Cinema Spectator

Isaac and Cameron take a break from Martin Scorsese's filmography to watch a consumable, low-budget A24 release from 2013. Directed by Steven Knight, Locke stars Tom Hardy, a successful project manager and family man who is faced with an urgent moral decision. Without getting too far into spoilers, the movie strips back to a simple concept and execution, resulting in a film that is more unique. Bu...

Critics liked it. Christians did not. Isaac and Cameron step into the controversy this week, reviewing one of Martin Scorsese's early pictures that revolves around the christian struggle against sin in a fictitious gospel setting. The movie stars William Defoe as Jesus Christ, focusing on the painful temptations of pursing a holy, sinless life while being connected to God. It's cutting into some d...

Juzo and Cameron have an in-depth discussion about the state of movies since the pandemic; we discuss if movie theaters are on the way out, if new talent will continue to emerge, or if films as we know it are going to change for the worse. We won't be discussing a specific movie, but we will be recapping some of our favorites from 2022, and talking about how hopeful we are about 2023!   Cinema Spe...

After reviewing The Wolf of Wall Street, Isaac and Cameron decided to lean more into Martin Scorsese's film library. Set to review The Departed, Isaac reflects on his pervious opinions of Scorsese and attempts to find enjoyment in this thrilling crime drama. Starting Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson, following a riveting race between a rat in the police force and a rat in the mob....

Cameron and Isaac finish up their retrospective on 2013 movies with Scorceses famous release. Staring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall street follows events based on the true story around Jordan Belfort and his sketchy workings as a stock broker. Full of partying, debauchery, and derogatory behavior, Jordan achieves the highest level of wealth with little regard for the family ar...

Cursed from the moment they saw it together, Isaac and Cameron embark to revisit this sci-fi thriller that they both saw together in theaters back in 2013. Gravity, directed by Alfonso Cuarón (known for Children of Men) follows a small group of astronauts surviving against high-speed debris orbiting the earth. Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, the film came out to critical acclaim back i...

Cameron and Isaac continue to revisit prolific films released in 2013, reflecting on how they have held up and their relevance to the usual film discussions. Her follows a heartbroken man in the not-so-distant future who discovers a new companion in the form of an AI driven operating system. Directed by Spike Jones and composed famously by Arcade Fire, Her explores melancholy themes derived from m...

This month episodes (requested by Tim Smith), Cameron takes Isaac back 10 years to remember 2013. This retrospective starts with Denis Villeneuve, covering a lesser known 2013 release staring Jake Gyllenhaal, Sarah Gadon, and more. Follow a haunting story of a surrounding a mundane history professor who just discovered an actor look-alike while watching a movie. Can this eerie, metaphorical journe...

The Oscar nomination and 2022 wrap-up continues, with Isaac, Cameron, and special-guest Juzo Greenwood driving into Steven Spielberg's latest film. Witness a slow moving coming-of-age film following the auto-biographical upbringing of Spielberg himself. The fact that is was directed and created by Spielberg has created some distain for the movie, but the crew believes that this movie might be tryi...

Oscar nominations continue with Tár, starting Cate Blanchett as an elite musical conductor haunted by a self-fulfilling failure surrounding her questionable actions and interactions with the people around her. Cameron and Isaac discuss this slow film and try to derive what it all means. Can it even connect with a casual viewer?  Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Camero...

Isaac and Cameron continue the 2022 reviews with this huge summer blockbuster staring Tom Cruise. Widely seen and widely discussed, Top Gun: Maverick picks up the story from the first film 30-some years later, following Maverick's life in older age. Tasked with training younger pilots, Maverick jumps back in the cockpit for a thrilling action adventure. So what made this film a smashing success? A...

Juzo and Isaac kick off the Oscar conversation with this highly praised action drama Fromm 2022. With an incredible cast, innovative creativity, and important message, it's no surprise this film is in the conversation for best picture. But how does it hold up to a casual and a film expert? Warning: some light spoilers for the Irishman and a few other films at the end of the episode.  Cinema Specta...

