Blockbusters and Birdwalks

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa regard small joys in Christopher Nolan’s debut.

This is part of a series that overlaps with, and extends, Brian Raftery’s 2020 book “Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen”. Primary screenings include: “Following” (Christopher Nolan, 1998), “Varsity Blues” (Brian Robbins, 1999), “The Blair Witch Project” (Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, 1999), “The Matrix” (The Wachowskis, 1999), “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (George Lucas, 1999), “South Park - Bigger, Longer and Uncut” (Trey Parker, 1999), “Free Enterprise” (Robert Meyer Burnett, 1999), “Eyes Wide Shut” (Stanely Kubrick, 1999), “Twin Falls Idaho” (Michael Polish, 1999), “American Beauty” (Sam Mendes, 1999), “Three Kings” (David O. Russell, 1999), “Boys Don't Cry” (Kimberly Peirce, 1999), “Topsy-Turvy” (Mike Leigh, 1999), “Magnolia” (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999), and “Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes” (Cass Paley, 1998). 

An ADDENDA with documentarian Chris Metzler includes: “Arlington Road” (Mark Pellington, 1999), “The Limey” (Steven Soderbergh, 1999), and “American Movie” (Chris Smith, 1999).

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Referenced media:

• “The Odyssey” (Christopher Nolan, 2026)
• “Oklahoma!” (1943) by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II based on the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” (1930) by Lynn Riggs
• “Memento” (Christopher Nolan, 2000)
• “Batman Begins” (Christopher Nolan, 2005)
• “The Dark Knight” (Christopher Nolan, 2008)
• “The Dark Knight Rises” (Christopher Nolan, 2012)
• “Man Bites Dog” (Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, and Benoît Poelvoorde, 1992)
• “Noir Alley” (Eddie Muller, 2017-now)
• “El Mariachi” (Robert Rodriguez, 1993)
• “Pi” (Darren Aronofsky, 1998)
• “Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen” (2020) by Brian Raftery
• “Cruel Intentions” (Roger Kumble, 1999), 
• “EDtv” (Ron Howard, 1999)
• “The Truman Show” (Peter Weir, 1998)
• “The Matrix” (The Wachowskis, 1999)
• “10 Things I Hate About You” (Gil Junger, 1999)
• “Never Been Kissed” (Raga Gosnell, 1999)
• “Go” (Doug Liman, 1999)
• “eXistenZ” (David Cronenberg, 1999)
• “The Mummy” (Stephen Sommers, 1999)
• “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (George Lucas, 1999)

Audio quotation:

• “Following” (Christopher Nolan, 1998), including “Theme” and “Opening” by David Julyan, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa1GuYGt3oGOYmkdrQwPlZ4gXLVsB0zWn
• “David Lynch on iPhones - Full Clip”, posted by Sir Mix-A-Lot Rare Music, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQiQk8AJ0YI
• “Noir Alley: His Kind Of Woman (1951) intro 20190106”, posted by Noir Fan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggsX8WGVkpU&list=PLYb5GBzKMrkcJ5bXLh-2cofQ8YqMOPVrT&index=2
• “1999” (1982) written and performed by Prince, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblt2EtFfC4&list=RDrblt2EtFfC4&start_radio=1
• “Millenium” (1998) written by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers, Leslie Bricusse, and John Barry, and performed by Robbie Williams, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcWOviMI6Lk&list=RDxcWOviMI6Lk&start_radio=1

Remembering the fin de siècle energy that birthed our 21st century, we’ve curated this 18-part series to overlap with, and extend, Brian Raftery’s 2020 book “Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen”. 

Screenings include: “Following” (Christopher Nolan, 1998), “Varsity Blues” (Brian Robbins, 1999), “The Blair Witch Project” (Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, 1999), “The Matrix” (The Wachowskis, 1999), “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (George Lucas, 1999), “South Park - Bigger, Longer and Uncut” (Trey Parker, 1999), “Free Enterprise” (Robert Meyer Burnett, 1999), “Eyes Wide Shut” (Stanely Kubrick, 1999), “Twin Falls Idaho” (Michael Polish, 1999), “American Beauty” (Sam Mendes, 1999), “Three Kings” (David O. Russell, 1999), “Boys Don't Cry” (Kimberly Peirce, 1999), “Topsy-Turvy” (Mike Leigh, 1999), “Magnolia” (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999), and “Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes” (Cass Paley, 1998). This is part of a series that overlaps with, and extends, Brian Raftery’s 2020 book “Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen”.  

