Episode 34, September 10th 2012

Hey and welcome to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast where Jesse and Shaun get together to talk movies. Every two weeks or so, we take a look at the Best Picture Academy Award Winner and top box office earner of the same year to see who was right: the critics or the masses. On this episode, one film won both honors, Kramer vs Kramer (Highbrow/Lowbrow) from the year 1979.

Kramer vs Kramer, directed by Robert Benton, is the story of Ted Kramer who's left take care of his son when his wife suddenly leaves him, making him the sole caretaker in an unfamiliar world of parenting. Dustin Hoffman gives maybe his best performance as Ted, a man trying to bridge the gap between career and family life and dealing with the sacrifices that have to be made. Meryl Streep brings sympathy and understanding to the character of Joanne the absent wife/mom, and the story cements her own reasons for wanting to leave. This film really captured the zeitgeist of that era, where women began to transition to careers from the family life, but remains a timeless film due to the realistic portrayal of the budding father son relationship.

So be sure to listen to the latest episode for some great talk about this great film, Kramer vs Kramer. And let us know what you think about the episode. Check it out below!

Episode 33 , August 30th 2012

Hello and welcome back for another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast where Jesse and Shaun get together to discuss movies. Every two weeks or so, we take a look at the Best Picture Academy Award Winner and top box office earner of the same year to see who was right: the critics or the masses. For this episode, the year is 1991 and the two films are Silence of the Lambs (Highbrow) and Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Lowbrow).

Silence of the Lambs, directed by Jonathan Demme, stars Jody Foster as Clarice Starling, a rookie FBI agent, who goes into the mind of Dr. Hannibal Lector, played by Anthony Hopkins, to find a serial killer. This film pioneered the procedural and crime thrillers of today, but as a result of that, it's lost a little bit of it's luster. Jody Foster really brought to life the idea of a strong independent woman with this film as Clarice is an iconic character. Anthony Hopkins chews up the screen as Hannibal Lector, outwitting police and confounding Clarice with panache. The sense of fear and impending doom is palpable with Silence of the Lambs, really bringing you into the mindset of Clarice and these serial killers.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day, directed by James Cameron, is the continuing story of John Connor as a terminator (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) from the past seeks to thwart John's assassination from the deadly T-1000. Schwarzenegger plays his best role in the film as the Terminator, selling his transformation into a robot with a heart while also bringing a lot of humor to him. Linda Hamilton's Sarah and Edward Furlong's John Connor really grow together and show a side of humanity that is fierce, resilient and caring. One of the most beloved James Cameron films, due to it's great action sequences and humanistic interactions between John, Sarah and the Terminator, Terminator 2 stands as a great action film with a satisfying story.

Which way did we end up going? The psychological yet clinical horror, Silence of the Lambs, or the action intensive thriller with humanity, Terminator 2? Check out the latest Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out!

Episode 32, July 19th, 2012

Hey and welcome to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast where Jesse and Shaun talk  movies. Every two weeks or so, we review the Best Picture Academy Award Winner and top box office earner of the same year to see who was right: the critics or the masses. This week we have a guest drop in to choose our next next Highbrow! Lowbrow? picks. But for now, we check out two movies from the year 1955, Marty (Highbrow) and The Lady and The Tramp (Lowbrow).

Marty, directed by Delbert Mann, stars Ernest Borgnine as Marty, a sad middle aged man looking for love against the pressure of his friends and family. Borgnine plays Marty expertly, showing his frustration and sadness well. The other players bring a real strong sense of environment and really show the world that he lives in. The cinematography was simple but profound as it brings you into the drama at several key points in the film. Marty is an earthy and layered film that draws from the simple story, a wealth of human insight.

Lady and the Tramp, another classic Disney animation, tells the story of Lady and the Tramp as an uptown/downtown romance with the rascally Tramp trying to woo the prim Lady. Lady has a family that loves her, but that love is in question when her owners have a child that takes attention away from her. Tramp comes in as a a bit of a troublemaker who offers to show Lady the world and takes control of it. This cute and fun movie was a quaint journey through a dog's ;ofe.

So what movie did Jesse and Shaun end up liking more? The disney tale Lady and the Tramp or the slice of life story Marty? Check out the latest Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out!