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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about MAN ON FIRE (2004).

Written by A.J Quinnell and Peter Hegeland and directed by Tony Scott, MAN ON FIRE stars Denzel Washington as John Creasy. A world-weary man, with a past that haunts him, struggling to function. The last thing he needs is to become the bodyguard of a little girl in Mexico City… or IS it? 

A heartwarming odd-couple dynamic that warms the cockles, or a blood-thirsty revenge-quest that chills the bones? MAN ON FIRE is a conundrum.

Phil chose this week’s film and reckons it’s a long-term fave. Nicky had never heard of it prior to the pod and has come with questions. Listen to their convo to find out their thoughts.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/man-fire-review/ by Ian Freer

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/man-on-fire-2004 by Roger Ebert

https://spectrumculture.com/2012/10/24/criminally-underrated-man-on-fire/ by Kyle Fowle.

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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about ALL OF US STRANGERS (2023).

Written and directed by Andrew Haigh, and starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, ALL OF US STRANGERS is the story of Adam. We meet him in his forties, still dealing with the childhood loss of his parents and the trauma of growing up gay in the 1980s. He’s been bottling up a lot. A chance meeting with his dead dad opens up a whole load of parental conversations he never got to have. And then there’s Harry, the neighbour downstairs.

This film parachuted straight into Nicky’s ‘top movie of all time’ spot the second she saw it. And Phil? He’ll share his thoughts on the pod. Fair warning - this film is about grief and parental loss, as is the chat on the pod. Take care if you’re feeling particularly raw right now.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

Imagined Spaces by Gail Low and Ruth Morrison - 
https://www.imaginedspaces.org/taking-a-line-for-a-walk/all-of-us-strangers

Reddit thread - 
https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/195xu51/official_discussion_all_of_us_strangers_spoilers/?solution=32402ff2277c206632402ff2277c2066&js_challenge=1&token=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec9ef2774bf47f77021865e95577eb0279&jsc_orig_r=

Alex Needham in the Guardian - 
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/26/all-of-us-strangers-sex-death-ghosts-and-that-ending-discuss-with-spoilers

Guardian – a selection of gay men share their thoughts - 
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/05/what-does-all-of-us-strangers-say-about-being-gay

Nicky’s immediate thoughts upon leaving the cinema
https://substack.com/@bondiela/p-141100603



• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about ALIENS (1986).

Written by James Cameron, David Giler, and Walter Hill, and directed by James Cameron, ALIENS is the story of PTSD-stricken Ripley and the fact that despite a prior film clearly outlining her lived experience, no one will listen to her until it’s too late. Oh, the lot of being a woman! With space-goo a-plenty, this action horror is forty years old this year. Does it hold up? Does it still need an 18 certificate? And can Phil convince Nicky of its merits when she’s made it abundantly clear she’s no fan of ‘space films’. 

Phil’s been a long-time fan, whist this is Nicky’s first watch. Listen to see whether this week it’s more amenable than aggro on the pod.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

A concise summary - 
https://www.filmsite.org/series-alien2.html

The South Australian unknown student response - 
https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/documents/652891/225c8b2b-8ccb-45b5-b705-b8e7c4737f7f

A comprehensive list of all the tropes included in the film - 
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Aliens - 


• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
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his week, Nicky has chosen to talk about AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER (1994).

Written by Arthur Smith and Chris England, and directed by Andy Wilson, AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER tells the story of Bill and Monica Despacos. As they try to fix their marriage during a holiday in Ibiza, the Italia ’90 World Cup tournament adds a heated backdrop onto which all their secrets can spill. Starring UK comedy legends from the era, (Caroline Quentin, Paul Merton, and Martin Clunes) as well as soon-to-be movie star, Clive Owen, this gem of a film is riddled with nostalgia for people of a certain age. 

Nicky rewatches this TV movie before every international competition in which England Men compete. Phil? Well, if you want his opinions, you’ll have to listen to find out.


References mentioned, and wider reading…

Why Italia 90 Was Not Beautiful To Everyone, But Will Always Be Special, by Amy Lawrence - 
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/15/italia-90-world-cup-special

The Letterboxd link - 
https://letterboxd.com/film/an-evening-with-gary-lineker/


• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
• On Insta at @lightscameraaggro
• Or you can email us at [email protected]
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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about BATMAN (1989).

Written by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren, and directed by Tim Burton, this comic book adaptation landed with a kapow, and ushered in a whole new UK certificate rating. Is this a nerds-only event or does it also appeal to non-comics fans? Is Jack Nicholson perfectly cast or a dated precursor more modern Joker takes? And can modern day audiences root for anyone who says, ‘Hello Legs,’ upon meeting a colleague? All this and more gets discussed this week.

Phil was old enough to watch this at the cinema. Nicky was too young by seven months. Can she finally get over the disappointment and give Batman a fair hearing? There’s only one thing to do… listen and find out.

References mentioned, and wider reading…


Kenneth Lowe for Paste Magazine - 
https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/batman/autumn-classics-batman-1989


Funkula on Quarter to Three forums - 
https://forum.quartertothree.com/t/does-the-burton-batman-suck/40824


Chris Feil on The Film Experience - 
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2019/10/2/soundtracking-batman-1989.html


Mario Rodriguez in Americana: The American Journal of Popular Culture 
https://americanpopularculture.com/journal/articles/fall_2014/rodriguez.htm




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It’s mini pod time again. Another between-season fix, keeping you going before the start of Series Three. Yes, the format continues to be abandoned as Phil and Nicky complete the trilogies they started in Series Two.

