Advertise on podcast: Movies We Like

Costume designer Ann Maskrey has watched The Grand Budapest Hotel five times and rewatched it the week before recording—and she's still finding things to admire. Ann, whose credits include The Duchess, the Hobbit trilogy, and the new The Magic Faraway Tree, chose Wes Anderson's 2014 film as one of her all-time favorites: a story of a legendary concierge (Ralph Fiennes) and his lobby boy (Tony Revolori) set against a fictional interwar Europe running out of time and elegance. Ann, Andy, and Pete dig into Milena Canonero's costume design and what it means to read another designer's work from a maker's perspective—someone who started as a cutter and dresser before she was ever a designer. They get into the color decisions, the departmental shorthand that makes Anderson's worlds feel airtight, and how the same principles show up in Ann's own work on The Magic Faraway Tree. Andy Nelson and Pete Wright discuss the film with Ann Maskrey on Movies We Like, a TruStory FM podcast. 🎥 Watch Our Full Conversation on YouTube 📝 Full show notes and resources 🔓 The movie ends. The conversation goes further. Become a member. 🎧 Members get this episode early and ad-free in their private feed—plus every show in The Next Reel family. Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

Cinematographer Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, ASC was in the tenth grade when her English teacher screened “The Conformist” on a film print. A single scene—a car moving through trees, shot by Vittorio Storaro—changed the direction of her life. Now an Emmy-nominated cinematographer with credits spanning Netflix’s record-breaking “One Piece” and the Spirit Award-nominated feature “Dust Bunny,” Nicole brings a career built on visual intelligence to Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1970 psychological thriller. Andy Nelson and Pete Wright dig into Storaro’s color-as-psychology approach, the fascist architecture that makes bodies feel small on screen, and the forest sequence that echoes across decades into the Coen brothers and Roger Deakins. Nicole also talks about the 3:1 aspect ratio on “Dust Bunny” and why scope is worth fighting for in a world designed for phone screens. Her word for “The Conformist”: elegant darkness. 🎥 Watch Our Full Conversation on YouTube🎬 Watch & Discover Watch “The Conformist”: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd | TrailerWhat to Listen to Next: Costume Designer Jenny Beavan on The Leopard—Italian cinema; visual and moral counterpoint to The ConformistCinematographer Paul Cameron on Apocalypse Now—follow Storaro’s influence furtherOnce Upon a Time in the West on The Next Reel—Bertolucci’s fingerprints on a Leone film🔓 The movie ends. The conversation goes further. Become a member. 🎧 Members get this episode early and ad-free in their private feed—plus every show in The Next Reel family.   Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

Roger Fires is a production designer—”Nobody”, “Violent Night”, “Psycho Killer”—and one of the films he loves most is William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” (1973). He first encountered it not in a theater but through a wall as a child in Brazil, told not to watch and so he listened in the dark. That experience kept him away for nearly twenty years. At thirty he finally watched it and fell completely in love—and the specificity of that arc is what makes this conversation worth your time. Andy and Pete dig into what Roger calls the “unnoticeably good” standard: the refrigerated set, the spatial geometry, the window that marks two deaths and carries the film’s entire theological argument. They cover what makes Friedkin’s approach—dread over spectacle, religious drama over horror movie—still impossible to replicate, and Roger talks about his work on “Psycho Killer” and the “Scrubs” reboot along the way. 🎥 Watch on YouTube 🎬 Watch & Discover Watch Psycho Killer: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd Watch The Exorcist: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd What to Listen to Next: The Next Reel — The Exorcist—Andy and Pete’s full discussion of the film as part of the Ellen Burstyn series Sitting in the Dark — Possessed!—Pete's demons-and-possession episode with Lester and Kynan of The Exorcist Minute as guests Movies We Like — Kevin Conran on The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai—keep going with production designers on films they love Membership 🔓 The movie ends. The conversation goes further. Become a member. 🎧 Members get this episode early and ad-free in their private feed—plus every show in The Next Reel family. Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

