Cinema in Context

• Episode 106: The Paddington Trilogy

  Three Paddington films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Paddington (2014), Paddington 2 (2017) and Paddington in Peru (2024) and our general reactions to the films, especially those of us who haven't seen a Paddington film before. We talk about the work of writer and director Paul King, including The Mighty Boosh and Wonka (2023), and praise the work of first-time director Dougal Wilson. We discuss the cast and performances in the films, including the work of Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Emily Mortimer, Ben Wishaw, Jessica Hynes, Matt Lucas, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Julie Walters, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson and Noah Taylor. We praise the films' visuals, especially Paddington's animation. This extends into a discussion of live-action, special effects, visual effects and computer generation. We touch on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), the work of Ray Harryhausen - Jason and the Argonauts (1963) and Clash of the Titans (1981), the original Godzilla (1954), King Kong (1933), Jurassic Park (1993), Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Doctor Who (1963-) and The Thing (1982).

  --------  

  49:42
• Episode 105: Highlights of 2024

  The best of the year. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss their film and television highlights of the year, including their biggest surprise, biggest disappointment, wildcard, best television and best films of 2024. Here are the films and television shows we discussed: • Biggest surprise of the year: Migration (William); Kneecap (Sarah); Wicked: Part 1 (Jeremy) • Biggest disappointment of the year: Means Girls (Sarah and Jeremy); The Bear, Season 3 (William) • Wildcard: Alien: Romulus (Jeremy); Grand Theft Hamlet (Sarah); Hundreds of Beavers (William) • Best television: Delicious in Dungeon (William); Hacks, Season 3 (Jeremy); Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Sarah) • Runner-ups to the film of the year: The Substance and Civil War (Jeremy); The Wild Robot and Robot Dreams (William); Origin and American Fiction (Sarah) • Best film of the year: Dune: Part Two (Jeremy); Successor | Zhua wa wa (William); All of Us Strangers (Sarah) Additional shout-outs to Gut Instinct, Rebel Ridge, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Inside Out 2.

  --------  

  1:35:20
• Episode 104: Saturday Night & Network

  1970s television films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Saturday Night (2024) and Network (1976), films about television in 1975. We begin by discussing our connection and experience watching the television sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live (1975-present). We discuss the actors' performances in the film, especially in their impersonations of the famous cast members of the original episode: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Andy Kaufman. We shift our conversation to Network and how relevant the film still is today. We also praise the performances in Network, including Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Beatrice Straight and Ned Beatty. We compare the two films, especially the costume and production design of both films being similar while being almost 50 years apart.

  --------  

  49:38
• Episode 103: Megalopolis & Metropolis

  Mega-city grand vision films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Megalopolis (2024) and Metropolis (1927), films by Francis Ford Coppola and Fritz Lang. We begin by sharing our experiences watching Metropolis, including the first time watching it and our experience watching it more recently. We talk about the music in Metropolis, how it's drawn from music before it and influenced music after the film. We start our conversation about Megalopolis by questioning the film's logic and figuring out what the film is trying to do. We praise and dissect the work of Aubrey Plaza, Talia Shire and Kathryn Hunter, as well as critique the work of the cast as a whole. We consider the film regarding other films and filmmakers' work, trying to figure out what could have made Megalopolis a better film. We discuss the performances from Metropolis, especially the work of Brigitte Helm. We finish by discussing the themes, ideas and politics of Metropolis and whether it is still relevant to us today.

  --------  

  54:50
• Episode 102: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice & Candyman

  Say their name multiple times. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Candyman (1992) and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), as well as Beetlejuice (1988). We start by sharing our experiences and reactions to watching Candyman, including the key imagery and ideas that stand out. We praise the score from Phillip Glass, the writing work of Clive Barker, the direction and vision from Bernard Rose, and the commendable acting work and charisma of Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd. We then discuss Beetlejuice (1988), with Sarah watching it for the first time for this episode, which then moves into our reactions and experiences to watching Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). We talk about the connections between the two films and how we seem to connect films in more surprising ways than we initially realise. We discuss the wider state of "Legacy-quels" and the repeated trope of the grown-up lead as a sad parent. We talk about the urban and suburban exploration in both films and how it mines the fears of modern-day audiences.

  --------  

  51:34

More TV & Film podcasts

Trending TV & Film podcasts

About Cinema in Context