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 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”
In the Mood for Podcast 
