Culture Populaire Podcasts

Gavia and Morgan return after a brief break with an episode on French horror classic "Diabolique," directed by H.G. Clouzot and starring Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret as women who collaborate to murder their abuser. Topics discussed include the film's pioneering use of horror and thriller tropes and techniques, how its classical style compares t…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the delightful Pre-Code romantic comedy "Design for Living," directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Miriam Hopkins, Fredric March, and the incomparable Gary Cooper in a hopeless love triangle. Topics include the film's startling candid approach to sex, the contrasting star personas of its actors, and director Lu…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss Cheryl Dunye's nineties lesbian classic "The Watermelon Woman." A fictional film that incorporates elements of documentary, it stars Dunye as a character named Cheryl who, like the real Dunye, embarks on a project investigating Black women in Old Hollywood films. Topics include the movie's engagement with Old Hol…

This week, Gavia and Morgan finally review "The Batman," the latest film to reinvent the Dark Knight. Directed by Matt Reeves, the film stars Robert Pattinson as an isolated, emo Bruce Wayne, Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, and a full cast of character actors in the ensemble. Topics include Pattinson's performance, what this film brings to the Batman cano…

This week, Gavia and Morgan debate the virtues of Robert Eggers' latest historical reconstruction, "The Northman," which stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a prince who becomes obsessed with revenge after witnessing his uncle (Claes Bang) murder his father (Ethan Hawke). The film also features Nicole Kidman as his mother and Anya Taylor-Joy as a …

This week, Gavia and Morgan dive into the internet television sensation-du-jour, "Our Flag Means Death." This pirate comedy stars Rhys Darby as the "Gentleman Pirate" Stede Bonnet, a somewhat hapless newcomer to the scene who's living out his midlife crisis through piracy, and Taika Waititi as Blackbeard, the fearsome rogue who's tired of all that …

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the classic Star Trek film "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," a.k.a., The One With the Whales. After rescuing Spock in the previous film, the crew is now faced with the task of saving the world — which they can only do with the help of humpback whales, which takes them back in time to 1980s San Francisco. Topics in…

This week, Gavia and Morgan tackle a horror classic: "Rosemary's Baby," which stars Mia Farrow as a dutiful wife unwittingly carrying the devil's child and John Cassavetes as her self-absorbed husband. Topics discussed in this episode include the film's long influence, its depiction of gaslighting by husbands and doctors, how to talk about a femini…

This week, Gavia and Morgan dive into "Deep Water," the long-awaited new film from Adrian Lyne, the master of the erotic thriller. The film stars Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas as an unhappily married couple whose chief occupations include breeding snails and having affairs, respectively. Topics under discussion in this episode include the film's tor…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the French romantic comedy "Populaire," set in the 1950s in the world of competitive speed typing. Topics include the film's relationship to 1950s Hollywood rom-coms, the charms of its stars Romain Duris and Déborah François, and the real-life history of speed typing competitions.…

In this week's episode, Gavia and Morgan pronounce "Fresh," the new cannibalism romance starring Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones, dead on arrival. Topics discussed include the director's lack of familiarity with the horror genre, the film's clueless approach to feminism, an incredibly racist Black best friend character, and more.…

This week, Gavia and Morgan celebrate the centennial of F.W. Murnau's masterful adaptation of "Dracula," the 1922 film "Nosferatu." They discuss the collaborative nature of he project, its influence on later vampire films, its transgressive treatment of sex, and more. They also discuss the 2000 film "Shadow of the Vampire," a pulpy reinterpretation…

This week, Gavia and Morgan venture into new territory with the 2013 Michael Bay film "Pain and Gain," a crime film based on the true story of a misbegotten kidnapping and extortion carried out by a collection of inept criminals played here by Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Anthony Mackie. Topics include the parallel career paths of …

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the Korean film "Burning," directed by Lee Chang-dong and starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, and Jeon Jong-seo. Despite this film's near-universal acclaim, they... didn't like it very much! Topics include the film's uncomfortable depiction of its central female character, its take on class in South Korea, excellent…

This week, Morgan and Gavia discuss Andrew Dominik's beloved cult western "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," starring Brad Pitt as legendary outlaw James and Casey Affleck as the awkward fan who ultimately kills him. Topics include the film's depiction of the American west, its treatment of celebrity and masculinity, care…

This week, Morgan and Gavia celebrate the life and work of the late Sidney Poitier by diving into his greatest film, Norman Jewison's Academy Award-winning "In the Heat of the Night." Poitier stars as a Black, northern detective who is waylaid in a small southern town by a homicide investigation in which he becomes entangled; Rod Steiger co-stars a…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the late Peter Bogdanovich's classic homage to old Hollywood screwball, "What's Up, Doc?," starring Ryan O'Neal as a hapless musicologist and Barbra Streisand as the agent of chaos with whom he reluctantly falls in love. Topics include Bogdanovich's life and career, the film's direct relationship to 1930s and 194…