An ADDENDA with documentarian Chris Metzler includes: “Arlington Road” (Mark Pellington, 1999), “The Limey” (Steven Soderbergh, 1999), and “American Movie” (Chris Smith, 1999).

***

Referenced media:

• “Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen” (2020) by Brian Raftery
• “The Blair Witch Project” (Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, 1999)
• “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (George Lucas, 1999)
• “Following” (Christopher Nolan, 1998)
• “Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes” (Cass Paley, 1998)
• “American Beauty” (Sam Mendes, 1999)

Audio quotation:

• “Vintage Movie Projector | Sound Effect | Feel The Past Film Industry” posted by n Beats, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhUICp5XeJ4
• “1999” (1982) written by Prince and performed by Prince, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblt2EtFfC4&list=RDrblt2EtFfC4&start_radio=1
• “Millenium” (1998) written by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers, Leslie Bricusse, and John Barry, and performed by Robbie Williams, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcWOviMI6Lk&list=RDxcWOviMI6Lk&start_radio=1

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa engage with herpetology, aeronautics, and the brilliance of Samuel Leroy Jackson.

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Referenced media:

• “School Daze” (Spike Lee, 1988)
• “Menace II Society” (The Hughes Brothers, 1993)
• “Pulp Fiction” (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
• “Rules of Engagement” (William Friedkin, 2000)
• “Lethal Weapon” (Richard Donner, 1987)
• “World War Z” (Marc Forster, 2013)
• “Child’s Play” (Tom Holland, 1988)
• “The Terminator” (James Cameron, 1984)
• “Inglourious Basterds” (Quentin Tarantino, 2009)
• “X-Men” (Bryan Singer, 2000)
• “X2” (Bryan Singer, 2003)
• “Obsession” (Curry Barker, 2025)
• “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” (Jon Favreau, 2026)
• “Star Wars” (George Lucas, 1977)
• “Jackass Number Two” (Jeff Tremaine, 2006)

Audio quotation:

• “Snakes on a Plane” (David R. Ellis, 2006), including “Snakes on a Plane (The Theme” by Trevor Rabin, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8lzU3-s2Zk&list=PLQl1_YXgq4hjhZwnlRPMF-Z9aXe89WZAn&index=15; and “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” written by Sam Hollander, Dave Katz, Travie McCoy, and Gabe Saporta and performed by Cobra Starship, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYVtjAInQY0&list=PLQl1_YXgq4hjhZwnlRPMF-Z9aXe89WZAn&index=1
• “School Daze” (Spike Lee, 1988)
• “Menace II Society” (The Hughes Brothers, 1993)
• “Pulp Fiction” (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
• “Rules of Engagement” (William Friedkin, 2000)
• “World War Z” (Marc Forster, 2013)
• “Corona” (1984) written by D. Boon and performed by Minutemen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLgvDX_J1I&list=RDYhLgvDX_J1I&start_radio=1

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa wonder if bears prefer eating old or young white dudes. Bon appétit, Bart!

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Referenced media:

• “The Silence of the Lambs” (Jonathan Demme, 1991)
• “First Blood” (Ted Kotcheff, 1982)
• “Glengarry Glen Ross” (James Foley, 1992)
• “Once Were Warriors” (Lee Tamahori, 1994)
• “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” (Tobe Hooper, 1986)
• “Road House” (Rowdy Herrington, 1989)
• “The Game” (David Fincher, 1997)
• “LA Confidential” (Curtis Hanson, 1997)
• “The Ice Storm” (Ang Lee, 1997)
• “U Turn” (Oliver Stone, 1997)
• “Boogie Nights” (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1997)
• “The Sweet Hereafter” (Atom Egoyan, 1997)
• “The Devil’s Advocate” (Taylor Hackford, 1997)
• “Prometheus Rising” (Robert Anton Wilson, 1983)

Audio quotation:

• “The Edge” (Lee Tamahori, 1997), including “End Title”, “The Edge”, “Rich Man”, and “Deadfall/Bear Fight” by Jerry Goldsmith, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoTgadYyOMmYIku-y2NBhrY1nJE4WdBt_
• “Campfire by the Lake Ambience with Crickets, Owls, Water, & Night Sounds for Relaxation & Sleep” (2021), posted by Calmed by Nature, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nBFKH3qhGE
• “First Blood” (Ted Kotcheff, 1982), including “Escape Route” by Jerry Goldsmith, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA_6nw_SiTT23YKnzHA24tICcBsYJH-b1
• “Glengarry Glen Ross” (James Foley, 1992)
• “bolt action rifle sound effects” (2011), posted by MasterHand125, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STbDaAgcvsU
• “Glasses clinking sound #glass #cheers” (2025), posted by @sound_magic73, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4VuUSk3xGos
• “Dersu Uzala” (Akira Kurosawa, 1975), including “Journal” by Isaak Shvarts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNtQVYyC4M&list=RD6zNtQVYyC4M&start_radio=1

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa look for scars on performers who pretended to be wildlife enthusiasts, but who were nearly wildlife entrees.

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Referenced media:

• “Cujo” (Lewis Teague, 1983)
• “Kingdom of Spiders (John Cardos, 1977)
• “Aliens” (James Cameron, 1986)
• “Night of the Living Dead” (George A. Romero, 1968)
• “Star Wars” (George Lucas, 1977)
• “Speed” (Jan de Bont, 1994)
• “Twister” (Jan de Bont, 1996)
• “Ben-Hur” (William Wyler, 1959)
• “The Crow” (Alex Proyas, 1994)
• “Twilight Zone: The Movie” (John Landis, George Miller, Joe Dante, and Steven Spielberg, 1983)
• “The Bonfire of the Vanities” (Brian De Palma, 1990)
• “Body Double” (Brian De Palma, 1984)
• “Grizzly Man” (Werner Herzog, 2005)
• “Roar: The Most Dangerous Movie Ever Made” (Rob Muraskin, 2017)
• “Tiger King” (Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin, 2020-2021)
• “Mad Max: Fury Road” (George Miller, 2015)

Audio quotation:

• “Roar” (Noel Marshall, 1981/2015), including “N’chi Ya Nani (Whose Land Is This?)” and “Too Late for Tears” by Robert Hawk Florczak”
• “Star Wars” (George Lucas, 1977), including “Cantina Band” by John Williams, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsvfptdFXf4&list=RDEsvfptdFXf4&start_radio=1
• “Body Double” (Brian De Palma, 1984), including “It’s a Chance (Main Title)” by Pino Donaggio, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2mzTQvNxlo&list=PLMIlGaCpCqRAqCKp0jK3f8cggVUAVvpRz&index=21
• “Grizzly Man” (Werner Herzog, 2005)

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa discuss ocean-going travel disasters.

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Referenced media:

• “Captain Phillips” (Paul Greengrass, 2013)
• “Force Majeure” (Ruben Östlund, 2014)
• “Downton Abbey” (Julian Fellowes, 2010-2015)
• “Cheers” (Glen and Les Charles, and James Burrows, 1982-1993)
• “The Menu” (Mark Mylod, 2022)
• “Stand by Me” (Rob Reiner, 1986)
• “Gilligan’s Island” (Sherwood Schwartz, 1964-1967)

Audio quotation:

• “Triangle of Sadness” (Ruben Östlund, 2022), including “Marea (We’ve Lost Dancing)” (2021) by Fred Gibson, Marea Stamper, and Thibaud Noyer, performed by Fred again and The Blessed Madonna, and “Egyptian Fantasy” (1941) by Sidney Bechet, performed by Vincent Peirani and Emile Parisien, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdqDMwtsUQnSpmoKPVBEeA0v9Mm_rBFGI
• “Theme from ‘Cheers’ (Where Everybody Knows Your Name)” (1982) by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart-Angelo, performed by Gary Portnoy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KtAgAMzaeg
• “Apple - Loud Eating Sound!” (2016), posted by Chewing Sound, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iODKEvA9U5w
• “Fanfare Trumpet Announcement Sound Effect” (2016), posted by SoundEffectsFactory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2j3IEDjy0I

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa discuss human-insect hybridity to continue the series “Revenge of Nature”.

