Trilogy in Theory

On this episode we have a battle between animated princesses, though not of the Disney variety. It’s official Studio Ghibli only business as we look at NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND and PRINCESS MONONOKE, a battle of two Miyazaki films inspired by his studio’s new video release of THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA.

On this episode we talk about two abandoned films which fortunately for audiences have been chronicled in documentary form. In LOST IN LA MANCHA, we are witness to the start and eventually end of production on Terry Gilliam’s failed film on Don Quixote. And in JODOROWSKY’S DUNE, we get to hear with great passion from the man himself on his film adaptation of the novel DUNE that never got the green light. But first, an even newer release as we got the chance to talk to actor/writer/producer and former NFL player Conrad Goode about his film WATERCOLOR POSTCARDS that you can find now on iTunes and Amazon Prime streaming, and also his involvement in the recent VOD release, an abandoned David O. Russell film that was shot in 2008, ACCIDENTAL LOVE.

On this episode we talk about two films that were released within the last year that combine romance, music, and the different perspectives two characters bring to those subjects with last summer’s BEGIN AGAIN, and the month old SONG ONE. But first, an even newer release is discussed with writer/director Richard Lagravanese about his new film that just hit limited theatrical and VOD release, the musical screen adaptation of THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

On this episode we travel back in time slightly by catching up with a recent release that just hit DVD and Blu-Ray since the recording in PREDESTINATION, which inspires a look back at two older films about time travel with THE TERMINATOR vs. MINORITY REPORT. We also catch up with a former guest and director of OUT OF PRINT, Julia Marchese, and jump ahead in time to her future plans.

On this episode we attempt to sneak our way into a girls’ weekend out in the wild, the only way we know how, by watching and talking about three such films that share that premise. ASH BLODGETT from LAUGH STASH TV joins us to talk about THE DESCENT where a group of women seek their next adrenaline rush by making a… well, a descent. Then in BLACK ROCK three women attempt to repair their fractured friendship by revisiting a childhood vacation spot, and not getting exactly the type of reconnection they were hoping for. This pairing is inspired by the new horror comedy CRAZY BITCHES and we are also joined by that film’s writer and director JANE CLARK .

On this episode we move our podcast back home, with the likes of the hotly debated MOMMA'S MAN vs. the ultimate 90s Miramax film in BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. This theme and pairing was inspired by the new release SUBURBAN GOTHIC and we talk with the director of photography for that film, Lucas Lee Graham.

On this episode we break format a bit with Emily Mackay of Movies N' Mayhem and do a true Him and Her review of THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY. Because of the unique release of these films in three different cuts, this means a spoiler free review of the film that got a limited release and generally is what is referred to by the title with the THEM version. Then we get into spoilers by pitting the HIM and HER films of Eleanor Rigby against one another. It’s a very interesting film experiment and from what we discovered with our own viewing order, one that could really help or hurt your experience with the films depending on which perspective you start with.

We struggle to put on a podcast production every week, so we have great sympathy for a group of films about putting on a production. However we will see if we can set aside SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE winning the 1998 Academy Award for Best Picture to get more sympathy from us in its battle with Richard Linklater's ME AND ORSON WELLES. These two films have been inspired by the great new documentary BALLET 422, and director Jody Lee Lipes was kind enough to join us to talk about his new film.

Last episode we went INTO THE WOODS for a fairy tale orgy, on this episode we tell another fairy tale… that Johnny Depp was once a serious actor and not a cartoon character, as he is in his latest film MORTDECAI. We look at two of our favorite performances of his in WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE and DONNIE BRASCO. Joining us for this episode will be a Johnny Depp fan in Britt from the site Eclectic Pop, who will attempt to keep the Depp bashing from Shane and myself to a minimum.

Last episode we joined some couples in cabins in the woods with THE STRANGERS going up against ANTICHRIST inspired by the great 2014 horror film HONEYMOON. On this episode we stay in the woods and discuss how some are finding themselves equally horrified at the musical INTO THE WOODS. The two fairy tale orgy films inspired by that experience are SHREK and THE BROTHERS GRIMM. Guests Natasha Collier from Kentucky Geek Girl and Emily Mackay of Movies N Mayhem get into the spirit of retelling a fairy tale by trying to rewrite one of the films in this show that we REALLY did not like...