Stagione 1
Pulp Fiction
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Good Will Hunting
Parasite
Mirror
The Dark Knight
The Apartment
The Battle of Algiers
Top 5 Winter Movies
Peter and Andrew dive into Quentin Tarantino's groundbreaking 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction, exploring how its nonlinear storytelling, unforgettable dialogue, and interwoven storylines revolutionized cinema. They analyze the film's unique structure, discuss whether it holds up as one of the greatest films ever made, and examine how it spawned countless imitators who missed the point. In their remake scenarios, they face their biggest challenge yet: How do you make Pulp Fiction family-friendly? What would a no-budget version look like? Could it work as a sitcom? Plus, they rank Tarantino's filmography and discuss why this film's influence extends far beyond its shocking content. The hosts also share their Thanksgiving viewing, including Being John Malkovich and Zootopia 2, while referencing Kill Bill, Inglorious Basterds, Jackie Brown, Reservoir Dogs, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, Forest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption, Clerks, The Way of the Gun, Barry, and various Tarantino classics in their discussion. Topics covered: Nonlinear storytelling techniques, the art of memorable dialogue, 1990s independent cinema, moral codes in crime films, and why some movies are impossible to remake.
Peter and Andrew explore the 1938 swashbuckling classic The Adventures of Robin Hood, examining how Errol Flynn's iconic performance and Michael Curtiz's direction created the template for all future action-adventure films. They discuss the film's surprisingly fast pace, its colorful Technicolor cinematography, and how it balances thrilling sword fights with deeper themes of class and justice. In their remake scenarios, they tackle a unique challenge: How do you improve on a film that's already pretty family-friendly? What would a gritty no-budget version look like? Could it work as a modern TV series? Plus, they dive into the fascinating history of Robin Hood stories and reveal their screenplay project updates. The hosts also share their current viewing habits, including St. Dennis Medical and Mayor of Kingstown, while referencing the 1922 Douglas Fairbanks Robin Hood, Disney's animated Robin Hood, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Sherlock (BBC), Ivanho, The Sound of Music, Galaxy Quest, Mythic Quest, Breaking Bad, and True Detective in their analysis. Topics covered: The evolution of Robin Hood stories, Errol Flynn's career, practical sword fighting choreography, the Norman vs. Saxon conflict, and how classic adventure films influenced modern blockbusters.
Peter and Andrew tackle the beloved 1997 drama Good Will Hunting, exploring how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Oscar-winning screenplay creates a surprisingly grounded story about genius, friendship, and finding your path. They analyze the film's lived-in authenticity, Robin Williams' powerful performance, and how the movie balances intimate character moments with bigger emotional beats. In their remake scenarios, they face an interesting challenge: How do you adapt a story that's already pretty small-scale? Could it work as a Disney family film? What would a no-budget version look like? The hosts also share what they've been watching lately, including Rocky Horror Picture Show and Chad Powers, while referencing Tootsie, Hidden Figures, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bourne Identity, Alias, The Americans, Ordinary People, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and Mythic Quest in their discussion. Topics covered: "Write what you know" advice for screenwriters, Boston authenticity, the therapist-patient relationship in film, and why some small stories have huge emotional impact.
Peter and Andrew dive into Bong Joon Ho's Oscar-winning masterpiece Parasite, exploring how it masterfully blends genres while delivering a devastating critique of economic inequality. They discuss the film's brilliant structure that shifts from heist comedy to psychological thriller, and how it uses smell as a metaphor for class divisions in Korean society. The hosts analyze the film's universal themes and why it resonated globally, plus explore Korean cultural context including the country's rapid economic growth. They break down the genius twist that reframes everything and discuss why this represents cinema at its finest. In their remake scenarios: Could this work as a family-friendly Parent Trap comedy? How would you shoot it no-budget? And would it work better as a TV series? Plus, they answer Jenny's question about collaborative writing and share their latest viewing including The Fly and The Chair Company. Topics covered: Genre-blending storytelling, Korean class dynamics, economic inequality themes, three-family structure, collaborative screenwriting, and why some films work better as complete cinematic experiences.
Peter and Andrew tackle their most challenging film yet: Andrei Tarkovsky's enigmatic masterpiece Mirror, a non-narrative exploration of memory, nostalgia, and Soviet history. They discuss how the film abandons traditional storytelling in favor of a dreamlike meditation on childhood, war, and personal trauma, and why Tarkovsky prioritized artistic expression over audience accessibility. The hosts explore the film's beautiful but confusing structure, its blend of personal and historical memory, and how it feels more like visual poetry than cinema. They also discuss their different approaches to screenwriting - whether to outline extensively or dive straight into writing - based on a listener question from Andre. In their remake challenge, they attempt the unthinkable: How do you make Tarkovsky's abstract art film family-friendly? What about with no budget? Could it work as a museum installation? Plus, they share their latest viewing including Barbarian and Mayor of Kingstown. Topics covered: Tarkovsky's experimental filmmaking, memory vs. narrative, Soviet history through personal lens, the difference between art and entertainment, screenwriting approaches, and why some films are better experienced than understood.
