Isabelle Arf and Derek Godin use the tried and true method of the single-elimination bracket to find out which movie from the IMDb Top 250 is the best one.
1.39 – It Was Ingmar Bergman Who Killed John Lennon
Recorded 14 April 2024
This episode contains discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation during the Persona segment
Sports fans, I know we've said this before, but this episode contains one of the toughest matchups we've encountered yet; that 122-minute runtime bears that out. We also get to talk about Wes Anderson for the first (only?) time. Also contained herein: both hosts' all-time Alien franchise power rankings, Derek's hottest Wes Anderson take, an attempt at cataloguing the many facets of an all-time art film, and only slightly defamatory talk about Stephen King. In short, another classic episode! RIP to the great Shelley Duvall.
This week's matchups:
Aliens v. The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Shining v. Persona
Searching for Shelley Duvall: The Reclusive Icon on Fleeing Hollywood and the Scars of Making ‘The Shining’ (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/searching-for-shelley-duvall-the-reclusive-icon-on-fleeing-hollywood-and-the-scars-of-making-the-shining-4130256/)
See the bracket [SPOILERS AHEAD] (https://challonge.com/56ziw0wo.svg)
Drop us a line: middlebrowmadness@gmail.com
Follow the show on Twitter: @middlebrowpod (https://twitter.com/middlebrowpod)
Follow Isabelle on Bluesky: @lilieswithout (https://bsky.app/profile/lilieswithout.bsky.social)
Check out Derek's stuff at derekgodin.com (https://derekgodin.com)
Join the Middlebrow Madness Discord (https://discord.gg/v6AyNZY8A4)
4 Jun 2024
1.38 – Serial Killer Gachapon
Recorded on 23 February 2024
Derek must've angered one or another of the Computer Gods, because part of this episode was garbled beyond recognition. But never fear, sports fans! Thanks to Isabelle's considerable skills as an editrix, the seams on the episode are nary audible. So you will hear in the highest fidelity our intrepid hosts debate the pros and cons of your dad's favourite movie, Derek's favorite character actor joke, and of course, the entirety of Isabelle's online bullshit fire sale. We also mention in passing two titans of the American arts who have recently passed. In short, another classic episode!
This week's matchups:
Good Will Hunting v. Dial M for Murder
Saving Private Ryan v. The Terminator
Further reading:
"Everyone Is Beautiful and No One Is Horny" by RS Benedict (https://bloodknife.com/everyone-beautiful-no-one-horny/)
"F/X Porn" by David Foster Wallace (https://www.michaelfuchs.org/razorsedge/?story=2010-03-01) (via Michael S. Fuchs)
See the bracket [SPOILERS AHEAD] (https://challonge.com/56ziw0wo.svg)
Drop us a line: middlebrowmadness@gmail.com (mailto:middlebrowmadness@gmail.com)
Follow the show on Twitter: @middlebrowpod (https://twitter.com/middlebrowpod)
Follow Isabelle on Bluesky: @lilieswithout (https://bsky.app/profile/lilieswithout.bsky.social)
Check out Derek's stuff at derekgodin.com (https://derekgodin.com)
Join the Middlebrow Madness Discord (https://discord.gg/v6AyNZY8A4)
2 Apr 2024
1.37 – Tom Hanks Strikes Again
Recorded on 24 November 2023
Sports fans, Isabelle brought the thunder with her reading this week, which threatened to swallow this episode whole, so to speak. But as all episodes must, we eventually get to the matter at hand, which in this case includes one of the most whiplash-inducing matchups in the bracket thus far. We also have some metagaming, a lot of fawning over the classics, and a short discussion of what we mean when we call something "good." In short, another classic episode!
This week's matchups:
Toy Story v. The Deer Hunter
Casablanca v. Barry Lyndon
See the bracket [SPOILERS AHEAD] (https://challonge.com/56ziw0wo.svg)
Drop us a line: middlebrowmadness@gmail.com
Follow the show on Twitter: @middlebrowpod (https://twitter.com/middlebrowpod)
Follow Isabelle on Bluesky: @lilieswithout (https://bsky.app/profile/lilieswithout.bsky.social)
Check out Derek's stuff at derekgodin.com (https://derekgodin.com)
Join the Middlebrow Madness Discord (https://discord.gg/v6AyNZY8A4)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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