Explore every episode of the podcast Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Rounding out our Spooktober celebration, Dhruv, Cris, Arijit, and (joining us actually for the second time, it's complicated) Devika discuss two major horror titles of 2026—Curry Barker's "Obsession," and Kane Paronson's "Backrooms"— diving deep into their formal and cultural relevance, and possible reasons for their astronomical box office successes.

They also do a quick round-up of the horror films of the year, available theatrically and on VOD, focusing on "Hokum," "Hope," and "The Bride!" amongst others. Honourable and dishonorable mentions galore (along with more -ists and -isms allegations).

Listen to the full episode to hear more about the flavour of horror this year, where the genre could possibly be headed, what's new and exciting vs what's stale and redundant about it, and more!

Spoilers for basically everything we talk about.

TIME CODES

Intro - [00:00 - 04:01]

"Obsession" - [04:01 - 53:32]

"Backrooms" - [53:32 - 01:37:30]

"2026 Horror Catch-Up" - [01:37:30 - 02:38:00]

Outro - [02:38:00 - 02:40:13]

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You can follow us on Instagram at:

ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

DEVIKA: https://www.instagram.com/devika.la/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Final stop on Lynch Lane—until we convene sometime next year to cover "Twin Peaks" in its entirety!

Dhruv and Cris are joined by up-and-coming experimental filmmaker Rushnan Jaleel (last heard in our "Lost Highway" episode!) to discuss "Inland Empire" -- Lynch's most "difficult" film that the director describes simply as a film about "a woman in trouble."

Listen to the full episode to hear how differently Rushnan and Dhruv see the film across their repeated viewings, and why -- on his first viewing -- Cris is the "gurl who doesn't get it."

Spoilers, of course, for "Inland Empire."

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 02:11]

"Inland Empire": [02:11 - 01:01:21]

Experimental Cinema Reccs.: [01:01:21 - 01:06:25]

Final Thoughts on David Lynch: [01:06:25 - 1:15:37]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

RUSHNAN'S WORK

⁠

You can watch Rushnan's 17-minute experimental short film, "The Angel of Forms" (2023), on Vimeo for free.

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

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You can also follow us on Instagram at:

RUSHNAN: https://www.instagram.com/rushnanjaleel/.

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

RUSHNAN: https://letterboxd.com/sculptingin0001/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Cris, Dhruv, and Ashwin (officially this time) kick off Spooktober by exploring Jane Schoenbrun's take on queer horror in light of the release of their latest offering, 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma'. As is tradition, they discuss not only what their filmography brings to the current horror landscape, but also how their films (re)define the genre narratively and aesthetically.

Broad agreement is reached on their first two features, 'We're All Going to the World's Fair' and 'I Saw the TV Glow', before disagreements emerge over 'Camp Miasma'. Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's 'Digger' is also (unfortunately) mentioned.

Listen to the full episode for a mix of (TMI warning) embarrassingly personal admissions, lots of (hopefully understandable) academic references, and some (possibly unfounded) shots at other horror films and filmmakers.

Spoilers for all three, of course.

TIME CODES

Intro - [00:00 - 25:09]

"We're All Going to the World's Fair" - [25:09 - 01:03:56]

"I Saw the TV Glow" - [01:03:56 - 01:37:07]

"Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" - [01:37:07 - 02:29:45]

Outro - [02:29:45 - 02:35:43]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Cris, Varun & Ashwin wanted to talk about "Digger" & "Verity" during Dhruv's beloved Spooktober. But two of them bailed out for NO VALID REASON WHATSOEVER, so Dhruv had to subject himself to the horrifically unfunny catastrophe that is Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu & Tom Cruise's "Digger."

Arijit joins Dhruv and Cris on this episode to push back against their uncompromising hatred towards "Digger" and its brand of -- in their words -- "unfunny, anti-intellectual postmodernism." Unsurprisingly, the internet discourse surrounding "Digger" is also widely discussed, with Dhruv and Cris doing their level best to convince Arijit why most of the film's (re)appraisals don't hold up. All in all, an extended discussion about (& around) the film -- which, I suppose, is considered a win for the film's intentions, regardless of its actual (cinematic) qualities.

Conversely, Cris then -- briefly -- trashes Michael Showalter's "Verity" for not being very trashy.

Listen to the full episode to hear a lot of (hopefully) informed bitching and (hopefully) productive discourse. You are most welcome to tell us if it wasn't informed or productive -- we will not quote it back to you and say that you're wrong for thinking so because we intended it to be otherwise!

Major spoilers for "Digger" & "Verity"!

TIMECODES

Introduction: [00:00 - 04:39]

The "Digger" Takedown - [04:39 - 24:27]

The "Digger" Defense - [24:27 - 32:30]

The "Digger" Debate(s) - [32:30 - 01:15:19]

The "Verity" Rant (ft. Cris) - [01:15:19 - 01:36:49]

Outro - [01:36:49 - 01:39:19]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Instagram at:

ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

You know how this looks, right?

To navigate the tricky minefield that is Lance Oppenheim's narrative feature film debut "Primetime," Hemant and Cris take the help of David Osit's documentary "Predators" (2025) and introspect on the culture that produced Chris Hansen's "To Catch a Predator" and the consequences (or lack thereof) that came of it.

What follows is a careful investigation of the relationship between morality and law, reality and fiction, documentary and narrative filmmaking. Osit and Oppenheim's intentions, methods, and worldviews are contrasted to make sense of how one approaches sensitive topics and critiques or indulges in society's worst impulses.

For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below and trigger warnings for discussion of CSA.

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

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TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 15:45]

"Predators" - [15:45 - 01:06:48]

"Primetime" (Spoiler-Free) - [01:06:48 - 01:27:02]

"Primetime" (Spoiler-Filled) - [01:27:02 - 02:16:30]

Outro - [02:16:30 - 02:24:10]

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠⁠.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

"Resident Evil" has been rebooted maybe a few too many times; Cris, Amartya, and Ashwin discuss if Zach Cregger's run with the iconic gaming franchise will finally make it stick.

Debate ensues on the merits (or lack thereof) of Cregger's earlier work and the 'elevated horror' genre as such—including major disagreements over "Weapons"—which is followed by surprising consensus on his ability to handle a much less complicated take on the survival horror genre. Attempts are also made to settle the age-old video game adaptation discourse.

For spoiler-free thoughts, check the time stamps below but listen to the full episode for our take on the film's Themes™ and our predictions on the future of cross-genre storytelling.

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 03:56]

Zach Cregger and Spoiler-Free Thoughts - [03:56 - 41:28]

Spoiler-Filled Thoughts on Resident Evil - [41:28 - 01:11:40]

Outro (& Other Game Adaptation) - [01:11:40 - 01:26:11]

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

Cris is joined by Dhruv, Hemant, and returning guest Devarsi on a tour of LA as they talk all things Hollywood through David Lynch's most well-known and celebrated text—Mulholland Drive.

Listen to the full episode to hear them try to find new ways to approach a film that has been talked about endlessly. Discussions on queerness, naive optimism, and film theory ensue, meaning the usual fare.

Spoilers, of course, for "Mulholland Drive."

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 04:00]

"Mulholland Drive": [04:00 - 1:19:35]

Outro: [1:19:35 - 1:28:17]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/criscritiques/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠.

DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/.

Cris and Varun sit down to thrash out the remaining life from the new ‘sexy-but-sex-negative’ rom-com “One Night Only”, directed by “Easy A” helmer Will Gluck and starring Monica Barbaro (“A Complete Unknown”, “Top Gun: Maverick”) and Callum Turner (aka Mr Dua Lipa of “Masters of the Air” and “Rose of Nevada” fame).

