Ain't Dey Beauts

This week we're joined by Emily Heller, Recommendations Editor at Vulture, to talk about Bo Burnham's 2018 debut, Eighth Grade. We talk about tracing his growth as a performer and human from his specials to this film, the ways Anna Meredith's score resemble a John Carpenter film, and being nice to our parents - among other things.

On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Non-Linear Narratives.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Read Emily's work here and follow her on Twitter @ emilypheller!

Our highlighted charity this week is Abortion Access Front, a team of comedians, writers, and producers that uses humor to destigmatize abortion and expose the extremist anti-choice forces working to destroy access to reproductive rights in all 50 states. Support them directly here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy New Year!

This week we're joined by Kate Eastman to talk about Baz Luhrmann's 1992 debut feature, Strictly Ballroom. We talk about the cutthroat world of ballroom dancing, the incredible Barry Otto, and about how budgetary limitations help our art. We also talk about Christopher Nolan for a bit, and pause momentarily to growl.

On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Moments That Made Us Cheer Out Loud.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Keep an eye out next year for a mysterious Netflix show that Kate is in that we couldn't talk about!

Our highlighted charity this week is The Yellowhammer Fund, who seeks to meet the needs of those living in or traveling to Alabama for reproductive healthcare needs, providing financial and practical support for those who are pregnant and require assistance. You can support them directly here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy Holidays!

Today we're joined by Emily MacLeod to talk about David Wain's 2001 debut feature, Wet Hot American Summer. We talk about our connection to summer camp, break down the massively influential cast, read the list of rejected titles for the film, and correct some misconceptions about what an "associate professor" is.

On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Movies Where the Costumes Are Better Than the Movie.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Listen to this movie is gay!

We've got two highlighted charities this week:

1. Speak About It uses theater and dialogue to highlight diverse identities and share practical tools for sexual assault prevention. Support Speak About It directly here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy Holidays!

Welcome to a Very Special Episode of Ain't Dey Beauts - our first commentary! We're joined by playwright Matt Minnicino to talk about Brian Henson's debut feature, The Muppet Christmas Carol - the first film to be released after Jim Henson's death in 1990. We talk about our deep personal connection to this film, various versions of the Dickens classic, the song that was cut for the theatrical release, dive a bit into Brian Henson's legacy, and tell the story of the day Matt learned the true meaning of Christmas.

To watch along with the film - which we recommend - you can sync the podcast up starting at 56:45 (yes, we talk for an entire hour before the film). Listen for the countdown and the sound cue! We are watching the film on Disney+. If you're watching on a home release, we watch the theatrical version in widescreen. We do not stop to watch the cut song, but we think you'll be plenty satisfied with how much love we give it.

(Disclaimer: for some reason, I refer to 1993 as the year this film came out, but it was 1992. Whoops. Also, there's some brief echoing, which you can pretend are just our ghosts.)

On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Christmas Movies.

You can read Matt's plays on the wonderful New Play Exchange (a resource we both love), and follow along with what he's up to over at his website.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

We've got two highlighted charities this week!

1. National Black Food and Justice Alliance (NBFJA) organizes for black food and land by increasing the visibility of visionary Black leadership, advancing Black people’s struggle for just and sustainable communities, and building power in our food systems and land stewardship. You can support NBFJA directly here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy Holidays!

This week, we're joined by Cullen Atchley, co-host of Cannes I Kick It, to discuss Sopranos creator David Chase and his only film, 2012's Not Fade Away, an autobiographical meditation on rock music. We talk about why talking about this movie intimidated us, tried to sum up what made James Gandolfini so special, and have more laughs and adventures than anybody - among other things.

On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Opening Scenes.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

You can hear the excellent podcast that Cullen co-hosts, Cannes I Kick It?, wherever you find podcasts, and on Twitter @ CannesIKickIt. Keep an ear out for the remaining two CIKI hosts on Beauts in 2021!

Our highlighted charity this week is SkatePal, a non-profit organisation supporting communities throughout Palestine, promoting the social, health and wellbeing benefits of skateboarding to enhance the lives of local youth. Support SkatePal here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week!

Welcome to our first bonus episode! On certain Fridays, we'll do any number of episode variations: new releases (as this week's was intended!), commentaries, crossovers, solo episodes - Fridays are days to experiment!

All that said, this week's film is not a debut, and you can hear how that happened and why we decided to forge ahead on this episode.

This week, we're joined by Ezra Tozian and Dany Shemaiah to discuss actress Clea DuVall and her second film, Happiest Season, which debuted on Hulu last week. We talk about queer representation in culture, toxic family dynamics, costume design, and how tall Mackenzie Davis is - among other things.

