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Ericca Long And Cole Roulain

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The Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 169 – Let Sleeping Corpses LieThe Cole-o-ween festivities roll on here at Lantern HQ! This time around we are discussing one of our favorite underappreciated zombie classics, Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (Grau, 1974). This one has it all – beautiful locations, social commentary, hideous reanimated dead, and genuine scares. It acts as a bit of…
2021-10-1840 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 169 – Let Sleeping Corpses LieThe Cole-o-ween festivities roll on here at Lantern HQ! This time around we are discussing one of our favorite underappreciated zombie classics, Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (Grau, 1974). This one has it all – beautiful locations, social commentary, hideous reanimated dead, and genuine scares. It acts as a bit of… The post Episode 169 – Let Sleeping Corpses Lie appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2021-10-1840 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 151 – Killer of SheepI have been waiting to talk about Charles Burnett’s Killer of Sheep (1978) for a long time. I first recommended it all the way back in episode 005. In my estimation, it’s one of the most important American films ever made, independent or otherwise. It’s a moving document of a… The post Episode 151 – Killer of Sheep appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2021-02-0855 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 146 – The Great Muppet CaperIt’s been a long year. I know. So, with that in mind, we are spending the last couple of entries this year on beloved family favorites. We need to laugh and breathe a little easier. So, who better to help us with that than Jim Henson and company? The Great… The post Episode 146 – The Great Muppet Caper appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-11-3047 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 141 – A Dark SongIt’s the best time of the year once again! Cole-o-ween 2020 is upon us and to kick off the proceedings I have chosen one of my favorite horror films from the last few years, A Dark Song (Gavin, 2016). This is a harrowing and incisive portrait of a woman consumed…
2020-10-0555 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 141 – A Dark SongIt’s the best time of the year once again! Cole-o-ween 2020 is upon us and to kick off the proceedings I have chosen one of my favorite horror films from the last few years, A Dark Song (Gavin, 2016). This is a harrowing and incisive portrait of a woman consumed… The post Episode 141 – A Dark Song appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-10-0555 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 140 – The Princess BrideThe Princess Bride (Reiner, 1987) is having a bit of a resurgence in the popular culture these days. In late 2020, the cast reunited for a fun, virtual table read as a benefit. In addition to that, various actors who are fans of the film produced their own favorite scenes… The post Episode 140 – The Princess Bride appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 139 – The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches OnKazuo Hara’s The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On (1987) is a documentary like few others. Watching Kenzo Okuzaki cut a swath through his old squad mates in search of the truth is unsettling, especially as the process intensifies. Is that because he will resort to violence and deception to get… The post Episode 139 – The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-09-0755 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 138 – Trouble in ParadiseTrouble in Paradise (Lubitsch, 1932) is a frothy, bubbly, and sumptuous perennial delight. With his famed “Lubitsch touch”, director Ernst Lubitsch brought a winking and earthy European sensibility to all his films. He reminded us to not be too serious about anything. Miriam Hopkins and Herbert Marshall are lovers and… The post Episode 138 – Trouble in Paradise appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-08-2446 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 137 – Welcome to the DollhouseIt’s hard to believe it’s been twenty-five years since Todd Solondz blessed us with the hero we didn’t know we needed in Dawn Wiener as we meet her in Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995). Simply put, this changed what I thought was possible with movies about being a kid. I… The post Episode 137 – Welcome to the Dollhouse appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 136 – BoyhoodWatching Boyhood (Linklater, 2014) in the theater was an ineffably special experience. The film itself is an astounding accomplishment, following the life of not just a boy, but also that of his mother, father, and sister. Time unfolds before us. It meanders like a river that we and the characters… The post Episode 136 – Boyhood appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 135 – Tetsuo: The Iron ManThere have been very few films that blindsided me the way that Tetsuo: The Iron Man (Tsukamoto, 1989) did. I was just beginning to grasp how much there was out there to explore that fell outside the realm of multiplexes and the mainstream. Then this desperate missive from the fringes… The post Episode 135 – Tetsuo: The Iron Man appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-07-1350 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 