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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about NOTTING HILL (1999).

Written by Richard Curtis and directed by Roger Michell, NOTTING HILL tells the story of sweet, bumbling Will, played by Hugh Grant in his sweet and bumbling rom-com period. 

After casually throwing orange juice over a humungous movie star, bookseller Will and mega-famous Anna, start a relationship. Is it too implausible to be believed? Does Will the bookseller behave well at all times? Does Richard Curtis’ London bear any resemblance to the real place? All these questions and more will be answered on the pod.

Phil has loved this film for a long time. Nicky has also watched it a few times. Did they find common ground? Is this the film that’ll align their views? You’ll just have to listen to find out.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://www.curzon.com/journal/hugh-grant-rom-com-speeches/ - The Very Specific Appeal of Hugh Grant’s Romantic Declarations, by Yasmin Omar

https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/what-that-last-brownie-really-means - What That Last Brownie Really Means, by Cole Haddon


https://bethlisogorsky.substack.com/p/notting-hill-1999-review - Notting Hill: What Works/What Doesn’t - By Beth Lisogorsky

https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/mar/17/notting-hill-julia-roberts-richard-curtis-film-guilty-pleasure - My Guilty Pleasure: Notting Hill, by Peter Bradshaw

https://29secrets.com/pop-culture/25-years-since-notting-hill-a-tribute-to-the-most-chaotic-rom-com-ever-made/ - A Tribute to the Most Chaotic Rom Com Ever Made, by Anne T Donahue




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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about DIRTY DANCING (1987).

Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, DIRTY DANCING tells the story of boy meets girl, girl learns professional dance routine while boy’s colleague gets backstreet abortion, boy gets sacked, girl is put in corner, boy and girl have time of their lives. An everyday tale, relatable to all.

Is this the sexiest film ever made or did Nicky just think it was when she was twelve? Does Baby’s coming of age tale resonate with straight men on the same level? Can Nicky argue its feminist merits or is it simply enough to win the hearts of sleepover attendees the world over? These questions and more get discussed on this week’s pod.

In all seriousness, this episode contains frank discussions around the subject of abortion, as it relates to Penny’s story.


References mentioned, and wider reading…

Dirty Dancing is an Underrated Feminist Masterpiece- https://www.themarysue.com/dirty-dancing-feminist-masterpiece/

Dirty Dancing, Jewishness, and Who Gets to be White -  https://thewhitepages.net/p/out-of-the-corner

The interview with Eleanor Bergstein - https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-back-alley-abortion-that-almost-didnt-make-it-into-dirty-dancing/ 

Guardian article by Ann Lee - https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/19/my-favourite-film-aged-12-dirty-dancing 


• Finally, you can find us on Bluesky at @lightscamereapod
• On Insta at @lightscameraaggro
• Or you can email us at [email protected]
(Yes, we set up our email address before we’d finalised our name. What of it?!)



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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988).

Written by John Cleese, and directed by John Cleese and Charles Chrichton, A FISH CALLED WANDA is a comic caper that tells the story of a slick diamond heist that falls apart when the double crossing starts. With a corruptible lawyer, an elderly dog owner, and farcical lols aplenty, has this romp stood the test of time?

Nicky’s been a fan for decades. Can she convince Phil to feel the joy of the comedy or are some bits just too damn problematic now? Listen to the chat and find out.

This conversation was recorded in January 2026, before the death of Tom Georgeson.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/AFishCalledWanda - TV tropes

https://notlefthandedfilmguide.co.uk/2020/06/27/a-fish-called-wanda/ from 2020, the Not Left Handed Film Guide to the film.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/the-oral-history-of-a-fish-called-wanda?srsltid=AfmBOoqWHEVDTQmGmpAH3zXFa-zUuKSvfAUexxI5KzQphAGV6Vd-DaTT –The oral history of A Fish Called Wanda in Vanity Fair.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-fish-called-wanda-1988 - Roger Ebert’s review

https://michaelpalincentreforstammering.org – Michael Palin Centre for Stammering

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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about GHOSTBUSTERS (1984).

Written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, and directed by Ivan Reitman, this is the story of four paranormal investigators as they tackle the supernatural shenanigans in New York City. A fun adventure from a previous era or dated, crude, and of its time? Who knows? You’ll have to listen to the pod and see where the discussion goes.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://criticalpopcorn.com/2020/05/30/catching-up-with-classics-ghostbusters-1984/

https://suddenlyashotrangout.com/2014/06/10/ghostbusters-1984-the-marshmallow-apocalypse/

https://medium.com/mediametaphysics/ghostbusters-and-the-esoteric-capitalism-of-the-1980s-382eba6bc688




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This week, Nicky has chosen to talk about REAR WINDOW (1954).

Written by John Michael Hayes and Cornell Woolrich, and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, REAR WINDOW is the story of an injured photojournalist turned detective, providing a stark warning about flash photography in unlit rooms. Whether you come for the spenny set, the classic Hollywood stars, or the naked voyeurism and the questions it raises, come one, come all, for this absolute banger.

Nicky classes this as a Christmas film, because there’s never a festive period when it’s not aired, and Phil thinks…? Well, who knows? You’ll have to listen to find out.

References mentioned, and wider reading…

Henry Oliver - Why is Rear Window so Tense?
https://www.commonreader.co.uk/p/why-is-rear-window-so-tense 

Andrew Neylon - Words from a Room - https://arneylon.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/rear-window-1954/
30 Interesting Facts About Rear Window -
https://alltherightmovies.com/feature/30-interesting-facts-about-rear-window/

Film Site Movie Review -  https://www.filmsite.org/rear2.html 



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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about TOY STORY (1995).

Directed by John Lasseter, and written by John Lasseter, Pete Doctor, Andrew Stanton, and Joe Ranft, TOY STORY is the tale of Andy and his toys. Woody – the Sheriff and overall top dog - gets usurped by Buzz, a deluded alpha who thinks he can fly. With an enemies to friends trope coupled with a team work makes the dream work vibe, TOY STORY is the much-loved family favourite that every single person has seen. Except Nicky. Until Now.

Hear her first time thoughts as Phil shares his long-held enthusiasm for the film. More tea, Mrs Nesbitt? 


References mentioned, and wider reading…


https://toystoryfangirl.com/2015/09/17/toy-story-throwback-toy-story-at-the-oscars/ 
Heidi Wilhem, about the 1996 Academy Awards.

https://tapg1946.wordpress.com/2019/03/19/toy-story-1995/ TAP-G, about the Easter Eggs.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/toy-story-1995 Roger Ebert’s review. 


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This week, Phil has chosen to talk about STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE (1977).

Written and directed by George Lucas, STARS WARS - A NEW HOPE is the ultimate story of good versus evil. It’s the good guys on a humanitarian mission against the bad guys intent on universal destruction. It’s faith in what you can’t see and hope in a better world. Or, is it just a camp as tits space film that gets shown on the telly every Christmas?

Phil has worn his Star Wars pyjamas for decades. Nicky has yet to discover the joys of sci fi night wear. This conversation, featuring his enthusiasm alongside her first time impressions, was recorded in November 2025. 

References mentioned, and wider reading…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3yRv5Jg5TI The Chewbaca mask lady will brighten your day.

https://lovethynerd.com/skywalker-saga-reflections-star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope/ - Skywalker Saga Reflections

https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/george-lucas-star-wars-facts - George Lucas and the Origin Story Behind Star Wars

https://medium.com/@_ochre/watching-star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-for-the-first-time-fdc5718874cb - Watching Star Wars: Episode VI A New Hope for the First Time


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