Hi everyone, Josh here. As you can see since you tapped or clicked on this episode, this is the finale of Film Explorers, a show that the four of us have spent years of our life working on. In this episode, we go back to the very beginning of cinema history and our own with A TRIP TO THE MOON. We then go long talking about our favorite episodes and moments together, our love of what we created together, and what the future holds. I think I can speak for all four of us in saying that we are incredibly proud that we had the opportunity to put something out onto the Internet, as rough and stupid as it often was. And we’re proud that every week, someone decided to press play. It means a lot that anyone ever decided to take time out of their day to listen to even a minute of our voices, and we will always be unbelievably appreciative of those who did that more often.
You can still follow us all on Letterboxd, feel free to reach out to each of us. Below are the links:
And with that I leave with you our final episode. It’s a complete mess that I refuse to edit down so that you can witness the raw emotional state that this recording put us in. This one’s incredibly special. We will miss you all dearly as we continue into the unknown.
12 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
This episode, we’re all back for one last traditional episode talking about Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD. We talk about beginnings and endings, capturing time in a bottle, and what the next step is for each of us.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:06:07 What We Watched
00:43:31 Boyhood
01:27:58 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:43:46 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
ALL HIS LIFE, RAY KINSELLA WAS SEARCHING FOR HIS DREAMS. THEN ONE DAY, HIS DREAMS CAME LOOKING FOR HIM.
This episode, Jackson and Josh tackle one of the ultimate dad movies, Phil Alden Robinson's FIELD OF DREAMS starring Kevin Costner. We talk about baseball obviously, but specifically why it's such a mainstay of American cinema, why it speaks to Jackson so much, and why every movie ever should have James Earl Jones.
Chapters:
00:00:00 randomly talking about Quantum Leap for three minutes and 41 seconds
00:03:41 Intro + Next Episode
00:07:56 Field of Dreams
00:53:39 Final Thoughts + Ratings
00:58:18 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
A FAMILY ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
This week, we continue our oddly scheduled sprint to the finish with one of Jackson's final picks, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. We talk about indie family dramas being Jackson's bread and butter, grandfathers on film, getting really emotional about pushing a van, and Breaking Bad alumni.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:47 What We Watched
00:37:28 Little Miss Sunshine
01:08:35 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:15:38 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
MORE THAN ONE WEARS THE MASK. IT’S HOW YOU WEAR THE MASK THAT MATTERS.
This week, Josh and Sutherland dive deep INTO AND ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, its fractals of animation, its effusive adoration for the comic book medium, and how it’s changed the game for so many different types of media. We also talk about a ton of movies and television that we watched in between episodes, like the newest Mission: Impossible, Apocalypse Now, and tons more.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:19 What We Watched
00:14:51 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse & Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
01:03:40 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:09:21 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
THE MAGIC OF MOVIES, THE MYSTERY OF MEMORY.
This week, we cover a filmmaker who is long overdue for an episode on our show, Satoshi Kon and his 2001 exploration of very medium of film and its effervescence, MILLENNIUM ACTRESS. We talk about the beauty of having no idea what to say, the power of memory, and the rarity of a movie that captures what it feels like to truly love this art form.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:50 What We Watched
00:15:29 Next Week + Scheduling Weirdness
00:19:39 Millennium Actress
00:54:41 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:03:32 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Jackson on Letterboxd
Joey on Letterboxd
Josh on Letterboxd
Sutherland on Letterboxd
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
WATCH YOURSELF.
This week, we cover one of the great horror directors of the modern era with Jordan Peele’s US. We talk horror at the Oscars, comedians venturing into genre film, and how instantly iconic the imagery of Us has become. We also recap some of the new releases we've caught up with, Josh watches some Final Destination movies, Jackson finishes Season 2 of The Last of Us, and we attempt to schedule the rest of this month to disastrous results.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:05 What We Watched
00:32:31 Us
01:13:37 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:20:39 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
IT ALL ENDS.
