Shows
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 11: The Holdovers (Alexander Payne, 2024)In this special festive episode of Gut Punch, hosts Gabriel Solomons and Tom Puhr discuss Alexander Payne's 2024 yuletide gem 'The Holdovers'. Keeping to the 'seasonal' themes of strife, loneliness and redemption - this throwback to the heady days of character driven 1970s cinema, is warm, cuddly and spiky; finding a wonderful balance of humor and pathos. The conversation saunters its way toward Gabriel and Tom's Gut Punch moments, ultimately concluding that The Holdovers possesses all the ingredients needed for a Christmas classic - destined to become a staple must-watch movie for years to come.Chapter List
2025-12-191h 29
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 10: One Battle After Another (2025)In this episode of Gut Punch, host Gabriel Solomons and co-host Tom Puhr discuss P.T. Anderson's new film One Battle After Another, exploring its themes, character dynamics, and seamless blend of humor and drama. The conversation highlights the importance of family relationships, generational shifts in activism, and the film's political undertones, ultimately emphasizing the significance of empathy and connection in a divided world.Chapter List00:00 Current Events and Community Response02:46 P.T. Anderson's New Film: Initial Reactions05:46 Exploring Themes and Cinematic Techniques08:44 Character Analysis and Performances11:46...
2025-11-291h 37
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 9: Pride (2014) with Molly LipsonIn this episode of Gut Punch, host Gabriel Solomons and co-host Tom Puhr welcome Molly Lipson, a filmmaker, writer and founder of 'Short Stuff' - an independent publication providing dedicated coverage of short films. Together we delve into the powerful themes of solidarity and unity depicted in the 2014 film Pride. Join us as we explore how the movie beautifully portrays the alliance between the LGBTQ+ community and striking miners in 1980s Britain. Through heartfelt storytelling and compelling characters, Pride showcases the strength found in standing together against adversity. Tune in to discover the inspiring lessons of courage, empathy, and...
2025-09-261h 17
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 8: Goodfellas (1990) with film-maker Tim RoggIn this episode of Gut Punch, host Gabriel Solomons and co-host Tom Puhr welcome filmmaker Tim Rogg to discuss Martin Scorcese's classic gangster epic 'Goodfellas'. Beyond discussing key scenes, character dynamics and the importance of maintaining a human touch in filmmaking, they explore themes of authenticity in storytelling, the art of short filmmaking, and the evolution of the film industry in the face of AI technology. Chapters:00:47 - Introductions02:42 - Meet the Filmmaker: Tim Rogg03:39 - Exploring The Doll's House09:38 - The Journey of a Filmmaker17:48...
2025-09-121h 24
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 7: Night of the Living Dead (1968) with Aaron ChristensenIn this episode, host Gabriel Solomons and co-host Tom Purr welcome guest Aaron Christensen (Chicago-based actor/writer and host of the podcast ‘Horror 101 with Dr. AC') to discuss George A. Romero's classic, Night of the Living Dead. We delve into personal connections to horror, the evolution of 'zombies' in popular culture, and the cultural significance of a film widely considered to have single-handedly invented a subgenre. We unpick the film's shocking ending, which serves as a powerful commentary on societal issues and the nature of humanity. The discussion highlights the emotional weight of character deaths, the impact of race an...
2025-08-121h 31
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 6: American Movie (1999) and The Lighthouse (2019)In this episode Gabriel and Tom discuss Chris Smith's hysterically poignant documentaryAmerican Movie and Robert Eggers's woozy psych-horror The Lighthouse. We open the episode with our movie recommendations of the previous week which includes a long, old-person rant about why the recent Jurassic Park: Rebirth will never match up to Spielberg's original and how, no matter who jumps aboard as director, these tent-pole franchises are always set on a downward trajectory of diminishing (creative) returns. Timecodes:Unfortunately we don't have timecodes for this episode.Credits:Gutpunch is brought to...
2025-07-251h 34
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 5: Children of Men (2006) with Walt HickeyIn This episode Gabriel and Tom welcome data journalist and author Walt Hickey to discuss a seminal scene from Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian thriller Children of Men . Walt is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and author of the 2024 book 'You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything' which explains the power of entertainment to change our biology, our beliefs, how we see ourselves, and how nations gain power.Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to Gut Punch Podcast and Guest Walt Hickey02:39 Walt Hickey's Background and Data Journalism05:41 The Impact of M...
2025-07-081h 06
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 4: The Iron Giant (1999) and Saint Maud (2020)In this episode Gabriel and Tom discuss Brad Bird's animated sci-fi classic The iron Giant and Rose Glass's psychological horror Saint Maud. We open the episode with our movie recommendations of the previous week which includes 2013's Final Destination 5 and Paul Verhoeven's original crowd-pleaser Total Recall. Chat turns to film franchises as 'Happy Meals' and the simple pleasures of revisiting classic early 90s sci-fi. Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts07:41 Recent Movie Experiences and Recommendations16:43 Exploring 'The Iron Giant' and Its Themes27:32 The Theme of Loneliness...
