You Never Forget Your First

Halloween might be over but the (genuinely) scary stories that Benas brings from Lithuania are just beginning. So although we might be late to the pumpkin carving, the goods are still here as we tackle Robin Hardys landmark horror movie The Wicker Man (1973). Serving as the inspiration for so many movies after it, not least of which being Hot Fuzz, The Wicker Man, when you watch it from a remote house in Scotland where this podcast was recorded from, is a genuinely frightening film. The lack of so many horror elements is paradoxically why it works so well, the little to no music, stilted acting, no overly dark scenes or jump scares. Just a slow, crawling horror that gets under your skin. A little like the creaking door that kept joining as our fifth member. Enjoy.

We asked the ultimate question. Could AI direct? But literally though, could it actually direct? How would it work? Would it spit out garbage? Could it be creative? Direct actors? Squash producers? Work with a budget? Make something good? If you want to feel like you plugged your head into The Matrix whilst simultaneously having your brain whisked like scrambled eggs this is the episode for you. We go from the hilarious nonsensical scripts AI has pumped out to the bleeding edge of human consciousness, even throwing in an IWAAD (which is probably the most terrifying one we’ve ever had). We’ve also upped our production value just a tad - though you’ll have to listen to find out what. We can neither confirm nor deny it is/not including excerpts from films. Seriously...who'd have the audacity to do that?

GRAB YOUR UNCUT GEMS as we’ve gone to the underbelly of New York in search of The Safdie Brothers and their debut film, Daddy LongLegs (2009). The film follows a father looking after his two kids, which, if you think sounds like an anomaly in the high octane, ‘underbelly of society’ types of films the Safdies make, then you’d be mistaken. In fact the film contains the very DNA of that nervous energy, bizarre characterisations and boots on the ground type of filmmaking the Safdies are synonymous with. The main actor of Daddy Longlegs, Ronald Bronstein, is essentially ‘the third Safdie brother’ acting as a co-writer and editor on all their films. If that filled your knowledge gaps, then dive on in to our neon soaked room, spend time with some shifty characters (Sparrow), and hear some stories that will keep the anxiety levels so high, you’ll be awake all night after listening. Either that, or you’re like Benas, a stone cold film-watcher (more on that in the ep). Enjoy.

NEW EP! We’ve gone and Super Sized this weeks podcast ep for you as we delve into the 2004 documentary Super Size Me directed by Morgan Spurlock. It turns out all you need is a Big Mac and a camera to bring down the big corps, plus the digestive system of a T-Rex to weather the health storm from all that Super Sizing. The now iconic doc was far reaching and influential, having a lasting impact on our relationship with fast food and the industry’s treatment of it. To think the budget was a mere $65,000 (probably most going on McDonalds) and yet it garnered international fame, becoming Oscar nominated and winning the grand jury prize for directing at Sundance. All for just eating McDonalds for 30 days. It cant be that hard, right guys? ….guys? Website: www.youneverforgetyourfirst.com

Join us in an epic journey back to 1950’s America, where we gave each other nicknames like Benas-whooping-y’all and Louis-loose-lips-Lunts, repeated the phrase ‘baking biscuits’ about a thousand times, and tried to figure out what the hell that on-going sound is, in Andrew Pattersons debut film The Vast of Night (2019). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A high ambition paired with a low budget means Andrew Patterson needed to deploy all the DIY tricks in the book, (as well as make up new ones) from an inventive one shot using a go kart, to hiring unknown actors who brought a freshness to the roles (who nailed it btw) to choosing a new angle on a worn genre. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The OG crew are back together in this episode, with one of us only having watched Saving Private Ryan for the first time (yes, we are a serious film pod thanks) to of course mentioning the Netflix price hike and the obligatory Nolan mention. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀IWAADs this week included the phrase ‘spilling avocados on the road’ - you can’t make this stuff up, or maybe you can, if you’re Benas. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Happy listening, enjoy.

A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR YOU ALL 🎄🎅 Even though 2020 has swung one final time in an attempt to take away all tradition, we swing back to instil some normality by asking the age old question “Is Die Hard a Christmas film?” Directed by John McTiernan and released in the hot summer of 1988, (despite having a Christmas themed plot) Die Hard is at the center of the yearly festive film debate. To add a spin on this well known question, two of the four members of this very podcast only just watched Die Hard for the first time. Yeah…that almost warrants a whole episode in itself. We have loved making episodes this year and hope you have enjoyed them too. Thanks to everyone who has listened, stay safe there is plenty more to come and until then…YIPPEE KI YAY MOFOS!

We headed back to 1999 and dived inside Spike Jonze’s head, who dived inside Charlie Kaufman’s head, who dived inside John Malkovich’s head, to bring you our episode on Spikes Jonze’s directorial debut, Being John Malkovich. A peculiar but highly entertaining film that can be read in so many ways, with John Malkovich putting his very name above the door. Thank god it did well. It’s amazing to realise that Spike Jonze, despite being a household name, has only directed 4 features. His illustrious career as a music video and short film director has almost brought as much credibility to his talents as his features (which are still impeccable). Even before tackling Being John Malkovich, he was a sought after director with a penchant for unusual ideas and visuals, ultimately making him perfect for the job of dissecting writer Charlie Kaufman’s film. So join us as we jump inside John Malkovich, as well as jumping inside the cinema vs streaming debate (when do we never) to dissect one of the most original films we’ve taken apart, as well as hearing Louis’ theory on the building schematics for the 7 1/2 floor. Enjoy. @ynfyfpod www.youneverforgetyourfirst.com

Before Catfish: The TV show which Nev presents, unveiling Catfishes all over the states, he was in fact Catfished himself, documented by directors Ariel Schulman (his brother) and Henry Joost in Catfish: The Movie (2010). In the film, Nev is in contact with a family over Facebook, who him and his friends soon realise might not be who they say they are. Despite this unsettling premise, perhaps the most scary part of re-watching this decade old documentary is how much people used to use Facebook to seemingly update the world on the most evidently boring parts of their life. In a strange way, Catfish actually exposes how much Facebook has changed, from status updates asking you what you had for breakfast, to TELL US YOUR POLITICAL LEANINGS. NOW. Ultimately Catfish is a positive piece of film, that shows us we’re all a lot better when we’re honest. Like when Louis admits on this very episode he may well have been Catfished himself when he was 12 years old (admit it, who wasn’t on MSN messenger). This is also our first documentary, and we spend an inordinate amount of time discussing the difference between a film and doc, when we probably should have just been reviewing the film. Anyway, you’ve seen what we really look like, right? Guys…..guys? Happy listening. @ynfyfpod www.youneverforgetyourfirst.com

Are things always as they appear? You might take one glance at Only You (2018) on Netflix and assume this is a cheesy romance film where the guy gets the girl at last minute in the airport. In fact, Benas did and we had to strap him to a chair and run some Clockwork Orange moves on his eyes so he would watch it. But we’re getting away from the point here. Harry Wootliff’s Only You is a raw, delicately crafted debut that might have slipped you by (despite winning two BIFAs). A curveball suggestion by Louis that sent the pod crew getting all emotional, in whats been our closest episode to an actual therapy session on relationships, the film follows Jake and Elena as their relationship blossoms, before tackling one of the most challenging obstacles anyone has to encounter. Harry Wootliff has not only written characters that reflect actual people you might know in real life, but has explored the subject of intimacy in a way that feels fresh and important. You might even hear Benas come round to a film about relationships. Imagine that. With no Sparrow this episode Dom, Louis and Benas pick up the slack, but rest assured, the Me and Earl-loving-currently-Malick-Obsessed-Film-Lover will be back next episode throwing out the usual gems. Happy listening, enjoy.

What creates a cult classic film? Some say its being ripped apart to shreds by critics on release. Others say it’s a notoriously bad theatrical run never recouping the budget. Bruce Robinson says it’s out of work actors and an appetite for lots of alcohol. And possibly lighter fluid. Enter Withnail and I (1987) which follows two substance abusing unemployed actors in 1969. Almost unbelievable this is a first directorial effort, it’s also the first appearance of Richard E Grant and Paul McGann in a feature film. Based on director Bruce Robinsons own experiences in the 60’s with his late friend Vivian Mackerell (whom Withnail is based on), the film is often remembered for its ability to be so quotable. After all, few films have so deftly described a hangover as feeling “like a pig shat on my head”. Thought bubbling beneath the surface is both an intricately rendered portrait of Britain at the end of the 60’s, and the giving up of your dreams due to no fault of anything but yourself. Either that, or it’s two drunk men being preposterous on camera. We’ll let you decide, after all, we want the finest podcasts available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now! So here you go. Link in bio.

SOME-BODY once told us to get making some waffles and rewatch Shrek. We’re so glad we did, as the amount of adult jokes in this film that flew over our heads as kids makes it worth a rewatch almost 20 years later. On the surface, Shrek really should not have worked as a film. It (literally) shits on the classic fairytale genre, is full of (somehow not dated?) pop culture references, and at last minute had the whole of Shreks lines re-recorded with a Scottish accent. Yet directors Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jensen knew exactly what they were doing, as the final result was not only hilarious and wildy entertaining, but went on to win the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (beating out Pixar’s Monsters Inc by the way). Also, the internet is actually obsessed with it. Google Shrek meme and you’re met with a mix of hilarious and worrying results (Shrek is Love, Shrek is Life being the latter). Though in all honestly, Shrek and the inhabitants of Duloc wouldn’t want it any other way. Joining us all the way from NYC for this one is Dylan. He’s back by popular demand after laying down the pizza law on our Nightcrawler ep (Joes Pizza in Greenwich if you’re asking). Here D switches out crispy crusts for some crispy commentary on our green friend and all things Duloc. We also have a short of the week, Commute by Scott Lazer. This ones based in NYC, in case there wasn’t already enough New Yorker attitude on this episode. Link in bio. Enjoy.

Have you ever thrown your hands up in the air and just shouted “YOU’RE TEARING ME APART LISA!” No? Then fear not, because Tommy Wiseau has you covered, and also has a whole host of other bizarre and hilarious things covered in his directorial debut (really his only film) The Room. Made in 2003 for a staggering 6 million dollars, The Room has cultivated such a cult following, that it still plays in cinemas to this very day. It makes you wonder, how many other films can claim that? Only a handful of classics. But it also makes you wonder, how many other films can claim to ask about your sex life? Well…there’s only one. The Room holds the award for the best/worst film of all time, intended to be a dramatic story, that ended up being a full on accidental comedy. Crew members have even tried it come forward and claim they directed it. But once you watch The Room, you understand there really is only one person who could have made such a film… We also have our SOTW, Don’t Sell The Tiger, directed by Ben Wylson and written and produced by Joanne Oatts and Mark Winter. This ones a good one, so get your Vimeo fingertips going. We also hope everyone is doing well during this troubling time, and that you’re all safe. Hopefully this episode (and all other quarantined eps) will distract you from the everyday quarantine life. Luckily, we’ve found a way of still being able to podcast, because films still need to be talked about! (And are probably being watched now more than ever, at home, not in the cinema, but thats another thing,,,) Enjoy!

American Beauty is one of those films every always agrees is “pretty damn good”. You’d be hard pushed to find someone who doesn’t like it, and isn’t wowed by the fact this DEBUT FILM won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars. Imagine that? Well, if you’re Sam Mendes, you don’t have to. Released in 1999, American Beauty follows average middle aged guy Lester Burnham and his mid-life crisis, as it unravels to affect those around him. Not only is this film full of stand out performances, every single department is firing on all cylinders. From Conrad Halls cinematography (which it won an Oscar for) Thomas Newmans haunting score (which it won an Oscar for) and Alan Balls amazing script (which…you guessed it). It’s one of the most knockout debuts we’ve had the pleasure of exploring on YNFYF, and if you expected Louis to relax on taking apart movie titles with the word American in, you’d be wrong!We also cover all the Oscars chat and our predictions, as well as dropping a Kong Skull island reference for good measureTheres also no short of the week this week, as we had plenty to get through!As always, enjoy.