Filmsplaining with Martyn Strange

Today on the show I talk to filmmaker Crue Scott Smith about one of our mutual favorite Cassavetes movies: The Killing of a Chinese Bookie . We discuss the life and work styles of John Cassavetes, Ben Gazarra's performance in the film, the cinematography, and how the reception to this film has changed over fifty years. We also talk about the business of independent movies and Crue's new film Angel...

On today's show, we dive into one of the most famous and well-regarded American movies ever made: Rocky ! I chat with friend of the show and MUBI podcast host Rico Gagliano about the legacy of Rocky , moments we all remember, concise screenwriting, an undeniable score, and Sylvester Stallone's career at large. We talk about our individual experiences with the movie and its sequels, how it won Best...

Continuing with "50 Years of... 1976", I talk with Vancouver film and television critic Matthew Simpson about John Carpenter's second film Assault on Precinct 13 . We discuss how the lean-and-mean action thriller uses a pulsing score, small character moments, and a faceless horde of killers to hook the audience and keep them for 90 minutes. We also talk about Carpenter's career, his clever tricks...

50 Years Of... kicks off with Alan J. Pakula's paranoia thriller All The President's Men starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman and written by William Goldman. Talking with me about the film's impact is Conan Neutron of Movie Night Extravaganza and Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends . We discuss investigative journalism, the death of the newspaper, the cinematography of Gordon Willis, the...

This is a 'state of the union' style short talk about changes coming to the show in 2026 and what my listeners can expect from Filmsplaining moving forward. If you haven't already, subscribe to my Youtube channel . follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below: https://linktr.ee/martynstrange Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/martynstrange Hosted on Aca...

For the season 4 finale, I watched every Martin Scorsese movie. Here's what I learned. follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below: https://linktr.ee/martynstrange Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/martynstrange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, I chat with friend of the show and co-host of both Checkout Cinema and Cinematary Grace Winburne about discovering Bob Fosse's masterpiece Cabaret! We discuss our histories with musicals, how and why this one works so well, Liza Minelli's knockout performance, and the state of the modern day musical. Listen to Grace's work on Checkout Cinema and Cinematary . follow and subscribe t...

On this episode, I chat with Philip Marinello from The Substance podcast about an under-seen killer thriller of British cinema from Michael Powell: 1960's Peeping Tom . We discuss this film's legacy in relation to Psycho the very same year, how Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker rescued and revived it, and what it means to be an audience obsessed with moving images and how they make us complic...

Today on the show, I chat with MUBI head of audio and podcast host Rico Gagliano about Spike Lee's vibrant and vital 1989 masterpiece Do The Right Thing. We discuss our initial gut reactions to the film and how its legacy and impact has only gotten stronger since its release, and Rico discusses what he learned from interviewing Spike Lee as well as what people should take away from the film now. L...

This year for Halloween, I wanted to do something special, so I compiled a list of forty creature features and asked my followers on Threads to vote for their ten favorites. Listen in and see what they came up with! full Letterboxd list: https://letterboxd.com/martynstrange/list/filmsplaining-406-creature-features/ follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below: http...

Today on the show, I discuss the provocative, groundbreaking "Teen Apocalypse" trilogy from New Queer Cinema icon Gregg Araki: Totally Fucked Up, The Doom Generation , and Nowhere . Set in the hazy wastelands of Los Angeles, the films follow various groups of teens who explore drugs, sex, television, and societal collapse through deadpan humor and witty observations on the end of the world. follow...

On today's show, I chat with filmmaker Alex Pulisci about his passion for wrestling and the poignant tragedy of The Iron Claw . We discuss sports biopics, brotherly bonds, transformative performances, and where theatre meets commerce in the worlds of professional wrestling and cinema. follow Alex on Instagram/Threads follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below: ht...

On today's show, I'm joined once again by the Concessions gang as we make a dangerous trek through existentialist hell in two classic nail-biter thrillers: The Wages of Fear by Clouzot and Sorcerer by Friedkin. We talk about how the films tackle similar themes and material while remaining distinct, the social and political implications of each, and how the promise of money can drive a man to his a...

On today's show, I chat with Dallas-based multimedia artist and musician Justin Hoard about the greatest rock doc ever made: Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz . We talk about our histories with the music of The Band, favorite performances, life on the road, and the timeless quality of their music. Find Justin's work on Instagram here . follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via...

On the season 4 premiere, I tell you all about my trip to the Toronto International Film Festival, every movie I saw there, and what to expect for the Fall and Winter cinema slate. follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below: https://linktr.ee/martynstrange Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/martynstrange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Here's a sneak peek of an exclusive bonus episode for Patreon subscribers: The World of John Wick! follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below: https://linktr.ee/martynstrange Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/martynstrange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the short but sweet finale of Season 3, we take a wild, weird trip into the realm of mystery with master of the macabre Tod Browning. Be amazed and wonder at three one-of-a-kind attractions: The Mystic, The Unknown, and FREAKS... follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below: https://linktr.ee/martynstrange Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/martynstr...

On today's show, I chat with friend of the show Marta Djordjevic of Rewind & Revive about Elaine May's classic comedic two-hander drama Mikey & Nicky, where we discuss the fragile male ego, fights with the studio, reviving lost cinema, and the amazingly raw performance styles of John Cassavetes and Peter Falk. Check out Marta's website and podcast Rewind & Revive . follow and subscribe...

Today on the show, writer and video essayist Olivia Bagshaw returns to discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's towering postwar drama The Master . We talk about charismatic cult leaders, score, production design, the discovery of PTSD, and doing things "for a billion years or not at all". Subscribe to Olivia's Youtube channel . follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below:...

On today's show, I have long and wide-ranging chat with writer E.T. Lyons about the feminist body horror classic Jennifer's Body from director Karyn Kusama and writer Diablo Cody. We get into the social hierarchy of high school, growing up in the early 00s, how women are pitted against each other, and how radically the film's reputation has shifted over the years, as well has ponder over Megan Fox...

In this episode, I talk with author Danielle Price about the Coen brothers' great Midwestern murder farce Fargo. We chat about growing up in small towns full of colorful, kooky characters, the absurdity of the case, killer performances from Frances McDormand and William H. Macy, and feeling cozy in a desolate, snowy landscape. follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link...

Today on the show, I chat with filmmaker Alessandro Pulisci about the early works of Martin Scorsese. We discuss five short films, the importance of shorts as an art form, and how their role has changed over time. Alex also talks a bit about his experience making his own short and navigating life as a filmmaker in L.A. follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the link below:...

On today's episode, I talk to Dakota Arsenault from the Contra Zoom podcast about Edgar Wright’s seminal Canadian cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and the animated sequel series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off on Netflix. We chat about Toronto's music scene, Canadian cinema, and hipster culture, as well as where the series could potentially go from here. Listen to Dakota's podcast Contra Zoom her...

On this episode, I chat with writer, educator, film historian and friend of the pod Rich Johnson about two classic car movies: The Driver (1978, directed by Walter Hill), and Drive (2011, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn). We talk at length about the influence of the Western in both these films, the lineage of great car chase movies, and the importance of soundtrack in building a narrative with a...

In this episode, I talk with my pals Jared Spears and Dan Ludwig of the Concessions podcast about the Japanese cult classic Battle Royale – a bloody and savage satire that set the stage for The Hunger Games, Squid Game , and a dozen other post-apocalyptic dramas, and is said to be “the film I wish I had made” by Quentin Tarantino. follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite platform via the...