Dhruv and Cris follow Laura Dern's Sandy (from "Blue Velvet") out of her cheerfully dreamy Lumberton suburbia into the -- at first, hellishly garish, then, coldly desolate wilderness -- of the American West, trying to make sense of how Sandy (now called Lula) tries to keep her passionate romance with Sailor (played by Nicolas Cage) alive as the reality around her threatens to burn down (another one of her) dreams.
Listen to the full episode to hear Dhruv only being able to make sense of the part where the dream (and the film's combustible melodrama) is extinguished; Cris, on the other hand, argues that the film's most memorable bits are its most unabashedly fantastical and melodramatic.
Major spoilers, of course, for "Wild At Heart."
TIME CODES
Introduction : [00:00 - 02:41]
"Twin Peaks" Announcement: [02:41 - 03:32]
Wild At Cannes (Contexualizing the Film): [03:32 - 16:50]
"Wild At Heart": [16:50 - 01:10:48]
Outro: [01:10:48 - 01:18:30]
TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY
"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.
You can follow us on Instagram at:
CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.
DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.
You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -
CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/prdscris/.
DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.
Hello, Hello, Hello
In the latest episode of QID, Dhruv invites the creator, Arjun Sivakumar, and regular guest-cum-host of the "Cinematic Liberties Podcast", Ashwin Dev, to discuss one of the great filmic oddities of this year -- Danny Boyle's "28 Years Later" (now available to rent/buy on digital platforms).
Before talking about the film, the three of them talk about the "whack" legacy of the franchise itself -- first discussing, at length, the historical significance of "28 Days Later," then, briefly, discussing the somewhat unfairly maligned status of its sequel, "28 Weeks Later" (Boyle and Garland only returned as executive producers for that).
Finally, the discussion about "28 Years Later" itself prompts all sorts of responses from us -- confusion, amazement, contemplation, you name it. Which -- regardless of the film's narrative flaws and tonal inconsistencies -- is what we cherish most about it.
Listen to the full episode to hear all this in a spoiler-filled discussion on the entirety of the "28 [insert timeline] Later..." franchise.
You can (and should!) follow -
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.
TIME CODES
Introduction (inc. "Past Lives" Slander) : [00:00 - 06:36]
The Legacy of "28 Days Later": [06:36 - 43:23]
The Non-Legacy of "28 Weeks Later": [43:23 - 1:02:19]
"28 Years Later": [1:02:19 - 1:52:52]
Outro (inc. PTA episode in the pipeline): [1:52:52 - 01:55:24]
ARTICLES REFERENCED
1. Danny Boyle Goes Big with the Horror Sequel [IGN]
2. Danny Boyle Says Shooting on iPhones Let Him Capture ‘Startling’ Violence in 28 Years Later. [WIRED]
You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -
ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.
ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.
DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.
It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No - It's (a new) QID Episode!
Hello, Hello, Hello!
In this new episode, Amartya & Sanjeet discuss James Gunn’s ‘Superman,’ currently playing in theatres. They compare his "sunny" interpretation of the superhero to Snyder’s grittier take (that both of them liked!), contemplating what (if anything) the DCU may have in store for them in the future.
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Sanjeet: https://www.instagram.com/pixel_baba/
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Sanjeet: https://letterboxd.com/Sanjeet_Singh/
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Hello, Hello, Hello,
In this episode, "Past Lives" skeptics Cris (taking Dhruv's place) and Aryan invite "Past Lives" lover-for-life Tuhin Das (@tuhin221b on Twitter) to discuss and check the math(s), as it were, on director Celine Song's latest theatrical release, "Materialists."
Listen to the full episode to hear where they agree—and largely disagree—on the effectiveness of Songs's writing and filmmaking choices as she navigates the complexities of modern love and marriage and the (Hollywood) economics behind it all.
Spoilers, of course, for "Materialists" (and some for "Past Lives").
TIMECODES
Intro - [00:00:00 - 00:05:48]
Initial Thoughts + Discourse - [00:05:48 - 00:24:20]
Debating the Value of "Materialists" - [00:24:20 - 00:53:30]
The (Hollywood) Economy - [00:53:30 - 01:25:50]
"Past Lives" + Song vs Kuritzkes - [01:25:40 - 01:38:31]
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
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After stumbling through the industrial hellscapes of Pennsylvania and Victorian-era England, Dhruv, Cris, and Arijit find themselves -- somewhat miraculously -- in the town of Lynchian Lumberton. Here, there is no darkness - it's colorful and cheery in the way that only the most gorgeous of Technicolor dreams can be. Is it an illusion, genuine, or both?
Listen to the full episode to hear them try to make sense of Lynch's "Blue Velvet" -- which, they're glad to admit, left them bedazzled (on their rewatches) in the best possible sense.
Major spoilers, of course, for "Blue Velvet."
(Apologies for finding a way to insert "Housefull 5A and 5B" into the intro of this discussion!)
TIME CODES
Intro (& "Housefull 5A and B") : [00:00 - 05:16]
The Elusive Mystery of Lynch's Films: [05:16 - 25:37]
"Blue Velvet": [25:37 - 1:07:00]
"The Freudian Beers" in Blue Velvet: [01:07:00 - 01:39:26]
Outro (a.k.a Bullshit): [01:39:26 - 01:47:52]
TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY
1. "Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).
2. "Through a Bottle Darkly: Blue Velvet's Freudian Beers" (Michael Zunenshine).
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
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You can follow us on Instagram at:
ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.
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DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.
Hello, Hello, Hello,
This is -- arguably -- the only sane discussion we have had on the "MI" franchise, courtesy -- the presence of Adithiyan and the special appearance of Mr. (Raj) Aryan -- but most of all the absence of "MI: I, 2 & III" moderator, Varun Bhakay.
Dhruv, Cris & a surprisingly sober, sensible (and somewhat salty) Hemant are also there -- dueling it out about why, for some of them, "Dead Reckoning" works much more than "Final Reckoning" and why -- according to Hemant -- we all are wrong about "Rogue Nation."
Spoilers, of course, for all the MIs. And a lot of shade (and some praise) thrown at "MI5" and "MI8."
TIMECODES
Introduction - [00:00 – 05:05]
MI1 to MI6 Recap - [05:05 – 34:58]
Counter-Programming (MI's Legacy) - [34:58 – 51:57]
"MI7: Dead Reckoning" - [51:57 – 01:38:23]
"MI8: The Final Reckoning" - [01:38:23 – 02:31:51]
Outro - [02:31:51 - 02:37:03]
Congratulations to Jafar Panahi! - [02:37:03 - 02:39:40]
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READINGS ON THE "MI" FRANCHISE (suggested by Adithiyan)
1. "On Mission Impossible and Unaccountable Government" - https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/on-mission-impossible-and-unaccountable-government/.
2. "The Delightfully Nonsensical Politics of the MI Series" - https://oscarkimbauman.substack.com/p/the-delightfully-nonsensical-politics?utm_medium=web.
Follow him on IG to explore his "MI" Retrospective:
https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.
Follow us on Instagram at:
Adithiyan: https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/
Aryan: https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/
Hemant: https://www.instagram.com/hemantganti/
Dhruv: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/
Cris: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/
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Adithiyan: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/
Aryan: https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/
Hemant: https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/
Hello, Hello, Hello,
Dhruv returns -- more out of necessity than choice -- to try and bring some semblance back to the "MI" ep discussions. He succeeds -- for about 40 minutes.
Enter Amartya. Cue Varun losing his marbles (again). Cue Cris losing his marbles when trying to edit whatever happened after an in-depth discussion on the greatness of "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol."
Spoilers, of course, for all the MIs. And a lot, a LOT of shade thrown at "MI3" and the people responsible for making it.
TIMECODES
Nonsense (+ Introduction) - [00:00 – 07:32]
"Mission Impossible IV" (+ Nonsense) - [07:32 – 35:48]
Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible V") - [35:48 – 01:01:22]
Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible VI") - [01:01:22 – 01:41:26]
Varun & Amartya on MI 7 & 8 - [01:41:26 – 01:57:32]
Nonsense (+ Outro) - [01:57:32 - 02:01:11]
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
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Dhruv: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/
Varun: https://www.instagram.com/varunonfilm/
Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/
Cris: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/
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Varun: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/
Dhruv: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/
Hello, Hello, Hello,
A more than usually embittered Varun Bhakay "moderates" this episode in which everything from his recent inability to acquire a visa to visit Paris, his unconditional "love" for Canadians & Americans, and his even more obsessive love for absent host Dhruv Krishna Goyal are discussed as fellow vampire Hemant Ganti participates, sane Amartya Acharya exasperates, and insane Cris both participates and exasperates.
