Cinema Fix

In this special bonus episode, Andrew and Monica have a casual interview with author, activist and film critic Gareth Higgins about life, movies and his new book, Cinematic States. In the book, Higgins examines American cultural myths through the lens of its movies, going state-by-state throughout the U.S. and exploring what films set in those states reveal. They discuss the process of writing the book, the state of film criticism, the inherent morality of art, the need for non-violent forms of conversation, why The Lone Ranger is the best film of the year, and a lot more!

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Gareth Higgins is an author, speaker, non-profit director, and festival curator. His latest book, Cinematic States, explores American myths through films set in each of the 50 states. He is also a co-host of the podcast The Film Talk, the best film podcast not on Film Geek Radio.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

3:34 - A conversation with Gareth Higgins

44:40 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Special guest Gareth Higgins, the author of Cinematic States, joins Andrew and Monica to discuss what makes Dallas Buyers Club so much better than it could have been. In what ways is the film restrained? How is it different from films that aim to elicit a cathartic emotional response? What single type of shot reveals that the director knows what he's doing?

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

6:16 - Gareth's overall thoughts on Dallas Buyers Club

8:43 - Staying restrained, avoiding cathartic tears

15:42 - How to tell when a director knows what he's doing

21:10 - Real, gradual change

27:23 - The value of award ceremonies

34:53 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica give some general thoughts on Dallas Buyers Club. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as Ron Woodroof, a man diagnosed with AIDS who decides to fight FDA regulations and smuggle illegal medications into the country. Does it deserve all the acclaim? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

3:21 - General thoughts on Dallas Buyers Club

9:51 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Are the odds in Catching Fire's favor? In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss the difficulties of adapting a series like the Hunger Games books to the big screen, and how the film industry by its nature ends up undermining the themes of the film. Is Katniss a good feminist figure? Does the film effectively convey the book's critique of the media? Do these films practice what they preach, or are they just another example of Capitol-esque propaganda? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

2:28 - Katniss as a feminist figure

9:40 - Media critique, performances

13:35 - The ending (or lack thereof)

18:02 - Action direction, playing it safe

23:14 - Creative liberties and the adaptation process

28:50 - No feeling of danger

34:37 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general thoughts on the second installment of the Hunger Games film adaptations. Does Catching Fire improve upon the first film in any ways? Does it live up to the book? Tune to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

1:55 - Feedback on 12 Years A Slave

6:20 - General thoughts on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

14:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

It's time for another spoiler-filled talk about a slavery movie, so you know what that means... Craig Lindsey! Craig returns to Cinema Fix to discuss whether 12 Years A Slave is worth the hype. Is it an "important" film? Is McQueen's style too distancing? Does he make suffering too photogenic? Why aren't there more movies about the hierarchy among slaves? Are any of the slave masters "good" or are they all evil? Tune in to find out. Plus, a tangent about twerking.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro and clip

6:48 - Craig's general thoughts on 12 Years A Slave, whether it's "important"

12:54 - The appropriate distance from the subject?

19:40 - Racism as institutional and systemic

24:43 - Is William Ford good or bad?

32:49 - The depiction of religion

37:08 - Is there a "proper" way to depict slavery, aesthetically?

54:00 - Alfre Woodard and slave hierarchy; also, twerking

1:06:18 - How it will be remembered

1:10:52 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Sometimes it's hard to figure out the context in which to critique a film that's deemed "important" for whatever reason, but Andrew and Monica do their best. Is Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave the great film about slavery we need? Is that even a fair question? Tune in to hear their general thoughts on the film.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

3:00 - General thoughts on 12 Years A Slave

14:48 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

For the second part of their Thor: The Dark World review, Andrew and Monica are joined by Rod Morrow to discuss Marvel mythology and whether the film competently expands it. If you thought their Man of Steel discussion got heated, you haven't seen anything yet. Andrew gets snarky, Rod bites back, and Monica just tries to stay out of it. Are the Dark Elves' motives and background adequately explained? Does the Aether makes sense? Has Loki been completely watered-down as a character? Does Thor have an arc, and if so, what is it? Tune to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

3:19 - Rod's general thoughts on Thor: The Dark World

9:43 - Why is Chris O'Dowd in this movie?

11:53 - The Dark Elves; what is the darkness?

19:30 - The Aether vs. the Tesseract

24:22 - Whether the Aether has a will of its own

32:00 - The Kursed and other questions

37:50 - How characters change

44:53 - Loki and whether he's a fully-formed character

1:02:41 - Unpacking the "twist" at the end

1:07:17 - Humor, the third act

1:19:23 - No political allegory; Thor's arc (or lack thereof)

1:33:12 - Picking and choosing what to complain about

1:42:43 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is here! Is Thor: The Dark World a fun superhero romp that builds on the mythology, or just a confusing mess of ideas and plot devices? In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts on the film. Also: Monica really hates Dutch angles, apparently.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

3:25 - General thoughts on Thor: The Dark World

15:00 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss the weighty events of Ender's Game and how well they're communicated in the film. What stuff from the book didn't make the cut? Are the Battle Room sequences effectively portrayed? Does the movie do a good job of getting inside Ender's head? How is Ender different in the film, and is it a good change? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:22 - Intro

2:54 - Lack of weight, unclear passage of time

7:16 - The Mind Game, Ender's psychology, the ending

19:20 - Speaking for the dead

22:05 - Bonzo and the other bullies

29:55 - The Battle Room sequences

34:21 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or leaving a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!