The Prestige

By KaijuFMTV & Film

The Prestige episodes

March 28, 2017 2.34 - BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) & History
Our next franchise is a Robert Zemeckis classic. We talk about different kinds of time travel (Rob has A Theory!), history repeating itself, and how this is a very different film on later viewing.
This Week’s Watching
THE RAID (2011): Gareth Evans, Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim
THE MARTIAN (2015): Ridley Scott, Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain
Recommendations
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1987): Howard Deutch, Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson
BILL AND TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (1989): Steven Herek, Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter
THE GOOD WIFE (2009–2016): Robert King, Michelle King, Julianna Margulies
ADDAM’S FAMILY VALUES (1993): Barry Sonnenfeld, Anjelica Huston, Raúl Juliá
Footnotes
The Indonesian martial art whose name Sam so thoroughly butchered is Pencak Silat; for more on this, see here. This BFI list has some good lesser-known exponents of the time travel genre in film. Here’s a short introduction to the Oedipus complex, for those unfamiliar with it. And, finally, here’s a good working definition of dramatic irony, a concept that we touch on towards the end of today’s episode ('GCSE Bitesize’ might seem a bit of a basic resource, but it can actually be really useful).
Podcasts
We’re supporting the ‘trypod’ initiative this month (or at least we are when we remember!) Here are our recommendations (though Sam might change his PCHH tip after hearing this week’s level of snark about BEAUTY AND THE BEAST…)
‘The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast’ (COMEDY/PERFORMANCE: @comcompod) ‘The Partly Political Broadcast’ (POLITICS: @parpolbro)
‘NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour’ (POP CULTURE: @pchh)
‘Lift-off’ (SPACE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING: from @_relayfm)
‘D&D is for Nerds’ (D&D: from @sanspantsradio)
‘The British History Podcast’ (HISTORY: @britishpodcast)
These Twitter links should take you to iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, or however you consume podcasts. (Sam likes Overcast, but that may just be because he thinks the logo’s cool.) Have a listen to those that take your fancy — and remember to recommend THIS podcast (very important!) using the hashtag #trypod.
36 min
March 20, 2017 2.33 - BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013) & Change
The franchise concludes as we return to Jesse and Céline’s relationship after another 9-year hiatus. We talk a little bit about how the film could have made more sense, but a lot about the beauty of Linklater’s film-making and the way that he draws out the links with the other films.
This Week’s Watching
BROADCHURCH (2013—): Chris Chibnall, David Tennant, Olivia Coleman
WESTWORLD (2016—): Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Evan Rachel Wood
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER (2014—): Peter Nawalk, Viola Davis, Billy Brown
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (2016): Chris Renaud, Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet
Recommendations
500 DAYS OF SUMMER (2009): Mark Webb, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER (1962): Tony Richardson, Alan Sillitoe, Tom Courtenay
ZORBA THE GREEK (1964): Michael Cacoyannis, Nikos Kazantzakis, Anthony Quinn
THE LOBSTER (2015): Yorgos Lanthimos, Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz
Footnotes
Firstly, here are a couple of articles about a fourth film (which we hope doesn’t happen). On meta-cinema again, this is a good reference work. Here’s a refresher on the Minotaur, to add to our discussion of mythology. And finally, here’s Walter Lassally’s IMDB page (the newspaper articles linked to are great).
35 min
March 14, 2017 2.32 - BEFORE SUNSET (2004) & Memory
The franchise continues with the 80-minute (check that out!) follow-up to Richard Linklater’s first film. We talk about meta-filmic cinema, how this film is like Berthold Brecht crossed with Arthur Miller, and why the film is a reflection on the process of creating memories.
This Week’s Watching
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (2017): Chris McKay, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis
MOANA (2016): Ron Clements, Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson
Recommendations
DODES’KA-DEN (1970): Akira Kurosawa, Yoshitaka Zushi, Kin Sugai
BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (1999): Jamie Babbit, Natasha Lyonne, Clea Duvall
DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY (1989): Peter Weir, Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke
MARY AND MAX (2009): Adam Elliot, Bethany Whitmore, Toni Collette
Footnotes
