Best movie podcasts?

Joey123

Hi guys,

I'm looking for recommendations for the best movie-related podcasts. To give you an idea of the kind of thing I'm looking for, have any of you heard of a podcast called Film Sack? If not, you should check it out, it's brilliant!

http://filmsack.com/

Basically, it's four guys in America who watch a cult movie (often from the 1980s) on Netflix every week, then discuss is for about an hour to 90 minutes. It's both hilarious and insightful.

They've covered over a hundred movies, among them Predator 2, Plane 9 from Outer Space, The Thing, The Fly, Robocop, Last Action Hero, Die Hard, A Fistful of Dynamite, Passenger 57, From Dusk Till Dawn, Tremors, The Breakfast Club and Ghostbusters 2.

And to give you an example of the kind of thing they say, about Predator 2:

- "Is this the first time we learned that Predator wouldn't kill someone who was pregnant?"
- "I don't think we're going to find out that one of the guys from the first movie was pregnant..."
- "Maybe Carl Weathers had a foetus in his arm. That's why the Predator cut it off..."
- "There was that one girl in the first one. Maybe she was expecting."
- "Yeah, Predator also makes a great home pregnancy test! If he's firing and you walk in front of him and he stops, then you're pregnant."

Anyway, I'd like to start getting into something similar. Something that discusses movies in a funny way, maybe cult movies especially, or even something more cerebral. Just name what your favourite movie podcasts are, and why.

Tusky

Joey123 wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm looking for recommendations for the best movie-related podcasts. To give you an idea of the kind of thing I'm looking for, have any of you heard of a podcast called Film Sack? If not, you should check it out, it's brilliant!

http://filmsack.com/

Basically, it's four guys in America who watch a cult movie (often from the 1980s) on Netflix every week, then discuss is for about an hour to 90 minutes. It's both hilarious and insightful.

They've covered over a hundred movies, among them Predator 2, Plane 9 from Outer Space, The Thing, The Fly, Robocop, Last Action Hero, Die Hard, A Fistful of Dynamite, Passenger 57, From Dusk Till Dawn, Tremors, The Breakfast Club and Ghostbusters 2.

And to give you an example of the kind of thing they say, about Predator 2:

- "Is this the first time we learned that Predator wouldn't kill someone who was pregnant?"
- "I don't think we're going to find out that one of the guys from the first movie was pregnant..."
- "Maybe Carl Weathers had a foetus in his arm. That's why the Predator cut it off..."
- "There was that one girl in the first one. Maybe she was expecting."
- "Yeah, Predator also makes a great home pregnancy test! If he's firing and you walk in front of him and he stops, then you're pregnant."

Anyway, I'd like to start getting into something similar. Something that discusses movies in a funny way, maybe cult movies especially, or even something more cerebral. Just name what your favourite movie podcasts are, and why.

I listen to Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo religiously. I enjoy their repore, they have high quality guests and even if I disagree with Mark I can normally see where hes coming from. I wish he would stop going on about 3d though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvdrj

I used to listen to Filmspotting too but stopped a while back. Not sure what it's like seeing as Matty left.

http://www.filmspotting.net/

Syferus

Watching Theology is one of my favourites and more people should listen to it. They've only done a few seasons of the show - actual seasons - and there hasn't been an episode for about a year but when the concept is taking a film and discussing its thematic text that's hardly an issue.

It's mainly a husband and wife who are college professors (both very well versed in film) discussing the films at a very high level but with the sweetener that they have a fantastic rapore. Episodes keep on topic, never exceed an hour and consequently don't spiral into a meandering mess. Better to be wanting more of someone than to be bored out of your mind.

It's a follow-up of Watching the Directors, so that'd be worth a listen too if you enjoy WT.

http://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/id252249143

NotorietyH

Tusky wrote: »

I listen to Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo religiously. I enjoy their repore, they have high quality guests and even if I disagree with Mark I can normally see where hes coming from. I wish he would stop going on about 3d though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvdrj

That's almost word for word what I was was going to say.

I haven't listened to it yet but I've heard good things about "How Did This Get Made?" which might be similar to the example you gave above.

Sanjuro

I used to like the Kermode and Mayo podcast, but over the last year it's practically become unlistenable. They spend most of the two bloody hours with interminable banter and shout outs to their friends, and by the time it comes around to the actual reviews and discussion, I'm ready to turn off. So I've given up. Kermode is one of the best film scholars, and when he's by himself, he's absolutely brilliant. But Simon Mayo is a complete prat, and while he was tolerable in the past, two hours is just way too much.

That_Guy

I listen to the Kermode and Mayo podcast religiously. Think it's excellent. I don't always agree with Kermode and comes across as a bit patronising sometimes but more often than not I find myself agreeing with him on many things.

The calibre of guests is excellent too with Scorcese, Spielberg, Daniel Craig to name but a few who have been on in the last few weeks.

I listened to Film Weekly from the Guardian a few times. It's not as fleshy as the Kermode and Mayo podcast and I just didn't really click with the presenter so I unsubscribed from it.

kronsington

I also listen to Kermode and Mayo. A lot of waffle and the banter can be inane at times, but it's certainly one of the better movie podcasts out there.

Some others i listen to

Film Junk Podcast
/Filmcast
Screen Rant podcast
Q and A with Jeff Goldsmith

All worth a look on itunes

Underdraft

Another one here who's given up on Kermode. I find him to be a very boring individual, the sort of guy who thinks he can win an argument simply by talking the most and for the longest. Also (and not that I'd blame him but) it's quite clear that he doesn't even go to half of the movies that are released. I'd have figured that came with the job description?

e_e

Underdraft wrote: »

Also (and not that I'd blame him but) it's quite clear that he doesn't even go to half of the movies that are released.

