The Matineecast

Runtime
70 minutes

Show Contents

0:00 Introduction

2:54 Know Your Enemy: Heidy Morales

18:14 The New Slang: THE PHOTOGRAPH

57:01 The Other Side: Heidy and Ryan talk further reading after Stella Meghie’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

This episode is posting just a few days after a terrible situation between a filmmaker and several critics. The situation was nasty, hateful, draining, and anger-inducing.

In short, the situation was the opposite of everything this show strives to be and boost. In an ironic twist, the film at the centre of the situation is a film someone suggested I cover next on this podcast. No thanks – I was already quite set on “no”, but now especially no thanks.

I hate seeing moments like this bubble up in the film community. It makes me wonder how people get to be so terrible to so many for so long and still go on doing what they do?

Meanwhile, as all of this was going on, I was sitting down with someone whose passion and curiosity I admire. We discussed a gorgeous film that will go deeply underseen even though it is sexy as hell, loaded with the best music, and is a wonderful example of representation on film.

The discussion around the ugly situation will remain on film-lovers lips for weeks, and this movie we talk about today will fade to the background before the ground thaws.

But that’s okay – because it’s where I chose to put my energy and attention, and where I will keep putting my energy and enthusiasm. It’s not that I don’t care about the people harmed in the other situation (I do) – it’s that I want to spend what energy I have talking up the beautiful things in the world instead of yelling down the vile things.

I admire and salute those who are fighting the good fight – but I couldn’t fight, and I couldn’t watch.

I want to be a force for good in the world, and a positive voice in the cinematic discussion…and sometimes that means taking the time to talk something up while everyone else is yelling something else down. Even if it doesn’t, I know myself and need to preserve my mental wellness and reserves…otherwise when the time comes for me to join the fight when it truly matters, I won’t have anything left.

After all, to quote one of my very favorite films from the last decade:

We are only here briefly, and in this moment I want to allow myself joy

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

Enjoy!

Runtime
52 minutes

Show Contents:

0:00 Introduction

1:14 Review and Discussion of Best Picture Winner, PARASITE

50:45 The Wrap

Thoughts From Your Host…

You might have noticed that this space has been conspicuously devoid of Oscar talk this year. You weren’t imagining things. I deliberately decided to stay on the bench when it came time to discussing nominated films and their chances to win…mostly because much of the run-up to this year’s Oscar ceremony seemed to be so divisive, toxic, and uniteresting.

But somewhere along the way, something interesting happened. PARASITE happened.

As the season went along, there became this tiny little voice saying “what if?”…and that voice grew louder…and louder…and louder…

What seemed like something that never happens became something that could happen – and then, ultimately, something that did happen! Don’t get me wrong, this Awards season has still been an absolutely catastrophe, and one moment of joy does not cancel out the many moments of foolishness that Oscar made and continues to make.

Still – PARASITE is a special film, and this win is a special thing. So considering we had a lengthy discussion about the film back in the fall when it was playing on just over 100 screens, I thought it was time to go back and revisit that conversation

Please – no jokes about how a “Minisode” around these parts is still nearly an hour long.

Want More?

Here’s Matineecast 232 where Andrew answers Know Your Enemy questions and we add films on The Other Side

Andrew’s Letterboxd 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

2:14 Know Your Enemy: Stevee Taylor

19:20 The New Slang: LES MISERABLES

59:13 The Other Side: Stevee and Ryan talk further reading after Ladj Ly’s’ new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Greetings, and welcome to a new world order.

It took nearly a century, but The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has finally given its top honour to a film whose dialogue isn’t English, and a film that isn’t American or British-made.

What is and is not “an Oscar film”, “the year’s best movie”, “a best picture contender” and many other high honours has changed forever and for better. Like many of you, I let out a whoop and a holler when Jane Fonda opened that envelope and spoke aloud those three historic syllables. It seemed as though some of the toxic arguments that have been happening amongst film-lovers were momentarily ceased. That bells of armistice had rung-out, and we could all agree something wonderful had just happened.

