Explore every episode of the podcast Groovy Movies
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Very Kubrick Christmas | 23 déc. 2025 | 00:52:26 | |
What could be more festive than a masked orgy? Or an axe-wielding husband? Or a smart device going rogue in space? We finish this series with a Christmas special for those looking for an alternative movie recommendation during the holidays, by counting down our top 5 Kubrick Christmas movies. ----------- | |||
| The best and worst of 2025 | 16 déc. 2025 | 00:59:11 | |
The end of the year is drawing in, you have precisely 15 days to catch the best movies of 2025 and/or swerve the worst. This mission, should you choose to accept it, can be aided by this very podcast. Enjoy. References ----------- | |||
| Is this the death of cinema? | 09 déc. 2025 | 00:57:02 | |
We discuss the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal and whether or not this spells the end of cinema. Then we look at a lesser reported Netflix controversy - the streamer muscling in on The Hallmark Channel's turf, the festive rom-com. And to save this episode from too much doom and gloom, we finish with a fantastic new release, Harry Lighton's Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling (i.e. Dudley Dursley). References ----------- | |||
| Knives Out returns | 02 déc. 2025 | 00:50:11 | |
You may not have clocked it, given the lack of fanfare, but the third installment of Knives Out was released last week. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will only be in cinemas for 2 weeks, before moving to Netflix, but is it worth catching on the big screen? We also discuss WGA and SAG renegotiations which will be taking place in 2026. Is another strike on the cards? References ----------- | |||
| RE-RELEASE: What turns a bad movie into a cult classic? | 25 nov. 2025 | 01:01:50 | |
This we’re revisiting one of our most popular early episodes, where we did the unthinkable and willingly watched the worst films ever made (allegedly). The hit list includes Howard the Duck, Mommie Dearest and, of course, The Room, along with our own submission, the apex of Roger Moore’s career, North Sea Hijack, in an attempt to figure out what it takes to achieve cult bad status. References ----------- | |||
| RE-RELEASE: Heat (1995) dir. by Michael Mann | 18 nov. 2025 | 00:38:22 | |
As Michael Mann’s Heat 2 inches closer to becoming a cinematic reality, we’re revisiting one of our earliest conversations about the great Al Pacino-Robert De Niro head-to-head, with special appearances from a young Natalie Portman and a wiggy Val Kilmer. ----------- | |||
| Jennifer Lawrence in Die My Love: The modern melodrama? Ft. The Ministry of Film | 11 nov. 2025 | 01:00:41 | |
It is all about melodrama this week. First we discuss Lynne Ramsay's spectacular new movie, Die My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. Then we have a highlight from our guest appearance on The Ministry of Film podcast, where we talk about Brief Encounter, ahead of its re-release as part of the BFI's season "Too Much: Melodrama on Film". ----------- | |||
| What is it about heist movies? Plus: the perpetual seductiveness of Rocky Horror | 04 nov. 2025 | 00:54:25 | |
Kelly Reichardt’s genre-defying heist movie, The Mastermind, is in cinemas, so we’re taking the opportunity to discuss our favourite capers. We also pay tribute to the longest running cinema release of all time (from 1975 to present day), The Rocky Horror Picture Show, on its 50th anniversary. References ----------- | |||
| Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein: Why do we keep digging it up? | 21 oct. 2025 | 00:53:50 | |
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein hit cinemas this past weekend for a brief stint before moving to Netflix. We discuss his adaptation and why filmmakers keep returning to Mary Shelley’s classic story. We also look at the rumours circulating around a few big screen delays (namely the troubled Michael Jackson biopic) and, the 30 years in the waiting, Heat 2 - is it finally going into production? References World of Reel’s article on The Daniels’ film delay Guillermo del Toro on fatherhood and Frankenstein Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein exhibition at The Old Selfridges Hotel World of Reel’s latest article on Michael Mann’s Heat 2 ----------- | |||
| A tribute to Diane Keaton and what’s happened to Bond’s guns? | 14 oct. 2025 | 01:03:40 | |
