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PODCAST

Call It, Friendo

Andy J Ritchie & Donnchadh Tiernan

Join co-hosts Andy J Ritchie and Donnchadh Tiernan as we watch and discuss 2 films decided by the toss of a coin.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

01:22:14

43. The Long Goodbye (1973)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/07/12

In this week’s episode, we discuss Robert Altman’s 1973 Film Noir The Long Goodbye, starring Elliott Gould as private detective Philip Marlowe. Based on Raymond Chandler’s 1953 novel of the same name, the film shifts the story 20 years later and adds a satirical edge. Although the film bombed at the box office, it was well-received by critics such as Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert, with the latter adding the film to his Great Movies collection. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching (00:01:00) Andy –

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01:13:59

42. Paths of Glory (1957)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/07/05

In this week’s episode, we discuss the 1957 Stanley Kubrick World War 1 film Paths of Glory. Based on the novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb, the film depicts a group of French soldiers court-martialled for cowardice and the commanding officer who defends them. David Simon, creator of The Wire, cites the film as a major influence on his work due to its portrayal of backroom politics and “the tribulations of middle management”. The film stars Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax and Timothy Carey, the

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01:41:26

41. The Rambo Franchise (1982-2019)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/06/28

In this week’s episode, we discuss all 5 films in the Rambo franchise. Starting from the origins of the character and the novel the first film was based on, we move through each part before focusing on the cast and plot of Rambo: Last Blood (2019). The fifth instalment in the Rambo series finds our hero in Mexico, taking on a gang of ruthless cartel pimps. The Rambo films, while generating impressive box office returns, have also racked up a whole host of Razzie nominations. Timestamps What We’ve

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01:04:12

40. Spirited Away (2001)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/06/21

In this week’s episode, we discuss Spirited Away (2001), the Studio Ghibli classic about a young girl transported to a land of spirits. The film, from visionary director Hayao Miyazaki, grossed just under $400 million worldwide and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Also, Roger Ebert gave the film 4 stars and added it to his “Great Movies” list. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching (00:00:58) Andy – Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, We’re the Millers, Blockers Donnchadh – Rolling

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01:30:42

39. Paddington 2 (2017)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/06/14

In this week’s episode, we discuss Paddington 2 (2017), directed by Paul King and co-written by King and actor Simon Farnaby. The film, which grossed $228 million, was famously very well-received, maintaining a 100% fresh rating on rottentomatoes.com for a record-breaking period. Apart from discussing Paddington 2, we also talk about: -Paul King’s background -His work on Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace and The Mighty Boosh -His debut film, Bunny and the Bull (2009) -The first Paddington film

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01:08:29

38. Prizzi's Honor (1985)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/06/07

In this week’s episode, we discuss Prizzi’s Honor (1985), the penultimate film directed by the late, great (friend of the show) John Huston. It stars Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner as two mob assassins in an unorthodox relationship. The film was well received at the time and garnered 8 Oscar nominations, with Anjelica Huston winning for Best Supporting Actress. *Spoilers* – We did not enjoy this film very much. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching (00:00:53) Andy – School of Rock, Geowizard –

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01:14:52

37. The Devils (1971)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/05/31

In this week’s episode, we discuss The Devils (1971). The film is partly based on Aldous Huxley’s non-fiction novel The Devils of Loudun (1952). It stars Oliver Reed as Father Urbain Grandier, a womanising priest accused of heresy. The Devils is often considered director Ken Russell’s finest work. However, one notable critic of the film was Roger Ebert, who wrote a scathing zero-star review. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching (00:00:53) Andy – Broadchurch Season 1, Long Way Up, Altered

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00:32

PSA - No episode this week

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/05/24

Due to a series of recording mishaps, and Donnchadh's debilitating intravenous drug habit, we have been unable to complete an episode for this week. We will return next Monday with our discussion of Ken Russell's 1971 film, The Devils.

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58:19

36. West Side Story (1961)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/05/17

In this week’s episode, we discuss West Side Story (1961). The film is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name created by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the musical tells the story of Maria and Tony, two young lovers from opposing sides of a gang conflict between two New York City gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. The film went on to win 10 Academy awards including Best Picture and a remake, directed by Steven Spielberg, is due to be

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01:14:26

35. Crash (1996)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/05/10

In this week’s episode, we discuss Crash, the controversial 1996 David Cronenberg sex fest. The film, which caused a media uproar in several countries, depicts a group of characters who engage in a car crash fetish. Despite mixed reactions from critics, the film did win a Special Jury Prize at Cannes, much to the chagrin of jury president Francis Ford Coppola. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching/Playing (00:00:55) Donnchadh – ZeroZeroZero, For All Mankind, Sharp Objects, Line of Duty, The Mitchells

