Because You Watched...

It’s a special episode! Talking for the first time ever about this new-fangled invention called TELEVISION?

What is it and how will it affect society going forward?

Joining Charlie this week on a special Let’s Talk is our friend Antonia Strafford-Taylor and they discuss the series finale of HBO’s Succession, Season 3 Episode 10, With Open Eyes (dir. Mark Mylod, 2023).

Listen to a slightly delirious discussion about Straff’s experience watching a live screening at the BFI, how Chicken Run’s Mrs Tweedy should be the gold standard for female villainy and what makes Succession’s twisted corporate world so damn special.

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky. In other words, they’re ooky. It’s… Charlie and Francesco?

Welcome to another episode of Let’s Talk… This week, they delve into the dark, twisted recesses of cinema to talk about two movies that dared ask the horrifying question: What if a married couple really liked each other?

Charlie and Francesco talk The Addams Family (dir. Barry Sonnenfeld, 1991) and its (allegedly superior) sequel, Addams Family Values (dir. Barry Sonnenfeld, 1993).

Join them as they talk ghouls, goths, weird uncles, and the prodigal brilliance of Christina Ricci.

Also, which host is Gomez, and which is Fester?

After a brief hiatus, this podcast has risen from the dead and soon it will unleash devastation upon the earth, the likes of which you could not imagine.

But in the meantime, please enjoy this lovely episode in which Charlie and Francesco are joined by Lydia Stone to discuss The Mummy (dir. Stephen Summers, 1999).

After that, they talk about Brendan Fraser’s other Universal Monsters tribute, Gods and Monsters (dir. Bill Condon, 1998), arguable comedy horror, The Love Witch (dir. Anna Biller, 2016), before ending on a legend’s final directorial outing, Dracula: Dead and Loving It (dir. Mel Brooks, 1995).

“No matter where you go, there you are.”

With Francesco abducted by the devious red lectroids, Charlie enlists the help of Blue Blaze Irregular and friend of the podcast, Fionn Creber to discuss the seminal cult classic sci-fi, comedy, masterpiece, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (dir. W.D. Richter, 1984).

Join them as they discuss whether adventurer, surgeon, rock musician Buckaroo Banzai is indeed the hero we need right now and how underrated the marvellous Peter Weller is as a bona fide movie star.

Also making cameo appearances from Peter McNamara and Chief Skerritt Correspondent William Smith.

Yeah... I'm thinking I'm Let's Talking...

The boys are back and they're fighting assassins and ninjas left and right.

Even so, they still managed to find time to record this episode on John Wick: Chapter 4 (dir. Chad Stahelski, 2023) and how a story about a man who lost his dog became our favourite franchise.

Including a special guest appearance to discuss the incredible fashion in the film.

Enjoy the show!

“Maybe that's what hell is, the entire rest of eternity spent listening to Because You Watched...”

Welcome back to the show! This week Francesco and Charlie are joined by Fionn Creber to discuss everybody’s favourite tourism hitman comedy, In Bruges (dir. Martin McDonagh, 2008).

After that, they discuss the tense crime drama, Mikey and Nicky (dir. Elaine May, 1976), bounty hunter road movie, Midnight Run (dir. Martin Brest, 1988), before finishing with another debut crime comedy from another member of the McDonagh clan, The Guard (dir. John Michael McDonagh, 2011).

Stick around for our lengthy discussions on Brendan Gleeson’s face.

We're back and it's the Oscars!

Or it’s shortly after the Oscars.

Join two hosts that weren't asked to present the Academy Awards this year and listen to Charlie and Francesco’s reaction to the winners.

That’s right! It’s the biggest night in Hollywood and for furious tweeting by film nerds all over the world.

It might be fair to say that we have some opinions about what went down.

What went down? Everything. Where did it go down? Everywhere. And when did it go down? It went down on Sunday evening at the Dolby Theatre.

Please enjoy our silly episode!

It’s the most exciting night of the year for movie lovers!

No, it’s not that other award show, but the BYW Awards. Joined by their good friend, Chavonne Brown, Charlie and Francesco give out awards for the best films of the year!

