The Cinephile's Aisle
Two film haters and a microphone covering cinema classics, box office blockbusters, and everything in between!
Episodes
SPOILER ALERT: Episode contains key plot details from SINNERS. Jive along with TCA to the tune of Ludwig Göransson's phenomenal score as they delve into "the most talked about movie of 2025." Misgana returns to dissect Ryan Coogler's latest vampire masterpiece set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta. They cover the significance of that opening sequence (12:45), their appreciation of the cinematography (20:10), Coo...
Ofili and Steve are joined by Jerry, who’s making his TCA debut, to talk through Mickey 17, Bong Joon-ho’s 2025 sci-fi release. “Dying is just another part of the job” sets the tone for a conversation on identity, memory, and the systems that turn people into tools. They dive into the film’s cold color palette and sound design, discuss the religious and philosophical threads running underneath, and unpack what it means to be dispos...
Ofili and Steve take us back to some of the 2015 releases (8:55) that left a mark on them in this episode of the TCA. The Lobster, Mad Max: Fury Road, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Room, and Focus are some of the classics turning 10 this year that they touch on. They discuss certain films that they will never rewatch (29:40) like Fruitvale Station, before closing off with a celebration of female auteurs (33:00) in honor of Women&ap...
not Denis Villeneuve for DUNE: PART TWO, we'll tell you that much. Awards season wraps up with the 97th Academy Awards and it's been one hell of a ride with films nominated for Best Picture involving the use of AI, not involving an intimacy coordinator, having a cast member doing blackface, and all of these combined do not even live up to Karla Sofia Gascon's now-deleted tweets. But Steve and Ofili are joined by Misg...
It's not everyday you get to see an epic picture so enthralling like THE BRUTALIST, so of course Steve and Ofili had to return to cover all things related to the latest true American classic. Joined by Misgana, the trio discuss the period drama's central themes of immigration and identity (7:15), how the film lives in service of Judaism (19:35), and clashes of sexuality and power (32:25). Finally, looking forward to the O...
Awards season is here, and for this episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Irima to kick it off! We discuss the 2025 SAG Awards’ biggest categories: Outstanding Male and Female Leads and their Supporting counterparts. Then, we switch gears to talk about why a Better Man stands out. We had a blast recording this one and we hope you enjoy it too.
Available now, wherever you listen to podcasts!
What makes a movie the Christmas movie? Is it the cozy vibes, holiday spirit, or just a snow-covered backdrop? On this episode, we tackle the big question, share our personal favorite Christmas movies, and even debate the eternal question: is Love Actually really a Christmas movie?
Plus, we take on the challenge of reimagining non-Christmas movies as holiday films! From classics to unexpected picks, this episode is packed with fun, ...
Dive into our latest episode as we unpack Conclave, exploring its twists and the deeper philosophy around the interplay of certainty, doubt, and faith. This was an incredibly engaging discussion, capped off with our takes on potential Best Picture winners—ranging from mainstream favorites to some hipster niche picks. While Steve couldn’t join us this time, we were thrilled to have Misgana back for her second episode and a special g...
The TCA is joined by a special guest to cover Steve's "next Best Picture" and Ofili's "one of the best four movies in 2024." In episode 16 we discuss Sean Baker's filmmaking style, the various on-screen relationship dynamics depicted in Baker's latest independent drama, and that final sequence that has got everyone talking. We also talk about how Baker is doing for sex workers what Scorsese d...
*SPOILER-FREE* Say what you want about Crowley's nonlinear structuring of his 2024 tearjerker, but Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield have just delivered the most grounded performances for an on-screen couple in 2024. Ofili and Steve are back to cover the latest romantic drama from A24, WE LIVE IN TIME, and they discuss how the film tackles grief, the feeling of not being enough, and when not to use non-linearity in storytellin...
"In my opinion, OSCAR-worthy 2025, very easily" is how Ofili starts off talking about the feature directorial debut from Freemont, CA filmmaker Sean Wang, DÌDI (弟弟). Together with Steve, TCA covers the coming-of-ager and how Academy Award nominee Wang draws inspiration from his 2008 California summers showing learning to kiss, the struggle to fit in with your peers, and the importance of learning to love your mothers. TCA...
Ofili and Steve are joined with Nigerian filmmaker, Ikem Okeke, writer and director of the 2021 short film, HUSBANDRY. Okeke takes them behind the scenes (2:55) of what shooting in Lagos was like, the shoestring constraints of a short film, and how thinking on your feet can be the defining factor of any passion project. Okeke also discusses his next film, and how he has grown as a filmmaker since HUSBANDRY. Ofili and Steve also co...
Ofili and Steve are back covering the latest crowd favorite, MONKEY MAN. They share what they loved about Dev Patel's directorial debut, what creative choices rubbed them the wrong way, and how not every film featuring a man wearing a suit while fighting bad guys should be termed a "John Wick Movie."
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube at @CinephilesAisle.
"My planet Arrakis is so beautiful when the sun is low."
*SPOILER ALERT: Episode contains key plot details from DUNE: PART TWO* In this Season 1 finale, we discuss all things DUNE. Ofili and Steve give their initial reactions to Denis Villeneuve's epic science-fiction sequel to DUNE (2021), the inspired performances of Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem, the deviations from Frank Herbert&...
It's "Bella in Wonderland" at The Cinephile's Aisle as Ofili and Steve return to discuss Yorgos Lanthimos (4:10) and his latest installation in his bizarre filmography, 'Poor Things' (9:00). They also look forward to a few upcoming films (35:10), including 'Dune: Part Two' and 'Madame Web'.
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube at @CinephilesAisle.
*Contains key spoilers from MAY DECEMBER (15:00), LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (25:50), and THE CREATOR (42:45)*
Ofili and Steve say goodbye to 2023 by reliving some of the later releases of the year, including Zack Snyder's first installment of the Rebel Moon franchise (37:10). Happy Holidays from The Cinephile's Aisle! Hope you enjoy, and see you in 2024.
The Hunger Games franchise continues to release films with compound sentences for titles that no one is ever going to call them by, but Episode 7 sees Ofili and Steve fueling their teenage nostalgia by discussing "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" (12:20). As always, they discuss what they've been watching (4:25) including 'Thanksgiving movies', or the lack thereof, and all the fury set in dystopian Aus...
After a long break, Ofili and Steve return to discuss one of the best films of the year, "The Killer" from Director David Fincher (24:20), and another one of 2023's films, "The Marvels" from Nia DaCosta (19:34). They talk about what they've been watching (8:30) and what we should all be looking forward to (44:20). As always, there's mindless side talks including an argument on who the best James ...
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