Four Play

We continue our Robert Eggers' Arc on Four Play with his third film, 2022's 'The Northman.'  Thorin, Richard Lewis, and MonteCristo break down the film's rich Viking mythology, stunning cinematography by Jarin Blaschke, and intense performances, especially highlighting Alexander Skarsgård's transformative role as Amleth. Explore how Eggers' dedication to historical accuracy and mythological realism brings a unique and immersive cin...

Four Play dives deep into Robert Eggers' enigmatic film 'The Lighthouse'. Richard Lewis, MonteCristo, and Thorin analyze the intricate storytelling, impeccable cinematography, and the remarkable performances by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. We explore the film's Lovecraftian themes, Greek mythological references, and its unique ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from horror to comedy. Whether you're a fan of psychologi...

We kick off a new arc with the works of director Robert Eggers, focusing on his debut feature film 'The Witch.' We explore the psychological and supernatural elements of this chilling 2015 horror film, set in 17th-century Puritan New England, that has since become a modern classic. Join us as we analyze the cultural impact, historical accuracy, religious undertones, and cinematographic artistry that makes 'The Witch' stand out. Thi...

In this final episode of our David Lynch arc, we delve into one of his most acclaimed and complex films, 'Mulholland Drive' from 2001. Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo offer contrasting views, discussing the film's plot, themes, and surrealistic elements. They debate whether the film is a profound commentary on Hollywood and the nature of reality or an overly pretentious piece. Our hosts explain the plot of this famously non-...

In this episode of Four Play, the hosts delve into David Lynch's 1997 film 'Lost Highway.' They discuss the film's visual and auditory splendor, its star-studded cast, the complexities of its narrative, the concept of the dissociative fugue, and explain the role of the Mystery Man. Comparing it to Lynch's other works, the hosts explore themes of psychological trauma, identity, and surrealism. Thorin, Richard Lewis, and MonteCristo ...

We continue our David Lynch arc with his 1990 film 'Wild at Heart.' This episode dissects the film's frenetic energy, its blend of surrealism and conventional storytelling, and its status as a Southern Gothic road movie. We examine standout performances by Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern, discuss the film's controversial scenes and critical reception, specifically Roger Ebert's divisive review, and explore Lynch's recurring themes of i...

With the unfortunate passing of David Lynch, the Four Play hosts decided to dedicate this arc to the director and his unique vision in cinema. The 1986 film Blue Velvet still stands as an all-time classic with memorable performances by Dennis Hopper and Isabella Rossellini and a signature touch of Lynch's surrealism. The film mixes Lynch's love of Americana with a shocking exploration of sexual violence and the dark activities of t...

Two Ridley Scott films close out our Sword-and-Sandal Arc, the legendary Gladiator from 2000 and the repetitively terrible Gladiator 2 from 2024. While iconic performances from Russell Crowe, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, and Joaquin Ph

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We return to Wolfgang Petersen's Troy: Director's Cut 20 years after its initial release and discover a film that's aged surprisingly well. Featuring an incredible cast including Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Peter O'Toole, Sean Bean, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, and Orlando Bloom, Troy is carried by the actors' strong performances. While not strictly true to the Iliad, Troy's daring attempt to place the Trojan War on film deserves praise, ...

We follow up Ben-Hur with another Hollywood epic, 1960's Spartacus directed by Stanley Kubrick. While set in the era of the Roman Republic, the film obliquely tackles many subjects of its era including McCarthyism, communist revolution, and the legacy of slavery. With stand-out performances by Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, and Peter Ustinov, Spartacus delivers an entertaining spectacle whose legacy continued to influence films li...

Four Play's new Sword-and-Sandal arc takes us back to the age of Hollywood epics with 1959's legendary Ben-Hur. The film weaves in the birth of Christianity into the background of the heartbreaking story of the titular character Judah Ben-Hur, played by the legendary Charlton Heston. The most expensive movie ever made when it released, Ben-Hur achieves a scope of sets, costumes, extras, and an iconic chariot racing sequence almost ...

Ben Wheatley's 2011 Kill List is an obscure film, but one with surprisingly deep themes of class conflict, PTSD, the pressure of everyday life, and the oppressive nature of society. The movie is cloaked in a veneer of hitman action and occult activity, but can be confusing or unsatisfying if purely viewed and interpreted at face value. Richard, Thorin, and Monte discuss why they love Kill List especially because of its pretentiousn...

This week, Four Play watches our first Korean film: Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum directed by Jung Bum-shik in 2018. The film is part of the found footage horror genre, popularized by other movies like the Blair Witch Project, but takes an extremely modern approach using YouTube and livestreaming to make the premise seem fresh and relevant today. While the storyline may be a weak point, Gonjiam delivers and excellent premise and incredib...

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's breakout film Cure released in 1997 and, over the years, has become both a cult classic and darling of modern directors. Uniquely disturbing and brilliant, Cure begins as a police procedural and then dives into a totally unique atmosphere of dread as the mesmerist Mamiya confounds his rival, the detective Takabe. The film uses visuals and background sound to hypnotize the audience while treating violence as almos...

Four Play's Scary Deep Cuts arc begins with a brooding, psychological horror film that few have seen: Session 9 by director Brad Anderson. Filmed at the derelict Danvers State Medical Hospital in Massachusetts using props left in the building, the movie tells the story of an asbestos removal team losing their sanity in an apparently haunted building. Anchored by solid performances by Peter Mullan and David Caruso, alongside a host ...

The timeless classic Casablanca from 1942 closes our Money Shot arc with one of Roger Ebert's top films of all time. Featuring iconic performances from Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains, the film deftly portrays the confusion and chaos of World War II even in a seemingly far-flung Moroccan city. Thorin, Richard, and Monte discuss the themes of self-sacrifice, lost love, and duty to a higher cause that permeate the m...

Our Money Shot Arc continues with Richard's pick of Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. While this film borrows some ideas from The Godfather, it instead focuses on the lower-level underbelly of organized crime, showing the brutal and unglamorous side of organized crime. We also explore the connections between this film and HBO's The Sopranos, Joe Pesci's terrifically terrifying performance, and the film's controversial ending.

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The Godfather, an American epic gangster film which debuted in 1972, is Thorin's selection for the Money Shot arc. Hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, director Francis Ford Coppola weaves an engaging story centered around the transformation of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone into a hardened mafia boss. Marlon Brando stands out in his role as the titular "Godfather," but the rest of the ensemble cast deliver strong perform...

Our "Money Shot" arc features each of our hosts selecting a film that they believe the rest of the group will enjoy. We begin with MonteCristo's pick: Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. Based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, this film opened to rave reviews and box office success. It also remains culturally relevant and memeable to this day. However, the film is not without its flaws, especially in th...