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58:38

34. Biutiful (2010)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/05/03

This week, we discuss Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 2010 film Biutiful, starring Javier Bardem. The film, a fairly grim tale, bridges the gap between the Death trilogy (Amores Perros, 21 Grams & Babel) and what came after (Birdman & The Revenant). Despite a mixed critical reception, the film received 2 Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film. *** The podcast has a new format. From now on, we will only be discussing the film which wins the coin toss. If you would like to

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01:23:33

33. Blackhat (2015) & Collateral (2004)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/04/26

This week we discuss two films from American screenwriter and director Michael Mann. The first is Blackhat (2015), starring Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, as a blackhat hacker named Hathaway. The film, Mann’s most recent, was a giant financial flop. The second is Collateral (2004), starring Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise. An LA cabbie unwillingly drives an assassin around the city as he bumps off witnesses and key players in a cartel court case. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching/Playing

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01:24:32

32. The Irishman (2019) & Casino (1995)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/04/19

This week we discuss two critically acclaimed mafia films from one of cinema’s greats, Martin Scorsese. The first is The Irishman (2019), starring Robert De Niro, as mob hitman Frank Sheeran, and Al Pacino, as teamster president Jimmy Hoffa. The film, the budget of which allegedly spiralled to around the $250 million mark, was eventually acquired by Netflix and earned 10 Oscar nominations. The second is Casino (1995), starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci as Vegas mob men. This film, which was based

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01:06:32

31. Insomnia (1997) + (2002) & Pickpocket (1959)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/04/12

This week we discuss three films which are linked thematically to Crime and Punishment. The first and second are both versions of Insomnia. The (1997) original, directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg and starring Stellan Skarsgård, depicts a detective who is wracked with guilt after crossing a series of moral lines, leading to an extreme bout of insomnia. Christopher Nolan’s (2002) remake, starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, see events relocated to Alaska and Nolan approaching the source material from a

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01:07:06

30. Touki Bouki (1973) & Scarecrow (1973)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/04/05

This week we discuss two films which were screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. The first is Touki Bouki (1973), a Senegalese drama directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty. The film was restored in 2008 thanks to Martin Scorsese and the World Cinema Foundation. The second is Scarecrow (1973), starring Al Pacino and Gene Hackman. The film, although a box office bomb, shared the Grand Prix at Cannes. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching (00:01:00) Andy – Save Me, The Comedy Store, Baby

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01:27:28

29. The Films of Cate Shortland - Somersault (2004),...

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/03/29

This week we discuss the films of acclaimed Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland. The first is Somersault (2004), a coming-of-age drama starring Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington. The film, set in the Australian ski resort of Jindabyne, is a beautifully shot, powerful insight into the life of an emotionally troubled young runaway and the men who she interacts with. The second is Lore (2012), a drama set in the final days of WW2. A young girl, and Hitler youth member, must take her siblings on a long

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01:08:00

28. The Year My Voice Broke (1987) & Wake in Fright...

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/03/22

This week we discuss two classic Australian films. The first is The Year My Voice Broke (1987), a coming-of-age tale written and directed by John Duigan. The film features early performances from Noah Taylor and Ben Mendelsohn and was followed by a sequel, Flirting (1991). The second is Wake in Fright (1971), starring Gary Bond and Donald Pleasence. This film tells the story of a young teacher trapped in an outback town who succumbs to a spiral of drink, gambling and general

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01:02:15

27. Juwanna Mann (2002) & Dressed to Kill (1980)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/03/15

This week we discuss two films which feature male actors dressing as women. The first is Juwanna Mann (2002), a romantic comedy starring Miguel A. Núñez Jr and Vivica A. Fox. The film tells the story of Jamal Jeffries, a basketball player who, upon getting banned from the league, chooses to disguise himself as a woman, Juwanna Mann, to play on a fictional WNBA team. The second is Dressed to Kill (1980), starring Angie Dickinson, Michael Caine and Nancy Allen. The film, written and directed by Brian

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01:09:18

26. Embrace of the Serpent (2015) & The Lost City of...

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/03/08

This week we discuss two films which feature explorers on journeys on the Amazon. The first is Embrace of the Serpent (2015), a story from the perspective of Karamakate, a native who interacts with two white explorers on their respective treks to find the elusive yakruna plant 30 years apart. The film was Colombia’s first ever Oscar nominee. The second is The Lost City of Z (2016), starring Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson. The film, directed by James Gray, tells the story of Percy Fawcett, a

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01:15:24

25. Beau Travail (1999) & High Life (2018)

Call It, Friendo ·

2021/03/01

This week we discuss two films from acclaimed French filmmaker Claire Denis. The first is Beau Travail (1999), a loose adaptation of Herman Melville’s 1891 novella Billy Budd. The film centres on a group of French legionnaires serving in Djibouti. The second is High Life (2018), starring Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche. The film tells the story of a group of convicted death row inmates sent into space for the purposes of black hole experimentation. Timestamps What We’ve Been Watching

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