The Matineecast

Runtime
81 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:47 Know Your Enemy with Guest Nikhat Zahra

23:06 The New Slang: BLACK WIDOW

61:47The Other Side: Nik and Ryan talk further reading after Cate Shortlands film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Life has been a bit of a blur lately. So many changes have been coming at the same time after living such a big block of time where things seemed so very much the same.

In the face of such change, this episode was a welcome tonic: a discussion of something familiar with a dear old friend.

In the days before it, things were anxious. In the weeks that follow, things will be very busy. But for a second there, everything felt “normal”. Perhaps that’s why the introduction to this show was so touchy-feely. Talking to my guest reminded me of who I am – and who I used to be.

If you know anything about this show, you know that we usually don’t dig into blockbusters – not because of any dislike, just because you can find such conversations on hundreds of other shows. It should be noted, that my first choice of film to discuss on this episode was something much more low-key.

But a big-budget superhero yarn probably suits this moment best.

It’s an escape, and lord knows I’ve needed a lot of escape over the last sixteen months. It’s an iconic character that transcends borders which allowed my guest and me a campfire to gather around despite being on opposite corners of the world. These things are what life was about “before”, and what I hope to find again when the winds of change finally settle.

There’s a lot more to come in 2021 that I’m looking forward to – lots that excite me, and lots that intimidate me. For now, though, I’m just happy to feel a little bit more normal – happy to hear from my friends, to see the characters I’ve come to love, and happy to be rebuilding some of the old routines.

Here’s to more of “this”.

Links mentioned in Episode 265…

DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD on Netflix

Across the Universe Soundtracks episode 13 – “Give Life Back to Music“

Nik’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
60 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:30 What We’ve Been Watching with Guest Brian J. Roan

11:08 The New Slang: LUCA

Thoughts From Your Host…

On mornings like this, I find myself full of gratitude.

I’m grateful that movies like the LUCA exist to fill our lives with charm and warmth. I’m grateful that I have friends like today’s guest to encourage my little projects and join me for fun conversations.

I’m grateful that listeners like you keep pulling up a chair at our little table and listening in. I’m grateful for my friends and family who fill the days in-between episodes with support, love, laughter, and life.

And I’m grateful for all of the opportunities life has to offer. When you get knocked down a few times, it’s really tempting to just stay down. It’s taken a lot of tenacity, support, and inspiration to keep getting up.

I’m lucky that I got as much as I did of all of the above…and truly grateful in case that wasn’t clear.

Links Mentioned on Episode 264:

The Film Stage Podcast episode dedicated to LUCA

Buzzfeed shares Pixar’s official recipe for Trrnette al Pesto

Brian’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
79 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

2:01 Know Your Enemy with Guest Lindsay Ragone

21:09 The New Slang: IN THE HEIGHTS

59:38The Other Side: Lindsay and Ryan talk further reading after Jon M. Chu’s film

Thoughts From Your Host…

In-between recording this episode and publishing this episode, not even 48 hours went by. During those 48 hours, further conversations about IN THE HEIGHTS started to take root online. It got a little hard to tune any of it out, but I believe it warrants comment.

One conversation that began to swirl was around the film’s lack of a real box office take. There were swipes about its lack of star power, its runtime, its supposed lack of a plot (yes, really), and a myriad of other snide jabs. Some of the commentary seemed incomplete; some ill-informed.

Beyond the fact that box office take is never an indicator of whether or not a film is any good, I’m going to go on-record here and say that all discussion of in-theatre returns should remain in drydock until more of the world finds their way through this global crisis. Talk of on-demand eating into revenues, or people staying away due to lack of interest is corrosive. It has a way of eating into wider attitudes towards film and the viability of the medium. Anyone who wants to keep seeing films presented in theatres shouldn’t be proclaiming its impending doom.

The other conversation that started swirling is one that’s more valid.

A conversation about the film’s colorism has begun (see Felice León’s post at The Root). While Vulture likewise posted something of a non-response response from director Jon M. Chu, this is the sort of discussion that should be encouraged around a film like this at a time like this. It’s multifaceted, has the ability to further the discussion, affect change, and underline that every good intention can still find ways to do better.

