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TitreDateDurée
SSC 109: Die Hard (McTiernan, 1988)24 Dec 202501:32:06

In Die Hard, a New York cop must single-handedly battle a group of terrorists who have seized a Los Angeles skyscraper and taken hostages during a Christmas Eve party, including his estranged wife.

Die Hard was released on July 15, 1988, and stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, and Reginald VelJohnson, and was directed by John McTiernan.

Recommendations:

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SSC 108: Black Christmas (Clark, 1974)10 Dec 202501:33:21

During Christmas break, a group of sorority sisters at Pi Kappa Sigma begin receiving disturbing obscene phone calls from an unknown stranger. As the festive season continues, the mysterious caller's threats escalate from harassment to deadly violence.

Black Christmas was released on October 11, 1974, and stars Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon, and was directed by Bob Clark.

Links:

Recommendations:

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SSC 99: Prometheus (Scott, 2012)28 May 202501:30:28

In Prometheus, a team of explorers travels to a distant planet hoping to uncover the origins of human life. What they find instead is a threat beyond anything they imagined.

Starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender, and directed by Ridley Scott, Prometheus was released June 8, 2012.

Recommendations
Tim: The Killer (Fincher, 2023) — where to watch
Tay: Hard To Be A God (German, 2014) — where to watch

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SSC 13: Mean Girls (Waters, 2004)03 Nov 202101:06:38

Tim and Tay go back to high school to talk about Mean Girls. This teen movie has palpable star power, solid writing, thoughtful direction, and undeniably meme-able lines, making it an evergreen entry in the overcrowded and easily dated high school movie genre. 

Synopsis
When a naive, homeschooled junior named Cady attends American high school for the first time, she is quickly accepted into the Plastics, a clique of the highest strata. Cady soon falls for the ex-boyfriend of the clique leader, Regina Goerge. After Regina gets back with her ex, Cady and her friends Janice and Damian hatch a plot to take Regina down.

Mean Girls stars Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams, was directed by Mark Waters, and first hit theatres on April 30, 2004.

Mean Girls is available to stream on Netflix.

Scene (55:38–1:03:18)
After securing her position as the new queen bee, Cady plans a small get-together while her parents are out of town in hopes of locking down Regina’s ex, Aaron Samuels. A full-blown party ensues, and lines are crossed as she has her moment with Aaron, is forced to face her excluded friends, and truly sends Regina over the edge by not inviting her, resulting in a high school crisis for the ages.

Links

Recommendations


All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

Next episode: Dead Poets Society (Wier, 1989)—thanks for voting in our Instagram poll! Stay tuned for future votes, we'll be holding one for every other episode going forward. 

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SSC Bite-Sized Bonus: Dune (Villeneuve, 2021)28 Oct 202100:45:00

Tim and Tay couldn't resist putting together what was intended to be a short episode on the sandy sci-fi epic Dune. Once we got talking about wormsign, ornithopters and "the voice", it was hard to stop. 

Based on Frank Herbert’s seminal novel of the same name, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, heir to a dukedom and a potentially even greater destiny as he begins a new life with his parents on the dangerous desert planet Arrakis. As political unrest foments war over the planet and its valuable spice melange, Paul fights to stay alive and find his role in the desert-dwelling Fremen society.
 
Starring Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Oscar Isaac and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune was released on October 22, 2021.

Dune is technically available on HBO Max in the US—but you should see it on as large a screen as you can!

SCENE (58:52–108:13)

Paul, Leto, and Guerney accompany Imperial Ecologist Liet Kynes on an ornithopter ride into the desert to the site of a sand crawler; a colossal desert machine used to refine and harvest precious spice. After an equipment malfunction, they must react quickly to save the sand crawler crew from an incoming sandworm.

The scene stars Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto, Timothy Chalamet as Paul, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Liet Kynes, and Josh Brolin as Gurney.

Links


Recommendations

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SSC 12: The Thing (Carpenter, 1982)20 Oct 202101:05:08

For October's second horror-centric episode, Tim and Tay talk John Carpenter's not-so-immediately appreciated masterpiece The Thing. From evergreen creature effects to unsettling philosophical implications, this movie has it all.

Synopsis
An American research base in Antarctica is infiltrated by an alien that can assume the shape of anything it attacks. The social fabric of the small community quickly erodes as each resident realizes they can no longer trust those around them.

Directed by John Carpenter, The Thing was released June 25, 1982, and stars Kurt Russell, Keith David, and Wilford Brimley.

The Thing
is available to stream on Netflix. 

Scene [1:17:41 - 1:26:36]
As the remaining group begins to suspect Macready, he forces everyone into a blood test to determine who, if any are actually The Thing.

Links

Recommendations

Tim: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Kaufman, 1978). Available to stream on Prime.

Tay: Attack The Block (Cornish, 2011). Available to stream on CTV.

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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SSC 11: In the Mouth of Madness (Carpenter, 1994)06 Oct 202101:08:01

Tim and Tay dig into their first horror movie of October with John Carpenter's In the  Mouth of Madness, discussing what it means to watch horror, the movie's classic literature and real-world psychological inspirations, and more.

In the Mouth of Madness tells the story of John Trent, an insurance investigator tasked with tracking down best-selling horror novelist Sutter Cane. When the investigation leads both Trent and Cane’s editor Linda Styles to a presumed fictional town full of strange phenomena, the two begin to question their grip on reality.

In the Mouth of Madness was directed by John Carpenter, written by Michael de Luca, and stars Sam Neil, Julie Carmen, and Jurgen Prochnow, and was released on Dec. 10, 1994.