After they are done belting the new release for its many crimes, the duo turn affectionate as they talk up a favorite romcom each, Ali Abbas Zafar’s “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” (Cris) and Peyton Reed’s “Down with Love” (Varun).

TIMECODES

Initial Prattle - [00:00 - 09:53]

“One Night Only” - [09:53 - 01:31:17]

“Mere Brother Ki Dulhan” - [01:31:17 - 01:41:14]

“Down with Love” - [01:41:14 - 01:57:43]

Closing Thoughts and Khatam - [01:57:43 - 02:06:09]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

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You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

It's never nice to talk about a director whom you thought you loved but -- upon rewatching their films -- you realize you maybe don't...

This is the (unfortunate) framework for QID's first episode (of 3) on director Denis Villeneuve before he became THE Denis Villeneuve responsible for helming the Dune franchise (culminating with "Dune Part Three" in December), and thereafter, directing the latest iteration of 007.

Dhruv and Cris (for whom most of these films are first watches) are less than enamored by Villeneuve's French Canadian films -- especially "Polytechnique" and "Incendies" -- that catapulted him to becoming one of the most celebrated filmmakers working in Hollywood today.

So they contemplate the value (or lack thereof) of his refined style -- and why Cris, at least, prefers shabbiness of his earlier work ("August 32nd on Earth" & "Maelström") heavily inspired by the French New Wave.

Listen to the full episode to hear Dhruv rant about "Maelström" and the French New Wave, though. And then Cris talk extensively about how much Denis Villeneuve actually improves on the source material "Incendies" is adapted from.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 4 FILMS DISCUSSED!

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 22:52]

"August 32nd on Earth" - [22:52 - 41:56] 

"Maelström" - [41:56 - 59:16]

"Polytechnique" - [59:16 - 01:43:54]

"Incendies" - [01:43:54 - 02:29:30]

Outro - [02:29:30 - 02:39:54]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Co-fathers of “Queen is Dead,” Sanjeet and Hemant, join Varun for an episode on the collaborations between Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol. Beginning with the newest – “Batwara 1947” – this trio discusses the mechanism of filmmaking adopted by a pure 90s filmmaker thirty-six years after his debut feature, and how his direction of Sunny Deol has changed over time. 

Joining the Partition drama on the menu are the revenge drama “Ghayal”, the social melodrama “Damini”, and the social actioner “Ghatak”.

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 24:00] 

“Batwara 1947” - [24:00 - 01:24:46] 

Sanjeet’s Bigger Question - [01:24:46 - 01:48:27]

Closing on “Batwara 1947” - [01:48:27 - 01:58:00]

“Ghayal” - [01:58:00 - 02:18:29]

“Damini” - [02:18:29 - 02:35:58]

“Ghatak” - [02:35:58 - 02:49:20]

Outro - [02:49:20 - 02:51:06]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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SANJEET: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/sanjeet_singh/.

VARUN: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.⁠

HEMANT: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠⁠.

Dhruv and Cris convene ten months late (oops) to unusually calmly discuss Lynch's most "experimental" film (which was his only film to be distributed by the Walt Disney Company and get a G rating): "The Straight Story."

Listen to the full episode to hear us be normal for once(?) as we talk about the slow pleasures of America's (rotting) rolling pastures and questions of mortality that hit a little too close to home.

Spoilers, of course, for "The Straight Story."

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 03:00]

"The Straight Story": [03:00 - 50:20]

Outro: [50:20 - 55:37]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Spider-Man is back! Again! Web-slinging his way to box-office history, as the editor of this episode is writing this description.

Two Spidey "paglus" (crazies) -- Amartya & Adithiyan -- try to convince QID's designated Debbie Downer of this year -- Cris -- about the merits of the latest Spider-Man film beyond its effective emotionality -- courtesy of director Destin Daniel Cretton -- & Tom Holland's performance as both Spider-Man & Peter Parker.

Does the MCU go too far in its universe-building for what could have just been a great standalone Spider-Man film? Should [REDACTED] have been in the film? Should [REDACTED] have forgiven [REDACTED] in the film?

Spoiler-free description and introductory section (see time codes). But listen to the full episode after watching the film (you probably have already watched it!) to hear a spoiler-filled discussion about the past, present, and future of the MCU, Spider-Man & [REDACTED].

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 03:47]

Director Destin Daniel Cretton & the MCU: [03:47 - 06:27]

Spoiler-Free Review: [06:27 - 21:37]

Spoiler-Filled Review: [21:37 - 01:21:22]

Spoiler-Filled "Future of MCU" Discussion - [01:21:22 - 01:39:20]

You can also follow the Spidey lovers and the Debbie Downer on Letterboxd at -

ADITHIYAN: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

Hello Hello Hello,

It's that time of the year when QID does its mid-yearly Bollywood round-up (aka the time when Dhruv and Cris are at their bitchiest).

Rather than following our regular format, we've split our episode into 2 parts: the first one, featuring first-time guest & regular writer for The Indian Express, Anas Arif, is (hopefully) the civil one. We discuss two of the more prominent titles of this year—Anubhav Sinha's controversial Assi and Imtiaz Ali's much-revered Main Vaapas Aaunga—extensively to try and understand their appeal (or lack thereof) for a broader audience.

The second part of the episode, featuring only Cris and Dhruv, is chaos as usual because we revert to our format of picking notable honorable (or in this case, mostly dishonorable) mentions of the year (so far). We go through these categories by category - discussing performances, direction, writing, music & editing that missed (or, in the rare case, hit) the mark.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ASSI & MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA

MINOR SPOILERS FOR COCKTAIL 2 & O'ROMEO

TIMECODES

PART 1 (w/ ANAS) - [00:00 - 01:39:01]

Introduction - [00:00 - 03:42]

Assi - [03:42 - 51:19]

Main Vaapas Aaunga - [51:19 - 01:39:01]

PART 2 (w/o ANAS) - [01:39:01 - 02:37:13]

Introduction - [01:39:01 - 01:41:26]

Honorable/Dishonorable Mentions

Performance - [01:41:26 - 01:47:46]

Direction - [01:47:46 - 01:54:28]

Writing - [01:54:28 - 02:00:51]

Scene - [02:00:51 - 02:07:13]

Cinematography - [02:07:13 - 02:14:52]

Editing - [02:14:52 - 02:22:16]

Music - [02:22:16 - 02:28:39]

Film - [02:28:39 - 02:37:13]

OUTRO - [02:37:13 - 02:39:07]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

YOU CAN (AND SHOULD!) FOLLOW ANAS ON HIS SOCIALS.

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

ANAS' CRITICAL PIECE ON ASSI & MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA

1. "MVA chronicles a country in danger of forgetting itself."

2. "The devastatingly affective tragedy of MVA's climax."

3. "Assi vs. Mardaani 3: The grammar of rage in the era of hypermasculine cinema.

Follow us on Instagram at:

Dhruv: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠

Cris: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠

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Dhruv - ⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠

Cris: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠

Hello Hello Hello!

QID's manel (crew?) made up of Dhruv, Amartya, Varun, Cris, Arjun, and Hemant embark on an odyssey through Christopher Nolan's filmography, docking on the shores of his latest release: "The Odyssey". The adaptation question is tackled, with notes on translations, interpretations, and their relationship with the very act of storytelling.

A diverse set of opinions from disappointment to cautious optimism to reverence are shared, mapping the ups and downs of Nolan's auteurist blockbuster filmmaking. His relationship with writing women, the eroticism (or lack thereof) in his work, and his (over?)use of music are also delved into. This spoiler-filled discussion features plenty of "hot takes", references to Dhoom 3, and generally mandated chaos.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Dhruv!

