Film Maker / Film Watcher

It’s been a long break between episodes – a whole Christmas cycle in fact.  Following tradition, Richard and Greg get their reviewing skates on with three Christmas movies, as a lead-in to our rapidly approaching Season 5.  Are they rusty?  Are the films Christmassy enough for Greg?  And has he brought another seasonal sound effect to antagonise Richard?  There’s ho-ho-only one way to find out…The Shop Around the Corner (1940)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-corner National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-lampoon Mon Oncle Antoine (1971)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-antoine 

Season 4 has been bookended by THREE Christmas episodes – so “seasonal” greetings are in order.  Richard and Greg keep with tradition and review three Christmas films – including a musical about a Christmas zombie invasion (which is just SO in keeping with the spirit of the last year).  But what Christmas prop will Greg bring in this year to keep Richard in line?Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-anna The Bishop’s Wife (1947)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-bishop A Sunburnt Christmas (2020)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-sunburnt 

Melbourne has gone from the world’s most livable city to the most locked-down – and our Season 4 has stretched across this period.  Way back in “the early days”, we held a Friday Quarantine Film Night festival to restore the shared film-watching experience to our audience. Now that we’re (finally! hurray!) coming out of lockdown, we bookend Season 4 with reviews of three of those FQFN feature films as a pretty-darn-obvious exercise in nostalgia.Heartbreaker (2010)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-10-breaker Departures (2008)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-10-departures A Matter of Life and Death  -- also known as “Stairway to Heaven” (1946)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-10-matter 

Our reviewers seek lockdown escapism through films based on Disneyland rides, despite the fact that one of them has never been on these rides.  But they sidestep the obvious choice – as Richard was born on “Talk Like a Pirate Day” (and needs no encouragement to perform) and Greg’s afraid of Caribbean planks.The Haunted Mansion (2003)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-09-mansion Jungle Cruise (2021)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-09-jungle Tomorrowland (2015)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-09-tomorrow 

Richard and Greg leave the Confessional to push deeper into the spiritual realm.  They sample three ghostly films across different genres (horror, comedy, and existential exploration).  Of course, one reviewer’s “existential exploration” can be another’s snoozefest.  The abiding philosophical question is: Which reviewer felt which?Extra Ordinary (2019)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-08-extraA Ghost Story (2017)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-08-storyPoltergeist 2: The Other Side (1986)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-08-side

It’s Greg’s turn in the FMFW Confessional and there are significant gaps in his Film Watching CV.  Although he makes an interesting myth diagnosis of “Pretty Woman”, our first two films are but pitstops on the way to the Big Question – has Richard’s beloved “Rocky” improved Greg’s opinion of Sylvester Stallone since our Season 1 review of “Cliffhanger”?  Perhaps that’s why our middle film is “Great Expectations”…Pretty Woman (1990)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-07-pretty Great Expectations (1946)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-07-expect Rocky (1976)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-07-rocky 

Here at the FMFW Podcast, we like to play a little game – are there well-known films that our reviewers “confess” to not yet seeing?  This episode, Richard steps into the FMFW Confessional.  Will his sins of omission be original (or merely venial)?  More importantly, will Greg ever forgive Richard his opinion of a favoured film?Galaxy Quest (1999)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-06-quest Dolores Claiborne (1995)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-06-dolores Twelve Angry Men (1957)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-06-twelve 

Pandemic Lockdown sucks – so Richard and Greg decide they need a good laugh.  Each chooses a sure-thing comedy (previously unseen by the other) to give them that lift.  And then they both watch a Marx Brothers film for the first time.  Does it work?  Does a bear do stand-up in the woods? Duck Soup (1933)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-04-soup Happy Gilmore (1996)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-04-happy Rat Race (2001)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-04-race

Only three films have ever won the “Big 5” Oscars: Actor, Actress, Screenplay, Director and Film. And this is where we’d usually tell you their titles (with links). But let’s keep a sense of mystery this time and reveal them as we go. We’ll tell you now that they’re from the Thirties, Seventies and Nineties. The rest is up to you (no Googling!) Our special thanks to listener Natasha Broadstock for suggesting this topic.

