Groovy Movies

As the set comes down from the biggest celebration of the least-viewed cinematic triumphs of the year, we take stock of Sean Bakers success with Anora and attempt to map the blueprints of The Brutalist's anticlimatic awards season. Was it a grand failure or a misunderstood masterpiece? Probably neither but listen to find out. ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original music by James Bra...

It’s the 30 year anniversary of David Fincher’s Seven, otherwise known as the OG unboxing video. Be prepared for spoilers as we discuss the iconic ending that almost wasn’t and why real serial killers never live up to the hype. References Seven’s script Seven’s cinematography by David E. Williams for theasc.com Behind-The-Scenes Stories From The Making Of 'Se7en' by Mike McGranaghan for ranker.com ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited and...

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like age-gap office affairs and BDSM, so with that in mind, we bring you Halina Reijn’s Babygirl. It may have been snubbed at the Oscars but we shant be overlooking this orgasm-forward, kink-celebrating homage to the 90s erotic thriller. References Vanity Fair piece on Babygirl by David Canfield Halina Reijn on Bridging Hollywood’s “Orgasm Gap” by Scott Roxborough Cinematographer Jasper Wolf on working on Babygirl ----------- If you love what we d...

Remember when teen pregnancy was a thing? This week we discuss Juno, the movie that reinvented this particular noughties trend and made stars out of Elliot Page, Michael Cera and the film’s screenwriter, Diablo Cody. We discuss what makes the script so good and why people hated it. There is also space to reminisce about the heyday of director’s commentaries. This movie had an excellent one with Diablo Cody and the film’s director, Jason Reitman. Is there a way to bring them back? Refe...

This week we do a compare-and-contrast between Robert Egger’s Nosferatu and the 1922 German silent film it's based on. We deep-dive into the mad production story of the original, why Bram Stoker owes Nosferatu an apology and somehow pitstop at Yoga Hosers and Robbie William’s new film Better Man along the way. References Watch Nosferatu (1922) here Yoga Hosers (2016) trailer Shadow of a vampire (2000) trailer ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Ed...

In honour of David Lynch who died last week - though serendipitously we recorded the episode a few weeks before - this episode we discuss his feature debut, Eraserhead. A film so freaky, so funny and utterly unique. Just like the man himself. References David Lynch’s documentary, Eraserhead Stories Interviews with the Eraserhead cast ‘The Epic Influence of David Lynch's Eraserhead, from Kubrick to Star Wars’ by Garin Pirnia for Esquire Interview with Lynch from Chris Rodley’s 1997 book ...

We go behind-the-scenes of an overlooked gem which is finally getting the attention it deserves, thanks to a 4K restoration by Mubi. Tarsem Singh's debut feature The Fall is a globe-trotting feast for the eyes, with a transformative performance by first-time actor, the then six-year-old Catinca Untaru. We strongly recommend catching it on Mubi before listening to the episode. References Behind-the-scenes documentary 'Wanderlust and Nostalgia' Tarsem Singh on the making of The Fall by Christ...

This week we sift through the web lore of one of the original multiverse movies, Donnie Darko. We relish seeing adolescent Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal squabble at the dinner table and ponder why a 23-year-old directing wunderkind never succeeded with a follow-up. References Pages from the fictional book "The Philosophy of Time Travel" by Roberta Sparrow aka Grandma Death Donnie Darko’s BTS production video diary An oral history of Donnie Darko ----------- If you love what we do, pl...

To kick off a new series, we’re starting with the biggest film of 2024 - that’s biggest by our personal metrics. Expect a detailed breakdown of the lens required to achieve such a revolting zoom on Dennis Quaid munching prawn heads and a rant about why this is not Demi Moore’s comeback. References Interview with Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Coralie Fargeat A breakdown of the set design of The Substance The kind of headline Lily doesn’t appreciate ----------- If you love what we do, plea...

We had to, it was unavoidable. Francis Ford Coppola's 40-year-long passion project has finally come to fruition and it was important that we discussed it. So here is a bonus episode. Listen as we attempt to decipher how, what and why. Just why? References That hotel Coppola owns for filmmakers Twelve Against The Gods by William Bolitho Ryall A BTS argument on Bram Stoker’s Dracula between FFC and Gary Oldman "Making a Mess: A History of Megalopolis" by Be Kind Rewind ----------- If you lov...

This week on our season finale we look at three box office and critical successes which you might not know were directed by women. In the hot seat is Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, Penelope Spheeris’ Wayne’s World and Mary Harron’s American Psycho. We also almost (but not quite) dodge the Blake Lively controversy and talk about the films we’re looking forward to this autumn. See you for season 5! References ‘Warner Brothers to put a studio in the dessert’, by Brian Welk, indiewire.com ‘How A...

Between the weather and the state of the world, it’s been a pretty sad summer, so we’re sticking with that theme as we look at some of the best sad girls on film holiday. We discuss Charlotte Rampling in Francois Ozon’s Swimming Pool, Scarlett Johansson in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (and Bill Murray too) and Pauline Collins as Lewis Gilbert’s Shirley Valentine. References Peter Dinklage discussing the live action remake of Snow White on Marc Maron’s podcast in 2022 ‘Todd Haynes’ Jo...

From Dune 2 to Deadpool and Wolverine, there have been a surprising number of hit sequels this year. So this week we’re asking the question, what makes that cinematic blue moon of a part 2 that is better than part 1? References The Strasberg school’s definition of method acting On Location with The Godfather: A Discussion with Gordon Willis (director of photography), theasc.com An oral history of The Terminator 2 ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review!...

Why talk about good films when we could talk about spectacularly bad ones? This week we discuss four infamous films that left their directors and studios in financial and/or reputational ruin. On the chopping block is Francis Ford Coppola’s One From The Heart, Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, Elaine May’s Ishtar and, of course, Tom Hooper’s Cats. Enjoy. References Hulk Smash’s takedown of Tom Hooper Steven Soderbergh’s Butcher’s Cut of Heaven’s Gate ----------- If you love what we do, pl...

You honestly wouldn’t believe how many great films came out in 1999. The Matrix, Fight Club, The Blair Witch Project, The Talented Mr Ripley, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Sixth Sense, Notting Hill, The Mummy, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About You. We could go on… It’s the 25th anniversary of this auspicious year and cinemas are getting in on the action, with 1999 seasons playing at many theatres. So we’re following suit. We discuss our favourites from this particularly good...