In this episode, we’re laughing and crying to the sweet melodies of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 2008 film Tokyo Sonata, and its social commentary on the Japanese nuclear family in the midst of a financial crisis. 

We explore the film’s construction of a patriarchal nuclear family, discuss Kyoko Koizumi’s unique role as the mother of the family (taking care of all her boys), and go long on her wild narrative journey in the film’s second half with a surprising supporting actor… Eli finds parallels in Kurosawa’s choices with classic films like King Vidor’s The Crowd and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Wilson highlights Kurosawa’s selective cinematographic change-ups, and Ben shares some behind the scenes discoveries of the film’s making.

Links: 

• Behind the scenes DVD feature

• NYFF Q&A with Kiyoshi Kurosawa

• Interview with Kiyoshi Kurosawa and actors Teruyuki Kagawa and Kyoko Koizumi

Get secret piano lessons at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com

Unlock the forbidden recording room with Wilson, Ben and Eli as the trio unpack Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 2001 ghost film Pulse. Eli explains his love for his deep cut pick of a film that breaks its own rules and complicates its horror elements. Wilson zeroes in on his love for Kurosawa’s use of space and production design to bring on a feeling of despair for viewers. Ben heralds Kurosawa as a prophet of how computer usage makes us feel in our current era.

助けて... Help us… at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com

Bon appetit! The DC Trio are in for a treat this week as we savor Frederick Wiseman’s latest documentary, MENUS PLAISIRS - LES TROIGROS, a scrumptious looking film about three French restaurants, and the family that runs it. From the bustling kitchen to the tense moments shared between members of the Troigros dynasty, the trio immerses themselves in this four-hour culinary exploration. Ben and Eli ponder the central question of the work and Wilson finds a strong appreciation of Wiseman’s perspective on the food industry.

MENUS PLAISIRS - LES TROIGROS is out now in theaters. A big thank you to the folks at Zipporah Films for helping make this happen.

Ever had an unforgettable meal? Let us know on our discord⁠! Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The DC Trio takes a plunge into a new director and dives into the works of Marilou Diaz-Abaya, one of the leading figures of the second golden age of Filipino cinema. In the first episode, Wilson shares his love for a national cinema that is deeply tied to his roots. What better way to be introduced to Pinoy cinema than through a biopic of one of the nation's most infamous historical figures? Eli's intrigue in José Rizal's life and his choices add to the discussion, while Ben brings his own perspectives with nostalgic "watched this in class" vibes from the flick.

What is your deep cut historical biopic? Let us know on our discord server! Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

With special guest and friend Thanmye Lagudu we come together to crown a new king. Mani Ratnam completes his magnum opus with Ponniyin Selvan: Part II and we're back in the theatre again for more palace intrigue, romantic entanglements, and some of that signature Ratnam flair. Can Ratnam one-up himself with part two? We discuss PS2's visual glow-up, the challenges of adapting a literary classic, and bicker about who put in a better performance: Vikram or Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?

Once again we are asking you to join the Church of Ratnam in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Thanmye on ⁠Letterboxd⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠. Read his essay on PS2 here.

As part of his coverage for HKIFF 2023, Wilson interviews Japanese director Daishi Matsunaga, a day after the Hong Kong premiere of his new film, Egoist. Director Matsunaga talks about the film's moving story, the specific visual language he uses, his thoughts on iPhone footage, and so much more. A massive thank you to dear friend of the pod Fumiko Nago for helping interpret this interview. Films discussed in the interview: Egoist - dir. Daishi Matsunaga Hanalei Bay - dir. Daishi Matsunaga Call Me By Your Name - dir. Luca Guadagnino The Son - dir. Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne Sweating the Small Stuff - dir. Ryutaro Ninomiya Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

As Cannes wraps up in the South of France, we bring you a dispatch from another festival halfway across the world. An exhausted Wilson joined Ben and Eli in the middle of his festival marathon to dish about the movies he saw at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival, and talk about the experience of officially covering a festival for the podcast for the first time! Includes interviews with top Hong Kong directors Soi Cheang and Ann Hui.

Check out Wilson's full HKIFF list here.

What festival should we cover next? Let us know in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Films/Sections Previewed: A City of Sadness (4K Restoration) - dir. Hou Hsiao Hsien Plan 75 - dir. Chie Hayakawa Juzo Itami Retrospective New Blood - dir. Soi Cheang Egoist - dir. Daishi Matsunaga Stars at Noon - dir. Claire Denis Sparta - dir. Ulrich Seidl Our Body - dir. Claire Simon Saint Omer - dir. Alice Diop A Still Small Voice - dir. Luke Lorentzen A Holy Family - dir. Elvis Lu in water - dir. Hong Sang Soo Tótem - dir. Lila Avilés Dust of Angels (4K Restoration) - dir. Hsu Hsiao-ming

Rise. Roar. Revolt. Review. Here it is. Our long awaited Deep Cut Upkeep episode on the S.S. Rajamouli worldwide phenom RRR, and it’s a doozy. Hear the Deep Cut Trio talk about why Rajamouli’s brand of action filmmaking has entranced audiences, and why Ben and Wilson have this film at the top of their 2022 year end lists, while Eli explains why he prefers Rajamouli’s previous outings. Most importantly, they discuss the important and dangerous imagery and narrative co-opting that Rajamouli deploys in this film, and how it is used to fuel the fire of right wing Hindu nationalists in India.