So it goes that I rise this morning with a spring in my step….hoping that we’ve turned some sort of corner…that so much more is possible.

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

As for the matter at-hand, I must say that it’s fitting that the occasion of an international film taking Oscars top honour is mirrored in this space with discussion of another international film.

This is a movie that any other year could have taken the prize for Best International Film itself. All the same, it’s debatable if it’s even the Best International Film coming from France over the last twelve months!

These are conversations worth having, and stories worth chasing. It’s my hope that these conversations and these stories begin to stretch beyond the art houses that they’ve been confined to for so long.

Here’s hoping.

Links Mentioned in Episode 241:

Adrianna Grande evoking “Bridesmaids” at the 2020 Grammy Awards:

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

Enjoy!

Runtime
35 minutes

Show Contents:

0:00 Introduction

2:11 The New Slang: THE GENTLEMEN with Andrew Robinson

33:01 The Wrap

Thoughts From Your Host…

Truly, my friends – I lost track of how many times I said “what a week”. I thought to myself, if I could just make it to Sunday night, everything would be okay.

Little did I know…

Was that you too? Did you have a brutal week? Did something someone said make you crumple? Did it make you seethe? Did you want to call in sick today? (Did you call in sick today?) Are you ready to just fast-forward the tape a little bit more and tap play when we get to February?

I feel you. I see you. I’m here to keep you company and I’m here to listen.

This mini episode is an attempt to keep the line moving. It’s a reminder that companionship is there for the asking, and just the smallest effort can keep the momentum going. I’m grateful that I was able to make it happen, and grateful for anyone who chooses to listen.

This has been a dark week and a dark month, but I promise you….the sun will rise.

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

Enjoy!

Runtime
77 minutes

Show Contents:

0:00 Introduction

2:05 Discussion of a Campaign to Save Toronto’s Regent Cinema

7:00 Know Your Enemy: Kelly Zemnickis

21:27 The New Slang: UNCUT GEMS

57:05 The Other Side: Kelly and Ryan talk further reading after The Safdie Brothers’ new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

After two straight episodes of lengthy discussion, we return you to a show you can listen to on your commute back and forth to work. In the words of Maui, “You’re welcome“.

The bad news when it comes to podcasting in January is that there are so very few new releases in theatres worth talking about. The good news is that with so many holdovers from December getting their wide release, there’s a lot of easy work-arounds to choose from.

The workaround we chose for this week lends itself to talk of curry, prom pantsuits, halva, and single screen local theatres. Truly – I cannot think of a better year to start a new decade of shows. Pull up a chair and enjoy.

Godspeed, Neil.

Links Mentioned on Episode 239:

“The Entertainer”:

Matineecast 207 where Lisa Ferreira and I discuss three versions of A STAR IS BORN

The Regent Cinema, currently in need of new management.

Bay Street Video. For your physical media needs,

No Responders Left Behind, Kelly’s documentary on the push to get legislative support for 9/11 First Responders.

Kelly’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening…and for ten fantastic years. 

Enjoy!

149 minutes

Up for Discussion

1. 1. Introduction with Ariel Fisher from After All, Petula Neale from In a TIFF, and Lindsay Ragone
2. THE FIVES (4:01)
3. THE FOURS (21:10)
4. THE THREES (43:37)
5. THE TWOS (1:04:22)
6. THE ONES (1:43:46)

The Songs:

Thoughts from your host…

As I’ve grown older, my thoughts on one year turning to another have slanted somewhat.

Once I saw a brand new year as a blank canvas; something pristine and inspiring, just waiting to be filled with whatever expressions an artist wished to unleash. However, as the years have passed and I’ve experienced more of what life is about, I’ve wondered if this moment isn’t just a breath between coughing fits. I ask myself if there really are new possibilities, or if we get what we get and every new year is just more of the same.