In the spirit of “Bring Your Child To Work Day”, our podcasters ask Sebastian, Cass and Théo to each choose a film and then review it with their Dads. The Sons display their inner geek – and Richard and Greg learn that their legacy is in safe hands. Three sons, three movies: it couldn’t have been better scripted! But which movie was transformed by flatulence…? Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-03-star Ready Player One (2018) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-03-player The Usual Suspects (1995) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-03-suspects

Richard and Greg finally get round to reviewing three musicals mentioned way back in Season 1 – all musicals about people who are themselves creating musical experiences. On two of these films, they’re highly aligned. But one film leaves Greg apologising for trampling all over Richard’s dreams. Is that why Greg tells Richard that they’ll always have Casablanca…? Moulin Rouge! (2001) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-02-rouge Once (2007) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-02-once All That Jazz (1979) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-02-jazz

Melbourne has been in pandemic lockdown. So Richard and Greg record their first distanced podcast (socially, not emotionally). They start this series by reviewing three films that regularly appear on Bad Movie lists. Can their scores rival their lowest yet – half a point for “Showgirls” in Series 2? Tune in and find out… Battlefield Earth (2000) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-01-earth Howard the Duck (1986) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-01-duck Gigli (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-01-gigli

Can it be Christmas again already? Richard and Greg have been in Pandemic Lockdown throughout 2020, working at a safe distance from each other (if such a thing exists) to develop Season 4. Ironically, now that they’re allowed out again, they stay home to watch two Christmas Classics with ardent fanbases – and then jump forward to last Christmas to review …um… …well… “Last Christmas”. A Christmas Story (1983) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-story The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-nightmare Last Christmas (2019) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-last

Not so much a Christmas message, more of a cross-promotion (which sounds more Easterish than Christmassy). Greg stops by to tell you about our Season 4 AND another podcast that Richard has been working on this year. You’ll find “Killing Phar Lap: A Forensic Investigation” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or the webpage https://killingpharlap.podomatic.com And while you’re listening to that, Greg will be working on a Christmas pun about “cross promoting” and Ebenezer Scrooge…

Welcome to our final episode of the Friday Quarantine Film Night! We decided to get all festive to celebrate. We start with “Lila” – a charming 9-minute Spanish/Argentinian film with which we have a personal connection. You’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-11-short And then we have the 1946 Christmas classic “It's a Wonderful Life”. It’s a terrific film – the first that Richard and Greg agreed as a 10. You’ll find its IMDB profile at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-11-film You can watch it on Stan – or rent/buy it via iTunes, Microsoft, Google Play or YouTube. After you’ve watched it, you can listen to our review in our Series 1 Xmas 2015 Episode. And then don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page. Thanks for coming!

This week we’re watching local films. “Rebooted” is a 13-minute Australian short made last year. It’s a loving tribute to the stop-motion animation of Ray Harryhausen. You’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-10-short As a companion piece, we recommend a 2-minute excerpt of Harryhausen’s work on YouTube which you’ll find at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-10-extra Then it’s on to New Zealand’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” starring Sam Neill and made in 2016. If you’re quick, it’s on SBS streaming in Australia (until next Monday 29 June 2020) at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-10-film You can also watch it on Foxtel – or rent/buy it via iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft or YouTube. Don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page. (Thank you)

We’re staying in to watch Kids’ films this week, regardless of your age. We begin with the 7½-minute French short “Jubilé” about how the Queen is helped by a corgi and a guardsman. You’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-09-short Our US feature film is called “Shorts” from the director of both the “Spy Kids” series and “From Dusk to Dawn”. This is an imaginative story about what happens when kids and adults get hold of a wishing-stone. It’s inventive and gross at times. Probably not one for the littlies. You’ll find its IMDB profile at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-09-film You can watch it on Netflix – or rent/buy it via iTunes, Google Play or Microsoft. And WE wish you’d leave your responses on our Facebook page. (Thank you)