Read Ritesh Babu’s writeup on RRR.

Read Wang Bing’s State of Cinema 2022 writeup:

Join our ⁠DiscoRRRd⁠⁠⁠⁠ server⁠! Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Another year has wrapped production, and the production assistants are here to clean up! Just in time for the 2023 Oscars, Ben, Wilson, and Eli mop up the mess left by superheroes and conductors, stop motion shells and Na’vi, interdimensional travelers and cannibals, mourners and partiers. By breaking down the year’s big trends–– directors fictionalizing their autobiographies, Marvel sinking slowly, rich filmmakers attempting to pillory wealth inequality–– the Deep Cut trio gets a handle on what made 2022 so weird. The boys get personal, too, talking about the movies and moments from last year that shaped who they are as moviegoers and friends. Finally, each co-host’s coveted top 3 films of the year are revealed… 

Dunk on the Oscars with us in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Movies discussed on this episode:
Aftersun (dir. Charlotte Wells)
Ambulance (dir. Michael Bay)
Armageddon Time (dir. James Gray)
Autobiography (dir. Makbul Mubarak)
Avatar the Way of Water (dir. James Cameron)
Babylon (dir. Damien Chazelle)
Banshees of Inisherin (dir. Martin McDonagh)
Bardo, False Chronicles of a Handful of Truths (dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu)
The Batman (dir. Matt Reeves)
Benediction (dir. Terrence Davies)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (dir. Ryan Coogler)
Bones and All (dir. Luca Guadagnino)
Broker (dir. Kore-eda Hirokazu) - Listen to our Kore-eda episode here.
The Cathedral (dir. Ricky D’Ambrose)
A Couple (dir. Frederick Wiseman) - Find our episode on this here, and our interview with Wiseman here!
Crimes of the Future (dir. David Cronenberg)
Decision to Leave (dir. Park Chan-wook)
Deep Water (dir. Adrian Lyne)
Everything Everywhere All At Once (dir. Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, a.k.a. The Daniels)
The Fabelmans (dir. Steven Spielberg)
Fire Island (dir. Andrew Ahn) - Find our episode on this here. Girl Picture (dir. Alli Haapasalo) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (dir. Rian Johnson) Hit the Road (dir. Panah Panahi) Il Buco (dir. Michelangelo Frammartino) Joyland (dir. Saim Sadiq) Leila’s Brothers (dir. Saeed Roustayi) Low Tide: A Newly Restored Work by Thomas Wright (dir. George Matthews) Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (dir. Dean Fleischer Camp) Memoria (dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul) The Menu (dir. Mark Mylod) No Bears (dir. Jafar Panahi) Nope (dir. Jordan Peele)
The Northman (dir. Robert Eggers) The Novelist’s Film (dir. Hong Sang-soo)
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (dir. Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson)
Ponniyan Selvan Part 1 (dir. Mani Ratnam) - Find our episode on this here.
Return to Sender (dir. Russell Goldman) - Watch Russell's short here!
Return to Seoul (dir. Davy Chau)
RRR (dir. S. S. Rajamouli) - Our extended coverage on this here!
Small, Slow But Steady (dir. Sho Miyake)
Tár (dir. Todd Field)
Teenage Emotions (dir. Frédérick Da)
The Territory (dir. Alex Pritz)
To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self (dir. Mabel Cheung & William Kwok Wai-Lun)
Top Gun Maverick (dir. Joseph Kosinski)
Trenque Lauquen (dir. Laura Citarella)
Triangle of Sadness (dir. Ruben Östland)
Under the Fig Trees (dir. Erige Sehiri)
The Whale (dir. Darren Aronofsky)
When the Waves Are Gone (dir. Lav Diaz)
White Noise (dir. Noah Baumbach)
The Worst Person in the World (dir. Joachim Trier)

2022 TV Mentions:
Better Call Saul (created by Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould)
Irma Vep (created by Olivier Assayas) The Rehearsal (created by Nathan Fielder)

We conclude our series on Miranda July's filmography with her divisive sophomore feature, The Future. Tune in for a feisty episode where Ben tries desperately to defend his deep cut choice while Eli and Wilson have their limits tested by July's storytelling tendencies.

See the future in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

))><(( 

We continue our journey through Miranda July's filmography with her debut feature, Me and You and Everyone We Know. With a large cast of supporting characters, Ben finds the thematic ties across the film's vignettes, Eli praises its winning child performances, and Wilson investigates the film's place within the realm of the "web-of-life" film.  

Find connection on our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Deep Cut returns to regularly scheduled programming with the decidedly irregular films of American independent director/writer/actor/multi-hyphenate Miranda July. You might even call them quirky.  We begin our series by learning about her long list of artistic endeavours and discuss the connotations of "quirk" in the context of July's films before diving in to her most recent and most critically acclaimed work yet: Kajillionaire. Ben highlights Evan Rachel Wood's physically specific performance as "Old Dolio", Wilson celebrates Emile Mossieri's emotionally vibrant soundtrack to July's little "heist of the heart," while Eli tries his best to understand what makes the movie so special to his fellow co-hosts. 

Get riled up in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In the first of our deep cut picks for our Kiyoshi Kurosawa series, Ben introduces the others to Kurosawa’s License to Live (1998) because he really needed to talk to somebody after a stunning ending. Eli digs into the film’s comedic sensibilities, finding similarities with fellow Japanese director Takeshi Kitano, while Wilson finds himself “so sad” contending with Kurosawa’s trend of nihilism across his body of work. By the end of the episode we ask ourselves: what does it mean to have lived “enough”? 

Join our dude ranch at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ deepcutpod.com

Links:

• Ben’s Letterboxd review of License to Live
• Kurosawa Interview about his double feature choices at the 2014 Entrevues Belfort Int’l Film Festival

Wilson, Ben, and Eli are once again joined by director and friend of the podcast Russell Goldman to talk about his experience and the best movies he saw at this year’s Sundance Film Festival! We get a chance to preview this year in independent American and international cinema, talk about the state of Sundance in its first in person year, and dig into some Letterboxd discourse. You can check out Russell’s work at: https://www.russellgoldman.com/    Films Previewed:   Birth/Rebirth - dir. Laura Moss  Bad Behaviour - dir. Alice Englert   Passages - dir. Ira Sachs  Infinity Pool - dir. Brandon Cronenberg  A Little Prayer - dir. Angus MacLachlan  Drift - dir. Anthony Chen  Fremont - dir. Babak Jalali  Shortcomings - dir. Randall Park

Did you catch any Sundance films this year? Let us know on the Discord server. Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out the letterboxd video we talked about here.

Listen up Wiseman-heads, oh do we have a treat for you! The Deep Cut trio are joined by the man himself, Frederick Wiseman, to talk about his new film A Couple (2022) and his expansive documentary filmography. The discussion topics include Nathalie Boutefeu’s arresting performance as Sophia Tolstoy, the secret meaning behind filming in a garden, and Fred’s views on life and death.

It was an honor for us to speak with the revered filmmaker, and we would like to thank everyone at Zipporah Films for helping to make this happen.

Check out our most recent episode on A Couple, and our introduction to Wiseman’s filmography with our older episode on Titicut Follies (1967), In Jackson Heights (2015), and City Hall (2020).

What question would you ask Wiseman? Tell us on our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Can you say "Deep Cut Upkeep A Couple" ten times fast?? Legendary, prolific American documentarian Frederick Wiseman has returned with one of only 3 fiction films  in his 55 year career. A Couple finds Nathalie Boutefeu performing monologues from the letters of Sophia Tolstoy in the beautiful Brittany coast. 

The DC Three admit defeat to the literary gods for not having read a Tolstoy novel, but instead reflect on the nuanced simplicity of Wiseman’s stylistic techniques, along with the multi-layered performance Wiseman and his star / co-writer balance. 

Check out our previous episode on Wiseman here.

What is your dream Wiseman doc (Podcast, anyone??)? Tell us on our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In a long-awaited bonus set of episodes, Ben, Wilson, and Eli go over their 2022 movie-watching summers, where each of our co-hosts maintained an audio diary of all the films we saw over the summer. Come along on our summer movie adventure, as we cover watching highlights from Kiyoshi Kurosawa, to Jurassic World Dominion.

List of films (and TV) discussed in this roundup:

Ben: Donkey Skin (Demy), We Are Lady Parts (TV), Cure (Kurosawa), The Last Days of Disco (Stillman), Jurassic World Dominion (Trevorrow), Heat (Mann), Poetry (Lee)

Wilson: Mass (Kranz), Fast & Feel Love (Thamrongrattanarit), Goodbye, Dragon Inn (Tsai), The Adventures of Rosette (Rosette, Rohmer), Keep Rolling (Man), Katatsumori (Kawase), Love Massacre (Tam)

Eli: Pulse (Kurosawa), Fast & Feel Love (Thamrongrattanarit), Memoria (Weerasethakul), O-Bi, O-Ba: The End of Civilization (Szulkin), Court (Tamhane), Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (Park)

What did you watch this summer? Tell us on our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to Eli's summer film watching audio diary!  Over the summer of 2022 each of us recorded little audio snippets reviewing every film that we watched, and these are Eli's! You can listen to our combined discussion of our summer movie watching in our roundup episode. We recommend you start there!  

