Best Mark Kermode Podcasts (2024)

1
The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Highlights and Lowlights so far this year 1:04:08

19m ago1:04:08

1:04:08

This week Simon and Mark are away so instead we have a clip episode for your viewing pleasure featuring interviews with the likes of Ramy Youssef and Emma Stone, Denis Villeneuve and Hans Zimmer; and reviews of everything from ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ to Madame Web. Enjoy listening to some of the best The Take has had to offer these past few m…

1
Ep 44: JAY Returns to KOREA - So Soon? YES... Cheongju to Jeonju, Sewol Sadness & more 43:01

3d ago43:01

43:01

In episode 44, which was recorded a few days ago and just before leaving for South Korea, Jay not only elaborates on his 'sudden Spring' over to South Korea and it being the 10th visit to Korea in 12 years, but also speaks about why he chose to do this. You'll hear how Jay, having only left Korea in Winter [2023] & now revisiting less than 4 months…

1
Kirsten Dunst & Alex Garland, Civil War, The Teachers’ Lounge, The First Omen & Back to Black 1:01:09

7d ago1:01:09

1:01:09

This week, Kirsten Dunst and Alex Garland sit down to chat with Simon about their new film ‘Civil War’, which sees Dunst star as a photojournalist travelling with her team across a dystopian United States, engulfed by a second civil war, in a bid to interview and photograph the president. Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘…

1
Dev Patel, Monkey Man, Evil Does Not Exist, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire & Seize Them! 58:58

14d ago58:58

58:58

This week, the lovely Dev Patel is on the show to chat all things ‘Monkey Man’, his (co) writing and directorial debut, which sees a young man hunt down the group of corrupt leaders responsible for his mother’s death. Mark also gives his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Evil Does Not Exist’, an enigmatic eco-parable, which sees a Tokyo c…

1
Episode 43: An Announcement About... Jay's 'sudden' Return to South Korea! 15:01

15d ago15:01

15:01

In this half-festive and Easter episode (and our 43rd one!), Jay announces an almost spontaneous trip to South Korea, which will be his 10th visit to Korea in 12 years! Yes... In this shorter episode, you'll hear from Jay about this upcoming journey - even though it was only in December when he last left Korea - and it touches on the kindness of ot…

1
Ewan McGregor, A Gentleman in Moscow, Mothers’ Instinct & Silver Haze 1:01:53

21d ago1:01:53

1:01:53

This week, Obi Wan Kenobi himself, aka Ewan McGregor, sits down with Simon to discuss his new miniseries ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’, which sees a Russian aristocrat spared from death and placed under house arrest while the Bolshevik Revolution plays out before him. Mark also gives his take on the series, as well as reviewing ‘Mothers’ Instinct’, a Jes…

1
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Immaculate & Late Night with the Devil 1:09:02

28d ago1:09:02

1:09:02

No interview this week, but even more witterings from your favourite duo for your trouble. Mark gives his thoughts on new releases, including ‘Late Night with the Devil’, a found footage horror, which sees a 1977 live television broadcast go horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms; ‘Immaculate’, a Sydney Sweeney-starring horr…

1
Cate Blanchett, The New Boy, Monster & Drive Away Dolls 1:18:19

1M ago1:18:19

1:18:19

This week, the one and only Cate Blanchett joins Mark and Simon for a chat about her drama ‘The New Boy’, which follows a young Aboriginal Australia orphan, who is brought into a Christian monastery, run by a renegade nun, begin to question his faith and loyalty to his heritage. Mark gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Monster’, a Jap…

1
Ava DuVernay, Origin, The Inventor & High and Low – John Galliano 1:20:52

1M ago1:20:52

1:20:52

This week, acclaimed director Ava DuVernay chats to Simon and Mark about ‘Origin’, her new biographical drama based on the life of the author Isabel Wilkerson who wrote the seminal book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’, while coping with personal tragedy. Mark also offers his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Inventor’, a Steph…

1
Oscars 2024 Best Picture Special 1:09:56

2M ago1:09:56

1:09:56

With the 2024 Academy Awards taking place on Sunday, the most trusted voices in film Mark and Simon are here to guide you through the 10 films in the running for Best Picture. Featuring highlights from interviews with directors Greta Gerwig, Celine Song and Jonathan Glazer, and actors Cillian Murphy (an exclusive unheard part of his chat with the p…

