The Actor and The Engineer Podcast

This week we look back at an Oscar-winning film (Costume Design) that we didn't get to in the Oscar season rush.  J.K. Rowling's first screenplay brings a book referenced in the Harry Potter books to life.  Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Colin Farrell and more doing magic in 1920's New York City...with weird magical animals!  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Fac...

This week we talk about Martin Scorcese's most recent passion project.  Made for less money that he is used to in treacherous conditions, this interpretation of a true situation shows us the struggles of Portuguese Jesuit Priests in a hostile 17th-century Japan.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on twit...

This week we look at this new "big monkey" movie that is slated to start the Monsterverse (including Godzilla and Mothra).  We also talk about Josh's experience at the theater seeing this movie (spoiler alert: it wasn't great).  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on twitter  @actorengineer .

This week we talk about the sci fi love story (?) with questionable morals that had audiences scratching their heads.  Was it actually bad?  We then catch up on Mel Gibson's 2016 Best Picture nominee that was based on a true story.  We start the discussion of Hacksaw Ridge at the 47 minute mark (for people who don't want to hear spoilers for Passengers).  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6g...

This week we talk about the films that grab us from the very beginning, whether it be with an engaging title sequence or an inventive opening scene.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on twitter  @actorengineer .

This week we talk about two period pieces that came out in 2016.  The first is a Pablo Larrain film starring Natalie Portman that garnered her an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Jaqueline Kennedy with an amazing (also Oscar-nomitated) score by Micachu.  We then try to figure out if the second film (Allied) is a spy movie or a love story or a visual effects showcase...  Subscribe on i...

This week we talk about the final chapter in Hugh Jackman's portrayal of the Wolverine spanning 17 years.  How does the film's grittier and bloodier take on the Logan character compare to the other films and was the R-rating necessary to the telling of this story?  We also talk about the pre-film Deadpool 2 trailer (now with Cherry Garcia!!)  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check...

This is a quick episode right before the Oscars, so that we can get in the last few movies that we have seen before the ceremony.  Josh also talks about some crazy coincidences on his vacation.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on twitter  @actorengineer .

Here are our predictions for how it will go down on Oscar night.  We not only try to glean how the Academy will vote, but we also pick who we would vote for in each of the major categories if we actually had a vote.  Check back for a minisode right before the Oscars to see if our minds have changed after seeing even more of the nominated movies.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Ch...

This week we each finish up our countdown of our top 10 films of 2016.  Keep an eye out for our next podcast, which will be our Oscar picks for the year 2016.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on twitter  @actorengineer .

This is our "end of the year" countdown of our favorite movies that came out in 2016.  This episode is the first part of the list.  We both count down our lists from 10 to 6 and explain why we want to single out these particular movies.  Next week is 5 through 1!  Josh also mentions a website that has dvd commentary tracks available as mp3s so you can listen to them like podcasts!  Here is the lin...

This week we talk about two Oscar contenders.  Hidden Figures focuses on three African-American women in early 1960's Virginia that fight against racial and gender barriers and help our country to safely put men in space at the height of the space race.  The picture and screenplay were nominated as well as Octavia Spencer for her supporting performance.  Captain Fantastic looks at a family that is...

This week we experience Kenneth Lonergan's vision of a man who is forced to return to his small hometown and face his past while dealing with his nephew's future.  Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges each give Oscar-nominated performances that have to be seen, even if just once.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorand...

This is a film in three parts about an African-American boy struggling with how society is telling him how to be a man.  Barry Jenkins (writer/director) brings us an Oscar-nominated coming of age film told in a unique way with great acting and a pitch perfect score.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on...

This week we talk about the film adaptation of August Wilson's Tony Award-Winning play (that also won the two leads Tonys).  For the most part, the actors from the 2010 revival are the same and we get a third directorial effort from Denzel Washington.  Last week wet talked about our theater experiences, but this week we really get into the film as an adaptation, Denzel's emotional wobble and why V...

This episode is kind of a catch-up episode where we talk about what we have been watching as we get ready to reveal our top 10 films of the year for 2016.  We also begin our blood feud over the merits of Hell or High Water, specifically the screenplay.  We also talk about our experiences in our respective theaters while seeing Fences (which we will review in our next episode!)  Subscribe on iTunes...

This week we talk about one of our most anticipated films of 2016.  This Golden Globe winning follow-up to Damien Chazelle's 2014 film, Whiplash, is a modern-day musical with new songs and two strong leading actors, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (co-stars in Crazy, Stupid Love).  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and fo...

We finally get to go back to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away!  This time we have a special guest, Emmy and ProMax award winning commercial and promotions producer (and huge Star Wars fan) Justin Arner !  We go through what makes this movie different from other Star Wars movies, talk about the score, special effects (good and bad), diversity in casting and much more!  Subscribe on iTunes:...

This week we analyze Tom Ford's sophomore directorial and writing effort.  This is a movie based on a book about a woman reading a book written by her ex-husband about why you shouldn't flip off Aaron Taylor-Johnson.  Not really.  But, kind of.  Let's get through this together!  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and f...

This week we try to figure out when narration (or voice-over) works and why it isn't always a good idea.  We talk about unvreliable narrators, characters talking to other characters as voice-over, and characters breaking the fourth wall, among other uses of narration.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us o...

This week we give a few examples of effective use of opera in film and how that can enhance the moviegoing experience.  We also have a tiny spoiler for Arrival (which is still in theaters) in there, so beware!  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on twitter  @actorengineer .

After watching it for the first time, we discuss the 1938 film based on an old English legend starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.  This big-budget film done by Warner Brothers (in Technicolor!) was the feel-good summer blockbuster of it's time. Here is a link to the matte painting example we talk about in the episode.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebo...

Amy Adams stars in this "alien" film that turns out to be so much more.  Denis Villeneuve (Enemy, Prisoners, Incindies, Sicario) directs this short story adaptation and incorporates amazing cinematography, score and sound design to tell this story in a new and relevant way.  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follo...

This week we talk about the second film of 2016 from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  We talk about how they dealt with the muti-verses and astral planes and all of the things that we haven't seen before in a Marvel movie.  We spend just a little time on the "whitewashing" controversy and we also talk a little about the score.  In the show, Josh talks about a video comparing Marvel scores to the sc...

This week we revisit Alex Proyas' sci-fi entry "Dark City".  This came out in a pre-Matrix world, so it was interesting to watch the film in that light.  Does it hold up to the same scrutiny as other sci-fi classics or can we see the age of the film after 18 years?  Subscribe on iTunes:   https://itun.es/i6gB67Y   Check out our Facebook page:   www.facebook.com/actorandengineer  and follow us on t...