SPOILERS FOR "THE ODYSSEY".

TIME CODES

Intro - [00:00 - 08:45]

The Nolan Tier List - [08:45 - 54:03]

Contextualising Homer's Odyssey - [54:03 - 01:10:39]

"The Odyssey" - [01:10:39 - 02:10:31]

Outro - [02:10:39 - 02:23:18]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

HEMANT: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/⁠.

DHRUV: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠.

Hello Hello Hello!

Overcoming the righteous elitism that plagues the day-to-day operations of Queen is Dead, Amartya, Cris, and Varun convene to discuss the evolution/regression of one of Bombay’s most significant production houses: Yash Raj Films.

More precisely, the decline in YRF’s output is examined through their two major franchises – the Dhoom series and the Spy Universe.

A broad discussion segues into observations about music and themes and filmmaking and dissing QID’s in-house YRF-esque dramatic hero Dhruv Krishna Goyal before arriving at Production #7 of the Spy Universe – Alpha, helmed by Shiv Rawail and starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, with support from Anil Kapoor and the re-ascendant Vijay Singh aka Bobby Deol.

Spoilers for two franchises that no one cares about (as per Dhruv).

TIME CODES

Intro - [00:00 - 05:31]

Bottom of the Barrel ("War 2") - [05:31 - 16:30]

The Appeal of the Spyverse (up until "Pathaan") - [16:30 - 24:04]

The Appeal of the "Dhoom" Franchise (Minus "Dhoom 3") - [24:04 - 45:30]

What Happened to the Music?! - [45:30 - 53:46]

The Demise of the Spyverse (post-"Pathaan") - [53:46 - 01:37:00]

The Lethal Ladies (and the Three Bored Audience Members) of "Alpha" - [01:37:00 - 02:29:28]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

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You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

In our final episode of this year's Pride series, Cris, Dhruv & Ashwin talk about English-language queer films as outsider "trash" art (John Waters' "Pink Flamingos"), genre-subversive art (The Wachowski Sisters' "Bound") & poetic melodramas (Terence Davies' "Benediction").

Much like the previous two eps, this final episode is another attempt to explore the varied aesthetics of queer expression, with form being intrinsically tied to content in shaping what a filmmaker wants to say about queerness in (and through) their film.

Listen to the full episode to hear us discuss John Waters & Divine's infamous "politics of filth" in "Pink Flamingoes," the Wachowskis' play on noir's femme fatale in "Bound," and Terence Davies' personalization (and poeticism) of the otherwise rote historical biopic in "Benediction."

Spoilers, if they count.

TIME CODES

Intro - [00:00 - 03:04]

"Pink Flamingos" (1972) - [03:04 - 36:28]

"Bound" (1996) - [36:28 - 1:02:07]

"Benediction" (2021) - [01:02:07 - 01:46:53]

Outro - [01:46:53 - 01:53:57]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

In this second episode (of three) of this year's Pride special series, Cris, Dhruv, Ashwin, and returning guest Prakhar engage with European Queer Cinema through Chantal Akerman's 'The Meetings of Anna', Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 'Querelle', and Alain Guiraudie's 'Stranger by the Lake' and how they navigate asceticism and excess in the landscape of queer misery.

Listen to the full episode for a lot of innuendo (we're blaming Fassbinder for this), academic references (we're blaming Cris for this), and inevitable Bollywood comparisons (we're surprisingly blaming Prakhar for this).

Spoilers, if they count.

TIME CODES

Intro - [00:00 - 03:04]

"The Meetings of Anna" (1978) - [03:04 - 37:45]

"Querelle" (1982) - [37:45 - 1:18:09]

"Stranger by the Lake" (2013) - [01:18:09 - 01:59:13]

Outro - [01:59:13 - 02:05:39]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Leo Bersani's "Is the Rectum a Grave?" (1987): https://web.english.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Bersani_Rectum.pdf

You can (and should!) follow Prakhar at - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/she_isatthemovies⁠.

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Amartya, Varun, Cris, and Arjun conclude the Spielberg Sci-Fi series with the release of "Disclosure Day". This final (spoiler-filled) episode looks at how the film exists in conversation with his filmography, whether expectations were met, and how honest the message at its heart is. Divergent opinions are shared, along with equal parts of admiration and frustration.

One of them (sorry, Arjun) is left to fend for themselves, necessary comparisons are made to Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis", and a genuine discussion on the existence of the 'third kind' is had.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "DISCLOSURE DAY".

TIME CODES

Intro (& Alien Talk) - [00:00 - 13:34]

Initial Thoughts - [13:34 - 29:23]

"Disclosure Day" - [29:23 - 01:26:34]

Outro - [01:26:34 - 01:28:29]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

Amartya, Varun, and Cris (re)convene in a divergent manel to tackle Steven Spielberg's association with science fiction. This second in a series of three episodes looks at "Minority Report", "War of the Worlds", and "Ready Player One", and how Spielberg (paired here with cinematographer Janusz Kamiński) uses them to tackle real-world politics. References to Bollywood are a must, so Tom Cruise gets compared to John Abraham at some point, do not ask why.

The final part will cover "Disclosure Day" and how it exists in conversation (or not) with these texts. Bonus discussion on our recent (terrible and not so much) excursions to the theatre had to be shared, so do enjoy that as well.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 MOVIES

TIME CODES

Intro (& Recent Theatrical Experiences) - [00:00 - 11:37]

"Minority Report" - [11:37 - 41:18]

"War of the Worlds" - [41:18 - 01:05:04]

"Ready Player One" - [01:05:04 - 01:35:55]

Outro - [01:35:55 - 01:37:05]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

In our second ever Pride special series, Cris is joined by fellow Queer Cinema enthusiasts Dhruv and Ashwin to discuss how different filmmakers from different backgrounds and in different eras render queerness on screen. They explore what makes a film "queer" in the first place and how formally, narratively, and stylistically diverse they can be.

This first episode (of three) engages with Asian Queer Cinema through Wong Kar Wai's 'Happy Together', Tsai Ming-liang's 'The River', and Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 'Tropical Malady', and how they contemplate (queer) alienation, misery, and repression.

Listen to the full episode for some heart-attack-inducing Bollywood comparisons (as usual), unexpected shade towards one of these films, and heartfelt affection and admiration for the other two.

Spoilers, if they count.

TIME CODES

(Pride Special) Intro - [00:00 - 08:08]

"Happy Together" (1997) - [08:08 - 38:07]

"The River" (1997) - [38:07 - 1:04:31]

"Tropical Malady" (2004) - [01:04:31 - 01:33:13]

Outro (& Upcoming Episodes) - [1:33:13 - 1:41:46]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Resident Star Wars Nerd Amartya introduces Resident Star Wars Noob Cris to the wonders(?) of the series as they discuss its latest addition: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'. Insert obligatory lecture on the franchise and how much (if any) of it is relevant here.

Much of this (technically spoiler-filled, though there's not much to spoil) conversation revolves around Grogu and how the three-apples-tall alien was synthesised by the creators in a lab to be the cutest thing known to mankind. Attempts are made to talk about the film in general, to questionable degrees of success.

Listen to the full episode for (short) tangents about whether Star Wars is like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' or 'Fast & Furious' and how quickly 'Grogu Plushies' was googled after watching the film.

SPOILERS FOR 'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU'.

TIME CODES

Intro - [00:00 - 05:20]

What the Hell is Star Wars? - [05:20 - 17:54]

Grogu (and The Mandalorian) - [17:54 - 37:11]

What Works? - [37:11 - 47:14]

(Nonsense) Discourse Break - [47:14 - 51:03]

What Doesn't Work? - [51:03 - 1:04:38]

Final Thoughts and Outro - [1:04:38 - 1:14:19]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

Ashwin, Amartya, Dhruv, Varun, and Cris convene in a divergent manel to tackle Steven Spielberg's association with science fiction. This first in a series of three episodes looks at "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", and "A.I. Artificial Intelligence". Minor digressions to address the cinematic spectacles known as "Jaani Dushman — Ek Anokhi Kahani" and "Koi Mil Gaya" aside, this is one of the saner offerings from the QID studio, all thanks to host and chief Spielberg champion Varun.

The second episode will revolve around "Minority Report", "War of the Worlds", and "Ready Player One", and the series will close with "Disclosure Day", the latest film by the Father of the Blockbuster, back in the director's chair after a hiatus of four years, the longest time he has taken between films in fifty-two years of feature filmmaking.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 MOVIES & MINOR ONES FOR "THE FABELMANS"

TIME CODES

Intros to Spielberg's Sci-Fi Cinema - [00:00 - 17:13]

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - [17:13 - 01:25:41]

"E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" - [01:25:41 - 02:13:37]

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" - [02:13:37 - 02:46:04]

Outro (Spielberg's Auteurism) - [02:46:04 - 02:58:30]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Why pick team Mammootty or team Mohanlal when you can have both?

The first all-Mallu panel of QID—Cris, Ashwin, Arjun, and Devi—discuss Mahesh Narayanan's latest multi-starrer action thriller 'Patriot'. First, they talk about Narayanan's craft as an editor and director. Then they debate his writing skills.

Unavoidable references are made to "L2: Empuraan" and star culture in Malayalam cinema.

Listen to the full episode for some unsavory comments towards online discourse (as usual) and a debate on exactly how homoerotic the film is.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "PATRIOT" (SEE TIMECODES LISTED BELOW TO ONLY LISTEN TO THE NON-SPOILERY STUFF!)

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 02:45]

Mahesh Narayanan's Filmography : [02:45 - 10:36]

"Patriot" (Non-Spoiler Talk) : [10:36 - 47:09]

"Patriot" (Spoiler Talk) : [47:09 - 02:08:15]

Discourse around "Patriot" : [02:08:15 - 02:25:04]

Mammootty-Mohanlal Film Recs : [02:25:04 - 02:34:23]

Outro : [02:34:23 - 02:35:28]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Devi's Links -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/film.trance/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

The girls who get it -- Cris, Ashwin, and Vik -- get it ("it" being the girls-and-gays-classic 'The Devil Wears Prada,' and its brand new sequel) and the girls who don't -- the rest of QID -- don't (they're not allowed on this episode).

In this uncharacteristically civil conversation, the "girls who get it" discuss why "The Devil Wears Prada" has had such a hold on the public imagination and whether/how a follow-up (legacy sequel?) of it -- released 20 years after the original -- has any right to work like the original once did.

Listen to the full episode for spoiler-filled thoughts on TDWP2, its fashion (Cris and Vik "get" this; Ashwin doesn't), and its critical reputation relative to the original.

That's all.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "THE DEVIL PRADA 2" (SEE TIMECODES LISTED BELOW TO ONLY LISTEN TO THE NON-SPOILERY STUFF!)

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 01:37]

TDWP : [01:37 - 18:48]

TDWP2 (Non-Spoiler Talk) : [18:48 - 31:13]

TDWP2 (Spoiler Talk) : [31:13 - 01:01:45]

Fashion Talk on a Film Podcast : [01:01:45 - 01:10:16]

TDWP2's Box Office Success: [01:10:16 - 01:14:01]

Films like TDWP & TDWP2: [01:14:01 - 01:18:39]

Outro ("Star Ratings") : [01:18:39 - 01:21:23]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Vik's Links -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkmelb.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theletstalkseries.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

Dhruv, Cris, Aryan, Srilekha & Varun (correctly pronounced, as per Srilekha, as "Borun") are discussing a(nother) A24 Film that's been the talk of the town since it released in cinemas last month.

Since most of them were relatively cold on the film itself, they've decided to dedicate at least half of this episode to discussing the drama surrounding not only the film but also its director, Kristoffer Borgli -- especially the casually disconcerting essay he wrote about May-December romances. In particular, he cites Woody Allen's "Manhattan" as the key inspiration that helped him justify his relationship with a 16-year-old girl as a 27-year-old man.

The QID members discuss -- in length -- the value (or not) of having this kind of discussion before delving into the particularities of Borgli's films that interested (or irritated) them.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "THE DRAMA" & MINOR SPOILERS FOR "MANHATTAN" THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EPISODE!

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 13:19]

A24's Marketing of "The Drama" : [13:19 - 24:32]

Borgli & The Woody Allen Connection : [24:32 - 01:01:40]

The Drama of "The Drama" : [01:01:40 - 01:44:12]

Films (Recos) like "The Drama" : [01:44:12 - 02:04:37]

Outro (Aryan's "Samay Raina" Tangent) : [02:04:37 - 02:11:49]

You can also follow these mad people on Letterboxd at -

ARYAN: https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/.

SRILEKHA: https://letterboxd.com/srilekha__mitra/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

Dhruv's internet is down (and he despised the film everyone seems to love), so Varun takes over hosting duties of our latest episode. You know what you're in for then.

For about an hour of this two-hour spoiler-filled episode on "Project Hail Mary," Varun manages to steer the (space) ship rather competently -- encouraging all our participants, including himself, of course, to share thier adoration (Adithiyan), disdain (Cris), or measured response (Amartya, Hemant, & Varun) to (currently) the biggest hit film of the year.

Then the wheels come off—so expect deviations, including discussions about Hemant's marriage, Varun's UK Passport Office visit pre-watching PHM, etc.

The editor of this episode, who's also writing this description and was slandered around 10-15 times in the episode (Dhruv), wishes all QID listeners the best of luck trying to survive this particular section of the episode.

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

Main Discussion on PHM (& Stuff) : [00:00 - 01:31:21]

Closing Thoughts on Stuff (& PHM) : [01:31:21 - 02:04:30]

You can also follow these mad people (& Adithiyan) on Letterboxd at -

ADITHIYAN: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

HEMANT: https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This final(?) English and International Language Features Round-Up focuses on 7 features — 5 and 2 respectively.

One took a big Academy Award home ("Hamnet"); while two others didn't ("Marty Supreme," and "The Voice of Hind Rajab"); three feature morally complex explorations of abuse ("The Chronology of Water," "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl," and "Predators"); and, one plays(?) with consent ("Pillion").

Listen to the full episode to hear more detailed, spoiler-filled thoughts on these — and watch us try not to get cancelled between our blasphemous hot takes.

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 08:05]

“Marty Supreme” – [08:05 - 01:01:15]

“The Chronology of Water” – [01:01:15 - 01:16:51]

“Hamnet” – [01:16:51 - 01:55:29]

“On Becoming of A Guinea Fowl” – [01:55:29 - 02:11:00]

“Predators” – [02:11:00 - 02:43:32]

“Pillion” – [02:43:32 - 03:16:16]

“The Voice of Hind Rajab” – [03:16:16 - 03:56:21]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [03:56:21 - 04:12:09]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

ARYAN: https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of the seven films listed in the time codes.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This second International Language Features Round-Up focuses on 5 features — 4 from Europe, and 1 from South America.

Three of these are up for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards ("Sentimental Value," "Sirāt," and "The Secret Agent"); one is our performative appreciation for a film made by a woman filmmaker ("Sound of Falling"); and one is a documentary that blew us (and others?) away ("Afternoons of Solitude").

