Phi Phenomenon Phi Phenomenon

Discussion about the novel, 'Heat 2,' written by Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner, which is a sequel to the 1995 film

interview with Nicholas Meyer about the "Lubitsch touch"

Robert Bresson's book on filmmaking, with guest Keith Fraase, editor of 'Past Lives'

"Convergence Culture" by Henry Jenkins

The only features Peyton Reed has directed for the past decade have been Ant-Man films for Marvel. Before that, for a brief period in the late aughts, he was the studios go-to for adult romantic comedies. Before that, his finest (two) hour(s) — all due respect to Bring It On — was the Rock Hudson/Doris Day riff, Down With Love, a period parody filled with a digitally ’60s Manhattan and pre-sexual revolution, pre-Mad Men glee. On this episode, guest Lani Gonzalez and I discuss:
- Pillow Talk, the most specific parody subject for Down With Love;- the Oscar-winning lineage of Hudson/Day series;- why Lani, lover of Bring It On, disagrees about it being Reed’s finest (two) hour(s).
Also:
- Peyton Reed’s pre-MCU work, from Mr. Show to the Back to the Future Saturday morning cartoon;- how Reed turned a pitch for a pre-MCU ’60s-period Fantastic Four into most of Down With Love’s New York “locations”;- and his post-Love period of adult romantic comedies.
Lani Gonzalez writes about film for both Book and Film Globe and, alongside her husband (and former guest-host) AJ, their blog Cinema Then and Now.
Both Down With Love and Pillow Talk is available to buy and rent digitally and, also, on physical media.

Why have there been so few episodes this year? Because I’ve been directing a low-budget feature film since February! And Monday, we launched a crowdfunding campaign alongside a promo for the film!
This episode contains a brief description of the film of influence for the feature. But also, check out the promo on YouTube