Versus films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), two films at the ends of the 'versus films' spectrum. We jump into Godzilla vs. Kong, unpacking the plot details, and connecting and comparing it to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), The Guest (2014), Transformers (2007), Alien vs. Predator (2004), Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Eagle vs Shark (2007), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), Opera (1987), Suspiria (1977), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), and American Crime Story (2016-), including the O.J. Simpson season, the Versace season and the upcoming Monica Lewinsky season. We then move our conversation onto Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), unpacking the details of the story, and connecting and comparing it to Marriage Story (2019), Before Midnight (2013), Before Sunset (2004) and the series of 'Before' films as a whole. We wrap up our conversation by highlighting last thoughts and final 'versus films' connections, including Shin Godzilla (2016), Ford v Ferrari (2019), Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019), The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), and Allen v. Farrow (2021).

Cinema in Context

Episode 61: Godzilla vs. Kong & Kramer vs. Kramer

Female-led Pixar films. Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by Phoebe Shum to discuss Brave (2012) and Turning Red (2022). We begin by discussing Turning Red, especially the strengths of its themes and confidence in setting. We turn to Brave and consider the strength in the visuals and animation, discuss the connections to Tangled (2010) and Frozen (2013), the structure and storytelling in the film, and the history of the film's production. We talk about the history of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, and the distinctions between the two studios. We return to Turning Red and consider it in regards to connections with films like Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022), Asian stories and storytelling on screen, and the television series Russian Doll (2019-). We talk about the representation in Turning Red, especially in the animation style representing real people and how they capture a specific age group authentically.

Episode 73: Turning Red and Brave (featuring Phoebe Shum)

Multiverse motherhood films. Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by Billy Revell-Siō to discuss Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). We begin by discussing the horror genre elements of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, particularly harking back to the previous films of Sam Raimi: Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness. We talk about the film in context of other Marvel content, particularly Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Doctor Strange (2016), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), WandaVision (2021), and Captain America: Civil War (2016). We move our discussion to Everything Everywhere All At Once, starting by considering the film alongside Daniels', the directors, previous film: Swiss Army Man (2016). We explore the pertinence of this film, especially in how it speaks to the tensions of today and connected to each hosts' emotions during and after the film. We praise the cast, especially Michelle Yeoh. We talk about the film in connection to Tenet (2020), In the Mood for Love (2001), and Turning Red (2022). The discussion focuses on the gender and queer representation in the film, particularly in relation to parental figures. We return to Doctor Strange 2 and discuss it in comparison to the Spider-Man films, X-Men series, and the range of other properties cameo'd in the film. We discuss the need for a story, connected it to Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and What If...? (2021). We finish with final thoughts and William lists off the various influences he spotted in Everything Everywhere All at Once: The Matrix (1999), Terry Gilliam, Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Michel Gondry, Satoshi Kon, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

Episode 74: Everything Everywhere All at Once & Doctor Strange 2 (featuring Billy Revell-Siō)

80s films return! Directed by Joseph Kosinski. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and TRON: Legacy (2010). We begin by welcoming Sarah back to the podcast, hearing about two films she saw on her travels: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) and The Glance of Music AKA Ennio (2021). We begin our discussion by reflecting on our experience watching TRON: Legacy, especially considering the cinema we saw it in, 3D cinema  technology and the original TRON (1982). We discuss the incredible score by Daft Punk, comparing it to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Inside Out (2015) and Blade Runner (1982), and the impressive production design and visual effects in the film. We then move the conversation to our experiences watching Top Gun: Maverick. We discuss the strengths of Top Gun: Maverick, particularly the strength in storytelling, the cast of characters, the emotional core of the film and the average character played by the brilliant Jennifer Connelly. We highlight the charisma of Tom Cruise, Miles Teller and Joh Hamm, as well as the careful inclusion of Van Kilmer. We focus on the religious imagery in both films, especially messiah figures. We also talk about the de-ageing in TRON: Legacy and how it holds up to other films with similar effects.