Nicky has brought BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013) and Phil has chosen RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) Enjoy!


References mentioned, and wider reading…

Elijah Gonzalez in Paste Magazine -
https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/richard-linklater/before-midnight-time-non-idealized-love 

Dana Stevens in Slate.Com - 
https://slate.com/culture/2013/05/before-midnight-directed-by-richard-linklater-reviewed.html 

The Blog od Marzarbul - 
https://www.theblogofmazarbul.com/2021/10/02/a-flawed-masterpiece-why-return-of-jedi/

Dagon Dogs - 
https://dagondogs.com/2016/04/09/return-of-the-jedi-quick-dirty-review


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It’s mini pod time! Your between-season fix, keeping you going before the start of Series Three. For two weeks only, the format has been abandoned as Phil and Nicky complete the trilogies they started in Series Two.

Phil is here with THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) whilst Nicky has brought BEFORE SUNSET (2004). Enjoy!

References mentioned, and wider reading…

Post by Shaun Watson - 
https://swatson7856.medium.com/movie-review-star-wars-episode-v-the-empire-strikes-back-1980-d233d27ce339 

Review bv Roger Ebert - 
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-empire-strikes-back-1997-1  

Review by Peter Bradshaw -
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/jul/23/before-sunset-review

Post by Jaime Rebanal 
https://cinemafromthespectrum.com/2019/08/31/before-sunset-review-taking-that-one-chance-that-got-away-all-over-again/



• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
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• Or you can email us at [email protected]
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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (1976).

Written by Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, and William Goldman, and directed by Alan J Pakula, ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN is a love letter to journalism. With Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman playing the tenacious reporters on the scent of Watergate scandal, this film combines routine procedure, the tiniest of details, along with thrills and chills as our heroes search for the truth. 

That’s Nicky’s view, anyway. She returns for a rewatch on a yearly basis. And Phil? Who knows? Listen to the episode and find out.


References mentioned, and wider reading…

Substack by John Devore about the realities of journalism -https://150wordreviews.substack.com/p/essay-all-the-presidents-men-1976

Medium post by Syifa Abibi - 
https://medium.com/theuglymonster/all-the-presidents-men-the-washington-post-vs-richard-nixon-22c8848e20f3 

George Clooney’s opinion - 
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/movie-george-clooney-called-cinematic-perfection-perfect-film/

Info about the split diopter by Jo Light
https://nofilmschool.com/split-diopter-all-presidents-men

Steve Buttry’s comparison to Spotlight - https://stevebuttry.wordpress.com/2015/11/24/spotlight-a-generation-later-echo-of-all-the-presidents-men/

Interview with Alan J Pakula - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DyeWjsutZE

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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about THE KARATE KID (1984).

Written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G Avildsen, THE KARATE KID is a long time fave of Phil’s. Telling the story of Daniel - a new kid on the block who’s developed the unfortunate habit of getting beaten up on the daily - and his rise to karate dominance with the help of friendly maintenance man, Mr Miyagi!

Phil approached this chat like the giddy school boy he is. Forty-two years on, is Nicky just too grown up these days to warm to the film’s charms? Listen to the chat and find out.

This conversation was recorded in January 2026.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

Lessons from The Karate Kid by Gwendolyn Bluemich
https://community.thriveglobal.com/lessons-from-the-karate-kid/ 

The Difficult Realities of the Karate Kid Lessons We Can Learn About East Asian Representation in Mainstream Culture…
https://www.cultursmag.com/the-difficult-realities-of-the-karate-kid-lessons-we-can-learn-about-east-asian-representation-in-mainstream-cinema/

HOW THE KARATE KID RUINED THE MODERN WORLD by Dr. David Wong
https://www.cracked.com/article_18544_how-the-karate-kid-ruined-modern-world.html

To book Ralph Macchio…
https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/ralph-macchio

Phil’s first contribution to the pod’s research! 
https://screenrant.com/karate-kid-daniel-villain-theory/

Obama catches a fly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45j8CtSm50U

Smithy’s training montage at Sport’s Personality of the Year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvvKUtHlDK8



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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about BEFORE SUNRISE (1995).

Written by Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan, and directed by Richard Linklater, this film asks an age-old question. If Ethan Hawke asked you to get off a train with him, would you? For Nicky, it’d be a real quick yes. She’d walk round Vienna, have the most meaningful experience of her life, and measure all romantic encounters against that one night, finding that they repeatedly came up short. And Phil? For his personal stance, you’ll need to listen to the pod. 

Nicky has loved this film since she discovered it in the nineties. Phil is a more recent viewer. This conversation was recorded in February 2026.

(Also, when Nicky describes not having a train ticket when she was seventeen, she means she didn’t have a booked seat. No fare dodging here!)

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://medium.com/@Jeanaubinet/before-sunrise-the-charm-of-simplicity-and-emotional-depth-0235eab7b15f  The Charm of Simplicity and Emotional Depth

https://chicagofilmscene.com/the-conversational-intimacy-of-before-sunrise/ 

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/49w7ra/does_anyone_know_what_the_couple_in_the_beginning/ - The German couple’s argument, translated.

https://nofilmschool.com/How-to-write-a-conversation - Screen writing tips

https://www.willmcphail.com/store/lady-no-kids-2025 - The adventures of Lady No-Kids by Will McPhail

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/30/before-sunrise-review-richard-linklater-ethan-hawke-julie-delpy by Peter Bradshaw


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