Eye of the Duck: A Film Podcast

Farewell to freedom in the Adriatic and days of wild abandon! We’re soaring back over the sea this week to hang out with our close personal friend, Porco Rosso! This is… the best movie ever made, right? Topics discussed this week: whether or not Han Solo is just Porco in space, Italian antifascism, French antifascism, fascism in general, Looney Tunes, and of course, cool planes. Next week it’s all...

Get ready to reconnect with your 10-year-old self. Because we’re about to face some of the most embarrassing (and transcendent) childhood memories in movie history! Topics discussed this week: dividing fractions, the questionable taste of unripe pineapples, Takahata and Miyakazi’s legendary beef, uncanny animated facial muscles, the weather, and whether or not ALADDIN still holds up. Next week we...

Finally, an animated film about how the gig economy is BAD but dirigibles are COOL! This week we hang out with the snarkiest cat around, Jiji, and his very cool familiar, a little witch who dreams of something better than eating pancakes for every meal. Even if you're not a freelancer, this film speaks volumes, because work/life balance is impossible and Kiki's about to find out why! Next week, it...

The catbus is here and we’re off to explore the (friendly) haunted forest! This week we’re worshipping the ancient woodland spirit and face of Studio Ghibli — our good, personal friend, Totoro! But heads up, Adam and Dom have completely different takes on this one, so if you’re looking for a real Siskel & Ebert type disagreement, this is the episode for you. Next week, we take to the skies with KI...

This week, we pay tribute to one of the most devastating (and life-affirming) movies ever made. It’s our very first Takahata film, and… it’s a doozy. We simply couldn’t do a Studio Ghibli series without honoring this masterpiece. **Please be aware that this episode includes some distressing themes around children and violence. We tried our best to celebrate the brilliance of the film but inevitabl...

Get in, losers, we’re going to Laputa! This week we take flight with Pazu, Sheeta, and a gang of pirates with some seriously questionable motives to find the mythical land in the clouds where cool robots take care of birds (and shoot lasers). It’s the first true Ghibli film, and, man, does it set the bar pretty high. Also... what the hell is going on with the English dub of this film? Next week, i...

Calling all Tolmekians: it’s a series premiere!!!! Today we take flight with the Princess of the Valley of the Wind for our new Studio Ghibli series. What a dream (of madness)! For the next few months we’ll be fully devoted to the works of Miyazaki, Takahata, and the entire Ghibli collective. We hope you’ll join us in the Sea of Decay! The water is fine (it’s only mildly acidic and poisonous). Nex...

Somehow, Sam Raimi has returned! SEND HEPL! The latest from our man R.O.C. Sandstorm is finally out on Blu-Ray and VOD, and we could not resist opening up the Necronomicon once again. It may not exactly qualify as an Evil Dead film, but… someone does in fact die! And Dylan O’Brien’s character may or may not be evil!! Also… Linda Liddle innocent! Next week, we are launching our Studio Ghibli series...

And that’s a wrap on our Oceans series! This week, we are closing it out the only way we know how… by talking about the latest news in the Fockers franchise! That’s right, another Focker movie is coming out this year, and you better believe we have some thoughts about the trailer. It’s a legasequel? Also explored this week: listener questions, the future of the Oceans franchise, and most important...

The month of May is here! You know what that means… it’s time for some MAY hem, baby! We’re asking YOU to decide what our fall miniseries should be. The theme this year? MOVIE MONSTERS! Want to know your three choices? Listen in to find out, and head over to our Discord to cast your vote! Next week, we’re closing out our Oceans series in style AND announcing our summer miniseries! Join the convers...

We're pulling one last heist for you! And, holy shit, is that Seth MacFarlane as an annoying British energy drink salesman? Channing Tatum is the George Clooney of our BONUS this week, and he may not be as rich or suave as Danny Ocean, but he sure knows how to rob a racetrack. We couldn't resist hanging out in West Virginia with the Logan crew (and the Bang Bros), and man, is Daniel Craig an absol...

We’re back in Vegas, baby! It’s Donald Trump and AI vs The Danny Ocean gang… but this time, Casey Affleck has a GIGANTIC mustache. This week it's the finale (?) of the Soderbergh’s Oceans trilogy, and we simply have to get revenge for Elliot Gould. It’s not fair what Al Pacino did to him. I mean, they both shook Sinatra’s hand, for god’s sake. Next week, it’s the one and only BONUS of our Oceans m...

