Best Film Scene Tomorrow Podcasts (2024)

1
How Did Politicians Become Movie Stars? (And Vice Versa!) 37:11

4y ago37:11

37:11

Hail to the screen! One hundred years ago, Hollywood couldn't have been farther from Washington D.C. Until one ambitious studio boss united film glamour and political power and invented a new kind of star-spangled campaigns. Learn how the movies influenced major historic elections, including the losing race of a socialist who scared rich filmmakers…

1
New Episode TOMORROW - Featuring Jon Stewart's IRRESISTIBLE 1:00

4y ago1:00

1:00

How Did Politicians Become Movie Stars? (And Vice Versa!) A new episode of ZOOM drops tomorrow. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
Viva the Diva! What makes her divine? 37:39

4y ago37:39

37:39

All hail! Divas demand worship, from Beyoncé and Barbra to the fictional Grace Davis in the new flick The High Note. But these powerful women aren't content to merely conquer music -- they want Hollywood, too. Why do divas risk their reputations for a shot at the big screen? Who's succeeded? And how did "diva" go from reverence to insult? Let's tra…

1
Behold the Diva! New episode of ZOOM dropping Friday 0:59

4y ago0:59

0:59

Our next episode features divas in film with a special look at the upcoming film The High Note. Don't miss it — subscribe today! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
What's the Tea on Jane Austen? 27:34

4y ago27:34

27:34

"Emma" is the novel that made Jane Austen famous. But soon after it was published, she died—leaving her family and fans to debate if she was a prim spinster... or a secret radical. Zoom's second season hails groundbreaking cinematic storytellers, and there's no one cooler to kick it off with than this wildly misunderstood author, whose stories film…

1
ZOOM Is Back... With Jane Austen 1:00

4y ago1:00

1:00

ZOOM returns this Friday with the tea on Jane Austen... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
The Royals in Film ft. Downton Abbey 30:19

4+ y ago30:19

30:19

Blimey! In the new "Downton Abbey" movie, King George and Queen Mary have invited themselves to Downton, panicking everyone upstairs *and* downstairs. But no one would be more terrified to appear in a movie than King George himself, who in real life banned all fictional portrayals of himself and his family. Today, of course, movies and TV shows abo…

1
Zombie Dearest 31:35

5y ago31:35

31:35

Three cheers -- or er, braaaaains -- for the movie zombie, which turns 100 this year. How did the zombie get a death grip on our culture? Let's track the monster back to World War I, where it first crawled out of the grave, before it took a bite out of everything from shopping malls to armageddon preppers. Want to learn how to survive a zombie apoc…

1
New Episode of ZOOM Coming Soon! 1:06

5y ago1:06

1:06

We're thinking zombies... tune in next week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
A Star is Barned: Making the Horse Movie Star 25:21

5y ago25:21

25:21

What are the perks of being a celebrity horse actor? Famous Hollywood horses haven't just been pampered and groomed—they've been forgiven for murder and forgiven for being Bryan Adams' #1 fan. It's a great job. But how do you get it? Special guest: writer/director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre ("The Mustang"). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p…

1
E.T., Phone Hollywood: Aliens Invade the Movies 20:38

5y ago20:38

20:38

In 1902, audiences went crazy for a moon man with lobster hands. Since then, aliens have conquered our imagination – and our planet, and our bodies, and our politics. (And even convinced a president he saw a UFO.) What do movie extraterrestrials really want from us? Special guest: writer/director Rupert Wyatt ("Captive State"). See Privacy Policy a…

1
ZOOM Trailer 2:12

5y ago2:12

2:12

ZOOM premieres Thursday, March 14th See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
Episode 16: Lunch with Jeff Vernon 1:06:42

8y ago1:06:42

1:06:42

James Rael shares lunch with character actor Jeff Vernon.By James Rael

1
Episode 15: Let It Rain 18:02

8y ago18:02

18:02

James Rael speaks about approaching filmmaking with the intention of feeling fulfillment in the very fact that you're doing what you want creatively. The film he speaks of is listed as "Let's Talk About the Rain", but was listed as "Let It Rain" in the English translated version of the film.By James Rael

1
Episode 14: The Writer Director, part 2 45:07

8y ago45:07

45:07

This episode features fill-in host Paul Garcia and special guest Mando Franco discussing the role of of Writer/Directors in the film industry. Part 2By James Rael

1
Interlude: April 6, 2016 12:19

8y ago12:19

12:19

Through feverish medicated spinning headdom, James Rael speaks of his distaste of social media, and his surprising jump back into it, his place as an Artist, and remembering those who have had to be the sacrifice to the Destiny of an Artist.By James Rael