Following the news of Diane Keaton’s death, we pay tribute to the rarest of things, a true Hollywood original. We also take you through the latest box office flops, Harris Dickinson’s thoughtful directorial debut, Urchin, and discuss the latest James Bond-Amazon controversy. References ----------- | |||
| The trials of adapting “unfilmable” books | 07 oct. 2025 | 00:55:23 | |
From A Clockwork Orange to Cloud Atlas, via the many attempts at Don Quixote, we consider the challenge of adapting books deemed “unfilmable” and why directors can’t resist the challenge. ----------- | |||
| One Battle After Another: Does Paul Thomas Anderson finally have a box office hit? | 30 sept. 2025 | 01:06:12 | |
The wait is finally over. Our (best attempt at spoiler-free!) thoughts on Paul Thomas Anderson’s play for a blockbuster and an early look at the other films tipped for greatness this awards season. ----------- | |||
| RIP Robert Redford | 23 sept. 2025 | 00:53:22 | |
We pay tribute to the late, great Robert Redford with some recommendations from his illustrious filmography and discuss the phenomenon of MIA movies - films which completed shooting but never made it to the big screen. ----------- | |||
| Disney's boy trouble | 16 sept. 2025 | 00:57:23 | |
Disney is struggling to appeal to Gen Z men, according at a Variety article. Is original IP the answer? ----------- | |||
| Emerald Fennel's Wuthering Heights controversy | 09 sept. 2025 | 00:54:25 | |
Is a screen adaptation obliged to be faithful to the book? We wade into the controversy around Emerald Fennel’s forthcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation, review Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing and discuss our highlights from the Venice Film Festival - namely the premiere of Megadoc, the behind-the-scenes documentary about Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. ----------- | |||
| Why you haven’t heard of summer’s biggest box office hit | 02 sept. 2025 | 01:11:56 | |
We return just as it comes to the end of “popcorn season” - but is that term still relevant? From lukewarm hits like F1 and Superman, to surprise ones like Weapons and KPop Demon Hunters, we compare notes about the summer’s struggling box office. References James’ Letterboxd (be sure to follow Groovy Movies’ too!) Our cinema recommendation Widescreen Weekend Film Festival ----------- | |||
| Following (1998): Christopher Nolan's first film | 24 avr. 2025 | 00:52:52 | |
Who better to wrap the season finale with than Christopher Nolan? But it would be too easy to go for Tenet or Inception, we’re going back to where things all began, with his very first film. Made for just £6000 (!) but with all the hallmarks of his later movies, it’s a great one to watch to see where it all began. References The Vine’s top 10 movies made on a shoestring ----------- | |||
| Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954) | 17 avr. 2025 | 00:42:02 | |
What better way to celebrate Lily’s imminent nuptials than by watching a family musical based on a Roman legend about sexual assault? If you haven’t seen it, think Hollywood’s golden era with catchy tunes, luminous Metroscope (a rival to technicolor) and yes, some problematic gender politics. Enjoy. References Making-of featurette with Ruth Lee raving about corsets An American Cinematographer article on shooting Seven Brides by George Folsey ----------- | |||
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | 11 avr. 2025 | 00:46:41 | |
We’re feeling nostalgic for sexy sex scenes and the villainisation of single women. Enter, Fatal attraction. Prepare for spoilers as we discuss the controversy around the axing of the original ending and look back on an era where it was possible for a film to be dubbed “the zeitgeist movie of the decade.” References You Must Remember This podcast’s ‘Erotic 90s’ series ‘Fatal Attraction’ Oral History: Rejected Stars and a Foul Rabbit’, by Bruce Fretts for The NY Times ----------- | |||
| In The Heat Of The Night (1967) | 04 avr. 2025 | 00:36:32 | |
If you’re in the mood for a time capsule of 1967, In The Heat Of The Night is the movie for you. We discuss how this iconic civil rights infused detective drama-cum-social thriller should have won Sidney Poitier an oscar - if only he hadn’t already won one 3 years before - and the pros and cons of deploying the camera’s zoom function. References Sidney Poitier on In The Heat Of The Night ‘In the Heat of the Night: The Double Bind’, essay by K. Austin Collins ----------- | |||
| Seven Samurai (1954) | 27 mars 2025 | 00:38:01 | |
