Send us a textWe had to, it was unavoidable. Francis Ford Coppola's 40-year-long passion project has finally come to fruition and it was important that we discussed it. So here is a bonus episode. Listen as we attempt to decipher how, what and why. Just why? ReferencesThat hotel Coppola owns for filmmakersTwelve Against The Gods by William Bolitho Ryall A BTS argument on Bram Stoker’s Dracula between FFC and Gary Oldman"Making a Mess: A History of Megalopolis" by Be Kind Rewind-----------If y...

Send us a textThis week on our season finale we look at three box office and critical successes which you might not know were directed by women. In the hot seat is Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, Penelope Spheeris’ Wayne’s World and Mary Harron’s American Psycho. We also almost (but not quite) dodge the Blake Lively controversy and talk about the films we’re looking forward to this autumn. See you for season 5!References‘Warner Brothers to put a studio in the dessert’, by Brian Welk, indiewire...

Send us a textBetween the weather and the state of the world, it’s been a pretty sad summer, so we’re sticking with that theme as we look at some of the best sad girls on film holiday. We discuss Charlotte Rampling in Francois Ozon’s Swimming Pool, Scarlett Johansson in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (and Bill Murray too) and Pauline Collins as Lewis Gilbert’s Shirley Valentine. ReferencesPeter Dinklage discussing the live action remake of Snow White on Marc Maron’s podcast in 2022‘Todd ...

Send us a textFrom Dune 2 to Deadpool and Wolverine, there have been a surprising number of hit sequels this year. So this week we’re asking the question, what makes that cinematic blue moon of a part 2 that is better than part 1? ReferencesThe Strasberg school’s definition of method actingOn Location with The Godfather: A Discussion with Gordon Willis (director of photography), theasc.comAn oral history of The Terminator 2-----------If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a ...

Send us a Text Message.Why talk about good films when we could talk about spectacularly bad ones? This week we discuss four infamous films that left their directors and studios in financial and/or reputational ruin. On the chopping block is Francis Ford Coppola’s One From The Heart, Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, Elaine May’s Ishtar and, of course, Tom Hooper’s Cats. Enjoy.ReferencesHulk Smash’s takedown of Tom HooperSteven Soderbergh’s Butcher’s Cut of Heaven’s Gate-----------If you lo...

Send us a Text Message.You honestly wouldn’t believe how many great films came out in 1999. The Matrix, Fight Club, The Blair Witch Project, The Talented Mr Ripley, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Sixth Sense, Notting Hill, The Mummy, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About You. We could go on…It’s the 25th anniversary of this auspicious year and cinemas are getting in on the action, with 1999 seasons playing at many theatres. So we’re following suit. We discuss our favourites from t...

Send us a Text Message.From the famous speeding train of 1896 to the groundbreaking Russian Ark and iconic Berlin night-out-gone-wrong flick Victoria, this week we take you through the illustrious history of one-take movies - or should it be one-shot movies?ReferencesHot takes: a short history of the one-shot movie in 11 attempts by Matthew Thrift for BFIInterview with Medusa Deluxe director Thomas HardimanThe 10 worst Martin Scorsese movies by Joe Williams for Far OutIn One Breath: Alexander...

Send us a Text Message.It’s the 25th anniversary of The Mummy - I know, we can’t believe it either. How time flies. So we’re paying tribute to the first addition to the greatest ancient-history-action-adventure-thriller-franchise of all time and its somewhat uneven sequels and prequels. Topics covered include, of course, sexy mummies, Brendan Frasier at his peak and the incredible discovery of Rachel Weiz. ReferencesAn oral history of the making of The Mummy by Clark Collis for Entertainment ...

Send us a Text Message.It turns out a bodybuilding rom-com thriller was the movie we’ve been waiting for. Yes, this week we’re talking about Love Lies Bleeding, Rose Glass’ follow-up to the incredible Saint Maud, starring Kristen Stewart in the role she was made the play. ReferencesInterview with Rose Glass, and stars Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian‘Rose Glass talks ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, casting Kristen Stewart and working with a much bigger budget’ by Ellie Calnan for Screen DailyCannes Awa...

Send us a Text Message.Game. Set. Match. (Is that right?) Two of tennis’ greatest novices tackle our most romantic sport in a battle of the ages. Which is the better tennis movie? Up-and-comer, Challengers, or seasoned champion, Wimbledon. But let’s be honest, it’s Zendaya v. Kirsten Dunst - who will win the title of most empowered woman on the court?References‘Challengers’ Heats Up: How Zendaya’s Star Power and a Sexy Love Triangle Could Give Gen Z Its Next Movie Obsession by Selome Hailu an...

This week we discuss the surprising common ground between Jonathan Glazer’s chilling examination of an Auschwitz commandant and his family, The Zone of Interest and Wim Wenders’ meandering meditation on life as a Tokyo Toilet cleaner, Perfect Days. ReferencesInterview with Jonathan Glazer on The Zone of Interest by David Canfield for Vanity FairThe Making of The Zone of InterestWim Wenders interviewed about Perfect Days for CurzonThe Tokyo Toilet ProjectFilm PharmacyChinatown (1974)...

