The Canon: An Essential Movies Watchlist

Sorry for the delay! After some slight technical issues, we’re back with another great episode. Seth Vargas of The Movie Friends Podcast is back to talk some Buster Keaton. Seth and Raf gush over trains, marvel at Keaton’s stunt work, and are perplexed by the historical backdrop of The General. Also, Raf brings back his proposal that Hollywood produce at least 3-5 silent movies per year going forward.

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-the-general-1926/

We're going back to Hogwarts! This time around Raf is joined by SAW veterans Duke, Romona, and Jacob to talk about the third installment in the Harry Potter film series. What happens when you bring in an Award Winning director to helm a franchise film about wizard kids and werewolves? Why does Duke think it's okay to lie about which Hogwarts house he was sorted into? And is this the strangest round of recommendations in Canon podcast history?

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban-2004/

Welcome to the wizarding world! Bryan and Hannah Loomis of the What a Picture! Podcast join Raf for a colorful discussion about the film that kickstarted one biggest film franchises of the 21st Century. Everyone gets sorted into their proper house, Hannah schools Raf on Hogwarts specifics, and Bryan takes us to 1980s Czechoslovakia. This is one MAGICAL episode you don't want to miss!

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone-2001/

Look at her go! After dealing with planes, trains, hurricanes, and hospitals, RJ finally makes her Season 4 debut on The Canon. She joins Raf to talk about the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn is undeniably cool and magnetic in the lead role. But what would it have looked like if Marilyn Monroe played the part? Also, where the hell in NYC is Tiffany’s actually located?

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-breakfast-at-tiffanys-1961/

Don’t regret - remember! The Canon is back with a modern classic. Felicia Maroni of the Seeing Faces in Movies Podcast joins Raf to discuss Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Felicia and Raf discuss the emotional depths of the film’s romance, the killer ending, and shots that “look like paintings”. Felicia also helps Raf with proper French pronunciation and explains how Portrait of a Lady on Fire beat out the other great films of 2019 to make it into The Canon.

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire-2019/

Drainage! Raf is joined by Betsy G of the Never Seen It w/ Betsy & Trent Podcast to talk about Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 masterpiece. Betsy and Raf dive into oil, religion, how rock star dudes became world class composers and Paul Dano going toe to toe with Daniel Day-Lewis. Also, a celebration of national ice cream day and a trip through PTA's odd filmography.

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-there-will-be-blood-2007/

Bring out your dead! Bob fills in for RJ and Sailor to talk Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Listen to find out how this movie is connected to American cowboy and Japanese samurai movies. Also, Bob’s history as a Monty Python fan, his favorite gags in the movie, and its power to create bonds. Raf forgets to properly connect the sound board and reveals his love for proper Brits getting skewered. 

Read for the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-1975/

Let’s see those great big smiles! The Canon is back for Season 4. Raf is joined by Stephen Gillespie of The STACKS podcast to discuss Cool Hand Luke. Raf and Stephen also talk Christ figures in media, philosophical cinema, and eggs of course. Also, Stephen unveils his deep bag of cinematic reference points and gets a warm welcome as our first British guest on The Canon.

Read the full Canon entry on ScreenAge Wasteland:

https://screenagewasteland.com/lets-talk-about-cool-hand-luke-1967/

Let's kick off season 4. ScreenAge Wasteland contributors Bob, Jacob, and RJ join Raf to preview the movies being discussed in season 4 of The Canon. Get the full schedule, including which episodes Bob, Jacob, RJ, and the rest of the SAW contributors will be appearing on. We'll see you next week for more essential movie talk.

In this very special episode of The Canon, Sailor Monsoon joins Raf to discuss 10 (actually 13) movies that Raf can't believe weren't voted into The Canon. Celebrated directors, incredible foreign films, modern classics, and the world's biggest movie star make up the list of the most egregious movies left out of The Canon listing. What movies did we miss? Which movies on our list don't actually deserve to be in The Canon? Let us know!