Footcandle Films Podcast

This episode has something for everyone…big budget action and costume drama. Alan & Chris review Tom Cruise’s summer blockbuster “Edge of Tomorrow” and the historical drama “Belle” Rounding out the episode per usual are some news tidbits and recommendations of films you might want to check out. Recommendations: “Contact”, “End of Watch” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You have to admit – this episode title is only slightly more ridiculous than the title of the latest installment in the X-Men franchise right? After the disappointment of Spiderman 2 do the uncanny X-Men fare any better in their summer blockbuster sequel? Recommendations: “Milius”, “Gone With The Wind”, “The Great Beauty” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Having posted three shows in April, Alan & Chris decided to take a Spring Break of sorts from their critic duties. Now they’re back with a super-sized episode featuring reviews of two blockbusters (Spiderman 2, Godzilla) and two independent flicks (The Double, Blue Ruin). Chris tries his hand at anchoring the news segment and of course they close with their recommendations for films you might have missed. Recommendations: “Robot & Frank”, “Donnie Darko”, “500 Days of Summer” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Big budgets, big stars, & special FX galore. It must be Summertime. Well no, it is only mid-April. Just like Christmas items seem to show up before Halloween costumes leave the shelves, summer tentpole films seem to be creeping earlier and earlier into the year. Two such films “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Noah” are discussed in this episode along with the documentary “Tim’s Vermeer”. Recommendations: “Wrong”, “Love Bug”, “Luminaris”, “3x3”, “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After taking in a deluge of films at the 2014 RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, NC Alan & Chris sat down and recounted their thoughts on what they saw. Bear with them…it was late at night and films almost started running together. Plus they were a bit giddy because they’d gotten to see director David Gordon Green and actor Tye Sheridan do an unexpected Q&A. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Muppets are back in the theater with all new songs and celebrity cameos. What did Alan & Chris think of their efforts this time around? Will it likely be one of their favorites of the year like the previous film? Next up Frodo Baggins (aka Elijah Wood) goes art house with a thriller (Grand Piano) where he’s a pianist staging a comeback. Movie news and recommendations round out the episode…and sadly no review of “Ride Along” yet. Alan learns that the penalty for any further delay might mean he needs to take in an additional screening of “The Single Mom’s Club”. Recommendations – “The Emperor’s New Groove”, “Crazy Heart” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2014 Oscars have come and gone. Among the winners were the Italian film “The Great Beauty” for Best Foreign Language Film. Fresh from a screening of the film, Alan & Chris weigh the film’s merits and consider whether the Academy made a good choice. Time is also spent discussing “Wadjda” which has the distinction of being the first feature length film ever to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. The results from the Oscar challenge are also revealed…someone is headed to a screening of “Ride Along”. Recommendations – “Drug War”, “Psychos” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Academy decided that “Inside Llewyn Davis”, the latest film by the Coen Brothers, was worthy of only two nominations in the less lauded categories of Sound Mixing and Cinematography. Alan & Chris weigh in with their thoughts on whether or not this was one of those infamous academy slights. They also talk about the recent highly successful kids film “The Lego Movie”. With 2014 promising to be a great year in movies the hosts also share their most anticipated films and then each give a recommendation for a film you might have missed. Recommendations – “Beware of Mr. Baker”, “A Serious Man” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Spike Jonze, whose films include “Being John Malkovich”, “Adaptation” and “Where The Wild Things Are”, has an Oscar contender for Best Picture with his latest work “Her”. Alan & Chris give their thoughts on the film and then spend a few moments mourning the passing of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Also in this episode both hosts pick their favorites to take home Oscar statues in March. To make things interesting they even establish a wager (the loser MUST attend a screening of the lowest rated movie by Rotten Tomatoes and discuss the experience in an upcoming episode). All this plus the fellows close out the episode with their picks for films you might have missed. Recommendations – “Short Term 12, “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What better way to bring in 2014 than to cram as many reviews into one episode as possible? That's exactly what Alan & Chris try to do…give you the most bang for your podcast listening buck. Oh wait…the show is free right? Well maybe it'll encourage you to pay it forward and give us a kind review on iTunes? Anyways…we do have a great show with reviews of "American Hustle", "The Wolf of Wall Street", & "All Is Lost". For extra measure Alan also starts the clock and has Chris give a sixty second review of "Saving Mr. Banks". Last, but certainly not least, we round the show out with some movie news and our recommendations for movies you might have missed. Recommendations – "The Way, Way Back", "Oldboy" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alan & Chris close out 2013 with a review of the holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life" and their takes on the current multiplex offerings of "Anchorman 2" and "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug".  