One Week Only - Podcast

Episode 54 of One Week Only! Our key film this week is "After the Storm," a Japanese family drama about a divorced father with a gambling addiction, struggling to reconnect with his ex-wife and their young son. Directed by the great Hirokazu Koreeda (Our Little Sister), and starring Hiroshi Abe, Yoko Maki & Kirin Kiki, this is a intimate portrait of a fractured family that grapples with powerful themes of fatherhood and family legacy. It is now playing in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. (42:30)

Our interview this week is for the documentary "Ovarian Psycos" about a woman of color bike brigade in East LA, created by women dealing with family and cultural struggles and looking for a feminist community. We interview co-directors Joanna Sokolowski & Kate Trumbull-LaValle about the coming into the world of these cyclists and capturing on the film the struggles they deal with from sexists, racists and traditionalists. The film premiered at SWSX last year, and comes to PBS on Independent Lens on March 27th. (58:00)

We also review the new Terrence Malick film "Song to Song" starring Rooney Mara & Ryan Gosling (15:30); and the WWI period film "Frantz" by François Ozon, starring Paula Beer & Pierre Niney(30:30).

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 53 of One Week Only! This week's key film is "Raw," a French coming-of-age drama about a vegetarian student at Veterinary college who discovers an unexpected but unquenchable thirst for meat, including human flesh. Directed by Julia Ducournau and starring Garance Marillier & Ella Rumpf, this fantastic film is a complex mix of college hazing drama, art-house horror and metaphorical exploration of one's identity. It's a bold debut, and one of the best films of the year so far. Now Playing in New York and Los Angeles! (35:30)

The Slamdance Cinema Club returns to Arclight theaters this weekend! This week's interview is with the director & star of the documentary "Strad Style" about an amateur violin maker in rural Ohio who attempts to make one of the most complicated violins in the world. We speak with director Stefan Avalos and star Danny Houck about how the film came together, and what it was like to win both the Jury Prize and the Audience Award for Best Documentary at this year's Slamdance Film Festival. (46:00)

We also review the Greek drama "Suntan" about a middle-aged doctor obsessed with a younger woman, directed by Argyris Papadimitropoulos (7:30); and the documentary "My Scientology Movie" about British broadcaster Louis Theroux's attempts to learn about the mysterious religion, directed by John Dower (21:00).

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 52 of One Week Only! Our key film this week is the expertly awkward comedy "Donald Cried" about a Wall Street banker who returns to his small town for a family matter, and has to get help from his best friend in high school, who he hasn't seen in 15 years. Written, Directed & Starring Kris Avedisian, and co-starring Jesse Wakeman, it sharply draws cringing but hilarious comedy out of realistic characters and situations, and digs deep into the awkwardness of male friendship. Now playing in New York and Los Angeles.

We also review the satirical action comedy "Catfight" starring Sandra Oh and Anne Heche, directed by Onur Tukel; the Palestinian hip-hop drama "Junction 48" directed by Udi Aloni and co-written by Oren Moverman (Love & Mercy); and experimental documentary "The Human Surge" directed by Eduardo Williams.

Sadly, Isabelle Huppert is not an Oscar winner, but we discuss the Academy Awards, as well as the Spirit Awards. Congrats to Moonlight on winning Best Picture at both events!

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 51 of One Week Only! The Podcast is now one year's old! Our key film this week is the Oscar-nominated animated film "My Life as a Zucchini" from the wonderful folks at GKIDs. This beautifully crafted stop motion gem is about a young boy nicknamed "Zucchini" who moves to an orphanage after his mother dies, and becomes friends with the other children. Directed by Claude Barras, this is a touching, adorable film that still deals with tragic and difficult subject matter, but makes it accessible for all ages.

Our interview this week is for the VR installation game "Bad News" created by Adam Summerville, James Ryan & Ben Samuel. The set up is a small town, where you the player is a mortician, and has to find the closest relative of a recently deceased individual. Like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" story with more heart and depth, it uses real-time updates and an actor playing all the characters to draw the player in & engage them with the story. We spoke with Adam at the Slamdance Film Festival, where "Bad News" was part of the D.I.G. (Digital, Interactive & Gaming) showcase. It will next appear at the Mixed Reality Pop-Up Arcade at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on March 2nd.

We also review the British zombie thriller "The Girl with all the Gifts" starring Glenn Close & Gemma Arterton, directed by Colm McCarthy; and the LGBT dance documentary "KIKI" directed by Sara Jordenö and Twiggy Pucci Garcon. With the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the Oscars happening this weekend, we talk about what we think will win, and what should win. Most importantly, Isabelle Huppert for Best Actress! If you haven't seen our "Isabelle Huppert: A Tribute" video, you can find it on our new YouTube page. We also have a new video called "One Week Only: Year One" that looks back on our 1st 50 episodes and the 200+ films we reviewed.

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 50 of One Week Only! This week's key film is "Lovesong," a quiet, intimate drama about two old friends who go on a road trip that changes their relationship. Directed by So-Yong Kim and starring Riley Keough and Jena Malone, this Sundance 2016 film is a beautiful indie that favors naturalism and intimacy over melodrama and plot twists, and features two fantastic performances. It opens this weekend in New York, with Los Angeles to follow.

