Paul And Corey Cross The Streams

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, "What happened?" This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, Corey reacquainted us with Nepo baby libertarian Jason Reitman's sensitive and insightful examination (I'm being sarcastic, folks.) of the Great Recession... Up in the Air (2009). Like so much of the Obama administration, it seems like this project exists to put a smiling face (quite literally in this case) on the evils of neoliberalism, and this middlebrow slop fits right in with films like school privatization propaganda Waiting for Superman (2010) or torture apologia like Zero Dark Thirty (2012). As Corey says to Paul, "You REALLY hate this movie," and as you can tell by this synopsis, I do. Ultimately, the cast is very charming and talented, and maybe that is enough for a viewer.  

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, "What happened?" This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, Paul took a cue from Corey and his son to canvass the youth to see what else they may be watching in the 21st century. Thanks to his friend, Matt, Paul chose Robert Rodriguez's Spy Kids (2001). Folks, it's good! Paul and Corey discuss the charming, homemade, we're-putting-on-a-show quality to the film. It really is a film for the whole family. The only note is that Eleanor, Paul's cat, woke him up at 4:30 a.m. on the day of recording, so Paul is not operating on his normal level.

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?" This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, thanks to his son, Logan, Corey chose Oldboy (2003), the critically-acclaimed South Korean film by Park Chan-wook. Folks, this may be the first time that Paul and Corey dreaded going into an episode recording. They HATED this. It was a completely surprising experience for both, and check out the episode to see if you agree!

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?" This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, Paul chose a film close to his heart, Inside Llewyn Davis (2013). It's the fourth Coens film Paul and Corey have covered, and this discussion was a real treat. Art and life and (the lack of) success. Folk music and (fetishizing) authenticity and Bob Dylan. Schachtmanites.  Enjoy and pass the hat.  

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, Corey chose perhaps the most cleanly divisive film in all of PACCTS, Past Lives (2023). Written and directed by Korean-American playwright Celine Song, the film follows 24 years in the lives of childhood sweethearts Na Young/Nora and Hae Sung as they weave in and out of each others' lives. During that time Nora marries an American writer, Arthur. The film examines the nature of human connection and love, and whether fate or another transcendent force, inyeon, explains why there are certain people whom we just...can't shake. As is sometimes the case, a film resonates with one of our hosts and leaves the other cold. See where you land.

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, Paul chose Jane Schoenbrun's second feature film, which they wrote and directed, I Saw the TV Glow (2024). The film is an allegory of the trans experience of "the egg crack" - the moment one realizes their identity doesn't correspond to their assigned gender. Throughout, Schoenbrun uses their cinematic, television, and musical influences to create a surreal, dissonant, and (spoiler; literal/figurative) heartbreaking examination of nostalgia, the narcotizing and liberating aspects of art, and a life unlived. A must-see.

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. Corey's pick this week - Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) - is perhaps the most 2011 film ever made. There are so many reasons that tie it to that particular moment in time, from its (unmentioned) celebration of Neil Strauss' The Game to everything with the babysitter to...just...all the female characters. And yet, while watching the film, you kinda enjoy yourself? Crazy stuff.

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. Paul really wanted to change it up this time. From the era of Matthew McConaughey leaning on the poster rom-coms, it's How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003). From director Donald Petrie and an assortment of other nepo babies, this film definitely...exists.  Paul chose it with the understanding that HtLaGi10D had come into its own as a sort of reappraised cult classic. Whoever told him that was wrong. Like a New York Knickerbockers' basketball game - all PACCTS picks can't be winners. A lot to discuss.

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. Corey takes us back to the heady days of 2013 with "arguably the last good Woody Allen movie," Blue Jasmine (2013). Between Woody, Alec Baldwin, and Louis CK, it's a real Murderers' row of the canceled. Cate Blanchett also returns with another great performance, but is it enough to look past...everything?

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. It's a big discussion today. Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). Adapted from the nonfiction book of the same name, the film opens up a discussion of the consciousness-raising of the 2010s. Paul and Corey have a fairly in-depth discussion of the over four hundred years genocide of the Indigenous people's of the Western hemisphere (most specifically what became the United States of America) and their resistance and struggle throughout that period (and up to today). Much of the information comes from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's book, An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States. There is a LOT to cover. It's an excellent film with incredible performances, score, editing, and representation and celebration of the Osage nation's

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. In today’s episode, Paul and Corey look at the (mis?)adventures of an old man, a boy scout (Not capitalized! Some other organization!), a talking dog, a big weird bird, and... a thinly-veiled crypto-N@zi. Yes, it's Disney's Pixar's Up (2009). What's to say here, folks? Not great. Structure messy, YIMBY politics, Disney being Disney. Paul disliked it more, but both he and Corey were on the same page. The balloons look pretty. Sorry if you love this.

