Film Chat

For this episode we shake off the contrarian attitude we took towards Midsommar and join in with the hordes of critics lavishing praise on Céline Sciamma's period romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire. We agree with the professional chumps - it's good! Plus, Sam offers his take on the Suicide Squad spin-off Birds of Prey and the Contrabulous Fabtraption of Professor Horatio Hufnagel, which plucks Margot Robbie from the bland grimy macho nonsense of the original and puts her in the centre of some colourful sisterly nonsense instead. Sam also follows a listener recommendation and checks out Ben Wheatley's A Field In England, a low-budget oddity featuring some English Civil War deserters taking psychedelic mushrooms and facing off against a wizard. He's a bit nonplussed by it.We also give a belated thumbs up to the ex-staff of French film magazine Cahiers du Cinéma, we audibly tear up and struggle to finish our sentences discussing the current situation with Indiana Jones 5, and Danny dunks on Josh Gad.  

On this episode of Film Chat we finally review the recent Best Picture winner Parasite and answer the question everyone's been asking themselves - is this as good as Green Book?THEN Jake Hoskyns joins Sam in the Film Chat podbooth to review Armando Ianucci's latest film, The Personal History of David Copperfield? Did Armando Barnaby FUDGE this latest Dickens adaptation or was it a tale of two pretty satisfied film goers? Tune in to find out!PLUS we discuss the news that Bradley Cooper has been approached to play Barry Gibb in an upcoming Bee Gees biopics and wonder how many litres of helium he'll have to inhale in order to record the soundtrack.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nazis! Lighthouse keepers! Pagans! This episode of Film Chat has it all! FIRSTLY, Danny reviews Oscar winning "anti-hate" satire Jojo Rabbit and finds it a real kampf to think of anything positive to say about it. THEN, Danny and Sam review The Lighthouse which goes straight into their top 5 of black and white lighthouse-based films that they’ve seen this year. AND THEN, Danny and Sam reappraise the classic British Horror film The Wicker Man and decide that Oh God Oh Jesus Christ is that a great movie!PLUS we look at the news about the latest instalment in the PWHCU - The Pee Wee Herman Cinematic Universe and catch up on all the latest correspondence from our legions of fans.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this week's episode, we place the acclaimed, much-memed Uncut Gems under our critical loupe and check it for flaws. We also add to our collection of awards-season related opinions by reviewing the widely nominated historical epic 1917, in which Roger Deakins stalks a pair of young soldiers around wartorn France, refusing to cut away. And we address a listener complaint by finally reviewing last year's well-received horror Midsommar, although neither of us thought it was that great so the review might not have been worth the wait (sorry Tom).PLUS we talk about the not very good Oscar nominations.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Film Chat, Sam and Danny review the deeply misleadingly titled Little Women. Which, contrary to it's title, is about a group of regular sized sisters growing up during the civil war. Seriously the smallest one is probably round 5'2, absolute bullshit*PLUS Danny gives belated hot takes on two of the most talked about films of last year, Joker and Cats. He found one of them to be a bizarre film with full of nonsensical plotting and hammy performances and the other one was Cats!!!!AND we generally moan about the state of the British Film industry whose idea of a perfect film would be a drama about a bunch of albinos in a snowstorm reciting Churchill speechs - they're white as fuck.*The film itself is excellent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's the Film Chat Christmas Special, as we reflect on the year gone by accompanied by messages from our listeners, some seasonal sound effects, and surreptitiously munched mince pies. We offer our own top 10, or top 7 or so in Sam's case since he didn't see enough good films to fill out the list. We also dip our toe into looking back on the whole decade but Sam chickens out of that challenge entirely.Plus, of course, we review the two big holiday releases: the once-in-a-lifetime mindfuck that is Tom Hooper's Cats, and the simultaneously frantic and cautious climax to the Star Wars saga, The Rise of Skywalker.Merry Christmas everyone! It's 12 days long and we're not even at New Year yet so you must accept it's still Christmas! Listen to this episode while it's still festive! Listen now!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this belated episode of Film Chat we review 3 films, some of which may still be in cinemas!Danny saw The Nightingale, a film that taught him that colonialism is wrong through a gruelling narrative which contain multiple scenes of extreme and rape.Meanwhile Sam saw Frozen 2, a film that taught him that colonialism is wrong through a zippy narrative which contain multiple scenes of extremely catchy tunes and bright colours.Then they join forces to review franchise-killing feminazi soyboy beta cuck Rian Johnson’s latest pathetic attempt at making a film. Despite the film being completely original it somehow ruined my childhood – why are studios giving this man money?!?!?PLUS we discuss the BBC’s recent poll of the 100 best films directed by women and shake our heads at the news of an upcoming, strikingly tasteless sounding Michael Jackson stage play.