Firstly, an interesting introduction to meta-cinema. Secondly, here are links to the playwrights we mention this week, in an episode that looks more at dramatic than filmic convention. Finally, here are a bunch of articles on the process of creating memories, that seemed particularly pertinent to this week’s discussion: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
33 min
March 06, 2017 2.31 - BEFORE SUNRISE (1995) & Time
This week we embark on a new franchise, spending time with the first film in Richard Linklater’s trilogy. We talk about the passage of time, why this might have made a better play than a movie, and how the film might just be a metaphor for the whole industry.
This Week’s Watching
POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING (2016): Akiva Shaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone
THE MAZE RUNNER (2014): Wes Ball, Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario
Recommendations
LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003): Sofia Coppola, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson
SLACKER (1991): Richard Linklater, Kim Krizan, Mark James
THREE COLOURS: BLUE (1993): Krzysztof Kieślowski, Juliette Binoche, Benoît Régent
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (2013): the Coen brothers, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan
Footnotes
If you haven’t seen anything of the ‘Lonely Island’ crew, do yourself a favour and dive into their work on YouTube. Otherwise, there aren't a lot in the way of footnotes, this week, apart from an article on a recent political stand taken by Richard Linklater as well as a link to his biography.
30 min
February 27, 2017 2.30 - HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART TWO (2011) & Death
The franchise comes to a conclusion and our — well, Rob’s — work is done. We talk about deaths of all kinds: physical darkness, mental endings, you name it. How technical can Rob get, how metaphysical can Sam be, and — crucially — did the guinea pig enjoy this series??
This Week’s Watching
DEEPWATER HORIZON (2016): Peter Berg, Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell
NO OFFENCE (2015—): Paul Abbott, Joanna Scanlan, Elaine Cassidy
Recommendations
SKYFALL (2012): Sam Mendes, Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem
THE LADY IN THE VAN (2015): Nicholas Hytner, Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings
ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (1991): Kevin Reynolds, Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2002): Peter Jackson, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen
WHAT IF (2013): Michael Dowse, Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan
Footnotes
Firstly, the obligatory ‘Chekhov’s gun’ link (in TV rather than film, but still some good examples)s. Then, a shout-out for JKR’s other literary projects, which are brilliant (the ‘Cormoran Strike’ series) and here
38 min
February 20, 2017 2.29 - HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE (2010) & Friendship
As we move towards the conclusion of the franchise, we talk about friendship, fading to black, and, bizarrely, Formula 1.
This Week’s Watching
ROMEO + JULIET (1996): Baz Luhrmann, Leonardo di Caprio, Claire Danes
THE SEARCHERS (1956): John Ford, John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter
Recommendations
STAND BY ME (1986): Rob Reiner, Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix
EASY RIDER (1969): Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (2011): Tomas Alfredson, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth
METROPOLIS (1927): Fritz Lang, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich
Footnotes
Just a few footnotes this week, starting with an article about Baz Luhrmann’s qualities an a film-maker: http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/baz-luhrmann-essential-filmmaker. This is a list of the differences between the book and the film (although, as the article explains, the film is particularly faithful): www.cinemablend.com/new/10-Big-Differences-Between-Harry-Potter-Deathly-Hallows-Book-Movie-21819.html. Finally, here’s a little something about the various different types of transitions in cinema, which Sam briefly mentions: www.elementsofcinema.com/editing/types-of-transitions.
33 min
February 13, 2017 2.28 - HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009) & Desecration
The franchise is back on form: the sixth instalment, we agree (a Prestige rarity!) is a belter. Rob gets technical; Sam gets metaphorical. Business as usual!
This Week’s Watching
HEAT (1995): Michael Mann, Robert de Niro, Al Pacino
TABOO (2017): Tom Hardy, Edward Hardy, Steven Knight
Recommendations
HOT FUZZ (2007): Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
THE PRESTIGE (2006): Christopher Nolan, Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale
GANGS OF NEW YORK (2002): Martin Scorcese, Leonardo di Caprio, Daniel Day-Lewis
THE ROAD (2009): John Hillcoat, Cormac McCarthy, Viggo Mortensen
Footnotes
