Single Serving Cinema

Tim & Tay are joined by Kyle Snarr to discuss Christopher Nolan's war epic Dunkirk. We talk about time strata, IMAX, and more. 

Our guest this week is Kyle Snarr, a gear guy, auto enthusiast, and film buff. He’s the Head of Partnerships at Worn & Wound, the co-founder of Cantonment Co. (a TGN favorite), and a big fan of SSC.

Synopsis
Allied soldiers cornered by the German threat in Dunkirk, France must survive as a daring civilian rescue is mounted to get them home safe across the English Channel.

Starring Fionn Whitehead and directed by Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk was released July 19, 2017.

Find out where to watch Dunkirk.

Scene  [1:02:17 - 1:10:30]

As storylines converge, Collins' plane crash-lands in the sea as Mr. Dawson, with his son, Peter, races to save him. Back on the beach, Tommy and a group of English soldiers take refuge in a beached Dutch ship, which quickly turns into a new kind of hell as the Germans begin using the hull as target practice. The scene stars Jack Lowden as Collins, Mark Rylance as Mr, Dawson, and Fionn Whitehead as Tommy.

Links

• Memento at Sundance
• The Rewatchables discuss Dunkirk with Tarantino
• Vox's explainer on the "Shepard tone"
• Musical analysis via Medium
• Drowned IMAX camera

Recommendations

• Kyle: Insomnia (Nolan, 2002)—where to watch
• Tim: La Jetee (Marker, 1972)—where to watch
• Tay: 71 (Demange, 2014)—where to watch

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim & Tay close out this year's month of horror with a bonafide classic: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. They discuss the film's legacy, how its horror functions, and more. 

Synopsis
A group of five friends travels by van across rural Texas to visit a grandfather’s grave site. They stop at an old farmhouse where they face an unimaginable terror in the form of a deranged cannibalistic family and the chainsaw-wielding maniac, Leatherface

Starring Marilyn Burns as Sally, Jim Seidow as The Cook, and Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface, Texas Chainsaw Massacre was directed by Tobe Hooper and released October 1st, 1974 (in Texas).

Click here to see where to buy, rent and stream Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

Scene  [31:45 - 40:20]

Looking for gas to refuel their van, Pam and Kirk wander across the grounds of an old farmhouse. Upon closer inspection, the two get more than they bargained for as they come face-to-face (to face) with Leatherface.

Links

• The original poster
• The Big Picture podcast on TCM
• "11 Things You Didn't Know About The Texas Chain Saw Massacre"
• Banned Exorcist trailer
• Alluvion (2021)
• Jackie Chan editing a punch

Recommendations

• Tim: The Hidden (Sholder, 1987)—where to watch
• Tay: Hatchet ( Green, 2006)—where to watch

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim & Tay discuss this month's listener selection: A Nightmare On Elm Street (Craven, 1984). We explore this month's alchemical production, Freddy's anointing as an iconic boogeyman, and the unbeatable premise of this franchise. 

Synopsis
A group of teenagers are plagued by a recurring nightmare in which they are pursued by a badly-burned man with knives for fingers. Their fear turns to horror when they realize this boogeyman can hurt them for real.

Starring Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund, and directed by Wes Craven, A Nightmare On Elm Street was released November 16, 1984.

A Nightmare On Elm Street is available to rent online.

Scene  [34:37 - 42:40]
Nancy enlists the help of Glen to help her “find” the mysterious claw-fingered man from her dreams, but she gets more than she bargains for as Glen falls asleep.


Links

• Oral History (Vulture)

Recommendations

• Tim: Dream Warriors (Chuck Russell, 1987)—where to watch
• Tay: Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon (Scott Glosserman, 2006)—where to watch

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• SSC on Twitter
• Tim on Letterboxd

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim brings one of his favourite horror movies to the podcast: Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria. The hosts talk horror remakes, Tilda Swinton and more in this discussion of the witchy and dense take on Dario Argento's original horror classic.

Synopsis
Susie Bannion, a naive midwesterner, travels to a divided Berlin to join the mysterious Markos Dance Company.

