Film School

I swear if you existed I'd divorce you! Elizabeth Taylor and real-life, several-times-divorced husband Richard Burton are positively on fire in playwright Edward Albee's explosive family drama. Nothing is off-limits for these two, including chewing up and spitting out a hapless young couple. Secrets! Lies! Adultery! Alcohol! So, soooo much alcohol! It's all in one terrible, crazed night on this episode of Film School!

Imposter syndrome is the self-limiting belief, in whatever form it may take, that we are just not good enough. It's insidious how it can show up in our everyday and creative lives. This week, the boys dive into how Imposter Syndrome manifests in their personal lives, and what they do to combat it.

It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Clint Eastwood stars as the aging, reformed, tea-totaling killer Bill Munny who's forced into doing one last job. Morgan Freeman rides along side him, with Gene Hackman in a fantastic turn as the savage town sheriff. It's a film that aspires to examine the soul of a killer. Does it succeed? And just how torched will the sheriff's town be when Eastwood gets his huevos back and goes back to his old ways? You'll just have to watch and listen to find out!

Ira Glass has a very famous sound snippet about a fundamental aspect of becoming really good at something that no one ever tells you when you're starting out: that your taste, for a long time, is going to far exceed your ability. That gap can be crushing, because we know that our work isn't good. This week, we talk about that gap, what it feels like, and how we can CLOSE it.

Watch the original video sound byte here: https://youtu.be/91FQKciKfHI

It's one nutty hospital! Dustin Hoffman tucks and dons the wig for an iconic performance as Dorothy Michaels/Michael Dorsey, a down on his luck, unemployable actor. The only problem: he falls in love with his co-star, who has no idea who he/she really is. What's funnier than a man in drag, right? This week, we examine the performances of a truly stellar cast (Jessica Lange! Bill Murray! Gina Davis!), question the reality of the situation, and dive in on how has this movie aged in the nearly 40 years since it was released. What kind of mother would we be if we didn't give our girls tits? Tips. It's tips.

Self esteem comes from within. We're always hardest on ourselves. We all know this...but outside validation is absolutely crucial to even the hardiest of souls. We all need loving, supportive, positive people in our lives. All of us. This week, Josh and Ira talk about how validation helps them, and who provides that support. Who validates you? Who doesn't? And what effect do those people have on you and your creativity?

Clear as a unmuddied lake, Fred. This week, ya boys tackle the disturbing, dystopian classic from Stanley Kubrick. Center stage is Malcolm McDowell as Alex DeLarge, a teenager who's main pastime is rape and murder. Have no fear: society has a new fix for people like him. It's psychology to the rescue...or is it? Fair warning: this movie is a tough, graphic, intense watch. BUT...does it have something profound to say? And how well does it say it?

Ira's recently had a breakthrough with his writing process, and meditation is smack dab in the middle of it. Josh wants to know how. This week, we talk about when to meditate, how it's different than just zoning out or taking a nap, and how it can impact creativity in powerful, positive ways.

"Tell me I'm a good man." Spielberg's war epic stars Tom Hanks as the leader of a company of WWII soldiers tasked with tracking down a man they've never met so they can send him home. It features some truly spectacular battle footage that arguably hasn't been equaled to this day. It also features some performances that are impossible to forget. It's nearly 3 hours long, so buckle up, and let's try to answer the question of just what we're doing out there fighting, and what would make it worth it to save Private Ryan.

Ira digs into the numbers behind the ratings we've given the first quarter of AFI's Top 100 films and what they might mean about us, both the boys give updates on what they've been working on for the past month or so, and they consider the question of whether or not they're putting too much content behind the pay wall of Patreon for these early days of building the podcast. It's a packed full episode this week! Enjoy!