Random Acts of Cinema

Each week friends Mike and Charlie have Randy (the random number generator) select a film for them to watch from the Criterion Collection. Then they discuss and review it for your listening pleasure. It’s a podcast about the love of film, expanding horizons, painstakingly cataloging the duration of every long take, and friendship.

679 - The Tale of Zatoichi (1962) 09/09/2025

679 - The Tale of Zatoichi (1962) Edo Japan. A town swarming with warring yakuza. And one detached, unstoppable blind swordsman caught in the middle. And Tate. Don’t forget about Tate. The legend of Tate starts here. Kenji Misumi brings Zatoichi to the screen, with beautiful staging, and soapy twists and turns. Long-time guest Max joins us to put it all into a historical perspective and to make an exciting podcast announcement! Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Bertrand Tavernier’s Coup de Torchon (1981). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/38138315

1115 - Adoption (1975) 09/01/2025

1115 - Adoption (1975) Hungarian director Marta Meszaros adds unprecedented depth, humanity, and a whole other meaning to the question asked in countless groan-worthy bumper stickers: “Who adopted who?” A lonely middle-aged widow is picked by a teenage girl from a nearby state-run home for children as a kindred spirit and unlikely ally. Identities like mother, daughter, friend, sister, confident, and advocate are intentionally and unintentionally tried on for size as both struggle against the constrictive demands of the well-meaning, but institutionally-bound men in their lives. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Kinjji Misumi’s The Tale of Zatoichi (1962). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/38038675

1204 - Trainspotting (1996) 08/26/2025

1204 - Trainspotting (1996) Poverty. Betrayal. Heroin. Death. But, like in a really funny and clever sort of way that’s just a real pleasure to watch. Spend some time with some of your best Scottish friends! Director Danny Boyle fully inhabits, then redefines 90s cinema, in this groundbreaking international phenomenon. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Marta Meszaros‘ Adoption (1975). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37956405

912 - An Actor’s Revenge (1963) 08/18/2025

912 - An Actor’s Revenge (1963) Kon Ichikawa sumptuous remake of an Edo-period revenge tale is magnified by lush camerawork, stirring performances, a jazzy soundtrack, and a fascinatingly unexpected exploration of gender, sexuality, and identity. The Kabuki actor Yukinojo performs and lives as a woman, breaks the hearts of all around him (men and women alike), and deftly schemes to enact vengeance on the men who destroyed her family. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting (1996). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37867045

22 - Summertime (1955) 08/11/2025

22 - Summertime (1955) How Kate got her groove back… could be an alternate title to David Lean’s Katherine Hepburn-starring romance set in the canals of mid-century Venice. An aging single American lady, looking for a little bit of culture and beauty, discovers far more than just a bit of Murano glass in this visual stunner… By which I mean that she finds no-strings-attached sex with hot Italian dudes. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Kon Ichikawa’s An Actor’s Revenge(1962). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37755440

Friedkin Fill-in! - Jade (1995) 08/05/2025

Friedkin Fill-in! - Jade (1995) Feast your ears on a special release of the Patreon-only hit podcast Are You Friedkin Kidding Me? where your intrepid hosts (plus Alexandra!) watch the films of William Friedkin. This episode…. The poster, wherein a lady is sitting upon the face of a gentleman, says it all. But you may as well also know that it features a thrillingly slow car chase through the city of San Francisco (which is kind of a character in this film, if you think about it.) Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing David Lean’s Summertime (1955). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37677705

Friedkin Fill-In! - The Guardian (1990) 07/28/2025

Friedkin Fill-In! - The Guardian (1990) Feast your ears on a special release of the Patreon-only hit podcast Are You Friedkin Kidding Me? where your intrepid hosts (plus Alexandra!) watch the films of William Friedkin. This episode…. Well it’s only his timeless 1990s erotic/thriller/horror masterpiece The Guardian! You’ll never look at Los Angeles architecture the same way ever again! Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing David Lean’s Summertime (1955). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37579380

1194 - Freaks (1932) 07/21/2025

1194 - Freaks (1932) Fresh off of his iconic career topping Dracula, director Tod Browning returns to his roots with a domestic drama/crime film cast almost entirely with side-show performers with little-to-no screen acting experience. The viewers are asked - and very much confronted with the question of - who are the REAL freaks? Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing David Lean’s Summertime (1955). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37425170

887 - Lost In America (1985) 07/14/2025

887 - Lost In America (1985) Director/Writer/Star Albert Brooks reawakens an early shared film trauma of your two loyal hosts. Can this Uber-Boomer satire of drop-out idealists living in Reagan's America be salvaged? Might it even be... good? Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37387430

