DiscoverThe Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff | Film Review | Spoilers
The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff | Film Review | Spoilers
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The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff | Film Review | Spoilers

Author: Wes Evans: Actor, Filmmaker, Director, Writer; Todd Sapio: Actor, Producer, Musician, Athlete

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Cinema lovers unite! Two actors and filmmakers decided to cut through all the fluff and start a movie podcast where they actually discuss the film and not a million other things you don’t care about. Covering the obvious (did you like the movie?) while diving a little deeper (what is Interstellar really about? is there a bootstrap paradox?) we are having an in-depth conversation about movies and see if they hold up to scrutiny, and maybe even inform us about life or moviemaking itself. Because a good movie is often about more than what it’s about. So, let’s see if these Hollywood directors & writers are up to snuff as we cover blockbusters, independent films, direct to Netflix movies, and everything else; maybe your next favorite film is an indie you haven’t even heard of, let us introduce you to another way of watching movies.
361 Episodes
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Ep 361: “Hero” (1992)

Ep 361: “Hero” (1992)

2026-03-1701:01:20

We rescue Dustin Hoffman’s “Hero” and discuss: Cinematography, revelation shots, exposure; Story & Writing, news reporting, human nature; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.“ – Plato Notes & References: Supports us […] The post Ep 361: “Hero” (1992) appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 360: “Warfare”

Ep 360: “Warfare”

2026-03-1001:11:00

We celebrate Ray Mendoza + Alex Garland’s “Warfare” and discuss: Sound design, perspective, realism vs heightened sound effects; Story & Writing, screenplay notes on flow and authenticity; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Every film about war ends up being pro-war“ – Francois Truffaut Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! […] The post Ep 360: “Warfare” appeared first on The Pestle.
We bet on David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” and discuss: Cinematography, effective cinematography; Story & Writing, art as therapy, having a goal, story engine, mental illness onscreen; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former […] The post Ep 359: “Silver Linings Playbook” appeared first on The Pestle.
We plug into Gore Verbinski’s “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” and discuss: Cinematography, pacing scenes for the edit; Story & Writing, thought experiments as a basis for stories, the solution to technology; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “If someone picks up a third party and throws him at you down at […] The post Ep 358: “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 357: “Iron Lung”

Ep 357: “Iron Lung”

2026-02-1701:17:07

We dive into Markiplier’s “Iron Lung” and discuss: Cinematography, detail shots, coloring in post; Story & Writing, pacing, exposition; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “At the risk of saying you should make a self-indulgent film for your first movie: you should make a self-indulgent film for your first movie.“ – Mark Duplass […] The post Ep 357: “Iron Lung” appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 356: “Send Help”

Ep 356: “Send Help”

2026-02-1001:12:41

We hail Sam Raimi’s “Send Help” and discuss: Intro: Every movie is a universe, AI vs the cost of art and creativity 00:00-17:37; Story & Writing, loglines, horror comedy expectations, exposition; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.“ – Marilyn Monroe Notes & […] The post Ep 356: “Send Help” appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 355: “Troy”

Ep 355: “Troy”

2026-02-0301:12:13

We sneak into Brad Pitt’s “Troy” and discuss: Cinematography, scale; Story & Writing, themes, war, love, immortality; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.“ – John Steinbeck Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! Bastiat’s “That which is seen and […] The post Ep 355: “Troy” appeared first on The Pestle.
We commune with Nia DaCosta’s “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” and discuss: Story & Writing, humanity, themes; Audio mix and the problem with jump scares; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.“ – Carl Sagan Notes & References: Supports us […] The post Ep 354: “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” appeared first on The Pestle.
We invade Ethan Hawke’s “The Purge” and discuss: Story & Writing, high concept, agitating the audience, close calls; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I don’t favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. […] The post Ep 353: “The Purge” appeared first on The Pestle.
We stroll through The Duffer Brothers’ “Stranger Things” Finale and discuss: Story & Writing, finales, plot armor, traditional 5-act structure for TV, dramatic moments; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Anyone who has ever been privileged to direct a film also knows that, although it can be like trying to write ‘War and […] The post Ep 352: “Stranger Things” Finale appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 351: “Zodiac”