Listen to the full episode to hear more detailed, spoiler-filled thoughts on these — and, well, try not to explode in the minefield of our varied opinions (iykwim).

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 09:50]

“The Secret Agent” – [09:50 - 43:10]

“Sound of Falling” – [43:10 - 54:50]

“Sirāt” – [54:50 - 01:30:13]

“Afternoons of Solitude” – [01:30:13 - 01:54:32]

“Sentimental Value” – [01:54:32 - 02:20:27]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:20:27 - 02:39:04]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Vik's Links -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkmelb.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theletstalkseries.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of the five films listed in the time codes.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This first International Language Features Round-Up focuses on 5 features -- 4 from Asia, and 1 from the Middle East (technically, a European production, but we're counting it as Middle Eastern because of its setting, language spoken, and director).

One of these is up for awards-season consideration ("It Was Just An Accident"); others probably ought to have been ("No Other Choice," "Happyend," "Left-Handed Girl"). And then there's Bi Gan's "Resurrection" -- which we spend an entire hour trying to make sense of...

Listen to the full episode to hear more detailed, spoiler-filled thoughts on these -- and, well, us trying our best to learn (and fail) how to pronounce a number of South Korean and Chinese names.

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 11:00]

“No Other Choice” – [11:00 - 48:44]

“Happyend” – [48:44 - 01:03:27]

“It Was Just An Accident” – [01:03:27 - 01:31:14]

“Left-Handed Girl” – [01:31:14 - 01:49:30]

“Resurrection” – [01:49:30 - 02:50:37]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:50:37 - 03:10:54]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of the five films listed in the time codes.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This third and final (for the time being) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films featuring ensemble casts (look we needed a category for the remaining films we had to cover, okay). This includes fairly in-depth discussions on James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash," Rian Johnson's "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," Jared Bush and Byron Howard's "Zootopia 2," Kathryn Bigelow's "A House of Dynamite," Luca Guadagnino's "After the Hunt," and Richard Linklater's "Nouvelle Vague."

Listen to the full episode to hear more about (only) Ashwin's love for "Avatar," our thoughts on prayer and power in "Wake Up Dead Man," the dynamite of discourse that is "After the Hunt," the (un)remarkable undertaking that is "Nouvelle Vague," and more!

TIME CODES

Introduction – [00:00 - 06:47]

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” – [06:47 - 33:15]

“Wake Up Dead Man” – [33:15 - 01:04:20]

“Zootopia 2” – [01:04:20 - 01:27:07]

“A House of Dynamite” – [01:27:07 - 01:49:55]

“After the Hunt” – [01:49:55 - 02:31:14]

"Nouvelle Vague" – [02:31:14 - 03:16:02]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [03:16:02 - 03:24:48]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wake Up Dead Man, Zootopia 2, A House of Dynamite, After the Hunt, and Nouvelle Vague.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

This episode is courtesy of PPC (Purush Pradhan Committee), a QID initiative.

This second (of three) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films about men, for(?) men, by* men (except when it is not). This includes fairly in-depth discussions on Clint Bentley's "Train Dreams," Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon," Derek Cianfrance's "Roofman," Kelly Reichardt's "The Mastermind," Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein," and Edgar Wright's "The Running Man."

Listen to the full episode to hear more about our bafflement at the popularity of "Train Dreams," surprise at the pleasantness of "Roofman," utter despondence at the quality of "The Running Man," and more!

TIME CODES

Intro (and Misc Thoughts) – [00:00 - 13:20]

“Train Dreams” – [13:20 - 38:50]

“Blue Moon” – [38:50 - 01:15:08]

“Roofman” – [01:15:08 - 01:38:32]

“The Mastermind” – [01:38:32 - 01:53:46]

“Frankenstein” – [01:53:46 - 02:13:04]

"Jay Kelly" – [02:13:04 - 02:25:02]

"The Running Man" – [02:25:02 - 02:44:00]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:44:00 - 02:57:08]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/

VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/

ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Train Dreams, Blue Moon, Roofman, The Mastermind, Frankenstein, Jay Kelly, and The Running Man.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

We're back after a month-long hiatus with our podcast episodes -- which will be coming regularly to you from now on, at least until the end of 2025's Awards Season.

Rather than doing our annual "Best of" & "Oscar Season Movie Catch-Ups", we've decided to do a series of Year-end Round-ups of some of the most talked about films in 2025. These will cover many of the titles up for awards consideration -- and hopefully many more titles that perhaps didn't make the nominations list but were still relevant (either in public discourse, or, more significantly, personal favorites).

We'll be releasing the Round-Up Eps for English Language Features first, since most of the titles we have discussed are now readily available for listeners to watch online.

This first (of three) English-Language Features Round-Up is mainly focused on covering films either directed by women -- or, at least, on films entirely centered around them. This includes fairly in-depth discussions on Lynne Ramsay's "Die My Love," Mary Bronstein's "If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You," Nia DaCosta's "Hedda," Yorgos Lanthimos' "Bugonia," Mona Fastvold's "The Testament of Ann Lee," and (briefly) John M Chu's "Wicked (Not) For Good."

The last film listed here also prompts our token Queer representative, Cris, to do a quickfire Queer Film Round-Up for 2025, which most extensively covers Ira Sachs's "Peter Hujar's Day."

Listen to the full episode to hear more about our apprehension in talking about "women-oriented films," Cris and Ashwin's problems with John M. Chu's direction of the "Wicked" films, THAT "Bugonia" ending & much, much more!

TIME CODES

QID Ep. Release Plan for Jan/Feb/March – [00:00 - 07:09]

Introduction – [07:09 - 08:49]

“Die My Love” – [08:49 - 33:41]

“If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You” – [33:41 - 53:45]

“Hedda” – [53:45 - 01:09:17]

“Bugonia” (MAJOR SPOILERS!) – [01:09:17 - 01:35:33]

INTERVAL (aka Auteurial Digression) – [01:35:33 - 01:38:22]

“The Testament of Ann Lee” – [01:38:22 - 02:03:52]

"Wicked (Not) For Good" – [02:03:52 - 02:18:01]

"Peter Hujar's Day" – [02:18:01 - 02:37:22]

Cris' Rapid Fire Queer Film Round-Up – [02:37:22 - 02:50:31]

Outro (aka More Recommendations!) - [02:50:31 - 02:59:49]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to helpthe podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page:https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/queenisdead/support

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Audio Excerpts are taken from the respective trailers (promotional material) of Die My Love, If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You, Hedda, Bugonia, The Testament of Ann Lee, Wicked: For Good, and Peter Hujar's Day.

We know we're late to the party, but we had to talk about Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" and all of the discourse surrounding it, or at least try to.

Dhruv is joined by (much to his dismay) Varun and his "crime-in-partner" Cris in this endeavour as they tackle one wonder after another (sorry, the title is just unendingly pun-able) that the filmmaking presents, as well as some reservations they have with it. They also try (and mostly succeed at) not being too condescending as they discuss the online buzz around the film since its wide release.

Listen to the full episode and join in on (or disagree with us over) this lowkey gush-fest!

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

QID LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/queenisdead.

TIME CODES

Intro & Shenanigans: [00:00:00 - 00:05:25]

"One Battle After Another": [00:05:25 - 01:31:42]

Discourse (from Hell): [01:31:42 - 02:12:50]

Follow us on Instagram at:

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠

Varun: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/varunonfilm/⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Varun: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/⁠⁠

Dhruv: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠

We recorded an episode about our favorite Paul Thomas Anderson films before the theatrical release of his new film, "One Battle After Another," but are only now releasing it post its online release as a "pre-game" discussion to our episode on OBAA.