1
Denis Villeneuve & Hans Zimmer, Dune: Part Two, Four Daughters & Lisa Frankenstein 1:19:11

2M ago1:19:11

1:19:11

This week, acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve and renowned composer Hans Zimmer join Simon for a chat about their hotly-anticipated project, ‘Dune: Part Two’ - the next chapter in their adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi saga. Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Four Daughters’, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nomina…

1
Jonathan Glazer, Perfect Days, Madame Web, Shoshana & Wicked Little Letters 1:20:59

2M ago1:20:59

1:20:59

This week, director Jonathan Glazer talks to Simon about his Bafta award-winning and Oscar-nominated historical drama ‘The Zone of Interest, which follows the commandant of Auschwitz and his wife, as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house next to the camp. Meanwhile, Mark gives his take on an array of new releases, including …

1
Michael Winterbottom, Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son, Bob Marley: One Love & The Taste of Things 1:19:01

2M ago1:19:01

1:19:01

Happy Valentine’s! Sit back and enjoy our latest episode – a gift to all film lovers. This week, director Michael Winterbottom talks to Simon about his new biographical thriller ‘Shoshana’, which follows the tragic real life love story between Shoshana Borochov and Tom Wilkin, set against the British Mandate in Palestine. Mark will be reviewing ‘Sh…

1
Ep. 42: Annie Ko (INTERVIEW) - "The Dog Meat Ban in South Korea & Dogs as Meat vs Dogs as Pets" 1:09:52

2M ago1:09:52

1:09:52

In this episode [no. 42], we speak with musician, dog lover and activist Annie Ko about South Korea's recent announcement to ban dog meat consumption and the existence of dog meat farms - of which there have been apparently 10.000+ in South Korea - and her experience & involvement with the various organisations which have been doing their best to r…

1
Steve McQueen and Bianca Stigter, Occupied City, Your Fat Friend & The Iron Claw 1:19:03

2M ago1:19:03

1:19:03

This week, Steve McQueen and his wife, historian, filmmaker and producer Bianca Stigter, are in the studio to chat with Simon about ‘Occupied City’, their four-hour documentary about the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam from 1940-45, which is based on Stigter’s book on the subject. Mark gives his thoughts on the film, along with reviewing ‘Your Fat Fri…

1
Ep 41: "Dog-Meat & Drawing-Meets" (Activism & Art / INTERVIEW Announcements!): Annie Ko + Ana Bondarenko 7:56

2M ago7:56

7:56

In this episode [no. 41], Jay announces the news about two interviews coming your way in February and March, and the which start next week, in episode 42. The first of these guests is Annie Ko, one part of the Seoul-based electric rock duo Love X Stereo and who speaks to us about the recent ban on breeding, slaughtering & ultimately the sale of dog…

1
Jeffrey Wright, Cillian Murphy, American Fiction, Oppenheimer Revisited, The Zone of Interest in & Argylle 1:21:32

3M ago1:21:32

1:21:32

It’s a bumper week for (lauded) guests! Simon chats to Jeffrey Wright about his Oscar-nominated role in ‘American Fiction’, which tells the story of a Black novelist, frustrated with the establishment that profits from Black entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes, who uses a pen name to write an outlandish Black book of his own, on…

1
Andrew Haigh, All Of Us Strangers, Baghead & The Color Purple 1:16:21

3M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

This week, Simon sits down for a thoughtful and moving chat with director Andrew Haigh about his new Bafta-nominated drama ‘All of Us Strangers’, which sees Andrew Scott play a lonely screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home, where his parents appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died 30 years ago. Mark also gives his take on…

1
Episode 40: Mark Kermode's 'Kudos to Korea'... + the Return of Tim...? 16:05

3M ago16:05

16:05

In this shorter episode, you'll hear from Jay and Tim, but also about Mark... that's Mark Kermode. You could even say that this episode [no. 40] features 3 film critics - Mark, Jay & Tim! Well, it's concerning Mark Kermode, the UK's most-loved film critic and about Korean film or Korean diaspora movies... but Jay also has a film review/interview we…

