Flixwise Podcast

On today's show, we have the 59th movie on the Sight and Sound International Critics' Poll: Barry Lyndon. Speaking of Sight and Sound, today's guest is a freelance critic for that esteemed film journal, as well as the social media maven for Film4, Michael Leader. Michael joins host Lady P and Flixwise regular Kristen Sales to discuss Stanley Kubrick's overlooked masterpiece. Barry Lyndon has historically been dogged by a kind of middle child syndrome. It has neither the technical marvel of 2001: A Space Odyssey ('68), nor the crowd-pleasing sexuality and violence ofA Clockwork Orange ('71)  or The Shining ('80). Nevertheless, our panelists believe Barry Lyndon to be among Kubrick's shining achievements. They talk about why the film is such a success, and why it's taken so long for it to be properly recognized as one of the greats. Plus, they talk about Ryan O'Neal, his eventual fall from grace (Warning - don't click this link if ever hope to take Mr. O'Neal seriously again), and, of course, they touch on the

On today's show, we have our first Flixwise Favorites entry of 2017. This time, guest Joshua Wilson, of the film blog F for Films, asks Lady P and Martin to consider Blake Edwards' 1964 farce, A Shot in the Dark, for entry into our alternate greatest of all time list. Those keeping track of our journey through the Sight and Sound Critics' Poll are familiar with Lady P's griping about the lack of comedies featured in the cinema canon. But listen up to hear if she and Martin think this Pink Panther sequel is worthy of being named among the all-time-best. Fair Warning: A Shot in the Dark features George Sanders aka the greatest actor who's ever inhabited this sweet cesspool. Therefore Lady P can make no claim of objectivity or even rationality. She can, however, promise honesty and a terrible French accent.

On today's show, Lady P is joined by the woman who penned one of the greatest movies of the decade: Carol (2015). The funny and brilliant Phyllis Nagy is here to talk about adapting Carol's screenplay from Patricia Highsmith's original source material and the lengthy, and at times frustrating, process of getting the film into production. They chat about Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara's rendering of the two lead characters, as well as the standout performance from supporting players, Sarah Paulson and Kyle Chandler. Plus, Phyllis offers a scoop on what happened to a few scenes from the book that didn't make the final cut of the film. Longtime listeners are by this point well aware of Lady P's total adoration of things Carol. Listen up to see if she manages to keep her composure throughout the entire interview. In addition to filling us in on details from behind-the-scenes of Carol, Phyllis is also here to discuss a pair of standout performances by the incomparable French actress, Isabelle Huppert. This year Hu

We are honored to welcome film historian, Professor James Naremore, back to the show for a discussion on Orson Welles' 1958 film noir classic Touch of Evil. Orson Welles is a frequent topic of conversion on this podcast. We've had several Welles scholars make appearances, including Joseph McBride and Patrick McGilligan, as well as today's guest, Professor Naremore, who has made reference to his Welles critical study: The Magic World of Orson Welles on several previous occasions. Clearly, we at Flixwise will take any excuse to expound on our favorite cinematic wunderkind, but believe it or not, Touch of Evil is only the second Welles film on the Sight and Sound International Critics Poll. Needless to say, we are thrilled to finally have another Welles Sight and Sound entry to mull over. Lady P and Naremore delve into Welles stylistic choices, and how they differ from some of Welles' previous Hollywood pictures. They talk about the terrific performances from both the lead actors and the supporting players, and

It's official. Flixwise co-producer Martin Kessler has signed his soul over to the dark lord Black Phillip, and decided to starts a new podcast - Flixwise: Canada. Seeing as how Martin is the world's nicest human, this obvious betrayal of Flixwise founder, Lady P, can only be the work of the Devil. But before you go calling your local exorcist, just know that Lady P is also on good terms with Satan and is totally onboard this new venture. These new Martin hosted-episodes will focus on topics outside of Flixwise's usual purview. Don't worry, we're still going to have our normal Sight and Sound coverage, as well as plenty of Flixwise Favorites entries and special episodes. Except now we'll also have episodes focusing exclusively on topics Martin wants to cover. Like for instance, on today's show, Martin's discussing Robert Eggers' 2016 debut feature, The Witch, with Bay Area English Professor, Burton Fisher. Listeners will recall that The Witch was one of Martin's favorite films of 2016. Here he gets a chance t

Our 2016 wrap-up continues with a special bonus episode on the best television shows of the year. Lady P is joined once again by Martin Kessler, Kristen Sales, and special call-in guest Marya E. Gates, to discuss their top 5 television shows and moments that stood out among the din. They cover the good (the CW and FX rocked it last year), the bad (The Cleveland baseball team is called WHAT?!), the strange (Atlanta - the Twin Peaks of the south!), and the all-too-familiar (Stranger Things). Let us know if we missed anything.

It's our annual year in review show! Lady P is joined by Anne Marie Kelly, Martin Kessler, and Kristen Sales (with a special call-in segment from our pal Marya E. Gates) to talk about the best movies of 2016.  Each panelist runs through their Top 5 favorite films of the year. Plus, they highlight notable performances and delight in ripping into movies that didn't quite meet their expectations (or in the case of The Handmaiden, met their expectations exactly). Finally, they close things out with a brief remembrance of beloved pop culture icons Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, and offer a few halting reasons to be optimistic for the coming year. 

Since this our last episode of 2016, we felt it appropriate to mark the occasion with a pair of discussions about "changing times." First up, Lady P welcomes blogger, David Eves, and Flixwise co-producer, Martin Kessler, to talk about today's Sight and Sound entry, Luchino Visconti's 1963 epic period drama, The Leopard. The film is about an aging Sicilian prince, played by Burt Lancaster, who attempts to stoke the flickering remnants of his family heritage and societal standing as the old world aristocracy crumbles around him. At number 57, The Leopard stands as Visconti's most highly ranked film on the "Greatest of all Time" list. It is largely heralded for its lavish production design, its sweeping themes of love and family strife, and the towering central performance from Lancaster. The panel deliberates on how well the central themes of the film still resonate in our current political climate. Then, the gang jumps into a discussion on movies about intergenerational conflict (i.e., they'll take any excuse

Yesterday (December 5th, 2016) was the 126th birthday of German director turned Hollywood Auteur, Fritz Lang. Today, we honor the legendary filmmaker with a discussion of his 1931 classic, M. Host, Lady P, is joined by co-producer, Martin Kessler, and Flixwise regular, Carrie Specht, to talk about Lang's disturbingly prescient tale about the dangers of mob rule and police overreach. The panel talks about how well the message of the film holds up to contemporary audiences, and whether or not it is worthy of the 56th spot on the Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time List. Then, in honor of Peter Lorre's Hans Beckert character, the panel delves in to a discussion about sympathetic villains. They talk about the ways in which a sympathetic villain differs from a charismatic villain, or an anti-hero. Plus, each panelist gives their Top 5 examples of the type.

We recorded this episode several weeks ago, but given the results of last Tuesday's election it could not be more prescient. Martin Kessler and Marcus Pinn join Lady P to talk Melvin Van Peebles 1967 debut feature The Story of a Three-Day Pass. Directed by an African-American with the style and panache of a French New Wave film, it perfectly encapsulates the essence of 1960s Parisian chic. It tells the story of an African-American soldier on leave for a few days in Paris. He tours the city by himself feeling lonely and out-of-place, that is, until he has a chance encounter with a young French woman who has came to spend the weekend with him. The pair fall head over heels for each other, but quickly find that love does not conquer all. This episode directly addresses issues that society continually grapples with - namely the role of casual and systemic racism in contemporary culture. If we were to do this episode again today, the tenor of our discussion would likely be very different. However, the subjects and