What makes you say that?

Underdraft

e_e wrote: »

What makes you say that?

Well (at least around the time I was still listening) they do run downs on the current top 10 in the UK and Kermode would say "haven't seen that 'yet' " , "haven't seen that 'yet' " etc etc. When was he planning to see them then? The no/yes ratio seemed to get bigger and bigger the longer I followed the show. By comparison he'd talk at length about certain upcoming titles and mention he'd already seen theatrically several times. Without actually putting a Private Investigator on him it was fairly clear to me he just goes to the movies he's personally interested in and wasn't performing a general public information service (which is what I would have thought he's job at the BBC was about?).

Either way, however he operates it's fine by me. I'll just choose to get the info somewhere else if I can.

Tusky

Underdraft wrote: »

Well (at least around the time I was still listening) they do run downs on the current top 10 in the UK and Kermode would say "haven't seen that 'yet' " , "haven't seen that 'yet' " etc etc. When was he planning to see them then? The no/yes ratio seemed to get bigger and bigger the longer I followed the show. By comparison he'd talk at length about certain upcoming titles and mention he'd already seen theatrically several times. Without actually putting a Private Investigator on him it was fairly clear to me he just goes to the movies he's personally interested in and wasn't performing a general public information service (which is what I would have thought he's job at the BBC was about?).

Either way, however he operates it's fine by me. I'll just choose to get the info somewhere else if I can.

I listen every week and that's just not true. There's sometimes the odd film he hasn't seen, but its rare enough.

bnt

The Kermode & Mayo podcast works for me because the review segments are short, and I can skip over the interviews if I don't have time. There have been times when Kermode has been away and missed things, and even when he's around he can't see everything that comes out. But since the BBC pays him, of course he can't just do as he pleases. He talks about re-watching movies in his own time, at home, not while "on the clock".

The thing I want most from any podcast these days is brevity. I don't have the time or energy to listen to someone talking about the same movie for "about an hour to 90 minutes". I'll give "Watching Theology" a try, since (from a sample of one) they do seem to keep it fairly short (30 mins).

To podcasters, I would say: if you can't thoroughly explore a subject in 20-30 minutes, I think you're waffling. I have opinions of my own, I don't need every last thought that comes in to your head. Some podcasts are recordings of radio shows, and so I understand that you have a time slot to fill. If not, then I think your podcast should be as long as it needs to be, and no longer. :pac:

e_e

Underdraft wrote: »

Well (at least around the time I was still listening) they do run downs on the current top 10 in the UK and Kermode would say "haven't seen that 'yet' " , "haven't seen that 'yet' " etc etc. When was he planning to see them then? The no/yes ratio seemed to get bigger and bigger the longer I followed the show. By comparison he'd talk at length about certain upcoming titles and mention he'd already seen theatrically several times. Without actually putting a Private Investigator on him it was fairly clear to me he just goes to the movies he's personally interested in and wasn't performing a general public information service (which is what I would have thought he's job at the BBC was about?).

Either way, however he operates it's fine by me. I'll just choose to get the info somewhere else if I can.

Nope this rarely ever happens, if he misses a release it's simply because he was either off that week or the movie wasn't shown for the press. He's seen almost every new release since September.

Joey123

Thanks for the suggestions. I actually download Mark Kermode's podcast every week, though I delete it shortly afterwards. They don't stand up to repeat listens, as far as I'm concerned. I was more looking for podcasts about older movies than the stuff that's released in cinemas these days.

I also know what Underdraft meant about Kermode not taking the time to watch every film. Look how long it took him to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes. And I don't think he's seen The Guard yet, despite its BAFTA nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

So, has no one here heard of Film Sack before? You really ought to check it out! It's not like you'd be stuck for a film you love being discussed, they've covered so many genres!

Tusky

Joey123 wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions. I actually download Mark Kermode's podcast every week, though I delete it shortly afterwards. They don't stand up to repeat listens, as far as I'm concerned. I was more looking for podcasts about older movies than the stuff that's released in cinemas these days.

I also know what Underdraft meant about Kermode not taking the time to watch every film. Look how long it took him to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes. And I don't think he's seen The Guard yet, despite its BAFTA nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

So, has no one here heard of Film Sack before? You really ought to check it out! It's not like you'd be stuck for a film you love being discussed, they've covered so many genres!

He was away on holiday when Rise of the Planet of the Apes came out and another critic reviewed it on the show. I really don't see what the problem is. I don't need a critic that has seen absolutely every movie in existence...

kronsington wrote: »

Film Junk Podcast

Tried this today and it nearly put me asleep. So slow paced and boring. I only lasted 30 mins or so.

Renn

The best.

S.M.B.

I'm guessing the OP would like How Did This Get Made.



http://howdidthisgetmade.libsyn.com/

Technocentral

Just came across this recently, its called TAKE TWO, great, intelligent discussion of film from two guys in San Francisco for the local NPR station:

http://www.kcbx.org/Pages/Programming/music_playlists.html?CMD=PROGRAM_LIST

I use the Listen app on android phone, just put in take two and a list of podcasts for it come up, I just finished listening to a two part show on David Leans movies with loads of clips, have a Woody Allen show to listen to next, great stuff.

karma_

Renn wrote: »

The best.

Which one do these lads do?

Renn

http://douglovesmovies.com/

Really dislike Benson on tv (Super High Me/The Benson Interruption) but he nails it with this podcast a lot of the time.