Wanna tell us about the films you're watching? Come join our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(2:50) - Hamlet (2018, dir. Rhodri Huw, Robert Icke)
(6:47) - Kairo (Pulse) (2001, dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
(9:50) Videodrome (1983, dir. David Cronenberg)
(11:21) - Memoria (2021, dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
(13:23) - Crimes of the Future (2022, dir. David Cronenberg)
(15:11) - O-Bi, O-Ba, The End of Civilization (1985, dir. Piotr Szulkin)
(20:27) - Lost Highway (1997, dir. David Lynch)
(23:05) - Mad God (2021, dir. Phil Tippett)
(27:20) - Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022, dir. Dean Fleischer-Camp)
(29:41) - The Poseidon Adventure (1972, dir. Ronald Neame)
(30:21) - Court (2014, dir. Chaitanya Tamhane)
(32:17) - Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005, dir. Park Chan-wook)
(35:38) - The Fly (1986, dir. David Cronenberg)
(37:21) - Resurrection (2022, dir. Andrew Semans)
(38:55) - Ishtar (1987, dir. Elaine May)

Welcome to Ben's summer film watching audio diary!

Over the summer of 2022 each of us recorded little audio snippets reviewing every film that we watched, and these are Ben's! You can listen to our combined discussion of our summer movie watching in our roundup episode. We recommend you start there!

Wanna tell us about the films you're watching? Come join our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:

(01:33) Donkey Skin
(03:20) What's Up Doc?
(06:04) Sanjuro
(07:59) The Long Day Closes
(10:11) The Northman
(13:22) Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick
(18:02) The Virgin Suicides
(20:15) Vikram
(23:31) We Are Lady Parts
(26:44) Band of Outsiders
(28:18) Cure
(30:54) Last Days of Disco
(33:11) The Wonders
(36:32) Repulsion
(37:49) Jurassic World: Dominion
(40:04) Collateral
(42:31) The Marquise of O...
(45:32) The Beautiful Troublemaker
(49:16) Eat Drink Man Woman
(50:27) Manhunter
(52:30) Heat
(54:03) Poetry
(56:40) Basic Instinct
(58:53) Broker
(1:01:42) Pulse
(1:02:51) Thor: Love and Thunder
(1:04:37) Decision to Leave
(1:06:07) RRR
(1:06:34) Dual
(1:07:28) The Innocents
(1:08:30) Picnic at Hanging Rock
(1:09:48) Irma Vep (2022 TV series)
(1:12:53) Happening
(1:16:12) Tokyo Sonata
(1:17:55) Red Rocket
(1:20:32) Nope
(1:22:50) Prey

Welcome to Wilson's summer film watching audio diary!

Over the summer of 2022 each of us recorded little audio snippets  reviewing every film that we watched, and these are Wilson's! You can  listen to our combined discussion of our summer movie watching in our  roundup episode. We recommend you start there!

Wanna tell us about the films you're watching? Come join our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

List of Films Discussed:

1. 3/6 Pompo the Cinephile
2. 3/6 Notting Hill
3. 3/6 Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
4. 1/7 You’ve Got Mail
5. 1/7 Mass
6. 1/7 Top Gun: Maverick
7. 4/7 Elvis
8. 5/7 RRR
9. 7/7 Lost Highway
10. 10/7 Project A: Part II
11. 10/7 Ritual
12. 11/7 Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
13. 13/7 Sanjuro
14. 14/7 Mad God
15. 14/7 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
16. 15/7 Fast & Feel Love
17. 18/7 The Lost City
18. 19/7 Goodbye, Dragon Inn
19. 20/7 Fire of Love
20. 21/7 Miami Vice
21. 22/7 Nope
22. 30/7 The Big Sleep
23. 30/7 Full Alert
24. 30/7 Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar
25. 14/8 Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
26. 19/8 In Another Country
27. 22/8 The Adventures of Rosette
28. 22/8 Keep Rolling
29. 23/8 The Weaving of a Dream: Johnnie To’s Vision and Craft
30. 23/8 Katatsumori
31. 24/8 Broker
32. 27/8 The Actress and the Poet
33. 29/8 Funny Pages
34. 30/8 Moments in a Stolen Dream
35. 30/8 All About Love
36. 30/8 Love Massacre

After a brief summer hiatus, the gang (and special guest Thanmye Lagudu) are back to discuss India’s biggest box office draw of the season, and the first part of Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus: Ponniyin Selvan: I. Our first Mani Ratnam Deep Cut Upkeep episode gets heated, and battle lines are drawn between hosts. Is this movie Ratnam’s bold execution of a timeless historical epic, or did Ratnam buckle under the weight of a massive budget, and a source material that seems to resist being adapted to the big screen? Find out in the episode!  

Join the Church of Ratnam in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Thanmye on Letterboxd and Twitter.

How does the king of beeg cinema go small? Trick question, he don’t! Small in scope but still big on imagination, we’re (mostly) abuzz with praise for Wilson’s Deep Cut pick for Rajamouli, 2012’s Eega.

Eli praises the positively fly performance of Sudeep, a villain you love to hate, Thanmye highlights Rajamouli’s overlooked talents as a director of comedy, and Wilson celebrates Rajamouli's maximalist imagination as well as his mastery of telling stories regarding fate/destiny. Ben assumes the villain mantle and questions if the film successfully blends violence, comedy and revenge: does it go too far or is Ben just bugging out?

