Holiday Movie Miracle

Why is it a miracle? Well, take a listen and find out! We promise it won't take you long... It's only a 16 minute episode... HAPPY HOLIDAYS, PEEPS!

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True Grit by Charles Portis

It's a Coen Brothers masterpiece, starring the amazing Jeff Bridges and the controversial (at least on our podcast) Matt Damon. Oh, and Hailee Steinfeld wasn't quite at the Edge of Seventeen when she OWNED this film. Guys - it's TRUE GRIT!!! (The good one...)

Oh, and we talk about some trailers because we can't control ourselves...

Character Cheat Sheet!

• Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) - Narrator of our story... Who is 14 and awesome
• Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) - a US Marshall hired by Mattie to go hunt down her father's killer
• LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) - A Texas Ranger, also searching for the the killer (though for different reasons)
• Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) - Killed Mattie's father... Killed people in Texas (thus LaBoeuf)...

Show Notes

• Uncharted Lost Legacy and The Last of Us Part II announcements (w/ audience reactions)
• Proof that Jeff Bridges is the better Rooster Cogburn (sorry John Wayne)

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Thanksgiving Movie Overload

Kyle's back, Michael saw ALL THE THINGS, and Jeff got a sneak peak at Collateral Beauty - and that's just the beginning!

[0:00:00] Kyle is back! And he saw Stranger Things!
[0:12:40] Catch Up: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
[0:17:00] Catch Up: Jeff saw Collateral Beauty and the guys are jealous
[0:20:58] Catch Up: Michael gushes over Manchester by the Sea
[0:24:14] Catch Up: Rapid fire: Loving, Edge of Seventeen, Hacksaw Ridge
[0:28:10] Catch Up: Michael makes another plea for Nocturnal Animals
[0:31:07] Catch Up: Kyle gets help to convince Jenny to see Kubo and the two strings and Michael is wrong about everything
[0:37:10] Catch Up: Hunger
[0:38:15] Catch Up: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
[0:39:34] Catch Up: Moana
[0:42:40] Catch Up: Bad Moms and a Final Fantasy movie that never should have existed
[0:47:40] Catch Up: Kyle hates on Black Mirror and Bryce Dallas Howard
[0:53:05] Trailer Talk (Silence, Moonlight, Taboo [on FX], Jackie, Kong: Skull Island)
[0:53:48] Movies to be EXCITED about at the end of the year
[0:58:03] Recommendations

Show Notes

• Story of Matt Damon handing over Manchester by the Sea
• Kubo and the Two Strings is AMAZING stop-motion at
• Laika films made Paranorman, Coraline, Boxtrolls, and Kubo and the Two Strings. NOT Tim Burton...
• Jermaine Clement and his very "Shiny" Moana song
• For better or worse, Final Fantasy Kingsglaive is a thing fans should watch

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Arrival by Ted Chiang

It's not THE Arrival (the 1996 movie w/ Charlie Sheen), it's JUST Arrival! Wait, is that confusing? The film title is just Arrival... No, like, the title is only Arrival, not just Arrival... Geez, we've got a problem...

Character Cheat Sheet!

• Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) - A world-renowned linguist, brought in to help the US communicate w/ the Heptapods
• Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) - A well known physicist who partners w/ Banks
• Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) - US Military member in command of the communication efforts
• Heptapod = extraterrestrial beings w/ 7 squid like arms and big bodies... not unlike the Aliens in The Simpsons (but totally different)
• Abbott & Costello - the names of the Heptapods that Banks and Donnelly meet with

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Winter is Coming

And we're back! Week off, schmweek off... Back and better than ever, baby! Lots to catch up on, some interesting (#notaword) trailers to discuss, and a quick chat about the films we are most excited for before 2016 comes to a close (#finally).

[0:00:00] SNL, Chappelle, and the Election
[0:06:33] Catch Up (Captain Fantastic, Sing Street, Westworld, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Doctor Strange, Arrival, Steve Jobs, The Walking Dead is boring, Black Mirror, The Crown, Up in the Air, The Three-Body Problem)
[0:44:17] Trailer Talk (Beauty and the Beast, Ghost in the Shell, Collateral Beauty, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Wonder Woman, Live by Night)
[0:56:48] Movies to be EXCITED about at the end of the year
[1:03:42] Recommendations

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Argo

It's a political thriller about protests in Iran... It's a comedy about working the Hollywood system... It's a suspenseful drama about a hostage extraction... and IT ALL HAPPENED IN REAL LIFE! Oh, and it's also an adapted screenplay based on an engrossing article, "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans From Tehran" by Joshuah Bearman (written for WIRED).

