Doc + Pod
By Vincent Briscoe and Johann Rucker
Doc + PodApr 05, 2021
Bad Trip (2021)
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Kedi (2016) + Stray (2020) ft. Alp Yazirdag + Felicia Chaidez
The Jackass Trilogy
Of course it is the Jackass Trilogy that leads us into our most involved discussion about film form. These guys are making beauty out of trash, forcing us to respect the human body, and bridging classical cinema foundations with modern innovations, all while just hanging with the boys.
Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry (2021)
Framing Britney Spears (2021) + Fake Famous (2021)
Sundance 2021
Our yearly trek through Park City was done virtually this year. We hope some of you were able to join! We talk about everything - fiction and non-fiction - and this year was surprisingly strong. Join us as we run through what we didn't like and what we recommend you keep your eyes on throughout the year.
Intro (0:00-11:51), Sundance Reviews (11:51-End).
Tiger (2021)
Pretend It's a City (2021)
We talk about the new documentary series about Fran Lebowitz from Martin Scorsese, available on Netflix. No surprise that it's very well made and enjoyable to watch two friends who enjoy spending time together.
Intro/What We've Been Watching (0:00-15:50), Pretend It's a City (15:50-End).
End of 2020 *SPECIAL* ft. Aidan Seidman
Happy 2021! Thanks for sticking with us through a horrible year. As a thank you, we dedicate the first half of this episode to responding to your guys' voicemails. We follow that up with going through our top 5 documentaries of the year alongside our good friend Aidan Seidman.
Intro (0:00-2:00), Voicemails (2:00-1:08:16), Top 5 Documentaries of the Year (1:08:16-End).
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The TLC Tugger Interview
We interviewed Ron Low aka TLC Tugger, the standout documentary subject of episode 4 of HBO's How To with John Wilson. "How To Cover Your Furniture" leads to Ron explaining and even showing his methods of restoring his foreskin. We talk about his life of activism, what it was like to be on How To, and we spend lots of time discussing documentary ethics. He's exceptionally fun to talk to.
Check out Ron's website and his many other media appearances
The Sean Patrick O'Brien Interview
It's our first interview episode! We talk to our friend Sean about his new film Introducing… Juan Wauters, which you can watch for free right now on NoBudge. It's a lovingly made concert film of an enigmatic figure and a hypnotic performer. We get into what it was like for Sean to make his first documentary, the difficulties of making a concert film, and all the great things that can happen when you DM an artist that you love.
MLK/FBI (2020) + The Dissident (2020)
We're back with a couple new ones that played Doc NYC. We find that these two films, despite their formal differences, fit together in both their subject matters of extrajudicial murders, as well as in the missteps the filmmakers make in making heroes out of villains. It makes for a vibrant discussion as we try to judge when a film can no longer do its subject matter any justice.
What We've Been Watching (0:00-13:19), MLK/FBI (13:19-52:44), The Dissident (52:44-End).
Miscellaneous Mish-Mash
Not your average Doc+Pod episode. We cover a real smattering of things available right now. We start with HBO's How To with John Wilson. Then Yael Bridge's The Big Scary "S" Word, playing at Doc NYC. And lastly, Vikram Gandhi's Hulu doc 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez.
Intro (0:00-2:17), What We've Been Watching (2:17-26:45), How To with John Wilson (26:45-48:13), The Big Scary "S" Word (48:13-1:12:20), 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez (1:12:20-End).
Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds (2020)
It's the ZOG WATCH baybeeeee. Along with Herzog's newest, we watched Lessons of Darkness (1992) and Into the Inferno (2016) for reference. We talk about Herzog's ability to be softened by people despite him being constantly hardened by nature. Fireball is a perfect fit for AppleTV+, so watch it if you can!
What We've Been Watching/Chit Chat (0:00-33:46), Fireball (33:46-End)
City Hall (2020) ft. Jason Miller
The boys finally review a film from our lord and savior Frederick Wiseman, along with fellow Wiseman-head Jason Miller. We pick apart what's made his films so funny, engrossing, heartbreaking, and in control over his 50 years career. He's one of the greatest ever, and City Hall is another stellar installment in his catalogue of great films.
