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After 114 conversations here on the cozy FilmCouch, we’ve decided to say goodbye. We’ve had a good run, and we’re eternally grateful to all our listeners. We’ll miss you guys.

For the final show, we talk about why we did this podcast in the first place. What is it about movies that makes them better when they are the subject of a good conversation? We talk with Karina and Adam, and revisit some of our favorite moments. Paul still thinks longingly about Australian auteur Rolf DeHeer. Kevin remembers some sage words from Brad Neely. Adam recalls a spirited argument about Dear Pillow. And finally, Karina brings us back to late summer 2008, when gymnast Nastia Liukin’s sultry Olympic performance got us dreaming of possible gymnastic exploitation flicks.

Also, we give a few tips to you, dear listener, about how you can carry on the podcasting torch. It’s really not that hard to do. E-mail us if you want any other tips.

Without further ado, the final FilmCouch:

(FilmCouch in the iTunes store)

0:00 - Intro

3:38 - Listener e-mail

8:39 - Paul and Kevin’s reflections

17:41 - Now it’s your turn: tips for podcasting

21:24 - Adam remembers arguing about pornography

26:05 - Karina on Nastia Liukin, future podcasting possibilities

Bonus! Here’s the FilmCouch music, for you to enjoy:

filmcouch-music

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The SXSW Film Festival is over. We didn’t make it to Austin this year, but we still had a festival experience in our very own home (Paul’s mom’s home, actually), thanks the IFC’s Festival Direct. While Joe Swanberg’s latest offering, Alexander the Last, was premeiring in Austin, we were watching it in a Michigan living room. We discuss how setting influences viewing, and the merits of the film.

We also discuss two other SXSW Festival Direct titles, Zift and Three Blind Mice.

Be sure to e-mail your most awkward movie watching moments involving sex scenes and your parents, to filmcouch [at] spout [dot] com.

0:00 - Intro

1:51 - Listener feedback

11:16 - Alexander the Last

30:39 - Zift, Three Blind Mice

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The success of Slumdog Millionaire, despite our reservations about it, has got us thinking about romance in film. We look to another Westerner’s spin on Indian romance, Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues. The animated feature, which is now available for free online, weaves an ancient Indian epic with a modern day break-up story, all with a soundtrack of vintage Annette Hanshaw. Then we look at Roman Holiday. A classic romance involving royalty, where the lovers don’t live happily ever after.

Karina tells us what to look out for at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival, the indie film destination where everybody knows your name. Don’t miss Alexander The Last, Drag Me To Hell, Sorry, Thanks, It Came From Kuchar, and St. Nick.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

2:24 - Romance, from India to Rome

25:46 - Karina on SXSW

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The economy may be failing, but Hollywood’s hype machine has been working overtime. It’s latest manufactured frenzy has finally reached a crescendo: Watchmen hits theaters today. Does it live up to the hype? Does it live up to the graphic novel? Does it live up to its own three hour run time? In searching for answers to these questions, the FilmCouchers meet in a epic battle on the precipice of the Apocalypse, or you could say, we disagree.

Karina checks in with an update on the True/False Film Festival. The little Missouri fest is quickly becoming one of the places to see top-notch documentaries. We discuss Love on Delivery, October Country, and We Live In Public.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

3:57 - Watchmen

25:30 - True/False

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In episode #108, we posed a simple question: Which movie should be turned into a graphic novel? Your responses to the question became the fodder for a great conversation. Turning the typical page-to-screen progression on its head, we dig into the strengths and weaknesses of each medium. We discuss the possibility of seeing Mystery Train, Walkabout, The Man Who Fell To Earth, Zardoz, Hero, Die Hard, and Gangs of New York crammed into little action-packed drawings.

We check in with Karina for a hindsight conversation about awards season. She poses the question: Who would win in a fight, Benjamin Button or Iron Man? The answer is as obvious as it seems, but not for the reason you think.

Want to win a copy of Watchmen: The Official Film Companion? Send us an e-mail telling us what film you think has the best production design in entire history of cinema. It’s that simple. E-mail filmcouch [at] spout [dot] com.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

3:22 - From film to comic.

26:40 - The Oscars. What happened?