Our run of classics continues with Akira Kurosawa’s genre-creating, hero-assembling action/comedy/drama, Seven Samurai. Don’t let the 3.5 hour runtime put you off (or watch at 2x speed - we don’t endorse this), it is considered one of the best films ever made for a reason and we discuss why. See where you can catch it below. Where to watch Check out this website for links to cinema screenings of Seven Samurai References The eventful production story of Seven Samurai by Collier Jennings on collider.com An analysis of the opening minutes of Seven Samurai by Arttective on YouTube ----------- | |||
| In The Mood For Love (2000) | 20 mars 2025 | 00:39:00 | |
This week we discuss the self-declared cinephile’s favourite, Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood For Love. If you live near London and want to catch it, check out showtimes at The Prince Charles - it’s screening this Sunday (23rd) as it happens. We get into Kar Wai’s eccentric directorial method and the many versions of the film there could have been - but thank the film gods for this one. References “The Troubled Production of In The Mood for Love” production film for 20th anniversary Beautifully formatted New Yorker article about In The Mood For Love ----------- | |||
| Anora (2024) | 13 mars 2025 | 00:49:32 | |
You may have heard something about Mikey Madison’s shining, star-making performance as Anora? Or perhaps that Sean Baker made Oscar-history by winning four awards at this year's ceremony for said film? Well if you haven’t seen it yet, now is the moment, it’s back in cinemas and will soon be available on streaming. This week we discuss what makes the story so kinetic, shooting on film with a tiny budget and that intimacy coordinator controversy. References Sean Baker and Mikey Madison break down a scene by Vanity Fair Sean Baker’s 30 year journey to Anora by Neon ----------- | |||
| The Oscars and The Brutalist (2024) | 06 mars 2025 | 00:48:22 | |
As the set comes down from the biggest celebration of the least-viewed cinematic triumphs of the year, we take stock of Sean Bakers success with Anora and attempt to map the blueprints of The Brutalist's anticlimatic awards season. Was it a grand failure or a misunderstood masterpiece? Probably neither but listen to find out. ----------- | |||
| Se7en (1995) | 20 févr. 2025 | 00:42:47 | |
It’s the 30 year anniversary of David Fincher’s Seven, otherwise known as the OG unboxing video. Be prepared for spoilers as we discuss the iconic ending that almost wasn’t and why real serial killers never live up to the hype. References Seven’s cinematography by David E. Williams for theasc.com Behind-The-Scenes Stories From The Making Of 'Se7en' by Mike McGranaghan for ranker.com ----------- | |||
| Babygirl (2024) | 13 févr. 2025 | 00:35:30 | |
Nothing says Valentine’s Day like age-gap office affairs and BDSM, so with that in mind, we bring you Halina Reijn’s Babygirl. It may have been snubbed at the Oscars but we shant be overlooking this orgasm-forward, kink-celebrating homage to the 90s erotic thriller. References Vanity Fair piece on Babygirl by David Canfield Halina Reijn on Bridging Hollywood’s “Orgasm Gap” by Scott Roxborough Cinematographer Jasper Wolf on working on Babygirl ----------- | |||
| Juno (2007) | 06 févr. 2025 | 00:38:24 | |
Remember when teen pregnancy was a thing? This week we discuss Juno, the movie that reinvented this particular noughties trend and made stars out of Elliot Page, Michael Cera and the film’s screenwriter, Diablo Cody. We discuss what makes the script so good and why people hated it. There is also space to reminisce about the heyday of director’s commentaries. This movie had an excellent one with Diablo Cody and the film’s director, Jason Reitman. Is there a way to bring them back? References Diablo Cody on Juno and its critics 15 years later by Evan Nicole Brown for The Hollywood Reporter ----------- | |||
| Nosferatu (1922 & 2024) | 30 janv. 2025 | 00:40:18 | |
This week we do a compare-and-contrast between Robert Egger’s Nosferatu and the 1922 German silent film it's based on. We deep-dive into the mad production story of the original, why Bram Stoker owes Nosferatu an apology and somehow pitstop at Yoga Hosers and Robbie William’s new film Better Man along the way. ----------- | |||
| Eraserhead (1977) | 23 janv. 2025 | 00:47:30 | |
In honour of David Lynch who died last week - though serendipitously we recorded the episode a few weeks before - this episode we discuss his feature debut, Eraserhead. A film so freaky, so funny and utterly unique. Just like the man himself. ----------- | |||
