On September 13th, 2022, trailblazing French auteur, Jean-Luc Godard, the auteur behind the groundbreaking 1960 Nouvelle Vague classic Breathless, passed away at the age of 92. Nick and Alex sit down to discuss his nearly 60-year body of work, exploring his themes and politics, as well as personal relationships with friends and colleagues. In addition, they also talk about their introductions to Godard and why he continues being an influence on filmmakers worldwide.
2021 began with hopes of returning to normalcy after the world was crippled by a deadly virus the previous year. Our expectations were not fully met, however, resulting in changes with viewing experiences as well as content produced by Hollywood. As Hollywood earns huge profits from established franchises at the expense of ingenuity, more high-quality features are being discovered from international filmmakers, as well as American indie directors. Several of the best movies of 2021 reflect an ideological crisis in the wake of Covid, with people seeking salvation and fulfillment in an everchanging world.
The Kouhi brothers resume their 1991 series of “That’s the Thing” with a review of Oliver Stone’s highly controversial JFK. They discuss the film’s cultural & historical background, its Academy Award-winning editing, as well as its problematic components. Plus, for their recommendations, Nick takes a look at Lesotho’s first Oscar submission for Best International Film while Alex reviews one of Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki’s well-beloved classics.
“A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans, and a nice chianti.” The piercing, predatory expression in Sir Anthony Hopkins’ eyes, coupled with the following ad-libbed suckling of his teeth, is one of many instances burned into filmgoers’ minds of Dr. Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter.
The Kouhi Brothers share a brief reflection on this year’s Cannes Film Festival before continuing their 1991 retrospective with a special look at Kathryn Bigelow’s action cult classic Point Break. Plus, Nick celebrates the 40th anniversary of a Brian De Palma masterpiece while Alex reviews Green Knight director David Lowery’s directorial debut.