Episode 75: Top Gun: Maverick & TRON: Legacy

Looking back at the key films in our lives. Sarah Watt and Jeremy Downing are joined by special guest Dan Eichblattt to talk about the movies that made us: key films that have had an impact on our lives. We've organised these films into five categories:

Film you’ve watched the most:
Sarah: The Holiday (2006)
Dan: Beetlejuice (1988)
Jeremy: Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Film anyone can enjoy:
Dan: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Sarah: Game Night (2018)
Jeremy: Back to the Future (1985)

Film you would suggest to a burgeoning cinephile:
Jeremy: 12 Monkeys (1995)
Sarah: Goodfellas (1990)
Dan: Donnie Darko (2001)

Film you see yourself in:
Dan: Weekend (2011)
Sarah: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Jeremy: C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

Favourite film of all time:
Sarah: Heat (1995)
Jeremy: Alien (1979)
Dan: The Witch (2015)

Episode 76: Movies That Made Us (featuring Dan Eichblatt)

Jam-packed genre films with Chris Hemsworth. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) and Cabin in the Woods (2011). We begin by sharing our honest reactions to Thor: Love and Thunder, especially how ridiculous film is - comparing to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Free Guy (2021), Black Panther (2018) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). We praise the performances of Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Chris Hemsworth. We criticise the characters played by Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson, considering their representation in regards to sexism and queer-baiting. We then pivot conversation to talk about Cabin in the Woods, both our first reactions a decade ago and our rewatching reactions. We praise the cast of Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins, Amy Acker, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchinson, Kristen Connolly and Fran Kranz. We consider the film in connection to other Joss Whedon work, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Dollhouse (2009-2010), and Much Ado About Nothing (2012). We return back to Thor and consider how the two films successfully achieve their intentions. We compare the films to Get Out (2017), Scream (2022), Batman Returns (1992), Hunt For the Wilderpeople (2016), and Boy (2010).

Episode 78: Thor: Love and Thunder & Cabin in the Woods

Super Mario Bros. films. Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by friend to the podcast Billy Revell-Siō to discuss the recent The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and the 30-year old Super Mario Bros. (1993). We begin by discussing our bafflement by the 1993 film... what did we watch?! We discuss the mythology of the Mario games and wider Nintendo game lore. We talk about the success of adaptation in both films. We discuss the female characters and writing in both movies. We finish by discussing the music in both films and their place in pop culture.
 
If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

Episode 85: Super Mario Bros. (featuring Billy Revell-Siō)

Scandalous love affairs. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and Doug Dillaman discuss May December (2023) and Notes on a Scandal (2006). We begin by hearing each person's reaction to watching or rewatching Notes on a Scandal. We touch on the real case that both films are based on, focused on the relationship between Matu Kay Letouneau and Vili Fualaau. We talk about the performances of Dame Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy, Juno Temple, Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton and Corey Michael Smith. We discuss our reactions, criticisms and praise for Todd Haynes' May December. We begin to explore the ways both stories deal with a fraught subject and whose perspective we focus on. Sarah and Jeremy present their own perspectives from teaching and how they navigate creating and maintaining safe spaces for teenagers. We finish by considering how this story might be told again in the future and whose perspectives need to be highlighted.

Episode 95: May December & Notes on a Scandal (featuring Doug Dillaman)

War-torn "road trips". Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Civil War (2024) and Apocalypse Now (1979). We begin by discussing the different versions of Apocalypse Now and our reaction to the different elements in each film. We shift to talk about Civil War and how the film evokes a visceral response and gets the audience thinking. We talk about the connection to Heart of Darkness, the work of Marlon Brando and the ideas present in Apocalypse Now. We commend the work of Kirsten Dunst and Jessie Plemmons in Civil War and their wider careers. We discuss the music in both films, individually and the similarities between the two. We commend the work of Martin Sheen, Robert DuVall and Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now. We finish with a conversation about the politics of both films, what they are trying to achieve and how it has been received by the public.

Episode 98: Civil War & Apocalypse Now

Looking back at 100 months. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the last 100 months of Cinema in Context. We reminisce on the beginnings of the podcast, referencing the many people who have contributed along the way. We discuss our top films of the 'new' films we've focused on since 2016. The films we discuss include Thor: Ragnarok (2017) from Episode 20, Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) from Episode 29, Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) from Episode 74, The Salesman (2016) from Episode 13, Parasite (2019) from Episode 42, Turning Red (2022) from Episode 73, Upgrade (2018) from Episode 33, Cats (2019) from Episode 48 and 57, Encanto (2021) from Episode 70, A Quiet Place (2018) from Episode 25, A Star is Born (2018) from Episode 31 and Tenet (2020) from Episode 54. We wrap up our discussion by looking back at the discoveries we have made in our back catalogue selections over the past eight years, our favourite pairings for different episodes and reflecting on the overall positiveness of the experience we have making this podcast.

100 Episodes of Cinema in Context

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.

Episode 102: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice & Candyman

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.

Episode 105: Highlights of 2024

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). 

Episode 106: The Paddington Trilogy

Week-long liaisons. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss two films about a young sex worker asked to be a date for a week: Anora (2024) and Pretty Woman (1990). We discuss our initial experiences watching the Gary Marshall's Pretty Woman. We praise the film's creation of tropes, archetypes and memorable movie moments. We celebrate the performances, especially Julia Roberts. We talk about the types of romantic comedies like Pretty Woman that made up a lot of our movies back in the 1990s and early 2000s. We shift our discussion to Anora and gush over the quality of the film. We talk about the comedy elements of the film, the improvisation, the production design, makeup, costume design and the prowess of director Sean Baker. We praise the performance of Mikey Madison as Anora and also Yura Borisov as Igor, both up for acting Oscars. We finish our conversation by looking at connections between the two films. 

Episode 107: Anora & Pretty Woman

Artificially Intelligent girlfriends. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Companion (2025) and Her (2013). Both films have director-writers in Drew Hancock and Spike Jonze, respectively. We start by discussing the vision of the future Her presents and how much has come to pass - 'prescient' is the word we all describe the film as. We celebrate a number of elements of Her that we enjoy. The conversation then moves to a discussion of Companion and how we found the film not as complex as Her. We discuss the films in connection to Lost In Translation (2003), Barbarian (2022), Ex Machina (2014), M3GAN (2022), Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), Beau Is Afraid (2023), Heretic (2024), The White Lotus (2021-) and Yellowjackets (2021-). We praise the performances of Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. We end with a discussion about real-world AI today and how the films connect to matters at hand. 

Episode 108: Companion & Her

Pamela Anderson starring films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Last Showgirl (2024) and Barb Wire (1996). We begin by discussing Barb Wire and showering it with praise (excuse the pun). We celebrate the 90s-ness of the film. We talk about all the homages and connections we noticed in Barb Wire, including  Casablanca (1942), Batman Forever (1995), Alien 3 (1992), Mad Max (1979), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Candyman (1992), Strange Days (1995), and Total Recall (1990). We praise the cast, including Xander Berkeley, Udo Kier and Temuera Morrison. We discuss the production values of Barb Wire, including the visual effects, action, cinematography and other production values. Our conversation explores the criticism of Barb Wire and how the tastes of audiences shifted over the 90s, making connections to Waterworld (1995), Cutthroat Island (1995), Hook (1991) and Charlie's Angels (2000). We move our discussion to The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola. We talk about the strength of the performances from Pamela Anderson, Brenda Song, Dave Bautista, Billie Lourd and Jamie Lee Curtis. We unpack the script, the tone, the direction and the ultimate aim of the film, with differing reactions from Sarah, William and Jeremy.

Episode 109: The Last Showgirl & Barb Wire

The Final Destination saga. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) and the original Final Destination (2000), as well as the sequels in between: Final Destination 2 (2003), Final Destination 3 (2006), The Final Destination (2009) and Final Destination 5 (2011). We begin by discussing the Health and Safety elements of the films, especially the 'Public Service Announcement' lurking under the surface of the majority of the grisly deaths in the series. Jeremy, Sarah, and William each reminisce about their experiences watching the films. We talk about the process that recent series directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein went through to land the job of the latest film. We celebrate our positive reactions to various moments from across the series, especially the fifth film. We honour the work of Tony Todd and the connections to Candyman (1992) in the series. We talk about the nebulous role of Death as a villain and the logic of the premonitions in each film. Jeremy and William talk through their top kills from the series. We discuss Ali Larter's character, Clear Rivers, the genesis of the original film as a television episode, the range of quality in the acting and the development of the audience's expectations over time. 