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Referenced media:

• “At the Movies” (Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, 1982-1986)
• “The Fly II” (Chris Walas, 1989)
• “Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn” (Sam Raimi, 1987)
• “Evil Dead” (Sam Raimi, 1981)
• “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (Steven Spielberg, 1981)
• “Dead Ringers” (David Cronenberg, 1988)
• “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin, and J.R. Ventimilia, 2012-2017)
• “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Steve Barron, 1990)
• “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Fred Wolf and Mark Freedman, 1987-1996)
• “RoboCop” (Paul Verhoeven, 1987)
• “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” (Shinya Tsukamoto, 1989)
• “Scanners” (David Cronenberg, 1981)
• “Electric Dreams” (Steve Barron, 1984)
• “Weird Science” (John Hughes, 1985)
• “Crimes of the Future” (David Cronenberg, 2022)

Audio quotation:

• “The Fly” (David Cronenberg, 1986), including “Main Title”, “The Armwrestle”, and “The Finale” by Howard Shore, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZLTKRc6yNiQ5sujSSVMsnhaIXmfOYs6X
• “The Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn” (Sam Raimi, 1987), including “Behemoth” by Joseph LoDuca, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDCuIs4FLpg&list=PLwd2dpqAu5rhxfK4uM89ByvsMaRG9Ruu5
• “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (Steven Spielberg, 1981)
• “Scanners” (David Cronenberg, 1981)
• “Sign of the Times” (2017) by Harry Styles, Jeff Bhasker, Mitch Rowland, Ryan Nasci, Alex Salibian, and Tyler Johnson, performed by Harry Styles, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4ooNx77u0&list=RDqN4ooNx77u0&start_radio=1
• “Weird Science” (1985) by Danny Elfman, performed by Oingo Boingo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-upHSP9KU&list=RDJm-upHSP9KU&start_radio=1

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa discuss the predator-prey relationship to continue the series “Revenge of Nature”.

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Referenced media:

• “A Clockwork Orange” (Stanley Kubrick, 1971)
• “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Jim Sharman, 1975)
• “Jaws” (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
• “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (Miloš Forman, 1975)
• “Star Wars” (George Lucas, 1977)
• “The Deep” (Peter Yates, 1977)
• “The Rescuers” (Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, and Art Stevens, 1977)
• “Orca” (Michael Anderson, 1977)
• “Eraserhead” (David Lynch, 1977)
• “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (Steven Spielberg, 1977)
• “Saturday Night Fever” (John Badham, 1977)
• “Pete’s Dragon” (Don Chaffey, 1977)
• “Ran” (Akira Kurosawa, 1985)
• “Kagemusha” (Akira Kurosaw, 1980)
• “Barry Lyndon” (Stanley Kubrick, 1975)
• “Eyes Wide Shut” (Stanley Kubrick, 1999)
• “Rashomon” (Akira Kurosawa, 1950)
• “Shoeshine” (Vittorio De Sica, 1946)
• “Avatar” (James Cameron, 2009)
• “Throne of Blood” (Akira Kurawa, 1957)
• “Red Beard” (Akira Kurosawa, 1965)
• “Dodes’ka-den” (Akira Kurosawa, 1970)
• “Seven Samurai” (Akira Kurosawa, 1954)
• “Madadayo” (Akira Kurosawa, 1993)
• “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (Stephen Herek, 1989)

Audio quotation:

• “Pete’s Dragon” (Don Chaffey, 1977), including “Brazzle Dazzle Day” by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaLY2kKwqJk&list=RDkaLY2kKwqJk&start_radio=1
• “Dersu Uzala” (Akira Kurosawa, 1975), including “Journal” and “Arseniev on the Mountain Top” by Isaak Shvarts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNtQVYyC4M&list=RD6zNtQVYyC4M&start_radio=1
• “Tank Glass – big rips only”, posted by Tank Glass, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dkp4gq8-5c0
• “Star Wars” (George Lucas, 1977), including “The Force Theme by John Williams, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ak2jr55fE
• “Avatar” (James Cameron, 2009), including “Becoming One of the People – Becoming One With Neytiri” by James Horner, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7CL4WrwLAQ&list=PLF490561BA881D005&index=5
• “Ran” (Akira Kurosawa, 1985), including “Opening Credits – Main Title” by Tōru Takemitsu, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7YWL0mP6jU&list=RDd7YWL0mP6jU&start_radio=1
• “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (Stephen Herek, 1989)

Garrett Chaffin-Quiray and Ed Rosa discuss the presentation of zoonotic disease to begin the series “Revenge of Nature”.

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Referenced media:

• “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” (Steven Soderbergh, 1989)
• “Do the Right Thing” (Spike Lee, 1989)
• “Black Bag” (Steven Soderbergh, 2025)
• “Ocean’s Eleven” (Steven Soderbergh, 2001)
• “Ocean’s Twelve” (Steven Soderbergh, 2004)
• “Ocean’s Thirteen” (Steven Soderbergh, 2007)
• “Se7en” (David Fincher, 1995)
• “Shakespeare in Love” (John Madden, 1998)
• “Breaking Bad’ (Vince Gilligan, 2008-2013)
• “Taken” (Pierre Morel, 2008)
• “Larry Crowne” (Tom Hanks, 2011)
• “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” (Glenn Ficarra, and John Requa, 2011)
• “The Help” (Tate Taylor, 2011)
• “Drive” (Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011)
• “Moneyball” (Bennett Miller, 2011)
• “The Ides of March” (George Clooney, 2011)
• “Margin Call” (J.C. Chandor, 2011)
• “J. Edgar” (Clint Eastwood, 2011)
• “Captain America: The First Avenger” (Joe Johnston, 2011)
• “Jaws” (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
• “Twister” (Jan de Bont, 1996)

Audio quotation:

• “Contagion” (Steven Soderbergh, 2011), including “They’re Calling My Flight”, “Move Away From The Table”, “Handshake”, and “Bat & Pig” by Cliff Martinez, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD98304DDE0430113
• “Coughing - SOUND EFFECTS - Husten Cough SOUND”, posted by BerlinAtmospheres, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp09X74kjBc
• “Wing dings”, posted by @Frisk_514, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MHM1a69PU64
• “Captain America: The First Avenger” (Joe Johnston, 2011) including “Captain America Main Titles” by Alan Silvestri, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaaknR1C0Kk&list=RDAaaknR1C0Kk&start_radio=1

In this multi-part conversation series, we’ve curated a handful of movies, from among hundreds of options, to explore how moviemakers transform the natural world into the antagonistic face of on-screen villainy.

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Referenced media in INTRODUCING REVENGE OF NATURE:

• “Jaws” (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
• “The Birds” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963)
• “Contagion” (Steven Soderbergh, 2011)
• “Dersu Uzala” (Akira Kurosawa, 1975)
• “The Fly” (David Cronenberg, 1986)
• “Triangle of Sadness” (Ruben Östlund, 2022)
• “Roar” (Noel Marshall, 1981)
• “The Edge” (Lee Tamahori, 1997)
• “Snakes on a Plane” (David R. Ellis, 2006)

Audio quotation in INTRODUCING REVENGE OF NATURE:

• “Vintage Movie Projector | Sound Effect | Feel The Past Film Industry” by n Beats, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhUICp5XeJ4
• “Jaws” (Steven Spielberg, 1975), including “Main Title “Theme from ‘Jaws’)” by John Williams, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwiqKSfnPp8&list=PLocqHZj7MJflfxg3wL_F7UDmve4AUSjyp
• “The Birds” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1963)