Film Versus Film

LIVE- Civil War (2024) Versus The US Election

A live recording from Hoyts cinema on the eve of the US Election, with special guest Dr David Smith from the US Studies Centre, discussing Alex Garland's Civil War (2024) and all things US Election. Featuring our three hosts- Bruce Isaacs, Craig Anderson & Herschel Isaacs, in a special live recording to complete the US Election Series. *This podcast does not represent the views of the US Studies Centre or The University of Sydney.

The War Room (1993) Versus Wag The Dog (1997)

We’re looking at the way party aligned actors manipulate the narrative surrounding presidents and presidential candidates. One of these films is a star-studded hollywood comedy, and the other a fly-on-the-wall documentary. Yes, we’re looking at the D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus’ The War Room and Barry Levinson’s Wag The Dog.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) Versus Blow Out (1981)

This episode is all about conspiracies, or is it? Two films made twenty years apart, that bookend the grand period of US counterculture paranoia. One film is from the early sixties and introduced cinema audiences to the concept of brainwashing, and the other is a suspense-riddled thriller with an unlikely investigator. We’re discussing John Frankehimer’s The Manchurian Candidate and Brian De Palma’s Blow Out.

Dave (1993) Versus Election (1998)

Two Oscar nominated comedies that tell us a lot about the US election. One is a prince and the pauper tale, the other a microcosm of election meddling. Join us as we discuss Ivan Reitman’s Dave and Alexander Payne’s Election.

All The President’s Men (1976) Versus The Dismissal (1983)

Two films that deal with dramatic endings to leaderships. One is about the scandal that brought down US president Richard Nixon, the other is about the events that lead to the dismissal of Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. One won four Oscars and the other three Logies. Yes, today we’re looking at Alan Pakula’s All The President's Men and Kennedy/ Miller’s TV Series’ The Dismissal.

Mr Smith Goes To Washington (1939) Versus Primary Colors (1998)

Join as we compare one of the greatest films of all time with an anomaly from the 1990's. One is about American idealism (or is it naivety) and the other a thinly veiled portrait of Bill Clinton's election campaign. We're doing Frank Capra's Mr Smith Goes To Washington (1939) and Mike Nichols' Primary Colors (1998). Brought to you in partnership with the United States Study Centre- https://www.ussc.edu.au/
 

Film Versus Film; Introducing The U.S. Election Special

Starting next week, a six-part series discussing movies that engage with the US Electoral Politics, culminating in a free cinema screening of A24's Civil War on the night before the US election. Presented In Partnership With Film Studies At The Faculty Of Art And Social Sciences & United States Studies Centre - https://www.ussc.edu.au/

Body Double (1984) Versus Mulholland Drive (2001)

Two exciting thrillers that push the line of logic, storytelling and movie tropes. Join us as we unpack the madness of Brian De Palma’s Body Double and David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive.

Cruising (1980) Versus Basic Instinct (1992)

One film was sanctioned by the mainstream and became a box office smash, the other was considered an abomination for the director and its star.  Both films were met with protests by the gay community for equating homosexuality to serial killing! Yes it’s time to look at William Friedkin’s 1980 film Cruising and Paul Verhoven’s 1992 film Basic Instinct.

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989) Versus Up (2009)

Today we are riding into the sunset on a horse… or is it a house lifted by balloons?  Join us as we look at two films about a young adventurer and an elderly frustrated mentor. We’re looking at Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Pete Docter/ Bob Peterson’s co-directed Up.