Episode 110: Final Destination: Bloodlines & Final Destination

Zombie films, the first and latest. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss 28 Years Later (2025) and Night of the Living Dead (1968). Our conversation begins with confusion as we realise some podcast hosts were under the impression we were focusing on 28 Days Later (2002). We compare the cinematography of Anthony Dod Mantle in both 28 Years Later and 28 Days Later. We discuss the merits of 28 Years Later, including the performances, storytelling, pacing and narrative left turns. We get into a awkward and sinister inclusion of Jimmy Savile lookalikes in the film and the divisive ending. Our conversation moves to Night of the Living Dead and discussing our experiences watching the film, as well as Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), Land of the Dead (2005), Diary of the Dead (2007), and Survival of the Dead (2009). We praise the performance of Duane Jones and allude to the representation politics of Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, casting a man of colour in both lead roles. We discuss the breadth of the genre and how zombie films have developed over time. 

Episode 111: 28 Years Later & Night of the Living Dead

1978 and 2025. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Superman (1978) and Superman (2025). Our conversation begins with our reactions to 1978's Superman, directed by Richard Donner, with most of the podcast watching the film for the first time in preparation for the podcast recording. We talk about the score from John Williams and how it connects to his other great scores from the 1970s and 80s. We praise the merits of the original film, especially Christopher Reeve as Superman and Clark Kent. We discuss the merits of 2025's Superman, directed by Jason Gunn, beginning by praising the chemistry between David Corenswet's Superman and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane. We talk about the connections between the film and the wider DC Universe films, as well as comparisons to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Episode 112: Superman & Superman

Zach Cregger films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Weapons (2025) and Barbarian (2022). Our conversation begins with our experiences watching Barbarian for the first time and it quickly weaves into our reactions to watching Zach Cregger's latest film Barbarian. We make connections between the films and with Heretic (2024), Longlegs (2024), The Shining (1980), Carnivàle (2003-2005), Magnolia (1999), Prisoners (2013), and No Country For Old Men (2007). We praise the work of Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård and Justin Long in Barbarian, and Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Benadict Wong, Alden Ehrenreich, Toby Huss and Amy Madigan in Weapons. 

Episode 113: Weapons & Barbarian

Girl power demon slayers. Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss KPop Demon Hunters (2025) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992). William and Jeremy also watched the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) television series episode "Hush" (Season 4, Episode 10), as well as reference "Doppelgangland" (Season 3, Episode 16) and the musical episode "Once More With Feeling" (Season 6, Episode 7). The conversation begins by discussing connections to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe, with William's first foray into the world in preparation for this episode and Jeremy's fandom being put to the test by watching the film for the first time. Both are critical in their experience of watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film. Discussion moves to KPop Demon Hunters and highlight how it is a film of its time, hitting a nerve with the public and confidently stepping into the combined cultural consciousness. The conversation moves into a comparison between the work that Sony is doing with animated films and Disney Animation Studios. 

Episode 114: KPop Demon Hunters & Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Paul Thomas Anderson films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss One Battle After Another (2025) and Punch Drunk Love (2002), both directed by PTA. Out conversation begins by comparing the villains in both films, played by Sean Penn and Philip Seymour Hoffman, respectively. We talk about the confident performances of Adam Sandler and Emily Watson in Punch Drunk Love. We praise the work of Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another and discuss our other highlights from the film. We also praise the performances of Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor. We make connections to the films Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Children of Men, Heat and The Dark Knight; the work of David Lynch, The Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino and Spike Jonze; and the Western genre.

Episode 115: One Battle After Another & Punch Drunk Love

1987 and 2025 versions of The Runninng Man. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Running Man (2025) and The Running Man (1987), adaptations of the Richard Bachman aka Stephen King novel of the same name. We begin with our initial reactions to the new film, recorded immediately after watching the preview screening together. The conversation moves to the original adaptation from 1987 - we generally praise the fun-factor in the film. We move between the two films and consider the strengths and weaknesses, linking back to the Stephen King novel throughout.

