Trash, Art, And The Movies
The podcast that pits arthouse cinema against brainless entertainment—and then declares a victor.

Paul and Heather contend with sign-language-equipped chimpanzees and talking deer as they review James Marsh's heartbreaking documentary about a language experiment gone wrong, PROJECT NIM; and Tsui Hark's delirious murder mystery/martial arts extravaganza/costume epic DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME. Plus: Paul's mini-reviews of THE ARBOR and THE MILL AND THE CROSS, more fretting about end-of-the-year cinematic award-winners, and the usual roundup of notable upcoming DVDs and Blu-Ray releases.

0:00 — Intro/THE ARBOR/THE MILL AND THE CROSS/Oscar season disappointment and bafflement
16:22 — The Arbors, "I Can't Quit Her (For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her)"
17:29 — PROJECT NIM
33:56 — The Feelies, "Everybody's Got Something To Hide (Except Me And My Monkey)"
34:59 — DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME
46:55 — Fred Bongusto, "Un Detective"
47:57 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro


Paul and Heather acutely feel the absence of a third podcast host as they review two very different films about love trianges: the international espionage drama THE DEBT (starring Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, and Jessica Chastain); and the new Criterion edition of the ahead-of-its-time 1933 Ernst Lubitsch comedy DESIGN FOR LIVING. Also: Paul reports on Lucky McKee's lurid but potent B-movie THE WOMAN and the new Louis C.K. concert film LIVE AT THE BEACON THEATER, Heather revisits Quentin Taratino's JACKIE BROWN, and the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays get their usual thorough going-over.

0:00 — Intro/End-Of-The-Year Critic's Anxiety/THE WOMAN/LOUIS C.K. LIVE AT THE BEACON THEATER/JACKIE BROWN
15:10 — Bobby Womack, "Across 110th Street"
16:19 — THE DEBT
29:21 — Shout Out Out Out Out, "Forever Indebted"
30:25 — DESIGN FOR LIVING
45:34 — Bob Dorough, "Three Is The Magic Number"
46:37 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro

Direct download: Episode_87__The_Debt_Design_For_Living.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 11:44pm EDT

Paul and Heather return from their brief podcasting hiatus with reviews of two movies that sound much more science-fictiony than they actually are: Miranda July's (intentionally?) aggravating hipster comedy-drama THE FUTURE, and Mike Cahill's low-budget alternate-world indie drama ANOTHER EARTH. Plus: Heather revisits the 2004 Nicole-Kidman-falls-in-love-with-a-ten-year-old drama BIRTH, Paul reports on the recent AMERICAN MASTERS documentary about Woody Allen, and we both debate whether BREAKING DAWN can actually cause someone to have a seizure and whether the rainbows in the song "The Rainbow Connection" technically qualify as a metaphor.

0:00 — Intro/THE MUPPETS/BIRTH/BREAKING DAWN/WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY
20:06 — Miniskirt, "Woody Allen Likes Japanese Noise Rock"
21:10 — THE FUTURE
36:51 — Sparks, "In The Future"
37:49 — ANOTHER EARTH
50:56 — The Only Ones, "Another Planet, Another Girl"
52:08 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_86__The_Future_Another_Earth.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 11:37pm EDT

Paul and Heather experience strong feelings of liberty, equality, and fraternity as they review the new Criterion edition of Krzysztof Kieslowski's early-’90s arthouse landmark THE THREE COLORS TRILOGY: BLUE, starring Juliette Binoche; WHITE, starring Julie Delpy; and RED, starring Irène Jacob. Plus: mini-reviews of Seijun Suzuki's whacked-out yakuza flick YOUTH OF THE BEAST and the third season of IN TREATMENT, even more DOWNTON ABBEY talk, and the usual roundup of the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/YOUTH OF THE BEAST/IN TREATMENT/DOWNTON ABBEY redux
12:15 — Zbigniew Preisner, "Song For The Unification Of Europe (Julie's Version" (from the original soundtrack of THREE COLORS: BLUE)
13:32 — THE THREE COLORS TRILOGY
41:30 — Zbigniew Preisner, "Meeting The Judge" (from the original soundtrack of THREE COLORS: RED)
42:30 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_85__The_Three_Colors_Trilogy.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 2:05am EDT

Paul and Heather examine two movies about storybook romances featuring take-charge women: Errol Morris' lively truth-is-stranger-than-fiction documentary TABLOID, and Catherine Breillat's subversive fairytale adaptation THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. Plus: Heather contributes a mini-review of WAIT UNTIL DARK (and admits to a lifelong inability to understand what the big deal is with Audrey Hepburn), Paul reports on his recent viewings of Monte Hellman's ROAD TO NOWHERE and the BBC period drama DOWNTON ABBEY, and we both round up the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/WAIT UNTIL DARK/ROAD TO NOWHERE/DOWNTON ABBEY
21:46 — Nina Simone, "I Can't See Nobody"
22:50 — TABLOID
39:15 — Sugar Bear, "Don't Scandalize Mine"
40:15 — THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
53:46 — Lene Lovich, "Sleeping Beauty"
55:10 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays 

