Intricate and personal dramatization of the real-life story of one of history’s most successful spies, Kim Philby.  Intertwining narratives tell the tale of how Philby came to defect to the USSR in 1969 as well as the effects it had on British and American intelligence thereafter.  Truly one of the most intense spy stories we have covered on this cast.  Find where to watch here.

Due to the VERY complex nature of the tradecraft in this series we will be covering it over two episodes of our podcast.  Here is our analysis of episodes 1-3.  Next month we will continue with our analysis of episodes 4-6, which concludes the series.    

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Darkly comic Netflix television series follows a young CIA lawyer who manages to get completely in over his head in his first week at the agency.  The CIA here is portrayed as being more obsessed with plausible deniability than operational effectiveness.  Find where to watch here.

Our next topic will be the miniseries A Spy Among Friends.  Intricate drama centered on the career of Kim Philby, possibly history’s most successful spy.  Find where to watch here.

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Science fiction spy stories are rare, but this fits the bill and has tradecraft worth discussing.  Tod brings in some disparate guests, all of which have different relationships with the Star Wars franchise.  Together, we untangle this unique entry into the canon.    

Our next topic will be Zero Dark Thirty, an attempt at dramatizing the real-life work of the CIA in the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.  Come talk spy film and television with us at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Robert Rodriguez takes a departure from his usual blood-soaked genre sendups to deliver his first blockbuster, a kid friendly spy adventure.  Special guest Yammering Lew joins us to discuss!  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Robert Rodriguez takes a departure from his usual blood-soaked genre sendups to deliver his first blockbuster, a kid friendly spy adventure.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Gary Oldman tackles the iconic spy character George Smiley in this 2011 adaptation of the 1974 novel by John Le Carre’.  It’s a lot of story to fit into 2 hours; does the tradecraft hold up?  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Gary Oldman tackles the iconic spy character George Smiley in this 2011 adaptation of the 1974 novel by John Le Carre’.  It’s a lot of story to fit into 2 hours; does the tradecraft hold up?  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Our discussion of the Cardassian tailor and retired (?) spy Elim Garak continues with a look at some more of his memorable appearances, including one of the highest-regarded Trek episodes of all time, In the Pale Moonlight.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Not a lot of science fiction spies out there, but Elim Garak from the Deep Space Nine television series is one of the coolest… and definitely the smirkiest.  How does he hold up as a spy character?  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

We drill deeper into the tradecraft of the film’s two main characters, Charlize Theron’s Lorraine and James McAvoy’s Percival.  Will Lorraine prevail due to superior tradecraft, or simply due to being the heroine of the film?  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Producer Charlize Theron brings the genius behind the John Wick action sequences, David Leitch, onboard in his first solo directing effort.  This film is a triple love affair of brutal action, colorful comic book storytelling, and 80’s billboard hit music.  Let’s talk about how it holds up as a spy movie.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Continued discussion of The Departed.  Tension ramps up as Damon (mob mole in the police) and DiCaprio (police mole in the mob) begin to hunt for one another in earnest.  Plus a section on the Infernal Affairs source material.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Mobsters and police run deep cover mole operations against one another in 2006’s Best Picture Oscar winner, which is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong hit Infernal Affairs.  This cops and robbers epic is drenched in tradecraft.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

Also available as a video here.

Fred Kennedy joins Tod to discuss the tradecraft of The Old Man, a seven episode FX series currently streaming on Hulu and other services.  Jeff Bridges stars as Dan Chase, a spy who has retired into deep cover to escape a troubling past.  When he resurfaces, his old station chief (John Lithgow) is tasked with bringing him in, but secretly wants nothing more than for Dan Chase to disappear again.  Permanently, if necessary.  Amy Brenneman and Alia Shawkat also star.     

Our next topic will be Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, currently streaming on Disney+ and other services.  This prequel to the 1977 film follows the story of intelligence operatives in the Rebel Alliance in their search for the Death Star plans.  Come talk spy film and television with us at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Continued discussion of the Bourne films.  Tod and Dave chew into the tradecraft of Supremacy, and discuss how the Bourne character represents doubt and amnesia in the American political psyche at large.  You won’t want to miss this one.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

The Jason Bourne character changes the game and really sets a new tone for spy movies going forward into the new millennium.  Tod and Dave discuss the tradecraft of the Bourne films as well as their impact on spy films at large.    Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.  

