Cinema Fix

Director Joe Wright has adapted another 19th century novel, and this time all the rich, pretty people struggling with matters of the heart are in Russia! That’s right, it’s the latest film adaptation of the classic novel by Tolstoy, Anna Karenina. Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Taylor-Johnson star in this tale of forbidden love and class differences. Is it full of life and passion, or dull and monotonous? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:04 - General thoughts 13:04 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Craig Lindsey analyzes the socio-political subtext of Killing Them Softly with Andrew and Monica. It's a movie about America, but what is it trying to say, exactly? Why cast so many icons of crime cinema? Is Brad Pitt's character the most moral of the bunch? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 2:39 - A commentary on the recession and American culture 8:41 - The final scene 12:25 - Subverting expectations through casting 18:25 - Killed due to bad PR 19:57 - The cinematography during scenes of violence 23:55 - Cogan's philosophy/morality 32:00 - Final thoughts 34:50 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Film critic Craig Lindsey stops by to discuss Andrew Dominik's latest crime movie. Brad Pitt stars as a mob enforcer sent to clean up after two thugs hold up a gangster's illegal card game. It's failing at the box-office and has divided audiences, but is it worth a look? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 4:25 - General thoughts 14:55 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

What does it all mean?! In this episode, Andrew and Monica discuss the ending of Life of Pi and what the film seems to be saying about religion and spirituality. Is it a profound meditation on faith or just superficial fortune cookie wisdom? Do the visuals serve a thematic purpose? And is there a link between how we view animals and how we view life in general? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 2:04 - The "white man" framing device 7:05 - Different interpretations of the ending 15:45 - Pi knows the truth! 19:39 - The most unbelievable shot in the film 22:35 - Brief thoughts on the 3D and visuals as linked to theme 25:20 - The scene in which Richard Parker leaves -- is our attitude towards animals at all reflective of our attitude towards religion? 30:16 - Final thoughts on "the point" 35:00 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Ang Lee’s highly-anticipated film adaptation of the acclaimed novel can now be seen on the big screen, but does it live up to the hype? Andrew and Monica give their spoiler-free thoughts on the visually stunning and potentially divisive movie. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:01 - General thoughts 11:01 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica achieve the impossible and have a philosophical conversation about the last film in the Twilight series. Is the film’s ending a cop-out, or is it actually a progressive statement about war and violence? Does the PG-13 violence undermine the intended (or unintended) message? Why is everything else in the film so terrible, and just how awesome is Michael Sheen? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:00 - General thoughts on the ending and how awful these characters are 7:48 - Vampire Bella, Renesmee, Pedophile Jacob 11:23 - The passage of time, recruiting an army, mutant powers 16:07 - Renesmee’s powers and toddler blood-suckers 19:00 - The awesomeness of Michael Sheen 21:20 - The climactic battle and the film’s attitude towards war/violence 40:02 - Awful dialogue and the final montage 43:07 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Five films, billions of dollars and millions of screaming teens and mothers later, the Twilight series is finally over. Join Andrew and Monica as they give their spoiler-free thoughts on the final installment on the beloved (and much-maligned) series. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 4:52 - General thoughts 15:23 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

In this special bonus episode of the show, Andrew and Monica spend nearly an hour trying to unravel the mysteries of Cloud Atlas. Is this sci-fi epic a revolutionary piece of cinema or just a flawed experiment?  They discuss everything from the film's casting to how its philosophy is different from that of The Matrix. Does the film seem to think that mankind is capable of great change, or are we just doomed to repeat the same mistakes? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 5:16 - Quick spoiler-free thoughts 10:13 - Which of the stories is the best? 18:48 - The music 21:00 - Casting, birthmarks and the primary theme of the film 29:15 - The last scene and whether the film is ultimately pessimistic 35:36 - Futuristic forms of oppression (or lack thereof) 38:08 - Comparing the Christ-figures of Cloud Atlas with those of The Matrix 45:00 - Mexican Doona Bae, Timothy Cavendish and other lingering thoughts and questions 52:25 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emai

Just when you thought Bond continuity was too convoluted to figure out, Cinema Fix is here to make it all clear! Or... not. Witney Seibold from CraveOnline joins Andrew and Monica to discuss Skyfall and analyze its place in the Bond series as a whole. What is the thematic function of the third act? Is there any sort of continuity in the series before 2006? What's up with Javier Bardem's gay villain? Is the series coming full circle or just setting itself up to repeat old mistakes? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:03 - Bond as a cyclical franchise constantly rebooting itself 13:57 - Whether James Bond should be  a complex character; is he evolving? 18:52 - Bond as sadistic murderer vs. conflicted person 25:05 - Is there Bond "canon" or formula? What can't be changed? 29:37 - Bond's relationship with M, Skyfall as origin story 36:22 - Awkward elements of the third act 43:18 - Similarities with Nolan's Batman films 45:35 - Bond's parents, the theory that "James Bond" is a

