The Picture Show with Austin and Phil Rood

Austin and Phil take a trip to the center of their psyches this week by watching 2009's Where the Wild Things Are.  They break down the deep emotional and artistic meanings behind the simple children's story, the stellar work by the art department, and the amazing performances by the voice and suit actors alike.  It's a complicated movie that spawned a lot of conversation and ideas and we are here for all of it. Austin's Shout Out: Mr. Tardis Phil's Shout Out: Ignorance Was Bliss BONUS:  Phil mentioned the documentary Tell Them Anything You Want and it is available to watch on Tubi

This week Austin and Phil watched Bo Burnham's 2017 comedy drama/exploration of adolescence Eighth Grade.  The guys discuss the timelessness of the film, what it is saying about the gap between who we are and who we pretend to be, and the way the movie manages to perfectly capture the challenges surrounding everything about being the age of a middle schooler. Austin's Shout Out: The Forest Unseen: A Year's Watch in Nature Phil's Shout Out: A Walk in the Woods

Austin and Phil hit the road to salvation this week as they dig into the 2010 post-apocalyptic film The Book of Eli.  The guys get off in the weeds about religion and spirituality and the struggles that these things may or may not present to this movie's audience, but also talk plenty about the technical aspects of the film, the Denzel Renaissance, relationship dynamics, and, of course, Tom Waits... Austin's Shout Out: Things You May Not Know Phil's Shout Out: A God in the Shed

Austin and Phil sequester themselves to a tiny room in the back of Stately Rood Manor where they discuss the minutia of what they have just been presented with... in this case, it's the 1957 courtroom drama 12 Angry Men.  The guys discuss why this movie holds up after all this time, their favorite parts, and speculate about what could be beneficial about remaking this film.  It's a really interesting movie and led to a very interesting discussion. Austin's Shout Out: Bernie Sweatshirt Phil's Shout Out: GravityBeard Interns Due to Bernie's sweatshirt being sold out at the time of this posting, you can help the cause it supports by donating HERE The graphic novel Phil mentioned in this episode is called Chasin' the Bird by Dave Chisholm

The guys hit the road this week and break down the 1958 samurai adventure film The Hidden Fortress.  They talk about the impressive scope of this movie, the influence it had on George Lucas, and finally, they spiral into a discussion(argument) about the strained relationship between old films and modern audiences.  It's a long and treacherous road for our heroes this week as they seek a safe kingdom and redemption... and movies. Austin's Shout Out: Briktokk Phil's Shout Out: Usagi Yojimbo Aus and Phil's Other Podcast Appearances: Zeng This! Pop Up FilmCast Wait, You Haven't Seen

Austin and Phil kick off Season 2 by watching Soul, which leads them to explore life, death, the afterlife, jazz, perspective, and the possibility that Pixar is manipulating us all... Austin's Shout Out: Ratatouille Phil's Shout Out: Hat's Off Entertainment

***SPOILER ALERT FOR THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 2**** Austin and Phil celebrate the holiday season by leaning into the Star Wars Universe to talk about Life Day, Disney's handling of IP, and the second season of The Mandalorian.  The guys offer their thoughts on the direction the show has taken this season, what it means for the future of the show, and their potentially unpopular opinions of the season finale.   This is the way... to hear the Roods ranting while waiting for Season 2 of the Picture Show

Austin and Phil take a look at what they've reviewed over the past 20 episodes and pick out their best, worst, and most surprising movies as well as looking at the benefits this show has brought them over this season. Austin's Shout Out: Ratatouille the Musical Phil's Shout Out: Mims28Studio

Aus and Phil dive into the world of pro sports, numbers and stats, Zen Buddhism, and stepdads as they get into a discussion of 2011's Moneyball.  It's a fun discussion that goes all over the place and brings some really fun discussion, disagreement, and more. Austin's Shout Out: Half Alive Phil's Shout Out: Abe Lincoln's Top Hat

The guys don their finest uncomfortable clothing and their tallest hats and announce themselves at the finest estates of Victorian England as they talk about the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma.  They talk about what they expected vs what they ended up with, feminist heroes now and then, and the ridiculousness of the aristocracy.  It's a surprising and fun discussion all the way through. Austin's Shout Out: Sarah Z Phil's Shout Out: Movie Go Round