"Nobody... nobody trusts anybody now, and we're all very tired.” Producer/writer Josh Hyams joins hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss The Thing, directed by John Carpenter. When it opened in June 1982, audiences weren't ready for it—it bombed against E.T. and was widely dismissed, even as its atmosphere of paranoia played out on screen. Decades later it's considered a landmark of practical effects filmmaking and one of the great ensemble horror films ever made. Hyams—whose BAFTA-nominated Mr. Burton is now in US release—has loved this film since seeing it at an outdoor cinema in Greece as a child. He brings a filmmaker's eye to Rob Bottin's creature work, Morricone's bare and atmospheric score, and a film that, as he puts it, "draws you in, it doesn't patronize you—it is a grown-up, cerebral, well-told horror film that takes its time." Forty years on, it's earned every word of that.🎬 Watch & Discover 👤 Meet Josh Hyams: IMDb🍿 Watch The Thing: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd🍿 Watch Mr. Burton: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📽️ The Thing — Original Theatrical Trailer📽️ Mr. Burton — Official Trailer📚 Adapted from Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr.▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube🎧 More from The Next Reel Family The Next Reel on The ThingCinema Scope — 1950s Science Fiction (incl. The Thing from Another World)The Next Reel on The Spy Who Came in from the ColdCinema Scope — British New Wave (incl. Look Back in Anger)Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

“If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” Costume designer Jenny Beavan joins hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss The Leopard, directed by Luchino Visconti—the landmark 1963 epic that showed her what period design could be. A three-time Oscar winner whose career spans A Room with a View, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Cruella, Beavan traces The Leopard back to a Soho cinema in the late sixties and the influence of a mentor who kept returning to what Piero Tosi achieved there. "He was obsessive, Piero Tosi. I don't think he was happy because it was never perfect enough. But he was one of the most incredible costume designers ever." The conversation also moves through her recent Nicholas Hytner film The Choral and the challenge of building an authentic world on nearly nothing—which turns out to be its own kind of craft lesson. Watch the conversation on YouTube Watch & Stream The Leopard — Apple TV · Amazon · Letterboxd · Trailer About Jenny Beavan IMDb · Instagram Referenced in This Episode Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius — 1968 recording, Adrian Boult, Coventry Cathedral Source Material The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa — Amazon If You Enjoyed This Conversation  The Next Reel — Mad Max series The Film Board — Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movies We Like — Costume Designer Deborah L. Scott on The Mission Movies We Like — Costume Designer Alana Morshead on Never Let Me Go Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

“The person who really loves me will be the one who helps me die. That's love, Rosa. That's love.” Filmmaker Miguel Ángel Ferrer joins Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to talk about Alejandro Amenábar’s The Sea Inside, a film that shaped how Miguel thinks about life, death, and the power of cinema. Miguel—director of The Shadow of the Sun, a moving new film about two estranged brothers chasing an impossible dream—shares the personal story of discovering The Sea Inside in an almost-empty theater, and why it remains unforgettable. “This man, through wanting to die, shows everybody around him how to truly live. You can’t know the beauty of what you have if you don’t know the finite nature that it has.” From survival and dignity to filmmaking as perseverance, Miguel reflects on stories that inspire, challenge, and remind us not to take life for granted. 🎬 Watch & Discover Watch this full conversation on YouTube Miguel Ángel Ferrer (IMDb • Instagram • Threads) Miguel’s new film: The Shadow of the Sun — Official Website • Trailer • Behind the Scenes • Letterboxd • Instagram • Threads Miguel’s pick: The Sea Inside — Watch (Apple TV / Amazon) • Trailer • Letterboxd If you like these movies, check out these conversations: ▸ The Next Reel: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (episode) • Foreign Language Best Picture Nominees (series) ▸ Movies We Like: Special Effects Supervisor Chris Reynolds on Cinema Paradiso Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible

“I’m a Dapper Dan man!” Producer/Director Bill Banowsky joins Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss O Brother, Where Art Thou? from Joel Coen, reflecting on both the film's enduring appeal and his own fascinating journey through the film industry. As co-founder of Magnolia Pictures and developer of smart house theaters, Banowsky brings unique insight to this beloved Coen Brothers comedy while also discussing his new documentary A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant. "I think we need more films like O Brother, Where Art Thou?. You gotta find story-driven films, not technology-driven films, to save this business," says Banowsky, whose career spans from law to founding smart house theaters to directing documentaries. 🎬 Watch & Discover 📺 Watch the raw episode on YouTube👤 Meet Bill Banowsky: IMDb | Website🎟️ Check out Sky Cinemas in Santa Fe, NM🍿 Watch O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd | Trailer🍿 Watch A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd | Trailer📚 Read The Odyssey by HomerSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Exploring Perspective Through the Lens London-based cinematographer Mattias Nyberg joins Movies We Like hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Drawing from his recent work on Amazon/MGM's The Girlfriend, Nyberg explores how Lynch and cinematographer Peter Deming created one of cinema's most compelling psychological thrillers through innovative perspective shifts and unsettling camera techniques. Nyberg's path to cinematography began unusually—as a professional hockey player in rural Sweden before discovering film during a temporary stay in London. Now a governor of the British Society of Cinematographers, his work on projects like The Girlfriend and Netflix's The Decameron demonstrates his mastery of visual storytelling through careful camera placement and measured pacing, particularly in building tension. The conversation delves into how Mulholland Drive masterfully manipulates audience perspective, with Nyberg offering technical insights about Deming's subtle camera movements and Lynch's unconventional shot choices. Through seemingly disconnected scenes and dreamlike sequences, the film creates an atmosphere of sustained unease that deepens rather than diminishes its impact. Nyberg connects these techniques to his own work on The Girlfriend, particularly in how camera positioning and sustained shots can build tension more effectively than rapid cutting. In both works, we see how thoughtful cinematography can elevate storytelling beyond conventional narrative into psychological complexity. Nyberg's deep appreciation for Mulholland Drive and its influence on contemporary television reveals how cinema's visual language continues to evolve while remaining rooted in the power of patient, confident camera work. 🎬 Watch & Discover 🎞️ Watch our raw conversation on YouTube👤 Meet Mattias Nyberg: Website | Instagram | IMDb🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd👩 Check Out The Girlfriend on Amazon📽️ Original Theatrical TrailerSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“Nobody's perfect. There was never a perfect person around. You just have half-angel and half-devil in you.” Cinematographer Marcus Patterson joins Movies We Like hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss Terrence Malick's 1978 masterpiece Days of Heaven. Drawing from his own experience shooting the anthology film Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), Patterson explores how Malick and cinematographers Néstor Almendros and Haskell Wexler crafted one of cinema's most visually stunning achievements through their innovative use of natural light and magic hour photography. Patterson's journey to cinematography wasn't direct – he tried acting, writing, and editing before discovering his passion behind the camera. Starting with short films in Alabama, he developed his craft through countless projects before moving to Los Angeles. His work on Sunfish demonstrates his ability to capture intimate human moments while maintaining a painterly approach to composition and lighting, particularly in natural settings.The conversation explores how Days of Heaven revolutionized the use of natural light in cinema, with Patterson offering technical insights about how Almendros and Wexler achieved their remarkable images. Through Linda Manz's narration, the film presents its tragic love triangle from a child's perspective, creating emotional distance that heightens rather than diminishes its impact. Patterson connects these techniques to his own work on Sunfish, particularly in capturing the languid atmosphere of lake life and the delicate interplay of light and water. In both films, we see how careful attention to natural light and composition can elevate storytelling beyond mere narrative into the realm of visual poetry. Patterson's deep appreciation for Days of Heaven and its influence on his own work reveals how cinema's visual language continues to evolve while remaining rooted in these foundational techniques of capturing light and life on film. 🎬 Watch & Discover 📺 Watch our Raw Conversation on YouTube👤 Meet Marcus Patterson: IMDb | Website | Instagram | Letterboxd🍿 Watch Sunfish: Screenings | Apple TV | Letterboxd🍿 Watch Days of Heaven: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📽️ Original Theatrical TrailerSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain.” A Legacy of Light and Shadow Cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth joins Movies We Like hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to explore Ridley Scott's groundbreaking 1982 film Blade Runner. As the son of the film's original cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth, Jeff brings a unique perspective on both the technical achievements and lasting influence of this sci-fi noir masterpiece. With his recent work on Tron: Ares hitting theaters, Cronenweth reflects on how Blade Runner continues to inspire filmmakers and cinematographers four decades later. From early experiences on film sets with his father to becoming David Fincher's go-to cinematographer on films like Fight Club, The Social Network, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Cronenweth has built a career focused on visual storytelling that serves character and narrative. He describes his approach as seeking human stories within any genre, whether period drama or science fiction. His transition from film to digital cinematography reflects broader industry changes, while maintaining his commitment to thoughtful, story-driven imagery. The conversation explores how Blade Runner created its influential neo-noir aesthetic with remarkably limited technical resources, including just three xenon lights for its iconic beam effects and borrowed neon lights from Francis Ford Coppola’s One from the Heart set. Cronenweth shares insights into the film's production challenges and creative solutions, from practical lighting techniques to Ridley Scott's visionary production design. The discussion examines how the film balances its high-concept science fiction premise with intimate character moments, creating a template for genre storytelling that continues to resonate. Cronenweth also offers perspective on the various cuts of the film and its 2017 sequel. Through this engaging conversation, Cronenweth illuminates not just the technical mastery behind Blade Runner, but its enduring impact on cinema. His unique connection to the film through his father, combined with his own distinguished career, offers viewers fresh insights into this landmark work of science fiction and its continuing influence on visual storytelling. 🎬 Watch & Discover 👀 Watch the Full Conversation on YouTube👤 Meet Jeff Cronenweth: IMDb | Instagram🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer📚 Adapted from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. DickSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“When my father passed, I wanted nothing more than my mother's happiness. For what kind of man would I be if I did not help my mother?” Production designer Andrew McAlpine joins hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog. Drawing from his extensive career including work on The Piano with Campion herself, McAlpine offers unique insights into the film's exploration of isolation, masculinity, and the psychological complexity of its characters. His perspective as both a fellow New Zealander and previous Campion collaborator brings fresh depth to this haunting Western drama. McAlpine's journey from aspiring surgeon to art school graduate led him through theater, holography, and eventually to production design. His work spans diverse projects including Sid and Nancy, Clockers, The Beach, and Aeon Flux. McAlpine approaches each film with an emphasis on authentic period detail while avoiding heavy-handed historical recreation, allowing the environment to serve the emotional truth of the story rather than mere accuracy. The conversation explores how The Power of the Dog examines masculine isolation through Phil's character, drawing parallels to McAlpine's work on The Piano. He highlights the film's masterful use of landscape and architecture to amplify psychological tension, particularly through the imposing ranch house. The discussion delves into Peter's character complexity and the film's careful build toward its devastating conclusion. McAlpine offers fascinating insights into how Campion's direction creates space for both brutality and vulnerability in her characters. 🎬 Watch & Discover 🎥 Watch our conversation on YouTube!👤 Meet production designer Andrew McAlpine: IMDb | Website👼 Check out ArtAngel🍿 Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd📽️ Original Theatrical Trailer📚 Adapted from The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts: Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us: Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream: Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

