Single Serving Cinema

Single Serving Cinema

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Single Serving Cinema episodes

  • SSC 29: The Fly (Cronenberg, 1986)

    Tim and Tay become obsessed with the flesh in this discussion of David Cronenberg's body-horror masterpiece The Fly. 

    Synopsis

    An attempt to change the nature of transportation results in a horrible accident for ambitious scientist Seth Brundle.

    Starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, and directed by David Cronenberg, The Fly was released on August 15, 1986.

    The Fly
    is available to stream on Disney+ and Crave.

    Scene  [01:23:00 - 01:33:10]
    Stathis arrives at Seth's house in hopes of rescuing Veronica, and instead he is forced into a violent confrontation with Brundlefly.

    Links

    • The Thing (Carpenter, 1982)
    • An American Werewolf in London (Landis, 1981)
    • The Evil Dead (Raimi, 1981)
    • Dead Alive (Jackson, 1992)
    • Cronenberg's filmography
    • Top movies of August '86
    • Cronenberg on elderly and technology
    • Marshall McLuhan, Technology and Agency

    Recommendations

    • Tim: Antiviral (Cronenberg, 2010)—watch on Netflix
    • Tay:  Hardcore Logo (McDonald, 1996)—watch 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
    1 hr 11 min
  • SSC 28: A History of Violence (Cronenberg, 2005)

    Tim and Tay dig into one of their favourite Canadian filmmakers, David Cronenberg, in this talk on A History Of Violence. Despite its lack of body horror, gore and goop, this character drama remains a distinctly Cronenbergian creation,

    Synopsis

    Small-town diner-owner Tom Stall makes national news by easily dispatching two criminals who threatened his staff. Seeing him on TV, dangerous men from the Philadelphia mob invade Tom’s life, believing him to be an associate of theirs long thought dead.

    Starring Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bellow, A History of Violence was directed by David Cronenberg and released on September 23, 2005.

    A History of Violence is available on Crave.

    Scene  [52:08 - 58:01]
    In this scene, Fogarty and his men roll up to the Stall homestead with Jack as their captive. They demand that Tom come back to Philadelphia with them in exchange for his son. As Edie watches from inside, Jack is let go while Tom bursts into a moment of violence, shattering his small-town facade.

    • 6 :00 - Viggo and Rob's long-form interviews
    • 14:30 - Cronenberg's long quote on his relationship to the body
    • 22:00 - Scorsese on Cronenberg in FANGORIA
    • 47:00 - Casting Tom Stall

    Recommendations

    • Tim: You Were Never Really Here (Ramsay, 2017)—available to stream on Prime.
    • Tay: The Kid Detective (Morgan, 2020)—available to stream on Crave.

    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
    1 hr 18 min
  • SSC 27: Speed (de Bont, 1994)


    CORRECTION:
    Contrary to what we discuss in this episode, the thirtieth episode (planned as a potluck for Arrival) will release in August, not July. We will save the alien theme and listener vote for that month. July's theme will be announced on Instagram soon.

    ---
     
    Tim & Tay close out (early career) Keanu month with the film that cemented him as an action star willing to do his own stunts: Speed.

    Synopsis
    A terrorist plants a bomb on bus, armed to explode the second it drops below 50/mph. Can hotshot LAPD officer Jack Traven keep the bus at speed, defuse the bomb, and save the innocent passengers along for the ride?

    Starring Keanu Reeves Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper, Speed was directed by Jan de Bont, and premiered June 10, 1994.

    Speed is available to stream on Disney+.

    Scene  [34:16-40:15]
    After receiving word about a bomb on a public transport bus, Jack steals a car in order to track the bus down.

    • 7:00 - Die Hard (McTiernan, 1988)
    • 8 :00- Yost's script
    • 20:00 - Terminator 2 (Cameron, 1991)
    • 24:00 - Development of Annie's character
    • 25:30 - Miss Congeniality (Petrie, 2000)
    • 28:00 - PG-13 rules concerning the "f word"
    • 33:00 - Camera destroyed during bus jump (via DVD commentary)
    • 40:00 - Speed 2 (de Bont, 1997)
    • 54:30 - Shang Chi bus fight
    • 58:00 - Snyder and the "dream" lens
    • 1:02:00 - Patrick Fischler
    • 1:05:00 - Kurosawa's runaway train concept
    • 1:06:00 - Tarantino's top movies

    Recommendations

    • Tim: Unstoppable (Scott, 2010) — stream on Disney+
    • Tay: The Running Man (Glaser, 1987) — stream on Tubi

    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
    1 hr 11 min
  • SSC 26: Point Break (Bigelow, 1991)

    Tim & Tay kick off Keanu month with one of his most iconic blockbusters: Point Break. We talk about Keanu's unique offering as an actor, '90s action cinematography, and meatball sandwiches. 