1
Episode #46: Violence in The Edge of Tomorrow 25:39

10y ago25:39

25:39

Back after a hiatus, Ken and Todd discuss Doug Liman's sci-fi film, The Edge of Tomorrow. Why is the way violence is represented in the film particularly disturbing? Are we intended to laugh at it? And why does Todd say the movie reminded him of watching someone play a video game? DON'T FORGET: You can contact us by emailing thethinplace@filmgeekra…

1
Episode #45: Lessons Learned From Philomena 42:39

10y ago42:39

42:39

Just in time for the Academy Awards, Ken and Todd look at one of the nominees: Stephen Frears's Philomena. How does the film depict its protagonist's Roman Catholicism, and what can those outside that denomination learn from her example? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro and plot summary: SPOILER WARNINGS. 4:57 - Being interested in other people. 10:40 - Ph…

1
Episode #44: Two Views of Wall Street 41:00

10+ y ago41:00

41:00

Ken and Todd talk about depictions of Wall Street in Oliver Stone's film of the same name and, more recently, in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street. What does Stone's dedication tell us about which character is the moral center? Does Bud Fox look into the abyss or dive in head first? How does Jordan Belfort compare to Gordon Gekko, and how d…

1
Episode #43: Looking For God in 12 Years A Slave 45:57

10+ y ago45:57

45:57

Todd and Ken examine 12 Years a Slave. Is God absent from the world of slavery? Are there contemporary lessons or themes to be drawn from this historical drama? Why is the singing of "Roll Jordan" the most important scene? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro, quoting scripture to justify what you want. 3:55 - God is merciful and will forgive a merciful act. 9…

1
Episode #42: To Be or Not To Be and Comedic Dis-ease 50:10

10+ y ago50:10

50:10

Todd and Ken take a look at Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be. Should some topics be off limits for comedy? What line did even Lubitsch's team fear went too far? Who is the film's real villain? (Hint: it's not the Nazis.) What films today make us similarly uneasy and what can we learn from films that disquiet us? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro, plot an…

1
Episode #41: The Devil's Backbone 43:28

10+ y ago43:28

43:28

Ken and Todd discuss Guillermo del Toro's horror film that has recently received the Criterion treatment. What is the difference between horror and Gothic? When is violence tragic rather than just shocking? How does belief in "the curse" unite the materialist and the spiritually minded? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro and plot summary. 5:30 - Horror or Go…

1
Episode #40: Gravity--Good or Great? 49:52

10+ y ago49:52

49:52

Ken and Todd are back, and they are discussing one of this fall's most anticipated films: Gravity. Is it a thriller or a drama? What do we mean when we call something a "good" film? Is it "well made" or "effective"? And can the hosts avoid the implication that, for a Christian, content is more important than technique when judging a film? SHOW NOTE…

1
Episode #39: Umberto D. and the Limits of Empathy 46:20

11y ago46:20

46:20

Todd and Ken discuss Vittorio De Sica's poignant saga of an aged pensioner trying to avoid eviction. What are the differences between empathy and pity and which does the film invoke? Is Umberto D. unlikable? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro and plot summary. 8:40 - Simply not a likable fellow. 18:00 - Umberto D. vs. Karin in Stromboli. 18:50 - A moment of …

1
Episode #38: Vengeance and Redemption in The Searchers 37:48

11y ago37:48

37:48

Peter Waldron drops in on The Thin Place to sub for the vacationing Todd and to render Ken momentarily speechless with his take on one of the more iconic climactic moments in Hollywood history. Does Ethan Edwards have a redemptive moment? Does he need one? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro and new impressions. 4:55 - He doesn't align himself with either sid…

1
Episode #37: Death and Sacrifice in Gojira 48:19

11y ago48:19

48:19

Ken and Todd look at the original pacific rim monster and compare the theme of sacrifice in Gojira to that presented in modern disaster films. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro and summary. 6:30 - Mass destruction without mass death? 13:40 - The Disneyificaiton of Sacrifice. 15:30 - The enemy is other people. 23:10 - Gospels of Sin Management. 30:40 - Heroi…

1
Episode #36: Genre Conventions in White House Down 45:25

11y ago45:25

45:25

Ken and Todd examine the conventions of action films and how White House Down uses them. Do action films promote American exceptionalism? How does the use of comic relief undercut the film's moral seriousness? What makes a true hero? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro: Why we are discussing White House Down 5:40 - What are the film's genre conventions? 14:50…

1
Episode #35: Love and Masks in The Magician 49:29

11y ago49:29

49:29

Todd and Ken look at Ingmar Bergman's The Magician. Is the film about the conflict between rationalism and faith or the conflict between performers and critics? What did Bergman say about the film in interviews? What makes Ken say that Bergman is the director he's tried the hardest to like without success? Did The Magician change his mind? SHOW NOT…

