Episode 137: The Sexual Menace [Focus; Clouds of Sils Maria; The Boy Next Door]
It’s Episode 137 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 last week’s epic trawl through the best of 2014, we move onto this year’s delights, sampling the A-list, B-list, and indie offerings from stateside. We review crime caper “Focus,” starring the overcharged coupling of Will Smith and Margot Robbie (the latter of which dominated most of Pete’s attention), while Jennifer Lopez’s infrequent on-screen activity of late is remedied in trashy thriller “The Boy Next Door.” Cal managed to catch queer Sundance hit “Appropriate Behaviour,” plus, off the back of Kristen Stewart’s Cesar win, we review Olivier Assayas’ Alpine foray into the world of acting, “Clouds of Sils Maria.” Elsewhere, we reveal some exciting plans for the month ahead, there’s some speculation about how J. Lo’s Tinder profile might read, and the trailer for Neill Blonkamp’s latest robot-dominated effort instigates fear, sympathy, and eventually derision.
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- The Boy Next Door 14:50 – 23:23
- Clouds of Sils Maria 23:24 – 36:26
- Appropriate Behaviour 36:27 – 45:23
- Focus 45:24 – 1:00:35
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Pootsition
The Garrett Gauge
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 53: Rolling Back the Years [After Earth; Behind the Candelabra; The Iceman]
EPISODE 53: Rolling Back the Years
[1:19:12]
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It’s Episode 53 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 some fairly interesting cosmetic changes, as Winona Ryder and Matt Damon roll back the years to star in 70s-set dramas, while the facial hair burdened upon the actors in “The Iceman” gets Cal’s dander up. We review the gangster drama, as well as Steven Soderbergh’s Liberace movie, “Behind the Candelabra,” of which only one of us is counting as movie eligible. Pete sat it alone (literally) for Viggo Mortensen showcase “Everybody Has a Plan,” but we both caught the Smith family outing “After Earth,” which gets us talking about famous film families, among other things. We also take time out to discuss Werner Herzog’s distinguished career, while pondering what prompts Sir Christopher Doyle’s outspoken nature, and whether Munich will take kindly to Abdelatif Kechiche’s Lesbian Palme d’Or winner. Cal struggles to control himself when divulging the plot of a recent Chloe Moretz movie, before we pledge to watch it for next week’s episode.
Opening Segment: The week’s film news, plus a discussion of Werner Herzog’s work, in the wake of the BFI’s two-month retrospective [2:35 – 16:40]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- The Iceman
- Behind the Candelabra
- Everybody Has a Plan
[22:10 – 51:00]
Closing Segment: Our take on M. Night Shyamalan’s “After Earth,” starring Will and Jaden Smith, and discussing on-screen partnerships between famous parents and their offspring [51:05 – 1:05:25]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: The Orb, “Little Fluffy Clouds”
Episode 47: Industrial Strength [Iron Man 3; The Look of Love; The Lords of Salem]
EPISODE 47: Industrial Strength
[1:19:59]
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Download MP3
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It’s Episode 47 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.
As Summer is on the horizon we look ahead to the big-budget studio offerings hitting us in the next few weeks, but can we muster any enthusiasm for the prospect of another Zack Snyder or M. Night Shyamalan film? Pete opts for Michael Winterbottom’s porn biopic “The Look of Love,” while Cal tackles the popular “Bernie,” before crowing about Rob Zombie’s swag in his review of “The Lords of Salem.” And then we deal with Robert Downey Jr.’s third outing as Iron Man, which splits the camp dramatically. We lament the demise of Rene Russo and discuss the woes of Scottish transport, while Pete wonders if Kat Dennings’ rack will be a plot point in “Thor 2.” It’s all about the superheroes…
Opening Segment: Looking ahead to the next three months of summer blockbusters, including “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “After Earth,” “Man of Steel,” “World War Z,” “Pacific Rim,” “Kick-Ass 2,” “Wolverine,” and “The Lone Ranger” [4:00 – 16:50]
*Preconception Corner*
Reviews of:
- “Shell”
- “Bernie”
- “The Look of Love”
- “The Lords of Salem”
[20:40 – 57:25]
Closing Segment: Our take on Shane Black’s “Iron Man 3” and discussing jettisoned voice-overs [57:30 – 1:10:10]
*Shag, Marry or Kill?*
*The Watson Factor*
*The Poupaud Range*
Outro Music: Bjork, “Army of Me”
In the Mood for Podcast 