The Strange Harbors Podcast
The Strange Harbors Podcast
Derek Wong, Amir Touray, Jeff Zhang
Welcome to The Strange Harbors Podcast. Hosted by Derek Wong, Jeff Zhang, and Amir Touray, The Strange Harbors Podcast is a weekly discussion of all things pop culture, with an emphasis on film and television. Join us every week as we dive deep into big blockbusters, indie favorites, and under-seen hidden gems.
"Love Lies Bleeding"
This week we review director Rose Glass' sophomore feature, Love Lies Bleeding. A lesbian crime thriller in the vein of The Wachowskis' Bound, the film stars Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, and Dave Franco. Does it live up to Glass' searing debut, 2019's Saint Maud? Tune in and find out.
Mar 28
34 min
The 96th Oscars Recap
We're a week late, but here's our coverage of the 96th annual Academy Awards in the year of Barbenheimer. As usual, we discuss snubs, surprises, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Who won? Who should've won? Once again, we give the rundown.
Mar 21
30 min
"Dune: Part Two"
The long-awaited Dune: Part Two is finally here. Does director Denis Villeneuve land all the wondrous, brutalist tableaus thrown in the air over three years ago with Part One? Does he successfully merge dense, sci-fi imagemaking with Frank Herbert’s heady and prescient themes? We review Dune: Part Two.
Mar 8
56 min
The Most Anticipated Films of 2024
Starting a new tradition this year, this is our first annual "Most Anticipated Films" episode. We put forth our individual ballots for what we're most excited for, culminating in a list of 15 movies that are on our radars.
Feb 29
40 min
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith"
Our first television episode in a while and the first of 2024, we're reviewing the new Amazon Prime Video series from creators Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane: Mr. & Mrs. Smith. A reimagining of the 2005 hit movie (and a short-lived 1996 television show), the series follow John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine), two spies who agree to complete espionage missions under the cover of marriage. Is the new Mr. & Mrs. Smith another tepid remake, or does it forge a new - more interesting - path?
Feb 11
1 hr 4 min
The Best Films of 2023
2023: a tumultuous, but also exciting year for cinema that saw the bottoms fall out of once unstoppable franchises and the rise of new and old masters. Characterized by surprise blockbusters, stinging excavations of the human condition, and a few bold oddities, this year was a cornucopia of great film. This is always our favorite episode to do every year, so tune in to our hot and cold takes as we count down our favorite movies of the year.
Feb 4
1 hr 27 min
"Poor Things"
Our lead-up to The Best Films of 2023 episode continues as we cover Yorgos' Lanthimos' ribald, fisheye fantasy: Poor Things. Is it the Greek filmmaker's most accessible film? We talk Emma Stone, fearless performances, and the sweetly demented world constructed for this raunchy coming-of-age fable.
Jan 25
36 min
"The Holdovers"
The feel good film that took holiday moviegoers by storm, Alexander Payne's The Holdovers follows a cranky history teacher at a remote prep school that is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go. We discuss the trifecta of affecting performances in Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and first-time performer Dominic Sessa, as well as all the awards they're picking up.
Jan 12
38 min
"Ferrari"
"Two objects cannot occupy the same point in space or the same moment in time.” Michael Mann’s Ferrari disguises the fissures of masculinity in the typical rhythms of biographical fare, but does it fit in with the famed director's late oeuvre of between-the-lines human feeling? We discuss the movie, Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and its shocking racing scenes.
Jan 5
57 min
"Silent Night"
Action maestro John Woo is back with his first stateside movie in 20 years, Silent Night. A dialogue-free revenge flick soaked in blood, chrome, and improvised explosives, the film finds Joel Kinnaman on a one-man quest to take down those responsible for the death of his son. Is Woo back and better than ever? Or has he lost his touch. We discuss.
Dec 22, 2023
37 min
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