Subscriber-only episodeJackie and Greg are trapped in a post-Manson Los Angeles for Russ Meyer's BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS from 1970. Topics of discussion include the film's origins as a non-sequel, its screenplay by Roger Ebert, how it fails as a satire, and whether the film's bad taste works for or against it.The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from the fringes of cinema, encompassing underground, experimental, cult, camp,...
Jackie and Greg bear witness to the decadence and raging sexuality of a small English mining town for Ken Russell's WOMEN IN LOVE from 1969. Topics of discussion include the film's origins as an adaptation of D. H. Lawrence's classic novel, the quartet of characters at the center of the film, how it was cutting edge for its time, and why it resonates with Greg so much.The continuation of our "Personal Prints" series where Jackie and Greg venture off the Sight & Sound list to explore films...
Jackie and Greg are joined by Felicia Maroni of the Seeing Faces in Movies podcast for Luchino Visconti's THE LEOPARD from 1963. Topics of discussion include Burt Lancaster's performance as an Italian prince, the film's scale, how it holds its characters at a distance, and whether it should be the only Visconti on the list or not.#57 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#90 on Sight &...
Jackie and Greg bust out the blue paint and dynamite for Jean-Luc Godard's PIERROT LE FOU from 1965. Topics of discussion include the film's radical structure, its many references to art and cinema, whether it works as a film or a museum piece, and a debate on the validity of Godard's filmmaking.#43 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#85 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Films o...
Subscriber-only episodeJackie and Greg turn up the camp for Mark Robson's VALLEY OF THE DOLLS from 1967. Topics of discussion include the film's subtlety (or lack thereof), its wild production history, cult status, and how it's stuck between the Old and New Hollywood.The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from the fringes of cinema, encompassing underground, experimental, cult, camp, genre, horror, and B-movies. S'mores episodes are...
Jackie and Greg get pulled into the seedy underbelly of Orson Welles' TOUCH OF EVIL from 1958. Topics of discussion include the film's tangible atmosphere, Charlton Heston's portrayal of a Mexican, the film's torrid post-production history, and how it compares to other seminal film noirs.#57 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#108 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Films of All T...
Jackie and Greg stare off into the distance in turn-of-the-century Stockholm for Carl Theodor Dreyer's GERTRUD from 1964. Topics of discussion include its placement in Dreyer's filmography, how Nina Pens Rode’s lead is one of the most pathetic characters in cinema, and why it's dull as dishwater. Is this their most hated film on the list so far?#43 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#13...
Jackie and Greg step into the silver screen for Buster Keaton's SHERLOCK JR. from 1924. Topics of discussion include Keaton's cinematic innovation, the economy of his storytelling, how he compares to other silent comedians, and why the magic of cinema is eternal.#59 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#54 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://ww...
Subscriber-only episodeJackie and Greg take a trip to Dinosaur World for Paul Flaherty's CLIFFORD from 1994. Topics of discussion include the chemistry between Martin Short and Charles Grodin, how it was reviled upon release, famous fans of the film, and how it subverts the trappings of the 1990s family movie.The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from the fringes of cinema, encompassing underground, experimental, cult, camp, genre,...
Jackie and Greg soak up Miami's resort life for Billy Wilder's SOME LIKE IT HOT from 1959. Topics of discussion include the film's status as one of the most popular comedies ever made, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis' pairing, whether the film plays into Marilyn Monroe's image as a "dumb blonde" or not, and where it fits into Wilder's filmography.#43 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#38 o...
Jackie and Greg don their powdered wigs and dueling pistols for Stanley Kubrick's BARRY LYNDON from 1975. Topics of discussion include the film's origins as a Napoleon biopic, the lead performance from Ryan O'Neal, how its reputation has grown over the years, and why the public discourse needs to evolve beyond the look of the film (which, we agree, is stunning).#59 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films...
Jackie and Greg discuss Satyajit Ray’s PATHER PANCHALI from 1955. Topics of discussion include Ray’s mastery of the medium, Ravi Shankar’s glistening score, whether the film romanticizes poverty or not, and why it’s one of the best films ever made.#41 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#35 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/si...
Subscriber-only episodeJackie and Greg try their hand at the game of chuck-a-luck for Fritz Lang's RANCHO NOTORIOUS from 1952. Topics of discussion include the film's absurdity, Lang's falling out with Marlene Dietrich, what they would change in a remake, and how Arthur Kennedy does more harm than good in the lead role.The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from the fringes of cinema, encompassing underground, experimental, cult, ca...
Jackie and Greg get in bed with Jean-Pierre Léaud for Jean Eustache's THE MOTHER AND THE WHORE from 1973. Topics of discussion include the film's runtime, its autobiographical nature, the subversive casting of Léaud, and its frank depiction of sex and the bohemian lifestyle in France post-May 1968. #59 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#104 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Fil...
Jackie and Greg take flight on their homemade brooms for Hayao Miyazaki's KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE from 1989. Topics of discussion include Miyazaki's escapist worlds, the slice-of-life nature of the film, how its meaning changes as you revisit it as an adult, and why Studio Ghibli is the best.The continuation of our "Personal Prints" series where Jackie and Greg venture off the Sight & Sound list to explore films that are special and/or formative to them.Check us out on Instagram: instagra...
Jackie and Greg take a drive to Naples for Roberto Rossellini's JOURNEY TO ITALY from 1954. Topics of discussion include the film's minimalism, its frank treatment of a marriage on the rocks, Rossellini's scandalous affair with star Ingrid Bergman, and its influence on all of the "break-up films" that came afterwards, #41 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#72 on Sight & Sound'...
Subscriber-only episodeJackie and Greg take a flight to the Swedish countryside for Ari Aster's MIDSOMMAR from 2019. Topics of discussion include Jackie's aversion to horror movies, Aster's themes of family, grief, and trauma, a touch on the history of folk horror, and why Florence Pugh's powerhouse performance is one of the most memorable in recent years. The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from the fringes of cinema, encompassi...
Jackie and Greg step back in time to feudal Japan for Kenji Mizoguchi's SANSHO THE BAILIFF from 1954. Topics of discussion include the film's origins as a centuries-old folktale, Mizoguchi's masterful direction, the ethereal ghost story that hangs over the film, and whether it's more optimistic or pessimistic.#59 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-all-time-2012#75 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Gr...
Jackie and Greg join the swinging parties of 1960s Rome for Federico Fellini's LA DOLCE VITA. Topics of discussion include the film's decadence, sex and celebrity as the new religion, how it marked a transition for Fellini from the more grounded films of the 1950s into his more bombastic work, and the amount of visual detail he packs into the film to help tell his story.#39 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/great...
Jackie and Greg take a drive down memory lane for their discussion of Ingmar Bergman's WILD STRAWBERRIES from 1957. Topics of discussion include the film's sentimentality, where it sits in Bergman's filmography, how its most powerful moments make up for its shortcomings, the influence of Dickens and THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE, and why it'll endure for generations to come.#63 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list.https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-f...