The Cinephiliacs

Latest Episodes:

TC #27 - Craig Simpson (Paris Texas) Oct 21, 2013

Show notes

One can spend their entire life just watching the movies and appreciating the work on screen, but often just as fascinating is seeing all the behind the scenes work. Craig Simpson, a blogger and occasional contributor to The House Next Door, has worked and organized the archival collections of some of the most unique film artists of the last century. So the Man From Porlock makes his journey from Bloomington, Indiana all the way to New York to talk about growing up a cinephile in the American Southwest, his skepticism to the cult of auteurism, and the treasures at the Lilly Library at Indiana University. Finally, they dive into the world of Paris, Texas, which Craig describes as a perfect test case of unweildy collaborators keeping each other in place.

0:00-1:06 Opening2:56-6:34 Establishing Shots - Who The Hell is Howard Hawks?7:19-50:57 Deep Focus - Craig Simpson52:16-1:12:48 Double Exposure - Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders)1:12:52-1:14:56 Close / Outtake

TC - NYFF51 #3 (Tony Dayoub) Oct 14, 2013

Show notes

As the 51st New York Film Festival comes to a close, Peter finally takes on a number of the big American films (and one French!) of the year, though don't mention the "O word" around him. Just because these films are going to be discussed in the context of awards season does not make them any less essential viewing, as Peter is joined by House Next Door and Press Play blogger Tony Dayoub to discuss these works that dive into various aspects of the American past, present, and future. Peter and Tony make a visit to the American South and Midwest with films from Steve McQueen and Alexander Payne, as well the 1920s and the future with James Gray's The Immigrant and Spike Jonze's Her. Plus they dive into the controversial Cannes winner Blue is the Warmest Color before hanging with vampires Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddelston. Some are great; others maybe not so much. Find out which on the show.

0:00-1:40 Opening3:01-17:04Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave18:08-29:30 James Gray's The Immigrant30:57-42:07 Alexander Payne's Nebraska42:20-43:28 Trivia Round44:24-53:51 Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive54:43-1:08:12 Abdellatif Kechiche's Blue is the Warmest Color1:09:40-1:22:42 Spike Jonze's Her1:22:47-1:24:26 Close

TC - NYFF's Views from the Avant-Garde (James Hansen) Oct 11, 2013

Show notes

With over 200 films spread over 40+ programs, how does one even begin to approach the New York Film Festival's Views from the Avant-Garde, especially someone as novice as Peter? Well, the only way is to dive in head first, as he did this year, and now brings on experimental film expert James Hansen to talk through approaches to these truly unique films. The two dish it out on canonical artists like Luther Price, Peter Hutton, and Nathaniel Dorsky, and rhapsodize about other favorites they've found along the way, including Peter's favorite film of the festival - a stop motion rock opera set to Dark Side of the Moon. Finally, they finish off with an appropriate feature, Stephanie Barber's Daredevils, which engages viewers in how to think about new ways to take risks and see things differently. (Make sure to check the notes below for a handful of excellent links to writings and videos of the various films).

0:00-8:00 Opening / Approaching the Avant-Garde9:24-17:49 Luther Price24:07-32:20 Landscapes, Peter Hutton, and Three Landscapes32:20-37:52 Nathaniel Dorsky38:51-48:26 Jodie Mack and Dusty Stacks of Mom53:26-1:08:25 Stephanie Barber's Daredevils1:08:27-1:10:24 Close / Outtake

TC - NYFF51 #2 (Monica Castillio) Oct 04, 2013

Show notes

Much of the fun of a festival like the New York Film Festival is experiencing the works of major auteurs from the front lines, but it's also about finding something small, unique, and truly exciting. For this second podcast report from the preeminent Manhattan film festival, Boston film critic Monica Castillo tracks her way down to coast to join Peter for another week through the festival, including the US premiere of the latest film from the Coen brothers, Inside Llewyn Davis. But beyond mellow 60s folk rock, there's surrealism in Taipei with the latest of Tsai Ming-Liang, melancholic love with Philipe Garrel, and another comedic head-scratcher from Romania. All this and more as NYFF continues its 51st run.

0:00-1:54 Opening3:00-12:39 The Coens' Inside Llewyn Davis13:38-23:30 Joanna Hogg's Exhibition24:24-32:13 Corneliu Porumboiu's When Evening Falls on Bucharest or Metabolism33:31-41:33 Phillipe Garrel's Jealousy43:05-1:01:05 Tsai Ming-Liang's Stray Dogs1:01:06-1:02:48 Close

TC - NYFF51 #1 (Carson Lund) Sep 27, 2013

Show notes

Arguably the most excitingly and dynamically curated film festival in the world, Peter returns to the New York Film Festival, now in its 51st iteration, for his 8th (!) trip and he couldn't be more excited. Thus begins a series of podcasts dedicated to the various works being presented throughout the festival, now lead by its new head programmer Kent Jones. To help him work through many of the daunting works (in theme, aesthetic, and running time), Boston cinephile Carson Lund, a blogger covering the festival for In Review Online, joins Peter on a tour through violence in capitalist China, fascism in the Northern Philippines, cruising in France, alcoholism in South Korea, and melting ice cream in Nepal. If the rest of the films are as intriguing and exciting as those covered in this first podcast, NYFF51 might just be the best festival yet.

0:00-2:17 Opening2:47-15:15 Zhangke's A Touch of Sin15:39-26:27 Miyazaki's The Wind Rises26:54-37:23 Guiraudie's Stranger By the Lake37:36-39:48 Trivia Round40:13-53:43 Diaz's Norte, End of History54:54-1:06:28 Hong's Nobody's Daughter Haewon1:07:16-1:20:30 MANAKAMANA1:20:33-1:23:07 Close / Outtake

TC #26 - Jordan Cronk (Repo Man) Sep 09, 2013

Show notes

The city of Los Angeles might be where Hollywood's dreams come true, but for film critic Jordan Cronk, his mind often wanders toward the films of countries far and abroad, reflective works of the most avant-garde order. So when Jordan decided to make a pit stop in New York before heading off to the Toronto Film Festival, Peter had him drop by the studio for some chat on his work as a critic, the state of world cinema, Los Angeles's growing repertory theaters, how to approach music the same way as film, and his slight obsession with actress Shailene Woodley. They then dream of an LA they never knew with Alex Cox's crazy cult classic, Repo Man, whose humor and political allegory is uniquely distinct and worth deconstructing, as well as simply rocking along with.

0:00-1:01 Opening2:09-8:31 Establishing Shots - Twixt / Trivia Round9:16-51:41 Deep Focus - Jordan Cronk53:05-1:12:11 Double Exposure - Repo Man (Alex Cox)1:12:13-1:14:47 Close / Outtake

TC #25 - Sheila O'Malley (Opening Night) Aug 26, 2013

Show notes

If you want to tell a story on film, you most likely are going to require actors, and hopefully great ones. But how does one talk about how actors do? Sheila O'Malley has more than enough experience in acting, and has become one of the most prolific bloggers of how to discuss the craft, so Peter invites her own to share her experiences and ideas about the profession. Sheila talks about her first acting love (James Dean) and her experience in The Actors Studio, before deciding to take the conversations of her friends and turn them into blog posts. The two also discuss many great iconic performances - Cary Grant in Notorious, Sissy Spacek in Badlands, Alain Delon in Le Samourai - and the way the different actors can approach different roles. Finally, the two work through a truly towering film, John Cassavetes's Opening Night, and examine how it both celebrates the world of acting as well as captures its most terrifying anxieties.

0:00-1:01 Opening2:08-8:21Establishing Shots - Short Term 12 / Trivia Round9:06-1:03:33 Deep Focus - Sheila O'Malley1:05:32-1:29:57 Double Exposure - Opening Night (John Cassavetes)1:30:00-1:31:41 Close

TC #24 - Robert Greene (Edvard Munch) Aug 12, 2013

Show notes

Robert Greene jokes that he badgered Peter into finally watching his two documentaries, Kati With An I and Fake It So Real. But he certainly didn't badger Peter's opinion of recognizing a true non-fiction talent, someone who is taking the form in new directions through both theory and practice. Robert joins Peter on the show to talk about how he went from a lover of 2001 and Star Wars to a man obsessed with non-fiction cinema, and discusses how he thinks filmmakers can approach their subjects with both approaches to form and content that can compete with the best fiction films. Peter then engages Robert to talk about his own practice to making films, and why limiting his options ultimately freed him in the form. Finally, Robert brings in Peter Watkins's Edvard Munch, a bafflingly brilliant film that the two find plenty to discuss in terms of making a non-fiction approach to a film to encompasses the shift from the 19th century to the 20th at both the cosmic and the micro level.

0:00-1:02 Opening2:40-8:20 Establishing Shots - Frankenheimer's Seconds / Trivia Round / Donations9:05-46:20 Deep Focus - Robert Greene47:47-1:20:31 Kati With An I and Fake It So Real1:21:28-1:44:04 Double Exposure - Edvard Munch (Peter Watkins)1:44:06-1:46:01 Close / Outtake

TC #23 - Gina Telaroli (Brigadoon) Jul 29, 2013

Show notes

Many of Peter's guests have expressed their feelings about cinema through words. Gina Telaroli prefers images, both moving and still. The experimental filmmaker, image essay maker, and critic sits down with Peter for a very engaging conversation about her work and passion. The two dive into her frame-by-frame analysis of classic Hollywood films and the "unconscious cinema" she unlocks, as well as her obsession with Hollywood workmen Allan Dwan and William Wellman. Peter also gushes about Gina's film Traveling Light, and asks her numerous questions about what he sees as a spiritual work of cinema. Finally, Gina brings in Vincente Minnelli's Gene Kelly-Scottish set musical Brigadoon, a haunting work that both read as a metaphor for the magic and miracle that is cinema and 35mm.

0:00-1:08 Opening1:48-6:50 Establishing Shots - Computer Chess7:02-9:05 Trivia Round9:49-1:10:50 Deep Focus - Gina Telaroli1:12:07-1:32:48 Double Exposure - Brigadoon (Vincente Minnelli)1:32:50-1:34:29 Close

TC #22 - A.O. Scott (The Player) Jul 15, 2013

Show notes

One year into The Cinephiliacs, Peter brings in a critic that he's read for almost a decade now: A.O. Scott of the New York Times. Tony joins Peter for a traveled conversation about his entry into cinephilia at the repertory houses of Paris and Cambridge, his thoughts on the craft of writing, and how to think about films in the context of their audiences. Tony also explains how he comes up with those "trend" pieces, the phenomenon of "critic proof" movies and why they matter, and the patterns and differences between recent American literature and film. Finally, the two discuss Robert Altman's The Player, which continues to be the only contemporary successful satire of Hollywood, perhaps because it so closely plays the line between satire and seduction.

0:00-1:05 Opening1:35-7:02 Establishing Shots -Montage of The Cinephiliacs: Year 17:17-9:13 Trivia Round9:56-1:17:22 Deep Focus - A.O. Scott1:18:59-1:40:53 Double Exposure - The Player (Robert Altman)1:40:55-1:43:30 Close / Outtake - On The King of Comedy

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