Cinema Bones

CW: Police brutality, racism, and sexual assault discussed in relation to the plot and themes of the film. After an extended (and accidental) hiatus, Masie & Stuart are finally back with a new monthly schedule to dissect the unfortunately topical 1995 Kathryn Bigelow cyberpunk action film Strange Days. Starring Ralph Fiennes as the most pathetic ex-cop ever dealing street illegal VR-esque tech on New Year's Eve in the near future 1999, Strange Days is a shockingly prescient film in its portrayal of the evils of police brutality and racism. Does it nail its conclusions on these topics though? And does Angela Bassett slay so hard that its easy to overlook those faults? Tune in to find out!   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Additional Reading/Sources: Kathryn Bigelow's Commentary on Filming the POV Sequences FilmScouts Interview with Bigelow and Co-Screenwriter Jay Cocks Juliette Lewis, PJ Harvey Article from LA Times LA Time's Article about New Year's Eve Party Created during the Film's Production Christian Science Monitor Article on Strange Days Featuring Comments from Bigelow  

In this episode, Masie & Stuart close out their examination of the filmography of Goro Miyazaki by checking out his second feature film, From Up On Poppy Hill. Has Goro learned any lessons from his first directorial outing with Tales from Earthsea? Or does he crash straight downhill? Listen as our hosts discuss this film's interesting historical setting, architecture, and character designs, but also its bizarre romantic conflict and mayhaps overly nostalgic perspective of 1960's Showa-era Japan.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Additional Reading/Sources: Inside Studio Ghibli's From Up on Poppy Hill: Grounding a Romance in Memories NYT Interview with Goro Miyazaki

In this episode, Masie and Stuart take a boat to the fantasy lands of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea book series for Studio Ghibli's 2006 adaptation titled Tales from Earthsea. Along with the director Goro Miyazaki, this film has quite a negative reputation among Ghibli's otherwise illustrious catalogue of animated productions. But does it deserve said reputation? Well, our hosts on their travels unfortunately find a film with a strong lack of visual identity and craft with a script that is... confusing to say the least. Tune into our hosts journey through turbulent waters as they discuss its strange adaptation decisions as well as how the film points to Ghibli's weaknesses as a studio.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Additional Reading/Sources: Interview with Toshio Suzuki about the Production of Tales from Earthsea Archive of Ursula K. Le Guin's Response to the Tales from Earthsea  

In this episode, Masie & Stuart finally wrap up their pride month duo after a moving hiatus by digging up the 2017 queer coming of age film Call Me By Your Name. A critical and financial success upon its release, Luca Guadagnino and James Ivory's film adaptation of Andre Aciman's novel has garnered a much messier reputation in the eight years since due to its age gap romance and the unfortunate presence of actor Armie Hammer. Our hosts explore the film's beautiful Italian vistas and often great performances and cinematography, while trying to untangle and dissect the many troubling elements tarnishing this film's ongoing legacy in gay cinema.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Additional Reading/Sources: We Need to Talk About Call Me By Your Name - Video Essay by Lola Sebastian Spanish Article with Andre Aciman's Comments about Taboo

In this episode, Masie & Stuart celebrate pride month by watching Andrew Ahn's 2022 film Fire Island, a loose adaptation of Pride and Prejudice set on the titular gay resort. As queer fans of Jane Austen, our hosts find much to admire in this film's smart adaptation decisions and joyful, but critical examination of gay male community that subverts and examines stereotypes around race, class, and body type. Listen as they gush about the authentic cast of gay actors, recount the film's many good romcom moments, and discuss the parts of the script that could've been cut or used a bit more consideration.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Additional Reading/Sources: Filmmaker Magazine Interview with Director Andrew Ahn

In this episode, Masie & Stuart arrive in a galaxy far far away to complete their tribunal of JJ Abram's by covering Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Unearthing over a decade of mixed (mostly negative) feelings about this sequel trilogy, our hosts find that while they are still compelled by the characters and their actors' performances, there are many early signs of the confused, aimless direction future sequel entries would take. Listen as our hosts discuss the film's awkward copy and pasting from the structure and character arcs of A New Hope and eventually devolve into a full dissection of the Walt Disney Corporation and it's many baffling executive and creative decisions with this trilogy.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Additional Reading/Sources: Jenny Nicholson's Star Wars Hotel Review Disney Plus Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In this episode, Masie & Stuart begin an epic journey into space to examine the sci-fi franchise reboots of director JJ Abrams. Beginning with his 2009 Star Trek film, our hosts find much to appreciate about the movie's casting and set design. However, our resident Trekkie Masie has more than a few critiques. From 2009-era misogyny, to a script more interested in being high octane and action-packed than it is in expanding upon the unique qualities of the beloved original TV series, our hosts find themselves warping through complaints faster than the film does through its many action set pieces.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.

In this episode, Masie & Stuart return to the world of animation to cover the strange 2002 anime film, A Tree of Palme, directed by Takashi Nakamura. A critical and financial failure upon its release, this odd Pinocchio-inspired sci-fi adventure movie has faded into obscurity over the years, but our hosts are here to spread the word that this film may be deserving of a reappraisal! Listen as they discuss its gorgeous art design and fascinating worldbuilding, as well as its overstuffed and often confusing script.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Addtional Reading: Tree of Palme ADV Films DVD Booklet Animetudes: Takashi Nakamura

In this episode, Masie & Stuart finally enter the world of animation by discussing the 2023 film Nimona. Rescued from Disney's closure of its production studio, our hosts find plenty to appreciate about this queer kid's adventure flick. How does it hold up compared to the original graphic novel by ND Stevenson though? Listen as our hosts discuss the film's lovable characters and crazy production history, as well as its many strange adaptation decisions.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Addtional Reading: Disney Disapproved Same Sex Kiss in Nimona How Nimona Rose From The Ashes of Blue Sky Studios by Jade King The Second Coming of Megan Ellison  

In this episode, Masie & Stuart get kidnapped and taken on a crazy roadtrip by Jonathan Demme's 1986 comedy-thriller film Something Wild. The second part of Stuart's pairing of manic-pixie dream girl films, our hosts find much to discuss about this film whose tone, characters, and plot developments are truly... well, wild. Listen as our hosts gush about the film's shockingly likable male protagonist, Melanie Griffith's iconic (but sometimes culturally questionable) costuming, the main couple's interesting power dynamics, and more in the longest episode of Cinema Bones released yet.   Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cinema_bones Follow Us on Social Media @ Cinema_Bones on Instagram and Letterboxd for podcast updates.   Addtional Reading: Something Wild: Wild Things - Criterion Essay Jonathan Demme Video Interview Referenced in the Episode is Available on the Criterion Collection Blu-Ray Release. Check it out from your local library!