Fictional CIA agent Jack prepares to take part in the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961.  Historical (but dramatized) figures in Washington disagree on whether and how the US should proceed with the operation.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.  

We revisit the TNT miniseries and give its second episode a careful look.  Fictional CIA agent Jack takes part in the Hungarian Revolt of 1956 while historical (but dramatized) figures in Washington disagree on whether and how the US should become involved.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.

While still primarily standing in for James Angleton, Matt Damon’s character borrows key elements from other historical CIA figures as the film takes us through the dangerous game of counterintelligence and the failed invasion of Cuba in 1961.   Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Robert DeNiro’s brooding, tight-lipped exploration of the origins of the CIA stars Matt Damon as a stand-in for the infamous James Jesus Angleton.  We follow his recruitment from Yale’s Skull and Bones society and through his WWII espionage training.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Part 2 of 2.  Last week we discussed the many ways this spy comedy fails to deliver the laughs.  This week Tod and Dave dig into all the ways it also pretty much fails to be a spy movie.   Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Part 1 of 2.  It’s another spy comedy!  Or at least it tries to be.  It’s one of the most profitable movies of 1985, but looking back now it is kind of hard to figure out why.  Friend of the show Yammering Lew joins us to try to solve the mystery.   Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Part 2 of 2.  Much beloved for its bright, snappy script and thoroughly enjoyable ensemble, Sneakers has stood the test of time as a spy film that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone.  Let’s peek underneath the hood and see if the tradecraft holds up as well.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.  

Part 1 of 2.  Much beloved for its bright, snappy script and thoroughly enjoyable ensemble, Sneakers has stood the test of time as a spy film that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone.  Let’s peek underneath the hood and see if the tradecraft holds up as well.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Hopefully you guys have all already heard the regular Total Recall 1990 episode and subscribed to the Sci-Fi Wise Guys podcast.  Find it on your favorite podcast app or here:

https://linktr.ee/scifiwiseguys

What?  Need more convincing?  Here’s a free sample.  Here, I go on to Chris and Anthony’s podcast and join in a conversation about the Total Recall 2012 remake starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsdale, Jessica Biel and Bryan Cranston.

But seriously, don’t listen to it here.  Go listen to it on their show.  They got a great thing going over there.  

Our next topic will be The Old Man, currently streaming on Hulu and other services.  Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow match wits as retired (sort of) spies who share a troubling past.  Come talk spy film and television with us at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Part 2 of 2.  Miss Sloane is not a traditional spy film by any measure, but the Tradecraft is Real in the psychological game of move and countermove depicted in this oh-so-dirty! depiction of Washington politics.  Know your enemy and know what cards they have in their hand.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Part 1 of 2.  Miss Sloane is not a traditional spy film by any measure, but the Tradecraft is Real in the psychological game of move and countermove depicted in this oh-so-dirty! depiction of Washington politics.  Know your enemy and know what cards they have in their hand.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Part 2 of 2.  Intelligence agency Mossad takes center stage in this Spielberg film about operation Wrath of God.  Our Israeli heroes wrestle with troubling questions about the thin line between legitimate counter-terrorism and revenge, as they pursue the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Intelligence agency Mossad takes center stage in this Spielberg film about operation Wrath of God.  Our Israeli heroes wrestle with troubling questions about where the line lies between legitimate counter-terrorism and revenge as they pursue the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

You like Ninjas?  We got Ninjas.  Samurai Spy deals with an important transitional moment in feudal Japan’s history, but is also deeply informed by the Cold War paranoia that infected the age in which the movie was made.  Who are the good guys, who are the bad guys?  We will have to travel into the fog to find out.   Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

The ‘Bond Effect’ is in full swing by the mid-sixties.  It seems like everyone is scrambling to cash in on the spy craze in movies and television.  A lot of serious spy movies are launched here but there is no shortage of silliness. We tackle one of the most immediate and direct Bond parodies here.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

James Bond is probably the most recognizable movie character of all time, and most certainly the granddaddy of all spy heroes.  Does the King deserve to keep wearing that crown 50+ years later? Tod and Dave have their doubts, and we discuss them in depth.   Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Bill Murray plays the ‘everyman’ drawn into the world of intrigue, but with a comedic twist.  In this chess game, the ‘pawn’ is so ignorant of what is going on around him that he inadvertently flips the entire table over.  It’s time for us to take a look at how the spy genre is fundamentally open to parody. Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Tod and Dave tackle a bit of Le Carre in one of his first post-Cold War novels.  Let’s take a look at how Intelligence actually operates within a bureaucratic scale, and the human toll that it involves. Given that all spy operations are only truly understood in hindsight, this is about as close of an observation that we might expect.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Tod and Dave tackle their first ‘action movie’ variant of the spy genre here.  Do assassination movies qualify as spy movies? Maybe not all of them do, but we had to put this one in here.  We’ll argue that this is a genre-defining moment in cinematic history. Seriously, we think this is a game-changer.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

NEW!  Now available as a video!  Let us know what you think!

https://youtu.be/6_6q1_-soxk

Chris and Anthony of the Sci-Fi Wise Guys podcast take a break from their usual schtick of reviewing straight- to- stream science fiction and join Tod to discuss Total Recall (1990). 

In order to thwart an insurgency of mind-reading mutants, a spy undergoes the radical procedure of having his memories replaced.  The plan goes seriously awry when his unsuspecting alter-ego tries to have those memories altered.  The movie poses deep questions about identity, and then cheerfully ignores those questions while Arnold Schwarzenegger carves a wide swath of colorful carnage across a Mars colony in 2074.  

Paul Verhoeven directs, also featuring Sharon Stone, Ronnie Cox and Michael Ironside 

 Find more Sci-Fi Wise Guys content at:

https://linktr.ee/scifiwiseguys

Come talk spy film and television with us at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Tod and Dave expand their sweep of cinematic spy genre by including The Company, a 2007 TV mini series.  It’s a semi-historical but fictionalized view of the Cold War as seen from the perspective of the CIA, and we LOVE that kind of stuff.  Doubt me? Go ahead and give it a listen. It’s about to get very spy-nerdy in here. Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Tod and Dave take another swipe at a classic spy movie, but this time we are tiptoeing our way to the explosion of spy movies in the 60’s.  In what ways has Hitchcock paved the way for that by revising his 1934 classic? Let’s discuss the 1956 remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details. 

Tod and Dave love talking about spy movies, old, new, good and bad.  Let’s dig in on this genre and explore! We inaugurate our podcast with an analysis of what could arguably be called the first spy movie of all time.  A 1934 Hitchcock classic, The Man Who Knew Too Much.  Music and SFX used under CCA license https://www.spieslikeus.net/attributions for details.  

Red Sparrow (2018)

Jennifer Lawrence is a Russian SVR-trained ‘Sparrow’ who matches wits against a CIA agent (Joel Edgerton) while trying to stay one step ahead of her handlers.  

We are taking some weeks off here.  Next month, Total Recall (1990) qualifies as a spy movie, if only barely.  OK, maybe I am just using it as an excuse to geek out over Verhoeven.  

We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Gary Oldman leads a 6-episode adaptation of the 2010 novel by Mick Herron, the first of eight so far.  The core high concept of this series is that Mi5 has a secret side agency where they send all of their fuckup agents into a sort of purgatory (Slough House).  A brilliantly written dark comedy.

Next week, movie episode!  Red Sparrow (2018) stars Jennifer Lawrence as a Russian SVR-trained 'Sparrow' who matches wits against a CIA agent (Joel Edgerton) while trying to stay one step ahead of her handlers.   

We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Gary Oldman leads a 6-episode adaptation of the 2010 novel by Mick Herron, the first of eight so far.  The core high concept of this series is that Mi5 has a secret side agency where they send all of their fuckup agents into a sort of purgatory (Slough House).  A brilliantly written dark comedy.

We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Gary Oldman leads a 6-episode adaptation of the 2010 novel by Mick Herron, the first of eight so far.  The core high concept of this series is that Mi5 has a secret side agency where they send all of their fuckup agents into a sort of purgatory (Slough House).  A brilliantly written dark comedy.

