Ep. 276: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

in

This week, we turn our attention to the original movie adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's classic WWI novel, "All Quiet on the Western Front," directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Lew Ayres in his first major role.

We compare Milestone's groundbreaking, early-sound era (1930)film to the remake currently nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, analyze the films' political intentions, praise Milestone's innovative filmmaking techniques, discuss the original film's complicated reception, and much more.

Read More

Ep. 274: The Best Films of 2022

in

Just as January comes to a close, Team Overinvested brings you our Best Films of 2022. Though we're posting this episode a little later than usual, we're as excited as ever to share our favorite films of last year, and hopefully introduce you all to some titles you haven't heard of or gotten a chance to see yet.

This year, our lists range from the big budget — "Top Gun: Maverick" — to the tiny indie — "Saint Omer" — and we've both included a documentary, too. Let us know what you think of our picks and what 2022 movies you loved!

Read More

Ep. 273: Häxan (1922)

in

We return to you after an unplanned break due to illness with a delayed episode on "Häxan," Benjamin Christiansen's groundbreaking 1922 docu-drama about the history of the persecution of witches (or "witches") — which also conveniently allowed him to depict sexually transgressive behavior that meant the film couldn't be shown in the United States for decades.

Read More

Ep. 272: Michael Clayton

in

This week, Morgan and Gavia revisit legal thriller Michael Clayton, the 2007 Best Picture nominee written and directed by Tony Gilroy and starring George Clooney and Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton. They discuss the film's sharp characterization, its insightful commentary on corporate malfeasance, a career-best performance from George Clooney, and how the themes Gilroy explores here connect to his current work on Andor.

Read More

Ep. 271: Andor

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan sing the praises of Andor, the new Star Wars television show masterminded by Tony Gilroy and starring Diego Luna as future rebel martyr Cassian Andor. Topics include the show's stark tonal and stylistic divergence from other Star Wars shows on Disney+, its complex ideas about empire and rebellion, a superlative cast led by Luna, and much more.

Read More

Ep. 270: Fall Film Festivals 2022

in

Gavia and Morgan return from a covid-induced hiatus with a dispatch from this year's New York and London film festivals. Gavia reports on some buzzy titles including "Decision to Leave" and "Triangle of Sadness," and Morgan gives a rave to her one festival movie of the year, France's Oscar submission "Saint Omer."

Read More

Ep. 268: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan break down Amazon's new "Lord of the Rings" adaptation, the TV show "The Rings of Power," which takes place thousands of years before Tolkien's novels. They analyze the show's relationship to Peter Jackson's films, discuss whether the show's efforts to diversify succeed, break out some deep Tolkien lore, and more.

Read More

Ep. 267: Nope

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan finally get to talk about Jordan Peele's third film, the UFO spectacular Nope. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya and Kiki Palmer as siblings who own a horse ranch... and discover there's a strange object lurking above their valley. Topics include Peele's increasingly ambitious career, this film's complex themes, dazzling performances from Palmer and Kaluuya, and more.

Read More

Ep. 266: Magic Mike XXL

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan revisit a modern classic, Magic Mike XXL, starring Channing Tatum as the titular Mike, Joe Manganiello and Matt Bomer as his stripper pals, Jada Pinkett Smith as an old flame, and more. Topics discussed include the film's radically chill depiction of masculinity, Tatum's charismatic performance and career, and the forthcoming sequel, in production now.

Read More

Ep. 265: Thief

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan celebrate the late James Caan by watching Thief (1981), Michael Mann's debut film, which features Caan's favorite of his own performances. In the film, he plays a skilled but small-time safecracker who gets involved with organized crime. Topics discussed this episode include Caan's life and career, Mann's influential style, this movie's delightfully realistic depiction of safecracking, and more.

Read More

Ep. 264: Persuasion (2007)

in

This week, Morgan and Gavia discuss Persuasion — no, not the recent Netflix adaptation, but ITV's 2007 version, starring Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot and Rupert Penry-Jones as her estranged lover Wentworth. Topics include the film's relationship to Jane Austen's novel, its interpretation of Regency-era dress and hair, Sally Hawkins' tremendous performance, and more.

Read More

Ep. 263: Road House

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan talk about the eighties cult classic Road House, starring Patrick Swayze as the greatest bouncer in the world, who travels to a small Missouri town to whip a dive bar into shape. Topics discussed include the film's relationship to classic Hollywood westerns, Swayze's magnetic star presence, the film's boundless homoeroticism, and more.

Read More

Ep. 262: The Court Jester

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the classic musical The Court Jester, starring Danny Kaye as a hapless circus performer forced to go undercover as a court jester as part of an elaborate seditious scheme. The film also stars a young Angela Lansbury, Basil Rathbone, and Glynis Johns. Topics include the film's connection to other medieval satires, the influence of vaudeville on Hollywood performance, Danny Kaye's motor-mouth, and much more.

Read More

Ep. 261: Top Gun: Maverick

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the summer's biggest blockbuster: Tom Cruise's long-anticipated reprisal of his iconic role as Maverick in Top Gun: Maverick. They break down how the sequel compares to the original, analyze how the practical stunts and effects contribute to the action, and salute the heroics of Cruise, certifiable maniac and Hollywood icon.

Read More

Ep. 260: Diabolique

in

Gavia and Morgan return after a brief break with an episode on French horror classic Diabolique, directed by H.G. Clouzot and starring Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret as women who collaborate to murder their abuser. Topics discussed include the film's pioneering use of horror and thriller tropes and techniques, how its classical style compares to the French New Wave, the relationship between the two central female characters, and more.

Read More

Ep. 259: Design for Living

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the delightful Pre-Code romantic comedy Design for Living, directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Miriam Hopkins, Fredric March, and the incomparable Gary Cooper in a hopeless love triangle. Topics include the film's startling candid approach to sex, the contrasting star personas of its actors, and director Lubitsch's famous je-ne-sais-quoi.

Read More

Ep. 248: The Watermelon Woman

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss Cheryl Dunye's nineties lesbian classic The Watermelon Woman. A fictional film that incorporates elements of documentary, it stars Dunye as a character named Cheryl who, like the real Dunye, embarks on a project investigating Black women in Old Hollywood films. Topics include the movie's engagement with Old Hollywood, its depiction of a lesbian community, Dunye's approach to political filmmaking, and more.

Read More

Ep. 257: The Batman

in

This week, Gavia and Morgan finally review The Batman, the latest film to reinvent the Dark Knight. Directed by Matt Reeves, the film stars Robert Pattinson as an isolated, emo Bruce Wayne, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, and a full cast of character actors in the ensemble. Topics include Pattinson's performance, what this film brings to the Batman canon, gratuitous violence, and more.

Read More