In this episode, we discuss Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue, including the film's connection to Japan's otaku culture, the film's depiction of celebrity, and Kon's use of cinematic techniques.

See where Perfect Blue is available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• Shout Factory's Perfect Blue Blu-ray

• Otaku (1994)

• Otaku (1994) (Internet Archive)

• Lecture Series with Satoshi Kon | Perfect Blue (on YouTube)

Additional Audio Sources:

• Perfect Blue Trailer

• Shout Factory's Perfect Blue Blu-ray

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we discuss Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger Than Paradise, including the film's visual style, how the film grammar supports the themes, and what differentiates Willie and Eva.

See where Stranger Than Paradise is available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• The Criterion Collection's Stranger Than Paradise Blu-ray

• Stranger Than Paradise (The Criterion Channel)

• Stranger Than Paradise: Enter Jarmusch by Geoff Andrew

• Paradise Regained by J. Hoberman

Additional Audio Sources:

• Stranger Than Paradise Trailer (from The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray)

• The Criterion Collection's Stranger Than Paradise Blu-ray

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we discuss Abbas Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry, including Mr. Badii's treatment of the three supporting characters, the visual motif of dirt, and the film's self-reflexive ending.

See where Taste of Cherry is available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• The Criterion Collection's Taste of Cherry Blu-ray

• Taste of Cherry (The Criterion Channel)

• Taste of Cherry: Stay Near the Tree by A. S. Hamrah

• Taste of Cherry by Godfrey Cheshire

• Abbas Kiarostami | In Conversation With... (TIFF Originals)

• Martin Scorsese on Abbas Kiarostami

Additional Audio Sources:

• The Criterion Collection's Taste of Cherry Blu-ray

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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We wanted to let everyone know our discussion of Abbas Kiarostami's Taste of Cherry is delayed. In this brief episode, Joe gives some insight into why and when to expect the episode. Thank you for your understanding.

Additional Audio Sources:

• Taste of Cherry Trailer (The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray)

• Taste of Cherry | Modern Trailer by CP Trailers

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we discuss Allan King’s A Married Couple, including King's approach to documentary, the film's use of crane shots, and whether Billy and Antoinette "perform" for the camera.

See where A Married Couple is available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• The Criterion Collection's Eclipse Series 24: The Actuality Dramas of Allan King

• In Camera: Allan King

• Allan King Interview

• Antoinette on A Married Couple

• Eclipse Series 24: The Actuality Dramas of Allan King by Michael Koresky

• Michael Cera on A Married Couple (The Criterion Channel)

Additional Audio Sources:

• A Married Couple Trailer

• A Married Couple (The Criterion Channel Transfer)

• In Camera: Allan King

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we discuss Payal Kapadia’s A Night of Knowing Nothing, including the film’s unconventional approach to documentary, the value of the film’s fictional elements, and the theme of impossible love.

See where A Night of Knowing Nothing is available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• A Night of Knowing Nothing (The Criterion Channel Transfer)

• Meet the Filmmakers | Payal Kapadia

• Payal Kapadia on A Night of Knowing Nothing | NYFF59

• A Night of Knowing Nothing Q&A | DocPoint 2022

• Discussing A Night of Knowing Nothing | Payal Kapadia & Ranabir Das

• A Night of Knowing Nothing with Payal Kapadia | ICA

• A Night of Knowing Nothing Q&A | Quinzaine des Cinéastes

• Payal Kapadia on Documentary Trends & Filmmaking Tips | Film Critics Guild

• Watermelon, Fish and Half Ghost (2014) (Dir. Payal Kapadia)

• The Last Mango Before the Monsoon (2015) (Dir. Payal Kapadia)

• Afternoon Clouds (2017) (Dir. Payal Kapadia)

• And What Is the Summer Saying (2018) (Dir. Payal Kapadia)

• Between Day and Night (2021) (Dir. Payal Kapadia)

• What is India's caste system?

• What is India’s caste system? Is it contentious in U.S.?

