Remember when teen pregnancy was a thing? This week we discuss Juno, the movie that reinvented this particular noughties trend and made stars out of Elliot Page, Michael Cera and the film’s screenwriter, Diablo Cody. 

We discuss what makes the script so good and why people hated it. There is also space to reminisce about the heyday of director’s commentaries. This movie had an excellent one with Diablo Cody and the film’s director, Jason Reitman. Is there a way to bring them back?

References 

Jaison Reitman on Juno

Diablo Cody on Juno and its critics 15 years later by Evan Nicole Brown for The Hollywood Reporter

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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This week we do a compare-and-contrast between Robert Egger’s Nosferatu and the 1922 German silent film it's based on. We deep-dive into the mad production story of the original, why Bram Stoker owes Nosferatu an apology and somehow pitstop at Yoga Hosers and Robbie William’s new film Better Man along the way.

References
Watch Nosferatu (1922) here
Yoga Hosers (2016) trailer
Shadow of a vampire (2000) trailer

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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In honour of David Lynch who died last week - though serendipitously we recorded the episode a few weeks before - this episode we discuss his feature debut, Eraserhead. A film so freaky, so funny and utterly unique. Just like the man himself.

References
David Lynch’s documentary, Eraserhead Stories
Interviews with the Eraserhead cast
‘The Epic Influence of David Lynch's Eraserhead, from Kubrick to Star Wars’ by Garin Pirnia for Esquire
Interview with Lynch from Chris Rodley’s 1997 book Lynch on Lynch

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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We go behind-the-scenes of an overlooked gem which is finally getting the attention it deserves, thanks to a 4K restoration by Mubi. Tarsem Singh's debut feature The Fall is a globe-trotting feast for the eyes, with a transformative performance by first-time actor, the then six-year-old Catinca Untaru. We strongly recommend catching it on Mubi before listening to the episode.

References
Behind-the-scenes documentary 'Wanderlust and Nostalgia'
Tarsem Singh on the making of The Fall by Christina Newland for Little White Lies
An oral history of The Fall by Leila Jordan for IndieWire

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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This week we sift through the web lore of one of the original multiverse movies, Donnie Darko. We relish seeing adolescent Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal squabble at the dinner table and ponder why a 23-year-old directing wunderkind never succeeded with a follow-up.

References
Pages from the fictional book "The Philosophy of Time Travel" by Roberta Sparrow aka Grandma Death
Donnie Darko’s BTS production video diary 
An oral history of Donnie Darko

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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To kick off a new series, we’re starting with the biggest film of 2024 - that’s biggest by our personal metrics. Expect a detailed breakdown of the lens required to achieve such a revolting zoom on Dennis Quaid munching prawn heads and a rant about why this is not Demi Moore’s comeback.

References
Interview with Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Coralie Fargeat
A breakdown of the set design of The Substance
The kind of headline Lily doesn’t appreciate

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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We had to, it was unavoidable. Francis Ford Coppola's 40-year-long passion project has finally come to fruition and it was important that we discussed it. So here is a bonus episode. Listen as we attempt to decipher how, what and why. Just why?

References
That hotel Coppola owns for filmmakers
Twelve Against The Gods by William Bolitho Ryall
A BTS argument on Bram Stoker’s Dracula between FFC and Gary Oldman
"Making a Mess: A History of Megalopolis" by Be Kind Rewind

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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This week on our season finale we look at three box office and critical successes which you might not know were directed by women. In the hot seat is Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, Penelope Spheeris’ Wayne’s World and Mary Harron’s American Psycho. We also almost (but not quite) dodge the Blake Lively controversy and talk about the films we’re looking forward to this autumn. See you for season 5!

References
‘Warner Brothers to put a studio in the dessert’, by Brian Welk, indiewire.com
‘How American Psycho became a feminist statement’ by Trey Taylor, dazeddigital.com
Penelope Spheeris on Wayne’s World, Pat Saperstein, Variety.com
‘Point Break is a feminine perspective on toxic masculinity’, laineygossip.com

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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Between the weather and the state of the world, it’s been a pretty sad summer, so we’re sticking with that theme as we look at some of the best sad girls on film holiday. We discuss Charlotte Rampling in Francois Ozon’s Swimming Pool, Scarlett Johansson in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (and Bill Murray too) and Pauline Collins as Lewis Gilbert’s Shirley Valentine.

References
Peter Dinklage discussing the live action remake of Snow White on Marc Maron’s podcast in 2022
‘Todd Haynes’ Joaquin Phoenix Gay Romance Pic Not Moving Forward As Actor Exits Set’, by Anthony D’Alessando for deadline.com 

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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From Dune 2 to Deadpool and Wolverine, there have been a surprising number of hit sequels this year. So this week we’re asking the question, what makes that cinematic blue moon of a part 2 that is better than part 1?

References
The Strasberg school’s definition of method acting
On Location with The Godfather: A Discussion with Gordon Willis (director of photography), theasc.com
An oral history of The Terminator 2

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Edited and produced by Lily Austin and James Brailsford
Original music by James Brailsford

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