Catholic Movie Guy Podcast

This week, I return with a mirthful TimMan to discuss one of our absolute favorites, the Coen Brothers' 2010 masterpiece True Grit.  Our conversation views the film from a theological perspective:  all is grace (within the movie, anyway).

Those coming for a comparison to the John Wayne original will be left wanting.  But those looking for reasons why the remake is a masterpiece - fully deserving of its 10 Academy Award nominations and its spot as the CMG's favorite Western of all time - will not be disappointed.

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo by Siebbi (ipernity dot com) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Happy Easter!

This week, the Master and I breakdown the cinematic swan song of the X-Men's Wolverine (as played by Hugh Jackman, anyway), 2017's Logan - one of the best superhero movies (and Westerns?) of memory.

Many Catholic reviewers have deemed the movie too violent, too vulgar, nihilistic, and even blasphemous. We disagree. But to find out why, you have to download, bub.

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo by Grant Brummett [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

A blessed Holy Week to all.

I figured, since there is only a few days left in Lent, it was long past time for a Lenten-themed podcast.  So, for anyone looking for some classics and some slightly less-well known films to watch during this holy season, TheTimMan and I are here for you.

Selections discussed/mentioned include:  The Passion of the Christ; The Way: A Way to Forgiveness; Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago; The Ten Commandments; Into Great Silence; The Miracle Maker; and The Passion of Joan of Arc.  Of course, there are many more great candidates; these are just some of our personal favorites.

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo by Unbekannte Maler, Benutzer:Moroder (Self-photographed) [Public domain - over 70 years old], via  Wikimedia Commons.

Finally - a Hitchcock film!

This week TheTimMan returns for an in-depth (as far as a half hour goes) analysis of my favorite Hitchcock film, and one of my top 3 films of all time, Vertigo.

The film was recently voted by the American Film Institute (AFI) as the greatest film ever. Starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, it is a marvelous beauty to behold with deep themes, including a sharp critique of concupiscence and the objectification of women.

Go watch it immediately (after downloading, but before listening to, our spoiler-filled podcast)!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo by Mike Quinn [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons.

Sorry for the late post this week, but real life intruded on my illustrious podcast empire.

This week we continue our Best of 2015 Series.  I am joined by the Doctor, Bud Marr, and the Master, Bo Bonner, to (over?) analyze the George Miller action flick Mad Max: Fury Road.

Content advisory aside, this is a psychedelic take on the futuristic

"guy movie," one with a little more to say beneath the surface than usual.

Enjoy!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo by Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons.

Welp,

TheTimMan returns from exile to discuss the sprawling, somewhat problematic, messy masterpiece - Martin Scorsese's 2002 epic, Gangs of New York, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio.

My last post on this movie abruptly disappeared, so I am reposting it here for posterity's sake - if anyone can explain why that would happen, please comment and let me know!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.

Deja vu all over again?  Or are we merely stepping out of our linear experience of time for a more holistic view?

Although I reviewed this film in short, non-spoiler form on Episode 6, its acclaim and themes deserve a full podcast.  So I am joined by the Master, Bo Bonner, for a thorough, spoiler-filled review of Arrival to continue our Best of 2016 Series.

Starring Amy Adams (in a near-perfect performance) and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Arrival garnered much praise from the critical and Christian circles.  We examine the themes of the film as well as asking the important questions:  Is the plot coherent?  Is it pro-life?  And why do I not like Jeremy Renner?

Enjoy!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.  Photo by Mozilla [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Many Catholics aren't hip to new-ish movies of worth (having shunned the world and all); and if they are trying to watch a movie, it's usually  from their couch, because who can afford to go out (especially if you need a babysitter)?

That's why I've decided to branch off from the popular Best of 2016 Series and start a Best of 2015 Series: these movies are still new enough that you may not have seen them, but they are also widely available via streaming services, so you can watch them comfortably and affordably.

The first entry in this series is my favorite movie of all from 2015: Room,  starring Brie Larson.  Directed by Lenny Abrahamson based on the Emma Donoghue novel, it is an emotionally wrenching but beautiful story of love, survival, learning, and growing under dire circumstances.

And since TheTimMan doesn't watch new (or new-ish) movies, I am joined once again by the Master, Bo Bonner, in thoroughly critiquing and appreciating this masterpiece.

But before you listen, go watch the movie (it's available on Amazon Prime, among many other places).

Enjoy!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.  Photo by Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Continuing two themes from last week's episode - what did Tim happen to watch and sports movies - we tackle (SEE WHAT I DID THERE) the 1996 Cameron Crowe film Jerry Maguire.

Starring Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger, with an Academy Award-winning supporting performance from Cuba Gooding, Jr., we use this flawed but engaging movie as a springboard to discuss the inner workings of grace and the true meaning of marriage (seriously), amidst the normal frivolous banter.

Enjoy!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.  Photo by Linda D. Kozaryn (American Forces Press Service)  [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

The Catholic Movie Guy Podcast is a reflection of its host(s).  Sometimes, this means that a podcast is dedicated to a dissection of weighty or difficult spiritual themes (e.g., Silence); sometimes, it's an appreciation of a worthy new film (e.g., La La Land) or a classic (e.g., A Man for All Seasons).

But sometimes, we just have to talk about a movie we saw.  And today is one of those times.  Therefore, I called for an emergency podcast to address a minor miracle:  theTimMan actually watched a sports movie, despite his disdain for them.

In this episode, we discuss that special film (The Blind Side) and express our thoughts on other sports movies and the genre generally.  And did my wife like it?  Tune in to find out.

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.  Photo by U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hughes/Released [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.