Film Utopia

59. John Carpenter Part 4 - 1996 to 2010

Steven, Benjamin and Sean close out their John Carpenter filmography retrospective with a look at the latter movies of his career and share their disappointment with the rather unfortunate diminishing returns on offer. With much of what made Carpenter’s earlier works awesome to behold now absent, and instead replaced with derivative stories and lacklustre film making, it’s a shame to end our retrospective on a sour note. But not all is lost, Film Utopia will be back next time with a look at Carpenter’s incredible music score work from the mid 70s right up till today!

On this episode, we discuss Escape From L.A. (1996), Vampires (1998), Ghosts of Mars (2001), and The Ward (2010)

58. John Carpenter Part 3 - 1988 to 1995

With the 1980s coming to an end and during the start of the 1990s, John Carpenter’s output makes a few left field turns in terms of quality compared to the tour-de-force of previous years. But the unmistakable and magical vibe of Carpenter’s idiosyncrasies are still very evident among this mixed bag, and there’s plenty for the Film Utopia hosts to unpack and disagree on!

In this episode, Steven, Benjamin and Sean discuss the cult classic They Live! (1988), the job-for-hire Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), the under-seen (and under-appreciated) In The Mouth of Madness (1994), and the missed opportunity Village of the Damned (1995).

57. John Carpenter Part 2 - 1982 to 1987

Welcome to Part 2 of our John Carpenter retrospective review series!

In this episode, we unpack and discuss the movies made during period of Carpenter’s filmography that most consider his absolute peak – and we completely agree! With one film in particular ranking tops among Carpenter’s work for all three of us, and for Sean in particular; his favourite film of all time.

In this episode, we discuss pressing matters like:

• If you’re a ‘Thing’, do you you know you’re a ‘Thing’?

• What happened to Fuchs?

• So, just who did get to Blair?

• Sweden.

• Why does it take over an hour for anyone to die in the horror film Christine?

• Where’s all the gore? I thought this was a horror film!

• Why is Dean Cundey such an incredible Cinematographer?

• Could you have done without seeing Jeff Bridges’ bare backside?

• Why is the character of Jack Burton so bloody funny?

• Big Trouble in Little China’s finest moments of sheer brilliance.

• What the hell was wrong with movie critics in the early 1980s?

• Aren’t those blokes a bit too old to be college students?

• A radio to talk with the future? The devil is a vat of green goo? Say what, now?

• Damn, is that Alice Cooper? I thought it was Harry Dean Stanton!

 

Yes sir! We’re absolutely over the moon to be talking The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Starman (1984), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), and Prince of Darkness (1987)!

56. John Carpenter Part 1 - 1974 to 1981

Ahoy there, fellow film fanatics!

If you were to ask each of us for a list of our top 5 directors, all three of us would include John Carpenter! So, it doesn’t really matter that he is Sean’s pick for our latest multi-part director retrospective series, as Steven and Benjamin were both more than ready to dive in to a full filmography rewatch and likely would have picked John Carpenter anyway!

In Part 1, Steven, Benjamin and Sean have a natter about their mutual long-standing Carpenter addiction and discuss the early theatrical works of the influential filmmaker and ‘Master of Horror, including Dark Star (1974), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Halloween (1978) The Fog (1980) and Escape From New York (1981).

55. Star Trek: Picard Season 3 - Part 2

 

*NOTICE* There is a very slight delay between our three hosts' on this episode. Apologies in advance!

Steven, Benjamin and Sean conclude their review of Star Trek: Picard. With episodes continuing to go from strength to strength and the season ending as strongly as it began, the Film Utopia boys unanimously agree that Star Trek: Picard Season 3 shall be hence forth known as the last, fifth Star Trek: The Next Generation movie that we never got.

54. Star Trek: Picard Season 3 - Part 1

We never thought we would dare come back to Star Trek so soon, and certainly not to sing the praises of a season of Picard! But, as Sean says, "It always takes Trek three seasons before it gets good!" Star Trek: Picard certainly seems to follow this trend, with the Terry Metalas helmed season 3 delighting and moving us all! In part 1, we discuss episodes one to five.

 

53. Brian De Palma Part 2 - 1987 to 2019

Steven, Benjamin and Sean conclude their epic discussion of Brian De Palma’s filmography as well as ponder why so many legendary filmmakers end their careers with a series of such spectacular duds.

On Part 2, we examine The Untouchables (1987), Casualties of War (1989), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Raising Cain (1992), Carlito’s Way (1993), Mission Impossible (1996), Snake Eyes (1998), Mission to Mars (2000), Femme Fatale (2002), The Black Dahlia (2006), Redacted (2007), Passion (2012), and Domino (2019).

52. Brian De Palma Part 1 - 1968 to 1986

As Steven’s director pick this year, the Film Utopia boys dive deep into the directorial filmography of Brian De Palma. With a career spanning 50+ years and encompassing a broad genre palette, from Hitchcock and Italian genre cinema-inspired Suspense, Crime, and Psychological Thriller and Slasher/Horror to Musical, Gangster, Spy/Espionage, Science Fiction and Comedy, De Palma has dipped his toes in many waters. Sean is green, having seen only two or three De Palma movies previously, despite his love of many of De Palma’s clear influences, from Hitchcock to Argento. Whereas Steven and Ben both bring a storied appreciation of the filmmaker’s body of work.

On Part 1 we discuss Murder a la Mod (1968), The Wedding Party (1969), Greetings (1968), Hi, Mom! (1970), Dionysus in ‘69 (1970),` Get to Know Your Rabbit (1970), Sisters (1972), The Phantom of the Paradise (1974), Obsession (1976), Carrie (1976), The Fury (1978), Home Movies (1979), Dressed to Kill (1980), Blow Out (1981), Scarface (1983), Body Double (1984) and Wise Guys (1986).