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Latest Episodes:

Episode 16: Godzilla Minus One and The Wind Rises Aug 25, 2024

Lyra's been taking a lot of Japanese language and literature classes, so this summer Dan and Lyra discuss two recent Japanese movies dealing with World War II. Dan chose Takashi Yamakazi's 2023 Godzilla Minus One, and Lyra chose Hayao Miyazaki's 2013 The Wind Rises. The two debate culpability, self-sacrifice, and the Miyazaki–Neon Genesis Evangelion connection.
Intro and outro music: Joe Hisaishi's score for The Wind Rises.
Mid-show music: Naoki Satö's score for Godzilla Minus One.

Episode 15: Vertigo and Psycho Nov 15, 2023

Happy Hitchcoctober! Er, Hitchcocktember. Lyra (from her dorm room!) and Dan discuss Vertigo and Psycho, the director as voyeur, possession versus obsession, and Lyra's strong argument that the shower scene is "goofy."
Intro and outro music: Bernard Herrmann's Vertigo score.
Mid-show music: Bernard Herrmann's Psycho score.

Episode 14: Fight Club and Mulholland Drive Jul 29, 2023

In the final episode before Lyra goes to college (!!), Dan and Lyra discuss David Fincher's Fight Club, David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, movies as puzzles the director wants you to crack, and movies as artworks the director doesn't want you to solve. Silencio!!!
Intro music: the Dust Brothers' score from Fight Club.
Mid-show music: the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" from Fight Club.
Outro music: Angelo Badalamenti's score from Mulholland Drive.

Episode 13: Everything in Inisherin All at Once Feb 25, 2023

Happy Oscar Season! Dan and Lyra discuss Everything Everywhere All at Once,The Banshees of Inisherin, maximalism, depression, whether mean people make for better drama, dead donkeys, and Raccacoonie.
Intro music: Son Lux's score from Everything Everywhere All at Once. Outro music: Carter Burwell's score from The Banshees of Inisherin.

Episode 12: Thelma & Louise & Jack & Ennis Jul 12, 2022

Dan and Lyra discuss two revisionist westerns about friendship, love, and the perils of masculinity. Dan chooses Ridley Scott's 1991 inspirational revenge story Thelma and Louise, and Lyra chooses Ang Lee's 2005 cowboy weepie Brokeback Mountain. What does it mean to call a movie feminist? Why can't Jack and Ennis talk to each other? And why did Lyra hate The Searchers so much?
Intro music: Glenn Frey, "Part of Me, Part of You" from Thelma and Louise.
Mid-show music: Marianne Faithfull, "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" from Thelma and Louise. Outro music: Gustavo Santaolalla, "The Wings" from Brokeback Mountain.

Episode 11: American Psycho and Sorry to Bother You Mar 13, 2022

Dan and Lyra discuss two satires of capitalism focusing on unlikely antiheroes. Lyra chooses Mary Harron's 2000 bloodbath American Psycho, and Dan chooses Boots Riley's madcap 2018 Sorry to Bother You. How many Patrick Batemans are there? What's that business card made out of? And what's that whinnying sound?
Intro music: Huey Lewis and the News, "Hip to Be Square" from American Psycho.
Mid-show music: Tune-Yards, "SIGNS (Detroit's Theme)" from Sorry to Bother You.
Outro music: The Coup and Janelle Monaé, "Whatthegirlmuthafuckinwannadoo" from Sorry to Bother You.

Episode 10: Dune and Brazil Nov 26, 2021

Dan and Lyra discuss two sci-fi epics with very different vibes. Lyra chooses Denis Villeneuve's brand-new hit Dune (part 1). Dan chooses Terry Gilliam's madcap 1985 satire Brazil. What's in the box? Can Lyra use The Voice? And does anyone have a form 27B/6?!
Intro and mid-show music: Hans Zimmer's score for Dune.
Outro music: Maria and Geoff Muldaur, "Aquarela do Brasil."

Episode 9: The Piano and A Silent Voice Aug 18, 2021

Dan and Lyra discuss two movies that deal with disability in unique and artful ways. Lyra chooses Naoko Yamada's 2016 anime A Silent Voice. Dan chooses Jane Campion's 1993 drama The Piano. Can Dan appreciate an anime where everyone's emotions are turned up to 11? Can Lyra appreciate a movie featuring coercion, sex, and graphic violence? Plus: colonialism, unforgivable actions, and the fat friend.
Intro and mid-show music: Michael Nyman's score for The Piano.
Outro music: Kensuke Ushio's score for A Silent Voice.

