Episode 117: The Ballad of Pitt & Brit [Maps to the Stars; I Origins; Ida]
Episode 117: The Ballad of Pitt & Brit
It’s Episode 117 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 a distinctly non-sober affair, as birthday drinks crippled Cal’s ability to function (he wants you to know that he is fully aware that Joanne Woodward is American), but we managed to get through this week’s busy line-up of films in under ninety minutes. Pete caught Denzel Washington thriller “The Equalizer” and Mike Cahill’s treatise on faith vs. science, “I Origins,” while Cal was in the queue for horror flick “Honeymoon” and had time to rewatch Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Ida.” After that, both of us weigh in on David Cronenberg’s Hollywood satire “Maps to the Stars,” featuring Cannes Best Actress winner Julianne Moore, which leads us into a discussion of women from the past who have received that honour. Elsewhere, banter about pop music shifts from Taylor Swift onto Cheryl Cole, we ponder how long George Clooney’s marriage will last, a Christie Clanger from last week is addressed, and preconceptions for David Fincher’s “Gone Girl” (reviewed next week) get laid bare.
- George Clooney marries in Venice
- Foreign Language Oscar submissions: Russia submit “Leviathan”; Argentina submit “Wild Tales”
- Al Pacino receives a BAFTA Fellowship
[5:10 – 19:15]
- Ida
- The Equalizer
- Honeymoon
- I Origins
[25:00 – 1:00:05]
Closing Segment: Our take on David Cronenberg’s “Maps to the Stars,” and discussing the history of Best Actress winners at the Cannes Film Festival!
[1:00:10 – 1:21:15]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Cheryl Cole, “Crazy Stupid Love”
Episode 104: Miscarriages of Justice [The Fault In Our Stars; Jersey Boys; Miss Violence]
Episode 104: Miscarriages of Justice
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It’s Episode 104 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.
Irini M. returns this week to help us discuss our favourite films and performances from 2014 so far, leading to a disagreement about Wes Anderson, yet more discussion of Xavier Dolan, and a fierce defence of a podcast fantasy favourite. The week’s reviews see us flirt with both familiarity and contempt, as Cedric Klapisch’s trilogy-capping “Chinese Puzzle” was finally released in the UK, while not all of us were happy about the Venice trophy haul of Greek family drama “Miss Violence.” We tackle cancer flick “The Fault In Our Stars,” Cal goes it alone for Clint Eastwood’s foray into the musical genre, “Jersey Boys,” while the latest batch of non-sporting news calls for a Desplat love-in, and a discussion of everyone’s favourite Hong Kong auteur. Pete continues to liken the faults of World Cinema to Roy Hodgson’s World Cup tactics, a listener question provokes a passionate defence of Greek patriotism from Irini, and a controversial pitch for a new Jennifer Lopez rom-com provides an early FYC for next year’s compilation.
The week’s news:
- Alexandre Desplat announced as the President of the jury at this year’s Venice Film Festival
- Wong Kar-Wai’s new film is on the way
- Gerry Conlon, subject of the film “In the Name of the Father,” dies aged 60
[2:30 – 14:45]
Listener Questions from Ibbi
[14:50 – 20:35]
Preconception Corner
- The Fault In Our Stars
- Chinese Puzzle
- Miss Violence
- Jersey Boys
[33:45 – 1:14:00]
Closing Segment: 2014’s mid-year awards, in which we discuss our favourite and least favourite films and performances from the year so far!
[1:14:05 – 1:35:35]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Alexandre Desplat, “Depart Pour La Guerre” (from “The Well Digger’s Daughter”)
Episode 97: Continental Drift [Tracks; A Thousand Times Good Night; Blue Ruin]
Episode 97: Continental Drift
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It’s Episode 97 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.
Dubbed “Mr. D+” by Pete, Cal hopes for a better run of films this week, as our slate of continent-spanning sober dramas force us to tone things down a little. We review Erik Poppe’s “A Thousand Times Good Night,” starring the ever-exemplary Juliette Binoche, but is the moral-heavy family crisis at the film’s centre worthy of her abilities? It’s been eight months since Pete saw and liked John Curran’s “Tracks” at Venice, but does Cal feel the same way about the Aussie desert quest’s quality? Elsewhere, Pete caught up with Paddy Considine-led British thriller “Honour,” while Cal opted for American indie revenge pic “Blue Ruin,” plus a listener question leads to a slew of digressions about the Cannes Film Festival’s history of politics and prize-giving. Tune in to hear our thoughts on the biggest Oscar snub of the 1980s, which Terrence Malick film receives a radical re-evaluation from Pete, and why a foolish display of canine companionship gets Cal all self-righteous.