134 – Valley GirlWhen Martha Coolidge was brought in to direct Valley Girl (1983), she knew there were some key elements she needed to bring to the film. Andrew Lane and Wayne Crawford had written a teen comedy romp in about ten days to capitalize on the valley girl fad, and the producers… The post Episode 134 – Valley Girl appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-06-2953 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 133 – Rolling ThunderThere’s a strange alchemy at work in Rolling Thunder (Flynn, 1977). We start with two subgenres that really flourished in the seventies – the Vietnam homecoming and the revenge mission. William Devane turns up that tension by giving as tightly controlled a performance as we’ve seen from him. Tommy Lee… The post Episode 133 – Rolling Thunder appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 132 – Raising ArizonaWhat a treat it is to come back again and again to Raising Arizona (Coen, 1987). I have seen the film at least 20 times, and I laugh just as hard at each viewing. The Coen Brothers (Joel as director, along with Ethan as co-writer) have crafted a surreal, insane,… The post Episode 132 – Raising Arizona appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-06-0159 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 131 – The Narrow MarginWe are keeping the film noir train rolling this month, literally, with The Narrow Margin (Fleischer, 1952). This is one of my all time favorites, without a doubt. If they ever made a noir Mount Rushmore, this should be on it. It stars two fixtures of the genre, Charles McGraw… The post Episode 131 – The Narrow Margin appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-05-1853 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 130 – LauraWe decided to continue our annual tradition of highlighting our favorite films noir during the month of May, even though this year’s Noir City Austin film festival is sadly postponed. I chose my very first film noir, Laura (Preminger, 1944), which weaves a magic, dreamy spell in its stylish, inimitable… The post Episode 130 – Laura appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 129 – Losing GroundLosing Ground (Collins, 1982) should have been a lot of things. It should have been the foundation of a long career and important filmography. Instead, what it was was almost lost and mostly forgotten for three decades. It also turned out to be Kathleen Collins’ valediction, as we lost her… The post Episode 129 – Losing Ground appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-04-2059 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 129 – Losing GroundLosing Ground (Collins, 1982) should have been a lot of things. It should have been the foundation of a long career and important filmography. Instead, what it was was almost lost and mostly forgotten for three decades. It also turned out to be Kathleen Collins’ valediction, as we lost her…
2020-04-2059 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 128 – Cléo from 5 to 7There is a question I pose during the episode: if anyone who disparaged the French New Wave started with Cléo from 5 to 7 (Varda, 1962), might they feel differently about the movement? I think so. If you are looking for a place to begin pretty much any film journey,… The post Episode 128 – Cléo from 5 to 7 appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 127 – World on a WireI had the pleasure of seeing Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s World on a Wire (1973) for the first time on the big screen. Being able to experience it in the theater as one whole, instead of on television in two parts, made for a much more immersive experience. It enveloped me… The post Episode 127 – World on a Wire appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-03-231h 01The Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 126 – The MatrixThe day after I saw The Matrix (Lana and Lilly Wachowski, 1999), I proclaimed to anyone within shouting distance that the film changed my life. I was 23, and I meant it. I felt energized, bowled over, and ready to deliver some flying kicks to the establishment. Certainly, the visual… The post Episode 126 – The Matrix appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 125 – A Woman Under the InfluenceIt’s taken 125 episodes and almost five years of doing the show, but I’m finally ready to talk about John Cassavetes’ A Woman Under the Influence (1974). This film puts me through the ringer in a way that no other film comes close to. Gena Rowlands’ high wire act as… The post Episode 125 – A Woman Under the Influence appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-02-241h 09The Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 124 – Dearest SisterWhom do you trust? Mattie Do’s Dearest Sister (2016) plays on our expectations of trust and seeks to upend them at every turn. Just as Ana may not be able to trust her failing vision that seems to bring with it visitations from ghosts, we may not be able to… The post Episode 124 – Dearest Sister appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 123 – DaisiesVěra Chytilová’s Daisies (1966) has been called a lot of things – confrontational, subversive, empty-headed, wanton. The elusive nature of the film means you can call its protagonists, the Maries, a lot of things. Just don’t call them late for dinner. For what it’s worth, I call it magnificent. From… The post Episode 123 – Daisies appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-01-2749 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 122 – A New LeafIn A New Leaf (1971), Elaine May’s screenwriting and directorial debut, I think you will see the legacy of her indelible comedy partnership with Mike Nichols even though they had disbanded the act ten years before. It is in the daft sensibility, the timing, and what seems to be overall… The post Episode 122 – A New Leaf appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2020-01-1356 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 121 – Ants In Your Pants of 2019Welcome to Ants In Your Pants of 2019! It’s our fifth annual episode in which we reflect on our favorite film discoveries of the past year. We are so glad you joined us for this episode, and hope that you also had great cinema-watching adventures. As always, our lists were… The post Episode 121 – Ants In Your Pants of 2019 appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-12-3049 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 120 – Tarkan Versus the VikingsA few years back I was introduced to Mehmet Aslan’s Tarkan Versus the Vikings (1971) in the best way possible – at Fantastic Fest in an auditorium full of like minded genre film fans that were ready to have their minds blown. That is exactly what this movie did. The… The post Episode 120 – Tarkan Versus the Vikings appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-12-1646 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 119 – Fanny and AlexanderFanny and Alexander (Bergman, 1982) is a holiday film that fits every season. It captures so much about the highs and lows, and the beginnings and endings that we will all experience in our lives. Like the flowing water that is pictured at the start of each of the five… The post Episode 119 – Fanny and Alexander appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 118 – HyenasThis year has been a journey of discovery for me with African cinema. Our Patreon listeners may remember that one of my resolutions this year was to become better acquainted with African films. To that end, I set myself a goal of fifty films from the continent in 2019 and… The post Episode 118 – Hyenas appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-11-1852 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 117 – The HeiressSometimes a film leaves an indelible impression on you because its ending is so buoyant that you feel uplifted, lighter than air. The Heiress (Wyler, 1949) leaves a bruise on your heart, and it is because the ending is so irrevocably painful and bitter. With a father like Dr. Austin… The post Episode 117 – The Heiress appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 116 – The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2019It’s that most wonderful time of the year again! In this episode, The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2019, we once again bring you our list of viewing tricks and treats to celebrate the season. We watched one Halloween inspired title every day in October and now pass the list and our… The post Episode 116 – The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2019 appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-10-311h 13The Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 115 – Let’s Scare Jessica to DeathWhen I selected Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (Hancock, 1971) as my Cole-o-ween choice for this year, I didn’t intend it as a response to Ericca’s choice. Nor was I trying to establish any sort of “women on the verge” theme. It’s interesting how these things work out, though. Together… The post Episode 115 – Let’s Scare Jessica to Death appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-10-2155 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 114 – The BabadookJennifer Kent, the writer and director of The Babadook (2014), crafted the story of an exhausted widowed mother and her demanding 6 year-old into a psychological horror film about facing up to the darkness within ourselves. Those of you who are parents, and even those of us who are not,… The post Episode 114 – The Babadook appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-10-0755 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 113 – Los Tallos AmargosFilm noir simply doesn’t get darker than Fernando Ayala’s Los Tallos Amargos (1956). And when I say dark, I mean classical tragedy dark. Dostoevsky levels of wretched darkness. I have never seen a noir quite like this. It has all the normal chiaroscuro and double cross, but it goes much… The post Episode 113 – Los Tallos Amargos appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-09-2349 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 112 – JawsAre you still afraid to go into the water? Does the specter of a killer shark still haunt you, 44 years after that monster first broke the water’s surface in Jaws (Spielberg, 1975)? It absolutely haunts me, though I love the water and still take every opportunity to get in… The post Episode 112 – Jaws appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 111 – EvolutionUpon my first viewing of it, Lucile Hadžihalilović’s Evolution (2015) leapt to the top of the list of my favorite movies of this decade, perhaps of any decade. It’s a deft intermingling of modern body horror and much more ancient fears. Sometimes you’re not sure if you just saw an… The post Episode 111 – Evolution appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-08-2652 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 110 – The FitsAnna Rose Holmer’s The Fits (2015) doesn’t reveal all its secrets. We as viewers don’t know the origin of the