Episode 116: The Running Man & The Running Man

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, classic revisted, best television and best films of 2025.

Here are the films and television shows we discussed: 
• Biggest surprise of the year: Ne Zha 2 (William); The Last Showgirl (Sarah); Final Destination: Bloodlines (Jeremy)
 Biggest disappointment of the year: After the Hunt (Sarah); Sinners (William) - with disappointed shout outs to Den of Thieves: Pantera and The Accountant 2; The Brutalist (Jeremy)
• Classic revisited: Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) [Jeremy] - with a shout out to All That Jazz (1979); Tron (1982) and The Little Mermaid (1989) [William]; Scarface (1983) [Sarah] - with shout outs to Pretty Woman (1990) and Final Destination (2000)
• Best television: The Pitt, Season 1 (Sarah); Andor, Season 2 (William); The White Lotus, Season 3 (Jeremy) - with shout outs to The Celebrity Traitors, The Gilded Age, Severance, Squid Games, Stranger Things, Heated Rivalry, Boots and Pluribus
• Runner-ups to the film of the year: Frankenstein, The House Within and Conclave (Sarah); 28 Years Later, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Anora (William); Final Destination: Bloodlines and Anora (Jeremy)
• Best film of the year: 28 Years Later (Sarah); F1: The Movie (William); One Battle After Another (Jeremy)

Episode 117: Highlights of 2025

William Chen, Jeremy Downing, Max Tarrant and Sarah Watt discuss the films Zootopia (2016) and The Lion King (1994). Both films were produced by Disney Animation Studios and deal with anthropomorphic characters. The discussion touches on the technology behind “world building” and animation, the history of Disney, story structure expectations, the trend of musical animation, the “milk toast” hero archetype, the urban landscape of modern animation cinema and the motivation of villains.

Episode 2: Zootopia & The Lion King

A Song of Ice and Fire. Special guests Sarah Cullen, Jeremy Foster, Katy Roose, Phoebe Shum and Rewa Worley join Jeremy Downing and William Chen to discuss the HBO television series Game of Thrones. We start by focusing on whether people were satisfied or dissatisfied  by the series finale and unpacking why. We then move into discussing specific character arcs, starting with a general discussion of Daenerys Targaryen and whether the creators succeeded with her arc or it was a fail. We then present our favourite character arcs, starting with Sansa Stark, then moving through to Podrick Payne, Arya Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Samwell Tarly, Jon Stark, Brienne of Tarth, Jaime Lannister, Theon Greyjoy, with a quick dig at Euron Greyjoy, finishing with a discussion about Davos Seaworth. We end by quickly going through our biggest shock or win moments, starting with Jon killing Daenerys, the death of Lady Mormont, Jon parrying the white walker's sword attack at Hardhome, Bron shooting the fire arrow into the ship of wildfire in Blackwater Bay, Cersei destroying the Sept of Baelor, the battle between Oberyn Martell and The Mountain, the death of Catelyn Stark, the fight between Brienne and The Hound, and a special shout out to Arya killing all of the Freys.

Episode 38: Game of Thrones (with special guests)

Streaming options during our Covid-19 crisis. Sarah Watt, William Chen and Jeremy Downing discuss films that you can watch while stuck at home, during the Covid-19 lockdowns occurring around the world. We have split our discussion into five categories:

Film for the family:
William: How to Train Your Dragon (2010, Netflix)
Sarah: The Adventures of TinTin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011, Netflix)
Jeremy: Hairspray (2007, Netflix)

Classic to rewatch:
Sarah: Sense and Sensibility (1995, Netflix)
Jeremy: Beetlejuice (1988, Netflix)
William: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003, Netflix)

Something new:
Jeremy: Russian Doll (2019, Netflix)
William: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020, Amazon Prime Video)
Sarah: The Occupant (2020, Netflix)

Something a bit off the wall:
Sarah: Eye in the Sky (2015, Netflix)
Jeremy: Mulholland Drive (2001, Netflix)
William: Cats (2019, Lightbox)

