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/Filmcast Ep. 177 – Take Shelter (GUEST: Laremy Legel from Film.com)

David Chen — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:42:19 +0000

This week, Dave, Devindra, and Adam discuss Tony Kaye’s newest film Detachment, share thoughts on the career trajectory of Neveldine/Taylor, and get in a heated discussion about the ending of Take Shelter. Special guest Laremy Legel joins us from Film.com.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Join us for our next live broadcast at 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST at slashfilm.com/live.

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Shownotes

Introduction

Laremy Legel from Film.com joins us!

What We’ve Been Watching

Laremy (04:26): Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, An Idiot Abroad: Bucket List
David Chen (18:10): Detachment

News Discussion

(33:45) Brian Taylor is Making a Twisted Metal Film
(39:45) Transformers 4 is coming

Featured Review

(48:00) Take Shelter

Credits

A big thanks to our sponsor, Audible. Get a free audio book download by going to audiblepodcast.com/Filmcast.
Our music sometimes comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
If you’d like advertise with us or sponsor us, please e-mail slashfilmcast@gmail.com.
Contact us at our voicemail number: 781-583-1993
You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the left-hand side “Donate” links! Thanks to all our donors this week!

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The /Filmcast: After Dark – Ep. 176 – When Directors Are Jerks

David Chen — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:46:54 +0000

The /Filmcast: After Dark is a recording of what happens right after The /Filmcast is over, when the kids have gone to bed and the guys feel free to speak whatever is on their minds. In other words, it’s the leftover and disorganized ramblings, mindfarts, and brain diarrhea from The /Filmcast, all in one convenient audio file. In this episode, David Chen, Devindra Hardawar, and Adam Quigley chat about whether/if/how film directors can be jerks on the internet, describe a Twitter attack from Justin Bieber fans, and enumerate the perils of internet fame.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Tune in to Slashfilm’s live page on Sunday (2/19) at 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST to hear us discuss Take Shelter.

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The JustifiedCast S3E05 – Thick As Mud (GUESTS: Myles McNutt and Joanna Robinson)

David Chen — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:39:38 +0000

Dave Chen chats with Myles McNutt from Cultural Learnings and Joanna Robinson from Pajiba about this season’s fifth episode, “Thick as Mud.” What happens when Justified goes all Saw-like? How much will Dewey do to stay alive? Tune in to find out.

E-mail us and let us know what you thought of the episode, as well as of the podcast, at justifiedcast@gmail.com. You can find every episode of the show at justifiedcast.com If you like the show, please leave a review for us in iTunes.

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Ep. 176 – Certified Copy (GUEST: Scott Mendelson from Mendelson’s Memos)

David Chen — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:33:30 +0000

This week, Dave, Devindra, and Adam discuss the mediocrity of Safe House, despair for the next generation of digital natives, offer up some thoughts on the OSS 117 films, and try to make sense of Certified Copy. Special guest Scott Mendelson joins us from Mendelson’s Memos.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Join us for our next live broadcast at 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST at slashfilm.com/live.

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Shownotes

Introduction

What We’ve Been Watching

Scott (02:15): Safe House
David Chen (18:46): Mad Men Marathon Continued, Afterschool
Devindra (28:30): Coriolanus, OSS 117: Cairo: Nest of Spies

News Discussion

(35:58) Bourne Legacy Trailer
(43:10) George Lucas Claims Han Never Shot First

Featured Review

(1:04:00) Certified Copy

Credits

A big thanks to our sponsor, Audible. Get a free audio book download by going to audiblepodcast.com/Filmcast.
Our music sometimes comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
If you’d like advertise with us or sponsor us, please e-mail slashfilmcast@gmail.com.
Contact us at our voicemail number: 781-583-1993
You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the left-hand side “Donate” links! Thanks to all our donors this week!

