Because You Watched...

It’s a special episode! Talking for the first time ever about this new-fangled invention called TELEVISION? What is it and how will it affect society going forward? Joining Charlie this week on a special Let’s Talk is our friend Antonia Strafford-Taylor and they discuss the series finale of HBO’s Succession, Season 3 Episode 10, With Open Eyes (dir. Mark Mylod, 2023). Listen to a slightly delirious discussion about Straff’s experience watching a live screening at the BFI, how Chicken Run’s Mrs Tweedy should be the gold standard for female villainy and what makes Succession’s twisted corporate world so damn special.

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. In other words, they’re ooky. It’s… Charlie and Francesco? Welcome to another episode of Let’s Talk… This week, they delve into the dark, twisted recesses of cinema to talk about two movies that dared ask the horrifying question: What if a married couple really liked each other? Charlie and Francesco talk The Addams Family (dir. Barry Sonnenfeld, 1991) and its (allegedly superior) sequel, Addams Family Values (dir. Barry Sonnenfeld, 1993). Join them as they talk ghouls, goths, weird uncles, and the prodigal brilliance of Christina Ricci. Also, which host is Gomez, and which is Fester?

After a brief hiatus, this podcast has risen from the dead and soon it will unleash devastation upon the earth, the likes of which you could not imagine. But in the meantime, please enjoy this lovely episode in which Charlie and Francesco are joined by Lydia Stone to discuss The Mummy (dir. Stephen Summers, 1999). After that, they talk about Brendan Fraser’s other Universal Monsters tribute, Gods and Monsters (dir. Bill Condon, 1998), arguable comedy horror, The Love Witch (dir. Anna Biller, 2016), before ending on a legend’s final directorial outing, Dracula: Dead and Loving It (dir. Mel Brooks, 1995).

“No matter where you go, there you are.” With Francesco abducted by the devious red lectroids, Charlie enlists the help of Blue Blaze Irregular and friend of the podcast, Fionn Creber to discuss the seminal cult classic sci-fi, comedy, masterpiece, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (dir. W.D. Richter, 1984). Join them as they discuss whether adventurer, surgeon, rock musician Buckaroo Banzai is indeed the hero we need right now and how underrated the marvellous Peter Weller is as a bona fide movie star. Also making cameo appearances from Peter McNamara and Chief Skerritt Correspondent William Smith.

“I’m not the Francesco who wants to stop podcasting with you. I’m the Francesco who is saving your life.” This week, Charlie and Francesco are joined by David Rosen from the Piecing It Together podcast to discuss the mind-bending runaway hit, Everything Everywhere All at Once (dir. Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan, 2022). After that, they talk about a Hong Kong ghost romance, Love in the Time of Twilight (dir. Tsui Hark, 1995), the martial arts movie that launched Michelle Yeoh to stardom, Yes Madam! (dir. Corey Yuen, 1985), and the French surreal fantasy, The Science of Sleep (dir. Michel Gondry, 2006).

Yeah... I'm thinking I'm Let's Talking... The boys are back and they're fighting assassins and ninjas left and right. Even so, they still managed to find time to record this episode on John Wick: Chapter 4 (dir. Chad Stahelski, 2023) and how a story about a man who lost his dog became our favourite franchise. Including a special guest appearance to discuss the incredible fashion in the film. Enjoy the show!

“Maybe that's what hell is, the entire rest of eternity spent listening to Because You Watched...” Welcome back to the show! This week Francesco and Charlie are joined by Fionn Creber to discuss everybody’s favourite tourism hitman comedy, In Bruges (dir. Martin McDonagh, 2008). After that, they discuss the tense crime drama, Mikey and Nicky (dir. Elaine May, 1976), bounty hunter road movie, Midnight Run (dir. Martin Brest, 1988), before finishing with another debut crime comedy from another member of the McDonagh clan, The Guard (dir. John Michael McDonagh, 2011). Stick around for our lengthy discussions on Brendan Gleeson’s face.

We're back and it's the Oscars! Or it’s shortly after the Oscars. Join two hosts that weren't asked to present the Academy Awards this year and listen to Charlie and Francesco’s reaction to the winners. That’s right! It’s the biggest night in Hollywood and for furious tweeting by film nerds all over the world. It might be fair to say that we have some opinions about what went down. What went down? Everything. Where did it go down? Everywhere. And when did it go down? It went down on Sunday evening at the Dolby Theatre. Please enjoy our silly episode!

It’s the most exciting night of the year for movie lovers! No, it’s not that other award show, but the BYW Awards. Joined by their good friend, Chavonne Brown, Charlie and Francesco give out awards for the best films of the year! Each award was voted on and presented by our friends and former guests, listen out for introductions by your favourites! Frankly, it’s the only awards show you need to worry about, and it is objectively and universally correct in every way. That’s the Because You Watched… guarantee. More importantly, it doesn’t last three hours and isn’t on at midnight.

Can-can-can you believe it’s time for another episode of Because You Watched…? This week, we return to the most musical genre to ever be put to film: the musical! Joined once again by returning guest Katie Paterson, Charlie and Francesco talk the maximalist jukebox musical, Moulin Rouge (dir. Baz Luhrman, 2001). After that, they discuss the camp rock opera with a character called Beef, Phantom of the Paradise (dir. Brian De Palma, 1974), romantic musical tragedy Annette (dir. Leos Carax, 2021), and end on the cinematic love letter to a Broadway legend, Tick, Tick… Boom! (dir. Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2021). Spectacular spectacular!