Ep. 278: Eyes Wide Shut

April 21, 2023 by Morgan Davies in episodes

This week, Gavia is joined by guest-host Claire Biddles to discuss Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed erotic psychodrama Eyes Wide Shut (1999), starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as Bill and Alice Hartford, a married couple in 1990s New York. After Alice reveals that she fantasized about having an affair, Bill embarks on a night of sexual experimentation.

Topics include Tom and Nicole's marriage and divergent acting styles, the film's subversion of erotic thriller expectations, its depiction of gender roles in a straight marriage, and its fascinating legacy within Kubrick's career.

Ep. 256: The Northman

April 29, 2022 by Morgan Davies in episodes

This week, Gavia and Morgan debate the virtues of Robert Eggers' latest historical reconstruction, The Northman, which stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a prince who becomes obsessed with revenge after witnessing his uncle (Claes Bang) murder his father (Ethan Hawke). The film also features Nicole Kidman as his mother and Anya Taylor-Joy as a young Russian witch. Topics discussed in this episode include Eggers' obsessive commitment to historical accuracy, whether his humorless and violent take on the revenge plot offers anything new, an appreciation of Nicole Kidman, and more.

Episode 63: NYFF / LFF 2017

October 18, 2017 by Morgan Davies in episodes

This week, Morgan and Gavia report back from the New York and London Film Festivals, where they saw an eclectic collection of films including The Florida Project, BPM, Mudbound, Lady Bird, The Meyerowitz Stories, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and more.