The Tobolowsky Files Ep. 54 – The Long Road to Somewhere Else

David Chen — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:00:09 +0000

The conclusion of the heart story trilogy. Stephen finds the missing time from the recovery room. It comes with a message he didn’t expect and will never forget.

Come see The Tobolowsky Files LIVE in New York and Boston!

The Tobolowsky Files is a podcast from the people who brought you the /Filmcast, featuring a series of stories about life, love, and the entertainment industry, as told by legendary character actor Stephen Tobolowsky. You can buy Stephen’s new story (EXCLUSIVE to the e-book format) by going to stephentobolowsky.com and you can e-mail Stephen at stephentobolowsky(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

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The JustifiedCast S3E04 – The Devil You Know (GUEST: Joanna Robinson from Pajiba)

David Chen — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:46:02 +0000

Dave Chen chats with Joanna Robinson from Pajiba about this season’s fourth episode, “The Devil You Know.” Can Neal McDonough do a decent preacher impression? And how does Boyd deal with a potential uprising in his ranks? Tune in to find out.

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/Filmcast Ep. 175 – Chronicle

David Chen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:30:48 +0000

This week, David, Devindra, and Adam chat about the perils of marathoning Mad Men, dissect the pleasures of marathoning Skins, lament the nonsense of Ultraviolet, and assess this year’s Super Bowl ads.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Join us for our next live broadcast at 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST at slashfilm.com/live.

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Shownotes

Introduction

What We’ve Been Watching

David Chen (01:45): Mad Men
Adam (10:16): Skins, The Good Wife

News Discussion

(25:30) Super Bowl trailers: Avengers, John Carter
(36:25) On Ultraviolet (for digital copies)

Featured Review

(46:35) Chronicle

Credits

A big thanks to our sponsor, Audible. Get a free audio book download by going to audiblepodcast.com/Filmcast.
Our music sometimes comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
If you’d like advertise with us or sponsor us, please e-mail slashfilmcast@gmail.com.
Contact us at our voicemail number: 781-583-1993
You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the left-hand side “Donate” links! Thanks to all our donors this week!

The /Filmcast: After Dark – Ep. 174 – The State of Video on Demand

David Chen — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:39:10 +0000

The /Filmcast: After Dark is a recording of what happens right after The /Filmcast is over, when the kids have gone to bed and the guys feel free to speak whatever is on their minds. In other words, it’s the leftover and disorganized ramblings, mindfarts, and brain diarrhea from The /Filmcast, all in one convenient audio file. In this episode, David Chen, Devindra Hardawar, and Adam Quigley chat about the state of VOD and respond to your e-mails about their recent reviews.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Tune in to Slashfilm’s live page on Monday (2/6) at 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST to hear us discuss Chronicle.

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Come See The Tobolowsky Files LIVE in New York and Boston!

David Chen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:00:13 +0000

It’s been an emotional whirlwind taking the Tobolowsky Files on tour in Seattle and Boston. And with the new Tobolowsky Files book coming out in August, I foresee many more shows in the future. Thanks to all who came to our Boston shows and to our sold out show at the massive Neptune Theatre in Seattle! As I mentioned on the /Filmcast, it was probably one of the single most thrilling experiences of my entire life to present this event to our fans.

Missed the shows? That’s okay, because we’ll soon be in New York and in Boston (once more) to perform a set of different stories!

On Febraury 27th at 7:00 PM, we’ll be at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline, MA, presenting an event in conjunction with the Independent Film Festival of Boston. Buy tickets for that show by clicking here (click on the showtime on the left-hand side).

On February 28th at 7:30 PM, we’ll be at The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY. Buy tickets for that show by clicking here.

Hope to see some of you there!

The JustifiedCast S3E03 – Harlan Roulette (GUEST: Myles McNutt from AV Club)

David Chen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:03:21 +0000

Dave Chen chats with TV critic Myles McNutt about this week’s Justified. Just what exactly is Neal McDonough up to in Harlan? Tune in to find out.