Spread your wings in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Thanmye on Twitter and Letterboxd.

Long live Deep Cut! The DC Trio welcomes back distinguished guest and friend Thanmye Lagudu to launch a discussion on the legendary Masala blockbuster director S. S. Rajamouli (of this year’s international hit, RRR). There’s no better a popular pick than the renowned historical fantasy duology, Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion, based on the Sanskrit epic poem Mahabharata. In their epic conversation, Thanmye shares his deep connection to the movies of Rajamouli, Wilson breaks down what makes the action so spectacular, Ben notes the benefits of non-photorealistic CGI, and Eli explains how Rajamouli writes truly smart characters. Ultimately, Thanmye hopes for a new path forward in cinephilia that fully respects the depth and goals of Indian popular cinema.

Fight alongside your best friends in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, the Deep Cut trio delve into the captivating world of Kiyoshi Kurosawa with his breakout hit, Cure (1997). Tune in to the beginning of a mega series on Kurosawa: director for hire and the master of nightmares. Ben and Wilson find themselves at odds as Ben's annoyance with the film's villain fails to dampen Wilson's thirst for him. Eli questions the fragility of our existence, thinks about the depths of human nature, and contemplates the idea that we are all capable of evil. Listen for a banger episode! Get cured on our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ deepcutpod.com Links: Eli’s Summer 2022 Diary Episode with his first reaction to Cure. (There is no) Cure Video Essay on the Criterion Channel. Kurosawa/Hamaguchi discuss Cure on the Criterion Channel.

Deep Cut rounds out its study of Malian/Mauritanian master director Abderrahmane Sissako with his first two fiction features: Life on Earth (1998) and Waiting for Happiness (2002). The documentary-fiction hybrids provide an illuminating keystone in understanding Sissako’s later, more complex works. Wilson prefers the deep well of sadness in Waiting for Happiness, but Eli adores the celebratory simplicity of Life on Earth. Meanwhile, Ben reconsiders his approach to the wholly unique, unplaceable films of Sissako.

Wait for a Life of Happiness on Earth in our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Abderrahmane Sissako sets his late father’s backyard as a courtroom for the injustices of economic neocolonialism in his 2006 drama Bamako, our second of three forays into the work of the Malian/Mauritanian master director. In a work that inextricably binds the political and the personal, Wilson notes how Sissako creates a sense of place that makes an intellectual argument emotional and Eli suggests that the movie can be viewed as a testimonial. Meanwhile, Ben asks if a fiction narrative is the most cogent mode for Sissako’s argument.

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Deep Cut begins a special three-episode run on Malian/Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako with his poetic, vibrant tragedy Timbuktu (2014). Wilson contextualizes Sissako’s most well-known work within Sissako’s varied and inventive filmography, Ben considers the humanizing characterization of the film’s jihadist characters, and Eli breaks down one of his favorite shots in cinema history. Sissako is the first filmmaker born in Africa covered on the podcast, but tune in to find out why both Sissako and the DC Trio reject the notion of a singular “African Film” culture.

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Stock up on some rosé and lose the shirt because we're going to FIRE ISLAND, baby! We are so delighted and honored to have director Andrew Ahn (SPA NIGHT, DRIVEWAYS) back on the podcast to preview his upcoming feature FIRE ISLAND. Coming to Hulu on June 3. Andrew shares with us his experience directing a studio rom-com, fighting to keep the film’s gayness, collaborating with Joel Kim Booster (STAR and screenwriter), and MUNA’s cover of an iconic Britney song.

SPOILERS incoming, so watch the film before taking a listen.

Also, Andrew selects a FIRE ISLAND adjacent Deep Cut pick, Alice Wu’s brilliant SAVING FACE, another wonderful queer AsAm romantic comedy to chat about alongside his film. There's your perfect Pride month double bill.

Andrew Ahn's Instagram, Twitter. (@andrewahnfilms)

Fire Island Socials (@fireislandmovie): Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.

Take a trip to our very own Pines (the Deep Cut Discord server) to talk more Fire Island! Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re not on our Lonesome anymore with special guest and friend, Graham Brown. Graham is an Assistant Preservation Officer at the George Eastman Museum and he has graced the pod with his extensive knowledge on the process of film preservation. Join us as we learn about Lonesome’s film preservation journey, and discuss the first silent film (okay… part-talkie) featured on the podcast!

Wilson celebrates the kinetic cinematography of Paul Fejos’ Lonesome (1928), Eli hones in on its innovations in synchronized sound, and Ben examines Fejos’ anthropological approach to his working-class characters.

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• Insider video on film preservation featuring Graham.
• View digitized films from the George Eastman Museum at: www.eastman.org 
• Get tickets to the The Nitrate Picture Show (June 2-6, 2022) at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY.

