For Screen and Country
289 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★ - 12 ratingsBrendan and Jason dive into the British Film Institute's Top 100 British Films of All-Time list. What does that mean? Well, they'll be exploring each film's significance, if it deserves its place in history and answering questions and comments from you, the listeners.
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Episodes
Tom Jones (#51)
June 21, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, the guys talk about what maybe one of the strangest choices to win Best Picture at the Oscars. That's right, Brendan and Jason discuss the 1963 Tony Richardson romp Tom Jones starring the late, great Albert Finney. They talk about the unique film editing techniques drawing from both past and present, the dark subjects the film approaches with a very light tone, the use of a goofy narrator, all of the animal actors, the film's controversial standing amongst film critics and much mor...
Far from the Madding Crowd (#79)
June 14, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, the guys talk all about the John Schlesinger epic romantic drama Far from the Madding Crowd. At three hours long, will this be a slog or a beautiful slow-burn of a drama? Or something in between? The guys talk about "pasture bloat," the sex appeal of a young Terence Stamp, they discuss the flimsy handling of marriage "back in the day," debate if Boldwood is an old-timey incel, lavish Julie Christie with tons of praise for her impressive lead performance and much more. Plus: Brenda...
Brighton Rock (#15)
June 07, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, Brendan and Jason go way back to 1947 to discuss the crime/thriller Brighton Rock starring a very young Richard Attenborough. The guys talk about old-timey radio contests, testifying against your spouse, the role that religion plays in the film in regards to the two lead characters, the shockingly brutal violence, they debate if the movie's ending is TOO sad and much more. The guys also draw next week's movie out of a hat! What will it be? Join us, won't you? Questions? Comments...
Withnail and I (#29)
May 31, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourTime to lighten the mood... kinda. Brendan and Jason take on the pitch-black comedy Withnail and I starring Paul McGann and Richard E. Grant. They talk about how the director shaped Grant's performance (and some of the claims by director Bruce Robinson that Grant wrote off as pure fiction), the production design bringing the film's story and characters to life, the influence this movie had on many future buddy flicks, they debate the film's portrayal of homosexuality and whether it is helped ...
Performance (#48)
May 24, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourIt's time to get real weird as this week's movie is something of a gangster flick crossed with an acid trip. Brendan and Jason talk about Performance, a film co-starring Mick Jagger in an impressively strong performance. The guys also discuss the unexpectedly massive influence of the film spanning across multiple genres, the progressive viewpoints on gender fluidity, the avant-garde editing style, the controversy surrounding a rumoured "real sex" scene and much more. The guys also draw next...
Awards and Official Rankings Episode #4
May 17, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourTime for a little break as Brendan and Jason rank the most recent selection of 20 movies from the BFI Top 100 list, hand out some awards and make a few announcements. How many will surprise you? Did their rankings line up at all? And why yes - Fagin IS still the most horrifically racist thing on this podcast so far. The guys also draw next week's movie out of a hat! What will it be? Join us, won't you? Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-mail at forscreenandcount...
The Lady Vanishes (#35)
May 10, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourTo cap off another group of 20 movies, Brendan and Jason discuss Alfred Hitchcock's suspense-filled The Lady Vanishes. How well does the movie age? Is it odd that the first 20-30 minutes are essentially a screwball comedy? Is this one of the oldest movies to pass the Bechtel Test? Plus - Jason makes a stand for "up-front credits," the guys discuss the characters of Charters & Caldicott along with their storied film career and much more. Next week: it's time to rank the previous 20 movies an...
Oliver Twist (#46)
May 03, 2021 12:21 - 1 hourThis week, the guys return to master filmmaker David Lean to talk about his final film on this list: Oliver Twist. To start off the conversation, they talk about all of the various adaptations of the classic Dickens novel and the only one they watched in full (the one with an animated orange cat) and then they break down the long and problematic history of Fagin, talk about the way in which the camera angles are a part of Oliver's character and much more. The guys also roll the dice to find...
Get Carter (#16)
April 26, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, Brendan and Jason discover the darkest side of Michael Caine's personality with the gangster classic Get Carter. They talk about the difficulty in building an entire movie around such a despicable character with no redeemable qualities, the difficulties in overlapping dialogue, the bleak ending and much more. The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Questions? Comments? Suggestions? You can always shoot us an e-mail at forsc...
My Name is Joe (#91)
April 19, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourThe trek continues with Brendan and Jason talking about Ken Loach's 1998 release about class differences and, more specifically, addiction with My Name is Joe. The guys connect this film to similar techniques found in the work of Mike Leigh and Robert Altman, they discuss the thick Scottish accents, they question the existence of welfare spies, they address the criticism of Ken Loach's dialogue sounding like his own politics coming out of a character's mouth whether it fits the narrative or n...
Trainspotting (#10)
April 12, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourBack to the list! The fellas go back in style by talking about the cultural touchstone Trainspotting. They get into the definition of the 90s Indie Hit and University Movie genres, they analyze the critcism of this movie allegedly glorifying drug use, both guys gasp in horror at all of the content involving the baby, they marvel at the breakneck editing style and much more. The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Full List: https://...
Brit Picks: I Know Where I'm Going!
April 05, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourTo cap off Brit Picks, the guys take a pick from loyal listener Suzy Cuthbert and talk all about I Know Where I'm Going, a Powell and Pressburger movie that is NOT on the BFI Top 100! The dynamic duo talk about the very modern opening credit sequence, the amazing whirlpool special effects, the character of Bellinger never being on-screen and much more. Plus: Jason bemoans the lack of Scottish actors in this film... and should the bartender cut him off? The guys also roll the dice to find ou...
Brit Picks: Attack the Block
March 29, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, it's Brendan's turn to present a Brit Pick... and he brings it in the form of the Joe Cornish film Attack the Block. The guys discuss various aspects like the authentic acting style of the leads and how the film humanizes them, the film's commentary on race and "bad neighbourhoods," John Boyega's stoic, raw star-making performance, the details of the creature special effects and their overall design and much more! Next week: Brit Picks concludes with a discussion of the Powell an...
Brit Picks: Kingsman - The Secret Service
March 22, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourTo start off Brit Picks, Jason presents the 2014 comic book/action flick Kingsman: The Secret Service starring Taron Egerton and Colin Firth. They dive into this problematic hit head-first by discussing Samuel L. Jackson's reasoning for his character's unique speech pattern, the controversial church scene and how it relates to the previous presidential administration, they debate the strength of the female characters and their narrative purpose, this film's opinion of the 'gritty spy film' ge...
The Man in the White Suit (#58)
March 15, 2021 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, the guys take a look at a movie that was almost our pilot episode! Yes, it's The Man in the White Suit from director Alexander Mackendrick and starring Alec Guinness. The guys talk about how the movie covers every side of the issue in equal measures, the guys compare the debate in this movie to the Keystone pipeline, they discover that maybe Mackendrick used this film to take shots at his own employers and much more! Next week: Brit Picks begins with Kingsman: The Secret Service....
The Railway Children (#66)
March 08, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourTime to let our hair down for a good old-fashioned family dramedy! Brendan and Jason take a look at Lionel Jeffries' 1970 film "The Railway Children" (#66 on the list) and discuss the vignette-style narrative of the film, Jason questions the poverty of the titular family, they take a comprehensive look at 1905-era Russia, they talk about the Beverly Hillbillies-style ending and much more. The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Full ...
Monty Python's Life of Brian (#28)
March 01, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourAfter talking about some smaller films lately, the guys talk about what may be the most popular film on the entire list - Monty Python's Life of Brian. Along with the endless quotable dialogue, the guys also discuss the beautiful production design that elevates said comedy, a dicey scene in regards to trans representation, the left-wing political satire that compares to modern-day American government, all of the blasphemy accusations hurled at the film at the time and more. Plus: everyone lea...
The Draughtsman's Contract (#80)
February 22, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourContinuing on with the BFI Top 100 list this week, Brendan and Jason examine the 82nd best British film The Draughtsman's Contract, which is a film focused on power dynamics and also one that surprised them on every level. They get into the discussion on who the true masterminds are in the film, go through a few of their own theories about Statue Man, they talk about the way this film looks like a painting at times, Brendan compares the film to The Favourite and much more. The guys also rol...
Small Faces (#98)
February 15, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourNearing the bottom of the barrel of the list but is #98 a deserving place for this week's film, the low-budget alternative to Trainspotting - Gillies MacKinnon's Small Faces. The guys discuss the film in great detail including discussion of the chilling performance by Kevin McKidd, getting drunk at adult parties, the saddest nightclub in Glasgow, skating rink assassinations and much more. Plus: Jason offers a brief history of gangland activity in Scotland and how it inspired the creation of t...
The Commitments (#38)
February 08, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourOn the list this week is #38 with a bullet! The guys break down the 1991 Irish hit The Commitments about a fictional all-white soul band out of Dublin! They discuss Alan Parker's very unique and un-Hollywoodlike casting process, the strength of the musical performances, the bittersweet ending, they debate how much truth is contained in Joey the Lips' stories and much more! The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Full List: https://en...
