The Movies, Films and Flix Podcast – Episode 331: Trollhunter, Norwegian Scenery, and Folklore
You can download or stream the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker (or wherever you listen to podcasts…..we’re almost everywhere).
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
The MFF podcast is back, and this week Zanandi Botes (@ZaNandi on Twitter) joined us to discuss the excellent 2010 found footage film Trollhunter. Directed by Andre Ovredal, and starring Otto Jespersen, Trollhunter focuses on a shadowy government employee who is tasked with exterminating trolls that venture too far out of their designated territory. His daily routine is filmed by several college students (with excellent cinematography skills), and you’ll love learning about the bureaucracy that goes with hunting trolls (so many reports to file…). In this episode, we discuss troll farts, troll bureaucracy, and beautiful Norwegian scenery.
If you are a fan of the podcast, make sure to send in some random listener questions so we can do our best to not answer them correctly. We thank you for listening, and hope you enjoy the episode!
You can download the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker.
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You can listen to Deep Blue Sea – The Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Tunein, Podcast Addict, Amazon, Google Podcasts, and everywhere else you listen to podcasts. Also, make sure to like our Facebook page!
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Jay and Mark are joined by Marc “Juice” Armstead (of the French Toast Sunday Podcast) to discuss “Preacher’s Legacy,” the 23rd chapter on the Deep Blue Sea DVD. This is the shortest chapter on the DVD, but, it might be the most memorable as Preacher’s omelette recipe is world famous. and much discussed (milk, or no milk?) In this episode, they discuss Sherman “Arugula for Days” Dudley, character-driven spit, and egg purgatory.
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Love and Monsters: A Likable Monster Movie That’s Worth a Watch
Love and Monsters is a welcome breath-of-fresh-air that focuses on the aftermath of a monster apocalypse caused when debris from an asteroid turns cold-blooded animals into giant people-eating monsters. Originally devised in 2012, this long-planned $30 million budgeted film must’ve benefitted from all the delays as the script by Brain Duffield and Matthew Robinson hits on all cylinders and glides by with a likable and original ease. Director Michael Matthews does an excellent job of combining a legitimately dangerous world with a charming tone that never gets old, and he stretches the $30 million budget expertly (it looks like a $50 million movie)
The story is wonderfully simple, as likeable twentysomething Joel Dawson (Dylan O’Brien of the Maze Runner trilogy and Teen Wolf) leaves the safety of his underground bunker to travel 80 perilous miles so he can find his girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick), whom he hasn’t seen in seven years. His bunker buddies are sad to see him leave, and are worried for him because he freezes when conflict arises, and is the only one who knows how to fix their radio. Armed with a crossbow, a radio and some canned goods, Joel is quickly attacked by a large frog, and saved by a dog named “Boy” who joins him on his quest.
He luckily joins up with Clyde (Michael Rooker) and Minnow (Arianna Greenblatt), who save him from a deadly sand-gobbler hole, and teach him how to survive above ground, and get him prepared to battle a plethora of neat monsters (Clyde also gives him a grenade). It wouldn’t be cool to spoil the rest of the film, just know you’ll see giant crabs, beach brawls and Joel doing his best Tom Cruise impersonation.
What makes Love and Monsters so likable are the performances from O’Brien, Henwick, Rooker and Greenblatt, and the original monsters, who all come across as dangerous AND likable (except from the giant ant, who is nightmare fuel). Joel’s adventures and interactions with Boy (great movie dog), robots, and boulder snails who could squish him easily are super enjoyable, and none of the added characters or side quests feel unwelcome or unnecessary. Also, the tone is wonderful as Matthews combines action, humor, scares and whimsy into something that never feels too precious or cute. It would be neat to see further Love and Monsters exploits, and I hope enough people catch on to warrant a sequel.
Watch Love and Monsters, so you can promote Love and Monsters.
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The Movies, Films and Flix Podcast – Episode 330: About Time, Time Traveling Dads, and Bill Nighy
You can download or stream the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker (or wherever you listen to podcasts…..we’re almost everywhere).