Mission Impossible I, 2 & III are also discussed. Briefly.
Spoilers included, of course.
TIMECODES
Nonsense (+ Introduction) - [00:00 – 16:56]
Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible") - [16:56 – 58:46]
Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible II") - [58:46 – 01:17:09]
Nonsense (+ "Mission Impossible III") - [01:17:09 – 01:42:15]
Nonsense (+ Outro) - [01:42:15 – 01:44:42]
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
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Hemant: https://www.instagram.com/hemantganti/
Varun: https://www.instagram.com/varunonfilm/
Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/
Cris: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/
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Varun: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/
Hemant: https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/
Dhruv and Cris take a minor detour from the endlessly mysterious world(s) of David Lynch to a somewhat more familiar one in their second (of they don't know how many) eps on David Lynch. And joining them is a returning guest, Arijit Paul, who is thankful to Lynch (especially his work in "Eraserhead") for not only inspiring him to pursue a career in (film) sound but also for validating his love for cigarettes.
We listen to Arijit's wonderfully strange stories of discovering Lynch and the strange memories his films inspire in him before talking in detail about one of Lynch's more "conventional" movies -- "The Elephant Man" (1980), which both Dhruv and Cris are decidedly more mixed on than Arijit.
Listen to the full episode to hear them talk about why they love half the movie and not the entirety of it and why David Lynch -- even minus all the bursts of surrealism -- is an incredible filmmaker.
Major spoilers for “The Elephant Man”!
TIME CODES
The Irresistible Allure of Lynch's Films: [00:00 - 20:37]
"The Elephant Man": [20:37 - 01:04:56]
Cris doesn't like "Pather Panchali"?!: [01:04:56 - 01:11:53]
The Biopic Template: [01:11:53 - 01:14:18]
Outro (a.k.a Bullshit): [01:14:18 - 01:27:43]
TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY
"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.
You can follow us on Instagram at:
ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.
CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.
DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.
You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -
ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.
CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/prdscris/.
DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.
Dhruv and Cris are entering the endlessly mysterious world(s) of David Lynch for the first time (of many!) this year. And joining them, in his very first (QID) outing, is Devarsi Ghosh (@devarsighosh), a film journalist doubling as their Lynch guide for this trip to Lynch's nightmarish evocation of Philadelphia in his feature-length debut film, "Eraserhead" (1977).
Before reaching there, however, they all describe their introductions to Lynch Land, what it feels like being there, and why nobody can even come close to creating a similar feeling of that today. (They do question if they themselves are “grumpy cynics," but that's only to conclude that that's the only appropriate response to have given the drek they're served up today).
Listen to the full episode to hear them then talk about their experience of "Eraserhead" - intended very much NOT as an “ending explained” breakdown of it; the objective - throughout all our episodes on Lynch's films - will be to preserve the mystery of his works, not undermine it!
Regardless, major spoilers for “Eraserhead”!
TIME CODES
Introductions to David Lynch: [00:00 - 31:51]
The "Dune" Caveat: [31:51 - 34:05]
Impossibility of "Intuitive" Filmmaking Today: [34:05 - 56:06]
"Eraserhead" (1977): [56:06 - 01:46:18]
Outro: [01:46:18 - 01:50:47]
TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY
"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).
AUDIO/VIDEO EXCERPTS REFERENCED EXTENSIVELY
1. David Lynch at BAFTA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5BfoOrmCX0&ab_channel=BAFTA.
2. Eraserhead - Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0Eq5GtCYdA&ab_channel=CRITERION.
3. Eraserhead Chicken Scene - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamnCWXNsPs&ab_channel=BananasAboutMovies.
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You can follow us on Instagram at:
DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/.
CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.
DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.
You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -
DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/.
CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/prdscris/.
DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.
It's here (again) - The type of episode we don't necessarily like to produce but really had to, just to convert the time wasted watching Dharmatic Entertainment's "Nadaaniyan" into something (hopefully) productive and cathartic!
Cris, Dhruv, and Amartya try to make sense of Bollywood's sheer incompetence today and find (at least Cris does) a potential savior in Himesh Reshammiya, "Badass Ravikumar."
*Apologies for Dhruv's wonky audio in this ep. He stupidly forgot to switch the microphone source from his Airpods to the podcast mic; what you hear here is a substantially dampened version of his anger and frustration.*
TIMECODES
Why are we here? - [00:00 – 09:37]
Artless Trash ("Nadaaniyan") - [09:37 – 59:13]
Artful Trash ("Badass Ravikumar") - [59:13 – 01:20:38]
Mediocre Trash ("Loveyapa") - [01:20:38 – 01:40:54]
B'wood's Triangle of Badness - [01:40:54 – 02:14:10]
What will be there? - [02:14:10 – 02:25:35]
Amartya's Substack & Outro - [02:25:35 – 02:31:07]
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to helpthe podcast reach more people!
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QID LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/queenisdead.
SUBSCRIBE TO AMARTYA'S "GENRE LITERACY" SUBSTACK:
https://amartyaacharya.substack.com/.
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In this episode, Dhruv, Aryan, and Cris discuss their favorite Non-Indian (English & Foreign Language!) Films of The Year in the same format in which they discussed their Best Indian Films of 2024!
Each of them selects not only their favorite film but also their favorite director, cinematographer, composer/sound designer, scriptwriter, editor, supporting and lead performers of the year!
Two new categories introduced in this episode: Favorite Scene of the Year and Favorite WTF Movie of the Year!
Listen to the episode, note down titles that interest you, and share your favorite films of 2024!
TIME CODES
Film in 2024 - [00:00 – 08:18]
Mini-“Wicked” Review - [08:18 – 12:19]
Back to Film in 2024 - [12:19 – 14:34]
Episode Format - [14:34 – 20:53]
So Many Caveats! – [20:53 – 29:36]
Supporting Performance - [29:36 – 44:02]
Performance (Anora vs. Nosferatu) - [44:02 – 01:03:18]
Performances Cont. - [01:03:18 – 01:14:09]
WTFOTY (Megalopolis vs. The Brutalist) - [01:14:09 – 01:37:22]
WTFOTY Cont. - [01:37:22 – 01:45:53]
Scene - [01:45:53 – 02:00:25]
Editing - [02:00:25 – 02:12:42]
Sound/Music - [02:12:42 – 0 2:24:10]
Cinematography - [02:24:10 – 02:34:44]
Screenplay & Film (I Saw the TV Glow) - [02:34:44 – 02:47:20 ]
Screenplay & Film (A Different Man & The Substance) - [02:47:20 – 02:55:38]
Screenplay & Film (Janet Planet & Queer) - [02:55:38 – 03:08:28]
Directors - [03:08:28 – 03:14:18]
Director Cont. (RaMell Ross) & Nickel Boys - [03:14:18 – 03:27:50]
Outro - [03:27:50 - 03:30:55]
Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.
QID LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/queenisdead.
Follow us on Instagram at:
Dhruv: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/
Aryan: https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/
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All Audio Excerpts are used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act.
In what can be described as an episode exclusively inspired by the success of (and the subsequent backlash to) Sean Baker's "Anora" at this year's Academy Awards, Baker-fan Dhruv moderates also-Baker-fan Hemant and new-to-Baker's-films Cris' discussion about his latest film and the reception to it.
Listen to the full episode to hear Hemant and Dhruv first discuss what they love about Baker's approach to representing marginalized characters in his previous films before Cris and Hemant discuss "Anora" and its reception in detail.
(This episode was recorded before Dhruv had watched the film -- he expands on his thoughts on "Anora" in an upcoming ep where he discusses it as part of the "Best Film of 2024, Non-Indian Ed.")
TIME CODES
"Emilia Perez" Slander & "Megalopolis" Appreciation (Again): [00:00 - 12:34]
Introduction: [12:34 - 19:14]
Sean Baker's Cinema: [19:14 - 43:25]
"Anora": [43:25 - 01:30:13]
"Anora" Discourse: [01:30:13 - 02:10:34]
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
Follow our Instagram page:
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YOU CAN (& SHOULD!) FOLLOW CRIS IN ALL THESE PLACES -
Twitter - https://twitter.com/limjaeseven
Letterboxd - https://letterboxd.com/crislim/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/
In what can be described as an episode exclusively inspired as a response to the exclusion of "Queer" and "Challengers" in this year's Academy Awards, Luca Guadagnino-devotee Cris invites spoilsport Dhruv to talk about the director's latest release "Queer" and how wonderfully it complements the director's wonderful "Call Me By Your Name."