Revisiting a film for the second time on this show is a first, but Cameron and Isaac thought it would be great way to assess a "casuals" response to cinematic exposure. Our Sunset Boulevard conversation revolves around revisiting films, finding new things to appreciate, and dissecting some of its excellence with the previous context of Wilder movies. This is not a normal review, instead a retrospe...

Isaac and Cameron look back on a year of reviews in 2022 and hand out arbitrary awards as they reflect on Cinema Spectators journey. 2022's Full Episode List: City Lights (1931) The General (1926) and One Week (1920) A Quick History of Early Silent Films Manhattan (1979)  About Time (2013) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) 500 Days of Summer (2009) The Batman (2022) 1984 (1984) Jarhead...

There's birds. There's Hitchcock. But is there suspense this time? Cameron and Isaac are back to finish the exploration of Alfred Hitchcock films with this well-known thriller. Will it live up to his great films of the past or will this be a stumble in this impressive catalog.  Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O...

Isaac and Cameron continue their exploration of Hitchcock movies in reverse, reviewing a small-scale drama surrounding murder and morality. This film revolves around a strange event after a murder: a house party. The body is hidden. And the murders are hosting. Follow the peculiar unraveling of a verbose crime, followed by interesting philosophical ideas around humanity and its moral standards.  C...

The duo is back to review another classic from the "master of suspense"! Isaac and Cameron dive into another Alfred Hitchcock film, but will this be the movie to win over our host as Hitchcock fans? Rear Window follows L.B, a recently injured photo-journalist who has been surveying his neighborhood from his apartment window. After viewing what appeared to be a normal day, L.B seeing some suspiciou...

Cameron and Isaac are back after thanksgiving, and ready to dive into Alfred Hitchcock movies! Why Hitchcock? Because we both don't know enough about this famous director. Vertigo follows a traumatized SF detective hired to uncover if a wife is possessed by an old spirit. Can a wild set up retain a modern audience?  Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle. The...

 Isaac and Cameron are back recording together, and taking on a legendary Akira Kurosawa film, Rashomon (1950). This film uses flashbacks and non-linear editing to tell different and contradictory stories of a heinous crime. Each person involved has their own perspective to tell, and each story conflicts with the last. Does this classic post-war Japanese film stand the test of time, or does it fal...

Isaac and Juzo go to the movies to review and discuss a widely-considered best picture nominee. Although the year isn't over, this dark comedy had stirred up analysis across the film community. The film follows a couple that work as models as they navigate their relationship in life, on a cruise, and eventually stranded on an island. A majority themes focus on ideas around class and relationships....

Cameron and Juzo review Park Chan-Wook's latest film, Decision to Leave. Can it live up to the standard set by his earlier movies Oldboy (2003) and The Handmaiden (2016)?   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill; recorded & produced in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. You can support the show at patreon.com/ecf...

Juzo and Cameron review the newest horror movie to make waves in the film world, Barbarian. This is a full spoiler review, so catch the movie on HBO before diving into this one with us!   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill; recorded & produced in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. You can support the show at...

Horror month continues with Isaac and Cameron diving into an Italian cult classic. Follow the story of an aspiring ballet student attending a mysterious college for dance. This film is creatively fueled with inspirational craftsmanship and a surprising score from artist Goblin.  Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin...

Spooky October calls for some scary movies! Isaac and Cameron continue the true-crime binge with a classic 90's thriller. Discover what makes this movie masterfully put together and how it holds up to a modern viewer. Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Darrin O’Neill; recorded & produced in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA...

Juzo and Isaac close Fincher month with a thrilling missing person mystery with commentary around scandals, marriage, and post-recession life. This was Isaac's first exposure to Fincher back in the day, but can the second viewing live up to his higher expectation of his film making?  Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom and Cameron Tuttle. The show is executive produced by Da...