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/Filmcast Ep. 174 – The Grey

David Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:00:24 +0000

This week, Dave, Devindra, and Adam chat about this year’s Oscar nominations and point out how Warner Brothers continues to try and screw over its customers.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. There won’t be any live broadcast next week on account of the Super Bowl, but we will be reviewing Chronicle.

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Shownotes

Introduction

What We’ve Been Watching

David Chen (01:00): A Separation, Certified Copy
Devindra (10:20): Kill List, Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie

News Discussion

(26:53) 84th Academy Award Nominations
(41:52) Warner Brothers Won’t Let You Add Movies To Your Netflix Queue

Featured Review

(45:23) The Grey

Credits

A big thanks to our sponsors, Audible and Hover. Get a free audio book download by going to audiblepodcast.com/Filmcast and save 10% off your domain name registrations by going to hover.com/filmcast.
Our music sometimes comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
If you’d like advertise with us or sponsor us, please e-mail slashfilmcast@gmail.com.
Contact us at our voicemail number: 781-583-1993
You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the left-hand side “Donate” links! Thanks to all our donors this week!

The /Filmcast: After Dark – Ep. 173 – The Favorite and The Best (GUEST: Joanna Robinson from Pajiba)

David Chen — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:30:58 +0000

The /Filmcast: After Dark is a recording of what happens right after The /Filmcast is over, when the kids have gone to bed and the guys feel free to speak whatever is on their minds. In other words, it’s the leftover and disorganized ramblings, mindfarts, and brain diarrhea from The /Filmcast, all in one convenient audio file. In this episode, David Chen, Devindra Hardawar, and Adam Quigley chat with Joanna Robinson about what the difference is between their “favorite” and the “best” films of the year, analyze the hollow phenomenon of Chuck Norris, and discuss the relative quality of Superman Returns.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Tune in to Slashfilm’s live page on Sunday (1/29) at 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST to hear us discuss The Grey.

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The JustifiedCast S3E02 – Cut Ties (GUEST: Maureen Ryan from Huffington Post)

David Chen — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:28 +0000

Dave Chen chats with TV critic Maureen Ryan about this week’s Justified. How well do Carla Gugino and Mykelti Williamson fare in their introductory episode for the series? Tune in to find out.

E-mail us and let us know what you thought of the episode, as well as of the podcast, at justifiedcast@gmail.com.

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/Filmcast Ep. 173 – Haywire (GUEST: Joanna Robinson from Pajiba)

David Chen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:00:31 +0000

This week, Dave, Devindra, and Adam argue about the quality of Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior, offer praise for this season’s Justified (check out the new JustifiedCast here!) and wonder what the hell the MPAA is doing these days. Special guest Joanna Robinson joins us from Pajiba.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Join us at Slashfilm’s Live page on Sunday (1/29) as we discuss The Grey.

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Shownotes

Introduction

What We’ve Been Watching

David Chen (01:20): Warrior
Devindra (11:30): Alcatraz, House of Lies
Adam (18:23): Justified (Season 3 Premiere)

News Discussion

Featured Review

(42:15) Haywire
- Joanna Robinson joins us from Pajiba!

Credits

A big thanks to our sponsor, Audible. Get a free audio book download by going to audiblepodcast.com/Filmcast.
Our music sometimes comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
If you’d like advertise with us or sponsor us, please e-mail slashfilmcast@gmail.com.
Contact us at our voicemail number: 781-583-1993
You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the left-hand side “Donate” links! Thanks to all our donors this week!

A Conversation with Errol Morris on the Nature of Truth, Photography, and Documentary

David Chen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:00:17 +0000

Director Errol Morris has made a career out of solving mysteries, which comes as no surprise since the man used to be a private detective. Whether he was exonerating Randall Dale Adams in The Thin Blue Line or unraveling a sordid sex tale in Tabloid, Morris has deftly used his subjects to provide gripping accounts of situations that have been wrapped in intrigue and ambiguity.

