Episode 142. Kiarostami’s Koker

Sit back and enjoy the ride as Alex and Jonathan talk through the road-trip style films of Abbas Kiarostami in Where Is the Friend's House? (1987), And Life Goes On (1992), Through the Olive Trees (1994), and Taste of Cherry (1997). We discuss the way Kiarostami blends truth and fiction, how he uses long takes…

Episode 114. The Movie Brats and the Modern Blockbuster

Near the end of the American New Wave a group of filmmakers burst on Hollywood with a distinct style and they have since been named "The Movie Brats." Today Alex and Jonathan discuss three films from this group: Jaws (1975), Apocalypse Now (1979), The Untouchables (1987). We talk about how Golden Age Hollywood and the…

Episode 100. Not Quite Christmas

To end the fourth season of the show Alex and Jonathan talk about three films that relate to Christmas but might not be considered your traditional "Christmas movie:" Gremlins (1984), Lethal Weapon (1987), and Hook (1991). We talk about what really makes a Christmas movie, how formerly niche genres have slowly crept into the mainstream…

Episode 95. Films de Femmes Trois: Elaine May

Heavens! Today Alex and Jonathan wrap up the Films de Femmes series and look at the varied career of the well-rounded filmmaker and entertainer Elaine May in her films A New Leaf (1971), Mikey and Nicky (1976), and Ishtar (1987). We talk about her background in improvisational comedy, her range of directing styles from comedy…

Episode 88. Jackson’s Journey

Alex and Jonathan trace the ever-maturing career of Peter Jackson through his films Bad Taste (1987), Heavenly Creatures (1994), and They Shall Not Grow Old (2018). We discuss the potential that young filmmakers can show in early, low-budget films, how Jackson adds his fantasy flare to a true-crime story, and the evolution of his dramatic…