2025-07-081h 07
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 1: Punch-Drunk Love (2002) and Midnight Run (1988)In This episode Gabriel and Tom discuss powerful scenes from Paul Thomas Anderson's romatic dramedy Punch-Drunk Love and Martin Brest's unlikely screwball 'bromance' Midnight Run. As usual we kick things off with a brief chat about our respective watch-weeks, flagging some recommended films, before diving headlong into our Gut Punch movie moments.Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast02:38 Movie Week Highlights05:23 Exploring Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme'07:58 The Safdie Brothers' Impact10:46 Diving into 'Punch Drunk Love'13:35 Analyzing Barry's Emotional Turmoil16:05 The Significance...
2025-06-2359 min
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 3: Toni Erdmann (2016) and Tully (2018)In this episode Gabriel and Tom discuss Maren Ade's German cringe-comedyToni Erdmann and Jason Reitman's coming of middle-age dramedy Tully. We open the episode with our movie recommendations of the previous week which includes Geo Copolla's The Last Showgirl and Ryan Cooglers Sinners. Chat turns to ageing starlets, disjointed scripts and Chicago dust storms before turning to our chosen Gut Punch movie moments. Timecodes:00:00 Introduction 12:08 Exploring Tony Erdman: A Father-Daughter Dynamic24:03 The Emotional Climax: The Hug in the Park39:36 Conclusion and Reflections on Tully43:33 Exploring...
2025-06-171h 23
Gut Punch: A Beneficial Shock! PodcastEpisode 2: Full Metal Jacket (1987) and The Mist (2007)In This episode Gabriel and Tom discuss powerful scenes from Stanley Kubrick's visceral anti-war movie Full Metal Jacket and Frank Darabont's claustrophobic monster-mashup The Mist. As usual we kick things off with a brief chat about our respective watch-weeks, flagging some recommended films, before diving headlong into our Gut Punch movie moments.Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to Gut Punch Podcast05:11 Movie Recommendations and Discussions10:52 Exploring Full Metal Jacket31:01 Impact of Full Metal Jacket's Themes38:18 Exploring Cinematic Techniques in Film39:06 The Impact of 'The Mist' and...
2025-06-171h 13
On Location with Jared CowanEp. 25: Jeannine Oppewall at Union Station from "Catch Me If You Can"Just in time for the holidays, four-time Academy Award-nominated production designer Jeannine Oppewall joins us at Union Station Los Angeles to talk about working on Steven Spielberg's Christmas-adjacent film, "Catch Me If You Can". Jeannine discusses using Union Station in a non-traditional fashion; getting lucky with two vacant, mid-century modern airport terminals; what makes the best sets; how life experience came full-circle to inspire one of the major location choices in "Catch Me If You Can"; why you can't trust IMDb locations lists, and much more. Our 25th episode is a mini-masterclass with one of Hollywood's most esteemed contemporary production...
2024-12-201h 07
MettaMindcast059 - Solomon's Temple Part 4 - with Occult Rejects and The Spiritual Gangsters000 - Solomons Temple - Part 4
Tune in this week as we discuss the
foundations of The Temple of Solomon
In this episode we cover :
- Judaea becomes part of Rome
- The Jewish Rebelions
- The Bar Kokhba Revolt
- 130 A.D. Palestine is Named
- Constantine takes Judaea
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- The Relics of Christ
- Birth of Mohamed & the Black Stones of Mecca
- Gabriel takes Mohamed on his Night Journey
- Muslim Conquest of Jerusalem
- Pilgrims and the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ
- Crusades capture Jerusalem
- Templars digging under Temple...
2024-06-251h 57
Encounter Underground#99 America: On the Brink? - Brigitte Gabriel: UncensoredIs America on the brink? In this podcast Bishop Alan and his guest Brigitte Gabriel discuss how America is seeing history repeat itself, and how we need to prepare for it... Brigitte Gabriel Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brigitte_gabriel/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACTBrigitte Website: https://www.actforamerica.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealBrigitteGabriel/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Defense-Judeo-Christian-Values-Freedom/dp/1629995479 Encountertoday's Resources - * GIVE: https://encountertoday.com/giving/ * Special Offer: https://encountertoday.com/special-offer *FREE eCourse - h...
2023-03-1123 min
The Big PictureGreat Director Debuts Part 3: Brick and BeginningIn this final part of our Great Director Debuts podcast, Gabriel and Tom discuss Rian Johnson's revisionist neo-noir Brick (2005) which transplants the gritty pulp fiction of 50s noir from the mean streets of LA to a valley high school and Dea Kulumbegashvili's Beginning (2020), a Georgian set tale of a missionary, his wife and the resentful authorities turning a blind eye to an arson attack which tears the family apart.We discuss the themes, symbolism, audience reception and the lasting impact of both films, while identifying the unique 'voice' of their directors that can be seen in much...
2022-05-2749 min
The Big PictureGreat Director Debuts Part 2: Donnie Darko and HereditaryIn this second part of our Great Director Debuts podcast, Gabriel and Tom discuss Richard Kelly's mind-bending cult classic 'Donnie Darko' from 2001 about an awkward teenager's struggles with girls, teachers and time-travel and Ari Aster's masterful revisionary horror film Hereditary (2018), starring Toni Colette as the beleaguered matriarch of a family haunted by a terrifying ancestry. We discuss the themes, symbolism, audience reception and the lasting impact of both films, while identifying the unique 'voice' of their directors that can be seen in much of their subsequent work.(Episode produced by Gabriel Solomons. Intro music by R...
2022-05-0942 min
The Big PictureGreat Director Debuts Part 1: You Can Count On Me and The CellIn this 3 part episode of the Big Picture podcast, Gabriel and Tom select and discuss great director debuts from the year 2000 and up.Right out of the gate, these film-makers showed a clarity of vision and creative maturity that ensured theirs would be names (and films) we'd all remember.In part 1, our spotlight focusses on Kenneth Lonergan's 2000 film You Can Count on Me about orphaned siblings navigating their complex relationship in small-town America, and Tarsem Singh's visually audacious sci-fi, serial-killer-thriller The Cell, also released in 2000.We discuss the themes, symbolism, audience reception and the...
2022-04-2750 min
The Big PictureLicorice PizzaIn this episode Gabriel and Tom discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's latest meandering opus, Licorice Pizza. A tale of love, lust, ambition and pinball with two stellar central performances by newcomers Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman as an unlikely couple struck by cupid's bent arrow.A sweeping, fast-paced romp through a sun-drenched and pot-infused San Fernando Valley as backdrop to the schemes and misdeeds of two youngsters just trying to figure shit out. We uncover themes and ideas weaved into the mix to help delve that little bit deeper into the thinking behind this very contemporary (and quirky...
2022-01-2559 min
The Big PictureSecondsIn this episode Gabriel and Tom are joined by Jez Conolly, co-author of a new book about the 1966 John Frankenheimer film Seconds; a nightmarish journey into sci-fi paranoia that is now considered a classic of post-McCarthy era American cinema. Part noir thriller and part body horror, the film – which initially flopped at the box office – is a richly dense, and bleak portrait of the mid-life crises of masculinity aroused by the 1960s counterculture. Taking sharp aim at the consequences of blind consumerism, Seconds was way ahead of its time in predicting the impact on our lives of corporate surveillance, tech...
2021-11-181h 09
The Big PictureLost in AmericaIn this latest episode of The Big Picture podcast, Gabriel and Tom discuss and dissect Albert Brooks' 1985 cult comedy 'Lost in America', about a successful but dissatisfied yuppie couple who drop out of the rat race and take to the open road. With his trademark sardonic wit, Brooks' film takes aim at the false promise of Reagan-era capitalism while zooming in on marital tensions, personal dreams and how to cope (or not) when your wife blows the nest egg at a Vegas casino roulette wheel. We talk film posters, reveal behind-the-scenes factoids and recommend a few of our other...
2021-11-031h 02
The Big PictureMe, Myself and I: Cleo From 5 To 7 and The Great BeautyIn this second episode of The Big Picture Podcast, Gabriel and Tom discuss two films that explore the nature of ego and the often fraught journey a person takes from fear and doubt to self realisation. Agnes Varda's 1962 French new wave masterpiece Cléo from 5 to 7 (Cléo de 5 à 7) and Paolo Sorrentino's gorgeous 2013 love-letter to Rome, The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) both offer up a rich tapestry of meaning that tell us as much about the value of time as about the need to connect with others in order to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. (Epis...
2021-10-051h 02
The Cinematologists PodcastIndependent MagazinesIn this slightly longer than normal episode, Neil indulges his love of magazines by having conversations with editors of print magazines with a varying focus on film about setting up print enterprises in the digital age. He talks to Maria J Pérez Cuervo about her folk horror magazine Hellebore, Gabriel Solomons about illustrated film magazine Beneficial Shock and Cathy Lomax & Lucy Bolton about a special British film edition of art and culture periodical Garageland. All the conversations revolve around a love of magazines and we are grateful to all the contributors for their time.Around t...
2021-10-021h 43
The Big PicturePoltergeistIn this, our first Big Picture podcast, Editor-in-chief Gabriel Solomons and Editor Thomas Puhr discuss the 1982 Horror Classic Poltergeist, picking apart various themes, focussing on hidden meanings and revealing some insights about the film's poster and iconic objects such as the television, toy clown and the haunted house itself at the centre of all the mischief. (Episode produced by Gabriel Solomons with intro theme by Ruben Solomons)
2021-08-171h 25
Seen Any Good Films Lately?Gabriel ClarkeNews from the London Critics' Circle awards; the romance of Wong Kar-Wai; and football reporter-turned-doc maker Gabriel Clarke talks about his documentary Finding Jack Charlton, the influence of 70s paranoia thrillers, and the legacy of his father's films...Music by Lee Rosevere. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2021-02-1231 min