On the BiTTE

At OTB HQ we're ALL business! But some times, just some times, we like to do a little bit in the name of PLEASURE.  Depending on who you speak to (particularly Laura) they will let you know that anything we do is for "pleasure" but before this analogy begins to lose its muster, let's look at the Ninja Thyberg's debut, PLEASURE, based on the short of the same name.  It's an in-depth, behind-the-cur...

Who thought putting criminals in space would be a great idea? I mean, if everyone was kind and everything was successful, would it make a great story? Who can tell but that's the basis of the Claire Denis film HIGH LIFE.  Starring Robert Pattison, Mia Goth, Juliette Binoche, André "3000" Benjamin, and Ewan Mitchell, we follow a doomed space mission to a Black Hole and the obvious antics that ensue...

Ryan felt we needed to lighten things up and dive back into some digestible fluff that he could get into his snarling teeth. But kinda what we found was that he's been tamed slightly. No longer has the pretentiousness of cinema's past enveloped his dark soul now that he's found the work of Nick Hurran.  Yes. Nick. Oh, sweet Nick. This man knows what he's doing with this (one of his many "body swap...

That train keeps chugging and by pure accidental bliss, we have another film up here with some stark similarities!  Would I go on to say this film is "controversial"? Probably. We have some issues with it. As you'll gather, we don't talk about the film much but rather the way the film was made. There's some questionable behavior happening here, and we're not a podcast to let that slide. The two le...

June has rolled 'round and you know what that means?! It's Pride and we get to cover some LGBTQ+ films.  This time, we're dipping into Gay Cinema with one of the best examples of the category. Number 22 in the BFI best LGBT film of all time is Alain Guiraudie's STRANGER BY THE LAKE. A masterful and nuanced take on the mystery genre, this minimalist, intimate, and insular film focuses on the shenan...

You knew this day would come. It was inevitable. We're covering Jane Campion's THE PIANO.  How does Ryan feel about this one? This was the one film of the filmography that he remembered quite fondly but now, decades later and now a co-host of an alternative film review podcast, with an active dislike for the other films we have covered of this particular filmmaker, how will it fare? I guess you're...

We sent out the call at the end of our A BIGGER SPLASH episode with CHALLENGERS releasing day. It may even be fate that willed us, catching an early preview screening the same week in an RPX ("shaky seats") theatre. There's nothing like a tennis movie in a vibrating seat with some phat, thumping base and Zendaya's moody staring. Along with a tonne of sweaty slow motion from the other stars Josh O'...

What could be better? You have the sunshine. You have your lover. You have fresh fruits, food and a beautiful location for relaxation and isolation. But then your veracious and intrusive friend from your past phones up and barges into your life. We've all been there I guess. It starts out like fun then gets painfully annoying when that guy tries to steal away your girlfriend and his daughter just...

We are back and with something weird and beautiful!  Yeah, in our double dipping on the Yorgos-train, we find ourselves at the 2023 release of the multi-award winning POOR THINGS. This comedy/drama/fantasy film is something special. A feast for the eyes and an incredibly darkly comical tale of a woman brought back to life and given a second chance. Think FRANKENSTEIN, FRANKENHOOKER, FREAKY FRIDAY,...

This episode we look at the early filmography of Yorgos Lanthimos featuring DOGTOOTH! Famous for his more Western entries in his filmography, THE LOBSTER, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, THE FAVOURITE and his recent Oscar winner POOR THINGS, we go back to the seminal turning point in his career: DOGTOOTH.  He's been a prominent figure in Greek Cinema prior (part of the aptly put "Weird Wave") but it...

Oh boy... What have we done to ourselves?  In a moment of uncertainty we decided to double dip into the Winterbottom well. We knew we were going to review this film "at some point" BUT we didn't really know what we were letting ourselves in for.  The "arthouse/mainstream/romantic/concert film" is only 69 (lol) minutes long but it feels like it's relatively short runtime. A film that depicts heavil...

That's right! We're getting mad wi' it! We're goin' all the way to Manchester, the birthplace of exciting musical new waves since the dawn of time!  We're uncovering the Tony Wilson musical biopic 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE! Tony would make you believe this is not a film about him and how instrumental he was in nurturing these HUGE musical talents over the years using his clout as a TV personality to cr...

wADdUp B*****S! wE'rE cUvErIn' ZOLA!  But seriously, before these two oldies get sucked into the chasm of "Gen Z", we're here exploring the 2020 Janicza Bravo film. A tale of stripping, murder, Tampa and illicit tweets. Based on the infamous twitter thread, the film is an excellent allegory of "the American Dream" set to some unique and vibrant stylings. Obviously being set in Florida gives it a v...