Character Cheat Sheet!

• Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) - main character and CIA operative responsible for extraction
• Jack O'Donnell (Bryan Cranston) - Tony's boss within the CIA
• Hamilton Jordan (Kyle Chandler) - Chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter
• Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) - real movie producer of a fake movie
• John Chambers (John Goodman) - real makeup artist of a fake movie
• Ken Taylor (Victor Garber) - Canadian Ambassador
• Hostages:
  • Bob Anders (Tate Donovan)
  • Mark Lijek (Christopher Denham)
  • Cora Lijek (Clea DuVall)
  • Joe Stafford (Scoot McNairy)
  • Kathy Stafford (Kerry Bishé
  • Lee Schatz (Rory Cochrane)

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Favorite Movie Soundtracks

There's no denying the power of music to help us feel what is happening on the screen in front of us, so let's talk about it. This week, the guys discuss their favorite movie soundtracks! (w/ special guest Hans Zimmer! Sorta...)

[0:00:00] Trailer Talk
[0:04:51] Catch Up (Demolition, Captain Fantastic, The Accountant, Lots o' Pixar, 3 Body Problem)
[0:28:07] TV we're giving up on...
[0:29:42] Featured Chat: Favorite Movie Soundtracks
[0:59:25] Recommendations

Show Notes

• Marvel Cinematic Universe by Every Frame a Painting
• Star Wars vs. King's Row
• Similarities between Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean
• Primitive Technology YouTube channel

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The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

It's the next Gone Girl! Or maybe it wished it was... Lots to discuss, including our Blunt perspectives on the film and why Kyle decided to boycott!

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New York Comic-Con 2016 Trailer Talk

"Another Comic-Con?! Didn't you guys just do this?"  Yes... Yes, we did. BUT this one is in New York! And there were some really interesting and compelling trailers (Power Rangers?! Who knew!) alongside some still baffling ones (looking at you "Great Wall").

[0:02:32] Hunt for the Wilderpeople giveaway winner!
[0:03:50] News
[0:10:32] Catch Up (Death's End, Luke Cage, Mike and Dave, This is Us, Sicario, Steve Jobs)
[0:31:44] New York Comic-Con Trailer Talk
[0:55:45] Recommendations

Show Notes

• Jaemy Choong's Instagram feed (he's amazing - go support him!)
• Edgy Power Rangers YouTube video 
• "Susan Cain TED talk

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Hunt for the Wilderpeople by Barry Crump

Three Caucasian..er..white guys discuss the kiwi adventure tale of authority-defying Ricky Baker and his uncle Hector! The movie so far tops Jeff and Michael's best of 2016 lists...you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want more NZ accents in your life!

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Favorite Directors

GUYS! The Passengers trailer dropped! Also, the Literate Cinephiles catch up on what they've been reading/watching and then jump right into a discussion on their favorite directors.

[0:00:00] Trailer Talk! [Passengers]
[0:06:50] Catch Up (The Good Place, Broadchurch season 2, Atlanta, This is Us, Sully, Ready Player One)
[0:23:39] Our Favorite Authors
[0:57:09] Recommendations

Show Notes

• You should never travel with Tom Hanks...
• Miyazaki covering his career - check it out if you're not familiar
• The Totoro song Michael was singing
• Moonrise Kingdom: "I love you but you don't know what you're talking about."
• "If you're a bird...I'm a bird.

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#justarrival

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The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Kyle gets uncomfortable with his emotions in public (in the theater and crying in a Hertz line), Jeff is accused of imposing his morals on others, and Michael is at home with a story about sadness and death - classic Literate Cinephiles discussion surrounding The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.

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You're Welcome, Hollywood, vol 1

Trailer Talk, Hell or High Water, Nice Guys... That should be enough for one episode, but the Literate Cinephiles ALSO tackle the role of Executive Producers, dreaming up an adaptation of Mistborn: The Last Empire by Brandon Sanderson.