Last week A24’s Civil War was released and we have mixed feelings about it. Will their biggest-budget movie to date prove itself at the box office? And is a movie about war and an American fascist leader really what we want to see right now? References ‘The Rise and Rise of A24’, The Economist (not credited) Director Alex Garland speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about Civil War ‘Box Office: ‘Civil War’ Makes $2.9 Million in Previews, Best Ever for an A24 Movie’ by Jordan Moreau for...

It takes skill to capture the effortless spontaneity of a really good party scene. Relatively few nail it but when they do, they really do. This week we compile our top 5 party scenes; from teenage house parties to rave afters, with a surreal French restaurant jamboree sandwiched in the middle. References The party scene in 10 Things I Hate About You The afterparty in Human Traffic (1999) The party scene in Playtime (1967) The party scene in The Great Beauty Watch Steve McQueen’s Lovers...

We’re going back to the horniest years in Hollywood history for another scandalous pre-coder; Baby Face, the 1933 movie that was so shocking it solidified cinema’s censorship for the next 30 years.  Watch it for free here.  References Will Hays IRL You Must Remember This’ episode on Will Hays and “Pre-Code” Hollywood   Wes Anderson Talks Early Hollywood Censorship in ‘TCM Picks’ Video for Barbara Stanwyck’s ‘Baby Face’ by Etan Vlessing for The Hollywood Reporter How the Catholic Church...

----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon Follow us Email us

It’s been out for a week but we’re not taking any chances. Here is our painstakingly spoiler-free discussion of Dune: Part Two, plus our thoughts on Madame Web and a sexy addition to the Film Pharmacy. References Denis Villeneuve on Dune: Part Two and dialogue v. cinematography for The Times ‘Dune: Part Two’ Star Stellan Skarsgard Laughed Seeing Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha: Butler ‘Really Enjoyed Being Evil’ by Michaela Zee for Variety Dune: Part Two’s box office success and what it means...

We're  back with series 4 and ahead of the Oscars next weekend, we bring you a roundup of everything you need to know about this awards season. We discuss Oppenheimer's dominance, the Barbie controversy and where The Zone of Interest sits on the Salo to Up unsettling scale. Most importantly of all, our very own awards ceremony returns. The Groovies this year include awards for Best Cinema, Short King, and Least Unbearable Cinematic Experience. The Oscars better watch out. There's a new rodeo...

It’s the end of the year and also our series finale so we're bringing both to a close with a deeply intellectual discussion on the ultimate New Years movie, Bridget Jones’s Diary. Plus, in anticipation of awards season, we list the films we’re most excited to see over the next couple of months. References Bridget Jones’s Diary deleted scenes That scathing New York Times piece on Bridget Jones 20 behind-the-scenes Bridget Jones’s Diary facts ----------- If you love what we do, please like,...

For our penultimate episode of the series we’re going recommendation-heavy and spoiler-free, with our top picks of festive films, hitting every point on the Grinch-to-Elf Christmas spirit scale.  References The Powell and Pressburger season from Oct-Dec 2023 - catch the last few screenings now. The Red Shoes: Beyond the Mirror exhibition Piece for ASC on Jack Cardiff from 1994, The Red Shoe’s cinematographer Why The Red Shoes looks so good by The Royal Ocean Film Society on YouTube The...

We couldn’t resist the controversy around Ridley Scott’s new movie, so this week we’re discussing Napoleon and wading into the debate about historical accuracy and film. But what do you think? Let us know on instagram - @groovymoviespod. References Ridley Scott profile by Michael Schulman for The New Yorker Ridley Scott’s response to Napoleon’s critics by Caroline Frost for Deadline Ridley Scott’s response to criticism of the Egyptian invasion scene in Napoleon by Adam Bentz on Screen...

This week we are joined by Audra and Elisa from Culture Colander. They bring an American perspective to a very British class system as we dissect Emerald Fennell’s new film Saltburn, i.e. The Talented Mr Creepley. References Listen to and follow @culturecolander Interview with Emerald Fennell and the cast of Saltburn ‘The sons and daughters of The Talented Mr Ripley’ by Manuela Lazic for The Ringer The New Yorker Radio Hour episode where Emerald Fennell talks about her upbringing Film...

Aesthetica short film festival, the Hollywood blacklist, and one of its scripts, Todd Haynes’ new movie May December, are all up for discussion this week. Expect sweeping generalisations about short films and a tabloid-esque compare-and-contrast between May December and the real-life scandal that inspired it. References Aesthetica Short Film Festival New York 81 (short 2022) dir. by Jannicke Systad Jacobsen Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau on Barbara Walters John Lahr’s piece on Todd...

In honour of new release Fingernails, we talk dystopian romances: why they work, when they don’t, and which animal we’d like to be turned into if we didn’t find love. References Fingernails director Christos Nikou on modern dating by Lou Thomas for BFI Sheila O’Malley’s review of The Lobster Interview with Yorgos Lanthimos on The Lobster by Mekado Murphy for The New York Times Spike Jonze on Her by Logan Hill for The New York Times Film Pharmacy Die Hard (1988) dir. by John McTiernan The...

This week James drags us to the BFI IMAX for Gravity’s 10th year anniversary re-release, on a mission to prove that the cinematic experience is worth leaving the house for. Film Pharmacy The Full Monty (1997) dir. by Peter Cattaneo Pride (2014) dir. by Matthew Warchus ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin Music and sound by James Brailsford Logo design by Abby-Jo Sheldon Follow us Email us