In the Mouth of Madness is available as a digital rental.

Scene (31:00 - 35:47)

Styles and Trent drive through the night to find the fabled town of Hobbs End. While Trent sleeps, Styles encounters a young boy riding down the highway on his bike. Moments later she sees another similar figure, although much older, on a bike going the opposite way.

The boy appears for a third time and is struck by the car. Trent and Styles stop to check the body and the boy cries: “I can't get out”. He then mysteriously gets up and rides away. Styles continues driving, experiencing some supernatural phenomena before crossing a covered bridge that leads them right into Hobbs End.

Links

Recommendations

Tim: The Empty Man (Prior, 2020). Available to stream on Crave.

Tay: Sorcerer (Friedkin, 1977). Available to rent on iTunes.

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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SSC 10: Potluck — Blade Runner 2049 (Villeneuve, 2017) with James Stacey22 Sep 202101:51:06

Tim and Tay welcome James Stacey (The Grey NATO) to celebrate episode #10 with a potluck — each host picks a scene from Blade Runner 2049 to discuss.

Set 30 years after the first film, Blade Runner 2049 tells the story of K, a replicant who discovers the remains of one of his kind, who had died giving birth to a child. As a Blade Runner with the LAPD, K is secretly tasked with finding the child and destroying all evidence related to it in order to prevent all-out war between humans and replicants. 

Starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, Blade Runner 2049 was released on Oct. 3, 2017. Blade Runner 2049 is available as a digital rental and to stream on HBO Max.

Tagline — "The key to the future is finally unearthed."

Tim’s Scene (3:23 - 10:12)
K, a Nexus-9 replicant and blade runner for the LAPD, visits the home of suspected replicant and war veteran Sapper Morton. 

James’ Scene (58:51 - 1:05:47)
After pulling the records suggesting the replicant-born offspring had spent time at the Morrillcole Orphanage, Joi and K go for a ride to San Diego. They are attacked by marauders and brought down near the orphanage. Back at Wallace HQ, Luv begins a drone strike while also getting her nails done. Quickly dispatching the marauders, Luv’s involvement allows K to continue on their now overlapping goal of finding the child. 

Tay’s Scene (1:40:50 - 1:50:00)
Officer K  investigates the highly radioactive remains of Las Vegas in order to find the maker or the source of the wooden horse from his implanted memories. He eventually finds the disgruntled Rick Deckard and the two have a violent altercation throughout various sectors of a casino, concluding in a holographic Elvis projection concert room.

Links

Recommendations

Tim: Brad Allen’s movies (Gorgeous, Kingsmen, Kick-Ass), Edgar Wright’s tribute

James: Corridor Crew

Tay: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Wright, 2006). Available to rent on Google.

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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SSC 09: Game Night (Francis Daley, Goldstein, 2018)08 Sep 202101:01:52

Tim and Tay talk comedy (Apatow & otherwise), late '90s pop, and board games in this episode that looks at Game Night. This recent comedy breathed fresh air into the genre by returning to a few simple techniques while updating a few dated tropes. 

Max & Annie’s weekly game night is kicked into high gear when Max’s visiting brother Brooks arranges for a fake kidnapping. The three couples playing the game soon find out that it and Brooks are more than they appear, leading them on a chaotic night of fun, danger, and more.

Game Night was directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, stars Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, and Kyle Chandler, and debuted on February 23, 2018.

Tagline — "This is not a game."

Game Night is available as a digital rental.

Scene  (32:25-36:36 & 42:40-44:51)

After tracking down Brooks to a local dive bar, Max and Annie enter the joint to scope it out. Thinking that it is all part of the game night, they humorously build up the confidence to hold up the three men in the bar who appear to be holding Brooks hostage, forcing them to the floor with Pulp Fiction-inspired vigor. 

There is a scene break that catches the audience up with the other two couples and when we return to the bar, Max and Annie recover the keys from one of the thugs. Brooks tries to tell them that this is not part of the game, but  Max and Annie only realize this after Annie shoots the supposedly fake gun in the air. Dropping it in surprise recoil, the gun goes off again, shooting Max in the arm before the three are chased out of the building.

Links

Recommendations

Tim: Akira (Otomo, 1988). Available to stream on Tubi.

Tay: A Scanner Darkly (Linklater, 2006). Available to stream on Crave.

Bonus Rotoscope recommendations:

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SSC 08: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Miyazaki, 1984)25 Aug 202100:59:31

Tim and Tay discuss their first animated feature and first Hayao Miyazaki feature on the podcast: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which offers a compelling heroine for young and old viewers alike, embodying the idea that violence and war only lead to more of the same. The success of Nausicaä would allow Miyazaki to co-found Studio Ghibli and subsequently release some of the most beloved animated movies in cinematic history. 

This animated feature tells the story of Nausicaä, a pacifist and princess who finds herself and her people caught in the middle of two warring nations that are intent on destroying each other and the hostile natural world. 

Directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä stars Sumi Shimamoto and Goro Naya; it premiered March 11, 1984, in Japan, and on DVD (with an English dub) on February 22, 2005.

Tagline — "Why do people destroy and hate? Why do they not show love and affection?"

Nausicaä  is available to stream on Netflix.

Scene  (31:15 — 35:10)

Tolmekian airships disrupt the peaceful Valley of the Wind. Nausicaä realizes that the airships are going after her father, who lies bedridden in a tower. She arrives, but her father has already been slain by the Tolmekian Royal Guard. In a burst of rage, Nausicaä attacks several Tolmekians, before Lord Yupa stops her.