Direct download: Episode_84__Tabloid_The_Sleeping_Beauty.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather sort out their daddy issues as they review two films about father-son relationships: Mike Mills' semi-autobiographical BEGINNERS, about his relationship with his dying father, who came out of the closet at the age of 75; and A BETTER LIFE, Chris Weitz' empathetic portrait of a self-sacrificing illegal immigant father working as a gardener in Los Angeles and his ungrateful teenage son. Plus: Heather offers her mini-review of the harrowing British nuclear-holocaust docudrama THREADS, Paul talks about the early Mike Leigh comedy NUTS IN MAY, and we both round up the week's other most notable new DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

0:00 — Intro/THREADS/NUTS IN MAY
15:15 — Portishead, "Threads"
16:19 — BEGINNERS
30:38 — Eels, "Beginner's Luck"
31:49 — A BETTER LIFE
44:44 — Q-Tip (featuring Norah Jones), "Life Is Better"
46:07 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_83__Beginners_A_Better_Life.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Monsters! Monsters! Monsters! Paul and Heather get a jumpstart on Halloween by reviewing the British teens-versus aliens cult hit ATTACK THE BLOCK, as well as the new Criterion edition of the 1932 pre-Code shocker ISLAND OF LOST SOULS. Plus: a wide-ranging discussion of 50/50, DRIVE, and the best "Hollywood" film of the year so far, and our usual roundup of the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/50/50/DRIVE
14:30 — Sloan, "I Am The Cancer"
15:36 — ATTACK THE BLOCK
28:18 — Chelsea, "Urban Kids"
29:17 — ISLAND OF LOST SOULS
42:33 — Jonathan Coulton, "Skullcrusher Mountain"
44:30 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_82__Attack_The_Block_Island_Of_Lost_Souls.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather bust out their Bibles and their semi-automatic weapons to review Kevin Smith's very un-Kevin-Smithy siege drama RED STATE, then take an eerie trip through the Japanese forest with the new Criterion edition of Kineta Shindo's eerie 1968 ghost story KURONEKO. Plus: Heather reports on the goings-on at International Independent Video Store Day and contributes a mini-review of John Carpenter's unfairly derided sci-fi satire ESCAPE FROM L.A., Paul talks about Christophe Honoré's unconventional Parisian musical LOVE SONGS, and we round up the week's other most notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/International Independent Video Store Day/ESCAPE FROM L.A./LOVE SONGS
17:16 — The Cure, "Lovesong"
18:15 — RED STATE
33:27 — Belle and Sebastian, "The State I Am In"
34:37 — KURONEKO
48:21 — Lalo Schifrin, "The Cat"
49:16 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_81__Red_State_Kuroneko.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather hop in the car with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon to review Michael Winterbottom's quasi-documentary comedy THE TRIP, then don their pyjamas to hang out with troubled teen Jacob Wysocki and high school principal John C. Reilly in TERRI. Plus, a wide-ranging discussion of HBO's post-SOPRANOS/SIX FEET UNDER/DEADWOOD fallow period sparked by Heather's recent viewing of the first season of ROME, and our usual roundup of the week's other notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/ROME/HBO, yea or nay?
16:32 — Yeasayer, "Rome"
17:36 — THE TRIP
31:22 — Kim Fowley, "The Trip"
32:24 — TERRI
49:03 — Sartre's Lobster, "Pyjamarama"
50:07 — Other notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays 

Direct download: Episode_80__The_Trip_Terri.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review Richard Ayoade's RUSHMORE-esque coming-of-age comedy SUBMARINE and Takeshi Kitano's convoluted yakuza flick OUTRAGE. Plus: Heather talks about preparing for International Video Store Day, Paul contributes a mini-review of the documentary THE PEOPLE VERSUS GEORGE LUCAS, and we both reveals our lists of the week's other most notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/International Video Store Day/THE PEOPLE VERSUS GEORGE LUCAS
16:13 — The National, "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"
17:22 — SUBMARINE
30:03 — The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, "A Teenager In Love"
31:03 — OUTRAGE
43:43 — Guido & Maurizio DeAngelis, "Gangster Story"
44:43 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_79__Submarine_Outrage.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather take a week off from watching new releases and take another dip into the DVD Helmet of Mystery, with reviews of Stephen Frears' offbeat 1984 contribution to the British gangster genre, THE HIT; and the 1971 lesbian-vampire cult classic DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS. Plus the usual roundup of the week's other most notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/THE HIT
19:53 — A.C. Newman, "Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer"
20:42 — DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS
32:29 — Jonathan Richman, "Vampire Girl"
33:32 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays 

