In The Mood For Films

The Last Seduction

In which Donald, Wes and Rob walk down the mean streets of film noir and neo noir. They discuss the how we came to the film individually, what it means to us and context behind the creation of this 90s masterpiece. We also consider this film alongside other noirs from the period including Kasden's graphic retelling of man meets woman and death ensues, Fincher's take on the noir from 2014, Gone Girl and the granddadddy of them all, Billy Wilder's masterpiece, Double Indemnity. Are you Team Dietrichson or Team Neff? Alongside these, we have our usual dip into what we've been watching and our filmic recommendations.

The Fly

In which Donald, Wes and Rob discuss the horrible beauty of Cronenberg's 1986 masterpiece The Fly. We discuss the how we came to the film individually, what it means to us and context behind the creation of this cinematic gem. We also consider other body horror films such as Schrader's controversial 1982 Cat People, Blomkamp's political homage to this strand of horror, 2009's District 9, and the classic lycanthropic movie Landis's American Werewolf in London. Alongside these, we have our usual dip into what we're watching and our filmic recommendations.

In The Mood For Love

In which Donald, Wes and Rob the melancholy beauty of Wong Kar Wai's masterpiece In The Mood For Love. We discuss the how we came to the film individually, what it means to us and context behind the creation of this cinematic gem. We also consider Wong's other standout film Chungking Express and how this is, stylistically, very different film but covers similar themes of transglobalism and the eroticism of loss. Two films also considered alongside ITMfL are Ye's 2000 Sixth Generation film Souzhou River and Joe Wright's 2007 Atonement, both pictures that examine romantic loss and its consequences. Alongside these, we have our usual dip into what we're watching and our filmic recommendations.

It's A Wonderful Life

In which Wes, Rob and Donald discuss the many facets of this seasonal classic. Other films discussed include Joe Dante's Gremlins, Wilder's The Apartment and one of Capra's less well known films, 1938s You Can't Take it with You. Oh, and we discuss whether James Stewart is a hot lead!

Picnic at Hanging Rock

In which Donald, Rob and Wes discuss this enigmatic and eerie example of the Australian New Wave. Set in 1900, the film begins in Appleyard College, a girls private school, with students welcoming St Valentine's Day. The girls and some of the teachers go on the titular picnic to the ominous Hanging Rock. The day ends with three girls and a teacher going missing, and the repercussions of this on the college and the community. We then go on to compare the film to other examples of the New Wave, specifically, Wake in Fright and Walkabout, as well as a British film, The Falling, that takes its cues from Picnic. As an added extra we have an interview with Luke Shenton Sharp, writer and co-director of the short film, Hope, that accompanies our screening, about the process of film making. All this, as well as our regular features and recommendations.