Stuff We’ve Seen

Da 5 Bloods: Spike Lee's Hangout Movie

This week on Stuff We've Seen Jim and Teal discuss three films, starting with Spike Lee's latest, and one of his best, Da 5 Bloods. Now available to stream on Netflix, Spike Lee's gritty buddy, adventure/ Vietnam War reckoning film has laughs, tears, adventure, anger, friendship...you name it, and this film seems to have it. Jim and Teal both give it high marks.

Also this week, Jim and Teal uncover a cult gem from 2019, director Peter Strickland's In Fabric. It is weird, atmospheric, and has loads of dark horror comedy. If you like films a bit on the weird side, this movie may be your new favorite.

And if that wasn't enough to fill your movie lists, Jim also recommends Mike Leigh's 2010 film, Another Year, which is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel.

Enjoy!

Original Cast Album: Company

Original Cast Album: Company is a 53-minute documentary by the late great legend, D.A. Pennebaker. It documents the original cast recording of the theatrical 1970 musical, Company, by Stephen Sondheim. Jim's obsession with seeing this documentary began last year when he saw the IFC Documentary Now! Spoof on this film, Co-op. Now, thanks to The Criterion Channel, Jim got his wish--and he's obsessed.

On this week's episode of Stuff We've Seen, Jim and Teal discuss Company, the Documentary Now! spoof, and the genius of D.A. Pennebaker's fly-on-the-wall camerawork, and tension-building editing.

Also on the program, Jim takes a dive into some additional Criterion Channel offerings from filmmaker Cheryl Dunye. Dunye's 1992 Watermelon Woman is an interesting, self-reflexive part narrative, part documentary, part mocumentary look at black lesbian issues, and the history of black female representation in film. It serves as a reminder for Jim that not all film offerings need to be feature commercial narratives. 

Also on this week's agenda is Jim re-examining Gus Van Sant's 1991 follow-up to Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho. Idaho is currently playing on Criterion Channel as part of Criterion's Queersighted: Turn the Gaze Around series.

And if that is not enough for you, dear listener, Jim watched a truly bizarre 1971 offering, Daughters of Darkness, courtesy of Amazon Prime, and Teal watched Trolls: World Tour. Oh, and we find out that Teal hates Harry Potter. So there is a ton to unpack. Get at it!

George Floyd's Murder and The Rise of Authoritarianism

George Floyd's Murder, and the subsequent outcry of anger towards the never-ending systemic racism and aggression against people of color at the hands of institutions sworn to protect and serve us weighed heavy on Jim and Teal's minds. Watching the government's response towards peaceful protests were something they could not ignore. So on this week's episode, Jim and Teal veered from their normal format and opened the show with some thoughts about this latest chapter in America's 400-year struggle for equality and justice for people of color.

The second half of the show features a few films Jim's recently seen that detail various injustices by governments and fascist atrocities of WW2. Teal discusses a few new film's he's caught on streaming to end the program.

We promise a return to our normal format for future episodes, but current events were too important to ignore this week.

Controversies, Omissions and Classics: Crash go the Oscars 2005-2009

A lot has happened in the country since we taped this episode on Friday. It's complete and ready so we are posting it. Totally get it if you aren't up to listening right now. Makes sense. But if you are looking for film talk, Carrie Chalmers joins us for the final five years of Best Picture nominees from the first decade of the 2000s. From controversial wins like Crash beating Brokeback Mountain, to 2007, the year that gave us two modern classics, There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men, there is something for everyone to gripe or cheer in this five-year stretch.

Carrie, Teal and Jim offer up some of their picks for films that should have been nominated for Best Picture, but were left out of the mix. What are some of your favorite Oscar omissions from the period?

I Am Not A Witch: The Return of Carrie and Women Filmmakers

Cornell Communications' Specialist, Carrie Chalmers returns to the show for a discussion focused on several women film directors. First up is Rungano Nyoni's spellbinding 2017 film, I Am Not A Witch. A semi-satyrical look at women in bondage with a spellbinding lead performance by Maggie Mutubwa. A film with so many twists and turns Jim decided to cut out some of the reveals mentioned during the program to avoid spoiling it for those who may watch this film later. It is currently playing on The Criterion Channel.

The next film discussed is available to rent, and it is The Assistant, directed by Kitty Green. Julia Garner is a recent college graduate who lands her dream job in a New York City film production office working for a powerful film mogul (sound familiar?) The action takes place during one day at the office where the assistant will have to make a choice about her future--stay quiet about the abuse surrounding her, or be part of the problem. While Jim, Teal and Carrie each had their issues with the movie, they definitely feel there was a lot to talk about.