Go to happy film:
Jeremy: The Castle (1997, Lightbox)
Sarah: Game Night (2018, Netflix)
William: Community (2009-2015, Amazon Prime Video)

Episode 48: Films to Stream on Lockdown

Chase action films. Sarah Watt, William Chen and Jeremy Downing discuss the Netflix film Extraction and 2002 film The Bourne Identity. We begin by pulling Extraction apart, highlight many of its floors. We highlight the brilliant photography, production design and direction of the film, and spent time celebrating the action and stunt choreography. We compare the long shot in Extraction to Children of Men and Atomic Blonde. We talk about the classic qualities of The Bourne Identity, and how the series developed through Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum, Bourne: Legacy and Jason Bourne.

Episode 50: Extraction and The Bourne Identity

Treasure hunts in war. Billy Revell-Siō, William Chen and Jeremy Downing discuss the Netflix film Da 5 Bloods and 1999 film Three Kings. We begin by unpacking Da 5 Bloods, and how it doesn't work on a whole, but highlighting the areas that it does do well. We then talk about Three Kings and the commentary it is trying to achieve, the experimentation with film techniques and how well those elements have aged. We talk about the films' ability to be ironic and build commentary around American military involvement in other countries. We then discuss the cast of Three Kings, including Cliff Curtis, Spike Jonze, Said Taghmaoui, Judy Greer and Jamie Kennedy, alongside the leads of Mark "Marky Mark" Wahlberg, Ice Cube and George Clooney. We discuss the experimentation with film indicative of the late 1990s and early 2000s, including Ocean's Eleven, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Run Lola Run and The Matrix. We finish with a discussion around how the cinema medium has changed and is changing, with the rise of Netflix and other streaming platforms and the disruption of Covid-19.

Episode 51: Da 5 Bloods and Three Kings (featuring Billy Revell-Siō)

Obsessive game competition documentaries. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the Netflix+ distributed The Speed Cubers and The King of Kong (2007). We begin by discussing the despicable qualities of the people featured in The King of Kong, particularly Billy Mitchell, and the under-dog qualities of Steve Wiebe. We then talk about the filmmaking and crafting of The King of Kong, particularly the areas where artistic license has been taken, and highlighting the characters of Brian Kuh and Steve Sanders. We move the conversation into The Speed Cubers, highlighting the difference in spirit between the two films, with the more recent film being far kinder than the harsher older film - connecting to our previous episode on Catfish and Tickled. We unpack the focus of the film The Speed Cubers, especially around its lack of focus on speed cubing competitions, with a focus on the relationship between Max and Feliks. We then discuss the films in comparison to other documentary films and documentary series, such as Spellbound, Wordplay, Double Dare, Jesus Camp, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Capturing the Friedmans, Three Identical Strangers, The Wolfpack, The Act of Killing, The Last Dance, Samsara and Koyaanisqatsi, particularly in structure and crafting, genre and place within the wider documentary film landscape, and the change in distribution style, between classic cinema release and Netflix. Our conversation then moves to the films' focus on the autism spectrum, discussing Max Park, the potential of Steve Wiebe being on the spectrum, with further connections to the Netflix docu-series Love on the Spectrum. We finish our conversation by considering both films as commentary on modern times, particularly each film representing two different philosophies around how to perceive of the world, with The King of Kong being a potential allegory for America's journey over the past decade, with The Speed Cubers being a story of friendship, community and hope for young people, regardless of nationality.

Episode 53: The Speed Cubers and The King of Kong

Aaron Sorkin scripts. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Social Network (2010) and The Trial of Chicago 7 (2020). We start by speaking about the real-world impact of the real-life stories of both films, especially Facebook and how its impact has changed over time. Our conversation then moves into the work of Aaron Sorkin, highlighting his work on The West Wing, A Few Good Men and Molly's Game. We talk about the strengths and weaknesses of The Trial of the Chicago 7, especially the brilliance of the cast and script, but the misfires around the direction, pace and tone of the film. We then  move onto a more focused discussion of The Social Network, praising the cast in this film as well and the music of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

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