[0:00:00] Trailer Talk! [Live by Night, Gold, Collateral Beauty, The Promise]
[0:12:20] Catch Up (Hell or High Water, The Nice Guys
[0:26:14] You're Welcome, Hollywood (Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson)
[1:05:30] Recommendations

Show Notes

• Mistborn Wikipedia
• Allomancy Background
• Jeff went blank in the moment... Edward James Olmos played Captain/Admiral Adama (duh...) on BSG, and he was awesome!
• Murder by the Book is an AMAZING small bookstore in Houston... Shop there.
• Check out the Sanderson book signing pictures, along with a chapter read, that we posted a few months back

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Our lives are defined by opportunities; even the ones we miss." The Literate Cinephiles get into another heated debate over the Oscar-nominated Curious Case of Benjamin Button, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Show Notes

• Jeff isn't the only person who thought Benjamin Button was just like Forrest Gump - check this out (especially the video)!
• Truly this film is a technical marvel and we didn't gush nearly enough about it. Here are some videos giving a taste of the amount of work that went into aging effects: Digital and Makeup

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Christopher Nolan

One of the greatest directors of this generation, Christopher Nolan, has a new movie coming out next summer which got the guys thinking about their favorite Nolan films and how they rank against one another. Also, Jeff saw Keanu and it was glorious!

[00:00] Trailer Talk! [Arrival, Hidden Figures, A Tale of Love and Darkness]
[08:54] Catch Up
[25:00] Featured Chat: Christopher Nolan movies!
[54:30] Recommendations

Show Notes

• Nolan Movie Rankings:
  • Michael: (1) The Prestige, (2) TDK, (3) Inception, (4) Insomnia, (5) Momento, (6) Batman Begins, (7) Interstellar, (8) TDKR, (9) Following
  • Kyle: (1) TDK, (2) Inception, (3) Batman Begins, (4) Interstellar, (5) The Prestige, (6) Momento, (7) TDKR
  • Jeff: (1) TDK, (2) Inception, (3) The Prestige, (4) Batman Begins, (5) Interstellar, (6) TDKR, (7) Momento
• The Inception hallway scene - this kind of stuff makes CineKyle giddy

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Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Based on a recommendation in the Literate Cinephile's GoodReads group, the guys jump in and discuss the beloved James Bond story, Casino Royale.

Show Notes

• Shout out to our listener, Derek for recommending Casino Royale on our GoodReads group
• A well written piece that covers much of the same ground but adds some things we forgot
• We failed to mention that James Bond RESIGNS in this story. He was willing to give up his life as a spy for Vesper.

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Top Sports Movies

Inspired by the Olympics, the Literate Cinephiles discuss their top 5 favorite sports movies! (completely missing the opportunity to list their bronze, silver, and gold medalists... Hindsight, people!)

[00:58] Catch Up: Suicide Squad
[07:15] Catch Up: Midnight Special
[11:02] Kyle doesn't watch movies right...
[23:59] Olympic chat/episode overview
[26:08] Honorable Mentions
[30:30] 5th Place
[37:42] 4th Place
[41:57] 3rd Place
[47:11] 2nd Place
[53:23] 1st Place
[59:22] Recommendations

Show Notes

• "Larry's not white, Larry's clear."
• Chariots of Fire theme song
• Trailer for "The Pistol - Birth of a Legend"

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Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

The guys jump into Brooklyn, the story of a young woman from Ireland who makes the life changing journey to the United States - dealing with home sickness and the reality of leaving home.

[08:31] Catch up
[13:04] Spoilers Begin
[21:57] The easy life? // Plea to Hollywood // was Eilis acting out of character?
[28:24] Tony talk and casting choices
[32:26] Ratings
[35:04] Micheal always comes through
[39:12] Obligatory disagreement

Show Notes

• We mention Nick Hornby being an author AND screenwriter, here's a story on The "Wild" Journey of Nick Hornby, from Author to Oscar Nominated Screen-writer
• How to pronounce Saoirse Ronan
• Eilis' travels across the atlantic likely took 4-5 days (Transatlantic crossing times

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Comic-Con Trailer Talk

It's that time of year, when we all geek out over the latest and greatest movie trailers hitting the interweb! Your Literate Cinephiles are most certainly interested and full of opinions about what looks good and what looks like a confusing white-washed film about Monsters in China with Matt Damon, I mean SERIOUSLY?!?!