It’s Westerns Week! Our short film this week is a 9-minute US comedy from 2014. You’ll find “The Gunfighter” at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-08-short Then our feature film provides a different spin on the genre. It’s the 2015 Australian film “The Dressmaker”. You’ll find its IMDB profile at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-08-film and you can rent/buy it via iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft or YouTube. Don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page. (Thank you)

Our short film this week is “Future Boyfriend”. It’s a 10½-minute US film made in 2016 that you’ll find at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-07-short Our feature film is a US documentary that we discussed in Series 2. “Stories We Tell” was made in 2012 and is an exemplar of the form. You’ll find its IMDB profile at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-07-film You can watch it on Stan or Tubi – or rent/buy it via iTunes, Google Play or YouTube. After you’ve watched it, you can listen to our review in Series 2 Episode 7. And then don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page.

Our short film this week was made in Richard and Greg’s home city, Melbourne. “Signs” (2008) is 12½ minutes long – and you’ll find it at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-06-short After this romantic introduction, our feature film is the 2013 Scottish musical “Sunshine on Leith” based on the songs of The Proclaimers. Edinburgh has never looked so beautiful! You’ll find its trailer on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-06-film from where you can rent or buy it. But it’s also available to rent or buy via iTunes, Google Play, and Microsoft. You’ll finish on a high – the perfect time to leave your responses on our Facebook page.

We have two animated shorts for you from the same director in 2012. They are “FriendSheep” (7 minutes) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-05-short01 and “The Smoke Seller” (6½ minutes) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-05-short02 Our feature film is the 2014 NZ horror-comedy “What We Do in the Shadows”. You’ll find it on SBS streaming in Australia (but only till 28 May 2020) at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-05-film But you can also rent or buy it via iTunes, Foxtel, Google Play, Microsoft or YouTube. Don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page. (Thank you)

This week’s Friday Quarantine films are: Negative Space (5½ minutes, 2017) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-04-short Departures (2008 Japanese film) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-04-film The Departures link takes you to SBS streaming in Australia. You can also rent or buy this film via iTunes, Google Play or YouTube. Don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page.

This week’s Friday Quarantine films are: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (15 minutes, 2017) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-03-short Steamboat Bill, Jr. (Buster Keaton) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-03-film Both of these films are on YouTube. You’ll see that they also have something else in common… As a companion piece, we recommend a 9-minute YouTube video about Buster’s continuing impact on modern filmmakers. It’s called “Buster Keaton – The Art of the Gag” which you’ll find at http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-03-extra Don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page.

This week’s Friday Quarantine films are: Alternative Math (9 minutes, 2017) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-02-short Heartbreaker (French, 2010) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-02-film The Heartbreaker link takes you to SBS streaming in Australia. You can also rent or buy this film via iTunes, Google Play or YouTube. Don’t forget to leave your responses on our Facebook page!

We’re trying something new in this age of lockdowns and social distancing. Introducing “Friday Quarantine Film Night” for the shared experience of watching films with others, even though we’re apart in time and space. We’ll nominate both a short and a feature film for you to watch this Friday night – and then you can leave your responses on our Facebook page to share the experience with others. More detailed instructions are in this mini-podcast. Our first Quarantine films are: Bear Story (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-01-short A Matter of Life and Death (1946) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-01-film You’ll find our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/filmmakerfilmwatcher/

And we’re back! Just in time to celebrate the festive season by reviewing Christmas movies, familiar and strange. As a special seasonal bonus, Richard and Greg also present a New Year’s treat – so you get three films for the (non) price of four. This episode comes with a Christmas wish from us to you and yours, however familiar and strange yours may be… Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-mars How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-grinchy Tokyo Godfathers (2003) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-tokyo Dinner for One (1963) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-one

Richard and Greg review their 100th film (Sideways) about two guys on a road trip. So they take a 2000 km road trip of their own to the Australian Podcast Awards. This is possibly the World’s First Ever movie podcast recorded on the road. It’s certainly a world-first for the guys who have never shared a car trip further than the local pizza shop. So there’s only one question: “Is this just the end of Season 3 or the end of their ability to share enclosed spaces – and thus the end of the FMFW podcast…?” Nullarbor (2011) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-nullarbor Thelma & Louise (1991) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-thelmalouise Sideways (2004) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-sideways The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-priscilla

