It’s a special episode! Talking for the first time ever about this new-fangled invention called TELEVISION?
What is it and how will it affect society going forward?
Joining Charlie this week on a special Let’s Talk is our friend Antonia Strafford-Taylor and they discuss the series finale of HBO’s Succession, Season 3 Episode 10, With Open Eyes (dir. Mark Mylod, 2023).
Listen to a slightly delirious discussion about Straff’s experience watching a live screening at the BFI, how Chicken Run’s Mrs Tweedy should be the gold standard for female villainy and what makes Succession’s twisted corporate world so damn special.
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. In other words, they’re ooky. It’s… Charlie and Francesco?
Welcome to another episode of Let’s Talk… This week, they delve into the dark, twisted recesses of cinema to talk about two movies that dared ask the horrifying question: What if a married couple really liked each other?
Charlie and Francesco talk The Addams Family (dir. Barry Sonnenfeld, 1991) and its (allegedly superior) sequel, Addams Family Values (dir. Barry Sonnenfeld, 1993).
Join them as they talk ghouls, goths, weird uncles, and the prodigal brilliance of Christina Ricci.
Also, which host is Gomez, and which is Fester?
After a brief hiatus, this podcast has risen from the dead and soon it will unleash devastation upon the earth, the likes of which you could not imagine.
But in the meantime, please enjoy this lovely episode in which Charlie and Francesco are joined by Lydia Stone to discuss The Mummy (dir. Stephen Summers, 1999).
After that, they talk about Brendan Fraser’s other Universal Monsters tribute, Gods and Monsters (dir. Bill Condon, 1998), arguable comedy horror, The Love Witch (dir. Anna Biller, 2016), before ending on a legend’s final directorial outing, Dracula: Dead and Loving It (dir. Mel Brooks, 1995).
“No matter where you go, there you are.”
With Francesco abducted by the devious red lectroids, Charlie enlists the help of Blue Blaze Irregular and friend of the podcast, Fionn Creber to discuss the seminal cult classic sci-fi, comedy, masterpiece, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (dir. W.D. Richter, 1984).
Join them as they discuss whether adventurer, surgeon, rock musician Buckaroo Banzai is indeed the hero we need right now and how underrated the marvellous Peter Weller is as a bona fide movie star.
Also making cameo appearances from Peter McNamara and Chief Skerritt Correspondent William Smith.
“I’m not the Francesco who wants to stop podcasting with you. I’m the Francesco who is saving your life.”
This week, Charlie and Francesco are joined by David Rosen from the Piecing It Together podcast to discuss the mind-bending runaway hit, Everything Everywhere All at Once (dir. Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan, 2022).
After that, they talk about a Hong Kong ghost romance, Love in the Time of Twilight (dir. Tsui Hark, 1995), the martial arts movie that launched Michelle Yeoh to stardom, Yes Madam! (dir. Corey Yuen, 1985), and the French surreal fantasy, The Science of Sleep (dir. Michel Gondry, 2006).
Yeah... I'm thinking I'm Let's Talking...
The boys are back and they're fighting assassins and ninjas left and right.
Even so, they still managed to find time to record this episode on John Wick: Chapter 4 (dir. Chad Stahelski, 2023) and how a story about a man who lost his dog became our favourite franchise.
Including a special guest appearance to discuss the incredible fashion in the film.
Enjoy the show!
“Maybe that's what hell is, the entire rest of eternity spent listening to Because You Watched...”
Welcome back to the show! This week Francesco and Charlie are joined by Fionn Creber to discuss everybody’s favourite tourism hitman comedy, In Bruges (dir. Martin McDonagh, 2008).
After that, they discuss the tense crime drama, Mikey and Nicky (dir. Elaine May, 1976), bounty hunter road movie, Midnight Run (dir. Martin Brest, 1988), before finishing with another debut crime comedy from another member of the McDonagh clan, The Guard (dir. John Michael McDonagh, 2011).
Stick around for our lengthy discussions on Brendan Gleeson’s face.
We're back and it's the Oscars!
Or it’s shortly after the Oscars.
Join two hosts that weren't asked to present the Academy Awards this year and listen to Charlie and Francesco’s reaction to the winners.
That’s right! It’s the biggest night in Hollywood and for furious tweeting by film nerds all over the world.
It might be fair to say that we have some opinions about what went down.
What went down? Everything. Where did it go down? Everywhere. And when did it go down? It went down on Sunday evening at the Dolby Theatre.
Please enjoy our silly episode!
It’s the most exciting night of the year for movie lovers!
No, it’s not that other award show, but the BYW Awards. Joined by their good friend, Chavonne Brown, Charlie and Francesco give out awards for the best films of the year!
Each award was voted on and presented by our friends and former guests, listen out for introductions by your favourites!
Frankly, it’s the only awards show you need to worry about, and it is objectively and universally correct in every way. That’s the Because You Watched… guarantee.
More importantly, it doesn’t last three hours and isn’t on at midnight.
Can-can-can you believe it’s time for another episode of Because You Watched…?
This week, we return to the most musical genre to ever be put to film: the musical! Joined once again by returning guest Katie Paterson, Charlie and Francesco talk the maximalist jukebox musical, Moulin Rouge (dir. Baz Luhrman, 2001).
After that, they discuss the camp rock opera with a character called Beef, Phantom of the Paradise (dir. Brian De Palma, 1974), romantic musical tragedy Annette (dir. Leos Carax, 2021), and end on the cinematic love letter to a Broadway legend, Tick, Tick… Boom! (dir. Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2021).
Spectacular spectacular!
"Wish we could have stayed on mic for longer"
Let’s Talk is back with our unhinged ramblings to discuss one of our favourite films of the past year: Aftersun (dir. Charlotte Wells, 2022)!
