October 2016 - Catholic Movie Guy

Catholic Movie Guy Podcast Episode 3 – The Shining

CMG Episode 3!

For our Halloween episode of the Catholic Movie Guy Podcast, we tackle the classic horror film The Shining, by master director Stanley Kubrick. Content cautious types beware: one of my favorite priests is not a fan; nor is the USCCB. But the discerning viewer willing to take the plunge should be rewarded. The film contains incredible directing, luscious cinematography, and iconic performances. TheTimMan and I discuss just what exactly happened in the movie, on and beneath the surface. Was Danny possessed? Is the shining a gift or a curse? Was the hotel the problem, or was it the father? Is Shelley Duvall attractive? We also discuss a couple crazier theories of the subliminal meanings of the movie. Finally, there’s even a connection to Dante.

I owe a large debt on this one to the Catholic Cinephile, whose review prompted me to revisit the film.

For more on the interesting (and/or crazy) theories on the hidden meanings of the movie, check out the documentary Room 237 (available right now on Netflix – same content warnings apply).

If you enjoy the show, please give it a five-star review on iTunes – it makes a big difference. Happy Halloween!

As always, the show’s intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar (betterwithmusic.com) CC BY-SA.

Image above By Carlos Pacheco from Toronto, Canada (Redrum door – The Shining) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Catholic Movie Guy Podcast Episode 2 – No Country for Old Men

America wanted it, and now, it’s here: CMG Podcast Episode 2! Even better than Attack of the Clones!

A discussion of the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men, their Oscar-winning magnum opus. Moral content description available here. One of my absolute favorites of all time, despite (or because of?) the difficult themes it presents. I argue strongly against the nihilistic reading of the film by the great Steven Greydanus, the beloved St. Corbinian’s Bear, and countless others.

Plus (spoiler alert) where in the world did Chigurh go in that hotel room, or was he even there at all? And, did my wife like the movie?

I discuss all this and more, bourbon in hand, with TheTimMan.

If you enjoy the show, please give it a five-star review on iTunes – it makes a big difference. Enjoy!

As always, the show’s intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar (betterwithmusic.com) CC BY-SA.

Image above by Georges Biard [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Catholic Movie Guy Podcast Episode 1 – Introduction; On the Waterfront

Well, here it is – the inaugural Catholic Movie Guy Podcast, Episode 1. In this episode, I introduce myself and the podcast and get into an in-depth discussion with TheTimMan about On the Waterfront, the great 1954 Academy Award winning film starring the even-greater Marlon Brando. A wonderful film about conscience, Catholicism, sacrifice, unions, prizefighters, and pigeons (presaging Mike Tyson by 30 years). What more can you ask for from a film?

Along the way you will learn many interesting things about the movie and your humble podcaster. Why is the TheTimMan obsessed with Metropolitan, and will I let him get away with it? Who would win in a fight, Mike Ditka or Marlon Brando? How did the Catholic Movie Guy get Jiminy Glick, Jack Buck, and Brando on the podcast (from beyond the grave, even)? Did his wife like the movie? How many technical fouls lead to a podcast ejection? Why are these two unqualified losers doing a podcast anyway? There’s even a discussion of what the film has to say about a priest’s duties in light of Vatican II.

I hope you learn a new perspective on the film, or at least laugh a little bit (either with or at us). If you enjoy the show, please give it a five-star review on iTunes – it makes a big difference.

In the show we make reference Roger Ebert’s review of the film, and I encourage you to read it for its own sake.

The show’s intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar (betterwithmusic.com) CC BY-SA.

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What’s this Catholic Movie Guy thing, anyway?

My name’s Steve, and I took the liberty of dubbing myself the Catholic Movie Guy. Why, you may ask? Because I have some sort of training or expertise in the realm of film? Oh my, no. Just because I am a Catholic, a guy, and I love movies (plus, it sounded catchy). I may blog from time to time, but this site is mainly designed to be a landing place for my podcast, cleverly titled the Catholic Movie Guy Podcast. I know there are several sites with movie reviews from a Catholic perspective (many of which you can find linked on the Good Sites page), but I could find no regularly-updated podcast from a similar perspective. The podcast will also answer fascinating questions like, “Who is the TheTimMan?”; “Did his wife like the movie?”; “Why does the movie Metropolitan figure so prominently?;” and “How many technical fouls are allowed before one is ejected from a podcast?” So here we go. Stay tuned for regular podcasts, hopefully at least once a week.