Greg’s kinder friends would say that he’s blissfully unaware of Sports. So why would Richard engage him in conversation about films set in that world? Well, it’s not a complete bust when they review films about American sports and Aussie Rules footy – and Greg is actually highly enthused about one of them… The Blind Side (2009) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-09-blind The Merger (2018) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-09-merger Field of Dreams (1989) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-09-field

Three movies about ordinary people caught up in political upheavals across the globe of the 20th Century. But let’s face it: this episode is just Greg’s excuse to get Richard to watch his favourite South Korean film. Will Richard like it – or are there more politics in the FMFW Studio than all three films combined? Missing (1982) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-08-missing Reds (1981) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-08-red 1987: When the Day Comes (2017) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-08-1987

Cate Blanchett, Dustin Hoffman, Kate Winslet: Richard and Greg don’t personally know any of these big-name actors from across the globe (and their calls are never returned). But the guys go back to these stars’ first Big Films to see what all the fuss was about. If YOU want to go back to see where some major talents began, there’s always our very first episode… Elizabeth (1998) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-07-liz The Graduate (1967) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-07-graduate Heavenly Creatures (1994) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-07-heavenly

After the bingeing of the Christmas season, it might seem a bit much to focus on movies about feasting. But perhaps a virtual pigging-out is the best approach right now. So settle back (perhaps with just a wafer-thin after-dinner mint) – and let Richard and Greg whet your appetite for some movies that will indulge your culinary senses, without rupturing any New Year’s resolutions to which you might still be clinging. Babette's Feast (1987) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-06-feast Big Night (1996) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-06-big Like Water for Chocolate (1992) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-06-water

Two Christmases in one season – this must be what they mean by “all your Christmases coming at once”! Richard and Greg again flit between the heart-warming and darker sides of the Yuletide. Perhaps this is having a long-term effect, as one of our reviewers seems to be feeling more Grinch than Santa’s Helper… Joyeux Noel (2005) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-noel Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-rare01 Rare Exports Inc (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-rare02 Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions (2005) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-rare03 The Santa Clause (1994) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-clause

Ignore the creaking door and the shadow lurking just beyond your vision. Settle down in your seat, plug in your headphones and screw your eyes shut. (Of course, you should ignore this advice if you’re driving.) Either way, step back in time as Richard and Greg watch 20th Century thrillers. Wait Until Dark (1967) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-05-wait The Night of the Hunter (1955) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-05-hunter The Third Man (1949) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-05-third

Richard and Greg decided to help some school students by discussing films on their syllabus. This seemed like a good idea at the time, but (um) in keeping with their school days, Richard and Greg have been late handing in their homework – given that the exams finished last week. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-04-streetcar Invictus (2009) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-04-invictus Rear Window (1954) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-04-window

Surreally Strange Day Episode. Richard and Greg love mainstream films that embrace whimsy and novel ways of telling a story. Or they thought they did – until Greg sits down to watch “Natural Born Killers” at Richard’s behest. There might be a series theme developing here… The One I Love (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-03-love Natural Born Killers (1994) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-03-natural Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-03-eternal

The biggest Confession here is that Greg doesn’t typically watch Westerns – a confession, yes, but perhaps not a surprise. So Richard rides with him into the sunset on his white horse to save the townsfolk. (Also known as dragging him out of his comfort zone) Will Greg become a City Slicker? Yee-haw! Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-02-butch The Searchers (1956) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-02-searchers The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-02-ugly

Being a movie critic can be a lonely life – particularly if your life partner doesn’t want to see the film, and so you sit up alone. (sigh) So Richard and Greg begin this series by asking their life partners to choose a film that they would like to watch. And then Greg asks his Mum for a third film, just so they can keep up their triple-feature format. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-01-mockingbird Much Ado About Nothing (1993) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-01-ado Amélie (2001) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-01-amelie

We are happy to announce that Season 3 of Filmmaker/Filmwatcher will launch on Saturday 28th July!

