Scene and Heard

Jackie and Greg swelter in the summer heat for Spike Lee's DO THE RIGHT THING from 1989. Topics of discussion include its ensemble cast, Lee's prodigious talent, and why it's one of the best and most important films of the 20th century. #24 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Films of All Time" list.  https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-time Check us out on Instagr...

Jackie and Greg talk Ousmane Sembène's masterpiece of French-Senegalese cinema, BLACK GIRL from 1966. Topics of discussion include M’Bissine Thérèse Diop's performance, the film's stylistic influences, how it packs a lot into 59 minutes, and why it remains even more relevant today than when it was made. #95 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Films of All Time" list.  https://www.bfi.or...

Jackie and Greg wait for important test results for Agnès Varda's CLEO FROM 5 TO 7. Topics of discussion include Varda's style, how she compares to her Nouvelle Vague contemporaries, the film's mix of realism and fantasy, and its reverberating influence on cinema. #14 on Sight & Sound's 2022 "The Greatest Films of All Time" list.  https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-...

Jackie and Greg start torrid affairs with ghosts to prep for Kenji Mizoguchi's UGETSU from 1953. Topics of discussion include the film as a tapestry of several short stories, Mizoguchi's unrelenting dourness, and how it ranks among the other jidaigeki films on the list. #50 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-...

Jackie and Greg travel through time for Chris Marker's LA JETÉE from 1963. Topics of discussion include its undefinable mood, its stature as one of the most famous short films ever made, and why Marker was one of the most resourceful filmmakers of his generation. #50 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-a...

Jackie and Greg don their champagne flutes and boxing gloves for Charlie Chaplin's CITY LIGHTS from 1931. Topics of discussion include the film's long shooting schedule, Chaplin's perfectionism, where it sits in his filmography, and whether it's his definitive film or not. #50 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greate...

Jackie and Greg ascend Mount Rushmore for Alfred Hitchcock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST from 1959. Topics of discussion include Hitchcock's controlled direction, the film as a series of set pieces, how its outlandishness is pitched just right, and why it's his horniest film. #53 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-fil...

Jackie and Greg attempt to stomach Jean-Luc Godard's 4+ hour manifesto on cinema (and himself), HISTOIRE(S) DU CINÉMA from 1998. (T)opics (o)f (d)iscussi(o)n include the film's incoherence, Godard's pretentiousness, how there are a few nuggets of wisdom littered throughout, and why you should just watch Mark Cousins' THE STORY OF FILM: AN ODYSSEY (2011) instead. #48 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "Th...

Jackie and Greg are joined by writer, producer, and director Gary Rosen for Alfred Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW from 1954. Topics of discussion include the genius of Hitchcock's storytelling, Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart's star power, the carefully staged tableux of the neighbors, and why the apartment set is one of the greatest sets ever built. #53 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films...

Another year, another Top 10 list! Jackie and Greg share their favorite films from 2024. Check us out on Instagram: instagram.com/sceneandheardpod Check us out at our official website: sceneandheardpod.com Graphic Design: Molly Pinto Music: Andrew Cox Editing: Greg Kleinschmidt Support the show Support the show on Patreon : patreon.com/SceneandHeardPod or Subscribe just to get access to our bonus...

Jackie and Greg bear witness to the revolution for Gillo Pontecorvo's THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS from 1966. Topics of discussion include the film's influential newsreel style, its use of non-actors, how it retains a neutral point of view, and why history is always doomed to repeat itself. #48 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/p...

Jackie and Greg step in the boxing ring for Martin Scorsese's RAGING BULL from 1980. Topics of discussion include Robert De Niro's transformation for the role of Jake LaMotta, Thelma Schoonmaker's prodigious editing, what it has to say about the nature of violence, and why it's Scorsese's greatest film.   #53 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.b...

Jackie and Greg attempt to separate fact from fiction for Abbas Kiarostami's CLOSE-UP from 1990. Topics of discussion include the film's docudrama format, what it has to say about reality in cinema, which strings were pulled behind the scenes, and why it remains an essential piece of filmmaking. #43 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight...

Jackie and Greg are hot on the tracks of a serial killer in Fritz Lang’s M. Topics of discussion include its innovative use of sound, heavy subject matter, Peter Lore’s breakthrough performance, and how it continues to serve as the blueprint for all crime procedurals. #56 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-fi...

Jackie and Greg are joined by Jackson Cooper, Executive Director of AGFA (American Genre Film Archive) for Jacques Tati's PLAYTIME from 1967. Topics of discussion include the film as an explosion of Where's Waldo? on 70mm, how Tati distances himself from the M. Hulot character in the film, the personal and financial toll it took on him to bring it to screen, and why it endures and continues to asc...

It's a Double Bill! In the second installment in this series, Jackie and Greg each bring another of their favorite Christmas movies to the table: Dianne Jackson's THE SNOWMAN and Ron Howard's HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. Listen as they argue the merits of each of their festive picks! Check us out on Instagram: instagram.com/sceneandheardpod Check us out at our official website: sceneandheardpod...

Jackie and Greg are trapped in a post-Manson Los Angeles for Russ Meyer's BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS from 1970. Topics of discussion include the film's origins as a non-sequel, its screenplay by Roger Ebert, how it fails as a satire, and whether the film's bad taste works for or against it. The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from...

Jackie and Greg bear witness to the decadence and raging sexuality of a small English mining town for Ken Russell's WOMEN IN LOVE from 1969. Topics of discussion include the film's origins as an adaptation of D. H. Lawrence's classic novel, the quartet of characters at the center of the film, how it was cutting edge for its time, and why it resonates with Greg so much. The continuation of our "Per...

Jackie and Greg are joined by Felicia Maroni of the Seeing Faces in Movies podcast for Luchino Visconti's THE LEOPARD from 1963. Topics of discussion include Burt Lancaster's performance as an Italian prince, the film's scale, how it holds its characters at a distance, and whether it should be the only Visconti on the list or not. #57 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time...

Jackie and Greg bust out the blue paint and dynamite for Jean-Luc Godard's PIERROT LE FOU from 1965. Topics of discussion include the film's radical structure, its many references to art and cinema, whether it works as a film or a museum piece, and a debate on the validity of Godard's filmmaking. #43 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sigh...

Jackie and Greg turn up the camp for Mark Robson's VALLEY OF THE DOLLS from 1967. Topics of discussion include the film's subtlety (or lack thereof), its wild production history, cult status, and how it's stuck between the Old and New Hollywood. The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from the fringes of cinema, encompassing underground,...

Jackie and Greg get pulled into the seedy underbelly of Orson Welles' TOUCH OF EVIL from 1958. Topics of discussion include the film's tangible atmosphere, Charlton Heston's portrayal of a Mexican, the film's torrid post-production history, and how it compares to other seminal film noirs. #57 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...

Jackie and Greg stare off into the distance in turn-of-the-century Stockholm for Carl Theodor Dreyer's GERTRUD from 1964. Topics of discussion include its placement in Dreyer's filmography, how Nina Pens Rode’s lead is one of the most pathetic characters in cinema, and why it's dull as dishwater. Is this their most hated film on the list so far? #43 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Fi...

Jackie and Greg step into the silver screen for Buster Keaton's SHERLOCK JR. from 1924. Topics of discussion include Keaton's cinematic innovation, the economy of his storytelling, how he compares to other silent comedians, and why the magic of cinema is eternal. #59 on Sight & Sound's 2012 "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time" list. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/polls/greatest-films-a...

Jackie and Greg take a trip to Dinosaur World for Paul Flaherty's CLIFFORD from 1994. Topics of discussion include the chemistry between Martin Short and Charles Grodin, how it was reviled upon release, famous fans of the film, and how it subverts the trappings of the 1990s family movie. The monthly S'mores series is an offshoot from our main series, where Jackie and Greg explore films from the fr...