Popcorn Culture

From Orson Welles to Steven Spielberg, Akira Kurosawa to Jordan Peele, Federico Fellini to Greta Gerwig, directors are very often the engine that drives movies. Many outshine onscreen stars, with particular styles and themes associated with them, and often go on to shape entire genres of filmmaking. In this Supercut, we look at the person behind the curtain, so to speak, and talk about our favouri...

Science fiction fans have been awaiting this adaptation of Frank Herbert’s magnum opus with bated breath, and it certainly has a lot going for it: directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film stars (among others) Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, and Rebecca Ferguson. The plot revolves around Paul Atreides, a gifted young man destined for greatness, who must travel to the most...

Do you wanna play a game? In the spirit of Netflix's Squid Game that's currently taking pop culture by storm, we're dedicating this Supercut to Movies and TV shows based on games. Whether they're classics like Tron or more recent blockbusters like Ready Player One, we talk about what makes these movies work, why they sometimes fall short, and what we'd like to see more of in the future. See omnyst...

Here's a question to get the existential crisis going - are we all in a simulation? And if we are, who's the hero of this story? In the case of Ryan Reynolds' character in Free Guy, he's just a non-player character (NPC) with no real purpose... until he decides otherwise. In this episode, we talk about the highly anticipated comedy, Free Guy, in all its chaotic, colourful glory See omnystudio.com/...

This week, we're reviewing 2021's biggest pop culture phenomenon and the show that's positioned to become Netflix's most-watched series of all time, Squid Game. The nine-episode first season tells the story of Seong Gi-Hun, an out-of-luck gambler who accepts an invitation to compete in a series of children's games for lots of money. Obviously, nothing is as it seems and the game has deadly implica...

The first rule of Fight Club: you do not talk about Fight Club. Thankfully, that same rule does not apply to fight films! From all out brawls, boxing classics and choreographed wuxia sequences, fights in films and television can be things of beauty. In this Supercut, we discuss our favourites and choose our fighters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first rule of Fight Club: you do not talk about Fight Club. Thankfully, that same rule does not apply to fight films! From all out brawls, boxing classics and choreographed wuxia sequences, fights in films and television can be things of beauty. In this Supercut, we discuss our favourites and choose our fighters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Suicide Squad (2021) - not to be confused with Suicide Squad (2016), despite sharing some characters - is a soft reboot of sorts, repositioning DC's ragtag band of anti-heroes, and introducing some new players such as Idris Elba's Bloodsport, John Cena's Peacemaker and Sylvester Stallone's King Shark, all in a relentlessly chaotic, hyperviolent style. We talk about whether this film works to s...

The latest installment in the MCU, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is also one of the most anticipated movies this year. Telling a story that's about coming to terms with one's past and estranged family, but also featuring wuxia and superheroes, Shang Chi stars Simu Liu in the titular role, Awkwafina as his best friend, and Tony Leung as his father (and the villain of the piece). In this...

The latest installment in the MCU, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is also one of the most anticipated movies this year. Telling a story that's about coming to terms with one's past and estranged family, but also featuring wuxia and superheroes, Shang Chi stars Simu Liu in the titular role, Awkwafina as his best friend, and Tony Leung as his father (and the villain of the piece). In this...

There’s nothing quite like going on an adventure vicariously on screen - whether we’re hurtling through space, trekking through jungles, or getting lost in an unknown city. In this week’s Supercut, we celebrate the spirit of adventure in cinema and television, and talk about the most exciting journeys we’ve been on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has all the makings of a rollicking fantasy adventure - a scientist, played by Emily Blunt, enlists the help of a skipper a.k.a. Dwayne Johnson, to take her down the Amazon, in search of the Tree of Life. Of course, it isn’t going to be smooth sailing, as they face all sorts of dangers in the jungle. Based on a Disney theme park ride, the movie also stars Jack Whitehall, Edgar Ramirez, an...