This week, Morgan and Gavia revisit childhood favorite "The Secret Garden" (1993), directed by Agnieszka Holland and adapted from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Topics include the film's refreshingly dark take on its gothic source text, its treatment of Victorian class and imperial politics, Richard Deakins' lustrous cinematography, and much…

This week, Morgan and Gavia return to their favorite annual podcast tradition: sharing lists of their top ten films of the year. Selections run the gamut from the big budget — "The Matrix Resurrections" — to the ultra small — Mexico's "Prayers for the Stolen" — and everything in-between.By Overinvested Podcast

This week, Gavia and Morgan return to the Matrix with "The Matrix Resurrections," Lana Wachowski's long-awaited sequel to the original trilogy. Original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss return along with new faces including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, and Neil Patrick Harris. Topics include the film's self-aware skewering of franc…

This week, Gavia and Morgan watch one of 2020's most poorly received films, John Patrick Shanley's adaptation of his own play "Wild Mountain Thyme." Starring Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan as lifelong neighbors who haven't ever been able to confess their true feelings for each other, the movie is a mystifyingly bad stab at romantic dramedy. Topics in…

This week, Gavia and Morgan celebrate Christmas by revisiting the first installment of the new "Star Wars" trilogy: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Directed by JJ Abrams and starring Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and John Boyega, the film kicked off a new era for "Star Wars" and Disney. Topics include the film's masterful melding of old and new cast m…

We'll have our next episode, on "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," up by the end of the week, but in the meantime here's a rerun from the archives to tide you over: our episode on Lorene Scafaria's "Hustlers," low-key an iconic Christmas movie. You can also listen to our recent Patreon-only episode on "Princess Mononoke" at patreon.com/overinvestedpod…

This week, Gavia and Morgan watch the offbeat fantasy k-drama "The School Nurse Files," based on Chung Serang's award-winning novel. Starring Jung Yu-mi as a high school nurse who has the power to see auras and "jellies" that manifest people's feelings, the show feels like a teen dramedy and a zany fantasy show rolled into one. Topics include the s…

This week, Morgan and Gavia discuss Andrea Arnold's experimental adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel "Wuthering Heights." Topics include the book's long screen history, Arnold's bold cinematic approach, the effect of casting Black actors to play Heathcliff, and much more.By Overinvested Podcast

This week, Gavia and Morgan revisit one of their favorite films of the past decade, David Fincher's adaptation of Gillian Flynn's bestselling novel "Gone Girl." Topics include iconic performances from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, the film's (and novel's)slippery and provocative approach to feminist questions, its place in Fincher's filmography, a…

This week, Gavia and Morgan finally bring you their much-delayed opinions on Andrew Haigh's ultra-bleak but mesmerizing miniseries "The North Water," starring Jack O'Connell and Colin Farrell as shipmates on a doomed Arctic whaling expedition. Topics include the show's sharp depiction of masculinity and sexuality in Victorian England, its uncomprom…

This week, Gavia and Morgan revisit Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic "Dune," newly interpreted by director Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and more. Topics include the Villeneuve's passion for the source material, his masterful direction, Chalamet's winning performance as Paul Atreides, the film and nov…

This week, Gavia and Morgan report back from the London and New York Film Festivals, running down an exciting list of buzzy fall titles that includes Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog," starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst; Palme d'Or winner "Titane"; the sequel to Joanna Hogg's autobiographical film "The Souvenir"; a new film by Pedr…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss Ridley Scott's new historical drama "The Last Duel," which stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck. Topics include the film's tripartite structure, its thoughtful handling of the rape that drives its plot, Affleck's unexpectedly dazzling comedic performance, and much more.…

This week, Gavia and Morgan finally dig into one of the year's most-discussed films, David Lowery's "The Green Knight." Topics include the film's relationship to the original poem, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"; its depiction of medieval life; performances by Dev Patel and Alicia Vikander; and more.…

This week, Morgan and Gavia revisit Nicolas Winding Refn's instant-classic "Drive" (2011), starring Ryan Gosling as a getaway driver and Carey Mulligan as the neighbor with whom he becomes infatuated. Topics include the film's electric direction and iconic soundtrack, its dubious casting process, its provocative treatment of violence, and much more…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss John Crowley's 2003 debut film "Intermission," an early-aughts blast from the past starring Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy, Kelly Macdonald, and many more as a group of interconnected characters in Dublin. Topics include the film's relationship with other multi-plot films from the nineties and aughts, its cringey …

