Philosophy In Film - 103 - Stand by Me
Philosophy In Film
Episode 103: Stand by Me This week on Philosophy in Film, the gang sets out down the tracks with Rob Reiner’s beloved coming-of-age classic, Stand by Me. Based on Stephen King’s novella The Body, the film follows four boys as they leave in search of a missing body. What begins as childhood curiosity slowly unfolds into a meditation on friendship, memory, and the quiet moment when innocence gives way to experience. Craig packs the provisions with Producer’s Notes (8:30), while Alain walks the rails through the Beauclair Synopsis (19:21), tracing the boys’ winding path through campfire...
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Philosophy In Film - 102 - Slap Shot
Philosophy In Film
Episode 102: Slap Shot With Special Guest: Megan Craig (Associate Professor of Philosophy and Art, Stony Brook University) The gloves are off this week on Philosophy in Film as the gang faces off with George Roy Hill’s bruising classic, Slap Shot! Set in the fading mill town of Charlestown, the film follows player-coach Reggie Dunlop, played by Paul Newman, as he tries to save a failing hockey team by leaning into spectacle, violence, and the sudden popularity of the Hanson Brothers. What begins as a desperate bid for ticket sales spirals into a question about integrity, entertainment,...
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Philosophy In Film - 101 - One Battle After Another
Philosophy In Film
Episode 101: One Battle After Another This week on Philosophy in Film, the gang locks in on Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling, darkly funny, and relentlessly restless epic, One Battle After Another. Inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, the film follows Bob, a washed-up former revolutionary played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who’s forced back into a life he thought he’d escaped when his daughter disappears and an old enemy resurfaces. Craig kicks off the revolution with Producer’s Notes (11:36). Alain tackles the Beauclair Synopsis (25:20), charting Bob’s return to dangerous terrain...
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Philosophy In Film - 100 - Miracle on 34th Street
Philosophy In Film
Episode 100: Miracle on 34th Street Ho ho ho! For our 100th episode, the gang celebrates Philosophy in Film’s centenary by stepping into the warm glow of a holiday classic with the original Miracle on 34th Street (1947). This timeless courtroom tale explores whether faith, goodwill, and a touch of magic still have a place in a modern, skeptical world. Craig lights the tree with Producer’s Notes (11:49), spreading seasonal cheer with stories of reflection and festive mischief. Alain unwraps the story with the Beauclair Synopsis (20:47), laying out the film’s gentle clash between legal...
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Philosophy In Film - 099 - A House of Dynamite
Philosophy In Film
Episode 99: A House of Dynamite This week, the gang steps into the explosive tension of A House of Dynamite, a modern pressure-cooker thriller where family secrets, fraying loyalties, and a single terrible night threaten to blow everything apart. Craig sounds the alarm and readies for attack with Producer’s Notes (9:16), while Alain scorches a few eyebrows with the Beauclair Synopsis (18:44), laying out the film’s tightly coiled timeline and the slow, heavy crack of inevitability beneath it. Chris then tiptoes into Philosopher’s Corner (32:13), following the movie’s dual phenomenology...
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Philosophy In Film - 098 - Lean On Me
Philosophy In Film
Episode 98: Lean On Me Season 5 marches on as the gang steps into the halls of Eastside High for John G. Avildsen’s 1989 drama Lean On Me, where Principal Joe Clark takes on failing systems, fraying hope, and a school on the brink with nothing but a bullhorn, a baseball bat, and a stubborn belief in his students. Craig rings the bell with Producer’s Notes (9:52), setting the tone for a spirited class session, while Alain sketches out the ups, downs, and hard lines in the Beauclair Synopsis (29:56). Chris takes the lectern in Philosopher’s Corner (1:07:24), reflecting on the film’s...
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Philosophy In Film - 097 - Weapons
Philosophy In Film
Episode 97: Weapons Just in time for a Halloween Spooktacular, the gang is back for Season 5 of Philosophy in Film, and the reel’s already spinning! First up in the tray: Zach Cregger’s eerie ensemble horror Weapons (2025), where seventeen schoolchildren vanish at 2:17 a.m., forcing a town to ask: what if the monster isn’t outside, but inside the story? In search of answers, Craig sounds the alarm with Producer’s Notes (8:31) while Alain opens the Beauclair Synopsis (17:23), laying out the tangled threads of characters, each chasing a truth they’re too afraid to face. Chris slips...
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Philosophy In Film - 096 - Eddington
Philosophy In Film
Episode 96: Eddington This week on Philosophy in Film, the gang rides into the dust and disinformation of Ari Aster’s 2025 neo-Western Eddington. Set during the upheaval of 2020, the film pits Joaquin Phoenix’s stoic, conspiracy-prone sheriff Joe Cross against Pedro Pascal’s pragmatic mayor Ted Garcia in a small New Mexico town splintered by mask mandates, social media warfare, and secrets. Craig sounds the warning in Producer’s Notes (9:59), rallying the posse to get ready; Alain draws the map of conflict in the Beauclair Synopsis (20:57), threading the political grievance, personal...
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Philosophy In Film - 095 - Sinners
Philosophy In Film
Episode 95: Sinners This week on Philosophy in Film, the gang steps into the blood-soaked confessional of Ryan Coogler’s 2025 thriller, Sinners. Nestled in the indie-crime-vampire-redemption-gangster genre, the film follows Eli Morgan, a disgraced pastor-turned-defense attorney, as he’s pulled into the moral murk of faith, failure, and a client who might not be entirely human. Craig hacks away at Producer’s Notes (9:37) with only slight collateral damage, while Alain cracks open the Book of Beauclair (21:04) to lay out Eli’s twilight descent. Chris then lights a candle for...
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Philosophy In Film - 094 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Philosophy In Film
Episode 94: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Our long journey through Middle-earth reaches its end as the gang takes on the towering finale of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Return of the King. Craig lights the beacons with Producer’s Notes (8:03), rallying the realm for the final leg of our quest. Alain draws his sword for the Beauclair Synopsis (20:22), charting the last stand against darkness with Aragorn’s path to the throne and Frodo’s climb toward Mount Doom. Chris raises the light of Eärendil in Philosopher’s Corner (47:28), exploring the...
info_outlineIn this introspective episode, we delve into "Into the Wild" (2007), a cinematic journey directed by Sean Penn. Producer's Notes (6:30) kick off our exploration, providing unique insights into local interests and the film's creation. The Beauclair Synopsis (21:15) paints a vivid picture of the transcendental experience, where simplicity and a return to nature shape the narrative. Philosopher's Corner (37:20) we navigate the film's philosophical landscape, where the pursuit of a simpler life takes center stage. At the Round Table (44:30), we delve into the film's profound exploration of a "wild" existence, contemplating whether happiness is shared when one goes back to basics or if it depends on human knowledge and interaction. Reviews (1:34:20) capture the essence of this transcendental journey, while the Mailbag (1:49:11) brings forth engaging discussions on the meaning of happiness and the allure of a life immersed in nature. Join us as we explore the philosophical depths of "Into the Wild" and the profound simplicity it offers.
Featured Beer: Rushing Waters Bohemian Pilsner - Apex Brewing (Edson, Alberta)