• Cast System in India Today

Additional Audio Sources:

• A Night of Knowing Nothing (The Criterion Channel Transfer)

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we discuss Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy, including the differences between the film and the short story, how the film effectively establishes character, and how Reichardt and Sillen create disconnect through film grammar. 

See where Old Joy is available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• The Criterion Collection's Old Joy Blu-ray

• Old Joy - Photographs by Justine Kurland & Fiction by Jonathan Raymond (Book)

• Old Joy: Northwest Passages by Ed Halter

• Kelly Reichardt: ‘My films are about people who don’t have a safety net’ (BFI Interview)

• Yorgos Lanthimos & Kelly Reichardt (Film Independent Interview)

• Kelly Reichardt: A Major Voice of Indie Cinema | The VICE Guide to Film

• Old Joy - Daniel London and Kelly Reichardt Interview

• Patton Oswalt Introduces OLD JOY (The Criterion Channel)

• Ode (1999) (Dir. Kelly Reichardt) (PASSWORD: benjamin)

• Travis (2004) (Dir. Kelly Reichardt)

• It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror (Book)

Additional Audio Sources:

• Old Joy Trailer

• The Criterion Collection's Old Joy Blu-ray

• Daniel London and Will Oldham Conversation on The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray

• Kelly Reichardt Interview on The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we cover two Godzilla films, Ishirô Honda's Destroy All Monsters and Kazuki Ômori's Godzilla vs. Biollante. We also discuss our experiences with the franchise, what makes a good Godzilla film, and the similarities and differences between the two films.

See where Destroy All Monsters & Godzilla vs. Biollante are available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• The Criterion Collection's Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975

• The Criterion Collection's Godzilla vs. Biollante 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

• Toho Unused Special Effects Complete Collection

Additional Audio Sources:

• The Criterion Collection's Destroy All Monsters Blu-ray

• Godzilla vs. Biollante (The Criterion Channel Transfer)

• Destroy All Monsters Trailer

• Godzilla vs. Biollante Trailer

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we rank the 16 films discussed on the podcast in 2024. We also discuss the best and worst films we watched in 2024, lessons learned, and our 2025 film resolutions.

Minor Spoiler Warnings:

• Anora ~ 01:15:00 - 01:20:31

• MaXXXine ~ 01:47:45 - 01:49:58

• Greedy People ~ 01:51:47 - 01:53:28

• Trap ~ 02:01:42 - 02:04:29

Additional Audio Sources:

• Cinelicious Pics' Giuseppe Makes a Movie Blu-ray

• The Criterion Collection's Three Colors Blu-ray

• The Criterion Collection's The Cloud-Capped Star Blu-ray

• The Criterion Collection's John Cassavetes: Five Films Blu-ray

• High (Acoustic) by Giuseppe Andrews

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

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In this episode, we discuss David Lynch’s The Straight Story, including the purpose of Alvin’s journey, the film’s attention to small details, and the perfection of the film’s ending. 

See where The Straight Story is available to watch.

Supplemental Material:

• Lynch on Lynch (Book)

• Room to Dream by David Lynch and Kristine McKenna (Book)

• David Lynch Interview with Bobbie Wygant

• Richard Farnsworth Interview with Bobbie Wygant

• David Lynch Interview with Charlie Rose

• David Lynch: The Idea Dictates Everything (2006)

• David Lynch on Ideas and Abstractions

• David Lynch on The Straight Story

• David Lynch Talks About The Straight Story

• The Straight Story Press Kit

• The Straight Story Premiere (10/11/99)

• David Lynch's MasterClass

• Room to Dream: David Lynch and the Independent Filmmaker

Additional Audio Sources:

• The Straight Story Trailer

• The Straight Story (Disney+ Transfer)

• David Lynch Interview with Bobbie Wygant

• Richard Farnsworth Interview with Bobbie Wygant

• David Lynch Interview with Charlie Rose

• David Lynch: The Idea Dictates Everything (2006)

• David Lynch on The Straight Story

• The Straight Story Press Kit

• David Lynch's MasterClass

If you'd like to support the show, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share the podcast with someone who might enjoy it.

If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about the show, you can email us at [email protected]

Follow us on Letterboxd: Joe | Justin