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
The MFF podcast is back, and this week we’re discussing the 2013 time travel film About Time. Directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Pirate Radio), and starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Margot Robbie and Vanessa Kirby, this excellent film focuses on a guy, who on his 21st birthday, realizes he can time travel. We love this film, and actually looked into how we could be adopted by Bill Nighy after watching the movie. In this episode, they discuss the Richard Curtis-verse, dinner parties and the greatness of Bill Nighy.
If you are a fan of the podcast, make sure to send in some random listener questions so we can do our best to not answer them correctly. We thank you for listening, and hope you enjoy the episode!
You can download the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker.
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The Movies, Films and Flix Podcast – Episode 329: The Prophecy, Angel Fights and Viggo Devil
You can download or stream the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker (or wherever you listen to podcasts…..we’re almost everywhere).
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
Mark and Nathan discuss the 1995 thriller The Prophecy. Directed by Gregory Widen, and starring Christopher Walken, Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, and Viggo Mortensen, The Prophecy focuses on the devil, a few angels, and some humans attempting to find an evil soul that might turn the tide of a centuries long battle. In this episode, they discuss whispering devils, Walken telling people to be quiet, and angel fights. Enjoy!
If you are a fan of the podcast, make sure to send in some random listener questions so we can do our best to not answer them correctly. We thank you for listening, and hope you enjoy the episode!
You can download the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker.
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Sound of Metal: An Excellent Film That Features an Award-Worthy Performance From Riz Ahmed
If you’re looking for an excellent film featuring an Oscar-worthy performance from Riz Ahmed, look no further than the Sound of Metal. Directed and written by former concert photographer Darius Marder (he also wrote The Place Beyond the Pines), Sound of Metal focuses on a drummer named Ruben (Riz Ahmed) losing his hearing while on tour with his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke). This sudden loss of hearing leads him to stay at a deaf community led by Joe (Paul Raci), where he learns to accept the loss of his hearing, while also attempting to not fall back on prior addictions.
The film starts out with a lived-in authenticity as Ruben and Lou play various venues around the United States. Ruben is the drummer, and Lou plays guitar and sings in their band Blackgammon. Their mode of transportation is a surprisingly nice Airstream RV, that puts to shame the majority of the beaten up vans that pulled up to the venues I worked in over the years. Ruben is loaded up with cockroach, underwear and “Scumbag” tattoos that seem homemade, while Lou has dyed eyebrows and a laid-back style that compliments Ruben’s almost manic demeanor. When he starts losing his hearing, his four years of sobriety are put to the test when he’s separated from Lou, and forced to stay at a deaf community where he works with children and learns to be at peace with his life.
Shot over the period of four weeks, and led by an excellent and committed performance from Riz Ahmed, who learned to play the drums, and use American sign language (Cooke also learned how to play the guitar), the film hits hard, and looks excellent. The cinematography by Daniël Bouquet is wonderful, as the handheld camera work, and strategic static shots allow the performances to thrive. The sound design is also excellent, as the film relies on silence, and sudden bursts of sound that provide a contrast to the lack of sound. The film took years to get off the ground, as Marder suffered from constant setbacks and cast changes that delayed the production. In the end, the delays might have helped as the added time helped everything feel lived in and authentic. It’s also neat that the Sound of Metal is dedicated to Marder’s grandmother, who went deaf, and after reading several interviews, I learned that he relied on the deaf community to make it as authentic as possible. The end product is wonderful, and I love the film and the performances.
Watch Sound of Metal before you think about putting together any “best of ” lists!
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Deep Blue Sea – The Podcast: Episode 22: Petty Sea Creatures, Bathroom Love and Chuck Finley
You can listen to Deep Blue Sea – The Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Tunein, Podcast Addict, Amazon, Google Podcasts, and everywhere else you listen to podcasts. Also, make sure to like our Facebook page!
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Jay and Mark are joined by Rob and Duff (of the Titanic Minute podcast) to discuss “Obstacles,” the 22nd chapter on the Deep Blue Sea DVD. In this episode, they discuss bathroom love, petty sea creatures, and pizza DVDs. Enjoy!
