The Life of a Showgirl: A Queer Cinema Catchup Review

In this week's Queer Cinema Catchup, Allison and Joe are joined by the wonderful Tyler from Locked Off Logic podcast to discuss season 1 of the Amazon Prime series Fallout. Each describes their relationship to the Fallout video game on which the series is based and together break down the intricate storylines of the show's main characters, Lucy, the Ghoul, and Maximus. They also share their thoughts on what to expect from the highly anticipated Season 2, complete with potential plot directions and character developments. 00:00 The Fallout Time Warp00:33 Welcome to the Podcast00:48 Diving into Fallout Season One01:38 Media & Video Games02:20 The Last of Us Connection02:49 Fallout: A Deep Dive into the Game04:46 The Fallout World Explained09:32 Character Breakdown: Lucy, Cooper/The Ghoul, and Maximus12:31 The Moral Dilemmas of Fallout23:47 The Raiders and the Brotherhood of Steel27:04 Real-World Parallels41:23 The Preppers' Perspective44:06 Survivalists and Vaults: A Catch-2245:34 The Internet and Anonymity46:26 Character Archetypes in Fallout50:31 Season Two Speculations52:18 Video Game Adaptations: The Good and the Bad56:06 The Last of Us: A Deeper Dive58:18 Companions in Fallout01:11:42 Media Recommendations and Queer Representation01:24:12 Casting the Queer Cinema Catchup Movie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Queer Cinema Catchup, Joe and Allison are once again joined by the excellent Nick and Joseph of Fish Jelly to delve into another Tennessee Williams' adaptation. This time it's the 1964 film 'The Night of the Iguana' directed by John Huston and starring Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr, and Sue Lyon. Together explore the complex themes of desire, spirituality, and salvation and share their thoughts on the performances, particularly praising Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr, while critiquing some of the casting choices. They also touch on the queer subtext, Tennessee Williams’ broader oeuvre, and how the film compares to other adaptations of his works. Closing thoughts include reflections on what could be improved and the lasting impact of the film.00:14 Introducing the Movie: The Night of the Iguana00:45 Plot Summary and Key Characters02:13 Initial Reactions and Movie Context04:38 In-depth Analysis and Comparisons07:03 Character Dynamics and Performances11:26 Symbolism and Themes17:03 Production Insights and Behind the Scenes36:39 Maxine's Jealousy and Misunderstandings37:22 Hannah's True Motives38:05 Shannon's Realism and Hustling38:33 Philosophical Reflections40:16 Maxine's Confrontation with Miss Judith40:47 Miss Judith's Obsession with Charlotte46:19 Hannah's Love Experiences48:44 The Iguana and Symbolism52:00 Differences Between the Play and the Movie54:38 Queer Themes and Interpretations57:26 Tennessee Williams' Legacy01:11:49 Behind the Scenes Drama01:12:39 Dysentery and Filming Anecdotes01:13:49 Emily Dickinson's Poem and Its Interpretation01:15:13 Themes of Death and Connection01:16:33 Reception and Oscar Nominations01:21:41 Potential for Remakes and Character Analysis01:29:39 Final Thoughts and Ratings01:32:08 Upcoming Reviews and Recommendations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Queer Cinema Catchup, Allison and Joe interview writer and co-executive producer Andrea Ciannavei about the new Netflix's military comedy drama Boots starring Miles Heizer and based on the memoir The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White. 