The Matineecast

Runtime
63 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction with my guest, Hillary Butler.

4:03 The New Slang: ON THE ROCKS

48:33 The Other Side: Hillary and Ryan talk further reading after Sofia Coppola’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

I feel as though I haven’t properly talked about my guests in a while, so please indulge me.

This podcast succeeds because of the guests I bring in to discuss the films with me. Whenever I plan a discussion, I only map out the roughest of talking points because I want to allow my guests the most opportunity to take the discussion where they want to take it. That’s allowed conversations to lean in directions that are political, personal, intimate, insightful, and more.

I set ’em up, but my guests always knock ’em down … or better yet, my guests reset ’em and then knock ’em down.

The people are a wide cross-section. Some who do this for me are sometimes longtime friends who aren’t exactly “film nerds”. Some are other podcasters and bloggers I am lucky enough to call close friends after we met by way of these foolish shenanigans. Others still are people I barely know, but somehow agreed to sit down with me, break bread and record a conversation for posterity.

I am grateful for all of them; for what they have brought to this show and what they have brought to my evolution as a human being.

Two different people played a big part in making this episode happen – one person who couldn’t be here but turned things upside-down in the hopes of making it, and another who stepped-in at the drop of a hat. Both of them are amazing people, wonderful guests, and I’m lucky to be able to call both my friends.

As I approach my 250th Matineecast, I raise a glass to my guests.

I thank all of the people who have joined me, and those who wanted to but couldn’t, I the few that are part of “lost episodes”, and the ones who have been by ten times or more. I thank the ones who drop by once or twice a year, and the ones I haven’t brought back in an embarrassingly long time. I thank the people who podcast all the damned time, and the ones who never have before but gave it a go because I ask.

These people have all made this show what it is. They all made me a better podcaster, and a better man.

Cheers.

Links Mentioned on Episode 246:

Lola’s 2020 Halloween as Wonder Woman:

Matineecast 48, where we discuss Alexander Payne’s THE DESCENDANTS

Matineecast 202 where we discuss Brett Haley’s HEARTS BEAT LOUD

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

Enjoy!

Runtime
93 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:45 Know Your Enemy: Courtney Small

22:11 The New Slang: THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7

73:00 The Other Side: Courtney and Ryan talk further reading after Aaron Sorkin’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Participating in film discourse is getting harder and harder as time goes on. Social media makes any much of the conversation so very mercurial, that it wears one down to even read it…let alone partake.

Take the film at the centre of this episode. Over the weekend, there were takes and tweets about the films flaws…what it got wrong…whether it was even worth taking seriously. In response, some even said “Fine – let’s not have nice things and just keep cranking out comic book movies for the next decade!”

I don’t understand this. I don’t understand how things either have to be perfect, or they are garbage. When did we get so mercurial, and what good does that do us?

Spoiler alert: I wasn’t crazy about the film at the centre of this episode either – but it still made for a great conversation with my guest. We got into the subtext and the greater themes. We acknowledged what the plot and the creators were trying to do, what they couldn’t do, and what they made us think about perhaps by accident.

Art is not pass/fail. Whether a film is a large commercial blockbuster or a tiny indie passion project, there are a lot of moving parts that merit discussion. The more we speak in pejoratives and dismiss these works out of hand, the worse off we are all going to be.

I’m thankful that this film arrived and that my guest on this episode found so many elements of the work to bring up in conversation. He brought so much more to the table than anyone on my social media feeds, and even more than I had mapped-out when charting where I thought the discussion would go.

These are the conversations we should strive for in response to the art we consume. Not whether they are amazing or trash – but what they make us think about, and why.

At this moment, I can’t help but think about where I was a year ago this time. One Saturday night, I saw a film that took my mind to some vulnerable and introspective places. I had a review sketched-out at a time when writing wasn’t coming easily to me anymore (related: it still doesn’t).

Before I sat down to start writing, I saw a similar mercurial moment about the film in-question unfold on social media. People dug their trenches. Pejoritives were slung. Torches were lit and battle cries were called.

It all left me disillusioned, and not wanting to have anything to do with the discourse. I never did write that piece, and now I truly regret that.