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For our pre-Oscar show, we wanted to give our predictions of who will take home the little naked men, but we also wanted to give a running commentary on the awards as they happen. We reached a compromise. We’ve decided to put on our own Oscar ceremony, so we can react to our own predictions, all while providing witty and humorous insights. Watch out for a few upsets! Even we were surprised! (We’ll also be providing commentary on the actual show, via twitter, which you can follow right on SpoutBlog).

Karina joins us to talk about live-twittering the Oscars and the Independent Spirit Awards. She also talks about a compelling new documentary called Moving Midway.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

Contests:
Tell us which movie you think should be turned into a graphic novel, for a chance to win the graphic novel version of Waltz With Bashir. Tell us which film has the best production design of all time, and you could win a companion tome to the forthcoming film, Watchmen. E-mail both to filmcouch (at) spout (dot) com.

0:00 - Intro

2:02 - Listener feedback, contests

9:51 - Our fake Oscars

30: 44 - Karina

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As economic woes turn to economic nightmares, comparisons to the Great Depression are a time a dozen. But what about movies? How did the movies of the ’30s respond to the crisis of the day? A series of pre-code Depression era films is being shown now at Film Forum, under the title Breadlines and Champagne. We take a look at American Madness, A Man’s Castle, and Our Daily Bread.

But what of the current crisis? Are there a slew of modern day Depression movies in the works? Maybe. Tom Hanks is rumored to be starring as a pensive barista in an adaptation of the riches-to-rags bestselling book, How Starbucks Saved My Life.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

1:26 - Waltz With Bashir graphic novel giveaway, listener feedback

6:48 - Kit Kittredge, Karina on Breadlines and Champagne

20:32 - Our Daily Bread

31:07 - How Starbucks Saved My Life

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We’ve already talked about the sickly-sweet little movie that could, Slumdog Millionaire, but it’s looming Oscar domination convinced us to revisit it. This time Paul weighs in with his opinion, and draws a parallel to John Singleton’s Boyz ‘N the Hood.

Watchmen is still a month away, but the buzz is already reaching a crescendo. It’s gotten to the point where the thing to talk about is how much people are talking about Watchmen. We play a clip from an interview with director Zach Snyder, who tries, somewhat unsuccessfully, to convince us he’s the man for the job.

A movie based an a self-help book based on a Sex In The City episode? Karina couldn’t resist. He’s Just Not That Into You isn’t very funny, but it does provide some insight into the inner workings of romantic comedies.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

2:10 - Listener e-mail

6:44 - Paul’s take on Slumdog Millionaire

17:33 - Watching the Watchmen hype machine

30:24 - Karina on He’s Just Not That Into You

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…And the Oscar for most sorrowful face goes to… Mickey Rourke! Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler grabbed our heart, slammed it to the mat, and showered it with tears. But does Mickey Rourke’s resurrection have what it takes to beat Sean Penn’s transformation in Milk?

Karina gives an update about IFC’s Festival Direct, a way to be among the first to see new indie films even if you can’t spring for a festival pass. Also, an odd run-in with Steven Soderbergh, who may or may not have a bone to pick with our intrepid blogger.

We debate which is the most absurd piece of Che merchandise sent in by listeners, and respond to feedback about usefulness of subjecting terrible, exploitative horror movies to the rigors of film criticism.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

2:05 - Absurd Che merchandise

9:42 - Listener response regarding horror and film criticism

15:30 - The Wrestler

35:58 - Karina on IFC, Che

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My Bloody Valentine 3D isn’t worth watching in one dimension, let alone three. But it does serve to spark some good conversation. What other gimmicks have boosted the box office of sub-par films? What does good contemporary horror look like? Neil Marshall’s The Descent offers a refreshing palette cleanser. Also, what do horror and porn have in common, besides cheap nudity?

Karina checks in from Park City with some hits and misses from this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Moon, Hump Day, and The September Issue were worth writing home about, while Paper Hearts and Brief Interviews with Hideous Men will quietly fall into obscurity (we hope).