An episode of traditions and tradition-shakers, not least that our Christmas Special marks the start of our new Season. As per tradition (OK, for the second year running), Richard and Greg review two films that celebrate the Christmas spirit – and a third film that enjoys the Yuletide’s Dark Side. And yet again, Greg brings Christmas crackers to mark the festivities. Our lawyers have advised that you shouldn’t listen to this episode while driving. The Polar Express (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-express Miracle on 34th Street (1947) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-miracle Gremlins (1984) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-gremlins

Richard and Greg again round off the season by discussing films that celebrate the Art of Cinema. This time, they choose movies that use Animation – a technique usually reserved for childhood films – in the service of more adult tales. Of course, Adult doesn’t necessarily mean Grown Up. These films are located across a spectrum between the reflectively bittersweet and the crassly juvenile. And don’t “the kids” just love it! The Triplets of Belleville (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-10-triplets Anomalisa (2015) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-10-anomalisa Team America: World Police (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-10-police

Richard and Greg review three non-English language films that deal with big themes: Marriage, Family and Death. “Monsoon Wedding” is a return visit for both of them – but then they each choose a film for the other’s first encounter. Will this be the time when Greg (finally) likes one of Richard’s favourites...? Monsoon Wedding (2001) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-09-monsoon After Life (1998) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-09-afterlife Ricordati Di Me (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-09-ricordati

Richard and Greg get “epiiiiiiic” in this “epiiiiiiisode”. No swords, no sandals, just three films set in the dramatic sweep of wartime. But what makes them epic – is it their themes, settings or the fact that they run up to 4 hours in length? Our dedicated reviewers put on the coffee, prop their eyelids open, and settle in for the long haul. They manage to agree on two of the three films. As for the other one… Gone with the Wind (1939) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-08-wind Doctor Zhivago (1965) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-08-doctor The English Patient (1996) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-08-patient

As Bugs Bunny said, “What’s Up, Documentary?” Well, not really – but this episode IS about documentaries, although (sadly) none of them are about rabbits, doctors or even cartoons. These films are windows through which you can look into the worlds of Politics, Cinema and Family. And Carrots (but not really). Weiner (2016) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-weiner Salaam Cinema (1995) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-salaam Stories We Tell (2012) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-tell

In this Modern Horror episode, Richard makes Greg step out of his comfort zone and into a small dark room with suspicious fingernail-scraping noises. Does Greg cope – or is this Richard’s revenge for the Modern Musicals episode? And how on earth does a sentence like “I prefer my serial killers to be rational” fit into this context? A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-06-nightmare Scream (1996) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-06-scream The Babadook (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-abadbook

Two proud Australians review three home-grown films of the last quarter-century in our “Aussie Aussie Aussie” episode. (But this episode probably should have been named “Eric Bananarama” – as two of these films star Eric Bana in very different roles, and the other is just Proof that there are still some Australian films that don’t feature him.) Proof (1991) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-05-proof Romulus, My Father (2007) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-05-father Chopper (2000) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-05-chopper

Modern Musicals are in the spotlight this episode. (You can tell they’re modern, because this is the newest batch of films discussed so far.) Greg begins by putting Richard through a Musical Credentials test - and despite Richard’s score, they both go on to review: The Last 5 Years (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-04-years Dancer in the Dark (2000) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-04-dancer La La Land (2016) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-04-lalaland

Our "One-Take Wonders" episode examines movies where the camera purports to be uninterrupted. In homage to this filmic craft, Richard and Greg review three movies without the safety net of podcast editing... which probably explains why this episode is significantly longer than usual. Rope (1948) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-03-rope Russian Ark (2002) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-03-ark Birdman (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-03-birdman

This “Christmas Special” thing is in danger of becoming an annual tradition. Three Christmas movies are reviewed: a holiday classic, a potential evergreen favourite, and an only-recent film. Greg survives watching a horror film. Richard survives watching a musical. Both survive reviewing a film from last year. They all live happily ever after. Elf (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-xmas-elf White Christmas (1954) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-xmas-white Krampus (2015) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-xmas-krampus

