This week, we watch the film that brought Italian films back into the world cinema conversation in the late 80s. If you like sappy movies, you movie get something out of this one. Cinema Paradiso (1988), directed by Giuseppe Tornatore.
All in Foreign
BONUS EPISODE - Battle Royale
Its October. You know what that means - horror movie season! This week, we watch Quentin Tarantino’s Favorite Film. Influencing the Hunger Games as well as Fortnite, Warzone, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, this movie shows 42 students fighting for survival. Battle Royale (2000), directed by Kinji Fukasaku.
BONUS EPISODE - Mandibles
This week, we watch a story about two idiots who find a giant fly in the back of a stolen car. Part Bill and Ted, part Dumb and Dumber, part Beavis and Butthead….insert any dumb pair of guys in comedy history… this film does enough to stand out from its influences. At just over an hour long, this film will make you laugh and wish for more once the credits roll. Mandibles (2020), directed by Quentin Dupieux .
Episode 60 - Grave of the Fireflies
This week, we watch what many consider to be the saddest animated movies every drawn to film. Studio Ghibli animates this adaptation of a true story of the terrible aftermath of children attempting to live in a post-war Japan in the 1940’s. Grave of the Fireflies (1988), directed Isao Takahata.
BONUS EPISODE - The Eight Hundred
This week, we watch the worldwide highest grossing movie of 2020, marking the first time in movie history a Hollywood film didn’t rank number one. This Chinese film aims to portray an important event leading into the second World War, but what ends up on screen is incoherent violence and death. The Eight Hundred, directed by Hu Guan.
BONUS EPISODE - Like Stars On Earth
This week, we Aamir Khan’s directorial debut. A strong message about learning disabilities makes this an important piece of work. Like Stars On Earth (2007), directed by Aamir Khan.
Episode 65 - Princess Mononoke: Part 2
Part 2
This week, we watch Studio Ghibli try their hand at gore effects. This film stands out as being one of the studios most violent films, but the trademark animation, score, and scenery are in full view. Princess Mononoke (1997), directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Episode 65 - Princess Mononoke
This week, we watch Studio Ghibli try their hand at gore effects. This film stands out as being one of the studios most violent films, but the trademark animation, score, and scenery are in full view. Princess Mononoke (1997), directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Episode 66 - Oldboy
This week, we watch a movie where a tooth getting removed by a hammer is not the most disturbing scene of the film. This film contains amazing acting and filmmaking, so it is highly recommended to those with a strong tolerance for disturbing images and ideas. Oldboy (2003), directed by Chan-wook Park.
BONUS EPISODE - Quo Vadis, Aida?
This week, we watch the Bosnian film that has been nominated for the the Best International Film at the Academy Awards. Documenting the horrible, historically accurate events occurring during the Bosnian war in 1995 through the eyes of a fictional UN Translator, this films unrelenting tone will likely ruin your day. You will feel stressed, you will feel sad, and you will be wondering how the Oscars passed up an acting nomination for Jasna Djuricic. Quo Vadis, Aira? (2020), written and directed by Jasmila Zbanic.
BONUS EPISODE - Minari
This week, we watch the Best Foreign Language Film winner at the Golden Globes, and nominee of 6 Oscars, including Best Picture. This film masterfully jumps between hilarious moments and heavy drama like no other movie this year. The actor who plays the grandmother Soonja (Yuh-Hung Youn) should be holding an acting Oscar in a few weeks. Minari (2020), directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
Episode 70 - Das Boot: Part 2
PART 2!
This week, we watch possibly the best ensemble cast ever to be put to film. Drama, suspense, comedy, horror…what can’t you say about a classic like this? We all watched it for the first time, and we couldn’t recommend it enough to war movie fans. Das Boot (1981), directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
Episode 70 - Das Boot
This week, we watch possibly the best ensemble cast ever to be put to film. Drama, suspense, comedy, horror…what can’t you say about a classic like this? We all watched it for the first time, and we couldn’t recommend it enough to war movie fans. Das Boot (1981), directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
BONUS EPISODE - Akira
This week, we watch what many consider to be the best Anime of all time. Masterfully animated and ultra-violent, this film remains unmatched in its detail, style and scope. The influence on other animated films as well as live action films of this genre cannot be understated. Akira (1988), directed by Katsuhiro Otomo.
BONUS EPISODE - Hotel Mumbai
This week, we watch one of the scariest movies we've ever seen. This film depicts the real life tragedy of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, and does it almost too convincingly. A very well made movie that we'd be hard pressed to recommend due to how upsetting it is, but if you can tolerate violence (or you think you can), this one is worth a watch. Hotel Mumbai (2018), directed by Anthony Maras.
BONUS EPISODE - Portrait of a Lady on Fire
This week, we watch a painting of a movie. This movie portrays a realistic love affair at a house in 1770, and its paced as such - slow and powerful. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), directed by Celine Sciamma.
Episode 77 - Amelie
This week, we watch the life affirming French film that resonated around the world. Audrey Tautou is Amelie (2001), directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet .
BONUS EPISODE - Your Name.
This week, we watch the highest grossing anime movie of all time, surpassing the 2001 classic Spirited Away. A body-swap movie like you’ve never seen, describing too much of this movies plot would be giving away some of the fun twists along the way. We will say that this movie is beautiful and is worth watching for the animation alone. Your Name., directed by Makoto Shinkai.