This week, we walk through the beautiful, yet somehow grotesque world of: Barry Lyndon. This slow, meandering film offers quite a challenge for Chris and Travis—two diehard Stanley Kubrick fans—as they navigate through the movie’s commentary on ambition, as they trek the gorgeous landscapes that surround Barry’s sill existence, as they wonder if Ku…

This week, we traverse the psychological labyrinth known as: The Silence of the Lambs. We revisit this classic thriller and discuss its contents, finding a narrative in Clarice’s struggle to move on, to form an identity outside her trauma, to endure the psychiatric exercises of the one and only Hannibal Lecter. Check out our website for more great …

This week, we delve into one of the most confounding movies ever: Synecdoche, New York. And we’re here to say the movie, while surreal and outlandish and subversive, is actually much simpler than it seems. We go down a strange path trying to put Charlie Kaufman’s bizarre movie into words—join us. Check out our website for more great movie deconstru…

This week, we share a winding, whirling discussion about the 1955 classic: Rebel Without a Cause. What follows isn’t just a thematic breakdown of the movie’s commentary on post-war generational tensions, but a macro discussion about the state of modern movies and how far we’ve come from the simple-yet-impactful cinematic eye of directors like Nicho…

This week, we discuss the baseball classic: The Natural. It used to be one of Chris’s favorite movies—but does it still hold up? And is Travis impressed at all upon first watch? In some ways, yes…in many ways, no. Our discussion takes some interesting turns. Enjoy! Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support…

This week, we make everybody mad by defending the much-maligned superhero masterpiece: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. We talk about the differences between the theatrical and director’s cut and how it helps the film’s themes and ideas coalesce into a commentary on a divided world. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If …

This week on the Film Colossus podcast, we complete our podcast discussion of Ti West’s epic Hollywood trilogy with: MaXXXine. We take a step back and survey how the story ultimately ties together with X and Pearl, as well as dissect the genre elements of the film and how West embraces art and humanity over industry politics. Check out our website …

This week on the Film Colossus podcast, we navigate the murky waters of religious hysteria with the 2024 Sydney Sweeney nun flick: Immaculate. Chris and Travis are at odds with what they find to be a clunky, stifling experience that never quite finds its footing and pales in comparison to much better horror films. Check out our website for more gre…

This week on the Film Colossus podcast, we break down the sexiest movie of 2024: Challengers. Chris and Travis suit up, grab their racquets, and step on opposite sides of the court to debate what is and isn't working in this wild, back and forth journey about what drives and inspires us, how we keep passion burning in our lives. Check out our websi…

We’re back, baby!! (No pun intended.) And this week on the Film Colossus podcast, we discuss the epic, the unassailable, the oh-my-god-why-is-this-movie-so-long classic: Lawrence of Arabia. We break down the film’s incredible visualization of realizing one’s self, of how difficult it can be to remain true to your life vision, in all of its beautifu…

This week, we discuss the 2023 Oscar winner: The Zone of Interest. Chris is very much in the camp that the film is a modern masterpiece, while Travis…needs some convincing. They discuss sound design, slow cinema, and the film’s ultimate commentary on cultural apathy. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to suppo…

This week, we explore the brazen and bizarre Oscar winner: Poor Things. We react to Yorgos Lanthimos’ drastic changes in aesthetic and discuss how his focus on a single character allows the film to flourish and the ideology to coalesce like never before in his filmography. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to…

This week, we recap the 96th Academy Awards—our favorite moments, the worst moments, and which people should and shouldn’t have taken home the golden statue. We talk a lot about Wikipedia mods. Yes we have complaints about the In Memoriam. And no we still don't like Oppenheimer. Have fun! Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. …

This week, we dive headfirst into what is currently the cinematic event of the century: Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two. We discuss both the good and the bad of this landmark series, with Chris praising Villeneuve’s take on the classic novel and Travis being his usual contrarian self. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If…

This week, we celebrate Dune—no, not that Dune. We’re talking about that old polarizing one that David Lynch directed. We discuss everything that’s keeping 1984’s Dune from achieving Frank Herbert’s ultimate intent with the novel, as well as the idiosyncrasies that allow Lynch’s existential tale about the self to shine in enigmatic, bizarrely beaut…

This week, we navigate through the insane terrain of Oliver Stone’s masterpiece: Any Given Sunday. We observe how perhaps the greatest football movie ever made actually serves as a metaphor for America’s story, for the angst and isolation—and, ultimately, the progression—that results from generational differences and constant change. Check out our …