But then I think about things like both the films discussed on this episode, and the women who discuss them with me.

I have known all three of my guests for a long time. Long enough to have said or done something dumb to each of them. Every time, it was entirely my fault. When these moments occurred, mending fences sometimes took days or even weeks. And yet, here they all are. They still care enough about me to look past my dumbest moments, and still willing to encourage my silly little projects.

If my cynicism about new years and new possibilities was correct, then they are proof of the opposite: that there are always more chances – more blank pages.

Then there are the films that we discuss.

We talk about films from other countries, indie darlings that didn’t get much audience attention, documentaries, and a few mainstream films to-boot.

Ten years ago, when this space was still fairly new to me and this podcast was in its infancy, the films that made-up these sorts of discussions were titles that were much higher-profile.

That’s not to say that I’ve turned into some sort of elitist, or any type of film snob (heck, my number one is still a major studio picture)…only to underline that my taste in film continues to evolve. Once upon a time, my top five could have been made up by blockbusters with a bit of brains, and new offerings by Hollywood’s old guard. Now, I find myself much more enamoured with films that offer a different point of view…and voices I haven’t heard enough from.

Clemency is real. Tastes can change. Perhaps my slanted perceptions of new years needs to be levelled?

While I reflect on that, please enjoy this lively discussion with three of my favorite people in the whole wide world. We talk about some of the very best things that played on-screens this year – including what that made us think about ourselves and the world around us.

Thank you for helping me paint on the canvas of 2019, messy as the final work turned out.

Midnight brings about a blank canvas, and a fresh possibility.

As mentioned in the intro, if you’re curious about the songs used as bed music, the track list can be found above in the show notes.

Also as mentioned within the intro, if you find the bed music distracting, a music-free version of this episode can be found here.

Links from The Show:

Graveyard Shift Sisters – a site Ariel highly recommends, specifically Ashlee Blackwell’s piece discussing US.

Matineecast 225 where Ariel and I reviewed BOOKSMART

Thanks for tuning in to episode two-hundred-thirty-eight, and all the best for the new year!

Ariel’s Personal Twitter feed can be found here. Petula’s Twitter feed can be found here. Lindsay’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!

The music-free version of the year-end episode. For full show notes including leaving/reading comments, please go to the main post for the episode.

Here’s what’s in store in episode two-hundred-thirty-eight…

Runtime
149 minutes

Up for Discussion

1. 1. Introduction with Ariel Fisher from After All, Petula Neale from In a TIFF, and Lindsay Ragone
2. THE FIVES (4:01)
3. THE FOURS (21:10)
4. THE THREES (43:37)
5. THE TWOS (1:04:22)
6. THE ONES (1:43:46)

Runtime
104 minutes

Show Contents:

2:40 Know Your Enemy: Matthew Brown

17:18 The New Slang: STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

84:48 The Other Side: Matthew and Ryan talk further reading after J.J. Abrams’ new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Off the top of this episode, I make mention of the longest episode of this podcast ever. I then make a joke that today’s guest might want to try to break that record. We missed – by less than a minute.

Go figure.

When mapping-out this episode, I truly didn’t know what I was going to be getting into. I knew the conversation would be a special one, and a passionate one. I did not know whether my guest and I would agree, nor did I have any clue if the discussion would be a positive or negative one.

To paraphrase the old military saying: This is a conversation. There are many conversations like it, but this one is ours.

You may agree with us, you may disagree with us. Wherever you fall on the matter, I only ever hope you find the films you choose to watch entertaining, and the conversations we share with you in this space engaging.

Unless your name is Bob Turnbull. Then, you are always wrong.

Links Mentioned on Episode 237:

Patton Oswalt’s STAR WARS Fillibuster from Parks & Rec:

Matineecast 236 where Brian J Roan and I discuss KNIVES OUT

Pop Culture Detective’s video essay on humanity in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION:

Matt Brown’s Letterboxd Feed

Matt’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening…and for ten fantastic years. 