7th Annual Rando Awards 07/08/2025

7th Annual Rando Awards Now that another season of Random Acts of Cinema has passed, Hollywood can finally take a moment to catch its breath before it must prepare another year of potential delights for us to mercilessly tear to shreds. Well, not really. It’s just Rando Awards season, where your hosts reflect on and recognize the greatest things we saw in the Criterion Collection this year. Join us! Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! It you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Albert Brooks’ Lost In America (1985). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37329670

1018 - Paris is Burning (1990) 06/30/2025

1018 - Paris is Burning (1990) We are joined this week by Dan Connell for a lively discussion as the thriving, dynamic 1980s New York Ball Room scene is revealed to an unsuspecting world in Jennie Livingston’s groundbreaking documentary. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! Next week you are cordially invited to attend next week’s 7th Annual Rando Awards! /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37222565

613 - Summer Interlude (1951) 06/23/2025

613 - Summer Interlude (1951) Bergman takes us on a journey into the past, to revisit youthful summer love. But don’t worry: this is all seen through the memory of an emotionally detached beauty left unable to find meaningful emotional attachments following a pointless tragedy. But, maybe it does all of this in an uplifting way? Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Jennie Livingston’s Paris Is Burning (1990). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37117910

875 - Mysterious Object at Noon (2000) 06/16/2025

875 - Mysterious Object at Noon (2000) Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul weaves a mind-bending 'exquisite corpse'-style tale with sequences narrated by documentary subjects, theatrical troupes, group interviews, cinematic recreations, talk show hosts and more all found within the context of modern Thai city and country life. The trajectory and style of the story swings wildly between formats and genres limited only by the imaginations and tastes of these diverse contributors. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Ingmar Bergman's Summer Interlude (1951). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/37027670

996 - The Circus (1928) 06/09/2025

996 - The Circus (1928) Lions! Tightropes! Clowns! Charlie Chaplin’s last true silent film brings the big top to the big screen. Hijinks ensue. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Apichatpong Weerasethakul‘s Mysterious Objects at Noon (2000). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36924125

626 - Les Visiteurs du Soir (1942) 06/02/2025

626 - Les Visiteurs du Soir (1942) But is it an allegory? Made under Nazi occupation, French filmmaker Marcel Carné created magical medieval fantasy about the devil and his minions who invade a castle full of beautiful, disillusioned lovers and wreak havoc. Maybe they can… love the devil away? Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Marcel Carné’s Les Visiteurs du Soir 1942). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36820310

936 - Bull Durham (1988) 05/28/2025

936 - Bull Durham (1988) Ron “The C[l/r]own Prince of Sports Movies” Shelton brings us the ultimate sexy minor league baseball movie that strikes a surprising chord of division between your humble hosts. Which of us is the seasoned podcaster who never really rose in the ranks and which is the young hotshot with a million dollar arm and a five cent brain? Either way, we both agree that the Costner/Sarandon/Robbins trio is an all-star cast. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Marcel Carné’s Les Visiteurs du Soir 1942). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36742625

948 - The Princess Bride (1987) 05/19/2025

948 - The Princess Bride (1987) We are Random Acts of Cinema. You subscribed to our podcast. Prepare to listen. Fairy tales get that inimitable Reiner-treatment in this nostalgic classic picked for Mike's birthday enjoyment. Prepare for the "leads" to take a back seat to a supporting casts that exceeds all reasonable expectations. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Ron Shelton's Bull Durham (1988). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36627310

110 - Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953) 05/12/2025

110 - Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953) French comedic powerhouse Jacques Tati finally makes his first appearance on the podcast with an introduction to his gentle homage to silent-era character Monsieur Hulot himself. And this time, he’s at the beach. And brother, I don’t have to tell you that there will be some… les shenanigans. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride (1987). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36520795

583 - The Four Feathers (1939) 05/05/2025

583 - The Four Feathers (1939) Wait, so that Ozzie-Osborne-like-bad guy from G.I. Joe who could change the color of his skin made a prequel of that totally problematic Heath Ledger movie from the early 2000s? Well, not quite. Actually, you know what, that’s pretty much exactly what happened. Join us as we discuss Zoltan Korda’s remake of a remake of a remake that was eventually remade, remade, remade, and remade again. We are joined by our good friend Max to contemplate Victorian imperialism, sun blindness, and the real color of pineapple. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Jacques Tati’s Monseiur Hulot’s Holiday (1939). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36433725

1001 - The Daytrippers (1996) 04/28/2025

1001 - The Daytrippers (1996) Greg Mottola’s takes the viewer on a frantic ride through Manhattan… and into our hearts. Sort of. Really he just reaffirms our love for Parker Posey and somehow gets one of the hosts on the side of Leiv Schrieber for the first time. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Zoltan Korda’s Four Feathers (1939). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36324500

4 - Amarcord (1974) 04/21/2025

4 - Amarcord (1974) It’s number 4. It’s Fellini. It’s a beloved and highly influential 1970s nostalgia-infused takedown of everyday people living in and under fascist Italy. And yet for all of these things, it’s truly one of a kind. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Greg Mottola’s The Daytrippers (1996). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36233260

243 - French Cancan (1955) 04/14/2025

243 - French Cancan (1955) There’s a reading of this movie as Jean Renoir’s exercise in delayed gratification. What’s a cancan? Is that a cancan? Will they cancan? Oh no they can’t cancan!! But maybe, just maybe… No they can’t! And then just when you’ve given up all hope: they can cancan! And by god, they do. (Spoiler alert.) Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Federico Fellini’s Amarcord (1973). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36138550

490 - City of Angels (1998) 04/07/2025

490 - City of Angels (1998) Director Brad Silberling’s modern spiritual masterpiece dares to propose a world filled with unseen angels, who look upon humanity with a detached sense of whimsy. Until a brash, brilliant, and beautiful heart surgeon dares to question a universe who steals the life of one of her patients, and one of these angels… falls for her. In more ways than one. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Jean Renoir’s French Cancan (1954). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/36033065

334 - Harlan County USA (1976) 03/31/2025

334 - Harlan County USA (1976) Come gather 'round children, it's high time ye learned. About a hero named Harlan County and a devil named Duke Power. The fight never stops. And Barbara Kopple’s beautifully specific and devastatingly timeless documentary about a grueling coal miner’s strike won’t let us forget it. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Brad Silberling’s City of Angels (1998). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/35932065

The Top 10 of Our 10 Out of 10s 03/30/2025

The Top 10 of Our 10 Out of 10s Bonus episode drop! We recorded this a while ago, but we’re finally releasing the rankings of our 10 highest rated criterion movies. Sure we each gave Rashomon 10 out of 10. But we also gave The Seventh Seal 10 out of 10. So… which is better? All questions will be answered! Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/35920910

300 - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) 03/24/2025

300 - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) Please come celebrate our 300th episode with spine number 300! We grapple with our legacy, come to terms with our many failures, reaffirm old friendships, get matching outfits, mourn our losses, go on one last adventure, and have a few laughs. And because it’s Wes Anderson, we can’t help but fall for yet another flawed father figure. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Barbara Kopple’s Harlan County, USA (1976). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/35836200

689 - Trances (1981) 03/17/2025

689 - Trances (1981) Your humble hosts stumble happily headlong into the world of avant-pop Moroccan folk music! This week we watch what seems to be a proto-version of The Last Waltz (even though it’s not) with a documentary chronicling some of the past and and a lot of the present of the group Nass El Ghiwane. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/35734785

LD131 - From Russia With Love (1963) 03/10/2025

LD131 - From Russia With Love (1963) Bond is back! …to this podcast. We swing back into the world of Ian Fleming with the second film adaptation of his books, and perhaps the most faithful to the original source material. So does that mean the movie will be MORE or LESS racist/misogynist? Pour yourself a martini and join us to find out. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Ahmed El Maânouni‘s Trances(1981). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/35599360

LD36 - The Producers (1968) 03/03/2025

LD36 - The Producers (1968) For this week’s episode your hosts intentionally try to make the WORST episode they’ve ever recorded. No wait, that’s what this Mel Brooks movie is about. Oh, now I remember: this is actually the BEST episode we’ve ever recorded. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Terence Young’s From Russia With Love (1963). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/35507505

1242 - The Shape of Water (2017) 02/24/2025

1242 - The Shape of Water (2017) One of us is prepared to insist that this Academy Award winning film is more than just “that fish-sex movie.” A little behind the scenes: in our recording schedule notes Mike keeps writing the title of this movie as “Shapes of Water”. For those of you who know him to be a fully-committed listman and self-professed admirer of Guillermo del Toro, this is shocking. This may is your first hint of his true feelings about this film. Join the Random Acts of Cinema Discord server ! *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you’d like to watch ahead for next week’s film, we will be discussing and reviewing Mel Brooks’ The Producers (1968). /episode/index/show/randomactsofcinema/id/35402440

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