Episode 123: The Folly of Ambition [Interstellar; Leviathan; Human Capital]
It’s Episode 123 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 joined once again by Irini M., who brings us news from her home country’s Thessaloniki Film Festival in a notably more concise fashion than September’s Venice round-up. She also joins in our discussion of some interesting recent events, which includes some rare exciting news involving David O. Russell, and the bizarre spectrum of films vying for this year’s Animated Feature Oscar. We discuss two Foreign Language Oscar contenders, as Paolo Virzi’s “Human Capital” enlivens the middle-class misery of bourgeois Italy and Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Leviathan” documents the coastal conflicts of rural Russia, before giving ambition a dressing down, as Christopher Nolan’s epic “Interstellar” comes to town. We reveal whether the cinematic influences used in the film are a blessing or curse, and whether Nolan’s scope and logic holds up under scrutiny. Elsewhere, we recount a horror show from Venice which saw Pete become a gay advocate, a mistaken text briefly convinced Cal that his niece was a child genius, while Keira Knightley’s recent quest to boost female self-image has us rather baffled.
- Darren Aronofsky to head the jury at next year’s Berlin Film Festival
- David O. Russell’s long-delayed “Nailed” re-titled as “Love in Politics” and scheduled for release in the UK
- Animated Feature Oscar qualifying list is announced
- European Film Award nominations are announced
[3:05 – 20:55]
[21:00 – 34:45]
Reviews of:
- Leviathan
- Human Capital
[43:25 – 1:01:30]
Closing Segment: Our take on Christopher Nolan’s space-set epic “Interstellar,” and discussing cine-literate films, with comment on “Allegro,” “Kill Bill,” and “Once Upon a Time in the West”!
[1:01:35 – 1:28:40]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Adam and the Ants, “Prince Charming”
Episode 76: The Threesome [The Family; Parkland; Short Term 12] with Special Guest Irini M.
Episode 76: The Threesome
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It’s Episode 76 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’re joined by special guest and friend of the podcast Irini Markogiannaki, who helps us discuss the new releases at UK cinemas and chimes in with thoughts on eventful news items from the past few days. Some minor audio issues should mostly have been ironed out in the editing process, so you can enjoy our reviews of Luc Besson’s mafia comedy “The Family,” and Peter Landesman’s JFK assassination movie “Parkland” in relatively audible splendour. Cal and Irini reveal whether indie critics darling “Short Term 12” lives up to the hype, and there are verdicts on angst-ridden baby swap drama “Like Father Like Son” and black and white mumblecore offering “Computer Chess.” We ponder Leeds Film Festival’s audience favourites, conduct a rather epic
The Week’s News:
- 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who airs
- The first explicit trailer for Lars Von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac” is released
- Jason Statham calls for an Oscar to be introduced for stuntmen
- Leeds Film Festival reveals its top 20 audience favourites
[2:10 – 24:15]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Parkland
- Short Term 12
- Like Father, Like Son
- Computer Chess
- The Family
[34:15 – 1:13:10]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Cat Power, “The Greatest”
Episode 69: Lowering the Brow [How I Live Now; Filth; Thanks For Sharing]
Episode 69: Lowering the Brow
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It’s Episode 69 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 hit rock bottom in terms of class, as we review several films depicting trashy and/or deviant sexual behaviour. Saoirse Ronan sheds blood and taboos in her third outing this year, post-apocalyptic drama “How I Live Now,” while her once-“Atonement” co-star James McAvoy is off the leash in crazed thriller “Filth.” Elsewhere, Cal tuned in for sex addiction ensemble piece “Thanks For Sharing” and the sobering World War II-set “Emperor,” while Pete’s affection for Aubrey Plaza led him to high-school comedy “The To Do List.” Our early segments see the return of podcast favourites Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus, before we discuss James L. Brooks’ degrees of success with actresses, and Cal tries to kill off Debbie Reynolds. Listen to find out how kids favourite Peppa Pig features in this week’s episode, how many digressions concern Jennifer Connelly, and why Roger Michell really needs to stop making films about horny old men.
The Week’s News:
- Miley Cyrus’s album ‘Bangerz’ was released
- The death of Patrice Chereau
- The BFI reveal a new video-on-demand service
- Quentin Tarantino discloses his top ten of 2013 (yes… already!)
[1:20 – 9:20]
This month’s Red Light District! Featuring discussion of “I Know Who Killed Me,” “The Peach Thief,” “Postcards from the Edge,” “Robot & Frank” and “White Space” [9:25 – 20:20]
Reviews of:
- Filth
- Thanks For Sharing
- The To-Do List
- Emperor
[27:50 – 1:00:35]
Closing Segment: Our take on Kevin MacDonald’s post-apocalyptic drama “How I Live Now,” and discussing our favourite film soundtracks! [1:00:40 – 1:19:15]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Christina Millian, “Dip It Low”
Episode 67: Advanced Iconography [Diana; 42; The Call]
Episode 67: Advanced Iconography
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It’s Episode 67 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 asking ourselves whether this is the real life or just fantasy, as biographical dramas about two very different people hit cinema screens in the UK. As self-confessed baseball fans, the Jackie Robinson movie “42” was very high on our agenda, while Olivier Hirschbiegel’s heavily derided “Diana” gave us uneasy preconceptions. From there, Cal tackles serial-killer thriller “The Call,” and Pete caught coming-of-age tale “The Way Way Back” and Arabian drama “Winter of Discontent.” A modest news segment turns into a lengthy discussion about Foreign Language Oscar nominees of the past (like that’s never happened before) and we launch into digressions involving the measure of Marcello Mastrioianni’s Oscar nominations, the patriotism of the French, and some huge concerns about next week’s releases.
The Week’s News:
- Foreign Language Oscar submissions: Hong Kong submit “The Grandmaster,” France submit “Renoir,” and the UK submit “Metro Manila”
- “Grace of Monaco” and “Wolf of Wall Street” pushed to 2014
- Terrence Malick is counter-suiting the people suing him for the “Voyage of Time” debacle
- Quentin Tarantino to star as Roger Corman in a biopic directed by Joe Dante
- Sofia Coppola directing the next Phoenix video
- Abdellatif Kechiche hits back at criticism
[2:15 – 20:15]
Reviews of:
- 42
- The Way, Way Back
- The Call
- Winter Of Discontent
[29:30 – 1:02:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on Olivier Hirschbiegel’s “Diana,” and assessing just how much of a disaster it is for those involved! [1:02:15 – 1:17:55]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: D:Ream, “Things Can Only Get Better”
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