In his book, Believing is Seeing, Morris turns his attention to the art of photography. In a series of photographic whodunnits, Morris explores the truth-telling capacity of photos. His conclusion? “Photographs don’t have truth value.”

I had a chance to sit down with Morris in his Cambridge, MA office during his recent book tour and chat extensively with him about the nature of photography, the plausibility of re-enactments, and Joyce McKinney’s controversial reaction to Tabloid. After the break, read highlights of my discussion with Morris. Below, you can also download and listen to the entire hour-long interview I had with him. You can buy his book at Amazon or in bookstores. Tabloid is now also for sale on DVD.

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Early on in our conversation, Morris asserted that “Photographs don’t have truth value. There aren’t photographs that are more true than other photographs. They’re all equally devoid of truth or falsity. Truth or falsity, properly considered, are about the relationship of language to the world, not about photograph images to the world.” Asserting that a photo is true or false particularly gets you into trouble when a photographer takes multiple images.

Morris’s book begins with an exploration of two photographs taken by Roger Fenton about 150 years ago.

Taken during the Crimean War, the photos depict the same scene. In the first photograph, which Morris dubs “OFF,” there are cannonballs scattered on the side of the road, while in the second photograph, dubbed “ON,” the cannonballs are on the side of the road AND in the middle of the road. Which one of them is an accurate depiction of the scene? Which one of them is “true,” as it were?

“If you’re convinced somehow that photographs are true or false or some are more true than others, you look at these two photographs and you say to yourself, ‘Which is true and which is false?” Or ‘Which is more true and which is more false?’ I think the whole question is nonsense,” Morris explains. Susan Sontag, in her book, Regarding the Pain of Others, asserted that Fenton had scattered the cannonballs onto the road to make it appear more war-battered before taking the second picture, ON. Morris could not see a logical justification for this assertion.

“How did she order them?” Morris asked. “It seems to me that she ordered them on the basis of imagining what Fenton’s intentions were in producing those two photographs, and then the question becomes, well, how did she know what Fenton’s intentions were?” In Believing is Seeing, Morris got to the bottom of this question and even traveled to the Crimea to determine the answer. Along the way, he reflected on why it is we believe the things we believe about photographs.

“Perhaps the entire philosophy of photography can be contained in these two images, just by thinking about them,” Morris asserted.

Believing is Seeing reflects some of Morris’s other tendencies, namely his attitude towards truth. Morris doesn’t see himself as getting at the nature of truth. Rather, “It’s almost the flip side of truth. Call it an obsession with error of the mistakes and errors that are made and why we may choose untruth instead of truth, if it is a choice at all,” Morris said.

This is evident in Morris’s film, The Thin Blue Line. That story involved people who passionately believed something that was false. Why does this happen? What caused them to develop and keep these beliefs? “I sometimes think we like some simple solution to the riddle of what’s out there in the world, what’s true, what’s false, what exists, what doesn’t exist, etc. But there are no simple solutions and that includes photography,” Morris said. “Photography doesn’t give us any secret access to the world, and yet people talk about it as though it does, as though somehow [there’s] no need to worry about epistemology or anything like that anymore when a photograph is involved. And of course, that’s nonsense.”

Morris also believes these things concepts apply to filmmaking. He recalled, “When I first started making movies, there was a received idea about how you were supposed to make a documentary. Call it whatever you want: cinéma vérité, direct cinema, blah blah blah. But it was this idea of shooting with available light, shooting with a hand-held camera, the fly-on-the-wall idea. You’re observing, you’re not interacting, you’re not altering.” The implication was that by following these rules, arbitrary or not, one might somehow be able to produce something that was “truthful.” But Morris rejected this idea. “Just because you adopt a style of shooting, somehow, truth doesn’t pop up a kind of magic meat grinder that produces the truth,” he insisted.

