Best Filmlings Podcasts (2025)

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The Retrospective 2:00:58

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14d ago2:00:58

2:00:58

Alex and Jonathan reflect on 8 1/2 years of recording the Filmlings Podcast. If you're new here, this is an invitation and guide to explore the back-catalog, even though we are not currently recording new episodes. If you've been around, thanks for listening and supporting the show over the years! Keep an eye on the blog, we may pop up again in oth…

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172. COMEDY CINEMA 5: The Wit's End 1:40:53

21d ago1:40:53

1:40:53

As we bring our discussion of the history of comedy to the modern day, Alex and Jonathan look at three comedy films from the past two decades: Mean Girls (2004), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), and The Fall Guy (2024). We discuss the facets of wit as a mode of humor, the way wit has been incorporated into action-comedy through Marvel films and othe…

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171. COMEDY CINEMA 4: The Stoners 1:04:17

2M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Moving from the absurd to the irreverent, today Alex and Jonathan look at three films which encompass a subset of comedy in which the characters are under the influence in some form or fashion: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), The Big Lebowski (1998), and The Hangover (2009). We discuss the glorification and justification of the stoner, the…

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170. COMEDY CINEMA 3: The Absurdists 1:14:11

3M ago1:14:11

1:14:11

After the collapse of the Production Code, filmmakers now had the ability to put anything and everything in their movies, so they did. Today Alex and Jonathan discuss three films which take comedy beyond rational proportions and talk about The Producers (1967), Airplane! (1980), and The Mask (1994). We discuss the history of absurdist comedy, how b…

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169. COMEDY CINEMA 2: The Screwballs 1:16:09

4M ago1:16:09

1:16:09

With the arrival of sound in Hollywood, a new subgenre of comedy arose, so today Alex and Jonathan discuss the history of the "screwball comedies" while looking at Trouble in Paradise (1932), His Girl Friday (1940), and Some Like it Hot (1959). We talk about how screwballs differed from standard romantic comedies, the emphasis on dialogue that came…

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168. COMEDY CINEMA 1: The Clowns 1:11:41

5M ago1:11:41

1:11:41

To kick off a new series on the history of American comedy films, Alex and Jonathan travel back to the early days of cinema and look at the physical comedy of the early film clowns in Safety Last! (1923), City Lights (1931), and Duck Soup (1933). We discuss the transition from live performances in theater and vaudeville to the movies, how Harold Ll…

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167. TRAGEDIES of Misunderstanding 1:46:21

7M ago1:46:21

1:46:21

To wrap up the tragedy series, Alex and Jonathan look at three films characterized by the ways in which the characters' difference of perspectives causes the primary conflict in part or whole: A Woman Under the Influence (1974), The Elephant Man (1980), and The Farewell (2019). We discuss whether or not the term "tragedy" is still a useful distinct…

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166. TRAGEDIES of Betrayal 1:43:28

8M ago1:43:28

1:43:28

As we move into stories of interpersonal tragedies, today Alex and Jonathan discuss three films which deal with themes of betrayal as it applies to family relationships, as in Tokyo Twilight (1957), romantic relationships, as in In the Mood for Love (2000), and friends/allies, as in RRR (2022). We discuss Aristotle's concept of discovery, the tende…

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165. TRAGEDIES of Fate 1:51:39

9M ago1:51:39

1:51:39

In one of the saddest episodes of the show (besides Episode 105), Alex and Jonathan look at films in which the protagonists struggle to navigate circumstances outside of their control with three tragedy classics: Ikiru (1952), Grave of the Fireflies (1988), and Titanic (1997). We discuss Aristotle's conception of the reversal of fortune – known as …

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164. TRAGEDIES of Injustice 1:53:05

10M ago1:53:05

1:53:05

From power to societal marginalization to prejudicial greed, in this episode Alex and Jonathan talk about three films in which the subject characters are faced with various forms of injustice: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Umberto D. (1952), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). We discuss the ways tragedy films evoke feelings of pity and fea…

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163. TRAGEDIES of Self 1:56:51

11M ago1:56:51

1:56:51

The downfall. The tragic flaw. Today Alex and Jonathan kick off a new series about tragic cinema with three stories where the protagonist is ultimately responsible for their own misery: The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), Brief Encounter (1945), and Tár (2022). We discuss Aristotle's six elements of tragedy, why tragedy doesn't necessarily have to ha…

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162. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Jacques Rivette 2:06:18

1y ago2:06:18

2:06:18

The last of the Cahiers du Cinéma critics-turned-directors to discuss is Jacques Rivette. Alex and Jonathan take a look at his films Paris Belongs to Us (1961), L'amour fou (1969), and Céline and Julie Go Boating (1974) and discuss Rivette's obsession with the individual aspects of cinema, his blend of cinematic instinct and collaborative improvisa…

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161. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Claude Chabrol 1:30:15

1y ago1:30:15

1:30:15

One of the less well-known of the Cahiers contributors, but also one of the first to break into directing, Claude Chabrol is the subject of this week's deep dive in which Alex and Jonathan talk about his films Le beau Serge (1958), Les cousins (1959), and Les bonnes femmes (1960). We discuss Chabrol's role in getting the French New Wave off the gro…

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160. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: François Truffaut 1:36:36

1y ago1:36:36

1:36:36

François Truffaut, known as "the destroyer of French cinema" during his time as a critic, is the focal point of this episode and the turning point of our series on the French New Wave. Alex and Jonathan discuss three of his many films, Shoot the Piano Player (1960), Jules et Jim (1962), and Day for Night (1973), and talk about the origins and inten…

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159. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Éric Rohmer 2:00:22

1+ y ago2:00:22

2:00:22

Author, critic, teacher, moralist, and editor of Cahiers du Cinema, Éric Rohmer is this month's featured director from the French New Wave. Alex and Jonathan look at three of the six films Rohmer directed based on a series of his own short stories called the "Moral Tales" – My Night at Maud's (1969), Claire's Knee (1970), and Love in the Afternoon …

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158. CAHIERS DU CINÉMA: Jean-Luc Godard 2:19:06

1+ y ago2:19:06

2:19:06

As we begin our dive into the directors of the French New Wave, Alex and Jonathan take a look at one of the primary disrupters from this heavily disruptive period of cinema history, the singular Jean-Luc Godard. Through three of his classic films – Vivre sa vie (1962), Band of Outsiders (1964), and Pierrot le Fou (1965) – we discuss Godard's place …

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157. FILMS OF FAERIE 5: Fairy Tales in the Modern Day 1:26:09

1+ y ago1:26:09

1:26:09

For the final episode of the fairy tale series, Alex and Jonathan take a look at three films that transpose classic fairy tale stories onto the setting of the modern day: The Red Shoes (1948), Ponyo (2008), and Undine (2020). We discuss how fairy tale elements can help us look at the ordinary parts of life with a new appreciation, how the form and …

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156. FILMS OF FAERIE 4: Fairy Tales with a Twist 1:28:58

1+ y ago1:28:58

1:28:58

Today Alex and Jonathan look at three of the common ways that fairy tales are modified from their original setting to fit various modern sensibilities. We talk about the fairy tale mashup through the lens of Shrek (2001), the science fiction angle via A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), and the misunderstood villain as portrayed in Maleficent (201…

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155. FILMS OF FAERIE 3: Fairy Tales are NOT for Kids 1:24:05

1+ y ago1:24:05

1:24:05

For as long as fairy tales have been recorded there has been a debate about whether or not they should be modified for children, so today Alex and Jonathan take up the negative side of the discussion with a look at three films with fairy tale elements that are not Disney's idea of kid-friendly: Beauty and the Beast (1946), Ugetsu (1957), Donkey Ski…

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154. FILMS OF FAERIE 2: Fairy Tales are for Kids 1:53:45

2y ago1:53:45

1:53:45

When it comes to fairy tales on film, the elephant in the room has a name: Disney. So today Alex and Jonathan go through the history of fairy tale films as told by the Walt Disney Animation Studios, starting with the first feature length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), through the "Disney Renaissance" with Beauty and the Beas…

