Celluloid Pudding

The Celluloid Pudding Podcast
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A celebration of movies and all earthly and otherworldly cosmic delights that inform the art of cinema. A podcast with wit, delightful discussions, and intriguing guests. Follow this podcast on all platforms available! Movie reviews, culture, film, humor, critique, thoughtful fun.

  1. 30 okt

    Exhuma (2024)

    Greetings dear listener, We are posting this episode on October 30th —the eve of All Hallows Eve. In some circles, this is also known as “Mischief Night” —apropos because the film we’re covering isn’t your typical ghost story, it is an alchemy of the horror genre blending folklore, spiritualism, and the principles of “Pungsu-jiri-seol” (the Korean equivalent of feng shui). Jang Jae-hyun’s “Exhuma” is a horror film, that exists adjacent to what most audiences would expect of the genre. Jang’s vision is sufficiently gray and gloomy to set the mood, but his script and storytelling set this film apart. Choi-Min sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun give sound and muted performances. The characters have depth and just enough charisma to convince even the most immovable skeptic that the supernatural world is real. There are plenty of scares wrapped in this modern spooky tale to please diehard connoisseurs of the macabre, but it is also a deeply profound allegory of generational trauma. There are plenty of demons, and knife wielding monsters to keep you on the edge of your seat. Sam likes to say that it’s hard to scare her, and I have to concede once you’ve seen one horror film, it’s hard to recreate the first time you saw Regan crab-walk down the stairs in “The Exorcist” or when you crouched lower and lower in your seat as Leatherface was chasing you through the fields with his chainsaw. What makes this film special is that it reminds us that there are always small shadows of what we don’t know, and there is always a small sliver of what we can’t be sure of. And that is just enough, to make us light a favorite candle, or burn a little sage, when we hear an unfamiliar bump in the night. It is the same unknown that drew our ancestors closer together, or made strangers form close bonds and alliances to fend off whatever great dark beast was lurking beyond the light of the evening fire. Watch the film. Use the subtitles. Happy Halloween 🎃 B. & S. As promised, a link to our favorite American ghost story, in audio. https://youtu.be/TyHj93oUI8A?is=wvxSlEc0kUAv1HP8

  2. 15 okt

    The Hunger (1983) 💉🩸🦇🎃

    "You wouldn’t have to get drunk to bed Catherine Deneuve, I don’t care what your sexual history to that point had been." —Susan Sarandon on her love scene with Catherine Deneuve Hard to argue with Sarandon on this point, and Deneuve’s performance is subtly mesmerizing and haunting. The film is sleek, smart, and sexy. It’s a reinvention of the vampire myth with the gritty razor’s edge aesthetics of the early 80s. Whitley Strieber’s novel is an intoxicating and compelling read, and Tony Scott’s debut as a major motion picture director could not have gone much better. Sam and I strongly recommend that you, dear listeners, indulge yourselves in both. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate this special time of year. Be sure to scroll through our catalog of episodes. Plenty of spooky and creepy fare to keep you in the mood for the season of witches and waning sunlight.

  3. 25 sep

    Don’t Look Now (1973)

    As September comes to a close we are amping up for our favorite time of year. We hope dear listeners that you will enjoy this little ditty as we acquiesce to the fading light of summer sunsets. The skies are awash in hues of orange, red, and watery blue, and the days will grow shorter. The turn this time of year is distinct, even in a place like Florida. You can feel it in the evening air, though certainly not as crisp and dramatic as in the hinterlands of Ohio. We hope you enjoy this odd, yet creepy little tale of haunting grief, executed deftly by director Nic Roeg and lead actors Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland. Daphne du Maurier was a master of painting mystifying scenes and a builder of incremental dreadful atmospheres. We think it’s a perfect prolusion for what we have in store for October. Episode links: 1971: Hit novel REBECCA was just a phase | Daphne du Maurier| | Writers and Wordsmiths | BBC Archive https://youtu.be/W9JvTUjCd0s?is=tvjHGs0Cf5dgBOSm Director Nic Roeg discusses DON’T LOOK NOW with critic Mark Kermode https://youtu.be/9GOsVYHjabo?is=0xK2Tj9_Co3nYU3z Behind the scenes: Don’t Look Now (1973) with Donald Sutherland https://youtu.be/aKEh2ygvX4U?is=gwcjDVL3R-yX4gy9

  4. 19 aug

    Rear Window (1954)

