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!

Episode 31, July 2nd 2012

Hello and welcome back to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast where Jesse and Shaun get together every two weeks or so to talk movies. 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, we examine the year 1948 with a Highbrow choice of Hamlet and a Lowbrow(?) choice of The Red Shoes.

 Hamlet, directed by Laurence Olivier, also stars Olivier as the titular Hamlet, the classic Shakespearean tragedy of young Prince Hamlet's quest to avenge his father's murder, destroying his family in the process. Jesse and Shaun differed on the sets with Jesse enjoying the stagecraft and play-like feel of the film, while Shaun felt it was too stagey for a movie. They both agreed the special effects were strong, especially with the representation of Hamlet's father, who remains chilling to this day. Laurence Olivier does a fantastic job as Hamlet, really conveying that sense of madness and determination as Hamlet discovers more and more of the treachery within his family. Shaun felt that Olivier's performance overshadowed the other actors who couldn't match up, while Jesse thought the stage presence of the cast was strong and provided a good foil to Hamlet's madness. Critics of the past critiqued the film for not adhering to Shakespeare's text, but both Jesse and Shaun agree that liberty and reinterpretation should be used in adapting any material from one medium to the next. Hamlet succeeds as a an authentic representation of Shakespeare's work on film, and Olivier shines as Hamlet.

The Red Shoes, directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, is the tale of young ballet dancer, Victoria Page (Moira Shearer), who is torn between her love of dance with the famous Lermontov Company and her composer boyfriend, Julian Craster (Marius Goring). Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) haunts and plays with both Victoria and Julian due to his intense desire to make the world's best dancer. The story is relatable to anyone with artistic backgrounds as Victoria often finds herself at odds with her career and art versus her own personal life. The play within the play perfectly mirrors her feelings of being pulled apart by her lover and her passion, passion being a constant test to excel yourself. Shearer's dancing stands strong throughout the film and she really holds the piece together, she conveys both through face and body language the desperation of Victoria. Walbrook plays a nuanced Lermontov who is mysterious and charming, you never know where his desires really lie. This is an engaging and deep film that draws you as it explores the depths of artistic passion and how far we will go to pursue them.

So which film did the HBLB duo end up picking? The tragic poetry of Hamlet (Highbrow) or the depths of artistic desires in The Red Shoes (Lowbrow)? Listen to the next episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow to find out!

Episode 30, May 21st 2012

Welcome to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast where Jesse and Shaun get together to talk about 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 latest episode features two epic films in scope and in length from the year 1956, the globe hopping journey, Around the World In 80 Days (Highbrow) and the biblical story, The Ten Commandments (Lowbrow).

Around The World In 80 Days, directed by Michael Anderson, is the journey of english gentleman, Phileas Fogg (David Niven), as he tries to complete a tour of the world in 80 days in a bet against his fellow Reform Club members. Accompanying him is his loyal assistant, Passepartout (Cantinflas), bumbling around, but proving his worth in his own way again and again. This film had an overbearing running time that really dragged the story out, you can definitely feel the time as he begins hitting locations such as India or China. The cinematography really showcased the international sites, from the vibrant spanish dancing to the exotic eastern jungles. Jesse enjoyed the British banter between the banker friends, while Shaun found it boring and stale. They both enjoyed the antics of Passepartout, recalling the physical comedy of Charlie Chaplin. Though it can be a fun romp and it has it's exciting moments, Around The World In 80 Days can't maintain interest throughout it's lengthy running time.

The Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille, is the classic story of Moses (Charlton Heston) as he discovers his Jewish heritage, and rises up against the Egyptians to free the Jews from slavery. This film as well had a pretty massive running time that also begins to feel overwhelming. Charlton Heston proves his presence in this film as always with such a strong and confident approach to the role that made it memorable. The literal interpretation of the Bible in the movie leaves something to be desired, since the story needed a little adapting for it to really be consistently engaging. The massive sets and huge number of people needed to pull this film off is really amazing as you see hordes of people traveling along the Dead Sea and monuments being recreated from the era. Weighed down by a hefty running time, the Ten Commandments is an enduring and engaging biblical film that eventually begins to wear on you.