“When you're scared all the time, you reach a point when you wish you were dead.” Talking About Takeshi Kitano’s Sonatine with our guest, Production Designer Liz Bischof Production designer Liz Bischof joins Movies We Like to discuss Sonatine, Beat Takeshi's 1993 meditative yakuza film that masterfully blends moments of shocking violence with poetic contemplation. As a special guest who has worked on projects ranging from Broadway's Aladdin to Apple TV+'s See, Bischof brings unique insights into the film's visual language and thoughtful approach to production design. In our wide-ranging conversation, Bischof shares her journey from props maker for international opera companies to production designer for film and television. She discusses her recent work on A Nice Indian Boy and upcoming thriller Getaway starring Jason Biggs in his directorial debut, before diving deep into why Takeshi Kitano's Sonatine left such a lasting impression on her when she first saw it at the Rotterdam Film Festival. The film's minimalist aesthetic, strategic use of color (particularly in the red and blue motifs), and carefully composed shots that often feel like still life paintings exemplify what draws her to this unique take on the yakuza genre. The discussion explores how Kitano, primarily known as a comedian in Japan at the time, crafted this deliberately paced crime drama about a tired gangster (played by Kitano himself) sent to Okinawa. The film's remarkable middle section, where the characters retreat to a beach and briefly recapture moments of childhood play, provides a stark contrast to the inevitable violence that bookends the story. Bischof particularly appreciates how the film's production design reinforces themes through its use of gritty, fluorescent-lit spaces in the city scenes versus the poetic beauty of the beach sequences. Sonatine remains a masterpiece of 90s Japanese cinema that rewards patient viewers with its unique blend of violence, humor, and existential meditation. Our conversation with Liz Bischof illuminates how the film's thoughtful design choices and visual poetry continue to influence and inspire filmmakers and designers nearly 30 years after its release. Film SundriesWatch this episode on YouTube!Find Liz on her website, her Instagram, or on IMDbWatch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at LetterboxdTheatrical trailer