| The Fall (2006) | 16 janv. 2025 | 00:33:44 | |
We go behind-the-scenes of an overlooked gem which is finally getting the attention it deserves, thanks to a 4K restoration by Mubi. Tarsem Singh's debut feature The Fall is a globe-trotting feast for the eyes, with a transformative performance by first-time actor, the then six-year-old Catinca Untaru. We strongly recommend catching it on Mubi before listening to the episode. ----------- | |||
| Donnie Darko (2001) | 09 janv. 2025 | 00:41:21 | |
This week we sift through the web lore of one of the original multiverse movies, Donnie Darko. We relish seeing adolescent Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal squabble at the dinner table and ponder why a 23-year-old directing wunderkind never succeeded with a follow-up. ----------- | |||
| The Substance (2024) | 02 janv. 2025 | 00:36:08 | |
To kick off a new series, we’re starting with the biggest film of 2024 - that’s biggest by our personal metrics. Expect a detailed breakdown of the lens required to achieve such a revolting zoom on Dennis Quaid munching prawn heads and a rant about why this is not Demi Moore’s comeback. ----------- | |||
| EMERGENCY BONUS EPISODE: MEGAFLOPOLIS (or: Francis Ford Coppola's Roman Empire) | 13 oct. 2024 | 00:43:08 | |
We had to, it was unavoidable. Francis Ford Coppola's 40-year-long passion project has finally come to fruition and it was important that we discussed it. So here is a bonus episode. Listen as we attempt to decipher how, what and why. Just why? ----------- | |||
| Action Women, schwing (Point Break, American Psycho, Wayne’s World) | 05 sept. 2024 | 00:57:01 | |
This week on our season finale we look at three box office and critical successes which you might not know were directed by women. In the hot seat is Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, Penelope Spheeris’ Wayne’s World and Mary Harron’s American Psycho. We also almost (but not quite) dodge the Blake Lively controversy and talk about the films we’re looking forward to this autumn. See you for season 5! ----------- | |||
| Sad girls on holiday (Lost in Translation, Swimming Pool, Shirley Valentine) | 22 août 2024 | 00:51:34 | |
Between the weather and the state of the world, it’s been a pretty sad summer, so we’re sticking with that theme as we look at some of the best sad girls on film holiday. We discuss Charlotte Rampling in Francois Ozon’s Swimming Pool, Scarlett Johansson in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (and Bill Murray too) and Pauline Collins as Lewis Gilbert’s Shirley Valentine. ----------- | |||
| Superior Sequels: What makes part 2 better than part 1? (Inside Out 2, The Terminator 2, The Godfather 2) | 12 août 2024 | 00:46:02 | |
From Dune 2 to Deadpool and Wolverine, there have been a surprising number of hit sequels this year. So this week we’re asking the question, what makes that cinematic blue moon of a part 2 that is better than part 1? ----------- | |||
| Fantastic Film Follies: How to finance a flop | 24 juil. 2024 | 00:59:07 | |
Why talk about good films when we could talk about spectacularly bad ones? This week we discuss four infamous films that left their directors and studios in financial and/or reputational ruin. On the chopping block is Francis Ford Coppola’s One From The Heart, Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, Elaine May’s Ishtar and, of course, Tom Hooper’s Cats. Enjoy. ----------- | |||
| 1999: Cinema's best year, ever? | 11 juil. 2024 | 00:39:53 | |
You honestly wouldn’t believe how many great films came out in 1999. The Matrix, Fight Club, The Blair Witch Project, The Talented Mr Ripley, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Sixth Sense, Notting Hill, The Mummy, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About You. We could go on… ----------- | |||
| One Take Movies: Are they a gimmick? | 27 juin 2024 | 00:50:14 | |
From the famous speeding train of 1896 to the groundbreaking Russian Ark and iconic Berlin night-out-gone-wrong flick Victoria, this week we take you through the illustrious history of one-take movies - or should it be one-shot movies? ----------- | |||
| The Mummy and it’s children | 13 juin 2024 | 00:40:01 | |
It’s the 25th anniversary of The Mummy - I know, we can’t believe it either. How time flies. So we’re paying tribute to the first addition to the greatest ancient-history-action-adventure-thriller-franchise of all time and its somewhat uneven sequels and prequels. Topics covered include, of course, sexy mummies, Brendan Frasier at his peak and the incredible discovery of Rachel Weiz. ----------- | |||
