THE FIRST WORD
The First Word Podcast - 'Vivarium' & 'The Platform' Sci-Fi, feat. John Bleasdale
"There are three kinds of people: the ones above, the ones below, and the ones who fall." On this episode of The First Word podcast we reconnect for a discussion about two small scale, contained sci-fi films now available to watch: Vivarium, directed by Lorcan Finnegan, starring Jesse Eisenberg & Imogen Poots; and also The Platform (aka El Hoyo in Spanish), directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, starring Ivan Massagué & Zorion Eguileor. Both worth watching. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. For this chat, we're joined by film writer John Bleasdale as our guest (he also joined us for our episode on James Gray's Ad Astra last year). Listen to our discussion.
› Posted April 7 in Podcasts, Sci-Fi, The First Word | 1 Comment
The First Word Podcast - Revisiting Wolfgang Petersen's 'Outbreak'
"You have to admire its simplicity. It's one billionth our size and it's beating us." Grab this latest podcast episode for a live discussion about the 1995 virus outbreak action thriller Outbreak, directed by Wolfgang Petersen. With the coronavirus pandemic on everyone's minds, we revisited one of our favorite virus movies - Outbreak starring Dustin Hoffman & Rene Russo. Both of us grew up watching this movie, so we decided to have a chat about why it's so good. In addition to commenting on the state of cinema at the moment and our hope that we'll be able to get this virus under control and open the theaters again soon. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast with in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. Tune in below.
› Posted March 27 in Podcasts, The First Word | Comments Closed
The First Word Podcast - JJ Abrams' 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'
"People keep telling me they know me. No one does." Tune in to our latest podcast episode for a discussion about the long-awaited, highly anticipated sci-fi finale Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, directed by J.J. Abrams. The conclusion to Rey and Kylo Ren's stories. For this episode of The First Word podcast, Mike & Alex dive into a chat about what we love, like, and dislike about the movie, as well as the discourse surrounding it. Not just a review, and not any typical discussion. We also briefly discuss the first trailer for Nolan's Tenet. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. Our guest couldn't make it on but we recorded our conversation anyway. Listen in below.
› Posted December 23 in Podcasts, Star Wars, The First Word | 3 Comments
The First Word Podcast - James Gray's 'Ad Astra', feat. John Bleasdale
"I'm steady, calm. I slept well, no bad dreams. I am active and engaged..." On this episode of The First Word podcast we sit down for a full-on discussion about the meditative sci-fi thriller Ad Astra, directed by James Gray and starring Brad Pitt as an astronaut on a secret mission. This premiered at the Venice Film Festival (my review) and finally opened in theaters in September. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. For this episode, we're joined by film writer John Bleasdale as our guest for a discussion about Ad Astra - critiquing and examining it in an attempt to figure out what it all means. What does Brad Pitt find out there? Nothing? Something? Listen in.
› Posted October 29 in Podcasts, Sci-Fi, The First Word | 2 Comments
The First Word Podcast - Todd Phillips' 'Joker', feat. Katie Smith-Wong
"I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it's a comedy." On this episode of The First Word podcast we sit down for a full-on discussion about the controversial, box office smash, R-rated comic book movie Joker, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the iconic Gotham villain. Everyone else has been talking about it, we had to speak our minds about it, too. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. For this episode, we're joined by film writer Katie Smith-Wong based in London as our guest for a discussion about Joker - and all the good & bad sides. Is it a great movie? Is there "nothing" it has to say or is there something? Listen in.
› Posted October 18 in Podcasts, The First Word | 1 Comment
The First Word Podcast - Film Festivals & Embargoes, feat. Daniel Joyaux
"I thought we should talk." Grab our latest podcast episode for a discussion about film festivals, embargoes, cinema, and our favorites from this fall season so far. For this episode of The First Word podcast, Alex is joined by film industry journalist Daniel Joyaux for a debate about embargoes (in relation to Alex's Venice letter) and a talk about the best films we've seen at the fall film festivals so far - from Toronto and Venice. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. This episode we had to take a moment to talk openly about film festivals, so join us and listen in below.