Direct download: Episode_78__The_Hit_Daughters_Of_Darkness.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman's headbanging Sundance dramedy HESHER; and the documentary portrait of one of America's greatest chronicler's of big-city street fashion, BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK. Plus: Paul contributes his mini-reviews of the movie-that-never-was documentary HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOT'S INFERNO and Luc Besson's unseen-in-North-America adventure yarn THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADÈLE BLANC-SEC, and Heather reports on a soul-stirring special-event screening of Carl Dreyer's THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC. All this, plus the usual roundup of the week's other most noteworthy new DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

0:00 — Intro/HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOT'S INFERNO/THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADÈLE BLANC-SEC/THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC
15:03 — Clem Snide, "Joan Jett Of Arc"
16:12 — HESHER
30:58 — Ozma, "Natalie Portman"
32:09 — BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK
46:24 — Good Shoes, "The Photos On My Wall"
47:37 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_77__Hesher_Bill_Cunningham_New_York.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review two of the most highly acclaimed films of 2011: Kelly Reichardt's feminist revisionist Western MEEK'S CUTOFF, and Abbas Kiarostami's enigmatic two-hander CERTIFIED COPY. Also: Heather relays her reactions to X-MEN: FIRST CLASS and revisits Philip Kaufman's isn't-it-time-we-declared-this-one-a-classic 1978 remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, while Paul reports on Jason Zinoman's new book SHOCK VALUE, about the game-changing American horror films of the 1970s and the men who created them. Plus our usual roundup of the week's other most notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/X-MEN: FIRST CLASS/INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS/SHOCK VALUE
19:00 — Skyhooks, "Horror Movie"
20:03 — MEEK'S CUTOFF
33:10 — The Magnetic Fields, "A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off"
34:02 — CERTIFIED COPY
48:22 — Hercules and Love Affair, "True False/Fake Real"
49:32 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_76__Meeks_Cutoff_Certified_Copy.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather discover what happens when you combine Will Ferrell with Raymond Carver as they review the Sundance dramedy EVERYTHING MUST GO, then argue over whether Susanne Bier deserved the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar she received earlier this year for her First World/Third World melodrama IN A BETTER WORLD. Plus: Heather's reaction to the demise of Blockbuster Video, Paul's mini-review of the new-to-DVD David Hyde Pierce thriller THE PERFECT HOST, a debate over George Lucas' latest round of edits and "improvements" to his STAR WARS trilogy, and the usual roundup of the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/Blockbuster bites the dust/George Lucas: "Nooooooo!"/THE PERFECT HOST
14:22 — John Williams, "Cantina Band"
14:59 — EVERYTHING MUST GO
27:45 — The Mountain Goats, "Estate Sale Sign"
28:40 — IN A BETTER WORLD
41:49 — Clem Snide, "Better"
42:49 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_75__Everything_Must_Go_In_A_Better_World.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather grapple with Tom McCarthy's feel-good comedy-drama about a cash-strapped high-school wrestling coach WIN WIN, then put their tolerance for slow cinema to the ultimate test with the Romanian crime procedural POLICE, ADJECTIVE. Plus: Heather contributes a mini-review of the early Brian De Palma counterculture comedy GREETINGS, Paul talks about his viral-internet-sensation-in-the-making, The Cinematic Jokebook, and the week's most noteworthy new DVD and Blu-Ray releases get a thorough going-over.

0:00 — Intro/GREETINGS/The Cinematic Jokebook
14:10 — The Lucksmiths, "I Started A Joke"
15:11 — WIN WIN
30:02 — Gene McDaniels, "Walk With A Winner"
31:07 — POLICE, ADJECTIVE
44:28 — John Vanderslice, "Romanian Names"
45:14 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_74__Win_Win_Police_Adjective.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather are joined by special guest Todd VanDerWerff (TV editor for The AV Club and co-host of the TV ON THE INTERNET podcast) for a discussion of the past, present, and uncertain future of TV shows on DVD, after which they get down to business reviewing a pair of movies: the would-be Mel Gibson comeback vehicle THE BEAVER and Lee Chang-dong's acclaimed Korean drama SECRET SUNSHINE. Plus the usual roundup of notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00 — Intro/Todd VanDerWerff
25:46 — The Radiators From Space, "Television Screen"
26:48 — THE BEAVER
42:27 — They Might Be Giants, "Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head"
43:37 — SECRET SUNSHINE
55:05 — The Arch Of Triumph, "Sunshine And You"
56:00 — Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays 


Paul and Heather review the new Criterion edition of Roman Polanski's previously hard-to-find 1966 dark comedy CUL-DE-SAC, as well as the first film in a decade from horror maestro John Carpenter, THE WARD. Also: Heather shares news of the filmmaking activities going on under her own roof, Paul reflects on his erstwhile days as a theatre reviewer, and contributes a mini-review of the documentary CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF. Plus our usual roundup of notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/Heather Noel, production assistant/Theatre vs. film/CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF
10:26: Local Natives, "Camera Talk"
11:33: CUL-DE-SAC
25:51: Van Morrison, "Cul-De-Sac"
26:59: THE WARD
39:12: The Feelies, "Crazy Rhythms"
40:14: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_72__Cul-De-Sac_The_Ward.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:58am EDT