[00:00] Catch up
[14:40] Justice League
[21:45] Wonder Woman
[24:45] Captain Marvel
[27:26] King Kong: Skull Island
[30:05] Doctor Strange
[31:10] The Defenders/Luke Cage/Iron Fist
[34:43] King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
[35:47] The Accountant
[37:25] Hacksaw Ridge
[40:16] The Great Wall
[42:37] Kyle just watched the Hacksaw Ridge trailer
[43:44] Split
[45:13] Recommendations & Wrap up

Show Notes

• Problems w/ Batman v. Superman: Zach Snyder's obsession with "Moments"
• You can find most of the trailers we discuss here
• Details on why Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) is AWESOME

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#itsglowingbro

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One Shot by Lee Child (aka Jack Reacher)

It only takes One Shot! Errr... Actually, it took Lee Child's NINTH Jack Reacher novel to finally get a movie the fans had been clamoring for... But was this the film they wanted? Was Tom Cruise true to the character? Listen in to find out!

[00:56] Story background and initial thoughts
[10:15] Recommendations for experiencing the book/movie
[11:56] SPOILER SECTION BEGINS!
[13:09] Story overview
[16:02] Problems with the beginning of the movie
[21:32] Characters left out of the film
[25:13] Michael doesn’t care, he just likes the movie!!
[28:04] Problems with the ending
[43:11] Casting
[49:55] The case for a mini-series & simplifying the setting
[53:38] Final ratingsl

Show Notes

• One Shot (Jack Reacher book 9) by Lee Child
• Jack Reacher - Blu-ray
• Lee Child on the casting of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher

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Together Again

No, not the Janet Jackson song from the 90’s… The guys are back together again after a long break and have a lot to talk about! Vacations and intercontinental flights have resulted in a high number of pages read and movies watched. Also, we have answers to all your burning questions, like: Will Kyle ever get into video games? What New Zealand adventure movie has Michael excited for Thor: Ragnarok? What movie had Jeff weeping in his airplane seat? And more!

[00:52] Video game talk (Assassin's Creed Syndicate)
[04:20] Trailer Talk (La La Land, Star Trek Beyond, Rogue One) & Kyle commits sci-fi nerd blasphemy
[12:00] What Michael has been watching (Ghostbusters, Batman V Superman Ultimate Edition, Hunt for the Wilderpeople)
[23:25] What Kyle has been watching: !!Spoiler Warning!! We discuss Eye in the Sky. If you haven't seen it, skip this part. !!Spoiler Warning!!
[35:23] What Jeff has been watching: Demolition
[40:00] Kyle watched In Bruges
[42:00] What Michael has been reading
[45:09] What Jeff has been reading
[50:00] What Kyle has been reading
[52:48] Jeff gets hands on with HTC Vive Virtual Reality
[54:00] Recommendations (LC Media Shelf)

Show Notes

• Art of Manliness article on Motivation [Kyle Recommendation] 
• Amy Cuddy Power Posing TED talk [Kyle Recommendation] 
• Try Something New for 30 Days TED talk [Kyle Recommendation] 

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The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

The beloved Matt Damon film is a famous adaptation of a Robert Ludlum classic - but did you know the movie has nearly nothing in common with it’s source material?

Show Notes

• The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
• The Bourne Identity - Blu-ray
• Normally we do an audio clip from the trailer... Well... See for yourself why we decided to skip it this time.
• For those with too much time on their hands, on YouTube you can find The Bourne Identity from 1988 starring Richard Chamberlain (an older and more seasoned actor than Matt Damon)

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The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick

Things heat up in this week's episode as we discuss The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick. Jeff thought the movie adaptation was a mess while Michael thought it was a work of art. Kyle remained wishy washy...

Show Notes

• Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick (includes The Minority Report)
• Minority Report - Blu-ray
• There are only 16 Minority Report credited crew members who are also credited on Batman v. Superman
• Average Rotten Tomato rating for Spielberg directed movies is 68% on 32 titles. Lowest is Hook with 30% (a movie Kyle loves, BTW). Highest is ET with 98% (a movie which Jeff does not like).

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Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

The Literate CineWives join Jeff, Michael, and Kyle in a rowdy discussion of Me Before You. Who cried? Who didn't? Could this cast deliver on a franchise character mash-up? Plus, learn what Krystle thinks of running and why Kyle is Patrick (literally). The banter and antics in this episode are to die for!