We didn’t get into this point on the podcast. Basically, it wasn’t our point to make, and because we weren’t aware the discussion was going on. That said, both Lindsay and I believe in this conversation and support it as a wider examination of representation in film.

Like I say – a lot of topics can come up in just 48 hours. “Life moves pretty fast…” and all that.

We don’t get into either of those points during the course of this podcast…but we get into a lot more. Hope you enjoy what we get up to.

Links Mentioned on Episode 263:

Trailer for Rodney Ascher’s documentary, THE NIGHTMARE:

The joke that always makes Lindsay laugh:

The opening eight minutes of IN THE HEIGHTS – including an amazing shot at the 7:05 mark that we discuss at-length:

The Year-End Matineecast, where I named IN THE HEIGHTS as the 2020 film I missed the most.

The trailer for TICK, TICK…BOOM! – the upcoming film directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, based on the musical written by Jonathan Larson:

Lindsay’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
85 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:11 Know Your Enemy with Guest Simon Columb

24:46 The New Slang: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN

1:05:46 The Other Side: Simon and Ryan talk further reading after Steven Spielberg’s film

Thoughts From Your Host…

I’d love to tell you that I had always intended to mark Memorial Day by discussing a war epic – the reality of it is that the timing is all just a happy accident. That said, to any American listeners honouring someone they know who sacrificed their life, my thoughts are with you today.

My thoughts are also on the year ahead in my own life.

One’s 43rd birthday (tomorrow, in case you were curious) isn’t usually the sort of thing one pulls out many stops for. It’s not a new decade or even a nice clean number like a five. For me though, it promises to be a year of great changes and opportunity. Those are things I haven’t had presented to me for quite some time. It’s exciting…it’s nerve-wracking…it’s a lot to absorb.

All the same, I’m also thinking about how lucky I am to be saying such things and anticipating such things. Life is precious and unpredictable. There are so many out there who haven’t been half as lucky as I have – many who I’ve known, many who I’ve cared for.

I owe it to them to make the very best of 43, just as I owe it to all of the wonderful people who have helped get me to where I am. I guess what I’m saying is that I am indebted – an apt thought to be on my mind in the wake of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.

So, while a real barnburner of a celebration must wait until 44 when things are a little safer, I’m thankful for many blessings I can still count on for 43 – including my wonderful family, my supportive friends, and you kind readers and listeners.

#sweeptheleaves

Links Mentioned on Episode 262:

As mentioned off the top of the show, this “favourite film” episode now marks all four of my favourite films on Letterboxd being discussed here on The Matineecast. If you’re curious to check out the other three, here’s ALMOST FAMOUS with Rebecca Sharp, THE APARTMENT with Jess Rogers, and OUT OF SIGHT with Andrew Robinson.

Roger Ebert’s Zero-Star review of THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE

Simon’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
82 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:27 Know Your Enemy with Guest Jolie Featherstone

22:58 The New Slang: TOGETHER TOGETHER

1:03:55 The Other Side: Jolie and Ryan talk further reading after Nikole Beckwith’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

I know my Twitter is a strange little space these days.

Other people rail about the state of the world, or get up on their soapbox to decry some piece of culture that has left them feeling aggrieved (most people, even). Meanwhile, my feed has become a constant stream of book covers, Spotify tracks, movie gifs, and the like. If you’ve tuned-out, I totally get it.

Almost exactly one month ago though, on that strange little feed I posted this:

Out there, things are pretty shitty…
…in here, it was a pretty good day.
Haven’t been a lot lately;
It deserves mentioning.
Thank you.
Carry on. pic.twitter.com/F8sMmnDuHl

The day this episode recorded – Thursday, May 13th – was also a pretty good day. The day this episode publishes – Monday, May 17th – might further be a pretty good day.

I know that it’s bad form to “vaguebook” about such things, and for that I do apologize. I will be clearer about the what’s and why’s as soon as I can.

However, this space – little as I use it sometimes – is the closest thing I have to a living, breathing record of my life as it happens. It’s the place where I get to talk to you, where we come together about silly little movies, and share just a small sliver of time.

It’s the place where I’ve cried over a lot of losses…so you better believe it’s where I will likewise mark my wins.

Thank you for listening to my show – however many times you’ve listened. Every day you did, it was a good day. Just like Thursday, and just like today.

Links Mentioned on Episode 261:

Matineecast 199 where Vanessa Buttino dropped by to discuss TULLY

Brian J Roan’s episode of “The Winchester Chronicles” where we discussed BEGINNERS

Jolie writes about A BUMP ALONG THE WAY

Jolie writes about Maureen Bharoocha’s GOLDEN ARM

Jolie’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
58 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:44 What We’ve Been Watching with Guest Andrew Robinson

14:17 The New Slang: NOBODY

Thoughts From Your Host…

Okay – you gotta believe me when I say I had planned to post “a short episode” today.

Plans for this show came together far later than they usually do, there was much indecision, there were favours called upon, and everything leading up to things just felt like trying to drive through the fog. By the time pieces finally started falling into place, the plan was “let’s just record something short!”

“Short” in this case still clocks in close to an hour. Funny thing about that: Last time I wanted to post a bit of bonus content, I likewise sold it to my guest as “something short”. That episode? Also almost an hour.

Both of these little “short somethings” are longer than the very first episode of this podcast. Both of them are closer to what the world at large puts out there on the regular as opposed to me and my chatty friends. Any other time, I might worry about that.

However, today I am not worried.

You see, as I mention in the introduction to this show I am immensely proud of how I’ve been able to keep this project going during such a stressful time. There were a lot of things I couldn’t keep up with these last fourteen months, but somehow I always managed to turn on my mic every other week. Fortnightly, I was able to put a little piece of me out into the world. I kept up with my old friends along the way and even made a few new ones.

As recently as a few days ago, I was just hoping to keep that momentum up…and maybe add twenty or thirty minutes to the feed. Being able to offer you lovely listeners another hour of podcasting foolishness? Well, that’s just a beautiful piece of dumb luck.

So thanks to my guest for being an amazing friend (truly – y’all have NO idea), and for helping me create “something short”. Next time, we’ll be back to our usual selves…maybe I’ll even keep the show notes brief!

Links Mentioned on Episode 260:

The visual styling of Edgar Wright:

Hot Docs 2021 Festival including the well-made tale of art, lies, and family secrets – PORTRAYAL.

Andrew’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
80 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:02 Know Your Enemy: Lindsay Traves

22:49 The New Slang: SHIVA BABY

1:02:03 The Other Side: Lindsay and Ryan talk further reading after Emma Seligman’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

There’s a house rule on The Matineecast that listeners may or may not know about.

Whenever I talk to a guest before the start of a recording session, I ask that they do their best to keep their language clean. Specifically, I ask that the refrain from using the f-word (and the c-word, FYI).

I’m not sure if I’ve ever publicly mentioned the rule, or likewise expressed its logic. In casual conversation, I have no problem with cursing in-general or use of “fuck” in particular. Pretty sure I use it daily, and the last year or so I’ve upped my usage (can ya blame me?). However, as I became a podcaster and started listening to other shows, I began to feel as though it was getting overused. There is no censorship in podcasting; no regulation. So why the fuck wouldn’t one fucking say “fuck” all fucking episode long?

Well, for that reason right there.

As I listened to other shows, I began to notice less poetic use of the word and more of an approach like fourth graders on a playground who just learned it last week. I didn’t want my show to become like that, so the rule was established – and generally guests have been great about respecting it.

However, as time has gone on I’ve found myself allowing the odd f-bomb to remain in the edit. I’d listen back to the conversation and find that the phrasing came with a certain panache. So now and then, they made the cut.

As it happens, one of the most common rule-breakers (and also one of the most ardent rule followers, credit where it’s due) is Ariel Fisher. On the whole, she’s killer at making her words count, and also has a way of knowing when to flip to a certain page of the dictionary for added flare.

So, starting with this episode, guests can (and probably will) use “The Fisher Clause”. A one-time firing of that silver bullet within the course of the show. That said, the shot must live-up to the namesake of the clause, lest it get edited out later.

Happy Fuckin’ Monday, everyone.

…..That wasn’t such a good use of the word. I should edit that out. Oh well, too late now…

Links Mentioned on Episode 259:

Matt Donato at The Bite ruminates of SCREAM ahead of its fifth installment, and on the fifth installment of franchise films in-general.