Links

Recommendations

Tim: The Hunt (Zobel, 2020). Available to stream on Crave.

Tay: La

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SSC 07: Shin Godzilla (Anno, Higuchi, 2016)11 Aug 202100:55:26

Tim and Tay are joined by Rob (our very first guest on the podcast) to talk about bureaucracy, kaiju films, and more in a discussion about 2016's Shin Godzilla.

This 2016 installment in the 67-year Godzilla franchise examines how the modern Japanese government (and allied forces) would respond when a skyscraper-sized lizard comes ashore to wreak havoc in Tokyo. Shin Godzilla was written and directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, and stars:

  • Horoki Hasegawa as Rando Yaguchi
  • Mikako Ichikawa as Hiromi Ogashira
  • Satomi Ishihara as Kayoko Ann Paterson
  • Yutaka Takenouchi as Hideki Akasaka

Tagline — "A god incarnate. A city doomed."

Shin Godzilla is available to rent on Google Play.

Scene  (12:42 - 15:55)

As the first form of Godzilla moves upriver, the Prime Minister begs his team to find new perspectives. Hiromi (Mikako Ichikawa) is called in, immediately cutting through the bureaucratic decorum with radical ideas about Godzilla’s capabilities and rapid evolution, including the idea that it could support its own weight to walk on land.

Bound by procedure, the cabinet agrees that they need to hold a press conference to calm the public, at which the Prime Minister foolishly goes off script and announces that Godzilla cannot leave the sea, according to experts. He is interrupted by an aide, who informs him that Godzilla has in fact come ashore.

Links


Recommendations

Tim: Colossal (Vigalondo, 2016). Available to stream on Amazon Prime and CBC Gem.

Tay: Trollhunter (Øvredal, 2011.) Available to stream on Hoopla.

Rob: The Twentieth Century (Rankin, 2020). Available to stream on Crave.

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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SSC 06: Incendies (Denis Villeneuve, 2010)28 Jul 202100:40:14

Tim and Tay talk about the career of Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, and examine a powerful scene that marks the turning point for Incendies' protagonist Narwal Marwan.

Incendies tells the story of Canadian twins that travel to their mother's native country in the Middle East to uncover her hidden past amidst a bloody civil war. Told in parallel, the two generations’ stories examine the trauma and effects of cyclical violence. Based on the play of the same name by Wajdi Mouawad, Incendies premiered on September 4, 2010. 

Tagline — “The search began at the opening of their mother's will.”

Incendies is available to stream on Crave (Starz) or as a digital rental
 

Scene (48:08 — 52:52)

Amidst the revolution, Nawal searches for her long-lost child, making her way through the dangerous desert countryside where she catches a bus carrying Muslim refugees. To avoid conflict, she hides her Christianity by removing her crucifix. Awaking from a nap, Nawal witnesses a violent confrontation between the bus driver and a group of Christian Nationalists before they turn their guns on the bus, leaving only Nawal and another woman and child alive. 

As they prepare to light the bus on fire, Nawal calls out that she is Christian, and is spared. She tries to save the child by saying that it’s hers, but the Nationalists shoot the child anyways. Nawal is left alone in the desert beside the burning bus.


Links

  • 6:35 — Souha Bechara as partial inspiration for Incendies
  • 7:32 — Villeneuve speaking on Incencies  (making-of documentary on Incendies blu-ray)
  • 8:52 — Munich (Spielberg, 2005)
  • 15:35 — The Midpoint Collision, (Lessons From The Screenplay)
  • 21:17 — Alien (Scott, 1979)


Recommendations

Tim: Mikey and Nicky (Elaine May, 1976). Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Tay: Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi, 2007). Available to stream on Criterion Channel, or as a digital rental

All links verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.


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SSC 05: Ocean’s 12 (Soderbergh, 2004)14 Jul 202100:55:05

By examining an infamous, potentially movie-breaking scene in Ocean's 12, Tim and Tay explore just how much of Soderbergh's audacity this franchise can bear before it falls apart.

Ocean’s 12, the second installment in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy, finds the gang on the clock to repay their mark from the first film, casino mogul Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). In order to pay back what they stole, with interest, they must oblige François Toulour (Vincent Cassel), the world’s greatest thief, in a competition to steal the Fabergé Imperial Coronation Egg.

Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Vincent Cassel, Ocean’s 12 premiered on December 8, 2004. 

Tagline — Three years ago, they stole 160 million dollars. Now the only thing between their old enemy and their new one is an Ocean.

Ocean’s 12 is available on Netflix and as a digital rental.

 
Scene (1:25:20 - 1:30:40)

After picking up a frustrated Tess, the remaining Ocean's team (Linus, Basher, and Turk) attempts to prep her for her role as the diversion in their plan. The plan involves her impersonating the actress Julia Roberts to use her star power to get close to the Faberge egg that they intend to steal. In a scene full of meta-commentary, Bruce Wilis appears as himself and threatens to disrupt the plan.

The scene stars Julia Roberts as Tess Ocean (and as herself), Bruce Willis as himself, Matt Damon as Linus, Don Cheadle as Basher, Scott Caan as Turk, and Carl Reiner as Saul.

Links

Note: Most of the background and insight explored in this episode can be heard in the Ocean's 12 commentary with director Steven Soderbergh and writer George Nolfi.

Recommendations

Tim: Riders Of Justice (Anders Thomas Jensen, 2021) — available as a digital rental.

Tay: Behind The Candelabra (Soderbergh, 2013) — available on Crave (CA), HBO (US), and as a digital rental.