1
Episode #34: At Any Price 33:48

11y ago33:48

33:48

Ken and Todd discuss Ramin Bahrani's At Any Price. Which family member did Todd want to see more of? What connections does Ken see between this film and Chop Shop? Is the film's climactic sermon meant ironically? WARNING: Plot spoilers.. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Introduction: Expand or Die. 6:51 - Modern farms, prodigal sons, crimes and punishments. 08:4…

1
Episode #33: Timeless Truths in Stromboli 45:37

11y ago45:37

45:37

Todd and Ken discuss the films of Roberto Rossellini, focusing on Stromboli. How sympathetic is Karin? What does the film's reference to the book of Isaiah mean? Is the ending positive, negative or ambiguous? WARNING: Plot spoilers. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro to Rossellini. 3:30 - Plot summary and Karin's shifting story. 07:25 - Isaiah 65:1. 15:51 - …

1
Episode #32: The Feel Good Mediocrity of 42 51:28

11y ago51:28

51:28

Ken and Todd discuss Brian Helgeland’s hagiography of Jackie Robinson. SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Christian Movies vs. Thinking Christian 4:30 - General assessments. 13:00 - Historical foreknowledge and narrative complexity. 21:20 - Of showers and maternity wards. 37:19 - How do we effect change? 40:43 - Truth and feeling good. DON'T FORGET: You can contac…

1
Episode #31: Predestination in Wreck-It Ralph 40:13

11y ago40:13

40:13

Todd and Ken look at Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, and ponder whether or not being written into a computer program is an apt metaphor for predestination. Also, what makes Ken compare Wreck-It Ralph to Paradise Lost? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Wreck-It Ralph vs. Toy Story. 4:30 - Predestination. 12:30 - Adult themes -- hating your job. 18:00 - Is Satan just misu…

1
Episode #30: On Finally Watching The Last Temptation of Christ 50:51

11+ y ago50:51

50:51

Todd and Ken discuss Martin Scorsese's (in)famous imagination of the life of Jesus. Is it really blasphemous? Is it any good? Do you have to watch a movie to be able to boycott it? And how do you pronounce "Nikos Kazantzakis"? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - The infamous production history--or why Ken saw Die Hard on his honeymoon. 6:00 - Responses today. 10:56…

1
Episode #29: Zero Dark Thirty and Historical Fiction 44:17

11+ y ago44:17

44:17

Todd and Ken examine the morality of making stories about other people’s lives. What is the difference between "truth" and "accuracy," and is accomplishing one ever an excuse for neglecting the other? Should historical fiction be judged differently from imaginative fiction? Why or why not? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Should we judge historical fiction diffe…

1
Episode #28: The Grapes of Wrath 38:01

11+ y ago38:01

38:01

Ken and Todd look at John Ford’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel. What is the difference between poverty and destitution? Who is the audience surrogate? How is mythologizing the past different from arguing about the present? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro; The Convict and the Preacher 4:00 - Surrender vs. Plucky Resolve 10:05 - Family is what is tru…

1
Episode #27: The Hobbit: A Not-So-Unexpected Travesty 52:44

11+ y ago52:44

52:44

Ken and Todd claim that Peter Jackson doesn't really understand the material that he is adapting. Is there any way they can back up such a claim? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro; "certain technical aspects of the film..." 12:45 - "Do you even know what this story is about...?" 22:00 - "It felt dumbed-down to me." 26:02 - "The Hobbit is not a prequel." 30:…

1
Episode #26: Will God Give Us A Pass For Watching The Sessions? 34:43

11+ y ago34:43

34:43

Ken and Todd tackle Ben Lewin’s The Sessions. Can a priest ever give you permission to sin? Does calling something therapy change what it is? Is God a bully who hates us and wants us to be miserable? Is it possible to be compassionate while still having standards? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 - Intro, summary. "Not a prostitute." 05:15 - "God will give you a p…

1
Episode #25: The Exorcist and Christian Approaches To Horror 57:29

11+ y ago57:29

57:29

Ken and Todd revisit William Friedkin’s horror masterpiece, The Exorcist, and use it as a springboard to talk about whether or not Christians should watch horror movies. Does the film imply that evil is stronger than holiness? Who is the main character? What does the film say about the spiritual condition of the late 20th century? SHOW NOTES: 0:00 …

1
Episode #24: Looper and the Morality of Time Travel 40:23

11+ y ago40:23

40:23

Ken and Todd look at Rian Johnson’s sci-fi, time-travel hit, Looper. Is changing the future the same as "playing God"? Is there anything theological about the film’s depiction of addicitons? What verse in the Book of Genesis makes Ken doubtful that time-travel is ever really possible? Just what exactly is soul annihilation, and why does the way we …

