worth of films, and a ton of news, from the sad demise of Mike Nichols to the influx of awards action, featuring discussion of Marion Cotillard’s Oscar prospects and the underachievement of Edward Norton, while Pete is particularly aghast at the NBR’s fondness for “The Lego Movie.” Reviews this week include our take on podcast favourite Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of James Brown in “Get On Up,” the less-than-popular Hilary Swank in Tommy Lee Jones’ maybe-Western “The Homesman,” and the daunting prospect of Michael Bond’s “Paddington” being adapted for the big screen. Elsewhere, Pete found time to see Antipodean vampire comedy “What We Do In the Shadows,” while Cal was the only one queuing up to see Jennifer Lawrence in the latest instalment of The Hunger Games, “Mockingjay Part I.” Meanwhile, there’s a digression about 2006’s Best Actress Oscar lineup, one of Faye Dunaway’s many camp film roles is celebrated, Kevin Spacey’s private life gets an airing, and Pete is seriously torn between allegiance and detest in anticipation for Jason Reitman’s upcoming film, which stars the one and only Judy Greer.
- The death of Mike Nichols
- Cahiers du Cinema announce their top ten
- New York Film Critics Circle awards
- National Board of Review
[2:20 – 20:10]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Get On Up
- The Homesman
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I
- What We Do in the Shadows
[27:00 – 54:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on quirky children’s tale “Paddington” and discussing our favourite cinematic female villains!
[54:15 – 1:05:55]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Lana Del Rey, “Blue Jeans”
Episode 99: The Changing of the Guard [Godzilla; Two Faces of January; In Secret]
Episode 99: The Changing of the Guard
(Right click… save as)
It’s Episode 99 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 marks the end of an era, as we announce who will take over from Emma Watson and Melvil Poupaud in our factor and range segments, so tune in to find out which delectable actor and actress will assume the baton. It’s a week of good cast lists, as the latest blockbuster incarnation of “Godzilla” managed to assemble a who’s who of Thespian talent (if you discount Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and we review period thriller “The Two Faces of January,” despite not having a clue why it’s titled as such. Cal goes it alone for “Concussion,” the sapphic answer to “Belle De Jour,” which Pete took as a cue to go into innuendo overdrive, while love triangle melodrama “In Secret” instigates fierce preconceptions about Jessica Lange. A recent death in the cinematography world leads to a digression about the best shot films of 1990, a discussion of anti-heroes turns into an analysis of category placement politics, plus the Huston problem rears its ugly head to plague one of our new replacements.
The week’s news:
- “Grace of Monaco” trashed at Cannes
- Broadchurch wins three BAFTAs
- The death of Malik Bendjelloul
- The death of Gordon Willis
[4:20 – 10:55]
Preconception Corner
- The Two Faces of January
- In Secret
- Concussion
[19:40 – 52:50]
Closing Segment: Our take on Gareth Edwards’ “Godzilla,” and discussing the history of anti-heroes in cinema!
[52:55 – 1:13:00]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Shout Out Louds, “1999”
Episode 89: Bad Badinage [Non-Stop; Nymphomaniac; The Book Thief]
Episode 89: Bad Badinage
(Right click… save as)
It’s Episode 89 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 finally put 2013 to bed with discussion of Sunday’s Oscar ceremony, which features theories on how rule changes may have helped a certain Italian film, and when on earth Amy Adams will get her moment in the sun. A listener question turns our attention to acting winners of years gone by, while we review airborne mystery/thriller “Non-Stop,” the first part of the racy “Nymphomaniac,” and Akiva Goldsman’s bewildering “A New York Winter’s Tale.” We have our say on holocaust drama “The Book Thief,” but did its Oscar-nominated score make as much impact on us as its intermittent voice-over? Plus: listen to find out how Uma Thurman is channelling Gena Rowlands this week, why Lars Von Trier’s use of Shostakovich is questionable, and a story from Pete about how unwelcome ‘entertainment’ almost turned nasty. It’s all about the badinage.
Introduction and non-film news
Opening Segment:
Discussing the winners of this year’s Academy Awards, plus a listener question!
[4:25 – 22:40]
Preconception Corner
- Nymphomaniac: Volume I
- The Book Thief
- A New York Winter’s Tale (mild spoilers!)