Peter and Andrew dive deep into Christopher Nolan's masterpiece The Dark Knight, exploring how it transcended the superhero genre to become a complex meditation on chaos, order, and moral compromise. They discuss Heath Ledger's iconic Joker performance, the film's post-9/11 themes of surveillance and security, and how it changed superhero cinema forever. In their signature "Hollywood Remake" segment, they tackle the impossible: How would you make The Dark Knight family-friendly? What about on a shoestring budget? Or as a 10-part Netflix series? Plus, they reveal the results of their listener poll for their screenplay project and discuss what they've been watching lately, including The Studio on Apple TV and House of Dynamite on Netflix. They also reference Batman: The Animated Series, The Penguin on HBO, Dark Knight Rises, Batman Begins, Zootopia, Die Hard, Signs, The Godfather, Citizen Kane, The Matrix, Blade, Deadpool, Joker, Adam West's Batman TV series, and the Tim Burton Batman films in their analysis. Topics covered: Heath Ledger's Joker, Batman as detective vs. superhero, post-9/11 themes, Harvey Dent's character arc, practical effects vs. CGI, and whether the film holds up for modern audiences.
Peter and Andrew explore Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning classic The Apartment, a deceptively light comedy that tackles heavy themes of loneliness, corporate culture, and moral compromise in 1960s America. They analyze how Wilder crafts sympathetic characters caught in morally complex situations and discuss the film's surprising depth beneath its entertaining surface. The duo then imagines how to remake this adult-themed story: Could it work as a family film starring Winnie the Pooh? How would you shoot it with no budget? Would it work better as a modern Netflix series? Plus, listener poll results and their latest viewing recommendations. The hosts also discuss their current viewing habits, including Bob's Burgers, and reference films like The Luckiest Man in America, Woman of the Hour, Late Night with the Devil, Slum Dog Millionaire, Magnolia, White Men Can't Jump, Palm Springs, Groundhog Day, Mad Men, It's a Wonderful Life, and Barbarian in their analysis and remake discussions. Topics covered: Billy Wilder's writing techniques, 1960s corporate culture, the film's Jewish themes, character development, misunderstandings as plot devices, and why some classics remain timeless.
Peter and Andrew tackle Gillo Pontecorvo's groundbreaking war film The Battle of Algiers, examining how it revolutionized the genre by refusing to pick heroes and villains. They discuss the film's documentary-style approach, its complex portrayal of colonial conflict, and why it remains one of cinema's most powerful anti-war statements. In their remake scenarios, they face a big challenge: How do you make a brutal war film family-friendly? (Spoiler: animated animals might be involved.) Plus, they explore how this story might work as a prestige TV series and discuss their ongoing screenplay project. The hosts also chat about their current viewing habits, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Friends, I Think You Should Leave, The Detroiters, and Portlandia. They also reference The Wire, Chernobyl, Zero Dark Thirty, Death of Stalin, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life, Lion King, Jojo Rabbit, and Blackhawk Down. Topics covered: Documentary-style filmmaking, the ethics of war, colonial history, non-professional actors, event-driven vs. character-driven narratives, and films that prioritize message over entertainment.
In this special episode of How to Make Films and Influence People, Peter and Andrew mix things up with a quick countdown of their Top 5 Winter Movies! Whether you’re snowed in or just looking for a winter watchlist, join us as we share our favorite films that capture the chill, drama, and magic of winter. This episode is shorter than our usual deep dives—we’re experimenting with new formats and would love your feedback! Movies Mentioned in This Episode: Iron Will, The Thing (1982), The Revenant, Little Women (2019), Wolf of Wall Street, Empire Strikes Back, The Shining, Wind River, Fargo, Groundhog Day
In this special episode of How to Make Films and Influence People, Peter and Andrew mix things up with a quick countdown of their Top 5 Films Set in Europe! Whether you're planning your next European adventure or just looking for some armchair travel through cinema, join us as we share our favorite films that capture the romance, culture, and diverse landscapes of Europe. What are your go-to European films? Let us know in the comments! Movies Mentioned in This Episode: Midnight in Paris, Euro Trip, Midsommar, National Lampoon's European Vacation, Sound of Music, Charade, Before Sunrise, Saving Private Ryan, Goodbye Lenin, A Fish Called Wanda