Apologies to Mr. Scorsese and Mr. De Niro, but we at Flixwise think the true star of the 53rd movie on the Sight and Sound list, Raging Bull (1980), is editor extraordinaire Thelma Schoonmaker. Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese are often thought of as the quintessential actor/director tag-team. From Mean Streets through Casino the pair have amassed an impressive collection of great studies in toxic masculinity, perhaps none more noxious than today's first topic, Raging Bull. It's true that Raging Bull remains a terrific showcase for Scorsese's visual flourishes and De Niro's Capital-A Acting, and it's clear that this pair of heavyweights shared a strong conviction that the story of boxer Jake LaMotta needed to be brought to the screen. That said, today's panelists -  Lady P, Martin Kessler, and Marya E. Gates - spend a good deal of today's episode explaining why they think the woman stringing the story together is the true champion of this production. For the second topic, the panel discusses other famous ac

We are extremely honored to welcome back to the show renowned author and film historian, James Naremore.  He's joining Lady P in covering two of the films tied for the 53rd spot on the Sight and Sound Critics Poll - both of which happen to be directed by Alfred Hitchcock. First up in our Hitch 'Double Feature', the Master of Suspense's 1954 thriller, Rear Window. If you've been following our show for a while, you know that both James and Lady P adore Rear Window co-star, Thelma Ritter. You'll recall that they expounded on her virtues at length in the Journey to Italy episode. If that episode was any indication, expect the Thelma Ritter hour, with a smattering of other details about Jimmy Stewart and the Masculine Gaze thrown in for good measure. Then, for the second feature, they go on a high stakes jaunt around the Eastern United States, with an in-depth analysis of Hitchcock's 1959 feature, North by Northwest. They talk about how a film with a plot  so nonsensical can possibly be considered one of the great

We've reached the final entry in our first Bette Davis series (first of many if Lady P has anything to say about it). Our previous 'All About Bette' episodes covered Davis' turns in All About Eve (1950) and The Little Foxes (1941). Rounding out this glorious trifecta is the sister act that would come to define the latter, post-Studio System, half of Bette's career: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).  Largely due to the infamous feud between the film's two larger than life stars, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, Baby Jane is now primarily remembered as a campy novelty film. We at Flixwise are certainly no strangers to the art of playful exaggeration (See our Johnny Guitar episode). However, in the case of Baby Jane, we want to make sure that film's reputation as drag queen fodder, hasn't overshadowed the abject terror and sadness at the heart of the story. We also want to highlight the film's great formal achievements. Director/referee Robert Aldrich does a masterful job creating a sense of claustrophobia

We have officially made it through the Top 50 of the Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time list! Let's all pat ourselveson the back and celebrate a job partially done. In all seriousness, this a proud moment for our show and we're excited to mark the occasion. Let us continue our commemoration of getting a 5th of the way through this seemingly endless list by raising a glass to one of Hollywood's most enduring and tenacious screen icons, Bette Davis. Today's show is the second in our three-part Bette Davis marathon: All About Bette. In our first entry, we discussed Davis's career-defining turn in Joseph Mankiewicz's All About Eve (1950). This time we're tackling a less-widely seen Davis film, the 1941 adaptation of  Lillian Hellman's play,The Little Foxes (1941).  Lady P is joined once again by Kristen Sales and Anne Marie Kelly to talk about why The Little Foxes deserves greater recognition among Bette's filmography. Talking points include Davis's relationship with the film's director, William Wyler, an

Ladies and gentleman, Flixwise has officially completed its review of the Top 50 Sight and Sound's Greatest Films of All Time. It's been a long time coming and we can think of no better way to mark the occasion than by having a Bette Davis podcast marathon... because every occasion should be cause to celebrate the fiercest queen in Hollywood history.  Curiously, there weren't any Bette Davis movies on the Top 50 list. And curiouser still, there doesn't appear to be any Davis in the remaining 200. Fortunately, the Flixwise gang is here to correct this egregious error. On today's show, we're kicking of our 'All About Bette' series with the film that many consider the pinnacle of her acting career: All About Eve (1950). Flixwise regular, Kristen Sales, tells listeners why she thinks All About Eve is one of the greatest films of all time. She'll have to convince host, Lady P, and fellow regular, Anne Marie Kelly, that Joseph Mankiewicz's celebration of "the theataar" and all of its backstage bickering is worthy o

On today's show, we're rounding out the Sight and Sound Top 50 with Kenji Mizoguchi's ghost story, Ugetsu Monogatari ('53). Notable for both its stunning long takes and its condemnation of the oppressive patriarchal values of Feudal Japan, Ugetsu has become the quintessential Mizoguchi text. Flixwise co-producer, Martin Kessler, and Eclipse Viewer host, David Blakeslee, join Lady P to discuss why they think Ugetsu's haunting tale of the destructive power of masculine pride managed to surpass both Sansho the Bailiff and Life of Oharu to become the highest ranking Mizoguchi film on the Sight and Sound list. For the second topic, the gang talks cinema's greatest ghost stories. The panelist surmise that part of Ugetsu's enduring popularity is its supernatural element. That said, not all movie specters are as haunting as Machiko Kyo's Lady Wakasa. The panel talks about what kinds of ghosts make for effective cinematic renderings (and they try to figure out why movie ghosts have a thing for pottery). Then each pane

At long last we've finally come to a Charlie Chaplin entry on the Sight and Sound Greatest of All Time list. Landing square on the 50th spot is Chaplin's 1931 feature, City Lights. Biographer, screenwriter, and film historian Professor Joseph McBride joins Lady P to talk about the legendary director and the enduring appeal of his silent comedies. They review the history of Chaplin as comedic actor and explain how he developed his infamous Tramp character. Along the way, they discuss City Lights' painstaking and costly production process, and Chaplin's insistence on maintaining complete control over every step in the film making process.

On today's show, Lady P is joined by Martin Kessler, Marcus Pinn, and Flixwise newcomer Lisi Tribble Russell. Lisi is on hand talk about the work of her late-husband, Ken Russell - the acclaimed British director behind such classics as Tommy and Women in Love. Lisi shares the story of her and Ken's longtime-friendship and eventual courtship, and describes what it was like to live and work with one her favorite directors.  In addition to those biographical details, the panel also digs deep into selects from Ken Russell's enormous and diverse body of work. They describe the evolution of Russell's style and how he managed to grow and change throughout his decades-spanning career, while still maintaining his signature iconoclastic touch. But before they get to all that, there's a Sight and Sound entry to cover. At long last, we've reached the 50th film on the Greatest of All Time List, Chris Marker's La Jetee. La Jetee's narrative about a man traveling through time to save humanity from extinction has been imitat

For this episode, Flixwise art director Emma Guerard is here to discuss why she thinks Chris Noonan’s piglet-driven dramedy Babe belongs on the Flixwise Favorites list.  In order for Babe to make the prime cut, she’ll have to convince Lady P, Martin Kessler, and Marcus Pinn that there is more to Babe than Oscar-worthy special effects and cinema’s greatest all-mice a capella group.  Emma asserts the movie has a lot to say about the farm-fresh milk of human kindness, but will the panel be convinced, or send Babe out to pasture?

Today's 48th Sight and Sound entry is Jean-Luc Godard's eight-part essay-style documentary series Histoire(s) du Cinema. A film as sprawling and experimental as Histoire(s) requires both time and patience to parse. For that reason, the majority of this podcast is spent decoding Histoire(s) esoteric text. Joining host, Lady P, to translate the film is a set of panelist with wide array of strong opinions on the film - as befits a figure as polarizing as Godard. First up, in his Flixwise debut, is film critic and host of The Cinephiliacs podcast, Peter Labuza. Peter's on hand to advocate for Histoire(s), not just as a piece of superlative filmmaking, but also for its significance as one of the few non-linear works on the S&S list. Co-producer, Martin Kessler, and Flixwise regular, Kristen Sales, are a little more skeptical about some of Godard's ideas, though they both found pieces in the film's 4+ hours that they could get behind. They talk about why they found Histoire(s) both totally great and totally fru