1
Episode #23: Grace and Merit in Great Expectations 29:10

11+ y ago29:10

29:10

Guest host Andrew Johnson joins Ken at the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss Mike Newell’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic novel. What is the difference between grace and random acts of kindness? Which character reminds Ken of the rock opera Chess? Warning: some profanity in this episode.SHOW NOTES:0:00 - Intro. What is grace?0…

1
Episode #22: An Encounter With Simone Weil 49:16

12y ago49:16

49:16

Director Julia Haslett makes a documentary that is part biopic, part self-reflection. How should we respond to human suffering? Do Simone Weil’s writings give us a road map for answering that question?SHOW NOTES:0:00 - Intro. Self-reflexive vs. biography10:06 - Understanding vs. Acting On18:10 - "I feel like there’s something you want me to say..."…

1
Episode #21: Is Vertigo the Best Film of All Time? 47:49

12y ago47:49

47:49

Critics polled by Sight & Sound magazine in 2012 ranked Vertigo as the greatest film of all time. What does that ranking say about the spirit of the age? Is the greatness of a film measurable? If not, why do we keep trying? What causes our obsession with lists? Ken and Todd discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece and the poll that thrust it back int…

1
Episode #20: Nature, Nurture, Truth, and Lies in The Dark Knight Rises 44:28

12y ago44:28

44:28

How Batman is not a "Christ figure" but Bane is reminiscent of...Willy Wonka!?! It's the summer's most anticipated film as only The Thin Place can cover it. Ken and Todd discuss whether Christopher Nolan's trilogy is telling us "you can't handle the truth" or simply isn't clear in its own mind about what it wants to say. Warning: Spoilers!SHOW NOTE…

1
Episode #19: When We Watch Chariots of Fire, Do We Feel His Pleasure? 46:31

12y ago46:31

46:31

Few films are more beloved in Christian circles than Chariots of Fire. Todd and Ken ask why this is the case, and whether the film that beat out Raiders of the Lost Ark for an Academy Award has stood the test of time.SHOW NOTES:0:00 - Intro: Why Do Christians Love this Film?5:00 - Is it idealized? Shaping a true story.10:13 - What is the story?18:0…

1
Episode #18: What We Choose to Believe About Prometheus 42:40

12y ago42:40

42:40

Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction is not only one of the most anticipated films of the year - a prequel to Alien - but it also attempts to address deep philosophical and religious questions. Can a film be an action blockbuster and a successful cosmological treatise?SHOW NOTES:0:00 - Expectations for and marketing of the film6:20 - Origin sto…

1
Episode #17: The Elliptical Structure of Bresson's Lancelot du Lac 37:55

12y ago37:55

37:55

As a touring retrospective and the reissue of a famous anthology revive interest in the enigmatic and critically revered Robert Bresson, Ken and Todd examine the French director’s Lancelot du Lac.SHOW NOTES:0:00 - Profile, persuasion, or historical account?7:00 - Talking past each other and retrofitting theology13:33 - Theological argument or socia…

1
Episode #16: Theology and Social Justice in Love Free or Die 49:43

12y ago49:43

49:43

Ken and Todd discuss the theology of gays in the Christian church, the social justice of gays in America, and the differences (if any) between the two as they review a documentary about the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church.SHOW NOTES:0:00 - Profile, persuasion, or historical account?7:00 - Talking past each other and retrofitting the…

1
Episode #15: Blue Like Jazz -- Satire or Bildungsroman? 37:19

12y ago37:19

37:19

Ken and Todd discuss Blue Like Jazz, Steve Taylor’s adaptation of Donald Miller’s best seller. Is the film a satire of Christianity? A Christian satire of the godless university? Is it funny? Will Christians like it? Will anyone else?SHOW NOTES:0:00 - Intro, plot, and overall impressions7:00 - The "Christian" label redux; broadening the audience10:…

1
Episode #14: A Separation -- Meditations on Legalism 29:43

12y ago29:43

29:43

Ken and Todd discuss Primary Colors, Mike Nichols's adaptation of the fictionalized depiction of an adviser grappling with whether or not he can support a flawed governor who is running for president. Mike Nichols's film gets the bulk of discussion, but there are also comments about HBO's Game Change.SHOW NOTES:0:30 - Intro, summary, faith, and dis…

1
Episode #13: Faith and Disillusionment in Primary Colors 43:10

12y ago43:10

43:10

Ken and Todd discuss Primary Colors, Mike Nichols's adaptation of the fictionalized depiction of an adviser grappling with whether or not he can support a flawed governor who is running for president. Mike Nichols's film gets the bulk of discussion, but there are also comments about HBO's Game Change.SHOW NOTES:0:30 - Intro, summary, faith, and dis…

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