00:27 The Journey of 'Boots' from Memoir to TV Show02:48 The Impact of the Writer and Actors' Strikes on Production04:19 The Collaborative Nature of TV 06:56 The Writer's Room13:41 Exploring Themes of Otherness and Belonging30:52 Navigating the Tone of the Show31:42 Character Development and Humanization32:16 Creating an Ensemble Cast33:50 Audience Empathy and Character Arcs38:03 The Role of Themes in Storytelling 40:08 The Role of Editing in Storytelling42:49 Complexity of Military Life and Character Building53:26 Shoutout to the Writers and Crew56:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Queer Cinema Catchup, Allison and Joe take a critical look at Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 film adaptation of 'Frankenstein' starring Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, and Christopher Waltz. They discuss the film's unique take on Mary Shelley’s classic novel; the thematic elements of desire, death, and disappointment; and the historical context of the Romantic and Enlightenment periods.01:06 Personal Connections to Frankenstein06:33 Discussing the Film Adaptation08:28 Critique of the Film's Ending11:09 Comparing the Film to the Book33:24 Reflecting on the Creature's Appearance34:00 Casting Choices and Their Impact36:14 Exploring the Romantic Movement38:20 The Enlightenment vs. Romanticism53:00 Mary Shelley's Life and Influences01:04:22 Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein01:11:21 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Queer Cinema Catchup, Allison and Joe discuss the new Mae Martin Netflix series Wayward with staff writer Alex Eldridge. Their conversation covers the show's unique approach to genre; the importance of research and character to the writing process; queer representation within the world of the show; favorite moments and scenes; and where the story might be heading next. Eldridge also shares his personal journey toward screenwriting. Finally, Allison and Joe share their own thoughts on what got them hooked on Wayward and where they hope the show might go if renewed for another season. 00:00 Welcome to Queer Cinema Catchup00:07 Special Guest: Alex Eldridge from Netflix's Wayward01:24 Inside the Writer's Room03:36 Crafting a Unique Genre Blend04:29 Real-Life Inspiration Behind Wayward10:15 Themes & Character Development34:38 Queer Representation50:04 Challenges in Writing the Show52:17 The Leap53:04 Unresolved Mysteries and Viewer Theories55:06 Personal Reflections 56:43 Alex Eldridge's Career Journey01:02:43 Advice for Aspiring Screenwriters01:05:28 Deep Dive into Wayward's Themes01:16:27 Comparing Wayward to Other Shows01:25:21 Speculations and Theories about the Show01:29:48 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Queer Cinema Catchup, Joe and Allison return to one of their favorite topics -- Taylor Swift -- to review her newest album 'The Life of a Showgirl.' They share their initial reactions; explore the album's perhaps overlooked lyrical depth; and contextualize Swift’s artistry within her broader career. 00:47 Previous Queer Cinema Catchup Music Reviews01:06  'The Life of a Showgirl' Album Intro 01:41 Personal Listening Experiences01:55 Analyzing Taylor Swift's Lyrics and Themes03:34 Online Reactions and Personal Reflections08:31 Unboxing Showgirl Merchandise10:30 Track-by-Track Album Review16:25: 'The Life of a Showgirl' Should be Considered First 20:05 'The Fate of Ophelia'31:08 'Elizabeth Taylor'38:24 'Opalite' 45:27 'Father Figure'57:25  'Eldest Daughter'01:01:04 'Ruin the Friendship'01:07:11 'Actually Romantic': The Gayest Song on the Album?01:10:06 'Wishlist'01:14:13 'Wood'01:15:51 'Cancelled!'01:23:34 'Honey'01:30:28 Final Thoughts and Reflections Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Queer Cinema Catchup! To kick of season two, Joe and Allison dissect the 2025 psychological drama thriller 'Lurker' directed by Alex Russell and starring Theodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe. The movie explores the dark ascent of protagonist Matthew Morning as he transforms from awkward retail worker to dangerous member of pop musician Oliver's entourage. This episode focuses in on the film’s portrayal of obsession, male jealousy, queer desire, and the more disturbing elements of fame. Joe shares his anxious experience watching the film, while Allison reveals how a rewatch changed her initial perception. Key scenes like the charged recording studio encounter and the impromptu wrestling match are broken down beat by beat.00:00 Introduction to 'Lurker': Expectations