The Duellists

Coming soon: Episode Six: Revenge of the Nerds in the Year...

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 12:38:54 -0400

Coming soon: Episode Six: Revenge of the Nerds in the Year 2000.

Mike and Nathan take a look at Andrew Bujalski’s new Computer Chess and the influential Things to Come from HG Wells, Alexander Korda, and William Cameron Menzies.

We’ll also discuss geek culture’s growing power in studio cinema and some of our favorite movies about the future.

Bordwell on Grandmasters

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:34:21 -0400

When David Bordwell weighs in on a film, you best listen.

http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/2013/09/23/the-grandmaster-moving-forward-turning-back/

The Duellists Episode Five is upon us. This week, Sensual...

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:49:00 -0400

The Duellists Episode Five is upon us.

This week, Sensual Cinema with Brian de Palma’s new Passion and Catherine Breillat’s 2002 Fat Girl.

DOWNLOAD THE DUELLISTS EPISODE FIVE

Coming next week, The Duellists explore their sensual side, with...

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:00:47 -0400

Coming next week, The Duellists explore their sensual side, with a look at Brian De Palma’s new, pulpy Passion and Catherine Breillat’s controversial 2002 Fat Girl.

Our Trailer of the Week is an intriguing glimpse at Terry...

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 13:48:04 -0400

Our Trailer of the Week is an intriguing glimpse at Terry Gilliam’s The Zero Theorem.

Can Gilliam reverse his late-career artistic decline? We’ll find out in a few weeks…

In The Duellists Episode Four we break our formula a little bit...

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 17:49:45 -0400

In The Duellists Episode Four we break our formula a little bit and look at two different versions of the same film, Wong Kar-wai’s new The Grandmaster.

The 130-minute version is a big hit in China. Harvey Weinstein may have his fingerprints on the 108-minute U.S. version. And what about the elusive 123-minute European cut? Mike and Nathan straighten it all out for you.

DOWNLOAD THE DUELLISTS EPISODE FOUR

The Duellists Episode Four preview: Join us next week for a...

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:14:22 -0400

The Duellists Episode Four preview:

Join us next week for a special episode as we compare the American and Chinese cuts of Wong Kar Wai’s eagerly anticipated The Grandmaster.

Our Episode Three Trailer of the Week, Miyazaki’s The Wind...

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:05:58 -0400

Our Episode Three Trailer of the Week, Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises.

Fading Gigilo, our Trailer of the Week from Episode 2.

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:04:20 -0400

Fading Gigilo, our Trailer of the Week from Episode 2.

Trailer of the Week from Episode 1: Clooney’s The...

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:01:00 -0400

Trailer of the Week from Episode 1: Clooney’s The Monuments Men.

Back with Episode Three: Battle of the Buddy Movies. We take a...

Sat, 24 Aug 2013 22:46:00 -0400

Back with Episode Three: Battle of the Buddy Movies.

We take a look at David Gordon Green’s return to form, Prince Avalanche, and one of Ingmar Bergman’s most challenging films (which is saying a lot), The Silence.

And now, by popular request: under an hour!

DOWNLOAD THE DUELLISTS EPISODE THREE

iTunes

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 20:41:05 -0400

The Duellists is on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tue, 20 Aug 2013 20:27:00 -0400

Well, “asked” at least. We might not have enough listeners yet for “frequently.”

Why should I listen to this podcast?

Great question. Everybody’s time is finite. There’s certainly no shortage of people bloviating about movies in both traditional and new media. And if it’s a choice between listening to us talk and actually watch a great movie? Go with the movie.

So what do we provide that’s different? Well, each week we take an in-depth look at a new film and a relevant older release. We encourage you to watch along. If you see mostly new stuff, it gives you a reason to discover some great older movies. If you’re a curmudgeon who mostly watches TCM, it’s a nudge to see some new stuff in the theater.

Additionally, we’re really interested in grappling with what these films mean and what they do. We’re a whole lot less interested in Cate Blanchett’s Oscar chances than what Woody Allen is really trying to say about mental illness and substance abuse.

Do you give star or thumb reviews?

No.

Do you have “Best of” lists?

No. We end each episode with a list, but we can’t really tell you what’s best. Instead, we highlight a handful films or filmmakers we think you should check out. There may be some better, but we sure like these.

Who are you guys?

Mike works in the health care industry by day, watches more movies than you by night. Nathan is a narrative filmmaker. They both live in the Pacific Northwest.

Why don’t you talk about more popcorn movies?

We like popcorn movies just fine. But discussing most of them in depth feels like writing a yelp review of Olive Garden. What is there really to say?

Got a question for us? Let us know what you think.

On Spoilers

Tue, 20 Aug 2013 12:19:00 -0400

Since we’re interested in really digging into these movies (they’re not “reviews”) we’re going to end up spoiling plenty of plot points.

So consider watching these films along with us! Next week we’ll be comparing David Gordon Green’s new buddy movie Prince Avalanche and Ingmar Bergman’s own “buddy film" The Silence.

Department of Corrections

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 23:58:00 -0400

In Episode One, we discussed Agnes Varda’s 1956 debut feature, La Pointe Courte, as if it were a long-lost obscure movie.

We are idiots. In fact, La Pointe Courte has been released on DVD domestically by Criterion and is available streaming on Hulu.

Varda 1, Duellists 0.

We’re back with another episode of The Duellists. This...

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 23:37:00 -0400

We’re back with another episode of The Duellists.

This week, we compare Woody Allen’s latest, Blue Jasmine, with Nostalghia, a challenging late career masterwork by Andrei Tarkovsky.

Along the way, we discuss mental illness in films, the underrated late films of Stanley Kubrick, and the necessity of adult diapers to becoming a serious cinephile.

DOWNLOAD THE DUELLISTS EPISODE TWO

Congratulations. You’ve found it. The Duellists, with...

Sat, 17 Aug 2013 21:25:00 -0400

Congratulations. You’ve found it. The Duellists, with Michael Allen and Nathan Williams.

Two cinephiles from the Pacific Northwest pair a new film with an older release and use the two as a springboard for forays into the medium as a whole.

First up: Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station and Agnes Varda’s Cleo from 5 to 7 plus a list of some of our favorite first features.

Take a listen and let us know what you think:

DOWNLOAD THE DUELLISTS EPISODE ONE