Paul and Heather review the Criterion edition of Stanley Kubrick's 1956 heist-gone-wrong classic THE KILLING, as well as James Gunn's blackly comic superhero-vigilante satire SUPER. Plus: Paul and Heather report on their experiences watching THE BIG LEBOWSKI and MEEK'S CUTOFF on opening night of Edmonton's new repertory cinema palace, Heather offers her mini-review of the 1945 horror anthology DEAD OF NIGHT, and Paul gives a mini-review of Joe Johnston's underrated 1991 comic-book blockbuster THE ROCKETEER. Plus: the usual roundup of the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/THE BIG LEBOWSKI/MEEK'S CUTOFF/DEAD OF NIGHT/THE ROCKETEER
19:35: Suicide, "Rocket U.S.A."
20:22: THE KILLING
35:23: Bram Tchaikovsky, "Robber"
36:14: SUPER/Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_71__The_Killing_Super.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather are seized by the temptation to review movies with other critics after watching the Keira Knightley/Sam Worthington adultery drama LAST NIGHT, then contemplate quitting their jobs and becoming private eyes in Aaron Katz's mumblecore detective thriller COLD WEATHER. Plus: Heather falls in love with Richard E. Grant after seeing the satirical comedy HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING, Paul confesses to an unhealthy amount of empathy with the main character in Eric Rohmer's THE GREEN RAY, and we both round up the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays, but refuse to do much research into any of them.

0:00: Intro/CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE./HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING/THE GREEN RAY
14:25: Mark Ronson featuring Santogold, "Pretty Green"
15:21: LAST NIGHT
28:22: The Mar-Keys, "Last Night"
29:14: COLD WEATHER
40:51: The Choir, "It's Cold Outside"
41:48: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_70__Last_Night_Cold_Weather.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather discover that the characters from Todd Solondz's 1998 black comedy HAPPINESS are just as miserable a dozen years later in LIFE DURING WARTIME, then learn that even good-looking young Montreal hipsters are not immune to the pain of unrequited love in Canadian filmmaking prodigy Xavier Dolan's HEARTBEATS. Plus: Heather contributes a mini-review of the computer-animated comedy RANGO, Paul performs a microscopic analysis of Joe Dante's 1987 sci-fi comedy INNERSPACE, and together they round up the week's other most notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/RANGO/INNERSPACE
10:58: Randy Newman, "Short People"
11:52: LIFE DURING WARTIME
28:59: The Spinners, "Ain't No Price on Happiness"
30:16: HEARTBEATS
42:53: The Knife, "Heartbeats"
43:47: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_69__Life_During_Wartime_Heartbeats.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review the new Criterion edition of Satyajit Ray's 1958 drama THE MUSIC ROOM, and the Topher Grace/Anna Faris '80s nostalgia-fest TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT. Plus: Heather reports on the highlights of her recent movie-watching binge, with special focus on the chop-socky cult classic MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE, Paul contributes a mini-review of Alfonso Cuarón's 1995 children's classic A LITTLE PRINCESS, and the usual roundup of the week's most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/MULHOLLAND DRIVE/THE SACRIFICE/MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE/SKY HIGH/A LITTLE PRINCESS
14:17: Little Peggy March, "I Wish I Were A Princess"
15:18: THE MUSIC ROOM
28:47: Clinic, "Come Into Our Room"
29:52: TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
42:24: Mates of State, "Fraud in the '80s"
43:25: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_68__The_Music_Room_Take_Me_Home_Tonight.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review the ambitious new biopic from director Julian Schnabel, MIRAL, as well as the slick Matthew McConaughey legal thriller THE LINCOLN LAWYER. Plus: Paul reports back from his viewing of the straight-to-DVD Julianne Moore horror film SHELTER, Heather shares her thoughts on Alan J. Pakula's ’70s-paranoia classic THE PARALLAX VIEW, and Zack Snyder's SUCKER PUNCH is subjected to a second round of analysis. All this, plus the usual roundup of the week's most notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/SHELTER/THE PARALLAX VIEW/SUCKER PUNCH redux
19:37: The xx, "Shelter"
20:46: MIRAL
34:46: Yann Tiersen, "Palestine"
35:47: THE LINCOLN LAWYER
50:14: The Lincoln Trio, "Shake Down"
51:13: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro

Direct download: Episode_67__Miral_The_Lincoln_Lawyer.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review two films about groups of men who sacrifice their lives in the name of a higher ideal: Xavier Beauvois' surprise box-office hit about Trappist monks in mid-’90s Algeria OF GODS AND MEN; and Takashi Miike's rousing historical action epic 13 ASSASSINS. Plus: Paul and Heather share their reactions to Terrence Malick's new film THE TREE OF LIFE, and round up the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/THE TREE OF LIFE
16:37: Guided By Voices, "I Am A Tree"
17:40: OF GODS AND MEN
30:36: The Monks, "Monk Time"
31:30: 13 ASSASSINS
45:25: Charlotte Gainsbourg, "Time Of The Assassins"
46:23: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_66__Of_Gods_And_Men_13_Assassins.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 11:08pm EDT

Paul and Heather go picnicking in the heart of Berlin with PEOPLE ON SUNDAY, then take a dizzying trip through two disorienting features from director Louis Malle: the anarchic kiddie comedy ZAZIE DANS LE MÉTRO and the cryptic fable BLACK MOON. Plus our usual roundup of the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/PEOPLE ON SUNDAY
17:22: Lacrosse, "It's Always Sunday Around Here"
18:13: ZAZIE DANS LE MÉTRO/BLACK MOON
40:21: Le Tigre, "My My Metrocard"
41:26: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_65__People_On_Sunday_Zazie_Dans_Le_Mtro_Black_Moon.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 8:02pm EDT

Paul and Heather review the wry Ed Helms comedy CEDAR RAPIDS, as well as the Criterion edition of Robert Aldrich's apocalyptic 1955 B-movie KISS ME DEADLY. Plus: Heather weighs in thoughtfully, if tardily, on THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, as well as Slavoj Zizek's offbeat documentary THE PERVERT'S GUIDE TO CINEMA. But wait, there's more: a discussion of Woody Allen's latest, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, a debate as to whether Criterion's DVD packaging is overrated, and a roundup of the week's other most notable new DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

0:00: Intro/THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, revisited/MIDNIGHT IN PARIS/THE PERVERT'S GUIDE TO CINEMA/Is Criterion coasting?
22:26: Buffy Sainte-Marie, "Guess Who I Saw In Paris"
23:28: CEDAR RAPIDS
36:43: The Mountain Goats, "Insurance Fraud #2"
37:38: KISS ME DEADLY
52:27: The Duke of Birmingham, "Hammer Strokes"
53:23: Other notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_64__Cedar_Rapids_Kiss_Me_Deadly.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

With Heather temporarily absent from the podcast, Paul enlists the reluctant assistance of his girlfriend Tiiu as he reviews three DVD reissues: the new Blu-Ray editions of Clint Eastwood's THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES and John Huston's THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, as well as the new Criterion edition of Nicolas Roeg's INSIGNIFICANCE. Plus, quick takes on the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES
15:40: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING
29:53: Big Star, "The India Song"
30:48: INSIGNIFICANCE
44:56: Big Audio Dynamite, "E=MC2"
46:18: Other noteworthy new DVDs/Outro 


Paul and Heather drive the desert highway with a sentient killer tire in the absurdist horror comedy RUBBER, then stand in the unemployment line with Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, and Tommy Lee Jones in the recession drama THE COMPANY MEN. Also on tap: a bumper crop of mini-reviews, as Heather reports on FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH and GUN CRAZY, while Paul offers his thoughts on OLD BOYFRIENDS and THE BIG BANG. Plus, the usual roundup of notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays and another dip into the DVD Helmet of Mystery. 