“All your followers are blind, Too much heaven on their minds, It was beautiful but now it's sour, Yes it's all gone sour.” Talking About Jesus Christ Superstar with our guest, editor Lucy Donaldson Film editor Lucy Donaldson joins Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss Norman Jewison's bold 1973 musical adaptation Jesus Christ Superstar and share insights from her impressive editing career. From working on acclaimed projects like Ma to recent hits like A Haunting in Venice, Donaldson brings her expert perspective to analyzing what makes this unconventional rock opera work so magnificently on screen. In this entertaining and insightful conversation, Donaldson opens up about her journey in the film industry, from her early days at the National Film and Television School to assisting on major productions at Blumhouse before landing breakthrough editing opportunities. The discussion explores the collaborative nature of film editing, working with directors, and how test screenings help shape the final cut. The conversation then dives deep into Jesus Christ Superstar, examining how Jewison's creative vision of hippie performers telling the Biblical story in the Israeli desert creates a uniquely compelling cinematic experience. From the magnetic performances of Ted Neely as Jesus and Carl Anderson as Judas to the bold editing choices and striking cinematography, the group analyzes what makes this controversial film continue to resonate decades later. With its daring artistic choices, memorable musical numbers, and raw emotional power, Jesus Christ Superstar remains a fascinating piece of cinema that challenges conventional storytelling. Through Donaldson's thoughtful analysis and personal connection to the film, we gain new appreciation for this groundbreaking rock opera that shouldn't work on paper but absolutely triumphs on screen. This engaging discussion with a talented editor offers wonderful insights into both the craft of film editing and the enduring impact of bold artistic vision. Film Sundries Watch the conversation on YouTubeLucy’s WebsiteWatch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at LetterboxdTheatrical trailerOriginal Material

“There's something in the atmosphere that makes everything seem exaggerated.” Talking About Powell & Pressburger’s 1947 film Black Narcissus with our guest, screenwriter James Handel In this episode of Movies We Like, screenwriter James Handel joins hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 1947 masterpiece Black Narcissus, along with Handel's fascinating career writing genre-bending films like The Last Horror Movie, The Hoarder, and his latest psychological dramedy The Trouble with Jessica. From Philosophy to Film Before diving into Black Narcissus, Handel shares candid insights about his journey from philosophy student to screenwriter, starting with an unproduced vampire script and eventually leading to successful collaborations with directors Julian Richards and Matt Winn. He discusses how his background in philosophy influences his approach to moral dilemmas and character psychology in his screenplays, particularly evident in The Trouble with Jessica's darkly comic exploration of ethics and human nature. A Masterpiece of Psychological Drama The conversation then turns to Black Narcissus, examining how Powell and Pressburger crafted this visually stunning psychological drama about Anglican nuns attempting to establish a convent in the Himalayas. The group discusses the film's groundbreaking technical achievements, with Jack Cardiff's Oscar-winning Technicolor cinematography bringing the entirely studio-shot production to vivid life. They explore how the film masterfully depicts the psychological deterioration of the nuns as they struggle with repressed desires, loss of faith, and the overwhelming power of their environment, all while maintaining a remarkable balance between expressionism and restraint. Black Narcissus remains a masterclass in psychological storytelling and visual craftsmanship, demonstrating how thoughtful restraint and artistic innovation can create an unforgettable cinematic experience. We thoroughly enjoyed diving deep into this classic with James Handel, whose own work carries forward the tradition of examining complex moral questions through compelling drama. Film Sundries Watch our conversation on YouTube!Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at LetterboxdScript OptionsTheatrical trailerOriginal Material

“If you really want to hear my story, you’ll first have to get used to the idea that you won’t be hearing a pleasant story.” Talking About Michael Schaack’s Felidae with our guests, Deaf Crocodile’s Dennis Bartok and Craig Rogers Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dennis Bartok and Craig Rogers, co-founders of Deaf Crocodile Films, as we explore their journey in film restoration and distribution, culminating in their latest release—the 1994 German animated noir Felidae. From their early days working together at Cinelicious Pictures to launching Deaf Crocodile during the pandemic, these passionate film preservationists have rescued nearly 70 films from obscurity thus far. The heart of our discussion centers on Felidae, a dark animated detective story following Francis, a cat who moves to a new neighborhood only to find himself embroiled in a series of gruesome murders. The film, based on the first of Akif Pirinçci's novel series, pushes boundaries with its mature themes, graphic violence, and surprising commentary on eugenics. We dive deep into the challenging restoration process, including the race against time to preserve the deteriorating original negative, and the fascinating history of this ambitious international animation project that featured Boy George on its soundtrack. Beyond Felidae, Dennis and Craig share incredible stories about their other restorations, including the rediscovery of Solomon King, a lost 1974 black action film they found through its soundtrack album. They discuss their philosophy on film restoration, the challenges of securing rights to forgotten films, and their commitment to preserving cinema history while making these works accessible to modern audiences. This episode offers a rare glimpse into the world of film restoration and distribution, highlighting how passionate individuals are working to save important pieces of cinema history. Felidae stands as a prime example of their work—a unique, challenging animated film that deserves to be rediscovered by modern audiences, and we had a wonderful time discussing it with these dedicated film preservationists. Film Sundries Check out Deaf Crocodile!Tune in to The Official Deaf Crocodile PodcastFind Deaf Crocodile on Instagram, Bluesky, and TwitterFind Dennis on IMDbListen to Pete’s and Andy’s conversation about Gangs of Wasseypur Part 1 and Part 2 on The Next Reel Film PodcastListen to Pete’s and Andy’s conversation about Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel on The Next Reel Film PodcastListen to Pete’s and Andy’s conversation about Kin-Dza-Dza! on The Next Reel Film PodcastWatch our conversation on YouTube!Find other places to watch this at JustWatchScript OptionsTheatrical trailer (restoration version)Original MaterialLetterboxd