Listen to the full episode to hear Cris express his love towards Guadagnino's films as Dhruv tries to explain his ambivalence towards them. This is before both of them join forces to lambast the online discourse that consistently lambasts these (and other) films about morally troubling topics and relationships.
Major Spoilers for both "CMBYN" and "Queer"!
TIME CODES
Pre-Introduction: [00:00 - 05:40]
Introduction: [05:40 - 08:52]
Luca Guadagnino's Cinema: [08:52 - 30:38]
"Call Me By Your Name": [30:38 - 01:00:06]
"Queer": [01:00:06 - 01:33:18]
Queerness as a "Curse": [01:33:18 - 01:39:28]
Discourse on Discourse: [01:39:28 - 02:11:02]
Outro: [02:11:02 - 02:14:22]
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
Follow our Instagram page:
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YOU CAN (& SHOULD!) FOLLOW CRIS IN ALL THESE PLACES -
Twitter - https://twitter.com/limjaeseven
Letterboxd - https://letterboxd.com/crislim/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/
In this episode, Dhruv and Amartya invite Devi (@film.trance) and Adithiyan (@curioseradithiyan) to discuss their favorite Indian films of the year in the same format in which they discussed their Best of 2024 (So Far)!
Each of them selects not only their favorite Indian film but also their favorite director, cinematographer, composer/sound designer, script writer, editor, supporting, and lead performers of the year!
Listen to the episode, note down titles that interest you, and share your favorite Indian films of 2024!
TIME CODES
Introduction & Discussion Format - [00:00 - 12:40]
Best Supporting Actor - [12:40 - 28:57]
Best Supporting Actress - [28:57 - 48:46]
Best Editing - [48:46 - 01:09:59]
Best Sound/Music - [01:09:59 - 01:27:44]
Best Cinematography - [01:27:44 - 01:40:38]
Best Screenplay - [01:40:38 - 01:55:55]
Best Actor - [01:55:55 - 02:15:03]
Best Actress - [02:15:03 - 02:33:15]
Best Director - [02:33:15 - 02:52:37]
Best Film - [02:52:37 - 03:22:00]
Obligatory Industry Slander - [03:22:00 - 03:30:08]
Onto 2025 & Outro - [03:30:08 - 03:33:57]
Follow our Instagram page:
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You can also follow us on Instagram at:
Adithiyan: https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.
Devi: https://www.instagram.com/film.trance/.
Dhruv: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.
Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/.
Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!
Follow us on Letterboxd at:
Adithiyan: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/.
Devi: https://letterboxd.com/cinemamadhuram/.
Dhruv: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.
Amartya: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.
All Audio Excerpts are used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act.
Hello, Hello, Hello,
In this bite-sized episode (relative to the episodes we have already released and will release in the coming month), Amartya and Varun discuss Vikramaditya Motwane's latest Netflix series, "Black Warrant," and why you should not only watch it but "savor it."
Spoilers Galore!
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Varun: https://www.instagram.com/cinephilestock/
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Hello, Hello, Hello,
This is the second part of the discussion we had on Robert Eggers!
Here, Dhruv – joined by the brain-melting and blood-sucking vampire, Varun, and his “spirited animal” friend, Hemant – tries to talk about Eggers’ latest horror film, “Nosferatu,” in relation to F. W. Murnau’s 1922 German Expressionist classic, and Werner Herzog’s existentially despairing 1979 remake of it. But little does he know the digressions this deadly duo has in store for him…
Listen to the full episode to hear him respond to the absurdity of Varun referencing Zoya Akhtar’s “Dil Dhadakne Do” when talking about Murnau’s classic, or, worse still, the Sridevi-and-Anil-Kapoor-starrer “Judaai” when he’s talking about the Eggers’ version. There’s plenty of discussion about how these films, despite tackling the same story, have such drastically different treatments. But that’s if you can look past those comparisons…
Best of luck to all!
TIMECODES
Introduction (+ Nonsense) - [00:00 – 07:42]
The Convoluted Legacy of “Nosferatu” - [07:42 – 26:01]
Murnau’s “Nosferatu” (+ Nonsense) - [26:01 – 01:00:40]
Herzog’s “Nosferatu, the Vampyre” - [01:00:40 – 01:23:58]
Eggers’ “Nosferatu" (+ Nonsense) - [01:23:58 – 01:56:40]
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Audio Excerpts are taken from the promotional material for Nosferatu (1922), Nosferatu (1979), Nosferatu (2024), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1981), and Grizzly Man (2005).
