Movie Matter
Movie Matter is a series of half hour radio programmes and podcasts produced at Trans World Radio UK.
Each podcast takes a look at a different contemporary film and discusses some of the ideas and worldviews about our lives and God that are contained within it.
The show is hosted by Phill Marsh, Jonny Evans and Carolyn Evans. As this is radio, if you want to picture them, they are all extremely attractive.
So far in this series we have revealed that we all want and need a somersaulting Pastor in our lives, encountered the Apostle of Thunder-Love , and found that ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ is possibly the most depressing film ever created. Also some deeper stuff too.
Movie Matter is currently broadcast on Trans World Radio at www.twr.org.uk or on digital channel 0138 at 12.00pm every Saturday.
The podcasts and information for previous episodes can be obtained through this link:
http://www.twr.org.uk/Ondemand/moviematter.html
** SPOILERS ALERT** As these programmes discuss each film in depth, much of the plot of each film is revealed in the podcasts.
EPISODE DETAILS
1. Saved! – A 2004 Brian Dannelly film.
Join Phill, Jonny and Carolyn as they discuss the legitimacy of Saved!’s critique, Carolyn’s strict ‘no babies’ rule for the Christian women of today, whether or not the Bible is black and white, and the amazing somersaulting Pastor Skip…
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2. The Pursuit of Happiness – A 2006 Gabriele Muccino film.
This week Phill, Jonny, and Carolyn discuss whether this is in fact the most depressing film ever, how our lives shape our perceptions of others, whether Christians should be ambitious, and Carolyn gives a special first date tip…
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3. Little Miss Sunshine – A 2006 Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris film.
This week the crew discuss the extent to which media shapes our character, Jonny’s rebel-wannabe school days, the art of not knowing, and presents as the reason to get engaged…
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4.Superman Returns – A 2006 Bryan Singer film.
This week Phill, Jonny, and Carolyn discuss the subtlety of the Jesus allegory present in this film, the shocking gap in Carolyn’s film viewing history, dealing with constant and repeated betrayal, and the lack of morality in the new low-down dirty cheating Superman (Phill’s opinion).
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5. The Last Kiss – A 2006 Tony Goldwyn film.
Join Phill Jonny and Carolyn this week as they discuss the conflict between fantasy and reality, why Jonny can recall a certain poster in the film in a little too much detail, sex in relationships, and Jonny’s thoughts upon meeting Carolyn for the first time…
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6. 300 – A 2006 Zack Snyder film.
This week, Jonny’s geekdom shows no bounds as the three discuss the content of the media we consume, Carolyn’s freaky mutant hands, whether it is ever right to fight, and Jonny’s war-ending red Speedos…
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7. Pan’s Labyrinth – A 2006 Guillermo del Toro film.
Join Phill, Jonny, and Carolyn this week as they discuss Christianity as a make-believe world of comfort, Phill’s awesome and authentic Spanish accent, the re-shaping of beliefs in our 20’s, and the lacking credibility of the person who named one of the monsters ‘The Pale Man’…
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8. Children of Men – A 2006 Alfonso Cuarón film.
This week, Phill, Jonny, and Carolyn discuss Jesus popping up in a film again (this time in a more subtle way than Superman Returns), Michael Caine’s finest ever role, submitting to authorities, and the tragic plight of the animals of Farthing Wood.
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9. Stranger Than Fiction – A 2006 Marc Forster film.
This week Phill, Jonny and Carolyn face their own mortality, discuss tradition in the church, observe an interesting take on a God-Man encounter, and discover Phill’s slightly strange mental ritual involving Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro…
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10. Blood Diamond – A 2007 Edward Zwick film.
This week Phill, Jonny and Carolyn discuss the descent into lawlessness, movie popcorn etiquette, the consumer’s role in fair trade, and Carolyn’s method of dealing with bad news.
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11. Garden State – A 2004 Zach Braff film.
This week, Phill, Jonny and Carolyn discuss the role of pain in life, Phill’s masterful grasp of the southern accent, maintaining family relationships, and the wisdom of Keats, Keating and Dawson…
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12. Crash – A 2004 Paull Haggis film.
This week, Phill, Jonny and Carolyn discuss prejudice and discrimination, tipping etiquette, the Christian response to cultural movements, and a sneak review of a second film…
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13. The Simpsons Movie – A 2007 James L. Brooks and Matt Groening film.
Back for a second series (season), Phill, Jonny and Carolyn consider the buzz of environmental issues, discover Phill’s slightly fearsome loathing of a particular man-boy band, discuss the place of prophecy in the Church, and reveal the possibly illegal/definitely weird nocturnal refuse antics of two of the crew.
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14. Rocket Science – A 2007 Jeffrey Blitz film.
This week, Phill, Jonny and Carolyn discuss the validity of no opinion, discover Jonny’s hopelessly romantic gift idea, talk about how we are to deal with weaknesses, and take part in the creation of an alternate (and we feel, superior) ending to the film.
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15. The Darjeeling Limited – A 2007 Wes Anderson film.
Join Phill, Jonny and Carolyn this week as they discuss consumer driven Christianity, Jonny’s admission charge outrage, the universality of grief, and their vote for the best film ever created in the ‘muppet-related Christmas film’ genre.
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16. I Am Legend – A 2007 Francis Lawrence film.
This week, join Phill, Jonny and Carolyn as they discuss the need for community, the soon to be world famous Jesus face in bacon, the nature of humanity, and Jonny’s slightly controversial desire for his future existence.
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17. Eagle vs Shark – A 2007 Taiki Waititi film.
Join Phill, Jonny and Carolyn this week as they discuss scripted love, encountering monopeds, the age-old debate over inner and outer beauty in a relationship, and the meaty fillings of the Jonny Justice Encouragement Sandwhich.
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18. The Golden Compass – A 2007 Chris Weitz film.
This week, Phill, Jonny and Carolyn discuss the freedom to question in the Church, the fake sciences, the line between education and brainwashing, and who is the geekiest of them all (Jonny).
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19. Wristcutters: A Love Story – A 2007 Goran Dukic film.
This week Phill, Jonny and Carolyn discuss the happy life of Christendom, discover Jonny’s innapropriate test for blind fakers, consider the nature and universality of rebellion, and encounter yet more of Carolyn’s prejudice.
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20. Stardust – A 2007 Matthew Vaughn film.
Join Phill, Jonny and Carolyn this week as they discuss the possibility of the totally selfless act, the boredom of eternity, the true required extent of love, and the little known ‘Apostle of Thunder-Love’. Also, catch a few musical numbers from the crew in this episode, including a touching meatloaf rendition from Carolyn.
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More titles coming soon…