Film Church Radio

Welcome to week four of our Stanley Kubrick retrospective! This week we are examining the first of the Kirk Douglas / Kubrick pairings; Paths of Glory from 1957. Going back to the theme of war, but with all the skills he has built up over the intervening 2 films, is this a masterpiece or misfire? We talk about authority, attention to detail and banned films. In our Trailers features we also talk a...

This week is week three of our Kubrick retrospective! We are watching The Killing (1956) a Noir classic staring Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray and Elisha Cook Jr. We are really seeing this filmmaker bloom and flex his artistic muscles! We talk about Chess, non-linear storytelling and mechanics of a heist. In our Trailers features we also talk about: The Whale (2022), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022),...

The second of out Stanley Kubrick retrospective episodes has us examine the second feature film, and first Noir, made by Kubrick; Killer's Kiss from 1955. We look at the progression from Fear and Desire (1953) and dissect the film together. We talk about New York City, Noir films, and signs of a genius. In our Trailers features we also talk about: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), Aftersun...

Here we are, the Film Church Radio 2023 Director Retrospective featuring the one and only Stanley Kubrick. This starts a 13 week series in which we chronologically watch the films of Kubrick and discuss in depth th evolution of potentially the greatest film maker ever. This week we talk about The Day of the Fight (1951), Flying Padre (1951), The Seafarers (1953) and his first feature film Fear and...

This week we are joined by CJ Boyce to talk about his pick for the congregation: Frailty from 2001, directed by and starring Bill Paxton, and co-starring Matthew McConaughey and Powers Boothe. A interesting psychological thriller from first time director Paxton, exploring themes of faith, family and loss. We talk about endings, early 00's thrillers and the late, great Bill Paxton. W...

In classic Film Church Radio tradition (2 years in a row counts as a tradition right?) Branden and Lewis look back at the films they watched in 2022 and pick 5 that blew them away. We have elevated it a little this year, the main meat of the episode is our co-hosts going over 5 films (not necessarily released in 2022) that they watched for the first time that were highlights, but we also pick a to...

'Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan! Merry Christmas, Film Church Radio!' - George Bailey, It's a Wonderful Life (1946) As a special treat this festive period, and to make sure you have an episode this week Lewis and Branden sit down to curate your festive watchlist! We talk about favorite holiday films, left field picks an...

This week we have our first movie picked for us by a listener! Branden and Lewis sit down to talk about Liquid Sky (1982) a film that neither had ever heard of before! Set in New York and drawing influences from the punk subculture of the 80's our co-hosts knew we would need help picking this apart so we call in our friend Zach mid-show to help tackle this trashterpiece. We talk about feminism, pe...

This week Lewis and Branden sit down to talk about Pearl from 2022, the follow up to the successful X (2022) that left our co-hosts a little divided. Will Pearl have our co-hosts seeing eye to eye, or or will one of them be reaching for the axe...? We talk about the state of horror, Mia Goth's transformative performance and the balance between actor and director. We hope that you enjoy the show an...

This week we welcome special guest Andy Zike to the show, and he chooses American Movie (1999) for us to watch and discuss. A film showing the people, things and passions that drive up and coming filmmakers. The documentary is an inspiring watch, and we talk about it in detail during the show. We talk in depth about Mark Borchardt, Mike Schank and documentary filmmaking. We hope that you enjoy the...

In a medium that Norma Desmond would have loathed, Branden and Lewis sit down this week to talk about the Billy Wilder Noir Sunset Boulevard from 1950. This favorite for Lewis is a first time watch for Branden to round out or Noirvember series, a film packed with film history and nods to the past - a true joy for any classic cinephile! We talk about Classic Hollywood, Norma Desmond and chimpanzees...

This week we get into the classic films of the Noir genre with a film that Lewis and Branden both had yet to see; Touch of Evil (1958). Orson Welles wrote, directed and stars in this gritty tale of murder, grudges and deceit that is truly unforgettable. We talk about representation, police corruption and Quinlan. We talk A-LOT about Quinlan. We hope that you enjoy the show and return in future to...

To paraphrase Hartigan: 'They grew up, they filled out.' This week is our very special 50th episode here at the Film Church and we celebrate in style by continuing our Noirvember specials and watching Sin City, a formative film in our co-hosts past! We talk about dames, comic book movies and Robert Rodriguez! With it being episode 50, throw us a 'Congrats!' by subscribing and giving us a 5 star re...