All links verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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SSC 98: Alien (Scott, 1979)14 May 202501:27:24

Alien focuses on the crew of a commercial spaceship who investigate a distress signal and unknowingly bring a deadly alien lifeform aboard. One by one, the crew is hunted in the isolation of deep space.


Starring Sigourney Weaver and directed by Ridley Scott, Alien was released May 25, 1979.

Where to watch Alien.

Notes

Recommendations
Tim: The Hidden (Sholder, 1987) — where to watch
Tay: Repo Man (Cox, 1984) — where to watch

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SSC 04: Drag Me To Hell (Raimi, 2009)30 Jun 202100:49:35

Tim and Tay talk Sam Raimi’s post-Spider-Man return-to-horror, Drag Me To Hell, and how one scene in a parking garage shows off everything the director has mastered since his start in the early ‘80s. 

 Drag Me To Hell is a 2009 horror feature directed by Sam Raimi, starring Alison Lohman, Lorna Raver, and Justin Long. Lohman plays Christine Brown, an ambitious loan officer who, in the pursuit of a promotion,  chooses to evict an elderly woman from her home. The woman, played by Raver, curses Christine, giving her three days until a malicious spirit, the Lamia, drags her to hell. 

 Tagline — “Christine Brown has a good job, a great boyfriend, and a bright future. But in three days, she's going to hell.”

 Drag Me To Hell is available for digital rental.


Scene (16:41 - 22:37)

The scene in question stars Alison Lohman and Lorna Raver. After being told she is a shoo-in for the big promotion, Christine leaves the office, venturing into the underground parking garage with her office supplies. Once inside her car, she is violently attacked by Ms. Ganush for shaming her earlier in the day. 

In a chaotic fight scene, the women attack each other within the tight confines of the car, involving staplers, handkerchiefs, a smashed window, and more. The scene concludes with Ms. Ganush cursing Christine by taking a button off her jacket and handing it back to her.


Links


Recommendations

Tim: Coup 53 (Taghi Amirani, 2019) — available for rental on the filmmaker’s website.

Tay: The Wolf Of Snow Hollow (Jim Cummings, 2020) — available on Crave, and for digital rental

All links verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.


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SSC 03: Krisha (Shults, 2015)15 Jun 202100:50:48

Tim and Tay discuss Trey Edward Shults’ feature debut Krisha, its expert use of horror tropes and its endlessly frugal composition. 

Krisha is a 2015 family drama about a recovering addict and alcoholic in her sixties attempting to reconnect with her family over Thanksgiving. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, Krisha stars his real-life aunt Krisha Fairchild in the eponymous lead role, and was produced on a crowd-sourced, shoe-string budget.  

Krisha is available as a digital rental on iTunes. 


Scene (51:39 — 55:18)

Starring Krisha Fairchild as Krisha, Robyn Fairchild as Robyn, Bill Wise as Doyle & Trey Edward Shults as Trey.

After a series of seemingly traumatic encounters with her mother and Trey, Krisha relapses, unceremoniously uncorking a bottle of wine with a pair of scissors in her bathroom. She guzzles back the bottle, entering an almost dream-like, euphoric state. Returning to her family downstairs for final dinner preparations, Krisha attempts to remove the giant family-sized Thanksgiving turkey from the oven. Her hands tremble and the turkey falls to the floor, creating an enormous mess and ruining the family dinner.

Links

3:00 — Krisha’s many awards

3:30 — Krisha as a short & following production

25:30 — “playful chaos”

27:00 — Anatomy Of A Scene with Trey Edward Shults

30:25 — Rules Of The Game (Jean Renoir, 1939)

32:00 — Paying for Nina Simone’s “Just In Time”

40:00 — Composer Briann McOmber on scoring Krisha

43:32 — Krisha, improvised

44:30 — Edward Shults’ grandmother in Krisha


Recommendations

Tim: Ponyo (Hayao Miyazaki, 2008) — available on Netflix

Tay: Exotica (Atom Egoyan, 1994) — available on The Criterion Channel

All links verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.


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SSC 02: Gattaca (Niccol, 1997)15 Jun 202100:42:16

Tim and Tay dive into a pair of scenes from Andrew Niccol’s thought-provoking and economical sci-fi film Gattaca. Can a simple race from shore to horizon reveal a person’s potential? 

In the “not too distant future”, advances in eugenics have lead to a genetic caste system — those with manufactured, ideal genetics, and those conceived naturally, possessing the expected hereditary pitfalls and risks. The film follows Vincent, who endeavors to overcome the limits of his naturally developed genes to become an astronaut. Starring Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, and Uma Thurman, Gattaca was directed and written by Andrew Niccol, and was released October 24, 1997.

 Gattaca is available as a digital rental.


Scenes (16:41 — 18:20 & 1:30:47 — 1:34:07)
click here for a PDF of an early draft of Gattaca’s script.

The scenes star Chad Christ as Young Vincent, William Lee Scott as Young Anton, Ethan Hawke as Vincent, and Loren Dean as Anton.

Brothers Vincent (Chad Christ) and Anton (William Lee Scott) challenge each other to a game of chicken to see who can swim the farthest from shore before turning back. The genetically superior Anton handily wins each time they swim. One day, a determined Vincent recklessly swims beyond his limit, but surprisingly it is Anton who needs rescuing. In spite of his prophesied heart deficiency,  Vincent is miraculously able to swim them both back to shore safely.