Show Notes

• NOTE: You'll note we discuss seeing the movie "this past weekend" and reference that it was just released - due to technical difficulties at Jeff's house, preparing this episode took longer than expected and we have a bit less from the Rosenbaughs than we would have liked... Hopefully you don't really notice!
• Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
• Me Before You - Blu-ray
• More on Emilia Clarke's Game of Thrones character: Game of Thrones Wiki
• Triathletes are hardcore. Make sure you are prepared to meet one: 10 Things NOT to say to a Triathlete
• 3 Ways to be a Better Gift Giver (e.g. Be More Like Hayley)
• In case you want Bumblebee tights... there are a couple options... just look around...

If you'd like to support Literate Cinephiles, check out the LC Media Shelf on Amazon.
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Movies We Love to Rewatch

You know that movie you could just watch over, and over, and over again? Well, the Literate Cinephiles feel the same way about some of their all time favorites! The guys share some of the films that they go back to with regularity and why.

Show Notes

• Criticism of Steinbeck and Tortilla Flat: “Critics argue his portrayal of Mexican Americans is highly inaccurate and the paisanos epitomize racial stereotyping.”
• The super weird trailer for The Lobster
• Nacho Libre and its comparison to actual lucha libre. Other than that, it's hard to find an article calling it culturally insensitive.
• The Groundhog Day walking tour in Woodstock, Illinois
• The less than amazing Irish accents in Far and Away

If you’d like to support Literate Cinephiles and find our recommendations, check out the LC Media Shelf on Amazon.

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The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

Kyle, Michael, and Jeff discuss all of the ways The Shawshank Redemption is the epitome of film adaptations.  Shawshank is one of our favorite films, and an absolute classic - you don’t want to miss this one.

Show Notes

• Different Seasons by Stephen King (Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is the first short story in the collection)
• The Shawshank Redemption - Blu-ray
• The film really did BOMB in theaters but is to this day, minting money post-theatrical release
• 20 fun facts about the film - #1 refers to the myriad casting options for Red and Andy
• Morgan Freeman cites The Shawshank Redemption as his favorite book
• Kyle keeps mentioning VidAngel… They’re not paying us, but we’d be happy if they would!

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Future Adaptations

The books we love are making their way to the big screen! The guys talk about future movie projects based on some stellar source material. From the Dark Tower and Devil in the White City to The BFG, this episode should have something for you to get excited about.

Show Notes

• Jeff not alone in being disappointed by the Castle finale
• Kyle’s Bourne Identity review from 2013
• Re: Michael grabbing an extension cord… He was relying on his laptop battery from inside the car… 
• Plenty of information about The Dark Tower production
• The Bridge of Spies is based on a book! Future episode?!
• Regarding the BFG, not only are Spielberg and Rylance involved, you can also include longtime Spielberg movie cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and music composer John Williams
• The Devil in the White City is a 2003 National Book Award finalist and winner of the Edgar Award (Best Fact Crime) - we’re not the only ones who love this book

If you'd like to pick up any of our recommendations and support Literate Cinephiles, check out the LC Media Shelf on Amazon.

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World by Bryan Lee O’Malley

We know what you’re thinking… “The movie w/ Michael Cera?!” Have faith, podcast friends! Your Literate Cinephiles deliver in their analysis of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the 2010 Edgar Wright cult classic based on a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley.  “Prepare to feel the wraith of the League of the Evil Exes.”

 

Show Notes

• Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Boxset
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Blu-ray)
• Check out this video for a plethora of reasons to love Edgar Wright
• RT score is 82% Fresh, but box office numbers were not great w/ a $60M production budget

 

Podcast Information

• Facebook: LC Fan Page
• Instagram: @literatecinephiles
• Twitter: @litcinephiles
• Email: literatecinephiles@gmail.com 
• Opening and Closing theme by Aesop Rock

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Favorite Authors

There has been a lot of heavy film conversation recently, so Jeff, Michael, and Kyle dive into a discussion on their favorite authors! From classics to guilty pleasures, you’ll get a taste of the types of literature the guys enjoy.

 

Show Notes

• Assassin’s Creed trailer
• The Accountant trailer
• QUICK NOTE: the authors mentioned are our favorites in these specific categories and don't represent our all time favorites or who we consider to be the best. That is all.
• Malcolm Gladwell on Freakonomics podcast
• Malcolm Gladwell’s TED Talk: “Choice, happiness and spaghetti sauce”
• Brandon Sanderson video on our Facebook Page 

 

Podcast Information

• Facebook: LC Fan Page
• Instagram: @literatecinephiles
• Twitter: @litcinephiles
• Email: literatecinephiles@gmail.com 
• Opening and Closing theme by Aesop Rock

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Brandon Sanderson reads from Stormlight Archive book 3

 

Hey Literate Cinephiles,

Look for a new episode on some of our favorite authors to go live later this week. During our conversation, I mentioned that I've attended multiple book signings w/ Brandon Sanderson. At his last signing in Houston, I recorded an audio clip of him reading from his upcoming book in the Stormlight Archive series. I thought it was super fun to hear Brandon read a full chapter (over 20 minutes), and this particular section was fun as a fan of the series.

Enjoy!

Captain America: Civil War

In honor of the fallen Quicksilver (R.I.P.), we quickly turnaround our discussion of Captain America: Civil War by discussing the new film and it’s source material. Get ready for shifting alliances (Kyle flip-flops), vicious attacks (Michael gets picky), and tender moments (Jeff is in love…)!

Show Notes

• Civil War by Mark Millar - Trade Hardcover
• Captain America: Civil War - Flixster
• Apparently Marvel did release a FULL Civil War hardcover set with all of the tie-ins, it’s just a little expensive…
• **SPOILER  WARNING** Arnim Zola (played by Toby Jones) revealed to Captain America and Black Widow that Hydra was responsible for the death of Tony’s parents - NOT Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford). Easy to have missed, but check out this clip from Captain America: Winter Soldier

Hosts

• Jeff Rosenbaugh: @jeffrsnbgh
• Michael Perkins: @perkins_michael
• Kyle Smith: @kylejsmithers

Podcast Information

• Facebook: LC Fan Page
• Instagram: @literatecinephiles
• Twitter: @litcinephiles
• Email: literatecinephiles@gmail.com 
• Opening and Closing theme by Aesop Rock

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Marvel movies are the iPhones of cinema

Marvel movies are like iPhones: Tons of hype building up to the release which leads to so much excitement that no matter what they put on screen, you don't leave feeling disappointed. Then a day or two passes and you realize you are not fully satisfied. Not at all! You wanted to see this or that and why did they leave out that one amazing thing?!?! WHEN AM I GOING TO GET THAT!?!?

What all of this means, naturally, is that you will be back next time for more, hoping that the next time it will be different and you will get what you really want. On Saturday I saw Captain America: Civil War, the latest installment from Marvel Studios. They called it Civil War but it was really The Avengers 2S.  It gave me what I loved about Avengers 1 and 2 which was heroes fighting each other. I didn't care much for the numberless alien or robot armies in those movies - I liked when Black Widow fought Hawkeye, Thor fought Hulk, and Iron Man fought Hulk. But Civil War was missing the epic scope of the 7 part Civil War comic. Had it really been Civil War, there would have been more heroes, more villains, and Punisher, man. That's like Apple releasing an iPhone that is fully functional underwater with a built in projector that produces holographic images and can 3D print pizza.

The reality is that the comic universe isn't the cinematic universe, and that’s fine with me. It would cost a lot to do it right, even for Disney. I’ll credit the movie for throwing in some unique details from the comics (like Iron Man's suit learning Cap's moves so he could "kick his a**") but the story was so different that it made it impossible to get some classic comic moments (like Spider-man unmasking and revealing himself as Peter Parker).

Something I want going forward is the "who-would-win-in-a-fight" question answered for every iteration of hero out there (that means a cross-universe movie too, DC! I'm looking at you to make that happen!) Is that too much to ask? I want unique powers vs. unique powers to see the creativity, ingenuity, and badassery that the film makers come up with. Having a diverse mix of heroes allows the imagination to run wild with possibility. I know what you're thinking: There's more to a good super hero movie than fighting, and I’d agree. I want to see the detective work, problem solving, and do-good heroism too. Internal conflict, emotional weight, and humanity are what separate a great super hero movie from a good one. 

I don't have super hero fatigue and I'm not tired of my iPhone. I remain a loyal fan boy of Marvel and Apple. I just have a big imagination and am a sucker for possibility…and I really want to see Superman fight Hulk!  

