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Cinema Spectator

Cinema Spectator

ECFS Productions 294 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

Cinema Spectator is a film history podcast that questions whether classic films remain enjoyable for modern audiences. Each week the show discusses a 'classic' and examines if it can still entertain people raised on contemporary blockbusters and comedy films. The podcast aims to make film history accessible without the usual pretentiousness.

Episodes

Evil Dead II (1987)
Evil Dead II (1987) Oct 13, 2026 7139 Continuing our October horror series, we're sticking with Sam Raimi and taking a look at Evil Dead II (1987). Starring Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, the film follows a man trapped in a remote cabin as he battles demonic forces unleashed from an ancient book. Evil Dead II has become a cult classic and one of the most influential horror comedies ever made. Join us as we discuss Raimi's unique styl
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Drag Me to Hell (2009) Oct 5, 2026 5239 We’re kicking off October with Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell (2009). Starring Alison Lohman and Justin Long, the film follows a loan officer who finds herself cursed after denying an elderly woman an extension on her mortgage. Raimi returns to his horror roots with a movie that mixes wacky gross-out comedy, supernatural horror, and his signature style. Enjoy!    Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast h
Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986)
Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986) Sep 29, 2026 7594 This week, we’re taking on two sci-fi classics with Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). We start with Ridley Scott’s original, which follows the crew of the Nostromo as they discover a mysterious and iconic enemy. Then we discuss James Cameron’s sequel Aliens, which takes the ideas of the original in a much more action-heavy direction. Join us as we discuss what makes both films work, how differently
Resident Evil (2026) and Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil (2026) and Resident Evil (2002) Sep 22, 2026 8145 This week, we’re doing a Resident Evil double feature! We start with the brand-new Resident Evil (2026) directed by Zach Cregger before jumping back to Paul W. S. Anderson’s Resident Evil (2002), starring Milla Jovovich. We discuss the newest attempt to bring the iconic video game series to the big screen, then revisit the movie that kicked off the film franchise more than 20 years ago. Enjoy! Tim
Ball of Fire (1941) and Stalag 17 (1953)
Ball of Fire (1941) and Stalag 17 (1953) Sep 16, 2026 7129 This week, we continue our return to Billy Wilder with a double feature: Ball of Fire (1941) and Stalag 17 (1953). We start with Ball of Fire, directed by Howard Hawks and co-written by Wilder, starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck in a fast-paced screwball comedy. Then we jump ahead to Stalag 17, with Wilder back in the director’s chair for a much different story about American prisoners of w
A Foreign Affair (1948)
A Foreign Affair (1948) Sep 8, 2026 6149 Continuing our return to the films of Billy Wilder, we take a look at A Foreign Affair (1948). Starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich, and John Lund, the film follows an American congressional delegation investigating the behavior of U.S. troops stationed in postwar Berlin. Filmed partly on location among the ruins of Berlin, Wilder mixes romance and comedy with his familiar cynical observations o
The Lost Weekend (1945)
The Lost Weekend (1945) Sep 1, 2026 6456 We’re jumping back into the films of one of Cameron’s favorite directors, Billy Wilder, with The Lost Weekend (1945). Starring Ray Milland, the film follows a struggling writer over the course of a devastating weekend as his alcoholism begins to take over every part of his life. The film was a major success at the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Sc
*Bonus Episode* Boogie Nights (1997)
*Bonus Episode* Boogie Nights (1997) Aug 28, 2026 5683 Bonus Episode! Cameron and Juzo discuss Boogie Nights (1997). Starring Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, and an incredible supporting cast, the film follows the rise and fall of a young star in the adult film industry during the 1970s and '80s. Enjoy our final episode wrapping up the legacy of Paul Thomas Anderson. Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ransom, Juzo Greenw
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Licorice Pizza (2021) Aug 25, 2026 7681 To close out our series on the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, we take a look at Licorice Pizza (2021). Starring Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, the film follows two young people navigating their complicated relationship in 1970s Los Angeles. Join us as we discuss Anderson's return to the San Fernando Valley, the film's unconventional romance, and how Licorice Pizza stacks up against the rest of his
Inherent Vice (2014) and Phantom Thread (2017)
Inherent Vice (2014) and Phantom Thread (2017) Aug 18, 2026 8547 We continue our journey through the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, first with the neo-noir dark comedy Inherent Vice, an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel starring Joaquin Phoenix. And then onto the romantic drama (or comedy?) Phantom Thread, Anderson's reunion with Daniel Day-Lewis, also starring Vicky Krieps and featuring a beautiful score by Jonny Greenwood. Juzo and Cameron also briefly dis
*Bonus Episode* Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
*Bonus Episode* Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) Aug 13, 2026 2590 Isaac and Juzo review the latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in a partly spoiler filled discussion. Will director Destin Daniel Cretton rekindle the magic he had in the days of Short Term 12? Will Tom Holland top his performance in The Odyssey? Will Juzo remain a Grinch about the MCU, or will his heart swell three times bigger (that is what happens in that book, ri
The Master (2012)
The Master (2012) Aug 11, 2026 7566 Continuing our series on the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, we take a look at The Master (2012). Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams, the film follows a troubled World War II veteran who becomes involved with a growing religious movement and its charismatic leader. The Master discussion begins at 44:20. Enjoy!   Cinema Spectator is a movie podcast hosted by Isaac Ran

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