Ep 351: “Zodiac”

2025-12-30--:--

We uncover David Fincher’s “Zodiac” and discuss: Cinematography, angles, handheld vs stable; Story & Writing, true crime stories, identifying with the characters; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.“ – Alfred Hitchcock Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! […] The post Ep 351: “Zodiac” appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 350: “Argo”

Ep 350: “Argo”

2025-12-23--:--

We extract Ben Affleck’s “Argo” and discuss: Cinematography, camerawork; Story & Writing, mini-movie method; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “God help me if I ever do another movie with an explosion in it. If you see me in a movie where stuff is exploding you’ll know I’ve lost all my money.“ – […] The post Ep 350: “Argo” appeared first on The Pestle.
We carve up Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds” and discuss: Review at 17:00 Cinematography, camera movement, the Bob Richardson special; Story & Writing, conflict through character wants; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Joan of Arc: “You say that you are my judge; I do not know if you are; but take good heed not […] The post Ep 349: “Inglorious Basterds” appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 348: “Cocktail”

Ep 348: “Cocktail”

2025-11-2552:25

We stir Tom Cruise’s “Cocktail” and discuss: Cinematography, wide angles, edge light; Story & Writing, money, whiplash; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Remember that failure is an event, not a person“ – Zig Ziglar Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! Peaky Blinders scene “What line am I supposed to […] The post Ep 348: “Cocktail” appeared first on The Pestle.
We clean Natalie Portman’s “The Professional” and discuss: Cinematography, widescreen; Story & Writing, Leon, the final battle; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.“ – Confucius Notes & References: Supports us on our Patreon here! Watch us on YouTube! This Week’s Recommendations: “The […] The post Ep 347: “The Professional” (1994) appeared first on The Pestle.
We hunt Elle Fanning’s “Predator: Badlands” and discuss: Screenwriting, methods to start a script 0:00-18:53; Cinematography, creating a visual look; Story & Writing, revealing character through actions, theme, weapons; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Sometimes I write drunk and revise sober.“ – Peter De Vries, from “Reuben, Reuben” Notes & References: Supports […] The post Ep 346: “Predator: Badlands” appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 345: “REC”

Ep 345: “REC”

2025-11-0444:22

We press “REC” and discuss: Subtitles vs dubbing; Cinematography, lighting, camerawork; Story & Writing, runtime, immersion, themes; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “People say you never remember anybody who dies in movies, and it’s true, you don’t. You don’t even remember people who disappear.“ – Danny Boyle Notes & References: Supports us […] The post Ep 345: “REC” appeared first on The Pestle.
We shred Jeremy Saulnier’s “Green Room” and discuss: Cinematography, lighting, salt & pepper; Story & Writing, moments of tension, pockets of action, grounding us, theme; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they […] The post Ep 344: “Green Room” appeared first on The Pestle.
Ep 343: “Tron: Ares”

Ep 343: “Tron: Ares”

2025-10-2101:05:15

We go inside “Tron: Ares” and discuss: Story & Writing, small details, exposition, likeable characters; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge […] The post Ep 343: “Tron: Ares” appeared first on The Pestle.
We clobber Dwayne The Rock Johnson’s “The Smashing Machine” and discuss: Story & Writing, exposition, stakes, finales; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I’m always asked, ‘What’s the secret to success?’ But there are no secrets. Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.“ – Dwayne Johnson Notes […] The post Ep 342: “The Smashing Machine” appeared first on The Pestle.
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Comments (2)

Release The Kraken

I love this podcast!

Oct 4th
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Medea Sin

The name Diana comes from the Roman goddess of the same name.

Jan 9th
Reply