Listen to FilmCouch and win free stuff! Send us an e-mail telling us the most absurd piece of merchandise you’ve seen branded with an image of Che Guevara, and you can win a program from the Che roadshow signed by Steven Soderbergh, a copy of Che’s Diaries, and the soundtrack to the film. Send e-mails to filmcouch (at) spout (dot) com.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

3:22 - Psychoanalyzing a listener based on his favorite films

8:15 - My Bloody Valentine 3D, gimmicks throughout movie history

16:22 - Humanizing horror vs. porn with blood

31:12 - Sundance

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Clint Eastwood’s new cranky-old-man epic, Gran Torino, sped past the competition to prove its raw masculine authority at the box office. Over the past twenty years, Eastwood has perfected his own sub-genre: the grizzled old timer who comes back for one last hurrah. This latest iteration adds a surprising dose of compassion.

Karina shares which movies she’s most excited to see at Sundance this year. The list includes, Moon, The Clone Returns Home, Hump Day, O’er the Land, The September Issue, The Informers, and World’s Greatest Dad.

Listen to FilmCouch and win free stuff! We’ve got two contests going on. Send us an e-mail telling us the most absurd piece of merchandise you’ve seen branded with an image of Che Guevara, and you can win a program from the Che roadshow signed by Steven Soderbergh, a copy of Che’s Diaries, and the soundtrack to the film. Also, send us your favorite movie about Hollywood, and you can win a copy of the new film The Deal, starring William H. Macy. Send e-mails to filmcouch (at) spout (dot) com.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

1:31 - contests

5:58 - listener feedback

11:55 - Gran Torino

29:57 - Sundance preview

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A remark made in Aaron Rose’s art-nerd documentary Beautiful Losers, about humor acting as a sledge hammer, got us thinking about the power of both the comic and the tragic. Not long ago, Karina reviewed a little known documentary called Dear Zachary: A letter to a son about his father. Then the film was played on MSNBC, and her analytical criticisms of the film set off a firestorm of angry comments. We chat about tragedy, context, and the dangers of critiquing non-fiction films as works of art.

Another type of movie that often avoids critical attention is comedy. A new PBS mini-series seeks to correct this. Make ‘Em Laugh explores the evolution of American comedy, revealing its power as a cultural force.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro, Che giveaway

4:45 - Listener e-mail

9:40 - The Dear Zachary dust-up

19:31 - Make ‘Em Laugh

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2008 was not the banner year that ‘07 turned out to be, but there were still plenty of movies worth watching. Sometimes end-of-year lists look like straight Oscar predictions, with little deviance from critic to critic, not so this year. Some of our favorite stuff was not playing in a theatre near you, some of it was. For the record, our complete lists are after the jump.

But first! Wholphin 7 is out now! The geniuses over at McSweeny’s have once again curated a delightful collection of rare and unseen short films. We share our thoughts about a few favorites. One film we both loved, Glory at Sea, is available for free here.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro, listener e-mail

2:59 - Wholphin 7

16:18 - Kevin’s list, Paul’s “soup”

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Paul’s unranked list:

Tulpan

Be Kind Rewind

I Love Sarah Jane (entire film viewable)

August Evening

Shotgun Stories

Revanche

The Dark Knight

Glory at Sea

Kevin’s ranked list:

1. The Dark Knight

2. Let the Right One In

3. The Good, The Bad, and The Weird

4. Wall-E

5. Wellness

6. Happy-Go-Lucky

7. Glory at Sea

8. Waltz With Bashir

9. Medicine for Melancholy

10. Encounters at the End of the World

Gus Van Sant’s Milk, a skillful and impassioned argument for gay rights, may have come out too late. As proponents of equal marriage rights are still reeling from the passage of Prop 8 in California, the film finds itself the subject of bitter irony, rather than the center of a political victory parade that could have been. Milk is saturated with politics, both on screen and off. It’s not too hard to imagine Sean Penn’s speech should he win an Oscar, and Van Sant has done a fair bit of political maneuvering in an effort to give him that opportunity.

Tom Cruise has done some politicking to get audiences to warm up to his Hitler assassination plot thriller, Valkyrie. Can he bury bury the couch-jumping and psychology-bashing hatchets quick enough to enjoy a successful holiday at the box office?