Welcome to 2046: a place that you can never leave, and an era in Wong Kar-wai’s filmography that will never return. Wilson opens up about how his Deep Cut Pick is a forlorn love letter to Hong Kong, his "city of heartbreak." Meanwhile, Eli shares the pop music playlist that Wilson made the DC trio, and Ben shocks them both with his opinion on what may be Wong's last great film. Tune in for the grand finale of Deep Cut’s epic, tender, four-part series on the world of Wong Kar-wai!

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Shhh, don’t tell the neighbors we cheated… because Ben’s Deep Cut pick isn’t really a deep cut at all! We enter the forlorn, romantic world of Wong Kai-wai’s most critically acclaimed film: In the Mood for Love (2000), starring the incomparable Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung. Ben tries his darndest to find the flaws in his favorite film of all time, Wilson admires the impeccable craft of Wong and all his key collaborators, while Eli finally tries his turn at being the villain (!!) in our discussion.

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“Let’s start over” with Eli’s Deep Cut Pick from the filmography of arthouse legend Wong Kar-wai, Happy Together (1997). With lushly experimental cinematography and a quick temper, Happy Together tangos the Deep Cut Trio into a tizzy of passion. Wilson details why Wong’s film about gay main characters was groundbreaking for both 1997 Hong Kong and its stars, Ben unpacks the toxic romance at the movie’s center, and Eli opens up about his personal experience with getting lost in Argentina.

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Deep Cut launches into a new season with a mega-sized introduction to the cinema of Wong Kar-wai, and the film that shot him to international stardom: CHUNGKING EXPRESS. Wilson reveals why this is his favorite movie of all time, Ben establishes a scientific theory on Wong’s Magic Himbo Dream Boys in Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Eli spots Wong’s knack for transforming emotions by repeating objects, songs, and shots.

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By the pricking of my thumbs, Deep Cut Upkeep this way comes! After splitting from his brother Ethan last year, Joel Coen went back to the book and then threw it out the window with his divisive, postmodern take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Glorious set design, gorgeous cinematography, but methinks that none of the Deep Cut Trio are convinced: Wilson isn’t moved by Denzel Washington’s lead performance, Ben finds the heightened artifice pointless, and Eli finds Coen’s examination of the themes in the text to be lacking. But hey: there’s always Skip Lievsay, shining golden boy of the aural sense.

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Game. Set. Match. The boys tackle the hottest movie of the season and kick off a Luca Guadagnino series with our review of his latest film CHALLENGERS. This episode (recorded pre BRAT) sees Eli comparing Guadagnino to the iconic Charli XCX, Wilson explaining how all roads that lead to Challengers also lead to his own life, and Ben saying he wants to play tennis because “I love my bro and his wife”.

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Links:

• Luca Guadagnino on Indiewire’s Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast
• Justin Kuritzkes on the No Challenges Remaining Podcast
• Merissa Lombardo on the Art Hyphen Podcast
• Ben’s BIG FACE Letterboxd List
• Eli's essay on Suspiria

Deep Cut hits the panic button as our beloved Asghar Farhadi is embroiled in scandal! Iranian documentary filmmaker and former student of Farhadi, Azadeh Masihzadeh, has sued him over the claim that he stole the story for his 2021 release, A Hero, from her 2015 documentary, All Winners, All Losers and pressured her into signing over the rights to her film. Wilson, Ben, and Eli discuss the dismaying news before talking about A Hero itself. The conversation includes Wilson’s love for Amir Jadidi’s lead performance (what a smile!), Ben’s questions about the main character’s naivete, Eli’s classification of the types of Farhadi movie, and Farhadi’s unusual use of editing to convey emotion.

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With those dang Academy Awards right around the corner, the Deep Cut Trio continues its annual tradition of reviewing the movies and television of yesteryear. What kind of year was 2021 for motion pictures? Why does Wilson think every director is in their “late era?” Does Dune satisfy Ben’s hunger for good sci-fi? How did Eli meet Jane Campion, director of The Power of the Dog? Why is there neither pizza nor licorice in Licorice Pizza? Do Disney and Marvel own our eyeballs? Are we getting Succession burnout? All these questions and more will be answered in Deep Cut’s beefiest episode to date.

Tune in to hear bite-size talks on the movies and TV that Wilson, Ben, and Eli loved and hated before they lay out their highly anticipated top 3 movies of the year. Buckle up for the Big Bad Hot Takes and the Small Good Cold Takes.

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Find what you’re looking for with this handy guide to the episode’s chapters:

(00:00:28) Introduction

(00:01:40) 2021 Overview (how was this year in movies?)