Episode 8: Promising Young Woman and Nomadland Apr 22, 2021

Dan and Lyra have Oscar Fever! Well, Dan does ... Lyra thinks Oscar movies sound boring. Nevertheless, she's chosen Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman, a movie that is not boring. Dan, meanwhile, chooses Chloe Zhao's Nomadland. Which will they like better? Will they agree about Promising Young Woman's ending? Which will actually win Best Picture? Plus: Albanian grocery clerks, the difference between actors and real people, and Bo Burnham.
Intro music: Promising Young Woman composer Anthony Willis' arrangement of "Toxic" for string quartet.
Mid-show music: from Nomadland, Ludovico Einaudi's "Oltremare."
Outro music: from Promising Young Woman, Charli XCX's "Boys."

Episode 7: Madoka Magica and The Virgin Suicides Feb 11, 2021

It's an all-Magical Girl episode! Lyra seizes the chance to make Dan watch all 12 episodes of the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Dan introduces Lyra to Sofia Coppola with The Virgin Suicides. It's quite an intergenerational debate! Honestly, Dan doesn't get it, and Lyra spends a lot of energy trying to get him to understand why she loves this anime so much. Plus: the female gaze, The Wonder Years, and Kyubey, an adorable, interdimensional "little shit."
Intro music from Yuki Kajiura's Madoka Magica score.
Mid-show and outro music from Air's The Virgin Suicides score.

Episode 6: Mad Max Fury Road and The Old Guard Dec 02, 2020

It's a Charlize Theron-athon, as Lyra chooses George Milller's Mad Max: Fury Road for Dan, and Dan chooses Gina Prince-Bythewood's The Old Guard for Lyra. In this episode, father and daughter also talk about commodification, queer romance, and being terrified of immortality.
Dan and Lyra refer to this New York Times oral history of Fury Road.
Intro music from Junkie XL's Fury Road score.
Outro music from Volker Bertelmann and Dustin O'Halloran's The Old Guard score.

Episode 5: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Shape of Water Sep 26, 2020

Lyra chooses Guillermo Del Toro's The Shape of Water for Dan. Dan chooses Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for Lyra. In this episode, father and daughter also talk about manic pixie dream girls, oppressive Americanness, and Homestuck.
Intro music from Alexandre Desplat's Shape of Water score.
Outro music from Jon Brion's Eternal Sunshine score.

Episode 4: House Party and Do the Right Thing Aug 02, 2020

Lyra chooses Reginald Hudlin's House Party for Dan. Dan chooses Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing for Lyra. In this episode, father and daughter also talk about rap battles, representation in film, and fuckbois.
Intro music: "House Party" by Full Force.
Outro music: "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy.

Episode 3: Watership Down and O Brother, Where Art Thou? Jul 01, 2020

Lyra chooses Martin Rosen's Watership Down for Dan. Dan chooses the Coen brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou? for Lyra. In this episode, father and daughter also talk about bunny murder, The Odyssey, the Klan, and Lyra's resolute disinterest in country music.
Intro music: "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys.
Mid-show music: "Bright Eyes" by Art Garfunkel.
Outro music: "You Are My Sunshine," from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Episode 2: Akira and Police Story Jun 08, 2020

Dan chooses Jackie Chan's Police Story for Lyra. Lyra chooses Akira, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, for Dan. In this episode, father and daughter also talk about police violence, Brooklyn 99, subs vs. dubs, and more.
Intro music: Akira original score, composed by Shōji Yamashiro (Tsutomu Ōhashi).
Outro music: "The Hero Story (Theme to Police Story)," performed by Jackie Chan.
This episode also uses a clip from "The Abridged Akira," a video by Avery Rosen and Mike Ericson.

Episode 1: Pan's Labyrinth and Whisper of the Heart Jun 07, 2020

Dan chooses Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth for Lyra. Lyra chooses Whisper of the Heart, directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki, for Dan. In this premiere episode, the two also talk all-time favorite movies, how cruel the Seven Dwarves' parents were, and the struggle to make art.
Intro music: Pan's Labyrinth original score, composed by Javier Navarrete.
Outro music: "Take Me Home, Country Roads," performed by Yoko Honna, from Whisper of the Heart.

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