Joey's final month of picks culminates with the end of his personal favorite film franchise, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2. We talk about modern franchise filmmaking, our histories with Harry Potter, and why this film just had to be picked before the show ended. We also catch up with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, Josh starts back up with their Through the Years challenge, and Jackson watches First Blood.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:34 What We Watched
00:22:42 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
01:19:21 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:29:55 Next Week + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
HOW FAR YOU FALL DOESN’T MATTER, IT’S HOW YOU LAND…
This week, we cover one of the seminal French films of the 1990s and one of the highest rated films of all time on Letterboxd, LA HAINE. We talk about '90s politics, putting off watching classics, a history of French cinema leading to this point, and also Morbius. We also get into a ton of Marvel movies, Josh takes a trip to Los Angeles, and Jackson struggles with his Internet.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:50 What We Watched
00:40:23 La Haine
01:24:55 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:29:04 Next Week’s Pick + Jackson’s Picks for Next Month + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
LONG LIVE THE FIGHTERS
This week, we cover one of the most discussed films of the last year and one of our single most mentioned movies in the history of the show as a part of Joey's final four picks, DUNE: PART TWO. We talk unbelievably epic filmmaking, dropping hot takes about movies with a 4.4 on Letterboxd, and how the world's biggest Dune fan feels about this movie. We also go in depth with spoilers on Thunderbolts*, Josh catches Until Dawn in theaters, we talk about Skinamarink, the Creep movies, the Coen brothers, and more.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:46 Thunderbolts* (SPOILERS)
00:20:03 Our Excitement about Summer Movie Season
00:24:14 What We Watched
00:39:00 Dune: Part Two
01:46:06 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:53:39 Next Week’s Pick + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
IT WAS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL IN 1976. A TIME THEY’D NEVER FORGET. (IF ONLY THEY COULD REMEMBER)
This week, we begin Joey's month of our big finale with Richard Linklater's DAZED AND CONFUSED! We talk stoner comedies, coming of age movies that exist outside of time, the post-Vietnam era, one of the best soundtracks of all time, and our own indefinite futures. We also work through some more Sinners thoughts, Josh keeps rewatching David Lynch's films, and Joey checks out some blind spots.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:07:39 What We Watched
00:34:57 Dazed and Confused
01:30:36 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:39:16 Next Week’s Pick + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
LIFE IS IN THEIR HANDS - DEATH IS ON THEIR MINDS!
This week, Sutherland delivers his final pick for the show with Sidney Lumet's seminal 12 ANGRY MEN, a film that's deeply special to him and all of us. We talk about morality and judgment, putting racists in timeout, and what makes this movie so timeless and so hopeful. We also talk about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Josh checks out Sinners, and everyone catches a crazy screening of Pride and Prejudice for its anniversary.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:57 What We Watched
00:34:06 12 Angry Men
01:30:12 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:35:23 Next Week's Pick + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
IT BEGINS.
This week, we roll through another of Sutherland's all-time favorites, Denis Villeneuve's DUNE. We get deep into changes from the book, Villeneuve's visual aesthetics, and how it has grown into a massive favorite of multiple hosts on the show. We also get deeper into A Minecraft Movie, break down some '20s and '30s cinema, and Joey and Sutherland praise True Detective.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:29 A Minecraft Movie Talk
00:21:25 What We Watched
00:40:53 Dune
01:30:12 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:41:30 Next Week's Pick + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Jackson on Letterboxd
Joey on Letterboxd
Josh on Letterboxd
Sutherland on Letterboxd
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELING!
This week, we invite on a very special guest to talk about the classic MGM musical SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. Catherine tells us her four favorites, Joey and Sutherland talk about the Minecraft Movie, Josh and Catherine watch Contact, and Jackson experiences Mamma Mia for the first time.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:26 Catherine's Four Favs
00:11:57 What We Watched
00:25:16 Singin' in the Rain
01:02:01 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:16:29 Next Week's Pick + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
HE WAS NEVER IN TIME FOR HIS CLASSES. HE WASN'T IN TIME FOR HIS DINNER. THEN ONE DAY...HE WASN'T IN HIS TIME AT ALL.