A Room with a View (#73)
February 01, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourThe second Merchant-Ivory film on this list is next on the podcast as Brendan and Jason discuss A Room with a View. They discuss Daniel Day-Lewis making something human out of a seemingly cartoonish character, Charlotte perfecting the art of martyrdom, the homoerotic bathing scene and much more. Plus: they debate how much of the film is winking at the audience just a bit. The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Full List: https://en....
The Lavender Hill Mob (#19)
January 25, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourJoin the boys for another heist as Brendan and Jason dive into another Ealing Studios comedy with Charles Crichton's The Lavender Hill Mob. They talk all about Alec Guinness playing against type and his fascinating physical acting, the US market forcing a rewrite of the original ending, Audrey Hepburn making a very early appearance, the shots that may have inspired Vertigo and much, much more! The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? ...
The Ipcress File (#59)
January 18, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourBond. Not James Bond. Is it already time for more Michael Caine!? You bet your bottom dollar! Your hosts talk about The Ipcress File, a spy film that has often been described as the anti-James Bond. They talk about the new concept of grocery stores, the sloppy but geniune fight scenes, how the finale brings movies like The Manchurian Candidate and A Clockwork Orange to mind, how Caine's look in the film inspired a fairly major modern spy flick and much more. The guys also roll the dice to ...
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (#61)
January 11, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourBack to the list we go! This week, the guys discuss a popular genre on this list: the kitchen sink drama. Yes, it's the gritty more realistic version of Chariots of Fire as directed by Tony Richardson - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. The guys talk about the unreliable narrator and point of view muddying other characters, they debate if the Governor has any good intentions, they discuss the use of surprising music cues and much more. Plus: learn about two huge bands that were ins...
The Italian Job (#36)
January 04, 2021 05:01 - 1 hourBack to the list we go! This week, Brendan and Jason discuss the mad-cap romp that is Peter Collinson's original classic The Italian Job. They discuss Noel Coward's controversial Mr. Bridger character (at least for some critics), they break down the amazing stunt driving in the finale, they debate if this movie really set the format in stone for a typical heist movie and much more. The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Full List: ...
Merry Christmas, Movie House!
December 28, 2020 05:01 - 10 minutesStopping by this week is the ghost of Jimmy Stewart, who stops by to discuss the weird Republican-heavy politics in Heaven and then read one of his incomplete poems. Next week: The guys go back to regular episodes with a discussion of The Italian Job (#36 on the BFI Top 100). Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette ...
Kentucky Fried Santa
December 21, 2020 05:01 - 8 minutesIt's an off-week... kinda. This week, Brendan and Jason receive a visit from southern Santa Claus, who stops by very briefly to spread some holiday cheer. Next week: Another guest will likely stop by for a bite-sized episode. The guys will return on January 4th with a discussion of The Italian Job (#36 on the BFI Top 100). Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod Our...
Scrooge (1970)
December 14, 2020 05:01 - 1 hourMerry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Joyous Kwanzaa/Happy Festivus to the rest of us! To bridge the gap between And Now for Something Completely Similar and going back to the list, Brendan and Jason get all festive and talk about the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens with Ronald Neame's 1970 film Scrooge. They talk about Albert Finney's dual performances as young and old Ebeneezer, you'll hear Jason's take on musicals, they discuss the movie removing a lot of Scrooge's backstory and much more....
And Now For Something Completely Similar: The Jackal
December 07, 2020 05:01 - 1 hourAnd Now For Something Completely Similar... In quite possibly one of the worst examples of how to remake an international film on American soil, Bruce Willis and Richard Gere star in The Jackal, which Brendan and Jason attempt to make sense of and keep their sanity. They discuss Richard Gere's Irish accent, the addition of unnecessary characters to the script, the disastrous test screening reaction, the Jackal's disguise budget and much more. Next week: A special Christmas episode as the b...
And Now For Something Completely Similar: The Ladykillers (2004)
November 30, 2020 05:01 - 1 hourAnd Now For Something Completely Similar... It's another case of a great director (or directors) with a weird oddity in their filmography as Brendan and Jason discuss the Coen Brothers' remake of the Ealing comedy classic The Ladykillers. During this discussion, your hosts talk about how they appreciate the unique spin on the original story and also discuss whitesplaining, the real-life pundit that inspired Tom Hanks' characterization, the weak link in the criminal gang and much more. Plus: ...
