x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

01:14:19

177. Vigil (1984) & Days of Heaven (1978)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/06/01

This week, we discuss two films that quietly explore isolation, beauty and the passage of time.The first is Vigil (1984), which follows a young girl in rural New Zealand as she navigates grief, and a mysterious new presence, after her father's death. The second is Days of Heaven (1978), which captures the tragedy of a love triangle set against the sweeping landscapes of the American frontier. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:00) – American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, The Phoenician

en

01:17:34

176. In the Cut (2003) & The Piano (1993)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/05/25

This week, we discuss two films from acclaimed director Jane Campion. The first is In the Cut (2003), a psychological thriller that delves into desire and danger as a woman becomes entangled in a murder investigation. The second is The Piano (1993), which tells the haunting story of a mute pianist whose arranged marriage in colonial New Zealand ignites a turbulent journey of passion and autonomy. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:00) – Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound, Wild Zero, Mission:

en

01:19:39

175. Aniara (2018) & Melancholia (2011)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/05/18

This week, we discuss two depressing Scandinavian films.The first is Aniara (2018), which follows a spaceship of passengers drifting hopelessly through space, confronting existential despair after veering off course. The second is Melancholia (2011), which centres on two sisters grappling with personal and cosmic doom as a rogue planet threatens to destroy Earth. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:00) – Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Andor

en

01:41:07

174. The Witches of Eastwick (1987) & Terms of...

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/05/11

This week, we discuss two films starring Jack Nicholson. The first is The Witches of Eastwick (1987), which blends dark comedy and supernatural chaos as three women discover their powers, and a devilish visitor, in a small town. The second is Terms of Endearment (1983), which traces the complex, tender and often turbulent bond between a mother and daughter over decades of love and loss. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:00) – Dig! XX, Sinners, Thunderbolts*, A Real Pain, Warfare The

en

01:38:35

173. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) & Silence...

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/04/27

This week, we discuss two Martin Scorsese films dealing with Christianity.The first is The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), which presents a deeply human portrait of Jesus, torn between divine duty and earthly desires. The second is Silence (2016), which follows two Jesuit priests facing persecution and crisis of faith while searching for their mentor in 17th-century Japan. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:03) – Civil War, Drop, Spotlight The Last Temptation of Christ

en

01:38:28

172. North Dallas Forty (1979) & Breaking Away (1979)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/04/20

This week, we discuss two American sports films from 1979. The first is North Dallas Forty (1979), which exposes the gritty underside of professional American football, where painkillers, politics and profit overshadow the game The second is Breaking Away (1979), which follows a group of working-class friends navigating identity, dreams and class divisions in a college town through the lens of competitive cycling. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:00) – The Last of Us S02E01,

en

01:08:21

171. Black Narcissus (1947) & The Life and Death of...

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/04/13

This week, we discuss two classic British films from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.The first is Black Narcissus (1947), which explores the psychological unraveling of nuns in a remote Himalayan convent as desire and isolation take hold. The second is The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), which traces the life of a British officer through love, war and friendship, challenging ideas of honour and aging. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:00) – Andor season one, The White Lotus

en

01:36:21

170. Peterloo (2018) & The Wind that Shakes the...

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/04/06

This week, we discuss two historical dramas about political resistance.The first is Peterloo (2018), which tells the harrowing story of the 1819 massacre in Manchester, where peaceful protesters were met with deadly force while demanding political reform. The second is The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006), which follows two brothers caught on opposite sides of Ireland’s fight for independence and the ensuing civil war. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:00) – Better Call Saul, Threads,

en

01:19:09

169. The Funhouse (1981) & Poltergeist (1982)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/03/30

This week, we discuss two horror films from director Tobe Hooper.The first is The Funhouse (1981), which follows a group of teens who sneak into a carnival funhouse for a night of thrills, only to be hunted by a monstrous killer lurking within. The second is Poltergeist (1982), which tells the story of a suburban family whose home becomes haunted by vengeful spirits, leading to a desperate fight to rescue their youngest daughter from the supernatural realm. Timestamps What we’ve been watching

en

01:16:52

168. Cloud Atlas (2012) & Bound (1996)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/03/23

This week, we discuss two films from the Wachowski siblings.The first is Cloud Atlas (2012), an epic science fiction film which weaves together six interconnected stories across time and space, exploring how individual actions ripple through history to shape destinies. The second is Bound (1996), a neo-noir erotic crime thriller where two women plot to steal from the mob, igniting a tense game of deception, passion and survival. Timestamps What we’ve been watching (00:01:02) – Adolescence, Black

en

01:27:10

167. Brother (1997) & Come and See (1985)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/03/16

This week, we discuss two films which delve into the Soviet/Russian psyche. The first is Brother (1997), a neo-noir crime drama which follows a young Russian veteran navigating the criminal underworld of post-Soviet Saint Petersburg, where his code of honor and survival instincts are tested amid violence and betrayal. The second is Come and See (1985), a harrowing journey through the horrors of World War II, as a Belarusian boy witnesses the unimaginable brutality of the Nazi invasion, leaving him

en

01:10:45

166. Matewan (1987) & Lone Star (1996)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/03/09

This week, we discuss two films written and directed by John Sayles.The first is Matewan (1987), an historical drama which depicts a tense labour struggle in 1920s West Virginia, where coal miners, faced with brutal oppression from company enforcers, unite in a fight for their rights. The second is Lone Star (1996), a neo-Western which unravels a decades-old mystery in a Texas border town, as a sheriff investigating a skeleton’s discovery uncovers buried secrets that challenge his understanding of

en

01:21:52

165. Chimes at Midnight (1966) & Touch of Evil (1958)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/03/02

This week, we discuss two films starring, written and directed by Orson Welles.The first is Chimes at Midnight (1966), an historical comedy which follows the rise and fall of Sir John Falstaff, a boisterous yet tragic figure caught between loyalty and political upheaval in Shakespearean England. The second is Touch of Evil (1958), a noir thriller about corruption and moral decay, as a Mexican detective clashes with a ruthless American police captain while investigating a murder on the U.S.-Mexico

en

01:14:22

164. Purple Noon (1960) & The Red Circle (1970)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/02/23

This week, we discuss two films starring French actor Alain Delon. The first is Purple Noon (1960), an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel “The Talented Mr. Ripley”. In the film, a young man becomes entangled in deception and identity theft while vacationing on the Italian coast, leading to dangerous consequences. The second is The Red Circle (1970), a crime thriller written and directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. The plot sees an ex-convict, a fugitive and a former policeman cross paths and

en

01:21:39

163. Vox Lux (2018) & Mysterious Skin (2004)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/02/09

This week, we discuss two films involving Brady Corbet, the director of The Brutalist. The first is Vox Lux (2018), a musical drama written and directed by Brady Corbet, from a story by Corbet and Mona Fastvold. It follows a pop star who rises to fame after a traumatic event, exploring the intersection of celebrity and personal history. The second is Mysterious Skin (2004), a coming-of-age drama written, produced and directed by Gregg Araki, adapted from Scott Heim's 1995 novel of the same name. The

en

01:18:57

162. Daughters of Darkness (1971) & Near Dark (1987)

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/02/02

This week, we discuss two vampire films.The first is Daughters of Darkness (1971), an erotic horror film co-written and directed by Harry Kümel and starring Delphine Seyrig, John Karlen, Andrea Rau and Danielle Ouimet. A newlywed couple's honeymoon at a deserted seaside hotel takes a sinister turn when they encounter the enigmatic Countess Bathory, whose seductive and vampiric nature threatens to consume them. The second is Near Dark (1987), a neo-Western horror film co-written and directed by

en

01:13:57

Bonus: The Films That Formed Me - Andy J Ritchie

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/01/12

This week, Andy J Ritchie goes through the 10 films that formed him, featuring discussion of pre-9/11 optimism, sad bastard music and the most Scottish form of revenge.Next week, we’re back to regular programming with Daughters of Darkness and Near Dark, so get them watched now! Links Instagram - @callitfriendopodcast @munnywales @andyjayritchie Letterboxd – @andycifpod @fat-tits mcmahon Justwatch.com – streaming and rental links - https://www.justwatch.com

en

01:09:27

Bonus: The Films That Formed Me - Donnchadh Tiernan

Call It, Friendo ·

2025/01/05

This week, we change things up with a completely original idea that was definitely not stolen from a popular film podcast. In this bonus episode, Donnchadh Tiernan runs down his 10 most formative films, surprisingly few of which feature gratuitous nudity.Links Instagram - @callitfriendopodcast @munnywales @andyjayritchie Letterboxd – @andycifpod @fat-tits mcmahon Justwatch.com – streaming and rental links - https://www.justwatch.com

en

01:16:58

161. The Best of 2024

Call It, Friendo ·

2024/12/28

This week, we wrap up our best of 2024.We talk about: The top 5 films we watched for the podcast this year The worst film we watched Favourite films of 2024 Biggest disappointment of 2024 Favourite TV series Favourite albums Favourite games Most anticipated for 2025 Thanks for listening! See you in 2025! Links Instagram - @callitfriendopodcast @munnywales @andyjayritchie Letterboxd – @andycifpod @fat-tits mcmahon Justwatch.com – streaming and rental links - https://www.justwatch.com

en

01:22:30

160. The Front (1976) & Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Call It, Friendo ·

2024/12/22

This week, we discuss two films which take a satirical look at the Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s. The first is The Front (1976), starring Woody Allen as a schmuck who serves as a front for a group of blacklisted writers. Several people involved in the making of the film, including the director, writer and a number of actors, had actually been blacklisted in the early ‘50s. The second is Hail, Caesar! (2016), written and directed by the Coen brothers. It is a fictional story that follows the

en

204 results

Similar Podcasts

BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

David Yontef

Nerd Culture - A Gamekings Podcast

Blammo Media

UPodcast

UPodcast

The Writers Hangout

Sandy Adomaitis

The Sarah Fraser Show

Sarah Fraser