This week, we begin the journey to the end. Sutherland begins his month of whatever he wants with BACK TO THE FUTURE. We talk about what makes a seminal classic like this, how we respond to it today, and what makes a truly perfect script. We also catch up with Sutherland after his week off, Joey watches Mamma Mia, Jackson rolls through some more horror films, and Josh watches Baxter.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:48 What We Watched
00:27:38 Back to the Future
01:09:31 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:21:59 Next Week's Pick + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE
DOUBLE FILM EXPLORERS, YAYYYYY! This week, we wrap up our Oscars Roulette with Ang Lee's foray into 3D, LIFE OF PI. We break down our perspectives on the 3D craze of the early 2010s, our feelings about the film's visuals and discussion of religion, and Joey continuously insists that Ryan Reynolds is in the movie (he's not, we checked). We also talk about that year's Oscars, randomly divert into the filmography of Ben Affleck, and Joey starts watching Adolescence.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:14 What We Watched
00:10:52 Life of Pi
01:11:18 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:20:05 Next Month's Theme + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
THE RETURN OF THE GREAT ADVENTURE.
This week, we're covering one of the most famous movies ever made ever, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Again, what do you want me to say? We talk about how much this movie has changed our lives, film history as a whole, and also Nazi monkeys.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:56 What We Watched
00:06:52 Raiders of the Lost Ark
01:16:09 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:25:27 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
HOW DID WE END UP HERE?
This week, we go back to 2015's winner of numerous categories at the Academy Awards, BIRDMAN or (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE). We talk about if we consider a pretentious movie inherently bad, the one-take gimmick and if it's enough to carry a movie, Michael Keaton's career, and how our thoughts have evolved since we watched it for the first time years ago. We also catch up after a week off, talk about our various trips and screenings, and run through our thoughts on countless new releases like Mickey 17, The Electric State, All We Imagine as Light, Opus, and more.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:56 Jackson's and Joey's Roulette Categories
00:06:52 Mickey 17 Talk
00:18:09 What We Watched
00:41:46 Birdman
01:35:24 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:42:04 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
TRUST LOVE ALL THE WAY
This week, we start our Oscars Roulette rolls with Barry Jenkins' adaptation of James Baldwin's masterwork IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK. We talk about Regina King's stunning Oscar-winning performance, one of the greatest musical scores of all time, and Jenkins' cinematic language of revolutionizing the romanticism. We also debrief the Oscars ceremony, talk about a new release or two, catch up on Sutherland's Through the Years challenge, and getting way too busy recently.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:58 Next Week's Category
00:07:44 Oscars Debrief
00:22:07 What We Watched
00:43:38 Sutherland's Pick
00:48:28 If Beale Street Could Talk
01:37:51 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:45:48 Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Joey's previous review for If Beale Street Could Talk
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)
EXPECT THE IMPOSSIBLE AGAIN!
This week, we're wrapping up one of the most chaotic months of the show so far with a film from a franchise we've been talking about since the very beginning of the show, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II. We talk about mashing up a massive American franchise with a director with such a distinct style, what works for some of us, what really doesn't work for others, and why the MI franchise is so special compared to so many others of its sort. We also do a bit of briefing for the Oscars, Josh watches Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, Sutherland and Joey continue watching Dune, and we launch a really fun theme for March.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:52 Next Month's Theme
00:08:51 Oscars Briefing
00:19:48 What We Watched
00:43:34 Mission: Impossible II
01:22:22 Final Thoughts + Ratings
01:34:53 Josh's Pick + Outro
Email us at filmexplorerspod@gmail.com with any feedback, suggestions, or messages that we can read on the show!
Links:
Film Explorers is mixed and edited by Josh :)