Film Maker / Film Watcher

We’re trying something new in this age of lockdowns and social distancing. Introducing “Friday Quarantine Film Night” for the shared experience of watching films with others, even though we’re apart in time and space. We’ll nominate both a short and a feature film for you to watch this Friday night – and then you can leave your responses on our Facebook page to share the experience with others. More detailed instructions are in this mini-podcast.Our first Quarantine films are:Bear Story (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-01-short A Matter of Life and Death (1946) http://tinyurl.com/fqfn-01-film You’ll find our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/filmmakerfilmwatcher/

And we’re back! Just in time to celebrate the festive season by reviewing Christmas movies, familiar and strange. As a special seasonal bonus, Richard and Greg also present a New Year’s treat – so you get three films for the (non) price of four. This episode comes with a Christmas wish from us to you and yours, however familiar and strange yours may be… Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-marsHow the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-grinchyTokyo Godfathers (2003) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-tokyoDinner for One (1963) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-one

Richard and Greg review their 100th film (Sideways) about two guys on a road trip. So they take a 2000 km road trip of their own to the Australian Podcast Awards. This is possibly the World’s First Ever movie podcast recorded on the road. It’s certainly a world-first for the guys who have never shared a car trip further than the local pizza shop. So there’s only one question: “Is this just the end of Season 3 or the end of their ability to share enclosed spaces – and thus the end of the FMFW podcast…?”Nullarbor (2011) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-nullarbor Thelma & Louise (1991) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-thelmalouise Sideways (2004) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-sideways The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-10-priscilla 

Greg’s kinder friends would say that he’s blissfully unaware of Sports. So why would Richard engage him in conversation about films set in that world? Well, it’s not a complete bust when they review films about American sports and Aussie Rules footy – and Greg is actually highly enthused about one of them…The Blind Side (2009) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-09-blind The Merger (2018) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-09-merger Field of Dreams (1989) https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-09-field

Three movies about ordinary people caught up in political upheavals across the globe of the 20th Century. But let’s face it: this episode is just Greg’s excuse to get Richard to watch his favourite South Korean film. Will Richard like it – or are there more politics in the FMFW Studio than all three films combined?Missing (1982) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-08-missing Reds (1981) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-08-red 1987: When the Day Comes (2017) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-08-1987

Cate Blanchett, Dustin Hoffman, Kate Winslet: Richard and Greg don’t personally know any of these big-name actors from across the globe (and their calls are never returned). But the guys go back to these stars’ first Big Films to see what all the fuss was about. If YOU want to go back to see where some major talents began, there’s always our very first episode…Elizabeth (1998) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-07-liz The Graduate (1967) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-07-graduate Heavenly Creatures (1994) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-07-heavenly 

After the bingeing of the Christmas season, it might seem a bit much to focus on movies about feasting. But perhaps a virtual pigging-out is the best approach right now. So settle back (perhaps with just a wafer-thin after-dinner mint) – and let Richard and Greg whet your appetite for some movies that will indulge your culinary senses, without rupturing any New Year’s resolutions to which you might still be clinging.Babette's Feast (1987) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-06-feast Big Night (1996) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-06-big Like Water for Chocolate (1992) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-06-water

Two Christmases in one season – this must be what they mean by “all your Christmases coming at once”! Richard and Greg again flit between the heart-warming and darker sides of the Yuletide. Perhaps this is having a long-term effect, as one of our reviewers seems to be feeling more Grinch than Santa’s Helper…Joyeux Noel (2005) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-noel Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-rare01 Rare Exports Inc (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-rare02 Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions (2005) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-rare03 The Santa Clause (1994) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-clause

Ignore the creaking door and the shadow lurking just beyond your vision. Settle down in your seat, plug in your headphones and screw your eyes shut. (Of course, you should ignore this advice if you’re driving.) Either way, step back in time as Richard and Greg watch 20th Century thrillers.Wait Until Dark (1967) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-05-wait The Night of the Hunter (1955) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-05-hunter The Third Man (1949) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-05-third