| Loves Lies Bleeding: Was Kristen Stewart always this good? | 30 mai 2024 | 00:42:18 | |
It turns out a bodybuilding rom-com thriller was the movie we’ve been waiting for. Yes, this week we’re talking about Love Lies Bleeding, Rose Glass’ follow-up to the incredible Saint Maud, starring Kristen Stewart in the role she was made the play. ----------- | |||
| Challengers v. Wimbledon: Sex, Love and Tennis | 16 mai 2024 | 00:56:05 | |
Game. Set. Match. (Is that right?) Two of tennis’ greatest novices tackle our most romantic sport in a battle of the ages. Which is the better tennis movie? Up-and-comer, Challengers, or seasoned champion, Wimbledon. But let’s be honest, it’s Zendaya v. Kirsten Dunst - who will win the title of most empowered woman on the court? ----------- | |||
| The Zone of Interest & Perfect Days: Why is mundanity powerful? | 01 mai 2024 | 00:51:52 | |
This week we discuss the surprising common ground between Jonathan Glazer’s chilling examination of an Auschwitz commandant and his family, The Zone of Interest and Wim Wenders’ meandering meditation on life as a Tokyo Toilet cleaner, Perfect Days. ----------- | |||
| Civil War: Will A24's big budget gamble pay off? | 18 avr. 2024 | 00:40:24 | |
Last week A24’s Civil War was released and we have mixed feelings about it. Will their biggest-budget movie to date prove itself at the box office? And is a movie about war and an American fascist leader really what we want to see right now? ----------- | |||
| The Top 5 Party Scenes in Cinema | 04 avr. 2024 | 01:05:01 | |
It takes skill to capture the effortless spontaneity of a really good party scene. Relatively few nail it but when they do, they really do. This week we compile our top 5 party scenes; from teenage house parties to rave afters, with a surreal French restaurant jamboree sandwiched in the middle. ----------- | |||
| Baby Face: Pre-Code Horniness and the Original Sugar Baby | 21 mars 2024 | 00:58:36 | |
We’re going back to the horniest years in Hollywood history for another scandalous pre-coder; Baby Face, the 1933 movie that was so shocking it solidified cinema’s censorship for the next 30 years. Watch it for free here.
You Must Remember This’ episode on Will Hays and “Pre-Code” Hollywood Wes Anderson Talks Early Hollywood Censorship in ‘TCM Picks’ Video for Barbara Stanwyck’s ‘Baby Face’ by Etan Vlessing for The Hollywood Reporter How the Catholic Church censored Hollywood's Golden Age by Vox on YouTube Baby Face: The End Of The Pre-Code Era by Paul J. Bradley for Classic Film Journal Remembering Hollywood's Hays Code, 40 Years On by Bob Mondello for NPR ‘Tracing Hollywood’s Legacy of Self-Censorship through a Comparative Analysis of the Film Baby Face (1933) in its Censored and Uncensored Forms’ by Morgan B. Lockhart From femme fatale to cattle rancher: how Barbara Stanwyck bucked convention by Pamela Hutchinson for The Guardian Barbara Stanwyck: 10 essential films by Lynsey Ford for BFI Barbara Stanwyck’s NY Times obituary Film Pharmacy Old Boy (2004) dir. by Park Chan-wook Killer Joe (2012) dir. by William Friedkin ----------- | |||
| *Teaser* Next week's episode and an announcement | 14 mars 2024 | 00:00:47 | |
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| Dune: Part Two (spoiler-free!) | 07 mars 2024 | 00:42:41 | |
It’s been out for a week but we’re not taking any chances. Here is our painstakingly spoiler-free discussion of Dune: Part Two, plus our thoughts on Madame Web and a sexy addition to the Film Pharmacy. ----------- | |||
| The Groovies: Awards Season Special 2024 | 29 févr. 2024 | 00:57:15 | |
We're back with series 4 and ahead of the Oscars next weekend, we bring you a roundup of everything you need to know about this awards season. We discuss Oppenheimer's dominance, the Barbie controversy and where The Zone of Interest sits on the Salo to Up unsettling scale. ----------- | |||
| Bridget Jones's Diary: The definitive New Year heroine? (and what to watch in 2024) | 28 déc. 2023 | 01:03:37 | |
It’s the end of the year and also our series finale so we're bringing both to a close with a deeply intellectual discussion on the ultimate New Years movie, Bridget Jones’s Diary. Plus, in anticipation of awards season, we list the films we’re most excited to see over the next couple of months. ----------- | |||