Groovy Movies

We’re feeling nostalgic for sexy sex scenes and the villainisation of single women. Enter, Fatal attraction. Prepare for spoilers as we discuss the controversy around the axing of the original ending and look back on an era where it was possible for a film to be dubbed “the zeitgeist movie of the decade.” References  The original ending You Must Remember This  podcast’s ‘Erotic 90s’ series  ‘Fatal...

If you’re in the mood for a time capsule of 1967, In The Heat Of The Night is the movie for you. We discuss how this iconic civil rights infused detective drama-cum-social thriller should have won Sidney Poitier an oscar - if only he hadn’t already won one 3 years before - and the pros and cons of deploying the camera’s zoom function.  References Making of featurette Sidney Poitier on In The Heat...

Our run of classics continues with Akira Kurosawa’s genre-creating, hero-assembling action/comedy/drama, Seven Samurai. Don’t let the 3.5 hour runtime put you off (or watch at 2x speed - we don’t endorse this), it is considered one of the best films ever made for a reason and we discuss why. See where you can catch it below.  Where to watch BFI Player Check out this website for links to cinema scr...

This week we discuss the self-declared cinephile’s favourite, Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood For Love. If you live near London and want to catch it, check out showtimes at The Prince Charles - it’s screening this Sunday (23rd) as it happens. We get into Kar Wai’s eccentric directorial method and the many versions of the film there could have been - but thank the film gods for this one.  References “Th...

You may have heard something about Mikey Madison’s shining, star-making performance as Anora? Or perhaps that Sean Baker made Oscar-history by winning four awards at this year's ceremony for said film? Well if you haven’t seen it yet, now is the moment, it’s back in cinemas and will soon be available on streaming.   This week we discuss what makes the story so kinetic, shooting on film with a...

As the set comes down from the biggest celebration of the least-viewed cinematic triumphs of the year, we take stock of Sean Bakers success with Anora and attempt to map the blueprints of The Brutalist's anticlimatic awards season. Was it a grand failure or a misunderstood masterpiece? Probably neither but listen to find out.  ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and lea...

It’s the 30 year anniversary of David Fincher’s Seven , otherwise known as the OG unboxing video. Be prepared for spoilers as we discuss the iconic ending that almost wasn’t and why real serial killers never live up to the hype.  References Seven’s script Seven’s cinematography by David E. Williams for theasc.com Behind-The-Scenes Stories From The Making Of 'Se7en' by Mike McGranaghan fo...

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like age-gap office affairs and BDSM, so with that in mind, we bring you Halina Reijn’s Babygirl . It may have been snubbed at the Oscars but we shant be overlooking this orgasm-forward, kink-celebrating homage to the 90s erotic thriller. References Vanity Fair piece on  Babygirl  by David Canfield Halina Reijn on Bridging Hollywood’s “Orgasm Gap” by Scott Roxborough C...

Remember when teen pregnancy was a thing? This week we discuss Juno , the movie that reinvented this particular noughties trend and made stars out of Elliot Page, Michael Cera and the film’s screenwriter, Diablo Cody.  We discuss what makes the script so good and why people hated it. There is also space to reminisce about the heyday of director’s commentaries. This movie had an excellent one with...

This week we do a compare-and-contrast between Robert Egger’s Nosferatu and the 1922 German silent film it's based on. We deep-dive into the mad production story of the original, why Bram Stoker owes Nosferatu an apology and somehow pitstop at Yoga Hosers and Robbie William’s new film Better Man along the way. References Watch Nosferatu (1922) here Yoga Hosers (2016) trailer Shadow of a vampi...

In honour of David Lynch who died last week - though serendipitously we recorded the episode a few weeks before - this episode we discuss his feature debut, Eraserhead. A film so freaky, so funny and utterly unique. Just like the man himself. References David Lynch’s documentary, Eraserhead Stories Interviews with the Eraserhead cast ‘ The Epic Influence of David Lynch's Eraserhead, from Kubr...

We go behind-the-scenes of an overlooked gem which is finally getting the attention it deserves, thanks to a 4K restoration by Mubi. Tarsem Singh's debut feature The Fall is a globe-trotting feast for the eyes, with a transformative performance by first-time actor, the then six-year-old Catinca Untaru. We strongly recommend catching it on Mubi before listening to the episode. References Behin...

This week we sift through the web lore of one of the original multiverse movies, Donnie Darko. We relish seeing adolescent Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal squabble at the dinner table and ponder why a 23-year-old directing wunderkind never succeeded with a follow-up. References Pages from the fictional book "The Philosophy of Time Travel" by Roberta Sparrow aka Grandma Death Donnie Darko’s  B...

To kick off a new series, we’re starting with the biggest film of 2024 - that’s biggest by our personal metrics. Expect a detailed breakdown of the lens required to achieve such a revolting zoom on Dennis Quaid munching prawn heads and a rant about why this is not Demi Moore’s comeback. References Interview with Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Coralie Fargeat A breakdown of the set design of The...

We had to, it was unavoidable. Francis Ford Coppola's 40-year-long passion project has finally come to fruition and it was important that we discussed it. So here is a bonus episode. Listen as we attempt to decipher how, what and why. Just why? References That hotel Coppola owns for filmmakers Twelve Against The Gods by William Bolitho Ryall A BTS argument on Bram Stoker’s Dracula between FFC...

This week on our season finale we look at three box office and critical successes which you might not know were directed by women. In the hot seat is Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break , Penelope Spheeris’ Wayne’s World and Mary Harron’s American Psycho . We also almost (but not quite) dodge the Blake Lively controversy and talk about the films we’re looking forward to this autumn. See you for season 5...

Between the weather and the state of the world, it’s been a pretty sad summer, so we’re sticking with that theme as we look at some of the best sad girls on film holiday. We discuss Charlotte Rampling in Francois Ozon’s Swimming Pool, Scarlett Johansson in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (and Bill Murray too) and Pauline Collins as Lewis Gilbert’s Shirley Valentine. References Peter Dinklage d...

From Dune 2 to Deadpool and Wolverine , there have been a surprising number of hit sequels this year. So this week we’re asking the question, what makes that cinematic blue moon of a part 2 that is better than part 1? References The Strasberg school’s definition of method acting On Location with The Godfather: A Discussion with Gordon Willis (director of photography), theasc.com An oral history of...

Why talk about good films when we could talk about spectacularly bad ones? This week we discuss four infamous films that left their directors and studios in financial and/or reputational ruin. On the chopping block is Francis Ford Coppola’s One From The Heart , Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate , Elaine May’s Ishtar and, of course, Tom Hooper’s Cats . Enjoy. References Hulk Smash’s takedown of Tom Ho...

You honestly wouldn’t believe how many great films came out in 1999. The Matrix, Fight Club, The Blair Witch Project, The Talented Mr Ripley, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Sixth Sense, Notting Hill, The Mummy, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About You . We could go on… It’s the 25th anniversary of this auspicious year and cinemas are getting in on the action, with 1999 seasons playing...

From the famous speeding train of 1896 to the groundbreaking Russian Ark and iconic Berlin night-out-gone-wrong flick Victoria , this week we take you through the illustrious history of one-take movies - or should it be one-shot movies? References Hot takes: a short history of the one-shot movie in 11 attempts by Matthew Thrift for BFI Interview with Medusa Deluxe director Thomas Hardiman The 10 w...

It’s the 25th anniversary of The Mummy - I know, we can’t believe it either. How time flies. So we’re paying tribute to the first addition to the greatest ancient-history-action-adventure-thriller-franchise of all time and its somewhat uneven sequels and prequels. Topics covered include, of course, sexy mummies, Brendan Frasier at his peak and the incredible discovery of Rachel Weiz. References An...

It turns out a bodybuilding rom-com thriller was the movie we’ve been waiting for. Yes, this week we’re talking about Love Lies Bleeding, Rose Glass’ follow-up to the incredible Saint Maud, starring Kristen Stewart in the role she was made the play. References Interview with Rose Glass, and stars Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian ‘Rose Glass talks ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, casting Kristen Stewart and w...

Game. Set. Match. (Is that right?) Two of tennis’ greatest novices tackle our most romantic sport in a battle of the ages. Which is the better tennis movie? Up-and-comer, Challengers, or seasoned champion, Wimbledon . But let’s be honest, it’s Zendaya v. Kirsten Dunst - who will win the title of most empowered woman on the court? References ‘Challengers’ Heats Up: How Zendaya’s Star Power and a Se...

This week we discuss the surprising common ground between Jonathan Glazer’s chilling examination of an Auschwitz commandant and his family, The Zone of Interest and Wim Wenders’ meandering meditation on life as a Tokyo Toilet cleaner, Perfect Days. References Interview with Jonathan Glazer on The Zone of Interest by David Canfield for Vanity Fair The Making of  The Zone of Interest Wim Wenders int...