Are there stages of true toughness? | "Good Will Hunting" (1997) d. Gus Van Sant
Combining recent conversations about ambition and discovering hidden emotional depths, this week's episode contemplates how Gus Van Sant's iconic 1997 film, Good Will Hunting, considers what desires w...
8 Jun 202529min
What does criticism look like in a postmodern world? | 'Ratatouille' (2007) d. Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava
Following recent episodes on subjectivity, postmodernism and beauty, this week's episode examines the manifestations of these concepts in the 2007 Disney Pixar film Ratatouille.We also briefly discuss...
1 Jun 202529min
Are we content with our treatment of beauty? | "Parthenope" (2024) d. Paolo Sorrentino
Following last week's episode, being something of a call to actively seek modern beauty, this week's episode focuses on Paulo Sorrentino's newest film, Parthenope, to reflect on the extent to which 't...
25 Mai 202529min
How available are our deepest emotions? | "American Beauty" (1999) d. Sam Mendes
Following recent episodes on the concept of 'style as substance', this week's episode looks to Sam Mendes' iconic 1999 drama, American Beauty, to contemplate how we can access the epitome of style.We ...
18 Mai 202529min
How should we navigate subjective experience in a world of "objects"? | "Withnail & I" (1987) d. Bruce Robinson
Following last week's discussion on the utility of idyllic cultural constructs, this week's episode contemplates the ways in which Bruce Robinson's iconic 1987 iconic black comedy, Withnail & I, medit...
11 Mai 202529min
What might be the antidote to fascism? | "Hot Fuzz" (2007) d. Edgar Wright
Following past conversations on the inevitable fallibility of attempting to establish idyllic social structures, this week's episode examines how Edgar Wright's 2007 comedy, 'Hot Fuzz' approaches the ...
4 Mai 202529min
How are we to make sense of artistic ambition? | "Paterson" (2016) d. Jim Jarmusch
Following recent discussions about Jim Jarmusch's explorations of style as substance, this week's episode focuses on his 2016 film Paterson, starring Adam Driver.We also briefly discuss:Persona (1966)...
27 Apr 202529min
What does it mean to give our true selves to those we love? | "Wings of Desire" (1987) d. Wim Wenders
In response to recent shifts in the cultural view of masculinity, this week's episode looks to Wim Wenders' iconic 1987 romantic fantasy, Wings of Desire, to examine the link between masculine sacrifi...
20 Apr 202529min
