The Picture Show: LFF 2016 Wrap Up

Toni Erdmann

Here is the last of the Picture Show's special episodes from this year's London Film Festival.  Once again, I'm joined by Mike to discuss the best (and a little of the worst) of this year's LFF, as we hand out our personal festival awards and run down our Top 5 lists from this year's early, extended, Christmas for movie nerds. 

The Picture Show @ LFF 2016: Episode 6

ELLE

On this very brief and rather disorganised episode of The Picture Show at LFF 2016. Mike and I attempt to organise and communicate our thoughts on Paul Verhoeven's Elle. Take this episode for what it is; an instant reaction. 

You can listen to the episode in the player below, or download it HERE.

The Picture Show @ LFF 2016: Episodes 3 - 5

Continuing our London Film Festival coverage which will, at last, be coming direct from the festival from today, her are episodes 3 - of The Picture Show's 'as live' series of festival reviews.  Hope you enjoy these, and tune in for the daily updates from here on.

Episode 3 

Private Property

This time on The Picture Show's London Film Festival specials: A joint (and typically fractious) review of The Stopover. Sam talks about German thriller All of a Sudden and French film school documentary The Graduation. Mike focuses on lost and near lost films, with classic noir Private Property and experimental short Events in a Cloud Chamber. 

You can listen to the show in the player below or download it HERE.

Episode 4

After The Storm

We don't have a joint review on this episode, but there is still plenty to discuss and, as ever, argue about. Mike looks at Hirokazu Kore-eda's After the Storm and the James Franco/Christian Slater starring King Cobra, while Sam tackles uncomfortable Polish misery-fest Playground and uninteresting Greek misery-fest Park. 
You can listen to the show in the player below or download it HERE.

Episode 5

Starless Dreams

In this episode we're largely playing catch up, each reviewing films the other saw earlier in the series. Mike looks at Callback, while Sam tackles Private Property and Starless Dreams. In addition, Mike reviews the Cult gala; The Autopsy of Jane Doe and we discuss the Surprise film and suggest our Top 3 features (so far) for you to see at the festival.
You can listen to the show in the player below or download it HERE.

The Picture Show @ LFF: 2015 Wrap Up

Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett in Carol

The Picture Show wraps up its coverage of the London Film Festival. On this episode Mike and I are joined by MaryAnn Johanson of Flick Filosopher to discuss the high and low points of the festival. 

We framed our discussion largely though our favourite performances of the festival, each of us choosing our favourite breakout performance, best actor and best actress. We also picked our best and worst films of the festival. Films up for discussion included Petting Zoo, Room, Carol, Chevalier, Son of Saul, Nasty Baby and many, many more.

You can stream and download the show here or stream it in the player below.

The Picture Show @ LFF 2015: Episodes 7 and 8

The Assassin

Two more episodes of The Picture Show, recorded live at the London Film Festival. For episode 7, I was joined by my regular co-host Mike Ewins and by our guest Amon Warmann of amonymousblog. We discussed harrowing holocaust drama Son of Saul, Lance Armstrong biopic The Program and brilliantly acted British drama Couple in a Hole, along with some shorter reviews at the end of the show.

In episode 8, our guest is guest Matt Mansfield, who joins us to discuss a few of the films they've seen over the past couple of days (we took a day off.. sorry). Up for discussion are Hou Hsiao-Hsien first wuxia film The Assassin, Lucile Hadzihalilovic's beautiful and surreal Evolution and two films from debuting directors; Sundance folk horror hit The Witch and Italian coming of age film Arianna.

The Picture Show @ LFF 2015: Episodes 5 and 6

A Bigger Splash

Two episodes of the Picture Show at LFF for you this time, with 10 reviews between them. Episode 5 is a slightly longer episode as we covered 7 films. Mike and I each picked 2 shorts and a feature to review. Mike covered The Scent of Fish Sauce, Notes on Blue and Hand Gestures, while I chose Elephant, Groove is in the Heart and Nasty Baby. The joint review is Der Nachtmahr.

In episode 6 we're joined by Live For Films writer Sarah Louise Dean to discuss Luca Guadagnino's remake of La Piscine, A Bigger Splash, Ben Wheatley's JG Ballard adaptation High Rise and Ibsen inspired Australian drama The Daughter. You can stream each of the shows below.

Episode 5

Episode 6

The Picture Show @ LFF 2015: Episode 4

Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere

On this episode of The Picture Show 'live' from The London Film Festival 2015, I'm joined again by my friend and regular co-host Mike Ewins. We each review 2 films we've seen as screeners, and argue about one other.

I look at Rohmeresque Spanish film The Romantic Exiles and Vietnamese drama Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere. Mike reviews British thriller The Ones Below and experimental short film Blood Below the Skin, and there is much disagreement when it comes to deeply uncomfortable US coming of ager Take Me to the River.

You can listen to the show in the player below, or download it HERE.

The Picture Show @ LFF 2015: Episode 3

One Floor Below

Mike and I are back with another as live Picture Show from the London Film Festival 2015, discussing press screenings and screeners. Up for discussion are Marco Bellochio's 'vampire movie' Blood of my Blood, SNL Documentary Live From New York! and slow burning Romanian thriller One Floor Below. Then Mike reviews Argentinian Dogtooth ripoff Parabellum and I look at Swedish drama Flocking.

You can listen to the show in the player below or download it HERE.

24FPS @ LFF 2015: Days 1 and 2

This year, much of my LFF coverage is going to come in special as live episodes of The Picture Show, recorded directly after each day of screenings (some at the festival, some at home via digital screeners). Here are the first two episodes, each about 35 minutes long.