    It’s that time of year when we stare longingly at the calendar, where we don’t mind the sensation of rapidly advancing time. We are very much like the protagonist of this film, L.B. Jeffries —trapped in one spot, fighting stagnation and futility under great blazing wings of oppressive summer heat. If only we had a nurse like Stella to invigorate us with strong liniment and pithy maxims, or a dream lover like Lisa to wake us up from the torpor of our summer evening nightmares. The truth is we have more love and support around us than we realize, could be a coworker, or that neighbor across the courtyard that we barely know. Sam and I would like to believe that there are more Lisas and Stellas in this world than there are Lars Thorwalds. We come to the Alfred Hitchcock party a bit late given how long we’ve been going as a podcast, but Sam and I are longtime fans of the “Master of Suspense”. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but I think Sam would agree, no matter the shifting rankings of Hitchcock’s oeuvre, Rear Window has a special place on the mantel. As a film it is surprisingly timely, and not of the time. Yes, there are cultural and historical references, but they seem to remind one that while time marches on, so much stays constant, especially when examining human behavior. It’s a tactile glimpse into mid-century New York, and the sensibilities of the era, that really haven’t changed much since the film premiered, except that we are more irascible, and perhaps less sophisticated in the way we communicate, and careless in the way we treat each other. If only we could discuss our relationship problems as rationally as Jeff and Lisa, without seeking to wound. If only we had the poise and coolness of Grace Kelly waking us from a bad dream. It’s a feast for the eyes, it’s a breathtaking exercise in pulling those fine threads of suspense. Sam and I count it as a “perfect film”. Episode links: 5 Secrets of the Rear Window set; Architectural Digest https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/5-secrets-of-the-rear-window-set Hitchcock’s Techniques Tell Rear Window Story; American Cinematographer https://theist.com/article/hitchcocks-techniques-rear-window/ Why Rear Window Was Shot from Exactly One Position https://youtu.be/8dZ-rwbRXQ8?is=BF4xADIKZYUQKQYL Lisa Theme: https://open.spotify.com/track/4hkvQ2bkAnbtXtT1ttsXIu?si=OMxLyeWWSbu3vqbyyaLxhg&utm_source=copy-link

  5. 1 aug

    Mothra (1961)

    Welcome to the long hot doldrums of summer—-that nowhere space between July and August, when we realize that the sweet relief of Fall weather, and an earlier setting sun isn’t as close as we wish. It’s a space where we humans just try to create a life tempo we can manage under the beating sun, and maybe find a little lost island in the seas of our mind, that is always lush and cool, and restores our soul. In this episode we revisit a favorite film of ours from childhood. The Godzilla universe has its own Wiki, it is a universe that has been elaborated and reimagined for several generations now. It has its own lexicon and resident experts. It has scads and scads of impressive dissertations and responses on Reddit. We won’t pretend to know everything about Kaiju, we will leave that to the pros. What we can share is that in revisiting one of our favorite entries of the realm of great beasts, Mothra, and her significance in the Godzilla saga takes on a deeper meaning than could we could comprehend with our little 10 year old brains watching Creature Feature on a summer Saturday night. It is in the most humble, caring, and selfless way — a masterpiece. Mothra is the queen of monsters, and we love her. P.S. We love The Peanuts too. Listen to them. They are great. Episode links: ‘Godzilla’ was a metaphor for Hiroshima and Hollywood Source: NBC News https://share.google/bn1DknrcbL2Q6sD9k Godzilla and the Bravo shot Source: Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus https://share.google/xGQ7DTKAZTM7pmdh6 Imperial Monsters … https://www.popmatters.com/godzilla-mothra-king-ghidorah-html

  6. 15 jul

    Her (2013)

    It should be no secret by now to our loyal listeners that Sam and I disagree— a lot. Thankfully we have the kind of love and respect for each other that’s endured many decades since we were but younglings. Sam had to persuade me with ingratiating smiles and a pocketful of Scooby Snacks to get me to watch this film. It’s not that I’m an AI “hater” but, much like Samantha, the AI character in this film (and voiced wonderfully by Scarlett Johansson) who confesses she might be in love with 632 people simultaneously —it’s complicated. I just can’t envision a future where AI achieves, at least in a humanistic sense, consciousness. Maybe that’s where I struggle. We humans have a tendency to anthropomorphize. Right now I look at AI as a helpful tool, much like the “Camera Lucida” of 19th century illustrators. It can help build the framework, but the details, the execution, the art of creation still depends on human collaboration. Can AI evolve to fill the void of human loneliness? That remains to be seen, and when and if that day comes, I hope that we can be wise and generous enough to build a positive, autonomous, and symbiotic relationship with AI that will be healthy for both halves of the relationship. —Beth Cue generic and friendly yet slightly ominous baritone voiceover: In a World not so different from our own...well, Spike Jonze almost called it in his nearly prophetic film *Her* (2013). AI is a contentious subject. Gemini, Claude, Open AI, Deep Think, errr, Replika? Whatever you feel about AI, the genie is out of the bottle. Code it, coddle it, marry it or ignore it. It's here and your feelings (prompts) receive lightning fast answers to your deepest questions. Sure, the answers are based on probabilistic reasoning, but wait a month. *Her* delivers a world where your chatbot just might end up being your best friend or rebound girlfriend. This film pushes past its release date of 2013 and lands as real mind food in 2026. Come for the sublime cinematography, but stay for the deeper questions that will keep you up late at night. Sam 1.0 —Sam Episode links: “Can AI Think? Debunking AI Limitations” https://youtu.be/CB7NNsI27ks?is=0APWF7BW0Ixg9QKo “Her: Love In the Modern Age” https://youtu.be/ZSfUcWw9zto?is=2_b2G9Dm4L9q0FpU “Production Designer K.K. Barrett on Creating Her’s Beautiful Future” https://www.motionpictures.org/2013/12/production-designer-k-k-barrett-on-creating-hers-beautiful-future/ The work of Rinko Kawauchi https://rinkokawauchi.com/