mysterious fits that one-by-one overtake the girls of the dance team any more than they do. That these fits seem to come with some greater understanding after they are over,… The post Episode 110 – The Fits appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-08-1252 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 109 – Drug WarJohnnie To’s Drug War (2012) is one of those great cinematic cases of having your cake and eating it too. On one hand, you have To bringing his decades of experience making Hong Kong action films to bear on this project. On the other hand, we find ourselves on the… The post Episode 109 – Drug War appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-07-2944 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 108 – The Battle of AlgiersWould it surprise you to learn that The Battle of Algiers (Pontecorvo, 1966) is on the top ten lists of countless film critics and filmmakers, and was also the favorite film of Andreas Baader, leader of the left-wing militant organization the Baader-Meinhof Group? That the film was banned in France… The post Episode 108 – The Battle of Algiers appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-07-1549 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 107 – The Devil and Daniel WebsterThe Devil and Daniel Webster (Dieterle, 1941) is truly one of my desert island films. You couldn’t have assembled a more perfect film for me in a laboratory. The cinematic and literary traditions it belongs to are among my favorites and it’s topped off with that unmistakably sulphurous scent of… The post Episode 107 – The Devil and Daniel Webster appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-07-0155 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 106 – The Second MotherCaring for children is sacred work, according to writer-director Anna Muylaert and her film The Second Mother (2015). It’s also very undervalued, under-discussed work. Decades ago, Muylaert envisioned a story about this work and the women who do it. At that time, she felt she wasn’t ready to bring the… The post Episode 106 – The Second Mother appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 105 – Invention for DestructionThere is simply nothing like Karel Zeman’s Invention for Destruction (1958). Taken from the pages of some of Jules Verne’s greatest adventures, these images combine to form one of the greatest cinematic pop-up books ever committed to film. The amount of painstaking detail that must have been involved in bringing… The post Episode 105 – Invention for Destruction appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-06-0349 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 104 – Noir City Austin 2019 by Lantern LightIn this special episode, we discuss the films of Noir City Austin 2019 and its theme of “It’s a Bitter Little World”, featuring a program of ten stellar examples of the progression of film noir from the end of the 1940s through the start of the 1960s. Noir City Austin… The post Episode 104 – Noir City Austin 2019 by Lantern Light appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-05-2359 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 103 – The Hitch-HikerThe Hitch-Hiker (Lupino, 1953) is not officially the first noir directed by a woman, but there is no doubt that director, producer, and screenwriter Ida Lupino was a pioneer. In adapting the true crime story of murderer Billy Cook, Lupino took the opportunity to get inside the mind of a… The post Episode 103 – The Hitch-Hiker appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-05-0654 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 102 – BetrayalI first encountered David Jones’ adaptation of Harold Pinter’s play about his extramarital affair, Betrayal (1983), when I was thirteen years old. Those were the heady days of the early cable television boom and my afternoon ritual was to walk to Head’s Grocery, get a Dr Pepper and some Hot… The post Episode 102 – Betrayal appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 101 – ShopliftersShoplifters (Kore-eda, 2018) was a revelatory filmgoing experience. So much so that as we were walking out of the theatre, I proclaimed that I would cover it in an episode as quickly as possible. I can’t think of another film in recent memory that I knew immediately was my new… The post Episode 101 – Shoplifters appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-04-081h 13The Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 100, Part Two – Listener QuestionsOk, grab yourself some treats from the concession stand and then we will get on to part two! If you just want to listen to us talk about Paris, Texas, please go back to Episode 100, Part One. If you would like to hear us answer listener questions, press on!