1
Daniel Kaluuya, The Kitchen, The End Where We Start From & The Holdovers 1:19:23

3M ago1:19:23

1:19:23

This week, the one and only Daniel Kaluuya is in the studio and ready to chat with Mark and Simon about his dystopian directorial debut – co-directed with his longtime friend and collaborator Kibwe Tavares - ‘The Kitchen’, which sees a funeral-service worker looking for a way out of the chaotic housing block of the title. Mark also offers up his cr…

1
Emma Stone and Ramy Youssef, Poor Things, The Disappearance of Shere Hite & The Boys in the Boat 1:18:40

3M ago1:18:40

1:18:40

OK, now we are really back! Mark and Simon are firmly back in their seats and ready to shepherd you through a new year in cinema. This week, Simon sits down with Emma Stone and Ramy Youssef to discuss their roles in Yorgos Lanthimos’ wild new science fantasy black comedy ‘Poor Things’, which tells the story of a young woman in Victorian London, who…

1
EP 39: Korean Season Cheating, Temple Staying, Snow Spotting + MORE 35:33

3M ago35:33

35:33

In episode 39 of the 'NoSoKoPo', Jay speaks from Jeju Island in South Korea about various topics and these include the 'cheating the start of Winter' (by heading further South!), a week-long temple stay, 'Korean snow', an almost all-encompassing Jeju Rainbow, plus a first time crossing to Jeju by ferry... and Jay touches on those inevitable thought…

1
James Hawes, One Life, Night Swim & Good Grief 1:15:45

4M ago1:15:45

1:15:45

We’re back! Well kind of. This week, Robbie Collin and Rhianna Dhillon are filling in for Mark and Simon, who are still recovering from their completely raucous New Year celebrations. Rhianna chats to director James Hawes about his new war drama ‘One Life’, which sees both Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn star as humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who i…

1
Raging Grace, Priscilla & Scala!!!, BEST and WORST films of 2023 1:00:59

4M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

This week sees Mark review ‘Raging Grace’, a social issue drama-come-gothic horror about a Filipino single mother working in a sinister British family mansion; ‘Priscilla’, Sofia Coppola’s adaptation of Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir about her complicated relationship with music icon Elvis Presley; and ‘Scala!!!’, a documentary telling the riotous…

1
Ep. 38: James Turnbull (INTERVIEW) - Sexuality, Feminism, Translation, Cats & More 1:12:47

4M ago1:12:47

1:12:47

In this episode [38] of the 'NoSoKoPo', we bring you the long-awaited interview featuring Jay and James... That's 'the' James Turnbull and author/founder of The Grand Narrative (https://thegrandnarrative.com). In this interview - recorded in Busan, South Korea itself - we cover a lot of subjects and they include Korean feminism, sexuality, inequali…

1
Zack Snyder, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, The Boy and the Heron & Ferrari 1:21:58

4M ago1:21:58

1:21:58

It’s Christmas! This week, Simon chats to Zack Snyder about his new space opera ‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire’, which sees an ex-soldier search for allies to help defend her home when it is threatened by the cruel ruling Imperium. Mark gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Boy and the Heron’, the long-awaited and apparentl…

1
EPISODE 37: Introducing the 'NOT So LONG Korean Podcast' EPISODES 8:32

4M ago8:32

8:32

After about a Series and a half - and ahead of our long-awaited full interview with James Turnbull - we introduce a new angle or format that some of our episodes will take. As you'll hear from Jay, we will be inserting 'bite-sized' or 'subject specific' Korean related episodes into our Series (or Seasons;), which will both provide you with even mor…

1
Taika Waititi and Jaiyah Saelua, Next Goal Wins, What Happens Later, The Three Musketeers: Milady & Godzilla Minus One 1:15:34

4M ago1:15:34

1:15:34

This week sees Mark and Simon chat to director, writer and producer Taika Waititi and American Samoan footballer Jaiyah Saelua about ‘Next Goal Wins’, a sports comedy-drama based on the documentary of the same name, which chronicles the national team of American Samoa as they try to recover from the indignity of the worst loss in international foot…

1
Paul King & Simon Farnaby, Wonka, Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain & Leave the World Behind 1:22:47

4M ago1:22:47

1:22:47

Simon sits down with director and screenwriter Paul King and screenwriter Simon Farnaby to discuss their new Timothée Chalamet-starring Christmas blockbuster, ‘Wonka’, which is a prequel to the Roald Dahl children’s classic ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Mark gives his take on the film, along with reviewing ‘Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure…

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