James Bond is back! Witney Seibold from CraveOnline joins Andrew and Monica to discuss the twenty-third "official" film in the franchise. This episode contains their general, spoiler-free thoughts on the movie. Is Craig's third outing as the iconic character as memorable as Casino Royale, or more like Quantum of Solace? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 6:24 - General thoughts 13:42 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica debate the merits of Argo, which leads to a more general discussion on films that are "based on a true story." To what extent is accuracy important? Is the director obligated to look at the "big picture?" Also, cars chasing planes are kinda dumb. Tune in for all that and more. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 2:28 - The depiction of the government 5:35 - The (in)accuracy of Argo 8:18 - Comparing Argo to The Passion of the Christ 14:28 - Does it matter if a movie isn't historically accurate? Argo vs. The Social Network 17:54 - A movie that celebrates Hollywood lies and is itself a lie 22:53 - What's the point? Does there need to be one? 31:34 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort is receiving lots of praise from critics, but does it live up to the hype? In this episode, Andrew and Monica give their general spoiler-free thoughts on the film. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:17 - General thoughts 13:42 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Get ready to get pitch-slapped! Andrew and Monica arguably go a bit too far in their spoiler-filled analysis of Pitch Perfect, tackling everything from the marketing to its presentation of obesity and gender. Are films like this just a corporate cash-grab? How is Rebel Wilson different from Melissa McCarthy? And what’s up with all the John Hughes love in movies lately? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 2:14 - A battle of the sexes 6:05 - Controlling the group’s sexuality, feminism, etc. 8:36 - A corporate cash-grab? 12:29 - Similarities with Bridesmaids, the gross-out comedy 15:50 - Comparing Rebel Wilson’s presentation of overweight characters to that of Melissa McCarthy 22:53 - Yet another movie that loves John Hughes 26:58 - Awkward jokes about race and homosexuality 29:58 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Bridesmaids was a big hit. So was Glee. Why not mix the two together? That seems to be the reasoning behind Pitch Perfect, a musical-comedy about a competitive a cappella group. It wants to like Glee but for college students, but is there really that much of a difference? How are the musical arrangements? And will Anna Kendrick ever not be awesome? Tune in to find out if this movie is aca-mazing or just tone deaf. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:17 - General thoughts 12:39 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica try to solve the mysteries of Looper. What is it trying to say about violence? Is it a critique of mainstream Hollywood entertainment? Can true love and money really save you from a life of crime? And what's up with Kid Blue? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 3:15 - What is this film really about? 6:24 - A Cabin In The Woods-esque critic of pop culture? 12:30 - The use of primitive weapons 14:45 - The contrast between the presentation of violence around Joe versus that around Old Joe 19:25 - Nature vs. nurture; does Cid grow up to become the Rainmaker? 26:18 - True love and money can't save you from the cycle of violence 32:01 - Reactions to the ending, film as a visual drug 35:00 - The character of Kid Blue, violence as masculine rite of passage 40:12 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Is it possible to cheat death if you know it's coming? Find out as Andrew and Monica discuss Rian Johnson's time-travel thriller Looper, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an assassin assigned to kill his future self. Does this highly-anticipated film from the director of Brick live up to the hype? SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro and clip 5:27 - General thoughts 18:40 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Andrew and Monica bring out the big guns in their dissection of End of Watch. Is the film a critique of the police force? What’s up with its depiction of race? And how is it similar to Cowboys & Aliens? Tune in to find out. Contains spoilers. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 4:27 - Unnecessary scenes 7:54 - A critique of the police force? 15:40 - The depiction of race 23:21 - The attitude of the other cops; are they really one big happy family? 31:45 - The positives 33:48 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Andrew and Monica bring the Jake Gyllenhaal-starring End of Watch in for questioning. This cop film from the writer of Training Day markets itself as a found-footage film, but is that really the case? Does the aesthetic help or hurt the drama? This episode is spoiler-free, and also contains brief thoughts on Trouble With The Curve and Dredd 3D. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 1:37 - Thoughts on Trouble With The Curve 5:30 - Thoughts on Dredd 3D 7:40 - Intro to End of Watch and clip 9:46 - General thoughts on End of Watch 18:40 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Cinema Fix is back! In this episode, Andrew explains why the show went on unexpected hiatus and gives the details on its return. He then plays an episode of the show that was recorded months ago but never released for various reasons. Monica Castillo guest hosts to discuss the Joss Whedon-produced horror film The Cabin In The Woods, which is released on DVD and Blu-Ray this week. What's up with this weird movie? What's it trying to say about human nature, religion and violence in entertainment? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro; the future of Cinema Fix 5:22 - Part 1 intro and clip 9:06 - General thoughts 18:32 - Part 2 intro and clip 20:31 - The opening scene, and the big twist 24:20 - The religious subtext 28:27 - A critique of violence in entertainment; Funny Games but fun? 33:34 - "Choosing your fate" - the punishment isn't equal to the offense 35:21 - The cameo at the end, and what it means 41:17 - Why are the only people left the Virgin and the Fool? 45:02 - A movie about making movies 47:

In preparation for The Avengers, Andrew and Frank are examining a few of the major superheroes who will be involved. First up: Iron Man. What does this film series have to say about the nature of power? How is Tony Stark representative of America? Should anybody own Iron Man technology? SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 4:09 - The irony of America and the idea of an "ultimate weapon" 7:30 - Are there such things as the "right hands"? 11:20 - Comparisons with Thor, the power of the individual vs. institutions 18:54 - At what point do these heroes become too powerful? 20:54 - Can a blockbuster like The Avengers make a radical statement about violence? 23:29 - Closing thoughts 27:30 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing cinemafix@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!