And Now For Something Completely Similar: Great Expectations (1998)
November 23, 2020 05:01 - 1 hourAnd Now For Something Completely Similar... Great directors can often have humble beginnings as Brendan and Jason examine the third film by Alfonso Cuaron and a modern re-telling of Great Expectations (#5 on the BFI Top 100) starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow. They talk about Cuaron regretting having made the film, the relentless voiceover, several characters that were excised from the source material for this version, the portrait scene and its similarities to Titanic and much more. P...
And Now For Something Completely Similar: Queen and Country
November 16, 2020 05:01 - 1 hourAnd Now For Something Completely Similar... The long-awaited sequel has arrived! In a follow-up to Hope and Glory, John Boorman wrote/directed Queen and Country, a film about his teenage/young adult life. The guys discuss the film and talk about several things like David Thewlis' surprising character turn late in the film, the questionable choices for some of the female characters, comparisons to Animal House and MASH, very close sibling relationships and much more. Next week: The mini-ser...
And Now For Something Completely Similar: Alfie (2004)
November 09, 2020 05:01 - 1 hourAnd Now For Something Completely Similar... The guys revisit your favourite aging lothario as they tackle the 2004 remake of Alfie starring Jude Law. They talk about the 'softening' of the title character, changing the setting to Manhattan, Sienna Miller's mesmerizing performance, the "abortion" scene, Cher's new recording of the theme song and much more. Plus: there are way too many Shellys, guys. Next week: The mini-series continues with a discussion of the "long-awaited" sequel to Hope...
For Screen and Country Presents: What Were They Thinking? - Hackers
November 02, 2020 05:01 - 1 hourJason is away so please enjoy an episode of Brendan's other podcast What Were They Thinking? featuring Jason guest-starring to talk about the classic film Hackers. Nathan and Brendan welcome back Jason to talk about a seminal guilty pleasure film - Hackers. The guys talk about the "iconic" internet movie from the chain smoking Baby Bradford to Lorraine Bracco's confusion regarding computer lingo. They also discuss the Plague as an intimidating villain and kids being able to access the roof ...
Peeping Tom (#78) (w/Everything I Learned from Movies)
October 26, 2020 04:01 - 1 hourIt's time to get spooky just days away from Halloween as Brendan and Jason welcome back Steve and Izzy of Everything I Learned from Movies to discuss Peeping Tom (#78 on the list). Many things are discussed like the similarities between this film and Psycho (released two months later), the sexual imagery surrounding the murders, the controversy of the film essentially killing off Michael Powell's career, the dance/murder sequence, the first on-screen appearance of nudity in a British film and...
In Which We Serve (#92)
October 19, 2020 04:01 - 1 hourIt's time to go to war and blow things the hell up... again. Weirdly enough, the guys tackle another war movie this week with the David Lean/Noel Coward co-production In Which We Serve. A lot is discussed including Celia Johnson bringing the house down with one iconic scene-stealing performance, the controversial real-life figure that inspired the main character, Noel Coward's colourful past and experiences within the war, on-screen portrayals of shellshock and much more. Next week: The dic...
The Dam Busters (#68)
October 12, 2020 04:01 - 1 hourIt's time to go to war and blow things the hell up! The guys talk about Michael Anderson's influential war drama The Dam Busters (#68 on the list). The guys talk about this film's massive influence on the climactic scene in Star Wars, some of the historical inaccuracies on display (surprisingly very few) and more interestingly - why they were intentionally changed, the controversy surrounding the dog's name, switching title characters halfway through a film and much more. The guys also roll...
Educating Rita (#84)
October 05, 2020 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, Brendan and Jason start off a new batch of 20 movies with their discussion of Lewis Gilbert's Educating Rita. They discuss Julie Walters' iconic film debut, how the movie plays with audience expectations, the weird synthesizer musical score, the way in which the film criticizes the educational system, the difficulties with writing the original play and much more. Plus: listen to Bowser & Blue, guys and gals. Seriously. The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watch...
Awards and Rankings Episode #3
September 28, 2020 04:01 - 1 hourAs the next batch of 20 movies has been logged into the annals of our brains, Brendan and Jason rank 'em and give out some awards to the lucky few that were grand enough to receive the greatest honour ever received from a New Brunswick-based podcast that covers British films. Enjoy and yell at your phone with all of your disagreements! The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_Britis...
Awards and Official Rankings Episode #3
September 28, 2020 04:01 - 1 hourAs the next batch of 20 movies has been logged into the annals of our brains, Brendan and Jason rank 'em and give out some awards to the lucky few that were grand enough to receive the greatest honour ever received from a New Brunswick-based podcast that covers British films. Enjoy and yell at your phone with all of your disagreements! The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you? Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_Britis...