Cronies

In the first episode I'm joined by my regular co-host Mike Ewins and by Timothy E. Raw, formerly of Verite Magazine, now of Slant Magazine, to discuss Cronies, Virgin Mountain and Madame Courage.

In the second episode Mike and I are joined by filmmaker Matt Cruse to discuss Grandma, The Corpse of Anna Fritz and The Here After.

These shows were recorded outside in a relatively busy area, so audio quality is a little raw. That said, I got a very good new mic, so the quality is much better than I had anticipated.


Enjoy the shows, I'll be back with more audio coverage and some written reviews.

Episode 1

Episode 2

The Picture Show @ LFF 2014: Interview with Josephine Decker

In this interview special I chatted with writer/director Josephine Decker about her two films: Butter on the Latch and Thou Wast Mild and Lovely, which are playing at the Festival.  In half an hour we covered genre, influences, collaboration, clown school and much more.

Many thanks to Josephine for taking time out to chat with me, as you'll see from her detailed answers there was much more I could have asked.  This interview could easily have been twice as long.

There are NO SPOILERS for either film, so you're safe to listen before seeing them, which I encourage you to do.

You can listen to the show in the player below, or steam or download it HERE

The Picture Show: London Film Festival 2014 Preview

In this episode of The Picture Show, with the London Film Festival almost upon us again, I'm joined by Mike Ewins to run through the programme. We largely stay away from the big hitters while recommending our choices from each festival strand.  In all 26 films are covered in depth, from a post apocalyptic rap musical to a film about Viggo Mortenson walking.  Guess who picked which of those.

You can listen to the show [79 minutes] in the player below or download it HERE

The Picture Show: Boyhood

In this episode of The Picture Show I am joined once again by Michael Ewins as we discuss Richard Linklater, digging into a few of the overarching themes of his films and especially into his new film, the 12 years in the making coming of age movie Boyhood.

You can listen to the show  using the player below, or you can listen and download HERE

The Picture Show: Muppets Most Wanted / Captain America: The Winter Soldier

In this episode Mike and I tackled two sequels.  There was an unusual harmony:  shared disappointment at Muppets Most Wanted, but more excitement about the new Captain America film. We also discussed a few random films (including current release Labor Day) in  our new regular feature What We've Been Watching.

You can listen to the show in the player below or download it HERE

The Picture Show: Nymphomaniac

On this episode of The Picture Show I am joined by my regular co-host Mike Ewins and by a first time guest, actress Rebecca Callard, to discuss just one film.  We devoted the whole show to Lars VonTrier and to his new, controversial, two part film Nymphomaniac, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stacy Martin, Stellan Skarsgaard and Shia LaBeouf.

You can stream the show in the player below or download it HERE

The Picture Show: The Worst of 2013

It's that time of year again, so Mike and I are back, bringing you a huge show with a rundown and discussion of the 10 worst films that each of us saw in 2013.  We discuss, debate and (inevitably) argue about films that include horror remakes, action blockbusters, auteurist statements and big budget musicals in this mammoth three and a quarter hour show.  You can listen to the show below, or you can go HERE to download it.

Enjoy, and check back soon for the Top 10 show.

The Picture Show: Side By Side / To the Wonder

On this episode of The Picture Show, Sam and Mike look at two very different films: Documentary Side By Side triggers discussions about the future of cinema, while Terence Malick's To The Wonder inspires little wonder.  Note: The To The Wonder review starts 31 minutes in to the show.

You can listen to the show in the player below, or download or stream it HERE



Next Week: Parrk Chan-Wook's Stoker, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and more

The Picture Show: Review Special

Friend of the show Supermarcey makes a long overdue first Picture Show appearance on this review special, joining Sam to discuss and review new films from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Quentin Tarantino and Kathryn Bigelow. Three very different movies made for an animated and varied hour of discussion.

You can listen to the show in the player below, or you can stream or download it HERE.



No show next week, due to scheduling problems, but the following week we're definitely going to get you an early review of Side By Side.

The Picture Show: The Digital Age

In a change of format, The Picture Show becomes a topical discussion for one week only.  Sam and Mike are joined by returning guest Rebecca Perfect and first time guest, critic William McAbee, to discuss two big topics.  First we tackle the place of critics and the way they relate to audiences in the digital age.  Then we talk about the failure of HMV and Blockbuster, what it means to us, and what we think the future holds for physical formats.  It's quite a different show this week, but I hope you enjoy it, and get involved in the discussion.

PS: Apologies for Rebecca's sound problems, and to Rebecca that they meant I had to cut her down more than the other contributors.

You can listen to the show in the player below, or download it HERE


Next Week, snow permitting: A review special including Django Unchained and Lincoln

The Picture Show: Les Miserables and more

We're back!  Mike rejoins the show for our first review special of 2013, and it's a hell of a selection that has been thrown up by early January.  We're spitting invective (and some bad words) at Gangster Squad, Texas Chainsaw 3D and Les Miserables, the epic review of which also throws up so big questions that we'll return to in a future show.

You can listen to the show in the player below, or you can stream or download it HERE.

Next Week: The Sessions, nudity discussion, Django Unchained.

The Picture Show: Jack Reacher / The Impossible

This week, for the first Picture Show of 2013, I'm joined by first time guest, film critic and TV and radio presenter Rebecca Perfect. For the first time on the show we cover movie news, discussing the BAFTA Rising Star nominees, then we review Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher and discuss tsunami drama The Impossible. The list this week covers our favourite DVD and BR releases of 2012.

If you'd like to see and hear more from my lovely guest (why wouldn't you?) you can find her on Twitter or at her own website.

As ever, you can listen to the show below or download it HERE