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. In today’s episode, we leave the hustle and bustle of the old US of A and relax in a little village two hours outside of Tokyo. The film is the follow-up to the Academy Award-winning Drive My Car - Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Evil Does Not Exist (2023). Equally beautiful, stark, and subtle in its storytelling, as well as performances, the film is a meditation on how the logic of capitalism respects neither the environment nor people (not so coincidentally the sources of its value). And within that system, how do all of us find a sense of meaning and peace? 

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. In today's episode, we discuss 12 of those 25 years - 12 years during which Richard Linklater and co. shot the film, Boyhood (2014). Not only does the film exist as a series of snapshots of the actors' lives as they age, but it also (in retrospect) becomes a sort of swan song of life before the omnipresence of smartphones and social media. Lots to discuss, so put on your Beatles Black Album and enjoy.

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. Now, if you came here expecting us to discuss The Avengers (2012), we apologize. Both Corey and Paul only made it about 40 minutes in before they tapped out. If you'd like to hear their thoughts, stick around at the end of the episode. With that said, Wes Anderson's third feature film The Royal Tenenbaums 2001)! What a treat this was. It's the first Anderson film we've covered, and so we dive into what makes him...him. And obviously Gene Hackman's passing made us want to celebrate one of his great roles. From cinematography, to set design, cast, soundtrack, writing, and all the rest, this is a perfect film.

As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. For Corey's first choice, we take a look at Sofia Coppola's second feature, Lost in Translation (2003) - an impressionistic meditation on loneliness, alienation, jetlag, and Tokyo. The film also allows for a deepdive into nepotism in Hollywood and America; friendship across generations and genders; and racism as a product of colonial imagination. It's (Suntory) time for a great conversation!

Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, “What happened?” This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. First up, Paul has chosen Clint Eastwood's Juror #2 (2024), a film whose distribution by Warner Brothers Discovery is as fraught as the experience of the titular juror himself! Lots to discuss from the gig economy to Daniel Bessner's article The Life and Death of Hollywood to personal ethics in the face of neoliberal decay. Because the film is so new, we do recommend you watch before listening.

IT’S THE FINAL EPISODE OF THE YEAR! Having amassed more than 100 episodes in its run, PACCTS’ sixth season will focus its sights on “the greatest films of all time” (both in the US and internationally), as assembled by the British Film Institute’s 2022 Sight and Sound Poll of industry critics. Corey will be choosing American films from the list, and Paul will be choosing international ones.  Our goal is to examine the films that are considered great, and why that may be the case.   Corey closes out this year with number 54, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982). This is the first time this season that Paul and Corey both did not quite enjoy the film. They discuss Phillip K. Dick, the cast, the effects (which kinda left them cold), and why the hell we should care about Deckard at all! Thank you so much for joining us on this year’s journey. We had a blast and can’t wait for next year! Happy Holidays and see you in February 2025!

Having amassed more than 100 episodes in its run, PACCTS’ sixth season will focus its sights on “the greatest films of all time” (both in the US and internationally), as assembled by the British Film Institute’s 2022 Sight and Sound Poll of industry critics. Corey will be choosing American films from the list, and Paul will be choosing international ones.  Our goal is to examine the films that are considered great, and why that may be the case.   Ranked 21, Carl Th. Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1927) is a masterpiece (unless you're Corey). With over 1500 shots, whereas most American films of the time had 100-500; unrelenting close-ups throughout; and ahead-of-its-time naturalistic performances; the film feels completely alien if you've ever watched other silent films. Paul and Corey discuss what works for them and what doesn't; the history of Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years' War; and whether this story (and the story of the Passion of Jesus) is even interesting. Whether you watch this f

Having amassed more than 100 episodes in its run, PACCTS’ sixth season will focus its sights on “the greatest films of all time” (both in the US and internationally), as assembled by the British Film Institute’s 2022 Sight and Sound Poll of industry critics. Corey will be choosing American films from the list, and Paul will be choosing international ones.  Our goal is to examine the films that are considered great, and why that may be the case.   Ranked 211, which Paul and Corey agree is too low, is Joseph L. Mankiewicz's All About Eve (1950). From the zippy, witty, infinitely quotable dialogue to the brilliant performances (minus one?) to its nuanced and edgy discussions of women's oppression and queerness, All About Eve is a must-watch. 

Having amassed more than 100 episodes in its run, PACCTS’ sixth season will focus its sights on “the greatest films of all time” (both in the US and internationally), as assembled by the British Film Institute’s 2022 Sight and Sound Poll of industry critics. Corey will be choosing American films from the list, and Paul will be choosing international ones.  Our goal is to examine the films that are considered great, and why that may be the case.   We did it, folks! With this episode, Paul and Corey have now watched all of Paul's Letterboxd Top 4 - and this, his favorite-favorite. Ranked 133, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. The ex post facto Christmas classic (thanks to copyright issues).  Paul and Corey dive deep into the frozen pond of the film to figure out just why Paul loves it so much and (spoiler!) why Corey didn't.  Honestly, don't even know what else to say other than this is a great episode, so go listen!