We track his auteurist trajectory — from the bombastic and tightly constructed "Magnolia" to a more loose-limbed work like "Licorice Pizza" — and discuss why the shift towards a seemingly freer form appeals to us more than the early days of his (incredibly) impressive but demonstratively flashy filmmaking.

Listen to the full, spoiler-filled episode to hear Sanjeet, Cris, Dhruv, and the ⁠Cinematic Liberties⁠ Podcast Guys -- Arjun & Ashwin -- discuss their favorite PTA films and (correctly) speculate OBAA's box office fate!

You can (and should!) follow -

⁠⁠CINEMATIC LIBERTIES PODCAST⁠⁠

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

QID LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/queenisdead.

TIME CODES

OBAA Speculation: [00:00 - 03:06]

Introduction: [03:06 - 05:49]

"Magnolia" (& Early PTA): [05:49 - 30:36]

"Punch-Drunk Love" (The Breaking Point): [30:36 - 48:21]

"There Will Be Blood": [48:21 - 01:04:52]

"The Master": [01:04:52 - 01:17:27]

The Thomas Pynchon Connection: [01:17:27 - 01:21:44]

"Phantom Thread": [01:21:44 - 01:41:47]

"Licorice Pizza" (& Late PTA): [01:41:47 - 02:07:08]

Outro & OBAA Speculation (again!): [02:07:08 - 02:13:35]

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

SANJEET: https://letterboxd.com/sanjeet_singh/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

We're [now] 4 months late to the BEST OF (SO FAR) party because, well, just.

The format we've been using for the past two years is as follows: rather than simply listing our favorite films of the year, we categorize them in the same way [insert any Award show name] categorizes them.

Part 2, which was meant to be an hour long but also ended up being over 2 hours, will include discussions on our choices for "Best Director," "Best Film," "WTF (Affectionate) Film of the Year," and "Best Screenplay."

Do listen and let us know -- amicably, of course -- how much you (dis)agree with us!

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00:00 - 00:07:48]

Best Screenplay - [00:07:48 - 00:49:00]

Best Director - [00:49:00 - 01:39:05]

WTF (Affectionate) Film of the Year - [01:39:05 - 02:30:17]

Best Film - [02:30:17 - 02:47:25]

Outro - [02:47:25 - 02:51:56]

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.

QID LINKTREE: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/queenisdead⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on Instagram at:

Adithiyan:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.⁠⁠

Amartya:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/.⁠⁠

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Adithiyan: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/⁠⁠.

Amartya: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/amartya/⁠⁠.

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠⁠

All Audio Excerpts may not have been used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act because Cris loves "Badass Ravi Kumar" that much.

Hello Hello Hello! Bond fan(atics) - Varun, Amartya and Sanjeet get together to discuss Timothy Dalton's interpretation of James Bond in The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989). Timothy Dalton has often been noted for bringing a darker, more serious, and gritty portrayal of the character that emphasized the realism from Ian Fleming's novels; a departure from the more lighthearted style of Roger Moore.

They also discuss their hopes and expectations for Denis Villeneuve's upcoming Bond film set to release in a few years and speculate the future of the franchise.

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00:00 - 00:10:00]

Timothy Dalton as Bond - [00:10:01 - 00:25:00]

"The Living Daylights" - [00:25:01 - 01:06:22]

"Licence to Kill" - [01:06:23 - 01:37:00]

"Future of James Bond" - [01:37:01 - 02:05:06]

Outro - [02:05:07 - 02:14:53]

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.

QID LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/queenisdead

All Audio Excerpts have been used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act.

Dhruv and Cris meet Devarsi again outside the industrial hellscape of "Eraserhead" -- this time travelling alongside two new (hopefully recurring!) podcast guests, Rushnan and Vani -- on Lynch's "Lost Highway" to psychosexual hell.

Listen to the full episode to hear us not only discuss Lynch's film in detail but also explore the myriad of seemingly oppositional ways -- from deeply subjective to almost clinically objective -- the film appeals to us.

Major spoilers, of course, for "Lost Highway."

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 09:42]

"Lost Highway": [09:42 - 01:18:20]

Outro: [01:18:20 - 01:19:27]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY HERE

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

"Premonitions Following an Evil Deed" (David Lynch, 1995).

"The Eye of the Duck" (Mark Cousins' David Lynch Interview).

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can watch Rushnan's 17-minute experimental short film, "The Angel of Forms" (2023) on Vimeo for free.

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

VANI: https://www.instagram.com/uwu_vani/.

DEVARSI: https://www.instagram.com/devarsighosh/.

RUSHNAN: https://www.instagram.com/rushnanjaleel/.

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

DEVARSI: https://letterboxd.com/d2dag/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

August and September were the lucky months for some Indian cinephiles who crave an alternate form of cinema (i.e., indie) to the mainstream one they have to endure for the rest of the time in cinemas.

In this episode, Sanjeet, Amartya, Cris & Dhruv (in a not-so-special appearance) catch up to 4 of these films that released in limited cinemas between these two months.

Since Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound" is the most high-profile of these releases (it is India's submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature), we spend the most time (occasionally delving into spoilers) debating the value (or lack thereof) of its indie-ness.

The rest of the episode involves Sanjeet promoting Raam Reddy's indescribably beautiful "Jugnuma," Amartya and Cris trying -- unsuccessfully -- to convince Sanjeet to watch the theoretically sound but undeveloped "Humans in the Loop," and all three of them lavishing a lot of praise on Rohan Parashuram Kanawade's tender "Sabar Bonda."

Note: We apologize for the audio leak issues that occurred during the first part of the episode. We only noticed this after the "Homebound" discussion was over, so the second half sounds cleaner than the first. Though we like to think that Dhruv's dislike of "Homebound" is what will make people fast-forward through this part of the episode, and not the audio quality.

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00:00 - 00:02:28]

"Homebound" - [00:02:28 - 01:08:22]

"Sabar Bonda" - [01:08:22 - 01:38:18]

"Humans in the Loop" - [01:38:18 - 01:54:06]

"Jugnuma" - [01:54:06 - 02:05:03]

Indie Distribution & Exhibition - [02:05:03 - 02:19:08]

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.

QID LINKTREE: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/queenisdead⁠⁠⁠.

Follow us on Instagram at:

Sanjeet: https://www.instagram.com/pixel_baba/

Amartya:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/.⁠⁠

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Sanjeet: https://letterboxd.com/Sanjeet_Singh/

Amartya: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/amartya/⁠⁠.

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠⁠

All Audio Excerpts have been used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act.

We're 3 months late to the BEST OF (SO FAR) party because, well, just.

The format we've been using for the past two years is as follows: rather than simply listing our favorite films of the year, we categorize them in the same way [insert any Award show name] categorizes them.

Because we like to ramble a lot, Part 1 of the Best of 2025 (So Far) focuses on our in-depth discussions of film technique ("Best Editing," "Best Cinematography," etc), performance ("Best Lead Performance," "Best Supporting Performance"), and "Best Scene."

Part 2, which was meant to be an hour long but also ended up being over 2 hours, will include discussions on our choices for "Best Director," "Best Film," "WTF (Affectionate) Film of the Year," and "Best Screenplay."

Do listen and let us know -- amicably, of course -- how much you (dis)agree with us!

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00:00 - 00:03:42]

Best Editing - [00:03:42 - 00:41:37]

Best Cinematography - [00:41:37 - 01:26:56]

Best Song/Music - [01:26:56 - 02:16:26]

Best Scene - [02:16:26 - 02:38:20]

Best Supporting Performance - [02:38:20 - 02:56:08]

Best Performance - [02:56:08 - 03:19:08]

Impromptu Outro - [03:19:08 - 03:22:31]

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.

QID LINKTREE: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/queenisdead⁠⁠.

Follow us on Instagram at:

Adithiyan:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.⁠

Amartya:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/.⁠

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠

Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Adithiyan: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/⁠.

Amartya: ⁠https://letterboxd.com/amartya/⁠.

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠

Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠

All Audio Excerpts may not have been used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act because Cris loves "Badass Ravi Kumar" that much.

Amartya and Dhruv had been desperately waiting for Spike Lee's latest film to release, only because they wanted an excuse to go back and revisit Akira Kurosawa's incredibly influential 1963 classic, "High and Low."

This episode -- promoted as an extended deep dive into Spike Lee's exasperatingly absurd (mostly in an amusingly bad way) "Highest 2 Lowest" -- is, in actuality, very much an excuse for both Amartya and Dhruv to also wax lyrical about Kurosawa's original.

Listen to the full episode to hear their full spoilerific thoughts on both Kurosawa's original version and Lee's interpretation of it -- and why the 2 (memorable) highs of the latter don't outmatch its (2) many lows.

TIME CODES

Highs & Lows of Film Criticism: [00:00 - 11:09]

For the Impatient Ones: [11:09 - 14:43]

Akira Kurosawa's "High and Low": [14:43 - 56:49]

Spike Lee's "Highest 2 Lowest": [56:49 - 01:39:11]

Outro: [01:39:11 - 01:44:36]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify and rate us if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page:

https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

You can also follow us on Instagram at:

Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/

Dhruv: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/

On Letterboxd at:

Dhruv: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/

Amartya: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/

Long gone are the days when Dhruv and Sanjeet talked about QID not being a platform for ranting about films we hate.

What was supposed to merely be a (fun) category addition to our Best of 2025 (So Far) List took about an hour of discussion, which made our already super-sized episode even more (probably unbearably) long.

So Cris -- who proudly claims this to be "his episode -- has dutifully edited this section of our otherwise 4-hour-long discussion into a one-hour episode of its own.

Listen to the full episode to hear Amartya, Cris, Dhruv, Aryan & Adithiyan ranting :)

TIME CODES

Introduction - [00:00 - 05:30]

Cris ("Badass RK" & "Param Sundari") - [05:30 - 19:30]

Dhruv ("Nadaaniyan") - [19:30 - 27:40]

Aryan ("Bhool Chuk Maaf") - [27:40 - 34:50]

Adithiyan ("Thug Life") - [34:50 - 46:15]

Amartya ("Star Trek: Section 31") - [46:15 - 59:20]

Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.

QID LINKTREE: ⁠https://linktr.ee/queenisdead⁠.

Follow us on Instagram at:

Adithiyan: https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.

Amartya: https://www.instagram.com/amartya25/.

Dhruv: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠

Aryan: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠

Follow us on Letterboxd at:

Adithiyan: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/.

Amartya: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

Dhruv: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠

Aryan: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠

All Audio Excerpts are used under the “Fair Use Provisions” of the Indian Copyright Act.

In this very special episode, Dhruv welcomes back Prakhar Patidar (previously appeared on the "All We Imagine as Light" ep!) to discuss the Taiwanese New Wave of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s because, well, they both love its particularly sad, introspective, and -- yes, that dreaded word -- SLOW -- depiction of loneliness that engulfs every fabric of one's being as they stumble around a city so intent on looking upwards (to urbanization and Americanization) that it ends up looking down upon those who don't want to be swept up by all of it.

Please listen to the full episode to hear us talk -- in full spoilers -- about Edward Yang's "Taipei Story," Tsai Ming-liang's "Vive L'Amour," & Hou Hsiao-hsien's "Millennium Mambo" -- and how the depiction of contemporary Taipei -- and people's alienation within it -- changes (or not) from the 80s to the 2000s.

Or, you can listen to it for Prakhar's forceful manifesto about the need & value of Slow Cinema (Viewing) in the Current Media (Viewing) Landscape.

TIMECODES

Apologizing for our Pronunciations - [00:00 – 07:20]

The Origins of the Taiwanese New Wave - [07:20 – 31:05]

Summarizing TNW [for the Impatient Ones] - [31:05 – 42:23]

"Taipei Story" (1985) - [42:23 – 01:10:45]

“Vive L'Amour” (1994) - [01:10:45 – 01:35:56]

“Millennium Mambo” (2001) - [01:35:56 – 01:52:22]

Outro (Planning a Lynne Ramsay Ep!) - [01:52:22 – 01:58:17]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast⁠

ARTICLES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

1. “Man, Muse & Their Movies: Tsai Ming-liang & Lee Kang-sheng in the 90s” (Prakhar Patidar).

2. “What Do You Mean America is Not the Answer?: Asian Modernity & the American Dream in Edward Yang's Taipei Story” (Prakhar Patidar).

3. “A Guide to the Masterworks of New Taiwanese Wave” (James Balmont).

4. “Taiwanese New Waves in New York” (David Hudson).

PODCASTS/VIDEOS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

1. Prakhar's Tsai Ming-liang Article Research Playlist

2. Slow Cinema 101⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram at:

Prakhar: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/she_isatthemovies⁠⁠.

Dhruv: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠

Audio Excerpts are taken from the promotional material for Taipei Story, and select scenes from Vive L'Amour & Millennium Mambo -- all of which are discussed and referenced in this episode.

It's another Ari Aster movie discussion -- something we didn't think we would do after our "Beau Is Afraid" experience.

BUT -- "Eddington" is something different for Aster, even though it does (justifiably for some, not for others) devolve into something of a "Beau Is Afraid"-style paranoid nightmare. It's his brand of absurdly cruel personal neurosis funneled through the cruelly absurd America of the 2020s, giving this film's hellish descent into meaninglessness (more for some, less for others) potency than his other films.

Listen to the full, spoiler-filled episode to hear Amartya, Cris, Dhruv, and the Cinematic Liberties Podcast Guys -- Arjun & Ashwin -- discuss the merits and demerits of Aster's latest!

You can (and should!) follow -

⁠CINEMATIC LIBERTIES PODCAST⁠

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME CODES

 Introduction ("War 2 Trauma") : [00:00 - 02:39]

"Eddington" (Spoiler-Free): [02:39 - 39:25]

"Eddington" (Spoiler-Filled): [39:25 - 1:13:25]

"Eddington" & The Western Genre: [1:13:25 - 1:49:50]

Outro ("Hindsight is 2020"): [1:49:50 - 02:01:51]

REVIEWS REFERENCED

1. ⁠⁠ Eddington is a Lethally Self-Satisfied COVID Satire [Justin Chang, New Yorker]

2. ⁠⁠ Eddington Captures the Chaos of the COVID Era -- and Modern Existence [Adam Nayman, The Ringer]

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Hello, Hello, Hello!

In this new episode, Amartya, Sanjeet, and Cris discuss the new Lokesh Kanagaraj directorial starring Super Star Rajinikanth. They talk about the discourse surrounding the film and ask - is the hype around the film to blame for the film's failure, or is it more to do with generic writing?

Listen to them also briefly discuss (read: eviscerate) the new YRF Spyverse addition, War 2.

As usual, major spoilers for both the films!