… The post Episode 100, Part Two – Listener Questions appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-03-2448 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 100, Part One – Paris, TexasParis, Texas (Wenders, 1984) is our first ever crowdsourced episode choice, and we’re so grateful to you, our listeners, for sticking with us for 100 episodes, and for choosing something so wonderful to discuss and celebrate! Wim Wenders originally envisioned this as more of a cross-country film, but Sam Shepard… The post Episode 100, Part One – Paris, Texas appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 099 – The Duke of BurgundyThe Duke of Burgundy (Strickland, 2014) is a prime example of a film that you come to for one reason and love for another. I was drawn in by the lure of the sexploitation throwback and pleasantly surprised to find it was so much more than that. I found a… The post Episode 099 – The Duke of Burgundy appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 098 – Andrei RublevThis is a very special episode for us. For the first time, we are discussing a film that is a patron’s choice! Ian Buckley is our first Patreon supporter to pledge at our top tier. As a result, it was his prerogative to program an entire episode of The Magic… The post Episode 098 – Andrei Rublev appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 097 – Antonia’s LineI purchased Antonia’s Line (Gorris, 1995) sight unseen from a bin at my local Blockbuster Video soon after it came out. My friends and I sat down to watch it, and were rewarded with a delightful experience. This film is full of joy, even though the joy comes from small… The post Episode 097 – Antonia’s Line appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-02-111h 00The Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 096 – Thunder RoadIt’s something that I always remind myself of anytime I begin to lament the state of the artistic landscape – there’s always someone out there, hustling, making sacrifices, trying to make that next great film. If I am not aware of it, that’s on me. I am not working hard… The post Episode 096 – Thunder Road appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2019-01-2856 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 095 – Happy-Go-LuckyHappy-Go-Lucky (Leigh, 2008) may be a bit of a litmus test. Do you fully embrace the character of Poppy and her sensibilities. Do you gradually warm to her, or does she make you want to run for the hills? Luckily for me, because he knows me, Cole told me in… The post Episode 095 – Happy-Go-Lucky appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 094 – Ants In Your Pants of 2018It’s our fourth annual Ants In Your Pants episode, as we close out 2018! As always, our lists were culled with much difficulty from all the wonderful films we saw this year, and we only talk about those we saw for the first time which made the biggest impressions on… The post Episode 094 – Ants In Your Pants of 2018 appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-12-3157 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 093 – Female TroubleFemale Trouble (Waters, 1974) is probably not for everyone, but I wish it was. The world would be a lot more fun if everyone could embrace their inner Divine. This towering achievement of trash cinema is my favorite of all of John Waters’ work. I think it’s the smartest, definitely… The post Episode 093 – Female Trouble appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 092 – Desk SetDesk Set (Lang, 1957) arrived on the cusp of the information age, when the American office was poised to be transformed by room-sized machines. In this “situation comedy” is the corporation run by the women answering the phones or by the men flying off to meetings? This question of agency… The post Episode 092 – Desk Set appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 091 – In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood (Brooks, 1967) is one of the most aptly titled works in either cinema or literature. I think of the Clutter family basement in November at 2 a.m. and it chills me to my very marrow. It was a galvanizing experience the first time I saw it as… The post Episode 091 – In Cold Blood appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 090 – One Man ForceOne Man Force (Trevillion, 1989) takes all the rogue cop movie tropes we have ever seen, turns them up to 11, blows out their back windows, shoots them in the face, ties a rope to them, throws them off a cliff, jumps off the cliff after them, douses them in… The post Episode 090 – One Man Force appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-11-0559 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 089 – The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2018It’s that time again! In this episode, The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2018, we once again bring you our list of viewing tricks and treats to celebrate the season. We watched one Halloween inspired title every day in October and now pass the list and our impressions on to you in… The post Episode 089 – The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2018 appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 088 – The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man (1973) is an undisputed classic of folk horror, though some of its principals would dispute that. Director Robin Hardy thought he was making a musical as much as anything else and star Christopher Lee has emphatically said he does not consider it a horror film. Well, gentlemen,… The post Episode 088 – The Wicker Man appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 087 – Get OutIn the groundbreaking Get Out (2017), director and writer Jordan Peele wove together terror, horror, dark satire, and laugh out loud comedy to create something much larger than the sum of its very interesting parts. He has alternatively called the film a social thriller and a documentary. To understand that… The post Episode 087 – Get Out appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 086 – 35 Shots of Rum35 Shots of Rum (Denis, 2008) is a bit of a departure, both for Claire Denis and for me. It is still as incisive and poetic as her other work, but she has replaced the usual turbulent heart of her cinema with a tranquil one. Being a loving homage to… The post Episode 086 – 35 Shots