On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Movies We Never Want to See Again.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Catch Dany in various audio dramas over at The Whisperforge!

We've got two highlighted charities this week:

1. HIPS, based in Washington, DC, advances the health, rights, and dignity of people and communities impacted by sex work and drug use by providing non-judgmental harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement led by those with lived experience. You can support HIPS directly here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow me over at Letterboxd to see what I'm watching for the show.

Have a Beaut-iful week!

Lynn Shelton 1965-2020

This week, we're joined by Lee Havlicek to discuss the late Lynn Shelton and her 2006 debut feature, We Go Way Back. We talk about mumblecore, giving ourselves permission to be passionate, Hedda Gabler, and Marc Maron thirst - among other things. We also take the time to pay tribute to Shelton's amazing career and influence.

On Top Five this week, we discuss - courtesy of Katie Logan - our Top Five Dance Scenes.

In the show, we mention an interview Lee did with Lynn Shelton a few years ago - you can read that here. You can also watch this beautiful tribute to her by her friends and collaborators, which occurred shortly after her death.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Our highlighted charity this week is The People's Kitchen, a food security and employment survival project in collaboration with the restaurant South Philly Barbacoa. The Project initiates base building, political education, and organizing strategies in Philadelphia to connect people, through the synergy of food, worker, and cultural platforms, into a movement that grows relationships, stimulates community dialogue, and builds political power, all while serving up 200 free, chef-cooked meals per day. You can directly support The People's Kitchen here!

We'd also like to take a second to talk about how you can support the Georgia Senate runoff elections:

• Write Voter Registration Letters for Georgia Runoff - https://votefwd.org/instructions

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week!

Things to know upfront:

1) CW: This week, there is a brief but frank conversation about an onscreen sexual assault in the movie.

2) We always spoil the movie, but this week, we REALLY spoil the movie.

This week, we're joined by Katie Logan to discuss Drew Goddard's 2012 debut feature, The Cabin in the Woods. We talk about expectations, formula, character archetypes, Kevin, despair, and the ways we're responsible for people we'll never meet - among other things.

On Top Five this week, we discuss - courtesy of Kat - our Top Five Cabins in the Woods. And make sure to stay tuned after the show for Keywords!

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Our highlighted charity this week is Studio Two Three, a grassroots community art organization located in Richmond, VA. Studio Two Three is a print shop, studio space, darkroom, educational facility, store and more - as well as a mobile print and photo making studio in a retrofitted ice cream truck. You can directly support Studio Two Three here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by Kat to discuss Jane Campion and her inaugural feature from 1989, Sweetie. We talk about our mutual admiration for her masterpiece Holy Smoke!, good and bad accent work, the sourpuss co-screenwriter of Sweetie, and which directorial debut might be the longest - among other things.

On Top Five this week, we discuss - courtesy of PJ Desutter - our Top Five Favorite Scores From Bad Kids' Movies. And make sure to stay tuned after the show for Keywords!

Also this week, we introduce a new recurring segment, Kat at Bat, where Kat - the UK's newest baseball fan - talks about what she likes about America's pastime, and what she'd change.

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Our highlighted charity this week is Gendered Intelligence, is a trans-led charity working across the UK to increase the quality of trans people’s life experiences, especially those of young trans people. You can directly support Gendered Intelligence here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Haley's friend!) for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by PJ Desutter to discuss Kevin Smith, who made waves with his 1994 independent Sundance hit Clerks, and built a career on cusses and collaboration. We talk about what sort of opportunities are afforded to new filmmakers, the existential horror of the pre-Sundance cut of Clerks, and how Kevin Smith has evolved and stayed the same - among other things.

We're also introducing two new segments this week. The first, a pre-discussion icebreaker, is Top Five, in which the previous guest submits a Top Five topic that neither I, nor my guest, have seen before. We have five minutes to make our lists, and five minutes each to share. Thanks to Haley Oldham for this week's prompt: Top Five Teen Movies.

Our other new segment, Keywords, replaces our cold read previews of next week's Beaut. At the episode's end, you'll hear a curated and randomized list of IMDb plot keywords for next week's film. Enjoy!

Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.

Check out PJ's filmmaking work on his YouTube page, and listen to Grandma Stuff!

Our highlighted charity this week is The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR). GLAHR educates, organizes and trains the Latino community in Georgia to defend and promote their civil and human rights. You can support GLAHR directly here!

Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Haley's friend!) for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.

Have a Beaut-iful week!