Each award was voted on and presented by our friends and former guests, listen out for introductions by your favourites!

Frankly, it’s the only awards show you need to worry about, and it is objectively and universally correct in every way. That’s the Because You Watched… guarantee.

More importantly, it doesn’t last three hours and isn’t on at midnight.

Can-can-can you believe it’s time for another episode of Because You Watched…?

This week, we return to the most musical genre to ever be put to film: the musical! Joined once again by returning guest Katie Paterson, Charlie and Francesco talk the maximalist jukebox musical, Moulin Rouge (dir. Baz Luhrman, 2001).

After that, they discuss the camp rock opera with a character called Beef, Phantom of the Paradise (dir. Brian De Palma, 1974), romantic musical tragedy Annette (dir. Leos Carax, 2021), and end on the cinematic love letter to a Broadway legend, Tick, Tick… Boom! (dir. Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2021).

Spectacular spectacular!

"Wish we could have stayed on mic for longer"

Let’s Talk is back with our unhinged ramblings to discuss one of our favourite films of the past year: Aftersun (dir. Charlotte Wells, 2022)!

Join us for a deeper dive into the poolside ebbs and flows of this early 2000s, father-daughter tale. You can hear our dumb hearts breaking through the mic.

Also included: is Paul Mescal too young to be the next James Bond? How is Aftersun just like Star Wars, Babylon and Jeanne Dielman? Did Charlie survive the Prince Charles Cinema all-nighter? 

Listen until the end to find out!

“I should reach the frontier in about six weeks. With a little luck, Spotify will pick me up. This is Francesco, last survivor of Because You Watched… signing off.”

Welcome back! This week Charlie and Francesco, joined by special guest Laurus, go deep into sci-fi horror beginning with everyone’s favourite movie about aliens who just want a hug, Alien (dir. Ridley Scott, 1979).

After that they discuss British cult classic Lifeforce (dir. Tobe Hooper, 1985), Polish-Soviet transhuman mystery Inquest of Pilot Pirx (dir. Marek Piestrak, 1979), finishing on Japanese body horror Tetsuo: The Iron Man (dir. Shinya Tsukamoto, 1989).

Now enjoy your T minus 107 minutes of podcast!

Who is your favourite fearless… co-host duo?

That’s right! This week on Let’s Talk… Charlie and Francesco react to the number one movie of the year that is about a swashbuckling talking cat! 

Join them as they discuss their feelings about the Shrek cinematic universe, pop-culture references, and Antonio Banderas’ voice.

Be sure to keep listening so you don’t miss our debate over who holds the rights to the character of Jiminy Cricket and whether this iteration of Puss in Boots is a stealth tribute to Jackie Chan.

So, put on your little black hat and boots and… hablamos!

I feel the need — the need for a new episode of Because You Watched… 

Charlie and Francesco are once again joined by Will Paxton to talk about the high-flying ode to ‘80s masculinity, Top Gun (dir. Tony Scott, 1986) with a special contribution from the show’s Chief Tom Skerritt Reporter, Will Smith.

After that, they discuss the tense French military drama, Beau Travail (dir. Claire Denis, 1999), Apartheid-era war film, Moffie (dir. Oliver Hermanus, 2019), before ending on the much-loathed, much-loved superhero camp extravaganza that is Batman & Robin (dir. Joel Schumacher, 1997) and why it’s simply so much fun.

Hooray for movies! And hooray for people who talk about movies!

Welcome to the first episode in a new series from the Because You Watched… team. Every other week, Let’s Talk… will bring you a relaxed and entertaining chat about whatever’s on our mind from the world of film. 

This week, Charlie and Francesco react to this year’s Oscar nominations and what has been a wonderful year for cinephiles. To name a few highlights, cinema audiences flew in fighter jets, played in a toxic orchestra, travelled across the infinite multiverse, and much more.

Are you excited? Well, you should be.

Y'know the thing about Francesco, he's got... lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'... until he bites ya.

That’s right, we’re back for a whole new batch and hunting the most dangerous films of all time. This week’s episode covers landmark maritime monster movie Jaws (dir. Steven Spielberg, 1975).

