Splash of Cinema

Recorded on August 6, 2022.  Following a conversational interview style format, this installment of Splash of Cinema sees John bring on guests Will Bodenman (LB: WillBode) and Mike Egbueze. Mike, a senior at Cornell, is a Marvel super fan and expert. Throughout the episode, Will, John, and Mike discuss several of their favorite Marvel films and what makes the MCU one of a kind. Over a convers...

Recorded July 11, 2022  Splash of Cinema legend and frequent guest Sam Rosevear (LB: srosevear) comes on to tackle our most prolific lineup of films yet. Ranging from blockbusters to reappearances from legendary directors, the six films covered are as varied as can be but have all left their mark on the culture this year. The trio discusses how these films make their impact, where the inspira...

Recorded on January 5, 2022.  Back from hiatus, the Splash of Cinema squad is back up and roaring again, kicking off our return with first-time guest Jackson Matukaitis (LB: jmat11) to recap some of the best films of 2021. Covering a lineup of five of the best from last year as well as the box office hit "Dune", John and Pete have an in-depth discussion with Jackson about what makes these fil...

Recorded on November 16, 2021 (Pete’s Time) and November 17, 2021 (John’s Time). John and Pete return to cover the biggest box office hits of summer 2021 in the U.S., films that were mainly designed to make money and did their job. Through Disney and Marvel projects along with other big-budget pieces, the films are analyzed for their elements and appeal to a critical audience, aside from the money...

Recorded on August 14, 2021.  The first episode of the podcast without one of our usual co-hosts (come back soon Pete), John brings back recurring guest Will Bodenman for the usual, another dose of discussion around revolutionary production company A24. This third volume in the A24 sub-series covers directors that have done multiple films for A24, including Noah Baumbach, Daniel Scheinert, Sofia C...

Recorded on May 6, 2021.  In this episode, Pete and John bring back recurring guest and recent Macalaster graduate Sam Rosevear to talk about one of our favorite directors, the legendary Christopher Nolan. In chronological order of his career (special exception for the Batman trilogy), Nolan’s complete filmography is discussed, highlighting how his style has evolved over time. Also discussed is No...

*Re-Edited*  Recorded on April 24, 2021.  John and Pete preview the 93rd Academy Awards in this episode, selecting a few films from several categories that stood out for various reasons and haven't been previously covered on the podcast. From animated shorts to heavyweight 'Best Picture' contenders, the films are highlighted for their importance, technical excellence, or their downfalls....

Recorded on April 6, 2021.  Ben Hosler (LB: BLHProd) is an amateur filmmaker, aspiring film major, and moderately viral Tik-Toker with a deep knowledge and appreciation of the Spider-Man Universe. In this episode, John and Pete dive deep into the Spider-Man Universe, covering the Tobey, Andrew, and Tom eras, as well as upcoming projects and the exciting animated project "Spider-Man: Into the...

Recorded on March 31, 2021.  Roommates and cinema lovers Aaron Reisinger (LB: aaronreisinger) and Luke Babinchak (LB: lukebab10), avid users of Letterboxd and amateur critics in their own right, come on this episode to discuss some of their favorite performances and likewise some of the best movies in American film history. From Jack Nicholson to Denzel Washington, the acting behind some of o...

Recorded on March 21, 2021.  In an episode dedicated to the wild sport of hockey, the best and most iconic hockey films are covered from both a cinematic and player's perspective. Guest Jack Marrara, a film lover, former college club hockey player, and a friend of the pod, comes on to discuss his favorite hockey movies, and what aspects of the game are sensationalized in these films. From tru...

Recorded on February 28, 2021.  John and Pete bring you the past decade worth of Academy Award winning Best Picture features in this episode, reviewing the things that stood out from each respective film. While these films may not have been the best of their year by our opinion, each of these films is critically well-received and worth a watch. The past few episodes of "WandaVision" are also...

Recorded on February 21, 2021.  Splash of Cinema continues the A24 subseries with the second installment, a portrait of some underappreciated pieces from the production company, including the hidden gem of the week. Joining the episode is guest Will Bodenman, an A24 fanatic and close friend of the podcast who formerly appeared on the first episode of the A24 coverage. This episode focuses on...

Recorded on February 11, 2021.  Following the release of the 2021 Golden Globe nominations, Pete and John explore the various categories and honorees. Understanding the context of the 'Globes' as an awards show, Pete and John give insight as to what the judges normally look for, expressing surprise at some of the more interesting contenders and snubs. Additionally, five contenders for various...

Recorded on February 1, 2021.  Paul Thomas Anderson: the man, the myth, the legend. In this episode, Pete and John bring back on former guest Sam Rosevear to talk all things PTA, going through his entire array of eight masterful features and a recent short collaboration with Thom Yorke. Through extensive coverage of each of his features, this pod unveils the genius of PTA and how his works ha...

Recorded on January 24, 2021.  Wrapping up a trilogy of episodes dedicated to the unique year of 2020 cinema, John and Pete cover a variety of awards heavyweights in this episode, as well as some cinema news and a discussion of the new Marvel show "WandaVision". A longer episode for the podcast, this piece is dedicated to some of the best films and performances of the past year, covering a ra...

Recorded on January 11, 2021  In this episode, John and Pete cover some more iconic 2020 films, good and bad. Through popular projects and more awards contenders, a conversation develops on various performances, screenplays, visuals, and other film elements that shaped 2020 in cinema. This week John and Pete bring back the fiery feces flick as well, torching one of the worst (and maybe the wo...

Recorded on January 3, 2021.  In a lengthy episode, John and Pete bring on fellow film lover and Letterboxd Pro member Sam Rosevear to go over the big movies of 2020, and what stood out. Despite a year of cinemas lost to the coronavirus, 2020 brought some quality films, which are given reviews by the trio and highlighted for standout elements and performances. Exciting news and upcoming proje...

Recorded on December 29, 2020.  In the spirit of the holiday season, Pete and John cover a variety of classic Christmas movies, including the hidden gem of the week. For a unique animated gem, Will Bodenman comes on to share his thoughts. From "Elf" to "Home Alone", the analysis of what makes a Christmas movie good, and what the common themes are between them, is covered thoroughly. On the fl...

Recorded on December 21, 2020 Following the recent finale of Season 2 of the highly lauded Star Wars show "The Mandalorian", John and Pete delve into what made Season 2 special, and how the balance was struck between entertainment value and fan appreciation. With sections dedicated to both a spoiler and non-spoiler review of the season, the big elements and details of the show are covered in depth...

Recorded on December 2, 2020 In the first installment of a series covering the fresh production company A24, John and Pete bring on their first guest, Will Bodenman. Will, John's twin brother, is a film lover and amateur critic through Letterboxd, and an ardent follower of A24 movies. In a discussion of four popular A24 movies from the up-and-coming Safdie Brothers along with horror director Ari A...

Recorded on November 25, 2020.  In this episode, John and Peter highlight the acclaimed pair of directors, writers, and producers: The Coen Brothers. Covering seven hit films from the duo, including the hidden gem of the week, John and Peter discuss the dark humor style so iconic to the Coens and the frequent collaborators on their works. Be sure to listen in towards the end of the episode as...

Recorded on November 7, 2020 In the inaugural episode, John and Pete discuss elections in movies and TV shows. They also debate whether or not Netflix will keep producing at the same rate that they currently are. News regarding the Marvel and DC Universes are discussed as well as a brief chat about award shows. Be sure to watch our hidden gem of the week!  0:00- Introduction  2:15- Elect...