Firstly, a few technical notes: about tilt-shift and its use in photography. (Also, here’s one of our favourite directors on his use of the technique, in a film we’ve discussed here before) This is an example of the sort of model-village stuff Rob mentions. And this is good on the link between colour palette and mood in film. Finally, Sam’s been thinking about the neologistic word Horcrux, which is pretty central to this film; here’s a fun little article on a number of the coinages J.K. Rowling has come up with over the course of the franchise, some of which we’ve already praised for their inventiveness.
29 min
February 06, 2017 2.27 - HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (2007) & Alternative Facts
The next film in the franchise is the first David Yates vehicle. Rob and Sam talk about why this may be slightly unsatisfactory as a film, but not as a narrative — and how this movie is a great take on the slipperiness of different versions of the truth.
This Week’s Watching
NO LIMIT (2012—): Luc Besson, Vincent Elbaz, Anne Girouard
RIVERDALE (2017): Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, K. J. Apa, Lili Reinhart
Recommendations
ABOUT A BOY (2002): the Weitz brothers, Nick Hornby, Hugh Grant
WAG THE DOG (1997): Barry Levinson, Dustin Hoffman, Robert de Niro
THAT DAY WE SANG (2014): Victoria Wood, Michael Ball, Imelda Staunton
CALVARY (2014): John Michael McDonagh, Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd
Footnotes
This explains the concept of the MacGuffin that Sam briefly mentions: . There are several useful introductions to the central tenets of fascism available online; this is a good place to start. This link has some interesting parallels between the film and contemporary ‘quirky quest[s] for social justice’. And finally, here’s more on the use of point of view in film, as mentioned by Rob.
33 min
February 01, 2017 2.26 - HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (2005) & Transition
Is this the best film yet? It’s certainly the most ‘grown up’, whatever that means; we talk about being no longer a kids’ franchise, the role of Robert Pattinson, and a whole host of different transitions.
This Week’s Watching
SCANDAL (2012—): Shonda Rhimes, Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn
modern family (2009—): Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan, Ed O'Neill
Recommendations
JESSICA JONES (2015—): Melissa Rosenberg, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter
PUSHING TIN (1999): Mike Newell, John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton
DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993): Richard Linklater, Jason London, Wiley Wiggins
THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER (2015): Brady Corbet, Bérénice Bejo, Liam Cunningham
Footnotes
Another sparse week for footnotes, other than more about Peter Pettigrew, whose identity we discovered last week (although to be avoided if you’re not keen on spoilers, it looks like). This is good about the topic of transition in film — particularly in teen film — which we touched on with our discussions of adolescence. Finally, don’t forget to check out our umbrella podcast network at Kaiju FM — subscribe to your favourite! (Well, second favourite, obviously.)
28 min
January 24, 2017 2.25 - HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004) & Transformation
The third in the franchise is interesting for various reasons: we discuss innovative cinematography, how Dumbledore provides a tagline for the film, and why this is a movie about transformation on a number of different levels.
This Week’s Watching
NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (2016): Jon M. Chu, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo
HOUSE OF CARDS (2013–): Beau Willimon, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright
Recommendations
LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL (1994): Luc Besson, Jean Reno, Gary Oldman
SPACED (1999—2001): Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson, Edgar Wright
Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN (2001): Alfonso Cuarón, Maribel Verdú, Gael Garcia Bernal
THE DARK KNIGHT (2008): Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Footnotes
Not that many footnotes this week, apart from that Nerdwriter video about the film, (his whole channel’s pretty good, if you enjoy that). Rob mentions retconning, which is explained in more detail here, and there’s some good stuff about Cuarón’s direction here, here, and here. (Also, if you happen to have access to an academic subscription [ok, it’s a long shot, but also only academics ever read to the end of footnotes, anyway, right?], then this looks like it could be good)
33 min

About The Prestige

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A podcast for cinephiles of all stripes. Join Rob & Sam, two life-long friends, one a veteran of the film industry, the other a Cambridge-educated writer on books, movies and graphic novels. Each…

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The Prestige

The Prestige episodes

About The Prestige