vs. Reality01:01 Podcast Hosts Introduce Themselves01:13 First Impressions and Viewing Experiences03:38 Character Analysis: Michael and Oliver10:40 Director Alex Russell's Background12:37 Q&A Insights and Behind the Scenes16:07 Music & Film Industry Realism in 'Lurker'19:23 The Wrestling Scene26:39 The Recording Studio Scene30:08 Final Thoughts and Meta Interpretations35:31 Comparing Characters Across Films Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the season one finale of Queer Cinema Catchup, hosts Joe and Allison delve into the new romantic comedy 'A Nice Indian Boy,' directed by Roshan Sethi and based on Madhuri Shekar's acclaimed play of the same name, and interview the film's screenwriter, Eric Randall (48:10). Starring Karan Soni as Naveen and Jonathan Groff as Jay, A Nice Indian Boy explores the relationship between love, identity, family, and cultural expectations. The film premiered at South by Southwest in March 2024 and has garnered critical acclaim. Joe and Allison share their thoughts on the film's heartfelt portrayal of queer love, while Eric shares insights into the adaptation and writing process, the challenges of translating a play to the screen, and his journey as a screenwriter. Tune in for an in-depth discussion and an exclusive interview with the talented writer behind this excellent film.00:00 Introduction to 'A Nice Indian Boy'01:04 Meet the Hosts: Joe and Allison01:27 Special Episode: Interview with Screenwriter Eric Randall (48:10)02:28 Diving into the Movie: Initial Impressions03:49 Exploring Themes: Family and Queer Identity05:14 Cultural Context and Bollywood Influence06:43 Character Analysis: Naveen and Jay08:07 Romantic Comedy Tropes and Realism11:15 The Impact of Family Dynamics38:05 The Proposal Scene: A Turning Point44:59 Rising Tensions and Jay's Realization45:30 Jay's Emotional Struggles and Family Dynamics47:01 Introduction to Eric Randall56:33 Adapting 'A Nice Indian Boy'59:02 Character Development and Personal Experiences01:06:34 The Collaboration Process 01:13:32 Comedy and Improvisation in Filmmaking01:24:17 Future Projects and Advice for Writers01:29:39 Joe's Wedding Videographer Nightmare01:39:09 Final Thoughts and Farewell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Queer Cinema Catchup, Joe and Allison delve into the 2016 Oscar-winning film 'Moonlight.' Joe experiences the film for the first time while Allison provides her take after a fourth viewing. They discuss the film's structure; key themes of masking and vulnerability; pivotal scenes; and some background information about the filmmaking process. 00:02 Intro to Moonlight00:30 Oscar Fiasco and Initial Thoughts01:08 Plot Overview and Key Themes02:33 Character Analysis and Emotional Impact03:37 Structure and Storytelling Techniques05:23 Personal Reflections and Cultural Significance08:47 Comparisons and Final Thoughts33:10 Behind the Scenes and Filming Challenges35:02 Exploring Barry Jenkins' Filmography36:46 The Editing Process of 'Moonlight'44:04 Personal Reflections re: Queerness, Masculinity, and Identity 59:12 Memory Lane 01:04:51 Final Thoughts on 'Moonlight' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Queer Cinema Catchup, Joe and Allison discuss the 2006 film 'Stick It,' exploring its themes, character dynamics, and queer undercurrents. They react to the rebellious protagonist, Haley Graham; her unique journey through the rigid world of elite gymnastics; and her interactions with her coach (Jeff Bridges) and teammates. 00:00 Introduction to 'Stick It'00:43 Initial Impressions01:29 Plot Overview and Character Analysis03:16 Queer Themes and Gender Norms04:50 Comparisons to Other Teen Movies07:38 Gymnastics and Realism in 'Stick It'09:49 Memorable Moments and Cultural Impact22:34 Voiceover and Cinematic Techniques31:17 Team Dynamics32:01 Comparing 'Stick It' to Other Films33:47 Character Analysis: Haley35:46 Gender and Character Perception40:01 Queer Representation51:55 Sports and Personal Experiences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.