We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Our first anime!  It’s more proof (if you needed it) that we are dedicated to cover anything spy-related.  This manga has been a big hit in Japan, and weebs like David have been eagerly anticipating the translation into television.  More of a family sitcom than a pure spy thriller, but we will give it a look and discuss the tradecraft of the show.    

Next week we will start in on Slow Horses, a 6-episode AppleTV offering starring Gary Oldman and Jonathan Pryce.  

Our next spy MOVIE episode has yet to be chosen, so now is a GREAT time to tell us what you want at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Palmerfest concludes with our analysis of the return of Michael Caine to the role of the iconic bespectacled secret agent in the 90’s.  Filmed back-to-back with its sequel Midnight in St. Petersburg (1996), it was initially meant for theatrical release but scaled back to a Showtime cable channel offering.  Tod and David can only speculate on the reasons why, but speculate we will.  

Next week, a brief deviation into one of the stranger corners of spy entertainment, a look at the first few episodes of the new anime series Spy Family (available in the US on Hulu and Crunchyroll).  Following that, we will catch up with Slow Horses (AppleTV).

We’re always inviting input on what films and television series to cover at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Timothy Dalton steps into the role of James Bond in the first film to try to ‘ground’ the story in somewhat more topical, post-Cold War scenarios.  No volcano-dwelling supervillain here, rather a Columbian drug cartel headed by Robert Davi.  A shockingly young Benicio del Toro provides the role of the Heavy.  Find where to watch here.

Our next topic will be the first season of The Recruit (2022).  Dark comedy about a CIA lawyer who gets in way over his head in a CIA that is portrayed as being more obsessed with plausible deniability than operational effectiveness.  Find where to watch here.

Suggestions?  Comments?  Get nerdy about spy stuff with us at:   

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

CONCLUSION of our discussion of the six-episode IPCRESS File from ITV.  

‘Palmerfest’ continues next week however with a change of plans, the movie will be Bullet to Beijing (1995).  Discussion of the new AppleTV series Slow Horses (Gary Oldman, Jonathan Pryce) on the near horizon.  

Let us know what you would like covered at:

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https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Discussion of the newly released British ITV adaptation of the IPCRESS File continues with analysis of the fifth of this six-episode offering.  This Len Deighton novel was most famously adapted for film in 1965 starring Michael Caine and produced by Bond co-producer Harry Saltzman.  

Next week will be our last on this TV series.  SCHEDULE CHANGE announcement, our ‘Palmerfest’ will conclude not with Midnight in St. Petersburg, but with Bullet to Beijing (1995).  Reasons for this will be explained.  

We’re always inviting input on what movies and films to cover on the podcast at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Discussion of the newly released British ITV adaptation of the IPCRESS File continues with analysis of the fourth of this six-episode offering.  This Len Deighton novel was most famously adapted for film in 1965 starring Michael Caine and produced by Bond co-producer Harry Saltzman.  

We will continue to give weekly coverage on this TV series, and cap out our ‘Palmerfest’ with a movie episode discussing the final Palmer film, Midnight in St. Petersburg (1996).

Next television series and next movie have not yet been decided, so if there is something you want us to cover, now is a great time to chime in.  You can do so at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Producer Harry Saltzman takes newly-minted superstar Michael Caine back for a third dip into the Harry Palmer well, and the results are not great.  In fact, the movie’s performance with audiences and critics are so bad that Caine convinces Saltzman to release him from the planned five movie contract. 

It’s the tradecraft that we are most interested in though, and Tod and Dave get into it like we always do.

Please look forward to our continued week-by-week discussion of the new IPCRESS File television miniseries, followed by our final ‘Palmerfest’ contribution in which we will tackle the final Palmer film, Midnight in St. Petersburg (1996).  

Next television series and next movie have not yet been decided, so if there is something you want us to cover, now is a great time to chime in.  You can do so at:

https://www.spieslikeus.net/contact

https://www.facebook.com/spieslikeuspodcast/

https://twitter.com/spies_likeus

Music is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

‘Ice Cold’ by Audionautix

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

‘Enter the Party’ by Kevin MacLeod

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100240

Artist: http://incompetech.com/