Cows in the Field

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (2023)

Nicolas Cage has been on a run of making several movies a year for decades now, and Sympathy for the Devil is one of his latest experiments, a pulpy chamber piece road trip mystery suspense film co-starring Joel Kinnaman. We sit down the film’s director Yuval Adler (who also happened to get his PhD in philosophy from Columbia in the 90s!) and welcome back Matt Strohl (Philosophy, U. Montana) to discuss the film’s inception, what it is like to work with Cage, how the film holds us in suspense despite withholding so much narrative material, and some of the film’s themes surrounding guilt, revenge, and moving on from the past. We can’t wait for you to hear about Nic Cage’s process and his dedication to his craft, so tune in and be sure to check out Sympathy for the Devil, streaming everywhere now!

For the devil may start to envy those who suffer too deeply and throw them out into Heaven
The Passenger

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DOGVILLE (2003)

Today we explore the dark recesses of the human soul with Agnes Callard (Chicago). We discuss von Trier’s minimalist staging, the movie’s parable, the duality of human nature, the lies we tell ourselves and others, the film’s political angle, and the role of anger in response to true evil.

All I see is a beautiful little town in the midst of magnificent mountains. A place where people have hopes and dreams even under the hardest conditions.
Grace

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RED DAWN (1984)

John Milius’s 1984 film Red Dawn has a reputation as a jingoistic conservative fever dream, but we talk with Nat Hansen, who argues that its political outlook is more complex and more interesting. Along the way, we also discuss the film’s portrayal of masculinity, the toll of war, the film’s many references, from The Battle of Algiers to Alexander Nevsky.

Wolverines!
Various

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DUNE PART TWO (2024)

We go BACK to Arrakis, desert planet, homeworld of the spice and the Fremen and keeper of Shai Hulud. We’re joined again for the journey by major spice-head ⁠John DeVore⁠ to discuss Villeneuve’s two films in relation to Lynch’s 1984 version and Frank Herbert’s book. Along the way, we consider the worm Uber, the possibility of bad trips with the Water of Life, the lack of St. Alia of the Knife, the deliberate backgrounding of the more mystical elements of the novel, and the film’s magnificent score. Repeat after us: “It is by will alone I set my mind in motion… fear is the mindkiller… long live the fighters… and power over spice is power over all!”

Preorder John’s book, ⁠”Theater Kids: A True Tale of Off Off Broadway”⁠ now!

Power over spice is power over all.
Unknown

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THE 2024 BLOBSCARS

Join us to give out silly meaningless awards to our favorite films of 2023! Who will take home the top prize? Who will win best lisp? Tune in to find out!

Why are they called the ‘Blobscars’?
Interested fan

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THE IRON CLAW (2023)

We are joined by Fran Hoepfner (BW/DR, Fran Magazine) to experience the triumph and tragedy of the Von Erich family. We discuss wrestling (duh), Zac, brothers, fathers, bodies, cults, the American political circus, all while trying to figure out our wrestling names and signature moves.

Tonight, I walk with my brothers.
Kerry Von Erich

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ANATOMY OF A FALL (2023)

Take the plunge with us and Veronica Fitzpatrick (BW/DR, Brown University) as we explore the moral complexities of narratives, relationships, and justice. Justice for Sandra? Justice for Samuel? Tune in to find out!

What you say is just a little part of the whole situation.
Sandra

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THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (2006)

We’re joined by two philosophers of art to discuss how they’ve helped each other come to a greater appreciation for this quirky but lovable entry into the Fast and Furious franchise. We discuss how art can change depending on the context in which it is embedded, and the ways the franchise could have gone after this film. We also compare notes on the different ways we’ve come to appreciate this film over time.

I have money, it’s trust and character I need around me. You know, who you choose to be around you lets you know who you are. One car in exchange for knowing what a man’s made of? That’s a price I can live with
Han

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FRED CLAUS (2007)

Join us and ⁠Emily St. James⁠ to discuss Fred Claus (streaming now on Max)! We marvel at the film’s strange and unnecessarily complicated backstory about the cosmology of sainthood, discuss Santa Claus’s moral epistemology, elf-yourself levels of CGI, why everyone deserves a second chance, and somehow spend five minutes discussing the phenomenon of “ugly hot”.

There’s no naughty kids, Nick. They’re all good kids.
Fred Claus

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LA CONFIDENTIAL (1997)

Time to get HUSH HUSH with Blake Howard (⁠One Heat Minute Productions⁠). Noir, moral compromise, postwar LA, the American Dream, police, the LAPD, Dante FREAKING Spinotti, and MORE!

Don’t start tryin’ to do the right thing, boy-o. You haven’t the practice.
Cpt. Dudley Smith

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