Chariots of Fire (#19)
September 21, 2020 04:01 - 1 hourThis week, Brendan and Jason round off 60 movies on the BFI Top 100 by talking about the 1981 inspirational film Chariots of Fire. They debate if the iconic theme song can truly be taken seriously anymore and also listen to the song that ALMOST took its place in the film, they debate which runner has the most compelling character arc, they talk about the themes of faith and standing one's ground and much more. Next week: The guys rank the latest 20 movies and give out some awards! Full Li...
A Hard Day's Night (#88)
September 14, 2020 03:01 - 2 hoursIt's a HUGE jam-packed episode this week as Brendan and Jason discuss A Hard Day's Night and get into a lot of topics like the realistic rapid-fire rapport between the lads from Liverpool, Paul's grandfather as a representation for vice and/or sin, the film acting as a template for the modern-day music video, a discussion of why people love something only to tear it down so quickly and much more. Plus: an interview with former Saturday Night Live castmember and Beatles superfan Gary Kroeger, ...
A Matter of Life and Death (#20)
September 07, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourThe guys get to discuss their third Powell & Pressburger offering and... could it be the best one thus far? Many things are debated and discussed in this episode including the use of a camera obscura, whether the film's plot is real or meant to be the visions of a dying man, the absolutely amazing special effects, sets and cinematography and one controversial religious figure that almost made a cameo. Plus - more! A lot more! The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching ne...
Genevieve (#86)
August 31, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourVroom! Vroom! Honk! Honk! Get out of our way! Brendan and Jason talk all about the 1953 road movie Genevieve - a perfect example of a quaint film with today's modern lens that certainly would have been somewhat scandalous when it was released. The guys talk all about the heavily-coded sexual innuendo, the realistic portrayal of relationship arguments, the simplistic premise working to the film's advantage, the influence on films like Cannonball Run and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and much...
Gregory's Girl (#30)
August 24, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourThis week, the guys talk about Gregory's Girl and much like the previous film, they are delighted to find some real strong female characters in this one. They discuss the arc of Gregory and compare him to title characters in Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds, they analyze the football coach based on everyone else's reaction to him, they talk about the wonderfully surprising final act of the film and much more. The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Joi...
Fires Were Started (#89)
August 17, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourThis week, the guys return to the list with a very different type of film: Humphrey Jennings' docudrama about firefighters during the Blitz in WWII - Fires Were Started. The guys appreciate the way in which the film shifts its focus evenly between the firefighters and the operators in the office, they talk about the many ways in which the film subverts the 'propaganda' genre, they discuss the use of music through cameraderie, Brendan somehow compares the film to Ladder 49 and The 15:17 to Par...
Brit Picks: The Gentlemen
August 10, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourFor the final Brit Pick, the guys go back to an older request on Twitter and cover Guy Ritchie's surprise hit from earlier this year, The Gentlemen. Is it a return to form? Is Ritchie clinging too much to his old style or does he impart some wisdom he's learned as a filmmaker over the years? Are parts of this movie shockingly racist or can it be explained away by the characters themselves? All of those questions will be addressed as well as Hugh Grant possibly standing in for a studio executi...
Brit Picks: Monty Python and the Holy Grail
August 03, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourThis week, Jason presents his Brit Pick in the form of Monty Python and the Holy Grail and all its quotable silliness. The guys debate which Monty Python film should go on the list, they sing the praises of the unheralded Carol Cleveland, discuss the reason why huge rock stars like Elton John were attracted to the project, talk about the brilliant way in which the film utilizes its relatively small budget and much more. There's also some pretty serious discussion about all the annoying univer...
Brit Picks: Paddington 2
July 27, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourFor the first episode in our three-part Brit Picks series, Brendan brings forth the most critically-acclaimed sequel in recent memory (or possibly ever) known as Paddington 2. The guys talk about the beautiful colour palette in the movie, Hugh Grant's criminally underrated performance as the villain, the multiple visual references to silent films and Charlie Chaplin in particular, the movie feeling like a warm ball of comfort and much more. Plus - Jason is pretty sure that Mrs. Bird is a pimp...
The Servant (#22)
July 20, 2020 03:01 - 1 hourThis week, Brendan and Jason watch a tale about a butler who is... much different from Anthony Hopkins in The Remains of the Day. The year is 1963 and Dirk Bogarde is a sinister man with a plan up his sleeve in The Servant. The guys discuss some of the most dense and symbolic cinematography, they debate the way in which the film views the class system, they talk about the clever ways in which the films skirts around the censors and much more. Plus: is this the first appearance of a "Vaguebook...