Lindsay’s podcast on Spotify, The Pod and The Pendulum

The “Where’s the Bathroom” number from “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend:

Lindsay’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
76 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:02 Know Your Enemy: Alex Withrow

20:21 The New Slang: THE FATHER

56:29 The Other Side: Alex and Ryan talk further reading after Florian Zeller’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Two weeks ago we posted a marathon of an episode for The Oscar nominations, so I figured y’all would appreciate us getting in and out in less than eighty minutes this time.

You’re welcome!

In the same vein, I am going to keep the show notes brief this time around except to say that I hope everyone is doing well, and keeping as safe as can be.

Links Mentioned on Episode 258:

Blindspot post on PERSONA

Blindspot post on TROIS COULEURS

Blindspot post on THE DEKALOG

Blindspot post on TOKYO STORY

Alex’s Twitter feed can be found here. The podcast Twitter feed – where Alex is much more active – can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!

Runtime

118 minutes

Up for Discussion

1. Introduction and welcome guest Marya E. Gates. (0:00)
3. Rundown of the nominees for adapted and original screenplay (31:41)
4. Rundown of the nominees for Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Actress, and Actor (23:22)
5. Rundown of the nominees for Best Direction and Best Picture (1:06:29)
4. Omissions and trends (1:31:47)
5. Early predictions (1:46:00)

Thoughts from your host…

Ten years ago – and over 200 episodes back – a smart and friendly Californian movie nerd accepted my invitation to drop by a podcast she hadn’t heard of and talk about Oscar nominations.

Why she agreed in the first place, I cannot say.

I’m certainly glad she did because it was the beginning of a lovely friendship! We’re not exactly bosom-buddies or anything…months can often go by in between our messages to one-another…but over time a warm and wonderful familiarity has been built up. It almost feels like that one friend who you go for a drink with whenever they’re in town…even if they’re only in-town once a year.

I can’t speak for her, but from my side of the friendship, I’ve learned a lot and a lot of growth has taken place.

So here we are again – sorta like that Lorne Scherfig movie with Anne Hathaway…but without the romance – gathered to discuss the contenders and pretenders. We talk for a long time, laugh, and learn…then we vanish into the night like two strangers at the end of a Springsteen B-Side.

This episode is always one of the longest of the year, and this year is no exception. We’ve got Chloé, we’ve got Glenn, we’ve got Sorkin…and we have just one day before we do it all again next year!

Links from The Show:

Viola Davis talks about disparity within the casting ranks (At the 24:10 mark – though the whole conversation is absolutely worth a watch) :

Jonathan Majors discusses DA 5 BLOODS:

Marya’s piece on how Philip K. Dick inspired The Weeknd’s music

Marya’s Moviefone feature on Female Filmmakers for the anthology film “Phobias”

Pajiba’s Alternate 2020 Oscars

Thanks for tuning into episode two-hundred-fifty-seven.

Marya’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

Runtime
84 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

2:29 Know Your Enemy: Carolyn Mauricette

21:03 The New Slang: TEST PATTERN

1:07:36 The Other Side: Carolyn and Ryan talk further reading after Shatara Michelle Ford’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

I made passing mention of this in today’s episode, but it bears repeating:

I’m happy for the way film in 2020/2021 is playing out.

In years past, it was difficult for audiences to find their way to stories like THE SOUND OF METAL…or MINARI…or PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN. The feature we talk about today would certainly have a hard time finding an audience if it had to lure people to the end of the corridor to “Cinema 10”.

Yet here we are: cinematic product choosing to keep itself in storage for another season while some bold voices grab the mic. Many of these titles are stories people who love film likely would have found anyway – but this year they are broadcasting with a stronger signal. They are drawing in audiences beyond the usual cluster of cinephiles and giving voice to a new batch of storytellers.

It’s as though the grid has gone down in the city one night, and as we look up we can see entire constellations we couldn’t spot before.

Don’t get me wrong – I would love to go back to before when I’d walk up to my neighbourhood cinema after dinner on a Thursday night and watch something silly with coffee and chocolate to give me that late-night caffeine boost. But all things considered…this is a wonderful substitute.

I’m grateful for this substitute – truly, I’m happy with it.

Links Mentioned on Episode 256:

Carolyn’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening. 

Enjoy!