The Devil's Due, Oscar Noms & First Men in the Moon: Podcast 5:3.1

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Devil's Due

Volume 5, Number 3 of the Cinefantastique Black Hole Ultra-Lounge Podcast brings you the latest news and reviews of what’s happening in the world of horror, fantasy, and science fiction cinema. The intrepid CFQ podcasting team analyzes the 2014 nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including GRAVITY and HER; and eulogizes late actor Russell Johnson, most widely known for playing the Professor on GILLIGAN’S ISLAND, who also featured prominently in several science fiction films. Steve Biodrowski exorcises THE DEVIL’S DUE, a new “found footage” horror film featuring a demonic pregnancy. Lawrence French lionizes FIRST MEN IN THE MOON with a 50th anniversary appreciation of the 1964 science fiction film, based on the novel by H.G. Wells and featuring special effects by Ray Harryhausen.
Also on the menu are this week’s home video releases for Tuesday, January 21, and a look back at the 2012 Blu-ray release of GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE.

HER: CFQ Spotlight Podcast 4:48.1

Joaquin Phoenix finds love in a Scarlett Johansson-sounding computer in HER.
Joaquin Phoenix finds love in a Scarlett Johansson-sounding computer in HER.

And, after all the paranormal activities and interstellar warfare and superhero histrionics and marooned astronauts and rampaging monsters and quasi-mythical heroes and super-powered teens (soooooo many super-powered teens…), it comes down to this: One man, broken but beautiful, who in the near future finds himself falling in love with his computer’s surprisingly human operating system.
HER — written and directed by Spike Jonze and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the flesh-and-blood suitor and the voice of Scarlett Johansson as his digital object of affection (and co-starring Amy Adams and Rooney Mara) — is sweeping up praise for its innovative take on the classic love story, but has its influence been overstated? In yet another lively discussion, the Cinefantastique Online team of Steve Biodrowski, Lawrence French, and Dan Persons stake out a wide spectrum of positions on the film, from new classic to seriously overhyped. Click on the player to hear the show.

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