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POFCRIT Podcast 2024: James Thompson on Under The Silver Lake (David Robert Mitchell, 2018)

James Thompson on UNDER THE SILVER LAKE: Unpacking the mysteries of this dream-like neo-noir, the podcast takes a look at the film’s many potential meanings and messages, as well as its wide array of influences and homages from classical Hollywood. From subliminal messages in the media, to mythical murderers, to secret underground bunkers or to cults of the ultra-rich, this episode explores all…

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The Gus VAn SAnt Podcast No. 6 :Michael J. Glass on Good Will Hunting (1997)

Michael J. Glass joins me for a discussion of Gus Van Sant’s GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997), a blockbuster success in its day; a film that won Robin Williams an Oscar, made stars of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and left a big cultural imprint. It’s since been much parodied (in COMMUNITY, THE SIMPSONS, all over youtube) and a dominant critical perspective is slightly sniffy on the film: filmmaking by…

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Some observations on The Day of the Jackal (Fred Zinemman, 1973)

I don’t remember hearing of THE DAY OF THE JACKAL(Fred Zinemman, 1973) spoken of in relation to gay representation but here is the sauna pick-up scene, repeated in the current tv version to close the latest episode, but here filmed more discreetly so that viewers who don’t want to know don’t need to notice. The use of real locations is also an enormous pleasure. See below the British Library at…

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POFCRIT PODCAST 2024: Jake Diamond on I Am Legend (Francis Lawrence, 2007)

In this podcast we will discuss the often-overlooked 2007 adaptation of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend. Following Will Smith’s rendition of Dr Robert Neville, a virologist and last man on earth, it focuses on the psychological deterioration and complex need for coping mechanisms one would face when confronted with complete existentialism. We will discuss the difficulties of adaptation and where…

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POFCRIT PODCAST 2024: Lily Stripe on Blue Lagoon (Randal Klaiser, 1980)

In this podcast we discuss the 1980 Randal Kleiser film, The Blue Lagoon. It tells a coming-of-age story of two children shipwrecked on a tropical island, as they grow and develop into teenagers, and discover both themselves and the island. With beautiful sweeping landscapes and gorgeous young stars, it has all the attractions of a Hollywood film. However, its narrative is even more intriguing,…

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POFCRIT PODCAST 2024 -- Yu Hua on Fallen Angels (Won Kar Wai, 1995)

In this episode, we dive into Fallen Angels, one of Wong Kar Wai’s most visually stunning and emotionally layered films. Known for his distinct cinematic style, Wong blends fragmented storytelling with poetic visuals to explore themes of loneliness, alienation, and disconnection in Hong Kong’s urban landscape. The film’s fragmented narrative is complemented by Wong’s trademark use of disorienting…

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The Gus Van Sant Podcast 5: Richard Drew on TO DIE FOR (1995)

I very much wanted to speak to the wonderful Richard Drew about TO DIE FOR (Gus Van Sant, 1995). Richard has a degree in Film and Literature so knows something about film, yet unusually for the guests on this podcast, he is not a Gus Van Sant fan. More importantly, Richard is a television producer, now based in Los Angeles, but who got his start on the ground floor of Reality TV in England and…

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POFCRIT Podcast 2024: Ying Qi on Tangled (Nathan Greno, Byron Howard; 2011)

”In this episode, I’m diving into the world of Disney’s Tangled and exploring how it redefined what it means to be a princess, and the stereotypes that revolve around it. I’ll be talking about Rapunzel’s incredible agency, her journey from the tower to the floating lights, and how she takes charge of her own story—a big leap from traditional princess roles. I also delve into the music that makes…

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The Podcast May be listened to here: The podcast may also be listened to on: Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2zWZ7Egdy6xPCwHPHlOOaT and on itunes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/first-impressions-thinking-aloud-about-film/id1548559546 Eva de Matos

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The Gus Van Sant Podcast No. 4: Lisa Purse on Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)

Lisa Purse on EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES (Gus Van Sant, 1993) I was truly delighted when Lisa Purse agreed to talk to me about EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES. Lisa is a Professor of Film Studies at Reading University, one of the most brilliant scholars on action movies, and a nuanced thinker on questions of mediations, conflicts, identities. I wanted to have her on the podcast because I thought she…

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POFCRIT PODCAST 2024: Meg Tebbut on Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (Sam Raimi, 2022)

This podcast delves into Sam Raimi’s return to Superhero Cinema: Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’.  Combining the classic horror elements of Raimi’s 1981 cult favourite ‘The Evil Dead’ with his more modern Spiderman trilogy offering, this Marvel film follows Doctor Strange in his second solo movie as Strange tries to prevent the multiverse-shattering dark magic created by…

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POFCRIT Podcast 2024: Fiola Odusote on EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan, 2022)

The POFCRIT Podcast 2024 returns with Fiola Odusote on EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan, 2022) . The action-filled dramedy follows a high-strung Chinese woman called Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) who owns a struggling laundromat. When Evelyn is tasked with saving the multiverse she is quick to answer the call, not knowing the journey she’s about to embark on will cause…

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POFCRIT PODCAST 2024: Rowan Abbott on EO (Jerzy Skolimowski, 2022)

In this podcast, we talk about the 2022 Jerzy Skolimowski film, EO. The film is a sweeping picaresque narrative following the tumultuous life of a former circus donkey named EO, who is set free into rural Poland, a place that can’t seem to decide what purpose a donkey still has for humans. This wholly unique film is a landmark in animal representation on screen, being one of the most successful…

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On the Giornate del Cinema Muto 43 Pordenone Silent Film Festival

Richard and I were unable to attend the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in person this year. Luckily for us, they provided an online daily programme for the duration of the festival. In the podcast we discuss each of the main daily selections,  the various thematic strands, what was available to us and what we missed. The podcast may be listened to here: The podcast may also be listened to on:…

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POFCRIT PODCAST 2024: JACK HULBERT ON THE BATMAN (MATT REEVES, 2022)

The most recent entry in the 58 year long canon of Batman films, Matt Reeves’ 2022 film, The Batman, represents a stark departure from every iteration before it. It takes the core aspects of Batman, its characters and its world, and presents them as grimmer; more beaten down. It warps the franchise’s trend towards realism into a gothic, brooding, detective noir. This episode delves into the…

[notesonfilm1]

POFCRIT PODCAST 2024: JACK HULBERT ON THE BATMAN (MATT REEVES, 2022)

The most recent entry in the 58 year long canon of Batman films, Matt Reeves’ 2022 film, The Batman, represents a stark departure from every iteration before it. It takes the core aspects of Batman, its characters and its world, and presents them as grimmer; more beaten down. It warps the franchise’s trend towards realism into a gothic, brooding, detective noir. This episode delves into the…

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The Gus Van Sant Podcast 5A: To Die For (1995)