Cinema in Context

Baz Luhrmann's oeuvre. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the most recent Luhrmann film Elvis (2022) and his first film Strictly Ballroom (1992). We begin by discussing Baz's visual style, especially his use of computer generated images. We move into a discussion of Elvis and how successful we each feel the film was. We move into a conversation of Strictly Ballroom, with William w...

Looking back at the key films in our lives. Sarah Watt and Jeremy Downing are joined by special guest Dan Eichblattt to talk about the movies that made us: key films that have had an impact on our lives. We've organised these films into five categories: Film you’ve watched the most: Sarah: The Holiday (2006) Dan: Beetlejuice (1988) Jeremy: Strictly Ballroom (1992) Film anyone can enjoy: Dan: India...

80s films return! Directed by Joseph Kosinski. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and TRON: Legacy (2010). We begin by welcoming Sarah back to the podcast, hearing about two films she saw on her travels: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) and The Glance of Music AKA Ennio (2021). We begin our discussion by reflecting on our experience watching...

Multiverse motherhood films. Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by Billy Revell-Siō to discuss Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). We begin by discussing the horror genre elements of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, particularly harking back to the previous films of Sam Raimi: Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkne...

Female-led Pixar films. Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by Phoebe Shum to discuss Brave (2012) and Turning Red (2022). We begin by discussing Turning Red, especially the strengths of its themes and confidence in setting. We turn to Brave and consider the strength in the visuals and animation, discuss the connections to Tangled (2010) and Frozen (2013), the structure and storytelling in...

Animated refugee biographies. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Flee (2021) and Persepolis (2007). We begin by discussing Persepolis and our experiences of seeing the film, rewatching it recently and reading the comic. We discuss both films and their presentation of the refugee story and the cost of freedom, especially with both films' protagonists being separated from their fami...

Meta slasher films. Sarah Watt and Jeremy Downing, with special guest Doug Dillaman, discuss Scream (1996) and Scream (2022). We begin by discussing the self-referential and meta qualities of the Scream series, including Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000) and Scream 4 (2011). We link and talk about the films in regards to Drew Barrymore, Scooby Doo and Psycho (1960), Hereditary (2018), The Babadook...

Seven films from the summer for our 70th episode. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the following 2021 films: Don't Look Up, Encanto, The French Dispatch, House of Gucci, The Matrix: Resurrections, The Power of the Dog and West Side Story. Don't Look Up: We begin with review by song, highlighting how much the satire was or wasn't on the nose - especially pushing a particular agen...

Highs and lows of the year. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss their highlight films of 2021, including their biggest surprises, disappointments, wildcards, recommendations, runner-ups for the best film/television of the year and then each person's top pick. Here are the films discussed: • Biggest surprise: Werewolves Within [William]; Annette [Sarah]; and WandaVision [Jeremy] • D...

Tony Leung films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) and In the Mood for Love (2000). We begin by discussing Tony Leung's work in Shang-Chi and how much charisma he brings to the film, which weaves into a critique of the villains in Marvel films. We talk about the special effects of the film and the final set piece, especially the q...

Virtual reality worlds. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Free Guy (2021) and The Matrix (1999). We begin by praising The Matrix, directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski aka "The Wachowskis". We talk about various memorable shots and sequences, and drawing connections to manga, anime, Hong Kong cinema, Shrek (2001), Swordfish (2001), Jet Li's The One (2001), the work of John Woo, an...

The White Lotus. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the latest HBO limited series The White Lotus, created, written and directed by Mike White. We begin by sharing our initial thoughts, which are varied between the three of us. In our discussion, we work our way through each of the characters and the actors playing them, unpacking how each of their stories land. You can read Sarah...

Disney theme park films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Jungle Cruise (2021) and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), two action adventure films based on Disney theme park rides of the same names. We begin the discussion by focusing on Jungle Cruise, reflecting upon the circumstances of how we each saw the film, and then very quickly comparing it to P...

The Fast & Furious saga. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss F9: The Fast Saga (2021) and The Fast and the Furious (2001), the latest and initial films in the Fast and the Furious saga. We begin by discussing Jeremy's lack of exposure to the films, with Sarah and William filling in the blanks. We talk to the legacy of the series, including its representation of people of colour, ma...

Cultural change musicals. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss In The Heights (2021) and Fiddler on the Roof (1971), two musical films exploring the upholding of culture amidst social change. We begin by discuss the similarities of both films. We then talk to Fiddler on the Roof and its timelessness and its sense of reality. We then discuss the ideas presented in In The Heights, inc...

Robot uprising films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Mitchells vs the Machines (2021) and Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), two films detailing the robot apocalypse and dysfunctional families finding their way in the skirmish. We begin by talking about The Mitchells vs the Machines, comparing it to Phil Lord and Chris Miller's other works, notably Cloudy with a Chance of...

Versus films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), two films at the ends of the 'versus films' spectrum. We jump into Godzilla vs. Kong, unpacking the plot details, and connecting and comparing it to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), The Guest (2014), Transformers (2007), Alien vs. Predator (2004), Alien vs. Predator: R...

Academy Awards 2021. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the Oscar nominations for 2021 a few weeks before the awards ceremony.

Houseless on the road. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Nomadland (2020) and Into The Wild (2007), two films with protagonists who are houseless and on the road. We begin by discussing the real world connections inherent in both films, including the non-actors (but highlighting the skills and strengths of Frances McDormand), elements based on true stories and the production styl...

#MeToo revenge and road trips. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by Julia Craig to discuss Promising Young Woman (2021) and Thelma & Louise (1991), two films dealing with sexual assault, female revenge and the unpicking of society's complicity and encouragement of toxic, dangerous and misogynist behaviours. We begin by sharing our experiences watching Thelma & Louise and our r...

Exploring the "greatest film of all time". Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Mank (2020) and Citizen Kane (1941). We start by comparing Mank to Joker and Alien3, and then jumping into a discussion of Citizen Kane, as the subjective greatest film of all time. We discuss the impressive cinematography and the strength of the cast, linking the strength of the ensemble to the films of...

Memorable film and television from an unpredictable year. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss their highlights from 2020, but because of the unsettled nature of 2020, we talk about both film and TV we watched this year, regardless of when they were released. We talk about and mention the films Babyteeth, One Cut of the Dead, Cats, Corpus Christi, Queen & Slim, The Surrogate, The Lo...

Aaron Sorkin scripts. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Social Network (2010) and The Trial of Chicago 7 (2020). We start by speaking about the real-world impact of the real-life stories of both films, especially Facebook and how its impact has changed over time. Our conversation then moves into the work of Aaron Sorkin, highlighting his work on The West Wing, A Few Good Men...

Two versions of Mulan. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Mulan (1998) and Mulan (2020), both available on Disney+. We start by discussing the state of Disney live action remakes and whether the new Mulan is a "cash grab". We discuss the talents of Niki Caro and what she brought to the live action film. We criticise the lack of intention in the new live action films or the new fil...

Christopher Nolan films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing, Doug Dillaman and William Chen discuss two Christopher Nolan films, Memento (2000) and Tenet (2020). We start by discussing how we each saw Tenet at the cinema, with a global pandemic, comparing our respective experiences - especially the sound design of Nolan's films. Sarah unpacks elements of the sound in Tenet, highlighting her own podcast Th...