Celluloid Pudding

The Celluloid Pudding Podcast
  • 4.5 (8)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Daily

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. 15h ago

    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/

    2h 17m

  2. Jun 22

    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

    1h 31m

  3. Jun 21

    “Bros” (2022)

    HAPPY PRIDE! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🦄🌈 Yes we know there are only 9 days left, and one more weekend. But take this little episode (and another forthcoming before the end of June) as a jumping off point. Maybe this June fell flat for you? Maybe you had to work every weekend. Take heart. We wish you the queerest summer filled with joy and all the random hookups your little hearts desire. Pride is something you carry with you 24/7 and 365 days a year, ad infinitum. Billy Eichner’s little film might have been overlooked when it was released back in 2022, but that’s all the more reason to encourage ya’ll to discover it now. It is a perfectly blended queer fizzy cocktail of comedy and romance to enjoy with friends (or someone special), as we leave June and sojourn onto the promises of hot afternoons and balmy evenings of summer. May the next months be filled with great companions, a little laughter, and lots of love. 🫶 Joan Armatrading “Love and Affection” https://open.spotify.com/track/6Mnne5V9ZifNID59dswUcZ?si=ijqiTG3jR56BNvkyDEm3AA

    2h 10m

  4. Apr 30

    Contact (1997) 🎧📡🛰️🌃

    “Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbingly in the universe … Planet Earth: You. Are. A. Crew.” —Christina Koch, Mission Specialist, Artemis II ‘Nuff said, we hope you enjoy this episode And enjoy these nifty links: 👇👇👇👇 Astronomer explains how SETI searches for Aliens| WIRED https://youtu.be/UVlUy77d-MU?si=AmwngudVnWFvYLyF Beyond the Visible: The Story of the Very Large Array https://youtu.be/RqX9vLj3_7w?si=4A4OyiGWl-0Xzzdd Nebo Zovyot (1959, Russian with Eng. subtitles) https://youtu.be/LkMVt1JL450?si=LKho7AxrxuIbTVTQ Battle Beyond the Sun (1959, Roger Corman) https://youtu.be/wLMMbCTGMaw?si=u8xpc5wdsfLohsTw

    2h 4m

  5. Mar 28

    The Master (2012)

    We lost Philip Seymour Hoffman way too soon. There is a moment during the recording of this episode where we remark that he was in a total of 3 films that we’ve covered when in fact he was also in Cold Mountain (a film we just covered) and Almost Famous (an episode we frequently call back to, and one of our favorite sessions). Even as I write this, I realize that he also had a small jewel role in Nobody’s Fool, a sorely overlooked film that we covered for our holiday faire. Therein lies Hoffman’s brilliance — he was an actor that submitted himself to both character and story, until there was no trace of the actual man. Only a memorable performance left an impression on the film. So much of his work he was a side character, but his imagination was so rich and vivid we easily fell into the worlds he was creating. The Master is a film worth watching and rewatching. It is allegory, parable, and cagey expose’ of movements and cultish behavior that we humans are frequently prey to when we’ve been traumatized (both real and imagined). Over the past 15 years the Church of Scientology has come under heavy fire, most frequently from former members. We aren’t the kind of folks that like to dog pile, or kick someone when they are down. If anything (and I think Sam would agree) if something works for you, take what you need and leave the rest. Our only caveat being “do no harm” to oneself, or to others. The cure for trauma, should not cause or inflict more trauma. If you enjoy the work of Paul Thomas Anderson we encourage you to check out our episode for Boogie Nights. Episode link below. Interesting side note to share: In 2025 NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex recovered samples on near Earth asteroid Bennu, that showed the building blocks for organic life. Scientists have posited the idea that perhaps asteroids are like factories for these building blocks, which are then delivered to a planet surface by meteorite impact. Perhaps L. Ron Hubbard was on to something. A&E Investigative Reports: The Church of Scientology https://youtu.be/K9x97R13MCA?si=WGcsrg8IwIlS2ZWx Une tarde en St. Hill (An Afternoon at St. Hill, audio in English) (1963) https://youtu.be/FttwISsJxgs?si=LUlt_o56TRbp9Fwa Celluloid Pudding: Boogie Nights, parts 1 and 2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/328lj4OzCXf7CZr1XB3zRa?si=YU9cmEfOQZmp7qGsEr858A https://open.spotify.com/episode/4V2JkbGT4104LL1b7XL5go?si=sCUq0tcFQxOI_NLojzdM2Q