There's a quote at the beginning of the film that states that this text "should not be read or adapted to film". "Wir brauchen Gott" which translates to "we need God" finalizes the warning. I remember being told by my parents when I was younger "if you fiddle about with it too much, it'll fall off". The same can be said for whatever Helen who at every turn, in acts of defiance, tests the boundarie...

In a quatrain Nostradamus stated: "In the year 2024, two self-proclaimed cinephiles who uncover full-frontal male nudity in cinema, will uncover Mike Leigh's NAKED". It's crazy right? We can hardly believe it ourselves.  But Nostradamus was right, we are covering Mike Leigh's NAKED. In a career best for David Thewlis, co-starring Lesley Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge, Gregg Cruttwell, Claire Skinner, Ewe...

We're in the future! The further we progress into the future, the more you feel what a sham all those sci-fi concepts are. ANYWAY what better way to celebrate the future than by going into the past.  Yeah, we're covering the highly requested and regarded Todd Haynes, New Queer Cinema staple, 'Glam Rock' celebration: VELVET GOLDMINE. Starring a slew of big names from Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ewan McGr...

We made it to the end of 2023. And OH what a year it has been. Has it been as exciting and riveting as the completely unidentifiable nor unique 2000's? Probably not.  In a sudden twist, as part of our annual "Christmas Key Party" (lol jks, kinda) we wined, dined, and we seduced Tighe and Renée into watching the newly released SALTBURN , written and directed by Emerald Fennell. The real twist is th...

If you're going to stumble face-first into an "open-style" relationship to test the boundaries of your long-term relationship, maybe have a discussion first. Having "PERMISSION" isn't the issue in this romantic comedy directed by Brian Crano, starring Dan the "German love robot" Stevens and Rebecca "in everything pretty much" Hall.  Yes, we're uncovering the 2017 Romantic-Comedy PERMISSION that fo...

Ryan brings the goods once again with a film with its roots in Scotland! Starring Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer, and the irreplaceable Gerard Butler, MRS BROWN tells the "true" story about the relationship between John Brown and Queen Victoria after Prince Albert's untimely passing. John Madden is in the chair this time round, tackling a period drama about the "Royal" family.  There'...

"What are you thinking? How are you feeling? What have we done to each other? What will we do?" "That's marriage" honestly. Eventually, somewhere down the line, an anniversary treasure trail might turn into a false disappearance and accusations of murder.  Thinking them "deep Hasbro thoughts", we're diving into David Fincher's film adaption of the Gillian Flynn novel GONE GIRL and with a stellar c...

The coming of the Eclipse marks the end of our "Spooky Penis Season" but as the runes need collected, the druids gather the sparkly Disney juice, and a Sands is born. Yeah, that's right! We're covering one of the late Julian Sands seminal roles as the eponymous WARLOCK! As a trilogy of films, Julian Sands plays the WARLOCK in the first two movies, alongside Richard E. Grant in the original Steve M...

So, we watched the newly restored version of THE DOOM GENERATION at a screening for Uncomfortable Brunch. We dragged fellow completionist Josh Martin (the facilitators of this screening) to chat about what we saw and "uncovered" in this short wrap up.

This is our 3rd year of Halloween content. Even to this day, we can't decide on what to call it. Is it "Spooky Penis Month"? Is it "Halloweiners"? It can probably be a combination of both.  Either way, we're starting off our favourite season right with a film we're a little embarrassed to have not seen before. Yeah, it's Robert Hiltzik's cult classic SLEEPAWAY CAMP . I mean, we're glad we waited t...

Ah, "mumblecore".  Films, that at the heart of them, focus on mini-budget, dialogue driven independent filmmaking, are, by virtue of their desires, INCREDIBLY respectful of your time. You'll be lucky to get one of these "mumble" films to hit over 90 minutes, so this beautiful 88 minute dive into the "mumblecore-iverse" was the perfect start.  NIGHTS & WEEKENDS, the Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig (i...

There's nothing like a little light-hearted solicitation to relive your lost youth and discover how amazing sex could be since your, now deceased, boring husband "missionary Martin" never gave it propa'. So, in walks gigolo Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to guide Nancy (Emma Thompson) in her search for the ever-elusive big "O".  Just chuck some fit bloke some cash and it'll solve all your problems b...