Series One Final Scoreboard

All apologies for the radio silence as we wrapped up the show dear listeners. I dare say that when we set out to map our course for the first summer of joint podcasting, neither Simon nor I factored in details like vacations or website redesigns.

But you have stuck with us, and for that we thank you. We will both be cross-posting material to this space as the months go on, especially since many of the directors we mentioned in Series One have films on the horizon ("Paging Mr. Fincher!").

But for the matter at hand, the final scoreboard, which includes the results from rounds eleven and twelve. Here's how it all shook down...

Winner! Rachel Thuro 203 (+44)
Rhys Bendeix-Lewis 156 (+27)
Courtney Small 90 (+15)
Andrew Buckle 79 (+0)
Duke 32 (0)
Alison 28 (0)
Shane McNeil 18 (0)
Joel Burman 15 (0)
Jess Rogers 4 (0)
Andrew Robinson 3 (0)

Congratulations Rachel on dominating the trivia during Series One!

As mentioned during the final moments of Episode Twelve we know for certain that we want to do a Series Two, we just aren't completely set on when, so please keep an eye either on this space, or our respective blogs for details.

We're also open to suggestions on which directors we should cover, so if you want to make a request, email it in and we'll take it under advisement.

Last but not least, please consider one of two small favours now that series one is complete. Please think about spreading the word, since series one's seven hour runtime makes for pretty decent listening to a newcomer over the course of a week or two. Likewise, please consider dropping a rating and/or comment on iTunes which might get us a slightly higher profile.

For now though, thanks so much for making Series One a success - you'll be hearing from us again soon.

sincerely,

Simon & Hatter

The Film Locker #12: Roman Polanski

Apologies for a another week with no content, but between Simon's French adventures, and my work launching a new website, it was a bad choice of week to close up shop on Series One.

However, I'm happy to report that we're signing off with a high note since episode 12 brought about some of the best conversation Simon and I have had all summer long. So without further ado, I give you the Series One Finale - The Roman Polanski episode with feature conversation on his 1975 classic, CHINATOWN.



If you've come with us this far, and enjoyed what we've offered up this summer, perhaps you'd be so kind as to spread the word. The Film Locker was designed as a capsule, so rather than finding out about a podcast and realizing that there are dozens or hundreds of back episodes to dig through, that a new listener could have something maleable...like being handed a twelve-episode HBO series on dvd.

(Not that we fancy ourselves akin to The Sopranos...though in our more deluded moments, we do tangent into Wire-like delusions of grandeur).

One last thing, this show has gone far better than we thought it might (we swore we'd have only two listeners)...so to everybody who gave us six minutes or six hours, thank you and check back now and then for news on series two.

As usual, it is already up on itunes and can be found easily on podomatic - so, please do try and write reviews and support us if you can! We have the ol' RSS feed and 2.0 RSS and, if you link in different ways, we also have it on Google and Yahoo

The Film Locker #11: Guillermo del Toro

A few apologies before getting to episode eleven. First and foremost for its late arrival, and then of course for the slight hiss that can be heard when Hatter is talking.

We should have everything sorted out for the final spin next week...but for now, here's the penultimate talk focusing on Guillermo del Toro and his masterpiece, PAN'S LABYRINTH



As usual, it is already up on itunes and can be found easily on podomatic - so, please do try and write reviews and support us if you can! We have the ol' RSS feed and 2.0 RSS and, if you link in different ways, we also have it on Google and Yahoo

(Belated) Episode 10 Scoreboard

Sorry for the late report on this round folks...all I can say is that when your computer goes into the shop all hell can break loose.

Things still really aren't over, but at this late stage it's safe to say that it's a two horse race. Simon and I both want to thank everyone who participated in the trivia for Series One. If it wasn't for you - we'd swear we were recording these for ourselves!

Here are the results after nine rounds, with everyone's point pickup for this episode listed in parenthesis...

Rachel Thuro 159 (+24)
Rhys Bendeix-Lewis 129 (+10)
Andrew Buckle 79 (+0)
Courtney Small 75 (+15)
Duke 32 (0)
Alison 28 (0)
Shane McNeil 18 (0)
Joel Burman 15 (0)
Jess Rogers 4 (0)
Andrew Robinson 3 (0)

Hatter's Questions:
BROKEBACK and TRAFFIC are two of the very few films to get Best Director but not Best Picture.

Lee is a die-hard fan of The Calgary Flames.

Lee felt Anne Hathaway would be a good fit to play Jane Austen in BECOMING JANE.

Simon's Questions:
Bergman's VIRGIN SPRING was influential in Lee becoming a filmmaker.

Lee has headed up the jury of the Venice Film Festival.

Lee has become a naturalized citizen of The U.S.A.

Entries for Trivia close at noon EST on the Friday after the show; please email all answers to filmlocker@hotmail.com. The prize dvd/blu-ray can be worth a maximum $30 USD on Amazon.com

Further On Up the Road (Looking Towards Episode 11)

Apologies for the lack of content this week folks. You see, it turns out neithe Simon nor I have much Ang Lee material in our back pages. Ordinarily, this discovery would have sparked one or both of us to write something new...but unfortunately, we both found ourselves otherwise occupied over the last seven.

Thus, my one post on one of the most underseen Ang Lee films will have to do.

The scoreboard is coming this afternoon, but for now on with the show! We have two left before we close up shop on series one, and in both cases they centre on directors that spawn great conversation. Here's a clue for the penultimate choice...


C: You're getting older, and you'll see that life isn't like your fairy tales. The world is a cruel place. And you'll learn that, even if it hurts...Magic does not exist. Not for you, me or anyone else

Little More Lust, Little Less Caution

In thinking about this week's director, I wonder if I should take my own advice and watch one of Ang Lee's films again. You see, I watched LUST, CAUTION back during the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival...early on a Sunday morning...where "half awake" would be a generous way to describe my mental state.