Make sure to follow Rob (@rmlumley), Duff (@TheSixFinger), The Titanic Minute (@TitanicMinute), Tombstone Minute (@TombstoneMinute) and A Free Podcast (@AFreePodcast) on Twitter.
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Deep Blue Sea – The Podcast – Chapter 21: Cheeky Zippers, Bionic Strut Muffins and Baking
You can listen to Deep Blue Sea – The Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Tunein, Podcast Addict, Amazon, Google Podcasts, and everywhere else you listen to podcasts. Also, make sure to like our Facebook page!
Please make sure to rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Jay and Mark are joined by Megan Hofmeyer (of the Movies, Films and Flix podcast) to discuss “All Relative,” the 21st chapter on the Deep Blue Sea DVD. They also wonder how Preacher would do if he entered the Great British Bake Off, and if Preacher Scoggins could star in Tango & Cash. In this episode, they discuss hallway scenes, deep squats, and cheeky zippers. Enjoy!
Please rate, review, share and subscribe to the podcast!
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The Movies, FIlms and Flix Podcast – Episode 328: Face/Off, John Woo and Evil Smoking
You can download or stream the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker (or wherever you listen to podcasts…..we’re almost everywhere).
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
The MFF podcast is back, and this week we’re discussing the beautiful 1997 action film Face/Off. Directed by John Woo, and starring Nicolas Cage, John Travolta and Joan Allen, this insane film features face swapping, bombs with insanely long timers, and glorious overacting. We love this film, and had a great researching the production and talking about why it’s so popular with critics and audiences. In this episode, we discuss John Woo’s brilliance, boat fights, and John Travolta smoking cigarettes’ like an evil person.
If you are a fan of the podcast, make sure to send in some random listener questions so we can do our best to not answer them correctly. We thank you for listening, and hope you enjoy the episode!
You can download the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker.
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Thoughts – Adapted from their 2018 stage play, Director Kornél Mundruzcó and writer Kata Wéber make an excellent English language debut with Pieces of a Woman. Grade – A
Releasing on Netflix in January 2021, the film focuses on the fallout of a complicated home birth that ends tragically. The majority of the press will be focused on the super intricate 22-minute single take shot that kicks off the film, but, after those harrowing 22 minutes, get ready for a story rarely seen on screen. What makes Pieces of a Woman work so well are the quieter moments that showcase the excellent performances from Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, Sarah Snook, Ben Safdie and Iliza Shlesinger.
Filmed with a fly on the wall sensibility, the cinematography by Benjamin Loeb (who also shot Mandy, one of my favorite movies of recent memory), allows us to watch as Martha (Kirby) attempts to go about her life after the tragedy. The film always shows, and rarely tells as she attempts to go back to work, deal with a grief-stricken mother, and cope with a marriage that is falling apart, as Sean (LaBeouf) , her husband, falls back into addiction. The experience is often harrowing, but it’s also rewarding as Mundruzcó and Wéber allow the performances to breathe with long static shots, and show us just enough to prove that they respect the viewers, and their ability to put all the pieces together. For instance, Martha’s decision to have her child be used for medical research, shocks her mother and husband, however, it’s clear (without her saying) that she wants the loss to mean something, and that means providing something that could help children in the future.
While the examination of grief and sadness will alienate viewers looking for a casual viewing experience, Pieces of a Woman is worth watching because it’s something people rarely see. Also, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments enrich the film, and if you aren’t watching closely, you might confuse the experience as empty (several critics have done this), which is sad because it’s loaded with excellent moments and depth.
Watching excellent actors inhabiting a wonderfully shot world is always a good thing. I appreciated the uncomfortable moments, and the descent into grief felt earned and real. The movie doesn’t make it easy, and it rarely explores the inner feelings of the characters, and because of that, we were given something exciting and unique.
Make sure to catch Pieces of a Woman when it is released on Netflix!
Movies, Films & Flix 