THEY SHOOT FILMS

Whiplash

Writer/Director Damien Chazelle’s Academy Award winning drama Whiplash was voted number 17 in the The New York Times reader’s poll of the top 100 movies of this century. Peers, critics, and other industry insiders ranked it first among all the films ever screened at the Sundance Film Festival. Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons star with Paul Reiser and Melissa Benoist in supporting roles.

Marathon Man

Marathon Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Lawrence Olivier as a Nazi war criminal, created a sensation when it was released in 1976. In this episode, Ken Mercer and FT Kosempa examine the film’s infamous dental torture scene, the contributions of writer William Goldman, and the movie’s connection to the Coen brother's The Big Lebowski. The thriller was directed by John Schlesinger and features Roy Scheider, William Devane and Marthe Keller in supporting roles.

The Sweet Smell of Success

The Sweet Smell of Success is now considered one of the classics of American cinema but was a critical and box office failure when it was first released in 1957. In this episode, Ken Mercer and FT Kosempa dive into the making of the film, the contributions of Clifford Odets and James Wong Howe, and the shadow that the McCarthy-era blacklist cast over the production. They also try to answer the question: is it Film Noir? The film stars Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and was directed by Alexander Mackendrick.

The Master

The Master is considered one of director Paul Thomas Anderson‘s finest films. In this episode, Ken Mercer and F.T. Kosempa untangle the layers of hidden meaning that reward multiple viewings of this 2012 film. The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams.

The Departed

The Departed was the film that finally won Director Martin Scorsese his long overdue Academy Award. In this episode, Ken Mercer and FT Kosempa discuss the origins of the film, where it ranks in the pantheon of Boston films, and ask why actors keep insisting on doing over-the-top Boston accents. The 2006 film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Vera Farmiga, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, and Martin Sheen.

Chinatown (Part 2)

In part two, Ken Mercer and FT Kosempa continue to investigate the many mysteries of Roman Polanski's Chinatown. In part two of this special two-part podcast, Ken and FT pick their favorite scenes, favorite lines... and watch as Jack Nicholson becomes a movie star. The 1974 film stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Houston. 

Chinatown (Part 1)

Ken Mercer and FT Kosempa investigate the many mysteries of Roman Polanski's Chinatown—a film so significant it needed two episodes. In part one of this special two-part podcast, Ken and FT explore the film’s origins, the contributions of Robert Evans, and attempt to rank the private detective genre. The 1974 film stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Houston. 

The Naked Kiss

Ken Mercer and F.T. Kosempa strap in for a look at director Samuel Fuller's cult classic The Naked Kiss. The 1964 film has influenced the aesthetic of countless modern film makers, including Quentin Tarantino.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Ken Mercer and F.T. Kosempa take a trip back in time to 1969 to dive into Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The 2019 film stars Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Al Pacino.

American Hustle

Ken Mercer and F.T. Kosempa dive into David O. Russell‘s American Hustle “from the feet up" (to steal a phrase from Christian Bale, who plays Irving Rosenfeld in the film.) The 2013 Academy Award nominated film also stars Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner.