Middlebrow Madness

We’re back on the bracket beat, sports fans, and we’re asking the tough questions! Does The Dark Knight Rises have a coherent ideology? What is the “normie” Andrei Tarkovsky movie? What’s the deep ecology read on WALL-E? Why were the 90s such a fecund period for stories about the falseness of reality? We answer all of these questions, and several others, over the course of the show.This week’s matchups: The Dark Knight Rises v. Andrei Rublev WALL-E v. The Truman Show–See the bracket [SPOILERS AHEAD] Drop us a line: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @middlebrowpod Follow Isabelle on Twitter: @spacejamfan…

A little late but no less great! That’s right, sports fans, we’re back with another classic episode of the pod, where we reaffirm our positions as heads of the Newman/Redford Booster Club, fawn over a certain pair of directorial brothers, and marvel at a film that smiles in the face of a cruel, uncaring world. Oh, and we should note, one of these movies did not age well. How badly did it age? Well, badly enough that our discussion merits big ol’ content warning for CSA. It ain’t all roses in this one, but there are great discussions all around.…

Three heavy hitters in this one, and a fourth one that’s… okay? Well, I guess it depends on who you ask. One of these movies is definitely not like the others. Also, this episode isn’t as blue as the last few, but there’s plenty of Boner Content to go around for the faithful. We also talk about a shitty movie that is not in this bracket that should be appended with every CW and -ism you can think of, so be forewarned. But we also talk about William H. Macy’s life imitating William H. Macy’s art, liking movies for different…

Sports fans, I’ve got to to come clean: we are a couple of dirty, dirty birdies at the top of this one. Like real filthy. There’s also some mental health talk. But we do talk about movies, specifically about the influence of classical Hollywood film, mental illness in film, “middlebrow” as a qualifier, and navel-gazing as a stylistic conceit. So in other words, another classic episode of the pod!This week’s matchups: All About Eve v. A Beautiful Mind Inception v. 8 1/2–See the bracket [SPOILERS AHEAD] Drop us a line: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @middlebrowpod Follow Isabelle on Twitter:…

Holy cannoli, sports fans, did this one ever get away from us. Get a load of that runtime! 76 god damn minutes! Well, if you’re into weird tangents, you’re in luck: this has one stuff ranging from late-period classic rock to everyone’s least-favourite Canadian lobster man. But crucially, we get to talk about some movies! The power of emotional filmmaking, feminist critiques, the thrill of watching a master at work, ruminations and time and love… But to get to all that, you have to deal with a little bit of branded content. #BadDragon #SponsoredContentThis week’s matchups: Your Name. v. Gone…

This episode features three celebrated auteurs from three different countries, and a fourth guy who thought making The Godfather twice as long and ten time more impenetrable was a good idea. And also some digressive NSFW goofiness off the top because Isabelle will make “melt Derek’s brain at the top of the show” a bit come hell or high water.This week’s matchups: A Separation v. The Elephant Man Seven Samurai v. Gangs of Wasseypur—See the bracket [SPOILERS AHEAD] Drop us a line: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @middlebrowpod Follow Isabelle on Twitter: @spacejamfan Follow Derek on Twitter: @derek_g

That’s right, sports fans, it’s time to **checks index card** blaze ya dead homie?! Wait, hold on, I got my cards mixed up. It’s actually for **checks new index card** a crash course in how to properly pronounce the name of a French-Canadian auteur??? I thought this was a movie podcast! I mean, Isabelle and Derek do talk about Yasujiro Ozu’s direction, Aamir Khan’s axe to grind, and a couple of goofy thrillers that think they’re Serious and Important, so I guess that counts for something. Oh, and uh… CW for **checks index card again** suicide, assault, and CSA?! What…

We’re back after a short hiatus, and let me tell you, this episode has everything. Dramatic readings! Our first wild card movie! Ill-advised usage of internet slang by a man in his thirties! Oh, and thoughtful considerations regarding trauma, faith, and the moving image.CW: some saucy shit in the front, and Nazi shit in the back.This week’s matchups: Raging Bull v. Howl’s Moving Castle Schindler’s List v. Winter Light—Drop us a line: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @middlebrowpod Follow Michelle on Twitter: @spacejamfan Follow Derek on Twitter: @derek_g

Derek and Michelle are back in town and ready to send two more movies to the second round. This time around, our intrepid hosts consider two of the best close-up movies of all time, a no-frills war picture from the 50s, and a movie that, frankly, shouldn’t even be on this list. Also, Michelle keeps her “mention Come and See” streak alive and Derek makes several embarrassing admissions regarding the classic movies he hasn’t seen yet.This week’s matchups: Once Upon a Time in America v. In the Name of the Father Paths of Glory v. The Passion of Joan of…

Who’s ready to get deeply uncomfortable? What do the Bracket Gods have in store for us this time. Well, uh, cringe-inducing drama, the spectre of the Confederacy, and 21st century terror! Yeah, baby! But the movies are pretty good, and the breakdowns are too. Also Derek forgets the word “harbour,” so that’s pretty funny.One note from the fact-checking desk: the disaster that 9/11 was a stand-in for in the Indian films mentioned was the 2008 26/11 Mumbai attacks, not the 2006 Mumbai train bombs as said by Michelle.This week’s matchups: The Hunt v. The General Spirited Away v. A Wednesday–Holy…