- Non-Stop
[31:40 – 1:17:50]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: The Cardigans, “Erase & Rewind”
Episode 84: Race to the Finish [Inside Llewyn Davis; August: Osage County; The Missing Picture]
Episode 84: Race to the Finish
(Right click… save as)
It’s Episode 84 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 our shortest yet, as Pete seized the opportunity to cut the podcast at its knees in the final fleeting minutes. We didn’t quite manage to get it under an hour, but our reviews of starry ensemble drama “August:Osage County” and dour folk-scene tale “Inside Llewyn Davis” are concise enough. We discuss lesser known Oscar-nominated films “The Missing Picture” and “Cutie and the Boxer,” and ponder the Cold War charms of Kenneth Branagh’s “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.” Pete pines for the presence of Lena Endre in one of this week’s movies, while we also chat about the politics behind foreign, animated, and documentary crossover movies, and 2013’s highs in cinematography.
The Week’s News:
- “Grace of Monaco” to open Cannes Film Festival, but which cut?
- Lindsay Lohan announces her latest project
- Alfonso Cuaron wins the Directors Guild Award
[2:25 – 8:15]
Preconception Corner
- August: Osage County
- Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
- Cutie and the Boxer
- The Missing Picture
[14:50 – 43:30]
Closing Segment: Our take on the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis,” and our favourite fictional musicians on film!
[43:35 – 57:20]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Go West, “King of Wishful Thinking”
Episode 61: Harsh Terrain [The Lone Ranger; The Canyons; From Up on Poppy Hill]
Episode 61: Harsh Terrain
(Right click… save as)
It’s Episode 61 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.
After Pete’s whirlwind trip to Croatia we unite for cinematic visits to canyons, hills, and valleys. The return of a flesh-baring Lindsay Lohan sets pulses racing, but the trashy politics and Hollywood commentary of “The Canyons” only works for one of us. Cal goes it alone for the latest Studio Ghibli offering “From Up on Poppy Hill,” before we dig into Disney’s big-budget “The Lone Ranger,” ending with a fierce takedown of attempts by its producer and stars to blame the film’s failure on critics. We have a ton of film news to chew up, as well as part two of our 2009 Venice retrospective, and digressions about Rosalind Russell, Sergio Leone, and Oscar’s Foreign Language Film category. Yes, again.
Opening Segment: Part two of our 2009 Venice retrospective, featuring discussion about [14:25 – 35:40]
Reviews of:
- The Canyons
- From Up on Poppy Hill
[42:40 – 1:02:35]
Closing Segment: Our take on Disney’s “The Lone Ranger,” and discussing whether the critics are at fault for its box-office failure and discussing memorable buddy/cop movies! [1:02:40 – 1:20:45]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Foxes, “Youth”
Episode 59: Car Crashes in Black & White [Frances Ha; Blancanieves; The Internship]
Episode 59: Car Crashes in Black & White
(Right click… save as)
It’s Episode 59 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 going retro with this week’s podcast, as we discuss the otherworldly prowess of Rita Hayworth in 1946 noir “Gilda,” which Pete caught recently in all of its digitally restored glory. We also discuss two films deliberately harking back to the good old days, with silent fairy-tale “Blancanieves” facing off against Noah Baumbach’s “Manhattan” wannabe, “Frances Ha.” We both snubbed hairly Hugh Jackman in “The Wolverine,” Pete opting for French biographical drama “Renoir” and Cal badly in need of light relief in the form of “The Internship.” We take time out to discuss the lineup of this year’s Venice Film Festival, which Pete will be attending, while Cal is perturbed by the loss of a super comedic actress. Listen for digressions involving Miley Cyrus, Rose Byrne’s portrayal of blindness, and a distasteful slur on Greta Gerwig which caused Cal to label Pete “below the belt.”
Opening Segment: The week’s news, featuring three major deaths in the world of sport, TV, and film, and discussing this year’s Venice Film Festival lineup, featuring work from Stephen Frears, Terry Gilliam, and Kelly Reichardt! [1:30 – 17:20]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- Blancanieves
- The Internship
- Renoir
- Gilda (re-release)
[26:20 – 1:04:50]
Closing Segment: Our take on Noah Baumbach’s “Frances Ha,” Shag Marry or Kill, and discussing director/actor partnerships between real life partners! [1:04:55 – 1:19:25]
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: Mika, “Grace Kelly”