The Take-Up

As we here at the Take-Up wish everyone a happy holiday, we bring the gift of Keith Watson’s and Sarah Barabas’ pick of the week and iconic “wallpaper cinema,” Suspiria! As the Arkadin Cinema owners alongside Josh and Andrew wander down the vast candy-lit halls of this witchy giallo, raving over the fairy tale aesthetics, camp quality, dream logic, and how it all makes for a great date movie.

Completing this episode is a preview of the Arkadin’s “Weird Canadian” theme for next month, featuring some Cronenberg, Kids in the Hall and upcoming animated documentary Endless Cookie. Plus Josh and Andrew having One More Thing with hit HBO queer hockey drama Heated Rivalry and point-and-click murder mystery game The Séance of Blake Manor. 

Next week, Josh and Andrew keep this macabre gift-giving, bringing in fellow Take-Up contributor/podcast editor Ethan Tarantella (you know, the guy who writes these episode synopses?) to discuss his own first kiss with cinema, which just so happens to be Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 remake of Suspiria. Witness your writer come out of the shadows to talk about a film that breaks the nose off of Argento’s original and replaces it with an uglier attack of the senses.

Until then, read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

Film critic Dr. Diane Carson spills the beans on director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s latest political thriller The Secret Agent! Together with Josh and Andrew, the trio give praise to its pointed commentary on the Fifth Brazilian Republic and darkly comedic portrayal of a political refugee. Featuring a disembodied leg, Carnival, Mendonça's love of cinema, and so many other things, listen in on our hosts gushing over this wild thriller before it drops in theatres this Christmas. 

Later, they make sure to have One More Thing to say about this year’s film turnout, recommending Bi-Gan’s upcoming sci-fi film Resurrection, last summer’s A24 horror film Bring Her Back, the Cannes Grand-Prix-winning family drama Sentimental Value, and 90’s Iraq period piece The President’s Cake.

Speaking of holidays, we here at The Take-Up decided to give our listeners the best fitting yuletide gifts of the season: Dancing! Goblin! The Color Red! Arkadin Cinema & Bar owners Keith Watson and Sarah Barabas come in to discuss their first love of cinema, the Italian horror classic Suspiria. Get cozy by the excessive amount of razor wire and grab a glass of blood-building wine for what will be a fun discussion on everyone’s favorite giallo fairy tale.

Until then, read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

Max Havey of STL Magazine shares with Josh and Andrew a film he holds dear, Wes Anderson’s Rushmore! A beloved staple from Anderson’s early stage in his career, the hosts dive into the comedy of this odd coming-of-age tale, Havey’s last-minute Wes Anderson movie rankings, and which one of the three was a Max Fischer in high school. Also expect a couple Graduate comparisons.

Then, expect three things to look out for from this week’s One More Thing, including the wild Godzilla movie Destroy All Monsters, Vince Gilligan’s new sci-fi series Pluribus, and the “Battle of Seattle” documentary WTO/99.

Keep an eye out for next week, where Josh and Andrew get to discuss a favorite from this year’s Cannes, The Secret Agent! As Kleber Mendonça Filho’s political thriller makes its way to St. Louis this Christmas, make sure to listen in on the duo’s take on the acclaimed movie.

Until then, read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

Drew Wendt of Do You Like Apples? has one word to say to Josh and Andrew, just one word: Garfunkel.

This week, Drew seduces our hosts into talking about Mike Nichols’ New Hollywood classic The Graduate, a film that appears to defy its reputation as an iconic Boomer comedy. Getting into the nitty gritty of all the power dynamics, WASP-y suburbia, youthful aimlessness, grey morality, and just how catchy "The Sound of Silence" is, the trio dive deep into a movie that leaves them coming away with new thoughts after every rewatch. Then, they have One More Thing, with the 1980 Roeg psychodrama Bad Timing, (starring Art Garfunkel as himself but if he went into psychology) and Anthony Mann’s police procedural noir (and documentary?) T-Men.

Expect no episode next week as Josh and Andrew will be attending SLIFF, but they’ll be back in time for Max Havey’s lesson on the film that made the STL Magazine writer fall in love with movies, Wes Anderson’s Rushmore! In two weeks, make sure to listen in on this  crash course in one of Anderson’s early works.