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

1:32 - Milk

25:06 - Valkyrie

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It’s our 100th episode! To celebrate, we look at what’s changed in the movie world since we’ve been watching from the couch. And, we look at how things have changed in that 100 years of movies. Surprisingly, there are a number parallels between 1908 and today, namely innovative artists grappling with new technologies.

Karina checks in with some disappointing movies of ‘08, Heather Locklear cheers up lonely women on cable, and The Reader asks the pressing question, what’s worse, sleeping with a 15 year-old, or sleeping with a Nazi?

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

1:54 - Movies of 1908

15:50 - What’s in store for the future of movies?

27:39 - Karina on disappointing movies, Flirting With Forty, The Reader

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Eric Fensler created one of the first viral video sensations when he overdubbed the GI Joe PSAs. He’s a rare artist who, like Andy Kaufman, is hard to describe in a sentence or two. One thing is certain, he’d rather not be called, “The GI Joe PSA guy.”

Listeners respond with what their families watched on Thanksgiving, while Karina Longworth was transfixed by Australia and Indecent Proposal over the holiday weekend.

(See two of Eric Fensler videos after the jump.)

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro, listener feedback

5:32 - Eric Fensler

29:41 - Karina on Indecent Proposal, Australia

42:21 - Listener voice mail: why movies are better than video games

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Eric Fensler’s TRS-80 music video, featuring himself on keyboards

Eric Fensler’s GI Joe PSA, “Body Massage”

A few episodes ago, we talked about Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. We had a few bones to pick with hyper-paced indie romance, some of which caused us to question the value of Boyle’s cannon. As we should have expected, a few listeners were not happy with us dogging the feel-good, rags-to-riches, out-of-left-field Oscar contender of the year.

Meanwhile, Karina has written a less than favorable review of the forthcoming David Fincher film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Again, a wave of backlash has ensued.

Are we simply spiteful film snobs who love ripping on movies while they ride a wave of buzz into awards season? No. We love movies. But sometimes that love must be tough. On this week’s show we clarify a few positions, navigate the tricky waters of blogosphere backlash, and search for what Werner Herzog calls “adequate images.”

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro, the ideal Thanksgiving

7:56 - Slumdog backlash, It’s a Wonderful Life, Casablanca

24:41 - Karina on Benjamin Button

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Now that Quantum of Solace has had some time to sink in, we get to the pressing questions is raises. Sure, it was a quality action movie, but was it spy movie? Where were the gadgets? The new Bond Girl kicked plenty of ass, but where was the deception? We dig into all this and more when we ask: what happened to Bond?

Meghan O’Hara, producer of The IFC Media Project, joins us to talk about the truth behind the news. The show, which is more cinéma vérité than TV news magazine, airs on the IFC channel Tuesdays at 8:00 PM.

Karina checks in before heading off to the Denver Film Festival. We talk about her panel regarding DIY filmmaking, and three titles worth catching at the fest: Intimidad, The Prince of Broadway, and Last Chance Harvey.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

2:38 - Quantum of Solace, what’s a spy movie?

20:14 - Meghan O’Hara of The IFC Media Project

32:59 - Karina on indie film, Denver fest

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Danny Boyle’s latest, Slumdog Millionaire, hit theaters this week. The whimsical up-tempo romance is quickly becoming a critical darling, with decent prospects for awards season. The funny thing is, we hated it. We take a look back at Boyle’s work, specifically A Life Less Ordinary. That film, far from a critical darling, has essentially the same core belief as Slumdog, that the combination of love, destiny, and tons of money will never let you down.

Karina offers more sobering commentary on the fallacies of the typical on-screen romance by comparing An Affair to Remember and When Harry Met Sally with Casablanca. She also praises a new French film with parallels to The Royal Tenenbaums, called A Christmas Tale.

As mentioned in the podcast, if you’d like to chime in on the Slumdog Millionaire debate, head to the FilmCouch Group.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

2:51 - Slumdog Millionaire, A Life Less Ordinary

20:09 - Karina on three classic romances, A Christmas Tale, Barackula

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It’s been a huge week in history, but not so huge at the box office. We decide to take a look back at some classic movies with conscience, each made at a pivotal moment in America history. Movies where the hero doesn’t stand up to a diabolical villain, but instead has to face a latent evil embedded in society. We discuss Fury, The Ox-Bow Incident, 12 Angry Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird, among others.

