Published by Groovy Movies
Weekly deep dives into your favourite films with Lily Austin and James Brailsford. Check out our website - https://groovymoviespod.co.uk/
Listen on Apple Podcasts1 hr 6 min
What better way to conclude the odyssey that has been the official run of Groovy Movies than with Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey? But where does his most challenging - and already most successful - film to date sit in our Nolan ranking? Plus, as we bring the podcast to a close, we look back at how the film industry has fared over the five years we’ve been recording. ---- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
1 hr 29 min
Part two of our Christopher Nolan recap takes us from Inception - the movie that made his name as an “IP” director - all the way to the present day and our hellish scramble to get IMAX tickets for The Odyssey . If you haven’t got yours yet, what are you waiting for? On our next and final episode, we’ll be concluding our 5-year run of Groovy Movies with a special episode discussing this most major cinematic event. References The Film Data Scientist (not the film stats guy, as we called him) The Amazing Digital Circus Patrick H Williams on How IMAX made Nolan a better director Atonement Dunkirk scene , directed by Joe Wright Watch Mussolini: Son of the Century, directed by Joe Wright on Sky or Apple TV If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
1 hr 27 min
In anticipation of The Odyssey's release, we’re traversing the course of Christopher Nolan’s career and plotting his signature hallmarks along the way. Plus: the box office-shattering success of Backrooms and Obsession , and the AI movie showing at Tribeca Film Festival. References Christian Zilko’s IndieWire article Nolan’s 60 Minutes interview The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan by Tom Shone If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
1 hr 1 min
We take a deep dive into indie cinema’s biggest success story: production company A24. Plus, we discuss its latest hit, the non-rom-com The Drama . References That needle drop in The Drama we mentioned: "Inside Out" by Jesse Rae If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
1 hr 14 min
This week we’re learning lessons from blockbusters: the latest, Project Hail Mary, and a classic, Jurassic Park. With the help of Hannah McGregor, the author of the brilliant “Clever Girl” and co-host of the podcast, Material Girls (do go and subscribe), we decipher the messages about care, chaos and lady monsters which lay under the wobbly surface (get it? that's a Jurassic Park reference) of these popcorn movies. References Buy Clever Girl by Hannah McGregor here Material Girls podcast Kodak’s Verita film, used on Euphoria season 3 John Travolta’s novel on Good Reads If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
53 min
After another lacklustre awards season and a decline in viewers, is it time to reinvent the awards ceremony or just retire it altogether? Then we get up to speed on the latest in the Warner Bros. takeover psychodrama (and future hopes for Star Trek nerds the world over), before reviewing two recent films that take big, beautifully flawed swings: Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride and Oliver Laxe’s Sirāt. References Peter Bradshaw’s Sirāt review for The Guardian Dune: Part Three trailer If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
52 min
Finally, Valentine’s Day weekend has finally come to pass, which could only mean one thing: we’ve been to see Wuthering Heights - sorry, “Wuthering Heights” that is. Was it as erotic as the test screen audience reported? And can Jacob Elordi really not grow a beard? We search for answers. References That World of Reel article Emerald Fennell’s BFI interview on Wuthering Heights Emerald Fennell’s Ask Penguin podcast interview ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
1 hr 21 min
We’re back and it is our 101st episode! And we’re marking the milestone with an area of special interest for James, and mostly special disinterest for Lily: Star Wars (or at least until she watched the burlesque show “The Empire Strips Back.” We take a whistlestop tour through the three sagas to consider how one of the great trilogies became such a mess. But could this year’s 50th anniversary of A New Hope offer a new hope? References The Empire Strips Back burlesque show The Phantom Menace BTS documentary ----------- Produced and edited by Lily Austin and James Brailsford Original theme music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Follow us: Instagram , TikTok & Letterboxd Email us: groovymoviespod@gmail.com Website: groovymoviespod.co.uk
52 min
What could be more festive than a masked orgy? Or an axe-wielding husband? Or a smart device going rogue in space? We finish this series with a Christmas special for those looking for an alternative movie recommendation during the holidays, by counting down our top 5 Kubrick Christmas movies. ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
59 min
The end of the year is drawing in, you have precisely 15 days to catch the best movies of 2025 and/or swerve the worst. This mission, should you choose to accept it, can be aided by this very podcast. Enjoy. References The reviewer of Actors On Actors - @theamateurstake BTS of the making of Kill Bill 's lost chapter for Fortnite Charli XCX's The Moment trailer Gwyneth Paltrow and Jacob Elordi on Actors on Actors Alexander Skarsgård and Stellan Skarsgård on Actors on Actors ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
57 min