Starring Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton, Suspiria was directed by Luca Guadagnino, and released on November 2, 2018.

Suspiria is available to stream on Amazon Prime. 

Scene  [29:35 - 42:45}
Susie joins her first rehearsal with the company, which is interrupted when another dancer, Olga, quits, calling the instructors “witches”. Susie boldly steps in as the lead of the dance, while Olga attempts to escape the academy. On her way out, she is trapped by a curse, and painfully contorted by Susie’s dance.

Links

• The Hayes Code
• Amazon Prime's continual financial losses
• "A Masterpiece Is Reborn", Hayes, Screen Crush
• "Vergangenheitsbewältigung"
• "Let’s Talk about That Bonkers Conclusion", Goldberg, Collider
• The "Final Girl"
• Suspiria's writer on the "final girl"

Recommendations

• Tim: The Invisible Man (Whannell, 2020)—stream on Netflix
• Tay: X (West, 2022)—stream on Amazon Prime

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• SSC on Twitter
• Tim on Letterboxd

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim and Tay talk meta-narratives, a new era of horror and Matthew Lillard in this discussion of We Craven's revolutionary post-modern classic Scream.

Synopsis
A masked killer stalks high school students in this meta and modern horror classic. Starring Neve Campbell and directed by Wes Craven, Scream was released Dec. 20, 1996.

Scream is available to stream on Shudder.

Scene  [00:00-13:08]
Alone at her family's rural home, high schooler Casey Becker engages in what turns into a horrifying phone-call game of cat and mouse with a masked assailant.

Links

• The oral history of Scream
• Bladerunner 2049 trailer
• Beavis and Butthead vs. Scream at the box office
• The "Raimi Cam"

Recommendations

• Tim: The Cabin In The Woods (Goddard, 2011)—stream on Netflix
• Tay: Wes Craven's New Nightmare (Craven, 1994)—rent online

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• SSC on Twitter
• Tim on Letterboxd

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim and Tay talk flatulence, Daniel Radcliffe's career and more in this discussion of DANIELS' 2016 breakout film Swiss Army Man.

Synopsis
A hopelessly lost man discovers and befriends a dead body and uses its miraculous, if gross, abilities to survive the wilderness and make his way home. 

Starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, Swiss Army Man was directed by DANIELS, and released January 22, 2016.

Swiss Army Man is available to stream on Prime and Plex. 

Scene  [25:12 -28:11]
“The history of the universe”—in the confines of their habitable cave, Hank explains the real world to Manny, in hopes of triggering memories of his past using trash that they find to illustrate the world Hank ran away from.

Links

• Everything Everywhere All At Once (DANIELS, 2022)
• "Turn Down For What"
• The music of Swiss Army Man
• Be Kind Rewind (Gondry, 2008)
• Horns (Aja, 2013)
• Making of featurette
• Rogue One (Edwards, 2016)
• Paul Dano's filmography

Recommendations

• Tim: Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Waititi, 2016)—stream on Netflix
• Tay: I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (Blair, 2017)—stream on Netflix
• BONUS: The Package (short by Greenwood)

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Next month is horror, focusing on Wes Craven, starting with Scream (Craven, 1996) - Get Shudder for October!

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• SSC on Twitter
• Tim on Letterboxd

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim and Tay talk cinematic realism, anamorphic lenses, and Kevin Garnett's acting skills in this discussion of Uncut Gems.

Synopsis
Diamond district jeweller and gambling addict Howie Ratner makes bet after bet in pursuit of his big win. 

Starring Adam Sandler, and directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems was released August 30, 2019.

Uncut Gems is available to stream on Netflix. 

Scene  [1:05:40 - 1:11:00]
KG and Demany return to Howard's store with the Opal, but get stuck in the double-glass entrance and wait, frustrated as Howard and his staff try to get the door open.

The scene stars Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Lakeith Stanfield and Roman Persits.