of Rum appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-09-241h 13The Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 085 – Grey GardensWhen they were first tasked with making a documentary about the Bouvier family and their reminiscences of East Hampton, Albert and David Maysles soon realized that they were dealing with some “staunch” characters in Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, and that these women would make much more interesting… The post Episode 085 – Grey Gardens appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-09-1058 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 084 – Funeral Parade of RosesI only saw Toshio Matsumoto’s Funeral Parade of Roses (1969) for the first time a few years ago and immediately wondered where this movie had been all my life. I always love it when I discover something like this that blows my expectations into tiny pieces. This pioneering LGBTQ film… The post Episode 084 – Funeral Parade of Roses appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-08-2754 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 083 – ChinatownIt is a very great pleasure to revisit something you think you know well and find new facets and new dots to connect. That was certainly the case for both Cole and I when coming back to Chinatown (Polanski, 1974), though we have both seen it multiple times. There is… The post Episode 083 – Chinatown appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 082 – ZamaThis episode celebrates the return of one of my favorite filmmakers, Lucrecia Martel. It’s been ten years since her last feature film and two years since we last discussed one of her films on the show. With the arrival of her new film, Zama (2017), the wait is over and… The post Episode 082 – Zama appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-07-3057 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 081 – They LiveFor some reason, whenever I think of They Live (Carpenter, 1988), I remember it as a rip-roaring, good-time kind of movie. Something perfect for summer, perfect for a late night. I probably have that idea because when I first saw it in my teens, I was enthralled by the famous… The post Episode 081 – They Live appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 080 – Blue RuinWill I ever get tired of talking about or recommending Jeremy Saulnier’s Blue Ruin (2013)? Not likely. I think it is one of the best films of this millennium and I think Macon Blair’s performance as Dwight, our wounded protagonist, is the best. The film upends every revenge thriller cliché… The post Episode 080 – Blue Ruin appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-07-0259 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 079 – Wake in FrightEvery time I watch Wake in Fright (Kotcheff, 1971), I just want it to be over. Then I want to watch it again. It is just as terrifying each time, and I am just as much a prisoner to its landscape as John, played here by Gary Bond. I know… The post Episode 079 – Wake in Fright appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-06-1853 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 078 – The Toronto True Crime Film Festival 2018 by Lantern LightIn this special episode we discuss the films and symposiums of the inaugural Toronto True Crime Film Festival, a two day festival devoted to true crime on the big screen, including both documentaries and fictionalized films based on true crimes. The program included five features, each paired with a thematically… The post Episode 078 – The Toronto True Crime Film Festival 2018 by Lantern Light appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-06-1344 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 077 – Daratt“This view of the world, from this country where there aren’t filmmakers, is very important I think. So, I do it through solidarity and because I feel a responsibility not to leave this country invisible.”– Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, on his responsibility as a Chadian filmmaker. It was with extreme delight that… The post Episode 077 – Daratt appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-06-0454 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 076 – Noir City Austin 2018 by Lantern LightIn this special episode, we discuss the films of Noir City Austin 2018 and its theme of “Film Noir from A to B” featuring a program of five genuine “A” and “B” double bills. We were delighted to be at Noir City Austin again this year, hosted by The Czar… The post Episode 076 – Noir City Austin 2018 by Lantern Light appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 075 – In a Lonely PlaceIn preparing to watch In a Lonely Place (Ray, 1950) for this episode, I read the source novel by Dorothy B. Hughes, though source is a misnomer as this film adaptation kept only the main characters and modified the plot. The novel is absolutely stellar, and I highly recommend it.