This month The Criterion Channel features three films by French Film director, Diane Kurys. Jim, Carrie, and Teal all sampled her first feature, the 1978 coming-of-age film, Peppermint Soda. Jim enjoyed it the most, but all three found it to be an enjoyable film. Then Jim and Carrie saw Kurys' 1983 film, and possibly the movie she's most known for, Entre Nous. This feature has a lot of elements to discuss.

For the final leg of the show, Teal shows his appreciation for the only woman in Oscar history to win Best Director, Kathryn Bigelow. Carrie found herself re-watching The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty with a new appreciation of what traditionally masculine material looks like in the hands of a woman filmmaker.

Lots of laughs and insight packed into this 76 min episode.

The Beaver Trilogy: Part 4 and Academy Awards of the 2000s: Part 1

Sometimes the algorithm Gods of Amazon Prime throw one a gem. This week Jim talks about an odd documentary called The Beaver Trilogy: Part 4. It's a story of a small-time, almost Hollywood director, Trent Harris, and his trilogy of films based on a real-life person he met in Utah in the late 70s. There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, and Jim suggests you seek it out.

Next it is on to more Academy Award nominated Best Picture nominees. This time around Jim and Teal tackle the first decade of the new millennium, but there is so much to say they only get through the first five years. Lots of interesting films nominated, and some shameful omissions, along with some head-scratching Academy picks. Plus, this time around Jim brings some suggestions for each year of movies that might be better than the Academy's choices.

Lots to unpack with this episode, so don't delay: get to it, fair movie-lover!

In Focus: An Interview with Camera Operator Tony Gutierrez

This week Jim and Teal spoke with film and television camera operator, Tony Gutierrez. Tony's been in the biz since graduating film school at NYU in 1992. Jim and Tony worked together in the NYU photo department, and this episode serves as a reunion.

Hear Tony's journey from camera loader, to focus puller, to camera operator on a wide-range of film and television projects, including Netflix's Grace and Frankie. How did Tony get into the business? What was it like being on the set of Titanic for two days? Get Tony's insights and how he's coping with the Hollywood shutdown during the pandemic on this awesome episode!

Netflix and Chill with Jim and Teal.The 1984 John Milius classic: Red Dawn

We're all still stuck inside, right? Okay. So, who wants to Netflix and Chill with Jim and Teal? There ain't no party like a Netflix party, and Jim and Teal decided to take advantage of the latest in streaming technology to watch a film on Netflix and do their very first commentary.

Why did they decide on Red Dawn? Who knows. Maybe because it is an artifact from the 80s, the first PG13 film, and definitely a staple of Reagan-era coming-of-age movies. No matter the reason, Jim and Teal invite you to experience this film with them. 

How do you do this? Okay. First--go to Netflix and set your phasers on Red Dawn. Start the movie and pause. Find a way to play this episode on some speakers or headphones. When we say play on on the podcast, hit play on Netflix and you can experience the film in real-time with us.

Now, there is no movie audio on our podcast so you will experience pauses here and there, so if you want the full experience, make sure to play Red Dawn on your own. Is the commentary still enjoyable without watching the movie? Sure. Why not. Have a blast. We can't stop you.

Have fun! And hey, send us your thoughts on the episode to feedback@stuffweveseen.com We want to know if this is worth doing again, or was once enough!

Revenge of the 90s! Academy Award Best Picture Nominees Part 2

By hook or by crook, Jim and Teal made it their mission to wrap up their look at Academy Award-winning Best Picture nominees from the 1990s. This week's episode covers all the nominees from 1995 to 1999.

What do Jim and Teal uncover? Well, first there are a lot of great movies that got nominated for Best Picture during this five-year stretch. But second? There are a lot of questionable choices of films no one is talking about anymore. It is almost impossible for Jim and Teal to hide their disgust at some of these choices, many which show the power Harvey Weinstein wielded in the 1990s. 

Get set for a blast from the past, and by the end we hope you find a few films to add to your streaming pile. 

Academy Award Best Picture Nominees of the 90s: Part I

With social distancing still all the rage, Jim and Teal decided to go epic with a super-long 90 minute episode. 

To kick things off the boys discussed the merits of streaming new releases on demand for $20. Is this something you've done? Jim and Teal think the price point may be a bit too high, but they are certainly curious about it.

The main event this week is Jim and Teal's continuation of Academy Award Best Picture nominees and winners. The 90s saw some great films, several of which have gone on to become movie classics. Which ones do Jim and Teal agree with the Academy on?

Because this was such a formidable decade for our fellow film enthusiasts, Jim and Teal only make it through the first half of the decade. But there are plenty of titles discussed, and if you are looking to catch up on a noted film from the 90s, this is a good chance to hear what Jim and Teal have to say before you hit your streaming services. Good luck!

Be on the lookout for the second installment of the 90s coming soon!