    Synopsis
    Federal Agent Johnny Utah infiltrates a group of bank-robbing surfers and soon begins to question his loyalties.

    Starring Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze and Lori Petty, and directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Point Break was released July 12, 1991.

    Point Break
    is available to stream on Prime (Starz).

    Scene  [1:02:16 - 1:10:30]
    With the Ex-Presidents planning their big end-of-season bank heist, Utah and Pappas stake out the bank. Pappas loses focus when he sends Utah to grab lunch and the Ex-Presidents escape with the money, leading to an extensive car and foot chase resulting in a showdown between Bode and Utah

    • 2:30 - Hot Fuzz
    • 2:35 - "Stan Smith Is Keanu Reeves as Stanny Utah in Point Break"
    • 3:45 - Patrick Swayze
    • 8:15 - Keanu Reeves
    • 18:00 - Johnny Utah as an ingenue
    • 28:00 - The "pogo cam"
    • 30:00 - Telephoto lens (as compared to other focal lengths)
    • 32:48 - parallax & Michael Bay
    • 33:00 - Running scene from The Graduate
    • 35:35 - Hurt Locker beats Avatar
    • 42:50 - Car chase in The Batman
    • 55:40 - Keanu Reeves is Duke Caboom

    Recommendations

    • Tim: Brick (Johnson, 2005)—available to rent on Apple TV.
    • Tay: Abyss (Cameron, 1989).

    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
    1 hr 10 min
  • SSC Bite-Sized Bonus: Ranking Season 1 Taglines

    Tim & Tay follow through on their promise to rank the taglines from each and every movie covered in season one.

    Tim's List

    1. The Thing - Man is the warmest place to hide.

    2. The Royal Tenenbaums - Family Isn't A Word... It's A Sentence.

    3. In The Mouth of Madness - Lived any good books lately?

    4. Drag Me To Hell- Christine Brown has a good job, a great boyfriend, and a bright future. But in three days, she's going to hell.

    5. Shin Godzilla - A god incarnate. A city doomed.

    6. Home Alone - A family comedy without the family.

    7. Everybody Wants Some!!- Here for a Good Time Not a Long Time

    8. Gattaca - There Is No Gene For The Human Spirit.

    9. The Prestige - Are You Watching Closely?

    10. Moneyball - What are you really worth?

    11. The Big Chill - How much love, sex, fun and friendship can a person take?

    12. Oldboy - 15 years of imprisonment, 5 days of vengeance.

    13. Incendies- The search began at the opening of their mother's will.

    14. Ocean’s 12 - Three years ago, they stole 160 million dollars. Now the only thing between their old enemy and their new one is an Ocean.

    15. Game Night - This is not a game.

    16. Sicario - The border is just another line to cross.

    17. BR 2049 - The key to the future is finally unearthed.

    18. The Green Knight - When honor was everything. When courage made kings.

    19. Dune - Beyond fear, destiny awaits.

    20. Children of Men - No children. No future. No hope.

    21. Mean Girls - Welcome to Girl World.

    22. Krisha - “I want to be in your life. I want to be close to you”

    23. Dead Poets Society - He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary.

    24. The Handmaiden - Never did they expect to get into a controversial relationship…

    25. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - FLEE, FLY, FOE, FUN! Here's an adventure for everyone. (Warriors of the Wind, US release.)

    Tay's List

    1. The Thing

    2. The Prestige

    3. Shin Godzilla 

    4. Drag Me To Hell

    5. Home Alone 

    6. The Royal Tenenbaums

    7. Oldboy

    8. In The Mouth of Madness

    9. Everybody Wants Some!!

    10. Moneyball

    11. Game Night

    12. Sicario

    13. Dune

    14. Gattaca

    15. BR 2049

    16. Children of Men

    17. The Handmaiden

    18. Incendies

    19. Mean Girls

    20. The Green Knight

    21. Dead Poets Society

    22. The Big Chill

    23. Ocean’s 12

    24. Krisha

    25. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

    Keep an eye on Instagram for the next listener vote, which will kick off Season 2 in June!

    Follow:

    • SSC on Instagram
    • Tim on Letterboxd
    • Tay on Letterboxd
    40 min
  • SSC 25: Children of Men (Cuaron, 2006)

    Tim & Tay talk about world-building, documentary realism, and oners in this discussion of Children of Men.