Until then, read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

Switching things up a bit, Josh and Andrew go to the French countryside with Alain Guiraudie’s Misericordia. Featuring an opening French lesson/cameo by Josh’s husband, our hosts get into the intricacies of this dark comedy-thriller, including its observation on relationships, rural France, and “one of the biggest jumpscares of the year”.

They have fun talking about a film where everyone in this small town is, to put it lightly, “a little bit gay.” Then, they have One More Thing, recommending the new Netflix true crime hit The Perfect Neighbor and Joseph Losey’s 1963 psychodrama The Servant (or “Parasite meets Phantom Thread meets Homoeroticism” according to Jake Cole’s Letterboxd).

Next week, say “and here’s to you” for guest Drew Wendt of Do You Like Apples? as he gets Josh and Andrew to talk about the movie that made him interested in film criticism, the 60s classic The Graduate! 

Until then, read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

After having to skip an episode due to Josh being held captive in Andrew’s basement last week, our hosts can finally have a dialogue over the latest Lanthimos/Stone collab, Bugonia! Diving into the sci-fi (maybe?) thriller, they debate over all the conspiracy theories, politics, the ending, and which Lanthimos movie is worthy of being put in the vault before the green planet is saved.

Then they get into One More Thing, bringing up the 1950s Technicolor Knight epic Ivanhoe (starring the always stunning Elizabeth Taylor) and friend-of-the-pod Katie Carter’s new Substack The Tea is Going Out along with her upcoming Forbidden Hollywood screening of Smarty at the Arkadin Cinema & Bar in St. Louis.

Until then, read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

Here comes the Fuzz! Alex McPherson of PoplifeSTL brings in Edgar Wright’s cop comedy Hot Fuzz for Josh and Andrew to take a look and probe their thoughts. Together, the trio discuss the sidesplitting highlights, its nature as a Tony Scott parody/giallo/bromance befitting the Dudes Rock! canon, and if it fits within the guidelines of Copaganda. Along with their differing thoughts on Wright’s movies, you’re in for a debrief that provides the greater good (“the greater good!”) elevating Hot Fuzz’s reputation as more than just a funny movie.

Following that is One More Thing, where they recommend YouTube channel Be Kind Rewind and iFixit.com.

Read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

Rise and Shine! What Time is It? Well, Comrades Josh and Andrew take a look at PTA’s explosive new thriller One Battle After Another. Together, they praise the film’s views on rebel militias, family, and the current political climate as well as gush over the comedy, the cast, a Support the Girls reunion, the rolling hills, and the Thomas Pynchon of it all. Then they'll have One More Thing about One Battle (and some other things too)!

Next week, Alex McPherson returns with his pick for the show, Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz! Until then, read on at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTake-Up.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us @thetakeupstl on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

From the moment Billy Rock of Do You Like Apples? watched Signs with his family as a kid, its themes on faith and dedication to genre thrills served as a starting point for his growing interest in films. Twenty years later, Rock brings the M. Night Shyamalan alien thriller to the Take-Up, where Josh and Andrew swing away with their own polarizing thoughts on its intrigue and M. Night’s up-and-down career. Don’t worry, the trio have more to say beyond aliens having a weakness to water and wooden doors.

Then, Josh and Andrew continue onto One More Thing, recommending local St. Louis pride event Tower Grove Pride (and a very groovy booth featured there) along with continuing their extraterrestrial talk with FX’s Alien: Earth.

Next week, bat an eyelash for our hosts going deep into One Battle After Another, PTA’s action-comedy-thriller that is quickly becoming one of the most acclaimed and talked about movies of the year. 

Until then, read on at thetake-up.com and follow us @thetakeupstl on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd, and Facebook. Special Thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.

Andrew and Josh marathon through their thoughts on the recent Stephen King adaptation, The Long Walk, going into discussions of King’s long history writing the novel, its connection to the Vietnam War/contemporary times, and its growing Conclave-esque fan reclamation. It turns out this small-scale thriller has more to offer than a depressing time. Then the duo continue their King talk with this week’s One More Thing, going into their picks for the most underrated Stephen King adaptations.

Next week, our hosts bring in Billy Rock from Do You Like Apples? to talk about his personal pick for the Take-Up’s Permanent Cinema, M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs. Remember to have a glass of water handy for this discussion.

Read on at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTake-Up.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us @thetakeupstl on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Special thanks to Social Media Manager Kayla McCulloch and Contributor Ethan Tarantella. Theme music by AMP.