Join us for a deeper dive into the poolside ebbs and flows of this early 2000s, father-daughter tale. You can hear our dumb hearts breaking through the mic.
Also included: is Paul Mescal too young to be the next James Bond? How is Aftersun just like Star Wars, Babylon and Jeanne Dielman? Did Charlie survive the Prince Charles Cinema all-nighter?
Listen until the end to find out!
“I should reach the frontier in about six weeks. With a little luck, Spotify will pick me up. This is Francesco, last survivor of Because You Watched… signing off.”
Welcome back! This week Charlie and Francesco, joined by special guest Laurus, go deep into sci-fi horror beginning with everyone’s favourite movie about aliens who just want a hug, Alien (dir. Ridley Scott, 1979).
After that they discuss British cult classic Lifeforce (dir. Tobe Hooper, 1985), Polish-Soviet transhuman mystery Inquest of Pilot Pirx (dir. Marek Piestrak, 1979), finishing on Japanese body horror Tetsuo: The Iron Man (dir. Shinya Tsukamoto, 1989).
Now enjoy your T minus 107 minutes of podcast!
Who is your favourite fearless… co-host duo?
That’s right! This week on Let’s Talk… Charlie and Francesco react to the number one movie of the year that is about a swashbuckling talking cat!
Join them as they discuss their feelings about the Shrek cinematic universe, pop-culture references, and Antonio Banderas’ voice.
Be sure to keep listening so you don’t miss our debate over who holds the rights to the character of Jiminy Cricket and whether this iteration of Puss in Boots is a stealth tribute to Jackie Chan.
So, put on your little black hat and boots and… hablamos!
I feel the need — the need for a new episode of Because You Watched…
Charlie and Francesco are once again joined by Will Paxton to talk about the high-flying ode to ‘80s masculinity, Top Gun (dir. Tony Scott, 1986) with a special contribution from the show’s Chief Tom Skerritt Reporter, Will Smith.
After that, they discuss the tense French military drama, Beau Travail (dir. Claire Denis, 1999), Apartheid-era war film, Moffie (dir. Oliver Hermanus, 2019), before ending on the much-loathed, much-loved superhero camp extravaganza that is Batman & Robin (dir. Joel Schumacher, 1997) and why it’s simply so much fun.
Hooray for movies! And hooray for people who talk about movies!
Welcome to the first episode in a new series from the Because You Watched… team. Every other week, Let’s Talk… will bring you a relaxed and entertaining chat about whatever’s on our mind from the world of film.
This week, Charlie and Francesco react to this year’s Oscar nominations and what has been a wonderful year for cinephiles. To name a few highlights, cinema audiences flew in fighter jets, played in a toxic orchestra, travelled across the infinite multiverse, and much more.
Are you excited? Well, you should be.
Y'know the thing about Francesco, he's got... lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'... until he bites ya.
That’s right, we’re back for a whole new batch and hunting the most dangerous films of all time. This week’s episode covers landmark maritime monster movie Jaws (dir. Steven Spielberg, 1975).
From there, we discuss a socially conscious animal horror twist White Dog (dir. Samuel Fuller, 1982), a damning documentary, Blackfish (dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite, 2013), before finishing on the inscrutable Japanese pandemic film, The Day of Destruction (dir. Toshiaki Toyoda, 2020).
Happy Christmukah from your friends at Because You Watched…!
On a holiday bonus episode, Charlie and Francesco are joined once again by their most festive guest, Peter McNamara, to talk about the Italian Christmas classic Parenti Serpenti (dir. Mario Monicelli, 1992), also known as Dearest Relatives, Poisonous Relations.
The friends talk about the barely concealed darkness at the heart of this family comedy and the timelessness of Christmas films.
This episode is also notable for being the one where Charlie remembers something that Francesco doesn’t about an Italian film. Also, Francesco might have some personal history with the director!
Enjoy the show and happy holidays from Charlie, Francesco, and Jade!
Are you ready to return to Pandora? Well, listen to this episode first.
Charlie and Francesco are joined by the eminent Emma Phelan to talk about the sci-fi blockbuster sensation Avatar (dir. James Cameron, 2009) before of the release of Avatar: The Way of Water in theatres this week. What a wild coincidence!
After that, they talk Telugu postcolonial action musical RRR (dir. S. S. Rajamouli, 2022), bonkers indie sci-fi Teknolust (dir. Lynn Hershman Leeson, 2002), and South Korean environmental adventure film Okja (dir. Bong Joon-ho, 2017).
Bonus: Tilda Swinton plays six characters, in two films, across this one episode.
Hooray! It’s Special Episode time!
To celebrate last week’s release of Sight and Sound's 2022 Greatest Films of All Time Poll, Because You Watched… are bringing you their immediate reactions.
You’ll hear Charlie and Francesco’s response to the list and the film in the top spot: slow cinema feminist classic, Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (dir. Chantal Akerman, 1975). We even included a flashback from our first ever episode!
Stay tuned til the end to also hear Charlie and Francesco’s own Top Ten lists!
We Need to Talk About Francesco!
This week, Charlie and Francesco are joined by esteemed Because You Watched… producer, Jade Corbett to discuss the creepy motherhood thriller, We Need to Talk About Kevin (dir. Lynne Ramsay, 2011).
After that, they move on to their own favourite films about parents and children, starting with South Korean family tragedy, Poetry (dir. Lee Chang-dong, 2011), Australian folk horror, Celia (dir. Ann Turner, 1989), before discussing our first cinematically released stage production with National Theatre Live: Yerma (dir. Simon Stone, 2017).
Join us for a surprisingly entertaining episode that deals with trauma and loss.