From there, we discuss a socially conscious animal horror twist White Dog (dir. Samuel Fuller, 1982), a damning documentary, Blackfish (dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite, 2013), before finishing on the inscrutable Japanese pandemic film, The Day of Destruction (dir. Toshiaki Toyoda, 2020).

Happy Christmukah from your friends at Because You Watched…!

On a holiday bonus episode, Charlie and Francesco are joined once again by their most festive guest, Peter McNamara, to talk about the Italian Christmas classic Parenti Serpenti (dir. Mario Monicelli, 1992), also known as Dearest Relatives, Poisonous Relations. 

The friends talk about the barely concealed darkness at the heart of this family comedy and the timelessness of Christmas films.

This episode is also notable for being the one where Charlie remembers something that Francesco doesn’t about an Italian film. Also, Francesco might have some personal history with the director!

Enjoy the show and happy holidays from Charlie, Francesco, and Jade!

Are you ready to return to Pandora? Well, listen to this episode first.

Charlie and Francesco are joined by the eminent Emma Phelan to talk about the sci-fi blockbuster sensation Avatar (dir. James Cameron, 2009) before of the release of Avatar: The Way of Water in theatres this week. What a wild coincidence!

After that, they talk Telugu postcolonial action musical RRR (dir. S. S. Rajamouli, 2022), bonkers indie sci-fi Teknolust (dir. Lynn Hershman Leeson, 2002), and South Korean environmental adventure film Okja (dir. Bong Joon-ho, 2017).

Bonus: Tilda Swinton plays six characters, in two films, across this one episode.

Hooray! It’s Special Episode time!

To celebrate last week’s release of Sight and Sound's 2022 Greatest Films of All Time Poll, Because You Watched… are bringing you their immediate reactions.

You’ll hear Charlie and Francesco’s response to the list and the film in the top spot: slow cinema feminist classic, Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (dir. Chantal Akerman, 1975). We even included a flashback from our first ever episode!

Stay tuned til the end to also hear Charlie and Francesco’s own Top Ten lists!

We Need to Talk About Francesco!

This week, Charlie and Francesco are joined by esteemed Because You Watched… producer, Jade Corbett to discuss the creepy motherhood thriller, We Need to Talk About Kevin (dir. Lynne Ramsay, 2011).

After that, they move on to their own favourite films about parents and children, starting with South Korean family tragedy, Poetry (dir. Lee Chang-dong, 2011), Australian folk horror, Celia (dir. Ann Turner, 1989), before discussing our first cinematically released stage production with National Theatre Live: Yerma (dir. Simon Stone, 2017).

Join us for a surprisingly entertaining episode that deals with trauma and loss.

Do you accept the challenge?

Charlie and Francesco, along with returning guest Chavonne Brown, certainly do! What is the challenge? To talk about all sorts of black heroism, starting with the afro-futurist blockbuster sensation, Black Panther (dir. Ryan Coogler, 2018). Incidentally, it’s the show’s very first superhero or Marvel movie!

From there, they take it to the blaxploitation action homage, Black Dynamite (dir. Scott Sanders, 2009), ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ style romantic crime film, Queen & Slim (dir. Melina Matsoukas, 2019), before ending the episode on the Senegalese fantasy-horror Saloum (dir. Jean Luc Herbulot, 2021).

Enjoy the show. Watch the movies.

Follow Chavonne on Instagram and Twitter: @theliberalcynic
Follow Chavonne's Tabletop RPG company, Six Planes Games: @SixPlanes and The Daemonologie Podcast

It’s Halloween and that can only mean one thing: a spooky special!

That’s right: we’re taking a break from our regular schedule to bring you a deep look at the best scary movie you’ve never seen. So get ready for some startling spooks and scares from the Shakespearean stage! 

Brought by esteemed guest Peter McNamara, this week Charlie and Francesco watch and discuss the camp horror thriller, Theatre of Blood (dir. Douglas Hickcox, 1973). 

This is a fun romp through an incredibly entertaining 1970s British horror slasher that has fun with some incredibly elaborate theatrical murders. If you're not sold yet, turn the lights off, hide under your blankets, and listen to the episode!