Finally, an excuse for Vincent Cassel to breakdance through lasers! Brad Pitt is eating his way through Europe this week in the weirdest heist movie imaginable. It’s the (unfairly maligned) sequel that probably should have been called Rusty’s Twelve, because it’s all about Danny Ocean’s weird, mysterious counterpart who may or may not have fallen in love with a Europol agent… Next week, we finish...

It’s a miniseries premiere! All the coolest conmen in movie history are pulling a job on Andy Garcia and we’re just happy to be here. Welcome to the Ocean’s trilogy! This week it’s the flawless 2001 Vegas heist that cemented Clooney, Pitt, Damon, and their buddies as the modern day Rat Pack. Sorry, Sinatra! Discussed on this episode: Brad Pitt’s constant eating, the weird alternate cast that almos...

We cannot believe it. It’s been five years!! And we still haven’t done a series on Star Wars?! This week we are celebrating our five year anniversary the only way we know how… by talking about MOVIES, baby! We’re running down our top 10 films of 2025, reminiscing about this little pandemic project that became a half-decade tradition, and looking ahead to the 2026 year in cinema! Thank you from the...

This week we say a fond farewell to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We wish it hadn’t happened in our time… just kidding. We’re so lucky to be alive when it did! On this epic conclusion to One Scene to Rule Them All, we’re tying off loose threads, answering listener questions, sharing some thoughts on WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM, and announcing our next miniseries! Next week, it’s our long-...

Municipalities, start your engines!! Or… get ready to eat each other? We’re finishing off our Rings series today with the final (?) major live action narrative production from Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and the whole WETA gang. It may not be Tolkien-related, but hey, Hugo Weaving wields a blade in it! It’s tragic that the film didn’t start a new era for Jackson, and we’re sorting...

Okay, Hobbitses, it’s our last journey through Middle Earth! And Bilbo’s first! Dom’s back, and so is Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, and… Radagast the Brown?! Although this is our only episode on the Hobbit trilogy, we’re not just covering UNEXPECTED JOURNEY this week. Listen in for some cross examination of the two (troubling) sequels, the many...

This steampunk fantasy world has everything: dæmons, talking polar bears, Daniel Craig with a snow leopard, and Nicole Kidman in her villain era!  Attempting to replicate the success of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, New Line Cinema tries to kick off a new trilogy by adapting Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass , but it… doesn’t quite work out. Our favorite JRPG expert Stephen Hilger returns to help us fi...

Come for the breezy fantasy, stay for Robert De Niro actively trying to speed run himself out of the movie – it's STARDUST! Our very own Sky Pirate, Stephen Hilger, returns to help us drag Claire Danes across the land so that we can finally prove ourselves to Sienna Miller. Ya know, normal fantasy stuff! Next week New Line Cinema tries to jump start another fantasy trilogy adaptation with THE GOLD...

This Labyrinth has everything: a dude with eyeballs in his hands, a sassy faun, a big ass toad, and bugs that are also fairies!  This week our guest host, good friend, and Joe Dirt expert Stephen Hilger helps us get lost in dark heart of Guillermo del Toro's PAN'S LABYRINTH. Next week it’s Matthew Vaughn’s first foray into blockbuster filmmaking with STARDUST! Join the conversation on our Discord...

Today we're taking a moment to share a brief but important update with you. Join the conversation on our Discord at https://discord.com/invite/RssDc3brsx and get more Eye of the Duck on our Patreon show, After Hours https://www.patreon.com/EyeoftheDuckPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s the Chronic-WHAT-cles of Narnia! That’s right the Chronic-WHAT-cles of Narnia! When choosing movies inspired by THE LORD OF THE RINGS to cover for our series, Disney's mega-budget adaptation of the iconic children's classic felt essential. Joining us through the Wardrobe from the Land of Spare Oom is our old friend – and expert on famous fantasy bros Tolkien & Lewis – Sarah Welch-Larson!  Nex...

It is a kingdom of conscience, or nothing! This week we’re going Ridley Mode™️!  Join us as we embark on a journey through one of Scott’s most polarizing films, its many cuts, many characters, and its place in historical epic film history. Next week it’s Andrew Adamson’s big screen adaptation of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE! Join the conversation on our Discord a...

This week we’re jumping from one big adaptation of British literature to another. It’s a movie about a fellowship, but this time, they call it a league. And it’s extraordinary!! Joining us for this bonus (!!) is returning champion Stephen Hilger of the very great Into the Aether podcast! We’re piecing together one of the strangest movies out there… and still trying to figure out why Sean Connery t...