(00:06:16) Honorary Mentions

(01:03:06) Obligatory Mentions

(01:24:50) Wilson, Ben, and Eli’s Top 3 Movies

(01:50:07) TV Talk

(02:12:29) Watching Goals for 2022

(02:15:23) Deep Cut's 2022 Plans

Movies Discussed:

In Front Of Your Face (Hong Sang-soo), The Disciple (Chaitanya Tamhane), Azor (Andreas Fontana), The French Dispatch (Wes Anderson), Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (Radu Jude), Drowning in Potential (Joel Haver), The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (Michael Rianda), Belle (Mamoru Hosoda), The Last Duel (Ridley Scott), Sardar Udham (Shoojit Sircar), Benedetta (Paul Verhoeven), Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Ryusuke Hamaguchi), The Power of the Dog (Jane Campion), Bergman Island (Mia Hansen-Løve), A Hero (Asghar Farhadi), The Humans (Stephen Karam), All Light, Everywhere (Theo Anthony), Quo Vadis, Aida? (Jasmila Žbanić), Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Josh Greenbaum), Nine Days (Edson Oda), What Do We See when We Look at the Sky? (Alexandre Koberidze), Anne at 13,000 ft (Kazik Radwanski), Flee (Jonas Poher Rasmussen), Test Pattern (Shatara Michelle Ford), The Father (Florian Zeller), Hell is Empty (Jo Shaffer), Dune (Denis Villeneuve), Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Destin Daniel Cretton), Spider-Man: No Way Home (Jon Watts), Black Widow (Cate Shortland), West Side Story (Steven Spielberg), The Lost Daughter (Maggie Gyllenhaal), Titane (Julia Ducournau), Annette (Leos Carax), Hand of God (Paolo Sorrentino), This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection (Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese), Summer of Soul (Questlove), Mass (Fran Kranz), The Inheritance (Ephraim Asili), C’mon, C’mon (Mike Mills), We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (Jane Schoenbrun), Petite Maman (Celine Sciamma), Mad God (Phil Tippett), Drive My Car (Ryusuke Hamaguchi)

TV Discussed:

The White Lotus, Arcane, Joe Pera Talks With You, Pen15, Search Party, City of Ghosts, Loki, Feel Good, Love Life, Genera+ion, Naomi Osaka, Reservation Dogs, I Think You Should Leave, The Other Two, Smiling Friends, How To With John Wilson, Succession

Phew! Love you all!

After adoring director Pablo Larraín’s Jackie and Ema last season, the Deep Cut Trio had high hopes for his follow-up, Spencer, but not as high as Steven Knight was when he wrote the script. On this episode, Wilson, Ben, and Eli ask one simple question: what the heck happened here? Ben sees it as a narrative problem, where we don’t get access to Diana’s perspective. Eli thinks it’s a lack of empathy for a real-life figure, where the movie gawks at Diana. And Wilson? He’s got a thought or two about the color timing.

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Things heat up in our most divisive episode to date! Lana Wachowski returns to the Matrix franchise after nearly two decades to put out her most personal work to date. Does it pay off? We’ll have to see as Ben, Eli and Wilson duke it out. Wilson can’t comprehend how anyone can’t appreciate this reflection on blockbuster entertainment, Ben can’t comprehend how anyone likes this messy film and Eli tries to keep the peace.

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On the season 2 finale of Deep Cut, the Wachowskis stage a heist to steal the DC Three's hearts with their directorial debut, Bound (1996). As they skirt the perils of accursed Film Twitter Discourse (where'd unironically horny cinema go???), Ben explores each type of thrill sequence that coheres into a tight script, Eli is wowed by the Wachowskis' subversion of the noir genre, and Wilson can’t keep the words "Paul Verhoeven" from escaping his mouth. What are the seeds of The Matrix that the DC Three find in the Wachowskis' prior film? Pick up your phone and listen: "the walls here are just so thin."

So long, farewell, we’ll see y’all next season. Stay in touch between seasons on our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Right before one of the most highly anticipated 2021 releases, join the trio for a talk about the American action classic The Matrix. As well as their highly acclaimed directors, sisters Lana and Lily Wachowski. Wilson reminisces about the joy of watching The Matrix as a child. Ben ponders the romantic relationship at the core of the film, and Eli shows some love to the work of infamous action choreographer Yuen Woo Ping.

Are you hyped for The Matrix Resurrections? Because we sure are.

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Come one, come all to the Sirk Du Soleil as the Deep Cut trio discusses Todd Hayne’s Far From Heaven. Ben compares his Deep Cut Pick to Haynes’ critically acclaimed, subsequent melodrama Carol to show the breadth of the director’s approach to melodrama, but Eli and Wilson aren’t so convinced. Wilson feels that it’s a shallow imitation of the Women’s Picture auteur Douglas Sirk, while Eli questions the movie’s sociopolitical outlook from the early 2000’s. Can Ben open the discussion to the movie’s merits? What’s a color score? And will Eli ever shut up about Psycho (1998)?

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Read Scott Higgins’ essay on the color score in Far From Heaven (Chapter 9, pages 101-113).

Step right up as we guess The Price of Salt in our coverage of Todd Hayne’s Carol (2015). Recently crowned by BFI as the “best LGBT film of all time”, the Deep Cut Trio revisit this critical favorite and find its place in the New Queer Cinema Canon. Ben gets lost in the eyes of leading ladies Blanchett and Mara, Wilson considers the film’s legacy in the wake of recent LGBT film standouts, and Eli feels personally attacked for all of us by the characterization of a certain John Magaro character...