Hello, Hello, Hello!
In what is another one of our director retrospective episodes, Dhruv, Amartya, and Aryan (from America) talk about the 3 feature films directed by much-revered horror director Robert Eggers, whose latest film, “Nosferatu," just recently released this week in India!
(We have a whole “Nosferatu" themed ep planned to be recorded and released in the coming week, which includes an extended discussion on the 1922 silent film directed by F.W. Murnau, the 1979 version directed by Werner Herzog, and the 2024, one directed by Eggers!)
We begin the episode by positioning Eggers as a (or the) key figure who kickstarted the patented-A24-brand-of-elevated horror cinephiles have increasingly grown weary of now, and how his first film, “The Vvitch,” in particular, sets a template for that specific type of arty horror film that’s never really been replicated as successfully afterward. Except, maybe by himself, with “The Lighthouse" (2019) – his second film, also distributed by A24, that pushes even further into the type of horror film that thrives on ambiguity and atmosphere vs. satisfying generic thrills.
And then comes “The Northman" (2022).
Listen to the full episode to hear us argue, in detail, about the value (or lack thereof) of his third film, which Aryan—rather worryingly—warns Amartya and Dhruv is better than his recent foray into mainstream cinema, "Nosferatu.
TIMECODES
Episode Intro - [00:00 – 05:39]
Introduction to Robert Eggers - [05:39 – 15:37]
Eggers & Horror Cinema Today - [15:37 – 33:29]
“The Vvitch" (2015) - [33:29 – 01:10:38]
Aryan's Warning for “Nosferatu" - [01:10:38 – 01:12:07]
“The Lighthouse" (2019) - [01:12:07 – 01:34:58]
“The Northman” (2022) - [01:34:58 - 02:00:57]
Episode Outro - [02:00:57 – 02:04:02]
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PROFILE PIECES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
1. “Robert Eggers’ Historical Visions Go Mainstream" (Sam Knight) - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/04/robert-eggerss-historical-visions-go-mainstream.
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Audio Excerpts are taken from the promotional material for The Vvitch, The Lighthouse & The Northman.
Hello, Hello, Hello
Dhruv and Amartya’s first foray into this type of episode – that we have consciously avoided up until now – comes courtesy of our new QID member and admin of our Twitter page (https://x.com/qidpodcast) – Cris (https://x.com/limjaeseven).
Rather than simply bash films released this year that we unanimously hated, however, we’ve tried to talk constructively about a variety of films that have proved divisive amongst critics and audiences. There are some high-profile projects directed by well-reputed auteurs and critically well-received at major film festivals that left all of us scratching our heads (Emilia Perez, Disclaimer, and Blitz). But other films – like Jigra, Agra, and, to a lesser extent, Malaikottai Valliban – divided opinion even amongst the three of us.
Listen to the full episode to hear a spoiler-filled discussion and/or rant on these 5 films and 1 limited TV series as we – for once – try to make a case against valuing the auteur theory.
TIMECODES
Introduction - [00:00 – 11:20]
“Emilia Pérez” - [11:20 – 37:33]
“Blitz” - [37:33 – 54:05]
“Disclaimer” - [54:05 – 01:22:19]
“Malaikottai Valliban” - [01:22:19 – 01:49:45]
“Agra” - [01:49:45 – 02:23:18]
“Jigra” - [02:23:18 – 02:41:26]
Outro - [02:41:26 – 02:48:29]
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Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/
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Cris: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/
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Audio Excerpts are taken from the promotional material for Emilia Perez, Blitz, Disclaimer, Malakottai Valliban, Agra, Jigra & Eyes Wide Shut.
Hello, Hello, Hello!
In this new (but considerably delayed) episode, we talk about two films that approach the subject of talking differently -- "I Want to Talk" and "Meiyazhagan."
'I Want to Talk,' directed by Shoojit Sircar and starring Abhishek Bachchan, continues the director's trend to push his films to the brink of becoming anti-dramas. C Prem Kumar's 'Meiyazhagan,' on the other hand, is a classic tear-jerker. The new Tamizh film, starring a sentimental Arvind Swamy and an effervescent Karthi, indulges in nostalgia and episodic storytelling to engage its audiences.
Check out the episode to know what we thought of these drastically different approaches to capturing conversation (or the lack of it) in cinema.
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the podcast reaches more people!
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