Film Maker / Film Watcher

Richard and Greg join their partners Niniane and Naomi to discuss films chosen by the aforementioned Wheel. Who agrees with whom? And, more interestingly, who doesn’t?? Season 5 ends with the quartet celebrating anAustralian comedy classic that has become both beloved and iconic – to which our podcast can only aspire.* The Indian in the Cupboard (1995) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-10-indian* In the Mood for Love (2000) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-10-mood* The Castle (1997) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-10-castle

In this episode, we move from Greg’s comfort zone (whodunnits) to Richard’s (Italian pronunciation).  Our reviewers discuss three Italian films that made it in the English-speaking world.  Two made it to the Oscars, and all have something to say about “la condizione umana”.  And then, in preparation for the season finale, Richard and Greg try something new – the Cinematic Wheel of Fortune (complete with sound effects!)• God Willing (2015)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-09-willing• Il Postino (1994)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-09-postino• Life is Beautiful (1997)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-09-life

Greg takes Richard into classic Agatha Christie territory with a French director’s Hollywood take on a British novel.  After examining the British class system, they finish with a largely forgotten whodunnit film written by Psycho actor Anthony Perkins and West Side Story composer Stephen Sondheim.  And if that doesn’t get you in, nothing will.  What is Richard’s problem with filmic murder?  And is it OK for Death to be funny? And Then There None (1945)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-08-none  Gosford Park (2001)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-08-gosford  The Last of Sheila (1973)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-08-sheila  OTHER RESOURCES Watch “The Ninth Guest” (1934)  https://tinyurl.com/9thguest  Watch “Charlie Chan in London” (1934)  https://tinyurl.com/london-chan  Read the 2021 article about “The Last of Sheila”  https://tinyurl.com/sheilabyjulia  Glass Onion (2022)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-08-onion 

Richard and Greg review three Shakespearean films made either side of the year 2000.  Shakespeare is known for raising the Big Questions – and this episode is no exception.  Which of our podcasters is the worse at trying to sound Shakespearean?  Are they better or worse than American actors at this?  Are podcasts like the theatre, where the Scottish Play must not be mentioned by name?  And (most importantly of all) what DID Shakespeare have against Norway? The Tempest (2010)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-07-tempest  The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-07-macbeth  Hamlet (1996)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-07-hamlet  OTHER RESOURCES James Thurber’s “The Macbeth murder mystery” https://tinyurl.com/macthurber Gilligan Island’s musical Hamlet https://tinyurl.com/hamletisle 

We don’t know about you, but Richard is flabbered and Greg is gasted that this is our Tenth Christmas Episode!  As usual, they review three Christmas films in search of that special seasonal something.  Two films are liked more by one reviewer than the other – whereas the third is universally found wanting, sadly.  This last outcome is likely to be a wee bit controversial.  As is perhaps the source of their disagreement about one of the others. Last Train to Christmas (2021)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-train How to Make Gravy (2024)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-gravy A Boy Called Christmas (2021)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-boy

Richard and Greg grew up admiring one US and three Australian movie reviewers.  Back in 2019, US-based Leonard Maltin was asked by “The Movies That Made me” podcast to pick movies from each decade of the past century that he wished were better known.  Richard and Greg dare to pick up Maltin’s mantle to review three of these “sleeper” films for themselves (with apologies to Mrs Maltin for our presumption in naming this episode…) House of Games (1987)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-06-games  Pollyanna (1960)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-06-pollyanna  The Last Command (1928)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-06-command OTHER RESOURCES Podcast in which Leonard Maltin picks movies more people should know about https://tinyurl.com/maltin2019 

Richard and Greg choose a film for three modes of transport (somehow forgetting about the 1987 Steve Martin / John Candy film).  Although the films are scattered across the 20th Century, our reviewers find that all stand up well to the test of time – suggesting that this episode should have been called “Transports of Delight”.  But which film had “the most obnoxious movie kids ever seen”…? Flying High! / Airplane! (1980)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-05-plane  The General (1926)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-05-train  Duel (1971)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-05-auto  OTHER RESOURCES Comparison of “Flying High!” with “Zero Hour!” https://tinyurl.com/zerocompare  Watch the 4K restoration of “The General” https://tinyurl.com/general4k 

Quo Vadis?  To see the new Gladiator film!  They may not have swords or togas, but Richard and Greg make the pilgrimage to a newish Melbourne cinema to see an ancient-ish Roman story.  What did they think?  Is it thumbs-up or thumbs-down?  (And if it’s thumbs-down, does director Ridley Scott get thrown to the lions…?)  You know that there’s only one way to find out: kick your sandals off and hit the Play button.Gladiator 2 (2024)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-minisode-04

Our reviewers take on three crime films set in Hollywood across the latter half of the 20th Century.  Greg admits to watching his first-ever Tarantino film.  If that’s not crime enough, Richard corners him into summarising the plot of David Lynch’s mystifying “Mulholland Drive”.  But Greg triumphs by bringing a credible explanation to the table that could possibly involve goldfish on a casting couch.  Or does he…? Hollywoodland (2006)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-04-woodland  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-04-time  Mulholland Drive (2001)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-04-mulholland 

Richard and Greg jump across the local “pond” from Australia to review three New Zealand films from world-renowned directors Lee Tamahori, Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi.  While they have similar responses to two of these films, our film reviewers are (South?) poles apart for the third.  Not to worry!  For Greg brings a “Kiwi moviegoer’s sensation on a stick” into Richard’s life, revived from a past Roman holiday. Once Were Warriors (1994)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-03-warriors  The Frighteners (1996)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-03-frighteners  Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-03-hunt 

AND THEN THERE WERE NUNS.  Richard and Greg “get the movie habit” by inviting a professional nun (Auntie Marie) to discuss Nun Films.  She shares her joys and deeper reflections for a comedy and then a drama.  But, like the Holy Trinity, we always do things in threes.  For her final choice (a nun-free film), Greg notes that “Not many people would expect a nun to love a film with mob murders and ladies of doubtful moral virtue”.  Which film is it?  Let’s just say that the sting is in the tale… Sister Act (1992)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-02-sister  Dead Man Walking (1995)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-02-walking  Plus a nun-free film (click in to find out)

Following Broadway and TV precedents, DC Comics has just released its first musical feature film.  But it might not be the best idea for DC Fanboy Greg to see the new Joker film with the not-terribly-comical Richard…  Are they inspired to sing along with Lady Gaga?  Will Greg take the opportunity to get Richard doing the “Batusi” dance in the aisles?  And what exactly would the Joker sing – would it be too obvious to have “Send in the Clowns”, “Funny Face” or “These Clown Boots are Made for Walking”?Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-minisode-03 

Our podcasters are back.  Finally.  But this seasonal opener is about firsts, not finals (despite the third film’s title).  Richard and Greg review three feature films that were the first in their day to use the latest technology – for sound, vision and movement.  But how do these films stand up today?  Does the technology serve or drive the story?  And what was the role played by Alka-Seltzer?The Jazz Singer (1927)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-01-talkie Westworld (1973)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-01-cgi Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-01-capture

How appropriate that our second minisode has a double-barrelled name!  Tim Burton’s sequel has been 36 years in the making – but is it worth the wait?  Our dedicated film reviewers get down to the local cinema to find out.  Not wanting to invite disaster, Greg works hard to stop Richard from saying That Name three times in a row.  Enjoy this Minisode Minisode.  (We can say with confidence that there might be other Beetlejuice film reviews out there, but how many of them mention Mr Burton’s long-lost cousin, Ed?)Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-minisode-02 

Not every premiere happens in Hollywood.  So roll out the red carpet along your hallway (or a red bath towel across your passenger seat) as we launch a new venture for our podcast.  Minisodes!  Richard and Greg review the newly-released, cameo-filled blockbuster that is the third Deadpool film, then rush back to the studio to share their thoughts.  The film (if not the studio) is remarkably blood-soaked — so maybe your carpet/towel doesn’t need to be red to start with…Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-minisode-01

Holy Kris Kringle!  Can it be that our dynamic duo of Richard and Greg find the Christmas Feels in a new round of movies?  Will they declare “Batman Returns” a Christmas movie?  Just what exactly is at the heart of the mysterious Christmas parcel?  And is there really a “rapidly approaching Season 5”?  For the answers to these and other questions, tune in today – same Pod-Time, same Pod-Channel! There’s Something in the Barn (2023) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-barn  Spirited (2022) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-spirited  Batman Returns (1992) http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-batman 

It’s been a long break between episodes – a whole Christmas cycle in fact.  Following tradition, Richard and Greg get their reviewing skates on with three Christmas movies, as a lead-in to our rapidly approaching Season 5.  Are they rusty?  Are the films Christmassy enough for Greg?  And has he brought another seasonal sound effect to antagonise Richard?  There’s ho-ho-only one way to find out… The Shop Around the Corner (1940)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-corner  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-lampoon  Mon Oncle Antoine (1971)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-05-xmas-antoine 

Season 4 has been bookended by THREE Christmas episodes – so “seasonal” greetings are in order.  Richard and Greg keep with tradition and review three Christmas films – including a musical about a Christmas zombie invasion (which is just SO in keeping with the spirit of the last year).  But what Christmas prop will Greg bring in this year to keep Richard in line? Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-anna  The Bishop’s Wife (1947)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-bishop  A Sunburnt Christmas (2020)  https://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-xmas-sunburnt 

Melbourne has gone from the world’s most livable city to the most locked-down – and our Season 4 has stretched across this period.  Way back in “the early days”, we held a Friday Quarantine Film Night festival to restore the shared film-watching experience to our audience. Now that we’re (finally! hurray!) coming out of lockdown, we bookend Season 4 with reviews of three of those FQFN feature films as a pretty-darn-obvious exercise in nostalgia. Heartbreaker (2010)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-10-breaker  Departures (2008)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-10-departures  A Matter of Life and Death  -- also known as “Stairway to Heaven” (1946)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-10-matter 

Our reviewers seek lockdown escapism through films based on Disneyland rides, despite the fact that one of them has never been on these rides.  But they sidestep the obvious choice – as Richard was born on “Talk Like a Pirate Day” (and needs no encouragement to perform) and Greg’s afraid of Caribbean planks. The Haunted Mansion (2003)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-09-mansion  Jungle Cruise (2021)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-09-jungle  Tomorrowland (2015)  http://tinyurl.com/fmfw-04-09-tomorrow