Cinemaball

Latest Episodes:

Cinemaball 05: L.A. Confidential (1997) May 25, 2018

Show notes

This week, Cinemaball goes all stylish and dark as Carolyn and Ebony dissect the 1997 neo-noir classic, L.A. Confidential. Our hosts wax rhapsodic about the film's masterful evocation of a peculiarly Hollywood glamour; the seedy underbelly of the LAPD; and the dangerous allure of power.

The film featured a stellar lineup, including a luminous Kim Basinger, the quietly intimidating James Cromwell, and perfectly cast (and relatively-unknown to American audiences at the time) Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce. Tune in and listen to Carolyn and Ebony explore the way the film refuses to offer easy emotional closure or one-dimensional heroes.

Subscribe to Cinemaball now on iTunes, Stitcher, or PlayerFM to get each week’s new episode as soon as it’s available!

View the basic rules of Cinemaball and a history of all episodes here.

Cinemaball 04: Louder Than Bombs (2015) May 18, 2018

Show notes

On this week’s Cinemaball, Ebony and Carolyn discuss the complex family drama Louder Than Bombs, which stars the captivating actor Gabriel Byrne as Gene, a man still trying to fully process the death of his wife, war photographer Isabelle. His sons, high-schooler Conrad and professor Jonah (played by Jesse Eisenberg) each have their own struggles, and over the course of the film we gain insight into the different meaning that Isabelle had for each of them.

Our conversation touches on what makes Gabriel Byrne such a fascinating actor, the use of video games as an easy shorthand for “this kid is troubled,” the prioritization of the inner lives of white men over just about anyone else as a pattern in cinema, and the ways in which photography works as a metaphor in the context of the film’s narrative. In the end, Ebony announces our next film, and the selection makes Carolyn very, very happy.

View the basic rules of Cinemaball and a history of all episodes at goo.gl/ePDPuQ

Cinemaball 03: It Follows (2014) May 11, 2018

Show notes

Don’t look behind you, but on this episode of Cinemaball, Ebony and Carolyn talk about the terrifying horror film It Follows. (Caro is still recovering from her viewing experience.) We discuss the ways in which the film taps into some of our deepest fears around sex and death, the power of the various forms “it” takes, how the film uses its Detroit setting to great effect, and the small details that make its world feel just slightly displaced from our own. We end by each rating the film and Carolyn announces what we’ll be watching on next week’s show!

Cinemaball 02: Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018) May 04, 2018

Show notes

On this episode of Cinemaball, Ebony and Carolyn find themselves embroiled in the deadly underground Thai kickboxing scene of Kickboxer Retaliation! Join us as we go toe-to-toe with the film’s fight choreography, its representations of masculinity, and Mike Tyson’s acting skills.

Cinemaball 01: Highlander (1985) Apr 27, 2018

Show notes

On this, our inaugural episode of Cinemaball, Carolyn and Ebony dive deep into the 1985 cult classic Highlander! This quintessential 80s film gives us no shortage of topics to discuss, from French actor Christopher Lambert’s performance as a Scottish nobleman to Scottish actor Sean Connery’s performance as a Spanish (or perhaps Egyptian?!) immortal. We delve into the rich contrast between Lambert’s introspective hero, Connor MacLeod, and Clancy Brown’s scenery-chewing villain, The Kurgan; share who we would cast in our own personal Highlander remakes; and rate the film on Ebony’s brother’s patented 100-star scale. Finally, Carolyn kicks the cinemaball over to their next film.

Visit the blog post on our site to see a few images from the film that Carolyn found particularly striking: https://feministfrequency.com/video/cinemaball-01-highlander-1985/

00 Cinemaball Premieres April 27, 2018! Apr 13, 2018

Show notes

Are you ready for Cinemaball? Tune in and find out what Carolyn and Ebony get up to when they're let loose with a couple of free hours, a remote control, and an Amazon Prime subscription. In our first teaser episode, Caro and Ebony sketch out the broad outlines of this off-the-wall movie review show, in which they'll force each other to watch and connect unrelated movies in an attempt to reach a hilarious cinematic goal. Ebony spikes the cinemaball into play by revealing their first selection, and it's a real winner.

Join us every Friday for Cinemaball, Feminist Frequency's latest pop culture-obsessed podcast!

Cinemaball is powered by Simplecast