Also discussed are the smaller art house films of "Philomena" and "Enough Said".  To close out the show the hosts came up with a unique list of categories that they used to sum up their year in cinema that was 2013.  Put another log on the fire, grab a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy. Excerpt: Reviews of "Enough Said", "Anchorman 2" & "The Hobbit" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Heavy subject matter abounds on this episode of Footcandle Films with reviews of "12 Years A Slave" and the documentary "Blackfish". Afterwards, in an attempt to cheer things up a bit, Alan urges Chris to give brief reviews of "Frozen" and the next installment in the Hunger Games series. Recommendations – "Hot Rod", "Frances Ha" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Science fiction. A well beloved film genre of Chris, who also loves to read (when he's not sitting in a darkened theater). How does he feel about the big budget adaptation of the bestseller "Ender's Game"? Alan, who looks at reading books like a plate of steamed broccoli, also gives his thoughts on the film. Shifting gears the gents then discuss another Somali pirate film – no it's not "Captain Phillips 2" but the highly regarded Danish film "A Hijacking". Movies news (featuring Alan's brief review of "Thor: The Dark World") and recommendations then serve as the icing on the cinematic film nerd cake that is this episode of Footcandle Films. Recommendations – "American Psycho", "Flight" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Documentary filmmaker Thomas Morgan stopped by to discuss his film "Waiting for Mamu", give some doc recommendations and tell what projects are next on his horizon. Documentary Recommendations – "A Band Called Death", "The Entrepreneur", "Gideon's Army", "Beware of Mr. Baker" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Was Alan held captive by Somali pirates like Captain Phillips? Not exactly - but he didn't get a chance to see the film. For the ransom of a 2014 popcorn bucket Chris agrees to give solo reviews of both "Captain Phillips" and the indie film "Escape from Tomorrow" that was covertly shot in the Disney World Theme Park. After the reviews, the fellows discuss some movie news and finally have their movie trailer discussion that they've been putting off. Rounding out the show are recommendations for movies to catch up on available on iTunes, Netflix, or sometimes on good old fashioned DVD. Recommendations – "About A Boy", "Carrie" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode hosts Alan & Chris discuss Bullock and Clooney bouncing around in space and Thor driving a formula one race car. In other words they talk about the recent films "Gravity" and "Rush". Next on the agenda they discuss silver screen news items of note and Alan has Chris give quick 1 minute reviews of "Runner, Runner" and "Don Jon". Last but not least they round out the episode with their recommendations of films that are available streaming online or on iTunes. Recommendations – "Timecrimes", "It's Not You, It's Me" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alan & Chris discuss the crime thriller "Prisoners" starring Hugh Jackman & Jake Gyllenhaal and the indie Sundance favorite "The Spectacular Now". The fellows then answer some inbox items, muse on Hollywood news tidbits and ponder why the interns are always on lunch break when you need a quick google search. Recommendations – "The Brass Teapot", "Magnolia" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mr. Avengers (AKA Joss Whedon) goes small time indie with an updated take on Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" while Mr. Precious (AKA Lee Daniels) moves from smaller focused character study to a sprawling historical drama in "The Butler". Alan & Chris give their thoughts on both films, answer questions from the mailbag, discuss films in the works and last but not least…give some recommendations on films to catch up with. Recommendations – "Hombre", "The Hudsucker Proxy" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The internet was astir when it was announced that Ashton Kutcher (That 70's Show) was going to play Steve Jobs in a film that would explore the life of the Apple founder. So how did Kelso do? A discussion on the harrowing documentary "The Act of Killing" follows. To lighten things up afterwards the fellows jump into some Hollywood news items and round out the show as always with their recommendations of films you can watch from the comfort of your own couch. Recommendations – "Indie Game: The Movie", "Unbreakable" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hugh Jackman has donned his adamantium claws and muttonchops for another summer movie culled from comic book pages. Alan & Chris have checked out "The Wolverine" and offer their thoughts on this episode of Footcandle Films. If big budget films are not of interest to you fear not. Also in this episode they have a discussion of independent filmmaker Sarah Polley's documentary "Stories We Tell". Afterwards an attempt is made to answer some listener comments from the Footcandle Mailbag and the hosts give their recommendations for films you can check out online. Recommendations – "Stranger Than Fiction", "Take This Waltz" See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.