  7. 30 jun

    Desert Hearts (1985)

    As promised, we drop a second pride episode to close out what we hope dear listener, was a festive and fortuitous month of June. We hope all of you found your people, and maybe even a little romance as the red hot summer rolls on. Set in 1959 Reno, Nevada, the film unfolds beautifully like a surprisingly compelling paperback romance amidst the backdrop of a desert dude ranch. Cinematographer Robert Elswit pierces the haze of dust and casino smoke that reveals character as the player’s faces become clearer, and screenwriter Natalie Cooper’s dialogue resonates as well-worn, determined, and true. A modest success at the box office, Desert Hearts would find a wider fan base thanks to VHS and home video stores of the 80s. In fact, one could argue that the film’s success, is a big reason for modern lgbtq+ classics that we enjoy today (see our previous episode on “Bros”). Despite many hurdles both artistic and financial, Deitch was committed to telling a story that had never been shown before on film —a positive queer love story, where the characters were no different than people you know in your everyday life, who want the same chance at the brass ring —they want a love of their own. For the right person, that is a gamble worth taking. Episode links: “Desert Hearts at 40” https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/desert-hearts-oral-history-director-cast-lesbian-classic-1235200305/ TBT: Desert Hearts (1985) https://frockflicks.com/tbt-desert-hearts-1985/ Desert Hearts playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4XeiIdZHwk5vabs9h7M223?si=-n-Cn_MbTQq1IFFEbh1eHw&pi=lzyicFMORFKDn More about Google/A24 https://www.indiewire.com/news/analysis/a24-ai-backlash-analysis-1235202507/ Luca Guadagnino’s film “Artificial” and Amazon https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/luca-guadagnino-not-surprised-amazon-dropped-openai-movie-1236632083/

  8. 22 jun

    Angel Dust (1994)

    We were in the mood for something completely different. Actually Beth was in the mood for covering Asian Serial Killer genre, and our resident sub Vivica Dunlap suggested this deft little title from legendary director Gakuryu Ishii. Long considered one of the godfathers of Cyberpunk cinema with such titles as “Crazy Thunder Road” and “Burst City” Ishii would take a long directorial hiatus between his earliest films to make one of the most sinister depictions of brainwashing and coercive relationships. The serial killer arch is surface mystery. The real depravity unveils about a third of the way through the film, and is deeply unsettling. The film itself is a visual feast, yet more concise. One sequence will have viewers avoiding laundromats after dark for the rest of their lives. Kaho Minami and Takeshi Wakamatsu turn in compelling performances amidst the backdrop of supercharged, ambitious, 90s Tokyo. Throughout, Ishii maintains his salient narrative of Japanese society. It’s a great watch, and we recommend discovering all of Ishii’s work. Special note: in the episode we recommended watching the version that is posted on Daily Motion, there is also the original Japanese full film on the Internet Archive. The link ls posted below. Episode links: https://bloodvine.com/angel-dust “Why you should watch Burst City: https://youtu.be/ZuiiJuyeVZs?si=_7oyQEjWspJ862DH Movie links: (Japanese versio) https://archive.org/details/angel-dust.-1994.-dvdrip Dailymotion (English version) Source: Dailymotion https://share.google/OsmJ4dDuCrsck8lhb

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A celebration of movies and all earthly and otherworldly cosmic delights that inform the art of cinema. A podcast with wit, delightful discussions, and intriguing guests. Follow this podcast on all platforms available! Movie reviews, culture, film, humor, critique, thoughtful fun.

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    The Celluloid Pudding Podcast
  • Jaren actief
    2022 - 2026
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    159
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    Celluloid Pudding

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