Episode 129: Flights of Fancy [Birdman; The Theory of Everything; Enemy]
Episode 129: Flights of Fancy
It’s Episode 129 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 episode, we turn our attention to the awards race, as this week sees the release of two films vying for Oscars, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s meditation on the theatre, “Birdman,” and spirited Stephen Hawking drama “The Theory of Everything”. We also take the opportunity to discuss the Producers Guild Award nominations and the winners from the National Society of Film Critics’ annual round of voting, touching (lightly) upon a victory for Jean-Luc Godard, and speculating about the Oscar chances of Timothy Spall, Marion Cotillard, and Rene Russo among others. Elsewhere, Pete’s improvable opinion of Denis Villeneuve is tested when Jake Gyllenhaal takes on a double role in “Enemy” and last year’s Norwegian Foreign Language Oscar entry “Kon-Tiki” finally made British shores, while some disappointing controversy about the latest Nicholas Cage film, “Dying of the Light,” threatens to overshadow the review. Meanwhile, there’s news of upheaval for the Factor and Range, Cal’s latest reading material provides a window into the Best Picture Oscar race of 1967 and Rex Harrison’s bad behaviour, and Felicity Jones’ sixties attire may finally have won over her childhood cohort.
- Mark Schultz turns his back on “Foxcatcher”
- Producers Guild Award nominations are announced
- National Society of Film Critics winners
[2:40 – 14:45]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- The Theory of Everything
- Kon-Tiki
- Dying of the Light
- Enemy
[26:00 – 1:03:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “Birdman,” discussing the Best Picture race, and our favourite films about the theatre!
[1:03:15 – 1:22:45]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: The National, “All the Wine”
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 90: Celtic Confusion [Under the Skin; The Past; The Zero Theorem]
Episode 90: Celtic Confusion
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It’s Episode 90 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.
The podcast is back after a fortnight’s absence with some St. Patrick’s day cheer, but will we be cheering in response to this week’s films? Asghar Farhadi fans may want to beware, as we review French language drama “The Past,” while those who helped kick-start a movie adaptation of TV show “Veronica Mars” will have to deal with a fresh take on the crime caper. Pete’s seen another quirky Tilda Swinton film this week in Terry Gilliam’s “The Zero Theorem,” before Cal reveals whether the second half of Lars Von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac” lived up to the educational might of the first. Jonathan Glazer’s shady “Under the Skin” gets us discussing (among other things) why meeting Scarlett Johansson in a nightclub is a very bad omen, and which football team’s fans bears the brunt of her seduction. The usual digressions occur, as we’re forced to address the original Huston Problem, Pete’s trepidation for an upcoming Dostoyevsky adaptation, and which TV shows we’d love to see a big-screen version of. We offer a quick lesson on grammatical composition, the Earth threatens to fall off its axis when Cal associates Katy Perry with Bjork, and Cillian Murphy throws a spanner in the works of this week’s Watson Factor. It’s all about the Celts.
Introduction and news
Preconception Corner
- The Past
- Veronica Mars
- The Zero Theorem
- Nymphomaniac: Part II
[13:40 – 51:20]
Closing Segment: Our take on Jonathan Glazer’s “Under the Skin,” and discussing films set in Glasgow
[51:25 – 1:07:10]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Beach Boys, “Caroline No”
Episode 70: Home Truths [The Fifth Estate; Baggage Claim; Le Weekend]
Episode 70: Home Truths
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It’s Episode 70 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 epic episode is our longest yet, as we give our take on two films with radically different approaches to marriage. We found romantic comedy “Baggage Claim” a tad bonkers, but certain members of its Paula Patton-led cast won us over, while we reveal whether Roger Michell’s “Le Weekend” can shrug off its terrible title and avoid becoming another chronicle of an elderly gentleman’s libido. We have reviews of Wikileaks drama “The Fifth Estate” and Kim Ki-Duk’s twisted thriller “Pieta,” before embarking on a lengthy discussion of Oscar highs and lows from years gone by. We take your suggestions, address a listener question regarding this year’s Best Actress race, and tease next week’s report from the London Film Festival. Tune in to find out which film prompted Pete to start juggling marshmallows, which critical faux-pas caused Cal to become appalled, which famous British actress played the flute in Pete’s school orchestra, and how Willem Dafoe’s character poster for “Nymphomaniac” may have us crying out for “Body of Evidence,” despite what Julianne Moore might think.
The Week’s News:
- The Death of Mark ‘Chopper’ Read
- Character posters are released for “Nymphomaniac”
- The first Oscar screeners are sent out (“Mud”; “Stories We Tell”; “The Croods)
- Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return to host the Golden Globes
- Golden Globe category placements: “Blue Jasmine” goes drama, while “Before Midnight” goes comedy
[1:40 – 14:30]
Listener Question: “Is there ANY WAY Cate Blanchett won’t win the Oscar for “Blue Jasmine”? [Eoin]
[14:40 – 18:55]
Reviews of:
- The Fifth Estate
- Pieta
- Baggage Claim
- Le Week-End
[27:05 – 1:09:30]
Closing Segment: Revealing our most loved and loathed Oscar lineups from years gone by, and discussing listener suggestions! With comment on 1937’s Best Actress Lineup and 1955’s list of supporting actresses, plus much more! [1:09:35 – 1:27:55]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Javiera Mena, “Luz de Piedra de Luna”
Episode 42: Caged Animals [Jack the Giant Slayer; The Croods; Stolen]
EPISODE 42: Caged Animals
[1:20:58]
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It’s Episode 42 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 take the opportunity to discuss all things Nicholas Cage, with the release of two of his films, the silly action thriller “Stolen,” and the prehistoric animated adventure “The Croods.” Cal sat through Ray of Light supremo Jonas Akerlund’s “Small Apartments” while his veto of “Identity Thief” meant that Pete was all alone with Melissa McCarthy, a terrifying thought in itself. And then we get onto “Compliance,” which may be the biggest casualty of ‘In the Mood’ vitriol since “The Lorax,” and proves that the fast food industry can indeed get more repulsive. A budget reveal of “Jack the Giant Slayer” knocks us for six, while we consider the fate of the once-great Bryan Singer, and the potential disaster brought on by his film’s final scene. Fee Fi Fo Fum! We smell the blood of a sequel!
Opening Segment: A quick chat about Nicholas Cage’s contribution to cinema, in which we disclose our favourite performances and films of his! [4:00 – 14:10]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “Stolen”
- “The Croods”
- “Identity Thief”
- “Small Apartments”
- “Compliance”
[19:35 – 1:00:05]
Closing Segment: Our take on Bryan Singer’s “Jack the Giant Slayer” and discussing directors who have not lived up to the success of their first feature! [1:00:10 – 1:12:45]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
In the Mood for Podcast 