This 1951 classic features some Hollywood greats: Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, and directed by John Huston. Set in Africa during World War I, Bogart plays a steamer captain who offers Hepburn’s character safe passage out - leading to a clash of personalities between the two, amidst what is often described as some of the most influential action scenes in Hollywood. We throwback to the...

Whether set in an office, an apartment with famous purple walls or featuring dysfunctional families (honestly - take your pick), sitcoms have always been the television equivalent of a warm, much-needed hug, accompanied by a belly laugh or two. In this episode of Supercut, we dive into our favourites and talk about what makes the format tick. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An origin tale that many have argued came years too late, Black Widow tells the story of Natasha Romanoff's origins, as well as what she got up to after Captain America: Civil War. Starring Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz alongside Scarlett Johannson, it's a grittier take on a Marvel film, dealing with espionage, and what it means to reckon with your past. We talk about the film, an...

Fresh off a 20 nomination spree at the Emmys, and a sweep of the comedic acting categories, Ted Lasso is the show of the season, capturing hearts with its focus on well-written characters, strong performances and thoughtful storytelling. While it starts with the trials and travails of an American football coach, transplanted to the English Premier League, the show also expands to explore different...

In 1996, Space Jam brought together the unlikely pairing of basketball superstar Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes icon, Bugs Bunny, in a plot that saw him having to save the Looney Tunes from alien enslavement. In 2021, we're swapping out Michael Jordan for LeBron James, but the broad strokes of this sequel remain the same. We talk about Space Jam: A New Legacy and how it holds up against the first...

Part comedic murder mystery, part live action, part animation and all zany, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? broke a lot of new ground in 1988, and continues to set the gold standard in bringing animated characters into live action settings. In this episode, we look back at the movie and talk about how it holds up with technology having changed so much of the movie landscape in the decades since. See omny...

Whether we’re talking about Wes Anderson’s art nouveau pastels, Tim Burton’s gothic surrealism, or the Wachowskis’ polished visions of the future, how something looks onscreen is often half the story. On our Supercut this week, we discuss aesthetics in film and television: what worked, what fell flat, and what visuals remain framed in our minds. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil; If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will… But before she became a fearsome would-be puppy murderer, Cruella was just a rebellious and stylish girl who dreamt of making it big in the fashion world. How she makes that transition is the story of Disney’s latest reimagining of one of its animated classics - this time, 101 Dalmatians. Starring a fabulous...

Not only is In the Mood for Love arguably Wong Kar-wai’s most celebrated film, it is often hailed as one of the best movies of all time - so naturally, a throwback is warranted. The film also features one of the most celebrated screen pairings, Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, in a story that reflects on love, marriage, youth, and fleeting moments of connection. We review the film, and talk abo...

Dramedies are a truly unique bunch. These films and TV shows sit in the narrow space between drama and comedy, with many of them serving as cult classics and fan favourites. On this Supercut, we discuss how dramedies strike that fine balance between genres, the directors that have perfected the art of making them both hilarious and poignant, as well our favourite films and TV shows in this fairly...

Starring Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh and Emmy winner Jay Duplass alongside a stacked cast, The Chair is a dramedy that follows the adventures and misadventures of the new English department chair at Pembroke University. Question is, is it really Netflix's new "must-watch" series? On this episode, we review The Chair and discuss its "short and sweet" episodic format and Amanda Peet's unique take...

Love em or hate em, musicals have been a staple of the silver screen for decades. Fans of the genre argue that their magic lies in the beauty of using music to tell a story, of the flights of fancy it allows. Detractors will argue that there's nothing pleasant about randomly breaking out into song and dance. In this Supercut, we dive in headfirst to dissect musicals and why they continue to be suc...

Take Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, add murder and opera... and you have Annette, a film telling the story of a comedian and an opera singer, and how their lives are changed by the arrival of their first child. In this episode, we review the film, its performances, soundtrack, and what it's like watching it at home, as it drops on Amazon Prime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...