With Oscar voting in full swing, we put our full support behind Best Actress nominee Isabelle Huppert, and made a video tribute to her incredible body of work! Check it out on our new YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7nTgjMOJ4U

We also review horror anthology "XX" directed by Karyn Kusama, Roxanne Benjamin, Jovanka Vockovic and St. Vincent; and the double feature of Mexican romantic comedies: "Everybody Loves Somebody" directed by Catalina Aguilar Mastretta and starring Karla Souza, and "You're Killing Me Susana" directed by Roberto Sneider and starring Gael García Bernal.

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 49 of One Week Only! We've almost made it to one year of the podcast! This week's key film is "Kedi," a documentary about the thousands of cats that live on the streets of Istanbul. This beautifully shot, funny and surprisingly philosophical documentary examines the place of cats in the world, and the humans who care so much for them. Directed by Ceyda Torun, it opens this week in New York at the Metrograph!

Tim Sutton's "Dark Night" opens this week in Los Angeles at the Egyptian Theater's Spielberg Room. Carlos will moderate the Q&A with Sutton on Friday night. Check out his interview for MovieMaker Magazine: http://www.moviemaker.com/archives/interviews/dark-night-of-the-american-soul-tim-sutton/

We also review the documentary "Mr. Gaga," directed by Tomer Heymann, about the life and career of famed Israeli dance choreographer Ohad Naharin; and we review the Oscar-Nominated Animated & Live-Action short films, including the fantastic "Blind Vaysha" and "Enemy Within."

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 48 of One Week Only! This week's key film is "Dark Night" a haunting, lyrical film about small town life and the growing threat of gun violence. Inspired by the Aurora movie theatre shootings during a screening of "The Dark Knight," this is a challenging but arresting look at the mundane details of life seeped in in the danger and uncertainty of our times. Directed by Tim Sutton, it opens this week in New York.

We also review the 2014 Sundance winner "Imperial Dreams," directed by Max Vitthal and starring John Boyega, that's finally getting released via Netflix Streaming, and we review one of the best films of 2017 so far, the brilliantly deranged mermaid horror musical "The Lure" directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska. Check out Carlos's interview with Smoczynska and many more filmmakers on the MovieMaker Magazine website.

Our interview this week is for the Slamdance film "Weather House," a strange dark comedy about a house of people surviving a climate catastrophe. We talk with co-directors Frauke Havemann and Eric Schefter about making a German film in English and creating the striking visual images in the film.

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 47 of One Week Only! Our key film this week is "The Salesman," the brilliant new film from master Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi (A Seperation, The Past) about a husband and wife acting in a production of "Death of a Salesman" whose lives are upended by a mysterious assault. Not only is it a terrific film, nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, it is also extremely relevant, in light of Donald Trump's Muslim Ban on immigrants and refugees. Farhadi has already said he will refuse to attend the Oscars in protest. Please support this film, which is now playing in New York and Los Angeles.

We also review the film "I Am Michael" starring James Franco as a real-life LGBT activist who mysteriously renounced his gay identity and became a devout, anti-gay Christian. Directed by Justin Kelly, this is a fascinating, complex film that may be difficult for either side to enjoy, but hopefully will find compelling.

The Sundance & Slamdance Film Festivals have wrapped up! We talk about the winning films and some of our favorites, including "A Ghost Story," "Call Me By Your Name," "Neighborhood Food Drive" and more!

Our interview this week is with Director Bill Watterson and stars Nick Thune & Meera Kumbhani of the hugely entertaining Slamdance hit "Dave Made A Maze," which won the Audience Award at this year's festival.

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 46 of One Week Only! We have some very weird films for you this week! Our key film is "We Are The Flesh," a deranged but strikingly beautiful horror film about two teenagers lost in ruined city, who come across a dangerous man who offers to help them survive. Directed by Emiliano Rocha Minter and starring Noé Hernández, this is a bold, perverse but visually arresting piece of horror filmmaking. It has already played in Los Angeles, but opens in New York this week, from Arrow Films.

Another deeply strange film this week is the French comedy "Staying Vertical" by Alain Guiraudie (Stranger by the Lake) about a wandering filmmaker who accidentally becomes a father. We also review the twisty neo-noir thriller "Detour" by Christopher Smith, about two possible realities for a young man on a quest for revenge.

We're attending the Sundance & Slamdance Film Festivals this weekend, so we'll have coverage of the films we see in our next Episode!

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com

Episode 45 of One Week Only! We take a look at the upcoming Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals, which both take place in Park City, Utah this January. Sundance always debuts some of the biggest indie films of the year, and this year's festival already has buzz around David Lowery's "A Ghost Story" starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, and Gillian Robespierre's "Landline" starring Jenny Slate. Slamdance may be smaller, but it excels in showcasing innovative, unique films, and this year we're looking forward to Bill Watterson's "Dave Made A Maze" and many more.

We also recap the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where Carlos was on the Jury for the Cine Latino Award, which was given to Pablo Larraíns's "Neruda," with a special mention for Natalia Almada's "Everything Else."

Our interview this week is with Cullen Hoback about his environmental crisis documentary "What Lies Upstream" about a massive chemical spill in West Virginia that contaminated the water for 300,000 people. "What Lies Upstream" will be the Opening Night Film of Slamdance on January 20th.

Hosted by Carlos Aguilar & Conor Holt. Music by Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com