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Looking for arson, psychosexual manipulation, and reggaetón? It’s a good old-fashioned fight on this week’s episode as the Deep Cut Trio steps up to Pablo Larraín’s 2019 anarchic dance feature, Ema. Wilson adores the movie’s arresting intensity, while Ben finds Ema’s motivations oblique. But where does Eli land? He builds the suspense while everyone considers how Larraín builds narratives and makes stylistic choices that stem from the personalities of his protagonists.

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Just in time for the release of Spencer, the Deep Cut trio revisits Jackie, the dreamy 2016 biopic that made Chilean director Pablo Larraín an (art)household name. Eli entrees the film by looking at construction of Jackie the character as purposefully distinct from the real Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, while Wilson remarks on Larraín’s use of physical space to reflect the character’s emotions. Ben goes into the felt pleasures of the score, production design, and compelling performances. Come for the Jackie Kennedy-Onassis voices, stay for the tangent about Doctor Who.

Take a live, televised tour of our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ –– it’s the people’s house, after all.

The Oscars may tell us Hollywood’s popular picks, but what about the… Deep Cut picks? Deep Cut’s 2023 in Review is ready to give the last word on yesteryear’s best in motion pictures. Tune in for debates on the year’s biggest hits and hot takes on the year’s shabbiest flops. It all culminates in Wilson, Ben, and Eli’s top three favorites of the year…

Share your favorite films of 2023 in our ⁠Discord server.⁠ Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Alphabetical list of all films mentioned in our 2023 in Review and their directors: A Brighter Summer Day (Edward Yang) A Holy Family (Elvis Lu) Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet) Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (Kelly Fremon Craig) Barbie (Greta Gerwig) Beau is Afraid (Ari Aster) Blackberry (Matthew Johnson) Blue Giant (Yuzuru Tachikawa) Close (Lukas Dhont) Closing Time (Russell Goldman) Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (Radu Jude) Elegies (Ann Hui) Evil Does Not Exist (Ryusuke Hamaguchi) How to Blow Up a Pipeline (Daniel Goldhaber) Killers of the Flower Moon (Martin Scorsese) Knock at the Cabin (M. Night Shayamalan) Kokomo City (D. Smith) May December (Todd Haynes) Menus-Plaisirs - Les Troisgros (Frederick Wiseman) Monster (Hirokazu Kore-eda) No Bears (Jafar Panahi) Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan) Passages (Ira Sachs) Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos) Ponniyin Selvan: II (Mani Ratnam) Return to Seoul (Davy Chou) Rye Lane (Raine Allen Miller) Showing Up (Kelly Reichardt) Skinamarink (Kyle Edward Ball) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson) Sparta (Ulrich Seidl) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Jeff Rowe) The Eight Mountains (Felix Van Groeningen, Charlotte Vandermeersch) The Taste of Things (Tran Anh Hung) The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer) They Cloned Tyrone (Juel Taylor) Tótem (Lila Aviles)

What would you choose? Love…… or terrorism? The trio are joined by special guest Thanmye Lagudu to talk about Mani Ratnam’s most popular film, Dil Se, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. Wilson marvels at Ratnam’s ability to trojan horse a radical ideology into mainstream Bollywood screens, Eli wraps his head around the audience’s critical distance from the leading man, and Ben pushes against the film’s allegorical layering of meaning through musical numbers. Whether you love Dil Se or hate it, Thanmye encourages cinephiles to explore the work of the master, Mani Ratnam.

Follow Thanmye on Twitter!

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Strap in for a conversation on one of the greatest romantic epics put to screen and Deep Cut’s first foray into South Asian Cinema. Our special guest Thanmye Lagudu baptizes the three hosts into the “Church of Mani Ratnam” by bringing his 1995 historical fiction epic Bombay based on the Bombay riots. Wilson theorizes how this film probably served as inspiration for Alfonso Cuaron, Eli ventures into the muddy waters of representing real life events on a fictional screen, and Ben zeroes in on all the horny parts of the movie.  

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Another Rohmer film, another incredible ending. We end our series on Rohmer with Ben’s second Deep Cut pick and favorite Rohmer film, the effortlessly loveable and relatable Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1987). Listen to us swoon as we recollect our favorite moments from this classic romantic tale. Wilson celebrates the film’s reverence for young people in love, Eli dives deep to find undercurrent themes in Rohmer’s anthropology of young professionals in France in the 80s, and Ben makes a case for ~vibey~ directors.

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Sink into moral quicksand with us as we discuss the final of Éric Rohmer’s Six Moral Tales: Love In The Afternoon (1972). Wilson contemplates the duality of man from the sidelines as Eli and Ben have a “straight man-off” with wildly different takeaways from the film’s heartstopping moral ending. We also get into the film’s stylistic deviations from Rohmer’s filmography, admire Zouzou’s iconic looks, and Marvel (pun unfortunately intended…) at the film’s narrative momentum and excitement.

Also, Frédéric: hot or not? Tell us in the discord server! Find our free Patreon, discord server, and all our links @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.deepcutpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