Flixwise Podcast

Today, Lady P is joined to by Anne Marie Kelly and Margaret de Larios to talk about the 2015* Academy Awards. Anne Marie and Margaret both write for The Film Experience, which specializes in movie awards coverage. That means you can trust that they've analyzed the spread, and they can tell you approximately who's going to walk away with all the awards this coming Sunday. Will it be BOYHOOD or BIRDMAN? Michael Keaton or Eddie Redmayne? Julianne Moore or... no it's definitely Moore. Have your ballots handy. They're talking predictions, snubbing (aka whitewashing), and whether or not in his 87th year, Ole Oscar is still relevant. *In the recording I call it the 2014 Oscars Special. While we are talking about films released in the 2014 calendar year, the ceremony is the 2015 Academy Awards.-Lady P  

Today, Lady P is joined by Emma Guerard and Tad Chamberlain to talk about the 24th Greatest Movie of All Time, Carl Theodor Dreyer's ORDET. The movie certainly stirred up a lot of existential angst among the panel. Lots of questions arise: What is the meaning of life? Does God exist, and If so, in what capacity? And perhaps the greatest puzzler of them all, what the hell is going on with that ending? Listen up to see if they come up with any satisfying answers. Then the panel takes part in the annual commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Valentine.  To honor his sacrifice, the trio offers up a list of cinema's greatest beheadings, along with a smattering of other "Alternative Valentine's Day" movies. There's plenty of blood spurt-age and/or gut-wrenching domestic turmoil to go around. And then there's also movies about candy, because there's never a bad time to celebrate candy.

Lady P is joined today by frequent guest, Emma Guerard, and newcomer, GuiltyFilm Podcast host Kevin McKee, to talk about the Sight and Sound Critics' Poll's 24th entry to the Greatest of All Time List: Wong Kar Wei's IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. Listen up to see if our panel is equally taken with Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chen's tale of love and longing. Then, the panelists take a cue from Mr. Chow and unburden themselves of a few shameful secrets. Unfortunately, airfare to Angkor Wat just wasn't in the budget, so the Flixwise-gang had to make due with whispering these deeply private matters into their microphones. Also, instead of recounting tales of lost love, the panelists mostly just talk about bad movies that they have an embarrassing fondness for. And to be honest, they don't even feel all that bad about it.

For our first Sight and Sound entry in the new year, Lady P is joined by film historian Professor Joseph McBride to talk about the 63rd Greatest Movie of All Time, SUNSET BOULEVARD. You may have noted that we've jumped ahead a few spots on the Critics' Poll. That's because we thought it would be nice if the podcast coincided with the BAM/PFA's Wilder retrospective, which kicks off this Thursday(1/15). Also, we just really felt like talking about SUNSET BOULEVARD. 'Nuff Said! Next we move from Wilder to Welles. Our guest, Joseph McBride, is the series consultant for the Film Forum's current Orson Welles retrospective. McBride will be speaking at Film Forum several times throughout the week, starting this Wednesday(1/14) at the TOUCH OF EVIL screening. We feel very fortunate to offer listeners a special sneak preview of the events. Today we're going on a brief tour through Welles' filmography, including stops in his pre and post-KANE work.  We talk about Welles' thematic and stylistic constants, as well as the

It's exactly what it sounds like! Today Lady P is joined by Emma Guerard and Anne Marie Kelly, to talk about the best movies, tv shows, performances, haircuts, etc. from last year. There are top 5 lists, there's Tilda Swinton fawning, there's fist-pumping (Go ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK!), there's bubble bursting (Looking at you, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY), and both grave and hopeful predictions for the year ahead.

... lock him up real tight, something something something some, laa la la la la la laaa. Alright, now that that song is blasting in a perpetual feedback loop in your brain's audio center (you're welcome!) you are probably in the mood to listen to a trio of nerds talk about Tim Burton's and Henry Selick's modern holiday classic, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. This is a special listener submission to the Flixwise Favorites. Alex Keller is on hand to make the case for why he thinks NIGHTMARE is one of the most important animated movies of all time. He must convince Lady P and her brother, Gary Lampert, that the film is more than a series of catchy tunes (...kidnap the Sandy Claws..la la la laah) and pretty images, and that it is in fact, a well rounded, fully realized, cinematic masterpiece. So join us for this fireside chat, and find out if we're feeling cheery enough to let Jack, Sally, and Co. into our Favorites list.

