Linoleum Knife Dave White / Alonso Duralde

If you glance at the date attached to this review, you’ll notice that I’m writing this while knee-deep in 2020. The world is a terrifying place full of wealthy psychopaths and greenhouse gases, and thanks to the pandemic, asking for a hug gets a similar reaction to that of drawing an ice pick. I’ve tried a lot of methods for soothing my lockdown nerves, and I’m both shocked and grateful that the most reliable one so far comes in podcast form. Linoleum Knife consists of two married film critics talking about their passion for cinema - and occasionally baking and music. They themselves acknowledge that (on paper at least) there’s very little to distinguish them from hundreds of other podcasts. However, it’s their welcoming ethos, their good-natured curiosity, and their effortless neighbourly warmth that makes this one so special. I am so grateful for these people and for this show. The fact that I get a steady stream of great film recommendations (old and new) is merely a bonus.

I have left maybe 1 negative review of a podcast before but this one is just so bad I had to. They don’t review films, they just sort of chat a bit in a slow grumble without offering any insight. In the crowded market of podcasts about film, there are so many amazing ones and this isn’t one of them. It reeks of lack of structure and purpose

I feel guilty about how long I’ve left it to review this podcast considering how much I depend on it to guide my film viewing!
Dave and Alonso are charming and affable hosts (who are also husbands; so shows have been unaffected by awkward remote interactions during the pandemic) and although their joint film knowledge is clearly vast they are enthusiastic about sharing and never make me feel like a dunce for not having seen all the ‘classics’. I have seen and loved so many films, which I might otherwise have given a wide birth, solely based on their recommendation! I also love their regular food based meanderings! Keep up the great work Dave & Alonso! xx