Along with being in a better mindset, my taste has changed in the last four years - so perhaps if I were to give it a rent now, I'd find that the pace and tone are in fact more in line with what I want in a film.

For better or worse, here's what I wrote back then...

Ang Lee's movies are some of the most consistently best-looking films, and just about every time I watched one for the first time there was at least one "that's a great shot" moment. I didn't get that with LUST, CAUTION, so while it is shot well, it didn't strike me as visually interesting as some of Lee's other films like BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN or THE ICE STORM. That said, I did enjoy the scenes that involved the four women conversing over their game of mah-jongg. It reminded me a lot of the scenes in EAT, DRINK, MAN, WOMAN where the characters talk passionately as they cook...

Check out the full post here.

The Film Locker #10: Ang Lee

Ever get the feeling you're forgetting something? That's this week's Film Locker. Apologies for the slightly later than usual posting time folks but it's been busy times for Simon and I lately. Hopefully our discussion made things worth the wait, as we have a director whose filmography is short but distinguished for your today.

It's Ang Lee's turn in the spotlight during episode ten, with special emphasis on his 2000 modern classic CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.



As usual, it is already up on itunes and can be found easily on podomatic - so, please do try and write reviews and support us if you can! We have the ol' RSS feed and 2.0 RSS and, if you link in different ways, we also have it on Google and Yahoo

Episode 9 Scoreboard

The all star continues her dominance, but the lead remains a tight one.

Rachel Thuro got in first again with Episode 9 trivia (which continues to stupify me given how inconvenient a time these episodes post for her. But Rhys stays in close with a second place pickup again this week. Three episodes left, the win still very much to be determined.

Here are the results after nine rounds, with everyone's point pickup for this episode listed in parenthesis...

Rachel Thuro 135 (+24)
Rhys Bendeix-Lewis 119 (+18)
Andrew Buckle 79 (+10)
Courtney Small 60 (0)
Duke 32 (0)
Alison 28 (+6)
Shane McNeil 18 (0)
Joel Burman 15 (0)
Jess Rogers 4 (0)
Andrew Robinson 3 (0)

Hatter's Questions:
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE won all but two of the Oscars it was nominated for.

Naomi Harris has been cast as Moneypenny in Bond 23.

Robert Carlyle's character in THE BEACH is named after Daffy Duck.

Simon's Questions:
ALIEN LOVE TRIANGLE was supposed to be part of a trilogy with MIMIC and THE IMPOSTER.

Jim Cartwright wrote the scripts for Strumpet and Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise

John Murphy has worked with Danny Boyle 5 times

Entries for Trivia close at noon EST on the Friday after the show; please email all answers to filmlocker@hotmail.com. The prize dvd/blu-ray can be worth a maximum $30 USD on Amazon.com

"Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?" (Simon reviews TRAINSPOTTING)

Next up - the already discussed Trainspotting. I wrote this a while ago when I even managed to garner enough attention to have it put onto a different website too.

At the time of writing, the use of music was prevalent in my mind as the soundtrack was released across two volumes and I had managed to hunt down both volumes - all with brilliant tracks on (well... say 60% at least). My full analysis include connections to the music and drug-movies of the time too because, I believe, Trainspotting came at a point whereby this was the indie-filmmakign thing to do ... just ask Doug Liman and Tom Twyker...

"Based amongst the Edinburgh clubbing, drug scene, Boyle did state that he wanted the music to have a timeless quality to it - and so we have everything from Iggy Pop and Lou Reed through Pulp and Blur and out to Underworld and Leftfield spaning a time period from the 70's through to the 90's. A real fantastic selection of music. I could do a whole blog on the music alone. The use of Lust for Life by Iggy Pop is interesting as it is shown at start (Danny Boyles running-through-the-streets, fast-paced start ... we see it again in Slumdog Millionnaire, even Millions has the two kids running around the house being built around them during the opening credits) and also shown midway through, but with a different tone. What began as sneak-theives and petty-theft becomes, by the second time we see the same sequence with the same music, a sad situation, whereby we feel pity and hopelessness. They still can't kick the habit."

For the full review, click here

"I need to die misunderstood" (Simon reviews SHALLOW GRAVE)

So, in more depth, an analysis of Danny Boyle's feature debut. Way back before Ewan McGregor was a Jedi and before Christopher Eccleston was Doctor Who, they both appeared in this film and - influenced by the Coen's Blood Simple with a touch of Hitchcock's Psycho ...

"Its a bit strange because it destroys every ounce of good in each character - but they are a bit annoying anyway - but they become completely destroyed over the film. The first act sets all this up with chopping up the body finishing this section, the 'centre piece' is each character getting more a more confused (except Alex who just watches daytime TV and doesn't really give a shit) - David goes completely insane and begins to become a peeping-Norman Bates character. I reckon Psycho was an influence because, alongside the peeping holes thing, there is a shot which looks just like the Janet Leigh shot after the camera zooms out from the eye in the bathroom, post murder."

Just click here for the full analysis ...

FROM START TO FINISH (Simon reflect's on Danny Boyle's Back-Catalogue)

Well, if you haven't had enough after listening to the podcast, now is your chance to truly immerse yourself in what he has directed so far. I wrote this a little while back, so there is very little coverage on 127 Hours but this extensive coverage includes discussion on some of his lesser known films - Millions, Strumpet and Vacuuming Completely Naked in Paradise. It was broken into four sections -

Part 1: Shallow Grave through to A Life Less Ordinary

Part 2: A Life Less Ordinary to The Beach
Part 3: Strumpet to 28 Days Later...

Part 4: Millions to 127 Hours

Plenty more to come! So Check back during the week for more analysis and discussion!