In a TIFF » Podcasts

As we head into award season I wanted to do a roundup of some of the best things I’ve seen and who better to join me than Norm McGlashan from Flickhunter. We talk about the films we enjoyed at Toronto International Film Festival, Windsor International Film Festival and Blood in the Snow.

What better way to re-start my obsessive relationship with the festival than to do another user experience stumble through TIFF.net. Joined once again by Lindsay Hutchison professional strategist, researcher, designer, and facilitator as we talk through how to do the most basic things on the TIFF.net site as I panic internally. Follow me on Threads Instagram

Norm and I discuss the two big announcements from TIFF this past week. We pour one out for the 31 fallen – and then discuss the current plans for the TIFF20 Festival.  Big question – do we plan to go for in person screenings if they have them this year? Includes many Disney+ tangents – weirdly more because of the Mandalorian and not as much because of Hamilton. Follow Norm @Mcstay12 follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

Rian and I reboot my Keanu rewatch mission and figure what better time to Constantine than now at this prequel to end times we are all experiencing together. We rediscover our love of Keanu, Rachel Weisz Tilda Swinton in a suit, Djimon Hounsou in genre things, Shia LeBeouf, Peter Stormare, Max Baker, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Gavin Rossdale. This film happens after the matrices but long before the Wick era – a period where one of our favourite Canadians seemed to have the money / time / comfort level with his ability to keep working to say – “sure why not” and the result is this gem that truly deserves a rewatch.  Follow her at tattoosbyrian follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

Alternate title – Sam Rockwell needs to talk to his people Alternate title #2, “Where’s my reparations Oscar?” “You’re a woman Glenn” Returning co-host Norm and I should produce the Oscars. We discuss the coming termination point of awards season. Topics include: Best Performance in a movie you didn’t love Soundtrack that made you buy or listen to music Movie we wish had a better marketing team Movie that we recommended the most to others Film that we loved at TIFF that you haven’t thought much about since And then we finish up with ranking the nominees for best picture Oscar from least to most likely to win. Follow Norm @Mcstay12 follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

Andrew from Geek Hard and I have some troublesome views on what the endgame should be for creepy children in genre films. We manage to stay somewhat on topic about our experience at the 2019 Blood in the Snow (BITS) film festival that took place in Toronto from November 21 to 26 at The Royal cinema. We discuss some of the films that we enjoyed including: Now is the printer of our discontent Docking New Woman Giltrude’s Dwelling EXT Z Puppet Killer Majic She Never Died Deep Six Dead Dicks The Last Last Heist Check out Geek Hard follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

TIFF19 roundup with Norm. Categories are (imagine Pray Tell levels of enthusiasm) Best bathrooms in a theatre Most feels in a film Best Q&A moment TIFF Audience winner trends are questionable Who/what will be in the awards season conversation Our fave TIFF rising stars Movie you’ve thought about the most since the festival What programmer will fill my Jane Schoettle-shaped hole Changes to TIFF in 2019 Norm’s top 12 Follow Norm @Mcstay12 follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

Pre #TIFF19 pod with Ryan where we discuss our prep, our picks and our favourite thing about the festival. It’s a whole new world folk – no printed magazine, no tote bag and no Pizza Nova coupon. Ryan is continuing his mandate to only select films directed by women. Ryan is looking forward to BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAINT MAUD ATLANTICS ZANA MARIA’S PARADISE I am looking forward to GUNS AKIMBO JOJO RABBIT BLOOD QUANTUM BLOW THE MAN DOWN A BUMP ALONG THE WAY We like to eat/drink at DARK HORSE BANG SUE ROXY BAR MASCOT BREWERY GENERAL ASSEMBLY BURRITO BOYZ Illstyl3 SAMMIES I miss you Jane Schoettle. Follow Ryan @thematinee_ca follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

Although the podcast normally shifts to TIFF prep this time of year as I am still dealing with the loss of Jane Schoettle I’ve decided to pivot and just start re-watching everything Keanu Reeves has ever done as my form of self care for 2019. Youngblood according to IMBD is the first feature in which Keanu Reeves had a named character. This movie stars Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze with a small appearance by a very young Keanu. We talk (perhaps too much) about the amount of sweaty and or sweaty and shirtless scenes in the locker room. We have a lot of questions. Directed by Peter Markle – features Robb Lowe, Cynthia Gibb, Patrick Swayze and Ed Lauter In the Keanews section we try and guess what other MCU roles Keanu would have been considered for – Martin has the idea. Follow Martin on Twitter follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

We are recording on a park bench.  Talking somewhat – if not mostly about Rocketman during Pride month although we totally did not plan to be that topical. He like musicals – I had a ticket to a screening with a Q&A with Dexter Fletcher. We try to mostly talk about Rocketman but Andrew and I tend to tangent. Follow Andrew on Twitter follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

I went to Montreal to visit friend and tattoo artist Rian and we re-watched Avengers: Infinity War to prepare for the upcoming Avengers: Endgame. We discuss some of the following but mostly have many many tangents. Who’s an Avenger, ally, sidekick/sidepiece. What Avengers do we want to live / be revived. Who was most disrespected by the story. Follow her at tattoosbyrian follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