Timecodes

Coolie hype?: 0:00-3:44

Intro: 3:45-6:44

Impact of Vikram (2022): 6:45-9:18

Coolie Review: 9:19-35:00

Rajinikanth=Star Wars Franchise?: 35:01-39:20

Back to review: 39:21-1:02:30

Ze demolition of War 2: 1:02:31-1:27:30

Outro: 1:27:31-1:30:46

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast

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Dhruv and Cris follow Laura Dern's Sandy (from "Blue Velvet") out of her cheerfully dreamy Lumberton suburbia into the -- at first, hellishly garish, then, coldly desolate wilderness -- of the American West, trying to make sense of how Sandy (now called Lula) tries to keep her passionate romance with Sailor (played by Nicolas Cage) alive as the reality around her threatens to burn down (another one of her) dreams.

Listen to the full episode to hear Dhruv only being able to make sense of the part where the dream (and the film's combustible melodrama) is extinguished; Cris, on the other hand, argues that the film's most memorable bits are its most unabashedly fantastical and melodramatic.

Major spoilers, of course, for "Wild At Heart."

TIME CODES

Introduction : [00:00 - 02:41]

"Twin Peaks" Announcement: [02:41 - 03:32]

Wild At Cannes (Contexualizing the Film): [03:32 - 16:50]

"Wild At Heart": [16:50 - 01:10:48]

Outro: [01:10:48 - 01:18:30]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY

"Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can follow us on Instagram at:

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

You can also follow us on Letterboxd at -

CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Hello, Hello, Hello

In the latest episode of QID, Dhruv invites the creator, Arjun Sivakumar, and regular guest-cum-host of the "Cinematic Liberties Podcast", Ashwin Dev, to discuss one of the great filmic oddities of this year -- Danny Boyle's "28 Years Later" (now available to rent/buy on digital platforms).

Before talking about the film, the three of them talk about the "whack" legacy of the franchise itself -- first discussing, at length, the historical significance of "28 Days Later," then, briefly, discussing the somewhat unfairly maligned status of its sequel, "28 Weeks Later" (Boyle and Garland only returned as executive producers for that).

Finally, the discussion about "28 Years Later" itself prompts all sorts of responses from us -- confusion, amazement, contemplation, you name it. Which -- regardless of the film's narrative flaws and tonal inconsistencies -- is what we cherish most about it.

Listen to the full episode to hear all this in a spoiler-filled discussion on the entirety of the "28 [insert timeline] Later..." franchise.

You can (and should!) follow -

CINEMATIC LIBERTIES PODCAST

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TIME CODES

 Introduction (inc. "Past Lives" Slander) : [00:00 - 06:36]

The Legacy of "28 Days Later": [06:36 - 43:23]

The Non-Legacy of "28 Weeks Later": [43:23 - 1:02:19]

"28 Years Later": [1:02:19 - 1:52:52]

Outro (inc. PTA episode in the pipeline): [1:52:52 - 01:55:24]

ARTICLES REFERENCED

1. Danny Boyle Goes Big with the Horror Sequel [IGN]

2. Danny Boyle Says Shooting on iPhones Let Him Capture ‘Startling’ Violence in 28 Years Later. [WIRED]

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ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No - It's (a new) QID Episode!

Hello, Hello, Hello!

In this new episode, Amartya & Sanjeet discuss James Gunn’s ‘Superman,’ currently playing in theatres. They compare his "sunny" interpretation of the superhero to Snyder’s grittier take (that both of them liked!), contemplating what (if anything) the DCU may have in store for them in the future.

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Sanjeet: https://www.instagram.com/pixel_baba/

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Sanjeet: https://letterboxd.com/Sanjeet_Singh/

Amartya: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/

Hello, Hello, Hello,

In this episode, "Past Lives" skeptics Cris (taking Dhruv's place) and Aryan invite "Past Lives" lover-for-life Tuhin Das (@tuhin221b on Twitter) to discuss and check the math(s), as it were, on director Celine Song's latest theatrical release, "Materialists."

Listen to the full episode to hear where they agree—and largely disagree—on the effectiveness of Songs's writing and filmmaking choices as she navigates the complexities of modern love and marriage and the (Hollywood) economics behind it all.

Spoilers, of course, for "Materialists" (and some for "Past Lives").

TIMECODES

Intro - [00:00:00 - 00:05:48]

Initial Thoughts + Discourse - [00:05:48 - 00:24:20]

Debating the Value of "Materialists" - [00:24:20 - 00:53:30]

The (Hollywood) Economy - [00:53:30 - 01:25:50]

"Past Lives" + Song vs Kuritzkes - [01:25:40 - 01:38:31]

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/⁠⁠

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Aryan: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/⁠⁠

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After stumbling through the industrial hellscapes of Pennsylvania and Victorian-era England, Dhruv, Cris, and Arijit find themselves -- somewhat miraculously -- in the town of Lynchian Lumberton. Here, there is no darkness - it's colorful and cheery in the way that only the most gorgeous of Technicolor dreams can be. Is it an illusion, genuine, or both?

Listen to the full episode to hear them try to make sense of Lynch's "Blue Velvet" -- which, they're glad to admit, left them bedazzled (on their rewatches) in the best possible sense.

Major spoilers, of course, for "Blue Velvet."

(Apologies for finding a way to insert "Housefull 5A and 5B" into the intro of this discussion!)

TIME CODES

 Intro (& "Housefull 5A and B") : [00:00 - 05:16]

The Elusive Mystery of Lynch's Films: [05:16 - 25:37]

"Blue Velvet": [25:37 - 1:07:00]

"The Freudian Beers" in Blue Velvet: [01:07:00 - 01:39:26]

Outro (a.k.a Bullshit): [01:39:26 - 01:47:52]

TEXT REFERENCED REPEATEDLY

1. "Room to Dream" (David Lynch & Kristine McKenna).

2. ⁠"Through a Bottle Darkly: Blue Velvet's Freudian Beers" (Michael Zunenshine).⁠

Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people!

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You can follow us on Instagram at:

ARIJIT: https://www.instagram.com/_tentinquarantino_/.

CRIS: https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/.

DHRUV: https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/.

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ARIJIT: https://letterboxd.com/nostradamus/.

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DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

Hello, Hello, Hello,

This is -- arguably -- the only sane discussion we have had on the "MI" franchise, courtesy -- the presence of Adithiyan and the special appearance of Mr. (Raj) Aryan -- but most of all the absence of "MI: I, 2 & III" moderator, Varun Bhakay.

Dhruv, Cris & a surprisingly sober, sensible (and somewhat salty) Hemant are also there -- dueling it out about why, for some of them, "Dead Reckoning" works much more than "Final Reckoning" and why -- according to Hemant -- we all are wrong about "Rogue Nation."

Spoilers, of course, for all the MIs. And a lot of shade (and some praise) thrown at "MI5" and "MI8."

TIMECODES

Introduction - [00:00 – 05:05]

MI1 to MI6 Recap - [05:05 – 34:58]

Counter-Programming (MI's Legacy) - [34:58 – 51:57]

"MI7: Dead Reckoning" - [51:57 – 01:38:23]

"MI8: The Final Reckoning" - [01:38:23 – 02:31:51]

Outro - [02:31:51 - 02:37:03]

Congratulations to Jafar Panahi! - [02:37:03 - 02:39:40]

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READINGS ON THE "MI" FRANCHISE (suggested by Adithiyan)

1. "On Mission Impossible and Unaccountable Government" - https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/on-mission-impossible-and-unaccountable-government/.

2. "The Delightfully Nonsensical Politics of the MI Series" - https://oscarkimbauman.substack.com/p/the-delightfully-nonsensical-politics?utm_medium=web.

Follow him on IG to explore his "MI" Retrospective:

https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/.

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Adithiyan: https://www.instagram.com/curioseradithiyan/

Aryan: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/aryantalksfilm/⁠

Hemant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemantganti/⁠

Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/terminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prdscris/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Dhruv: ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/⁠⁠⁠

Cris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/crislim/⁠⁠