If this episode was scheduled for a day later, I might have scuttled it too in the wake of these unsavoury attitudes. That would have been a shame since the conversation and the company was easily the highlight of my very shitty week. I’m truly grateful that the film we chose to discuss today made for such a lively conversation – and more so that my guest and good friend elevated the episode with his insight, intelligence, candour, and humor.

Consider the conversations you have publicly about art – whether it’s art you love or art you hate. You have no idea who might read it or hear it, and what it might do to their passion and interest for the things that make this world richer.

Links Mentioned on Episode 245:

Trailer for CHICAGO 10:

Trailer for THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION:

Trailer for TIME:

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

Enjoy!

Runtime
89 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:45 Know Your Enemy: Bob Turnbull

25:43 The New Slang: I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS

66:26 The Other Side: Bob and Ryan talk further reading after Charlie Kaufman’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Where were we?

It’s been just over 200 days since this podcast last published an episode. 200 days ago, we didn’t know what would happen, or how long it might take. Plans were getting scuttled, doors were closing up, and things seemed tense.

Here we are again; plans aren’t even being made, doors might close again, and things are tense. The more things change, the more remains the same.

A funny thing happened over the last 200 days though: Movies kept trickling out. Big splashy releases and low-simmering indie releases. Good stuff too – films that would burrow into the brain and get its hooks into what we think about. FIlmmakers and studios brave enough to venture out into these elements are coming not with patchwork stories – but great works that might otherwise get buried in “normal times”

So it’s time to play the familiar songs, follow the classic formula, and send this surreal year off with a run of full Matineecast episodes.

I’m thankful for anyone still tuning in during these upside-down days, and even more thankful for everybody coming by to have these conversations with me. It’s been a crazy six months since Episode 243, and I wager it will be a crazy three in the run-up to 250.

Thanks for sticking around – Welcome back to wherever you are.

Links Mentioned on Episode 244:

My blindspot post on Cassavetes’ WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

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

Enjoy!

As of this morning, we officially enter the final stretch of TIFF 2020.

Just like any other year, there are surprises, there is burnout, there are films we want to watch on-repeat, and there are films we never want to see again. These are unique times, but some things never change.

It’s been a long time since I caught up with today’s guest, and despite a few technical hiccups with our video call, it was a great conversation about some deeply affecting works coming from this year’s slate.

Pretty sure there will be one more of these before the dust settles Sunday night, but for now pour yourself a cup of tea and pull up a chair.

Runtime: 34 minutes

Films mentioned in this postcard – ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, BEANS, 40 YEARS A PRISONER

Links Mentioned on The Third Postcard:

Protest imagery by Tommy Oliver, director of 40 YEARS A PRISONER

Carolyn’s podcasting handiwork including forthcoming TIFF episodes

Info on all films – including access to digital and in-person screenings can be found at TIFF’s website.

Carolyn’s Twitter feed can be found here. You can subscribe to the Matineecast via iTunes or RSS

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

As I write this, it’s the fifth night of TIFF. For twelve whole years that would be the night that the local nerds would take a break mid-festival and gather at the bar for alcohol and arguments.

To say that I’m missing my friends today would be putting it lightly.

Happily, Hillary is here to get me through the mid-fest melancholy.

Here’s what’s in store in WLT20 Part Two…

Runtime: 32 minutes

Films mentioned in this postcard – SHIVA BABY, ANOTHER ROUND, VIOLATION, HOLLER

Links Mentioned on The Second Postcard:

Hillary’s writings at Live For Films

Hillary meets Adam Driver at TIFF 2014…

Info on all films – including access to digital and in-person screenings can be found at TIFF’s website.

Hillary’s Twitter feed can be found here. You can subscribe to the Matineecast via iTunes or RSS

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

If you tilt your head and squint, things can appear a teeny bit normal now and then.

This time of year, I’d be running into today’s guest every day or two and having these conversations on city sidewalks and in movie theatre lobbies. We’ve even committed them to podcast eternity now and then!

While these are unique times, the show – both the film festival and this podcast – must go on.

This morning I offer you the first of a few audio postcards from The 45th Toronto International Film Festival with my old friend Kurt Halfyard calling in. If you’ve never heard one of these episodes before, they’re much more conversational and informal than our usual episodes…a style befitting the hustle and bustle of festival time.

So pour yourself a cup of tea and take a listen as Mister Halfyard and I talk about Chloe Zhao’s latest, watching films in cars, and missing out on serendipity.

Here’s what’s in store in WLT20 Part One…

Runtime: 44 minutes

Films mentioned in this postcard – NOMADLAND, LIMBO, THE WAY I SEE IT

Links Mentioned on The First Postcard:

Star of THE WAY I SEE IT, Pete Souza’s Instagram Feed including this clap back to the current American President not wanting to attend a memorial ceremony in the rain:

NOMADLAND Post-screening Q&A video with director Chloé Zhao and star Frances McDormand.

Kurt’s serendipitous finding of two doubles in line for THE DOUBLE:

Kurt’s Instagram feed giving people a visual glimpse of a socially distant TIFF,

Info on all films – including access to digital and in-person screenings can be found at TIFF’s website.

Kurt’s Twitter feed can be found here. You can subscribe to the Matineecast via iTunes or RSS

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

5:44 Creature Comforts with Simon Columb

19:40 The Feature: CAPTAIN FANTASTIC (2016)

67:13 The Other Side: Simon and Ryan talk further reading after Matt Ross’ epic film

Thoughts From Your Host…

One last time – greetings and salutations. After much hemming and hawing, I have decided to close off The Winchester Chronicles at an even dozen dispatches.

It feels surreal to be looking forward to new works – especially since I have no interest in sitting in a cinema anytime soon. However, new works are coming (We have the technology)…and I do want this space to document the year that is unfolding. There have already been some wonderful works that I can’t wait to discuss, to say nothing of what’s yet to come.

However, I have no illusions that I am entirely done with The Chronicles. At the moment, I’m quietly wondering if I’ll need to back-up and send out new dispatches come new year. Things in certain corners of the world seem to be going in the right direction now. However, that doesn’t mean that things won’t change in a hurry…to say nothing of the fact that the world’s largest moviegoing market is still in a world of trouble.

It’s a weird position to be in: to be optimistic, while still admitting we may need to step back. Then again, that’s the state of things, right? Why should this podcast be any different?

Thanks for sticking around.

Links Mentioned on The Twelfth Dispatch:

TwinsthenewTrend YouTube Series of first-time listens:

Simon’s Fast & Furious podcast series

Matineecast 203 where we review LEAVE NO TRACE

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

Enjoy!

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

6:51 Creature Comforts with Marya E. Gates

21:10 The Feature: DRIVE (2011)

71:49 The Other Side: Marya and Ryan talk further reading after Nicolas Winding Refn’s epic film

Thoughts From Your Host…

It might just be the isolation talking, but I truly feel as though the eleventh dispatch comes with a lot of camaraderie.

It’s a little crazy to consider that this month will mark twelve years of me running this little soapbox. Over that time, my path has crossed with lots of others who share my passion. Some paths then peeled off in the opposite direction…others found a way to keep intersecting with mine.

These crossings came year-in and year-out. Sometimes the next interaction took a moment or two longer than expected, but when the moment arrived it was like no time at all had passed.

These feelings of respect and friendship would often transcend the virtual world and find their way into the physical realm…and for that, I am eternally grateful.

My guest today is just such a person – a woman whose path crossed with mine over and over throughout a decade. I am a better person for it, and truly thankful.

So as you listen to this little chit-chat, see if you can hear traces of ten years’ worth of shared passion and joy. If you can, give Marya all the credit…I’m just the lucky sod whose calls she still takes.

Links Mentioned on The Eleventh Dispatch:

Ryan Gosling discusses his roles with NY Magazine including films described as “blood and cotton candy”

Episode 214 of The Matineecast where we reviewed Karyn Kusama’s DESTROYER

The movie poster for Jerry Kramer’s MODERN GIRLS:

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

Enjoy!

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:55 Creature Comforts with Amir Soltani

27:48 The Feature: CERTIFIED COPY (2010)

75:32 The Other Side: Amir and Ryan talk further reading after Abbas Kiarostami’s epic film

Thoughts From Your Host…

The Winchester has reached double-digits!

It’s a surreal sight to see. It fills me with a great deal of pride that I’ve been able to create such a wonderful series of podcasts during my time in isolation. If nothing else, I can point to these fifteen hours of content as something worthy and wonderful that I did during this stressful stretch of life. Furthermore, it has allowed me wonderful conversations with friends near and far and allowed me time to catch up.

Sometimes, I actually can’t believe that I thought we’d get through this crisis and I’d only need to do five of these. That said, I am starting to look at the last block of the year and wonder.

Since I usually take September off to reset a little, my math tells me that I have six podcast slots to go before the seventh “year-end” episode (which, I’m sure, will be a tough nut to crack). On the one hand, I could quite easily do six more Winchesters and hopefully turn attention to new releases after the calendar flips. But what if we don’t?

Right this moment, I can think of half a dozen really affecting 2020 films that went on-demand that we never covered on The Matineecast. That doesn’t even count more VOD releases that I haven’t seen yet but find myself curious about (THE VAST OF THE NIGHT, BACURAU, BABYTEETH), or upcoming on-demand releases that look interesting (AMULET, SHE DIES TOMORROW).

Then we get into the question about what studios will do with their wares when we get deep into the fall and daylight really starts to burn. If American theatres remain largely closed, will all titles keep losing their release dates the way the franchises have? Or will they too begin to look to on-demand and streaming as a way to recoup some money and get the work seen?

What I’m saying is, there’s a lot of opportunity to shift the show from the past to the present. I’m just not sure what listeners think. If you’ve read this far and you have thoughts, leave me a not and let me know what you think:

“Keep the Chronicles”…or “Resume The Matineecast”?

Links Mentioned on The Tenth Dispatch:

James Andrew Miller’s Origins Podcast creates an oral history of ALMOST FAMOUS

George Monbiot’s Manifesto for a New World Order

Stephanie Zacharek’s article for Time on the tender masculinity of FIRST COW

Trailer for FIRST COW:

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

Enjoy!

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

3:23 Creature Comforts with Nikhat Zahra

19:19 The Feature: MOMMY (2014)

70:10 The Other Side: Nikhat and Ryan talk further reading after Xavier Dolan’s epic film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Y’know – I really could have gone back to the usual Matineecast this week.

Between PALM SPRINGS, FIRST COW, RELIC, GREYHOUND, and THE OLD GUARD, there was a lot of new releases going on-demand this week that I was excited and curious about. Hell, I can’t remember the last time three movies came out on the same day that I was interested in…let alone five. But here we are, with a rare abundance of cinematic riches

That doesn’t even factor in the arrival of HAMILTON last week!

After I got through HAMILTON last weekend, and PALM SPRINGS/FIRST COW this weekend, I had to admit that there was a lot to talk about and a full episode might have done us all some good!

However, I fear this little bright spot on the summer movie schedule will be an isolated occurrence. It’s not the new normal, it’s just a lovely aberration. In two weeks, we’d be right back to talking about the old stuff. So as tempting as it seemed to let go of the retrospective series for an episode or two, I figured I would keep on-point a while longer.

Isn’t that the big lesson that we’ve all been learning these last few weeks? That a momentary swing in our favour is no reason to abandon all of the plans and precautions we have taken? So here we are – ignoring the rush of five new releases for a six year old gem.

I hope to write some words on some/all of that group of five. However, where the audio component of this site is concerned, we remain in retrospect for the time being.

Links Mentioned on The Ninth Dispatch:

Vulture’s profile of Michaela Coel, creator and star of “I May Destroy You”

Nik’s last appearance on The Matineecast where we discussed THE LAST JEDI

Philip Glass’ epic soundtrack to Stephen Daldry’s 2002 melodrama, THE HOURS.

Across The Universe episode 81, where The Chicks detailed their most-anticipated films of 2020…(oops!)

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

Enjoy!