The Week’s News:
- The death of Bob Hoskins
- A sequel to “Spring Breakers” is announced
- Cal’s been reading a Cannes-related book
Listener Question: “What are your thoughts on “Clean,” and specifically Maggie Cheung?” [Ibbi]
[7:55 – 13:10]
Opening Segment: The return of the Red Light District, featuring discussion of “Chaotic Ana,” “Into the Night,” “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “The Search for Bridey Murphy,” “To the Wonder,” and “Youth Without Youth”
[13:15 – 26:45]
Preconception Corner
- A Thousand Times Good Night
- Blue Ruin
- Honour
- Tracks
[29:55 – 1:02:25]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Faye Wong, “Dream Person”
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 64: The Return of Wowface [Venice Film Festival; Upstream Color; You’re Next]
Episode 64: The Return of Wowface
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It’s Episode 64 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 Pete return from the Venice Film Festival with reviews of Stephen Fears’ “Philomena” and Sion Sono’s “Why Don’t You Play In Hell,” among other work by Miguel Gomes, Kelly Reichardt, and John Curran. We also take time out to discuss reaction on the Lido to Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity.” This week’s films see the highly-anticipated release of abstract entanglement drama “Upstream Color,” claustrophobic horror “You’re Next,” and the return of Michael Bay with “Pain & Gain,” which had Cal somewhat worried. As usual we go off on a few tangents, as Pete pimps the beauty of 2004 in film, laments the absence of Nadine Labaki from one of the week’s offerings, and we ponder how Liv Ullman would have fared in “Miss Congeniality.” And then we reveal the exciting news that an underseen long-time podcast favourite may soon be coming to a website near you, but keep that one quiet, won’t you?
The Week’s News, featuring discussion about the death of Sir David Frost, and the casting of “Fifty Shades of Grey”! [2:35 – 6:05]
Reviews of:
- Upstream Color (warning: minor spoilers)
- Pain & Gain
- You’re Next
[9:10 – 33:45]
Closing Segment: Pete’s report from the Venice Film Festival, featuring reviews and commentary on “Why Don’t You Play In Hell?” “Tracks,” “Holding Breath,” “Redemption,” “We Are the Best!” “May in the Summer,” “Philomena,” “Night Moves,” and some brief thoughts about “Gravity” [33:50 – 1:18:30]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Placebo, “Taste In Men”
Episode 39: Shostakovich & Shockers [To the Wonder; Stoker; Broken City]
EPISODE 39: Shostakovich & Shockers
[1:22:37]
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It’s Episode 39 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 might be a little off-form this week, as Pete is still ill and Cal is hungover, but we’ve got some juicy-looking films to ponder. We aim to be positive by bringing out our irregular Red Light District segment and pimping the best films we’ve seen in the past month, which include a Russian classic and a film about a woman who rents cats. We check out “Stoker,” the latest bloodthirsty offering from arthouse favourite Park Chan-Wook, and there’s blood on the hands of Richard Gere’s troubled billionaire too, in Nicholas Jarecki’s “Arbitrage”. While Pete opted for masculine thriller “Broken City” Cal sat down for Lasse Hallstrom’s adaptation of Nicholas Sparks novel “Safe Haven,” but we both saw part two of Terrence Malick’s prolific streak, the grand, romantic “To the Wonder.” Tune in to find out which one of us was reduced to tears by Malick’s film, and listen to our confessions of which films never fail to make us blub.
Introduction: The week’s news, and announcing Pete’s forfeit
Opening Segment: This month’s Red Light District! Films pimped include: “Another Woman’s Life,” “The Company,” “The Cranes Are Flying,” “Rent-a-Cat,” “Us Two,” and “Vanya on 42nd Street” [5:45 – 17:55]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “Stoker”
- “Arbitrage”
- “Broken City”
- “Safe Haven”
[22:45 – 49:25]
Closing Segment: Discussing Terrence Malick’s “To the Wonder” and our top three films which make us cry [49:50 – 1:13:45]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Intro Music: New theme music!
Outro Music: Naughty Boy feat. Emeli Sande, “Wonder”
Episode 37: A United Front [A Good Day to Die Hard; Beautiful Creatures; This Is 40]
EPISODE 37: A United Front
[1:25:50]
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Download MP3
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It’s Episode 37 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 rather united in our praise/derision of this week’s cinematic offerings, although there’s little diplomacy to be seen in the films themselves. We tackle Bruce Willis’ latest actioner “A Good Day to Die Hard,” and another potential franchise movie in teen-oriented magic tale “Beautiful Creatures.” We’re checking in with Judd Apatow’s latest peek into the perils of ‘adulthood’ in “This Is 40” and the fractured political situation in 1980s Chile in Pablo Larrain’s “No.” All this, and we’re predicting Sunday’s Oscar winners, instigating yet another contest in the process. Those awaiting news of Pete’s forfeit for his previous contest loss will receive encouragement. It will soon be Tarkovsky time!
Opening Segment: Looking ahead to our most anticipated films of Spring 2013 [1:45 – 11:20]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “A Good Day to Die Hard”
- “Beautiful Creatures”
- “This Is 40”
- “No”
[16:45 – 58:20]
Closing Segment: Predicting the Oscar winners in all categories! [58:25 – 1:18:00]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Intro Music: New theme music!
Outro Music: Fiona Apple, “Dull Tool”
In the Mood for Podcast 