So which film did Jesse and Shaun end up liking more? The journey of Moses in The Ten Commandments (Lowbrow) or the light-hearted globe hopping adventures of Fogg and Passepartout in Around The World In 80 Days (Highbrow)? Check out the latest Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out.

Episode 29 May 26th 2012

Hello and welcome to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? Every two weeks or so we 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 week, we go back to the height of the 80's with two classic films from 1984, the musical biography, Amadeus (Highbrow), and the gritty action comedy, Beverly Hills Cop (Lowbrow).

Amadeus, directed by Milos Forman, is the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart seen through the eyes of Antonio Salieri who lays tortured at the mocking genius of Mozart. Milos Forman yet again shows his mastery of film-making as this film is a fantastic blend of story and style. The way that Mozart's music is described unfolds to the viewer, while Salieri's jealousey and admiration grow, has each note given purpose and beauty. Salieri's desperate way of trying to quell his fears of inadequacy is a story many artist and people in general can relate to, as someone much better comes along and proves your worst fears true. The cinematography and art direction were really strong illustrating both the pomp and squalor of 19th century Vienna. Tom Hulce's Mozart plays a perfect foil to F. Murray Abraham's Salieri with Mozart obnoxiously laughing while also passionately composing against Salieri who remains dedicated but unrewarded. Though not a perfect film, Amadeus brings a great story together executing each element with style and mastery,

Beverly Hills Cop, directed by Martin Brest, stars wise-cracking Eddie Murphy as tough Detroit cop Axel Foley who investigates the murder of his best friend in the posh Beverly Hills.  Despite the fond memories and the box office acclaim, time has not been kind to this film, as it felt stale and boring and somewhat bereft of the humor that it was known for. Neither is the action strong enough to sell the film, Murphy doesn't bring an exciting action hero for us to get us invested. The story is somewhat lackluster as flimsy plot point to flimsy plot point moves Foley from place to place with little direction. Depending on if you are interested in the nostalgic feel of the 80's, this movie would be best suited for those who want to revisit the past rather than view an exciting film.

So which film did we end up choosing? The wise-cracking antics of Foley or the desperate jealousy of Salieri? Check out the next Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out.

Episode 28 April 8th, 2012

Welcome back to another episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? the podcast that compares and contrast the Best Picture Academy Award Winner and top box office earner of the same year. We take a look back at yet another set of films from the 1970's, specifically 1970 itself with the two films: the war biography, Patton (Highbrow) and the tragic romance, Love Story (Lowbrow).

Patton, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner,  stars George C. Scott as infamous WWII general George S. Patton Jr. as he faces off against the Germans and the bureaucrats during the 1940's, getting in trouble for his hard hitting and take no prisoners approach to the war. The film feels more like a documentary than a film with Jesse enjoying it more than Shaun as a result. Patton is a really unique persona bringing such ferocity and life to the screen. However the battle scenes left a little to be desired early on, there is almost a cold detachment, which is probably intentional, but made it less engaging. There are some nice moments with George C. Scott as he recites Patton's poetry and peculiar world views, juxtaposing the words with the bizarre military world that vaguely resembles royalty. Patton is an interesting film with strong imagery and words, but lacking a little heart to really engage some viewers.

Love Story, directed by Arthur Hiller, is the story of lovers Jennifer and Oliver who from different backgrounds seek to try and make life work despite their past. Ali Mcgraw and Ryan O'Neal have a strong chemistry as O'Neal plays the straight man to  McGraw's smart alec Jennifer. The melodrama runs rampant in this film, but it's not necessarily a bad thing, as the relationship stays fresh via McGraw and O'Neal's back and forth. This film had some refreshing cinematography to it, really capturing the picturesque landscape in Harvard. The story suffers from some unbelievable plot points with Oliver's dislike of his father not being established and Jennifer's problems arising out of nothing. This film's strength lies in the brief but strong relationship between Jennifer and Oliver as they grow to love each other with their realistic banter and warm romance.

What film did the Highbrow! Lowbrow? duo end up choosing? The melodramatic romance Love Story or the war biography Patton? Listen to the next Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out.