This week we kick off Noirvember with a very special guest! He is a film-maker, podcaster and founder of the Broken Lens Film Festival - Mitch Norris! He picked the 1981 neo-noir thriller Thief directed by Michael Mann and starring James Cann. We talk about Caan, the color blue and what is a hero? We hope that you enjoy the show and return in future to the congregation! Show Website: https://film-...

This week Lewis and Branden go back 100 years to celebrate the end of our Darnish Horror Month, to 1922 and to Häxan! A totally unique semi-documentary silent film exploring the history of Witchcraft! We talk about Witches, Benjamin Christensen, and the joys of silent cinema! We hope that you enjoy the show and return in future to the congregation! Show Website: https://film-church-radio.captivate...

It's the penultimate episode of the 2022 Darnish Horror Month here at Film Church, and we are watching Bad Hair from 2020, directed by Justin Simien and starring Elle Lorraine, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe, Kelly Rowland, Laverne Cox, Chanté Adams, Ashley Blaine Featherson, James Van Der Beek, and Michelle Hurd. We talk about Hair, Horror and Comedy! We hope that you enjoy the show and return in futur...

This Week Lewis and Branden are recording live from the KAB Lighthouse on Spivey Point, where we are continuing our Darnish Horror Month with John Carpenter's The Fog (1980), the follow up to Halloween (1978). The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, and Hal Holbrook! We talk about Ghost Stories, mother - daughter pairings, and imperialism. We hope that you enjoy the show and return in f...

This week our 'Darnish Horror Month' continues with Creepshow (1982), a anthology of spooky tales combined into one rip-roaring movie! We talk about Stephen King, George A. Romero and bad Dad's. We hope that you enjoy the show and return in future to the congregation! Show Website: https://film-church-radio.captivate.fm/listen Episode(s) mentioned this week: Ep 38: Rebecca - https://podcasts.apple...

This week to kick-off our very special, halloween month celebration of all things spooky we invited our good friend and film encyclopedia Zach to the show to suggest a film for us all to watch and discuss, and he picked Dead Alive from 1992, directed by Peter Jackson. We talk filmmaking on a budget, horror movies and use of special effects. You can also watch the video over on our Youtube page! We...

New York, New York, a helluva town. The Bronx is up, but the Battery's down. The people ride in a hole in the groun'. New York, New York, it's a helluva town! This week Lewis and Branden go on location to New York to talk everything On the Town (1949). The film is a personal favorite for one of our co-hosts and we go in depth to talk about why this film works, or doesn't work, for us. We talk abou...

All hail the King! This week Branden picked Bubba Ho-Tep from 2002 for us to watch and discuss. The movie is directed by Don Coscarelli, and stars Bruce Campbell as an aging Elvis and Ossie Davis as JFK. A very singular cinematic experience, join us as we tackle the Egyptian Mummy thats threatening to take down the nursing home. We talk Bruce Campbell, cult classics and personal connections to the...

Surf's up on this weeks Film Church Radio! Thats right bro, we are watching and discussing thew high octane, thrills galore, 90's action classic - Point Break. The film stars a fresh Keanu Reeves, a thrill-seeking Patrick Swayze and is directed by the brilliant Kathryn Bigelow. Both co-hosts had yet to tick this film off the list, so watch along and join us as we take a deep dive. We talk about he...

This week we welcome a very special guest preacher to the Film Church. He is a filmmaker, a photographer, a podcaster and a lover of movies. The one, the only Jason Woods joins us to talk about his pick Dogma (1999) directed by Kevin Smith and starring (deep breath)... Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, George Carlin, Jason Lee, Alan Rickman, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Chris Rock, and Salma...

In 1996, singular auteur Wes Anderson exploded on the scene with his debut feature, Bottle Rocket (1996) starring Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson and Robert Musgrave. Branden decided on our sermon this week, ticking off a debut feature and a Texas setting. We talk about the Wilson brothers, delicate storytelling and assured directorial style. As always we recommend everyone to watch along with us, and se...

Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again... This week Lewis and Branden watch and talk about one of Lewis' Film Gods, Alfred Hitchcock and his American directorial debut Rebecca (1940). Both Co-Hosts have watched this film before which is a #FCR first, but a revisit to Manderley was needed... We talk about Hitchcock, Joan Fontaine and which Oscar's this film SHOULD have won. As always we rec...