Author: Lani
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Mysteries, Anyone?
I’ve been underwater here for awhile (mentally, not the river), letting down everybody I know, and I’m trying to claw my way out, so tonight I sat with Lani and Alastair and talked at one point about how PopD has, sort of, lost its way. When we started, it was a project for Lani and…
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Ep. 53: Ocean’s 11
George Clooney’s Danny Ocean wants the impossible — to steal $150 million from the three largest casinos in Las Vegas, and to make the audience care about his relationship with Julia Roberts. Spoilers: he’s only half successful. Get the podcast: [Listen here at PopD] | [Go to iTunes] Story Analysis & Ratings: Lucy says: 5…
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Older And Wiser
Hi everyone, this is Alastair. Sorry about The Italian Job. Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of Popcorn Dialogues — or at least, it’s one year since the first movie podcast, which was actually the second episode, but who’s counting? — and to celebrate, I put together a bonus episode looking back at the series of…
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TV Beginnings
We have one more movie left in our Heists and Capers season, and then we’re moving on to a series of TV shows to look at how they build communities of characters, and how they’re developed over time. We’ll watch two episodes of each show back-to-back; to make things easier, we’ve compiled a list of…
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Ep. 52: Out of Sight
A spark of romance entwines the stories of a career bank robber and a US Marshal in this beautifully-constructed story. Get the podcast: [Listen here at PopD] | [Go to iTunes] Story Analysis & Ratings: Alastair says: 5 Pops ~ This smart, slick, sexy film attempts to combine an unlikely romance with a fractured structure,…
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Ep. 51: Sneakers
A little later than originally planned, Jenny and Alastair discuss this thoughtful, well-written and prescient caper — but do the flaws in the craft spoil an otherwise excellent film? Get the podcast: [Listen here at PopD] | [Go to iTunes] Story Analysis & Ratings: Alastair says: 5 Pops ~ This certainly isn’t a perfect movie,…
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Ep. 50: The Italian Job
Lord, it wasn’t good. A weak protagonist stumbles through a largely incoherent plot, only to arrive at the worst ending in cinematic history. Sounds like a fun show! Get the podcast: [Listen here at PopD] | [Go to iTunes] Story Analysis & Ratings: Alastair says: 1 Pop ~ I’m guilty, perhaps, of defending the indefensible,…
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How About Sunday Afternoon?
Yeah, I know. This is getting old. Here’s the situation. Lucy’s working almost full time now AND trying to write a novel AND trying to raise two kids AND teaching a class every Sunday afternoon AND trying to stay married. She cries a lot. So Alastair and I suggested she take a hiatus from PopD…
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Bonus Episode: Morning Glory
In this bonus episode of PopD, Jenny and Alastair gush about a movie that met with a mixed critical response and general apathy from the public, thanks in part to the truly awful trailers that advertised it. Don’t miss this gem of a film! Get the podcast: [Listen here at PopD] | [Go to iTunes]…
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Ep. 49: Gambit
Jenny, Lucy and Alastair talk about wasted potential, a weak protagonist, structural audacity, loving Shirley MacLain and how much they’re looking forward to the remake. Get the podcast: [Listen here at PopD] | [Go to iTunes] Story Analysis & Ratings: Lucy says: 2.5 Pops ~ A charming movie with tremendous potential, but which doesn’t quite…
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Ep. 48: Pocket Full of Miracles
Alastair fills in for Lucy and there is general agreement that there’s a good movie in here someplace, and that Peter Falk is a national treasure (the Academy agreed: he got an Oscar nom for his performance here as JoyBoy). Get the podcast: [Listen here at PopD] | [Go to iTunes] Story Analysis & Ratings:…
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Bonus Movie: Morning Glory
I just watched Morning Glory, and I’m fascinated by the way they used the romantic comedy tropes without making a romantic comedy. So I’ve suckered Alastair into watching it with me next Sunday at 3PM ET so we can talk about that. Chat will start at 2:30. Movie is available to rent on Netflix, streaming…