“This is Because You Watched… and it's ending one minute at a time.”

Join Francesco and Charlie as they crawl into the toxic arena that is hypermasculinity. Joined by Antonia Strafford-Taylor, they will discuss the landmark thriller Fight Club (dir. David Fincher, 1999), discussing what the film is really saying as well as its misguided cultural legacy.

From there they will discuss the French Israeli immigration drama, Synonyms (dir. Nadav Lapid, 2019), classic rugged film noir, The Hitch-Hiker (dir. Ida Lupino, 1953), and finally the bonkers Elvis versus mummy creature feature Bubba Ho-Tep (dir. Don Coscarelli, 2002).

And the rule is: if this is your first time on the podcast, you have to listen all the way through.

“I know it was you, Francesco!”

That’s right, your favourite podcasters return with our first follow-up to an earlier episode. This week, they’re covering The Godfather Part II (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1974) and it was only right for Ella Wright (any/all) to make their triumphant return to the show!

From there they discuss Italian thriller, We Still Kill the Old Way (dir. Elio Petri, 1967), Jewish immigrant fable, Hester Street (dir. Joan Micklin Silver, 1975), and 1960s mafia drama, The Brotherhood (dir. Martin Ritt, 1968).

Enjoy the episode and remember to keep your friends close and keep your podcast co-hosts closer.

Follow Ella Wright on Instagram and Twitter: @ellwrig

We’re back with a new all-singing, all-dancing musical episode!

Charlie and Francesco are joined by their friend, the amazing Amy Churchman (she/her) to discuss the grand return of the Hollywood musical with Chicago (dir. Rob Marshall, 2002).

From there, they discuss the pastel-coloured French extravaganza, The Young Girls of Rochefort (dir. Jacques Demy, 1967), the brutally self-examining musical confession, All That Jazz (dir. Bob Fosse, 1979), and the polarising musical tribute to Italian cinema, Nine (dir. Rob Marshall, 2009).

Fun fact, this is the first time a guest has had to defend their choice of movie to the hosts… Enjoy.

Is it queer? Is it a western? It’s… a queer western!

This week, Charlie and Francesco go back to the rich drinking pool of queer cinema with their good friend, Will Paxton (he/him) to talk about the seminal gay western, Brokeback Mountain (dir. Ang Lee, 2005).

Follow them as they delve into what makes a great queer film, discussing grief-stricken Taiwanese drama, Dear Tenant (dir. Cheng Yu-chieh, 2020), counter-culture electric western, Zachariah (dir. George Englund, 1971), and the touching slice-of-life romance Weekend (dir. Andrew Haigh, 2011).

Catch this episode before Charlie and Francesco ride off into the podcast sunset.

Follow Will Paxton on Instagram: @Will_Paxton

Follow the Pink Singers on Instagram: @pinksingers

It's Batch 2 and this podcast is coming of age!

Charlie and Francesco are joined again by Katie Paterson to talk about the seminal satirical romance, The Graduate (dir. Mike Nichols, 1967).

From there, we discuss honeymoon disaster in The Heartbreak Kid (dir. Elaine May, 1972), aimless youth in Stolen Kisses (dir. François Truffaut, 1968), and adolescent rebellion in The Diary of a Teenage Girl (dir. Marielle Heller, 2015).

So put on your scuba suit and stare off into the distance from the back of the bus.

(Apologies for the issues with Katie's mic at the very end!)

Follow Katie Paterson on Twitter and Instagram: @katiecpaterson

Also follow Katie's new theatre project on Instagram: @sidefxplay

It’s time to do it all over again!

Join Charlie and Francesco as they begin their ride to Valhalla for the new, improved Second Batch of Because You Watched… 

Joined by the mighty Alice Flynn, they get into the apocalyptic car-chase blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller, 2015).

Starting there, they soon get into the creepy Australian B-picture The Cars That Ate Paris (dir. Peter Weir, 1974), drag queen road movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (dir. Stephan Elliott, 1994), and finally cult action flick Dredd (dir. Pete Travis, 2012).

