Off Screen Death

Off Screen Death

By Michael Denniston and David GianniniTV & FilmFilm ReviewsFilm History
Download on the App Store

Off Screen Death episodes

  • King Richard/Life as a House (RT 47%)
    "Venus and Serena Williams are the names we rightly remember, but KING RICHARD remains fixated on the male bravado that pushed for them to get their names out there in the first place."

    Allegra Frank of Slate has no time for male bravado... whereas anyone who has listened to OFF SCREEN DEATH knows that is all this podcast is.

    Toxic and potent masculinity.

    So much so that for the failed but mostly well reviewed (ignore our chosen splat above) new Will Smith film we turned our podcasting eye to the not so well regarded tale of upper middle class white people with beachfront property in the Kevin Kline starring LIFE AS A HOUSE. The problem?

    He is father to Anakin Skywalker. With piercings! Enjoy!

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Google Podcasts/Amazon Music

    Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath

    Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm

    Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner

    Music by Joplin Rice

    Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

    This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    47 min
  • The Godfather Part II (AFI #32; Sight and Sound #31)
    "Godfather sires weak son."

    “Coppola’s ambitions THE GODFATHER PART TWO is a slow, aimless and annoyingly restless movie which purports to be about gangsterism but is, in fact, about the boredom of waiting.”

    These two reviews from The Philadelphia Enquirer (Desmond Ryan) and Philadelphia Daily News (Joe Baltalke), respectively, are placed here for your mockery (seriously, what is going on in Philly??) Obviously, THE GODFATHER PART II is a piece of great American art. That being said, your hosts buck against the idea that it is better than its predecessor.

    We talk Pacino’s career, Michael’s (lack of a) character arc, praising Diane Keaton, and editing issue. It is always a challenge to talk about the greats, but we had a great time talking THE GODFATHER PART II for New Year's Eve!

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Google Podcasts/Amazon Music

    Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath

    Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm

    Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner

    Music by Joplin Rice

    Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

    This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    34 min
  • Lucky You (RT 29%)
    "Feels like SHOWGIRLS without the tits or dancing."

    Joshua Rothkopf of TIME OUT is a fan of two things... but not Curtis Hanson's LUCKY YOU. Is Eric Bana to blame for this Diet Coke version of ROUNDERS? Can't be. For he was nominated for Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actor. What about America's Sweetheart for decades in Drew Barrymore? Maybe. But it most certainly can't be Debra Messing's fault.

    Even though she is the only reason this film was programmed on this podcast. Thanks, Deb!

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Google Podcasts/Amazon Music

    Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath

    Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm

    Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner

    Music by Joplin Rice

    Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

    This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    33 min
  • Last Night in Soho/Repulsion (1001 Movies #462)
    "Were we supposed to have found it entertaining? There's more horror latent in this notion of the movie audience than in the film itself."

    And if Pauline Kael's unkind words about Roman Polanski's REPULSION don't do it for you... how about Father Time Rex Reed for LAST NIGHT IN SOHO?

    “Depraved, delirious, and downright stupid, Last Night in Soho is two hours of amateurish drivel by B-movie director Edgar Wright that pretends to be half-retro Swingin’ Sixties comedy and half-horror thriller.  It is neither, but for a two hour assault on the I.Q., it’s in a class by itself”

    We also have some words, but you get to listen. No reading necessary at Off Screen Death (except here.)

    Mike and Dave discuss the need (or lack thereof) for plot, the trials and tribulations of the beautiful, and a recommendation for heavy drinking for one of these films. As is our want, we focus more on REPULSION, which is probably for the best.

    Join as we determine if we should root for movies with no plot, or those with so much plot that we struggle to track and pay attention. One thing we know for sure is, anything is better than another long Marvel nonsense movie, no matter who the director might be.

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify

    Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath

    Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm

    Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner

    Music by Joplin Rice

    Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

    This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    31 min
  • Rashomon (Sight and Sound #26)
    "A film that demonstrates that how you tell your story is just as important as what the story entails."

    Matt Neal of ABC Radio Australia taps into exactly what makes Rashomon truly great. Sure, many films have cribbed from this style, but none have reached the heights of Akira Kurosawa.

    But listen in to our discussion, because we talk not only about Rashomon and the Rashomon Effect; but also about the performances, and the outright cynicism of a beloved classic.