This week, we enjoy a double feature from the great horror auteur Ti West: Pearl and X. We debate the effectiveness of Pearl’s warped character study in the first film and explore the depths of the latter’s sociological observations. All in all, it’s a bloody good time! Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to su…

This week, we break down one of those movies that continues to confuse people to this day: American Psycho. We show how the movie’s core concepts and satiric approach can help make sense of and contextualize what, on the surface, appears to be an indecipherable movie. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to supp…

This week, we give our reactions to the 2024 Oscar nominations. Chris is nice and gives praise where praise is due, while Travis mostly complains because the dumb movies he likes don’t get any love from the Academy. Plus we give our predictions for each category! Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support t…

This week, we pick apart what’s considered one to be of the most enigmatic movies of all time: Mulholland Drive. Our discussion breaks this classic film down into simple terms, revealing the humanistic underbelly of David Lynch’s cautionary tale about Hollywood and fantasy. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like t…

This week, we dive into the most viral movie of 2023: Saltburn. We react to the movie’s most provocative moments and, through a discussion of the film's themes and deeper meaning, debate whether all the hype is warranted. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then jo…

This week, we count down our favorite (and least favorite) movies of the year. Chris sticks to movies that came out in 2023, while Travis picks the best from everything he watched this year. Get ready for some lively discussions! Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free,…

This week, we conclude our first season with yet another Lars von Trier film: The House That Jack Built. We discuss the movie’s meta commentary on using art to improve and define our lives, and how that message functions within what is essentially a serial killer comedy. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to s…

This week, we discuss Lars von Trier’s bleak, bizarre film: Melancholia. There’s a strange meta quality to the film that consumes our conversation as we explore how the movie ultimately mirrors the human condition in the face of apocalypse. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support the show and hear episod…

This week, we gush over the timeless classic The Princess Bride. Of course the characters and acting are amazing, but more than anything we’re fascinated by the film’s commentary on fairy tales and the ability for stories to transcend and connect generations. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support the s…

This week, we continue on the Paul Verhoeven train with RoboCop. We run through what makes this satirical masterpiece so great, from its dynamite cast to its incredible special effects to its multifaceted social commentary. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then …

This week, we discuss what was once considered the worst movie ever made: Showgirls. Of course, the film has had a cultural resurgence and earned cult status—and we couldn’t be more thrilled. We dig into what makes this misunderstood classic so great. Check out our website for more great movie deconstructions. If you'd like to support the show and …

This week, we dig into Ari Aster’s cult film: Midsommar. This episode involves a long-winded discussion of the horror genre and how Aster’s modern techniques both embrace and diverge from the norm. Be warned: one of us really did not like this movie. If you'd like more insight into the deeper meaning of Scream, then check out Chris's explanation. I…

This week, we discuss the greatest meta horror movie ever made: Scream. We dissect just how deep the film’s meta commentary goes and what its message has to say about the genre, about media, about our individual growth as human beings. If you'd like more insight into the deeper meaning of Scream, then check out Travis's explanation. If you'd like t…

This week, we’re talking about that movie with the twist: Fight Club. It’s Chris’s favorite movie ever, so this is a special episode. We discuss the depth of the movie’s commentary and how the meta narrative helps the message thrive in a timeless way. If you'd like more insight into the deeper meaning of Fight Club, then check out Chris's explanati…

This week, we take a journey into the dystopian abyss of Blade Runner 2049. Contrary to popular opinion, we aren’t crazy about Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi sequel, with Chris disappointed in the story and Travis frustrated about the visuals. We dig into the movie’s deeper story and ultimately what’s holding it back. If you'd like more insight into the…

This week, we’re talking about the classic sci-fi meditation on living life to the fullest: Blade Runner. We discuss the film’s deeper philosophical intentions and all the reasons why it’s one of Chris’s top five movies—ever. If you'd like more insight into Blade Runner, then check out Chris' definitive explanation of the film. If you'd like to sup…

This week, we’re talking about the cult classic that still feels relevant 20 years after its release: Donnie Darko. We discuss how our interpretations of its cryptic story have changed over the years and debate the original cut vs. the director’s cut. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then join our Patreon! Also, visit ou…

This week, we discuss Charlotte Wells’s beloved coming-of-age story: Aftersun. We dig into how the film masterfully handles such delicate subject matter and uses meta techniques to showcase the power of memory and reflection. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then join our Patreon! Also, visit our website for fantastic mo…

This week, we’re talking about a coming-of-age film that’s destined to become a classic: Bottoms. We discuss the history of high school movies and why this absurd take on growing up and finding your voice stands out. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then join our Patreon! Also, visit our website for fantastic movie break…

This week, we gush over Celine Song’s debut film, Past Lives. We discuss her atmospheric approach to a story about diverging paths and how she captures that inescapable desire to romanticize what could have been. Letting go of that feeling isn’t easy, but necessary for realizing our best selves. Get ready for some existential reflection! If you'd l…

On today’s episode, we’ll be discussing Damien Chazelle’s Hollywood epic, Babylon. We go deep in this one as we analyze this love letter to movies and how cinema has evolved over time. Just as a preview: one of us likes the movie, while the other…well, there’s no nice way to put this: absolutely loathes it. Try to guess who’s who! If you'd like to …

On today’s episode, we discuss Damien Chazelle’s adored musical, La La Land. If you love this movie, then be prepared, because neither Chris nor Travis particularly care for it. They discuss all the elements of what they perceive to be a very flawed movie with an unrealized ending. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then j…

Join us as we discuss the quiet, the hypnotic, the enigmatic Drive. Nicolas Winding Refn’s breakout film is seemingly simple yet says so much about loneliness, about Hollywood, about the human condition. Join us as we discuss our extensive history with Drive and examine the most profound aspects of the film. If you'd like to support the show and he…

On today’s episode, we’re talking about Vanilla Sky—a movie one of us really connected with. Our conversation covers all possible ground about this perplexing movie, from its broader philosophical insights to its wacky aesthetic to interesting behind-the-scenes stories. If you’re a fan of this movie, then get ready for an enlightening discussion. I…

On today’s episode, we discuss the deeper meaning of the behemoth known as Oppenheimer. As two people who aren’t huge fans of Christopher Nolan, our discussion involves our fraught history with his films and what we believe holds Oppenheimer back. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then join our Patreon! Also, visit our we…

Today we’re talking all things Barbie—what we liked and what we didn’t like about Greta Gerwig’s biting satire of our world’s superfluous yet incredibly damaging gender roles. Get ready, because our conversation travels about as many trails as this movie goes down. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then join our Patreon! …

On today’s episode, we break down Phil Tippet’s stop-motion masterpiece Mad God. We discuss the film’s broader philosophical commentary, as well as address several of the movie’s more confusing elements. If you love this movie, then get ready for an illuminating conversation from two fellow fans. If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes …

This is it! On today's episode, Chris and Travis conclude their Fast & Furious marathon by discussing Hobbs & Shaw, F9, and Fast X. While they disagree on many, many things, they find some common ground and thankfully shake hands at the end. Family is more important than being right! Although Travis still thinks he's right. And so does Chris. If yo…

If you thought the last episode was contentious, then strap in for Part 3. Today, Chris and Travis debate about Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious—two movies that Travis loves, that Chris hates. Expect arguing, name-calling, and general passive aggressiveness.If you'd like to support the show and hear episodes ad-free, then join our Patreon!Also…

The first part of the Fast and Furious Marathon went pretty smoothly. But Part 2...well, the conversation intensifies. It gets furious, if you will. In this episode, Chris and Travis discuss the best and worst parts of the fourth, fifth, and sixth entries into the Fast and Furious series. And the episode ends with one heck of an argument.If you'd l…

In honor of Fast X, Chris and Travis are taking on the entire Fast and Furious franchise. Travis has been a fan for years, while Chris is a newcomer. They have wildly different opinions about several of the movies, and they're going to cover all possible ground in this four-part series. Part 1 finds them discussing the first three movies in the fra…

There are good movies. There are great movies. Then there's pure transcendence—and that's Chungking Express. For the first time in Film Colossus history, Chris and Travis agree on a movie being a bona fide classic. They discuss Wong Kar-wai's 1994 heartwarming and heartbreaking ode to the complexity of love and the challenge of discovering yourself…

Back in 2013, Jonathan Glazer dropped one of the quietest and most enigmatic sci-fi movies in quite some time: Under the Skin. And to this day, his film has continued to astound...and confound. Luckily, Chris and Travis are here to explain it all. In this episode, they break down what's going on in this movie and how well it's stood up ten years la…

South Korea has churned out so many cinematic hits in the past decade, and one of those highlights has been the relentlessly grim and terrifying The Wailing. Chris, who wrote the best explanation of this confusing film on the Internet, and Travis sit down to discuss the film's puzzle-like plot and the deeper themes being explored.If you'd like to s…