Who do you want to see go toe to toe? Let me know in the comments! 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carré

Duplicity, paranoia, espionage, anxiety... All that and more can be found in John Le Carré’s spellbinding Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979). It’s the classic Cold War spy novel that inspired a generation...to keep their day jobs (since real spying is a lot of reading, interviewing people, and doing British old man swimming in rivers. Actually… the swimming sounds nice…)

Film released in 2011.
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: every British actor ever

Show Notes

• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carré - Book
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) - Blu-ray
• The author, John Le Carré (aka David John Moore Cornwell) said the following about his career: “Let me tell you a few things about myself… In the old days it was convenient to bill me as a spy turned writer. I was nothing of the kind. I am a writer who, when I was very young, spent a few ineffectual but extremely formative years in British Intelligence.”
• Le Carré’s take on the adaptation
• Keeping track of the characters is rough… here is some help, courtesy of Collider
• Director Tomas Alfredson is not on social media… Maybe spam the movie studio, StudioCanal?

Hosts

• Jeff Rosenbaugh: @jeffrsnbgh
• Michael Perkins: @perkins_michael
• Kyle Smith: @kylejsmithers

Podcast Information

• Facebook: LC Fan Page
• Instagram: @literatecinephiles
• Twitter: @litcinephiles
• Email: literatecinephiles@gmail.com 
• Opening and Closing theme by Aesop Rock

#kylejoke

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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The guys tackle 2012's smash hit novel and 2014's acclaimed film, Gone Girl.

 

Show Notes

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Book | Audible
• Gone Girl (2014) - Blu-ray
• Why Reese Witherspoon wasn’t in Gone Girl:  "Whenever David Fincher says he wants to do a project, you just sit back and say, 'Whatever you want to do.' We had a long conversation where he was like, "You're not right for it. And this is why.' And I actually completely agreed with him."
• Trent Reznor on working w/ David Fincher: It's very critical to sit with David and try to get inside his head and translate what he's saying or feeling into an approach. David said "some of this movie deals with the concept of façades and appearances – whether it be to your spouse or to the public. Maybe let's pursue an idea where we are trying to tell you either subconsciously or blatantly that everything's OK here, but with an insincere callousness to it."
• Rosamund Pike definitely got caught up in the Fincher acting method - to the point of doing some awkward things with a Dora the Explorer doll.

 

Hosts

• Jeff Rosenbaugh: @jeffrsnbgh
• Michael Perkins: @perkins_michael
• Kyle Smith: @kylejsmithers

 

Podcast Information

• Twitter: @litcinephiles
• Instagram: @literatecinephiles
• Email: literatecinephiles@gmail.com 
• Opening and Closing theme by Aesop Rock

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Most Anticipated Films of 2016

Kyle, Michael, and Jeff countdown their individual top 5 most anticipated films of 2016.  Also - Kyle picks a TV show, everyone argues about Jeremy Renner, and the guys each make a pitch for something you should read & watch.

• Excuse Michael's terrible Irish and Boston accents... please...
• Correction: the bird in "Up" (Kevin) does not die #spoiler
• In case you want a more thorough list of movies to get excited about, Indiewire made a list of 100

• Jeff's Recommendations:
• Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson - start w/ Mistborn: the Final Empire
• Madam Secretary - CBS
• Kyle's Recommendations:
• The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
• The River Wild
• stars David Strathairn, who portrays CIA agent Noah Vosen in the Renner Bourne (Bourne Legacy) and a Damon Bourne (Bourne Ultimatum) - only because we brought all of that stuff up...
• Note: No actor/actress has won more than 4 Oscars. Meryl Streep has won 3 (Iron Lady - 2012, Sophie's Choice - 1983, Kramer vs. Kramer - 1980). The only person to win 4 was Katherine Hepburn.
• Michael's Recommendations:
• Superman: American Alien by Max Landis
• Correction: the series will be 7 issues, not 8
• Crazy Ex-Girlfiend - The CW

Hosts

• Jeff Rosenbaugh: @jeffrsnbgh
• Michael Perkins: @perkins_michael
• Kyle Smith: @kylejsmithers

Podcast Information

• Twitter: @litcinephiles
• Instagram: @literatecinephiles
• Email: literatecinephiles@gmail.com 
• Opening and Closing theme by Aesop Rock

Listen Here!