We discuss the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal and whether or not this spells the end of cinema. Then we look at a lesser reported Netflix controversy - the streamer muscling in on The Hallmark Channel's turf, the festive rom-com. And to save this episode from too much doom and gloom, we finish with a fantastic new release, Harry Lighton's Pillion , starring Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling (i.e. Dudley Dursley). References The Netflix-Warners Bros deal How the big tech monopoly is killing cinema Champagne Problems beats Frankenstein to Netflix’s top spot The Shining on IMAX ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
50 min
You may not have clocked it, given the lack of fanfare, but the third installment of Knives Out was released last week. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will only be in cinemas for 2 weeks, before moving to Netflix, but is it worth catching on the big screen? We also discuss WGA and SAG renegotiations which will be taking place in 2026. Is another strike on the cards? References For horror fans: The Knickel Cinema The Odyssey cinema in St Albans ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
1 hr 1 min
This we’re revisiting one of our most popular early episodes, where we did the unthinkable and willingly watched the worst films ever made (allegedly). The hit list includes Howard the Duck, Mommie Dearest and, of course, The Room , along with our own submission, the apex of Roger Moore’s career, North Sea Hijack , in an attempt to figure out what it takes to achieve cult bad status. References Howard the Duck: An Oral History by Caseen Gaines for thedecider.com How George Lucas’ Howard the Duck movie made The Matrix possible by K. Thor Jensen Mommie Dearest at 40: the derided camp classic that deserves a closer look by Guy Lodge for The Guardian The Room: how the worst movie ever became a Hollywood legend as bizarre as its creator by Aja Romano Tommy Wiseau breaks down a scene from The Disaster Artist BTS from The Room ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
38 min
As Michael Mann’s Heat 2 inches closer to becoming a cinematic reality, we’re revisiting one of our earliest conversations about the great Al Pacino-Robert De Niro head-to-head, with special appearances from a young Natalie Portman and a wiggy Val Kilmer. References James Clark and Paul Szoldra, ‘That one scene in Heat that gave audiences the most realistic firefight in movie history’ Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner, Heat 2 (2022) Koralijka Suton, ‘ Heat at 25: Michael Mann’s meticulous masterpiece’ ‘The Making of Heat (1995)’ ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
1 hr 0 min
It is all about melodrama this week. First we discuss Lynne Ramsay's spectacular new movie, Die My Love , starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. Then we have a highlight from our guest appearance on The Ministry of Film podcast, where we talk about Brief Encounter , ahead of its re-release as part of the BFI's season "Too Much: Melodrama on Film". References Listen to The Ministry of Film Disney’s CEO Bob Iger on stepping down Lynne Ramsay on Die My Love BFI’s Melodrama season Manchester’s Cultplex cinema ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
54 min
Kelly Reichardt’s genre-defying heist movie, The Mastermind , is in cinemas, so we’re taking the opportunity to discuss our favourite capers. We also pay tribute to the longest running cinema release of all time (from 1975 to present day), The Rocky Horror Picture Show , on its 50th anniversary. References Dogma: The Resurrection Tour ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
53 min
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein hit cinemas this past weekend for a brief stint before moving to Netflix. We discuss his adaptation and why filmmakers keep returning to Mary Shelley’s classic story. We also look at the rumours circulating around a few big screen delays (namely the troubled Michael Jackson biopic) and, the 30 years in the waiting, Heat 2 - is it finally going into production? References World of Reel’s article on The Daniels’ film delay Guillermo del Toro on fatherhood and Frankenstein Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein exhibition at The Old Selfridges Hotel World of Reel’s latest article on Michael Mann’s Heat 2 Warwick Student Cinema ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
1 hr 3 min
Following the news of Diane Keaton’s death, we pay tribute to the rarest of things, a true Hollywood original. We also take you through the latest box office flops, Harris Dickinson’s thoughtful directorial debut, Urchin, and discuss the latest James Bond-Amazon controversy. References Then Again , Diane Keaton’s memoir Harris Dickinson interview for BFI The Nickel cinema ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
55 min
From A Clockwork Orange to Cloud Atlas, via the many attempts at Don Quixote, we consider the challenge of adapting books deemed “unfilmable” and why directors can’t resist the challenge. ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us
1 hr 6 min
The wait is finally over. Our (best attempt at spoiler-free!) thoughts on Paul Thomas Anderson’s play for a blockbuster and an early look at the other films tipped for greatness this awards season. References Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride trailer Token Homo’s queer horror season at Genesis cinema Horror season at Cultplex Long-ass movies at Prince Charles Cinema ----------- If you love what we do, please like, subscribe and leave a review! Edited by Lily Austin Original music by James Brailsford Logo design by Alfie Garland groovymoviespod.co.uk Instagram TikTok Letterboxd Email us