Enjoy!

Runtime
86 minutes

Show Contents:

0:00 Introduction

4:36 Know Your Enemy: Brian J Roan

24:53 The New Slang: KNIVES OUT

66:15 The Other Side: Brian and Ryan talk further reading after Rian Johnson’s new film

Thoughts From Your Host…

Welcome to Wherever You Are…

On December 5th, 2009, I said those words aloud for the first time on a published podcast feed. It seemed pithy to me at the time…mildly clever, considering the medium…and like so much of what I do, it was shamelessly cribbed from the world of rock & roll.

I wasn’t sure how many more times I would say them aloud and put my recorded voice out into the world…but I never would have put money on “ten years worth”. Not a nickel, not a dime.

And yet here we are: Ten Whole Years, 300+ shows of various formats, scores of guests, and who-knows-how-many hours later.

Damn.

This entire space has always felt like more than just a way to discuss film – it’s felt like an encapsulation of my life. Woven into the fabric of the words I write from week to week are my own confessions, hopes, expressions, fears, desires, and philosophies.

That encapsulation feels like it is found tenfold in the episodes of this show. I have published not just those qualities already mentioned, but spoken them aloud. You all have been able to hear the rise and fall of my voice. You have been able to hear what makes me giddy, and what fills me with dread. You’ve heard my nerves and heard me talk through tears.

The voices that have joined have also created an intricate tapestry of my life. Some have been by my side countless times, some only once. Some are people I see every day, some are people I have never physically met. Some are people who I dearly miss, some are people I will likely never speak to again.

For better or worse, these conversations have captured moments in my life and offered them out for your listening pleasure. Just about every other week for ten whole years now.

It’s both mildly terrifying and majorly cool. These pieces of my life are frozen in amber and available for anyone to examine.

I know my listenership is meagre, and if you have been a part of it even one time for even a few moments, I truly appreciate your time and attention. Most days it can seem like a fight to be heard in this increasingly-noisy world. Knowing you made a conscious effort to hear me even for a moment makes me one very grateful and humbled man.

So as we start a new day, let me just say that it’s wonderful to be “here” –

in your car, at your desk, on your train, on your couch, in your coffee shop, part of your morning, part of your night, working hard on a project or chore, or just trying to kill time before your movie starts.

I feel welcomed to be with you; wherever you are.

So begins a whole new decade of Matineecasts. Who knew?

Links Mentioned on Episode 236:

Matt Singer’s interview with Rian Johnson on Screencrush

Matineecast 230 where Corey Pierce and I discuss READY OR NOT

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

Enjoy!

Runtime
47 minutes

Show Contents:

0:00 Introduction

2:47 The New Slang: MARRIAGE STORY with guest Jolie Featherstone

44:54 The Wrap

Thoughts From Your Host…

Marvel Comics have had fun over the years with a series called “What If?” ‘What if?’ this character was granted the powers that that hero was granted? ‘What if?’ this group of heroes never lost, or that particular villain was finally defeated?

Today is The Matineecast’s “What If?” episode

What, for instance, would The Matineecast be if it was recorded out in the wild? If I traded in my Skype connections and afternoons in cozy condo confines for something more chaotic. Would the energy of the whole show climb? Would the result be something better than what I have usually turned-in?

Likewise, what would The Matineecast be if it was recorded hours or even minutes after my guest and I watched the film? Is there something gained in the excitement of coming away from something good? Is there something lost in not being able to suss through dissatisfaction? Do films really need time to be digested, or is it better to just get into the reactions?

Finally, what if we worked without a net? What if this show came without the notes, direction, and structure that it usually does. What if we just sat down, tapped record, and let fly?

Would it still sound like a Matineecast? Or would it turn into something other?

Click play and find out “What If?”

This episode happened in large part thanks to Jolie’s enthusiasm and grace. I’m deeply grateful for her support and friendship.

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

Enjoy!