Films are the cultural artifacts of our time – they form a neat package (coming under 2 hours for a time-pressed age), are accessible widely through cinema and then ubiquitous dvd, and are subject to critical and popular opinion. It is not for nothing that imdb is one of the powerhouse websites of the world. Films, in the end, are about stories concerning the human creature; how it survives, loves, grows, and challenges for power. Films are about US.
so films are important. Opinions too are important. But what the industry truly thrives on is the hype. And so we come to that curious artifact indeed – the Film Trailer. What could be seen as a 90 second film condensed out of a 90 minute package, the Trailer is a curious beast indeed. How to entice with the best scenes, yet not give everything away, how to tell a mini-story without spoiling the Greater Whole. Cutting a trailer is an art in itself.
FilmTrailers is a regularly updated podcast that pushes out about 5-6 of the latest trailer releases each week. The site is run from the UK, so you will see a lot of french cinema being represented which makes it a differentiating point for US and Australian audiences; a taste of wider culture if you will. Most of the trailers are of good quality, but aren’t HD; in fact, a small number came across as low-res, which was a bit of a disappointment; considering that the visuals are the prime draw of a film. A small quibble nonetheless, for this convenient podcast delivery.
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true art is hard to make; so too is genuine, probing analysis. It takes a particular mindset to be able to evaluate and gauge a work; place it in a historical context, and compare it to its peers or non-peers. A wide-ranging mind, an open-ness of opinion, a pursuit of some truthful ideal are all requisite to this quest for Analysis.
so we come to this podcast. Left Field Cinema is a spoken word presentation by Mike Dawson. He prepares essays of reviews, hidden masterpieces, and misunderstood classics, and then, well, reads then aloud. Not your typical film podcast, but a thoroughly immersive and intellectual experience. Episodes average around the 15 minute mark, and the podcast has been running for about 2 years. It forms an impressive archive.
I find the spoken word essays literate and challenging. They are infused with perception and critique. If you are looking for a smart film podcast, this is the one for you. Film IQ.
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ps. this analysis of the film Dune is just astonishing
September 17th, 2009
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movie podcasts are a dime a dozen, but if you’re looking for a quick overview of the latest releases, this is the perfect podcast for you. A 20 minute summary of the week’s latest releases, and since most things have an international release these days, it doesn’t matter that the show is from New Zealand.
Simon Morris is a kind affable commentator, and there are plenty of audio snippets from the movies described. It makes for a easy flowing balance – going from source to opinion, and back again.
well worth throwing into your feed reader.
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