This week, Morgan and Gavia dive into Todd Haynes' 2002 masterpiece "Far From Heaven," starring Julianne Moore as a 1950s housewife, Dennis Quaid as her closeted husband, and Dennis Haysbert as the gardener with whom she falls in love. They discuss the film's relationship to Douglas Sirk's 1950s women's pictures, its recreation and subversion of pe…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss Baz Luhrmann's directorial debut, the beloved Australian classic "Strictly Ballroom" (1992), starring Paul Mercurio as a would-be champion ballroom dancer and Tara Morice as his unlikely partner. Topics include the development of Luhrmann's distinct aesthetic, the film's successful deployment of tropes and queer …

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss Mike White's buzzy summer hit "The White Lotus," starring Jennifer Coolidge, Murray Bartlett, Steve Zahn, and many more as the guests and staff at a luxury resort in Hawaii. Topics include the show's rushed production due to COVID, its treatment of class and colonialism, its extraordinary cast, and much more.…

This week, Gavia and Morgan delve into "Jaws" (1975), Steven Spielberg's breakthrough film and arguably the first American blockbuster. Topics include the film's enduring political resonance; its clever deployment of suspense (and that shark animatronic); performances by Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw; and much more.…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss "Ganja & Hess," Bill Gunn's classic experimental horror film, starring Duane Jones and Marlene Clark. Topics include the film's beleaguered initial release, its engagement with blaxploitation and vampire tropes, its unconventional narrative and visual style, and more.…

This week, Morgan and Gavia take a seasonal break to discuss the 2017 Christmas hit "A Bad Moms Christmas," starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn as the titular trio of bad moms who have to contend with their own bad moms, played by Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon, showing up for the holiday. Topics include gender…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss newly crowned Palme d'Or winner Julia Ducournau's previous feature, "Raw" (2016), a deliciously gruesome horror film about a young veterinary student who discovers the allure of cannibalism. Topics include the film's genuinely shocking moments of violence, its treatment of teenage female sexuality, excellent perf…

This week, Gavia and Morgan break down Marvel's disappointing "Loki" show, starring Tom Hiddleston as the titular god of mischief. They discuss the show's failure to escape now-familiar MCU problems, critique its handling of its beloved central character, ponder the state of Tom Hiddleston's career, and more.…

This week, Morgan and Gavia discuss "No Sudden Move," Steven Soderbergh's new neo-noir film now streaming on HBO Max, featuring a dazzling cast that includes Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Amy Seimetz, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, and many many more. They consider the film in the context of classic noirs as well as Soderbergh's filmography, debate the mer…

In this week's episode, Gavia and Morgan find themselves unexpectedly at odds over classic movie musical "The Music Man" (1962), starring Robert Preston as small-time conman Harold Hill and Shirley Jones as the librarian who falls for him in spite of herself. Is this movie justifiably beloved or an interminable purgatory? You be the judge.…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss millennial children's classic "The NeverEnding Story," Wolfgang Petersen's adaptation of Michael Ende's bestselling novel. They delve into the making of the film, critique its wobbly plot structure, compare it to other beloved fantasy films of the 1980s, and more.By Overinvested Podcast

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss "The Empty Man," an under-seen horror gem from 2020 rapidly approaching cult status. Directed by David Prior and starring James Badge Dale and Marin Ireland, this film follows an ex-cop whose investigation into a missing teenager leads him deeper and deeper into a mysterious cult. Topics include the film's tortur…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss the classic anime film "Akira" (1988), directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Topics include the film's storied production history and rich worldbuilding, its influence and legacy, and its allegorical treatment of nuclear war.By Overinvested Podcast

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss acclaimed German film "System Crasher," starring Helena Zengel as a traumatized girl living in a series of residential homes for troubled children. Topics include the film's sensitive handling of its young protagonist and the system attempting to help her, director Nora Fingscheidt’s approach to working with a ch…

This week, Gavia and Morgan discuss Rose Glass' critically acclaimed debut feature, the indie horror flick "Saint Maud," starring Morfydd Clark as an intensely religious hospice nurse and Jennifer Ehle as her terminally ill patient. Topics include the film's sensational technical accomplishments, superb performances from Clark and Ehle, the film's …

This week, Morgan and Gavia discuss Preston Sturges' gloriously cynical screwball classic "The Lady Eve," starring Barbara Stanwyck as a con artist and Henry Fonda as her gullible mark. Topics include Sturges' unique approach to romantic comedy, this film's place within the genre of films about competent women romancing dolts, Barbara Stanwyck's da…

This week, Morgan and Gavia discuss the first installment in Alan Pakula's paranoia trilogy, the 1971 film "Klute," starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. Topics include Fonda's career and star persona, the film's relationship to both the paranoia thriller genre and to second wave feminism, its depiction of sex work, and more.…