Links

• "Cinema of attraction"
• A24's model
• Safdies filmography
• Cassavettes and other influences
• Anamorphic lenses 101
• DP Darius Khondji on anamorphic lenses
• "Macguffin"
• There Will Be Blood (Rewatchables)

Recommendations

• Tim: Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Huston, 1948)—rent on Google Play.
• Tay: Elevator To The Gallows (Louis Malle, 1958)—stream on Criterion Channel.

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• SSC on Twitter
• Tim on Letterboxd

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim and Tay talk Verhoeven, love-triangles and squibs in this discussion of 1997's StarshipTroopers.

Synopsis
Johnny Rico joins his high school friends in a galactic war against bugs from outer space, and soon comes face to face with both the highs and horrors of a life in military service. 

Starring Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and Dina Meyer, Starship Troopers was directed by Paul Verhoeven and released on November 7, 1997. 

Starship Troopers is available to stream on Netflix. 

Scene  [48:08 - 55:00]
After communication with his parents is cut off suddenly, the newly resigned Johnny Rico learns that his family and home have been destroyed. He quickly falls back under the guise of nationalism and rejoins the mobile infantry.

Links

• Broadcast News (Brooks, 1987)
• ST's many bad reviews
• Blade Runner's name
• Bug Hunt At Outpost 9
• Soldier Of Orange (Verhoeven, 1977)

Recommendations

• Tim: Being There (Ashby, 1979)—rent on Google Play 
• Tay:  Hot Shots! Part Deux (Abrahams, 1993)—watch on Disney+

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Jordan Peele's Nope dropped right before we entered out alien movie month, so you know we had to do a bite-sized bonus episode on it. No scene, no proper format—just a fast chat about the movie right after our second viewing.

Nope concerns ranch-owning siblings OJ and Emerald Haywood who attempt to document a thrilling and terrifying phenomenon in order to gain fame and fortune. Starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, Nope  is Jordan Peele's third feature film. 

Nope was released July 22, 2022, and is still in theatres—go see it while you still can!

Link:  "Netflix Thinks Exactly Like an Old Movie Studio"

Recommendations:

• Tay: Fire in the Sky (Liberman, 1993)—rent on Google Play
• Tim: Annihilation (Garland, 2018)—stream on Hoopla 

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd

Tim and Tay are once again joined by James Stacey (The Grey Nato) to talk about another Denis Villeneuve movie: Arrival. We discuss this movie's patience, the cinematic  function of the Louise's transformation, and more in this potluck episode. 

Synopsis
When twelve alien ships appear on Earth, a linguist must determine how to communicate with the visitors before more paranoid and violent ambassadors of the human race take action.

Starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Arrival was released Sept. 2, 2016.

Arrival is available to stream on Crave.

Tay's Scene  [23:30-33:00]
Almost immediately after arriving at the base, Louise and Ian are rushed in to prepare to visit the alien spacecraft. They are driven over and anticipation mounts as they prepare to enter the vessel.

Tim's Scene [1:19:55-1:25:21]
Louise’s developing grasp of the heptapod language prompts more and more recollections of her daughter, which take on a new dimension when she realizes she can actively affect the memories, calling into question what they are and how she is seeing them.

James' Scene [1:33:14 - 1:43:39]
With unprompted help from a future General Shang, Louise puts her newfound abilities to use to prevent a military response against the heptapod ships.

Links

• Denis' filmography
• Dune: Part 2 starts filming
• Rendezvous With Rama
• "Story of Your Life"
• The Kuleshov Effect
• Song Exploder, ft. Johann Johannsson
• The lost soundtrack for Avatar (Cameron, 2009)
• Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (Jarmusch, 1999)
• Tarkovsky on film
• Primer (Carruth, 2004)

Recommendations

• Tim — Captive State (Wyatt, 2019)—rent on Google Play
• Tay — Lifeforce (Hooper, 1985)—stream on Shudder
• James — Annihilation (Garland, 2018)—stream on Hoopla 

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Follow:

• SSC on Instagram
• Tim on Letterboxd
• Tay on Letterboxd