Austin and Phil take a trip to the Spirit World in an attempt to find enlightenment... but they just ended up watching an anticlimactic TV season instead.  The guys clash over the quality of the show as a whole, the highs and lows of Season 2, new characters, and why Sally Draper is the ultimate spirit guide.  It's another battle royale as they continue through the Legend of Korra.  Austin's Shout Out: Hello Future Me Phil's Shout Out: Pop-Up Filmcast

Austin and Phil open the magic card box to find out what movie they're going to watch and discover that it's 2019's Ready Or Not.  The guys try to do a deep dive on the film but quickly discover that they don't need to... and they're cool with that.  The resulting conversation is a series of rabbit holes about Joker, popcorn movies, foreign language apps, and loud lawn mowers.  It's maybe the most rambling episode yet, and that's saying a lot... Austin's Shout Out: Penumbra Podcast Phil's Shout Out: Don't Run

This week Austin and Phil travel to the magical kingdom of mushrooms... and bears.  They're watching and talking about the 2019 horror film Midsommar and getting totally freaked out by it.  They talk about respect for different cultural norms, geometry, toxic people, and psychedelics... also bears and sex rituals.  It's an insane movie that breeds unique discussion. Austin's Shout Out:  The Orange Shirt Society Phil's Shout Out: David Lynch Theatre

Austin and Phil got together to talk about The Amazing Screw-On Head.  They discuss the TV pilot and the comic it was adapted from, it's possible place in the Mignola-verse, and hope for a renewed interest in the property that might possibly lead to its return.  It's a Halloween treat that the guys use to celebrate the weird and wonderful short story The Amazing Screw-On Head!

Phil and Austin head into the wilderness, paying close attention not to wander into the haunted woods too far, or to antagonize their billy goat as they take a look at the 2015 horror fairytale The Witch: A New England Folk Tale.  They talk about irresponsible parenting, religious fanaticism, folk tales, and the most horrifying depiction of breast feeding ever committed to film.  It's a great entry into the Halloween Series of The Picture Show, and one the guys had a great time getting their heads around. Austin's Shout Out: Alice Isn't Dead Phil's Shout Out: Submitted For Your Approval

Austin and Phil step into the Halloween season with the 2017 suspense-horror movie Get Out.  They talk about the great cast, Jordan Peele as a filmmaker, and discuss the many layers of horror and social commentary that make this movie work so well.  Plus, the guys break down their feelings on horror in general, Blumhouse, and Blumhouse's portrayals of rich, white liberals. Austin's Shout Out: Julie Nolke Phil's Shout Out: Long Lost Friend Studio

Austin and Phil square off for a fistfight of epic proportions over whether or not Steven Soderbergh's 2011 film Haywire is a great spy movie or not.  They dispute acting styles, characterizations, and blue filters before throwing themselves way off track to talk about the AFI Top 100 list and what that list may look like in coming years.  This one is all over the map and still, somehow, surprisingly fun. Austin's Shout Out: Daejah Voo Phil's Shout Out: Unspooled Podcast Austin's YouTube Channel Phil's YouTube Channel

Amy Rood is a library nerd, a smart person, Phil's sister, and Austin's aunt, and she joins us today to talk about Banned Books Week.  They talk about specific books that are frequently challenged, the motivations for them, and institutions that deal with these challenges. Links mentioned in this episode: American Library Association Chicago Books to Women in Prison Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Austin and Phil look at fascism, redemption, and a million points in between as they take a look at the 2019 Taika Waititi film Jojo Rabbit.  The Roods talk about what they liked and what fell short with the movie, the important topics it discusses, assumed insensitivity, and fascist imaginary friends.  It's a big discussion about a very interesting movie that manages to be sweet, sad, tragic, and still very funny.   Austin's Shout Out:  King Falls AM Phil's Shout Out: Clint Wells: Quarantine Covers

This week, Austin and Phil talk about the 2019 Amazon Original film The Vast of Night.  They become champions for this movie with a small budget, large ideas, as they talk about compelling mysteries and their affect on small town America, the nature of belief and skepticism, and the power of well-written dialogue and so much more as they break down what really works in this movie. Austin's Shout Out: Hank Green Phil's Shout Out: Me and Paranormal You