Many years later, long after Vincent’s heart is supposed to have stopped, the brothers reunite. Still unaware of how Vincent could have swum that distance and back, Anton agrees to a rematch. Stripping down, the brothers swim out far in the misty night. 

After refusing to turn back once, Anton confronts Vincent, who tells him that “it’s too late to turn back” because they are “closer to the other side”. Vincent reveals that “this is how I did it”; “I never saved anything for the swim back”. Despite hearing this Anton tries to turn back, but once again, Vincent must save him and drag him back to the closer shore.


Links

5:15: La Jetée (Chris Marker, 1962)

18:30: Making waves with a forklift

39:00 — Wearing suits in space (via blu-ray bts featurette)

Recommendations

Tim: First Reformed (Paul Schrader, 2017) — available for digital rental

Tay: The Vast of Night (Andrew Patterson, 2019) — available on Amazon Prime

All links verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.


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SSC 01: The Prestige (Nolan, 2006)15 Jun 202100:37:03

In the premiere episode of Single Serving Cinema, Tim and Tay explore a deceptively simple and highly functional scene in the spiraling, multi-layered narrative of Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige

The Prestige tells the story of two rival stage magicians in Victorian-era London, and their obsessive pursuits to gain superiority, no matter the cost. Directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, The Prestige was released on Oct. 20, 2006.

The Prestige is available to stream on Disney+, and as a digital rental.  

 
Scene (0:13:27- 16:02)

Featuring Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier, Christian Bale as Alfred Borden, Piper Perabo as Julia Angier, and Michael Caine as Cutter.

The scene is set backstage following a successful, but apparently, "boring", act by Milton, a show magician that the quartet all work for. Borden largely drives the conversation regarding the lack of originality in Milton's show, while Angier questions Borden’s morality and his bluntness on the subject. Cutter calls out Borden for using the incorrect knot on Julia during the act and further arguments of professionalism, showmanship and secrecy arise.


Links

16:32: “Secret of the Magus”, a New Yorker profile of Ricky Jay


Recommendations

Tim: Burning, (Lee Chang-dong, 2018)  — available on Amazon Prime

Tay: Eastern Promises, (David Cronenberg, 2007) — available on Amazon Prime  

All links verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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SSC 97: Annihilation (Garland, 2018) w/ James Stacey30 Apr 202501:35:13

Annihilation is a sci-fi mystery about a group of scientists who enter the Shimmer—a strange, mutating zone to investigate a phenomenon no one understands. As they journey deeper, the landscape—and their minds—begin to unravel.

Starring Natalie Portman and written and directed by Alex Garland, Annihilation was released February 23, 2018.

Where to watch Annihilation.

Notes

Recommendations
Tim: Evil Does Not Exist (Hamaguchi, 2023) — where to watch
Tay: Rush (Howard, 2013) — where to watch
James: Devs (Garland, 2020) — where to watch

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SSC 96: Ex Machina (Garland, 2013)16 Apr 202501:17:06

Ex Machina is a sci-fi drama about a young programmer who’s invited to test a humanoid robot’s intelligence. As the experiment unfolds, he begins to question the motives of both the robot and its creator.

Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac, and directed by Alex Garland, Ex Machina was released April 10, 2015.

Where to watch Ex Machina

Notes

Recommendations
Tim: Companion (Hancock, 2025) — where to watch
Tay: Automata  (Ibáñez, 2014) — where to watch

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SSC 95: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Coens, 2000)26 Mar 202501:25:26

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a Depression-era comedic-adventure-musical that follows three escaped convicts as they journey across Mississippi in search of hidden treasure, encountering bizarre characters and unexpected twists along the way—all set to a rich backdrop of American folk and bluegrass music.

Starring George Clooney and directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, O Brother, Where Art Thou? was released December 22, 2000.

Where to watch O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Notes

Recommendations
Tim: Sullivan's Travels (Sturges, 1941) — where to watch
Tay: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Coens, 2018) — where to watch


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SSC 94: Inside Llewyn Davis (Coens, 2013) w/ Andrew Finlay Stewart19 Mar 202501:53:40

Andrew Finlay Stewart is an artist and musician, and the host of the podcast The Rules of the Show, which you can find on Instagram (@therulesoftheshow) and wherever you get podcasts. 

---

Inside Llewyn Davis is a melancholic drama set in the 1960s folk music scene, following a struggling musician navigating the unforgiving New York winter in pursuit of artistic success.  

Starring Oscar Isaac and directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis was released December 6, 2013.  

Where to watch Inside Llewyn Davis

Recommendations
Andrew: Sprout Wings and Fly (Blank, 1983) — where to watch
Tim: Amadeus (Forman, 1984) — where to watch
Tay: Eden (Løve, 2014) — where to watch

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SSC 93: A La Carte 202412 Mar 202501:24:01

In this special annual episode, Tim and Tay highlight a few notable scenes from 2024. Not necessarily the best or our favourites, but certainly worth seeing!

Links:

As always, please leave us a review on iTunes and spread the word to your friends!

This month: The Coen Brothers!

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SSC 92: Snowpiercer (Bong, 2013)26 Feb 202501:31:59

Snowpiercer is a dystopian thriller set in a frozen post-apocalyptic world, where the last remnants of humanity survive aboard a perpetually moving train—divided by a brutal class hierarchy that erupts into rebellion.

Starring Chris Evans and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Snowpiercer was released August 1, 2013.

Where to watch Snowpiercer

Notes:

Recommendations
Tim: Train to Busan (Yeon, 2016) — where to watch
Tay: The Platform (Gaztelu-Urrutia, 2019) — where to watch

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SSC 91: Parasite (Bong, 2019)05 Feb 202501:31:11

Parasite is a social satire about a poor family infiltrating the lives of a wealthy household, leading to unexpected consequences and a scathing critique of class inequality.

Starring Song Kang-ho and directed by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite was released May 30, 2019.

Where to watch Parasite.

Notes:

Recommendations
Tim: Cheap Thrills (Katz, 2013) — where to watch
Tay: Kajillionaire (July, 2020) — where to watch

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SSC 90: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Fincher, 2011)22 Jan 202501:35:15

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a gripping mystery about a disgraced journalist and a brilliant hacker who team up to uncover a decades-old family secret involving murder, corruption, and lies on a secluded Swedish island.

Starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig and directed by David Fincher, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was released Dec. 20, 2011.

Where to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Recommendations
Tim: Fire Walk With Me (Lynch, 1992) — where to watch
Tay: The Killing of Chinese Bookie (Cassavetes, 1976) — where to watch

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SSC 107: Pan's Labyrinth (del Toro, 2006)03 Dec 202501:28:51

In Pan's Labyrinth, a young girl seeks her mythical royal heritage in a magical labyrinth during the Spanish Civil War.

Starring Ivana Baquero, Sergi López and Doug Jones and directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pan's Labyrinth was released December 29, 2006.

Links:

Recommendations:

  • Tim: The Wizard of Oz (Fleming, 1939)
  • Tay: Fantastic Planet (Laloux, 1973)

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SSC 89: Wind River (Sheridan, 2017)15 Jan 202501:40:49

Set in the remote wilderness of Wyoming, Wind River follows a skilled tracker and an inexperienced FBI agent as they investigate the mysterious death of a young woman on a Indigenous reservation.

Starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, and written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, Wind River was released Aug. 4, 2017.

Where to watch Wind River.

Recommendations
Tim: True Grit  (Coens, 2010) — where to watch
Tay: Hell or High Water (Mackenzie, 2016) — where to watch

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SSC 88: Little Women (Gerwig, 2019)25 Dec 202401:05:23

Show Notes

Synopsis
Little Women is an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, following the lives, of the four March sisters—Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate personal growth, family bonds, and societal expectations in Civil War-era Massachusetts.

Starring Soairse Ronan and directed by Greta Gerwig, Little Women was released Dec. 7, 2019.

Where to watch Little Women

Scene : [25:10 - 33:22]

Recommendations
Tim: Klaus (Pablos, 2019) — where to watch
Tay: Spencer (Larrain, 2021) — where to watch

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SSC 87: Lady Bird (Gerwig, 2017)11 Dec 202401:29:37

Show Notes

Synopsis
Lady Bird, a coming-of-age story, stars Saoirse Ronan as the eponymous unsatisfied and strong-willed teenager trapped in boring Sacramento.

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird was released Sept 1, 2017.

Where to watch Lady Bird

Scene : [18:20-22:15]

Recommendations
Tim: Snack Shack (Rehmeier, 2024) — where to watch
Tay: Ghost World  (Zwigoff, 2001) —where to watch

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SSC 86: Kingdom of Heaven (Scott, 2005)27 Nov 202401:23:25

Show Notes

Synopsis
A bereaved French peasant discovers his noble heritage and embarks on a knight’s quest, traveling to Jerusalem in search of purpose and redemption.

Starring Orlando Bloom and directed by Ridley Scott, Kingdom of Heaven was released May 6, 2005.

Where to watch Kingdom of Heaven

Scene  [1:29:30 - 1:35:50]

Recommendations
Tim: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the Word (Weir, 2003) — where to watch
Tay: The Counselor (Scott, 2013) —where to watch

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SSC 85: Gladiator (Scott, 2000)13 Nov 202401:30:38

Show Notes

Synopsis
Gladiator follows Maximus, a second-century Roman general, who is betrayed and left for dead by Marcus Aurelius’ ambitious son, Commodus. In order to take revenge for his murdered family, Maximus must rise through the ranks as a gladiator.

Starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator was released May 12, 2000.


Where to watch Gladiator

Scene  [57:35 - 1:02:20]

Recommendations
Tim: The Northman (Eggers, 2022) — where to watch
Tay: Quest For Fire (Annaud, 1981) —where to watch

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SSC 84: Midsommar (Aster, 2019)23 Oct 202401:41:19

Show Notes

Synopsis
Midsommar follows the depressed Dani as she joins her disengaged boyfriend on a trip to Sweden to attend a folk festival. The more they learn about the reclusive commune of which they are guests, the more unsettling their experience becomes.

Starring Florence Pugh and written and directed by Ari Aster, Midsommar was released July 23, 2019.


Where to watch Midsommar

Scene  [1:05:05 - 1:14:15]

Recommendations
Tim: Defending Your Life (Brooks, 1991) — where to watch
Tay: Kill List (Wheatley, 2011) —where to watch

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SSC 83: Hereditary (Aster, 2018)09 Oct 202401:54:27

Show Notes


Synopsis
Hereditary follows the Graham family as they mourn their secretive grandmother, finding out more about her sinister proclivities—and how they have inherited them— along the way. 

Starring Toni Collette, and written and directed by Ari Aster, Hereditary was released June 8, 2018.

Where to watch Hereditary

Scene  [25:30 - 36:05]

Recommendations
Tim: The Wailing (Na, 2016) —where to watch | Altered (Sanchez, 2006) — where to watch
Tay: Goodnight Mommy (Sobel, 2022) —where to watch



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SSC 82: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Anderson, 2004)18 Sep 202401:18:28

Show Notes


Synopsis
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissuo tells of the story of the titular oceanographer, on the hunt for the rare shark that killed his friend so he can exact revenge and film his next movie.