Yesterday, December 15th 2014, marked the 75th anniversary of the release of the Selznick adaptation of GONE WITH THE WIND; a film that is often cited as the crowning achievement of a year that's brimming with classics. For those who are mathematically challenged (No judgement here. This is movie podcast, not an algebra podcast) that year is 1939, the supposed "Greatest Year in Cinema History." And why, you ask, should anyone give a damn? Well, in this episode Lady P is once again joined by two of her favorite classic-film-aficionados, Anne Marie Kelly and Carrie Specht, to ask that very question, and to reflect on whether or not this historic 365 day period lives up to its reputation. Plus, everyone offers up their own personal favorite 1939 movie selections. But before they get into all that, there's the small matter of the next Sight and Sound entry to tackle. This time the panelist offer their analyses of the 24th Greatest Film of All Time, Akira Kurosawa's RASHOMON. Will our group of ladies find Toshiro

On today's show Lady P is joined by Gabe Haggard and The Film Experience's Anne Marie Kelly to celebrate the 84th birthday of Jean Luc Godard. To mark the occasion the panel discusses one of Godard's best remembered classics, CONTEMPT. And what do you know, CONTEMPT also happens to be the next entry on the Sight and Sound Greatest of All Time list. However, just because it's someone's special day doesn't mean the panel's gonna be any less critical of this supposed masterpiece. To do any less would be an insult to our listeners, and to cinema's favorite enfant terrible. Then it's a double-dose of self-reflexive cinema, because they follow up their CONTEMPT discussion with another film about film: Alejandro González Iñárritu's BIRDMAN.

On today's show Lady P is joined by two Gs, Gabe Haggard and Gary Lampert, to chat about a family of Original Gs. Get ready for a close dissection of one of the most powerful, and oft-parodied, portrayals of 20th century American masculinity, plus lots of very silly Marlon Brando impressions.  It's the Sight and Sound Critic's Poll's 21st Greatest Movie of All Time, Francis Ford Coppola's THE GODFATHER. Is it worthy of the 21st spot? Listen up to find out. For the second topic (which may or may not be related to the first topic), we talk about overrated movies. How does one gauge if a movie is too highly regarded, and why do cultural tides turn for or against certain films? We discuss. 

On this episode Lady P is joined by Bill Krohn, the Hollywood correspondent for the renowned film journal Cahiers Du Cinema. First up, we're paying a little tribute to Italian film star Monica Vitti, who turned 83 yesterday, with an analysis of one of her most famous works, Michelangelo Antonioni's L'AVVENTURA. L'AVVENTURA also happens to be the 21st movie on the Sight and Sound Critic's Poll. Nice how that worked out. Then the podcast sets sail for HELL'S ISLAND. Lady P and Bill chat about his collaboration with The French Cinematheque on the ongoing retrospective of the works of Phil Karlson. Karlson is best known for directing dozens of films for Monogram Pictures—the favorite American movie studio of La Nouvelle Vague. Film nerds will recall that Jean-Luc Godard dedicated his debut feature, BREATHLESS, to Monogram. Ideally, we could all head out to Paris and check out the retrospective in person, but this podcast offers a second-best option. Bill offers listeners a primer on Phil Karlson's films, and giv

All October long we at Flixwise have steadfastly refused to indulge in the ritual demonic possession that seems to come upon many of our fellow-movie bloggers around mid-September. We figured the internet would safely reach peak-monster without any help from us. And also, we're giant scaredy-cats, so in lieu of spooks and slashers, we offered up singing, dancing, and merriment in the form of a Musical Marathon. However, now that Halloween is actually upon us, we've decided to relent on the whole no haunting business. Without further ado we present our audio offering to the Lords of the Underworld (ie. Hades, Mictecacihuatl, Jack Skellington, etc.) It's the Flixwise Halloween Special! Lady P, is once again, joined by Carrie Specht and Anne Marie Kelly. The three of them each recount their stories the very first time that they were scared by a movie. Listeners best curl up with a hot cider, a roaring fire, last years trick or treat spoils, and a cozy blanket, because trust us, these tales will make your blood r

It's the last leg of our Musical Marathon! Here at Flixwise we believe that no foray into the world of song and dance is complete without a stop in Fred and Ginger territory. So before we make our exit, we're bringing you our analysis of George Stevens' 1936 feature, SWING TIME. The founder and editor of ClassicFilmFan.com, Carrie Specht, is on hand to present the film for the Flixwise Favorites List. Listen up to see if she can convince Anne Marie Kelly, and your host, Lady P, that SWING TIME is indeed the belle of the ball when it comes to the RKO musical comedies. We hope you enjoyed our October of counter programming. We promise to revisit this topic very soon. If listeners have any suggestions for future Flixwise Favorites episodes. Let us know via Facebook, Twitter, or Email.       

The October of counter-programming continues with our next musical submission to the Flixwise Favorites List. This time The Film Experience's Anne Marie Kelly makes her case for why she thinks WEST SIDE STORY is one of the greatest movies of all time. She's got to convince Lady P and special guest, Carrie Specht, that they should be equally enchanted with Robert Wise's film.  It's charming to be sure, but anything short of alarmingly charming just won't do. Is the epic battle over which nationality can snap their fingers loudest as gripping as ever? Listen up to find out if our panel is as smitten with WEST SIDE STORY as Tony is with Maria.

In our SINGING IN THE RAIN episode we promised you a musical marathon, and we always make good on our promises. Starting this week, and continuing all through October, will have a series of minisodes in which each week we deliberate on one musical entry to the Flixwise Favorites List. We are aware that historically October is typically to be devoted to all things horror. However here at Flixwise we're offering a respite from the creatures who go bump in the night.  I believe they refer to this in the biz as counter-programming. We hope you enjoy! That being said, our first musical entry is many ways an absolutely bone chilling film. Lady P is pitching Bob Fosse's 1972 feature CABARET. She is joined by the author of The Film Experience's "A Year With Kate" series, Anne Marie Kelly, and the editor and founder of Classicfilmfan.com, Carrie Specht. Together they analyze the film and determine whether it is worthy of entry into the Flixwise's stable of Alternate Greatest Films of All Time.   Get well soon Liza!

California may be suffering one of the most severe droughts in recorded history, but here at Flixwise it is positively storming. On today's podcast Lady P gathers two of her closest friends, Julianne Martin and Kabir Singh, to revel in the Technicolor glory of one the crowning achievements of the Hollywood studio system. It's SINGIN' IN THE RAIN! The Stanley Donen 1952 musical ranks as the 20th Greatest Movie of All Time on the Sight and Sound Critic's Poll. Listen up to find out if our trio are as elated by the film as Gene Kelly is by precipitation. Then the panel follows up their SINGIN' IN THE RAIN analysis with a little ode to platonic love. They chat about the greatest movie friendships in cinema history! Or at least their personal favorites. Sentiment abounds on today's show, but in case things weren't touchy-feely enough, they close out the show with their final notes of positivity. Here's Julianne's Here's Kabir's Here's Lady P's And, as promised, here's a little video of Lady P tap dancing. Look for

On today's episode, Emma Guerard and first-time guest, Jason Perlman, join Lady P for a psychoanalysis of the Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky.  Their primary case study is Tarkovsky's 1975 feature film, MIRROR. MIRROR is the number 19¹ movie on the Sight and Sound Critics Poll. Listen up to find out if the panel was able to make heads or tails of this beguiling puzzle of a movie. They follow up their MIRROR analysis, with a general discussion of non-narrative cinema. Yes, our panel watches non-narrative cinema. And yes, that does mean they're smarter and better than everyone else! Finally, they close off the show with a brief chat about Jason's current project, THRESHOLD. ¹On the podcast, Lady P refers to MIRROR as the number 18 movie on the Poll. Because SEVEN SAMURAI and PERSONA are tied for the 17th spot, the numbers got a little jumbled. We apologize for any confusion. 

On this episode, Lady P is joined by a couple of her warrior friends, Gabe Haggard and Derek Kessler, to discuss Sight and Sound's 17th Greatest Movie of All Time, Akira Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI.  Then the trio wages glorious battle over what they consider to be the true purpose of film. Gabe says film should be exclusively a narrative medium, but Lady P disagrees. Sufficed to say, it gets ugly. In the end, scores are settled, blood is shed, honor is lost, but at least they've definitely settled the matter...definitely. Then they finish off with a few final notes of positivity.   Here's Gabe's Here's Derek's Here's Lady P's 

On today's episode our panel attempts to discern the indiscernible. Lady P, Emma Guerard, and Andy Theiss are going to try to make sense of The Sight and Sound Critic's Poll's 17th Greatest Movie of All Time, Ingmar Bergman's PERSONA. Listen up to find out if they enjoyed having their brains disassembled by a grumpy Swedish dude.  They follow that up with another meeting of the Richard Linklater fanclub. (The group first met up for the Dazed and Confused episode.) This time they're discussing his 2014 feature film BOYHOOD. There are a couple of people on this panel that think themselves contrarians, but will they dare go up against the near universal acclaim that BOYHOOD has received? We shall see... Then they end the show with a few final notes of positivity:  Here's Emma's Here's Andy's Here's Lady P's

This episode is a bit of a departure for Flixwise. Normally we're all about analyzing the greatest movies of all time, but since we're also in the business of horizon broadening, we thought it might be interesting to take a little detour into the realm of television(or sorta television) to chat about Jenji Kohan's ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK. Also, the Emmys are coming up, and we just want to make sure that the ORANGE drum continues to sound until the cast and crew (especially Kate Mulgrew) takes home the gold. In other words, Lady P is obsessed with the show and found a semi-legitamate reason to talk about it in a public forum. In this episode Lady P brought in a couple of her friends, returning guest Julianne Martin and newcomer Melissa Kaplan, to discuss why ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK has become a such cultural phenomenon. They talk about their favorite characters, favorite episodes, predictions for next season, and the hotness of Laura Prepon.       Enjoy!  

On today's show Lady P and Gabe Haggard are joined by filmmaker and transcendental style enthusiast Tad Chamberlain, to chat about the 16th Greatest Movie of All Time, Robert Bresson's AU HASARD BALTHAZAR. Listen up to find out if our panelist were as touched by the suffering of the poor donkey, Balthazar, as the Sight and Sound critics. They follow up their BALTHAZAR discussion with an analysis of the 2014 blockbuster SNOWPIERCER. While BALTHAZAR and SNOWPIERCER may seem completely unrelated, there is in fact a very, very strong connection between the two films. Take a look!  Then they wrap everything up with a their final notes of positivity. Here's Gabe's Here's Tad's Here's Lady P's