  Mel saw 151 films this year so of course she’s the guest for the 2018 wrap up. Categories include: Who is the goodest girl – Obv Olivia Thank you Netflix – Mel goes for Annihilation I go for the rom coms To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Set it Up Outfits you Wanna Cop – If Beale Street Could Talk, Fantastic Beasts, A Simple Favor, Black Panther Best moves by directors of Colour – Widows, Crazy Rich Asians, The Hate U Give, Blindspotting, Black Panther, Sorry to Bother You Movies I Watched On a Plane – Incredibles 2, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Who Knew (movies we didn’t see when they came out)  – Burnt, Novitiate, Ricki and the Flash, Paddington (1 and 2) Performers that Popped – Elizabeth Debicki, Ma Anand Sheela, Blake Lively, Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Carla Gugino, Cynthia Erivo, Daniel Kaluuya, Jesse Plemons Best Sade Song in a Movie – The Big Unknown (from Widows) Popping Up in Unexpected Places – Chris Pine Movies that will be on the best of lists that we haven’t  seen yet – Burning, Wreck-It Ralph, Mary Queen of Scots, Vice, Bird Box, Into the Spider-Verse, The Favourite, A Quiet Place, Eight Grade, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Mary Poppins Returns, Won’t You Be My Neighbor Mel’s Crowd Pleasers and Artsy Ish James Woods Award (we hope you actually aren’t this guy) – Topher Grace, Ed Skrein, Armie Hammer Docs – Three Identical Strangers, Nothing Like a Dame, McQueen, Whitney, RBG Watch this if you can – Bad Times at the El Royale Apologies for the weird sounds I made when remembering Killmonger. follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

Mel and I do our TIFF18 wrap up – but first we discuss the Captain Marvel trailer. We briefly discuss the Emmy awards, but mostly we go on a full on Killing Eve / Handmaid’s Tale tangent. Much love to Sandra Oh, Sandra Oh’s hair and Elisabeth Moss. What we really liked from TIFF18 Gloria Bell If Beale Street Could Talk Green Book That Time of Year Quincy Widows The Grizzlies Working Woman The Weekend American Dharma Float Like a Butterfly Driver Boy Erased follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

 Mel and I record a short ep in the Blue Room at the Lightbox – background noise abounds. We talk about what we’ve seen up to this point including: Gloria Bell Anthropocene Float Like a Butterfly Kursk Les Salopes or the Naturally Wanton Pleasure of Skin

 Mel and I talk TIFF planning – but first Crazy Rich Asians and Blackkklansman. We really love one of them and we really loved Malcom X. Perhaps TIFF will do a Spike Lee retrospective and we can unpack our very disjointed thoughts. Big ups to Pauletta Washington. Full TIFF schedule is out and we talk about our early top picks that open in the first half of TIFF18 Mel convinces me to add a movie to my long list merely because she drops some next level knowledge about The Interrotron. Widows Kursk The Wedding Guest If Beale Street Could Talk Monsters and Men Anthropocene Hotel Mumbai That Time of Year Farming Angelo Where Hands Touch American Dharma Float Like A Butterfly The Weekend Free Solo The Sweet Requiem Boy Erased follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

 Back with butter-voiced Andrew again to talk about the Canadian films that are part of TIFF – but first I tangent to talk about Sir Patrick Stewart’s return to Trek. Andrew and I talk about Bo Burnham’s comedy and 8th Grade. I liked Daddy’s Home 2? Apologies to Bruce Willis. I had a moment. We go through the current Canadian picks and talk about some of our past favourites. Also check out the trailer for FP2 Beats of Beats of Rage Follow Andrew on Twitter follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

 Mel is back and making fetch happen. We go over what films are making it onto our long lists from the first press release from TIFF18. Our memories are terrible and I make the classic faux pas of confusing one black director for another. Then we talk about what we have been watching which of course includes Sorry to Bother You, Three Identical Strangers, Novitiate, Luke Cage, Detroiters, Killing Eve and Younger. follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

 Andrew and I recorded this a week before the final, but I only posted now – he really did predict the winner. We tried to talk about Luke Cage, but had the mother of all tangents because of my World Cup conspiracy theories. I do some unspoilery talk on Ant Man and The Wasp. Andrew tries to convince me to go back and watch The Square. Best question came from the guest – what’s your worst first date movie. Inevitably Under the Skin comes up. Andrew loves musicals so we somehow get from Yankee Doodle Dandy to the man who saved jazz. A bit of TIFF talk and past TIFF films peppered throughout, but honestly I just had a good time talking and totally lost track of time. Follow Andrew on Twitter follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

Go watch the Widows trailer. Mel is back and we talk about Widows. We are getting prepared for him to take his emotional melon baller to our insides again with this lady heist movie. In classic form we tangent all over the place as we talk about our excitement in seeing this cast that will give you Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Cynthia Erivo and Elizabeth Debicki. Seriously we talk about a 2 minute trailer for 15. In the back half we talk about prep for the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. Packages go on sale June 20th to the public. I am still deciding if I should see just a handful or go full on for 30+ again this year. I may buy my package just in hopes of seeing Widows two months earlier at TIFF. I repeat Go watch the Widows trailer. follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play

 Infinity War Spoiler Episode with friend and digital designer Sam Hume. Even our intro where Sam talks about recent movies he’s enjoyed mention the Marvel Cinematic Universe so if you haven’t yet seen Thor Ragnarok, Black Panther or Avengers: Infinity War. INCLUDES SPOILERS / SPECULATION FOR FUTURE FILMS because Sam and I can’t help ourselves. Sam has some good thoughts about re-working your rankings for what is the best of the MCU – so we approach this as a where does this rank in the team up movies. We talk our feels – the different audience reactions, which characters / intros caused the biggest reactions. We get into our feelings about the characters, the plot points, the moments that made us feel good, feel sad, feel confused and when we think if you are seeing this a second time you could sneak out to go to the washroom. I spend way more time talking about Thor than I could have imagined I would before I saw this movie. Follow Sam @SamHumer Check out his work on http://humecreative.ca/ follow me on Twitter Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Google Play