0:00: Intro/FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH/GUN CRAZY/OLD BOYFRIENDS/THE BIG BANG
17:27: Parliament, "The Big Bang Theory"
18:34: RUBBER
32:18: The Clean, "In the Dreamlife, You Need a Rubber Soul"
33:23: THE COMPANY MEN
47:45: Edition Speciale, "Mr. Business"
48:54: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/DVD Helmet of Mystery/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_62__Rubber_The_Company_Men.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather are joined by special guest Matt Singer (IFC News/EBERT PRESENTS) for a discussion of film podcasts and online film criticism in general, the future of DVDs, and what DVD audio commentaries we would wish into existence, if only we had the power. Plus, Paul and Heather review Gregg Araki's polymorphously perverse and narratively convoluted indie comedy KABOOM and Alejandro González Iñárritu's Oscar-nominated drama BIUTIFUL, and list the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/Matt Singer interview
22:39: DVD audio commentary wish lists
48:22: Dean and Britta, "Singer Sing"
49:35: KABOOM
1:04:58: Joe Bataan, "Chick a Boom"
1:06:09: BIUTIFUL
1:17:12: Barcelona, "Beautiful"
1:18:03: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_61__Matt_Singer_Kaboom_Biutiful.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather go searching for cheap thrills in Masahiro Shinoda's stylish, nihilistic 1964 yakuza neo-noir PALE FLOWER, and listen raptly to Fran Lebowitz holding court in Martin Scorsese's made-for-TV documentary PUBLIC SPEAKING. Plus: Heather contributes a mini-review of Lionel Rogosin's unique 1957 quasi-documentary about New York down-and-outers, ON THE BOWERY, Paul shares his thoughts on Martin Scorsese's 1978 documentary AMERICAN BOY, and our usual picks for the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/ON THE BOWERY/AMERICAN BOY
13:17: Estelle (featuring Kanye West), "American Boy"
14:21: PALE FLOWER
28:32: Amon Düül II, "Flower of the Orient"
29:33: PUBLIC SPEAKING
43:32: Serge Gainsbourg, "New York USA"
44:34: Other noteworthy new DVDs/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_60__Pale_Flower_Public_Speaking.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review two new-to-DVD horror movies, one newfangled and bloody, the other old-fashioned and eerie. First, a secret service agent wreaks an elaborate revenge campaign against the psychopath who murdered his wife in Kim Ji-Woon's I SAW THE DEVIL; then, four strangers try to survive a mysterious wave of darkness that has caused the entire population of Detroit to disappear without a trace in VANISHING ON 7TH STREET. Plus: Heather reveals her surprising choice for her all-time favourite Orson Welles film (and perhaps her favourite film of all time), Paul gives his mini-reviews of the 1975 Warren Beatty/Jack Nicholson/Mike Nichols flop THE FORTUNE and Kimberly Reed's documentary PRODIGAL SONS, Paul and Heather recall their favourite onscreen head injuries, and finish things up with our lists of the week's other most notable new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/Paul's birthday/THE TRIAL/THE FORTUNE/PRODIGAL SONS
14:28: Big Daddy Kane, "Long Live the Kane"
15:29: I SAW THE DEVIL
29:30: The Donays, "Devil in His Heart"
30:20: VANISHING ON 7TH STREET
41:18: The Temptations, "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone"
42:23: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_59__I_Saw_The_Devil_Vanishing_On_7th_Street.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather watch as Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams travel from blissful young love to the precipice of divorce in BLUE VALENTINE, and Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith see their happy-go-lucky thrill ride take a left turn through unexpectedly violent new territory in Jonathan Demme's cult classic SOMETHING WILD. Along the way, Heather revisits THE GRADUATE, Paul serves up his mini-reviews of Hiroshi Teshigahara's PITFALL and Greg Mottola's THE DAYTRIPPERS (and rehashes his rant about the animated feature THE ILLUSIONIST), and we both reveal our respective lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

0:00: Intro/Report from St. John's/PITFALL/THE DAYTRIPPERS/THE GRADUATE
17:05: Joe Scott Orchestra, "Mrs. Robinson"
18:08: BLUE VALENTINE
35:33: Penny and the Quarters, "You and Me"
36:36: SOMETHING WILD
56:56: The Jackson 5, "Call of the Wild"
57:48: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_58__Blue_Valentine_Something_Wild.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather find time in between Paul's busy travel schedule to view and review Ingmar Bergman's 1955 romantic comedy SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT and Catherine Breillat's queasily intimate 2001 drama FAT GIRL. Plus: our rundown of the week's unusually skimpy array of noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT
20:05: Names and Faces, "Keep Smiling"
21:06: FAT GIRL
33:58: Geraldo Pine, "Heavy Heavy Heavy"
35:08: Other noteworthy new DVDs/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_57__Smiles_Of_A_Summer_Night_Fat_Girl.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review two new releases from Criterion: Ken Loach's 1969 slice-of-life working-class falconry drama KES, and Brian De Palma's stylish 1981 conspiracy thriller BLOW OUT. Plus: Paul offers his mini-review of Chantal Akerman's brilliant 1977 feminist endurance test JEANNE DIELMAN, 23 QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES, and both co-hosts commiserate over an unusually uneventful week for new DVD releases.

0:00: Intro/Pacific Northwest movies/JEANNE DIELMAN/KES
21:40: Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, "Shake a Tail Feather"
22:44: BLOW OUT
41:46: Pino Donaggio, "Sally and Jack"
42:37: Other noteworthy new DVD releases/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_56__Kes_Blow_Out.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather attempt to console grieving parents Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart in John Cameron Mitchell's drama RABBIT HOLE, and wear out several pairs of walking shoes with Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, and Saoirse Ronan in THE WAY BACK. Plus: mini-reviews of Alain Resnais' PROVIDENCE and Jean Renoir's GRAND ILLUSION, a tribute to the late director Sidney Lumet, our reactions to the list of films in competition at this summer's Cannes Film Festival... and a birthday surprise for Heather! Plus our usual lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