    Synopsis
    In the year 2027, the inexplicably infertile human race suffers amidst war, famine, plague, and worse. Theo, a disillusioned activist is charged with guarding humanity’s last hope on a harrowing journey from London to the coast of Great Britain.

    Based on the novel of the same name by PD James.

    Starring Clive Owen and Claire-Hope Ashitey, and directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Children Of Men was released December 25, 2006.

    Children Of Men
    is available to stream on Amazon Prime (Starz).

    Scene  [26:20-30:21]
    While driving with several members of Fishes, including his ex-wife, Theo and the group fall under fire from an armed gang. While retreating Julian is shot in the neck and killed, and Luke is forced to murder two police officers to cover their tracks.

    The scene stars Julianne Moore as Julian, Clive Owen as Theo, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Luke, Pam Ferris as Meriam and Claire-Hope Ashitey as Kee

    Links

    • 5:45 - Clive Owen's filmography
    • 6:00 - The Knick
    • 30:30 - "Don't Ignore The Background" (Nerdwriter)
    • 30:45 - Y Tu Mama Tambien (Cuaron, 2011)
    • 41:30 - "The Spielberg Oner" (Every Frame A Painting)
    • 43:15 - Cuaron on "realtime"
    • 52:00 - VFX Artists React
    • 1:00:00 - The 3 Rules of Living Animation (kaptainkristian)

    Recommendations

    • Tim: In The Mouth of Madness (Carpenter, 1995)—rent online.
    • Tay: Gattaca (Niccol, 1997)—stream on CTV.

    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
    1 hr 15 min
  • SSC 24: Everybody Wants Some!! (Linklater, 2016)

    Tim & Tay talk masculinity (toxic and otherwise) in this episode on Richard Linklater's ostensible baseball movie, Everybody Wants Some!!

    Synopsis
    Everybody Wants Some!! runs the course of a long weekend before the start of the fall semester at a Texas college in 1980. Over the course of the three days, freshman pitcher Jake meets his teammates, competes with virtually everyone he meets, and pursues his crush, an auburn-haired theatre major named Beverly.

    Starring Blake Jenner and Zoey Deutch, Everybody Wants Some!! was directed by Richard Linklater and released March 30, 2016.

    Everybody Wants Some!! is available to rent online.

    Scene [48:01 - 58:05]

    After a Friday night out, activities resume around the off-campus residence. Numerous competitions play out, featuring a competitive game of mini-basketball, an intense ping-pong showdown, and a major upset in a battle of knuckles.

    Links

    • 8:50—Dazed and Confused (Linklater, 1993)
    • 9:10—Boyhood (Linklater, 2014)
    • 16:45—Hereditary (Aster, 2018)
    • 22:00—No phones at the bunkhouse

    Recommendations

    • Tim: Paterson (Jarmusch, 2016)—watch on Amazon Prime
    • Tay: A Scanner Darkly (Linklater, 2006)—watch on Crave Stars

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

    Next episode: Season finale! Movie TBA...

    Follow:

    • SSC on Instagram
    • Tim on Letterboxd
    • Tay on Letterboxd
    1 hr 7 min
  • SSC 23: Moneyball (Bennett, 2011)

    Tim & Tay give colour commentary on the most subversive baseball movie ever made, Moneyball. Tune in for a chat about Brad Pitt, baseball stats, and strategic pixelation. 
     
    Synopsis
    Partly inspired by true events, Moneyball tells the story of Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane challenging baseball’s century-long conventional wisdom by building a low-budget team that could go all the way.

    Directed by Bennett Miller, Moneyball stars Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, and was released September 23, 2011.

    Moneyball is available on Netflix.
     
    Scene [1:13:16 - 1:20:47]
    As frustration with his manager mounts, Billy Beane decides to radically shake up the team with a harsh fire-sale, trading away the team's most promising rookie, Pena (Gerardo Selasco), and most prolific name, Jeremy Giambi (Nick Porrazzo). Pete is forced to face his fears by telling Pena he has been traded and Billy makes a show of trading Giambi in front of his coach, Art Howe (Phillip Seymour Hoffman).

    Links

    • 3:00 - "Why Baseball is The Best Movie Sport" by Patrick H Willems
    • 30:00 - The real Art Howe
    • 31:30 - Paul DePodesta
    • 1:02:00 - Soderbergh directing Moneyball

    Recommendations

    • Tim: High Flying Bird (Soderbergh, 2019)—available on Netflix
    • Tay: BASEketball (Zucker, 1998)—available to rent

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

    Next episode: Everybody Wants Some!! (Linklater, 2016)—available to rent

    Follow:

    • SSC on Instagram
    • Tim on Letterboxd
    • Tay on Letterboxd
    1 hr 6 min
  • SSC 22: The Handmaiden (Park, 2016) w/Hayley Rose Malouin

    Tim & Tay talk Park Chan-Wook's The Handmaiden with special guest and self-described "psychotic fan" Hayley Rose Malouin. Tune in for a chat about queer media, cinematic eroticism and more.
     
    Synopsis
    Based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, The Handmaiden tells the story of a pickpocket and a con man attempting to swindle a wealthy Japanese woman out of her inheritance through seduction and subterfuge.

    Directed by Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden was released May 14, 2016, and stars Kim Tae-ri, Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, and Cho Jin-woong.

    The Handmaiden is available to rent on Google Play or stream on Hoopla.
     
    Scene [Theatrical—51:32-103:05] / [Extended—1:00:24-1:14:40]
    As Uncle Kouzuki leaves for a week to visit his gold mine, the plan for Lady Hideko and Count Fujiwara to elope to Japan commences. After the secret marriage ceremony, the relationship between Lady Hideko and Sook-Hee is seemingly strained by the secrecy they must abide by.
    When it comes time to leave Lady Hideko at a mental hospital, it is in fact Sook-Hee who is betrayed at the last minute and is confined to the hospital in her place.

    Links

    • 3:50 - Indecent Proposal (Lyne, 1993)
    • 4:00 - Basic Instinct (Verhoeven, 1992)
    • 7:50 - Kim Tae-ri's award
    • 11:50 - New Yorker article
    • 15:10 - "Bury Your Gays" trope
    • 18:50 - Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema
    • 21:00 - Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013, Kechiche)
    • 24:40 - Sarah Waters in The Guardian
    • 49:30 - "Comedy wide, tragedy close"
    • 1:28:00 - Dark Passage (Daves, 1947)

    Recommendations

    • Tim: Deep Water (Lyne, 2022)
    • Tay: The Ballad of Little Jo (Greenwald, 1993)
    • Hayley: Different for Girls (Spence, 1996)—available on Hoopla

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

    Next episode: Moneyball  (Miller, 2011)—available to stream on Netflix

    Follow:

    • SSC on Instagram
    • Tim on Letterboxd
    • Tay on Letterboxd
    1 hr 52 min
  • SSC 21: Oldboy (Park, 2003)

    Tim & Tay dig into eastern cinema with the listener-selected Oldboy. We talk revenge, sensory overload, and a lot more in this episode.

    Synopsis
    When freed after being imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su seeks an explanation and revenge.

    Oldboy, directed by Park Chan-wook, was released on Nov. 23, 2003, and stars Choi Min‑sik, Kang Hye-jung, and Yoo Ji-tae.

    Oldboy
    is available on physical media.
     
    Scene [0:35:23—0:42:22]

    Oh Dae Su tries to find the location where he was imprisoned for 15 years, tracking down a dumpling delivery service that leads him right back to his captors, where he initiates his vengeful plan. Stars Choi Min-sik as Oh Dae- Su and Kang Hye-jeong as Mi-Do.

    Links

    • 4:00 - Tarantino as Jury President at Cannes
    • 12:20 - The infamous hallway fight scene
    • 13:00 - Oldboy (Lee, 2013)
    • 19:00 - Morty's screenplay criticism
    • 26:30 - Eisenstein  on cinematic immersion
    • 27:00 - Park on Oldboy being "felt physically"
    • 37:00 - Dan Harmon on montages
    • 42:00 - Facetiming with my Mom, Bo Burnham
    • 45:00 - The dutch angle
    • 1:01:30 - The Spielberg oner

    Recommendations

    • Tim: The Gift (Edgerton, 2015)— available to rent on AppleTV
    • Tay: The Wailing (Na Hong-jin, 2016)— available to rent on AppleTV

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

    Next episode: The Handmaiden (Park, 2015)— available to rent on AppleTV

    Follow:

    • SSC on Instagram
    • Tim on Letterboxd
    • Tay on Letterboxd
    1 hr 10 min

About Single Serving Cinema

From the publisher's feed

Single Serving Cinema looks at one critical scene in a movie every other week. We explore how the scene is constructed, what the scene achieves, and what it can tell us about the movie as a whole.…

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