Phil and Aus follow up their Avatar fandom by diving into the first season of The Legend of Korra.  Find out who the big fan is and who's being a curmudgeon about it (spoiler: it's exactly who you think).  The guys get into bad comic relief, expanded universe, and the tech of the world the show presents. Austin's Shout Out: The Anthropocene Reviewed Phil's Shout Out: Movies With Mikey

Austin and Phil look at the 1968 philosophical sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey.  It's a wild ride through a complex look at humanity, so the guys gave themselves an extra long episode to help untangle all of the questions of life, art, and the moon that are presented in this film.  Questions such as: Is Kubrick being pretentious or challenging?  Is the moon sequence accurate enough to be proof of Kubrick's involvement in faking the moon landing?  Why the hell is there a baby in space?  These questions and many more are a part of this very fun, very deep, very confusing and compelling episode of The Picture Show.

Austin and Phil take a look at the 2020 Netflix original movie The Old Guard this week and one of them is not very happy about it (guess which one).  They discuss what was right and what was wrong about this movie, comic vs movie storytelling styles, and whether or not this is a shameless ploy to give Netflix their very own comic movie franchise. Austin's Shout Out: Joshua A Hayes Phil's Shout Out: Hit Me One More Time

What is real? What is simulated? Why does Nathan so fixated on robot genitalia?  Austin and Phil set out to answer these and other existential questions that are posed by the 2014 film Ex Machina.  The guys break down the careers of Alex Garland and Oscar Isaac, which of the guys enjoys downer endings, and Biblical themes of robot movies.  All this and insane dancing on this episode of The Picture Show with Austin and Phil Rood Austin's Shout Out: Jenny Nicholson Phil's Shout Out: Mouse and Weens

Austin and Phil hit the trail this week.  They encounter thieves, an old man in a bear skin, and animal abusing kids at a store, all while discussing the Coen Brothers 2010 western True Grit.  The guys get into westerns old and new, the complicated nature of ethically questionable heroes, and the deep character studies that this film brings us... and also comic book movie connections.   Austin's Shout Out: Aspect Science Phil's Shout Out: How To Be An Artist  This week's ad:  The Mouse and Weens Podcast

Austin and Phil take a look at the comedic heist film Logan Lucky this week in an attempt to figure out if robbing a major sporting arena could end their money woes.  They also look at Daniel Craig as a comedic actor, heist movies, and they sing the praises of Adam Driver. Austin's Shout Out: T.X. Watson Phil's Shout Out: Achewillow

It's a special TV edition of the show this week.  Austin and Phil jump on their flying bison and fly to the studio at the Northern Air Temple to talk about one of the great fantasy stories of all time: Avatar the Last Airbender.  They talk about their favorite episodes and characters, the show's sophisticated art style, and Phil does some dream casting for the upcoming live action show.  The guys love this show and they want you to know why. Phil's Shout Out: The Last Puppet Bender Austin's Shout Out: DK Film Guy 

Austin and Phil get political on this one... or do they...?  Just kidding, they do... kind of.  Basically, they are the movie they're discussing, which is 2020's The Hunt starring Betty Gilpin and Hilary Swank.  The guys try to decide whether this is a commentary on specific politics or specific classes and how their own worldviews influence their thoughts on this movie.  They also discuss shattered expectations, story structure, and... Ellen? Buckle up, kids, this one is a strange and bumpy ride through an equally strange and bumpy movie.

Austin and Phil get stoked for this movie... until they realize it's more relevant than ever.  They break down stylistic choices, fawn over the cast, sing the praises of the Wachowskis no matter how they're credited, and hope for better days in the future. Austin on tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@austin.n.rood Phil's new ebook: tinyurl.com/1day9lives

Phil introduces Austin to a new kind of support group that helps him regain control of their lives by not talking about what they're doing also beating the crap out of every other person in the group.  They discuss their different views on the movie's takes on toxic masculinity, karma (or lack thereof) for characters, and what that house probably smells like.  I am Jack's Inaugural Podcast episode.