0:00: Intro/PROVIDENCE/GRAND ILLUSION/Happy birthday, Heather!/RIP, Sidney Lumet/Cannes 2011 lineup
21:43: Robyn, "Cry When You Get Older"
22:25: RABBIT HOLE
35:41: Bishop Allen, "The Rabbit"
36:47: THE WAY BACK
48:44: Gladys Knight and the Pips, "Walk In My Shoes"
49:52: Other noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_55__Rabbit_Hole_The_Way_Back.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review Claire Denis' elliptical character study WHITE MATERIAL, starring Isabelle Huppert as a woman determined to bring in a coffee harvest even as the unnamed African country she lives in descends into civil war; and Philip Ridley's urban horror-fantasy HEARTLESS, starring Jim Sturgess as a young Londoner who makes a deal with the devil to rid himself of a disfiguring birthmark covering half his face. Also, Paul shares a mini-review of Jonathan Demme's subversive exploitation flick CAGED HEAT, we discuss our favourite prison movies, and offer our thoughts on the film-snob mini-controversy surrounding the upcoming Criterion edition of Lena Dunham's TINY FURNITURE. Also, as usual, we run down our lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

0:00: Intro/CAGED HEAT/Prison movies/Has Criterion gone mad?
15:34: The Vapors, "Prisoners"
16:42: WHITE MATERIAL
28:22: Fela Kuti, "African Woman"
29:21: HEARTLESS
42:43: Mandy Moore, "I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week"
43:48: Other notable new DVD releases/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_54__White_Material_Heartless.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review two films about flamboyant, high-living con men: in I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS, Jim Carrey uses his powers of deception to further his romance with a fellow prison inmate, while in CASINO JACK, lobbyist Jack Abramoff Kevin Spacey uses his Washington connections to line his pockets with millions of dollars' worth of kickbacks. Also: Heather offers her mini-review of Derek Jarman's WITTGENSTEIN, while Paul notes the critical reaction to Todd Haynes' HBO miniseries MILDRED PIERCE, and describes his unsuccessful attempts to give his girlfriend nightmares.

0:00-14:47: Intro/WITTGENSTEIN/Paul's unscarable girlfriend/MILDRED PIERCE
14:47-15:48: The Darlings, "TV"
15:48-29:29: I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS
29:29-30:39: Nina Simone, "To Love Somebody"
30:39-44:10: CASINO JACK
44:10-45:08: Citay, "Be Careful With That Hat"
45:08-1:04:07: Other noteworthy new DVD releases/Outro 

Direct download: Episode_53__I_Love_You_Phillip_Morris_Casino_Jack.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review the Criterion edition of Mike Leigh's Gilbert & Sullivan Mikadopic TOPSY-TURVY, and Andrew Jarecki's true-crime thriller ALL GOOD THINGS. Also: we (vaguely) remember the life of Elizabeth Taylor, Heather contributes a mini-review of Akira Kurosawa's newly relevant drama I LIVE IN FEAR, and Paul goes gooey for Margot Kidder in his mini-review of the Brian De Palma thriller SISTERS. Plus: our lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

 

0:00-12:32: Intro/Elizabeth Taylor, RIP/I LIVE IN FEAR/SISTERS

12:32-13:32: The Bagdads, "Livin' in Fear"

13:32-28:47: TOPSY-TURVY

28:47-29:50: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You"

29:50-41:42: ALL GOOD THINGS

41:42-42:44: Frank Williams and the Rocketeers, "Good Things (Pt. 1)"

42:44-1:03:26: Other noteworthy new DVDs/Outro

Direct download: Episode_52__Topsy-Turvy_All_Good_Things.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather take another dip into the DVD Helmet of Mystery during this slow week for new releases, and emerge with reviews of Sam Peckinpah's elegaic 1973 Western PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID, as well as the quirky 1993 Johnny Depp/Jerry Lewis/Faye Dunaway joint ARIZONA DREAM. Plus: Paul contributes a mini-review of the bonbon-doc KINGS OF PASTRY and fights his urge to force-feed his new girlfriend a steady diet of his favourite movies, while Heather asks the DVD AFTERNOON listenership to help her name her new blog.

 

0:00: Intro/KINGS OF PASTRY/Girlfriend-Boyfriend Cinema Boot Camp/Name Heather's Blog!

16:13: The Nicols, "She Had a Name to Find Out"

17:19: PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID

30:10: Bob Dylan, "Billy 1"

31:06: ARIZONA DREAM

44:26: The Cattanooga Cats, "Johnny Johnny Jump-Up"

45:32: Other noteworthy new DVD releases/Outro

Direct download: Episode_51__Pat_Garrett_And_Billy_The_Kid_Arizona_Dream.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather celebrate their podcast's golden-episode anniversary by reviewing Olivier Assayas' epic biopic CARLOS and Clint Eastwood's New Age metaphysical drama HEREAFTER, revisiting a couple of 1980s classics, dipping their hands once again into the DVD Helmet of Mystery, and rattling off their picks for the week's other most noteworthy new DVD releases.

