With social dynamics shifting, movies moving further out of the cinema, and having conversations over the internet being more en vogue than ever, we felt a debt at the end of 2020 to say something again. The episode was supposed to be topical and on a film set within a similar plague, but Steven’s subtitle is more accurate than the title itself. Two years removed from eXistenZ, these are our “Reflections on Maintaining a Podcast and the Current State of Entertainment.”
Tag: Criterion Collection
Debt to Cinema 098: Shadows
Independent filmmaking is what brought life back into cinema, and given that we primarily sought our educations in the medium based on the exploits of artists working outside the constructs of the studio system, its only fitting that we would finally get around to watching the first of John Cassavetes’s canon – possibly the first indie film #SilverDollar
Two Cents 100: Two Years Later
The final episode of the show where we chronicle all the major trends we’ve reported over the years (vertical integration, VR, the internet of things, evolution of movies/TV, etc), Amazon storms its way into the grocery business, Verizon officially owns Yahoo, and social media starts creating actual media. Plus, round two of E3 2017 coverage, Rocket League, Bethesda VR, Sony’s PlayLink, Spiderman Homecoming VR tie-in, and Clean Version initiative, and the future of blockbusters.
Dollar Reviews 033: Cameraperson
After several weeks of self reflection, and the realization that Two Cents can’t exist in its bloated format forever, Steve and I decided to revive our original show with recent streaming titles. Its only fitting that we would return in this way with Kristen Johnson’s docu-memoir, a Criterion Collection addition from last year available on Amazon Prime about how a life of filming documentaries influences the people involved/the inherent manipulation of reality at play. Also, in Penny Thought’s return to DR I caught Father’s Little Dividend (37:45) and some good magazine articles.
Debt to Cinema 060: The Ruling Class
Topicality is a funny thing in that what is special for a given moment doesn’t always retain its luster. This pick, Steve’s second consecutive selection from Peter Medak, in particular is strange for a non-British audience. Its a quirky, black comedy about politics, but its length and run-on jokes make it hard to recommend. This is one of the few moments where we sacrificed our time so you don’t have to – enjoy!
Two Cents 067: Samsung Fire Sale
The week in which Netflix continues to challenge the theatrical release model, Ryan Kavanugh is looking to sell Relativity, Wang Jialin is stopping by Hollywood to scour the town, Alibaba is teaming with Amblin Partners, Yahoo assisted the NSA in scanning all their emails in real time, Samsung is ceasing production of the Note 7, and the latest from Google and Oculus’s press conferences. Plus, Amazon is adapting a podcast for Prime, pricing details for Turner’s Filmstruck streamer, the Suicide Squad Extended Cut, the Gears of War adaptation, more movies that don’t need to be on TV, and The Simpsons in VR.
Debt to Cinema 048: The Red Shoes
Steve was so adamant about having this as a selection on the show that he called it over a month before recording. After seeing it for myself, I understand why #IdBuyThatForADollar
Two Cents 058: Suicidal Tendencies
The week in which we frequently talk about Suicide Squad between topics, Hollywood is going she-make crazy, Visionary VR’s Mindshow might be the tech’s killer app, James Ponsoldt is teaming with Disney, Amazon’s set to marathon its new Pilot Season on Twitch, Wanda bets big on IMAX and 3D in China, and Time Warner joins Hulu. Plus, we talk DVDs vs Blu-ray, Kathryn Bigelow hopping on the VR train, $3000 being the entry point for developing new tech, the true price of streaming, Japan testing 8K content, Toy Story x Vans, and George R. R. Martin’s next TV adaptation.
Two Cents 038: Sister, Sister
The week in which Nahneen Kula put out her first album, Steven is way too excited about Daredevil, The Wachowski Siblings are both transwomen now, The Russo Brothers are making a Chinese studio, Kevin Spacey leaves Relativity, Paramount drops The Little Prince, Amazon is adopting Hollywood norms, and the industry might be moving into the living room, while Ang Lee is set to debut his technical marvel (4K/3D/120FPS/HDR). Plus, Rio 2016 is going 8K, TV in VR, Amazon is becoming the new HSN, Harry Styles starring in the next Christopher Nolan flick, filmmaker relationships with the streaming giants, reactions to the new Spidey and Gordon, Where’s Waldo, Nick Cage, and Damien Chazelle’s musical getting an awards release.
Two Cents 032: Down with FCC, Yeah You Know Me
Jan 31 2016 – The episode in which hype builds for The Birth of A Nation, The Academy’s possible move to digital screeners, Hamilton is coming to Los Angeles, ILM’s X LAB Holo-Cinema, Star Wars Episode IX is shooting on film, Fox making domestic noir/murder mystery projects, Kathryn Bigelow re-teaming with Mark Boal, Meg Ryan moving to the director’s chair, Taika Watiti/the future of Marvel, the Blade Runner sequel, more Sundance acquisitions, Apple joining the VR game (and Google taking a bigger leap), the secret mobile ticketing arms race, Hulu becoming a hipster heaven, global competitors to Netflix, the white Michael Jackson roadtrip TV movie, and the CW airing eSports in primetime.
Dollar Reviews 