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153. FILMS OF FAERIE 1: The Podcast that Laughed and Cried Like a Child 1:52:33

2y ago1:52:33

1:52:33

To kick off our new series about fairy tales in cinema, Alex and Jonathan do a deep dive into three adaptations of the story of Pinocchio: Pinocchio (1940), Pinocchio (2019), and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022). We discuss the history of fairy tales, the variations of focus in each of these adaptations, and how fantasy is perceived and experi…

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152. WESTERNS 101: The Modern West 1:30:29

2y ago1:30:29

1:30:29

To wrap up our Westerns 101 series, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the current state of the western genre through Rango (2011), Slow West (2015), and Hell or High Water (2016). We talk about ways to take the tropes of an established genre and exaggerate them for comedic effect, how to take the setting of the west and present a story with modern s…

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151. WESTERNS 101: Sergio's Spaghetti 1:48:23

2y ago1:48:23

1:48:23

A huge portion of the modern idea of what a western is can be traced back to an Italian director with an appreciation for samurai films, Sergio Leone. Today Alex and Jonathan look at his influence on the spaghetti western sub-genre with For a Few Dollars More (1965), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Duck, You Sucker! (1971). We discuss how Leon…

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150. WESTERNS 101: Westerns of the Rising Sun 1:30:30

2y ago1:30:30

1:30:30

As we continue our journey through the history of the western genre, Alex and Jonathan take a detour to Japan to discuss an era of chanbara (samurai) films that bridge the gap from classic westerns to spaghetti westerns. We're talking about Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954), Sanjuro (1962), The Sword of Doom (1966). We discuss the parallels betwee…

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149. WESTERNS 101: John Ford's Golden Era 1:34:42

2+ y ago1:34:42

1:34:42

When discussing the history of the Western genre, there is no escaping the name or work of John Ford, so today Alex and Jonathan dive in to three of Ford's landmark films: My Darling Clementine (1946), The Searchers (1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). We talk about the ways Western films elevate actual historical events to the level of…

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148. WESTERNS 101: The Silent Era 1:41:04

2+ y ago1:41:04

1:41:04

To kick off a new series of episodes that will give an overview of the history of the western genre, Alex and Jonathan start off by talking about three early western films from the pre-sound era: The Testing Block (1920), Sky High (1922), and The Iron Horse (1924). We discuss the development of both the themes and the action of the western genre, h…

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147. The Icepod Cometh 1:38:05

2+ y ago1:38:05

1:38:05

For the winter wrap-up episode to close out the year, Alex and Jonathan talk about four films that focus on the ways that people have to survive in freezing and desperate situations: Touching the Void (2003), The Grey (2011), Everest (2015), and Arctic (2018). We discuss ways to tell a true story through documentary and historical reenactment, as w…

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Trailer for Episode 147 7:09

2+ y ago7:09

7:09

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The December Marquee: https://thefilmlings.wordpress.com/2022/11/30/december-22/ Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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146. The Equestrisode 1:37:29

2+ y ago1:37:29

1:37:29

From the very first photographs of motion, horses have been integrated with the cinema, so today Alex and Jonathan talk about different ways horses can be used to drive a story in The Black Stallion (1979), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), Seabiscuit (2003), and War Horse (2011). We discuss horses as both thematic metaphors and characteriza…

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Trailer for Episode 146 6:47

2+ y ago6:47

6:47

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The November Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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Special: The Fellowship of the Ring Scene-by-Scene 1:54:36

2+ y ago1:54:36

1:54:36

To fill some time while Alex and Jonathan are on break, we're releasing a commentary track for Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) which was recorded in 2018. Going scene-by-scene through the extended edition of the film allows us to break down some of the details and nuances of the filmmaking techniques, as well as giving plenty of t…

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Trailer for Special October Episode 4:26

2+ y ago4:26

4:26

This month we'll be on break, but we have a special episode for October to fill the gap so stay tuned!

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145. History According to Harryhausen 1:41:50

2+ y ago1:41:50

1:41:50

Taking a step behind the curtain of classic movie magic, today Alex and Jonathan discuss the techniques and creatures brought to the screen by VFX pioneer Ray Harryhausen in Mighty Joe Young (1949), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), and Clash of the Titans (1981). We discuss the evolution of the Dynamation and Dynaram…

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Trailer for Episode 145 7:07

3y ago7:07

7:07

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The September Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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144. A Podcast's Guide to Time Travel 1:52:21

3y ago1:52:21

1:52:21

We are all interested in the future, which is why in this episode Alex and Jonathan take a look at some prominent entries into the time travel sub-genre of science fiction, specifically: Time After Time (1979), Back to the Future (1985), Groundhog Day (1993), and Tenet (2020). We discuss the various mechanisms for implementing time travel into a pl…

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Trailer for Episode 144 5:45

3y ago5:45

5:45

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The August Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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143. Pugnacious Preminger 1:29:16

3y ago1:29:16

1:29:16

Another legend of Hollywood's Golden Age is the spotlight for this episode as Alex and Jonathan talk about some of the classic works of Otto Preminger: Laura (1944), Bonjour Tristesse (1958), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), and Bunny Lake is Missing (1965). We discuss how Preminger builds character driven narrative through visuals, his real and perceiv…

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Trailer for Episode 143 5:02

3y ago5:02

5:02

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The July Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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142. Kiarostami's Koker 1:35:13

3y ago1:35:13

1:35:13

Sit back and enjoy the ride as Alex and Jonathan talk through the road-trip style films of Abbas Kiarostami in Where Is the Friend's House? (1987), And Life Goes On (1992), Through the Olive Trees (1994), and Taste of Cherry (1997). We discuss the way Kiarostami blends truth and fiction, how he uses long takes to provoke deeper thought from the aud…

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Trailer for Episode 142 4:40

3y ago4:40

4:40

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The June Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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141. How to Train Your Podcast 1:15:47

3y ago1:15:47

1:15:47

This month Alex and Jonathan fly to a mythical Nordic world and discuss the recent animated trilogy How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019). We discuss a brief history of dragons, ways to incorporate high stakes and family into children's movies, and adapting a sprawl…

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Trailer for Episode 141 7:06

3y ago7:06

7:06

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The May Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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140. One and Only Olivier 1:36:56

3y ago1:36:56

1:36:56

When it comes to acting, few names loom as large in the recent history of stage or screen as that of Laurence Olivier. Alex and Jonathan discuss his contributions to the film medium through his roles in Wuthering Heights (1939), Rebecca (1940), Richard III (1955), and Marathon Man (1976). We talk about his growth as a performer, his interactions wi…

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Trailer for Episode 140 6:41

3y ago6:41

6:41

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The April Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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139. The Dove Says Woo 1:27:41

3+ y ago1:27:41

1:27:41

The epic drama and action of director John Woo carries us away this month as Alex and Jonathan talk about The Killer (1989), Hard Boiled (1992), Face/Off (1997), and Red Cliff (2008). We talk about his pioneering of the "Honorable Bloodshed" genre, his distinct stylistic and thematic trademarks, and his continuing legacy on many modern directors an…

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Trailer for Episode 139 6:12

3+ y ago6:12

6:12

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The March Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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138. Wise Guy Gangsters 1:54:06

3+ y ago1:54:06

1:54:06

Watch your back because in this episode Alex and Jonathan, talk about the history of American gangster films through four classic and contemporary tales within the genre: Scarface (1932), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), Scarface (1983), and Goodfellas (1990). We discuss the origins of gangster stories being pulled from the contemporary headlines, h…

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Trailer for Episode 138 7:11

3+ y ago7:11

7:11

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The February Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF

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137. Rogers-Astaire 1:50:34

3+ y ago1:50:34

1:50:34

Kicking off season 6 of the podcast, Alex and Jonathan take a look at the films and careers of two oft-paired star performers: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. We look at their films The Gay Divorcee (1934), Shall We Dance (1937), and The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), and discuss the history of each performer, the mesmerizing quality of watching perf…

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Trailer for Episode 137 5:28

3+ y ago5:28

5:28

Find more info about the upcoming episode on The January Marquee. Join us on Discord to keep up with the discussion throughout the month: https://discord.gg/MAF6jh59cF