0:00-17:16: Intro/BULL DURHAM/THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS/Why We Love Amanda Seyfried/DVD Helmet of Mystery

17:16-18:17: Ennio Morricone, "Duck, You Sucker (Main Title)"

18:17-33:28: CARLOS

33:28-34:31: Mink Deville, "Gunslinger"

34:31-49:52: HEREAFTER

49:52-50:58: YACHT, "The Afterlife"

50:58-1:03:23: Other noteworthy new DVDs/Outro

Direct download: Episode_50__Carlos_Hereafter.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review Chris Morris' controversy-baiting suicide-bomber comedy FOUR LIONS, as well as Charles Ferguson's Oscar-winning Wall Street documentary INSIDE JOB. Plus: we share our reactions to the Oscarcast, Heather delves deep into the dustiest shelf of her video store with a mini-review of the mid-’70s post-apocalyptic satire A BOY AND HIS DOG, Paul continues his love affair with Annette Bening with a mini-review of IN DREAMS, and we both check off our lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVD releases.

Direct download: Episode_49__Four_Lions_Inside_Job.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather go way off the beaten track in this slow week for new DVD releases with reviews of the documentary-style father-son drama ALAMAR and the ultra-stylized Belgian giallo tribute AMER. Plus, we look ahead to the Oscarcast and reveal our lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVDs and Blu-Rays.

Direct download: Episode_48__Alamar_Amer.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather take a look at the new Criterion editions of two very different 1950s classics: Alexander Mackendrick's masterpiece of big-city cynicism SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, and Luchino Visconti's operatic romance SENSO. Along the way, Heather reviews the batshit-crazy 1934 Peter Lorre gothic melodrama MAD LOVE, Paul talks about DOWN TO THE BONE, the addiction drama from WINTER'S BONE writer/director Debra Granik, and we both reveal our lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVD releases.

Direct download: Episode_47__Sweet_Smell_Of_Success_Senso.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather kick up their heels at Robert Duvall's funeral party in GET LOW, and spend a couple of hours in the principal's office with Davis Guggenheim's school-reform documentary WAITING FOR "SUPERMAN." Plus: Paul provides a mini-review of Jonathan Demme's LAST EMBRACE, Heather explains her problem with Sofia Coppola, and we both reveal our lists of the week's other most noteworthy new DVD releases.

Direct download: Episode_46__Get_Low_Waiting_For__Superman.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:30am EDT

Paul and Heather visit the countryside with Stephen Frears' Thomas Hardy-inspired comedy of manners TAMARA DREWE, then check themselves into the psych ward with the offbeat teen comedy/drama IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY. Plus: chatter about Juliette Lewis, Ricky Gervais, and CLIENT-9, as well as our respective lists of the week's other most notable new DVD releases.

Direct download: Episode_45__Tamara_Drewe_Its_Kind_Of_A_Funny_Story.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 1:07am EDT

Paul and Heather review the American remake of the modern-classic Swedish vampire movie LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, LET ME IN, as well as Gareth Edwards low-key post-alien-invasion road movie MONSTERS and Tanya Hamilton's 1970s Black Panther melodrama NIGHT CATCHES US. Plus, we share our reactions to the Oscar nominees and count down our lists of the week's most notable new DVD releases and re-releases.

Direct download: Episode_44__Let_Me_In_Monsters_Night_Catches_Us.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather review the disturbing Greek nuclear-family satire DOGTOOTH, as well as Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1989 cult-favourite psychedelic psychological horror film SANTA SANGRE. Plus: Heather gives her mini-review of the little-seen early Stanley Kubrick noir KILLER'S KISS, we assess Ricky Gervais' performance as host of the Golden Globes, and run down our lists of the week's other most notable new DVD releases.

Direct download: Episode_43__Dogtooth_Santa_Sangre.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather peer inside the Melbourne criminal underworld with ANIMAL KINGDOM; dive into the swimming pool with Philip Seymour Hoffman in JACK GOES BOATING; and hang out with the psychopaths, nymphomaniacs, perverts, and reformed prostitutes who populate Samuel Fuller's classics SHOCK CORRIDOR and THE NAKED KISS. Plus: Heather describes her magical evening with Crispin Glover, and our rundown of the week's other notable new DVD releases.


Paul and Heather watch Allen Ginsberg go from coffeehouse celebrity to courthouse defendant in the docudrama HOWL; and drive across hurricane-ravaged Louisiana with William Hurt, Kristen Stewart, and Eddie Redmayne in THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF. Plus: Heather's mini-review of the animated ’80s oddity LIGHT YEARS, a look at Armond White's argument-starting 2010 "Better Than" list, and our rundown of the week's most notable new DVD releases.

Direct download: Episode_41__Howl_The_Yellow_Handkerchief.mp3
Category:TV and Film -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Paul and Heather return from their Christmas holidays with a jumbo-sized look back at the movies of 2010, with lists not just of the best films of the year, but also the year's biggest DVD surprises, discoveries, and revelations.