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In an episode recorded some time ago - before everyone in the UK lived in Hell - we review The Irishman, the epoch-spanning gangster epic from Martin Scorsese. Marty has brought together most actors he's ever worked with and used cutting-edge effects to make them younger and older, and there is no denying that all that is fun. But is it good? That is the question with which our review wrestles.PLUS! We compare the digital fur technology of two thrilling trailers, we touch on deep fakes, and we look forward to a new Star Trek film and a Netflix prequel nobody needs.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode Danny reviews Doctor Sleep the not remotely anticipated or long awaited sequel to classic horror film The Shining which finds Ewan McGregor as a grown up Danny Torrance battling demons from his past, as well as literally battling demons from his past! Review spoiler alert- this film rules.Then he join forces with Sam to review The King, the latest attempt by Netflix to justify it's subscription fee. It's a medieval war film starring so-hot-right-now actor Timothée Chalamet as so-dead-right-now King Henry and contains a lot of mud and mumbling and cod Shakespearen dialogue. Review spoiler alert - this film sucks.Plus we discuss the new project from exciting veteran director Spike Lee and then also discuss whether every veteren director is a tired washed up hollow shell of their past selves.Enjoy!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's our 200th episode!!! We celebrate this massive landmark by acknowledging it. Otherwise this episode is just like the other ones.REVIEWED: Monos, an acclaimed, surreal arthouse film about child guerrillas that Peter Bradshaw called "deeply mad" in a five-star review. Danny condemns the film and everyone who liked it. Plus, we review The Laundromat, a star-studded Steven Soderbergh movie that broadly speaking does for the Panama Papers scandal what The Big Short did for the subprime mortgage crisis, that is tell a detail-rich story of financial corruption in a breezy, fourth-wall-breaking way that makes you feel like you're learning even if you're not. ALSO DISCUSSED: Two films for which we cannot wait: A sexy sounding drama in which Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth play a romantic couple, and Daniel Kaluuya's collaboration with toy company Mattel on a presumably-soon-to-be-Oscar-nominated Barney the Dinosaur movie.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a brief hiatus we return with reviews of four films which have become distant memories to the film going public.First up Danny reviews Chris Morris' film The Day Shall Come, an expose about the war on terror full of full of shocking revelations such as the C.I.A are racist and also corrupt but also racist.THEN Sam reviews Joker, which answers the question film fans have been asking for years namely, what if Taxi Driver but also Batman?THEN Danny reviews Hustlers, the sleeper hit which reminded everyone that Jennifer Lopez is an amazing actress and that Gigli deserves a critical reappraisal.THEN Sam reviews Ad Astra, in which Brad Pitt tries to get some space from his dad but then has to search for his dad in space.PLUS we discuss the latest Matrix movie, weigh in on the Scorsese Marvel controversy and spend far too much time discussing The Kingsman franchise.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a hiatus spent reflecting deeply on the time travel mechanics in Avengers: Endgame, we are back! We review Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a paean to Tinseltown that will make you want to build a little shrine in your home to the hardworking actors who were big on TV in the 50s but never quite made the transition to film. Bless their pure souls. Danny also gives his take on Bait, an arthouse drama about Cornish fishermen painstakingly shot on black and white 16mm. Critics love it - but what about our contrarian Film Chat host? He also thought it was good.Plus, we discuss Ben Wheatley's move into blockbuster filmmaking, we marvel at the ambition of Richard Linklater's next generation-spanning megaproject, and we hold back the gasps and sobs while ruminating on the demise of the Jeremy Renner app.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode not satisfied with his tope bag that says "nevertheless she persisted" on it and his subscription to Bust magazine, Danny takes another step to prove how much of a woke bae he is by seeing Support the Girls, the brilliant new film by Andrew Bujalski all about female solidarity and the emotional toil of work, two topics he knows nothing about.Then not satisfied with his Dario Argento boxset and his comic by Alejandro Jodorowksy, Danny takes another step to prove how cool and au fait with weird cinema he is by seeing In Fabric, the brilliant new film by Peter Strickland all about shopping and dresses, two topics he knows nothing about.and finally yesterday all our troubles seemed so far away because we hadn't seen the film Yesterday which FYI is terrible.We also find time to discuss the new mind bending film from Pixar and spend too much time sharpening our knives for the latest film in The Kingsman franchise.