Popcorn Culture

Whether set in an office, an apartment with famous purple walls or featuring dysfunctional families (honestly - take your pick), sitcoms have always been the television equivalent of a warm, much-needed hug, accompanied by a belly laugh or two. In this episode of Supercut, we dive into our favourites and talk about what makes the format tick. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An origin tale that many have argued came years too late, Black Widow tells the story of Natasha Romanoff's origins, as well as what she got up to after Captain America: Civil War. Starring Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz alongside Scarlett Johannson, it's a grittier take on a Marvel film, dealing with espionage, and what it means to reckon with your past. We talk about the film, an...

Fresh off a 20 nomination spree at the Emmys, and a sweep of the comedic acting categories, Ted Lasso is the show of the season, capturing hearts with its focus on well-written characters, strong performances and thoughtful storytelling. While it starts with the trials and travails of an American football coach, transplanted to the English Premier League, the show also expands to explore different...

In 1996, Space Jam brought together the unlikely pairing of basketball superstar Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes icon, Bugs Bunny, in a plot that saw him having to save the Looney Tunes from alien enslavement. In 2021, we're swapping out Michael Jordan for LeBron James, but the broad strokes of this sequel remain the same. We talk about Space Jam: A New Legacy and how it holds up against the first...

Part comedic murder mystery, part live action, part animation and all zany, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? broke a lot of new ground in 1988, and continues to set the gold standard in bringing animated characters into live action settings. In this episode, we look back at the movie and talk about how it holds up with technology having changed so much of the movie landscape in the decades since. See omny...

Whether we’re talking about Wes Anderson’s art nouveau pastels, Tim Burton’s gothic surrealism, or the Wachowskis’ polished visions of the future, how something looks onscreen is often half the story. On our Supercut this week, we discuss aesthetics in film and television: what worked, what fell flat, and what visuals remain framed in our minds. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil; If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will… But before she became a fearsome would-be puppy murderer, Cruella was just a rebellious and stylish girl who dreamt of making it big in the fashion world. How she makes that transition is the story of Disney’s latest reimagining of one of its animated classics - this time, 101 Dalmatians. Starring a fabulous...

Not only is In the Mood for Love arguably Wong Kar-wai’s most celebrated film, it is often hailed as one of the best movies of all time - so naturally, a throwback is warranted. The film also features one of the most celebrated screen pairings, Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, in a story that reflects on love, marriage, youth, and fleeting moments of connection. We review the film, and talk abo...

Dramedies are a truly unique bunch. These films and TV shows sit in the narrow space between drama and comedy, with many of them serving as cult classics and fan favourites. On this Supercut, we discuss how dramedies strike that fine balance between genres, the directors that have perfected the art of making them both hilarious and poignant, as well our favourite films and TV shows in this fairly...

Starring Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh and Emmy winner Jay Duplass alongside a stacked cast, The Chair is a dramedy that follows the adventures and misadventures of the new English department chair at Pembroke University. Question is, is it really Netflix's new "must-watch" series? On this episode, we review The Chair and discuss its "short and sweet" episodic format and Amanda Peet's unique take...

Love em or hate em, musicals have been a staple of the silver screen for decades. Fans of the genre argue that their magic lies in the beauty of using music to tell a story, of the flights of fancy it allows. Detractors will argue that there's nothing pleasant about randomly breaking out into song and dance. In this Supercut, we dive in headfirst to dissect musicals and why they continue to be suc...

Take Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, add murder and opera... and you have Annette, a film telling the story of a comedian and an opera singer, and how their lives are changed by the arrival of their first child. In this episode, we review the film, its performances, soundtrack, and what it's like watching it at home, as it drops on Amazon Prime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Wouldn't it be loverly? That's one of the central questions of the thoroughly loverly My Fair Lady, which tells a version of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, in the form of Eliza Dolittle and Henry Higgins and their sparkling back and forths. Starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison (reprising his role from the Broadway musical), and directed by George Cukor, this film has long been lauded as one...

Some go method - Marlon Brando, Daniel Day-Lewis; others effortlessly sink into roles - Cate Blanchett, Gary Oldman; and others simply play versions of themselves - Jack Nicholson, we’re looking at you. But in the end, it all comes down to acting style. In this Supercut, we discuss actors who have developed a distinctive way of bringing their characters to life, and the joys we get from them...

The latest in the “American faces peril in a foreign locale” trope, Beckett sees John David Washington playing an American tourist in Greece, who unexpectedly finds himself the target of a manhunt and must now clear his name. The film also stars Alicia Vikander, Boyd Holbrook, and Vicky Krieps. We review the movie, and see how it holds up as a modern thriller. See omnystudio.com/listen...

Often hailed as one of Denzel Washington’s finest performances - and that is a high bar - Malcolm X holds the distinction of bringing together a number of African-American cultural icons. Besides starring Washington, the 1992 film is directed by Spike Lee, and of course centres around the life and struggles of African-American activist Malcolm X. We revisit the movie, and discuss how it, in...

Binge watching, same day premieres, midnight drops - there's a brand new dictionary for how we watch the films and shows we watch. And now with streaming services experimenting with weekly episodes, and cinemas remaining closed, we thought the time was ripe to talk about the way all our viewing habits have changed, and how content is likely to be shaped around that in the future. See omnystudio.co...

What's the worst part about going on vacation overseas? According to HBO's 'The White Lotus', it's the people. Directed by Mike White and starring Steve Zahn, Connie Britton, and Alexandra Daddario (among others), this satire dramedy follows the exploits of various guests at a tropical resort over the span of a week. On this episode, we review HBO's latest miniseries, 'The White Lotus', and all th...

What if you could play casting director for an hour or two, and put actors together in fresh combinations? Who would you like to see? Share your thoughts with us as we discuss interesting cast and director combinations we'd like to see. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could play casting director for an hour or two, and put actors together in fresh combinations? Who would you like to see? Share your thoughts with us as we discuss interesting cast and director combinations we'd like to see. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Variously called a prequel, or sidequel, to Netflix's hit zombie show Kingdom, Ashin of the North is a feature length special episode that expands on the series' story and mythology. It's also much more than a zombie thriller, touching on elements of revenge and tragedy. In this episode, we review Kingdom: Ashin of the North and discuss how it stands up against the show's 2 previous seasons. See o...

A true crossover hit, Zhang Yimou's Hero has all the makings of a wuxia classic: stunning sequences, opulent settings and big names. With stars like Jet Li, Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung at the helm, and Rashomon among its influences, Hero set the tone for Chinese cinema in its time. We look back to see if this grand tale holds up almost 20 years on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Who was Sean before James Bond, Jon before Don Draper, or Sigourney before Ripley? For many actors, one iconic screen role often shoots them to stardom, and often goes on to define them - for better or worse. On this week’s Supercut, we look at the iconic roles associated with actors, and how they’ve shaped the way we view them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this sci fi action film starring Chris Pratt, a group of time travellers arrive in present day from the year 2051 to warn mankind of a future global war against a deadly alien species. In response, soldiers and civilians from our time are drafted and sent into the future to fight the alien army. We review the movie and see how well it does on the alien/ invasion/time travel/summer blockbuster s...

It’s been 20 years since Elle Woods sashayed onto our screens and stole our hearts with her brains, beauty, and unapologetic pinkness! Featuring one of Reese Witherspoon’s most iconic roles, the film tells the story of a sorority girl who enrolls in law school as an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend, but in the process ends up smashing stereotypes and triumphing as a successful lawy...