A collaborative exploration of cinematic rhetoric.
From skateboard videos to high-budget science-fiction drama, today Alex and Jonathan track the career of Spike Jonze through his feature films Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation. (2002), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), and Her (2013). We talk about the building of themes and structure in meta filmmaking, what makes interesting protagonists, and the variety… Continue reading Episode 133. Surreal Spike
The combined creative talents of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is one of the biggest forces in the animation industry at the moment, so today Alex and Jonathan take a look at four films they have had a hand in bringing to the big screen: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009), 21 Jump Street… Continue reading Episode 132. Lord & Miller’s Laughs & Mischiefs
Highlighting one of the most innovative animation studios producing content today, Alex and Jonathan look at the four feature films produced by Irish studio Cartoon Saloon: The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), The Breadwinner (2017), and Wolfwalkers (2020). We discuss the unique art style, the various cultural influences, and the ongoing… Continue reading Episode 129. Cartoon Saloon’s (mostly) Celtic Saga
To kick off a new mini-series of podcast episodes this season, Alex and Jonathan look at how various team sports are portrayed in the films Field of Dreams (1989), Remember the Titans (2000), and Invictus (2009). We discuss the ways sports are used in film to bring people together on various levels, the effectiveness of… Continue reading Episode 109. Silver Screen Sports: No I in Team
Jonathan sits down with Hayden Chauffe today to discuss the career of the modern filmmaker's filmmaker, Quentin Tarantino, in the films Reservoir Dogs (1992), Inglourious Basterds (2009), and The Hateful Eight (2015). We talk about Tarantino's literary story structure, the controversies that tend to follow his films, and the way he breaks various rules of… Continue reading Episode 91. Quintessential Quentin Feat. Hayden Chauffe
Our Patreon family has come together to choose the topic this week, so Alex and Jonathan are looking at just that, family, in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), The Incredibles (2004), and The Road (2009). We talk about dysfunctional families, the way films help us to open up and become closer to our family, and the… Continue reading Episode 86. Family Feud [Video]
The Filmlings 