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's a bonafide review bonanza this week on Film Chat as we review 4 films which are so dissimilar to each other they're like four radically different peas in an unusual pod.Danny reviews High Life in which Juliette Binoche plays a crazed scientist hell-bent on harvesting Robert Pattinson's semen, in space. - It's not as fun as it sounds.Then he reviews Sunset in which a young woman tries to unlock the mystery of her past in 1913 Hungary where the country is on the verge of imploding as socio-political factors change the balance of power between the classes - bout as fun as it sounds.And then he reviews Late Night in which Mindy Kaling plays a struggling comedy writer who lands a job on a late night chat show. Not as fun as it should be.Meanwhile, Sam reviews Booksmart.Plus we discuss the new film from Mad Mikkelsen and Thomas Vinterberg and start counting down the days til the release of the recently announced animated Spice Girls movie.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode Danny reviews the highly acclaimed indie drama Thunder Road and tries to decide where it ranks in the pantheon of films that share titles with Bruce Springsteen Songs. He settled on somewhere below Badlands but far superior to Pink Cadillac.Then he joins forces with Sam to tackle Bob Burnham's debut film, the deeply affecting drama Eighth Grade which reminds us all that being 13 is a living fucking nightmare and we're all lucky to have survived it.PLUS they have an in depth chat about a proposed crossover film between the Django and Zorro franchises AND wonder whether R-Patz will make a good R-Batz...man. Robert Pattinson is playing Batman...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture" someone once said, and by a similar token there is simply no way to talk about Detective Pikachu. But Sam tries. He also informs you that the representation of dogs is much improved in the third John Wick film, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. The dog in the first film was a mere victim, in the second it's a passive companion, and in the third dogs actively bite the shit out of people to help John Wick. That's got to be progress. Danny meanwhile reviews the Colombian gangster epic Birds of Passage, from the acclaimed director of Embrace of the Serpent, which is definitely for grown-ups.We also speculate about how and indeed why Chris Rock will handle the Saw franchise, we wonder how crisp the suits will be in Lord Nolan's latest grandiose Ozymandias-like project, and we revisit an old fave, Charles Angels 2: Full Throttle.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this belated episode, we review the little indie drama Avengers: Endgame. At the time of recording it had only grossed £5, but if audiences get out there and support this overlooked gem it might gross as much as £10!PLUS we discuss the controversial Sonic the hedgehog trailer and wonder whether applying photo realistic CGI to a 2D platform game character was a great decision or the greatest decision!AND we check in with actor-turned-director-turned-Batman-turned-meme Ben Affleck and his latest plan to re-calibrate his career with a new Oscar baiting film.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's International Cowboy Boots Week, so we're reviewing two films with cowboy boots in them. The one with the most cowboy boots is Jacques Audiard's The Sisters Brothers, an off-beat, star-studded Western which features quite a few shod cowboys. The other, Wild Rose, comes up short in the cowboy boots stakes with only a single main pair and maybe some in the background later on, but it makes up for it by being a tearjerking indie drama about a young Glaswegian woman who dreams of being a country singer.On the non-cowboy-boot front, we talk about the recent Star Wars trailer, which suggests JJ Abrams is attempting a massive course correction from the previous good Star Wars film. We also discuss news of a Grease prequel, a tantalising prospect that could fill in the millions of questions about backstory we all have about Grease, and we mourn the demise of Aquaman's beard.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the words of my last six girlfriends before they swore of men forever, "We need to talk about Us".... By which I mean we will be reviewing Jordan Peele's latest politically astute horror, Us which make us go "Ahhh!" and "Hmmm!" in equal measure. By which I mean it scared us and made us think.PLUS we discuss a new mooted version of Macbeth in which Lady Mcdormand (Frances McDormand) will play Lady Macbeth AND we examine the new trailer for the upcoming Joker movie which finally answers the question film fans have been asking each other for almost 50 years, namely, "What if Taxi Driver but instead of a cabby a clown?"  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It feels like literally months since the last Marvel film came out, so Sam was absolutely champing at the bit to see the latest offering, Captain Marvel - a title which, if it wasn't referencing a property created in the 60s, would suggest the franchise had expended every single other possible superhero moniker. Danny meanwhile reviews Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story, an uplifting documentary about the maverick comedian and musician Frank Sidebottom. We also discuss who we would cast in a People's Vote movie, satirist grandee Jon Stewart's upcoming film project, and Marvel's efforts to add to their progressive credentials by announcing their first Asian lead, albeit for a film about a superhero who does kung-fu.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.