It’s great to be back!

Follow Alice Flynn on Twitter and Instagram: @babyleafsaladd
Follow Alice Flynn's theatre company: @dogmouththeatre

Surprise! We’re launching a brand-new special podcast! Jade’s Faves sees Jade, producer of Because You Watched…, sit with Charlie and Francesco to talk about whatever movies she feels like.

This time Jade and the gang talk about Italian supernatural horror, Suspirira (dir. Dario Argento, 1977) as well as another Italian supernatural horror, Suspiria (dir. Luca Guadagnino, 2018). 

Join for good vibes a great comparative discussion of both films and the best way to watch horror.

In this special mini-episode, Charlie and Francesco recap Batch 1 of Because You Watched…, remembering the highs and highers (there were no lows) of the podcast. They talk about the joys of discovering new films and converting fans to their favourite cinematic causes.

One last time with feeling!

As Batch 1 sadly draws to a close Charlie and Francesco attempt to answer a tough question. What are we allowed to laugh about? Joined by Archie Wolfman (he/him), they discuss their feelings about the controversially saccharine Life is Beautiful (dir. Roberto Benigni, 1997).

All three alternate films seek to reckon with the legacy of Fascism, Nazism, and the Holocaust. These alternate films include the sometimes-funny-sometimes-horrifying Seven Beauties (dir. Lina Wertmüller, 1975), the testimonial of adolescence in Fascist Italy, Amarcord (dir. Federico Fellini, 1973), and an odd-couple road movie featuring the son of an SS officer and an old Holocaust survivor, The Interpreter (dir. Martin Šulík, 2018).

We’ve seen films you people wouldn’t believe.

Fasten your seatbelts as Charlie and Francesco are joined by Kaj van Zoelen (he/him) to talk robots, dark cities, and sci-fi. They jump in with rain-soaked cyberpunk classic, Blade Runner (dir. Ridley Scott, 1982) before moving on to increasingly weirder films (which is saying something since Francesco saw the one with Harrison Ford’s narration).

They discuss the near-future thriller, Strange Days (Kathryn Bigelow, 1995), the sequel to an anime classic, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (dir. Mamoru Oshii, 2004), before reaching the bonkers, brilliant, and blasphemous Tamil-language sci-fi musical, Enthiran (dir. S. Shankar, 2010).

Content Warning for the films we discuss: Blade Runner and Strange Days contain scenes of rape; Innocence deals with human trafficking.

Producer Jade does not like westerns. The question, however, is: what even is a western?

Starting with the Oscar-winning, gunslinging, directing and acting combo, Unforgiven (dir. Clint Eastwood, 1992), Charlie, Francesco and Jade venture off the trail and challenge the very meaning of the genre itself.

From Australian colonial-era historical tragedy, The Nightingale (dir. Jennifer Kent, 2018), to brooding, internationally co-produced Western (dir. Valeska Grisebach, 2017), and Indonesian revenge thriller, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (dir. Mouly Surya, 2017), you’re going to want to shine your sheriff’s badge and strap on your saddle.

“Forget it, Charlie. It’s Because You Watched.”

Take a long walk with Charlie, Francesco, and special guest Lilly Zhuang (she/her) into the murky world of death, deceit, dames, and detectives, starting with bleak, sun-drenched neo-noir, Chinatown (dir. Roman Polanski, 1974).

From there, enjoy an off-beat 1970s reimagining of a classic noir story, The Long Goodbye (dir. Robert Altman, 1973), socially charged murder mystery, The Crimson Kimono (dir. Samuel Fuller, 1959), before ending on the beautiful British silent drama, Piccadilly (dir. E. A. Dupont, 1929).

Get ready for a podcast episode full of betrayal, twists, and, finally, some turns as well.

Co-hosts Charlie Harris and Francesco Quario are joined by special guest Alex Wilcox (he/they) as they dive into shared dreaming… dreaming about movies that is. And those movies? Are about dreams. Well, some of them are. Most of them. To kick off their conversation, we can’t think of a better film than dream-heist thriller Inception (dir. Christopher Nolan, 2010). 