Richard and Greg decided to help some school students by discussing films on their syllabus. This seemed like a good idea at the time, but (um) in keeping with their school days, Richard and Greg have been late handing in their homework – given that the exams finished last week.A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-04-streetcar Invictus (2009) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-04-invictus Rear Window (1954) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-04-window 

Surreally Strange Day Episode. Richard and Greg love mainstream films that embrace whimsy and novel ways of telling a story. Or they thought they did – until Greg sits down to watch “Natural Born Killers” at Richard’s behest. There might be a series theme developing here…The One I Love (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-03-love Natural Born Killers (1994) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-03-natural Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-03-eternal 

The biggest Confession here is that Greg doesn’t typically watch Westerns – a confession, yes, but perhaps not a surprise. So Richard rides with him into the sunset on his white horse to save the townsfolk. (Also known as dragging him out of his comfort zone) Will Greg become a City Slicker? Yee-haw!Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-02-butch The Searchers (1956) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-02-searchers The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-02-ugly 

Being a movie critic can be a lonely life – particularly if your life partner doesn’t want to see the film, and so you sit up alone. (sigh) So Richard and Greg begin this series by asking their life partners to choose a film that they would like to watch. And then Greg asks his Mum for a third film, just so they can keep up their triple-feature format.To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-01-mockingbird Much Ado About Nothing (1993) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-01-ado Amélie (2001) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-01-amelie

We are happy to announce that Season 3 of Filmmaker/Filmwatcher will launch on Saturday 28th July!

An episode of traditions and tradition-shakers, not least that our Christmas Special marks the start of our new Season.As per tradition (OK, for the second year running), Richard and Greg review two films that celebrate the Christmas spirit – and a third film that enjoys the Yuletide’s Dark Side.And yet again, Greg brings Christmas crackers to mark the festivities. Our lawyers have advised that you shouldn’t listen to this episode while driving.The Polar Express (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-express Miracle on 34th Street (1947) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-miracle Gremlins (1984) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-03-xmas-gremlins

Richard and Greg again round off the season by discussing films that celebrate the Art of Cinema.This time, they choose movies that use Animation – a technique usually reserved for childhood films – in the service of more adult tales.Of course, Adult doesn’t necessarily mean Grown Up. These films are located across a spectrum between the reflectively bittersweet and the crassly juvenile.And don’t “the kids” just love it!The Triplets of Belleville (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-10-triplets Anomalisa (2015) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-10-anomalisa Team America: World Police (2004) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-10-police 

Richard and Greg review three non-English language films that deal with big themes: Marriage, Family and Death.“Monsoon Wedding” is a return visit for both of them – but then they each choose a film for the other’s first encounter.Will this be the time when Greg (finally) likes one of Richard’s favourites...?Monsoon Wedding (2001) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-09-monsoon After Life (1998) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-09-afterlife Ricordati Di Me (2003) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-09-ricordati 

Richard and Greg get “epiiiiiiic” in this “epiiiiiiisode”. No swords, no sandals, just three films set in the dramatic sweep of wartime.But what makes them epic – is it their themes, settings or the fact that they run up to 4 hours in length?Our dedicated reviewers put on the coffee, prop their eyelids open, and settle in for the long haul. They manage to agree on two of the three films. As for the other one…Gone with the Wind (1939) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-08-wind Doctor Zhivago (1965) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-08-doctor The English Patient (1996) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-08-patient 

As Bugs Bunny said, “What’s Up, Documentary?”Well, not really – but this episode IS about documentaries, although (sadly) none of them are about rabbits, doctors or even cartoons.These films are windows through which you can look into the worlds of Politics, Cinema and Family. And Carrots (but not really).Weiner (2016) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-weiner Salaam Cinema (1995) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-salaam Stories We Tell (2012) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-tell

In this Modern Horror episode, Richard makes Greg step out of his comfort zone and into a small dark room with suspicious fingernail-scraping noises.Does Greg cope – or is this Richard’s revenge for the Modern Musicals episode?And how on earth does a sentence like “I prefer my serial killers to be rational” fit into this context?A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-06-nightmare Scream (1996) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-06-scream The Babadook (2014) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-02-07-abadbook