Discussion (with spoilers) of Leave No Trace. Andy B correctly guesses it involves woods, but is otherwise wrong. Andy C explains it’s a story of a father and daughter trying to operate as what they need in their lives begins to diverge. In the woods.

Discussion (with spoilers) of Bait. Andy B thinks it’s a mockumentary with a romantic comedy storyline running through it, an idea that Andy C find inexplicably difficult to understand. Finally, Andy C explains it’s a story of gentrification in Cornwall, created using venerable cinema techniques.

You can watch Bait on Amazon Video, Apple, Curzon or the BFI Player.

Discussion of the highly-stylised films of Wes Anderson:

Here is a summary of the places you can watch these movies (green=available, red=unavailable):

All of them are also available on DVD from online retailers.

Discussion (with spoilers) of Doctor Sleep. Andy B fails to summon the energy to even say something silly at the beginning, but things warm up after Andy C explains this is a classic Stephen King horror that is a clever sequel to The Shining.

Discussion (with spoilers) of Jojo Rabbit. Andy B declares it features the worst performance by Emma Thompson in her career, but Andy C suggests that if he had seen the film he might understand that she is not in it, and that it is an audacious comedy about a member of the Hitler Youth and his Jewish friend.

Discussion, tapping again into the wisdom of Frances Buontempo and inspired by Johan Norberg‘s book Progress about whether we can be hopeful about the future, or whether we are doomed. Also, if we are doomed will it be hatred, disease or climate blindness that kills us? But really, it’s about how much good stuff so many of us have, and how it’s worth fighting for a good life for everyone. Or something.

Discussion (with spoilers) of Booksmart. Andy B hilariously thinks it’s a CGI animation about some books with personalities that ends in hopeless tragedy, but Andy C reveals he is getting nostalgic for teenagerhood because it’s another coming-of-age movie. This one is full of fun, as well as (obviously) being poignant, and it has a uniting message that people in other “tribes” are not as different from us as we might think.

Discussion (with spoilers) of Lady Bird. Andy B finally takes a punt on it being a rollicking Disney adventure, but it turns out it’s an authentic-feeling story of a really troubled mother-daughter relationship with amazing performances by several cast members.

Discussion (with spoilers) of Midsommar. Andy B is quite close to the mark about what type of film it is, but wildly predicts it stars Zammo, which it does not. In fact, it is folk horror with a great deal of uncanny, and a gripping story of a relationship falling apart.

Discussion (with spoilers) of Mid90s. Andy B suggests it’s a romantic comedy, but Andy C talks us through a comedy drama which has lightness, depth and texture, as well as nostalgia.