… The post Episode 075 – In a Lonely Place appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 074 – RopeRope (1948) is Alfred Hitchcock’s almost perfect crime. Based loosely upon the real life case of Leopold and Loeb, it was Hitchcock at his most experimental, plumbing the chilly depths of the murderous impulse. It featured limited cuts and long, unbroken takes to approximate the appearance of the real time… The post Episode 074 – Rope appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-04-2358 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 073 – Beauty and the BeastWith circumstances completely against it, but with the brightest imaginations around set alight by a poet and artist, Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast or La Belle et la Bête (1946) is one of the most indelible creations ever committed to film. My connection to Jean Cocteau, like so many… The post Episode 073 – Beauty and the Beast appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-04-0949 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 072 – Creature from the Black LagoonWhen the Creature from the Black Lagoon crawled from the sea onto cinema screens in 1954, Universal Studios found its last great monster. When I discovered it in 1976, I found my first great cinematic love. The Universal monster pantheon turned out to be one of the foundations of my… The post Episode 072 – Creature from the Black Lagoon appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-03-2654 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 071 – HoosiersA first among equals as a sports film, Hoosiers (Anspaugh, 1986) is an ideal choice for this time of year: March Madness and the coming of spring and fresh starts. With a lead and supporting cast of characters each battling their own frailties, potential, and failings, there’s no need for… The post Episode 071 – Hoosiers appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 070 – Dawson City: Frozen TimeIt’s not often that a recent release strikes such an immediate chord with us that it makes its way into our show rotation so quickly, but I knew from the first few moments of Bill Morrison’s Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016) that I wanted to talk about it right away.… The post Episode 070 – Dawson City: Frozen Time appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-02-2644 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 069 – The Birds and the Bees by Lantern LightEpisode 069. Nice. Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all! We learn an awful lot of things from the movies, so I don’t know why the birds and the bees should be any different. In my adolescent world, the options were either the dubious news gathering of the schoolyard or less than reputable… The post Episode 069 – The Birds and the Bees by Lantern Light appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-02-1246 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 068 – Sweet CharityWhat happens when you take a preternatural talent and give him a gigantic crew, cast, resources, many stages, and let him loose to reimagine a work he created with his muse, another preternatural talent? In the case of Sweet Charity (1969), you get a young but experienced dynamo, Bob Fosse,… The post Episode 068 – Sweet Charity appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 067 – Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past LivesWhen I first encountered Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010), I had no idea how important to me he would become. His films mercifully allow me a window into another world. They are a method of escape, but not in the way you typically think… The post Episode 067 – Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2018-01-1557 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 066 – The ApartmentLike so many of my favorite Billy Wilder films, The Apartment (1960) begins with a voiceover. Our very own buddy boy C.C. Baxter puts us firmly in the world of making a living, of rising up in the world, or being ground beneath its boot heel. He begins to show… The post Episode 066 – The Apartment appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 065 – Ants In Your Pants of 2017It’s our third annual Ants In Your Pants episode, as we close out 2017! As always, our lists were culled with much difficulty from all the wonderful films we saw this year, and we only talk about those we saw for the first time which made the biggest impressions on… The post Episode 065 – Ants In Your Pants of 2017 appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-12-1855 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 064 – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryA world of pure imagination. That’s what we’re promised by Mel Stuart’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), and boy, does it ever deliver. This adaptation of Roald Dahl’s sweet satire is full to the brim with novelties and notions, some whimsical, some bittersweet. What it doesn’t advertise right… The post Episode 064 – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-12-0450 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 063 – Two Days, One NightThe moment Sandra wakes up from her sleep, I knew Two Days, One Night (Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, 2014) had me. I knew what that sleep meant. I have also slept during the day, clothed, while others around me worked, lived, and thrived. Maybe you have too. I knew what… The post Episode 063 – Two Days, One Night appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 062 – WandaBarbara Loden is a unique figure in American independent cinema. Before directing her lone feature film, she was a Tony winner on Broadway and appeared in a couple of Hollywood productions. None of these endeavors seemed wholly satisfying, though. That was our good fortune, as she was driven to helm… The post Episode 062 – Wanda appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-11-0754 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 061 – The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2017It’s that time again! In this episode, The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2017, we