Stuff We’ve Seen

The French New Wave: Jim and Teal Go Boating

It's time for a shaggy dog tale, or time to get taking for a story ride with Jim and Teal as they explore two films from the latter portion of the French New Wave. Let's call it, the French Next Wave, with filmmakers such as Jacques Rivette and Jean Eustache taking the helm, and making their mark in the 1970s.

On this week's episode, Jim and Teal discuss two films from the BFI 2022 top 250 Greatest films of all time list, Celine and Julie Go Boating, and The Mother and the Whore. Jim challenged Teal to see both these films, and in this episode Jim will find out if Teal liked these movies, and Teal will find out why Jim challenged him to see him.

Catch up with a couple of lesser-known films in the U.S. with this stroll down the podcast lake.

2023 Oscar Predictions: No Country for Old Wells

Since Jim and Teal won't be taping a post-Oscar's episode they wanted to weigh in on the big night and talk about 2023 Oscar Predictions before the show. Will Everything Everywhere All at Once be the big winner of the night, or could there be some surprises in store this year? Signs point to an unpredictable night in several categories.

Speaking of Oscar predictions, and the discussion around them, Jim takes issue with two opposite approaches to the Oscar conversation. First, is what Jim feels is a dishonest take from film critic Peter Travers. Next, Jim zeroes in on film-coverage bad-boy, Jeff Wells. Once, a must read for Jim, Wells' longtime column on his site, Hollywood Elsewhere, has taken a bizarre turn to anti-wokes'ville, and Jim takes particular issue with Wells' relentless takedown of Everything Everywhere All at Once. Can Teal find some common ground with the internet film raconteur?

 

Oh, and there is still enough time in the episode for Jim and Teal to tell you how much they hated Knock at the Cabin.

The 2022 BFI Sight and Sound Critics Top 250 Greatest Films

Every decade the BFI's Sight and Sound magazine publishes its poll of the top 100 greatest films in two separate lists created by film directors and then critics, scholars, facilitators, and educators. In February 2023 they followed those lists up with a companion list of the top 250 greatest films of all time as voted by the critics.

 

These lists are always debatable and controversial, but the decision to make the list more inclusive and include more women filmmakers added to the controversy of what makes a film the greatest. And the shakeup landed Chantel Ackerman's Jeanne Dielman at number 1.

That may have been the biggest headline from this list, but certainly not the last word.

Jim and Teal provide their thoughts on the top 100, and subsequent lists in this first of what should be several episodes this year on the BFI selections. Jim's taken on the challenge, and has watched all 100 of the critics top choices, and a good hundred more from the remaining 250 (which is actually 264 due to ties.) Jim won't stop till he's seen them all, but for now, Teal is taking a pulse on some overall thoughts, surprises, loves, hates, and everything in between.

If you are looking for a good place to start with the BFI top 250, this might be the podcast listen you've been waiting for.

The Best Films of 2022

There are plenty of debates to go around as Jim and Teal duke it out over their top films of 2022. Can they find common ground, or will it be a drag out fight to the death?

 

Also, our two trusty podcast heroes weigh in on the Andrea Riseborough Oscar controversy. 

2023 Academy Awards Nominatons

We do it every year on Oscar Nominations day. Jim and Teal break down all the award nominees, from the surprises (Andrea Riseborough anyone?) to the expected (many awards for Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.) Catch all the fun as Jim reveals the nominations to Teal, who kept radio silence until the moment of taping. 

 

Let us know if there were any surprises or omissions that shocked you.

Spielboctagon Three: The Final Battle

Jim and Teal make it to the finish line on Steven Spielberg's filmography in this third and final episode of The Spielboctagon. All Steven's films from 1998 to the Fabelmans get covered (well, they already covered the Fabelmans on episode one.) So, get ready to find out which films Teal liked, and which ones he did not. Hint! Hint! He's not a fan of The Post.

Back in the Spielboctagon

Jim and Teal return for more Steven Spielberg mania with part two of their look at his filmography. This episode covers all Spielberg's films from 1981 through 1997. So, get ready for Raiders, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, and more. And don't worry, there are plenty of laughs along the way.

The Fabelmans: Steven Spielberg Gets Personal

This week Jim and Teal enter the Spielboctagon. Their mission: tackle the entire Steven Spielberg filmography. Spoiler alert! They don't get very far. But in this first, of at least two episodes (who knows how long it will take them to get through every movie) they dive straight into Steven Spielberg's latest offering, The Fabelmans. 

You may not know it from the awful movie trailer, but The Fabelmans is a great film, and certainly Spielberg's most personal. Gut wrenching at times, inspiring at others, this is a movie that needs to be seen, and Jim and Teal hope you do go and search it out.

In addition to The Fabelmans, Jim and Teal tackle the early part of Spielberg's movie career, including his made for TV film, Duel, his first feature film, The Sugarland Express, his massive hits, Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and his first miss fire, the 1979 comedy, 1941.

Fascism on Film: The Mortal Storm and A Special Day

Jim and Teal begin an ongoing series dedicated to discussing Fascism on Film, and the way filmmakers handle this timely topic over the years. For this first episode they talk about two films that look at the rise of Nazism in Europe, and then the axis pact between Hitler and Mussolini. The Mortal Storm is an unsparing look at the dangers coming to Europe. Set in 1933, this film premiered in 1940, shortly after Hitler began his invasion of Europe. A Special Day takes place in 1938, on the day Hitler visited Italy to seal his agreement with Mussolini. Both films pack a punch, and Jim and Teal give them both high marks.

A Discussion on Tár

Jim and Teal focus in on one of their favorite films of 2022, Todd Field's Tár, starring Cate Blanchett in a tour-de-force performance. 

This is a continuation from the previous week's podcast, where Jim and Teal ran out of time as they were getting into this film.