› Posted October 9 in Podcasts, The First Word | 1 Comment
The First Word Podcast - A Summer 2019 Recap + Quick Fall Preview
"I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life." Tune in to our latest podcast episode for a fun discussion about the end of the 2019 summer movie season, as well as a quick preview of what's coming up this fall. For this episode of The First Word podcast, Mike & Alex catch up for a chat about how the summer movies were this year, with a few big highlights. We also discuss the new trailers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Lucy in the Sky, as well as what we're excited about seeing over the next few months. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. A breezy, shorter-than-usual catch up episode for everyone to enjoy! Listen in below.
› Posted August 31 in Podcasts, The First Word | 1 Comment
The First Word Podcast - 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', feat. Aaron Neuwirth
"It's official, old buddy. I'm a has been..." On this episode of The First Word podcast we jump right into an analysis and discussion about Quentin Tarantino's latest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, his ninth feature, this one set in Los Angeles in 1969 following buddies Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) and Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio). Read our original Cannes review for a bit more to chew on. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. For this episode, our friend and fellow podcaster Aaron Neuwirth (@aaronsps4 of the Out Now podcast) join us as our guest for this discussion about Tarantino's new film and why he loved it so much (read his review). We talk about everything, including the end of the movie and the impact of it, so watch out for spoilers. Listen in below.
› Posted July 30 in Podcasts, The First Word | 3 Comments
The First Word Podcast - 'Avengers: Endgame', feat. Alisha Grauso & Amon Warmann
"You could not live with your own failure, and where did that bring you? Back to me." Welcome back for another Avengers chat. Our latest episode of The First Word podcast is a full-on, spoiled-filled discussion about Marvel Studios' grand finale Avengers: Endgame, directed by the Russo Brothers. For this episode we brought back the same two guests we had on for our Infinity War episode one year ago - Alisha Grauso and Amon Warmann. We discuss all the incredible, jaw-dropping moments, our favorite scenes, a few of our criticisms, Alan Silvestri's tremendous score, and much more in this epic Marvel appreciation episode. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. This is a passionate, joyful chat about Endgame and everything about that made us so happy. Listen in.
› Posted May 1 in Marvel, Podcasts, The First Word | 1 Comment
The First Word Podcast - Theories on 2019's 'Endgame' + 'Star Wars'
"We'll always be with you. No one's ever really gone." Listen in to our super fun speculation and theories discussion just before the summer movie season kicks off this year. For this episode of The First Word podcast, Mike & Alex chat about what they think might happen (or not?) in two of 2019's biggest movies: Marvel's Avengers: Endgame (directed by the Russo Brothers, opening April 26th) and Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (directed by J.J. Abrams, opening December 20th). We decided to record this to listen back to later and see how totally off we were. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. Ready to hear all the (fake) spoilers? Dive in.
› Posted April 22 in Podcasts, The First Word | 1 Comment
The First Word Podcast - Jordan Peele's 'Us', feat. Aaron Neuwirth
"They look exactly like us. They think like us. They know where we are. We need to move and keep moving. They won't stop until they kill us... or we kill them." On this episode of The First Word podcast we dive right into a full-on, discussion covering all aspects of Jordan Peele's new horror film Us, his second feature following the highly successful Get Out (from 2017). Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. For this episode, our friend and fellow podcaster Aaron Neuwirth (@aaronsps4 of the Out Now podcast) join us as our guest for this discussion about Us and why it's such an outstanding film. We talk about everything so watch out for spoilers. Listen in below.
› Posted March 28 in Podcasts, The First Word | 3 Comments
The First Word Podcast - The 2019 Academy Awards, feat. Clayton Davis
"I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a film centered around an indigenous woman... a character that had been historically relegated to the background in cinema, as artists our job is to look where others don't." After the Academy Awards this past weekend, we recap the winners and nominees and chat about the big awards show. Download our latest episode of The First Word podcast now, featuring special guest Clayton Davis from the website AwardsCircuit.com. Friends Alex Billington (@firstshowing) and Mike Eisenberg (@Eisentower30) team up to bring you a podcast providing in-depth discussion, analysis, and interviews about the latest movies, and some old ones too. In this Oscars recap episode, we analyze all the awards along with a great discussion about how voting works and how voters are influenced. Listen below.
› Posted February 27 in Awards, Podcasts, The First Word | 1 Comment
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