Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Sanjeev Bhaskar, a talented British actor and comedian known for his work on 'Goodness Gracious Me', steps in as host to converse with the delightful Celine Song, a South Korean-Canadian playwright and filmmaker renowned for 'Past Lives'. They dive into 'The Materialists', a romcom that tackles the complexities of modern dating with a fresh lens. Additionally, they explore the humorous and emotional nuances of 'Freakier Friday', along with insight into a provocative Australian prison drama. Conversations about celebrity encounters add a lighthearted touch!

Noah Hawley, a celebrated showrunner known for 'Fargo' and 'Legion', joins to discuss his ambitious new series, 'Alien: Earth'. He delves into the franchise's evolution and how he tackles corporate themes intertwined with a dystopian future. The creative journey features insights on character development and the role of sound design in enhancing horror. Hawley also shares his surprising affinity for British comedy, making a fascinating connection to storytelling techniques. Mark reviews the series, raising questions about its place in the Alien legacy.

Guy Pearce, the Australian actor famous for his roles in 'LA Confidential' and 'Memento', joins the conversation to discuss his gripping role in the Australian prison drama 'Inside'. He reveals the psychological complexities of playing Warren, a lifer confronting his impending parole. The discussion also explores Pearce's music projects, the nuances of character relationships, and his candid thoughts on a classic role he dislikes. Additionally, the reboot of 'Naked Gun' sparks debate about modern comedy and whether it can measure up to its predecessor.

Join Justin Kurzel, the talented Australian director behind 'Macbeth' and 'Nitram', as he dives into the gripping themes of his latest series, 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North'. He discusses the harrowing experiences of Australian POWs during WWII and explores the emotional weight of loss and memory. The conversation also veers into the unsettling horror of 'Bring Her Back', examining family dysfunction through a chilling narrative lens. Plus, Kurzel teases an intriguing new project involving music and memory with Warren Ellis.

Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.  Our guest this week is Harry Melling—all grown up after first hitting the big screen as Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films. He’s here to chat about the latest in a hit parade of pleasingly weird and wonderful post-Potter projects, ‘Harvest’. This trippy period piece sees a mysterious feudal society in an unspecified place and time fall apart after crops fail and sinister strangers arrive. Simon unpacks this unique film with Harry—plus a bit of Potter chat since the HBO reboot has put the wizarding world back in the spotlight.   Mark reviews Harvest too—along with two more of this week’s biggest cinema releases: ‘Friendship’--a black comedy about male bonding starring Paul Rudd as the new-best-pal-next-door, and ‘Smurfs’--the latest big-screen outing for the little blue fellas. If that didn’t sound like a bit of Mark-bait already, it also stars James Corden. Odds on Kermode going full ‘Grouchy Smurf’ on this one?   Plus we revisit the Salt Path controversy, including some of your excellent correspondence, run down the Box Office Top 10 and serve up sizeable portions of delectable daftness as always.     Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):  Friendship Review: 10:25  BO10: 18:16  Harry Melling Interview: 26:50  Harvest Review: 42:09  Smurfs Review: 56:18    You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey   EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!  A Sony Music Entertainment production.      Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts    To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Gatiss, the talented actor and writer behind 'Sherlock' and 'Game of Thrones,' joins Simon and Mark to chat about his whimsical crime comedy, 'Bookish,' where he plays a bookseller-turned-detective in postwar London. Expect delightful discussions on detective fiction and quirky vocabulary! They also dive into the controversy surrounding 'The Salt Path,' exploring authenticity in storytelling. Plus, enjoy insights on the latest Superman film, blending humor with serious themes and paying homage to classic styles.

This week, David Cronenberg, the visionary director behind genre classics like 'The Fly' and 'Videodrome', shares insights on his latest film 'The Shrouds'. Written after a personal loss, it explores a technology that lets people witness the decomposition of their loved ones. He and Mark dive into the intersection of grief, humor, and the human experience in art. Plus, Mark reviews 'Jurassic World Rebirth', contrasting it with nostalgia for the franchise while reflecting on its shortcomings. Expect laughter and thought-provoking discussions!

Maxine Peake, a British actress known for her roles in 'Shameless' and 'Peterloo', joins to discuss her starring role in 'Words of War', the biopic of brave journalist Anna Politkovskaya. She shares insights about the film's portrayal of Anna's fearless reporting and the gripping challenges faced by journalists. The conversation includes the decision to skip fake Russian accents for authenticity and Peake's light-hearted take on her screen marriage to Jason Isaacs. They also dive into the buzz around the new Formula One film and the allure of high-speed cinema.

Danny Boyle, acclaimed film director behind classics like Slumdog Millionaire, joins actress Jodie Comer to dive into their new project, 28 Years Later. They discuss the chilling evolution of society following the Rage Virus, unpacking themes of memory and identity in this post-apocalyptic sequel. The duo explores the emotional struggles of their characters and reflect on the balance of humor in horror. They also touch on cinematic trends and what audiences can expect from the trilogy's future. Prepare for a thrilling ride back into a terrifying world!

Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you. Our guest this week is the prounciationally challenging but very lovely Domnhall Gleeson, who sits down with Simon to talk about his new Apple TV+ thriller ‘Echo Valley’. In it, he plays the sinister dealer Jackie to Sydney Sweeney’s addict Claire—no more nice Domnhall. He and Simon talk accents, improv, and looking like a psychopathic Ronan Keating—don't miss it. Mark reviews ‘Echo Valley’, along with two more of the biggest big-screen releases this week. First up, ‘Tornado’, a Scottish Samurai tale starring Jack Lowden and Tim Roth as criminal heavies, and Kôki as the titular Tornado they are chasing down. Plus, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’: Mark delivers his verdict the live action (except for the dragon) remake starring Nick Frost, Gerard Butler and more. Some more excellent Jason Isaacs content too, and an iWttr mystery solved... Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free): Tornado Review: 10:24 Box Office Top Ten: 16:46 Domhnall Gleeson Interview: 26:53 Echo Valley Review: 43:21 How To Train Your Dragon Review: 52:50 You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices