50. Rent (2005)

50. Rent (2005)

For our 50th episode, we're covering the theatre kid classic Rent (2005). Grace and Scott go deep on Jonathan Larson's adaptation of Puccini's opera La Boheme, talking about the (aging?) cast, the cuts from the stage show, and how you measure a year in the life (love). Directed by Chris Columbus and written by Stephen Chbosy, Rent stars Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Tracie Thoms, Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Jesse L Martin, and Wilson Jermaine Heredia, with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Plus, we go discuss Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

49. Golden Eighties (1986)

With Scott back from vacation, he and Grace go on their own trip to Belgium for Chantel Akerman's shopping mall musical, Golden Eighties (1986). Is it a brilliantly quirky examination of consumerism and romance through a feminist lens? Is it a poor attempt at recreating the lushness of an MGM Technicolor Musical? Do songs need to be good? Golden Eighties was directed by Chantal Akerman and written by Akerman, Pascal Bonitzer, Henry Bean, Jean Gruault, and Leora Barish, with music by Marc Hérouet and starring Delphine Seyrig, Myriam Boyer, Granny Cottençon, Lio, Pascale Salkin, John Berry and others Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod [https://www.instagram.com/bigwhiteelephantspod/] and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com [bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com] so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

48. Ricki and the Flash (2015) with Clarence

While Scott is out on vacation, Grace's co-host from the Sounds Of Silvestri [https://soundsofsilvestri.com/] podcast Clarence fills in to talk about Jonathan Demme's final film, Ricki And The Flash (2015). We get into bald eagle back tattoos, Lady Gaga bar rock covers, and Boomer politics while trying to figure out if Meryl Streep can convincingly play a conservative struggling rock star and how a Midwesterner would really respond to a rude conversation in a doughnut shop.  Ricki And The Flash was written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Rick Springfield, Mamie Gummer, Audra McDonald, Sebastian Stan, and producer Marc Platt's son Ben Platt. Featuring songs by Tom Petty, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen and more. Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod [https://www.instagram.com/bigwhiteelephantspod/] and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com [bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com] so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

47. Kiss Me Kate (1953)

For episode 47, Grace and Scott discuss the 1953 film adaptation of Cole Porter's musical Kiss Me Kate, starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, and Tommy Rall with an early appearance from Bob Fosse. Is Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew too misogynistic? Is Ann Miller's dancing too darn hot? Should musicals be in 3-D? We attempt to answer all these questions and more! Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod [https://www.instagram.com/bigwhiteelephantspod/] and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com [bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com] so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts

46. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002)

We've made it to the final week of Big Bad Elephants month, and it's a big one: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. For each week of Big Bad Elephants Month, we let the Omni-Wheel randomly select which film to cover from a list of movies suggested to us by our audience that they think will be Big White Elephants, aka bad movie musicals. This week, Grace and Scott wade into Christian children's programming with the first feature film from the VeggieTales, a musical retelling of the story of Jonah with talking vegetables! Is it insidious indoctrination or just some good Christian fun? We'll decide! Connect with us on Instagram @bigwhiteelephantspod [https://www.instagram.com/bigwhiteelephantspod/] and send emails or voicemails to bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com [bigwhiteelephantspod@gmail.com] so we can share them on future episodes! Big White Elephants is a podcast where two friends, Grace and Scott, dissect movie musicals: Everything from DCOMs to MGM Classics, Japanese Punk Rock films to modern Jukebox Musicals, and all kinds of things in between! We talk about what works and what doesn't, and whether a film is a 'Big White Elephant', based on director Rob Marshall's quote ”The thing about movie musicals is that there have been some brilliant ones, but when they’re bad, they’re really bad - big white elephants.” Join us every Thursday to discuss a new musical film wherever you get your podcasts