Hero dir. by Zhang Yimou

It’s been out for a week but we’re not taking any chances. Here is our painstakingly spoiler-free discussion of Dune: Part Two, plus our thoughts on Madame Web and a sexy addition to the Film Pharmacy.

References
Denis Villeneuve on Dune: Part Two and dialogue v. cinematography for The Times
‘Dune: Part Two’ Star Stellan Skarsgard Laughed Seeing Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha: Butler ‘Really Enjoyed Being Evil’ by Michaela Zee for Variety
Dune: Part Two’s box office success and what it means for the film industry by Anthony D’Alessandro for Deadline

Film Pharmacy
Bound (1996) dir. by the Wachowskis
Black Narcissus (1947) dir. by Powell and Pressburger
Unfaithful (2002) dir. by Adrian Lyne
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) dir. by Gil Junger
Fish Tank (2009) dir. by Andrea Arnold
Love dir. by Gaspar Noe

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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We're  back with series 4 and ahead of the Oscars next weekend, we bring you a roundup of everything you need to know about this awards season. We discuss Oppenheimer's dominance, the Barbie controversy and where The Zone of Interest sits on the Salo to Up unsettling scale.

Most importantly of all, our very own awards ceremony returns. The Groovies this year include awards for Best Cinema, Short King, and Least Unbearable Cinematic Experience. The Oscars better watch out. There's a new rodeo in town. 

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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It’s the end of the year and also our series finale so we're bringing both to a close with a deeply intellectual discussion on the ultimate New Years movie, Bridget Jones’s Diary. Plus, in anticipation of awards season, we list the films we’re most excited to see over the next couple of months.

References
Bridget Jones’s Diary deleted scenes
That scathing New York Times piece on Bridget Jones
20 behind-the-scenes Bridget Jones’s Diary facts

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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For our penultimate episode of the series we’re going recommendation-heavy and spoiler-free, with our top picks of festive films, hitting every point on the Grinch-to-Elf Christmas spirit scale. 

References
The Powell and Pressburger season from Oct-Dec 2023 - catch the last few screenings now.
The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror exhibition
Piece for ASC on Jack Cardiff from 1994, The Red Shoe’s cinematographer
Why The Red Shoes looks so good by The Royal Ocean Film Society on YouTube
The cinematography of The Dark Knight by V Renee for nofilmschool.com
The Philosophy of Groundhog Day by Sebastian Martinez Diaz for film-cred.com
Carol by it’s Cinematographer Ed Lachman for ASC

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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We couldn’t resist the controversy around Ridley Scott’s new movie, so this week we’re discussing Napoleon and wading into the debate about historical accuracy and film. But what do you think? Let us know on instagram - @groovymoviespod.

References
Ridley Scott profile by Michael Schulman for The New Yorker
Ridley Scott’s response to Napoleon’s critics by Caroline Frost for Deadline
Ridley Scott’s response to criticism of the Egyptian invasion scene in Napoleon by Adam Bentz on Screen Rant
‘Napoleon on trial: The battle for historical accuracy of the upcoming film’ by Prateek Dasgupta for Medium
‘Great man or monster - who was the real Napoleon?’ by Dominic Sandbrook for The Times
‘The Ugly Truth about Napoleon and Josephine’ by ElleHistory on YouTube
Facts on Napolean
Oppenheimer BBC documentary

Film Pharmacy
Frances Ha (2012) dir. by Noah Baumbach
Zodiac (2007) dir. by David Fincher

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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This week we are joined by Audra and Elisa from Culture Colander. They bring an American perspective to a very British class system as we dissect Emerald Fennell’s new film Saltburn, i.e. The Talented Mr Creepley.

References
Listen to and follow @culturecolander
Interview with Emerald Fennell and the cast of Saltburn
‘The sons and daughters of The Talented Mr Ripley’ by Manuela Lazic for The Ringer
The New Yorker Radio Hour episode where Emerald Fennell talks about her upbringing

Film Pharmacy
Friends Best Thanksgiving Moments
The Greatest Showman (2017) dir. by Michael Gracey
Dan in Real Life (2007) dir. by Peter Hedges

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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Aesthetica short film festival, the Hollywood blacklist, and one of its scripts, Todd Haynes’ new movie May December, are all up for discussion this week. Expect sweeping generalisations about short films and a tabloid-esque compare-and-contrast between May December and the real-life scandal that inspired it.

References
Aesthetica Short Film Festival
New York 81 (short 2022) dir. by Jannicke Systad Jacobsen
Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau on Barbara Walters
John Lahr’s piece on Todd Haynes for The New Yorker
Adam White’s interview with Todd Haynes for The Independent
The Black List

Film Pharmacy
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) dir. by Joel and Ethan Coen
Whiplash (2014) dir. by Damien Chazelle
Jodorowsky’s Dune (2013) dir. by Frank Pavich
Moonage Daydream (2022) dir. by Brett Morgen
Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story (2021) dir. by Laura Fairrie

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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In honour of new release Fingernails, we talk dystopian romances: why they work, when they don’t, and which animal we’d like to be turned into if we didn’t find love.

References
Fingernails director Christos Nikou on modern dating by Lou Thomas for BFI
Sheila O’Malley’s review of The Lobster
Interview with Yorgos Lanthimos on The Lobster by Mekado Murphy for The New York Times
Spike Jonze on Her by Logan Hill for The New York Times

Film Pharmacy
Die Hard (1988) dir. by John McTiernan
The Godfather (1972) dir. by Francis Ford Coppola 
Atonement (2007) dir. by Joe Wright
Fight Club (1999) dir. by David Fincher

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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This week James drags us to the BFI IMAX for Gravity’s 10th year anniversary re-release, on a mission to prove that the cinematic experience is worth leaving the house for.

Film Pharmacy
The Full Monty (1997) dir. by Peter Cattaneo
Pride (2014) dir. by Matthew Warchus

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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With DiCaprio and De Niro in fine gurning form and Thelma Schoonmaker on the edit, the gang’s back together for Martin Scorsese’s brand new film. But is it worth the 3hr26m runtime?

References
Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann (the book the film is based on)
Interview with Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone for Critqal
Martin Scorsese’s companion films list on Letterboxd

Films and TV shows about indigenous communities we recommended:
Dances with Wolves (1990) dir. by Kevin Costner 
Smoke Signals (1998) dir. by Chris Eyre
Reservation Dogs (2021-2023) created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi
Call Me Human (2020) dir. by Kim O'Bomsawin

For more, read Corinne Rice’s ‘8 Essential Films of the Native American Experience’

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Original music by James Brailsford
Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon

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