Season 2 continues with a different type of Confession from our reviewers. From “What haven’t you seen yet?” to “Which films are a guilty pleasure for you?” Which of our reviewers has a secret passion for one of the all-time turkeys, “Showgirls” – and will the other still speak to him? History of the World: Part I (1981) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-02-history High School Musical (2006) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-02-musical Showgirls (1995) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-02-show

They’re baaaaack! And Richard and Greg have discovered that they actually do have an audience – so Season 2 opens with a By Request episode. Christian, Kathleen and Marita are regular listeners who each nominated a favourite film to be reviewed. (Our reviewers try not to take it personally that the first of these is “The Odd Couple”) The Odd Couple (1968) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-01-odd Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-01-picnic Sunset Boulevard (1950) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-01-sunset

Richard and Greg round off Season 1 with this episode punningly entitled “ODE to Cinema” – but you’ll have to listen to find out why… This was meant to be a lovefest for these cinematic treasures. But it’s not all smooth sailing when Greg encounters the concept of a Director’s Cut. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-10-cairo Cinema Paradiso (1988) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-10-paradiso Hugo (2011) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-10-hugo

Richard and Greg move on from their inner children – to unleash their Guy sides. Action movies a-plenty from the late 20th Century (and Richard sees his first James Bond film from the pre-Daniel Craig era). Cliffhanger (1993) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-09-cliff The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-09-spy Die Hard (1988) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-09-hard

Richard and Greg tap into their not-so-inner children as they review one old and two modern classic family movies. Prepare yourselves for a shock as they turn their attention to a film that was in cinemas only a year ago! The Incredibles (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-08-incredibles Old Yeller (1957) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-08-yeller Paddington (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-08-paddington

In the spirit of the 2015 LA Femme Film Festival, Richard and Greg celebrate, support (and occasionally critique) three films directed by women. You can read more about the Festival at www.lafemme.org Zero Dark Thirty (2012) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-07-zero The Kids Are All Right (2010) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-07-kids Bride and Prejudice (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-07-bride

Richard and Greg have a Big Night In. They watch three films with “big” in the title and go for a big finish. Which is mighty big of them. The Big Chill (1983) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-06-chill The Big Lebowski (1998) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-06-lebowski Big Fish (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-06-fish

Richard takes Greg right back to a silent classic. They then review two films about multiple perspectives – or is that two perspectives on multiple films? Modern Times (1936) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-05-modern Lantana (2001) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-05-lantana Rashomon (1950) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-05-rashomon

Once Greg gets past his shock that ANYONE over the age of 30 could NOT have seen “The Sound of Music”, he and Richard review three apparently unrelated films. Only to discover that there’s an accidental theme linking them all… Cabaret (1972) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-04-cabaret The Sound of Music (1965) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-04-music Dr Strangelove (1964) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-04-strangelove

From the gritty realism of post-war Rome to a light caper film set in Paris. And something halfway between – a grim Orwellian dystopia which our hero seeks to escape through Pythonesque flights of fancy. Brazil (1985) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-03-brazil Bicycle Thieves (1948) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-03-bicycle Charade (1963) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-03-charade

Because everyone has to do a Christmas Special. Richard and Greg each provide their seasonal Christmas film for the other’s premiere viewing – respectfully and with due consideration of feelings (perhaps). And then Richard has his first experience of a bona fide Christmas classic. Scrooged (1988) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-xmas-scrooged Bad Santa (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-xmas-santa It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-xmas-wonder

Richard and Greg each catch up on a seminal Hitchcock film, to get past their fears of heights and showers. Then they revisit a feel-good romantic comedy to lighten the mood. Vertigo (1958) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-02-vertigo Psycho (1960) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-02-psycho Love Actually (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-01-02-actually

Two friends talk about films old and new (but mostly old). Richard Di Gregorio is an award-winning filmmaker who also happens to watch films. Greg Ralph is a film watcher who also happens to...well, watch films. Together they are a couple of guys who love the movies. This podcast invites you to share that love and go back to favourite films - or those you never got round to seeing (like them).