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify

    Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath

    Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm

    Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner

    Music by Joplin Rice

    Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

    This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    33 min
  • Enduring Love (RT 59%)
    "The whole film... is not thrilling or moving; it is interesting, which is fine by me but will not make it a huge success."

    Mark Steyn of The Spectator is washing his hands of this stalker film ENDURING LOVE starring Daniel Craig and Rhys Ifans but we are just getting into it as we learn many deep secrets about one host. Such as:

    • Dave is afraid of balloons.
    • Dave likes to see James Bond kissing another man.
    • But be efficient about it; no lollygagging.

      • And Mike likes the movie but would honestly rather be watching NOTTING HILL again.

      Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Google Podcasts

      Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath

      Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm

      Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner

      Music by Joplin Rice

      Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

      This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

      36 min
    • The Tree of Life (1001 Movies #1147)
      "The lack of story or purpose is annoying and at times, the film is too experimental. Topping things off is an abrupt and unsatisfying ending which doesn't leave us with good feeling towards the film."

      Amy Curtis of We Got This Covered agrees with one of our hosts, especially regarding Malick’s lack of a story. We will call that host... the hero.

      “If you truly give in to the beauty of this amazing film, you might even find yourself changed by it. How often can you say that at the cinema?”

      Brian Tallerico of Hollywood Chicago, on the other hand, taps into our other host's focus on the art house and work of cinema. That host? The idiot.

      Join us as we discuss both sides, but more importantly, discuss how on earth Sean Penn could possibly be the product of the loins of Brad Pitt and The Chastain. How Terence Malick, How?!?

      Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner Music by Joplin Rice

      Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

      This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

      32 min
    • The Mothman Prophecies (RT 52%)
      "A gaudy yet grim science-fiction horror movie of such surpassing silliness, humorless intensity and stylistic overkill that watching it may actually put you in a state of paranoia. Why are these moviemakers persecuting us?"

      Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune does not seem okay. However we are ESPECIALLY if it involves Richard Gere, America's greatest of the silver foxes. Pair him up for another entry in the Gere and Laura Linney two handers as they take on a giant bug that likes to make crank calls (and predictions) and what you've got is a film that Robert Altman only WISHES that he could have made.

      But fortunately for us... Mark Pellington did. Enjoy!

      Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner Music by Joplin Rice

      Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

      This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

      42 min
    • Black Widow (#1 on Disney Plus Premier Access)
      "Black Widow represents the MCU looking back when it should be moving forward. Everything about the movie seems small, even the big action set pieces."

      James Berardinelli gives words to our comments but not our feelings. Mike and Dave talk about the small scale, road trip camaraderie between ScarJo and Florence Pugh, and touch on why it’s suddenly ok to make fun of superhero nonsense. We also briefly discuss why we are Team ScarJo in the lawsuit connected to this small scale, small profit movie.

      We mostly had a good time with BLACK WIDOW, which of course is underperforming by Marvel/Disney conglomerate standards, but who cares? Watch it and have a good time too! Or don't!

      Stimulate that ScarJo economy this Labor Day!

      Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner Music by Joplin Rice

      Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

      This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

      30 min
    • The Conversation (1001 Films #604)
      "Squeezed in right after The Godfather and before Part 2, just two of the most treasured pieces of cinema, Coppola made another film that actually may be his best."

      Sean Price of The Spool gets it just right according to both of our hosts. As is our habit on accepted classics, we veer off course a little bit to talk about THE CONVERSATION as science-fiction, Mike’s Mormon upbringing (?), and Judy Greer??

      It will (mostly) make sense when you listen. But not to worry, we spend most of the time discussing how great this particular movie is, especially from a craft and perspective point of view.

      We aim for you to listen to us just once on this episode, and not obsess over it like Gene Hackman in THE CONVERSATION.  But hey, if it makes you happy, knock yourself out.

      Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/Spotify Twitter @offscreendeath Instagram @theoffscreendeath Letterboxd: @daveagiannini and @projectingfilm Artwork by Nathan Thomas Milliner Music by Joplin Rice

      Find out more at https://offscreendeath.pinecast.co

      This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

      36 min

    About Off Screen Death

    From the publisher's feed

    A podcast about all the things we must do before the inevitable. Mostly watching movies. However one host intends to use that time wisely by looking at respected lists of curation from the likes of Sight And Sound or the AFI's Top 100. Meanwhile the other watches a lot of STARZ.