Episodes
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
This week Rick and Patrick are joined by former Sound on Sight/Sordid Cinema Podcast co-host Simon Howell to talk about Terry Gilliam’s 1985 ambitious dark satire, Brazil. From its incredible vision and art design to the cavalcade of quirky supporting performances by the likes of Robert De Niro, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, and Jim Broadbent (among others), there’s plenty to gush over. Sure, the romantic subplot is a bit of a dud (despite some Freudian overtones), but Gilliam’s story of a low-level government employee who meets the literal girl of his dreams while trying to escape a monotonous life of over-complicated machinery and stacks of paperwork resulting from a totalitarian authority is still just as potent and refreshingly unique today as it was back then.
Join us as we discuss just what makes Brazil so special even to this day, marvel over the inventive and often seamless practical effects, suggest some alternative ways to implement the character of Jill Layton, and rank where this entry stands in Gilliam’s filmography. For those dreaming of movies that escape the standard story formula and aesthetic, it doesn’t get much better than this. Have a listen!
Sunday Feb 23, 2020
Sunday Feb 23, 2020
Witness 1985 Podcast Review
This week on the Sordid Cinema Podcast, Rick and Patrick get their city hands dirty with 1985’s Witness, directed by Peter Weir. The story of a little Amish boy who watches a grisly murder take place in a train station bathroom manages to combine a subdued-but-tense police thriller with an exceptionally grounded love story between detective John Book (Harrison Fords, in his only Oscar-nominated role) and the boy’s mother, Rachel (played by Kelly McGillis), along with a theme contrasting pacifism and the use of deadly force. The guys discuss how Weir expertly maintains restraint, often opting for subtle facial expressions over dialogue, and plenty of quiet moments abound. The director also once again makes the presence of the land deeply felt, creating an absorbing environment complemented by an otherworldly score by Maurice Jarre.
With so many great scenes, how can we choose the best? What might Rick and Patrick change about this nearly flawless film? Along the way in answering these questions and more, the guys dive into the production history, as well as talk about how this film fits in with Peter Weir’s filmography. Have a listen!
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Monday Feb 03, 2020
Monday Feb 03, 2020
This week the Sordid Cinema Podcast takes a short break from all the blood and guts to look back at Howard Hawks’ 1940 screwball comedy masterpiece, His Girl Friday. This adapted story of a newspaper writer (Rosalind Russell) trying to break free from the journalist lifestyle only to be lured back in by an incredibly big story — as well as her boss/ex-husband(!), played by Cary Grant — features cascades of whip-smart wit, an abundance of double crosses and double entendres, and fantastic direction from one of old Hollywood’s finest filmmakers.
Rick and Patrick are joined by writer/film critic Mariko McDonald to discuss the impact of Hawks swapping out the original male lead for a female lead, reveal tidbits about the production and how they managed to fit a 191-page screenplay into 92 minutes, pick our favorite scenes as well as elements we might change, and much more! For an in-depth dive into this wonderful classic, have a listen!
Friday Sep 15, 2017
Sordid Cinema Podcast #528: ‘Good Time’ and ‘Atomic Blonde’
Friday Sep 15, 2017
Friday Sep 15, 2017
This week on the Sordid Cinema podcast, Victor Stiff joins Ricky, Patrick, and Simon to discuss Good Time and Atomic Blonde.
Tuesday Jun 06, 2017
Sordid Cinema Podcast #519: Cannes 2017 and ‘The Lost City of Z’
Tuesday Jun 06, 2017
Tuesday Jun 06, 2017
Monday Mar 27, 2017
Sordid Cinema Podcast #512: ‘Trainspotting’ 20 Years Later Special
Monday Mar 27, 2017
Monday Mar 27, 2017
Danny Boyle’s bravura and celebratory adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s seminal novel blew the socks off the British film industry back in 1996. A zeitgeist phenomenon, the stand-out film of that year’s Cannes film festival became an international box office success and since then, it’s routinely featured in best British film lists, while the public voted it the best Scottish film of all time. The thing about Trainspotting is that we simply haven’t seen a film quite like it since. It’s exciting, energetic, thought-provoking, and never lets up. But what about Trainspotting 2? It’s impossible to catch lightning in a bottle twice, yet that’s what director Danny Boyle is trying to do with his belated sequel to Trainspotting. This week it’s our Trainspotting special!
Sunday Mar 06, 2016
Sordid Cinema Podcast #509: The Sounds and Sights of ‘Moonlight’
Sunday Mar 06, 2016
Sunday Mar 06, 2016
Told in three chapters over the course of about 16 years, Moonlight (adapted from playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney’s short theater piece, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue) explores the plight of a young black man across three eras, searching for his place in the world while struggling with his gay identity. This week we invite Goomba Stomp’s Games Editor Mike Worby to help us discuss the Academy Award winning feature its universal subject: navigating the treacherous waters of adolescence to emerge into adulthood.