once again bring you our list of viewing tricks and treats to celebrate the season. We watched one Halloween inspired title every day in October and now pass the list and our impressions on to you in… The post Episode 061 – The Magic Jack O’Lantern 2017 appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 060 – The Thing“You have to embrace the darkness,” film editor Todd Ramsay told director John Carpenter. “That’s where this movie is. In the darkness.” The Thing (Carpenter, 1982) is bathed in darkness, even though it happens to be set in a landscape of blinding whiteness. Whether it’s the black and blue palate,… The post Episode 060 – The Thing appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-10-2355 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 059 – Horror of DraculaTerence Fisher and Hammer Films introduced the world to its first truly modern vampire with Horror of Dracula (1958). Known in its native UK as simply Dracula, it was a technicolor explosion of blood, sex, and fury the likes of which the world had not yet seen. It was shocking… The post Episode 059 – Horror of Dracula appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-10-0950 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 058 – Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 BruxellesAfter repeated viewings, contemplation, and discussion, I don’t know what drives the main character of Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Akerman, 1975). And I’m not just talking about the ending. Even after feeling a deep kinship with what I see on the screen, I don’t know that… The post Episode 058 – Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 057 – There Will Be BloodPaul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood (2007) came to me at a difficult time in my life, and I find myself returning to it during difficult times as well. This might seem odd, because it’s not what you might think of as a comforting film. In fact, I reckon… The post Episode 057 – There Will Be Blood appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 056 – Rear WindowRear Window (Hitchcock, 1954) has always been one of my favorites, and having too much time on one’s hands while the summer heat drives one crazy was really speaking to me. I’ve seen the film over a dozen times, and I can fall into the habit of watching it, but… The post Episode 056 – Rear Window appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 055 – Bombón: El PerroThe dog days of summer are here! To celebrate, we thought we would devote a little time to my all time favorite cinematic canine, Carlos Sorín’s Bombón: El Perro (2004). I discovered this thanks to a series that Austin Film Society did back in 2008 called More Than Buenos Aires:… The post Episode 055 – Bombón: El Perro appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-08-1452 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 054 – Purple NoonPatricia Highsmith’s creation Tom Ripley has had an extensive life. In addition to her novels, many film iterations have been made, and Purple Noon (Clément, 1960) stands as my favorite (The American Friend comes in a very close apples-and-oranges second place). Purple Noon towers over the rest of the competition… The post Episode 054 – Purple Noon appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 053 – The ConversationFrancis Ford Coppola has a soft spot for The Conversation (1974) and so do I. When you hear him talk about it, there is a melancholy undercurrent in his voice that almost makes it seem like he laments getting caught up in the cycle of turning out one big project… The post Episode 053 – The Conversation appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-07-1753 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 052 – Raiders of the Lost ArkIf you are over 30, you may have experienced something that is likely gone from this earth. You had to stand in line, outdoors, to get into a big, popular film, probably a blockbuster. You may have waited for hours, and you may not have gotten into the movie. Was… The post Episode 052 – Raiders of the Lost Ark appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
2017-07-0358 minThe Magic Lantern
The Magic LanternEpisode 031 – Black ChristmasI resisted the pull of Black Christmas (Clark, 1974) for a very long time. Too long. I thought it was going to be too scary (it is), or too violent (it’s not), or too gory (not really). When I finally watched it several years ago, I was delighted that it… The post Episode 031 – Black Christmas appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 021 – The Tale of the Princess KaguyaIt’s been a long time since I have been as immediately taken with a film the way I was with Isao Takahata’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013). We don’t often feature films that are this new on the show. Typically, for a movie to make its way into… The post Episode 021 – The Tale of the Princess Kaguya appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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The Magic LanternEpisode 017 – The Long GoodbyeThe Long Goodbye (1973) is my favorite Robert Altman film. For the longest time that was McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), but as soon as I saw this I knew I was home. It’s like it was tailor-made for me. Elliott Gould’s everyman detective brings noir, one of my favorite… The post Episode 017 – The Long Goodbye appeared first on The Magic Lantern.
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