    2h 36m

  6. Mar 14

    Slap Shot (1977) 🏒🥅

    Sam and Beth opt for a little levity this episode, after 2 historic gold medal and thrilling performances by U.S. Women’s and Men’s Hockey in the Olympics. The playoff chase is also coming down to the wire in the NHL and PWHL. Consider this episode our tribute to those winsome rapscallions- the kings and queens of municipal ice rinks, or frozen solid mill ponds, as well as their insanely devoted fan base. No other duo has quite the unique talent of breaking the fourth wall without breaking it— taking us along for the ride on the inside, with a wink and a nod, to show us how things really are. This is Hill’s and Newman’s super power. Nancy Dowd’s script is alive with the language of the locker room and the chirping of the ice. The film isn’t mired in the sentimentality of a bygone era of steel mills, union halls, and local minor league hockey. It lives and breathes, and is self-aware that the simplicity of that the microcosm, by 1977, was quickly slipping away. In subtle ways, Slap Shot is prophetic. It’s a tale of Sisyphean struggle, and sometimes the only way out, is by using a little imagination. Episode links: “Slap Shot revisited with Dave Hanson” https://youtu.be/xA8G6omkAwI?si=n40YKWU53bEwGC3T Author Says Her ‘Slap Shot’ , New York Times, Mar. 3, 1977. https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/03/archives/author-says-her-slap-shot-talk-is-realistic.html?smid=url-share Johnstown Hockey History https://youtu.be/EhxRR6mdtbs?si=l-4KXU9cTZ8M6nna

    1h 53m

  7. Feb 22

    Cold Mountain (2003)

    First of all, a plethora of apologies in advance for the technical difficulties we had both recording and editing this episode. We always try to do our best with every deposit we make in our listeners pod banks. We thought this film would be a fitting entry as winter (hopefully soon) comes to its conclusion. With spring comes renewed hope, and new chances to start again—to grow in a new direction. Episode links: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/crater Source: National Park Service (.gov) https://share.google/oqwjlkwZQsvlCmmwn https://youtu.be/0C0mDzFviro?si=pdwVab_jAHyk4Ef4

    1h 47m

  8. Feb 5

    Reds (1981)

    There is so much going on in the world right now, that Sam and I aren’t even going to attempt feigning blissful ignorance. Suffice to say that certain patterns in history repeat. Empires may rise and fall, and while it is frequently the so-called “small” lives that suffer and bear the burden of humanity’s hubris, it is those same small lives that pick up the pieces, one by one, to survive, to make, and to renew another day. Please enjoy what we think is a timely episode—Warren Beatty’s magnum opus, Reds. Episode links: Emma Goldman “An exceedingly dangerous woman” https://youtu.be/BviTcbeRz8o?si=N26oNL-FIOCHhsaM Jerzy Kosinski’s fall from grace: Investigating a literary smear campaign https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/11/jerzy-kosinski-fall-from-grace Red Milwaukee: America’s socialist experiment https://youtu.be/h8EmRZ3n9LQ?si=20VbHLlO3oT0bpj1 The Farmer Labor Movement: a Minnesota Story https://youtu.be/0jZi1BvK3-A?si=ergV62tJsiFpeq7z What is Anarchism? https://youtu.be/5Ocv71Nt-Lo?si=sxJwcigc_jriKbjR The Mischief of George Plimpton The Mischief of George Plimpton https://medium.com/@andrewszanton/the-mischief-of-george-plimpton-106b85b2abfe

    2h 33m
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    The Celluloid Pudding Podcast
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Celluloid Pudding Podcast
  • Show Website
    Celluloid Pudding