Karina reports on here disappointing experience of being shut in on Halloween. It wasn’t the lack of social engagement that spoiled the evening, it was sub-par horror programing on Turner Classic Movies. She offers some sound advice for putting together a killer classic horror marathon.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

2:34 - Fury, The Ox-Bow Incident, 12 Angry Men, To Kill a Mockingbird

29:26 - Karina on classic horror

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Just in time for Halloween, Kevin Smith’s new film Zack & Miri Make a Porno hits theaters tonight. The only scary thing about it are the dirty jokes that flop, but the movie as a whole is quite funny. Is Kevin Smith a juvenile genius? Is Zack and Miri his Fitzcarroldo (as Paul claims)? These are the things we ponder amidst a plethora poop and dick jokes.

Karina offers her reflections on Mad Men now that the second season has ended. She also implores us to watch The Bride of Frankenstein, and we do. Paul has some additional thoughts on the 1935 classic.

Be sure to keep up on all things FilmCouch by following us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/filmcouch.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

3:17 - Zack & Miri Make a Porno

21:49 - Karina on Mad Men, The Bride of Frankenstein, Moonlighting

31:45 - Paul on The Bride of Frankenstein

37:16 - Outro, who’s better: Smith or Tarantino?

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Trying to make an independent film about a gay man and a terrorist bonding in a Brazilian prison cell was not an easy thing to do in the early 1980’s. Nevertheless, producer David Weisman did exactly that, making Kiss of the Spider Woman not only a reality, but an Oscar-winning hit. We talk with Weisman about his beginnings, and the struggle of making an independent film without a road map.

While independent filmmakers certainly have more options in 2008, one hurdle that remains is distribution. We talk to documentarian Anne Sundberg about her latest film, The End of America. Five months ago it was an idea, today it can be viewed for free online at SnagFilms.com.

Karina checks in with two winners. Synecdoche, New York opens tonight, and Luke and Brie are on a First Date just made a quiet splash at the Hamptons Film Festival.

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro, listener question about the FilmCouch Group on Spout

4:51 - Kiss of the Spider Woman

20:29 - The End of America

30:41 - Karina’s Media diet: Luke and Brie are on a First Date, Changeling, Synecdoche, New York

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Oliver Stone’s W. opens tonight. For a little perspective, we decided to watch a different movie made in an era of political transition and economic collapse. Gabriel Over the White House (1933) tells the tale of a slacker president who undergoes a religious conversion, after which he consolidates executive power and sponsors an enormous financial bailout. Sound familiar? It should, FDR personally approved the script, then went on to enact half of the film during his presidency, but the parallels echo through many administrations.

Quint from Ain’t it Cool News tells us what he’s been watching, including a tender love story involving vampires, Let the Right One In, and a rediscovered classic, The Matchmaker.

Karina Longworth and Kevin Kelly give us the scoop on early footage from Watchmen. Will it live up to the hype?

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro, listener e-mail

6:01 - Quint’s take on W.

8:41 - W.’s 1933 counterpart, Gabriel Over the White House

26:35 - Quint’s media diet

32:57 - Thoughts on the Watchmen teaser footage

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Two movies, both adapted from novels, open in theaters tonight. One is a children’s fantasy, the other is a political thriller. One poses intriguing questions about the nature of authority and value of disobedience, the other is a tangled collection of tired clichés.

City of Ember tells the story of two children becoming heroes thanks to their suspicion and rebellion. While it may seem strange to make a children’s movie that encourages young people to defy authority, there are psychological tests that suggest it may be a really good idea. The Human Behavior Experiments, a little known documentary by Oscar winner Alex Gibney, provides interesting insights.

Body of Lies, the latest from director Ridley Scott, stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe as dueling CIA agents. Does the film have what it takes to overcome the deadly Iraq-fatigue that has destroyed so many of its comrades at the box office? Or is it another example of Ridley Scott taking super-charged material and delivering a super-flat film?

(Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday)

0:00 - Intro

3:33 - City of Ember, The Human Behavior Experiments

21:31 - Body of Lies

37:23 - Adam Forrest’s “Cup of Comfort”: A Russell Crowe anecdote

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