In this episode, they discuss the Hungarian romantic drama, On Body and Soul (dir. Ildikó Enyedi, 2017), Thai magical realist film, Cemetery of Splendour (dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2015), and esoteric sci-fi, Annihilation (dir. Alex Garland, 2018). 

If you fall asleep, you’re welcome.

Content Warning: Three of the films that we discuss in this episode explicitly deal with the topic of suicide and self-harm. If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts, we recommend you visit https://www.samaritans.org/, a UK-based charity hotline run by volunteers trained to listen to you.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! 

To celebrate today, Because You Watched are bringing you a very special episode, and what better guest for Father’s Day than Charlie’s Dad? 

Daniel Harris grabs the mic to talk fatherhood in the 1996 Mike Nichols comedy, The Birdcage, and berates Charlie for not watching Schitt’s Creek.

Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to listen to a podcast for me.

Charlie Harris and his treacherous consigliere, Francesco Quario, are joined this week by loose cannon special guest Ella Wright (they/them/any) as they take a trip into beloved mafia epic, The Godfather (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1972), armed with nothing but hot takes, cannoli, and Charlie’s Brando impression.

They also discuss South Korean crime drama, Green Fish (dir. Lee Chang-dong, 1997), Japanese noir, The Bad Sleep Well (dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1960), and Italian black comedy, Mafioso (dir. Alberto Lattuada, 1962).

Happy Pride Month!

Co-hosts Charlie Harris and Francesco Quario are joined by special guest Pete Restrick (he/him) as they explore the vast and diverse world of queer cinema, starting with the movie that inspired young men everywhere to buy peaches, Call Me by Your Name (dir. Luca Guadagnino, 2017). 

Luckily, their guest had seen the film 30 times before they recorded.

Over the course of the episode, they discuss the French coming of age film, Wild Reeds (dir. André Téchiné, 1994), black lesbian cult classic, The Watermelon Woman (dir. Cheryl Dunye, 1996), and Yorkshire pastoral romance, God’s Own Country (dir. Francis Lee, 2017).

Co-hosts Charlie Harris and Francesco Quario are joined by special guest Katie Paterson (she/her) as they daringly venture even further into Batch 1 to talk about Singin’ in the Rain (dir. Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen, 1952) as well as all things musicals.

In their conversation, they will also discuss another MGM musical of the era, The Band Wagon (dir. Vincente Minelli, 1953), pre-Code classic, Gold Diggers of 1933 (dir. Mervyn LeRoy, 1933), and New Hollywood game-changer, Sweet Charity (dir. Bob Fosse, 1969). 

And bonus: Charlie learns how time works.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (@bcuwatchedpod) and Instagram (@bcuwatchedpodcast).

Co-hosts Charlie Harris and Francesco Quario are joined by special guest Dr. Victor Fan (he/they) to continue their journey into Batch 1 by discussing modern South Korean satire, Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho, 2019).

In this conversation, they also discuss another South Korean satire, Microhabitat (dir. Jeon Go-Woon, 2018), Hong Kong historical drama, Boat People (dir. Ann Hui, 1982), and Japanese black comedy, Death by Hanging (dir. Nagisa Ōshima, 1968). 

Our co-hosts eventually realise they will never be able to buy a house.

Follow us on Twitter (@bcuwatchedpod) and Instagram (@bcuwatchedpodcast).

It’s here! The premiere episode of Because You Watched…

Co-hosts Charlie Harris and Francesco Quario, with special guest Chavonne Brown (he/him), kick-off Batch 1 by taking a deep dive into the Civil War romantic epic, Gone with the Wind (dir. Victor Fleming, 1939).

In their conversation, they discuss Japanese historical tragedy, The Life of Oharu (dir. Kenji Mizoguchi, 1952), Depression-era comedy, The Women (dir. George Cukor, 1939), and Italian war drama, Burn! (dir. Gillo Pontecorvo, 1969).

They also draw some intriguing parallels between director Victor Fleming and a certain Bostonian action star.

Follow us on Twitter (@bcuwatchedpod) and Instagram (@bcuwatchedpodcast).