Intro (0:00-12:14), What We've Been Watching (12:14-31:26), Frederick Wiseman Intro Talk (31:26-43:50), City Hall (43:50-End).
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Boys State (2020) ft. Aidan Seidman
The election special for the boys is here! We're joined by our close friend Aidan to talk about why this film has been on all of our minds since Sundance and what it could possibly mean to us facing down the 2020 Presidential Election.
Intro (0:00-5:09), What We Watched on Halloween (5:09-16:52), Boys State (16:52-End).
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Follow Aidan on twitter and read his blog
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) ft. Adam Sirdoreus + Joseph Salomone
To discuss the new Borat film we bring on the guys from The Aggressively Okay Podcast. Along the way we talk about the first film's legacy, why we have to look at this new film differently, and the direction that Borat sees the US&A going in.
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Follow Adam and Joseph on twitter and listen to their podcast! It's good!
The Vow (2020)
David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)
We discuss Byrne's new concert film, compare it to Stop Making Sense (which is available on Amazon Prime right now), and are ultimately surprised when we finally come down on the film in a much lower place than we started initially. Fruitful political discussion here.
Intro (0:00-7:05), What We've Been Watching (7:05-29:42), David Byrne's American Utopia (29:42-End).
4 Little Girls (1997) / Kobe Doin' Work (2009)
In preparation for the new David Byrne concert film directed by Spike Lee, the boys chose to take a look at a couple of the documentaries Spike Lee has in his catalog. We cover how Spike was able to turn a historical documentary into something more distinctive, and how he elevates a sports documentary into a (literal) commentary on cinema. He's good at everything.
Intro (0:00-2:45), What We've Been Watching (2:45-26:22), Spike Lee (26:22-32:30), 4 Little Girls (32:30-1:06:12), Kobe Doin Work (1:06:12-End).
Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)
The fellas talk about a movie so damn good that there really isn't much to say about it. Filmmaking this great justifies itself. We recount crucial moments in the film and bond over how (much) they made us feel.
Intro (0:00-11:00), What We've Been Watching (11:00-31:17), Dick Johnson Is Dead (31:17-End).
Three by Robert Greene
[RE-UPLOAD] The boys talk about the collection of three Robert Greene films currently available on the Criterion Channel [Actress (2014), Kate Plays Christine (2016), Bisbee '17 (2018)]. This might be our best episode, full of fruitful discussion, varying opinions, and analyzation about what documentarians do! So, we hope you watched the films! Intro 0:00-5:00, What We've Been Watching 5:00-19:36, Robert Greene Intro 19:36-28:00, Actress 28:00-46:45, Kate Plays Christine 46:45-1:17:54, Bisbee '17 1:17:54-End. Follow the show Johann and Vince on twitter
Allan King ft. Emilio Arboleda
For our first guest episode, our friend Emilio comes on to talk about the films of Allan King. We catch up and have fun before talking about some very emotionally charged films, where we let our opinions scatter. Also, sorry about Vince's audio. Won't happen again!
Intro (0:00-7:00), What We've Been Watching (7:00-26:31), Allan King (26:31-45:46), Warrendale (45:46-59:08), A Married Couple (59:08-1:28:34), Dying at Grace (1:28:34-End).
This Is Paris (2020)
Off top, gotta let you know this is our second attempt at recording this episode. We lost the first file. This second attempt was recorded immediately after, so we forget some stuff. Still, a riveting conversation from two of the world's finest intellectuals about what makes a puff piece and how the specifics of a documentary allow room for real world commentary.
Intro 0:00-6:13, What's Playing at Festivals 6:13-18:49, What We've Been Watching 18:49-29:49, HBO's The Vow (Episodes 1-4) 29:49-55:22, This Is Paris 55:22- The End.