Starring Bill Murray, written by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, and directed by Wes Anderson, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissuo was released Dec. 25, 2004.

Where to watch The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissuo

Scene  [15:00-16:40]  - "Let me tell you about my boat”

Recommendations
Tim: The Great White Silence (Ponting, 1924) —where to watch
Tay: Bottle Rocket (Anderson, 1996) —where to watch


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SSC 81: Mad Max: Fury Road (Miller, 2015)04 Sep 202401:45:14

Show Notes


Synopsis
Mad Max: Fury Road  finds the franchise’s titular hero caught in the escape of Immortan Joe’s harem of wives, under the leadership of Imperator Furiosa.

Starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, and directed by George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road was released May 15, 2015.

Where to watch Mad Max: Fury Road

Scene  [30:15 - 37:30]  - "Max Meets Furiosa”

Recommendations
Tim: Speed Racer (Wachowskis, 2008) —where to watch
Tay: Mr. Brooks (Bruce Evans, 2007) —where to watch

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SSC 80: Gone Girl (Fincher, 2014) w/ Bunny Stephenson21 Aug 202401:49:54

Synopsis
The film centers on the marriage of Nick & Amy Dunne, the nature of which is called into question (along with the former’s culpability) when the latter goes missing on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary.

Starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck, and directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl was released Oct. 2, 2014.

Where to watch Gone Girl.

TAY’S SCENE - 23:54 - 27:02 - One Day Gone

TIM'S SCENE - 8:20 - 12:04 - Gone

BUNNY'S SCENE - 01:06:08 – 01:13:00 - Cool Girl

Recommendations
Tim: Phoenix (Petzold, 2014) —where to watch
Tay: State of Play (MacDonald, 2009) —where to watch
Bunny: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Nichols, 1966) —where to watch

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SSC 106: The Shape of Water20 Nov 202501:31:19

In The Shape of Water, a mute janitor working in a government laboratory forms a bond with a captive amphibious creature.

Starring Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones and Michael Shannon and directed by Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water was released December 1, 2017.

Recommendations:

Tay — The Lure (Smoczynska, 2015)
Tim — The Elephant Man (Lynch, 1980)

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SSC 79: American Psycho (Harron, 2000)07 Aug 202401:13:15

Synopsis
The movie centers on Patrick Bateman, a handsome, intelligent and successful young professional in 1980s New York that moonlights as a psychotic killer.

Starring Christian Bale, directed by Mary Harron, and based on the book of the same name by Brett Easton Ellis, American Psycho was released on April 14, 2000.

Where to watch American Psycho.

Scene  [17:10- 20:07]  - "Business Card Casualty”

Recommendations
Tim: The Pale Blue Eye (Cooper, 2022) —where to watch
Tay: Mr. Brooks (Bruce Evans, 2007) —where to watch

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SSC 78: Ranking Season 3's Taglines19 Jun 202400:43:22

Another season done! We wrap up in our usual fashion by comparing our rankings of the taglines from this year's movies. 

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SSC 77: The Nice Guys (Black, 2016)29 May 202401:12:27

Tim and Tay are back to wrap up the season with one of their favourite movies in recent years, The Nice Guys. Tune in for a chat about "Big Russ" and the comedic stylings of Ryan Gosling.    

Synopsis
An alcoholic detective and a purposeless tough guy become embroiled in a missing persons case that takes them on a journey through the many corrupt echelons of 1970s LA.

Starring Ryan Gosling, Russel Crowe, and written and directed by Shane Black, The Nice Guys premiered May 20, 2016.

Where to watch The Nice Guys.

Scene [1:06:46 - 1:12:26]  - "Nobody’s getting killed at the Burbank Airport Western Hotel”

Recommendations
Tim:   No Hard Feelings (Stupnitsky, 2023)—where to watch
Tay: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Black, 2005)—where to watch 

Tim's bonus recent comedy recommendations:

  • Palm Springs (Barbakow, 2020)
  • Bottoms (Seligman, 2023)
  • Theatre Camp (Gordon, Lieberman, 2023)
  • Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar (Greenbaum, 2021)
  • Snack Shack (Rehmeier, 2024)

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SSC 76: A La Carte 202317 Apr 202401:10:22

In this special annual episode, Tim and Tay highlight a few notable movies from 2023. Not necessarily the best or our favourites, but certainly worth seeing!

Tim

  • The Killer (Fincher)
  • The Taste of Things (Anh Hung)
  • The Creator (Edwards)

Tay

  • Poor Things (Lanthimos)
  • How To Blow Up A Pipeline (Goldhaber)
  • The Holdovers (Payne)

Links:

As always, please leave us a review on iTunes and spread the word to your friends!

Next month: The films of Greta Gerwig!



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STV 01: Andor (Gilroy, 2022)01 Apr 202401:35:12

Tim and Tay leave pretentious and inconvenient movies behind and switch to the principal media of the modern age: streaming TV. In the first episode of Solo TV Dinner we explore Andor and how it finds impressive depth working within the Star Wars IP machine.

Synopsis
Andor tells the story of the titular hero’s journey from apathetic rogue to dyed-in-the-wool rebel, acting as a prequel to Rogue One.

Starring Diego Luna and created by Tony Gilroy, Andor premiered Sept. 21, 2022.

Andor
is available to watch on Disney+.

Notes

Episode: "One Way Out" [S1E10]
Cassian and his allies attempt to seize a rare opportunity that could lead to victory. Mom Mothma brokers a new deal with a shady politician in order to ensure the future of the rebellion.

Recommendations

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SSC 74: Rogue One (Edwards, 2016)27 Mar 202401:17:00

Tim and Tay discuss what is likely the most beloved Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One. A compelling but compromised film, Rogue One introduced new visuals, themes, and characters to the cinematic Star Wars canon. Tune in for a discussion of Gareth Edwards' knack for imparting scale on the big screen and a lot more. 

Synopsis
Rogue One details the rebel effort to steal the Death Star plans and expose its weakness before the Empire puts the planet-killing weapon to use.

Starring Felicity Jones, and directed by Gareth Edwards, Rogue One was released Dec. 16, 2016.

Where to watch Rogue One.

Notes

Scene [27:47 - 37:10] 
Jyn and Cassian arrive at Jedha in search of Saw Gerrera, hoping to discover critical information about the Empire's new weapon of mass destruction. 

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SSC 73: Star Wars (Lucas, 1977)13 Mar 202401:19:15

Tim and Tay try to look at Star Wars with fresh eyes in this episode on the genesis of one of  film culture's most valuable, gargantuan, and mixed franchises.

Synopsis
Star Wars (renamed "Episode IV: A New Hope" in ‘81) tells the story of Luke Skywalker, a farm boy that gets caught up in the rebel alliance’s desperate efforts to destroy the galactic empire’s weapon of mass destruction.

Starring Mark Hamil, and written and directed by George Lucas, Star Wars was released May 25, 1977.

Where to watch Star Wars.

Notes

Scene [42:32-51:13] 
Luke, Ben and the droids visit the Mos Eisley Cantina in search of a pilot that can get them off planet. After an altercation with a particularly foul patron, they meet and negotiate with the braggadocious Han Solo.  

Recommendations
Tim:  The Hidden Fortress (Kurosawa, 1958)—where to watch
Tay: The Visitor (Paradisi, 1979)—where to watch

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SSC 72: Dune Part Two (Villeneuve, 2024)07 Mar 202400:40:11

Did you have a dream that we did an episode on Dune: Part 2? Well, it's happening, just as you dreamed it. 

Notes:

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SSC 71: BlackBerry (Johnson, 2023)28 Feb 202401:23:32

Tim and Tay celebrate their national heritage with this discussion of BlackBerry. Tune in to hear about Canada's inferiority complex, tangents about long lenses, and more.

Synopsis
BlackBerry charts the major chapters in the life of the once-iconic smartphone and the people who created and sold it.

Starring Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton, and directed and written by Matt Johnson, BlackBerry was released May 12, 2023
 
Where to watch BlackBerry.

Notes

Scene [38:10 - 47:15] 
After scrambling to make a prototype, Mike and Jim travel to New York to meet with AT&T to pitch their new product. 

Recommendations
Tim:  Enemy (Villeneuve, 2013)—where to watch
Tay: Man Bites Dog (Benoît Poelvoorde, Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, 1992)—where to watch

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SSC 70: The Social Network (Fincher, 2010)14 Feb 202401:44:17

Tim and Tay are joined by Kyle Snarr to talk about one of the most critical movies of the century: The Social Network. We discuss its legacy as part of Fincher's oeuvre, its effect on the cinematic landscape, and just how damn good it is. 

Synopsis
The Social Network portrays (with great artistic license) the creation and tumultuous growth of Facebook, centering on Mark Zuckerberg's journey and its many legal disputes and personal conflicts.
 
Where to watch The Social Network.

Tay's Scene [9:00-16:18]
Face Mash.

Kyle's Scene [1:05:19 - 1:11:18]
The "Seanathon"

Tim's Scene  [1:24:24 - 1:28:58]
Henley Royal Regatta

Notes

Recommendations
Tim:  Adventureland (Mottola, 2009)—where to watch
Tay: Molly's Game  (Sorkin, 2017)—where to watch
Kyle: The Squid and the Whale (Baumbach, 2005)—where to watch

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SSC 105: Halloween (Carpenter, 1978)30 Oct 202501:23:56

In Halloween, a masked killer returns to his quiet suburban hometown after escaping a mental institution and begins stalking a babysitter and her friends on Halloween night.

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence and directed by John Carpenter, Halloween was released October 25, 1978.

Recommendations:
Tim — The Hitcher (Harmon, 1986)—where to watch
Tay — Halloween H20 (Minor, 1998)—where to watch

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SSC 69: The Abyss (Cameron, 1989)31 Jan 202401:27:28

Tim and Tay head to the depths with what is undoubtedly James Cameron's most personal film, The Abyss. Tune in for a discussion of this year's Oscar noms, the foundation of CGI in film, and Cameron's undeniable skill for communicating need-to-know info to the audience.     

Synopsis
Titanic is a sweeping romantic epic, set against the backdrop of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. The film follows the doomed love story between Jack, a penniless artist, and Rose, a wealthy young woman, as they struggle to survive the tragic sinking of the ship.
 
Where to watch The Abyss.

Notes

Scene [39:35-49:05]
A wild storm on the surface jeopardizes the Deep Core rig’s structural integrity, resulting in a thrilling sequence as the crew on the surface and below navigate a potential disaster.

Recommendations
Tim:  Last Breath (Parkinson, 2019)—where to watch
Tay: Piranha II: The Spawning (Flying Killers), (Assonitis, Cameron, 1981)—where to watch

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