Our Patrons recently voted on what two oft-paired actors we should cover and decided on Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan! Alex and Jonathan talk about the only three films starring the two: Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and You've Got Mail (1998) and discuss the evolution of romantic comedies in the 90s, hallmarks of Nora Ephron films, and the performances of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and Meg Ryan and Meg Ryan.

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3:56 – Joe Versus the Volcano

25:52 – Sleepless in Seattle

48:48 – You've Got Mail

1:08:55 – Overall

1:28:05 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Watership Down (1978)

The Plague Dogs (1982)

Felidae (1994)

For more information, visit the blog:

https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2020/03/17/hanks-ryan

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As the WWII series comes to a close Alex and Jonathan take a very somber look at three documentaries looking back on the war — specifically in the areas of the Holocaust and the atomic bombing of Japan — in Night and Fog (1956), Shoah (1985), and White Light/Black Rain (2007). We discuss the different forms of storytelling voice across these films, the timely nature of their creation, and the importance of films of this nature existing at all after world-shaking events of any kind.

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5:13 – Night and Fog

18:50 – Shoah

46:16 – White Light/Black Rain

1:03:33 – Overall

1:11:02 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

You've Got Mail (1998)

For more information, visit the blog:

https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/wwii-reflection

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Continuing through our exploration of WWII, Alex and Jonathan turn the focus to the civilian level in Europe and look at the dramatic films Paisan (1946), Army of Shadows (1969), and Schindler's List (1993). We discuss the uniqueness of films being made in the immediate aftermath of the war, the difference in tone between war drama films and war action films, and how drama films give us an intimate look into the lives and minds of those living through one of history's greatest tragedies.

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4:36 – Paisan

25:04 – Army of Shadows

45:56 – Schindler's List

1:10:56 – Overall

1:21:00 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Night and Fog (1956)

Shoah (1985)

White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2003)

For more information, visit the blog:

https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2020/02/18/wwii-drama

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In the third installment of our World War II series we finally get to the films showing the actual conflict across the various fronts of the war in The Great Escape (1963), Come and See (1985), and The Thin Red Line (1998). We talk about how WWII action films present the horrors of war from different perspectives, ways that a film can raise philosophical questions while showing historical events, and the importance of war films for our historical consciousness.

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4:36 – The Great Escape

23:54 – Come and See

39:42 – The Thin Red Line

1:02:38 – Overall

1:11:07 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Paisan (1946)

Army of Shadows (1969)

Schindler's List (1993)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2020/02/04/wwii-action

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Moving from propaganda to three stories of the decision makers in WWII, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the bio pics Patton (1970), The King's Speech (2010), and Darkest Hour (2017). We talk about how each film balances the politics with the subject, the evolving style of biopics, and why biopics from WWII seem to primarily be about recognizable figures.

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8:36 - Patton

25:21 - The King's Speech

41:58 - Darkest Hour

1:00:36 - Overall

1:09:08 - Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

The Great Escape (1963)

Come and See (1985)

The Thin Red Line (1998)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2020/01/21/wwii-people-politics

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Season 4 of the podcast is kicking off with a deep-dive into the cinema before, during, and after World War II. For the first installment Alex and Jonathan look at the propaganda of the war in Triumph of the Will (1935), Why We Fight: Prelude to War (1942), and Momotaro, Sacred Sailors (1945). We talk about the importance of propaganda in forming an argument, ways that propaganda can backfire, and how propaganda has evolved post-WWII.

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9:39 - Triumph of the Will

25:00 - Prelude to War

40:22 - Momotaro

52:26 - Overall

1:08:05 - Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Patton (1970)

The King's Speech (2010)

Darkest Hour (2017)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/wwii-propaganda

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Patreon: patreon.com/thefilmlings

Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/thefilmlings

To end the fourth season of the show Alex and Jonathan talk about three films that relate to Christmas but might not be considered your traditional "Christmas movie:" Gremlins (1984), Lethal Weapon (1987), and Hook (1991). We talk about what really makes a Christmas movie, how formerly niche genres have slowly crept into the mainstream over time, and how Steven Spielberg was largely responsible for that.

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5:24 - Gremlins

31:05 - Lethal Weapon

42:03 - Hook

58:19 - Overall

1:05:41 - Coming Attractions

Stay tuned for Season 4 in January!

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/not-christmas

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After nearly a hundred episodes, Alex and Jonathan finally get around to some of the biggest films in cinema history, specifically in the romance genre. We take a look at Gone with the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1942), and West Side Story (1961) and discuss the effect of the studio system on large budget productions, elements that make a successful movie beyond the studio system, and the timeless appeal of tragic romance.

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8:12 – Gone with the Wind

44:41 – Casablanca

1:03:48 – West Side Story

1:28:06 – Overall

1:35:51 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Gremlins (1984)

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Big (1988)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2019/11/26/youve-heard-this-one

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Friend of the podcast Jason Harden joins the show once again to talk with Alex and Jonathan about the animation of Don Bluth in The Secret of NIMH (1982), The Land Before Time (1988), and Anastasia (1997). We discuss Bluth's beginnings with his short film Banjo the Woodpile Cat (1979), the darker tone in his films than most animated entertainment, the ways his animation differed from the Disney films of that time.

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21:03 – The Secret of NIMH

44:02 – The Land Before Time

1:01:01 – Anastasia

1:19:13 – Overall

1:29:09 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Casablanca (1942)

West Side Story (1961)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2019/11/12/bluth

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In the spirit of Halloween, Alex and Jonathan look at the works of John Carpenter, one of the most iconic names in the contemporary horror genre. We watch Halloween (1978), Escape from New York (1981), and The Thing (1982) and discuss the origins of modern horror tropes, world-building, and stellar practical effects.

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8:37 – Halloween

32:03 – Escape from New York

49:03 – The Thing

1:13:09 – Overall

1:16:45 – Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions:

The Secret of NIMH (1982)

The Land Before Time (1988)

Anastasia (1997)

For more information, visit the blog:

thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2019/10/29/carpenter

Support the Show!

Patreon: patreon.com/thefilmlings

Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/thefilmlings