Out There in the Dark

On this episode of Out There in the dark, we take a deep dive into PT Anderson‘s latest epic, weird, and thrilling One Battle After Another. At a time when our world is being rocked by corrupt and dark forces, Anderson explores with subtlety and humour, the issues that plague us on the daily. We also go through Anderson’s oeuvre from his first film, Hard 8 (1996) to OBAA. And we say a fond farewell to cinema’s greatest actors, Dian...

Toronto hosts one of the world's most prestigious film festivals and this year Tom and Azed managed to move off their respective couches and see a few films.  The festival has always been a defining characteristic of Toronto's love affair with movies, which draws huge audiences to see some of the world's least seen artwork. Of course, over the years, TIFF has embraced a more mainstream, commercial approach which has largely obscure...

Ari Aster’s latest film, EDDINGTON, has polarized critical intelligentsia. While a few have hailed it as a “masterpiece” many others have decried it as at best an ambitious flop. As with Aster’s last “flop” Beau is Afraid, critics and audiences alike seem confused and disappointed by Aster’s non-horror films.  Without the surface excitement of supernaturally tinged serial killings or sadistic torture, Aster’s non-horror films seem ...

EXCLUSIVE! WE HAVE THE LIST!

That's right, the list of the best movies of the past 25 years.  Putting aside our usual snobby pooh-poohing of so called "best of..." lists, Azed and Tom have created lists to end all lists. Stop saying list!

Taking off from the (failing?) New York Times' Best of the Century , which chose PARASITE as their top film, and Rolling Stones 100 Best List , which chose the slightly more reasonable There Will ...

As the world slides inexorably towards xenophobia, authoritarianism, and flat out racism, the cinema of Jim Jarmush offers a crucial counterpoint to the dehumanizing of the other as a means of social control.  Jarmush, a staple of the New York punk and post-punk art scene broke onto the scene with Stranger Than Paradise (1982) which introduced the cool, art house, minimalism that has become the hallmark of Jarmush's oeuvre.  By cen...

Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal is probably the most brilliantly strange "reality" show to date.  An uncanny mixture of documentary, memoir, comedy show, and adventure movie, The Rehearsal pushes the usual conventions of TV, deconstructing the elements that go into producing and directing an almost impossible series of thrilling, funny and bizzare segments. Fielder, a bona fide eccentric and oddball, is clearly interested in reveali...

Roger Corman (April 5, 1926 -May 9, 2024)—an iconic figure whose influence on Hollywood is nothing short of legendary—traversed the cinematic landscape from the late 1950's to the 1990's. Celebrated as the "Pope of Pop Cinema," the "Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood," and the "King of Cult," Corman was a pioneering force in independent filmmaking, forever reshaping the industry with his innovative spirit.

Throughout his illu...

The recent and tragic news of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, has left movie fans around the world reeling. While the unsettling details surrounding their passing may capture attention, this isn’t TMZ. Instead, we choose to honor the life and extraordinary talent of one of the greatest actors of our time. Gene Hackman was renowned for his unparalleled ability to convey authenticity—something that is notoriously difficult ...

One of the least explored subgenres in cinema is the short-lived, radical category known as "punk film." This genre emerged in response to the rise of punk music in the late 1970s, which served as a counterpoint to the hedonistic glam of disco and dance music—a genre I also enjoy. However, punk's emergence was more than just a musical trend; it was a political reaction against the shift toward right-wing and neoliberal policies in ...

Welcome to our annual Oscar's Bitch Fest. 2025, this year with 50% less 'bitchiness'.  Largely unpolitical, this year's Oscar's seem to successfully navigate the current chaos and produce an entertaining, actually funny and drama free event. However, smooth sailing can make for an uninspiring and somewhat boring ride. If it wasn't for Adrian Brody's eccentric acceptance speech, I wouldn't have cringed at all.  

Join Azed & Tom ...

With the passing of David Lynch we mourn the loss of a true artist and spiritual guide. Anyone familiar with Lynch, the man and his work, knew him to be a study in the paradoxical.  His All-American "boy next door" character and rural common sense, always sat oddly beside the nightmare cinematic worlds he created.  Mel Brooks, who hired him to direct The Elephant Man, called him "Jimmy Stewart from Mars".  For all the debate around...

Just in time for the holidays, OTD presents Giallo! What could be more appropriate at this festive time than gorgeously designed, sexually perverse murder mysteries with a dash of the supernatural? Alright! This was supposed to be a Halloween release but Azed was too busy with his charity work and Tom is extremely limited in many ways. Instead of the usual Xmas cinema fare, We suggest a horror filled holiday this year, filled with ...

At one point in the 70's everyone was wearing clogs and in the 80's, we were handing out Best Picture awards to movies like, Driving Miss Daisy and calling it a sign of progress.  So it's a good idea to check in with your once loved cultural artifacts to make sure you aren't still listening to Jesus Jones or defending Dan Brown books . In that vein, Tom and Azed discuss two movies they both used to really like and now feel a bit le...

As the world continues to spiral down into increasing idiocy, cruelty and destructiveness, Azed and Tom are both using cinema to cope.  In this episode, we discuss some more recent releases including: Richard Linklater's Hit Man,  Alex Garland's Civil War and George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.   Despite increasing corpulence and hair loss, we are not the new Siskel & Ebert,. We employ no thumbs up, thumbs down metric base...

After a short hiatus, Azed & Tom return for this very special epsiode dedicated to the often overlooked character actor. Although a somewhat vague label the character actor is usually understood to be a film or television performer who specializes in portraying unique, offbeat, colorful characters in supporting roles.  While leading actors receive most, if not all, of the accolades for a film or series' success, it is often the...

The Academy Awards are a reliable exercise in celebrating some of the worst tendencies in modern, capitalist society.  A bunch of privileged, back slapping industry folks handing out trophies to each other is perhaps the height of egotistical "cringe", but still we watch them. Often, with the same passion as one might watch, say a "Real Housewives" or a "Big Brother", essentially, a hate watch. Azed and Tom weigh in on this year's ...

In this episode, Azed & Tom delve into the captivating world of acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese and the resounding critical acclaim surrounding his latest masterpiece, "Killers of the Flower Moon." In this episode, we explore the widespread praise and recognition that this film has garnered, exploring its profound impact on both critics and audiences.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" has captivated viewers and critics alike, pr...

It's has been said that the 70's were the last golden age of cinema. it's hard to disagree when you realize how many auteurist directors that era birthed. A modest list would have to include; Scorsese, DePalma, Bogdanovich, Coppola, Lynch and William Friedkin.  Friedkin's career is an enigma. His third film The French Connection won multiple Oscars (Including Best director), catapulted him to fame. Friedkin's next film, The Exorcis...

In a series we are calling Criminally Forgotten, we pluck out discarded, overlooked or misunderstood gems from the past.  In this episode, we unearth a relic from the archives, Bill Gunn's 1973 art/horror/vampire movie Ganja & Hess . Gunn, a literate, smart, cultured person who came from the Theatre and the literary arts was tasked with replicating the immense success of the iconic African-American vampire film, Blacula (1972)....