So what is it about photography that’s so interesting? Most photographs are connected to the world in some way, a product of light and celluloid, the result of the work of a human being trying to capture reality. “Part of Believing is Seeing is trying to reach back,” Morris explained. “A photograph is like a time machine. So, to reach back into that world and try to ask certain questions about what am I looking at.”

As a fan of Morris’s films and now his new book, I hope he’ll keep asking his questions for many years to come.

The JustifiedCast S3E01 – The Gunfighter (GUEST: Myles McNutt from AV Club)

David Chen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:03:46 +0000

The JustifiedCast is a weekly recap podcast featuring reflections, theories, praise, nitpicking, and wanton speculation about the FX show Justified. In the very first episode of The JustifiedCast, David Chen chats with Myles McNutt from AV Club and Cultural Learnings about Justified’s season premiere, “The Gunfighter.”

E-mail us and let us know what you thought of the episode, as well as of the podcast, at justifiedcast@gmail.com.

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/Filmcast Ep. 172 – Melancholia (GUEST: Alison Willmore from Movieline)

David Chen — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:34:47 +0000

This week, Dave Chen, Devindra, and Adam chat about the virtues of Downton Abbey, debate the merits of Another Earth, and discuss their most anticipated films of 2012. Special guest Alison Willmore joins us from Movieline.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Join us at Slashfilm’s Live page on Sunday (1/22) as we discuss Haywire.

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Shownotes

Introduction

(01:28) Thanks for coming to The Tobolowsky Files Live! Join us in February at The Bell House (2/28) and at the Coolidge Corner Theater (2/27)!

What We’ve Been Watching

David Chen (05:09): Flowers of War
Devindra (12:00): Downton Abbey, Norwegian Wood
Adam (20:25): Justified, Another Earth

News Discussion

(35:23) Our Most Anticipated Films of 2012

Featured Review

(51:00) Melancholia

Credits

A big thanks to our sponsor, Hover. Get 10% off your domain name registration by going to Hover.com/Filmcast.
Our music sometimes comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
If you’d like advertise with us or sponsor us, please e-mail slashfilmcast@gmail.com.
Contact us at our voicemail number: 781-583-1993
You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the left-hand side “Donate” links! Thanks to all our donors this week!

The Tobolowsky Files Ep. 53 – The Return of Mr. Huge

David Chen — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:30:44 +0000

Part Two of the Open Heart Surgery Adventure. Some journeys are best enjoyed without actually having to reach the destination.

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/Filmcast Ep. 171 – The Top 10 Movies of 2011

David Chen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:24:30 +0000

This week, Dave, Devindra, and Adam count down their top 10 movies of 2011 and reflect on this past exciting year in pop culture.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. We’ll be broadcasting again on January 15, 2012 at 10 PM EST / 7 PM PST at slashfilm’s live page.

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Shownotes

Introduction

(01:30) Looking back at 2011

Discussion

(06:15) Our favorite pop culture moments
(13:00) How we choose our lists
(15:17) Devindra’s top ten
(38:05) Dave and Adam’s top ten
(1:38:10) Biggest disappointments

Credits

A big thanks to our sponsor, Audible. You can get a free audio book by going to audiblepodcast.com/filmcast.
Our music sometimes comes from Point 22 courtesy of the Podsafe Network, and Brad Sucks
If you’d like advertise with us or sponsor us, please e-mail slashfilmcast@gmail.com.
Contact us at our voicemail number: 781-583-1993
You can donate and support the /Filmcast by going to www.slashfilmcast.com and clicking on the left-hand side “Donate” links! Thanks to all our donors this week!

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The /Filmcast: Bonus Ep. – War Horse

David Chen — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:28 +0000

In this episode, Dave, Devindra, and Adam discuss War Horse. Spielberg has proven he can direct effective and epic war films. Does he succeed again here? Tune in to find out.

You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993. Live broadcasts will resume in 2012.

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Subscribe to the /Filmcast: